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The Blue Banner

The Student Voice of UNC Asheville

The Blue Banner

The Student Voice of UNC Asheville

The Blue Banner

UNC Asheville student basketball athletes DJ Patrick, Hugo Maton, and Brayden Rivers wear new apparel.
UNC Asheville Athletics overhauls its identity with new logos
Adam Hetland, News Writer, [email protected] August 26, 2025

UNC Asheville Athletics goes back to the drawing board and replaces its old branding with new brand marks, refreshed logos, and an all-new bulldog icon. “It's a little more stapley, a little more elegant than the old one, a little less cartoony....

Madeline Wittschen, a fifth year senior music student at UNC Asheville, thrifts at Goodwill.
Thrifting remains popular among UNC Asheville students and wider community
Isabel Richardson, MCOM Student Contributor, [email protected] May 6, 2025

Students at UNC Asheville and members of the wider Asheville community choose pre-loved clothing now more than ever as concerns over affordability,...

A new mom recovers from birth and cares for her own kittens at Esther Neonatal Kitten Alliance.
Hurricane Helene affects local Asheville animal shelters
Emma Graham, MCOM Student Contributor, [email protected] May 2, 2025

With only 46 of the approximate 120 North Carolina animal shelters having a no-kill policy, animals in crisis are not guaranteed survival, especially...

Customers support Local Asheville Business Odd's Cafe on Haywood Street.
TikTok faced a temporary ban, raising concerns regarding small businesses, mental health and national security
Ruby Green, MCOM Student Contributor, [email protected] May 2, 2025

TikTok underwent a temporary ban in January, sparking concerns among small-business owners who rely on the platform to grow their companies'...

Student Success Hub in Ramsey Library
On-campus employment equips students with valuable skills and experience
Rico Morgan, MCOM Student Contributor, [email protected] May 2, 2025

On-campus jobs at the University of North Carolina at Asheville offer students more than just an opportunity to earn extra cash. Through roles...

An air freshener hangs in Elvira Shevchenko's car and is one of the many products to be sold with the “hot girls hit curbs” phrase.
The ‘hot girls hit curbs’ trend blends humor and controversy
Elvira Shevchenko, MCOM Student Contributor, [email protected] May 2, 2025

The phrase “hot girls hit curbs,” which has gained popularity on social media, is meant to be lighthearted and humorous. However, some Asheville...

Study materials help students succeed in their college classes.
UNC Asheville students face difficulties managing their coursework alongside job responsibilities
Elvira Shevchenko, MCOM Student Contributor, [email protected] May 2, 2025

Balancing coursework with the demands of everyday life presents a significant challenge for today's students. The Academic Success Center at...

Decorative Background
Jason Miller poses for his first day of kindergarten.
Don’t ask me about graduation
A reflection on leaving the UNC Asheville community and relationships built over the last four years
Jason Miller, Arts & Features Editor, [email protected] April 28, 2025

Don't ask me about graduation. Or rather, don't ask any senior about graduation. I'd avoid the topic entirely unless you want to ruin their day. Over...

This matters: the institutional response to covert abuse
This matters: the institutional response to covert abuse
Heather Fisher, Arts & Features Writer, [email protected] April 2, 2025

Most people don’t see what survival mode looks like in a college student. It doesn’t always look like breakdowns or missed assignments. Often,...

UNC Asheville Track and Cross Country Athlete: William “Hank” Neal
Chiara LoBianco, MCOM Contributor, [email protected] April 28, 2025

Follow UNCA Track and Cross Country Athlete William "Hank" Neal through a day as an injured athlete. Learn how it feels to be sidelined from...

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A customer holds their freshly-used Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm.
Luxe lips: a Summer Fridays makeup review
Alexandrea Thomson, Arts & Features Writer, [email protected] April 23, 2025

Many a trendy lip balm has found its way into our bags, promising hydration and a hint of color. But let’s be honest, most of them leave lips feeling either too sticky or barely moisturized. Enter Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, the beauty...

Asheville residents gather in Pack Square on Feb. 8 to protest ICE and the rise in deportation.
The myth of the perfect activist
Lindsey Toman, Assistant News Editor, [email protected] April 23, 2025

Being a young activist in the modern era oftentimes feels like living under a microscope. You're expected to speak up, organize and resist as a model of a progressive future, but in reality, no choice is ever perfectly clean. Contradictions pile up fast...

Inhaler rocks a sold-out Orange Peel show with memorable alt-rock songs
Inhaler rocks a sold-out Orange Peel show with memorable alt-rock songs
Mavie Marcos, Arts & Features Writer, [email protected] March 17, 2025

Eager concertgoers packed tightly into the Orange Peel on Monday night while waiting for Irish rock band Inhaler. With a sold-out crowd and an...

Unlock holistic wellness: how yoga and acupuncture harmonize mind, body and emotions for optimal health
Unlock holistic wellness: how yoga and acupuncture harmonize mind, body and emotions for optimal health
Heather Fisher, Arts & Features writer, [email protected] February 26, 2025

Yoga is a disciplined, moving meditation. Combining yoga with acupuncture enhances healing.  "The needles tell your body how to heal itself,"...

The remnants of the flood of the French Broad River remain in the River Arts District three days after Hurricane Helene hit.
The Grammys show Southern Appalachia the country has forgotten about them
Brayden Giffin, Arts & Features Writer, [email protected] February 21, 2025

On Feb. 2, a group of wealthy people gathered in a fancy building in designer wear that cost more than rent for a single-bedroom apartment in...

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