Shopping has long been framed as a pastime in the United States. From retail therapy to weekend mall trips, consumption is marketed as a way to relax, socialize or boost one’s mood.  In the age of social media, the need for constant distraction and instant gratification has only intensified, and one way it takes shape is online shopping.  With blind-box openings and Labubu figurines flooding...

App State has historically had countless traditions, social spaces and educational opportunities centered in Appalachian culture and the quintessential college experience, but not all of them have stuck around. Here are four things App State used to do that should be brought back.   The Rhododendron The Rhododendron, App State’s first yearbook, was published annually from 1922 to...

Despite the respected mythos of the immigrant journey, a new strain of xenophobia threatens to blunt Latino contributions to culture, industry and academia. Safeguarding these contributions requires a renewed respect for the United States principle of diversity and tolerance.  As the presidential race began to heat up in late 2023, New Hampshire residents packed into a crammed hall to witness then-candidate...

Approximately 19.5% of the United States population is of Hispanic descent. According to the 2023 census, the exact statistic hovered around 65.2 million people, making the group the largest ethnic minority in the U.S.  Common sense would suggest a community so large and consisting of people from numerous, distinct international origins would be just as diverse in its identities, customs and livelihoods...

As someone who worked largely behind the scenes at The Appalachian for three years as chief copy editor, stepping into a role where my name is more prominently displayed online and in print is something I thought about when I became the translations editor for this semester. As you might have guessed from my name, I am neither Hispanic nor Latino. Yet here I am.  I was able to resurrect the Spanish...

App State has historically prided itself on providing education to all its students, even when there were only 53 enrolled. However, App State is failing its students and staff with subpar housing, inconvenient construction at every turn and increased tuition fees that don’t reflect the state of the campus. As of the 2025-2026 school year, the average cost of all available residence halls is $7,241....

The mission of the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) in the University Libraries is to collect, preserve and share original materials related to four primary collecting areas — one of those areas is the University Archives.  The purpose of the University Archives is to document and preserve the history of App State. Like other universities in North Carolina, App State is required by...

Open letter to my students and anyone else, I have struggled to find the right words to talk to my students about these chaotic times. This is my attempt to do that. It represents my personal beliefs and not those of my department or others. As a professor of sustainable development here at App State, this has been a whirlwind of a semester. In the first month, we have seen the federal government...