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| ASU student travels
to Atlanta to get taste of ‘Idol’ |
Sarah Howell
Features Beat
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Foster Hunt | The AppalachianAnna Avera, sophomore, and her
sorority sister Lauren Rainey
traveled Atlanta to audition for this season’s American
Idol.
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Everyone has seen
or at least heard of American Idol, the hit television show where
contestants get the chance to fulfill their dreams of being a
pop star. However, is the glamour (and harshness) of the show
a realistic representation of what it takes to become a star?
Sophomore chemistry major and member of Kappa
Delta Anna M. Avera participated in this season’s “American
Idol” auditions in Atlanta.
Avera is 20 years old, but she has been a performer
her whole life.
“I’ve been in pageants and talent
shows since I was 3 years old. I just thought this would be a
good opportunity; I wanted to see if I could do it,” Avera
said. “It wasn’t even planned really; me and Lauren
just decided to up and go.”
Avera arrived in Atlanta the night before auditions
with sorority sister Lauren E. Rainey. In order to audition, they
had to make it in a group of the first 1,500 people. |
“The
auditions didn’t even start until 8 a.m., but people coming
in at 4 and 5 o’clock in the morning were turned away. We
slept in the street that night to keep our place in line,”
Avera said.
Throughout the night, Avera tried to sleep
but there were a few distractions.
“It was really cold so me and Lauren went
to the hotel her parents were staying at and told them we were
guests so we could get some extra blankets,” Avera said.
“There was also this guy behind us who sang gospel songs
the whole night. He had been to every city so far and thought
he was really good. Unfortunately he sounded terrible.”
The next morning, possible contestants were
told only the first 500 would be able to audition that day; the
rest would have to come back. Luckily, Avera and Rainey were able
to audition.
The 500 remaining split into groups of about
five people that would audition before the executive producers—not
the judges everyone has come to know on television. Contestants
do not audition for Simon, Paula and Randy unless they actually
make it on television.
“Simon and them are not the final word,
they are just another aspect of the show,” Avera said.
Before a group enters, they know what the producers
will be expecting from their particular group.
“The producers know exactly what they’re
looking for as soon as you come in the door,” Avera said.
“You could be the best singer they have
ever heard, but if they have to take a really bad person so Simon
can have someone to torture, you’re not going to get picked.
And they can only take 30 people.”
Even if you make it into that 30 and get the
chance to go to Hollywood, the contestant must still pay for everything
including hotel and plane tickets. The show only pays for the
contestants who get into the top 10.
“It can get very expensive, especially
for something that has no guarantees,” Avera said. “And
the producers don’t do a very good job of informing you of
all this.”
Avera said she had planned to sing “Fly”
by Martina McBride, but so many other girls were singing the same
thing she had to change her song.
“Everyone wants to be noticed, so there
were a lot of crazy outfits and songs. Originality is really important;
otherwise, you just look like everyone else,” Avera said.
Neither of the girls made it past Atlanta,
but they are not discouraged.
“‘American Idol’ is not about
talent, it’s about the show, and you learn that the hard
way. But no one should be discouraged simply because they didn’t
make it. Talent has very little to do with it.”
Avera said her newest goal is to audition for
the next season of “Nashville Star.”
“I would be much more honored to win ‘Nashville
Star’ than ‘American Idol’ because the entire show
requires you to write your own music and songs. You’re basically
making your own album,” Avera said. “It shows the true
talent of an artist.”
Avera’s uncle is going to help her write
the music to her songs for “Nashville Star.” He has
a recording contract already, so even if the show does not work
out, there is a networking opportunity there.
Still, Avera said she does not regret auditioning
for “American Idol” because it showed her some of her
options and she met so many people.
“One of the things I got out of this the
most was just the people I met. I mean I slept in the street with
these people. There had to be some kind of trust,” Avera
said.
“When it comes to music and art I think
there is a closeness there. You don’t really worry about
someone cheating you out of something because you’re all
going through this together.” |
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| Students give time,
support to fire squad |
Grayson
Mendenhall
Staff Writer |
Many
Appalachian State University students take advantage of Boone’s
surrounding area for a number of outdoor activities in their free
time.
Others may go to parties, hang out with their friends or just
spend a night in the residence hall participating in a heated
game of “Grand Theft Auto.”
However, some students choose to devote their time to helping
those in need by volunteering for the Watauga County Emergency
and Rescue Squad.
Watauga Rescue Squad serves as a backup emergency medical service
to Watauga Medics, who are the main EMS in the county. However,
their role is a bit different from that of the average EMS.
They offer standby EMS assistance at public functions, Watauga
High School sports and other events.
They can assist in rescuing accident victims trapped in overturned
vehicles, swift water river rescue and wilderness search and rescue.
Since 9-11, they also train in structural collapse rescue.
“We get most of our calls on nights and weekends … Back
country-type stuff always occurs on the weekends,” Brent
Cochran, Appalachian Outdoor programs coordinator and member of
Watauga County Rescue, said.
Often the squad must work together with other agencies in the
county to get their jobs done.
“We work closely with all of the fire departments in the
county, Watauga Medics and all the law enforcement in the county,”
Cochran said.
As a private, non-profit organization, all Watauga County Rescue
Squad members are volunteers.
“These are young people, generally, that are driven by sheer
community service to help people,” Cochran said.
The job of a rescue squad volunteer can be difficult and sometimes
overwhelming at times.
“The students on the squad are very service-oriented,”
Cochran said. “It’s like taking on a second degree.”
Volunteers are on-call 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Out
of 35 members, eight are Appalachian students.
Senior Jacob N. Burleson, a 27-year-old manufacturing major from
Boone, is a volunteer for the rescue squad.
Burleson first started his career in the emergency services with
the Deep Gap Fire Department in 1997.
He was put in charge of filing incident reports and eventually
rose to the level of second lieutenant.
During his time with the Deep Gap Fire Department, Burleson’s
girlfriend was volunteering for the Watauga County Rescue Squad.
Through her, he became accustomed to what went on with the squad,
Burleson said.
“I thought about joining rescue while my girlfriend was on,
but I thought it would be kind of cheesy to do that at first,”
Burleson said.
After his girlfriend was on the squad for about a year, Burleson
decided to volunteer himself, joining in January 2000
“It always sounded exciting and I just wanted to help people,”
Burleson said.
He has risen to the rank of first lieutenant, a position of great
responsibility in the squad.
Burleson is in charge of all property and equipment used by the
rescue squad.
His duties include making sure ambulances and other vehicles are
running properly, grounds keeping and building maintenance.
The numerous tasks Burleson is in charge of require a lot of labor.
“I am in charge of a bunch of stuff, but I have to use my
squad members to help get it all done,” Burleson said.
His duties are very important when it comes to the funding of
the rescue squad.
“Every year we have to apply for a state grant for funding.
I’m in charge of making sure it gets done,” Burleson
said.
With all of his duties at the squad headquarters, Burleson occasionally
has trouble with school.
“Missing class is a problem with volunteer EMS,” Burleson
said.
Professors and their attendance policies do not always coincide
with Burleson’s line of work.
“Some teachers are sympathetic and others don’t care
one bit,” Burleson said. “Most people don’t care
about EMS assistance until they are in need of it.”
The effect volunteering has on Burleson’s education is a
constant concern for his family.
“I don’t think that they like it, but they understand
why I do it,” Burleson said.
Despite all the effects volunteering has on him, Burleson said
he enjoys his job.
“I enjoy the feeling of knowing that I’ve helped people,”
he said. |
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