Since the start of the year, the Black and Gold RLC has been active all over campus! The first event that welcomed our newest Mountaineers was a paint-up program done during Welcome Weekend for the Fan Fest fall scrimmage. The entire RLC community came together to paint their faces, hair, and bodies to show who had the most Mountaineer spirit in Boone. In spite of the rain, the students stayed front and center in the stands to watch the entire football game. The following week an upperclassman came to Bowie Hall to teach students the cheers and chants done during football games in preparation for the first home game. Since then, Black and Gold has continued to find new ways to show their Ap-palachian pride. To add to an exciting start of the school year, a group of Black and Gold mem-bers even got the opportunity to tour Kidd Brew-er Stadium!

However, Black and Gold’s pride is not limited to football! This group has been able to spend time

with the women’s volleyball team by attending practice and meeting the team and coaches. To help the team promote an upcoming tourna-ment, Black and Gold hosted a walkthrough of the building by the women’s volleyball team while they promoted the event and passed out cookies to residents. To thank Black and Gold for their support, our community now has a signed volleyball to show our pride for Appalachian Athletics!

The residents of this RLC are excited to continue showing through the year why Black and Gold houses the best of the best!

Go Mountaineers!

We started out the year having a great turnout for the RLC Opening Ceremonies at the Schafer Center where we had the Dean of Students speak to the crowd of rambunc-tious, excited RLC participants ready to start off the new year right. We also had a former RLC member Adam, speak about his experiences in the Ultimate Man RLC.

A special thanks to Jason Timpson and Stephanie Zee for warming up the crowd,

that’s them in the pictures!

On August 17th, residents of the Sophomore Year Experience ven-tured into the great outdoors of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Being move-in weekend, SYE faculty and staff saw the opportunity as a great bonding experience for them. As students hiked the Sims Creek Trail, a moderate 1 mile loop, they discussed their experi-ences at Appalachian while be-ing a freshman and their current dilemma deciding on the path for the rest of their academic ca-reer. Little did they know while they explored the great outdoors that they had begun exploring the purpose behind their residen-tial learning community – help-ing students choose an academic major and supporting their ca-reer pathways.

Service and Leadership students started the year off volunteering with the ACT office at the BIG Sale to help raise money for local organizations. They spend several hours organizing gently used or new items that would be sold during move-in

weekend. They continue to get involved on cam-pus through SGA, CSIL, ACT, and many other or-ganizations. As a floor they hope to continue their involvement and make a difference on this cam-pus!

The Ultimate Man is a themed living community where male college students live together and learn what it means to be a man in today's world. Together, the RLC residents have participated in pro-grams, events, and meetings, even "Man Talks" specifically. During these programs, students have had the opportunity to discuss stereotypes of masculinity and how we combat these stereotypes through our actions.

The Outdoor RLC students are active in the classroom and community. Before classes began they hit the trail and spent 4 days backpacking with their peers and Out-door Programs staff. This First Ascent orientation experi-ence is well received and a transformation experience for students. Students returned to campus with stories of hiking, swimming, laughter, and nature.

The Outdoor RLC students are active in the classroom and community. Before classes began they hit the trail and spent 4 days backpacking with their peers and Out-door Programs staff. This First Ascent orientation experi-ence is well received and a transformation experience for students. Students returned to campus with stories of hiking, swimming, laughter, and nature.

In October, the ORLC students did some trail work. This service was led by their faculty members Kristian Jack-son and Kurt Steinbaugh. Recently, Outdoor Programs led a film viewing of Into the Wild. The community is ac-tive and is looking forward to all the activities in the fu-ture that could happen with this community.

On Thursday, September 26, Catherine Turner, professor of the first year seminar entitled Women in American Society, purchased tickets for the Sis-terhood RLC members to attend the Cirque Zuma Zuma show at the Schaeffer Center. Cirque Zuma Zuma is a circus act that encompasses talents and cultural components from several different parts of Africa. The show began at 8:00 PM and ran until about 10:00 PM, and in those mere two hours the fourth floor ladies of White Hall felt as if they had been transported to several different African countries. It began with a closed curtain, a dark auditorium, and a sudden voice singing the well-known intro to Disney’s The Lion King. The audience stirred in excitement as they tried to locate the host, and it was evident within the first five minutes that the show would be worthwhile. Most of the acts in the show included some jaw-

dropping stunts, elegantly performed tricks, and intensely impressive acrobatics that had the audi-ence practically jumping in their seats. All of these impressive acts were paired with cultural music and educational stories behind the dances they performed and the songs they sang. A group of students visiting from South Africa were sitting in the back of the audience and exhibiting ex-treme enthusiasm throughout the show and ex-pressing their familiarity by even accompanying the performers in song. After the show, some of the Sisterhood RLC members were able to speak to the visiting students from South Africa and connected on a level great enough to become pen pals. The night was an overall success and it brought about a new community among the Sis-terhood floor in White Hall.

What an “active” RLC! Above you can see that the community had between 35 and 40 partici-pants at the height of the evening. Members from all groups attended including the Mental Health Ambassadors, the Active Living and Beyond the Influence floors, the Wellness Peer Educators, and personal trainers. The students enjoyed pizza and drinks, played games, learned about each group, and decided to get together for more events. Spe-cifically they discussed tailgating together at the

Wellness Peer Educator tailgate spot on Duck Pond field, going to the corn maze, and finding a location for a bonfire so they can roast marshmal-lows and eat smores! :) Lastly they got dancin’ and were active through-out the evening. These guys know how to have fun!

Greetings!! The Living Learning Center (fondly known as the LLC) is alive with the sound of stu-dents! Specifically our Language Culture Community, Watauga Global Community and ACES! Here are what are groups have been up so far this semester:

ACES kick started the year with a retreat for all of their new ACES students and their mentors at Blowing Rock Conference Center right after move-in. They recently had Open House where students got to talk with staff representing different educational studies and just finished Family Weekend with an ACES Tailgating party right here at the LLC!

Watauga Global Community began their semester with some trail clean up in our beautiful neighboring mountains. This semester, they invite all students, staff and faculty to join them on Tuesdays and Thurs-days for lunch at the Living Learning Center Academ-ic side. Each Tuesday and Thursday there will be ei-ther a guest speaker or a student presentation during lunch time, hope to see you there!

If you ever find yourself up on the hill, stop by the LLC, there’s always something going on!

In Art Haus' most recent event, residents tie-dyed

t-shirts.

This event served to bond the floor in

preparation for our upcoming March and

April community service events.

We will be working with the ACT office to facilitate service days, during which

we will wear our 'team' t-shirts as

we work alongside each other in our

team efforts.

We recycled our own old shirts to dye and

then painted Art Haus on them.