Survey seeks input on parking deck
Robbins: June completion date anticipated

Carrie Baker - Staff Writer

In an effort to garner faculty, staff and student opinions, the University Parking and Traffic office has compiled a survey concerning the use of the Rivers Street Parking Deck.

“We’ve never had a parking deck before, and we are dealing with new issues,” said Barry Sauls, director of University Parking and Traffic.
“The survey will help us see what kind of attitudes and opinions are out there concerning the parking deck.”

Some of the new issues include a $12 million debt, said Sauls.
“On University of North Carolina system campuses, the only funding you receive is self-generated funds. The only revenue sources are what we generate, which we do two ways: through citations and special parking permits,” said Sauls. “The survey deals with the increased debt,” said Sauls. “It is a very expensive structure that we want to utilize.”

A committee, appointed by the Parking and Traffic Office to gain input from the Appalachian State community, created the survey.
“The committee consists of representatives from faculty, staff and students,” said Sauls. “The students were appointed by the Student Government Association, the faculty from Faculty Senate and the staff by Staff Council.”

The 15-person committee meets twice a month to mainly discuss the parking deck, said Sauls. “We needed information from the people who will be using the deck in the future, and the committee decided [the survey] was the best way to do it.”

The 14-question online survey can be accessed from www.appstate.edu or through Campus Pipeline. The survey asks questions concerning current parking permit prices and potential permit prices for the parking deck. There is also space allowed for additional comments.

“I believe the survey is essential,” said Jane Helm, vice chancellor for Business Affairs. “It will help give direction in dealing with the use of the parking deck.”

Helm said the information from the survey will be used in June when the Office of Business Affairs will decide the terms of usage for the currently under construction parking facility.

The deck, located beside W. Kerr Scott Hall, is slated for completion by the first of June, said Clyde Robbins, director of Design and Construction. “We had some weather slippage in the construction, but we are still under budget.”

Free speech bill to appear on agenda

Sarah Newell - Staff Writer

A Student Government Association (SGA) bill calling for the clarification of free speech policies at Appalachian State University will appear on the senate agenda tonight, said Amanda Privette, SGA vice president.

Citing reservations concerning the inclusion of three student testimonials, Privette excluded the legislation from last week’s agenda, a move that initiated controversy among SGA members.

One of the testimonials used in the legislation, authored by Ian Mance and Paul Funderburk, SGA senators representing Appalachian Heights and Winkler Residence Hall, respectively, is a statement by former undergraduate student Deborah Faith Hollingsworth, now a graduate student at Appalachian, who had what Plemmons Student Union deemed an “obscene” poster for the National Organization of Women at a contact table.

A second testimonial describes a publicity advertisement for SGA president and vice president candidates Lawrence Mounkes and Matthew Schriber in the 2001 election featuring a picture of a urinal and the slogan, “Don’t piss away your vote!”

The final testimonial included a comment by SGA Sen. Dustin Bayard who was one of the 13 Appalachian students allegedly threatened with arrest after distributing literature during a political demonstration on Sanford Mall in September.

The two authors of the bill, who said they spent a month and half crafting the document, remain steadfast the testimonials are the reason the legislation was not included on last week’s agenda.

“[Privette] told me on [Jan. 18] that I could submit the bill Tuesday morning [Jan. 22], even though legislation is supposed to be submitted by noon on Mondays in order for it to be presented at the senate meeting the following night because Monday was a holiday,” said Mance.

Privette said she disagreed with Mance’s sentiments. “I got the legislation Tuesday morning, and the deadline is Monday at noon. I didn’t have the chance to review it as thoroughly as I’d have liked to make the judgment as to whether I would put it on the schedule [for that night’s senate meeting],” said Privette.

“I didn’t refuse it simply because it had testimonials. I also consulted Dino [DiBernardi, CSIL director and SGA’s faculty advisor] about it, and he agreed with me,” said Privette. I think that if the quotes were attached as an addendum instead of actually in the legislation, it’d carry more weight.”

The vice president is charged with setting the agenda for each senate meeting, according to SGA guidelines.

“[Mance] brought her a bill past the deadline. [Privette] told me she had some reservations about it stemming from the inclusion of the testimonials,” said DiBernardi.

“It was fully within [Privette’s] boundaries not to include it because of those reservations. Given those reservations, she had a responsibility to not put it on [the agenda],” said DiBernardi.

He added Privette’s decision was based solely on the fact she lacked ample time to address the reservations because it was past deadline.

“These testimonials were eyewitness accounts of alleged First Amendment violations that were occurring on campus. Their purpose was to convey the accounts of the incidents to the administration and to communicate the concern of the students who allegedly had their First Amendment rights abridged,” said Funderburk.

Privette said she disagrees with these statements. “It is the vice president’s responsibility to ensure that the bill’s as good as it can be before it goes to [the Rules Committee], and Rules’ responsibility is to make sure that everything’s acceptable before going to the senate,” said Privette.

Privette said she had talked with Mance and Funderburk about a possible compromise on the bill before deciding to place it on tonight’s docket, but the duo refused her offer.

Privette’s compromise proposal called for the removal of the three testimonials from the body of the legislation. The bill would have been stronger had the three events been paraphrased and the testimonials featured as attachments, Privette said late last week.

The two authors of the bill disagreed with Privette’s statements about the strength of the bill.

“Our job is to bridge the gap between the students and the administration and without the testimonials, it doesn’t do that,” said Funderburk. “The bill is what arrives to the administration after it’s been passed, not the addendum.”

“If we don’t allow testimonials, it sets a dangerous precedent for future legislation. I don’t think it makes the case as strong,” said Funderburk. “Without the testimonials, it doesn’t show that the university has violated policies,” said Mance. “[Privette] even asked Patrick Cash [chair of the Rules Committee] about the testimonials, and he told her that there’s no reason for it not to go to Rules.”

While Privette did make a decision to keep the legislation off the agenda last Tuesday, there is a process that would have allowed the bill to be featured on that meeting’s agenda. The body does have a redress, said DiBernardi.

Privette said she intended to tell the authors about this process, which requires a two-thirds vote of the body to suspend the rule to send it to Rules, but Mance did not stay to listen to that option after learning of her decision to exclude it from the agenda.

I am encouraged by [Privette]’s choice and am glad she decided to add it to the agenda,” said Funderburk Sunday evening after learning of Privette’s decision to place the bill on tonight’s agenda.

First-semester freshmen not eligible
for Greek rush activities
Committee investigating potential one-year deference policy

Kristina Egger - Staff Writer

First semester freshmen will not be allowed to participate in sorority/fraternity rush activities beginning with the 2002-2003 academic year, said Julie Somppi, advisor to the Greek councils.

“Deferred recruitment for incoming freshmen is an idea that has been discussed on a variety of levels for a number of years,” said Somppi.

The decision to move to deferred recruitment was announced to students last week.

A student/faculty committee will decide by March whether the rush deferment will restrict freshmen from rushing for one semester or one year, the specific process for deferred recruitment, and the resources needed to implement the change effectively, said Sompii.

The committee will then present their recommendations to Dino DiBernardi, director of the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, who will later discuss the findings with Dr. Gregory Blimling, vice chancellor for Student Development.

Freshmen grade point averages and the waning number of students rushing were factors examined in this decision, said Sompii.

“We are looking at what is best for the students, and we believe that this will improve the quality of recruitment as a whole,” said Somppi.

“We believe that in the long run this will also help students make educated decisions about what they want in an organization and why they want it.”

Several other universities across the country have implemented deferred recruitment for first semester freshmen and have seen positive results from the system.

Among those currently being researched by Appalachian State are Ohio State University and Western Carolina University.

“After two years of deferred recruitment at Ohio State, the number of Greeks rebounded and went up,” said Somppi. “Quota four years ago was 32 at this university, and this past year it was at 20. Hopefully, this will help Greek numbers.”

Somppi also said she sees this change as an opportunity for Greeks to market themselves better across campus.

A survey completed by this year’s freshmen showed that 26 percent expressed interest in Greek life, but only half of those actually went through with rush.

“Being Greek is sometimes a huge challenge for fighting negative perceptions,” said Somppi.

“We can either give into the stigma, or we in the Greek community can simply strive to do things better.”

Many members of the Greek community who were initially taken aback by this decision are gradually adjusting to the change.

Chris Garth, president of Inter Fraternity Council (IFC) thinks the deferment is a good idea.

“When I first found out about the school’s decision, my initial reaction was, ‘why so soon’ “ said Garth. “Then I looked at statistics from other schools, and it seemed like a good idea.”

Garth is a key member of the March recommendation committee.

At this time, he said he believes they will ask for only a semester long deferment.

“I look at this as an opportunity for improvement,” said Garth. “The best thing we can do right now is come together as a Greek community.”

Vanessa Garcia, recruitment chair for Sigma Kappa sorority, is also in support of the university’s decision.

“I think that it is really important that freshmen rush, but doing it as we have in the past barely gave them time to settle in,” said Garcia.
“This past year rush was during the second week of school and a lot of girls missed it because they were not ready.”

MLK Day Challenge draws large crowd

David Forbes - Staff Writer

Over 165 people, most of them Appalachian State University students, fanned out across Boone last Monday as part of the Third Annual MLK Day Challenge, a day of service projects aimed at bringing students and the community together in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of service.

Organized by the Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) office, the challenge began at 8:30 a.m. in Legends with an address by Dr. Larry Keeter, professor of sociology and social work. The 15 participating groups were given their assignments at random and sent out to accomplish them while a sermon from King called “The Drum Major Instinct,” on the importance of helping one another, played in the background. The tasks ranged from fundraising activities to painting wildlife murals to building projects.

“It was overwhelming. There was 10 times more energy than I’d expected, in a good way. Everyone was very enthusiastic about working … no one was really slacking off,” said first-time participant Jen Champion, a junior psychology major. Champion’s group worked five labor-intensive hours for Habitat for Humanity, clearing brush and digging a storage area under a house.

Champion’s group also raised over $120 for the bonus challenge given to each group, which was to raise at least $45 for Operation Love, an effort to set up a scholarship fund for the three New York children of the Miller family, which was “adopted” by Appalachian following the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. The total goal was $675, which the groups exceeded, raising $825, according to figures issued by the ACT office.

“I think it [the day] showed everyone that he [King] wanted us to serve the community,” said sophomore David Henderson, whose group spent the day soliciting businesses to raise money for a fireproof, lockable filing cabinet for OASIS, Inc., a local women’s shelter.

“We asked them to give coupons or items from the store if they couldn’t donate money,” said Henderson. The items given were auctioned off at Legends at the end of the day.

“There was a lot of community support from small businesses,” said Jenny Koehn, program coordinator at Student Programs, who advised the planning committee for the MLK Day Challenge. “Over 60 area businesses spontaneously donated money and supplies.”

“I was required to participate for my Freshman Seminar class. But I’m really glad I did,” said freshman Brian DuBois, who worked
refurbishing the bathrooms and basements in the Hospitality House, the local homeless shelter.

DuBois maintains he will definitely return next year. “It was very well organized, especially about getting people like me interested.”

“All 15 groups met their challenge. It was really incredible,” said Koehn. “I think it is truly outstanding that 165 people show up on a holiday by 8:30 a.m. and work hard throughout the whole day. That’s a big commitment.”

Studio one semester from completion

Chris Bohle - Staff Writer

The Robert F. Gilley Recording Studio is within a semester of completion, a task that has seen students assist in the construction almost every step of the way.

Named after Robert Gilley, a School of Music graduate and major contributor to the project, the studio will be fully equipped with all of the latest technology.

“We continue to add to the inventory every day, whether it is more microphones or processing boxes,” said Michael Fleming, the overseeing technician on the project.

The heart of the studio will be a digital multi-track recorder and a mixing box, said Fleming, who was hired last year on contract to specify and install the audio technology of the studio. He will stay on the Appalachian State University campus after the studio’s completion in order to teach music technology classes.

The idea of building a studio in the Mariam C. Hayes School of Music was first conceived nearly a decade ago. The total cost of the project, which was financed heavily through fundraising, is difficult to pinpoint, said Dr. William Harbinson, dean of the School of Music.

“When everything is said and done, we are probably looking in excess of $1.5 million,” said Harbinson. “Technology is always changing, however, and we will continually be updating the equipment, so it is nearly impossible to pinpoint the exact cost.”

The assembly of the studio is being used as an opportunity for music students to get hands-on experience in the construction of a real studio. The core group of workers is made up of Fleming, one graduate assistant and a group of up to six students from one of the advanced music classes.

“There are about five students at this point that regularly help out in the studio,” said Fleming. “But more will probably become involved when we get into the final stages of the project.” Fleming called it a great opportunity for the students to come to class and “get their hands dirty.”

The students are all part of Music 4426, an independent study class, which is very project oriented, said Fleming.

“I think it is a great story of students who are getting real-worl experience in the Hayes School of Music,” said Harbinson.

The idea for the recording studio was first put on the drawing board about 10 years ago with the help of John Charlillo, a member of the School of Music Advisory Board.

Once the project was approved, the task of fundraising began, an undertaking that took a good portion of the 1990s to complete.

Now the light at the end of the tunnel is finally visible, as Fleming and his students hope to have the studio ready for use by the beginning of the next academic year.

“The studio will take a while to be fully completed since we will be making many small changes to the equipment as time goes on,” said Fleming. “But we should certainly have all of the major components in place by the end of the semester.”