April 2009 Archives

ASU aren't the only ones moving towards becoming more green. UNC Chapel Hill will get Federal Stimulus money of about $17.5 million to develop a Solar Fuels Research Center. The funding comes from the US Department of Energy and President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The money will pay for a research center to develop solar fuels for next-generation photovoltaic technology. The UNC project is just one of 46 energy frontier research centers being funded at American universities and research institutes, and the only in North Carolina. It is one of 16 to receive stimulus money for job creation. The project will involve UNC faculty from chemistry, physics and astronomy. Scientists from NC State, NC Central and Duke Universities, as well as the University of Florida, will collaborate as well.

Eat great food and support the community. Lees-McRae College will host Run for the Fiesta, a charity race to benefit programming at the Carol and Glenn Arthur Student Recreation Complex on May 2nd. You can run, walk, jog or stroll through Lees-McRae College's campus and on the Banner Elk Greenway to get to Los Arcoiris for Mexican food. All participants will get a fiesta shirt, a raffle ticket for chances at great prizes and several free giveaways, plus free food and great drink specials. The entry fee for the race is $20 and it begins at one p-m at the historic Lees-McRae Mill Pond. Registration will run from 11:45 to 12:45 p.m. Participants may print and mail an entry form from the website, or register online and pay at the event... just visit their website at lmc.edu.

They are making an impact on the environment, and not just locally but globally. ASU's Renewable Energy Initiative recently received a Leadership in Sustainability Award from the State Energy Office of North Carolina. The award was presented at the 6th Annual North Carolina Sustainable Energy Conference. It recognizes programs, businesses or individuals who have demonstrated the greatest impact in renewable energy, alternative fuels, energy efficiency, and more. REI is a student-run organization that coordinates renewable energy projects on campus, which are supported by a student fee. The organization is currently working on installing a wind turbine at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center and a solar thermal system at the Plemmons Student Union on campus.

Chairs are an essential piece of furniture for many... and they can be made in many different ways. Using concrete, bamboo and metal are just a few materials that can be used to build a chair that is comfortable, yet unique. On Thursday, April 30^th the 6th Annual Chair Design competition took place at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center. Students in the Technology Department had all semester long to construct a chair. There were three judges this year who were from industry and educational backgrounds. Third place went to Brian Harris who created a concrete base chair, second place went to Ryan Klinger who created a modern and light-weight chair that was manufacturable, and first place went to Micah Carter who created a comfortable "twist chair." All chair winners will head to the association of woodworking and furniture suppliers fresh wood student competition held in Las Vegas.

Despite the growing trend in people "going green," sixty percent of Americans live in areas with unhealthy air pollution levels. The American Lung Association says this information is based on pollution levels in U.S. cities and counties between 2005 and 2007. They found that air pollution at times reaches unhealthy levels in almost every major city and that over 186 million people live in those areas. That number is much higher than last year's figure of about 125 million people because of recent changes to the federal ozone standard. This change shows that more counties recognize unhealthy levels of pollution. However, cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Baltimore have seen improvements in air quality over the last decade. Health effects from air pollution include changes in lung function, coughing, heart attacks, lung cancer and premature death.

They have just been recognized for their contributions to the university. Three ASU alumni and a member of the university's board of trustees have been honored by the Appalachian Alumni Association. The awards were presented recently during a banquet at the Broyhill Inn and Conference center on campus. The outstanding service award was presented to Bradley Adcock of Cary, the Young Alumnus Award went to Jeff Reid of Washington, D.C., the Distinguished Alumnus Award went to Brigade General Gill Beck of Greensboro, and the honorary alumnus went to John Blackburn of Linville. MTN would like to congratulate them all on their awards and accomplishments.

Though the high country is known for its skiing... it also is very popular for hiking and biking... and resorts like Sugar Mountain offer both. Their summer season begins on Friday, May 1st. miles of hiking and biking trails go throughout the village of Sugar Mountain and are accessible from many points throughout the village of Sugar Mountain, and Sugar Mountain Resort. Daily trail access is free of charge from May through October and from dawn until dusk. The trail maps are available online, in a mailbox located at the base of Sugar Mountain's Flying Mile Slope, or when purchasing a lift ride ticket at the bottom of the Gray Lift Station. Keep in mind that weather and other variables can change the condition of any trail. While riding a bike within the village limits helmets are required. For more information on Sugar Mountains Summer Season log onto their website at skisugar.com/summer.

A rise in temperatures can sometimes cause a rise in crime. With summer approaching and people struggling because of the economy... credit card and internet scams become more frequent and many are getting dooped by giving away personal information to earn money. People are becoming more desperate is what Watauga County Sheriff Len Hagaman says. but it's not only just about credit card and internet scams... some are scamming right at people homes claiming they want to improve their driveway or property. So if you happen to have someone come to your house unannounced claiming they're a home improvement contractor... Hagaman says "buyer beware." If you feel that you have been a victim of a scam, identify theft or fraud contact the Watauga County Sheriff's Office at 828-264-3761.

The largest cities in North Carolina may soon have the ability to decide whether they want to embrace Public Campaign Financing. In a recent press release from Representative Cullie Tarleton, the house approved a bill to create a program through 2016 that would allow cities with more than $50,000 people to use tax money to help pay for political campaigns. Typically, candidates who accept public money agree to accept limited contributions from other donors. Supporters say Public Campaign Financing reduces the amount of money spent on campaigns and the influence of big donors. However, critics say that it's unfair to ask taxpayers to fund candidates with whom they may not agree. Races for the state's appellate courts, auditor, insurance commissioner and school superintendent are already eligible for public campaign financing.

The swine flu is affecting many all over the world... and ASU is keeping an eye on the outbreak that has spread from Mexico to the US because some ASU students may be affected. The ASU news bureau reports that five individuals from the university who recently returned from Mexico have been advised to contact student health services on campus or the Appalachian District Health Department, if they begin experiencing flu-like symptoms. The report claims there are approximately 20 students from ASU who are studying in Central Mexico this semester. Officials from Appalachian's Office of International Education and Development are contacting these students and advising them to monitor web sites maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization for information and help on the illness.