On Saturday morning at UNC Asheville, the Sherrill Center was filled with something other than basketball fans. Members of the community and a local doctor walked around the top floor of the center to promote heart healthy lives. Information about heart health was provided as well free blood pressure screenings.

“It’s an awesome opportunity for people to come out and get exercise as well as interact with cardiologist. They can ask any question about their heart health,” Leslie Council, event coordinator, said.

Walk with a Doc was created by David Sabgir and originated in Ohio. The program’s goal is to encourage healthy physical activity for all ages in order to prevent coronary heart disease, improve blood pressure and reduce the risk of diabetes.

Fatal accidents involving pedestrians wearing headphones have tripled since 2004, according to a study published by Richard Lichenstein, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland.

“I see it everywhere, everyday,” said Mary Henson, 45, local Asheville taxi cab driver.  “Honestly, it scares me how oblivious to the rest of the world these people seem to be.”

Activist and artist Damali Ayo criticized UNC Asheville programs and perceptions about racism in a lecture and afternoon tea discussion last Thursday.

“We have this perception, which is really, really crazy, that this doesn’t apply to me,” Ayo said. “What major are you that it doesn’t apply? Where are actual human beings irrelevant?”

UNCA held multiple events throughout the week, including Ayo, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day.

Pioneering energy saving features in campus-wide renovations and construction aim to cut costs and improve efficiency here at UNC Asheville, according to Don Gordon, director of design and construction at UNCA.

“The new residence hall will have an innovative heating and cooling system called a chilled beam system,” Gordon said.