ASU aids family of fallen N.Y. fire fighter
New York family lost father in Sept. 11 attacks

Editor’s Note: Honoring the request of the family, the first names of Mr. and Mrs. Miller are not included in this article.

Kristina Egger - Chancellor / Student Development Beat

Mr. Miller, a member of the Staten Island Fire Department Rescue Five Unit, lost his life in a heroic rescue attempt on Sept. 11, leaving behind his adoring wife and their three young daughters, Elizabeth, age 6, Rachel, 5, and Katie, 3, said Jenny Koehn, community service coordinator for Appalachian State University.

As groups and organizations around the world were brainstorming ways to help the victims of Sept. 11, the students and faculty at Appalachian State were doing the same. That is when the Appalachian family decided to ask Mrs. Miller and her three daughters to join their family.

“In the three years I’ve been here I’ve often heard the students, faculty and staff at Appalachian be referred to as the ‘Appalachian Family,’ so it seemed only natural for us to extend our family to one in New York,” said Koehn. “It just so happens that our family has 12,000 people in it.”

The university initially toyed with the idea of sending the victims a monetary donation, but then wondered exactly where the money would be going. Barbara W. Daye, dean of students, came up with the idea to adopt a family in New York, a concept that was met with approval by students, faculty and staff. “This is something that we can really put our arms around,” said Koehn.

“I wanted to be able to see how we as the Appalachian family could make a difference and know exactly who we were making a difference for,” said Daye. “I don’t mean to sound trite, but it seemed like the Appalachian thing to do—to actually get to know someone on a
personal basis.”

Daye said the university was directed to the Miller family with the help of Megan Rutherford, a writer for TIME Magazine. A Staten Island Fire Department human resources employee gave the name of the family to Daye.

Koehn said a letter was sent to Mrs. Miller to see if she would be interested in forming an ongoing relationship with Appalachian State.
Mrs. Miller contacted the university, extended her thanks, and expressed genuine interest in the idea.

The university then formed a committee to discuss how it could best help Mrs. Miller and her three daughters. Several organizations, offices, programs and academic departments were asked to send delegates to discuss future plans for the family.

Some of the suggestions proposed at the first meeting included sending special packages to the family on birthdays and holidays, purchasing saving bonds for the girls and establishing a college fund.

At the end of October, the Millers received their first package, which included Appalachian State University paraphernalia such as sweat shirts, pom-poms and fleeces. Mrs. Miller also requested a videotape of the university so Appalachian could introduce itself to the family, said Koehn.

The family received the gifts and loved them.

The next box received by the family contained dance costumes, courtesy of a young girl named Jodi Krouse, whose mother Donna works in the Student Development office.

Elizabeth, Rachel and Katie received the costumes right before their family left to go to Vermont for Thanksgiving and according to their mother, the girls loved them.

The next package to be sent will go to Elizabeth Miller, who will be turning 7 on Dec. 2. Elizabeth will receive educational toys, play toys and a Barbie Doll computer game that she specifically asked for, said Koehn.

At the suggestion of Roachel J. Laney, director of athletics, the family will also be receiving Appalachian ornaments, a wreath and a Christmas tree this holiday season.

“As I was sitting at our meeting I was trying to think of what was special about our area and because we are in the middle of Christmas tree country it seemed like a great idea,” said Laney.

In addition, the Millers, who are very interested in music and the arts, will be receiving mixed CDs compiled by several student organizations. Also, the Appalachian Popular Programming Society (A.P.P.S.) has agreed to donate CDs from artists such as Gillian Welch and Nickel Creek to the family as a way to introduce them to local artists.

Appalachian State will continue the relationship with the Millers until they no longer desire the help, said Daye.

Other universities have contacted Appalachian and have shown interest in the project, but without great results.

“So far, other universities haven’t been able to make the commitment to the project that we have,” said Daye.

“Also, the families in New York are in several different stages of the healing process so it’s been hard to find other matches.”

Josh Brown - The Appalachian

Erin Morrow will be one of 7,200 people to carry the Olympic torch.

Morrow selected to carry Olympic torch

Carrie Baker - Greeks Beat

Like most Appalachian State University students, Erin Morrow has big plans for Winter Break. She plans to see friends and family and celebrate the holidays at home in Nashville, Tenn. But her plans don’t end there.

Morrow will also be participating as an Olympic torchbearer for the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“I felt a million different emotions at once when I found out,” said Morrow, a senior marketing major.

Morrow will carry the torch two-tenths of a mile on Dec. 15 at 4:40 p.m. in Nashville, along with Thomas Fotta, who nominated her.

Fotta met Morrow during the spring of her freshman year when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). “Tom kind of adopted me,” said Morrow.

Fotta is a pharmacist with Appalachian Health Services. “He fills my prescriptions, contacts my mom if I ever need help, and looks after me,” said Morrow.

Fotta sent in the letter last summer along with 210,000 other applicants. “I read about the torchbearer nominations in a newspaper and then visited the Salt Lake 2002 Web site,” said Fotta. “Erin came to mind.”

Fotta said he was impressed with Morrow’s determination. In his nomination letter, Fotta wrote, “Erin has not beaten MS but has broken its grip. To see her carry the Olympic torch representing peers and family would be truly inspirational.”

Morrow credits family, friends and Appalachian with helping her fight MS. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than ASU,” said Morrow. “All my friends in high school went to [the] University of Tennessee. If I had gone too, I would have turned and gone back home when I was diagnosed.”

Morrow described Appalachian State as supportive.

Morrow is involved in several organizations at Appalachian, including Kappa Delta sorority. She has spent the last three summers involved in the MS 150 bike ride, raising money for multiple sclerosis research.

“I found out about the MS 150 the summer of my freshman year and began training,” said Morrow. “My sorority sisters and parents helped to fund me. I hope to continue to do it every year. It makes fighting this so much easier.”

Morrow and Fotta are one of 475 pairs carrying the torch. “There were 7,200 applicants chosen to carry the torch,” said Morrow. “I got an e-mail over the summer that said I was in preliminary running to be a torchbearer, and I would find out at the end of August, then I found out that Tom and I would be carrying the torch.

“The best part is that we get to do it together.”

Award named for Daye

Kristin Davis - Academic Affairs Beat

Nominations have begun for the first ever Daye Award, a biannual mark of distinction granted to University Recreation (UREC) employees for exemplary performance within the department.

The award recognizes workers who assert qualities of sincerity, loyalty, integrity, dedication and stewardship, said Amy Reel, UREC publicity programmer.

The Daye award is named in honor of Barbara Daye, dean of students, for her 33 years of service to Appalachian State University.

“[Daye] has helped with UREC more than anyone,” said Reel.

Along with UREC Director Joe Carter, Reel and Neal Holly, Ga., administrator, developed the award to replace the previous Employee of the Month system.“[The Daye Award] is more of an honor,” said Reel.

UREC Council members will choose up to seven employees each semester for the award. Students, faculty, staff and members of the university community may nominate UREC employees.

Nomination forms are available in Broome-Kirk Gymnasium, the Quinn Center and Mt. Mitchell Life Fitness Center.

Those chosen for the Daye Award will be presented with a plaque, and their names will appear on a nameplate in the UREC office, said Reel.

“UREC provides opportunities for so many students. It gives students a wonderful opportunity to work and become responsible leaders,” said Daye, who will be retiring in May 2002.

Daye was responsible for bringing Outdoor Programs and UREC together. The 33-year Appalachian veteran is founder of the Appalachian Child Development Center, Family Weekend and Orientation.

She called the new award that bears her name “overwhelming, and very, very special.”

A Forrest City native, Daye attended Appalachian as a student before returning as a Health and Physical Education teacher for two years. In 1972, she was offered a position in the Office of Student Affairs, where she has been ever since.

About Appalachian, Daye told UREC employees: “I came here because it felt like home.”

Mountaineers gear up for playoff showdown
with William & Mary
ASU hosts Tribe as Division I-AA title chase kicks off

Chris Boyce - Sports Beat

Support from Appalachian State University students and fans at Kidd Brewer Stadium will play a pivotal role in propelling the Mountaineers to victory against the College of William and Mary Saturday in the NCAA I-AA playoffs, said head football coach Jerry Moore.

“The student body can get everybody else fired up,” said Moore. “It’s a great feeling. My appreciation for the fans has really grown in the last four or five years. They’ve become louder and more boisterous. I think the fan support here can be a big factor this Saturday.”

The Mountaineers will need all the support they can get against the co-Atlantic 10 Champions, the College of William and Mary Tribe, which enter Boone as one of the Atlantic 10’s most prolific offenses.

“They are a very solid football team, and they have an outstanding quarterback,” said Moore. “They have 34 seniors so even though they haven’t been in the playoffs the last few years, they’re still very much focused on what they want to do.”

Tribe Quarterback Dave Corley has thrown for 2,584 yards this season, completing 59 percent of his passes for 19 touchdowns with only nine interceptions.

Wide receiver Rich Musinski is one of the best in the conference, catching 54 passes for 1,242 yards this season, in addition to 11 touchdown receptions.

William and Mary finished fourth in the Atlantic 10 in passing yardage per game with 248 yards per contest.

Appalachian State’s pass defense led the Southern Conference (SoCon) and should make for an interesting match up against the high-flying passing game of the Tribe.

After a season full of mental breakdowns and sporadic play, the Mountaineers seem to be clicking on all cylinders at just the right time.

“There was a lot of apprehension before the playoffs, and we felt that we’d played well for five weeks. The thing that’s bothered us has been penalties, at Wake Forest and Georgia Southern,” said Moore. “We saw how they cost us ballgames, and we made more of an issue about them.”

Moore added the turnaround reached its peak against the Western Carolina University Catamounts, a 34-24 Nov. 10 victory at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

“You can just see things beginning to gel,” said Moore. “I told the team in practice that we have the same players as we did back in August but we’ve got a lot different football team now.”

The Mountaineers find themselves surrounded by familiar faces in the postseason field, including conference rivals Georgia Southern University and Furman University, in addition to the University of Montana, whom Appalachian State lost to in last season’s semifinals.

Moore said that the Mountaineers’ solid fan support played a factor in awarding Appalachian State a home football game Saturday.

“I think word got out to the NCAA that Appalachian State draws fans,” said Moore. “There’s some good teams in the 16-team tournament that just don’t draw as much.”

The road to the playoffs has been a tough one for the Mountaineers, losing starting tailback Karim Razzak to a season-ending injury and dropping back-to-back SoCon games to Georgia Southern and Furman, but Moore said Appalachian State football has been given a near perfect opportunity.

“I’m pleased for our players, and I’m pleased for our fans because it’s their school. It’s their football team.”

Sean Oakley - Faculty Senate Beat

After expressing hesitation regarding what it saw as the role of the Equity Office, the Faculty Senate failed to reach an agreement on a motion regarding recommendations on the office at the panel’s Nov. 12 meeting.

“I think what some of us are concerned about is the way things have been handled in the past,” said Peter Petschauer, a professor in the Department of History.

The Equity Office is charged with investigating sexual harassment grievances from or against faculty members.

The Office of Student Development handles all cases of sexual harassment by students against students.

An ad hoc committee had been assigned to research the subject and report its findings, as well as recommendations for any future motions regarding the matter. At the Nov. 12 meeting, the committee reported these results, prompting a lengthy debate that rattled in the senate meeting room.

“Is this [proposed motion] better than what we currently have and do we have any recommendations to make it better,” asked Gail Weitz, Faculty Senate Chair and associate professor in the Department of Art, while trying to push along the process.

Sections of the proposed motion included housing the Equity Office within the Human Resource Services Department and charging the office with educating the Appalachian State University community on issues of diversity and sexual harassment.

Another change described in the motion called for the Equity Office to assist in the setting up of facilitated discussions regarding grievances.
“This proposal failed to meet its charge, which was to clarify what the Equity Office’s power and purpose is,” said Dr. Patrick Rardin, associate professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion.
“As it stands, I would have to vote against it.”

Many of the members voiced opinions that the office overstepped its boundaries and abused the investigative part of its mission.

Another question was raised in the senate debate regarding anonymous complaints. Even if an anonymous complaint was found to be completely false, there would still be a document in the accused faculty member’s file stating they had received a complaint.

“We don’t like to be investigated in higher education,” said Petschauer. “We take the word investigate with a negative connotation.”

After it became apparent the discussion would not garner a conclusion, the senate opted not to bring the matter to a formal vote, instead assigning another committee to investigate and draft a separate motion.
The body hopes to come closer to, if not decide on, a conclusion at its next meeting, following the new committee’s findings and recommendations.

Weitz questioned the first committee’s approach, saying, “It appears to me that the ad hoc committee is not aggressive or sensitive enough to the Faculty Senate concerns over the Equity Office.”

Legislation calls for extermination of
scholarship’s tiered system

Sarah Newell - SGA Beat

Student Government Association senators have proposed legislation calling for the eradication of the tiered system that currently exists in the awarding of the Chancellor’s Scholarship.

The Chancellor’s Scholarship, Appalachian State University’s most distinguished scholarship, is funded entirely by the university, unlike many of the most prestigious scholarships at other schools, such as the Morehead Scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, or the Distinguished Scholars at East Carolina University.

Robert Rountree, co-author of the legislation, said, “The money for the Chancellor’s Scholarships comes from revenue from the Appalachian State University Bookstore and New River Power and Light.

“The revenue is credited towards operating expenses, and the excess money goes towards the scholarships.”

Currently, the recipients of the Chancellor’s Scholarship receive different amounts. The Appalachian honors Web page states, “Each year, 25 incoming students are selected for Chancellor’s Scholarships of up to $4,500 per year.”

Rountree and Tim Young, both representatives of the honors dorm Coffey Residence Hall, have written legislation that supports making the scholarship equal for all recipients.

The resolution of policy states, “There exists a disparity between the full amount granted to Chancellor’s Scholars prior to the 2000-2001 academic year, and the full amount granted to those receiving the scholarship after the fall of 2001. There is a tiered system.”

The legislation goes on to say sophomore, junior and senior Chancellor’s Scholars must maintain the same responsibilities freshmen do in order to keep their scholarships. However, they receive less money than freshmen.

Rountree said he feels by raising scholarships so they are all $4,500, not only will the effort be an investment in the students, but also in Appalachian.

“It’s a very progressive step to improving the stature of the university itself,” said Rountree.

One of the biggest problems Rountree sees with the scholarship is that it does not cover two-thirds of the cost of room, board and tuition.
“The Distinguished Scholars at East Carolina receive $40,000 for four years, and their tuition, room and board is about $8,000 per year, so those scholars receive about $2,000 for living expenses as well,” he said

“Even if the legislation doesn’t pass, hopefully it will bring the issue to the administration’s attention,” said Rountree.

Events test Holmes Center usage

Chris Bohle - Multicultural Beat

The George M. Holmes Convocation Center was in high demand the evening of Nov. 6, said director Eddie Crawford.

The Department of Athletics and the Appalachian Popular Programming Society (A.P.P.S.), part of the Office of Student Programs, were both vying for the space, he said.

Athletics had already booked the arena for women’s volleyball’s senior night when A.P.P.S. booked the band Lifehouse to perform at the Holmes Center.

“We basically put it to the two groups to decide what the priority was,” said Crawford.

He said volleyball games usually pull in anywhere from 100-300 people, while the concert attracted 1,600 people.

The volleyball game, however, was the last home game for the senior players, and the Holmes Center is their home court.

Student Programs was given the decision either to ask athletics to move the senior night volleyball game to Varsity Gymnasium or to surrender the space and allow the game to continue as scheduled, said Dave Robertson, director of student programs.

Robertson said he made the decision to move the concert to Varsity Gym because of the volleyball game and the relatively small size of the concert.

“It would be really unfair to ask those girls and their coaches to move their last game of the season into an old venue,” said Robertson.

“So we were stuck,” he said. “It was either take Lifehouse on Tuesday night in [Varsity Gym] or not have a concert.”

Varsity Gym is a university facility built for general university use by taxpayers’ dollars while the Holems Center was erected with private dollars. Neither is owned by the Department of Athletics, said Robertson.

But nothing about Varsity Gym is good for a concert, he said.
“Varsity Gym is an inferior facility for concerts in every way conceivable,” said Robertson.

When A.P.P.S. got into the gym’s locker rooms to prepare them for the artists, several wrestlers were disturbed and reluctant to leave, said Robertson.

Wrestler Willie Northen wrote a letter-to-the-editor appearing in the Nov. 13 edition of The Appalachian, expressing his disapproval of the situation.

“I thought that was a really unfortunate letter because A.P.P.S. had bent over backwards to accommodate athletics in the [Holmes] Convocation Center,” said Robertson.

He said the coaches were informed of the concert and how the locker rooms needed to be free for A.P.P.S. after the wrestling practice.
“It wasn’t the athletic department’s fault … it was just uninformed students,” said Robertson.

He said A.P.P.S. and the Department of Athletics have always had a good relationship with re-arranging practices for events.

“We have always had priority over athletic practices for concerts,” said Robertson. “Athletics is very cooperative with that.”

He said the only issues are with games.

The Holmes Center is booked on a first-come, first-serve policy, but university functions are accommodated as much as possible, said Crawford.

The Department of Athletics books its dates a year ahead of time, which A.P.P.S. is unable to do because of the nature of the performance industry, said Robertson.

A.P.P.S. typically is unable to book shows until about three months or less before the date, he said.

“Right now we’ve been very frustrated at getting dates,” said Robertson.

He said A.P.P.S. has no problems with the Department of Athletics.
Crawford said athletics pays a flat rate to rent the Holmes Center, while Student Programs pays by event.

“Right now we’re about 50-50 with Athletics and university events,” said Crawford.

Mark Dreibelbis, assistant athletic director, said, “Athletics has always worked very closely with A.P.P.S.”

Dreibelbis said the department also works very closely with the Holmes Center and has been pleased with the experience.

“Our association with the [Holmes] Convocation Center has been nothing but positive.”