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The Student Voice of UNC Asheville

The Blue Banner

The Student Voice of UNC Asheville

The Blue Banner

Customer receives a measles vaccine at CVS
Religion continues to influence vaccination decisions
Emma Hoosier, MCOM contributor, [email protected] April 16, 2025

People continue to cite religion as a means not to get vaccines despite their safety and effectiveness in disease prevention.  Vaccination is one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, reducing infectious diseases and saving...

Isaac Rowles poses for a headshot.
AI in the accounting world: One CPA’s perspective on the future of the profession
Mavie Marcos, Arts & Features writer • April 24, 2025

As artificial intelligence reshapes education at UNCA, it is already changing the landscape for professionals in fields like accounting. Isaac...

Students on the quad celebrate the clear skies and high temperatures.
Joy in bloom: Spring comes to end seasonal depression at UNCA
Cameryn Shochet, Staff Writer, [email protected] April 23, 2025

With the vernal equinox behind us and the freezing weather that previously decimated campus gone, students aren’t letting the influx of sunlight...

 Grayson Warner shares his Spotify track "Only Way To Be," highlighting his creative process and passion for music.
UNC Asheville musicians face uncertain futures in a competitive industry
Alexandrea Thomson, Arts & Features Writer, [email protected] April 23, 2025

UNC Asheville music students said they chase their passion despite financial uncertainty, an oversaturated industry, and the constant pressure...

Decks of tarot cards sit in their own section at Raven & Crone in North Asheville.
Divination and familiars: the new and old age magic living in Asheville
Brayden Giffin, Arts & Features Writer, [email protected] April 23, 2025

Metaphysical practices and beliefs vary depending on the person, but each practice has become a large part of the Asheville community. Whether...

Trader Joe's displays meat options in their Asheville store.
Studies find plant-based meat options harm the environment
Emma Hoosier, MCOM Contributor, [email protected] April 23, 2025

Plant-based meat alternative brands such as Impossible and Beyond Burgers are growing in popularity, which can negatively impact the environment. “You...

International student-athletes from UNCA swim and dive team.
International student-athletes overcome mental health challenges
Alessia Cunegatti, MCOM contributor, [email protected] April 23, 2025

International student-athletes say they often struggle with homesickness, cultural adjustment, academic pressure and the high standards of their...

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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,...

Pictured: Lindsey Toman
Pressures of a pretty girl: a dive into self image
Lindsey Toman, News Writer, [email protected] February 25, 2025

The expectation of beauty for a woman in America has been challenged repeatedly as it ebbs and flows throughout eras.  The Eurocentric projection...

Head coach Matt Frost engages tennis players
Tennis team chases another title, one match at a time
Alexandrea Thomson, Arts & Features writer, [email protected] February 24, 2025

UNC Asheville’s men's tennis team said they are determined to replicate last year’s success, aiming to defend their conference title and...

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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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