January 23, 1997

AIDS victim copes with dying young
Jeremy Ball
Assistant Features Editor

There will be a special speaker in Farthing auditorium at 8:00 tonight. His name is Steve Sawyer and he is going to speak about how to positively face a subject that each of us will have to confront eventually, death. Most college students are at an age when they are looking forward. College is, after all, preparation for the work force. We are anticipating careers, experiences, making our dent in the world, loves, life.

How different would our outlook be if we knew that we were not supposed to still be alive? What would it be like if we lived with the constant reminder that no one is guaranteed a moment of life; that everything that we consider to be important could instantly become very insignificant when compared to the question of whether or not we will live to see the next day?

What if we faced death very day?

Steve Sawyer does. He is HIV positive and has full blown AIDS. He has already outlived his life expectancy. Steve's time has run out.

Sawyer is a hemophiliac. He contracted the HIV virus through a series of over 100 blood transfusions back in the early 80's when the supply wasn't screened as well as it currently is.

In 1990, when he was only 15, he was told that he had the HIV virus. During his senior year in high school he had his first serious bout with the virus. He lost 27 pounds in two weeks and his T- cell count was at 213 and falling.

However, within four weeks he recovered and then went on to graduate from high school.

In 1993, he began attending Curry College in Boston. But by 1995 he was too weak to continue with school. He had cirrhosis of the liver due to the virus.

That winter, Sawyer's life changed and he felt that he had a new sense of hope that he could share with others.

For the past two years, Sawyers has traveled across the country telling his story and offering hope.

Todd Williams, a staff member with Campus Crusade for Christ, who initially promoted Sawyer's visit to Appalachian, says, "It's rare to see someone in such a hopeless situation with such a spirit of hope."

Williams says that students will definitely benefit from Sawyer's talk.

"Almost everyone knows someone who has AIDS. If not, you will".

Perhaps Sawyers will have some pertinent words of advice for those of us who don't have to go through what he is facing. Williams says "someone who faces death everyday probably has a good perspective on how to live".

Since all of us will eventually be in Sawyer's shoes in one form or another, perhaps it would be wise to start thinking about it now, before we plan for the rest of our lives.

[back]

Boone Oddity: Archangel Michael channeled at Jones House
Jeff Sprouse
Staff Writer

"Some people are easily duped, you know?" (The Archangel Michael, channeled through Jeanne Hatch).

The Archangel Michael seems to be popping up everywhere these days. The legendary leader of God's army that defeated Satan for control of the afterlife has one of the top grossing films of 1997.

He is the focus of many sites on the internet, and on Wednesday, January 15, he appeared in the form of Jeanne Hatch, spiritual healer and channeler.

Hatch, a late middle- age woman who eerily resembled my grandmother, sat in a wooden rocking chair and held crystals in her palms. Soon she was overcome by a smile, the signal that Michael was now with us.

Hatch's husband John started the tape recorder(tapes of this session as well as others are for sale), and Michael began to tell us his:

"Prophecies for the New Millennium" -1997

This will be a year of startling events. Extraterrestrials, whose spaceship is disguised as a comet, will make contact with the earth. They will not be friendly. Michael says that the event will resemble the 80's miniseries "V". They will try to take over the planet. But not to worry, for the world shall unite and repel the invaders.

But wait! Do not be deceived. The extraterrestrials, who come from a galaxy in the constellation Orion, are really aligned with Luciferian forces here on Earth (those big corporations, "greedheads" and people without love), who will use the invasion as a means to implant their New World Order.

Another way they wish to achieve this goal is through economic collapse. Michael says to sell any stocks you own because this year there is going to be a stock market crash.

Through economic strife, one becomes more dependent on the Luciferian forces, thus giving them more control over the mass consciousness, and not allowing the individual to ascend to the fourth dimension.

2012- The Ascension and Great Polar Shift

Starting on January 11 continuing through December 21, a gateway will open to the fourth dimension.

We now reside in the third of these dimensions. In order to get to the fourth, Michael says we must lighten our beings by speeding up our vibrations.

This can be achieved by letting love into your heart. And you better get on the bus because those that decide to stick around will be subject to the Great Polar Shift that will not only cause environmental havoc, but also erase all memories, much like a magnet does when placed near a floppy disk.

Also the nice extraterrestrials (different from those aligned with Luciferian forces) who maintain the shield around the planet will turn it off after the last life is gone. They're getting tired.

What shield? Michael says that the sun is in red giant stage and that these extraterrestrials, being very kind, maintain a shield so that we will not be disintegrated. The sun as we know it is only an illusion created by a hologram!

Believe It or Not

Learned people are probably asking themselves if Michael's predictions could possibly be true. For that I have no answer. I can only relate to you the bizarre energy and coincidences that occurred during the session.

Besides the fact that we all payed ten dollars, there seemed to be a telepathic link between the participants, for questions I wanted to ask Michael were almost verbatim asked by others. He also explained my inexplicable draw towards the mountainous regions of America (I am a light healer and particular mountains house pyramids that will serve as healing centers in the coming Millennium).

Above are only a few details of Michael's appearance and prophecies. There is much more to know. So if you find yourself wondering or scared and need reassurance, find consolation in the fact that you can hear the word of Michael on cassette. It sure is fortunate Jeanne's husband brought along his tape recorder.

For more information, drop by Hatch's booth at the Wilcox Emporium in downtown Boone.

[back]

Theatre and Dance spring into action
Darin Glass
Staff Writer

The Theatre and Dance Department is planning on a "professionally" run spring semester filled with new and familiar plays for the public.

First off will be "True West"which is being produced in association with Flat Rock Playhouse, the state theatre in North Carolina and will play from Jan. 29 - Feb. 2. Performances will be at 8:00p.m. Tuesday - Saturday and at 2:00p.m. on Sunday.

The cast will feature Appalachian alumnus David Matthews and Scott Treadway, who is on the staff of the Flat Rock Playhouse. The play will be directed by Terry Loughlin who acts and directs at Flatrock.

Susan Cole, Department Chairperson, calls the play "very special" and is excited about the upcoming semester.

"We have lots for everyone including children this semester," said Cole. She was referring to "Huckleberry Finn" which will be shown in March.

There are also several one act plays being presented this semester. The one act plays are directed and produced by the students in the advanced directing class.

The plays range from comedy to drama. Each bill of plays includes three works, each of which is performed on each of the three nights.

Another familiar play which will be shown in April will be "Six Degrees of Separation." This was recently a major motion picture will Will Smith in the lead role.

The Theatre and Dance department is looking foreward to an exciting start and hoping to share it with the students and the public.

Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students. For more information call the Valborg Theatre at 262-3063.

[back]

E-mail The Appalachian Online at theapp@conrad.appstate.edu