lacey defelice

campus culture
student stories of
&
extracurriculars
a
inspired by the
belcher years
america meredith
an art exhibit
feature at
western carolina on some must-visit
university carolina
businesses
a look into college life
for a student living
with
CAMPUS CULTURE TABLE ContentS
an ode to belcher

do a flip!

college with aspergers

rehabilitating your life

home is where the mound is

pebbles suck

jr’s tavern

java city

america by america

1 2
an ode by Chelsea paign that was known so little about.

Komer
L ori Lewis, vice chancellor of advancement, spoke on the involve-

to belcher
ment of the campaign’s donors and volunteers during the first
few years of its existence. The beginning stages of raising money
came from those people, making its continuance possible. “We are
excited to celebrate success with our community. We are even more
excited to experience how the power of philanthropy will have a
positive impact on our students for many years to come,” she said.

It was the start of the 2012 Southern Conference Championship game – Western Caro-
lina University Catamounts versus Davidson College Wildcats. Supporters of both teams
seated in their respected areas inside U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville. The drive for WCU
students was roughly an hour, leading to the arena colored with purple and gold. Among
the Catamount supporters was an older man who appeared to be dressed for a banquet
rather than a basketball game. He went up and down rows, high-fiving students and urging
their excitement on. There was no visible sign of purple or gold on his clothing, but what
did sit on his chest was a tag that read: David O. Belcher, Chancellor.
W CU officially launched the public phase of the campaign
March 1, 2018. Students, faculty and staff began seeing post-
ers and emails calling it the ‘Lead the Way: A Campaign Inspired by
the Belcher Years.’ The public aspect of the campaign was inspired
by none other than Chancellor Belcher, who passed away in June
2018 after battling brain cancer since April 2016. During his battle
with cancer, Belcher pushed for the publicity of the campaign. It
was an easy decision. There was no better way to celebrate the ac-
complishments of ‘Lead the Way’ than to also recognize Belcher’s

L ess than a year later, that same man walked on Western Carolina University’s main contributions and memories along the way.
stage ready to take charge. His appearance resembled that of a graduate student –
black gown, eager face. Faced by his wife, Susan, members from the Board of Trustees, T he goal of the ‘Lead the Way’ was to raise $60 million by spring
2019. Because the campaign was kept hidden, this goal was
only made known when the campaign went public. In October 2017,
Belcher and Susan pledged $1.23 million in the form of cash dona-
“ A school known for its scenery and outdoor ex- tions and an estate gift for the university to kick off the public phase
of the fundraising effort. The Belchers said that they had decided
cursions welcomed Belcher, a fresh face, faith, to direct their philanthropic gifts toward scholarships because stu-
dents represent their shared passion. Belcher himself said the rea-
and pride-oriented leader to office officially on son they decided to do this campaign was because of the students.
WCU’s students was his reason for being. They were his joy.
March 29, 2012. ”
former UNC President Tom Ross and several others, N ewly effective changes
in the federal tax code
nearly doubled the amount
the campaign began in the
summer of 2014. At the end
of the year, the campaign
some, they won’t tell all if
people don’t allow them to.
Belcher took oath of office. A school known for its
scenery and outdoor excursions welcomed Belcher,
a fresh face, faith and pride-oriented leader to office
of standard deductions,
therefore reducing the
number of taxpayers who
had already reached 98 per-
cent of its $60 million goal.
This surge allowed the total
I n addition to increas-
ing the financial support
available to WCU students
officially on March 29, 2012. Standing center stage in
WCU’s Ramsey Center, Belcher would then go on to could include their philan- to climb to $58.7 million. through endowed scholar-
pledge to remain steadfast to WCU’s historic tradi- thropic giving as itemized ships, the campaign also
tion of providing access to higher education while
affirming commitment to success and honing insti-
deductions. However, dur-
ing December 2018, the
university’s Advancement
D espite the change in
federal tax codes, the
end of each calendar year
seeks financial support for
experiential learning op-
portunities such as travel
tutional focus. Raising money for scholarship sup-
port was Belcher’s top philanthropic priority. unit processed $3,681,229 usually sees an uptick in grants, paid internships,
in gifts and pledges. While charitable contributions as undergraduate and gradu-

B elcher’s pledge eventually led to the start of some fundraising experts donors rush to meet De- ate research activities, and
a comprehensive fundraising campaign – only expected to see a notice- cember 31 tax deadlines. attendance at meetings of
the second in WCU’s history, and one that focused able decline in the year-end According to the Network professional organizations. A
on the need for increased scholarship support. The giving in 2018, the gener- for Good, an organization third prong of the campaign
campaign officially kicked off in 2014, but nameless ous and loyal donors came that processes donations emphasizes programmatic
and behind closed doors. The only face behind it through in a big way at the for charities, nearly one- support to bolster the work
was Belcher. Those who knew about the campaign end of the year, resulting in third of all charitable giving of WCU’s colleges, schools,
knew of it as Belcher’s. His work, ethics, morals, WCU’s highest totals for the takes place in December. departments and programs.
faith, and love for the school all went in to the cam- month of December since So, while numbers may tell

3 4
 “Giving back W ith tallying of year-end giving now in the rearview
mirror, WCU is turning its attention to the third
annual “I Love WCU” month this February, when alumni,
by Chelsea Komer an ode to belcher
to these very students, faculty, staff and friends are encouraged to
demonstrate their affection for the university by making
the campaign where
the summit was visible.
Vision: Focusing Out Future” plan. This strategic
plan focused on enrollment growth and rein-

deserving new or additional gifts and through an array of activi-

ties on social media and across campus. According to
Alison Morrison-Shetlar, WCU interim chancellor, “I Love
Western WCU” provided the opportunity to reach the $60 million
goal ahead of time.
students has
Every contribution be-
fore and after mattered,
forced the historic commitment to the region.
Throughout the years of his designation as Chan-
regardless of amount. cellor, Belcher has had a hand in the increase
The goal, while in sight,
became less about the
of the student body, the increase of institutional
scholarships and the overall improvements made
money and more about on campus, including Noble Hall, Brown Cafete-

given us so T hanks to the ongoing generosity of a husband and

wife who divide their time between Highlands in
the cause – students,
Belcher, WCU.
ria and now a new Natural Sciences Building.

much
the Western North Carolina mountains and Hilton Head
Island in the South Carolina Lowcountry, Western Caro-
lina University is one step closer toward its goal of being C ome Thursday, May A long with his academic work, Belcher was
heavily involved in the athletics, attending
2, WCU officials will as many games as he could. His cheerlead-
able to provide scholarship assistance to every Honors reveal just how suc- ing at games often went further than athletics.
satisfaction.” College student with financial need. Make that one mil-
lion steps closer. Jack and Judy Brinson, who previously
cessful that fundraising Belcher’s ability to connect with students distin-
effort has been when guishes him from the bunch. Belcher was a man
they announce the final of many talents. He was a successful pianist. He
made $1 million in gifts and commitments to support WCU students, recently doubled total raised during “Lead performed around the country as a recitalist and
down on their giving through a $1 million planned estate gift that pushes the couple’s giv- the Way: A Campaign dove deep into classical music.
ing total to WCU to the $2 million mark. The initial gift was $350,000, but they then de- Inspired by the Belcher
cided to increase it to $1 million after being inspired by the $1.23 million pledge to WCU
in October from then-Chancellor Belcher and his wife, Susan. “Our original support was
for current scholarship needs, and we received many letters from students telling us how
Years.” A community
celebration will be held
from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30
W hen the news first broke around campus
that he was taking a leave of absence, stu-
dents were looking for support and people will-
crucial these scholarships had been in allowing them to continue their education,” said p.m. on the arena floor ing to offer their condolences. Students who had
Jack. “Neither of us came from wealthy backgrounds, and we are incredibly grateful for the of the Liston B. Ramsey never met Belcher before made their way across
opportunities and success we have enjoyed. Giving back to these very deserving Western Regional Activity Cen- campus with a montage of student support.
students has given us so much satisfaction.” ter, the site of Belcher’s His inspiration and admiration traveled. Even if
initial pledge to ensure someone didn’t know him, the things they heard

In recognition of their legacy of giving upon the settlement of the Brinsons’ estate, the
university will name its residential college for high-achieving students the Brinson Honors
College as approved by the WCU Board of Trustees in December. The Brinsons made their
access to higher educa- about him were only positive. WCU has struggled
tion for all capable stu- in the past year to find their 12th chancellor and
dents. The ‘big reveal’ one can imagine that part of that is from the
recent $1 million estate gift in honor of their late sons, Kristopher and Kevin Brinson, as of the campaign total long-lasting effect Belcher had on everyone. It is
both a legacy for them and for the Honors College. “Every student who receives a Brinson will come between noon difficult, often impossible, to replace someone
Scholarship will continue to honor Kris and Kevin, and WCU will be stronger as well,” said and 12:30 p.m. On site who is irreplaceable. As an advisor and his for-
Judy. In addition to the Brinsons’ contribution, the campaign recently received an anony- will be WCU’s infamous mer Chief of Staff, Melissa Wargo, reflected on
mous estate gift of $1 million to go toward student scholarships. Purple Thunder, The her time working with him. “He was a tremendous
Catamount Singers and person. He is an inspiring leader. I wouldn’t have

D onna Winbon, a 1980 graduate of WCU and financial advisor from Raleigh who is serv-
ing as chair of the campaign believes those who make philanthropic contributions to
WCU usually do so to give back to an institution they love. “We are amazed by the out-
Electric Soul. done this job for anybody else except for him,”
she said. “It was professionally lifechanging for

pouring of generosity from those who support Western Carolina University through philan-
thropy,” Winbon said. “The gifts received at the end of the year have propelled our ‘Lead
T he story of David O.
Belcher has been
me to work for Chancellor Belcher.”

the Way’ campaign and the finish line is now in sight.” In addition to Winbon, the ‘Lead the
Way’ steering committee consists of Randall and Susan Ward who are Honorary Chairs,
one of success, admira-
tion and honor. Pledging
a successful campaign
F or a story that is unknown to most of the world
and even the state, raising $60 million from
outside donors is quite the accomplishment and
Brad Bradshaw, Ed and Donna Broadwell, Wes Elingburg, Ken Hughes, Cathy and Roland wasn’t the only thing he makes history. The next step is to put it to use.
Johnson, Robin Pate, Brandon Robinson, Rebecca and Mike Schlosser, Debbie and Dale set himself up for upon While Belcher isn’t here to delegate those re-
Sims and Todd Vasos. initiation. Belcher’s first sponsibilities, WCU will work to the best of their
year as Chancellor was abilities to value and cherish what he started.

W CU feels very good about reaching the goal. After the anonymous estate gift, they
were short by only $1.5 million, which for any college student seems impossible. For
WCU and ‘Lead the Way,” the goal suddenly became feasible. They reached the point of
not an easy task as he
was to see out the “2020 ◊ ◊ ◊

5 6
 do a flip! by Natalie Davis
Pearson Buchanan looks down at me and breathes so that his
cheeks puff out. “This is spooky,” he shouts, rubbing his hands to-
gether. I laugh, trying to ignore the fact that if he messes up he
could easily break an ankle or a leg, and we would spend the rest
of the evening in the ER. His mom texted him earlier and told him
he wasn’t allowed to do this, but here he was. Doing it.
Pearson stands on a ledge that overlooks the green lawn where
I stand. He is dressed in a nearly monochrome outfit with a red
Deadpool t-shirt, red sweatpants, and grape purple hiking shoes.
His hands clasp the thick metal guard rail that lines the ledge and
prevents people from falling off. He stares intensely at the ground,
calculating and concentrating. I stare up at him, and I estimate he
is probably about 6 feet off the ground, and the guard rail adds an
extra 5. “I’ve never tried this before,” he yells, which is even more
comforting. “Just do it!” I call back.
The sky is cloudy, and everything is a little wet from a rainstorm
earlier that day. Some people passing by look at Pearson with a
mix of confusion and concern in their eyes. They also don’t want
him to get hurt, but they’re curious about what he’s going to do.
“Do a flip!” one guy bellows, making Pearson grin mischievously.
This is the kind of thing Pearson does on almost a daily basis, and
he has been training in freerunning, parkour, and tricking for nearly
5 years.
in Pearson’s case, vaulting off
Now, if you’re anything like me, this ledge and summersaulting
you might have recognized one on the ground below. Free run-
of those words and it was prob- ning is often used in conjunc-
ably parkour. If you’ve ever tion with Parkour to add artist-
watched The Office, you’ve prob- ry and flare. Parkour is simply
ably seen the episode where Mi- the essence of movement in
chael, Dwight, and Andy discover which one’s goal is to get from
videos of people doing parkour point A to point B in the most
on YouTube, and they spend the efficient way, particularly in
morning running around the of- complex environments, and it
fice and shouting “Parkour!” as does not include flips. Tricking
they messily jump from desk to is completely different, as the
desk and summersault across the purpose is not to move across
floor. Their idea of parkour, and a 3D space, but it implements
a lot of mainstream ideas about gymnastics as well as break-
parkour, wasn’t exactly right, and dancing to perform what they
Pearson taught me why. call “tricks”.
Free running is creatively tra- These practices may sound a
versing your environment while little dodgy, but the thought
doing gymnastics. This includes and effort that go into them is
flipping, vaulting, twisting – and astounding.
7 8
The reason these practices are so important
to Pearson, and countless other people, is
because they are the art of movement and
expression. To some, choreography is re-
stricting because you are given a script of
moves, and you must follow those moves. In
freerunning, parkour, and tricking there is no
wrong way to traverse a space or do a trick,
and you are free to make your own unique
shapes with your body.
While practicing freerunning, parkour, and
tricking are good ways to build up muscle,
balance, and stamina, they are also a life-
style, a subculture, that come with its own
terms, philosophies, and beliefs. A popular
philosophy is the idea that parkour is a state
of mind rather than a set of actions, and it’s
not only about overcoming physical barri-
ers, but it’s also about overcoming mental
and emotional obstacles too. Anyone can do
it, no matter your size, gender, race, age, or
nationality, everyone is welcomed into the
community. Tricking and freerunning are
both associated with expression and art, and
with them, people like Pearson have been
able to find creative outlets that help them
through life.
I first met Pearson in the mountains of North
Carolina during Western Carolina Univer-
sity’s Freshman Orientation. I was an Ori-
entation Counselor, and he was one of my
students. His lively presence and inquisitive
nature was refreshing, and I was immediately
intrigued by his character – his quick speech,
his animated hand movements, his excite-
ment. When I asked him what he liked to do,
he told me about parkour, and I admitted I
had never met anyone with that past time. I
didn’t know that his practice, as well as his
community, would help get him through his
first year of college.
“Yeah, I had a really rough first year, but ev-
ery time I would hit a rough patch I would
turn to tricking,” he told me. During his first
 do a flip!
by Natalie Davis
rut, he landed his first cartfull where he dove into a cartwheel, jumped up, flipped in the
air. During his second rut, he landed his first double full which starts off with a cartwheel
followed by two backhand springs and several spins in the air. He also defeated his arch-
nemesis the flash gainer which is a backflip off of one foot. Every time he was in a bad spot,
he would disconnect and start to push himself. “Tricking has helped me become more con-
fident in my body and in my personality,” he told me, grinning.
never seen the energy of a gathering be replicated anywhere else. It lasted three days, and
even though he could only be there the first day, Pearson knew he loved it. “It was whole-
some people being wholesome,” Pearson said grinning.
The first night, everyone was going crazy doing tricks and supporting each other. Profes-
sionals were visiting from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada. They would push
each other to land their tricks and get each other to do “the dumbest shit ever.” One of
the jokes was to be doing a flip, but every time you flipped, you’d take off a piece of your
clothes, and by the end you were mooning everyone.

Pearson started practicing 5 years ago when a friend of his brought him to a gym where you
can get your first tricking class for free. Pearson had never pushed himself that hard, and he
had never been so exhausted. He immediately bought a year long membership to the gym
with unlimited classes, a first in the gym’s history, and he went from weighing 200 pounds
to 150 pounds without changing his diet.
The gym, or his “home gym” as he likes to call it, is complete with a foam pit, spring boards,
and wooden boxes to simulate urban environments. It was there that he practiced nearly
Dinner was catered, and even though they were eating they were still going wild. Anytime
it was quiet for too long, someone would yell “Do a flip!” and someone would oblige. They
watched a documentary that just came out on freerunning and parkour, and they played
videogames together while some fell asleep in the foam pit, and at one point the speakers
were blown out from all the loud dubstep, rap, and heavy metal that was blasted all day.
The next day, Pearson graduated from high school and was unable to attend the shittery
that was the second day of the gathering. They had turned off all the lights and gave ev-
eryone glow sticks so that when they did their tricks all you could see were the glow sticks

every day and volunteered dur-
ing the summers until he was
hired on as a coach teaching
people anywhere from the age
of 6 to the age of 40 how to do
basic flips and the importance of
safety.
One of the most importance as-
pects of freerunning, tricking,
and parkour is avoiding injury.
The older generation of trick-
ers want the newer generations
to be able to practice as long as
possible, and that means being
as safe as possible. Coaches take
a lot of time teaching students
about safety – how warming up
your muscles can protect against
tears, how landing on your soft
tissue pathways reduces injury,
and how knowing the muscle
groups and body mechanics so
you can develop tricks.
When I asked Pearson what the
worst injury he ever saw was,
he showed me a video of a guy
tumbling down a tall structure
and hitting the ground in a soul
crushing impact. The guy had
come out alive, but he was pret-
ty messed up with several bro-
ken ribs. He’s a well-known free
runner on Instagram known for act-
ing a fool. “Yeah, this guy has no idea
what self-preservation is,” Pearson said
laughing. He also recounted how he
watched a guy snap his ACL, and he
immediately hoped that would never
happen to him. Pearson’s worst injury
happened when he wasn’t even doing
the cool stuff. He was running laps to
warm up, and his ankle rolled and he
tore three ligaments.
Gathering season is just around the cor-
ner. “Gatherings” are when members
of the tricking community organize a
big event to showcase their styles and
seek advice from fellow trickers. These
gatherings usually last a weekend,
and people from all around the world
visit gyms in other countries to experi-
ence the comradery. They are known
for their intense energy and the shared
belief that as long as you put in your
maximum effort you will be supported.
Fellow trickers watch as people try to
land their tricks, they cheer them on
when they don’t land it, and when they
finally land it the crowd goes wild and
rushes the tricker, lifting them off the
ground and howling their support.
Pearson’s home gym hosted a gather-
ing just last year, and it was one of the
craziest experiences of his life. He has
floating in the darkness. Pearson was sent video after video from his friends in the
community updating him on people’s tricks. The third day, he was unable to make
it again, but he was there in spirit as people kept sending him videos on Instagram.
Social media has been integral to the success and growth of the tricking com-
munity. Without the internet, people wouldn’t know what was going on, and they
would be left out of the loop when it comes to events like gatherings. Social media
platforms, particularly Instagram, connects novices to professionals and profes-
sionals to novices. It’s not untypical for professionals to have open DMs for people
to message them and ask for advice on their techniques. Trickers host live feeds,
and people watch and support and cheer, just like they do at the gatherings.
Pearson plans to attend the gathering known as NEO this summer. He has already
bought the tickets and will be traveling to Ohio to see some of the greatest trick-
ers and champions and talk to them about their practice.
Pearson steps back from the guardrail and rolls his shoulders a few times. I know
he’s stalling, but he can admit that the jump is making him nervous. He’s com-
pletely different from the young man I was talking to earlier. Earlier, he was joking
and carefree. Now, his eyes are focused, sharp, intent on not messing this one up.
I’d rather he take his time then rush into it and hurt himself.
He experiments with his technique first. “I wanna try just jumping from the ledge,”
he says as he slips his legs over the guard rail. His feet only have an inch of pur-
chase, but he keeps his balance until he jumps to the ground and slips into a
graceful summersault that follows the soft tissue pathways along his shoulder
and back. He summersaults through the ivy beneath the ledge and into the grassy
lawn. He hops up, bouncing on his feet, and stares up at the ledge. “Okay,” he says,
trying to subdue the fear, and he runs back up the steps to the ledge.
He stands behind the guard rail again, his hands on his hips. He goes up to it, act-
ing like he’s going to make the vault, but he doesn’t follow through. I figure he’s
trying to calculate his trajectory, but he’s also trying to grapple the nervous pit in
his stomach.

9 10
 do a flip! by Natalie Davis
He decides to experiment with his technique again. Instead running up to the guard rail
and swinging his legs over it, he decides to swing his legs over it from a standing position
and finish out the roll. His hand nearly slips off the rail as he swings his legs over, making
an ugly squeaking noise – I feel my heart clench as I prepare for a bad landing in which is
ankle snaps, but his knowledge of how to land safely gets him down safely, and rolls onto
the grass. “I messed up a bit on that one,” he says grudgingly.
Suddenly, a light rain begins to fall, and Pearson decides it’s no good to practice this in the
rain because then it would get really dangerous. A wet metal guardrail would be a recipe for
disaster.
“I’m going to make that jump though,” he says passionately as we walk away, “by the end of
this semester!” I believe him, and it’s hard not to with the determination sparkling in his eyes.
His willingness to push himself and his courage to fight his fears was cultivated by the home
he found in tricking, parkour, and freerunning, and it’s something he can always turn to in
times of hardship.
◊ ◊ ◊

11 12
 A sperger’s? I asked Sebastian-
chubby, with eyes beaming
behind thick glasses, round face
grizzled with stubble and whose
hair was getting long again, wast- I wanted to know what life was like at a university for a person with Asperger’s.
College life requires its students to constantly push the boundaries of their com-
fort zone and engage with peers and superiors professionally and socially. This
ed no time jumping openly and
honestly at my sentence fragment isn’t easy for the average neurotypical person. For a person with Asperger’s, this
of a question. challenge can be a mountain.

“ I was diagnosed with au-”, I hear

him quickly back off from the
first syllable of autism, recalling
my distaste of the inclusion of
Asperger’s into Autism Spectrum
Disorder, “Asperger’s in 5th grade.
Before then, they had just said I
was ADHD and had thrown me on
Adderall. The dosage was either
so low that it didn’t do anything or
so high that I was constantly de-
pressed and had nightmares.”
“ I struggle with trying to figure out how to express myself to people.” He had at-
tempted to convey this idea to me a few different times, tweaking each attempt
before finally laughing at the realization he had just illustrated his own point.
“I often second-guess what I’m saying and I’m constantly afraid people are going
to misunderstand what I am saying, and that’s going to lead to problems for me.
Sometimes when I’m interacting with people, I constantly just correct myself and
overexplain myself because I am absolutely terrified that they are not going to get
what I am saying.”
Ihad gotten to know Sebastian over a few classes and many trips to the local
game store. On rare occasion, I would overhear people talking about him with
annoyance: how he would talk too much, get too emotional at a certain debate
topic, and how he would sometimes misunderstand the unspoken rules of eti-

I wasn’t convinced that he didn’t
also have ADHD. Not that I’m
a medical professional but, Se-
bastian was perpetually a ball
of energy and enthusiastic, and
it seems that more reasonable
quette between professor and student. For Sebastian, social cues were a chal-
lenge – a challenge that he was both aware of and was actively working on. Out
of his many hobbies came a tool that could help him better understand social
interaction: tabletop roleplaying.
“ My mom played Dungeons & Dragons a lot when I was a kid, it was pretty much
what she did with her weekends. That inspired a curiosity in me that lasted until

college
people are often put off by this.
Perhaps instead, it was that his I got here where I finally found so people to play with.”
enthusiasm was all channeled to-
wards niche subjects: film, games,
comics, anime – the usual nerd
fare. Perhaps he was not more

with aspergers enthusiastic than the common

person, it was that his attention
was towards nerdy things and not,
by J.B. Bost say football, where such enthusi-
asm is rewarded not punished.

Meet a student living with Asperger’s and get

a glimpse into the life of a college student T o me, Sebastian is an extro-
verted person, which is un-
common but not unheard of with
dealing with social difficulties.
people who have Asperger’s. Se-
bastian noted the quality in him-
self as well, a quality that he had
H is story is not an uncommon one. Nerds have been passing down their
prized pastimes for generation after generation. Dungeons & Dragons,
itself, began in 1974 – a full 45 years from the date we had sat down to do the
to work for. “I had a lot of mentors
interview for this piece. There is something special about a game that has
in high school who taught me that
stood the test of time like D&D; something timeless that may be found within
if I don’t get past this stuff, I’m just
Sebastian’s relationship to it.
going to let life whisk by me, and
I didn’t want that, so I decided to
be more open with myself.”

13 14
 college
VNMN
with aspergers
“Ever since, I’ve I t wasn’t always easy for Sebastian to find
friends. It wasn’t that he’s not likeable –
been obsessed Sebastian is the shit – it was just that putting
yourself out there and making those connec-
with it. I love ev- tions was an alien concept.
erything about it:
playing as new T hrough roleplaying, Sebastian finally had a
way of finding these meaningful relation-
ships and growing them over time. “Not only
characters, I espe- have I met so many friends through playing
D&D, it really helps me understand the way
cially love the sto- things happen. D&D is a lot of how actual in-
ry-telling of being teractions feel, especially for me as someone
with Asperger’s.”
a dungeon master
– seeing how dif- S ocial interaction is quite a mystery: some-
thing most of us do by instinct, Sebastian
must study and do with technique. Unfortu-
ferent people ap- nately, this interaction is Talmudic to him.
proach the same
thing.” “I don’t really know the outcome be-
cause I don’t necessarily understand the
rules of social interaction.”
15
by J.B. Bost
“Nobody fucking does,
they just make them up as they go along.”
Isay, remembering how I’ve done my best
to transparently subvert these social
rules and make this interview space apart
from those norms and conventions that
befuddle my friend and annoy me.
“I know but a lot of people are more
confident in it.”
“The prettier you are, the more
bullshit you can get away with,”
I reply, “But I look like Post Malone
so what the fuck do I know?”
S ebastian laughs because I totally
do. And that was my friendship with
Sebastian. Meaningful conversations,
watching me act like an idiot, and just
hanging out and doing nerd shit.
P eople will continue to underestimate
Sebastian because he’s so easily com-
partmentalized as a nerd, but within that
nerd with the thick glasses who offput-
tingly exudes enthusiasm, there’s a com-
plex human being that has shown excep-
tional self-awareness and gumption in
attempting to grow past his nature.
◊ ◊ ◊
16
 “ Well, yeah sure my second tear was
tough for me. I was pretty naive about

rehabilitating
returning like I really thought it would
never happen to me again. But things
really changed in my head when I had

your life:
my accident after my second. My con-
fidence shot down. I felt like something
was telling me I didn’t deserve this. I
guess you can just say when I re-tore it
my third time, reality just set in.”
by Camryn Couch
F ollowing her second surgery, after
just two months, Amanda was walk-
ing to get a pizza in a parking lot when

The Amanda
a car hit her going 30 mph. After land-
ing on her freshly injured leg, it tore
again instantly. She knew what she
Karlson Story had done right away. Fear set in once
again as Amanda laid in the parking lot
in agonizing pain. This was a turning
A manda is 23 years old, freshly graduated from the University of North Carolina at
Charlotte with a degree in Sociology. She is about to begin her career in inside sales
for an electrical supply distributor also in Charlotte, NC. Karlsson is half Swedish on her
point for her. This incident resulted in
the coaching staff of Ole Miss to de-
cide to forcibly release her from the
father’s side and speaks the language fluently. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, she program, claiming medical hardship.
has citizenship in three countries: Sweden, South Africa, and the United States. A gifted This decision came as a devastation to
soccer player, she made her international debut for Sweden when she was 16 years old
against the United States, collecting an assist in her first competition. By the time she
Amanda and her family who are de-
vout soccer fans and just wanted to see
tried after my third one.
He’s the biggest influence
for me soccer-wise. He always
was a sophomore in high school, Amanda was verbally committed on a full scholarship their daughter succeed. Amanda had a
to play at a Division I school, Ole Miss. Towards the end of her successful freshman sea- has been since I can remember.”
choice to make. She could continue at
son with the Rebels, she tore her ACL for the first time, a devastating injury to any athlete. Ole Miss and get her degree or pursue
She would continue to tear both ACL’s a combined 5 times, undergoing 5 separate sur-
geries throughout her collegiate career.
her soccer career at another university
and acquire a fifth year of eligibility to
T o triumph through adversity
such as this, one must have a
strong backbone. The strongest
play. ACL reconstruction surgery is a
I wait outside Amanda Karlsson’s apartment in uptown Charlotte apartment, the doormat individuals tend to approach
9 month recovery, meaning Amanda
at my feet suggestively reads, I Like it Dirty. I’m already smiling before she swings open difficult situations with a posi-
was already in her Junior year of col-
the door, wine glass in hand, and warmly invites me in. If meeting Amanda for the first tive outlook. As hard as this was
lege. She had a home, teammates,
time, an immediate feeling of comfortability fills the room. She has the positive energy for Amanda, that’s exactly what
friends, and was nearing completion in
and conversation that makes even the shyest people open up to her. We sit on Aman- she did. She explains, “I think my
her major. Pushing all of this aside, she
da’s couch and she immediately says, “So you’re going to tell people about how much I injuries positively affected me in
bravely made the choice to continue at
messed my knees up?”. We both laugh and she offers me a drink. a way that made me such a re-
the University of North Carolina at Char-
silient person. I had never really
lotte and begin the recovery process for
“I immediately knew what I had done. At first I screamed because the pain was so bad. suffered before any of this. I had
a third time. When asked who was there
I had never experienced it like that before, so sharp and in your face. In the moment, no idea. I knew hard work but I
for her the most during this time, Aman-
you’re still so confused. I didn’t try to get up or put any weight on it. I just tried to be still.” did not know it like this. Without
da gives all the credit to her father.
all of the surgeries, I would not

A s Amanda laid still, face down on the soccer field, her world began spinning around be Amanda Karlsson. I like my
her. Questions raced through hers, and everyone else’s mind. How would she move
forward? Who would take her position? The ACL, the Anterior Crucial Ligament, connects
“ My dad. No doubt. He played profes-
sional soccer and it’s his whole life.
Without him believing in me and tell-
scars too, they make me look
tough and at first glance, I don’t
the femur to the tibia and is what holds your entire knee together. To give perspective, I look tough. On the other hand
ing me I could do it, I never would have
quit playing collegiate soccer after tearing it just a single time. Would this have a nega- I’m already dealing with arthri-
tried after my third one. He’s the big-
tive impact on her game? As strong of an athlete and competitor Amanda is at heart, no tis and problems like that. It’s
gest influence for me soccer-wise. He
one expected to be asking these questions less than a year later. just frustrating because I can’t
always has been since I can remember.”
do what I used to be able to do
and realistically I know it’ll just

17 18
REHABILITAING your life by c. couch
g et worse and worse. Any surgery like this you will
have long-lasting damage to your body and tons of
pain.” “amanda’s
A manda fought through another difficult year of re-
hab and worked harder than ever before. Unfortu-
nately, midway through her first season as UNCC, she
future
tore her ACL for the 4th time. She simply went up to
head the ball and came back down awkwardly, tearing
it completely. Having made the decision beforehand
that this would be the last time she tried to play soc-
plans? she
cer, she released herself and decided to focus on get-
ting her degree and the upcoming surgery. wants to
S he would go on to tear one more ACL minorly dur-
ing her rehab and is currently going through physi-
cal therapy for that injury. During her most recent
grow. she
surgery, it took Amanda 14 hours to regain conscious-
ness. As terrifying as that is, Karlsson maintains her
optimism. When I asked her how something like this
changes you as a person, she simply replied, “I am
wants to be
definitely just more mature than I think I would have
been without any of this. I don’t like to speculate re-
ally. Wondering what could have been can suck some-
herself.”
times so I just don’t do it. But I know for a fact that I
am ready for anything now. Maybe that’s just how I’ve
always been but this for sure pushed me to be be-
come tougher and stronger.” Amanda’s future plans?
She wants to grow. She wants to be herself.

A manda claims, “I want to be independent. I’m working now so that’s weird. Never
thought about working it was always just rehab, rehab, rehab. I just want to focus on
being normal again. I feel like now I know how to rehab it right. I’m taking my time. I’m
focusing on my job. I just want to forget about soccer for the moment to be honest and
focus on me.”
◊ ◊ ◊

19 20
 HOME Is where
the Chicago Cubs. Play- two years in the same
ing with tennis balls routine: wake up, go
resulted in too many to class, practice for 5

the mound is
homeruns and whiffle
balls didn’t produce
enough homeruns. The
most logical compro-
mise was for Jimmy,
by Hailie McCraw Joey, and Jack to slice
holes in the tennis balls
and fill them with shred-
ded newspaper pieces.
J ack Snyder was welcomed to Cullowhee with
a warm punch to the face with brass knuckles.
That’s it, that’s the punchline. He can’t remember
the rest. He can, however, remember his mom
In the basement of the
family home you’ll find
endless stacks of score
moving in to his apartment for two weeks. Every sheets from the big-time
day began with a “mom, go home already,” he says backyard league.
as a big “Family Over Everything” sign hangs above
his head.
B aseball runs in the
family’s blood. Be-
hours, eat dinner, show-
er, bed, wake up and do
it again. His apartment
was in the middle of
nowhere. No other col-
lege kids around. No
parties. Just Snyder, his
teammates, and their
motivation to make it
somewhere.
T his is the place
where you make it, or
you’re done. “I thought
I was the shit, but junior
college changed me. It
changed my work ethic,
how I was as a player,

“I thought I was the fore Snyder had even

reached 5 years old, he
was self-employed as
and my mindset,” Snyder
says.

shit, but junior college the water boy; He came

to all of his brothers’ It was the summer of
2018, Snyder suited up

changed me. It changed my games decked out in

his uniform. He still talks
about that one game he
with his junior college
teammates to play a
tournament in Indiana.
work ethic, how I was as a had to miss because he
was sick. But don’t dis-
Scouts filled the stadium
shopping for recruits. He

player, and my mindset.” credit his loyalty. He sat

nestled on the couch at
home wearing his uni-
pitched two innings and
a week later got a call
from Bobby Moranda,
form during their game head coach at Western
time. Carolina University, invit-
T his unwelcoming experience resulted in his par-
ents begging him to give it up and move back ing him to play for the
home to one of the most violent cities in America.
But moving back to Chicago is not an option for A s Snyder’s brothers
grew up, their inter-
purple and gold.

Snyder because his residency is determined by the

mound.
ests changed and they
decided to hang up their
gloves but the youngest
S nyder packed up ev-
erything he owned,
crammed it into his little
Snyder decided to keep red corolla and made
R ight above the scar across the bridge of his nose
are his eyes. The eyes that blink differently when
you say the word “baseball”. The brass knuckles, the
his on. the nine-hour commute
from Chicago to Cullo-
bad cell phone reception and the risk of encounter-
ing a bear when you step outside all become worth it S nyder’s high school
coaches told him he
wasn’t mature enough to
whee. This small city
stretches only about 4
miles long. It is buried in
in the name of baseball.
go to a four-year uni- the picturesque Smokey
versity right away, so he mountains. Aside from
It all started with the backyard league. Through trial
and error, the Snyder boys created a league that
by the sounds of it could’ve been comparable to
waited. He went to Triton
College, a small Chi-
hiking the mountains
and fishing in the Tuck-
cago school. He spent asegee River, there’s not

21 22
HOME Is wherethe mound is by Hailie McCraw

m uch to do. The main selling point is

the addition of a drive thru ice cream
shop or if you’re Snyder, the selling point is
baseball.
T here he is, #34. Snyder is up to pitch.
The second he exits the dugout, his
demeanor changes. He is confident.
Shoulders back. Head tall. His driven
and focused eyes are shielded by his

“I’m a different animal when I’m on the

mound, I swear,” Snyder says as he pitch-
es an air ball, almost punching me in the
head.
ball cap. Snyder walks with more pur-
pose than ever before. He has worked
hard to get here and his work is not
finished yet.

E ver since the backyard league, Snyder

didn’t care much about school, so he
didn’t really try. He has been consistent
with his efforts or lack thereof, but that’s
the scene he wants left out of his movie.
S nyder positions himself on the
mound with the glove on his left
hand and the ball in his right. He cups
the ball close to his chest and raises his
left leg as the act of pitching is a total
body affair. His right arm stretches be-

“ I don’t want people to perceive me as

unintelligent, because I’m very smart. I
did great on the only two tests I have ever
hind his head in a motion so quick, that
if you blink, you’ll miss it.

studied for,” he proclaims.

M rs. Snyder’s posture suddenly
changes. She sits up taller. I can-

S o, we won’t talk about it. Because his

time here is strictly baseball business
with a side of school work. Jack Snyder
didn’t land on top. He’s still not there. Top is
in the draft, where he wants to make it. But
he’s good at being patient. He will wait and
he will work.
not confirm if she is breathing. Her
eyes won’t reveal anything as they are
covered by her extra-dark, tinted sun-
glasses. The energy seems even more
intense than it was during backyard
league days.

It’s 4 p.m. and a brisk sixty degrees in the

middle of February. It’s the debut of the
T he crowd marvels at his swift-flying
pitch. He is re-welcomed to Cullo-
whee with a warm round of applause.
2019 Catamount Baseball Team as they Jack Snyder is home.
play their first game against the Oakland
Golden Grizzlies at the Hennon Stadium. ◊ ◊ ◊
Snyder’s mom has returned. She sits co-
zied in her brown fur coat next to the dug-
out so she can keep a close eye on her
no-so-baby boy.

23 24
“pebbles
suck” by J.B. Bost
or, the much shorter penny board variety.

T hat was the thought in my mind as I slid down the hill on my face. It was 3 a.m. in
the morning, a sudden onrush of mania had convinced me to forget that I was 32 so, I “You look like you took a tumble
there.” “ You know I can write you a ticket for that,
right?”
grabbed my board for some late-night street skating.

Ilaugh while I try to manage the adrenalin I shake my head in response and the offi-
cer lets me go. I make it home bruised, a

I keep the skateboard around for bored attempts at ollies or shove-its-on the relatively
safe linoleum of my apartment- in between writing assignments for my university where
I’m an undergrad (and if you must ask why a person in their 30’s is still a student, just know
coursing through my veins.

“Hit a rock.”
little bloody, and somewhat perplexed that
a university would outright ban skateboard-
ing when the idea of a college campus is
I spent my 20’s as a couch-surfing musician). My age often keeps me off the board in
public, shame being a powerful force. However, on rare occasions, I have been known to
brave the rough and uneven concrete surrounding my rural Appalachian school, Western
I ’m breathless and the road rash on my
knees and forearm are beginning to
sting.
embodied by ultimate frisbee, some long-
haired guy with a guitar, and skateboarding.

Carolina University, and push around a parking lot or two.

“Well you know you ain’t supposed to
skateboard around here, right?”

T his was the first hill bomb I had attempted, a chill downslope near my apartment. In
the darkness, it looked inviting and clear of debris. I would come back during the day
and midway down the hill I realized that all the small rocks I had somehow missed before, W hat? There wasn’t necessarily a big
skateboarding culture at Western
A rticle IX of the Western Carolina Univer-
sity official regulations titled, “MOPEDS,
SKATEBOARDS, ROLLER BLADES, ROLLER
managed to jam themselves solidly into my wheel enough that the board stopped. Unfor- Carolina but, it wasn’t unusual to see some- SKATES, AND BICYCLES.” The regulation is
tunately, my crumpled form would not follow suit for a good couple of meters after. one skating around campus on a longboard divided into 2 main parts: the first, outlines

Ilay on the ground in pain rolling up into the fetal position, waiting for the courage to get
up when suddenly I’m covered in an impossibly bright light. I scrambled up off the pave-
ment towards the ditch but before I could dive over the guardrail à la John Woo, I realized
the headlights are stopped. A white door opens and a man gets out.

“You all right?” His voice is country, I can see his badge and soon the emergency
lights on his car.
25 26
“pebbles suck”
where mopeds and bicycles can
be parked on campus. The sec-
ond, just a single sentence given
its own paragraph reads, “The use
of skateboards, roller blades, or
roller skates upon the streets and
sidewalks of campus is prohibited.”
I stared at the school’s website I
had pulled up on my computer,
trying to make sense out of the
contradicting rules-why? What is
the reason for banning skating on
campus? Was it an issue of public
safety? If so, why not also ban bi-
cycles – a personal mode of trans-
portation which had almost run
me over many times on my way to
class.
Further research revealed that of
the 12 universities in the UNC Sys-
tem, 3 prominent schools banned
skateboarding along with its de-
rivatives on campus: Appalachian
State University, UNC Asheville,
and Western Carolina Univer-
sity. At first glance, the common
thread is that all 3 schools are in
the mountainous west of North
Carolina and, perhaps this was at Western Carolina, has been
an attempt to prevent dumb stu- skating to and from class since his
dents-such as myself- from riding freshmen year. “I saw a few peo-
down a hill on their face. ple get $50 tickets my first two
years here but I’ve never person-
An article from 2017 in the Appa- ally been ticketed or, even both-
lachian State University student ered for skating on campus.”
newspaper “The Appalachian”
profiling Will Winstead-a student With his long hair held back be-
and community organizer promot- hind a bandana, clothing out of a
ing skateboarding on campus- 90’s headshop, and a sick-looking
would claim that the choice to clear acrylic Penny Board held
ban skateboarding wasn’t that of over his shoulder in uncaring
the university but, of the encom- Steve Buscemi “hello fellow kids”
passing town, Boone, NC. This fashion, if anyone was going to get
could be true of UNC Asheville busted for on-campus skating, it
as well (check to see if it is then was this guy.
put snarky clarification parentheti-
cally) but, Western Carolina was a “In the last couple of years though,
school, whose host town of Cullo- I haven’t seen or heard of anyone
whee, was more of a concept than getting in trouble for skating.”
an actual place. Had Western Carolina purposely
decided to not enforce their skate-
[ This part I can’t do until Bill Stu- boarding ban? (Find out next time
denc gets back to me and clarifies when Bill Studenc gets back to me
where the school’s position comes so I can know whether I am writing
from ] a hopeful story or a sad one).
(Homedude who I interviewed yet
somehow lost his name), a senior ◊ ◊ ◊
27 28
A STUDENT REVIEW:
jr’s tavern
by Jake Pomeroy
There comes a time, a morning upon which we realize,
in a moment of introspective profundity, that our youth
has been forever relegated to the prison of memory. Try
as we might, there is no re-attainment of what was.
beaten faces contain no fewer lines that a Boston road map
29
N estled at the border dividing James-
town and High Point, North Carolina,
the visible contrast between comfortable
affluence and those less privileged, JR’s
Tavern, proudly declaring itself as “biker
friendly,” offers an immediate, gleefully
unapologetic announcement of charac-
ter and clientele the millisecond its blood
red front door swings wide and a cloud of
almost nausea-inducing cigarette smoke
wraps itself around your person as ag-
gressively as the snake which declares
“don’t tread on me.” Fittingly, the im-
age of said snake visibly hangs from the
metal-plated ceiling, accompanied by a
color-faded Budweiser poster depicting
a red-coated Corvette and a bikini-clad
super-model that Donald Trump would
have no hesitation in rating a seven. Also,
kept amongst the décor entourage, just to
make sure nobody was getting the wrong
idea, a Confederate battle flag. However,
“the silver-haired, flannel-clad patrons whose weather-
as the most subjectively intriguing piece of
set-dressing, tucked away in the cramped con-
fines of the men’s lavatory, there resides the
likeness of “Hanoi” Jane Fonda, a sticker with
her face plastered mere centimeters north of
the base of the urinal.
T he bar, approximately ten feet of black-
painted plywood, is tended by Tiffany, a
blonde-haired 50-something with a rotund
frame and a confident smile contrasting hast-
ily-applied eye-liner. She is professional and
genial in her chosen occupation, as I was quick
in receiving a can of Miller Lite, and in a koozie,
no less. Her wedding ring, large and visibly
wrapped around her pudgy finger makes no
apologies for her off-putting cleavage, put on
full display for the obvious, but unspoken pur-
pose of swindling tips from the silver-haired,
flannel-clad patrons whose weather-beaten
faces contain no fewer lines than a Boston
road map.
T he most prominent appeal, or drawback
of JR’s Tavern, aside from the aesthetic,
comes in the form of the highly stripped-down
30
A STUDENT REVIEW:
jr’s tavern o
by Jake Pomeroy
ptions one has to choose from when drinking away
the frustrations of the day either by oneself of with the
added appeal of friends and acquaintances, for whom beer
and cigarettes are indispensable in the pursuit of social
tranquility. Bluntly, but accurately speaking, beer is the
solo option available, all varieties packaged in tin cans. No
liquor and no pretentious craft beers as dark as a politi-
cian’s black heart, only name-brand domestics. Regarding
food, nothing aside from a bag of pretzels or Cool Ranch
Doritos. Personally, I appreciate the approach, and the
lack of straight liquor serves to exclude the tragic appear-
ance of serious alcohol indulgence and welled-up tempers
spurned by the sudden lack of inhibition.

F rom what I could gather, for an unexpectedly quiet and

laid-back Friday evening, the crowd was friendly and
welcoming of a wiry, bespectacled twenty-seven-year-
old who barged through the front door like a wannabe
John Wayne fresh from a 42nd street double-bill of Stage-
coach and Brannigan. No profound dialogue or emotional
gut-spilling amongst said company, for whom the fleet-
ing nature of youth proved a cruel mistress. Amongst
them, friendly conversations ranging from topics of work,
the weather, and indominable hatred for all New England
sports teams.

S upplemental attractions, limited to a pool table and

digital jukebox. A perpetually mediocre pool player, I
withheld from a game, despite an invitation from a heavy-
set, bearded car salesman, who, in accordance with his oc-
cupation, sold a raw deal with a toothy grin. Echoing from
the jukebox, an amalgamation of enduring, yet overplayed
Baby-Boomer classics, including Ted Nugent’s Strangle-
hold and Rainbow’s Man on the Silver Mountain.

T he most memorable takeaway from the night came in

the form of a tiny Scotch-Terrier, who when proudly be-
stowed upon the bar by its owner, a middle-aged woman
clad in black knee-high boots and caked in a grotesque
over-abundance of makeup, scurried through clouds of
cigarette smoke and no shortage of open containers,
screeching to a halt at my can of beer to tongue away at
whatever liquid it could draw to the surface. “Hey, he likes
Miller Lite!” chortled my neighbor to the left. In essence,
if any of this sounds like a good time to you, dear reader,
whoever you are, a trip to JR’s Tavern, situated at the bor-
der of Jamestown and High Point, may be advised in the
foreseeable future of your fleeting existence. JR’s Tavern,
for its aging patrons, serves as an acknowledgement of the
memory that is youth.
◊ ◊ ◊

31 32
A STUDENT REVIEW:

java city
Like Starbucks, but closer to my apartment
by J.B. Bost

H idden within the southern Appalachian hills on the rural campus of Western Carolina
University sits Java City, an unassuming little library-adjacent spot for coffee, where
the drinks are always adequate, the staff is always friendly, and the prices are always
gouging.

J ava City counts for 2 of the 6 coffee establishments on Western Carolina’s campus, after
Einstein Brother’s Bagels, the slightly hipper Hillside Grind, and 2 strategically-placed
Starbucks. While 6 seems far too many, the 11,000 students enrolled at Western Carolina
keep caffeine demand at an all-time high and it’s not uncommon to see lines forming at
peak coffee times (really early or really late).

T he beverages offered by Java City are that of a slightly abridged Starbucks menu:
somewhat smaller in choice but containing all the lattes, iced coffees, and chai teas
that made Starbucks famous. Perhaps one cannot trademark a recipe as common as “fro-
zen coffee beverage with caramel,” but Java City’s caramel Javachiller should still be in-
vestigated for copyright infringement as it is suspiciously similar to the Starbucks flagship
beverage the Frappuccino.
lost on me by the time I enter
the library through the spe-
cial entrance at the back of
Java City.

S itting across from Hen-

t han my nonexistent will can

derson, sipping a fro-
zen beverage furiously
and moments away from
brain-freezing herself, Kat
Haugen, junior, argued: “it
doesn’t taste like a Frappuc-
cino, it tastes better than a
Frappuccino.”
survive. Suffice it to say,
I’ve been seeing the friendly
staff of Java City once or
twice a day for the past two
years and in that time, I’ve
developed a certain loyalty
to the people who prepare
my fancy coffees.
O
f all the reasons I could
find to appreciate this
place (and of all the ones I
could find in which to hate), it
was this hidden passage, this
figurative “Bridge to Terabi-
thia,” of a simple connector
between Java City and the
library with which it shared a

A s I empty out another $5

from my university meal
plan for a cup of bean water,
that costs pennies in ma-
terials and a dollar in labor,
the barista asks me how my
semester has been going.
Every weekday, walking up
the old entrance to West-
ern Carolina, the library is
the first academic building
I cross and the lure of caf-
feine in the morning is more
F ancy in this sense, of
course, means “expen-
sive.” For $5-$6 per 16 oz.
serving, I should probably
expect a gourmet experi-
ence, but I don’t. I mind-
lessly pay the money just like
everyone else, more dollars
fluttering away invisibly to my
pocketbook (at least until the
loan payments start). But this
feeling of indignity at being
fleeced financially is always
building. Through this pas-
sageway, I could walk through
with authority, inside and
behind the circulation desk,
a proper student with coffee
in hand and as I descend the
stairway to the massive stacks
of books waiting on me below,
I sip on an overpriced cup of
coffee lovingly made just for
me and get to work.
◊ ◊ ◊

33 34
A STUDENT REVIEW:
I n her painting, “Adoduhisodiyi
Sakonige Ugitsisgv (Remak-
ing Blue Dawn)”, Meredith cap-
tures more shades and colors
in a desert than in other artists’
rainbows. This painting and oth-
M eredith’s art does reference the Cherokee’s history, but the exhibition is also
looking towards the future. Most of the Cherokee depicted are from modern
times, wearing blue jeans and sneakers as they’re drawn in life-like detail. The
ers can be see at Western’s Fine best paintings in the museum incorporate the Cherokee’s heritage with their fu-
Art’s Museum, hosted in the ture.
exhibition “Outspoken: Paintings
by America Meredith” as part
of Western’s campus theme of
“Defining America”. This exhibit
F or example there’s my favorite painting, “The Thunder Boys Release Game into
the World”. The painting depicts a scene from the Cherokee origin story on
game and corn. Despite this, the children in it are dressed in polos and flip-flops.
provides an interesting defini- They watch as a menagerie of Cherokee game parade from the cave into the
tion for America. It shows Amer- panoramic green meadow; deer, birds, bears, beavers and squirrels. As an extra
ica through a Native American’s twist an elephant has been added, traveling to the opposite side of the world. The
point of view. painting is past meets present, a modern generation that’s living a story that’s
from previous generations.

T he exhibition hall is small,

but uses its space to give
every painting it’s own earned
moment. Each painting has just
enough room to breath and
standout while working together
to make a cohesive experience.
P aintings like it and others encourages viewers to not forget their nation’s past
but also to remember it’s future. Meredith doesn’t glorify the past in her art and
avoids limiting the Cherokee by it either. These paintings look towards the now
and future of their tribe.
I t’s an interesting idea for a community others often define by its “American his-
tory”. Meredith demonstrates the Cherokee story doesn’t end in colonial times;

“ I don’t really look at art,” said it’s still being told.

america
one young visitor. “But I saw
the poster on campus and want-
ed to check it out. These paint-
ings are amazing…so many col-
T he exhibition will be until May 3, 2019 at the Fine Arts Museum in the John W.
Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University. The mu-
seum is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and Wednesday
ors. I want to go buy paint now!” from 10 am to 7 pm. It is free to all visitors.

byamerica by Foster Dalmus

I t isn’t just Meredith’s visuals
that are interesting, but also
her use of language. Each paint-
ing incorporates the Cherokee
language, from words to whole
phrases integrated into the art.
◊ ◊ ◊

Even the titles of most pieces

An artist and the editor of First American
Art Magazine, America Meredith makes
paintings that feel real yet, are distinctly
stylized. Her works are vibrant; in her land-
scape paintings she transports you to the
scenic settings she’s mapped through her
acrylic paints. In her portraits she creates
characters that are actual yet idiosyn-
cratic. Each painting is like a spotter book,
hiding little details waiting to be noticed.
are written in Cherokee. Using
the language in her paintings ay
seem like an odd choice. Most
people can’t read Cherokee
after all. But these details aren’t
necessarily for them. With native
Cherokee speakers decreasing,
Meredith chooses to emphasis
their language. She makes the
words easy to find and often
central to the work. If the lan-
guage is dying out, these paint-
ings are breathing new life into
it.

35 36
 A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR:

M y magazine was created on the theme of college-related, descriptive, comical, and

colorful topics. I think that was achieved with the plethora of well-written articles from
Jeremy’s class I had to choose from, and my natural love for my school and its depth of
culture. One of the things I love most about this school, is that if there is a majority here of
“stereotypes” then the majority group are the Nonconformists, and that makes for an awe-
some college community, one that I am proud to be a part of, so I tried my best to encap-
sulate that idea in my magazine.

T he genres I included in my magazine really centered around activities of a college

student, places a college student visits, and art that was related to the student experi-
ence. There are a couple reviews on some businesses that are indigenous to North Caro-
lina, like JR’s Tavern. Then there’s Java City, which isn’t exclusive to North Carolina, but as a
resident of NC my entire life, I had never encountered one before attending Western Caro-
lina University. There’s also a review on the current art exhibit in the Bardo Arts Center of a
Cherokee-based artist. The feature I was required to include of my partnered student was
a story about longboarding, so that got me to thinking about what other kind of activities
do the students of Western partake in. As I was reading through the articles Jeremy’s class
submitted, what I was looking for was already there for me-a multitude of the activities and
student profiles involved with sports/activities right here at Western Carolina: baseball,
parkour, soccer, dungeons and dragons, and more. The other articles I included: a pro-
file of a student attending Western living with Asperger’s, and a campaign inspired by the
Belcher years. After choosing all the articles I wanted to include, I decided the name of my
magazine would appropriately be Campus & Culture.

I organized the articles pretty much how I think I would find them placed in a magazine I
actually read. Opening and closing with articles, or features, that were specific to WCU,
then I grouped all the sports and activities together, and had the reviews at the end. My
main objective was to try and capture life for different students but ones that attend the
same school-so I guess you could say I aimed to capture the Culture on my Campus. I
love this school and all the different kinds of people that make it a whole community, I
didn’t just complete the assignment based on a rubric, I put my heart into it and tried to
really capture the essence of this awesome college, with the words of some gifted English
majors. I may even email the writers a copy of my final project to maybe help them really
visualize their pieces in a real magazine to help propel them towards doing this later in the
real world-because, I would actually follow and read some of these kids’ work because it’s
that good.

CAMPUS CULTURE
37 38