A cry goes out for BET’s diverse programs

Malcolm Smith

Hey, why not BET ?

Okay, let’s count down some of the choices we have with the local cable company.

There’s ESPN for the sports fanatic; TNN, where you can watch The Rock “Kick Some Candy Ass!” There’s Lifetime for Women, and E! Entertainment Television, where Howard Stern can get away with almost anything.

So, as a child raised on Black Entertainment Television, I ask the local cable company and the Boone community as a whole, why not BET?

Now, I already know what some of you are thinking: There is not a White Entertainment Television.

But, the majority of television stations gears its programming towards the white middle class – the news, sitcoms (I mean really, you think “Friends” is geared toward me?) and sports.

Try this little experiment: Flip through all the local cable company’s choices of programming and count the programs that can represent the diverse perspectives of black folks.

Here’s another argument against the addition of BET I like: The minority community is so small here there isn’t a high demand for it.

True, the minority community is miniscule. But you do not have to be of color to enjoy a little diversity in your entertainment.

You hear (rather than see) those students of European background all the time in their SUV’s blasting away on some Ol’ Dirty Bastard or other hip-hop artists that do not frequent MTV’s
TRL.

Even if you are not interested in hip hop, BET offers “Pastor Cherry,” whose ministries are broadcasted across the globe.

There’s “Comic View,” because to some people, MTV’s “Jackass” just isn’t funny.
Or one of my favorite things to watch is “Video Soul Gold” in the mornings – maybe I could even catch a New Edition (the original *NSYNC) video before class.

BET also offers jazz-oriented, community-discussion and news shows.Basically, BET is a pop subculture. Is it really any more different than MTV or CMT (Country Music Television)?
Appalachian claims a desire for a more diverse campus.

Here’s an incentive to recruit and retain students of more diverse cultures: Try demonstrating a willingness to accommodate this small request that has been a complaint within the black community at Appalachian and the Town of Boone. Then, do not stop at BET.

A contract with the local satellite company could possibly influence the local cable company to add a little diversity to its programming.

This request may sound like trivial (Lord knows I could use less television), but after a long day of studies and work, BET provides me with a sense of familiarity and comfort.

If Appalachian is sincere in providing a more diverse campus, how about listening to the request of the minority students here?

Our Perspective ...

Move to I-A unwise
Faculty Senate decision to oppose move is sound; BOT should quash measure

The Appalachian State University Faculty Senate recently issued a statement opposing a reclassification of the university’s football program from Division I-AA to I-A.

The results of a 1999 study revealed 98 percent of those who participated were opposed to such a move at that time, according to Faculty Senate Vice Chair Dr. Paul Gates, an assistant professor in the Department of communication.

While that survey is a bit dated, we doubt a number that significant will have undergone an ample shift to warrant another university inquiry into a jump to I-A.

A move to the NCAA’s premier classification would also require a sizeable boost in the university’s athletic budget if the Mountaineers were to have the needed resources to build a competitive football program.

The jump would require Appalachian to expand the size of Kidd Brewer Stadium, hire additional coaches and increase its allotment for football-related travel expenses.

We feel an initiative to boost that budget would be a hard sell in light of the $2 million the North Carolina General Assembly recently mandated Appalachian State must cut from its operating budget as part of its state-budget package.

“When our academic funding has been cut, there is no room for an increase in our athletic budget,” said Gates in the Oct. 2 edition of The Appalachian.

Given the recent economic slowdown, it may be years before the state is in a financial situation to increase Appalachian’s yearly allotment of state funds to help offset the cost of a move into the Division I-A football ranks.

An increase in student fees or tuition to help fund the move is an option we strongly oppose, especially after students were forced to incur the first installment of a campus-initiated $300 tuition hike in their fall semester bills followed by an additional 5 percent increase handed down as under the state budget.

Along with the widespread financial implications of a move to I-A, a jump would also raise questions in regard to competition.
Despite the Mountaineer football program’s success in the Southern Conference and several impressive runs through the NCAA Division I-AA National Playoffs, we question whether the program would ever reach a comparable level after a jump to
Division I-A.

The move to Division I-A is slated to appear on the Appalachian State Board of Trustees agenda at the body’s December meeting.
Dr. Alan Hauser, a professor in the department of philosophy and religion, said he feels the measure will be defeated by the trustees later this year.

We join the Faculty Senate in its opposition of a move to reclassify Appalachian football as a Division I-A program and hope the trustees will indeed strike down the move.

Voting: is there anything that will help?

Jared Kavlock

It was my intention to encourage everyone to go out and vote today in the local elections.

However, I knew that to do that I would have to research the race, candidates and issues.

As I set out on that course, I realized something. It seems that there really isn’t much of a choice to make in today’s elections.
Unfortunately, there is very little information to be had about the candidates and why you should choose a particular one.

Most of the information that is available is propaganda, simply saying “Vote for me” because he or she has certain representative experience or served on some local board or council.

Next to nothing can be learned about what the candidate really stands for or why you should vote specifically for him or her.
Running for three town council seats are five candidates: two incumbents and three challengers. Each and every candidate has a sterling service record. Incumbent Loretta Clawson has been on the council for four years, Dempsey Wilcox for six.

Saul Chase is a former councilman, having previously served two four-year terms.

Jerry Kirksey has served for the past four years on Boone’s Board of Adjustments.

Lynne Mason has said she has strong leadership skills and a desire to bring new ideas to the council, sentiments echoed by nearly all the candidates.

All of these candidates want to improve traffic and keep the environment clean.

Do you see where I am going with this?

Personally, I need more concrete information to convince me to shun one candidate in favor of another.

I must choose three of those five council candidates, and the top two winners receive four-year terms while third place gets a two-year term.

And I will choose.

I will go vote today, but will my vote be based on public policy and my personal convictions and beliefs? I am afraid not.

As I write this, I think I am just going to vote for new blood, to see how it changes things, if it changes anything.

Will Boone become a different place without Clawson and Wilcox? The magic eight-ball says his sources say no.

There is one other council seat open, the un-expired seat of the late Jimmy Smith. Unfortunately, one of the men running for this position, Bob Flora, died last Saturday.

Flora’s name will remain on the ballot, and if he wins posthumously, the council will appoint someone with similar beliefs and politics to the seat.

The voters will not really know who they are voting for when they respectfully check Flora’s name today.

And the choice between Flora (or his replacement) and opponent Graydon Eggers might be the fuzziest of all.

Eggers said he and Flora agreed on many issues, and if he is voted in he will give Flora’s ideas attention first.

How do I choose between mystery Flora-supporter X and Flora-supporter Eggers?

In fact, I met Bob Flora a few weeks ago. He seemed like a very nice man who was looking forward to the election and a chance to serve Boone.

But when I asked him, “Why do you need my vote?” I was saddened that he didn’t have a real response for me, one dealing with the issues, instead simply saying he needed all the votes he could get.

However, I was far more saddened to hear of his death.
There is one more race that will be decided today, for the highest office in Boone — the mayor.

Current mayor Velma Burnley has served six consecutive terms
and is running for a seventh. The last time she was up for re-election, she narrowly defeated challenger Butch Cooke.
This year Cooke is back to try again.

For the last 16 years, Cooke has served as chair of the Independent Living Program for the North Carolina Department of Human Services.

Cooke says that gives him the experience he needs. Burnley says her 12 years as mayor give her the experience she needs. Eenie-meenie-minie-moe.

If you want more information than I have given you, you will have to look way too hard to get it.

Each candidate has print advertisements and pamphlets, but all they say is “I’ll do this, I’ll do that,” and many of them are saying the same thing.

However, I think that negative campaigning is exactly what these races could use.

Something, or someone, needs to tell me why I should not vote for some of the candidates, because I am not allowed to choose them all.

Negative campaigning can provide us with that pointless and trivial piece of information that allows us to single a candidate out, because his or her positive campaigning is not helping.

I will still go vote today, though, and so should you (if you are
registered in Watauga County, of course).

At the very least, come try out the new electronic voting machines, which will eliminate the chads we heard so much about last year.

I hope you will all join me today for a wonderful game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey.