Multicultural Beat

Racism rising among students, say pair of minority groups
NAACP, BSA point to several recent incidents; plan dual-campaign

David Forbes - Staff Writer

Several recent incidents are sparking action from the Appalachian State University chapters of the NAACP and the Black Student Association (BSA), in response to what they say is evidence of growing racism and prejudice on campus.

The most recent incident occurred at a Greek Week basketball game between the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Delta Chi fraternity.

“I was watching the game; there was a question about legal players.
Delta Chi was down 14 points,” said Tara Haynes, co-chair of BSA.
“Then I just started hearing monkey noises and the n-word [from Delta Chi members].”

Two members of Delta Chi admitted to the actions and had sanctions brought against them by Delta Chi entailing suspension for at least a year.

“It was definitely more than two members; I’d estimate it was at most 10,” said Haynes. “It was totally uncalled for. As students, we shouldn’t have to be hated and discriminated against just for going to a basketball game,” she added.

“This is not what Delta Chi stands for,” said Delta Chi President Jonathan Stovall. “A lot of the brothers were offended by the comments. We offer our deepest apologies, and we’ve tried to apologize to everyone possible.”

“We’ll try and find ways to mend the relationships that have been harmed by this,” continued Stovall.

A second incident involving racial slurs spray-painted in the tunnels below Rivers Street over the names of former Student Government Association presidential and vice presidential candidates Larry Smith and Alison Laffin, accompanied by “KKK.”

“We feel that we’ve been offended,” said James French, co-chair of the BSA, of the feelings of many minority students at these incidents.
“How can they actually tell us how great it is [at Appalachian] if we’re feeling this uncomfortable? How can we feel safe when there are problems like this going on?”

French also said a comment made by SGA Vice Presidential candidate Dustin Bayard at the debates offended many.

“My message to minority students is we need more of you people here,” said Bayard in response to a question concerning campus diversity.

“At the debate he made a reference to ‘you people’ which [is language that] separates minorities,” said French. “That upset a lot of people.”

“[Bayard] definitely messed up on how he worded it,” said Calvin Turner, manager for the Wussow-Bayard campaign. “But you can’t live life politically correct all the time. I really think Dustin views everyone as equal.”

BSA plans to join with the NAACP in a series of programs this week titled “The Campaign Against Racial Discrimination,” which will include a booth at Monday’s Diversity Celebration.

The campaign will culminate in a forum on Monday titled “‘Nigger’: The New Buzzword,” which will concern hate language.

“We’re definitely taking this seriously,” said Haynes. “Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t want to see it or believe it. Hopefully we can change that.”

“I think the campus climate has definitely changed for the worse,” said Tiffany Fant, president of the campus chapter of the NAACP.

“With the Diversity Plan, now that the administration is behind it, some people may have taken offense. I hope it’s not a trend that will continue,” said Fant. “But we’ll see next year.”

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Sports Beat

ASU-administered tests not taken as seriously as NCAA tests, say athletes

James Nix - Staff Writer
Josh Dernosek - Staff Writer

Student athletes at Appalachian State University learn from the beginning of their college careers that drug testing is not something to be taken lightly when the NCAA comes to town.

The NCAA randomly tests collegiate athletes for performance enhancing drugs to ensure fair play between athletes in the field of competition. If students are found to be using a drug on the list of banned drugs posted by the NCAA, they are immediately put on the ineligible list and are kept there for a year from the date of the test.

Appalachian’s policy regarding these same drugs is not as serious as its overseeing organization.

A three-strike policy is used for Mountaineer athletes, to allow them to make their own mistakes and live with their decisions, said Director of Athletics Roachel Laney.

As a result of the different policies, student athletes take testing at Appalachian with less precaution as opposed to NCAA-administered testing.

“We take the NCAA testing much more seriously,” said Brian Mower, linebacker for Appalachian’s football team. “It’s just a like a slap on the wrist when the school catches you.”

“With the NCAA, there is no getting around [drug testing],” said Casey Hicks, a former member of the field hockey team.

The NCAA tests for performance enhancement drugs only, not recreational drugs, said Laney. However, during regular season competition the NCAA only tests those participating in football and track and field, while in post-season play all sports are subject to testing.

The probability of an athlete using drugs such as steroids is higher in those sports, said Laney.

Appalachian tests for recreational drugs primarily due to the extreme cost of testing for steroids, said Jim Shorten, Appalachian’s head athletic trainer. Steroid testing costs over $100 a person while other drug tests are only $15 a person.

“Steroids should be the first thing to test for because it gives you an advantage in your sport,” said Emily Walls, an Appalachian field hockey player. “With marijuana, you are only hurting yourself.”

Due to Appalachian’s lack of steroid testing Jerelle Carter, a freshmen linebacker on the football team, said many student athletes do not worry about testing positive for street drugs when the NCAA comes to test, since steroids are the only substances tested for.

Before students can participate in intercollegiate athletics at Appalachian, they must sign a drug testing consent form. The consent form is not mandatory; however, if students do not sign it, the Athletic Department chooses not to allow those students to participate.

Throughout the year, the Athletic Department submits a sport to institutional research on campus. A percentage of the team’s roster is selected at random, printed out and notification is sent to the athletes.

The student athletes must prove they received notification and then report to Broome-Kirk Gym at 7 a.m. the following morning for testing.

Positive test results are kept confidential within the Athletic Department; only top officials are given knowledge of the tests. This system allows the Athletic Department to work with the student athletes and not involve Judicial Affairs.

According to the Appalachian State University Code of Student Conduct & Academic Integrity Code, “the illegal manufacture, sale, possession or use of narcotics, barbiturates, central nervous system stimulants, marijuana, sedatives, tranquilizers, hallucinogens, and/or any other similarly known drugs or controlled substance” will result in specific probation, suspension or if serious enough, expulsion.

Student athletes have more protection from the university’s code than other students due to the Athletic Department’s drug testing.

“I would say that athletes tend to get away with more,” said Walls.

The Athletic Department claims their reasoning behind this protection is for the student athletes’ benefit.

“While some people are concerned that it is an infringement of an individual’s right, our reason for doing it is for health, safety and welfare, not punitive,” said Laney.

The goal of Appalachian’s drug testing is rehabilitation, said Dr. Patricia Geiger, a university physician who oversees the results.

“The program is to identify people who have a problem and help them,” said Geiger.

The Athletic Department sees their athletes as adults who make choices and decisions, and then on the second time make better choices.

“Kids are in college and they should be able to learn from their mistakes,” said Walls.

Appalachian’s drug testing also serves as a deterrent for student athletes.

“The important thing for the athletes is they are told up front what the rules are,” said Geiger.

“If you go out and do something like drugs, you’ve always got [drug testing] hanging over your head,” said Mower.

However, with the Athletic Department’s policies, student athletes are not as concerned about first time consequences.

“A lot of people worry about getting caught a second time,” said Carter. “That’s when they cut [drug use] out.”

The Athletic Department has confidence in its intentions for the well being of the student athletes regarding drug testing and will continue its policies into the future, said Shorten.

“[Drug testing] has been pretty successful for what we test for.”

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SGA Beat

Campus polling site not in future

Sarah Newell - Staff Writer

There are no plans to move the polling location for the 3rd Precinct of Boone from the Agricultural Conference Center to the West side of Appalachian State University’s campus, according to a memorandum written by Director of the Watauga County Board of Elections Jane Ann Hodges.

Ryan Eller, Student Government Association president-elect for the 2002-2003 academic year, received the memo April 4. The memo stated the Board of Elections voted April 2 not to change the polling location.

“I called her [Hodges], and she and the board would like to hear from me May 7, when I plan to appeal it. I’m going to bring her a memorandum with my appeal,” said Eller. “I’m really eager to get to the bottom of this.”

The memo cited security problems and a lack of adequate parking spaces as reasons for voting down Eller’s request.

“We would need the police to assist with parking, if we would move the polling location to Appalachian’s campus,” said Hodges.

However, Curtis Main, Boone Police captain of the patrol division said, “I have no idea why security would be needed. We deliver the ballot boxes in the mornings, but that’s about it.”

“We would not be needing to request anything from the ASU police, if voting occurred on campus,” said Eller. “As a student, I assume that the ASU police are there 24 hours a day to aid me in any way necessary, and I would assume that to be true during elections, as well.”

The memo also stated the current polling location at the Agricultural Conference Center would not require support from either Appalachian Security or the Boone Police Department and has handicap accessibility and ample parking space.

“When I talked to Jane Ann Hodges several months ago, she told me that the three criteria for a polling location are that it needs to be handicap accessible, there needs to be ample parking and a secure enclosure that can be closed off,” said Eller. “The Yosef Room in the Owens Field House and the lobby of Gardner and Coltrane, my two suggestions, meet these requirements.”

Hodges, however, said the current polling place remains more satisfactory than Eller’s suggestions.

“The Agricultural Center is more handicap accessible than it is at the Yosef Room,” she said.

“Another thing that I brought up with the Board of Elections that has thus far been ignored is that there is no sidewalk leading to the Agricultural Center,” said Eller. “Students without cars would have to walk in an unsafe manner if they were to go vote.”

Hodges said there have been no complaints about the current polling location.

The memo also cited there is a no-excuse absentee voting that is now in effect, allowing people to vote in person or by mail.

“This will give all voters ample time and opportunity to vote prior to Election Day without being required to state a reason for doing so, and without the necessity of traveling to a polling place on Election Day if they so choose,” according to the memo.

The Board of Elections also decided in their meeting there should be no changes in any of the precincts or polling places until at least the spring of 2003, due to North Carolina’s budget crisis.

“I feel that the current polling location is somewhat discriminatory because not all students can get to it. There’s no doubt that more students would vote if there was a voting place on this side of campus,” said Eller.