Listen, laugh, indulge

Happiness can be tough sometimes.  No matter the age, race, socioeconomic status or any other demographic classification, every individual struggles to find happiness, to maintain equilibrium during certain points in life.  Some have a harder time than others.  Some are fortunate or unfortunate enough to live a full and complete life with few moments of depression, angst, anger, hate.  Most fall somewhere in the middle and experience a range of emotions on any given day. Some people find creativity and productivity when sad, some find it when happy and both are appropriate means for achievements, but the times when an individual is debilitated with depression and sadness and looking for something to bring them out of the swamp, I urge them to listen, laugh and indulge.

Listen: To your dreams when sleeping, to the birds chirping as you rise in the morning, to the sound of coffee brewing, to the concert of traffic as you head to work or school, to the daily grind.  Listen to music, new and old, pop and not, melody-driven and just simply noise.  Listen to music through it all.

Laugh: At your dreams in retrospect, at yourself for being such an asshole in the morning, at the traffic for being so unnecessary, at the people in your daily life. Laugh rather than loathe.

Indulge:  In the content of your dreams, in the pleasures of nature, in caffeine. Indulge in fattening foods, but don’t forget about essential nutrition. Indulge in laziness, but make activity your primary indulgence. Indulge in drugs, sex and rock and roll, but keep your head, your wits and most importantly your safety at the forefront of daily life.

This is a blog with an errant sense of professionalism. Intended to enlighten, amuse, entertain and satisfy. Enjoy.

Math goes from classroom to community

Math as a liberating art seems like a difficult concept to grasp, but for individuals making six figures or more, it is a mantra professionals live by.

According to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2000, America’s five best paying jobs are all math intensive. They include physicians and surgeons, dentists, chief executives, airline pilots and podiatrists.

“The fastest growing sector in workforce development locally is high-tech jobs,” said Sam Kaplan, professor of mathematics, history and humanities at UNC Asheville. “If you look at Mission Hospitals, they are the largest employer west of Charlotte.”

In recognition of the need for math proficiency in the community, Mission Hospitals and UNCA are hosting the first annual Math Literacy Summit Feb. 27-28.

“As we look to the future, it is imperative we have students who are proficient in math and know how to use math in order to solve problems,” said Janet Moore, director of community relations for Mission Hospitals.

Moore, with a master’s in communications from Cornell University, admits to disliking mathematics during her higher education career, but understands its necessity in our technologically driven society. The summit is a great way to get the community involved, according to Moore.

The summit features a free public lecture Wednesday by noted civil rights leader, MacArthur Fellow and founder of the nationwide Algebra Project, Robert Moses. There is also a series of workshops on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. hosted by faculty and teaching fellows of the UNCA math department.

Moses also serves as the keynote speaker for UNCA’s recognition of Black History Month. The Multicultural Student Events program and Kaplan are responsible for bringing him to the university.

Moses’ Algebra Project is a national, nonprofit organization that uses mathematics as an organizing tool to ensure quality public school education for every child in America, according to its Web site, http://www.algebra.org

Moses says math literacy is the key to 21st century citizenship and it can be taught in ways not intimidating to students, as it is often stigmatized.

The Algebra Project is based primarily in the Southeast, but the organization’s aim is to establish the fundamental right for every student across the country to a quality public school education.

“Bob Moses is such a sleeping giant,” said Deirdre Wiggins, assistant director of multicultural student programs. “He was so core, critical and crucial to the civil rights era back in the 60s and now he is providing leadership with revolutionizing the way math is taught.”

The lecture by Moses at 7 p.m. in Lipinsky Auditorium is free and open to the public, and admission to the workshops is $25 for adults and $10 for students. Participants in the event can expect discussions on math literacy and its connections with workforce development, personal finance, public health and other social issues, according to Kaplan.

“If someone wants to know about global warming, here is the kind of math they need to know. If someone is worried about voting issues, here is the kind of math they need to know,” Kaplan said, referring to the math literacy concept. “These are basic issues that a lot of people know about and care about, but it turns out you need to know some math to truly analyze the situation.”

A business breakfast in the Highsmith University Union precedes the workshops and is included in admission.

Faculty in the math department are not the only people hosting workshops; students are also getting involved.

“I am incredibly excited to see the Math Literacy Summit going on here at UNCA,” said junior math student Danny Coleman. “I am attending in hopes of giving my insights, having both worked at and attended schools in this area, as well as to gain insight on how to most effectively teach mathematics in a way that makes sense and motivates students.”

Coleman is a N.C. Teaching Fellow at UNCA and says the summit will provide steps in empowering future students with necessary and deserved math literacy.

“As a future educator and Asheville native of 20 years, I’ve been made well aware of the widespread lack of math literacy in our area and the problem certainly extends beyond our mountain home,” Coleman said.

Many people understand the vitality of mathematics in educational institutions, but not all agree with the standards.

“Standardized testing has put mathematics at the forefront of academic priority, but there is somewhat of a tragedy in seeing other subjects such as art, music and social studies being compromised for the cause,” said senior sociology student and future educator, Maia Ball.

The relationship between UNCA’s department of mathematics and Mission Hospitals began last year when Kaplan and other faculty members began a community outreach called the Asheville Initiative for Mathematics. The goal is to improve math literacy for students, teachers, parents and all other citizens of Asheville and Buncombe County, according to Kaplan.

UNCA and Mission Hospitals are both looking to the future in engaging the local community in understanding the importance of mathematics in our globalized and technological world, according to both entities.

“It’s been a wonderful collaboration between the university and Mission,” Moore said. “We are looking to continue relations in the future and encourage renewed enthusiasm for math competency.”

Finding the right path post-graduation

The time clock was broken, his boss was withholding tips and he came home every night smelling like chicken parmesan and pizza sauce.

Pierce Johnson, 2007 graduate of UNC Asheville, quit his job at a restaurant before he found a new job, but knew it was his only choice.

“It got really dull, really fast,” he said, referring to his position last summer as a waiter.

Johnson began his job search by scanning the listings of jobs related to his skills. He checked local publications and the Internet, submitting his résumé for positions all over WNC, but one resource he failed to take advantage of was UNCA’s Career Center.

The Career Center is a campus-based resource that provides networking and outreach services to both students and alumni. Headed by Eileen Buecher, the center hosts two jobs fairs annually featuring 80 to 90 employers, as well as 30 workshops and programs a year such as walk-in resume clinics, graduate school practice tests and many other services.

“The goal of the career center is to help students make educated decisions about their prospective career choices,” said Buecher, who has 18 years of career development experience. “We want the students to trust us and be comfortable with using the services.”

The Career Center is a valuable resource for UNCA students and graduates alike, but Johnson found a way nonetheless.

A couple weeks after quitting the restaurant business, Johnson sat at his desk, peering through the squeaky-clean glass windows of his new office at the Carolina Financial Group in Brevard.

He credits his current employment status with the investment banking company as a stroke of luck and good timing, but makes little mention of his credentials as a factor.

Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of International Economics and a Bachelor of Political Science from UNCA and he did it in four years.

“Looking back, it was the best four years of my life. Every year was different and I learned so much,” Johnson said. “At the end, I felt really well-equipped to continue my education if I wanted to, or go ahead and jump right into the job market.”

He jumped right into the job market and works as a financial analyst for the nationally recognized company. He has many duties, but primarily focuses on maintaining financial security for the company and their business partners.

One such duty is to check all outgoing and incoming e-mail correspondence for Carolina Financial Group’s employees. Johnson ensures there is no insider trading, fraud or other corrupt business practices going on amidst the company workers.

“Generally it’s not a problem, it’s just something that is mandated by the Securities and Exchange Comission and someone has to do it,” Johnson said.

Johnson is happy with his post-graduation position in the community, but does not intend to stay long.

During his four years at UNCA, he was invested deeply in humanitarian work confronting the AIDS crisis in Africa.

Johnson, along with UNCA alums Ben Cox and John Stephens, started the Student Global Aids Campaign chapter on campus. The chapter was founded with the intention of raising money for a non-profit established by Stephens’ parents, called the Amani Foundation. The venture was a success and students received the opportunity to travel to Kenya for a month and become involved on a personal level.

As a result of his enthusiasm for non-profit organizations, he developed a deep love for charitable work and feels obligated to continue in that direction, Johnson said. However, he recognizes the importance of establishing a firm financial base and is applying to in-state graduate programs.

“There are a lot of obstacles in turning non-profit work into an income paying career,” Johnson said. “I want to establish myself with the best credentials possible, go from there and try to make change that way.”

Johnson is not the only student facing the post-graduation decision juggle. This May, UNCA will honor more than 500 graduates, the largest class in its nearly 80-year history, according to the UNCA Web site.

The Alumni Development Office and Career Center are resources intended to alleviate some of the post-graduation stress of UNCA students..

The role of the Alumni Development Office is to maintain the relationship between the alumni and the university, according to Dr. Kevan Frazier, vice chancellor for alumni development.

“We want to share the stewardship with our alums, in order for them to be successful in their lives and their careers and we want alums to share the stewardship with the university,” Frazier said.

There is a reciprocal relationship between both parties, according to Frazier.

“There are things we want from alums and there are services they want from us. It’s important to maintain a solid relationship so both parties remain satisfied,” the Asheville native said.

The total number of living alumni is just over 12,000 and the total number with good addresses is nearly 12,000. Of the 13,000 living alumni, 62 percent live in North Carolina and the rest are spread out over 10 states across America, according to an alumni demographics study.

A sample survey of 2005-2006 graduates indicates 68 percent are employed, attending graduate school, and/or seeking travel options and internships, according to current research conducted by the Career Center.

The survey also shows nearly 18 percent of the graduates are in graduate school, with the most frequent institutions mentioned being UNC Chapel Hill and Western Carolina University. The median salary reported is $24,000-$26,000.

The Career Center is located in suite 259 of the Highsmith Student Union and the Alumni Development offices are located on the third floor of Owen Hall. Students are encouraged to take part in the free services offered by these programs.

The Career Center’s first internship and job fair will take place on Feb. 19 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Highsmith Student Union. For more information, visit http://www.unca.edu/career.

In addition to the many services and programs offered, the Career Center also has an alumni database aimed at providing current and past students with the ability to network beyond the local community and university.

The World of Work Career Interest Trip grants 18 students the opportunity to travel to Chicago and explore potential careers and to connect with professionals in the field. It takes place during spring break and will connect students with UNCA alumni.

Senior Jonathan Barnes, an environmental studies student from Winston-Salem, is going on the World of Work trip this year. He will survey different environmental consulting firms, interview with potential employers and attend meet-and-greet functions with related professionals.

Barnes, just like Johnson did a year ago, is weighing the decision of working in the field after graduation versus going directly to graduate school.

“I know I want to go to graduate school, but I’m so afraid that after being in school for this long, I’m just going to get burned out if I go right away,” Barnes said.

Barnes is interested in environmental management and policy and hopes the trip to Chicago affords him the prospect of getting experience in the field before he works toward a master’s degree.

“I’d really like to get some experience working with an environmental consulting firm before I go back to school, so I can get more of an idea of what I want to do specifically,” Barnes said.

UNC Asheville pumps biofuels into its vehicles

With Production and distribution of biofuels increasing exponentially worldwide, UNC Asheville is priding itself on being a patron of this global change.

Yuri Koslen, UNCA transportation planner and coordinator, initiated the switch in 2005 for all campus service vehicles that have diesel engines to run off biodiesel indefinitely.

“We made the decision because it was the right thing to do,” Koslen said. “The university, as well as everyone in the (Facilities Management) department has an environmental ethic to uphold.”

There are a total of 19 campus-owned vehicles that run off at least a B20 blend of biodiesel. The alpha-numeral B20 represents the percentage of biofuel mixed with a traditional petroleum-based diesel. A range of 0-100 can be used with any diesel engine. A standard blend for most biodiesel vehicles is B50, according to Koslen, who has worked with biofuels since 1998.

Many diesel vehicle owners think it is necessary to go through a conversion process with their vehicle in order to run biodiesel. This is a common misconception, according to Blue Ridge Biofuels’ Community Relations Director, Brian Winslett. Blue Ridge Biofuels is the sole provider of biofuels to Western North Carolina.

Charles McAbee, UNCA’s head mechanic for 25 years, admits his original hesitation when Koslen suggested the switch, but is now a proponent of the change and anxious to keep the ball rolling.

“When synthetic oils and fuels came out, I was gun-shy,” the 50-year-old Asheville native said. “But it improves the life of the engine, improves miles per gallon and we’re keeping it in the community.”

Biodiesel is created using domestic, renewable resources that are high in lipid fat content. It is made through a chemical process called transeterification, separating the glycerin from the harvested resource and leaving behind two products usable as alternative fuel, according to the National Biodiesel Board Web site. The two products left behind are glycerin and methyl esters, the chemical name for biodiesel.

The number of available resources, or feedstocks, for creating biodiesel are many, and extensive research is being conducted to find the most efficient, inexpensive and environmentally friendly feedstocks to achieve rising demand. Vegetable oil, ethanol, palm oil and soybeans are among the most popular but not necessarily the best.

Recent media coverage has uncovered evidence of the environmental and social impact of biofuel crops. In an article titled “How Biofuels Could Starve the Poor,” released in the May/June 2007 issue of Foreign Affairs journal, a comprehensive look is given to the effect that increases in ethanol production have on the food supply in developing countries, as well as the environmental impact of increased corn growing.

In Southeast Asia, large areas of tropical rainforest are being cleared and burned to plant oil palms intended for conversion to biodiesel, according to the article.

“Rather than placing stress on the Third World for increased crop production, it is more important to focus on resources coming from within the community,” said junior environmental studies student Rose Freer-Lancaster. “However, alternative fuels are just one piece in a multi-faceted approach to changing the way we live day-to-day.”

In addition to the ecological and social negatives, it is also more expensive to produce biodiesel and therefore more costly for consumers.

At the Gas Up in West Asheville, the B20 blend is currently $3.67 per gallon and the B50 blend is $3.93. The overall cost for the university is more exorbitant, but Koslen is confident the benefits outweigh the negatives.

“We’re able to all of a sudden turn operational vehicles into vehicles that meet the goals of the university using biodiesel and other alternative fuels,” Koslen said.

Despite the international negatives of biodiesel production, there is a change in the way individuals are approaching their means for transportation in WNC.

Petroleum-based fuels are no longer the only option for drivers, and the grassroots company, Blue Ridge Biofuels is largely responsible for the change.

The company is an employee-owned business producing and distributing biodiesel for Asheville and Western North Carolina, according to the Blue Ridge Biofuels Web site.

“Our goal is to displace as much petroleum as possible,” said Brian Winslett, emphasizing the need for energy efficiency above all else.

The company is witnessing a growing community embrace and healthy expansion since it first started producing biofuels at its North Asheville facility on Roberts Street in 2005.

There are now eight self-serving biodiesel pumps intended for public use, representing every region of Asheville. A full list of biodiesel pumps can be found on the Blue Ridge Biofuels’ Web site.

Bruce Hauman, a 38-year-old biodiesel user originally from Connecticut, puts Blue Ridge’s alternative fuel in his diesel Mercedes 300B.

He says he made the switch two years ago and is happy to support a homegrown local enterprise.

“It’s great because I can buy fuel from my friends, people I know and trust and care about,” Hauman said. Hauman also supports the growing popularity of biofuel production because of the stark contrast with petroleum fuel production.

“The motivations for producing and buying biofuels are very transparent,” he said, referencing the highly publicized corrupt practices of big oil companies.

Respected teacher departs university

Danelle Cauley of the drama department fought back tears, anger and disappointment, sitting in the office she has to say goodbye to at the semester’s end.

After six semesters at UNCA, the drama department replaced Cauley over spring break.

“I’m really saddened and devastated,” Cauley said “I’ve had students crying in my office, colleagues calling me and asking what’s going on and there is no way I can answer their questions.”

Cauley, native of Erie, Pa., took over for Pat Snoyer as visiting assistant professor in Fall 2005, while Snoyer took a then undetermined leave of absence.

Snoyer eventually informed the university she would not return and the position was posted nationally to fulfill a full-time tenured spot in the department.

The department asked Cauley to stay for another year with a demotion to lecturer. An individual can only hold the position of visiting assistant professor for two years, according to university protocol.

“I really like it here, so I decided that even though it’s a little embarrassing to take a step backward in your career, I would accept that,” Cauley said.

Cauley said she was the only candidate with experience and accomplishments already established within the department.

Cauley directed a performance of Little House Christmas in her first year; a performance of Jungal Book showcased at the Diana Wortham Theatre last semester and directed and choreographed a rendition of Cabaret performed at the Carol Belk Theatre in Fall 2006.

“I was thrilled with the talent that showed up for that audition at such a small university,” Cauley said of the Cabaret performance.

Cauley specializes in teaching drama to youth audiences, as well as training students interested in drama teaching careers how to provide instruction for the various branches of theater.

“When I got here, there was one senior and one freshman in theater education, now there are nine seniors doing student teaching,” Cauley said. “The licensure program has grown immensely.”

The position advertised for people who could teach acting, direct theater for young audiences and boost drama teaching licensure.

“These are all things I’ve been doing since I got here, but I’m sure that’s because it was that kind of position, a lot of people applied,” she said.

When a full-time tenured position opens at the university level, a search committee is formed and the application and subsequent interview process begins, according to Dean of Faculty Sam Schuman.

Initial phone interviews are conducted with all considered applicants, whether the candidate is local or national.

Those interviews are evaluated and a smaller number of applicants are chosen to visit the campus to complete the process.

In this case, three were chosen, including Cauley.

The applicants go through a rigorous day of interviews with the departmental search committee, various administrators and representatives of the faculty, according to Schuman, Chicago native.

The search committee then makes a recommendation to the dean of that department, as well as to the provost and the chosen applicant is made an offer with anticipated acceptance of that offer, Schuman said.

“The purpose of doing a national search is to find the best person in the country to do a job,” Schuman said. “As far as any of us are able to ascertain, that’s exactly what this search committee set out to do and seems to have done.”

The department interviewed candidates and made their decision during spring break.

They declined to comment on why Cauley was not selected to fill the position, saying it was a personnel matter that could not be discussed.

Some students say there is confusion about how the university selects new faculty.

“I think (as students) we’re unaware of how much bureaucracy goes on in a university setting,” said senior drama student Katie Fuller.

Fuller maintains a neutral stance on the issue and even took part in the search process, but says many fellow drama students are disheartened by the department’s decision.

“Danelle is a really great teacher and a really great friend,” said senior drama student Drew Collins. “I’m just sad to see her go.”

Collins isn’t the only student upset with the search committee’s decision.

“It’s been hard for a lot of the students and I know a lot of them are upset,” Fuller said. “It’s a really hard place to be when you have an emotional tie to someone like that.”

Fuller said Cauley brought much to the department, but thinks her services might be better suited elsewhere.

“The skills that (Danelle) has are very good and I’ve learned a lot from being in her classes,” Fuller said. “But I think her set of skills are not the best fit for the school and I think her staying here would not be the best use of her abilities.”

The university chose Lise Kloeppel to fill the position. Kloeppel currently teaches at Arizona Sate, where she obtained her MFA.

Kloeppel holds an impressive resume, fits the department’s criteria and will also fulfill administrative duties, according to Fuller.

“I am very impressed with the department, the students and the town,” Kloeppel said. “I honestly think it is a good fit for me and also for the students and the department in terms of where their interests are in developing the program.”

Obama campaign takes root in Asheville

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign for the presidency inspired many of Asheville’s politically minded to get involved in the closest race for the Democratic Party’s nomination in recent memory, Obama supporters said.

“The depth of commitment (from Obama supporters) is something I’ve never seen before,” said 69-year old volunteer Andrea Williams. “His character shines through and I think people are just grasping for that kind of leadership.”

Others describe Asheville’s culture as a perfect fit for Obama supporters.

“Asheville is such a progressive little pocket here in the mountains and I totally expected a lot of support for Obama, but I’m sure there are plenty of Clinton supporters in other areas of this state,” senior sociology student Kylie Black said.

Obama currently leads Clinton 56 percent to 33 percent in North Carolina, according to a recent Rasmussen Reports poll.

Though Obama is strengthening his lead in North Carolina, Clinton leads 47 percent to 42 percent in Pennsylvania, according to Rasmussen.

Pennsylvania holds its primary April 22. Other states yet to hold primaries are North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, South Dakota and Oregon.

Obama is campaigning heavily in North Carolina and established an Asheville office at 107 Merrimon Ave. The office is a bustling one-stop location for Obama supporters and curious voters, according to its volunteers.

The office sells stickers, buttons and other Obama memorabilia. In addition, it provides voter registration sign-up forms, helpful volunteers and an assortment of refreshments.

“Aside from voting, I’ve never participated in an election or a campaign in my life and I am just so excited about this man,” Williams said.

Williams, a licensed psychologist in Maryland and an artist in Asheville, volunteered and they put her at the front desk to answer questions, answer phone calls, sell merchandise and take donations.

“I’ve got no prior training, but have gotten it here on the job and it has just been a lot of fun,” Williams said.

Visitors flocked to the office this past weekend. Some came in wishing to donate money and others simply wanted a button or a sticker.

“The push right now is to get people registered to vote,” senior healthcare management student Lauren Wingo said. “One thing the Obama campaign really wants to do is make sure everyone gets their voice heard.”

Unprecedented numbers of voters are registering for the upcoming primaries, according to Wingo. The deadline to register for the North Carolina primary is April 11.

Wingo says this is the first time she is excited and optimistic about an election.

After seeing a recent speech by Obama in Spartanburg, Wingo decided she needed to do everything she could to support the campaign.

Mingo said she started the Students for Barack Obama group at UNC Asheville, enlisting Students for a Democratic Society to help spread the word about Obama.

“In past elections, I’ve been very complacent. I’ve only known enough about the candidates to simply vote,” she said. “But I’ve really been inspired by Obama’s message and how he is trying to bring a new kind of politics to the table, such as honesty and transparency.”

Wingo said she is amazed at the amount of grassroots support for Obama’s campaign in WNC.

“There is no Clinton grassroots movement going on in Asheville. UNCA doesn’t have a support group for Clinton, and driving around town, you aren’t seeing any Clinton bumper stickers,” Wingo said.

Currently, Obama has 1,629 total delegates and Clinton has 1,486. The number needed to win is 2,024, and neither candidate will be able to reach that number with the six primary states left to vote, according to CNN.

Modo's multi-layered stylings

In the basement of a small house in Montford, a minimal but functioning recording studio and practice space for local and regional touring act Modo teems with energy as the band practices for an upcoming show at the Emerald Lounge.

Two UNC Asheville music students, Benjamin Falcon and Jake Rosenbloum, met in the summer of 2007 and eventually formed the group Modo, after sharing music classes and experiences in UNCA’s jazz program.

“I came to Asheville with the intention of going to music school and meeting educated musicians that would be committed to forming a serious band,” Falcon, 23, said.

Recent Georgia Southern University graduate Craig Larimer was visiting Asheville when he answered a Craigslist ad looking for a keyboardist. He took part in a couple of practices and decided to move to Asheville and play in the band.

“After playing for various projects over the past few years, in college and throughout childhood, I really felt like I needed to commit to a serious band and playing with (Modo) could provide me with that opportunity,” Larimer, 23, said.

The group compiled and reworked individual material, as well as writing new material in order to build a legitimate repertoire for playing gigs and recording a demo, according to the band.

“Upon meeting and collaborating musically, we all realized that this could be much bigger than we imagined, and if we actualized the chemistry, we could be successful in creating music that could reach people in the way we wanted to,” Rosenbloum, 22, said.

The initial lineup played gigs at UNCA and various bars in town, before bassist and fellow music student Galen Bremer decided to move on.

Bremer graduated last spring and took his degree in music from UNCA and experience as a musician to Brooklyn with hopes of making a living as a jazz musician in New York City, according to the band.

The group, looking for a replacement, played a couple of gigs without a bassist and was not happy with the hole in the band.

“(Craig) was holding down the bass with his left hand on a synth while playing his parts on the right,” Falcon said of his fellow band mate.

Falcon and Larimer played a local jazz jam session at Stella’s on College St. when they found and played with Justin Powell, an Asheville bassist, according to Larimer.

“We were extremely pleased with (Powell) as a replacement when we saw what he could do on the bass,” Larimer said.

Powell, 30, is an experienced bassist and has an impressive resume, touring with numerous bands, including the Indigo Girls, according to Larimer.

The new lineup is making strides in establishing a solid fan base and gaining recognition locally, according to Falcon.

Their previous two shows in Asheville garnered more than 100 people at venues: the Emerald Lounge and the Garage at Biltmore, respectively.

“Our goal is to provide a multi-textural, genre-bending and mind-blowing musical adventure for our audience,” Falcon said.

Modo plays the Emerald Lounge, located on Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville, Oct. 3. It is their second headlining gig at the Emerald Lounge.

“I’ve seen (Modo) play a number of times now and I feel like they are really gaining some steam and putting forth some energy that wasn’t as present when I first saw them a couple months ago,” said sophomore environmental studies student Cameron Carlyle.

In addition to the upcoming show at the Emerald Lounge, the group has gigs in Boone; Charlottesville, Va.; Richmond, Va. and Statesboro, Ga

On-campus smoking limited next year

Going into effect Jan. 1, 2009, UNC Asheville faculty, staff and students are to adhere to a new smoking policy created by an ad hoc committee in response to 2007 NC General Assembly legislation.

“There is a trend among college campuses – both nationally and in North Carolina – to enact university-wide smoke or tobacco-free policies; such a move at UNCA would not have been out of the norm,” said professor of psychology and staff member of the committee, Melissa Himelein.

The 2007 legislation allows UNC campuses to create personalized policies regarding on-campus smoking.

The ad hoc committee is made up of two students, three faculty and three staff members. The board deliberated this fall to form a fair and non-restrictive policy for smokers.

“I don’t see the policy as too restrictive, given that one option seriously considered by the committee was to be a 100 percent tobacco-free campus,” Himelein said.

Smoking is currently prohibited in University buildings, facilities and residence halls. Adoption of the policy in 2009 will prohibit smoking in all outdoor areas within the University Heights loop and within 100 feet of University buildings, outdoor athletic facilities and outdoor recreation facilities.

The one exception to the 100-foot rule is outside Residence Halls where outdoor designated smoking areas are available.

“Residence Halls are where people live, rather than where people work and go to class,” said chair of the committee and Vice Chancellor Bill Haggard. “The committee felt it would be reasonable to give the people who live on campus a closer outdoor opportunity to smoke.”

It is the responsibility of the University community to comply with the policy and encourage others to abide by applying peer pressure, according to Haggard.

Regarding punishment, the committee made recommendations to give a warning for a first offense and report the offender to their supervisor in the event of a second offense.

“The intent and spirit of the policy is to encourage people to comply and not have to really punish or give sanctions to people for smoking,” Haggard said.

Though the policy hasn’t yet taken effect, students criticize its restrictiveness.

“I understand that non-smokers don’t want to have to walk through a cloud of smoke to get in to a building,” said junior environmental studies student, Rose Freer-Lancaster. “But I don’t see why smokers don’t have the option to smoke on the quad, which is vast, or in outdoor areas with benches.”

Currently, there are smoking urns placed outside of academic buildings such as Rhoades-Robinson and Karpen Hall.

The university will remove these smoking urns and place them outside of the University Heights loop where smokers seem to frequent, aside from the four designated areas outside residence halls, according to Haggard.

“Based on the experience of other colleges and universities that have gone smoke-free, I imagine there will be violators, particularly at the beginning,” Himelein said. “The philosophy of the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund, which has sponsored the Tobacco Free College project recommends reminding violators of the policy ‘nicely but consistently’ over time, the expectation is that compliance will increase.”

The Tobacco Free College Project provides funding to organizations promoting the advent of non-smoking policies on college campuses. Its aim is to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke, promote cessation and diminish adverse health effects among college students attributable to tobacco use, according to its Web site.

Second-hand smoke is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a known cause of cancer in humans and is labeled as a Group A carcinogen. Exposure causes approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths and 22,700-69,600 heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers in the United States each year, according to the American Lung Association.

“People unhappy with the policy have suggested that the second-hand smoke issue is exaggerated because its outdoors, but that attitude ignores the reality that smokers tend to congregate very close to building entrances and exits,” Himelein said. “What might seem like a momentary nuisance to some people can be a serious health hazard to someone with a chronic illness such as asthma.”

POPAsheville blazes amid frigid weather

High-energy live music blared from the sound system as people stood shoulder-to-shoulder adorned in costumes and wacky attire vying for a better position to view the entertainment; and all while traveling 35 miles per hour in a 40-foot purple bus.

The LaZoom bus was just one of the many facets of this year’s POPAsheville festival that made it such a huge success, according to Stephanie Morgan, event director and lead singer of stephaniesîd.

“I’m happy that so many people were able to take advantage of (the event),” Morgan said. “We had tons of video, tons of photography and people from all kinds of disciplines were around to exchange ideas, exchange information and make these connections that I think needed to be stirred up a little bit.”

The weekend festival finished its second year under the banner POPAsheville Jan. 15-18 and featured 30 local and regional bands at three venues, with discussions, workshops, parties and the LaZoom bus, all included in the $15 admission to the event.

The festival, originally called Idfest, is intended as a massive gig swap for local and regionally touring acts that gives bands an opportunity to network with industry professionals, while providing fans a chance to see a lot of music for an affordable price, according to Morgan.

“This year was the first time the event penetrated more deeply,” Morgan said. “More people knew about it and more people took advantage of what there was to offer, like the workshops and the keynote and all the collaborations from the different artists.”

Molly Kummerle, lead singer of Asheville band Ruby Slippers, participating organizer of the event and member of the band selection committee, says POPAsheville is not genre specific, but they do look for like-minded acts to benefit from the exposure and interactions provided.

“We look for bands with a strong Internet presence, a Myspace with songs that actually play,” said Kummerle, a native of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. “And we look for bands who are gigging regionally, who can really bring something to the gig-swapping concept.”

The gig-swapping concept generated the idea for the initial event three years ago.

“The original reason for the festival is basically so stephaniesîd can pay back other bands,” Morgan said of the giant gig swap. “We put every band in front of a crowd and show them a good time, and we hope that they will do the same for us when we come to their city.”

Local Asheville band Jar-E performed at the Rocket Club in West Asheville on Friday night with Stephanie Morgan accompanying on vocals.

Jon Reid is lead singer and frontman of Jar-E, currently on tour with Toubab Krewe, and plays regularly with stephaniesîd.

“I thought (POPAsheville) was great,” said Reid, a graduate of Warren Wilson College said. “This was the second year we’ve done it, and it just keeps getting better.”

In addition to a multitude of new musical talent, the fest featured tours of recording studios in Asheville. Industry professionals led various workshops at Echo Mountain Recording Studios’ new building space on Patton Avenue, according to Morgan.

The workshops ranged from how to write pop song charts to music law for the indie musician to a speech by Wayne Robins, copy editor of Billboard magazine and author of “A Brief History of Rock.”

Getting Robins to speak was somewhat of a fluke, said Morgan.

“Jessica (Tomasin) of Echo Mountain was trying to get Wayne Robins from the Hellsayers to do a panel, and somehow she contacted the copy editor of Billboard without really knowing it was him,” Morgan said. “The Wayne Robins she talked to happened to love Asheville and she lured him down here to speak at the event.”

This story is just one of many that combine to make this grassroots, community-driven event a bigger success every year, according to Kummerle.

“Being involved with the creation and evolution of this festival is extremely fulfilling to me because it also really allows me to connect myself with all the aspects that I love about the music world like performance, industry, organization, behind the scenes stuff and of course the stage,” Kummerle said.

Whether you are a starving musician looking for the connections and exposure to spread your craft, an industry professional looking to spread your voice, or simply a fan looking for a crazy time on a purple bus, POPAsheville is an event that brings it all to the table.

“It’s all about the bus, man,” Reid said laughing. “We love the bus.”

Unemployment plagues Asheville

With the U.S. government’s passage of a nearly $900 billion economic stimulus package, Asheville residents question how and when the local economy will benefit from the proposed plan.

“Businesses and people are planning on weathering the up-and-down fluctuations of our current market,” said Eileen Buecher, director of UNC Asheville’s Career Center and career counselor of 20 years. “They’re getting creative because everyone is just kind of waiting around to see what happens.”

The Rankin Vault, a local bar and restaurant, features a buy-one-get-one-free on food “recession special” seven days a week, according to owner and manager Joel Hartzler.

The special runs between 3 and 7 p.m. and enables customers to buy one menu food item and receive a second of equal or lesser value for free.

Hartzler moved to Asheville in 2007 after owning and running two bars in Portland, Ore.

He and childhood friend Chad Smoker opened the bar in July and agree downtown businesses need to get creative in order to be successful in the current economic climate.

“It’s hard to make money on food, whether you’re running a special or not,” Hartzler said. “We’re hoping that offering people a great deal on a late lunch or early dinner will generate a boost in all of our sales.”

Hartzler, along with many downtown restaurant owners, make up the third largest economic sector in Asheville.

Health services and private education, government (federal, state and local) and leisure and hospitality make up the three largest industry sectors for Asheville’s economy, according to the Asheville Chamber of Commerce.

The Economic Development Coalition, as part of the Asheville Chamber, recently completed their second-quarter staff report for 2008-09, including a comprehensive local economy overview.

The mission of EDC is to help businesses succeed in Asheville, according to Senior Vice President Ben Teague.

“I am optimistic about Asheville’s (economy),” Teague said. “Our current economic trend follows the rest of the nation, but I remain optimistic about the future, given our diverse economic position. Our economy has wide-ranging contributors, from manufacturing to health care to retail and tourism to professional services.”

Teague remains optimistic, but statistics show local unemployment rates following current national trends.

National unemployment increased by 125 percent from 2007 to 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In the city of Asheville, unemployment rates increased by more than 175 percent from 2007 to 2008.

Similarly, Buncombe County and N.C. unemployment spiked 175 percent from 2007 to 2008.

“The job market typically changes every three to five years,” Buecher said. “The dips in employment were in 1983, 1992 and then now. A lot of what we are seeing is just the natural ebbs and flows of the market.”

Of the 15 N.C. metropolitan statistical areas, the Asheville unemployment rate is the third lowest at 6.2 percent, behind Raleigh-Cary (6.1 percent) and Durham (5.8 percent), according to the EDC report.

However, the December job losses equaled 1,400, and the decline is the largest single-month drop on record.

The sector hit hardest is the professional and business services, according to Buecher.

“Typically, in a tough economy, the things that are cut first are marketing, consulting, telecommuter and things of that nature,” Buecher said.

Buecher said the consistent influx of retirees to the Asheville community makes it difficult for recent graduates and young professionals to find employment in Asheville.

“Asheville is competitive, and it always has been competitive,” Buecher said. “We have a very strong retiree community, and a lot of them are now looking for part-time work.”

Buecher said there is no shortage of diverse individuals moving to Asheville on a yearly basis, and Teague says this can only benefit the local economy.

“Outside of our economic make-up, the core assets that brought us this far haven’t changed,” Teague said. “We still have the mountains, an innovative workforce and an entrepreneurial spirit. The chamber and the EDC are strategically poising ourselves to capitalize on opportunities now and in the future.”

Teague said the EDC plans on assisting a large electronics manufacturing company seeking a facilities expansion in the River Arts District in the next one to two years.

Buecher encourages all students and alumni to use the Career Center and take advantage of career and internship fairs hosted by UNCA.

“It’s a given in our culture now to work on a debt,” Buecher said. “Looking at the (stimulus) package, it seems like we’re looking at long-term benefits rather than short-term.”