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The Clarion | Mar. 19, 2010
News
Brevard College Professor Authors Book on Natural
History of the Southern Appalachians
PRESS RELEASE- Brevard College
Associate Professor of Ecology and
Environmental Studies and Executive
Director of the Appalachian Center for
Environmental Education Jeimifer Frick-
Ruppert has authored a book examining
the diverse ecology of the Southern
Appalachians.
Mountain Nature: A Seasonal Natural
History of the Southern Appalachians,
which was recently published by The
University of North Carolina Press, is based
on her popular Transylvania-Times column,
Appalachian Almanac.
The 224-page book is a lively and
engaging account of the ecology of
the area’s vibrant mountain region and
explores the animals and plants of the
southern Appalachians as well as the webs
of interdependence that connect them.
Stories of the animals and plants of the
southern Appalachians are intertwined with
descriptions of the seasons, giving readers
a glimpse into the interlinked rhythms of
nature, from daily and yearly cycles to
long-term geological changes.
“Biologically speaking, the Southern
Appalachians are as significant as the Great
Barrier Reef of Austraha, but they are right
here, surrounded by dozens of cities and
milhons of people,” said Frick-Ruppert.
“Too often, we ignore the world right
outside our door in favor of something
more ‘exotic.’ I think that people should
know their neighbors, and not just the
human ones.
What native plants grow in your yard?
What lives in the stream or river closest
to you? If you live in or even visit the
Southern Appalachians, this book should
help you answer those questions.”
Frick-Ruppert joined Brevard College’s
faculty in 1997. In addition to teaching, she
leads the College’s Appalachian Center for
Enviroimiental Education (ACEE). The
ACEE has an environmental education
focus and includes undergraduate research
opportunities, environmental research
involving high school students and their
teachers working together with college
students and faculty, a variety of summer
environmental programs, other similar
activities and the Pisgah Forest Institute
(PFI).
She earned her Ph.D. in Zoology from
Clemson University and frequently gives
lectures and presentations in the area that
focus on natural history.
Mountain Nature: A Seasonal Natural
History of the Southern Appalachians
is available from online booksellers,
in bookstores and directly from The
University of North Carolina Press at www.
uncpress.unc.edu. Frick-Ruppert will be
signing books at several book stores in the
area, including Highland Books in Brevard
at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24 and
Malaprops Book Store in Asheville at 4
p.m. on Thursday, May 1.
Reactions to Myers parking lot closure
by John Climerand Travis Wireback
Managing Editor and Editor in Chief
Upon returning from spring break, you
may have noticed that the vehicles around
campus are packed in a little more tightly.
This is due to the closure of the parking
lot between Myers Dining Hall and Moore
Science building.
This parking lot has been closed for the
remainder of the semester and in May, the
administration plans to ask the Board of
Trustees to grant permission to make this
closure permanent.
When talking to students around campus
about what they thought of this closure,
many students seemed to favor the change.
Senior Travis Festa had this to say about
the new parking arrangement: “I think it’s
awesome. I really like the new addition
outside of the cafeteria; I like the way it’s
re-directed the flow of traffic around the
campus.” Also in support of the change was
freshman Sarah Alexander, who said, “I
like the idea of having a student quad right
there and I’m glad that the administration
is taking action to cut down traffic on
campus.”
However, several faculty members
have expressed concern because half of
the parking spots removed were faculty
parking spots. On a campus which is
already experiencing issues stemming from
a lack of sufficient parking, losing those
spots has led some to question whether
or not they wfll have parking spots when
they arrive.
What do you think about the closing
of this parking lot? E-mafl responses to
Clarion@brevard.edu.
The Clarion
Senior Staff
Editor in Chief:
Travis Wirebacit
I'lanaging Editor:
John Climer
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Travis Taylor
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Will Byers
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Emily Clark
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Open
Faculty Advisor:
John B. Padgett
Other Staff
Karam Boeshaar
Megan
Street
Nabil Aasiya-Bey
Dimitri McCloghry
David Alexander
Michael Eleazer
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