Dave by the Bell

 
 In this Valentine’s Day edition of Dave by the Bell, Dave and University Communications intern Madi chat it up with friendly passersby to get at the heart of this question — “What is the most romantic place on campus?”
 
 
Dave Blanks:
Hello, friends. I'm Dave Blanks from University Communications, and I was going to talk today about Valentine's Day. What we're going to do is ask students what the most romantic place in all of campus is. I was going to go see if Madi , our intern, wanted to come along. So, let's go do that.
Hello.
 
Madi:
So, jacket?
 
Dave Blanks:
I'm not wearing a jacket, based on what you said. You said you got hot.
 
Madi:
Fine. We won't wear jackets.
 
Dave Blanks:
Madi , no jackets for this one. There are romantic places on campus. We're walking right now by the-
 
Madi:
By the hand statue.
 
Dave Blanks:
...church hand statue thing with the wheelbarrow. I don't think that's a place.
 
Eliza:
My name's Eliza.
 
Dave Blanks:
So Eliza, Valentine's is coming up. Did you know?
 
Eliza:
Yes, it is.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah, it is. Is that an exciting thing for you? A positive thing?
 
Eliza:
It is exciting.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah?
 
Eliza:
We're going to go up here.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay, let's go up here.
 
Eliza:
I got my first boyfriend a couple months ago, so this will be... We're going to go this way?
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah, let's go this way.
 
Eliza:
This will be my first Valentine's Day with someone.
 
Dave Blanks:
Very sweet.
 
Eliza:
So it'll be fun.
 
Dave Blanks:
Cool. Yeah, yeah. Are you a freshman at App?
 
Eliza:
Yes, I am.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right. Excellent. You're doing the whole college experience thing.
 
Eliza:
Yes, I am.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Good for you. Okay, so if you had to spend it on campus somewhere, where's the most romantic place?
 
Eliza:
I really like the duck pond.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
 
Eliza:
That little shelter.
 
Dave Blanks:
Oh, yeah.
 
Eliza:
I think that's fun.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right.
 
Eliza:
Get bagels or something.
 
Dave:
Dude…the duck pond!
 
Savannah:
Savannah.
 
Dave Blanks:
If you had to pick one?
 
Savannah:
The duck pond.
 
Dave Blanks:
The duck pond?
 
Savannah:
I think it's cute.
 
Dave Blanks:
You think the duck pond?
 
Savannah:
Could be kind of cute. Yeah, you could do a little picnic or something.
 
Dave Blanks:
Oh, okay. That's good. That was a good answer.
 
Jacob:
I'm Jacob. The solarium, maybe.
 
Dave Blanks:
You think the solarium?
 
Jacob:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right. Why the solarium?
 
Jacob:
There are a lot of plants and sunlight, I guess.
 
Dave Blanks:
Right?
 
Jacob:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
What about outside?
 
Jacob:
It's cold.
 
Derek Carter:
I'm Derek Carter. A romantic place on campus?
 
Dave Blanks:
Right.
 
Derek Carter:
I'd probably just take her to my job, the cafe. Cascades.
 
Dave Blanks:
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Cool. Right on.
 
Derek Carter:
They have a Valentine's Day drink, so I'll probably give that.
 
Dave Blanks:
What's the Valentine's Day drink?
 
Derek Carter:
It's like chocolate and strawberry.
 
Dave Blanks:
That sounds good. Is it expensive?
 
Derek Carter:
It's like $6.
 
Dave Blanks:
College student can swing that for Valentine's Day, right?
 
Derek Carter:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right. All right. Excellent.
 
Evan Rice:
I am Evan Rice. Okay. This is a curve-ball. Me and my girlfriend just broke up a week ago.
 
Dave Blanks:
Oh. I'm sorry to hear that.
 
Evan Rice:
I'll probably just go for a picnic. I'd start here.
 
Dave Blanks:
We're on Sanford right now.
 
Evan Rice:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay.
 
Evan Rice:
Maybe a walk on the trail back there. End up at the baseball field.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Yeah.
 
Evan Rice:
What have other people said?
 
Dave Blanks:
Duck pond. How do you feel about duck pond?
 
Evan Rice:
That’s gross. Like you just get like wafts of smell. Does Gastown...
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Go to Gastown, dude.
 
Evan Rice:
Yeah, I'd probably stack up on some stuff there. Right?
 
Dave Blanks:
Excellent. Yeah. Slim Jims, Munchos.
 
Sam Vanderkin:
Sam Vanderkin. Maybe over by the bell.
 
Dave Blanks:
Durham Park there.
 
Sam Vanderkin:
Yeah, there's cute picnic areas. Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. That's cool.
 
Sam Vanderkin:
Pimento cheese sandwiches-
 
Dave Blanks:
Yes.
 
Sam Vanderkin:
...cut into little triangles.
 
Madi:
Pimento cheese sandwiches in triangles?
 
Dave Blanks:
Little triangle pimento cheeses.
 
Anthony Coriali:
I'm Anthony Coriali. Ooh, that's a tough one. I might just hang out in the solarium student union. Peaceful atmosphere, running water.
 
Dave Blanks:
Nice.
 
Anthony Coriali:
Yep.
 
Marissa:
I'm Marissa.
 
Dave Blanks:
Hey, Marissa. How are you doing?
 
Marissa:
I'm exhausted.
 
Dave Blanks:
Oh no. What's going on in your life?
 
Marissa:
Homework.
 
Dave Blanks:
Oh, that's the worst. You'll get through it.
 
Marissa:
Thank you for empathizing.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah, I feel for you. So Valentine's is coming up, right?
 
Marissa:
Oh God.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
 
Marissa:
I can't.
 
Dave Blanks:
Valentine's is coming up.
 
Marissa:
Yes.
 
Dave Blanks:
So if you had to pick a spot on this very campus here where you attend school to have a romantic Valentine's Day experience, where would you pick? Where's the most romantic place on campus?
 
Marissa:
The study room by yourself, because you should focus on your grades and not boys so you can make your own money.
 
Dave Blanks:
Nice.
 
Marissa:
Or with your friends.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Study room with friends.
 
Marissa:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Thank you for your answer. Have a good day.
 
Diana Cooper:
Diana Cooper. Does none of the above count?
 
Dave Blanks:
You have to pick somewhere.
 
Brandon Wayne:
I'm Brandon Wayne. The duck pond, probably.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Okay. All right.
 
Brandon Wayne:
I'd feed them grapes.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yes.
 
Brandon Wayne:
I'd feed the ducks grapes.
 
Dave Blanks:
I was picturing that your person that you were spending the time with, you were feeding them grapes.
 
Brandon Wayne:
No, all those grapes got to go to the ducks.
 
Dave Blanks:
Right. The ducks need the grapes. Yeah.
 
Hadley Siefert:
I'm Hadley Seifert. Sanford.
 
Dave Blanks:
Sanford? Yeah. Yeah. We're at Sanford right now. So what would your romantic Sanford date be?
 
Hadley Siefert:
A picnic.
 
Dave Blanks:
What kind of food are you serving at your picnic?
 
Hadley Siefert:
Grilled cheese.
 
Dave Blanks:
Cheese, excellent. What kind of cheese?
 
Hadley Siefert:
American. Maybe some strawberries.
 
Nikki Coddle:
I'm Nikki Coddle. I'd like to say something nice outside, but it's a bit too cold for that.
 
Dave Blanks:
Let's assume the weather's going to be nice.
 
Nikki Coddle:
Okay.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right.
 
Nikki Coddle:
Then maybe a little picnic outside on Stanford. I think that'd be really cute and romantic. I like to bake, so maybe I could bring the baked goods, the sweets, and then they could bring whatever the savory option is.
 
Dave Blanks:
Nobody said Crossroads. What if we went into Crossroads? Do you think people would say, "I'd come to Crossroads."
 
Madi:
It's nice in here.
 
Dave Blanks:
I know. I like Crossroads. We could ask her.
 
Katie Carpenter:
Hi, I'm Katie Carpenter. I don't know. I feel like Sanford Mall would be kind of cool.
 
Dave Blanks:
Sanford.
 
Katie Carpenter:
Have a little picnic.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
 
Katie Carpenter:
That'd be cute.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Yeah. What would you bring on your picnic?
 
Katie Carpenter:
I don't know. Little sandwiches, some sparkling cider.
 
Dave Blanks:
Oh.
 
Katie Carpenter:
Yeah, I get fancy.
 
Dave Blanks:
Let me ask this. What's on your sandwich?
 
Katie Carpenter:
I like chicken salad.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right.
 
Katie Carpenter:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
That's the first meaty protein we've had. Everybody's going with cheese.
 
Katie Carpenter:
Ew. No.
 
Dave Blanks:
Is cheese romantic to you?
 
Katie Carpenter:
I don't like cheese that much.
 
Dave Blanks:
Is chicken more romantic than cheese?
 
Katie Carpenter:
Yes.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah? You think?
 
Katie Carpenter:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right.
 
Emma:
My name's Emma. I would say maybe the solarium or if it's nice outside, Durham Park.
Yeah, I think a little picnic. Maybe take a book, read a little bit. Maybe paint. I don't know. I don't know.
 
Dave Blanks:
Wow, that's cool. All right. Yeah, that's very active. I like that.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay. Who am I speaking with?
 
Steven:
Steven.
 
Dave Blanks:
Steven. Hello. I've interviewed you for Dave by the Bell before.
 
Steven:
Yes, you have.
 
Dave Blanks:
What question did I ask you?
 
Steven:
I think it was about Thanksgiving. It was around that time. What are you thankful for?
 
Dave Blanks:
And I was taking a knee and it looked like I was proposing to you in the picture. Yeah, yeah. But you didn't accept. That's all right. We can still move on with our lives. So where's your spot?
 
Steven:
It's not part of App State's campus, but it still feels very App State.
 
Dave Blanks:
Maybe I'll allow it. We'll hear it.
 
Steven:
I'm trying to think of somewhere on campus, and it's just not coming to me right now.
 
Dave Blanks:
I know. It's challenging.
 
Steven:
But somewhere on the parkway. I know that's kind of basic, but it is very nice.
 
Dave Blanks:
No, it's incredible. It's epic.
 
Steven:
I'm trying to think of on campus, and-
 
Dave Blanks:
You got to do it. A beautiful spot here.
 
Steven:
A sunset at the stadium.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
 
Steven:
While it's completely empty. That'd be really nice. Hanging out with friends and stuff.
 
Dave Blanks:
That's like the end of a romantic movie right there.
 
Steven:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah, yeah.
 
Steven:
Very much.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay. That was a good answer. Excellent.
 
Conner Higgins:
I am Conner Higgins. Personally, I've never really liked Valentine's Day just because I feel like it's a weak excuse to have to do something for your partner when you should just do that whenever. That and I know it puts a bunch of single people down, which I don't know. I feel like Valentine's Day should be a day to celebrate being single.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
 
Conner Higgins:
You should be like, "Absolutely. I'm living my life and I'm free."
 
Dave Blanks:
I like that.
 
Conner Higgins:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Cool. All right. Well, if you were going to celebrate being single on campus, where would you go and what would you do?
 
Conner Higgins:
I'd say if you're single and you're either trying to look to meet people, I know the student union's always great, the mall always has a ton of people out there, and I met my girlfriend freshman year in the dining hall, so honestly, even there you could find a little romance in the dining hall.
 
Dave Blanks:
Awesome, man.
 
DJ:
I'm DJ. If it's warm out, I'll probably say Sanford Mall, a little picnic. I just feel like that's cute, you can people watch a little bit.
 
Madi:
So the moral of the story, there's going to be picnics all over campus.
 
Dave Blanks:
Dude, the picnic business is exploding.
 
Madi:
The picnic business is booming.
 
Dave Blanks:
Put your money in picnics right now.
 
Madi:
Invest in picnics.
 
Dave Blanks:
Invest. Buy, buy, buy!
Well Madi , thanks for coming along with me for this Valentine's Dave by the Bell.
 
Madi:
Thanks for having me.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah, I don't know. Yeah. You said solarium, right?
 
Madi:
Yeah. A little coffee date in the solarium.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. I like that.
 
Madi:
Maybe pick up coffee from Crossroads.
 
Dave Blanks:
Then go to the solarium.
 
Madi:
But then take it to the solarium.
 
Dave Blanks:
Madi , I hope you have a fantastic Valentine's Day.
 
Madi:
Thanks. I hope you have a great Valentine's Day as well.
 
Dave Blanks:
Thank you very much. I hope I do too. I'm Dave Blanks. This has been Dave by the Bell. Bye.
 

In this only just barely adjacent to homecoming edition of Dave by the Bell, Dave and University Communications intern Madi chat it up with almost always friendly passersby and pose the question, "If you could live anywhere on campus that was not a residence hall, where would you live?"   
 
 
Transcript:
 
Dave Blanks:
Madi, you're our intern.
 
Madi:
I am.
 
Dave Blanks:
And we're going to do a Dave by the Bell.
 
Madi:
We are.
 
Dave Blanks:
What are we talking about?
 
Madi:
Well, did we decide what we're talking about?
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah, yeah. I think we finally landed on an idea.
 
Madi:
Did we land on the roommate idea?
 
Dave Blanks:
No, we're not doing the roommate idea.
 
Madi:
Oh.
 
Dave Blanks:
But we will do that one in the future.
 
Madi:
Okay.
 
Dave Blanks:
No, no, no. We're not going to do the roommate. We're going to do-
 
Madi:
If you could live anywhere on campus.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yes.
 
Madi:
That's not your residence hall/dorm room...
 
Dave Blanks:
Right.
 
Madi:
...where would you live and why?
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah, that was it. Good job. Perfect. So, yeah. Do you want to go to Sanford Mall?
 
Madi:
I sure do.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay, let's do that.
I usually just find a person and go, "Hey, excuse me." Like this guy.
 
Madi:
Hey, you want to be in our podcast?
 
Anonymous Solarium Lover:
No, that's okay.
 
Dave Blanks:
Oh, come on man. Do you want to hear the question and then say yes or no.
 
Anonymous Solarium Lover:
Okay.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right. All right. So the question is, if you could live somewhere on campus, where would it be and why? So is there a little spot that's your spot? That's your go-to?
 
Anonymous Solarium Lover:
Oh, God. The Solarium.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Okay.
 
Anonymous Solarium Lover:
I love that.
 
Dave Blanks:
Why would you live in the Solarium?
 
Anonymous Solarium Lover:
It's very peaceful.
 
Dave Blanks:
Right?
 
Anonymous Solarium Lover:
I really like it.
 
Dave Blanks:
Right.
 
Anonymous Solarium Lover:
It's very calming.
 
Dave Blanks:
It's like the opposite of this moment.
 
Anonymous Solarium Lover:
Yes, exactly.
 
Quin Hernandez:
I'm Quinn Hernandez. There's a little lookout up by Greenwood.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay.
 
Quin Hernandez:
I like looking over it, specifically in the wintertime, because the snow makes it really bright and you can ... The stadium lights up everything.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay. All right. You would live up there?
 
Quin Hernandez:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Because it's beautiful.
 
Quin Hernandez:
Yeah, it's really pretty up there.
 
Madi:
What a lovely answer.
 
Dave Blanks:
I know. That was so good.
 
Madi:
She was ready.
 
Andrea Martinez:
I'm Andrea Martinez. Ooh. I would probably live at Walmart.
 
Dave Blanks:
Wait, wait, wait. That's not on campus. Andrea.
 
Andrea Martinez:
Technically it's not, but it is
 
Dave Blanks:
It's on the Appalcart stop.
 
Andrea Martinez:
Yes.
 
Dave Blanks:
So in that respect, I mean, it is definitely a part of your student life, right?
 
Andrea Martinez:
Yeah, definitely.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay. But with all the options, explain to me why you would live at Walmart.
 
Andrea Martinez:
Well, I mean, it's just a place I frequent a lot.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay.
 
Andrea Martinez:
But it's also got everything.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay.
 
Andrea Martinez:
You've got a TV.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yes.
 
Andrea Martinez:
You've got blankets, you've got food. It's the perfect place.
 
Dave Blanks:
I knew you were thinking like that. It's very practical of you. All right. Well, thank you for your answer and have a great day. Are you headed ... Where you headed?
 
Andrea Martinez:
I'm heading to the bus stop, actually.
 
Dave Blanks:
Are you going to Walmart?
 
Andrea Martinez:
I am going to Walmart.
 
Dave Blanks:
No way. Oh, my. That's funny.
 
Phillip Lavey:
I'm Phillip Leavy. Chapel Wilson, second floor, I guess. That's where the theater department kids seem to hang out. That's most of my friends here at App State, so.
 
Dave Blanks:
Right on.
 
Phillip Lavey:
All the professors are super welcoming. All the students, it's like a big happy family there.
 
Dave Blanks:
Nice, man.
 
Phillip Lavey:
Yeah, so.
 
Dave Blanks:
Well, good.
 
Phillip Lavey:
Without a doubt. Plus the benches are pretty nice to sleep on. Pretty comfy. So, yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
From personal experience?
 
Phillip Lavey:
Personal experience, yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right.
 
Meredith Kaiser:
I'm Meredith Kaiser. Okay. I'm honestly going to go with living in the library.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
 
Meredith Kaiser:
Low key, because there's a coffee shop in there.
 
Dave Blanks:
Right.
 
Meredith Kaiser:
There's a lot of good study spaces.
 
Dave Blanks:
Right.
 
Meredith Kaiser:
There's books. There's a lot of just cool things in there. So, yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
What floor in particular? Any ideas?
 
Meredith Kaiser:
Definitely not the second, because it's kind of loud.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay.
 
Meredith Kaiser:
Probably the third.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right. Peaceful.
 
Meredith Kaiser:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
 
Meredith Kaiser:
Very peaceful. Yeah.
 
Billy:
Oh, man. That's a tough one. Probably up there in that tower right up there.
 
Dave Blanks:
What? You'd live in the Steam Tower?
 
Billy:
Oh, is that a steam tower?
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah, dude. I don't know if you want to live in the-
 
Billy:
What's at the very top though?
 
Dave Blanks:
Steam. Just steam.
 
Billy:
No, it's not. It looks like somebody out there right now, kind of.
 
Dave Blanks:
Whoa. Are you for real?
 
Billy:
It looks like a lookout post.
 
Dave Blanks:
Oh, my gosh.
 
Billy:
Is it not? Is it not?
 
Dave Blanks:
No, it's a steam-
 
Billy:
You can't get up there?
 
Dave Blanks:
We call it the Steam Tower. Yeah, you can get up there.
 
Billy:
Well, I don't know.
 
Dave Blanks:
I mean, not you.
 
Billy:
I kind of want to live up there. Maybe the room below it, but that'd be my upstairs deck.
 
Dave Blanks:
That would be super cool. Do you think people would come visit you if you lived in-
 
Billy:
No. People don't come visit me anyway.
 
Dave Blanks:
But if you lived in the Steam Tower, they might be like, Come on, let's go to Billy's house, man.
 
Billy:
You know what? You know what? Being right here, people would come visit. Because I'd be right here.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah, I think they would. Great idea.
 
Billy:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Thanks for your answer, man.
 
Billy:
That's it?
 
Dave Blanks:
That was it. That was all.
 
Billy:
Did I pass?
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. You passed with flying colors. Yeah. Thanks, Billy. Madi, would you live in the Steam Tower?
 
Madi:
Probably not.
 
Dave Blanks:
I don't think so. I think I might come visit Billy, though.
 
Madi:
I might visit Billy for sure.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah, just to see if he was okay, because I'm not sure you can survive up there. But he was like, "There's somebody up there right now." And then I thought I could kind of see them. It was sort of weird.
 
Madi:
No, I kind of did too.
 
Dave Blanks:
Did you see them?
 
Madi:
He tricked me.
 
Dave Blanks:
He totally pulled one over on us.
 
Lily:
I'm Lily. The Student Union.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay.
 
Lily:
The arboretum-type room.
 
Dave Blanks:
Oh yeah, Solarium.
 
Lily:
The Solarium.
 
Dave Blanks:
The Solarium.
 
Lily:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Caitlin, what do you think about Lily's answer?
 
Kaitlyn:
It's a good answer, but I would probably say the library, because it's open most of the time.
 
Dave Blanks:
Right?
 
Kaitlyn:
24 five, and they have some comfy chairs up there.
 
Dave Blanks:
Wait, did you say 24 what?
 
Kaitlyn:
24 five.
 
Dave Blanks:
24 five? I've never heard that.
 
Kaitlyn:
24 five. It's open 24 hours, five days of the week.
 
Dave Blanks:
Five days of the week.
 
Kaitlyn:
Right.
 
Dave Blanks:
Wow. You're very accurate with that. I was like, wait, did she mess that up? But no. You said it very specifically. All right. So what floor would you live on?
 
Kaitlyn:
I think the second, but I haven't explored the third or fourth before.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right. Well, the second floor, from what I've heard, is a little louder.
 
Kaitlyn:
That's true. I could always go up to the quiet floor if I need some quiet.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Yeah.
 
Kaitlyn:
I do think the chairs are very comfy on the second floor, and you could definitely sleep on one of those.
 
Dave Blanks:
Excellent. All right, so now we're in the Student Union. Do you actually want to interrupt somebody who's doing something in the Student Union? Hey, excuse me.
 
Eva Morgan:
Hi.
 
Dave Blanks:
Hi, I'm Dave. I have a podcast called Dave by the Bell, where I interview App State students.
 
Eva Morgan:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Are you an App State student?
 
Eva Morgan:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Could you hear out my question and maybe answer it?
 
Eva Morgan:
Mm-hmm!
 
Dave Blanks:
All right, cool. I like your energy. Very positive.
 
Eva Morgan:
Thanks, man!
 
Dave Blanks:
This is Madi.
 
Eva Morgan:
Hello.
 
Dave Blanks:
She's our intern.
 
Madi:
Hi.
 
Dave Blanks:
So the question for today pertains to the fact that it's homecoming this weekend.
 
Eva Morgan:
Yeah?!!!
 
Dave Blanks:
Are you excited?
 
Eva Morgan:
No, I'm not even going.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay, fair enough. Home is the word that we honed in on. If you could make your home somewhere here at App that wasn't a residence hall?
 
Eva Morgan:
I'd live in the gym.
 
Dave Blanks:
Where would you ... You'd live at the gym?
 
Eva Morgan:
I'd live at the SRC.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right. Why would you live there?
 
Eva Morgan:
I work out every day.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay.
 
Eva Morgan:
So I'm kind of obsessed.
 
Dave Blanks:
What do you like about the SRC?
 
Eva Morgan:
That's a solid question.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
 
Eva Morgan:
That I do not know the answer to.
 
Dave Blanks:
They have equipment that you can use there?
 
Eva Morgan:
Yeah. I mean, they have machines and free weights, so.
 
Dave Blanks:
Perfect. SRC?
 
Eva Morgan:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Good answer.
 
Eva Morgan:
Thank you.
 
Dave Blanks:
Hey, can you tell me your name?
 
Eva Morgan:
Oh, Eva Morgan.
 
Dave Blanks:
Thanks, Eva.
 
Eva Morgan:
Of course. You have a good one.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah, you too. Are you going to workout?
 
Eva Morgan:
Nice to meet you too. Oh, I already did my round today.
 
Dave Blanks:
Already did it.
 
Eva Morgan:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Nice. Nice work. Nice work. Have a good one. Madi, you're on the cross country team, right?
 
Madi:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Do you work out every day?
 
Madi:
Unfortunately, I don't have a choice if I work out every day.
 
Dave Blanks:
You're forced to work out every day?
 
Madi:
I'm not forced every day.
 
Dave Blanks:
What way do you want to go?
 
Madi:
It's a forced decision. Bookstore?
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Okay. We could do the bookstore. A forced decision.
 
Madi:
Oh, maybe these fellows.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Do you think they work here?
 
Madi:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
So we actually here at App State, do you have a Apple Store? What do you call it? An Apple Store. They're an authorized campus store.
 
John Paul Hansen:
That's the magic of it.
 
Dave Blanks:
There we go. You don't live on campus currently, correct, sir?
 
John Paul Hansen:
No, sir. I do not.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right. Did you ever live on campus?
 
John Paul Hansen:
I did.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right. Where were you? What residence hall?
 
John Paul Hansen:
Bowie Residence Hall.
 
Dave Blanks:
You were in Bowie.
 
John Paul Hansen:
Yes. Getting knocked down currently, right?
 
Dave Blanks:
You're right. I'm sorry. Are you dealing with that okay or?
 
John Paul Hansen:
Yeah, a little bit sad. I'd like to go over and get a brick. I don't know what the legalities of brick taking from a active construction zone are, so.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah, I think first degree brickery.
 
John Paul Hansen:
Yeah, first degree brickery.
 
Dave Blanks:
It could ruin your job here.
 
John Paul Hansen:
True. True.
 
Dave Blanks:
So what is your name, sir.
 
John Paul Hansen:
John Paul Hansen.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay. So John Paul Hansen, it's homecoming weekend. Did you know that?
 
John Paul Hansen:
I did, yes.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right, all right. So if you could live and make your home anywhere on Appalachian State's campus, that wasn't Bowie. Okay? And that wasn't a residence hall.
 
John Paul Hansen:
Yes.
 
Dave Blanks:
Where would it be and why would you live there?
 
John Paul Hansen:
Inside of the Founder's Bell. It's nice and cozy. You can really get inside of it. Once the metal kind of heats up to your body temp, it's cohesive. You're in there. You can't get much colder or warmer. It's a perfect environment.
 
Dave Blanks:
Right. You would have a lot of interaction because apparently if people rub it or something like that, they do good on their examinations.
 
John Paul Hansen:
Yes. yeah. And then I kind of crawl out like a hermit crab and just really, you are at my home. Really give it to them. So, yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
 
Dave Blanks:
John Paul, you're a silly fellow. You know that? Did you know the podcast is called Dave by the Bell?
 
John Paul Hansen:
Yes.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
 
John Paul Hansen:
 And so I know this because probably four years ago, I was walking to one of my freshman year classes, and I was stopped by you, Mr. Dave.
 
Dave Blanks:
No way.
 
Madi:
Wow.
 
John Paul Hansen:
Yes. I had a previous appearance.
 
Dave Blanks:
You're one of our first multiple episode people.
 
John Paul Hansen:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah, yeah.
 
John Paul Hansen:
This was fun. It's coming full circle.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah, I know. Well, come visit John Paul, who's in the ... What's the name of your store?
 
John Paul Hansen:
Oh, University Bookstore Tech Center, rebranded from the Computer Shop.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right. Okay.
 
John Paul Hansen:
Yep.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right.
 
John Paul Hansen:
Yep.
 
Madi:
What if I go rub the Founder's Bell before finals, and then he just like jumps out-
 
Dave Blanks:
And he's like. I never rubbed the Founder's Bell, but when I think about my GPA, maybe I should have. I also never exercised while I was at Appalachian State.
 
Madi:
Hey, this person's watching right now.
 
Dave Blanks:
That guy. Excuse me, Mr. Flannel. Hey. Hey. I have a podcast called Dave by the Bell, where I interview App State students. Would you mind if I ask you a question? I don't think your name is really Mr. Flannel either.
 
Ben Perkins:
Oh, you don't? Well, that's good.
 
Dave Blanks:
No, I'm not aware of your name, but I would assume it's not Mr. Flannel.
 
Ben Perkins:
Well, if you knew, it'd be weird, because I don't think we've ever met.
 
Dave Blanks:
That would be crazy, right?
 
Ben Perkins:
My name is Ben Perkins.
 
Dave Blanks:
All right.
 
Ben Perkins:
I'd probably live in the Union. Location-wise, I think it's the best.
 
Dave Blanks:
Fair enough.
 
Ben Perkins:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
So what part of the Student Union would you live in?
 
Ben Perkins:
Well rest in peace to the Whitewater Lounge, but that's where I'd live.
 
Madi:
That's what I said.
 
Ben Perkins:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
So I asked Madi this, and she said ... Now why did you like the Whitewater? Let's ask you first, Ben.
 
Ben Perkins:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
And then, Madi, we'll get your take on why the Whitewater was awesome.
 
Ben Perkins:
Well, I think originally it was had this classy lounge kind of vibe.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay.
 
Ben Perkins:
And I don't know. It was really secluded, so not a lot of people went there. So I thought that was really cool about it.
 
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Yeah. Well, good choice. Ben, thank you. Madi, tell us why you liked the Whitewater.
 
Madi:
I just have good memories of escaping to there. Well, I remember my freshman year, I was really bored, and I was like, I'm going to just go explore the Student Union. And I felt like I went in there, and it was like a secret hideout almost. And it was just nice and dark, and they would sometimes play music in there. If only it still existed, that's where I'd choose.
 
Dave Blanks:
Listen, I think I want to encourage y'all to go back to where it was, because now it's the Career Development Center. Okay?
 
Ben Perkins:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
So take charge of your future.
 
Ben Perkins:
Oh, yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Okay? All right, please.
 
Ben Perkins:
I will.
 
Madi:
Oh, yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Ben. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Ben, thanks for your answer.
 
Ben Perkins:
Absolutely.
 
Madi:
Okay, we're at the Alpha Phi Omega table, and we have four students here. Why don't you all introduce yourselves in a row?
 
Jenn:
Hi, I'm Jenn.
 
Chris:
I'm Chris.
 
Gigi:
I'm Gigi.
 
Skyler:
And I'm Skyler. I would live in the Solarium. It's just the ambience and all the plants and stuff. I feel like it's so lively and fun in there.
 
Madi:
Awesome. Thank you. Moving on to Chris.
 
Chris:
Yep. That's my same answer. I would live in the Solarium. Honestly, it's one of the most peaceful places on campus.
 
Madi:
For sure. What about you?
 
Gigi:
Same. Same here.
 
Madi:
Same?
 
Dave Blanks:
Gigi's there.
 
Madi:
Skyler?
 
Skyler:
I've got to say the garden near the LLC.
 
Madi:
Okay.
 
Skyler:
I love doing garden work there. It's so much fun. I think I'd make a little home in the little greenhouse with the solar panels on top. I think that would be really cutesy. Yeah.
 
Madi:
Yeah. That's a great answer. Very unique. Thank you, guys.
 
Dave Blanks:
Thank y'all so much.
 
Skyler:
Thank you.
 
Ashlyn Benzel:
My name is Ashlyn Benzel. Sanford Mall! Right here! I would set up a tent and just stay here. There is, I mean grass. There's trees to climb. My friends. The dining hall's right over there. I mean, you can't-
 
Dave Blanks:
Nothing wrong with that.
 
Madi:
Can't go wrong.
 
Ashlyn Benzel:
Can't go wrong.
 
Madi:
Great answer. Thank you so much.
 
Ashlyn Benzel:
You're so welcome.
 
Dave Blanks:
Maddie, we're done. What did we learn today?
 
Madi:
Today we learned that Walmart is on campus.
 
Dave Blanks:
We also learned that if you're going to live in the Solarium, you better like other people, because everybody else is living in the Solarium too, right?
 
Madi:
Yeah.
 
Dave Blanks:
Thanks for taking the time. Thanks for coming along with me. You did a great job. Was it fun?
 
Madi:
It was a great time.
 
Dave Blanks:
Let's edit this podcast.
 
Madi:
Sounds good.
 
Dave Blanks:
I'm Dave Blanks, and this has been Dave by the Bell. Bye, Madi.
 
Madi:
Bye.
 

Dave and photographer Kyla strike out to interview first year students and their helpful parents as they move in to Thunder Hill Hall on the beautiful campus of Appalachian State University.
 
 
Transcript:
Dave Blanks:
Hey folks, how's it going? I'm Dave Blanks from University Communications. Today on Dave by the Bell, I'm going to be talking to people who are moving into Thunder Hill, trying to figure out what the moment's like for them. Maybe talk to parents, maybe talk to students. Also, get an idea of what their aspirations and hopes are for the coming year. That's the plan. Let's do it.
All right. There's a lot of folks in here. We're actually going in one of the residence halls. This is Thunder Hill, I do believe. Yeah, that's correct. We have a lot of folks. You've been taking pictures of move in day, Kyla, and those will probably be some of which will end up on our Facebook page.
Kyla:
Facebook and Instagram.
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, I don't like it in here.
Kyla:
It is chaotic.
Speaker 3:
Excuse me.
Kyla:
Yeah, no problem. Yeah, let's go upstairs.
Dave Blanks:
Let's go upstairs.
Tia Proctor:
I'm Tia Proctor. It is so exciting. I'm just ready to get everything in and get everything sorted and stuff. And then just go explore the campus and just go to King Street-
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
Tia Proctor:
... and just have fun.
Dave Blanks:
When you look forward to the coming year, what is something that you're anticipating?
Tia Proctor:
I'm excited for game days.
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Awesome.
Tia Proctor:
And learning about business and going through the business college and stuff.
Dave Blanks:
Cool. Tia, thank you so much for your answers. I really appreciate you. You passed with flying colors. Good job. Yeah.
Tia Proctor:
Thank you.
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
Tia Proctor:
Yeah. Good one.
Dave Blanks:
Okay. And who is this? Your roommate?
Tia Proctor:
Yes.
Dave Blanks:
Hello? What is your name?
Maddie Henry:
Maddie Henry.
Dave Blanks:
Hey Maddie, how's it going?
Maddie Henry:
It's good. How are you?
Dave Blanks:
I'm good. How's your room? It looks pretty cool to me.
Maddie Henry:
It is amazing.
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
Maddie Henry:
I was expecting so much less actually.
Dave Blanks:
Right.
Maddie Henry:
And I'm so excited that we got our own bathroom.
Dave Blanks:
Okay. Maddie, what's the moment like for you right now? What's the feeling?
Maddie Henry:
Nervous, excited, everything. I just want to get everything unpacked and be settled in, have everything go smoothly.
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Well, has it been so, so far so good?
Maddie Henry:
So far so good except for the rain.
Dave Blanks:
I know, but at least you're inside right now. Right? Did you get everything in before it started really coming down?
Maddie Henry:
My parents are actually out there.
Dave Blanks:
Oh no. Your poor parents. All right. Well, shout out to Maddie's parents.
Maddie Henry:
Yeah.
Dave Blanks:
Be strong.
Maddie Henry:
I'm from Pennsylvania, so I'm very excited to just meet new people. Get a fresh start and make a lot of friends.
Dave Blanks:
Tia and Maddie, good luck. We're happy to have you as new Mountaineers.
Maddie Henry:
Thank you.
Dave Blanks:
All right. Bye y'all.
Silas Dickerson:
I am Silas Dickerson. I got here about 15 minutes ago. It feels great. Yeah, I'm ready to be here. I'm just ready to be more independent.
Jennifer Leaver:
Hi, I'm Jennifer Leaver.
Dave Blanks:
Who are you helping move in here today?
Jennifer Leaver:
My daughter, Lauren.
Dave Blanks:
Is this your first kid to come to college?
Jennifer Leaver:
No, I have a son in Boulder, in Colorado.
Dave Blanks:
All right.
Jennifer Leaver:
It's been nice to have her close by.
Dave Blanks:
When you look forward to Lauren's first year, what is it that you're excited about for her?
Jennifer Leaver:
Just meeting new people, finding her tribe of friends, and big football games, because she didn't have a school that was oriented around that and-
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. She's definitely got that to look forward to.
Jennifer Leaver:
Yeah. Yeah.
Dave Blanks:
Well, thanks so much for helping out and thanks for letting me talk to you. I appreciate you very much.
Jennifer Leaver:
Yeah. Sure, sure.
McKenna Guard:
I'm McKenna Guard. A mix of excitement and nervousness. A good healthy mix. I'm excited for the new community, and my friends last year went here and I just got to see them grow.
Dave Blanks:
Hold on, hold on. Let's let the train pass by. All right. What else was it?
McKenna Guard:
Because my friends, I got to see them grow here in Boone last year, and so I'm really excited to do that too.
Dave Blanks:
Awesome. I'm sure you will. McKenna, thanks for your time. I really appreciate you. Welcome to Boone.
McKenna Guard:
Thank you.
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
Spencer Daniel:
I'm Spencer Daniel.
Dave Blanks:
Hey Spencer.
Spencer Daniel:
Hey.
Dave Blanks:
Your girls are here?
Spencer Daniel:
I have one daughter here and then her friend is her roommate.
Dave Blanks:
Oh, that works out well. Cool. What's your daughter's name?
Spencer Daniel:
Her name is Allie.
Dave Blanks:
Okay. All right. Is this your first child to come to college?
Spencer Daniel:
First child to go to college. Yes.
Dave Blanks:
All right. What's the moment like? Allie's in her room now.
Spencer Daniel:
Yeah, it's real. It feels real.
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
Spencer Daniel:
It's exciting. She's so happy to be here. She's been looking forward to this since probably her junior year of high school. And so it's a really exciting time. I feel good that she feels good about it. She's just so excited to be here and have the opportunity to go out on the Parkway and go hiking and do all the outdoor things. And I think that part is what I'm most excited for her to be up here and to experience everything.
Dave Blanks:
Well, let's talk to her. Is she inside?
Spencer Daniel:
Yeah, she is. Yeah.
Dave Blanks:
Okay. Cool.
Spencer Daniel:
Come here.
Dave Blanks:
Hey.
Alice Daniel:
Hi.
Dave Blanks:
How's it going y'all? I was just talking to Spencer here.
Alice Daniel:
Yes.
Dave Blanks:
And Spencer, this is your daughter.
Spencer Daniel:
Yes.
Dave Blanks:
Okay. Who am I speaking with?
Alice Daniel:
Alice Daniel.
Dave Blanks:
Alice. How's it going? You go by Alice or Allie?
Alice Daniel:
Well, so my nickname has been Allie growing up.
Dave Blanks:
All right.
Alice Daniel:
But I decided I wanted to go back to my real name.
Dave Blanks:
All right. Cool.
Alice Daniel:
Yeah.
Dave Blanks:
Well that's what college is all about, right?
Alice Daniel:
Yes.
Dave Blanks:
Okay, cool. You were moving into Thunder Hill?
Alice Daniel:
Yes.
Dave Blanks:
You're in your room. What's going on in your head?
Alice Daniel:
Yeah, I'm really excited. I thought I was going to be more emotional, but I'm actually... I feel like my happiness is overshadowing my sadness about leaving them right now.
Dave Blanks:
Nice. Percentage wise. Good.
Alice Daniel:
Yes.
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
Alice Daniel:
Yes.
Dave Blanks:
Excellent. Well, I hope it continues to tip that way, the scale.
Alice Daniel:
Yes. Yeah, I do too.
Dave Blanks:
When you look forward to your coming year, what is it that you're most excited about?
Alice Daniel:
Definitely. I have two things. I think one, I'm really excited to meet new people and just do Young Life or RUF, some kind of campus ministry. And then two, just being in the mountains and doing hikes and just being in the beauty of it.
Dave Blanks:
Nice. Oh, that was perfect.
Alice Daniel:
Yeah.
Dave Blanks:
All right. Well thank you so much for your time and welcome to Boone. We're glad you're here.
Alice Daniel:
Thank you.
Vrishank Thombare:
My name is Vrishank Thombare. I just moved in right now. I just dropped off all my stuff, said bye to my parents.
Dave Blanks:
Oh, man.
Vrishank Thombare:
Just came back. Yeah.
Dave Blanks:
You just said goodbye to them?
Vrishank Thombare:
Yeah. I just said goodbye. I just came back from the rain.
Dave Blanks:
Were they sad?
Vrishank Thombare:
My mom was crying. Oh, my mom was crying.
Dave Blanks:
Oh, no. Oh, man.
Vrishank Thombare:
She was like, "Give me a hug," and all this. She hugged me three times in the rain.
Dave Blanks:
Did you expect that?
Vrishank Thombare:
Yeah, I did. I expected it.
Dave Blanks:
Did you get emotional?
Vrishank Thombare:
I did get emotional, but it's like, I got to start this chapter.
Dave Blanks:
It's true man.
Vrishank Thombare:
New opportunities, new people.
Dave Blanks:
Absolutely.
Vrishank Thombare:
I'm really looking forward to the clubs because they have a lot of nature clubs that I wanted to look at to check them out.
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
Vrishank Thombare:
I'm also interested in meeting new people from all types of backgrounds and building relationships, creating a network with people, so when I go into my career field I'm able to communicate with people that may have an advantage of something else that can help me.
Dave Blanks:
Whoa, This Hall's all decked out.
Kyla:
People are still moving in.
Dave Blanks:
Somebody decked the hall. It's got balloons and streamers and stuff. This RA really cares. Do you remember your move-in day, Kyla?
Kyla:
Yeah.
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Was it hard?
Kyla:
Not really.
Dave Blanks:
No. It was pretty smooth?
Kyla:
Because I didn't have whole load of stuff. I had really small room.
Dave Blanks:
Nice.
Kyla:
And I lived on the second floor of Eggers.
Dave Blanks:
Oh perfect, so you didn't have to climb floor after floor after floor?
Kyla:
Yeah.
Dave Blanks:
Oh, that's a nice feeling.
Vrishank Thombare:
Hey.
Dave Blanks:
Hey dude. What's up Vrishank? Good man. How are you?
Vrishank Thombare:
Just getting to my room.
Dave Blanks:
All right. All right. Enjoy. Hey, guys.
Guys:
Hey.
Dave Blanks:
Well everybody in Thunder Hill seems to have a pretty good attitude thus far.
Father of student:
Sorry.
Dave Blanks:
Oh no, you're good. Come on past. Okay. All right.
Kyla:
But all of these people have moved in.
Dave Blanks:
That lady had a plunger. Did you see that?
Kyla:
Yeah.
Dave Blanks:
She's a vital member of the team.
Jack Bryan:
I'm Jack Bryan.
Dave Blanks:
Okay. Jack Bryan. And your name, sir?
Tim Johnson:
I'm Tim Johnson.
Jack Bryan:
Just feeling things out right now. I've been here for a little over 24 hours, so everything's still pretty fresh. Yeah.
Dave Blanks:
Room looks good.
Jack Bryan:
Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate it.
Dave Blanks:
Yeah. Yeah.
Jack Bryan:
Just getting used to the campus and everything. Exploring a little bit.
Dave Blanks:
And Tim?
Tim Johnson:
I'm not going to lie, I was a little nervous, but then I got everything in place and I just did my own thing, and I feel fine now. I can't wait for it. I know it's going to sound cliche, but I can't wait for all the friendships we're going to make with other people. I'm actually really excited for that.
Dave Blanks:
Nice man.
Tim Johnson:
Yeah.
Dave Blanks:
That's nice. It's cliche for a reason, man. That's a good thing.
Tim Johnson:
Mm-hm.
Dave Blanks:
All right. And Jack, what about you? What are you looking forward to for this year?
Jack Bryan:
Got to be the football games.
Dave Blanks:
Yeah.
Jack Bryan:
Got to be.
Dave Blanks:
Awesome. All right. Are you stoked for Carolina?
Jack Bryan:
Yeah, absolutely.
Dave Blanks:
You're going to be there.
Jack Bryan:
Absolutely.
Dave Blanks:
All right. Absolutely. Well, thanks guys. I appreciate your time and welcome to Boone.
Jack Bryan:
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Kyla:
Stairs is all the way down. If you pass... They're right across from the elevators.
Mother of student:
Okay.
Dave Blanks:
Thanks, Kyla. You're so helpful.
Kyla:
I get so many questions.
Dave Blanks:
Oh, I know. People are like, "Hey, help me put together my bed. Where's the door? Where's my child?"
            Hopefully everybody's moved in by the time you're listening to this. Thanks so much to everybody who let me barge in on them. I really appreciate it. Kyla, thanks for taking pictures. I'm Dave Blanks. This has been Dave by the Bell.
 

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