The Blue Banner

Remembering Virginia Tech

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Thousands of students sporting orange and maroon gathered in various spots across the nation last week to remember and reflect on the tragedy that struck Virginia Tech a year ago. On April 16, 2007, 32 students lost their lives in an unprecedented act of violence on a college campus.

Tactics of campus police called to question

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Senior economics student Seth Bowman and a friend were walking back from the UNCA Freedom and Liberty festival when campus police stopped them, asked to see identification and then searched for no reason, according to Bowman. "I thought it was pretty ironic that we were walking home from a freedom and liberty festival when I was illegally searched by the police," Bowman said.

Shooting leads to crime crackdown

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

A homeless man shot to death behind the Hillcrest Apartments prompted the Asheville housing authority to distribute I.D. cards to the residents to enter the complex as an effort to deter crime last year. "We are thinking of the safety of the people who live there," said Gene Bell, director of the Asheville housing authority.

Clinton campaign makes stop in Asheville

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Sen. Hillary Clinton makes her first stop in Western North Carolina today as part of her campaign for the Democratic Party's nomination. The Asheville Civic Center hosts tonight's event, which is scheduled for 8 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Obama currently leads Clinton 51 to 35.

Course trains students for storm spotting

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

A training session on how to classify hail, spot tornadoes and other severe weather systems was available to the public by UNC Asheville's atmospheric science department yesterday. The two hour SKYWARN storm spotter training course led by Justin Lane, a general forecaster for the National Weather Service Forecast Office of Greenville- Spartanburg, SC was held to inform students and other members of the community about how to determine severe local weather.

Ecoterrorism a rising concern

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The March ecoterrorist arson attacks outside of Seattle remind some Ashevillians the threat of in Western North Carolina. "Ecoterrorism is a buzzword that regularly pops up in the media," said Michael Spradlin of the North Carolina Sierra Club. "In reality, the typical acts committed are arson, theft, destruction of property, etc.

Gang activity rising, police say

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

An Asheville Police Department officer said gang activity rises every day in town. The officer identified between five and 30 gangs since January. According to Officer Louis Tomasetti of the APD gang unit, a gang can contain as little as three people involved in organized criminal behavior, but can reach more than 40 people.

No easy solution to school shootings, experts say

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The rate of crime and violence in North Carolina public schools decreased by .13 percent per 1,000 students in 2006-07, according to the 2006-07 School Crime and Violence Report, but school violence remains an important issue to both students and administrators.

Softball team spends a season on the bench

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The UNC Asheville women's softball club sat out the season for the first time since their start in 2003 due to a shortage of players and funding. "We had some girls graduate and move, four players this year, and other girls were just too busy with school this semester but will be coming back.

Get out and play with UNCA Outdoors

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The UNC Asheville Outdoors program offers accessible, safe and educational outdoor adventures to students and members of the community. "It's not just for UNCA students. We have people from all over the community," said Adam Macon, who has participated with UNCA Outdoors for four years.

Track and Field Finishes Last

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

UNC Asheville's men and women's outdoor track and field teams both finished last at the Big South Conference tournament at Winthrop last weekend. "Everyone ran pretty well and competed well," said senior Omar Ahmad. "We finished eight overall, which was last.

Students encourage volunteerism in abstract way

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Students may find that on Friday, despite all the stress of finals, there's a reason to smile. Get Up and Go, a student-run volunteer organization on campus, is launching its first activity under new leadership. Amy Wolf, freshman art education student, and Heather Leah, junior history student, will walk around campus wearing giant signs with one word on them: smile.

Climate change from industry insider's ecofriendly perspective

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

A hybrid organization of politicians and scientists, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will receive a closer look Friday when Dr. Lenny Bernstein speaks at the Reuter Center's TGIF lunch. "I think the IPCC does a better job of getting information across and having a real dialogue between scientists and policy makers.

Derby girls undaunted by dangerous game

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Dressed in fishnets and skates, the Blue Ridge Roller Girls know how to get their fans' attention. Prepared for the worst, a paramedic had a stretcher ready as they warmed up before their first show at the Civic Center April 29. "I'm really into being around a tough bunch of self-empowered women," said "GiveEmHella Ella," who skates on the team called Candy Apple Razorblades.

Religious holiday celebrated by many

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

From Rugrats to Charlton Heston, the story of Passover reaches people whether they are Jewish or not. "Sad to say, yes, Nickelodeon (which aired the Rugrats Passover special) was my little bit of fun," said David Howard, sophomore student. "And it was not just the Rugrats Passover special; it was also the Weinerville Passover special.

No boys allowed

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Voices took the place of drums, guitars, basses and pianos Saturday night as All Girl Staff, the female a capella group at UNC Asheville, performed "To take a song that you hear on the radio and sing it in only voices, that's really cool," senior physics student Katie Combs said.

M83 changes their direction

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

M83, fronted by maximalist Frenchman Anthony Gonzalez, is well-known for its grandiose electronic ambience, yielding two classics early in Gonzalez's career. Their new album, Saturday = Youth, came out last week on Mute Records. 2003's Dead Cities, Red Seas, and Lost Ghosts put M83 on the map, combining electronic textures with a vaguely danceable sense of rhythm.

Disco Biscuits: Delicious with jam

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Neon-colored fluorescent lights bounced around the room, varying dizzying patterns and splashed an ominous light on dozens of sweaty, pumped-up fans. "The first time I saw them I wasn't really into them," said Peter Mencher, freshman student at UNC Asheville.

Tony Wain brings the Payne

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The five piece country band Tony Wain and the Payne, fast becoming one of Asheville's most unique startups, ended Saturday night's kick off party for the Hobo Film Festival in the River Arts District with their third performance over the past several weeks.

Asheville Land Use

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Associate Professor Dee Eggers of UNCA's Department of Environmental Studies heads up a tour of land use issues in Asheville, N.C.

Annie's Story

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

"I wanted to write a news story about Alzheimer's. I wanted clear, hard facts dancing across a back drop of human interest. I wanted easy answers.

But when the curtains opened, there I was, center stage, caught up in a dance I no longer had any control over.

I wanted to do a story on Alzheimer's, what I got was a story about change and being changed."

Passport to Bulgaria

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Bulgaria is a meat and potatoes kind of country. I am not, however, a meat and potatoes kind of girl. In fact, I don't eat any meat. I've been a vegetarian since my freshman year of high school. In Asheville this isn't such a big deal, but in Bulgaria, it shaped most of my experiences.

Ghosts of Campus Past

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

In fall of 2004, Chancellor James Mullen welcomed 733 freshmen students to the UNC Asheville, up from 599 enrolled freshmen in the 2003-2004 school year. The administration hurried to accommodate the largest freshman class. Housing officials converted public spaces into rooms for students and allowed freshmen to stay in guest apartments.

Battling procrastination in the light of exams, research papers

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Approximately 70 percent of students admit to procrastinating at least occasionally, according to a Carleton University study. With less than a week left of college, it would be assumed that graduating students have mastered the art of time management. After finishing countless readings, papers and projects every student graduating from college would seem to have learned to use the most of their 24-hour days.

Mountain Highlights

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT