Businesses report drop in discount card use

Sarah Newell - Staff Writer

The majority of the businesses listed on the Student Discount Card this academic year have seen a decline in its use as compared to previous years. The restaurants listed on the Student Government Association-complied card have also noticed this drop.

“I don’t use my card, mainly because the places aren’t listed on it. Last year’s was better because if you were at a business you could look and see if it was on the card,” said Corinne Harvey, a 20-year-old geography major from Winston-Salem.

Ryan Bombara, a student from Virginia, concurs. “I’ve used my card only once. I don’t think SGA has done a good job of telling you where to use the card, and the stores don’t go out of their way to let you know that students get a discount there.”

At Boone Paint and Interiors, manager Jamey Hodges said the store only has about one student per week use their discount at the store. “We had more students use their card last year. I realize that this isn’t a store that most students shop at, but we’re glad to help the students out. We’d probably be on the card again,” said Hodges.

“We had more students use their card last year. This year we have the same five students who remember to use their card every time they come, plus the occasional student who uses their card,” said Karen Snead, the manager at Dancing Moon Earthway Bookstore.

Dave Cunningham, the manager of the Good Shepherd, Inc., said he tries to help students out when he can. “There are a lot of students who come in here and don’t present their student IDs. We have a sign on the door that says we’re part of the program, but sometimes they don’t mention the discount. If they look like they’re students, I’ll usually ask them to present their IDs.”

“I’ll continue to be a part of the program, even though the students aren’t taking advantage of it,” said Cunningham.

Expressions is one of the few businesses participating in the program that reported an increase in student use. “Pretty much every student that comes in uses their card,” said John Burnett, manager of Expressions. “More people seem to know that we’re on the card this year.”

Marsha Moore, chair for the External Affairs Committee, which spearheaded the Student Discount Card initiative, said this year cannot be compared with previous years. “There are different businesses on this card compared with previous years, and each year varies,” said Moore. “The economy is down as a whole this year, and that could also have something to do with how often students use their discount card.”

Applicant pool expected to swell due to award

Setzer: Increase in applications expected next year

Kristina Egger - Staff Writer

The Office of Admissions at Appalachian State University hopes to receive 10,000 applications for the 2002-03 academic year, said Patrick Setzer, associate director for the Office of Admissions.

Due to the success of its freshman programs, Appalachian State was named a TIME magazine College of the Year last fall. The university believes the freshman applicant pool for next year may greatly increase because of the award.

“The application pool is up for students seeking early admittance, but it is too early to tell if the increase is in direct correlation to the TIME magazine article,” said Setzer.

University officials feel they may not see a drastic increase in applications until next year, due to the fact the article did not hit newsstands until September. Many recruitment publications for this year had already been sent to press by the date of the article’s release.

“We are currently having reprints made of the TIME magazine article to use as handouts for prospective freshmen,” said Setzer. “Of course we are going to use this as positive publicity to promote the university, but it also supports what many of us have always known to be true.”

Appalachian State received about 9,000 applications last year and admitted only a third of those who applied.

The current freshman class has higher SAT scores than any group before them, with an average of 1100. In theory, as the applicant pool increases, scores should continue to rise.

Jennifer Gates, tour coordinator for the Appalachian Ambassadors, claims to have noticed an increase in freshmen taking campus tours.
“We have seen high school seniors from California and Rhode Island,” said Gates. “Generally, these are states that we don’t see many people from.”

Gates also claimed Farthing Auditorium was packed for the fall open house last October.

Although she believes it is a realistic possibility, Gates agrees it is still too soon to tell if this increase is a result of the TIME article.

“We haven’t really seen our busy recruitment months yet, and we’ve already had several Ambassadors volunteer to do tours on Sunday,” said Gates. “We try to make an allowance for people who are visiting from out of town.”

Carrie Baker - Staff Writer

For the first time since the opening of the George M. Holmes Convocation Center, faculty, staff and students are being allowed to use the indoor track facilities.

The track opened Jan. 14 and will be available for use to anyone with a valid Appalachian State University ID card, said Eddie Crawford, director of the convocation center.

The indoor facility will be accessible Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., said Crawford.

“There was enough interest shown from faculty and staff and the track team wanting to use this facility while waiting for the student recreation building,” said Dr. Clyde Robbins, director of Design and Construction at Appalachian State.

The track is currently not planned to remain open for year-round use. “The track will be open … through March 31,” said Crawford. The indoor track will be used until the completion of the yet-to-be constructed student recreation building that is still in design phase, said Crawford. “The student recreation building is still two and a half years away,” said Robbins. “It will have an indoor track and be specifically designed for this purpose.”

The opening of the indoor track comes over a year after the opening of the convocation center in mid-November 2000. “The space initially did not meet track requirements. First the flooring was tile, and they have since put rubber down to meet those requirements,” said Robbins. The four-lane, 300-meter track with alternating black and gray lanes and yellow lines was laid with Sportsflex flooring to meet track requirements.

Additional concerns that delayed the opening included the amount of construction last winter, said Crawford. “Now, with no construction, we can offer use of the track without shutting it down for a construction schedule,” said Crawford.

The indoor track will be closed to students, faculty and staff after 2 p.m. to allow the evening hours for the Appalachian indoor track team’s practice.

The track will also be closed during university holidays.
No shower facilities or access to concessions or the arena will be available.

Walking and running directions will change every other day.
To protect flooring, no food, pets, strollers, spiked shoes, skateboards or roller blades are allowed. Further guidelines and “winter open track” hours are posted at the northwest entrance of the convocation center.

Order for additional cuts possible in Feb.

Departments operating with sizeable cut already

Kristin Davis - Special Correspondent

With faculty salaries and positions a top priority for Appalachian State University officials, colleges and departments have had to absorb an approximate 15 percent cut in operating funds this year, said Dr. Harvey Durham, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Appalachian has dealt with two budget cuts this academic session, the first of which came in early October when the North Carolina General Assembly ordered a 2.3 percent reduction in Appalachian’s state-allocated budget package.

University officials were told to expect another 4 percent cut. “We wanted to do it without losing positions. Our top priority is to protect the integrity of the classroom, which includes faculty salaries and recruiting students and professors,” said Durham.

The 4 percent was put in reserve until further word came.

The second cut, at 2.7 percent, was less than officials expected.

However, the remaining money was kept on reserve in preparation for another potential cut early next month, said Durham.

Budget reductions did not affect faculty salaries and positions, which were a primary concern, said Durham.

Instead, the reductions, equaling about 15 percent, were handed down to the academic departments.

Why are the academic departments absorbing a 15 percent slash when overall reductions were only 5 percent? If one has a budget of $100 and must trim it by $4 but can only take it from $25 of their budget, it is going to be more than 4 percent, said Durham.

In Durham’s analogy, the $25 figure represents each department’s operating budget and the $100 amount each department’s total budget.
However, Durham said he does not believe students will feel any effects from the reductions this year.

Despite talk of fewer course sections and larger class sizes, “it isn’t happening yet because we are protecting faculty positions,” said Durham.

Dr. Kenneth Peacock, dean of the College of Business (COB), said he fears any additional cuts will be detrimental to academic programs on campus.

The COB also took about a 15 percent cut, said Peacock.

“These operating dollars are critical to provide computers in the labs, equipment in the classrooms, travel for our faculty to attend and participate in professional and scholarly societies—these are just to name a few,” said Peacock.

Self defense classes teach simple, effective martial arts tactics

Becky DiVerniero - Staff Writer

The Appalachian State University Crime Prevention Department will be holding Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes for female students starting Monday.

RAD classes teach defensive techniques against assault by employing simple yet effective martial arts tactics. Basic prevention is also emphasized.

Sgt. Stacy Sears of the University Police is one of the four instructors teaching the class. “We’ll be teaching ground techniques but also common-sense prevention, such as locking your door or walking in pairs or groups,” said Sears.

This will be the third year the classes have been offered at Appalachian.

“So far it’s been a real good success,” said Sears. “The RAs have helped out by getting their floors involved.”

The main purpose of the RAD class is to prevent the crime from happening but also to raise awareness and self-esteem.

“We want to empower women and raise their self-confidence so they know [they] can do [this],” said Sears.

Class one will be held Jan. 28 and 30, and Feb. 4 and 6 from 6-9 p.m.

Class two will be Feb. 13, 20, 27 and March 6 from 6-9 p.m.

The final class will be held April 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 7-10 p.m.

There is a $10 fee for the 12-hour class. This includes a manual, t-shirt and a free lifetime return and practice policy.

To enroll, call Sgt. Stacy Sears at 262-2150.