The Appalachian | Archives | 2000-2001

This Issue: News | Sports | Opinion | Entertainment
The Appalachian - 262-6233
Boone, NC 28608
July 19, 2001

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News

A tale of one ASU couple

Kristin Davis - Staff Writer


DanÕs pursuance of a Ph.D. at the University of Virginia beginning this fall will take Dan and Sally away from the place where their love bloomed. However, they will return to Boone in the summer and Dan will keep his position as director.

Sally was the quiet, studious typeÑa self-proclaimed cynic with a shy smile. Dan was fun-loving and optimistic, a pleasantly mischievous student armed with an affable laugh. No wonder their professor-turned-boss was surprised when the two young sweethearts married three years later, but Dan and Sally Friedman knew it all along.

Their love story began in 1992 when Dan Friedman enrolled in the very first Summer Preview at Appalachian, a program that gives new students the opportunity to take Freshmen Seminar and a class of their choice during the second summer session. His jump-start on college took him farther than he imagined. Two years later, Sally Choate joined the program, incidentally with the same instructor, Dr. Rennie Brantz. However, it wasnÕt until the following year when the two would chance into each otherÕs lives and remain there.

It was the summer of 1995, breezy and warm, when Dan, a history major, and Sally, a healthcare management major became program assistants in Summer Preview. Sally admired DanÕs capacity to see the good in people. Dan was struck by SallyÕs sense of humor and knowledge of pop culture, but it was her love of baseball that stole his heart forever. Within a week the two knew they were meant for each other, and by December Dan proposed marriage. After SallyÕs graduation in 1998 and a lengthy engagement, they were married in her hometown of Charlotte.

Linked by a similar sense ofhumor and love of books and movies, Dan and Sally share another common thread, an eerie one that takes them back to the roots of their romance. In August of 1998 Dan joined the faculty at ASU as director of Summer Preview and assistant director of Freshmen Seminar after receiving a masterÕs degree. He teaches the same class he and Sally were enrolled in as students.

Nine months later Sally became the administrative assistant for Summer Preview and Freshmen Seminar. The husband and wife work for Brantz, their instructor from years before. ÒWe didnÕt realize what was happening between them that summer until it was almost over,Ó Brantz said of their relationship.

Just because Dan and Sally work in the same office doesnÕt mean they see each other all the time, and the situation certainly has its perks. ÒSheÕs close by, so if I need a hug, sheÕs here,Ó said Dan. The couple can schedule appointments with ease, while one covers for the other. Bringing work home with them is most challenging.

ÒThe worst part is when youÕre trying to go to sleep or when youÕre eating dinner and all these things from work pop in your head,Ó said Sally. Just knowing their spouse is around if they need each other is the most rewarding part of working together.

DanÕs pursuance of a Ph.D. at the University of Virginia beginning this fall will take the couple away from the place where their love bloomed. However, they will return to Boone in the summer and Dan will keep his position as director. ÒI canÕt give it up,Ó he said. ÒWeÕre going to miss it a lot. Boone is such a friendly place, a special place.Ó

ÒEveryone smiles,Ó said Sally.

ÒThey have contributed so many things to Summer Preview. WeÕre so sad to lose them,Ó said Brantz. As a couple, he describes Sally and Dan as a delightful team who work well together. ÒSally is quiet, but she really carries the day, and Dan is very innovative. I couldnÕt work with better people.Ó

Indoor track not opening anytime soon

Brian Stevens Staff Writer


Due to the many problems that could arise from the opening of the track the George M. Holmes Convocation Center staff has chosen to keep it closed.

After many delays, the George M. Holmes Convocation Center opened last November, but certain areas remained unfinished. Currently, the indoor track that circles the perimeter of the arena is off limits to students.

The Convocation Center track is a 970-foot track. There are four lanes that alternate from light gray to dark gray in color. Unlike most indoor tracks, the Convocation CenterÕs track is not banked. Students who would want to train at sprinting should not run on the track due to injuries that could arise.

Due to the many problems that could arise from the opening of the track, Eddie Crawford, director of the George M. Holmes Convocation Center, has advised against opening the track. ÒOur concern is that there is no way to secure off the rest of the building,Ó commented Crawford on the possibility of the track being opened. ÒThe biggest issue is the security of the concessions and the rest of the building.Ó

The concession stands at the Convocation Center are similar to those found in many coliseums. Workers are stationed in a room that has a large open window that spans the entire length of the room. At most coliseums and arenas, there is usually a fence that can be placed to make unauthorized access impossible. Although the idea of buying such equipment has been looked into, there are no plans to purchase the equipment in the near future.

Other security issues are relevant to the trackÕs opening. Lighting equipment in the Convocation Center is expensive and could be stolen. If students were allowed to use the indoor track there would be no way to keep certain parts of the Convocation Center locked off and secure.

Crawford explained that opening the track to Appalachian also means opening it to the Boone community. Until the concession and security issues are resolved, it would be unfair to the town of Boone to be denied use to the track, while those affiliated with Appalachian were permitted access.

However, some students have already used the track. During the winter months, members of the track team used the convocation center to escape the bitter Boone temperatures. Due to bathrooms at the corners of blind turns, construction workers and athletes collided. Although no one was injured from such incidents, the possibility of an accident exists.

Currently, Appalachian does not plan on opening the indoor track to students or Boone. Too many questions remain to the trackÕs safety and accessibility to the rest of the building.

Questions remain over studentÕs death

Craig Cox Staff Writer

ASU student Jason Paul Ernst, 20, was found dead on the evening of July 4 along VeteransÕ Highway in Myrtle Beach, SC. Investigation is ongoing over ErnstÕs mysterious death.

Ernst and two co-workers had traveled to Myrtle Beach for the summer holiday. His two co-workers reported that Wednesday, Jason left in the late afternoon alone. This is the last time he was seen alive.

The case is currently being investigated by the Myrtle Beach Police Department. No one else is known to be involved with his death, but police are reluctant to release information concerning the case.

According to Myrtle Beach Police, autopsy results are back, but some forensic work is still pending.

Lt. Brian Duval, of Myrtle Beach Police said, ÒWe havenÕt made a determination on what happened, but we do know his death occurred in the early evening on the 4th of July. The case is under investigation, and will be until we figure out what happened that evening.Ó

Ernst, a Criminal Justice major, had completed two years at Appalachian State University. Ernst was living at home in Saluda, NC for the summer and working for Wilson Art International Laminating Company.

JasonÕs mother, Janet Ernst said, ÒJason loved playing basketball and the guitar. In the wintertime he went snowboarding often.Ó She added, ÒJason loved mysteries. His favorite show was X-files. He was always watching it.Ó

According to his mother, Jason had plans to work as an investigator for either the FBI or CIA after graduation.

ÒItÕs very unsettling to not know what happened to my son. I canÕt put it to rest yet because I donÕt know how or why he died, I hope the police investigation will produce answers,Ó Ernst said.

The thoughts and prayers of everyone at The Appalachian are with the Ernst family.

Pretzel Training


High school wrestling camps from all over the Carolinas meet at ASU for instruction.

Cherry picking off the Blue Ridge Parkway

Craig Cox Staff Writer


Beautiful summer days in the High Country can be spent outdoors in an array of different activities. Levering Orchard offers the unique opportunity for people to freshly pick cherries.

Early summer is the prime season for juicy Virginia-style cherries at Levering Orchard. Less than two hours north on the Blue Ridge Parkway (from Boone), Levering Orchard is home to over 3,000 cherry trees.

The orchard has been in operation since 1908, with a strong tradition of apple and cherry production. In the last 30 years, the orchard has focused on cherry production with great success. They are now considered the largest cherry orchard in the southeast.

Cherry picking began on May 31 and extends into July, depending on the season. The orchard is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. with extended hours on Thursday. Sunday the orchard is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Frank Levering and Wanda Urbanska, owner-operators of Levering since 1986, are the third generation of Leverings to operate the family orchard.

In addition to running the orchard, the couple has published several books related to simple small town living, as well as, publishing other authors. Several of their most popular books include ÒSimple Living,Ó ÒMoving to a Small TownÓ and ÒBlue Light: Poems for a Life.Ó

This pick-your-own fruit farm is quite an experience. At the entrance to Levering, one is greeted with, ÒHello, welcome to Levering. How many buckets do you need?Ó Passing an old barn and the vast stretch of cherry trees, the road twist and turns, until Wade Haines appears.

Haines, in charge of parking, has worked the land since he can remember. Now in his sixties, he gives cherry picking advice and parking directions to the some 20,000 pickers that come annually.

Haines walks with a slight limp a carries a cane and several cherry picking sticks. He states, ÒEach tree has a distinct flavor, and since everyone likes different flavors, youÕve gotta find that cherry just for you.Ó He adds, Ò The higher in the tree you go, the sweeter the cherries are, so donÔt be afraid to climb the cherry-picking ladder.Ó

ItÕs clear Haines prefers the yellow wax variety of sweet cherries which are slightly smaller than their red counterparts, which have a slight grape taste.

After parking the car and talking with Haines, the next step for success is finding that perfect tree. The orchard is filled with huge trees absolutely overflowing with cherries. Scattered throughout the orchard are wooden ladders that rest against the tree trunks. The only way to get to the sweet ones is to climb the ladders. The buckets issued for cherry picking are equipped with a hook on the handle so that two hands are free for climbing and picking.

With each step up the ladder, a beautiful bunch of cherries appears just slightly out of reach. The notches on the ladder run out quickly with so many large cherries just slightly out of reach.

Cherries grow in bunches large and small. At first, the bucket seems to fill slowly, but after harvesting several large bunches, the bucket becomes heavy with juicy cherries.

With a goodbye to Haines and loading of the cherries into the car, itÕs off to the pack house. The dirt road to the weigh station cuts through the orchard with a series of ups, downs, and curves. The view extends over 50 miles on clear days, making the drive through the orchard a delight.

At the pack house, the pick-your-own cherries are $1.59 a pound with already picked cherries going for a little over two dollars. The orchard also offers apricots, apples, peaches, nectarines, and pears at different times throughout the season.

In July, August, and September, the third annual Cherry Orchard Theatre will be hosted at the outdoor amphitheatre. Shows include ÒTwice Upon A Stage,Ó ÒTales of the Waterless SeaÓ and ÒGrace and GlorieÓ on weekend nights.

For more information on Levering Orchard call 504-755-3593 or visit their website at www.leveringorchard.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNC billing Ôup in airÕ

Catherine Quill Senior Staff Writer

Uncertainty in the state legislature over tuition increases for public universities caused a delay this summer in student billing.

According to Rick Presnell, university controller, the bills for pre-registered students were sent out about one week later than the July 5 intended date.

ÒWe thought we might get a better feel for what was going on and be more accurate,Ó he said.

The SenateÕs version of the bill called for a $150 campus-wide increase with an additional nine percent and 11percent increase for in-state and out-of-state students, respectively.

The HouseÕs plan places the burden of tuition increases on out-of-state students only.

However, a final budget has yet to be agreed upon by the entire legislature, causing Appalachian State University officials to be unsure about the final cost for students.

ÒThe piece that was up in the airwas the tuition,Ó said Presnell.

Officials decided to bill according to provisions made in the SenateÕs version of the budget.

ÒWe felt like (the House version) wouldnÕt hold up,Ó said Presnell.ÒIt put us in a difficult spot to make this decision.Ó

In-state residents were billed $1,221 for tuition, an increase from last yearÕs $982.

Out-of-state students will pay $8,402, compared to last yearÕs $8,252 tuition.

If the final approved budget is different from what officials speculated, adjustments in billing would have to be made.

Out-of-state students could possibly receive an additional bill, or in-state studentsÕ accounts could be credited.

However, Presnell does not expect the final budget to differ greatly from the current Senate version.

Although student bills still must be paid by Aug. 1, Presnell said officials are willing to work with people if this causes a problem.

The due dates for bills cannot be changed because it may cause complications with the registrarÕs office, said Presnell.

Other UNC-system schools were experiencing similar difficulities.

Staff at the controllerÕs office at Western Carolina University said student bills were sent out on time but included an insert stating tuition costs were proposed, not final.

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington also sent out bills on time but with a disclaimer explaining tuition costs are pending final approval.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte included an estimated rate, and students received bills slightly later than usual.ÒWeÕre taking our best guess,Ó Craig Fulton, director of admissions at UNC Charlotte told the Charlotte Observer.

ÒWe waited and waited in the hopes we would hear something more concrete. But we couldnÕt wait forever.Ó

ASU water A-OK

Jen Wysmuller Staff Writer

Students and faculty of Appalachian State should be pleased to know that the water consumed on campus is free of any contaminants, according to the 2000 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report.

The report is published each year and is designed to inform ASU about the quality of the water which is serviced and delivered to the campus daily. All operational data is stored on site at the Water Treatment Facility, located on Rainbow Trail, which is open to the public.

ASU regularly monitors over 120 contaminants that could be found in its water, as instructed by federal and state laws. The testing of the water that was presented in the annual report done Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2000 had no MCL (Maximum Contamination Level) violations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deemed AppalachianÕs drinking water as safe.

The type of water that is available on the ASU campus is considered surface water. The primary water source for ASU comes from the Norris Branch, which is provided by a small stream that is fed from the HowardÕs Knob Watershed. A large man-made dam stores approximately 300 million gallons of water at the Norris Branch.

The water from this watershed is evaluated by the North Carolina Department of environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and is considered of very high quality.

One of the factors that allows for clean drinkable water was the lack of industrial activity around the HowardÕs Knob Watershed. There is also limited residential development, contributing to the pureness of the water.

There is a second source of water provided by the HowardÕs Creek branch, which is located off HowardÕs Creek Road. When rainfalls are low, this branch is used as a supplement to the Norris Branch and is fed by the Rich Mountain Watershed. The risks of contamination are low as well from this watershed.

The sources of drinking water generate from rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells before it is consumed from the tap or from a bottle. As water crosses over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally. However, when water goes through this process, there are chances that harmful contaminants can be absorbed. These substances are a result of the presence of animals and human activity.

Substances include Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria that may come from sewage plants or septic systems. In some cases, wildlife or agricultural livestock can be the culprit.

Inorganic contaminants, pesticides and herbicides, organic chemical contaminants and radioactive contaminants are also other substances that are looked for when testing water quality.

Water Plant Operator, Don Lusk, has worked with water plants now for a total of 44 years and is in his seventh year here at ASU. He is licensed as an A-Surface tester and feels that AppalachianÕs water is very good.

ÒThis facility was constructed in1972 and is of very high quality. The stream that feeds in is from a high quality watershed,Ó he said.

Lusk went further to say that Òwe run more tests than are required just to have our own piece of mind.Ó As the first consumer of the water at the plant, Lusk says ÒI drink the water from the water-plant first. IÕm its first customer.Ó

If students or faculty have any further questions about the quality of AppalachianÕs water, please feel free to contact Robert M. Isenhour, Superintendent of Water Systems at 262-3197.

Jackson provides a friendly face in orientation, year-round

Adam Bennett Editor-in-Chief


Jackson performs as a cheerleader in the skit presented to new freshmen to help describe dorm life and other aspects of the college experience.

The anxieties and pressures incoming freshmen and transfers experience need to be harnessed and related to them in a way they can understand.

Dennis Jackson, a 20-year-old junior from Charlotte, has taken on the responsibility of helping and encouraging these new students for the upcoming school year.

Jackson, a Management major, is currently a student orientation leader, which allows him to mentor new freshmen about college life during Phase One Orientation.

ÒThe primary purpose of Phase One Orientation,Ó according to Micki Riggsbee, director of student orientation, Òis for freshmen and transfers to get connected with academic advisors and faculty, to understand academic policies and procedures and to give them information about the advising process at Appalachian.Ó

When asked about the advantages of being involved with orientation, Jackson said, ÒI thought it was a good opportunity for me to grow. My orientation leader,when I came here, was very helpful and I wanted to do the same thing for future freshmen.Ó

Jackson and the rest of the student leaders started training this past spring. They met six times during the spring semester and then they will meet a few days before the first group arrives.

ÒBasically, it involves learning about testing, housing, academics, and registration,Ó said Jackson.

When orientation students and parents arrive during a session, they get information they need to start out at ASU. This information comes in the forms of speeches, discussions, papers, and a skit performed by the student orientation leaders. The skit physically puts information out in front of freshmen about the roommate situations, bathroom etiquette, studying and deciding what is best for their lives.

Jackson noted, ÒWe are one of the few people they first see when they get up here. I think that all of us are very helpful and friendly. We are here to make sure that (the freshmen) get everything they need before they come up here.Ó

Besides helping out freshmen during orientation, the leaders are encouraged to be available to freshmen during the fall. ÒI like (to) make sure that they have at least one friendly person that they can come to when they get up here on campus,Ó added Jackson. ÒI give out my business card and my fall number. If they have anything they want to talk about, I tell them to call.Ó

ÒI didnÕt do that last year, but I am more confident now with the job. I understand that a good orientation leader would take it to that level to where, when they are moving in, or homesick, or whatever, they will have someone to talk to.Ó

Being available and open is what Dennis is all about. Along with mentoring new freshmen, he wants to be a good example for new orientation leaders by telling them of some of his experiences. He tries Òto make it easier on them and (make them) more comfortable because it is something completely different than anything that theyÕve done before Ð being involved with the 2000 plus freshmen that come in.Ó

During the regular academic year, Jackson is a Plemmons Fellow mentor and a RA in Doughton Hall. He has been a cheerleader for two years and a member of last yearÕs homecoming court.

When mentoring other people through many of his extracurricular activities, Jackson sees a change in himself. ÒYou grow as a person, become more mature, and helpful to the needs of others. When you are a mentor, you are aware of all the other factors they are going through,Ó said Jackson.

ÒIt makes me feel more like IÕm giving a part of myself and what I can do to other people. It makes me feel more whole.Ó

The War Zone


College Street, located between Whitener Hall and Plemons Student Union, will soon be converted into a pedestrian walkway and service corridor as part of the campus 10 year plan.

 

 

 

 

 

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