Appalachian State University

Few men know what it's like to walk in Michael Jordan's shoes. Buzz Peterson knows because, well, he walks in Jordan's shoes. Not the popular name brand sneakers the former great hocks, but MJ's very own toe huggers. "I have not bought a new pair of dress shoes since 1984," Peterson boasts proudly over the phone from Boone, N.C. Once, before MJ went global, life was different. When both were freshman roommates at North Carolina, it was Mike Jordan who used to raid Peterson's shoe rack.

Few men know what it's like to walk in Michael Jordan's shoes. Buzz Peterson knows because, well, he walks in Jordan's shoes. Not the popular name brand sneakers the former great hocks, but MJ's very own toe huggers. "I have not bought a new pair of dress shoes since 1984," Peterson boasts proudly over the phone from Boone, N.C. Once, before MJ went global, life was different. When both were freshman roommates at North Carolina, it was Mike Jordan who used to raid Peterson's shoe rack.

From kitschy gift to kitchen darling, chia is having another 15 minutes of fame. And this time, it's not slathered on clay "pets. " Chia seeds have become popular for their omega-3 fatty acids and fiber content. With their neutral taste, they can be consumed in many ways - now they're even showing up in processed foods such as chips and spreads. Eaten by the Maya and Aztec people, chia seeds have long been reputed to be nutritional powerhouses. "They were basics when we grew up," says Ramiro Arvizu, a chef at La Casita Mexicana in Bell.

About 65 middle school students are scheduled to attend a tobacco education conference from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. The conference, titled "Blowing Smoke: Detecting and Rejecting Harmful Media Messages," will take place at the River Ridge Golf Course, 2401 W. Vineyard Ave., in Oxnard. David Considine, media studies coordinator at Appalachian State University, will show the seventh- and eighth-grade students how the use of imagery by the media can influence attitudes and behavior.

Wake Forest has backed out of its football game scheduled against South Carolina on Oct. 1 and the Gamecocks now will face Appalachian State on that date. "We're pleased to announce the addition of Appalachian State University to our 1988 football schedule," Athletic Director Bob Marcum said. "When we contacted them about the opening in our schedule, they were extremely interested and we were able to work things out with them," Marcum said.

Forget the vitamins. The best supplement to help athletes' bodies recover from the stress of heavy-duty exercise is good old-fashioned sugar -- found in sports drinks. That's because the drinks, which are 6% to 8% sugar, help restore much of the body's depleted supply of carbohydrates. Sports drinks supply forms of sugar, such as glucose and sucrose, that are quickly absorbed and in optimal concentrations. Fruit drinks contain fructose, which can lead to cramping or stomach upset.

A lot of headline writers had a field day in the middle of April, putting toppers on stories suggesting that members of the Donner Party might not have engaged in cannibalism: "Oops," they wrote, and "Sorry, folks." The claim, based on a university news release, was obviously a historical shocker sure to get people's attention — and yet it was grossly misleading, if not flat wrong. As a former journalist now working at a university, I'm not sure whether I'm more appalled at the performance of the Fourth Estate or the academy.

Question: For six months, I've been running 5 miles three times a week and cycling one hour two times a week. I've reached my goal (losing 10 pounds), but now I'm getting sick all the time. Is there an exercise/cold connection? JILL KAPLAN Monterey, Calif. Answer: There may be a connection, but only with too much exercise, researchers say. New studies by David Nieman, a professor of health and exercise science at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.

Far be it for die-hard fitness buffs to let a little fever stop them from doing their regular workout -- or for driven Pop Warner football players to miss a practice. But it's not actually laudable to laugh in the face of an illness such as the H1N1 virus. "The best information we have says complete bed rest is best," says David Nieman, director of the human performance lab at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. And forget the idea you can sweat out the flu through intense exercise: "That's a myth," he says.

William M. Vega, president of Coastline Community College for the past eight years, on Monday night was unanimously elected chancellor of the three-college, 53,000-student district that includes Coastline. The Coast Community College District Board of Trustees picked Vega, 50, to succeed Alfred P. Fernandez, who retired Aug. 30. The trustees, at a special meeting, also voted that Vega should assume the duties of chancellor Nov. 1, be given a three-year contract and be paid $119,309 a year. "Dr.

Wake Forest has backed out of its football game scheduled against South Carolina on Oct. 1 and the Gamecocks now will face Appalachian State on that date. "We're pleased to announce the addition of Appalachian State University to our 1988 football schedule," Athletic Director Bob Marcum said. "When we contacted them about the opening in our schedule, they were extremely interested and we were able to work things out with them," Marcum said.