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Our Perspective:
The Appalachian supports Fancher
Houston Fancher is the right man for this job.
He is not a man who will bolt at the first “major” job opportunity.
He is not a man who will ignore the academic progress of an athlete as long as he is getting an “A” in basketball.
He is a man who truthfully says that Appalachian is the place he wants to be. ASU is major to him, not a transition job before something bigger comes along.
That is why Interim Director of Athletics Linda K. Robinson and Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock made the absolute right move in granting Fancher a three-year contract extension last week.
Peacock and Robinson were noticeably present at the SoCon Tournament during the first week of March.
They saw what every other member of the ASU contingent witnessed: a group of young men playing the game the right way.
A group of young men that did exactly what they had to do in beating The Citadel and a favored College of Charleston. A group of young men that gave the hometown Chattanooga Mocs all they could handle in the semi-finals.
A group of young men that will graduate from Appalachian State University and will lead meaningful lives.
That’s what is important: student-athletes graduating.
Noah Brown and Chris McFarland will leave this May as college graduates. The other three seniors from the 2004-05 team are on pace to graduate.
What good are trips to the Sweet Sixteen if, in the process, we forget to educate the young men putting in that hard work? Is it worth it?
The Appalachian says no. The first duty of any coach at Appalachian State University is to prepare their students for life after Appalachian.
Anyone who disagrees who is not truly a friend of the program or the university.
This is not to say Fancher hasn’t taught his players a thing or two on the court.
In his five years at ASU, he has won one SoCon coach of the year trophy. He would have won another this year if Davidson’s Bob McKillop had not gone 16-0.
D.J. Thompson is the best point guard in the conference and is a solid player of the year candidate.
Demetrius Scott, Nathan Cranford, Jeremy Clayton, Derek Thomas and Douglass McLaughlin-Williams are all returning. All are ready to fight for a SoCon title and the right to dance next March.
Fancher said after the semi-final loss to UTC that you have to be a believer in this team.
Coach, count The Appalachian as a believer.
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| Melissa Markowitz | Editorial Cartoonist |
'The O.C.': not just a show, a lifestyle
Don’t call me Thursday nights from 8-9 p.m. I’m very busy. I am watching “The O.C.”
Perhaps I will answer during commercial breaks, but once the break ends, I’ll have to go back to concentrating on the television. If you are watching too, don’t call me at the end of the show because I am watching the scenes for the next episode.
That’s right, I don’t even change channels during commercials. Too risky, I might miss part of the show when it comes back.
But not everyone is an admirer of “The O.C.”
Most people seem to have a love-hate relationship with the show- they either love it or love to hate it. I must admit I was skeptical at first. I put “The O.C.” in the same category as “Beverly Hills 90210”: a prime time soap opera lacking any depth. The show has proved me wrong.
This happened when I met my fiance. Most males consider “The O.C.” their guilty pleasure television show, but not Jake. He proudly displays his “The O.C. Season One” DVD collection above his television for all to see.
As a movie and television buff, he vowed to expand my horizons past Vin Diesel action films and Trading Spaces. So, he made me watch “The O.C.” An hour later as the credits rolled, I became a changed woman.
Despite my boundless love for “The O.C.,” I understand why many people hate it. They see it as the over-dramatized lives of rich, snobby high school kids. I chalk this misconception up to ignorance. Many of these people haven’t even watched an episode.
Once I gave the show a try, I saw differently. “The O.C.” producers understand what they are and they play off of it. They understand that these really are rich, overly dramatic people, but they use this to make fun of themselves and somehow make the characters lovable. At the end of the hour, you find yourself wrapped up in their love affairs and relationships.
If you heard my conversations about “The O.C.” you would think Seth and Summer are a couple I actually know.
I agree that many of the promotional pictures for “The O.C.” look like the characters are still stunned from the flash of the camera, but this just fits in with how the show is a little corny, taking everything lightly.
For those of you who still believe “The O.C.” is mindless television, I have one word for you: Christmukkah. Christmukkah is the creation of Seth, one of the main characters, who combined the ideals of Christmas and Hanukkah to create eight days of presents and one day of many presents.
This idea is one of the smartest and most original I’ve seen on television lately.
After the unveiling of Christmukkah, I bought Jake a Hanukkah CD that we used as background music while we told everyone about Christmukkah.
Let’s just say I allowed Jake to open one Christmas present early – my handmade Christmukkah sweatshirt and yarmuclaus (a combination of a yarmulke and a Santa hat), which he immediately donned a Christmukkah miracle thanks to Jesus and Moses working together.
“The O.C.” is more than a television show … it’s a lifestyle. Once you start, there isn’t any going back.
If even the most adamant of “The O.C.” haters actually began watching the show, we’d all be walking around in T-shirts and blazers.
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'The O.C.': overtly ridiculous
Maybe I’m too old fashioned or maybe I’m not just “hip” anymore. Either way, I guess I’m out of the loop.
Every time I walk through campus I hear “O.C.” this and “O.C.” that. I just cannot seem to get myself hyped up in the “O.C.” craze.
To be honest, I think “O.C.” stands more for ‘Obvious Crap’ than Orange County.
I know many of you hardcore fans are cursing my name right now, but I just can’t see the show’s attraction.
First off, there is way too much drama. The characters in “The O.C.” need to calm down.
It’s amazing that people who live in Orange County, Calif., have so many hardships to worry about.
Heaven forbid they had to drive an American-made car or wear clothes that weren’t name brand.
Besides, if you were not rich like them then you would not be cool and, since the O.C. is so cool, everyone better act the way that they do. I hope you sense my sarcasm.
I almost forgot, not everyone is rich. There’s that guy Ryan who’s poor and who doesn’t fit the O.C. mold. He’s from West Philadelphia, born and raised – wait, never mind, that’s another show.
Just to witness this absurdity, I decided to turn on a recent episode.
Last episode consisted of someone getting out of jail, an amateur porno and – click. I turned it off there.
I need a show I can relate to, something like “Seinfeld” or “The Wonder Years.”
Maybe it’s just me, but I cannot picture myself sitting on a California beach shooting the bull with the Cohens about their hard lives.
Another thing I can’t stand about the show is how it sets a standard for “cool.”
During the 20 minutes I endured the show, it seemed like every character looked at the screen and said, “If you’re not like me then you’re a loser.”
Even the way they dress is practically advertised in every scene.
A television show should not double as a department store catalog for the newest spring fashions.
Take my word when I say that it doesn’t really matter what outfit Summer wears, she’s going to be shallow either way.
I have to be honest when I say that not every character is the stereotypical O.C. conformist. Remember Ryan, that rebel who moved in from 90210 – wait, never mind, that’s another show.
Can’t we see that the only reason “The O.C.” is popular is because it plays into every social stereotype this country has?
I just can’t see why it matters what new clothes Marissa is planning to get or what color BMW Seth is going to buy.
“The O.C.” is nothing more than a primetime soap opera that appeals to younger audiences by using name brands.
The show tries to make it seem like these characters are making a stand against social stereotypes but, in reality, they are only playing into them more.
I haven’t caught on to “The O.C.” craze and I’m not planning to anytime soon.
I will stand strong in my attack against “The O.C.” and say: I miss Cosmo Kramer.
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Student Forum:
What will you remember the Pope for?
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“I’ll remember him as one of the kindest popes in history.”
Chris B. McCollum
Senior
Philosophy & Religion
Mayodan
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“He truly was a world leader who spoke out on issues of morality and justice.”
Dr. Rodney Duke
Professor of
Philosophy & Religion
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“For blessing the country [Vatican City] and for waving to the
people.”
Hannah N. Milstead
Sophomore
Elementary Education
Granite Falls
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“As a Jew, I disagree with his platform of non-involvement during the Holocaust. However, I appreciated his theories on non-violence during his later years.”
Ryan H. Dulaney
Senior
Interdisciplinary
St. Louis
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Letters to the Editor
Alcohol doesn't kill 'by itself'
There was a letter to the editor in The Appalachian last week that I found to be appalling.
According to Josh Kleinstreuer, alcohol "by itself kills over 4,000 people a year." If we follow this train of logic that states a substance "by itself" takes peoples lives, then logically guns kill people, cars make people drive drunk, and spoons made Rosie O'Donnell fat. [1] The blame lies not with spoons or firearms or alcohol but with a lapse in judgement of the people wielding these items we all know to be dangerous when used improperly. One might as well encourage the members of the ASU community to ban the use of sharp cooking utensils and the sale of non-alcoholic beverages from the Installation Gala, on the basis of their ability to kill us when used incorrectly.
I urge you to not blame a particular substance for the incompetence of the mind using it.
Victoria Genther
vg54608
Accident article callous, uncaring
When I picked up The Appalachian on March 24th I couldn't help but be disgusted by the article "Accident claims life of ASU junior." When Andrew Lane passed away on March 16th, a lot of people's lives were affected. Appalachian encourages all of the students to be one big family, so why would our school newspaper have an article about the death of one of the students be beside a significantly larger picture of a guy diving into the pool? Why couldn't we save that picture for another article and include his picture or a more in-depth article telling about the person Andrew was, and not so much about how the accident actually occurred. Not only was the article published long after the accident, it contained the wrong information. Andrew was driving on Poplar GROVE Road, where the speed limit is 35mph.
If you lost a friend, a brother, a son, or even a classmate would you want an article written about them to be poorly researched and brief? I should hope not. If I could re-write this article I would do so in a heartbeat, including many of great quotes by people who really cared, as well as all of the correct information about the accident. I must say I am disappointed and I hope in the future that a death will be taken with more thought and consideration for those who are affected.
Sara Crafton
sophomore, public relations
sc57331
Irresponsibility to blame, not alcohol
This letter is in response to the letter to the editor that appeared in the March 24 The Appalachian. Although the statistics may be true that 4,000 people die from alcohol poisoning, it is NOT the alcohol it self that causes these deaths but people's irresponsibility with alcohol. Most alcohol related deaths involving college students occur when students go to dollar draft night and end up with a $30 bar tab or go to a keg party and drink until they can't see straight. That's a lot of alcohol! The fundraising events for campus are usually attended by alumni or adults in the community. The sell of alcohol is used to create an adult social setting and those who purchase alcohol are usually social drinkers, not the binge drinkers that normally suffer from alcohol poisoning. The college students who do attend these events are involved in the planning of the activities or work for the university. Alcohol itself is not the villain, its how we abuse it. People (especially college students) need to educate themselves on the proper uses of alcohol. Like any other mind altering substance, if used improperly it can have devastating consequences.
Elizabeth Betts
senior, history
ASU Box 11931
828 773 6623
Let people decide whether to drink
In response to the complaint of alcohol being served at the Installation Gala, I think we should all be reminded that we are adults. I personally do not drink alcohol, but I see nothing wrong with serving it at a semi-formal event. People choose what they put into their mouths; they are responsible for their actions. In my opinion, the alcohol being served as a fundraiser (which will probably be a little more expensive than at a regular bar) is not a bad idea. As my mom says, "Everything in moderation".
Leslie Roberts
sophomore, ecology & environmental biology
lr58271
Women shouldn't expect to sit and wait
I just wanted to say that I recently began the book "He's just not that into you" and I found that I couldn't even finish it because it made me just a little angry. Yes it was slightly empowering but I already feel like an empowered person and it disturbed me when the book insisted that I sit around and wait or move on. Boys take time, I personally don't want a guy pouring himself over me and calling all of the time. Quite a few of my friends are taking this book very seriously, probably because they would rather believe that they can leave all the dirty work up to the guys, and it was quite refreshing to read your opinion and realize that I am not the only one out there that questions the validity of this book. This is the 21st century ladies.
Andrea Garner
freshman, journalism
ag64266
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