Sheriff's investigation dropped from alleged rape 
Leslie Hitchcock Editor-in-Chief 

The investigation into the reported rape at the Kappa Alpha fraternity house has been terminated. 

In a formal written request, the victim’s parents asked the investigation be stopped because it is in the best interest of their daughter, said Chief Deputy Captain Paula Townsend of the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office. 

“We got a written request from her parents, then we spoke verbally with them,” said Townsend. 

“We went as far as we could go [in the investigation] without further cooperation from the victim,” Townsend continued. 

The investigation could not be completed without the cooperation from the witness. “We could not bring anyone to trial without the prosecuting witness,” said Townsend. 

On Feb. 4, a 14-year-old juvenile alleged she was raped at the Kappa Alpha Order house. That evening Kappa Alpha and Sigma Nu fraternity held a joint bid party which approximately 300-500 people attended. 

Appalachian State University officials sanctioned Kappa Alpha and Sigma Nu on March 8, separately from the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office investigation. 

Kappa Alpha has been suspended until December 2000 and Sigma Nu has been suspended for the remainder of this semester for failing to comply with university policy. They are not allowed to have any functions or activities while the suspensions are in effect. 

The two organizations were suspended for neglecting to provide security at the bid party, to have a guest list or to monitor underage drinking. 
 

ASU degree means more nationally 
John T. Bennett Adminstration Beat 

With graduation only weeks away, Appalachian State University seniors are organizing their resumes as they prepare to enter the ever-competitive job market. 

While most students consider academic achievements and extracurricular activities to be the most important parts of their resume, Appalachian State University Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Dr. Siegfried E. Herrmann has a different viewpoint. 

Herrmann points to the overall value of a degree from ASU as being the most vital asset a student can take into a job interview. 

“(The administration) wants to ensure that the Appalachian State degree has even greater meaning nationally as well as internationally,” said Herrmann. 

The best indicator of the value of an institution’s degree is measured by the school’s ranking in the annual U.S. News & World Report college comparison study. 

In the magazine’s 2000 rankings, the magazine ranked Appalachian State University 15th among all universities—both public and private—located in the southern United States, and fifth among public institutions in the South. 

Despite the high rankings, Herrmann is not satisfied, saying that the only way to elevate the value of an Appalachian degree is to improve the university’s standing in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. 

There are many aspects that factor in to the ranking, but Herrmann said the Department of University Advancement will focus their efforts on the portion of the rankings that are most closely in line with the basic functions of that department, alumni satisfaction. 

“Alumni satisfaction for an institution is measured by one factor only, the percentage of alumni on record that give to the Appalachian State University Foundation,” said Herrmann. 

The amount an alumnus donates to the university is immaterial in terms of the rankings. 

U.S. News & World Report examines only the total number of alumni members who donate, not the dollar amount each graduate gives to the university. 

Every donation from an alumni member drives upward the university’s percentage of giving, which improves overall alumni satisfaction. 

A higher rate of alumni satisfaction translates into a higher standing in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, making the value of an ASU degree more valuable, giving graduates a more powerful tool as they search for employment. 

An increase in donations will improve the university’s ranking, but will also translate into more funds for student scholarships, academic support programs and other programs that the Department of University Advancement is responsible for. 

“People always ask ‘what can I really do to make Appalachian better,’ and here is a way to do that where it will be beneficial to each individual who has graduated from Appalachian as well as current students,” said Herrmann. 

Herrmann also said that it is important to plant the seeds of this concept with current students so they will graduate with the understanding that even the smallest donation will benefit themselves, as well as Appalachian State University. 

Black Tie Formal makes an appearance on Saturday 
Tiffany Fant Multicultural Beat 

It is a night of elegance and poise, and once was a tradition of the Black Student Association. This event is the Black Tie Formal. 

The Black Tie Formal began in 1991, a product of the Black Student Association and later the African-American Student Development office. This event was invented “to celebrate and preserve African-American culture and heritage,” as well as to encourage the etiquette of formality. 

Though the formal started in 1991, much of its history has been lost through the years. The years of 1993 and 1994 are the last documented formals. 

In 1993, the theme was “The Elegance of Ebony” and Reverend W.F. McIntosh, Jr. was the keynote speaker. 

“A Night of Royal Essence” was the theme that graced the 1994 Black Tie Formal and Malika Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X, was the keynote speaker. 

The night of the formal was to practice African-American culture that is native to the motherland of Africa. Libations were poured, the drum beat was used to communicate as well as recognition of the past harvest. 

Though the structure of the formal will be changed, nevertheless it has returned to ASU’s campus. This year the “Share My World” semi-formal will be held on April 1, 2000 in Legends at 7:30 p.m. 

The formal is designed to give people a chance to socialize on a level that is not simply a party. The program consists of people coming together to raise their level of interaction in a formal setting. 

The semi-formal is designed for everyone of every ethnic culture and background to come and participate. The Black Student Association and Council for Cultural Awareness are the sponsors for this event and would like for everyone to attend. 

Furthermore, this elegant night does not come at an elegant price.  The price is $3 for singles and $5 for couples. 

The ticket price includes hors d’oeuvres, keepsakes and a night of fun. Tickets are available in Plemmons Student Union at the information desk. 
 

Gemma Simga Alpha links Greeks with academia 
Zaneta Wood Student Orgization Beat 

Appalachian State University just installed the Epsilon Chi chapter of Gamma Sigma Alpha, the National Greek Academic Honor Society, to promote intellectual interaction between Greek students and the academic community. 

The purpose of the society is to promote the advancement of education among greeks, to instill a greater spirit of cooperation among Greek students, and to encourage excellence in scholarship. 

The society was founded at the University of Southern California in 1989.  In the past 11 years, 120 additional chapters have been chartered at universities all over the country. 

Twenty-four undergraduate members have been inducted and initiated into the society. 

The numbers of members representing each fraternity and sorority are as follows:  Alpha Tau Omega, five; Pi Kappa Alpha, four; Delta Chi, Theta Chi and Sigma Nu, one each; Sigma Kappa, four; Alpha Phi, three; Chi Omega, three and Delta Zeta, two. 

The three honorary members are Dr. Jim Street, Assistant Center Director of the Center of Student Involvement and Leadership; Dino DiBernardi, Director of the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership and Alana McClelland, Greek advisor. 

The society hopes to promote Greek scholarship with high school and middle school students. 

“We would like to get the message to high school students that the Greek system provides academic support, mentors and people within each major, not a just social life,” said Christopher Ellen, current president of Gamma Sigma Alpha and former president of the Interfraternity Council. “They need to have the right perception of Greeks as outstanding leaders that maintain scholastic achievement and balanced lives.” 

“Many underestimate the amount that high school students look up to college students as individuals to model their lives after,” said Student Government Association (SGA) presidential 
 

Alumna reflects on ASU after 63 years 
Zaneta Wood Student Orgization Beat 

The gold is worn down so that I can hardly read the letters that spell our university’s name. 

The black stone is scratched and its shininess has been dulled during the last 63 years, 43 of which were on the hand that taught elementary school children. 

The class ring is still on this instructional hand, serving as a reminder of her years at Appalachian State University. 

Mrs. Thedus Baringer is now 83 years old and says as often as she exhales, “I enjoyed it.” 

She attended ASU from 1933 to 1937. Her mother was a school teacher and she followed in her footsteps. 

“Mamma said ‘Get to work, Thedus’,” said Mrs. Baringer. 

After taking a placement test upon entrance, she was allowed to enroll in 18 hours per semester. She finished a semester early and the officials called her and told her she could go home and come back to walk at graduation in the spring. 

Her time at ASU was quite different than it is now. So different, students should reevaluate their thoughts of ASU and become somewhat more humble. 

During our conversation, Mrs. Baringer asked me just as many questions about ASU as I asked her. When she asked me if I liked my roommate, I replied yes and described what my room was like. 

When I said we each had our own bed, she had a confused look on her face. Well, she had to share a bed with her roommate. Mrs. Baringer lived in Lovill her first year and White her other two years. 

“I liked staying in the dorms because it was very convenient and I enjoyed my roommates,” said Mrs. Baringer. 

The females lived on the east side and males lived on the west side.  The only time students were allowed to be on the opposite side of campus was on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Every time the word “matron” came out of Mrs. Baringer’s mouth, her eyes would roll as well. Matrons were much like Resident Directors now. These matrons made sure there was no inter-gender mingling during times other than 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. 

“The matrons would always follow us from the basketball games when we walked with the boys,” she said resentfully. “Chancellor Doughtery was firm and laid down all the laws.” 

Students were not allowed to leave campus without permission and when they did leave campus, they walked to town or King Street to attend the film theatre or go in the 10-cent stores. 

I told her it costs $1.50 to see a film now and she replied, “well, if there was a dollar to it, I wouldn’t have gone.” 

Students who lived off campus were allowed to use their cars. It was interesting to hear Mrs. Baringer say, “if we lived in dorms and had cars, there wasn’t anywhere we could have parked them.” 

The ring that dangles around her finger cost $25, almost half of what it cost her to attend ASU for one quarter. 

Her class schedule was much like ours. She had 8 a.m. classes some days and later classes other days. 

“I appreciated my education and did not waste my time not studying.  We didn’t have spare time.  Clubs met once a week,” she said. 

Mrs. Baringer made all A’s and B’s in college. Grade point averages did not exist then. Mrs. Baringer was a member of the Young Womens Christian Association, Lovill Club and the Vernician Literary Society. 
For those of you who do not know what a Literary Society is, they were at many universities all over the United States. They are truly a tradition that America can claim as its own. These societies consisted of students who studied together to improve scholarship, participated in community service and associated and met frequently. Sound familiar? It should. Literary Societies inspired many modern-day sororities and fraternities. 

Students were not allowed to unite socially at universities during this time, but they could come together to improve scholarship. 

The Vernician Literary Society, the oldest women’s service club at ASU, is now the Zeta Mu chapter of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.  The society was adopted by Alpha Delta Pi in 1975. 

Other small details: students did not have to buy textbooks, lights were out at 11 p.m. and there was snow on the ground during the entire winter season. 

The summer of 1999 was the last time Mrs. Baringer has been to Boone. 

“The town has grown and will keep growing,” she said. 

In the student handbook of 1937, Boone was described as “a beautiful town of 1,500 people.” Mrs. Baringer said she was one of about 800 students at ASU in 1937. Compare that with today’s 12,000 students. 
She says she is “crazy about Appalachian.” I just wish she could come visit Boone more often. It would be great for her to come during basketball season and watch one last game.  Just think how that would take her back to a time that she truly cherished. 
 
 

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