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| Hitting the slopes with
BSA Ski Weekend |
Jessica Sellers
Clubs | Organizations Beat
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For those
who have a fear of skiing, Project Ice, the annual Black Student
Association’s (BSA) ski weekend coming up this Friday, offers
an opportunity to conquer that fear.
“The BSA started it as a means of encouraging students of color
to take advantage of the opportunity to get out on the slopes at
least once a year,” said Tracy L. Wright, assistant director
for the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (CSIL).
Wright said the idea to have the ski weekend came from a similar
event an entertainment company had done, organizing a ski weekend
for historically black colleges and universities from across the
country.
“BSA was very excited about participating in that event and
having the opportunity to interact and mingle with their peers from
other universities from all across the country,” Wright said.
In the past, more students have shown up at entertainment events
at the slope. BSA is trying to get more students to take part in
the actual skiing. A group of 41 students from University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, four from North Carolina State University
and a group from Western Carolina University are expected to join
Appalachian students during the weekend.
“I hope that the students will … form new friendships
with the students that are coming up from our visiting schools,”
Wright said.
“I also hope that the students who go skiing from our university
will come back and share with their peers how much fun they had
and what their experiences were and to hopefully encourage other
students to go and take advantage,” Wright said.
Sophomore and active BSA participant Brian A. Newland attended last
year’s ski weekend.
“What we’ve gotten out of it was working as a team to
do a project together as a school and a Black Student Association,”
Newland said.
BSA makes a small profit from each ski package sold. The money is
used to help the organization work on other projects during the
year.
The weekend will begin on the slopes of Sugar Mountain and continues
Friday night at the National Panhellenic Council-sponsored party
at Black Cat Restaurant on Depot Street.
Also on Friday, the Ladies Elite, a service club here at Appalachian,
will sponsor a Queen of Hearts contest. To end the weekend, there
will be a party at The Spot club and restaurant on Howard Street
Saturday night.
Individuals with questions about are welcome to contact Tracey Wright
or Anwar Cruter with the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership
at 252-6252. |
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| M.A.R. aims to reduce
campus sexual assault |
Jessica Sellers
Clubs | Organizations Beat
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One out
of every 18 women who attend Appalachian State University have been
raped, according to a study conducted by the Committee of Integrity
at Appalachian last spring.
Men Against Rape (M.A.R.), a new club on campus, is trying to reduce
and ultimately eliminate this statistic.
M.A.R. was founded last semester by sophomore Brian G. Hodges and
junior Zachary D. Lesch-Huie, with the help of Counseling Center
psychologists Rafael S. Harris and Chris J. Hogan.
“Our mission statement from the beginning has been to raise
involvement among men on the issues of sexual assault and rape.
Half of the support on these issues already exists,” Hodges
said. “We are trying to fill the other half. We are trying
to find areas where other clubs are already involved with the issue
and give our support there.”
The purpose of the club is to get men involved with issues regarding
sexual assault, rape and women’s rights. Members Lesch-Huie
and Hodges joined the Women’s Center because so many victims
of sexual assault are women.
Through word of mouth and posters, awareness of M.A.R. spread quickly
across campus last semester.
There has been a very positive reaction so far from students. However,
M.A.R. is aiming to increase action in the mission and asking students
to become involved.
Membership has increased recently, with fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha
adopting the club as the organization they chose to become involved
with this year.
M.A.R. has about 20 members in attendance at most of its meetings.
“The meetings are where all the members can give their own
ideas about what we want accomplished and how to do it,” Hodges
said.
Most of the meeting time is spent planning ways to get the word
out about the club and holding brainstorming sessions.
Activities planned for this semester include working with the Sexual
Assault Prevention Task Force, taking part in Sexual Assault Awareness
Week and ushering at “The Vagina Monologues.”
“Sexual assault, as a problem on campus, won’t be effectively
solved unless men realize they can do something about it,”
Lesch-Huie said.
M.A.R. is looking for enthusiastic people who feel its mission is
important.
The club consists of both men and women. Ultimately, M.A.R. wants
to become a cooperative effort between women and men.
“I feel like I should support them because they need support
from women as much as men,” freshman MAR member Jennifer N.
Johnson said.
“The only way to eliminate sexual assault and date rape on
campus is to get everyone involved, not just women. It’s encouraging
to know that two men saw the need to advocate and educate people
on sexual assault, because it will take everyone to eliminate violence
against women,” community counseling Master’s candidate
Elizabeth G. Harding said.
Currently the club meets Mondays at 6 p.m. A permanent location
is yet to be determined. For more information, contact Rafael Harris
or Chris Hogan at 262-3180. |
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