Jennifer Miles - The Appalachian

A team of North Carolina high school JROTC cadets assist a fellow cadet during Saturday’s Raider Challenge at State Farm Field.

Raider Challenge builds
team work, future leaders

Kristin Davis - Academic Affairs Beat

High school JROTC cadets flocked from 20 schools across the state for the Appalachian State University-sponsored Raider Challenge Saturday.

Clad in camouflage and tall black boots, the assembled cadets commanded an acute kind of admiration, deeper than the days before Sept. 11 when America seemed untouchable.

The annual event brought 28 teams comprised of eight cadets—the largest group in years—that participated in a series of exercises, organized and evaluated by Appalachian ROTC members, said Capt. Dan Smith, associate professor of military science.

Raider Challenge tests physical fitness, first aid, land navigation and rope-bridge building, among other skills. “It’s an event cadets train for all year. It develops team work, physical fitness and leadership,” said Smith.

While college ROTC is designed to train officers for the military, in high schools the main task is to build better citizens, said Smith.

But the high school experience sometimes breeds military recruitment. J.D. Ollis, a high school sophomore from Ashe County, plans to go into the military. Raider Challenge involvement teaches Ollis about real military life, he said. The terrorist attacks of almost two months ago have only strengthened his resolve to fight for America.

“It makes you want to go over there [to Afghanistan] and kill [Osama bin Laden],” said Ollis.

On the expansive, verdant landscape of State Farm Field, Ollis and his teammates busily carried a “casualty” on a frail-looking stretcher under the watchful eyes of their college counterparts.

At one station, a team of eight expertly built a rope bridge between two telephone poles and crossed it, a task that can be completed in less than two minutes, said Smith.

Some strapped on canteens and sprinted across five kilometers. Still others, armed with map and compass, treaded through thick brush on a land navigation exercise.

When college students and military officers observed the high school cadets, they were “psyched up” about competition, explained Lt. Col. Bob Speir, military science chair, of Saturday’s crowd.

The most important prize college and high school ROTC members take away is leadership, said Speir.

Speaking about Appalachian ROTC involvement since Sept. 11, Speir said, “There has been some additional interest in people looking for ways to help out. The sentiment is there.” But the terrorist attacks have not changed the program, he added.

Tom Meares, an Appalachian senior, participated in the organization and evaluation of Raider Challenge. He plans to go into immediate active duty next August. “[Raider Challenge] strengthens our abilities to work with subordinates. It develops us as future officers and professors.”

Branch: things running
smoothly at Highlands
Student-tenants response to recent changes mixed

Kristina Egger - Chancellor / Student Development Beat

University Highlands’ tenants have expressed mixed emotions about living in the complex despite many of the changes that have been made over the past two years.

University Highlands is the largest off-campus apartment complex in Boone, housing 768 residents.

Ron Branch, University Highlands manager, said things are going very well this year. “At one point last year, tenants seemed very frustrated because people were running amuck,” he said.

One thing Branch said he made sure to do this year and will continue to do is carefully read over housing contracts with future tenants. “We put a lot of time and effort into trying to be proactive because we want tenants to understand what they can and cannot do.”

Aside from the aesthetic additions to the complex such as a quarter mile track, hot tub and swimming pool, Branch continues to accept recommendations on how to improve life at Highlands. They have added a big screen television, Playstation, VCR and six soda machines throughout the complex.

“We believe that because folks feel that their relationship with us is better, they are being less shy about making recommendations,” said Branch. “We are trying to give them what they want.”

Ron Branch said he even went as far as to form a board made up of tenants he questions on important issues. Many tenants complain about the visitor parking situation even with the addition of 75 spaces, which cost Highlands $100,000.

“We considered having certain hours when visitors could park throughout the complex, but tenants did not want it,” said Branch. “They are paying $400 a month and want to be able to park directly in front of their residence at all times.”

Tenant Hannah Hiatt, a senior at Appalachian, said he is concerned about the current parking situation. “Visitor parking is always full—I can not tell you how many times I’ve had to drive my friends to Winn-Dixie and leave their cars there so that they will not be towed.” Regardless of all of the improvements that have been made, tenants continue to complain about their living situation.

Jamie Saad, a junior at Appalachian and a transfer student from Illinois, said she is also dissatisfied with his experience at Highlands.

“I am very displeased with the intensity and pointlessness of the security squad,” said Saad. “It’s like all of the kids who got picked on in high school are now on the security squad picking on us.”

Saad added he is also concerned with problems surrounding the Ethernet and the hot tub, which are major selling points for Highlands.

“The [hot tub] is now closed for the winter, and the Ethernet flashes on and off,” said Saad. “Maybe we’re spoiled, but I don’t like it here. ”

On the contrary, Angela Smith, a sophomore at Appalachian, has really enjoyed her time at Highlands.

“Security is really picky at times, but the manager Ron Branch is really nice, and if you have a problem, you can just go to him,” said Smith.

Another plus for the Highlands is that many tenants view living there as convenient. “We pay a $400 flat fee that covers everything,” said Smith.

In addition to the payment plan, many of the tenants are transfer students and living at Highlands has provided them with the opportunity to build relationships.

Ron Branch believes that the future for Highlands is promising. “College students are young adults. If we treat them like adults, they’ll act like adults.”

Nate Grubbs - The Appalachian

Ashley Bumgarner waits to sign up for a workshop during the annual CSIL Leadership Forum Sunday afternoon in Plemmons Student Union.

Leadership Forum provides
information to organizations

David Forbes - Clubs / Organizations Beat

Over 80 students representing most of the organizations on campus attended the annual Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (CSIL) Leadership Forum Sunday afternoon in Plemmons Student Union.

Ashley Bumgarner, a sophomore double majoring in international business and French, were among those who attended. She is currently involved in Club Council, the French Club and the Service Coalition.

Before the Forum began she said, “I think I can benefit from what [the Leadership Forum] has to offer. Appalachian has a lot of opportunities for excellence. I get something from all three organizations I’m involved in.”

The afternoon began with a welcome from the Leadership Team, and then the group was divided when individuals attended one of three workshops. Bumgarner opted for the Conflict Resolution workshop led by Judy Haas, director of Student Judicial Affairs.

“I can be a very pushy person. I like to lead. I want to learn how to better deal with conflict,” said Bumgarner.

Haas discussed while conflict is often thought of as negative, it can be a normal, healthy part of interpersonal relationships, providing needed change and resolving disagreements.

After the workshops, the group was addressed by Dr. John Janowiak, the keynote speaker of the forum. Janowiak spoke mainly on managing stress through a variety of exercises ranging from visualization to muscle relaxation.

Afterwards, the group was divided again, with Bumgarner attending a session entitled “What does Leadership mean to you?” The session was run by Jenny Koehn of the Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) office.

Koehn spoke about leadership in the non-traditional sense, such as leading by example. “Coming her itself is an act of leadership. Any of you could have chosen to do something else this Sunday,” said Koehn.

Dr. Stuart Towns, department of communication chair, led the final session Bumgarner chose to attend. Town’s session was based on Sean Coney’s well-known book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” Towns teaches a class on the subject and uses anecdotes from both personal experience and from the book to make his points.

Leaving the final session, Bumgarner joined a small group in the Whitewater Room to give comments and suggestions of the day’s events. “I enjoyed it. I think the learning experiences I’ve had here will make me a better person, especially the session about the ‘Seven Habits’, as it was more specific concerning the hows of self-improvement,” said Bumgarner.

“I’d say it was pretty well organized, though I would’ve liked to see a bit more variety. I’ll definitely come back next year,” added Bumgarner.

Mixed views cause senators to abstain
in Liberty vote

Sarah Newell - SGA Beat

A lack of consensus among some Student Government Association (SGA) senators’ constituents regarding the Liberty University resolution, coupled with hesitance to vote according to their personal opinion, resulted in 14 abstentions during the Oct. 30 roll call vote.

The legislation called for the non-renewal of Appalachian State University’s athletic contracts with Liberty University after comments that its chancellor, Rev. Dr. Jerry Falwell made in regards to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“Fourteen abstentions is very abnormal,” said Rachel Bowling, chair of the SGA academic affairs committee.
“Most legislation has one or two abstentions at the most.”

“I don’t even think that we had 14 abstentions on [last spring’s resolution of support to repeal of Section 484 of the Higher Education Act] bill … that was passed last year,” said Bowling.

The resolution of support passed 41-17, with 72 members participating in the vote.

“I brought this issue before my constituents, and it was basically split 50-50,” said Rachel Johnson, an off-campus senator representing Phi Mu. “I myself was pretty undecided about this piece of legislation. I could see both sides.”

William Foster, another off-campus senator who abstained, felt the legislation was incomplete. “The legislation only went after sports, and not all of our other relationships with Liberty,” he said. “We also have no idea what Liberty thought about all of this, as there was no poll conducted. It just seemed incomplete to me.”

Katherine Allen agreed with Foster’s sentiment. “I represent the WTA [World Trade Association], and they haven’t had a meeting yet. My opinion on the legislation was mixed,” she said. “I think that we should set apart Falwell from Liberty, and that there should have been more research done on the issue before we voted on it.”

Xan Harrington, President of SGA, has three days to decide if he wants to support the resolution or veto it. If Harrington supports the bill, SGA will officially join Faculty Senate, who passed a similar resolution in October, to not renew the university’s athletic contracts with Liberty University.

Paul Sherar - Chief Photographer

Rev. Jimmy Creech shares his thoughts on religion and homosexuality Thursday evening.

Friend’s admission alters
Creech’s view of homosexuality

Chris Bohle - Multicultural Beat

Multiple court trials, near arrests and flagrant displays of civil disobedience are not actions usually associated with church ministers. But in Rev. Jimmy Creech’s case, all of the above apply.

Creech, an ordained elder of the United Methodist Church, has been involved in all of these incidents due to his support of same-sex marriages and his strong belief that God’s love is for “all persons, regardless of sexual orientation.”

In order to help combat anti-gay rhetoric and related hate crimes, Creech and several others started Soulforce, Inc., an organization working towards the acceptance of gay, lesbian and transgender children.

“What we do at Soulforce is confront anti-gay organizations with our beliefs,” said Creech. “If they do not want to listen then we often participate in acts of civil disobedience, which has led to many encounters with law officials. But we get our point across.”

Soulforce has been working towards making their point ever since they began in 1997, said Creech.

“We just want to be there to comfort young gays and lesbians and tell them that God does not hate them and wants to be with whomever they happen to love,” Creech said.
“There is no such authority that can tell a person who they can and can’t love,” Creech told the audience during his speech entitled “Freedom to Love Without Fear” in the Table Rock Room of Plemmons Student Union Thursday.

Creech did not always think this way. His early days growing up in Goldsboro were filled with homophobic sentiment.

“When I was young, I was shaped to believe that [same-sex relationships] were wrong,” said Creech. “The neighborhood I grew up in was very stubborn like that.”

Creech said his whole view on the subject changed in 1984 when a close friend in the church came out of the closet to him. The friend said that he was tired of his lifestyle being viewed as “unacceptable” in the church. Thus began Creech’s campaign.

“Him [Creech’s friend] coming out to me like that really opened my eyes,” Creech said. “Because here was a man who was a close friend of mine and who defied all the gay stereotypes that I was raised to believe. It made me realize that there was nothing wrong with this lifestyle.”

Creech said he came to believe it was Christian sexual morality, which does not condone same-sex relationships, among other things, was the primary shaper of Western culture’s understanding of sexuality.

“Judaism and Islam, for example, have not linked sex with sin, unlike Christianity,” said Creech. “This condemnation can make a young person feel guilt and shame when they experience the feelings associated with puberty.”

These things we are raised to believe negate our freedom to love without fear, said Creech.

Creech feels confident, though, that a tide of change is coming that will greatly affect how gays and lesbians are viewed in today’s society.

“We are in a process, globally speaking, of finally overcoming these medieval notions of sexuality,” Creech said. “Soon we will be free to marry the one we love, regardless of gender.”

Creech also hopes that “spiritual violence,” the worst kind of violence in his opinion, will not be as prevalent in the upcoming years.

“Spiritual violence is when people make others feel unwanted by God, which in turn makes the person hate themselves,” Creech said. “It is the most sinister type of violence, and it is spawned directly from the teachings of the Christian church.”

ASU student wins three-night Carnival cruise

Robyn Dailey - Business Affairs Beat

Appalachian State University senior Jason Beeding won a Carnival cruise from a lottery after registering for senior portraits at the University Bookstore-hosted Graduation Expo.

The lottery was open only to graduating Appalachian seniors who had their portraits made during the expo.

Jostens, Inc., a company that sells graduation products such as rings, caps and gowns, sponsored the prize as part of the Passport to Paradise! Program.

Beeding said he has three options of where to take his three-night cruise.

The package includes a free cruise for two people covering all costs except airfare, he said.

He can leave from Miami or Port Canaveral, Fla. and cruise the Bahamas or leave from Los Angeles, Calif. and cruise to Ensenada, Mexico. The cruise can be taken anytime within a year.

Beeding said he will probably go to the Bahamas but is still undecided about who he will take with him.

After his December graduation, the construction management major said he plans to begin a two-month internship. He said he might take the cruise in February after his internship and before he starts to work.

“While it’s cold here, it’ll be warm down there,” said Beeding.

He was contacted about a week after the expo and informed he had won the cruise.

Beeding said he picked up the prize from the bookstore and contacted Jostens about the details.

“It was handled through the bookstore,” he said.
Beeding is currently living in Winston-Salem and commuting to Appalachian for 12 hours of classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Beeding said one of the reasons he plans to go to the Bahamas instead of Mexico is because of the long flight to Los Angeles and his concerns about flying spawned by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“I’m kind of skeptical about flying,” he said.
He said at first, he was even concerned about possible terrorist attacks being on a cruise ship, but these concerns have faded.

“I guess it’s cool to get on a cruise ship.”