Dave by the Bell

Dave Blanks, University Communications' most likely to interrupt, and UComm intern Alyssa "So Extra" Rodriguez wander around Sanford Mall interviewing Appalachian students to find out what class they would retake and why.

Dave Blanks: Hi folks. It's me, Dave Blanks, from University Communications, here with Alyssa. Hello, Alyssa.

Alyssa R.: Hello.

Dave Blanks: We're doing a Dave by the Bell, so we're actually walking through the echoey part of Anne Belk Hall, making our way towards the bell. Wow! You weren't lying, Alyssa.

Alyssa R.: I told you.

Dave Blanks: It's like 4 million people on Sanford Mall.

Alyssa R.: 4 million, minimum.

Dave Blanks: There are at least 4 million. Here's the bell. Yeah, let's walk around and talk to people.

Alyssa R.: OK.

Caleb Owen: I'm Caleb Owen.

Dave Blanks: All right, Caleb. What year are you?

Caleb Owen: I'm a freshmen.

Dave Blanks: Cool. If you could retake one of your classes, which class would it be and why would you retake it?

Caleb Owen: I think I would retake Sustainable Development, because it was such a great class.

Dave Blanks: Who'd you have?

Caleb Owen: Cody Miller. Shout out. Good guy. I just love the content and the class material and the group exercise we did, and also the global perspective he also put on it as well. Definitely recommend.

Dave Blanks: Nice job, Cody Miller.

Camille Roth: I'm Camille Roth. I would retake Social Deviance. I think it was really cool and really interesting, and we learned a lot about crime. I also really liked Jerrod Yarosh. He was pretty cool and fun.

Sydney Coleman: I'm Sydney Coleman. I would probably retake Sociology, like the Intro to Sociology class, just because it was really fun and I loved it.

Dave Blanks: Cool! Who'd you have?

Sydney Coleman: I actually took it back home.

Dave Blanks: But you could do it again?

Sydney Coleman: Yeah, but I would love to take it here.

Dave Blanks: Different vibe.

Sydney Coleman: Yeah, definitely.

Taylor Wilson: I'm Taylor Wilson. I would retake my Intro Sociology class.

Dave Blanks: Cool, and why?

Taylor Wilson: I really liked the professor and the class itself was good.

Dave Blanks: Did you also have it at the same place that she did?

Taylor Wilson: No, I took it here.

Dave Blanks: Oh, OK. Well, who'd you have here?

Taylor Wilson: Jonelle Husain.

Dave Blanks: All right. Right on. Well, you should take Jonelle.

Sydney Coleman: I'm planning on it. I have a soc minor.

Dave Blanks: Awesome. I was a soc minor. Look at me now! Well, thank you all for your answers. I really appreciate it.

Sydney Coleman: No problem.

Alyssa R.: Look at me, not interfering at all.

Dave Blanks: I know, you're doing really good.

Alyssa R.: I'm doing amazing.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, you're not like blah, blah, blah, Dave. Blah, blah, blah.

Alyssa R.: Yeah, I do that a lot.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, you do. You know some days you're —

Alyssa R.: I'm going to take these quality pictures and mind my business.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, you're doing some good work. All right, we need to find someone else.

Alyssa R.: Will we go down in here?

Dave Blanks: Yeah, we can do that. What about this guy?

Josue Espino: My name is Josue Espino.

Dave Blanks: So, Jos ... and say it one more time for me.

Josue Espino: Josue.

Dave Blanks: Josue, Josue, Josue. So, Josue, I've never met a Josue.

Josue Espino: It's OK, for 14 years of my life I've been called Josie, Josway, one time Winston.

Dave Blanks: What?

Alyssa R.: What? Winston?

Dave Blanks: That was way off.

Josue Espino: And then another time Justin, so it's OK.

Alyssa R.: Whoa.

Dave Blanks: I will never call you Justin, Josue.

Josue Espino: It's not my first rodeo.

Dave Blanks: All right. So, what year are you? We should start with that.

Josue Espino: Senior.

Dave Blanks: OK, congratulations! Ah yeah, the end is near —

Josue Espino: It is.

Dave Blanks: That sounds ominous. So, if you could retake a class, you've taken many, if you could retake a class what class would you retake and why?

Josue Espino: Hmm ...

Dave Blanks: Could be a good reason like I loved it, could be like that class was terrible and I would retake it with somebody else.

Josue Espino: If I could retake a course series, I would retake Japanese class again.

Dave Blanks: Oh yeah?

Josue Espino: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Did you not apply yourself or something like that?

Josue Espino: No, I had the time of my life. The teacher was the nicest lady I've ever met and I'm advanced Japanese, but there was no more courses after her and I'm just going to be really sad not to be in her class anymore.

Dave Blanks: Aw, bummer.

Josue Espino: I know, so that's the only class I would really love to retake.

Dave Blanks: Yeah.

Josue Espino: Because I really love that professor, she's really nice.

Dave Blanks: Well can you tell me her name?

Josue Espino: Her name is Misa Yamamoto.

Dave Blanks: OK. Misa Yamamoto, shout out to Misa. All right, cool. Well, Josue, Thanks so much. I really appreciate it.

Jack Calbi: I'm Jack Calbi. You know I enjoyed Product Design, Intro to Product Design. It really taught me how to organize, how to be creative, and it was a lot of fun learning about all of the history of all the items that I've used throughout my life and how someone might have thought about how to invent that.

Dave Blanks: Well so, who did you have for that class?

Jack Calbi: I don't remember his name.

Dave Blanks: Putting you on the spot.

Jack Calbi: I know. It was like freshmen year; a long time ago.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, a lot has happened in those years, right? So what are you now?

Jack Calbi: I'm a senior.

Dave Blanks: Well hang in there man, not too much longer.

Jack Calbi: Thank you, yeah.

Dave Blanks: Thanks for your answer Jack.

Jack Calbi: Yeah, appreciate it.

Alyssa R.: Good talk.

Dave Blanks: Good talk.

Alyssa R.: That's cool, I didn't know that was a class.

Dave Blanks: Yeah I didn't know Product Design was a class either.

Alyssa R.: I don't regularly design products.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, but you use lots of products that are designed by people —

Alyssa R.: That is true. That is true.

Dave Blanks: — every day.

Christin Rivera: I'm Christin Rivera.

Dave Blanks: So, are you a freshmen?

Christin Rivera: Yes.

Dave Blanks: OK, cool. But you have taken classes?

Christin Rivera: Yes.

Dave Blanks: All right, so if you could retake a class, what class would you retake and why would you retake it?

Christin Rivera: Probably Sociology 1100 because my professor, Jonelle Husain, was amazing. She taught the class very well. She gave us good insights of real situations that we'd see in life, and I think it's just an amazing way to see the social problems in today's society.

Dave Blanks: Is this like, did I wander into a sociology class? Because you're the second person that's brought this Jonelle person up.

Christin Rivera: She's amazing. She is amazing.

Dave Blanks: She must be incredible! Wow that's awesome. Cool, thanks for your answer.

Christin Rivera: No problem.

Dave Blanks: Man, Jonelle Husain must absolutely rule, so —

Christin Rivera: Yeah, she's amazing, I love her.

Dave Blanks: Cool, all right. Well shout out to Jonelle.

New Speaker: edited out stuff

Arianna Carrero: I'm Arianna Carrero. I would take Romance with a Cross Culture Perspective. It was my freshmen UCO, and it was just extremely interesting to hear perspectives of other cultures. Their idea of what romance is and that romantic love isn't a thing that everybody has. It was just really, really, really interesting to know, that these things are still going on.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, yeah. So, what department is that? Where did you take it and who did you have it with?

Arianna Carrero: I took it in Anne Belk. It was a UCO.

Dave Blanks: What is a UCO? 'Cause I don't know what that is.

Arianna Carrero: So, it's what all freshmen have to take it, and it's kind of like, it's a more miscellaneous class, you can kinda pick something you're interested in, and it helps us to kind of get used to the idea of what a professor is, what college is, how it's different from other public schooling that we've had so far and meet new people. It's small classes.

Dave Blanks: Cool, so you would do that again?

Arianna Carrero: Yes, I would do that again.

Dave Blanks: Did you meet anybody in that class that you're still friends with?

Arianna Carrero: Yes, I made friends with this girl, and then we ended up having Scottish Country Dancing together. It was weird. We had the weirdest classes first semester.

Dave Blanks: Your college experience is very different than mine was.

Arianna Carrero: Yes, very very strange.

Dave Blanks: Scottish Country Dancing, and what was the first thing? The other class?

Arianna Carrero: Romance Cross Culture Perspective.

Dave Blanks: Damn. Have you declared a major?

Arianna Carrero: Yes. I'm a communications major. My focus is advertising.

Dave Blanks: Cool, yeah.

Arianna Carrero: So, I can kinda take little crazy things on the side in between my other, like, my communications classes.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, yeah. Thank you very much for your answers.

Arianna Carrero: Yeah, no problem.

Dave Blanks: Everybody's so upbeat and positive.

Alyssa R.: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: So, Alyssa when we were talking about these questions initially, and I was ... you know where I'm going?

Alyssa R.: Oh my ...

Dave Blanks: I was posing the idea to you —

Alyssa R.: You're gonna do this? You're gonna do this to me right now?

Dave Blanks: I was like, I was like, "Hey Alyssa, what do you think about this question? What class would you retake and why?" And what was your answer?

Alyssa R.: I don't have a class that I would retake. I have no why.

Dave Blanks: What the heck? But you like Appalachian.

Alyssa R.: I love Appalachian.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, yeah. It's just all over, like, there's going to be good classes in the future, so why would you retake a class in the past, right?

Alyssa R.: Maybe I just haven't gotten that class yet.

Dave Blanks: Maybe you're like a shark and you have to keep moving forward.

Alyssa R.: I just, I just need to keep moving forward.

Dave Blanks: Right. OK, is that it?

Alyssa R.: That's it. Like, honestly, I've been thinking this whole time, I'm like, "No" —

Dave Blanks: What is wrong with me?

Alyssa R.: Nothing comes to mind, literally nothing.

Dave Blanks: All right, well should we get some more people?

Alyssa R.: Literally nothing.

Molly Donovan: I'm Molly Donovan. I would retake Environmental Ethics. I really enjoyed the professor. It was fun. It taught me a lot and, yeah.

Dave Blanks: Who did you have for it?

Molly Donovan: Richard Elmore.

Dave Blanks: All right, cool. What was cool about Richard Elmore?

Molly Donovan: Well, he just made it really interesting, like he's really passionate about what he's talking about and just the information, like you know it's all about environmental ethics, and so, the information that we're talking about is important, and he always kinda said like if we didn't know something he was always kinda like, "Who benefits from you not knowing something?" And so I really like that.

Dave Blanks: I've never considered that. Wow, that's cool. So, wow, yeah, that's great. Thanks for your answer.

Dave Blanks: Well we've got a lot of answers, but they've all been super positive.

Alyssa R.: You want a negative?

Dave Blanks: Well, yeah it would good. I'm not looking to push somebody toward something negative.

Alyssa R.: Say no more, say no more.

New Speaker: edited out stuff

Chance Barton: I'm Chance Barton. So, I'm retaking Foundations II for Art right now.

Dave Blanks: Wait, what is it? Foundations II for Art?

Chance Barton: Yes. I'm retaking it now because I dropped it freshmen year. But I wish I could go back to that time in freshmen year and redo it and actually take it seriously. But now I'm taking it seriously and I've caught back up to where I should be. So everything's fine but —

Dave Blanks: Good.

Chance Barton: I wish I had of taken it more seriously.

Dave Blanks: So, what do you think it was? Was it the time that you selected it or that you were new at college?

Chance Barton: I didn't have a lot of money to spend on the projects —

Dave Blanks: Right, right.

Chance Barton: — like supplies. I was really bad at budgeting my time. I'm way better at it now.

Dave Blanks: How did you get better? ' Cause I wanna know your secret.

Chance Barton: I took as many credit hours as I could this last semester and this one —

Dave Blanks: No choice.

Chance Barton: — and I just had to make myself do it.

Dave Blanks: Well thanks for your answer, Chance, I really appreciate it.

Chance Barton: Of course, of course.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, nice to meet you.

Chance Barton: Nice to meet you.

Cameron Hunter: I'm Cameron Hunter. I would retake Biology 1802 with Doctor McCleneghan. One of the best professors I've ever had — so inspirational. The way she teaches makes you wanna take her class again.

Dave Blanks: Wow.

Cameron Hunter: Perfect teacher.

Dave Blanks: Awesome, that's amazing.

Cameron Hunter: Perfect teacher.

Dave Blanks: What's her name one more time?

Cameron Hunter: Doctor McClenaghan. Doctor Mac.

Dave Blanks: All right, cool. Shout out to Doctor Mac, nice job. Well, thanks for your answer Cameron.

Cameron Hunter: Oh anytime, thank you for having me.

Dave Blanks: Enjoy this day.

Alyssa R.: Thank you.

Dave Blanks: Oh my gosh, everyone was so super positive.

Alyssa R.: That was really positive.

Dave Blanks: I think the only one that was negative was like ... you.

Alyssa R.: I mean, I have awesome professors.

Dave Blanks: No, and I don't doubt that. They're all so awesome it's hard to choose, right?

Alyssa R.: Agreed.

Dave Blanks: OK.

Alyssa R.: Hard to choose. I can't pick one.

Dave Blanks: You can't narrow it down.

Alyssa R.: I can't just pick one.

Dave Blanks: You would retake all of them, if you could.

Alyssa R.: I would redo it all over again, if I could.

Dave Blanks: Alyssa, thank you very much for taking pictures.

Alyssa R.: Of course.

Dave Blanks: All right, everybody, join us next time, where we'll ask another super lighthearted question and get a lighthearted answer back, potentially, on Dave by the Bell!

University Communications' favorite interruption, Dave Blanks and UComm intern Alyssa Rodriguez, interview unsuspecting Appalachian students to discover their go-to "happy song."

Dave Blanks: So, on this Dave by the Bell, we're going to be discussing music that always makes you happy. What's the one song that you could always play that will make you feel better? And we were just listening to Foster The People.

[A song by Foster The People plays in the background]

Chris Grulke: Woo!

Dave Blanks: “Worst Nites” — that's a good song. Alyssa, did you pick that?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Yes, that was me. That was me.

Dave Blanks: Alyssa is here, our intern, and also Chris Grulke, who works in University Communications. So Chris, what is your song that always makes you feel better?

Chris Grulke: Wow, I didn't think I was going to get put on the spot here.

Dave Blanks: You're getting put on the spot.

Chris Grulke: I would say ... “Naive Melody,” Talking Heads.

Dave Blanks: Oh, the Talking Heads. Give me a taste of that. (A Talking Heads song plays) Hey Chris, that was a good choice. Thank you for sharing.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Dave, what song makes you happy?

Dave Blanks: The song that always makes me happy? I got to go with a-ha, "Take On Me," (the song “Take On Me” begins to play) cause every time I ...

Dave Blanks: Yeah, every time I hear that song, it just makes me really super pleased.

Alyssa Rodriguez: This is mine. Play it. Yeah, that's mine.

Dave Blanks: How does it start out? ’Cause you have to … you have to … it starts out like this (the song “Walking on Sunshine” plays). It’s “Walking on Sunshine”?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Yes!

Dave Blanks: That's a good selection.

Alyssa Rodriguez: It is.

Dave Blanks: That’s classic.

Alyssa Rodriguez: It's a good one.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, yeah for sure. '80's. Let's find out what Appalachian State students listen to when they wanna get happy.

Alyssa Rodriguez: When they wanna get happy.

[The song “Come on Get Happy” plays]

Dave Blanks: Come on, get happy.

Dave Blanks: Hey, excuse me. I'm Dave. I work with Alyssa; she's actually our intern. I do a podcast called Dave By the Bell ...

Jared Mark: I'm very familiar with Dave by the Bell.

Dave Blanks: Oh cool! Awesome! All right, excellent. So, would you mind answering my lighthearted question?

Alyssa Rodriguez: You're gonna like this one.

Jared Mark: I'm ready [crosstalk 00:02:27].

Dave Blanks: OK cool. OK, what is your name?

Jared Mark: Jared Mark.

Dave Blanks: What is the one go-to, like happy song that you have?

Jared Mark: Probably “Happy” by Pharrell.

Dave Blanks: Oh yeah. Well, everybody knows how that one goes. So can you give me just a little taste of "Happy" by Pharrell?

Jared Mark: (singing) ’Cause I'm happy (the song “Happy” by Pharrell plays). That's a good groove, right?

Dave Blanks: All right. That's nice. I appreciate your answer. All right, excellent choice.

Chris Grulke: Thanks, Jared.

Jared Mark: Thank you. I appreciate it.

Dave Blanks: All right. Have a good day. OK. We're in the Student Union.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Bustling.

Dave Blanks: It usually is pretty busy.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Bustling.

Dave Blanks: There's people.

Maria Swords: I'm Maria Swords.

Dave Blanks: Hey, Maria Swords. So, is there one particular go-to song for you right now that you could listen to and be like, "Wow, OK. I feel better. All is right with the world”?

Maria Swords: "High Hopes" is a pretty fun song.

Dave Blanks: Like Sinatra?

Maria Swords: No. Panic at the Disco.

Dave Blanks: OK. Not Sinatra at all. Oh, OK. Well, is it have anything to do with the “High Hopes” original like Frank Sinatra song?

Maria Swords: I'm not familiar with that song.

Dave Blanks: High apple pie in the sky hopes? Is there a line that speaks about apple pie? Well, how does it go? Can you give me like just the start of it? Just a start. Just a little taste of it.

Maria Swords: It's like, “I got high hopes for livin'. I got high, high, hopes.” (the song “High Hopes” by Panic at the Disco plays)

Dave Blanks: I like it.

Maria Swords: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: All right, good. Thanks for sharing, very much. I really appreciate that.

Matthew Craine: I'm Matthew Craine. First thing that comes to mind is Tupac.

Dave Blanks: Tupac.

Matthew Craine: Just about any Tupac.

Dave Blanks: Tupac's got some pretty heavy stuff.

Matthew Craine: Probably “California” ...

Dave Blanks: Yeah, “California Love.”

Matthew Craine: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: All right. How's that start out? Can you remember? Give me a taste. Just a taste.

Matthew Craine: No, I can't do it.

Dave Blanks: It's like this. (the song “California Love” by Tupac plays) That was an excellent selection, Matthew. Thank you.

Matthew Craine: Yeah, no problem man. I appreciate it.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, yeah. Hey, if people want to get well, Matthew, where would they go to here at Appalachian State?

Matthew Craine: You go right over here to Wellness and Prevention Services. It's right behind the Student Union.

Dave Blanks: So, if you're feeling bummed out, and a song doesn't do the trick for you, you can talk to somebody here at App at the Miles Annas Building?

Matthew Craine: Absolutely.

Dave Blanks: Or check out wellness.appstate.edu, right?

Matthew Craine: Yes.

Dave Blanks: OK, cool.

Brittany C.: My name is Brittany Chesney.

Dave Blanks: Well, nice to meet you Brittany Chesney. So, you heard my question to Matthew, and you checked your phone.

Brittany C.: OK. So, this is kind of lame, but "Nice For What" by Drake. If you're like feeling, like … really it is; it makes me feel better. I feel like ...

Dave Blanks: So let's let everybody hear that. OK?

Brittany C.: OK.

Dave Blanks: Yeah. How does that sound?

Brittany C.: It sounds great. (the song "Nice For What" by Drake plays)

Dave Blanks: Have a good day.

Speaker 9: All right, have a great day.

Dave Blanks: Thanks a lot.

Lauren Rowe: I'm Lauren Rowe.

Dave Blanks: OK. Lauren, what is your happy song, Lauren? And you can take a second to think about it.

Lauren Rowe: It's not a popular one. It's called "Fool In The Rain" by Led Zeppelin, and it's one of like their more poppy songs instead of like their hardcore rock songs. And it’s nice turn to it on. And it's about dancing in the rain. So I think it's cute.

Alyssa Rodriguez: It is.

Dave Blanks: Awesome. How does it start out? Can you give me just a taste of how it starts out, like the instrumental?

Lauren Rowe: I really can't.

Dave Blanks: OK. Can you give me a countdown, Lauren?

Lauren Rowe: OK. Three. Two. One.

Dave Blanks: Hit it. (the song Fool In The Rain" by Led Zeppelin plays) Thanks, Lauren.

Lauren Rowe: Yeah, awesome. [inaudible 00:08:27]

Dave Blanks: You too. I appreciate it.

Jaelyn Cureton: My name is Jaelyn Cureton.

Dave Blanks: OK. Jaelyn. So what is your go-to happy song?

Jaelyn Cureton: My go-to is by Childish Gambino. It's off his “Because the Internet” album. The one, it's called “Urn,” but it has like Roman numerals, and I don't remember the Roman numeral, but it's called Urn.

Dave Blanks: How does it start out?

Jaelyn Cureton: It's like ... it's him singing, which is like, it's, I'd never knew he could sing before. And then like a couple of years later, he comes out with the singing out.

Dave Blanks: Super talented.

Jaelyn Cureton: So, whenever I'm in a bad mood, that song's just ... it's like one minute, but of him singing, but it's like one of the most peaceful, most relaxing things I listen to.

Dave Blanks: Let's listen to it. (the song “Urn” by Childish Gambino plays) Thank you for sharing.

Jaelyn Cureton: No problem. Thank you.

Dave Blanks: Would you like to answer my question?

Bianca B.: Yes.

Dave Blanks: OK, cool. So, what is your name?

Bianca B.: Bianca Bortoluzzi.

Dave Blanks: OK. Bianca, is there a song that is on your mind right now or in your life right now that when you hear it, you're like, "Yes, this is my happy song. I'm feeling better already"?

Bianca B.: Yeah, I do. Do you want me to say that?

Dave Blanks: Yeah. Please. What is it? Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

Bianca B.: All right. So, it's kind of actually like a sad song, but to me, I like the melody and the tone of her voice, and that's Billie Eilish's "Ocean Eyes." (the song “Ocean Eyes” by Billie Eilish plays) So that's probably my go-to. Just when I'm down, I listen to it and just her voice is very melodic and beautiful, and I just really enjoy it. So I listen to that.

Dave Blanks: Cool. I haven't heard of Billie Eilish.

Bianca B.: She's awesome. She's only 17. She came out on the scene when she was 16, and her new album’s dropping March 29th.

Dave Blanks: All right. Awesome. Get it. Thank you, Bianca.

Bianca B.: Thank you.

Dave Blanks: All right, well thanks y'all.

Hannah Bagli: I'm Hannah Bagli.

Dave Blanks: So Hannah, do you have a go-to happy song that you could share with me and Alyssa?

Alyssa Rodriguez: What's that happy song?

Hannah Bagli: What's the song, like, "We built this city … "?

Dave Blanks: (singing) We built this city …

Hannah Bagli: Yeah. That one. Definitely.

Dave Blanks: Yeah! Starship, for real?

Hannah Bagli: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Yes. Awesome. That is some cheesy goodness. All right, so let's have a listen to that right now. (the song “We Built This City” by Starship plays) Hannah, that really hits the spot.

Hannah Bagli: Thank you so much.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, absolutely. I'm impressed you knew that song.

Hannah Bagli: Everybody knows that song.

Dave Blanks: Well, I don't know. It's kind of ...

Hannah Bagli: Everybody knows that song.

Dave Blanks: ... it's a little dated.

Charles Funnel: I'm Charles Funnel.

Dave Blanks: OK. Charles, do you have a go-to song that's like, when you hear this song, you are gonna feel better? You're gonna feel happy?

Charles Funnel: Yes.

Dave Blanks: You do?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Oh, you already know.

Dave Blanks: Right off the bat. He's got it. OK, so what is it?

Charles Funnel: I mean, I don't know if people know it. Probably don't know it.

Dave Blanks: We'll play a little for them. Hold on. What is it?

Charles Funnel: It's called “Starstruck.” It's by a guy named Lucki.

Dave Blanks: OK.

Charles Funnel: L-U-C-K-I.

Dave Blanks: How does it start? Can you give me just a taste of how it starts out?

Charles Funnel: (singing) I've seen too many faces, we're starstruck … (the song “Starstruck” by Lucki plays)

Dave Blanks: Charles. Thank you so much. I appreciate you sharing.

Charles Funnel: No problem.

Dave Blanks: Yeah. Have a good day. I met this guy. Hey, excuse me.

Unwilling Student: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Hi.

Unwilling Student: Hi, I got to get to a class.

Dave Blanks: OK. I was just going to tell you, have a good day.

Unwilling Student: Thanks.

Dave Blanks: All right. That's not what I was going to tell him. That was a lie.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Don't do that. It's better. We need to get somebody right by the building.

Dave Blanks: Well, we could talk to somebody just coming out of the building.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Right here.

Dave Blanks: Hey, does anybody not have class right this moment? They can answer a quick question?

Eli Scheer: I can answer.

Dave Blanks: You can. OK, cool.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Good.

Eli Scheer: I'm Eli Scheer.

Dave Blanks: So, do you have a go-to happy song?

Eli Scheer: Do you know the song "The Girl from Ipanema"?

Dave Blanks: Tall and Tan and long and lovely. The girl from Ipanema goes walking. And when she passes, each one she passes goes …

Eli Scheer: Am I supposed to be singing?

Dave Blanks: You're not doing it.

Eli Scheer: I'm not singing.

Dave Blanks: But seriously, “The Girl from Ipanema” is like your go-to happy song? How do you know this is “The Girl from Ipanema”? How do you know this song?

Eli Scheer: Actually it was like Spotify recommended João Gilberto and Stan Getz.

Dave Blanks: Yes. Dude, that version is so great. Have you listened to “Corcovado”?

Eli Scheer: Yes, I have listened to “Corcovado.”

Dave Blanks: Dude, “Corcovado” is excellent.

Eli Scheer: That full album, the Stan Getz/Gilberto album is a very good album.

Dave Blanks: That's cool man. Great selection. Thanks, Eli.

Eli Scheer: Yeah.

[A song from the album “Corcovado” plays]

Cameron Hunter: I'm Cameron Hunter.

Dave Blanks: Cameron. So what is your go-to happy song?

Cameron Hunter: "Go The Distance" from “Hercules.”

Dave Blanks: “Go The Distance” from “Hercules.” All right. How does it start? Can you give me just a taste of the start?

Cameron Hunter: (singing) I have often dreamed, of a far off place, where a hero's welcome will be waiting for me. (the song “Go The Distance” from the Disney movie “Hercules” plays)

Dave Blanks: Thank you for your answer. I appreciate it.

Cameron Hunter: Thank you for asking. I'm happy.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, yeah. Well good. So you're already in a better mood?

Cameron Hunter: Mm-mm (affirmative).

Dave Blanks: Well, awesome. I am too. OK. So we've gotten it all. I really feel like we've gotten a super sweet playlist. Yeah. A wide variety of songs.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Very much variation.

Dave Blanks: Do you feel happier?

Alyssa Rodriguez: I'm happier.

Dave Blanks: Yeah. I feel happier.

Alyssa Rodriguez: I'm going to go listen to the happy playlist right now.

Dave Blanks: Let's do it. What song are you listening to first?

Alyssa Rodriguez: I'm gonna listen to "Walking On Sunshine," personally.

Dave Blanks: That was your song.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Exactly. It makes me happy.

Dave Blanks: I'm going to listen to Childish Gambino. Yeah, yeah. Well, that was fun. Thanks for joining me, Alyssa.

Alyssa Rodriguez: You're welcome.

Dave Blanks: All right. I'm Dave Blanks, and this has been Dave by the Bell.

It's the second installment of our super spooky Halloween DBTB. Dave interviews unsuspecting Appalachian State students as they wait to board the AppalCart and uncovers even more bone-chilling AppalCart tales of terror.

Speaker 1: Tales from the AppalCart Part 2.

Dave Blanks: Hey folks! I’m Dave Blanks and it’s time for another “Dave by the Bell”! It’s the return of our most popular ever “Dave by the Bell,” “Tales from the AppalCart.” We’re going to be gathering spooky stories pertaining to the AppalCart. For instance, crazy stuff that has happened to you on the AppalCart … possibly supernatural or possibly just something strange. Tales from the AppalCart. That is the agenda for today. I’m by the bell. Let's do this.

Elijah Smith: I’m Elijah Smith.

Dave: OK, so Elijah, Halloween is coming up.

ES: Yeah.

Dave: A spooky time right?

ES: Right.

Dave: Have you ever heard of the AppalCart?

ES: Yes, absolutely.

Dave: Have you ever had an unnatural, spooky or weird experience on the AppalCart?

ES: Yeah. Actually, I have.

Dave: OK! All right. Do tell! What happened?

ES: Well, it was game day, and I was on the way to the game, obviously, so the AppalCart picked me up on my street. And I got on and someone had a speaker playing, and there were two people just grinding on each other.

Dave: Whaaaat?

ES: It was something else, man! I was just in shock.

Dave: Do you remember the song?

ES: It was like, Flo Rida maybe.

Dave: OK, all right.

ES: It was raw, though, dude.

Dave: I thought you were going to say it was some kind of super inappropriate song like … It was “Wind Beneath My Wings.”

Cate Smith: I’m Cate Smith. Sometimes the people at the bus stop, at Walmart, are really scary.

Dave: Right? They’re not afraid to talk to you.

CS: Yeah.

Dave: Me neither, but hopefully I’m not that frightening.

CS: No, you don’t seem very confrontational.

Dave: OK good. All right. I’m not trying to start anything with you, Cate. All right? Well, so, is that where y’all are headed now? Walmart?

Cate: Walmart.

Dave: Gah! You know, best of luck to you!

CS: I appreciate it.

William DeCarolis: I’m William DeCarolis. I was on AppalCart one time with some friends and there was this dude sitting probably like, I don't know, maybe 5 or 8 feet from us, and he was just holding a conversation with the air in front of him.

Dave: Just talking to himself.

WD: Yeah, yeah. He wasn’t hostile or anything, and wasn’t bothering anybody. He was just talking to himself, and we were just kind of looking at each other and then the person sitting next to us was like,” Yeah, he has been riding this thing in circles for like, four or five loops.”

Dave: Oh man! Well how did they know that? Maybe they got on and then got off and then got back on? Do you know what I’m saying?

WD: Maybe, or maybe they asked the driver. I don’t know.

Dave: Like, (whispering) “Is that guy oK? Yeah, he just talks to the back of this seat over here.”

WD: Yeah.

Dave: Well that’s pretty spooky. So you didn’t chat with him?

WD: Yeah, I didn’t want to interrupt him.

Dave: Understood. Understood. Well, thanks William.

WD: Yeah! You’re welcome.

Maggie Behm: I’m Maggie Behm. Yes, there was this one dude who kept talking to me about spaghetti he left in a ziplock bag in his car all day with ketchup on it and he just really wanted to get home and eat it.

Dave: That was like, what he was really looking forward to?

MB: Yes, that’s why he was bummed that the AppalCart wasn’t here yet.

Dave: Oh! While you were waiting at the stop.

MB: Yes, and he just kept talking to me about spaghetti in his car in a bag. It was spaghetti he made and put ketchup on in his apartment and left it in his car in a grocery bag.

Dave: That sounds pretty weird.

MB: Yeah, I didn’t know how to respond.

Dave: Well, how did you respond? I’m just kind of curious. Were you like, “OK”?

MB: I just nodded and then the bus came, and so I put my headphones on.

Dave: “Oh thank God!”

MB: Yeah, I don't have to create a response to this.

Dave: I wonder how it was. What if it was, like, really good spaghetti?

MB: No. He said it was not good spaghetti.

Dave: But he was still looking forward to it?

MB: He was just looking forward to it and he was like, “Yeah I just want it. It’s in my car.”

Dave: Very enticing. I can’t believe you didn’t like try to go get that spaghetti.

MB: I was ready to get out of that conversation.

Dave: I’m sure. I’m sure.

Sydnee Hodge: I’m Sydnee Hodge.

Dave: So, has anything strange ever happened on the AppalCart?

SH: No.

Dave: It’s just been smooth sailing.

SH: Yeah.

Dave: Well, you got to work on the costume.

SH: Sometimes I trip a lot ... and I don’t know why.

Dave: OK tripping a lot.

SH: … and I don’t know why.

Dave: Oh, is that the only place that you trip?

SH: Yeah.

Dave: On the AppalCart?

SH: Yes. It’s like the AppalCart curse to embarass you!

Dave: The Curse of the AppalCart!

Dave: Does it happen at movie theaters ever?

SH: No.

Dave: No. Just the AppalCart? Wow! It’s like it’s got a vendetta …  potentially.

SH: It does. It’s out to get me.

Dave: Well, that’s like good for Halloween! Right? Yeah. OK, thanks Sydnee!

Grace and Allyson: I’m Grace Zelen and I’m Allyson Medlin.

Dave: Allyson and Grace! Cool. Have you ever had anything unusual or possibly supernatural occur on the AppalCart bus?

Grace and Allyson: I can’t say that I have. Well, there is Lenny. Lenny.

Dave: Lenny? Wait.

Grace and Allyson: Lenny is a man. His name is probably not Lenny, but we named him that.

Dave: He’s Lenny to you.

Grace and Allyson: He just gets kind of … he kind of talks about polygamy sometimes …

Dave: What? He kind of talks about polygamy sometimes?

Grace and Allyson: … which is totally fine. Yeah, he just talks about multiple wives, and I’m like, “OK.”

Dave: Wait, like, he is a polygamist?

Grace and Allyson: Who’s to say? I don’t know and you do you. But he’s like, “Aww, I gotta tell all my wives that,” and we’re like, “Lenny, you’re wild.”

Dave: Oh Lenny! Do you call him Lenny to his face?

Grace and Allyson: No.

Dave: You should! If he’s talking about polygamy, surely you can call him Lenny.

Grace and Allyson: I mean to be honest, he reminds me of a Lenny. No, but the AppalCart is honestly great.

Dave: Yeah. Tell me about the AppalCart. It’s handy to have, right?

Grace and Allyson: I’m going to go hop on Red Route right now.

Dave: Red Route sounds haunted, right? Have you seen “The Shining”?

Grace and Allyson: Yeah! Red rum!

Dave: Well, maybe something is going down.

Grace and Allyson: Well, let me know if you hear anything.

Dave: We’ll see. All right, thank y'all for your answers.

Kellie Brown: I'm Kellie Brown. The bus driver that used to drive red last year, he played like really loud, like Indian, like music every single morning. It was excellent, but I loved it, but it was very spooky noises.

Dave: Oh, that’s kind of cool. OK. That counts. All right, well that was a good answer. Thank y’all very much.

Katie Parrella: OK. I'm Katie Parrella. Honestly, I'm kind of thinking that it could happen. I was actually riding it the other night and I was kind of feeling a little creeped out just because again, nighttime I can feel a little weird, especially because like it's not as, there's not as many people on it. And so, I rode back from Walmart and I was like, it's like it's a little awkward because there's not a lot of people. So, I wouldn't be surprised if there's something paranormal going on.

Dave: Maybe Halloween night.

KP: Maybe. Maybe I’ll have to give it a try?

Dave: Yeah, maybe it’s going down. Yeah, if you're, if you’re into that.

KP: Yeah, definitely. Hey, that'd be kinda cool. I’d love to encounter something.

Dave: Thanks, Katie.

Matthew Frankel: I'm Matthew Frankel.

Dave: Have you ever had an inexplicable, potentially supernatural occurrence on the AppalCart?

MF: No.

Dave Blanks: Thank you, Matthew. Have a good day. Nothing weird has ever happened?

MF: I've gotten offered drugs by this woman who looked like she could be a zombie.

Dave: OK. That counts. That counts. Zombie offering up some drugs ...

MF: Yeah, she was like, “Hey, kid, wants some drugs?”

Dave: You didn't take them though, right?

MF: Nah.

Dave: That's why you're not a zombie before me now.

MF: Yeah.

Dave: All right, cool. Well, thanks guys. All right. Have a good day.

Lindsay McNeil: I am Lindsay McNeil

Dave: And what is your name, sir?

Nick Ehlin: I'm Nick Ehlin. I remember one time there was a uh, an older gentleman. He kind of got upset at the driver, uh, because he, he was talking about, uh,  Harris Teeter.

Dave: Like, he was talking trash about Harris Teeter?

NE: He was asking them about Sam's Club, if they had a Sam's club up here.

NE: The older gentleman was asking the driver if they had a Sam's Club.

NE: And the driver said that Harris Teeter was similar to Sam's Club, which isn’t true, obviously.

Dave: Not Accurate.

NE: The other guy got upset at him because he's like, “Harris Teeter's not like that.” And it almost turned it into, uh, an aggressive argument.

Dave: Well, that's a pretty haunting story. So everything ended well, thought? They managed to work their differences out?

NE: He got out off the bus pretty quickly.

Dave: They get off at Harris Teeter?

NE: No.

Gisselle Marinaro: I'm Gisselle Marinaro. Um, no, I don't think so, except the one time, like, these two people were basically twerking on each other on the AppalCart.

Dave: So, does it hold you to this day?

GM: Yeah, it haunts me to this day. They weren't in rhythm.

Julie Arnn: I'm Julie Arnn. It's pretty spooky when it's crowded as much as it is.

Dave: You don’t like it when it’s crowded?

JA: Like that's pretty scary to me. It almost seems like people are just riding it around and not getting off. And that's kinda eerie to me.

Dave: I see what you mean. Like you have a place to go. They’re just cruising around, spending their lives there.

JA: It's like, maybe, like, they're stuck there, you like that?

Dave: Oh! I love that! Oh, that’s  great. OK. So, they're, like, trapped in the AppalCart dimension.

JA: Maybe, like there's something that needs to be done that they can't figure it out.

Dave: Maybe you're the one that can help them. You got to ride today..

JA: Man, they're all relying on me now.

Dave: I know! There’s so much pressure on you now! Hey, that was a great answer.

JA: Thank you.

Dave: Now, that was cool. I think I'm going to end on that one. I didn't get anything super duper supernatural, but people doomed to constantly ride the AppalCart. I mean, that's pretty haunting. Props to Julie. Nice job. I'm Dave Blanks. I hope you have a spooktacular Halloween, App State, and thanks everybody for listening. This has been Grave by the Bell.

UComm's Dave Blanks and intern Alyssa Rodriguez attempt to guess the often vague meaning of App student's last sent text messages.

Dave Blanks: Uh, hello everybody, it's me, Dave Blanks--

Alyssa Rodriguez: And Alyssa!

Dave Blanks: And our intern Alyssa, and we're hanging out in my office in the bottom of Anne Belk and we're getting ready to go out on a lovely Thursday, October the fourth to do another Dave by the Bell and the Dave by the Bell topic for today is…

Alyssa Rodriguez: Without context, what was the last text message you sent?

Dave Blanks: Yeah, that's it. Without wearing your contacts.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Contacts? I said context!

Dave Blanks: If we want to guess which ones we might get most frequently, what would you guess?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Lol

Dave Blanks: We'll get a lot of “lol”s, we’ll get a lot of “Okay”s. That's probably okay, those are our guesses.

Alyssa Rodriguez: What's yours, Dave?

Dave Blanks: I said okay! Oh, alright. Yeah, yeah, that's a good idea.

Alyssa Rodriguez: What’s your last text message?

Dave Blanks: Okay. I said “Haha well it's weird, but should still work in my favor”.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Words to live by.

Dave Blanks: No explanation needed there. What about you?

Alyssa Rodriguez: I want to give context.

Dave Blanks: You can’t!

Alyssa Rodriguez: But, I want to.

Dave Blanks: Is it—okay—

Alyssa Rodriguez: You’re just going to assume something different. Okay, My last text was “Good morning. Love and miss you too.”

Dave Blanks: Oh, somebody special, huh?

Alyssa Rodriguez: It was my Dad.

Dave Blanks: Alright, well let's go out and ask some students. Should we start up top? Let's start by the bell. All right, so now we're by the actual bell.

Alyssa Rodriguez: What a bell.

Dave Blanks: Let's find somebody to talk to you.

Ciara Sailar: I'm Ciara Sailar.

Dave Blanks: Without giving us context, we're going to attempt to get the context of this. Can you read the last text message that you sent?

Ciara Sailar: Oh god. It says “Haha, that's so weird.”

Dave Blanks: Oh, so you found out something-- we're going to attempt to guess, but that's pretty vague. So, you found out something a strange—

Ciara Sailar: Yes.

Dave Blanks:  that you weren't expecting?

Ciara Sailar: Yes.

Dave Blanks: I don't think I can figure it out. So, what was it?

Ciara Sailar: It was um, so, uh, a friends coming up, she used to go to Lees Macrae and she was talking about her GPS, like rerouting them to like, uh, New York City.

Dave Blanks: What?? So, what did she put in there?

Ciara Sailar: I don't know. I mean, I guess like to go back to Lees Macrae, I don't know, but she said they had to reroute to Harrisburg.

Dave Blanks: Well that's weird. Haha that's so weird.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Haha that's weird.

Dave Blanks: Thanks Ciara!

MG: I'm Maggie sexton. I sent yes with two exclamation marks.

Dave Blanks: Oh, you were super excited about something.

MS: Yeah, a little bit.

Dave Blanks: Did you, uh, did they ask you a question that you were excited to answer?

MS: Yes.

Dave Blanks: Okay. All right. Um, I don't think I can guess that—

Alyssa Rodriguez: Too vague.

Dave Blanks: It's far too vague.

MS:  Do I need to --- now?

Dave Blanks: Sure, what was the context?

MS: Uh, they asked if they could call me today and I said, yes.

Dave Blanks: Yes!! Two exclamation points. All right, well congratulations on that.

MS: Well, thank you.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, thanks Maggie!

Alyssa Rodriguez: Oh, we’ll ask her!

Dave Blanks: Alyssa knows somebody, so we'll ask them.

Gaby Romero: I'm Gaby Romero.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Okay, cool. So, without context, we're going to try to guess the context of it. Can you read us your last text message that you sent?

GB: Ohh.

Alyssa Rodriguez: That’s what everybody says

Dave Blanks & Alyssa Rodriguez: Ohhhhhhhhhh.

Dave Blanks: And then they smile.

Gaby Romero: Noo.

Dave Blanks: What?? You can’t read it?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Oh, what is it!

Dave Blanks: C’mon

Alyssa Rodriguez: What is it? What is it?

Gaby Romero: No, I don’t want to say it! It’s embarassing!

Alyssa Rodriguez: Oh, read it!

Gaby Romero: No!

Alyssa Rodriguez: Read it!

Gaby Romero: Oh, okay. So, you know like on twitter, like thoughts of dog.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Yes.

Gaby Romero: So it's this twitter account about like this dog and it's like, it's all of its thoughts. And the dog always says goob morning, like with a b instead of a d.

Dave Blanks: Cause he's a dog.

Gaby Romero: Yeah. So, it’s that.

Dave Blanks: Aweeee.

Alyssa Rodriguez: It just says goob morning?

Gaby Romero: No. It's not anything bad. It's just embarassing.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Goob morning baby!

Dave Blanks & Alyssa Rodriguez: Aweeee.

Gaby Romero: Gross, I hate it.

Dave Blanks: There’s nothing wrong with that!

Alyssa Rodriguez: What’s your boyfriend’s name, give him a shoutout.

Gaby Romero: No, I can't, I can't.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Give a shoutout!

Gaby Romero: His name is Cele.

Dave Blanks: Thanks for sharing.

Gaby Romero: Yeah, no problem.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Thanks Gaby!! I hate you, Alyssa.

Dave Blanks: Well have a goob afternoon.

Alyssa Rodriguez: See you later!

Gaby Romero: Thank you!

Alyssa Rodriguez: Oh, I’m going to say that every time!

Lee Franklin: I'm Lee Franklin

Dave Blanks: Can you read us the last text message that you sent out?

Lee Franklin: Okay, let me see.

Dave Blanks: Sometimes it's mundane.

Lee Franklin: Damn.

Dave Blanks: So, you could guess that maybe you were either disappointed or you were like commiserating with somebody like they had a failure. I don't think you had a failure. I think they had a failure. Right?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Maybe it was like a good thing.

Dave Blanks: Something bad happened to somebody else?

Lee Franklin: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Dave Blanks: They were disappointed.

Alyssa Rodriguez: And you were just like “wow that sucks.”?

Dave Blanks: Damn. I like that. Well thanks. Thanks Lee. So, where are you headed now?

Lee Franklin:  I'm going to do voter registration.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Register some voters!

Dave Blanks: Oh, that's important.

Lee Franklin: are you registered to vote?

Dave Blanks: I am. I am. Well, thanks for doing what you’re doing. Where are you doing that? Where can people get signed up to vote?

Lee Franklin: You can get me to do it or anyone else walking around with a clipboard or you can go to the Board of Elections on King Street in the courthouse.

Dave Blanks: Thanks Lee. Have a good day.

Lee Franklin: See you guys.

Megan Kearns: I'm Megan Kearns.

Dave Blanks: Can you read me the last text message that you sent somebody?

Megan Kearns: I know exactly what my last text message is and it's really specific. So, you're going to know. “How is Australia?”

Alyssa Rodriguez: Who’s in Austrailia? We know someone in Australia!!!

Dave Blanks: Is it Liz??? Is it Liz pope?

Megan Kearns: No.

Dave Blanks: Oh, okay.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Awe man.

Dave Blanks: She was our old intern and she moved to Australia.

Megan Kearns: No, that would have been really cool.

Alyssa Rodriguez: That would’ve been literally the coolest thing. Let’s redo it and say YES.

Dave Blanks: Alright, IT’S LIZ!

Megan Kearns: Yes it is!!!

Dave Blanks: Oh, LIZ!! Oh my god! I can’t believe it!

Issac Johnson: Uh, I am Isaac Johnson. The less text message I sent was.

Megan Kearns: That's it.

Issac Johnson: Is that it? No worries.

Dave Blanks: No worries? Excellent.

Alyssa Rodriguez: No worries, Hakuna Matata!!

Issac Johnson: Good luck.

Dave Blanks: But it's like an upbeat attitude.

Issac Johnson: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, no worries.

Issac Johnson: It's pretty casual.

Dave Blanks: Were they concerned that they slighted you or something like that, or did they let you down but you're kind of letting them off the hook?

Issac Johnson: Uh, actually. Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Yeah.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Perfect.

Dave Blanks: No worries.

Issac Johnson: Yeah, exactly.

Dave Blanks: Hakuna Matata, is that what you said?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Yeah.

Issac Johnson: I should start saying that instead.

Dave Blanks: Hakuna Matata, Hakuna Matata. All right, Cool. Excellent. Well thank you all for your answers.

Megan Kearns: You’re welcome.

Issac Johnson: No worries, thank you.

Dave Blanks: I feel pretty good. No worries, you said.

Issac Johnson: Hakuna Matata

Dave Blanks: Yeah, alright.

Karolyn Martin: I'm Karolyn Martin.

Dave Blanks: Where are we, Karolyn, by the way?

Karolyn Martin: You're in the SGA office.

Dave Blanks: Are you a member of SGA?

Karolyn Martin: I am. I'm a freshmen class senator.

Dave Blanks: Alright, Excellent.

Karolyn Martin: Okay. I sent this meme. I'll show it to you.

Dave Blanks: It’s a meme!

Karolyn Martin: It’s a gif, it’s a gif—

Dave Blanks: Well you’ll have to describe the GIF.

Karolyn Martin: It says who's awesome?

It's a guy in a shirt and then it points towards the screen, so if you—

Dave Blanks: It's from-- It's from whose line is it anyway. That's Collin. That's what that show is. Did you ever watch whose line is it?

Karolyn Martin: I just, I just sent.

Dave Blanks: You were encouraging somebody—somebody was saying that they did something that they were supposed to do and then you were saying you're awesome.

Karolyn Martin: No, I—

Dave Blanks: No? darn it.

Karolyn Martin: Okay, it’s okay. So, I wrote a to do list of the things I needed to get done today, but I didn't bring it with me. So, I asked my roommate when you went back to the room to send me a picture of it.

Dave Blanks: And she did.

Karolyn Martin: And she did.

Dave Blanks: Wow. She's good people. Who's your roommate?

Karolyn Martin: Uh, Laura Perrone. She's the best.

Dave Blanks: Thanks, Laura.

Karolyn Martin: Thanks, Laura. Shout out to Laura Perrone.

Dave Blanks : So, who am I speaking with?

DeJon Milbourne: DeJon Milbourne.

Dave Blanks: Okay, so DeJon, you're the—aren’t you the president?

DeJon Milbourne: Yes, yes I am.

Dave Blanks: Of all students?

DeJon Milbourne: Something like that.

Dave Blanks: Something like that? We're going to attempt to guess the context. Can you read us the last text message that you sent?

DeJon Milbourne: The last text I sent was to my older brother. Actually.

Dave Blanks: Wait, wait, wait. Let us guess. Wow. I was going to try to guess the context.

DeJon Milbourne: Oh No. Context?

Dave Blanks: We were going to attempt to guess the context.

DeJon Milbourne: Oh, so you just you want me to just read it?

Dave Blanks: Just read it and then we'll be like, okay.

DeJon Milbourne: So I just said what's up? Give me a call tonight.

Dave Blanks: What's up? Give me a call. Okay. I'm going to guess it was your brother.

DeJon Milbourne: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Alright, well that's cool. Just one brother?

DeJon Milbourne:  I have seven—

Dave Blanks: Seven brothers?

DeJon Milbourne: Well, I have seven siblings. Three brothers.

Dave Blanks: Wow. That's a big family. Well DeJon. thank you for answer. I really appreciate it.

DeJon Milbourne: It was nice to meet you.

Dave Blanks: Nice to meet you too.

Greg Steckbeck: I am Greg. Steckbeck. The last text message I sent was about five seconds ago.

Dave Blanks: Okay. No context. Remember.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Don’t tell us what it was about.

Greg Steckbeck: That was our second date.

Dave Blanks: Oh, you were talking to a significant other.

Greg Steckbeck: No.

Dave Blanks: No. Darn it. I failed. Okay so, you were talking to someone about your significant other.

Greg Steckbeck: Yes! Now you're on the right track.

Dave Blanks: All right. All right.

Greg Steckbeck: They asked if I was dating or if we were dating, and I said, I think, I think this counts, yeah.

Dave Blanks: That was your second date.

Greg Steckbeck: Mhm.

Dave Blanks: Congratulations.

Greg Steckbeck: Well, thank you very much.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's awesome.

Alyssa Rodriguez: We’ll hope for a third!

Dave Blanks: See ya man.

Greg Steckbeck: See ya! Have a good one!

Dave Blanks: Alright, you too! Yeah, I think we're going to head back. What do you, what do you think? I feel like we got some good answers.

Alyssa Rodriguez: I think we got a LOT of good answers.

Dave Blanks: We got-- I'm going to point out that we got zero “okay”s and zero “lol”s. Yeah, there were none.

Alyssa Rodriguez: That's true.

Chris Grulke: Alyssa I need you!

Alyssa Rodriguez: Why do you need me?

Dave Blanks: We had one girl that had a, a Gif or Jif depending on if you want to be a Weirdo and say Jif, which is actually what you're supposed to say.

Alyssa Rodriguez: My second sent text message is “How is someone attractive and talented?”

Dave Blanks: Mm.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Things to think about.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, I ponder that every morning as I stare at myself in the mirror. Well Alyssa, we had a lot of good answers.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Well like, do you need anything else?

Dave Blanks: Well, thanks Alyssa for your help.

Alyssa Rodriguez: You're welcome.

Dave Blanks: I really appreciate it.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: You added a lot.

Alyssa Rodriguez: I did.

Dave Blanks: Send me those pictures.

Alyssa Rodriguez: I will.

Dave Blanks: Alright. I’m Dave blanks and this has been—Hey, what's the next Dave by the Bell going to be about?

Alyssa Rodriguez: I don't know. I'll think about it.

Dave Blanks: What are you listening to?

Alyssa Rodriguez: No.

Dave Blanks: You don't want to do that? What are you listening to? And the guy is going to be like I’m listening to a phone call, so stop bothering me.

Alyssa Rodriguez: So, please leave me alone and go away.

Dave Blanks: Alright, well—

Marie Freeman: You’re listening to Dave outside my hallway.

Alyssa Rodriguez: I’m listening to Dave by the Bell!

Dave Blanks: I’m listening to Dave, talk incessantly right now. All right, well, I'm Dave Blanks. This has been Dave by the Bell. Bye everybody!

Dave Blanks interviews students to find out what their Homecoming plans are.

Dave Blanks: So it’s me Dave. Hello once again. Dave Blanks. I’m hanging out in my office in the bottom of Anne Belk and Alyssa is here our intern. Hey Alyssa!

Alyssa Rodriguez: Woop Woop.

DB: You’re gonna come along right?

AR: Yeah, I am.

DB: You’re gonna take a picture or two?

AR: I’m gonna take a picture or two.

DB: And chat it up. So do you think we should talk to students about homecoming or I have a cool one that’s on the shelf that I’ve had for a while that is, “without context, what was the last text message you sent?” So that one is super nosey.

AR: But it’s gonna be funny probably.

DB: It could be very funny. We gotta do a Homecoming one. Alright well let's go ask people about homecoming.

AR: What a day!

DB: Wow!

AR: It’s kind or gloomy.

DB: Yeah it’s a little overcast.

AR: Fallish

DB: Umm yeah! It is fallish. That’s what people expect when they come to Homecoming here at App.

AR: It really is fallish! Hear that crow? It’s Halloween.

DB: Yeah I did hear that crow.

Brandon Torres: I’m Brandon Torres.

DB: So Brandon Torres do you have any bigtime homecoming plans for this weekend? Did you know it was Homecoming?

BT: I did.

DB: All right! Excellent start! Do you have any plans for this weekend related to Homecoming?

BT: I’m actually going back home his weekend.

DB: Oh! You’re going home for Homecoming! I don’t think that’s how it’s supposed to work.

AR: Quite literal.

DB: They’re supposed to come here, right?

BT: Well yeah.

DB: All right well, where is home?

BT: Durham, North Carolina.

DB: Okay, so a little bit of a drive.

BT: Yeah two and a half hours.

DB: Well be safe! Okay?

BT: All right.

DB: Hey lets ask Brandon. So Brandon, also Brandon, Hello Brandon how are you?

Brandon Melchor: I am good.

DB: What is your full name Brandon?

BM: My name is Brandon Melchor.

DB: Okay, so Brandon do you have any Homecoming plans for this weekend? Whatcha got in store for ya?

BM: Party.

DB: Yeah Yeah? Are you partying with people that are coming into town or are you partying with people that are currently in town?

BM: Whoever wanna party.

DB: Anybody! All access party with Brandon. All right cool. Well thanks guys! I really appreciate your answers! Have a safe and fun Homecoming weekend.

Kristen Whitworth: I’m Kristen Whitworth.

DB: So did you know it was Homecoming weekend?

KW: Yes.

DB: All right! Do you have any Homecoming plans?

KW: I was going to go to the carnival but it’s cancelled

DB: So Netflix and chill.

KW: Yeah.

DB: Dannnnnnng. Well thanks for your answer.

KW: No problem!

DB: Do you wanna ask this dude?

AR: Yeah

DB: Okay we’ll ask him.

Tyler Taylor: I’m Tyler Taylor.

DB: So the question is, “Did you know it was Homecoming this weekend?”

TT: Uhhh no.

AR: whaaaaaaat?

DB: You didn’t know it was Homecoming this weekend? You just found out right now?

TT: Yeah.

DB: Alright that’s cool. So did you already...I guess I can’t ask you if you had Homecoming plans because you didn’t know it was Homecoming! So now you know!

TT: Now I know.

DB: All right so you can make plans. What’s going on?

AR: Apptoberfest, The parade, Lip Sync, Step Show, Football game…

DB: Any of these strike your fancy?

TT: The football game.

DB: All right we’ll sign you up for the football game. We’ll see you there.

TT: Cool. I appreciate it.

DB: I appreciate you. Thanks for your answer.

AR: Good to meet you Tyler Taylor.

DB: What’s up guys?

Guys: Hey! Hows it going?

DB: Hey! Would you be willing to answer my question? Maybe you heard my spiel? So what is your name sir?

Benny Miller: I’m Benny Miller.

DB: Okay cool. So did you know it was Homecoming?

BM: Yes. Just because I heard you over there say it. So I just found out too!

DB: Well so you didn’t have Homecoming plans either.

BM: No.

DB: So are you going to the game?

BM: Yeah. Of course.

DB: Definetly going to the game.

BM: Gotta support the boys.

DB: That will work! What about you?

Ethan Cordero: I’m Ethan Cordero.

DB: Ok so is it a similar senario? None of you guys knew it was Homecoming?

EC: I’ve seen some things around. I’ve seen posts about it but yeah. I’m obviously going to the game you know supporting the school.

DB: But nobody is like, “Oh Homecoming! Awesome!” Alyssa is like that right?

AR: I’m Homecoming as heck.

DB: Yeah Yeah she is super Homecoming. But I really wasn’t like that when I was in school either but that’s cool.

EC: I’m kinda more excited for Halloween.

DB: Yeah! Absolutely so have you figured out your costume?

EC: I have figured out other peoples costumes but I don’t know much about mine. Usually I go with a zombie look.

DB: Sure. Timeless. Timeless zombie. Well thanks for your answers I really appreciate it. Enjoy your Homecoming weekend!

Both: Thanks for letting us know!

DB: Yeah sure! Have fun at the game!

ER: Dave, we’re really educating the public.

DB: I know in fact alot of the students didn’t know it was homecoming.

It’s so loud walking through this area right here which is funny because you know where it is?

AR: Where?

DB: by the…

AR: Oh! By the bell!

DB: Yeah it’s super loud!

AR: I didn’t get it.

Angel Nhaar: I am Angel Nhaar.

DB: All right so Angel, did you know it was Homecoming this weekend?

AN: naahhhhhh

DB: You didn’t know that?!

AR: What!

AN: I did I did!

DB: Wait please dont lie!

AN: I have a friend that is running for Homecoming court.

DB: Oh that’s cool. Do you vote for them?

AN: I haven’t voted for her yet but I will.

DB: Well you better. Well, give her a shout out what’s her name?

AN: Rachel Gallardo!

DB: Get it Rachel! So do you have plans for this weekend?

AN: Yes actually I’m on the wrestling team and we’re getting our rings during halftime for winning SoCon. So we got that and probably turn up after that.

DB: Have a fun time!

AN: Yeah I appreciate it.

Sheridan Wood: I’m Sheridan Wood.

DB: Did you know it was homecoming this weekend?

SW: I did!

DB: Well congratulations. You’re one of the few who did!

SW: Wow! Yes I definetly knew that.

DB: So what are your plans, Sheridan, for this weekend?

SW: I am actually in a sorority. I am in Alpha Phi and I have functions this weekend. We have a tailgate on Saturday.

DB: Cool! Are you actually going to hang out for the game?

SW: Yes!

DB: Cool! Well, Sheridan have fun this weekend.

DB: Alyssa, that was a good answer from Sheridan. This is where we have to part ways.

AR: This is a sad moment for me.

DB: Learn alot.

AR: I will.

DB: So now I’m on my own. No more Alyssa taking pictures. Maybe I’ll get some people.

Aryonna Noblitt: I’m Aryonna Noblitt.

DB: Aryonna Noblitt did you know that it was Homecoming this weekend?

AN: I did!

DB: Are you excited about Homecoming this weekend?

AN: No because I have to work.

DB: Oh no! On campus or are you working somewhere in town?

AN: No, Out of town.

DB: So where do you have to work?

AN: Spruce Pine.

DB: So my question was what are your plans for Homecoming but you gotta work. Well I’m sorry you cant hang out for Homecoming and have fun.

AN: Me too!

DB: Well, get to work. Go! Thank you for your answer. Well, folks it’s starting to sprinkle on me. I could give people a rundown of what’s going on for Homecoming. I guess I’ll do that. I have to go back to my office and find that piece of paper.

Chris Grulke: Where is Melissa?

DB: Her name is Alyssa and she is gone. Where is that paper?

(paper rustles)

DB: So here is a rundown (thanks Chris) of all the fun stuff going on for Homecoming for this weekend. On Tuesday, which has already passed, there is some really cool stuff. The coolest stuff happens on Tuesday. Wednesday there is a carnival but actually that was canceled.

CG: Dave why don’t you catch your breath?

DB: (dave gasping/wheezing) There is a canceled carnival. There’s a carnival.

The Homecoming parade happens on Friday from 6-7 so that will be fun. You should go do that. People can’t throw candy anymore Chris like they use to.

CG: I think we still do that.

DB: You’re not supposed to but yeah.

CG: If it’s Tootsie Rolls you’re go.

DB: If it’s hard candy...wherthers.

CG: If it’s anything harder than a Jolly Rancher…

DB: You ever caught a Wherther’s to the dome?

CG: I caught a cabbage to the dome in the New Orleans St. Patrick’s day parade.

DB: What?! (wheezing continues haha) They throw cabbage?

CG: They throw cabbage.

DB: Wow! That’s cool. Apptoberfest Street Festival featuring music from Weekend Excursion is Friday Night from 7 to 9:30 on Howard Street in downtown Boone. Friday night your dogs are gonna freak out cause there is fireworks and a bonfire and the NPHC plot and garden dedication happens on Saturday morning at 10am right beside the Chancellor’s building near the veterans memorial. Yeah and isn’t there a football game?

CG: (typing) yeah I think so.

DB: Yeah they’re playing some foosball. That’s your Homecoming.appstate.edu! Check it out! I’m Dave Blanks and this has been one scatterbrained Dave by the Bell. Right Chris?

CG: yup.

DB: Thank you Chris for that. Thank you.

Dave Blanks interviews parents of new Mountaineers to find out their hopes for their kids while here at Appalachian State.

Dave Blanks: Hey, folks! It’s me, Dave Blanks, with another Dave by the Bell. It’s Friday, August 17, 2018 and it’s Fall Move-In day at Appalachian State University. Out and about, parents and students are schlepping stuff around, hopefully not being lost and being helped by volunteers. Wes, will there be any refreshments? Wes Craig from UComm?

Wes Craig: Endless supply.

DB: No!

WC: Isn’t that what it says?

DB: It says the Move-In Planning Committee will provide refreshments and snacks for students, parents and volunteers. Look for refreshment stations throughout campus and feel free to help yourself to a “virtually” endless supply.

WC: Does that not seem like a weird way to use that word?

DB: Yeah. It’s kind of odd. Virtually endless.

WC: Like in the virtual world, I guess it would be endless. Is that where it comes from?

DB: It’s true. If it was in the virtual world, like if you’re moving in on Sims then ... is Sims still a thing?

WC: Sims is still a thing.

DB: It’s huge?

WC: It’s a pretty big ... the Sims community.

DB: I’m gonna ask the kids about The Sims!

WC: I don’t think you should ask the kids about The Sims.

DB: All right, I won’t do that, but I am going to talk to parents and students, and I’m going to mainly be focusing on the parents and asking them what, what do they wish for their student coming into school? So, that’s the plan for today. I’m going to go out there, Wes. OK? Do you wanna come with?

WC: Ummm, I’m kind of busy.

DB: Fine! All right, well I’m going out by myself then.

DB: Let’s see what the parents have to say.

(door opens and closes)

DB: Beautiful day today here in Boone. Where do we want to go? So, I lived in Hoey a long time ago and maybe I’ll start at Hoey. Parents rolling up, talking to parking people, trying to figure out where they’re supposed to go.

Liz Kellum: I’m Liz Kellum from Jamestown, North Carolina. My student is Landon Kellum. Well, I hope for him to grow as an individual and figure out what he wants to do with the next step of his life.

Shelly: I’m Shelly and we live in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.

DB: OK, cool, and your student?

Shelly: Taylor.

DB: What is your biggest wish for Taylor coming here to App?

Shelly: My biggest wish is she enjoys it and does the best she can.

DB: Well, are you glad she chose App?

Shelly: Yes.

DB: So, did you go to App?

Shelly: No.

DB: You didn’t go to App?

Shelly: No. I’m from Wisconsin.

DB: Oh, Wisconsin, all right, well cool.

Shelly: Yes. She is a big Packers fan.

DB: Oh, she’s a Packers fan? What if she becomes a Panthers fan because it’s pretty close phonetically, right?

Shelly: I seriously doubt it.

DB: It ain’t gunna happen? Alright.

Shelly: She’s even watching the pre games last night so ...

DB: Wow! So she’s ready!

Shelly: Yeah, she’s ready.

DB: Awesome. Cheesehead, right?

Shelly: She is really looking forward to the football and going to the games here because she loves football.

DB: Awesome! Well thank you so much.

Shelly: Oh, you’re welcome.

DB: All right, well, have a great day.

Susan Romano: OK, so, she is going to get her room key, right, and we just check out?

DB: I just hold a microphone! (laughter)

SR: Oh! (laughter)

SR: I am Susan Romano from Charlotte, North Carolina. My student is Mia Romano. My hope is for Mia to do better than I did in college.

DB: What was college like for you?

SR: A big party.

Background Voice: Don’t you want her to party better than you?

DB: Yeah! Don’t you want her to achieve a higher level of party than you achieved?

SR: No. I want her to do better in her classes than I did.

DB: Does she know what she is studying?

SR: Not yet. She’s undecided at this point.

DB: OK, cool. Alright, well, thank you for answering my questions.

SR: You’re welcome.

DB: Alright, have a good day.

DB: Hey, y'all!

Volunteers: Hello.

DB: How is volunteering going?

Volunteer 1: It’s OK.

Volunteer 2: Awesome!

DB: I heard some volunteer going, “I hope they’re not asking me to carry a lot of weight because like my back is hurting.” Was that one of y’all?

Volunteers: No!

Volunteer 2: I don’t have huge muscles, but I’m trying. I’m working on it today.

DB: You got heart, right? You got heart, and just showing up is like 90 percent of the battle.

Volunteer 2: This is our workout for the day.

DB: Yeah. There ya go. Cool. Well, thanks a lot, y’all.

Collette: My name is Collette. I’m from Blowing Rock and my student, this is my daughter, Marley. My biggest wish, my biggest hope is one, for safety, and two, for just a great experience here.

DB: Marley, do you think you can pull that off?

Marley: I hope so!

DB: You can do it! Alright, well, y’all have a great day!

Both: Thank you.

DB: Thanks for choosing App!

Rob: My name is Rob. I’m from Matthews. My son is Joe Roberts.

DB: Does he know what he wants to do?

Rob: Education.

DB: Oh, cool. Perfect school for that!

Rob: Yes. Perfect.

DB: Alright. Well, how’s the Move-in Day experience so far guys?

Rob: Fantastic. In and out!

Michelle Dancy: My name is Michelle Dancy. My student is Noah and we’re from North Wilkesboro. What I wish for Noah is a great education and just to be safe and happy. That’s it.

DB: Noah can you pull that off?

Noah: I hope so.

DB: Yeah, yeah! You hope so? All you gotta do is be safe and get a great education!

Noah: Oh. I can do that.

DB: Alright. Excellent! Well, welcome to App y'all.

Reiner Kamper: My name is Reiner Kamper. I’m from Clemmons, North Carolina, and my daughter is Savannah Kamper. What I want for Savannah out of college ... I want her to have fun most of all, have a little bit of time growing up, and hopefully when she is done with college that she has enough knowledge to go in the workforce and be productive.

DB: Does she know what she wants to do?

RK: She wants to do international business.

DB: Oh, cool! So, what made her want to get into that? Do you know?

RK: She had gone to Spain last year and got hooked on the international bug.

DB: App has tons of international study opportunities.

RK: That’s what she wants to do, but she’s a freshman, so she has a little bit of time to figure out what that is.

DB: Enjoy Boone and then maybe leave for a little bit. Thank you very much, Reiner. I really appreciate it!

Dave Gisondi: I’m Dave Gisondi, and this is my wife, Liz.

DB: Hey Liz!

Liz Gisondi: Hey.

DB: Where are y'all from?

DG: Valle Crucis.

DB: Oh, not far off!

DG: No.

DB: And who is your future Mountaineer?

DG: Well, we have two. Michelle and Gina.

DB: They’re both coming today?

DG: One is coming in today, and one is moved into an apartment up the street.

DB: Excellent. What do you want for Gina and Michelle to experience here at Appalachian State, when you think about their time here?

DG: I’ll let you answer that.

LG: Oh, my gosh. Well, I don’t know. I really want them to enjoy their community and like-minded students, and to grow and learn and get good grades.

DB: Important, right? Even though it was tacked on to the end. Still very important. What about you, dad?

DG: Pretty much the same, but they’re kind of connected to a lot of the groups here because of living so close. Michelle has been here a year already.

DB: So Gina has a guide.

LG: Yeah. Gina is a sophomore and Michelle is a junior.

DB: Alright. Well, y’all have a great move-in day! Thanks for your answers.

LG: Thank you!

DG: Thank you, Dave!

(instrumental music plays in background)

DB: Getting a fantastic education, and having a lot of fun and being safe. I am 100 percent convinced that Appalachian State was the perfect choice for all of you new Mountaineers. Thanks to the parents. Thanks to the volunteers. Thanks to everyone in traffic and parking and law enforcement on campus today for making move-in super smooth. And thanks to you, listener, for sharing your time with me. I’m Dave Blanks, and this has been a Move-in Day edition of Dave by the Bell.

(instrumental music ends)

University Communications' resident nosy person, Dave Blanks, and UComm intern Alyssa Rodriguez walk around Appalachian's campus asking students to share the one thing they'd never want to leave the house without.

Dave Blanks: Hey everybody I’m Dave Blanks and this is another Dave by the Bell. On this Dave by the Bell, I’m joined by intern Alyssa, hello Alyssa.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Hello

Dave Blanks: How’s it going?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Well.

Dave Blanks: So, what are you going to be doing with the Dave by the Bell gang?

Alyssa Rodriguez: I’m going to be taking pictures.

Dave Blanks: You’re our Dave By the Bell photographer!

Alyssa Rodriguez: That’s me!

Dave Blanks: I’m excited!

Alyssa Rodriguez: me too.

Dave Blanks: Alright let’s go.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Let’s go.

Dave Blanks: Alright so the question for today is “What is something that you carry” -- There goes Alyssa she ran away- “What is something that you carry with you every day that you wouldn’t want to leave the house without?” that is hopefully not your cell phone cause that is lame and hopefully everybody wont answer that. You carry your-- because I already asked you-- you said you carry what? Your phone charger?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Yes, headphones and chapstick.

Dave Blanks: Oh yeah, it was chapstick. And I was like is it a certain kind of chapstick and you said--

Alyssa Rodriguez: Candy cane chapstick

Dave Blanks: Candy cane, alright. Everybody is out because it’s like 70 degrees outside.

Alyssa Rodriguez: 70, 72.

Dave Blanks: What about this girl who’s reading?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Headphones.

Dave Blanks: Headphones?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Yes.

Dave Blanks: I’m still going to ask her.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Okay.

Dave Blanks: So, what is your name?

Faith Tipton: Faith Tipton.

Dave Blanks: So, okay here’s our question, Faith. Every day you get ready and you carry things with you throughout your day, you probably carry a cellphone, is that right?

Faith Tipton: Yep.

Dave Blanks: Okay so, is there anything else that you bring with you in your day that if you left your house you would be like dang it, I left “this”.

Faith Tipton: Aw man.

Dave Blanks: Something that like is, irreplaceable.

Faith Tipton: Irreplaceable, essential.

Dave Blanks: Essential.

Faith Tipton: I wear this necklace all the time.

Dave Blanks: Okay.

Faith Tipton: I always bring a you know crippling sense of existential dread you know that’s necessary.

Dave Blanks: Don’t leave home without it!

Faith Tipton: Never! Never, never.

Dave Blanks: That was a great answer! Necklace, existential dread. So, thanks a lot Faith.

Faith Tipton: Yeah, absolutely!

Dave Blanks: Have a good day, thanks for bearing with us.

Faith Tipton: Thanks, you too, absolutely.

Dave Blanks: Alright.

Alyssa Rodriguez: I didn’t see that coming, that was good.

Dave Blanks: Crippling sense

Alyssa Rodriguez: Of existential dread.

Dave Blanks: That was great. What about her, hey excuse me, hi, you don’t even have headphones in, look at you.

Abbey Adams: Hi, no I don’t.

Dave Blanks: Hearing the world!

Abby Adams: I know!

Dave Blanks: So, what is something that if you left your house without it, you’d be super bummed?

Abbey Adams: A camera.

Dave Blanks: A camera?

Abbey Adams: Mhm.

Dave Blanks: Alright, alright. Do you have a camera on you right now?

Abbey Adams: No and I’m bummed.

Dave Blanks: Oh no!

Dave Blanks: Alright Thorin so, is there anything aside from a cellphone that you don’t want to leave the house without. What’s the one thing you wouldn’t want to be without?

Thorin George:: Well, well Dave, I’d say the one thing that I don’t want to be without is this guy right here.

Dave Blanks: Aw! That one right there?

Thorin George:: This one right here.

Dave Blanks: Who is that?

Thorin George:: This is one of my best friends, Kevin White. He is the love of my life. So great.

Dave Blanks: That’s awesome. What a fantastic answer guys!

Alyssa Rodriguez: I love this, my favorite one.

Dave Blanks: Aw, I’m getting a little choked up. Alright, thanks fellas. Y’all have a good day.

Thorin George:: You too! Thank you!

Dave Blanks: oh, they got a Frisbee, I wonder if their thing is going to be Frisbee.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Maybe.

Dave Blanks: Maybe so.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Maybe.

Matthew Burr: I’m a big podcast guy.

Dave Blanks: Okay alright, excellent excellent. What podcast do you like?

Matthew Burr: Pardon My Take, barstool sports.

Dave Blanks: Okay, is that like pardon the interruption?

Matthew Burr: So, it’s like a spinoff of pardon the interruption and first take, and ESPN actually sent them a cease and desist letter and they sent a cease and desist letter back to them.

Dave Blanks: Alright so, pardon my take.

Matthew Burr: At Barstool Sports.com

Dave Blanks: What is your name Mr. Podcast Aficionado?

Matthew Burr: My name is Matthew Burr.

Dave Blanks: Alright so Matthew, every day you get ready for your big day, when you leave the house if you have forgotten his item you’ll be super bummed out.

Matthew Burr: That’d be my headphones.

Dave Blanks: Your headphones? Alright are they special headphones?

Matthew Burr: They are wireless.

Dave Blanks: Okay.

Matthew Burr: I had to buy them in replacement for my nice headphones when my headphones broke.

Dave Blanks: Okay, so these are crummy wireless headphones?

Matthew Burr: No, these are actually pretty decent wireless headphones for the price.

Dave Blanks: Alright, okay.

Matthew Burr: They’re like 30 bucks and the look just like beats and they’re just like beats.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, would you guys be willing to answer my question possibly?

Alyssa Rodriguez: You have all the same answers?

Jacob Culler: I mean to be honest, headphones for sure.

Dave Blanks: Headphones?

Jacob Culler: I walk everywhere with headphones.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, yeah.

Jacob Culler: If I’m not walking with someone so.

Dave Blanks: So, you have the invisible headphones.

The Friendly Invisible Man: I have the invisible ones.

Dave Blanks: You have the traditional apple headphones and you have the deats by bae.

Matthew Burr: The Deats by Bae, yeah.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Perfect!

Dave Blanks: Alright, excellent. Thanks guys! Alright, well y’all have a good day.

Matthew Burr: Hey, you too.

Dave Blanks: We appreciate it very much.

Samara Santiago: So, most of the time if I’m getting ready for my day you know, especially if I’m just on campus I always make sure I have my Swiss army knife with me, which is like on my keychain, I always keep it with me. I like being prepared, having like scissors or a corkscrew.

Dave Blanks: Why are you going to need a corkscrew?

Samara Santiago: I don’t know!

Dave Blanks: No reason!

Alyssa Rodriguez: Just in case!

Dave Blanks: Wonderful, thank you very much, Samara.

Samara Santiago: Yeah, no problem.

Dave Blanks: Alright cool so what is your name?

Valencia Jock: Valencia Jock.

Dave Blanks: What is it that you, if you left the house without would be very very distraught about?

Valencia Jock: Actually, I carry my deodorant in my purse because if I left it at home I would absolutely forget it in a heartbeat because I’m just a really forgetful person. So, I like carry, sometimes I’ll put like cosmetics in my bag cause I just like, if I forget like just don’t put them on in the morning I’ll just like forget them like completely.

Dave Blanks: Alright, I get ya!

Valencia Jock: Yeah!

Dave Blanks: Awesome! Alright, so deodorant.

Valencia Jock: Yeah! That’s pretty weird.

Josh Reeder: Josh Reeder.

Dave Blanks: And what is your name sir?

Daniel Fabiano: Daniel Fabiano. Yeah on this campus with the wind you definitely need to keep a hat on you at all times, especially with long hair, you know?

Dave Blanks: Yeah, both of you guys are rocking some hats. Oh, you got the Yeti one, you got the, what is that?

Josh Reeder: This is Memphis Tigers, it’s a college in obviously Memphis Tennessee.

Dave Blanks: Cool! Right on, so do you have a different answer? Other than the hat? That was a good one.

Josh Reeder: Well, I always carry around this, these are dog tags. They just say my name on them. They’re kind of special because my dad gave them to me, he went to D.C and something that I can carry around. He’s kind of with me.

Dave Blanks: Remind you of him?

Josh Reeder: Yeah, yeah yeah. My parents are always with me so.

Dave Blanks: That’s cool man. Excellent.

Alyssa Rodriguez: That was good.

Dave Blanks: Awesome guys.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Thanks!

Dave Blanks: Thank you so much I really appreciate it!

Daniel Fabiano: Yeah, no problem! Good luck!

Dave Blanks: Thank you.

Emily Bubnis: Emily Bubnis.

Dave Blanks: Okay so Emily, is there anything aside from your cell phone that you have to bring with you, if you don’t have this you’ll be super bummed out.

Emily Bubnis: I definitely need my coffee.

Dave Blanks: Okay, the coffee. Good answer! That was good! Alright, thanks a lot.

Dave Blanks: Alright.

Alyssa Rodriguez: It’s hot out here.

Dave Blanks: God, I know. I’m wearing a stupid wool hat.

Alyssa Rodriguez: I’m wearing a jacket but I don’t want to take it off cause then I’ll have to carry it.

Dave Blanks: You could do the tie it around your waist thing.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Never.

Dave Blanks: Does that look lame?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Yeah. Unless somebody is doing it, then it’s not lame.

Dave Blanks: Unless somebody is doing?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Other than me.

Dave Blanks: Oh okay, it only looks lame--

Alyssa Rodriguez: If I do it.

Dave Blanks: Oh, okay alright. You’re so hard on yourself, Alyssa.

James Staley: I’m James Staley.

Dave Blanks: Okay cool so James, every day and same question for all of y’all is there anything aside from your headphones and your cellphone that you’re bringing with you that if you left the house with this thing you’d be like dang I wish I had my...

James Staley: My wallet and my keys.

Dave Blanks: Those are good, those are good. Is there anything special about your wallet and your keys or are they your pretty standard wallet and keys?

James Staley: They’re pretty standard wallet and keys, I just you know need to have money on me and not lock myself out of my apartment.

Dave Blanks: Alright, well thanks for your answer. What about y'all do y’all have an answer possibly maybe? You think?

Liz Orange: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: What is your name? It looks like Liz from the university bookstore.

Liz Orange: Yeah, I’m Liz Orange.

Dave Blanks: I’ve never met anybody with the last name Orange that’s a very cool name. So, Liz you get ready for your day and you bring things with you, you heard my spiel, so what is something you bring with you that if you left the house without you would be sorely sad about?

Liz Orange: Definitely my coffee in the morning.

Dave Blanks: That’s a great answer. And you, what is your name ma’am?

Mary Kate McCann: My name is Mary Kate McCann.

Dave Blanks: Okay so Mary Kate, what is something that if you leave the house without you’ll be really bummed out about? It doesn’t necessarily have to be something that you hold in your hand.

Liz Orange: Your Pegasus pencil pouch.

Mary Kate McCann: Oh my gosh, honestly probably my Pegasus pencil pouch you’re so right, Liz.

Dave Blanks: I’m sorry?

Mary Kate McCann: I’ll show you.

Dave Blanks: Yes, please! Can we get a picture of your Pegasus pencil pouch? It’s beautiful!

Mary Kate McCann: But it has all the things I need in it--

Dave Blanks: So, you got to tell me what you carry in your Pegasus pencil pouch.

Mary Kate McCann: I will tell you. So, I keep all my pencils in it, obviously.

Dave Blanks: Right, it’s the Pegasus pencil pouch.

Mary Kate McCann: All the pencils, all the pens, but also all the dry erase board markers and highlighters and tiny baby sticky notes that you put in books and what not.

Dave Blanks: Wow! Yeah! You’re so organized.

Mary Kate McCann: Yeah! I’m so ready, I have paper clips--

Dave Blanks: Look at you! Oh my gosh.

Mary Kate McCann: Yeah, so it’s really everything you need to school.

Dave Blanks: How long have you carried your Pegasus pencil pouch?

Mary Kate McCann: Well, my tiny baby sister, who is actually 18 years old, gave me this pencil pouch for Christmas and it is just so in line with my personality and I love it.

Dave Blanks: So, you have a tiny baby sister and a Pegasus pencil pouch?

Mary Kate McCann: Yes, that I do.

Dave Blanks: You have some interesting word phrasing. Well, that’s really cool! Thank you for your time.

Mary Kate McCann: Thank you!

Dave Blanks: Okay, have a good day.

Juliana Phillips: Sure.

Dave Blanks: Okay excellent, what is your first and last name?

Juliana Phillips Juliana Phillips, my water bottle.

Dave Blanks: Is there something special about your water bottle?

Juliana Phillips: It just holds a lot of water and I always need water throughout my day so.

Dave Blanks: Super handy!

Juliana Phillips: Yeah!

Dave Blanks: Do you have your water bottle on you?

Juliana Phillips: I do.

Dave Blanks: Alright, can I see your water bottle?

Juliana Phillips: Yes, I actually lost my original one so this is my new one.

Dave Blanks: Like your original water bottle?

Juliana Phillips: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Alright, what stickers were on your original one? Do you miss them?

Juliana Phillips: Yes. Ron Jon, stickers from Boone, New Hampshire.

Dave Blanks: What is this “One of A Kind” one?

Juliana Phillips: That’s also Ron Jon.

Dave Blanks: Okay, alright cool. Thank you very much.

Juliana Phillips: You’re welcome.

Dave Blanks: I appreciate your answer very much.

Juliana Phillips: You have a great day.

Dave Blanks: You too. Enjoy the weather!

Juliana Phillips: Thank you.

Ivy Wagner: Ivy Wagner, my planner.

Dave Blanks: The Planner. Alright, so you actually have a physical planner that you use?

Ivy Wagner: Oh yeah, for sure.

Dave Blanks: Yeah? Is it on you right now?

Ivy Wagner: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Okay so, why haven’t you, you don’t use like the digital stuff?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Google Calendar?

Dave Blanks: Yeah, like Google Calendar.

Ivy Wagner: I like to be able to have it in my hand, I like to be able to write it down. If I don’t write it down, I’m not going to remember it.

Dave Blanks: I’m the same way! So, I feel like I use, I actually always have my Field Notes.

Ivy Wagner: There we go.

Dave Blanks: So, it’s like my planner kind of. I write lists in it and if I don’t write it in here, it’s not going to occur, it won’t happen. So, what kind of planner do you have? Can I see your planner?

Ivy Wagner: You can, it’s a big one.

Dave Blanks: Alright, it’s big?

Ivy Wagner: Yeah.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Oh wow.

Dave Blanks: That is a -- that is a honking big planner.

Ivy Wagner: It works though.

Dave Blanks: So, every year you have one of these new planners?

Ivy Wagner: I had a brand change this year and that was pretty dramatic for me.

Dave Blanks: Wow okay, so what was your previous brand?

Ivy Wagner: I like Lilly Pulitzer before but now this is a Kate Spade so--

Dave Blanks: It’s beautiful!

Ivy Wagner: Yeah!

Dave Blanks: It’s a lovely planner. Well, have a good day.

Ivy Wagner: Alright, you too! Thank you, guys, yeah.

Dave Blanks: Thank you for your answer.

Dave Blanks: I think we got a lot of good answers.

Alyssa Rodriguez: I think so. Back to the bell!

Dave Blanks: Do you want to keep-- yeah, we’re back to the bell. Alyssa,

Alyssa Rodriguez: We’re by the bell, yes.

Dave Blanks: We’re by the bell.

Alyssa Rodriguez: At the bell.

Dave Blanks: I’m very appreciative of your help as a photography intern today.

Alyssa Rodriguez: I’m happy I could come.

Dave Blanks: Well, we’ll do it again.

Alyssa Rodriguez: We will.

Dave Blanks: Alright so, are you impressed by the answers or what?

Alyssa Rodriguez: Yeah, our students carry some really cool stuff!

Dave Blanks: Agreed. On the next Dave by the Bell we’ll discuss transcendental meditation.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Why?

Dave Blanks: Probably not, we probably won’t.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Why?

Dave Blanks: I don’t know. I don’t know what we’re doing on the next one.

Alyssa Rodriguez: We’re going to talk about existential dread.

Dave Blanks: Existential dread and chapstick.

Alyssa Rodriguez: Perfect!

Dave Blanks: I’m Dave Blanks and this has been Dave by the Bell.

Dave Blanks: Alright, let’s do it for real. Let’s record this time.

Ucomm's own Dave Blanks wanders around campus along with intern Liz Pope to find out what the phrase, "We the people" means to App State Students.

Dave Blanks: Hey Derek!

Derek Nicholas Wolfcat Wycoff: Yup.

Dave Blanks: I’m about to do a Dave by the Bell man.

Derek Nicholas Wolfcat Wycoff: Good luck.

Dave Blanks: Thanks!

Derek Nicholas Wolfcat Wycoff: What’s it about?

Dave Blanks: Constitution Week

Derek Nicholas Wolfcat Wycoff: Oooo

Dave Blanks: Yeah!

Derek Nicholas Wolfcat Wycoff: Careful!

Dave Blanks: Easy! Easy!

Dave Blanks: Hello once again folks! I’m Dave Blanks and this is another Dave by the Bell! This week on Dave by the Bell we’re gonna be dealing a special Constitution Week edition! Because it’s Constitution Week. Constitution Week, if you didn't know, is according to Wikipedia, an American observance to commemorate the adoption of the U.S Constitution. The observance runs annually from September 17th to September 23rd. The purpose of the observance week is to promote study and education about the constitution, which was originally adopted by the American Congress of the Confederation on September the 17th 1787. So my intern Liz, I think maybe is gonna come on this one with me. Hey Liz!

Liz Pope: Hi everybody!

Dave Blanks: Have you ever heard of Constitution Week Liz?

Liz Pope: I have not! This is the first time i have heard of Constitution Week.

Dave Blanks: I feel like I’ve heard of it but it didn't mean anything to me. Which sounds terrible, that it didn't mean anything to me but, I didn't really take it to heart I guess until my boss told me I had to do a podcast about it so. So the question for today, not super light-hearted could be slightly politically charged, right Liz?

Liz Pope: Yeah!

Dave Blanks: Well we’ll see. The question is “What does ‘We the People..’ mean to you?”. Let’s find out what Appalachian students have to say.

Dave Blanks: Alright Liz knows somebody so we’re coming to her.

Liz Pope: This is Dave.

Dave Blanks: Hi, how’s it goin? I’m Dave Blanks.

Laurel Roser: Hi, I’m Laurel.

Dave Blanks: Laurel? Very nice to meet you.

Laurel Roser: Yes.

Dave Blanks: There’s a Laurel Lane in town, did you know that?

Laurel Roser: There’s a Laurel lane, a Laurel street, a Laurel road, a Laurel creek.

Dave Blanks: Yeah! It’s pretty popular. Would you possibly be willing to answer my question?

Liz Pope: She definitely will.

Laurel Roser: Yeah, sure.

Dave Blanks: Okay, cool. Did you know it was Constitution Week, Laurel?

Laurel Roser: Yes I did.

Dave Blanks: You did know it was Constitution Week?!

Laurel Roser: We had a civil liberties conference. I write for the Government and Justice Studies department.

Dave Blanks: Okay cool, alright! Okay so Laurel, What does ‘We the People..’ mean to you?

Laurel Roser: In today’s society, under this administration, to me, ‘We the People’ means everyone who is extremely underrepresented right now in the community, people that the President and who he employs aren't exactly addressing, people who are left out, the dreamers, people of color, women of color, queer people of color, definitely not white people! Definitely not white people! Everyone that isn't being addressed, policy is not oriented around them, progressiveness isn't about them. It’s about doing what's best for the 1 percent, the elite, the people that have always been in charge. So, yeah.

Dave Blanks: Good answer! Thanks Laurel!

Laurel Roser: Sorry that was like, I bombarded you.

Dave Blanks: Have a good day!

Liz Pope: Bye Laurel!

Dave Blanks: Are you on your way to class?

Carmen Montero: Uh huh

Dave Blanks: How much longer do you have?

Carmen Montero: Five minutes.

Dave Blanks: Okay. Can you answer a single question?

Carmen Montero: Yeah, for sure.

Dave Blanks: Okay cool so what’s your name?

Carmen Montero: This is Robbie.

Dave Blanks: Hey, What’s your name? Robbie? Nice to meet you, I’m Dave.

Robbie: Hey, nice to meet ya.

Dave Blanks: So the question is, What does ‘We the people’ mean to you?

Carmen Montero: That like the United States is like a family, and like we all look out for each other. And so yeah.

Dave Blanks: Great answer! That was really good! Cool, thanks Carmen. Would you like to answer my question?

Robbie: I’m kinda right there with her.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, you’re with her? Alright Cool. Alright sir. Robbie is also with her.

Robbie: It was a really good answer.

Dave Blanks: Well ya’ll have a good day. Thank you so much!

Carmen: Yeah, no problem. Bye Liz!

Liz Pope: Bye! Nice to meet you dude.

Dave Blanks: Yeah we did a podcast with Carmen about outdoor programs, right?

Liz Pope: We did!

Dave Blanks: And that was your podcast Liz.

Liz Pope: We did, yep. AppX

Dave Blanks: AppX!

Liz Pope: Check it out!

Dave Blanks: Everybody’s talking about it. Oh hey!

Joe Lashinsky: How are you Dave?

Dave Blanks: So Liz my intern has sought you out, and your name is?

Joe Lashinsky: Joe.

Dave Blanks: Joe what’s your last name?

Joe Lashinsky: Lashinsky.

Dave Blanks: So your name is?

Joe Lashinsky: Joe Lashinsky.

Dave Blanks: There’s Larry! Hey Larry!

Larry: Hi, how are you?

Dave Blanks: I’m good, how are you?

Larry: Good.

Dave Blanks: I’m interviewing Joe. Can I ask you a question in a second? For Dave by the Bell?

Larry: Sure.

Dave Blanks: Alright cool. So Joe it’s Constitution Week.

Joe Lashinsky: It is.

Dave Blanks: Did you know that?

Joe Lashinsky: I did not!

Dave Blanks: Now you know! I’m doing some guerrilla marketing about Constitution Week apparently. So the question that I’m asking is, What does ‘We the People’ mean to you Joe?

Joe Lashinsky: Well that’s a great question, thank you for asking it. So ‘We the People’, to me, means the people of the United States, regardless of religion, race, sexual orientation, it means all of us. It’s very inclusive.

Dave Blanks: Right. Alright, I like that.

Joe Lashinsky: Thank you.

Dave Blanks: That was a good answer. Well thanks Joe.

Joe Lashinsky: Thank you for having me.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, thanks I appreciate it.

Dave Blanks: Larry you gotta go?

Larry: I can’t answer it.

Dave Blanks: You can’t answer it?

Larry: sorry!

Dave Blanks: Oh, Larry! Well how have you been?

Larry: Next time!

Dave Blanks: Next Dave by the Bell? Alright! Are you still working at food services?

Larry: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: I think you’ve been on more Dave by the Bell's than like anybody else.

Larry: I have? I’ve been on more than one?

Dave Blanks: I think you’ve been on like two or three maybe.

Larry: Oh, really?

Dave Blanks: Oh yeah, cause you're on the one about --

Larry: It was snow!

Dave Blanks: Snow! Yeah, yeah. You're on the snow one.

Larry: Yeah I know that one but I didn't know about--

Dave Blanks: I think you were on like at least one more but I can’t remember what it was. But man it’s good to see you!

Larry: Nice to see you too.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, I’m sure i’ll see you again.

Larry: Yeah, next time. I gotta think about that, that’s a good question.

Dave Blanks: Yeah! What does ‘We the People’ mean to you?

Larry: It seems simple but it’s actually--

Dave Blanks: It’s pretty complex.

Larry: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: It could be. Well have a good day man!

Larry: Thanks you too! Nice to see you!

Dave Blanks: Alright, good to see you Larry!

Liz Pope: Bye Larry!

Dave Blanks: Larry is so nice!

Liz Pope: He’s so nice!

Dave Blanks: Yeah, he’s really nice. I always ran into him when I was doing Dave by the Bells, and just got to meet him by doing Dave by the Bells.

Liz Pope: Wait that’s awesome!

Dave Blanks: I know! Isn’t that cool? He’s one of my Dave by the Bell buddies.

Liz Pope: Heck yeah! Who knows about the constitution?

Dave Blanks: Hey excuse me! Hi! Would you possibly be willing to answer my question maybe?

Trecia Smith: Sure!

Dave Blanks: So what is your name?

Trecia Smith: Tricia Smith.

Dave Blanks: Alright so Tricia, It is Constitution Week. Did you know that?

Tricia: Yes.

Dave Blanks: Alright. Congratulations, good. And the question is, What does ‘We the People’ mean to you?

Tricia: Hmm. That’s tricky. -- Just because like, the constitution is tricky and hasn’t historically been equal so it doesn't really mean much of anything to me because it didn't include everybody from the beginning so yeah.

Dave Blanks: Thank you Tricia.

Trecia Smith: No problem!

Dave Blanks: I appreciate it. We could ask her a question. So, what is your name?

Daniela Presas: My name is Daniela Presas.

Dave Blanks:  So the question for this week pertains to the fact that it is Constitution Week. The question that I’m asking today, in reference to that is,  What does ‘We the People’ mean to you?

Daniela Presas: To me, I think it means like a society coming together and regardless of religious, political, or social backgrounds, we can still come together and be a society and like live in peace and like support each other.

Dave Blanks: Nice!

Liz Pope: Awesome!

Dave Blanks: Thanks Daniela!

Daniela Presas: Thanks so much!

Liz Pope: Yeah, ya’ll have a good day.

Dave Blanks: I really appreciate it. We’ve gotten a-- we got a pretty good-- some good answers.

Liz Pope: Pretty good range.

Dave Blanks: Yeah we’ve gotten a good range, yeah. Sometimes, one good thing about moving away from this place is that we don’t have the stupid door in the background.

Liz Pope: Oh it is loud.

Dave Blanks: Alright let's just walk.

Liz Pope: Or should we go to people on Sanford? Like these people?

Dave Blanks: Oh yeah we can talk to them.

Liz Pope: Okay.

Dave Blanks: Yeah let’s go talk to them. Hey!! So what is your name?

Sarah Gebbie: My name is Sarah Gebbie.

Dave Blanks: Sarah did you know it was Constitution Week?

Sarah Gebbie: I did not know that.

Dave Blanks: It’s Constitution Week! So--

Sarah Gebbie: That’s pretty cool!

Dave Blanks: Yeah I know. I wouldn't of known either, so. But my boss was like “Hey it’s Constitution Week, so go interview people about that”

Sarah Gebbie: Yeah!

Dave Blanks: So the question that I’m asking is, What does ‘We the People’ mean to you?

Sarah Gebbie: Wow! We the people, I think it’s a -- collectivist look at society. And I think that we’ve lost that a lot. I think that we’re very individualistic. So I think ‘We the People’ is like “Hey let’s look out for the good of the majority” Instead of the good of the individual.

Dave Blanks: Good answer!

Sarah: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: That was solid! Alright cool! Alright so what do you think? You also are sitting here beside Sarah, so what is your name?

George Bruns: I’m George Bruns.

Dave Blanks: Okay so George, It’s Constitution Week. Did you know that?

George Bruns: I did not.

Dave Blanks: Now you do.

George Bruns: I do, yeah.

Dave Blanks: So, what does ‘We the People’ mean to you?

George Bruns: I honestly don’t know. I really thought about this --ideally I think it’s like supposed to include like everyone but like now we’re more individually based people and I haven’t really thought about that.

Dave Blanks: It’s alright! We’ll all think about it, alright?

Liz Pope: Yeah we have the whole week to think about it.

Dave Blanks: Right! It’s true! Thank ya’ll both.

Sarah Gebbie: Yeah no problem! Interesting question.

Dave Blanks: Yeah I know, usually it’s a lot more lighthearted. I’m like “What’s your favorite rainy day movie?”, but today I’m like “Here’s some heavy crap. How do you like that?”.

Sarah Gebbie: No! It was interesting.

Liz Pope: Oh I know her! She would do great.

Dave Blanks: Okay, the flannel shirt?

Liz Pope: Yes!

Dave Blanks: Okay, we’ll ask her. She’s climbing a tree, she’s so App State. Hey! Hey tree climber!

Arianna Fox: Hey! What’s up? I’m just trying to climb a tree but I can’t.

Dave Blanks: I’m Dave and--

Arianna Fox: Hi!!

Dave Blanks: Hi! How’s it goin?

Arianna Fox: Hi! I’m Ariana

Dave Blanks: Arianna? Okay, cool.

Arianna Fox: Yes.

Dave Blanks: What is your name ma’am?

Arianna Fox: Elin.

Dave Blanks: And what is your name?

Arianna Fox: Arianna Fox

Dave Blanks: Alright so Elin and Arianna, Right? Alright so Elin and Arianna, did ya’ll know that it was Constitution Week?

Arianna Fox: No.

Dave Blanks: No?

Arianna Fox: Is this a lie?

Dave Blanks: No! I swear! Honestly it’s Constitution Week. On September the 17th in 17-- I’m gonna screw up the date.

Arianna Fox: 87!

Dave Blanks: 1787?

Arianna Fox: 1887

Dave Blanks: 18?

Arianna Fox: Wait

Arianna Fox: In 18-- no

Arianna Fox: wait, I googled it.

Arianna Fox: There’s a song.

Dave Blanks: September--

Arianna Fox: It’s 1780-- It’s 1780

Dave Blanks: Oh we suck.

Arianna Fox: 1787!

Arianna Fox: 7! 1787!

Dave Blanks: 1787, we’re the worst. Okay alright we got it! Teamwork!

Ariana Fox: Yes! Teamwork makes the dream work!

Dave Blanks: Teamwork makes the dream work?

Arianna Fox: Yes!

Dave Blanks: Would you like to answer my question for our podcast?

Caleb Peters: What is the question?

Dave Blanks: So what is your name?

Caleb Peters: Caleb Peters

Dave Blanks: So the question is what does we the people mean to you, Caleb?

Caleb Peters: All citizens of America...anyone who lives here undocumented or not.

Dave Blanks: Thank you Caleb.

(drum beat plays in distance)

Dave Blanks: So what are we observing here, Liz?

Liz Pope: We are observing dance? Haha

Dave Blanks: Dancin’! Loud Dancin’

Liz Pope: Dancing to drums.

Dave Blanks: Over near the bell so we need to move away from the bell.

Liz Pope: Oh, is it going to be too loud?

Dave Blanks: Well...I don’t know.

Liz Pope: Is it?

Dave Blanks: Well what is your name?

Connor Johnson: Connor Johnson.

Dave Blanks: So Connor, what does we the people mean to you?

Connor Johnson: I guess like everybody. We the people including people especially in the context of the constitution and just kind of representing everybody equally and without any sort of judgement I guess.

Dave Blanks: Thanks Connor!

Dave Blanks: Well have a good Constitution Week!

Connor Johnson: Thank you. I’m excited.

Dave Blanks: Hahaha I can tell!

Liz Pope: Oh we should ask the ROTC guy.

Dave Blanks: Where is he?

Liz Pope: He’s way down there.

Dave Blanks: Hey! There’s that guy!

Liz Pope: ROTC Guy on a motorcycle!

Dave Blanks: Ahhh that’s awesome! I wish we could get him!

(sound of motorcycle accelerating past)

Liz Pope: Wait! Hahaha

Dave Blanks: Ahhh he’s too fast. We missed ROTC Guy on the motorcycle.

Dave Blanks: This guy’s shirt is similar to mine in a way. But his haircut is not.

Liz Pope: One of you is wearing a wool hat.

Dave Blanks: It’s true.

Dave Blanks: (singing) Find some interesting people

Liz Pope: We could go into Crossroads but it’s kinda loud in there.

Dave Blanks: (singing) Kinda loudish let's ask this person.

Dave Blanks: So what is your name?

Bobbie Shreiner: Bobbie Shreiner.

Dave Blanks: It’s Constitution Week right?

Bobbie Shreiner: I actually did not know that.

Dave Blanks: All right but you just wrote a one page paper about what we the people means to you?

Bobbie Shreiner: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Do you have a recollection as to what you put in this paper?

Bobbie Shreiner: I can give you like the Cliff Notes of what I wrote.

Dave Blanks: All right.

Bobbie Shreiner: So I wrote that like we as a people it’s not only just those who are born here but those who are immigrants. I wasn’t actually born here. I was born in France but I’m considered an American citizen because my dad was an American citizen so I was given dual citizenship. That can also go to kids who are undocumented but who are trying to get their documents. They are counted as we the people because they are here and under DACA they are protected to be a part of the American population.

Dave Blanks: That was a good answer. Yeah yeah really good.

Bobbie Shreiner: It was like longer than that in my paper but haha.

Dave Blanks: Well did you get a grade yet?

Bobbie Shreiner: No.

Dave Blanks: A plus.

Bobbie Shreiner: Thank you.

Dave Blanks: Hey how bout those Sun Chips? So anyway, my name is Dave Blanks and I work for the university. I’m in University Communications and I have a podcast called Dave by the Bell.

Jacey Hale: Hi.

Dave Blanks: Hi! How are you? What’s your name?

Jacey Hale: Jacey.

Dave Blanks: Okay Jacey, So would you be willing to possibly...Hey you’re listening to RadioLab!

Jacey Hale: That’s what I wanna...I want to work there.

Dave Blanks: Would you be willing to answer my question?

Jacey Hale: Sure.

Dave Blanks: Okay cool so what is your name?

Jacey Hale: Jacey Hale.

Dave Blanks: Did you know it was Constitution Week?

Jacey Hale: No I didn’t.

Dave Blanks: I didn’t either. But it is. Honest. So in honor of Constitution Week I have been sent out on a mission to ask Appalachian State students what we the people means to them. So when you think about the phrase we the people. What does that mean to you?

Jacey Hale: Okay so this is kind of basic but I think we the people just means that you get to govern yourself. You get responsibility and that’s kind of a two way street. So, I guess in a country you get to choose your own actions and be a part of the government and you get to decide what happens. I think it’s kind of self accountability we the people you decide what it means for yourself.

Dave Blanks: Cool. Thanks Jacey.

Dave Blanks: Would you possibly be willing to answer my question? Yes you would? You seem very into it. You seem into it but not as into it as you so we’ll start with you. So what is your name?

Claire Myers: My name is Claire Myers.

Dave Blanks: Claire did you know that it is Constitution Week?

Claire Myers: No I didn’t know that.

Dave Blanks: The question is what does we the people mean to you?

Claire Myers: I would say we the people means just like a democratic society where everyone is included and opinions are valued.

Dave Blanks: I like that. You can’t steal hers. So what is your name?

Kassidy Nance: My name is Kassidy Nance.

Dave Blanks: Okay so Kassidy...I know you know now because I was just talking to Claire but did you know that it was Constitution Week?

Kassidy Nance: No I did not.

Dave Blanks: All right well I appreciate your honesty. So same questions what does we the people mean to you?

Kassidy Nance: I’m gonna say that we’re all united and that we all have a say.

Dave Blanks: Solid answer!

Kassidy Nance: Thank you.

Dave Blanks: Well thank yall both and have great Constitution Week!

Dave Blanks: We could ask these people. There’s a person with a ukelele. Lets ask them. Hey nice ukulele! What is your name?

Paola Bulablanco: Paola Bulablanco

Dave Blanks: Okay so the question pertains to Constitution Week and the question is what does we the people mean to you?

Paola Bulablanco: Just like everyone that lives here. Not necessarily Americans. Just everybody that’s here is we. Yeah that’s my answer.

Dave Blanks: That’s your we.

Paola Bulablanco: Yeah that’s my we. Everybody.

Dave Blanks: Well thanks for your answer. Have a good day.

Dave Blanks: What is your name?

Dave Nguyn: Dave Nguyn.

Dave Blanks: Okay so Dave, did you know it was Constitution Week?

Dave Nguyn: No.

Dave Blanks: No? That’s all right. I didn’t either before I was sent on this mission. So the question that I’m asking students for Constitution Week is what does we the people mean to you?

Dave Nguyn: Well anyone who decides living here without breaking laws or anything.

Dave Blanks: So you have to be within the bonds of not breaking laws?

Dave Nguyn: Yeah pretty much. As long as you're not hurting anybody, do what you want.

Dave Blanks: All right. Well, have a good day Dave!

Dave Nguyn: Thanks.

Dave Blanks: Hey I’m Dave Blanks and this is my intern Liz Pope

Liz Pope: Hi.

Dave Blanks: What is your name?

Mary Grace Beson: Mary Grace Beson.

Dave Blanks: So it’s Constitution Week Mary Grace. Did you know that?

Mary Grace Beson: I didn’t

Dave Blanks: It’s cool. We can still be friends. I didn’t either. So in honor of Constitution Week the question I am asking students...you’re a student?

Mary Grace Beson: Yep.

Dave Blanks: What does we the people mean to you?

Mary Grace Beson: To me it means us as citizens of the United States as a group I guess. All of us combined not singling out anyone and we are all equally the same in a group.

Dave Blanks: All right well have a great Constitution Week.

Mary Grace Beson: Thank you so much, Dave. I had to look at your nametag.

Dave Blanks: That was good. I appreciate you using my name. It was nice to meet ya.

Dave Blanks: Well the drums weren’t too loud. Wow they are feeling it!

Liz Pope: Okay, how we doin?

Dave Blanks: Oh we’re done. We’re done. I think those are all the answers we’re going to get today Liz.

Liz Pope: We’re done a great job.

Dave Blanks: Yeah, I really feel like we got some good answers. Nobody got super angry. I thought I might run into someone who would really vent.

Liz Pope: I know I think we had the most politically charged answers toward the beginning.

Dave Blanks: Well that’s true. Well, we started out near the Political Science classes. Right?

Liz Pope: What a correlation!

Dave Blanks: Right? Isn’t that a correlation?

Liz Pope: Yeah.

Dave Blanks: Well everyone have a happy Constitution Week. Liz, have a great Constitution Week.

Liz Pope: Thank you, Dave. You have a great Constitution Week.

Dave Blanks: Thank you. I will. I’m Dave Blanks and this has been Dave by the Bell.

UComm's Dave Blanks wanders around campus and interviews new App State students to discover the most unusual thing they've brought with them to the dorms.

Dave: Well it’s 10:30am on Friday August the 18th and it’s move in day here at Appalachian State University. Hello everyone. I’m Dave Blanks and on this edition of Dave by the Bell I will be hassling new Appalachian State students and asking them, “What is the most unusual thing that you have brought with you here to Appalachian State? What’s the wackiest piece of whatever that you brought from home?” I’m probably going to get a lot of stuffed animal stuff right? Probably have a stuffed animal with a special name like Mookie or Mr. Pig…whoever…what have you. So anyway I’m going to drag the students away from having to bring their stuff into the dorms and just make their parents carry the stuff while I interview them. That’s the plan for today. Looks like we have some Freshmen down here. “We were merely Freshmen” (singing) They’re parking. They’re unloading. Is anybody here an incoming Freshmen?

Move-in Day Volunteer: He’s an incoming transfer student.

Dave: Oh! Well, you count! You’re new to App! It doesn’t necessarily have to be just Freshmen. All right so what is your name…your first and last and how do you spell it?

H: Yes my first name is H and my last name is Patton. First name H is spelled with an h and then Patton P-A-T-T-O-N.

Dave: All right so you probably get this all the time but is H short for something?

H: It’s not. That’s my first name. It’s on my birth certificate. I am actually the third in my family.

Dave: H the third! So is it H with a period or is it just H?

H: Nope just H. That’s it.

Dave: I love that! Were you the first kid in your class to learn how to spell your name?

H: The very first one.

Dave: Haha yeah I bet. All right well cool. H it’s nice to meet you. So my question is, “What is one unusual thing that you have brought with you to the dorm?” Something unusual.

H: Ahhhh geez….

Dave: You gotta be different, man. You gotta stand out from the pack.

H: Yeah I know.

Dave: I’m putting you on the spot here. You’re like “Gahhhh nothing!”

H: I’m trying to think but yeah like really….oh CD’s!!!

Dave: CD’s???!! What are these things?

H: Nobody has CD’s anymore!

Dave: Look at that! I’ve heard of these things! Wow! Weird!

H: haha right?

Dave: Very cool so you have actually a CD case.

H: Yeah!

Dave: I used to have one of those!

H: I mean these are ancient artifacts for most people my age.

Dave: Freaky Deaky!

H: Look. Chris Daughtry’s first CD right here!

Dave: All right. So CD’s. I don’t think anybody else brought any of those. You’re the only one, H.

H: Probably!

Dave: Well thanks for your answer, man.

H: Yeah! No problem.

Dave: Okay Sean so are you all moved in already?

Sean Haley: No just got here.

Dave: Well you found the place so that’s a good start. So what is one unusual thing that you brought with you to App or if not something unusual, something that you couldn’t live without. You had to bring (snaps fingers) this.

Sean: Hmmmmmm

Dave: I like your Cheerwine shirt.

Sean: Thank you. Couldn’t come here without that.

Dave: Haha yeah!

Sean: Well, probably the bike.

Dave: Is this your bike here?

Sean: Yep.

Dave: Pretty sweet. So is this something you’re planning on doing up here?

Sean: Yeah. I love mountain biking and going all around and App is the perfect place to do it.

Dave: Very cool! Well there is Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park. Did you know about that?

Sean: Yup.

Dave: It’s a pretty nice one. Well thanks, Sean. I appreciate it!

Dave: Oh so here’s somebody from parking. Hey! I’m Dave Blanks and how’s the parking situation? Oh who am I talking to?

Mary Shepherd: My name is Mary.

Dave: So Mary, you’re directing traffic here today is that correct?

Mary: Correct.

Dave: So how long have you been at Appalachian?

Mary: Sixteen and a half years.

Dave: Okay! So you’ve seen a few move in days.

Mary: Oh yes.

Dave: So is this one going like pretty well so far do you think?

Mary: This one is going awesome so far.

Dave: Okay good. It seems like a well-oiled machine. Thanks for your hard work and keep it up!

Mary: Thank you!

Dave: All right Audra so you’re new to App?

Audra Wisor: Yes.

Dave: You’re an incoming Freshman?

Audra: Yes.

Dave: Welcome to App!

Audra: Thank you.

Dave: What is the one unusual thing that Audra brought with her to App State? Maybe something that nobody else brought.

Audra: A canopy.

Dave: You brought a canopy?

Audra: Yeah I brought a canopy to go over the bed. It’s a little black canopy.

Dave: oh wow! Is that something that you were really used to sleeping with at home and you were like, “Gotta have a canopy?”

Audra: No. I’m just a nook person. I like to be enclosed.

Dave: Oh cool. Well cool.

Audra: I hope it works. The command hooks are up now.

Dave: Well, is that a whole ordeal…the whole canopy thing?

Audra: yes.

Dave: Well best of luck on the canopy endeavor.

Audra: Thank you. I hope it works.

Dave: Me too.

Dave: So Nikki, what is one thing that you have brought with you to Appalachian State that is unusual…or something that there is no way anybody else brought (this)

Nikki Hendrix: Okay I actually have two can I say two

Dave: Sure go to town!

Nikki: Okay. I have a cat pillow. It has cats on it. Another thing I have is a big picture collage shaped in the form of mountains. I made it myself.

Dave: Cool. What are the pictures of?

Nikki: Just me and my friends and family. Instead of just putting individual pictures up I thought I would kill two birds with one stone.

Dave: Awesome! So you got the mountain thing for App State and then the fam. That’s very cool! That’s a great answer!

Nikki: Thank you.

Noah Fueston: I’m Noah Fueston.

Dave: What is the one unusual thing that Noah brought with him to Appalachian State?

NoaH: I brought a poster with all 150 original Pokémon on it.

Dave: is this something that you couldn’t do without?

NoaH: Yeah.

Dave: All right. So Pokémon are very close to your heart.

NoaH: Yeah.

Dave: Excellent. Do you play Pokémon Go?

NoaH: I did for a little while but…

Dave: Yeah you burned out on it right?

NoaH: Yeah.

Dave: Yeah I think most people did. Some of my friends are still hanging in there and still looking for them. So what’s your favorite Pokémon?

NoaH: Gengar.

Dave: Gengar. All right. Excellent.

Dave: So Mikel, you’re new to App State. Welcome! What’s one unusual thing that you brought with you to App State.

Mikel Smalle: I brought a pair of skis.

Dave: Are they special skis?

Mikael: Yes they’re a competitive downhill ski.

Dave: Ahhh cool is that part of the reason you came here?

Mikel: Yes. I want to join the App State ski club.

Dave: Sweet so do you have a lot of experience with downhill?

Mikel: Yes I’ve been racing for about ten years now.

Dave: Ten years? So when did you start?

Mikel: I started around age 8. I’ve been on the NC, VA and West Virginia state ski teams for the last four years.

Dave: Cool man! Welcome to App! Good luck in your skiing and in your studies.

Dave: So the question is what’s one unusual thing you brought with you to ASU?

Dana Morris: I have a little hippo trinket. It’s my favorite thing. It’s yellow and memorable and I like it.

Dave: So it’s like a trinket that you wear?

Dana: No it’s just like a little paperweight thing. It’s on my desk.

Dave: Does it have a name?

Dana: Not really.

Dave: It should right?

Dana: I know Yeah. I’ll think about it.

Dave: Excellent so what about you? Is there anything unusual that you brought with you to Appalachian State?

Maggie Krier: ummmmmmm

Dave: You thought of hers.

Maggie: I know because I thought of her hippo right away.

Dave: Are y’all rooming together?

Both: yeah.

Dave: Okay cool. That’s great. You seem to get along. That’s good. Did you know each other prior to?

Maggie: No we met on Facebook. It’s like an online date?

Dave: Cool. Haha yeah it kinda is like online dating. Haha. We didn’t have that when I came to App, which was 2000. It was many moons ago. They just matched you up with someone and you called them. I was like, “Hey so you like this movie?” and he was like, “Yeah I like that movie!”

Maggie: Wow things have changed!

Dave: yeah they have. All right so there is nothing unusual but what about something that you can’t live without?

Maggie: I had to bring my water bottle. I bring it everywhere.

Dana: She takes it everywhere.

Dave: everywhere you go? What’s special about it? It looks pretty cool.

Dana: It’s yellow. Go neers.

Dave: It is yellow! That’s appropriate for App! Excellent.

Dave: Okay what’s your name?

Ophelie Gautier: Ophelie Gautier.

Dave: I would not be able to spell that. Okay so you’re new to App. Welcome! So you’re all moved in and everything?

Ophelie: Yeah.

Dave: And you said you’re an international student did you?

Ophelie: yeah.

Dave: Well where are you from?

Ophelie: France.

Dave: From France. I could have guessed that.

Other voice: I’m from France as well.

Dave: So is this y’alls first trip to the United States?

Both: yeah.

Lea Baudre: My name is Lea Baudre. You have to say the “ehkk”

Dave: I feel like I’m not doing a good job at it. Haha so what’s one unusual thing that you brought?

Lea: Okay so I like to make fun of that. This is the thing that I sleep with. My roommate calls it a stuffed animal but it is not a stuffed animal. It is my favorite thing that I’ve had since I was born. I just can’t get rid of that so…

Dave: Well what is it?

Lea: In French it’s Deux Deux. It’s a stuffed animal but it’s not because I love it.

Dave: It’s important.

Lea: Yeah It’s important for me because it’s something from home and it reminds me of France and it reminds me of my family.

Dave: Yeah but what is it? Is it a dog?

Lea: it’s uhhh I don’t know. It has ears?

Dave: Okay Deux Deux has ears.

Lea: I think it’s a dog. But it’s a cross between a dog and a rabbit. But it’s very beautiful.

Dave: It sounds breath taking. It sounds completely beautiful.

Ophelie: Mine is a blue dog.

Dave: Okay cool. Does it have a name?

Ophelie: Chouquette

Dave: What does that mean?

Lea: It’s French for cake.

Ophelie: So delicious.

Dave: Well thank y’all very much and welcome to App. I hope it goes well for you. I’m glad you’re here.

Dave: So what is your first and last name and how do you spell it?

Raquel Garcia Moreno Ruiz: Oh I don’t know how to spell in English!

Dave: Well why don’t you just say your name.

Raquel: Raquel.

Dave: Okay and how would you spelled it in …

Raquel: In Spain? (spells R-A-Q-U-E-L)

Juan Diaz: I know how to spell it.

Dave: You do? Well how do you spell it?

Juan: (Juan spells Raquel’s NSpells English and Dave understands)

Dave: Raquel! It’s cooler when you say it.

Dave: And what is your name sir?

Juan: Juan Diaz

Dave: So where are y’all from?

Juan: Seville in southern Spain.

Raquel: Madrid the capital.

Dave: So you’re new to App. Welcome! What is one thing that you have brought with you to App that is unusual?

Raquel: Woooo…I don’t know. Maybe my sound device to record things. It’s used to put your microphone into your computer.

Dave: Cool like so you can Skype and stuff?

Raquel: No I’m in music creation so I sing and I need something to get my mic into the computer.

Dave: So who makes it? What brand is it? Do you know?

Raquel: M-Audio

Dave: Cool! I have some M-Audio gear.

Raquel: I want to change to a Scarlett.

Dave: So what is one thing that you brought with you Juan, that is unusual?

Juan: In my dorm I brought shoes. No one else is wearing shoes so that’s unusual.

Dave: No one has shoes?

Juan: No.

Dave: Do you think you’ll end up going barefoot?

Juan: No I don’t think so.

Dave: No you don’t think so? What are you wearing? Oh some lovely Nike’s. Well thank y’all so much. I appreciate you let me take up so much of your time.

Ivan Milosevic: My name is Ivan Milicevic.

Dave: Okay, I'm getting a lot of International students!

Ivan: Yeah, I'm from Croatia.

Dave: Oh, Croatia! Okay, cool. How do you spell your name Ivan?

Ivan: I-V-A-N.

Dave: Oh, Ivan...Ivan. So Ivan, what is one unusual thing, a strange something that only you probably brought with you to Appalachian State?

Ivan: Well, that's got to be my Croatian candy.

Dave: Croatian candy?!

Ivan: Yeah!

Dave: Is Croatia known for candy, is that a big thing?

Ivan: Well, we have really good chocolate, and that's what I brought...chocolate and cookies with chocolate.

Dave: Did you bring a lot of them?

Ivan: Well, pretty much, but also they have a Croatian part of Amazon where you can order them so, it's a bit more expensive but

Dave: Cool! Worth it huh? It's like a taste of home.

Ivan: Yeah!

Dave: Is this your first trip to the United States?

Ivan: Ah, no. I've been here in high school in Winston Salem for two years.

Dave: Oh all right so not far off! So what are you studying?

Ivan: Business.

Dave: Business!

Ivan: Yes, finance and banking.

Dave: Excellent! Well, it was very nice to meet you, Ivan.

Ivan: Nice to meet you too!

Dave: I feel like I'm messing up everybody's language.

Hannah Larson: Hannah Larson.

Dave: So, what's one thing you brought with you that's unusual?

Hannah: I brought a plant, because I like plants.

Dave: Excellent! What kind of plant did you bring?

Hannah: A cactus!

Dave: Did you just bring one?

Hannah: Yeah, I have 18 at home.

Dave: 18 cacti. So is it some specific kind of cactus that you brought?

Hannah: No.

Dave: Does it have a name?

Hannah: No, but one them does.

Dave: Which one has a name and what is the name of the cactus?

Hannah: I have a 26-pound cactus named Jeffrey.

Dave: Oh my God! 26 pounds? How big was it when you got it?

Hannah: 26 pounds.

Dave: I thought you were going to say it was like a tiny seed. Well, that's funky. So you didn't bring Jeffrey, but you brought another one that doesn't have a name yet. How do you name them? Do you get a vibe for their personality and then...

Hannah: Jeffrey is the only one who has a name.

Dave: All right, fair enough. He's a special cactus.

Dave: So, Angelina?

Angelina Nacca: Yes.

Dave: Cool, so what's one unusual thing you brought with you to App?

Angelina: I brought a tie-dye fanny pack.

Dave: That's super unusual, I have not seen one of those. So is there some significance to this tie-dye backpack? Is there a story behind it?

Angelina: Not really, it's part of my collection.

Dave: You have a fanny pack collection?

Angelina: I do, yeah.

Dave: That's super weird! Is that the only one you brought? 

Angelina: Yeah, I only brought the tie-dye one. I left the rest at home.

Dave: I really wish you were wearing one right now because you're not.

Angelina: Yeah, I know, me too!

Dave: Darn it! All right cool, that's super weird, good answer.

Dave: So I think that will be all of the people I'll hassle today. Thanks so much to everyone who allowed me to take him or her away from their busy move-in day activities. Thanks to all the volunteers for helping out and making move in day painless for all of the parents and the brand new Mountaineers. Welcome to App! #WelcomeToApp I'm Dave Blanks and this has been Dave By The Bell.

Dave interviews Appalachian students in his quest to discover their unique Thanksgiving traditions, revel in their zany anecdotes and to find out what they're most looking forward to as they head home for the holiday.

Dave Blanks: Hey there folks. It’s me Dave Blanks and I’m back once again with another Dave by the Bell. It’s the Thanksgiving edition! Last year I asked people what they were thankful for. People had answers. This year we’re going to try something different and ask them what is unique about their Thanksgiving celebration. Do you have any strange or unusual traditions? Of give me a funny story associated with Thanksgiving or maybe just name something that you are looking forward to that isn’t food related. Everybody wants the food. Let’s see what Appalachian State University students have to say.

Voice 1: I’m Vegan and my family isn’t so I usually cook myself a separate dinner and they are kind of mean. They usually take the turkey and you know rile me up a little bit.

Dave: How so?

Voice 1: My dad will pretend he is a turkey and hold it up to his face and run around while I’m cooking my beans or whatever so I mean...that’s kind of different. I think.

Voice 2: I don’t know if it’s just because I’m from New Jersey or anything but we usually celebrate it with the whole family not just a few of us so it’s usually my dad’s parents and my mom’s parents. I’m most looking forward to going back home. It’ll be the first time since this semester. It’s gonna be good to see the family and everything but mostly to get a break from the school work because it’s been nonstop and the hardest semester I’ve had.

Voice 3: We always make a cheese ball before dinner.

Dave: Do you participate in the making of this cheeseball?

Voice 3: Mmmhmmm.

Dave: Is there something special about this cheeseball?

Voice 3: ummmm

Dave: Does it have wine in it?

Voice 3: I wish.

Voice 4: Well, one thing that we started a while ago was putting nuts on the cranberry sauce. I know that’s kind of lame and probably a lot of people do that.

Dave: What kind of nuts?

Voice 4: I don’t know. They make it and I eat it.

Dave: Pecans?

Voice 4: Yeah pecans!

Dave: You don’t know. You’re just there to eat the food.

Voice 4: Yeah. Just put it on my plate. But I’m looking forward to the day off. Right now everyday I’m up early and going to bed late. I’ve got a lot going on so I’m looking forward to relaxing and hanging out with the family.

Voice 5: My family is from England so we don’t really have the whole American aspect like you know the pilgrim thing. Ours is just centered around being a family. We don’t have the whole historical background to it. When we moved out here we didn’t even know what Thanksgiving was. I guess that’s what makes us unique since we’re not from the country that it originated from and we have different customs.

Voice 6: I’m most looking forward to hanging out with my family because I just got out of the military last year and I’m looking forward to actually spending a Thanksgiving with them and getting back into that tradition.

Voice 7: I’m looking forward to seeing my family. This is the first Thanksgiving I’ve had with them in 5 years because I was in the military too. I just got out so I’m really looking forward to that.

Voice 8: Most of my family can cook really well but my sister will mix the cooking powder with the sugar so it flattens everything and it doesn’t turn out the way it’s supposed to but she’s in Hong Kong this year for Thanksgiving so I’m not going to get to see her so no bad cooking!

Dave: Well that’s good and bad I guess. Happy Thanksgiving, man!

Voice 8: Thank you.

Voice 9: I’m not so sure but we do have this one dessert and we call it blueberry stuff. It’s basically blueberry Jello with whip cream on top. It’s pretty delicious. I’m really looking forward to getting to stay with my sister for the first time since she moved to New York.

Dave: Is it just going to be yall two?

Voice 9: No it’s going to be us two and then our other sister from D.C. is coming up but my parents are splitting to the grandparents and we’re having a sister Thanksgiving.

Voice 10: Every year we cook the turkey differently.

Dave: How did you do it last year?

Voice 10: We fried it in the yard.

Dave: What did you do the year before?

Voice 10: ummmm

Dave: Oh I’m going to keep going!

Voice 11: It’s pretty much the same traditions. We’ll invite relatives over, cook, laugh, watch movies and then fall asleep.

Dave: Is there one particular movie that you usually watch?

Voice 11: It’s a Wonderful Life. They usually show that on Thanksgiving day. I’m really looking forward to relaxing and reflecting on what I’m thankful for.

Voice 12: My mom has a meltdown every Thanksgiving.

Dave: Is that a tradition?

Voice 12: Pretty much. I’m looking forward to the family drama.

Dave: really you crave it?

Voice 12: Yeah I do. It’s funny.

Voice 13: We always play this one weird game called Fishbowl. Everyone puts five names of celebrities into a bowl and you are on two different teams. In the first round you can describe it using any word except what it is. In the second round you can only use one word and in the third round you act it out.

Dave: Cool! So what’s the weirdest one that you’ve ever had to act out?

Voice 13: Oh gosh! My uncle is hispanic and he acted out Ellen Degeneres. That was pretty funny because he didn’t really know who she was so he was really confused.

Voice 14: Yeah we do a pig pickin.

Dave: Okay. How does that work?

Voice 14: my uncle buys a whole pig and we start cooking early in the morning and it’s an all day thing.

Dave: Sweet! That’s cool man that’s a great tradition so has that always been the way you’ve done it? You’ve never had a turkey?

Voice 14: We have a turkey too.

Dave: Oh okay cool so the traditional back-up turkey.

Voice 15: So my family is all vegans.

Dave: All of you?

Voice 15: Well, all except for two. I’m a vegetarian now but I was a vegan. So we make a Tofurkey. We all buy a package of tofu and come together and make it into one Tofurkey.

Dave: So does different tofu taste different? I mean that’s kind of a dumb question sure it does right?

Voice 15: Not really! It’s just white mush.

Dave: Oh Hey and one last thing if we can make our way down the hallway here. It turns out somebody in our department has a really special talent, Chris.

Chris Grulke: Not me.

Dave: It’s not you! It’s actually our boss Megan. Let’s just head into her office here. Okay so for the Thanksgiving edition of Dave by the Bell let’s here your turkey call, Megan. Get your turkey game face on.

Megan Hayes: Okay…( the sound of undeniably perfect turkey call is heard)

Dave: You killed it! Perfect! Thank you, Megan.

Megan: Anytime! I love doing my turkey call.

Dave: I can see why!

Megan: Happy Turkey Day, Dave.

Dave: Awwww thank you. And a Happy Thanksgiving to you out there listener. Thank you for listening. As always, subscribe to us on iTunes. Have a restful and safe break. I’m Dave Blanks and this has been Dave by the Bell.