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e r u t a n n a m u h s i e r e h k a “W e so w kstore?” o o b e h t n i s a 7)

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eec B d r a ry W

— Hen

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The NEW campus bookstore is so big, so beautiful and so well-stocked, it just might make you weak in the knees.

19,000 square feet Best price guarantee Used book headquarters – best buy-back value Expanded selection of 49er gear and apparel Huge trade and reference book sections Tons of supplies Special pre-pack textbook service for the August sales tax holiday Right next to Starbucks in the Student Union

www.uncc.bncollege.com

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SURVIVAL GUIDE UNC CHARLOTTE • 2009

Editor-in-Chief Will Grier Managing Editor Kristen Litchfield Assitant Editors Whitney Baggs, Dana Nigro Writers Whitney Baggs, Corey Conner, Stephen Duty, Jim Ghegan, Will Grier, Kristen Litchfield, Rob McCormick, Dana Nigro, Natasha Williams Copy Editor Brian Yablon Marketing Director Matt Coffey Sales Manager Tim Gheen Creative Director Sarah Jones Student Media Adviser: Wayne Maikranz Marketing Adviser: Kelly Merges Production Adviser: Pete Hurdle Business Manager: Daisy Concepcion Office Manager: Mark Haire

WWW.NINERONLINE.COM

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TABLE OF CONTENTS History is constantly being made Charlotte athletics Student Union Advising Learning Communities Diversity UNC Charlotte e-mail Roommates Credit Cards GPA Computer Protection Student Computing Resources 10 things to do in Charlotte, N.C 49 things every Niner should know.

Campus Shuttles Immunizations Student Employment Parking Services Intramurals Rec Services Campus Bookstore 10 places to eat off campus Freshman 15 How to go Greek Student Organizations Free Speech Zones Police and Public Safety Campus Safety Student Health Center Niner Nation welcome 49er Card

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History is constantly being made J. Murrey Atkins Library The Atkins Library was the third building to be constructed on campus.

After the building was completed in 1963, 17,000 books were moved to the new building from their temporary location in the Kennedy Building.

The J. Murrey Atkins Library was dedicated on April 11, 1965, in memory of J. Murrey Atkins, the first Chairman of the Charlotte College Board of Trustees. In addition to being the first chairman of the Board, Murrey Atkins was president of the investment firm R. S. Dixon and Company, and the director of many civic, cultural, and social welfare agencies in Charlotte.

The Library began a refacing project in 2006 when it was noticed that the exterior of the buildng was starting to deteriorate; the project was completed in 2007.

Today Atkins Library is a newly-bricked fortress of solitude that houses more than one million forty-six thousand books.

Kennedy Building The Kennedy Building holds the distinction of being one of the first two buildings constructed on campus. It was named for Woodford “Woody” A. Kennedy, a Charlotte businessman. Mr. Kennedy is fondly remembered as the person who located land for the University and used his own money to purchase options on selected tracts.

The building, which today bears his name, was constructed in 1961. The 43,993 square foot building costing $897,000 was dedicated in memory of W. A. “Woody” Kennedy in 1975, seventeen years after his death.

The Kennedy building has in recent years played host to the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). However, Information Technology Services has plans to utilize the building when ROTC moves into the Brocker Building.

Rowe Arts Building

This beautiful structure houses UNC Charlotte's Departments of Performing and Visual Arts. The building first opened for students in the summer of 1972. It's focal point is an eight-sided, 350-seat auditorium. The building also features a recital hall, scene shop, offices, classrooms, practice rooms, photography darkrooms, ceramic shop, and large lobby-gallery, in addition to a host of other innovative teaching and creative spaces.

You can find art exhibits on the second floor of this building, it’s all work done by your peers. The lobby area of Rowe also has gone through a make over, making it one of the more inviting areas on campus.

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Charlotte athletics accolades KRISTEN LITCHFIELD Managing Editor

UNC Charlotte is home to 16 varsity sports that compete in Division I of the NCAA in the Atlantic 10 conference. For

athletic purposes we are referred to as Charlotte, not UNCC, not UNC Charlotte; just Charlotte.

The University’s athletic programs have grown over the years and have earned the right to be named Atlantic 10 Champions in: women’s soccer, women’s basketball, men and

women’s track and field, golf, and baseball.

As the university lacks a football team until 49ers football’s inaugural season in 2013, the other athletic programs have really helped make a name for UNC Charlotte as they look for student, parent, and alumni support on the sidelines.

Women’s Soccer Team 2008 Atlantic 10 Champions (three consecutive titles)

Cross Country Amanda GoetschiusWomen’s Atlantic 10 Champion Adu Dentamo2008 Men’s Atlantic 10 Champion

Baseball 2008 Atlantic 10 Champions (back-to-back conference champions) Appearances in NCAA Tournament

Women’s Basketball 2009 Atlantic 10 Tournament Champions NCAA Tournament Appearance

Men’s Golf 2009 Atlantic 10 Champions (Fourth straight conference title) Men’s and Women’s Track & Field 2009 Atlantic 10 Conference Champions

Photos courtesy of Will Grier, Rob McCormick Jr., and Charlotte Athletics

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Student Union provides unique space for students ROB MCCORMICK JR. Staff Writer

It is an exciting time to be a new student at UNC Charlotte, especially with the opening of the highly anticipated Student Union building in August.

The gigantic 196,000 square foot, threestory Student Union building will create a unique space for students not found anywhere else on campus and will be the only building on campus that is open later than the library.

The Student Union features brand new options for dining, retail, and entertainment for students and faculty as well as improvements upon things that are currently on campus that will be moving into the new building.

Students will enjoy fresh, made-to-order dining in the new 350-seat Crown Commons—it’s all you care to eat and the best part, it’s meal plan friendly.

Five dining options will be available in the Student Union food court, which will seat 400 and be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The retail dining options consist of Wendy’s, Starbucks, Mamma Leone’s, Einstein Bros Bagels, and Energy Zone, which students may purchase with their meal plans.

On the second floor of the Student Union, students and staff can enjoy a bistro style dining facility for slightly more sophisticated occasions. If you aren’t feeling hungry, take a look around the four new retail stores,

including an Apple computer store, complete with repair center. You can also find the latest iPods and other computer accessories, but be careful because you still need to buy a few textbooks!

Do you need a quiet place to study but you don’t want to be cooped up in the library?

The Student Union will have multiple places with a great atmosphere and comfy chairs and couches for hitting those books and sipping some coffee. After hours of studying, you will most likely want a break for some entertainment.

The Student Union will also house a 210seat movie theater and NORM’s lounge, with large-screen TV’s and pool tables replacing the game room previously located in the Student Activity Center.

The Student Union will also be the new headquarters for several student organizations such as the Student Government Association, Student Media, the BSU, and others.

Student organizations will have 6,610 square feet of space for offices and meeting rooms.

A venue designed for over 1,000 (600 for banquet style seating) people in the Student Union will allow for large presentations and could potentially be used for live entertainment events.

The week-long grand opening celebration runs August 24 - August 29, kicking off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony August 24 at 10:30am. Other events include: a comedy show, mascarade ball, movies, food, giveaways and much more. See you there!

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Quick Facts *Project Cost: $65 million *196,000 square feet *Grand rotunda that reaches three stories *Food court with five dining options and seating for 400 *400-seat board dining area *Pool tables and other games *Student lounge *210-seat movie theater *Niner Mac Computer Store *Hair salon *Multi-purpose venue with 600+ seating banquet style *4 retail shopping or service spaces *6,610 square foot student organization and activity space *8 meeting rooms plus configurable meeting areas *Parking in Union deck (adjacent to Student Union) *Connected by 300 foot long bridge to residential campus *Barnes & Noble Campus Bookstore *Einstein Bros. Bagels *Wendy’s *Outtakes Convenience Store *Starbucks *Mamma Leone’s dine-in and carryout *Outdoor patio and seating areas *Energy Zone *Art gallery Renderings courtesy of FWA Architects

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Free advice worth wealth in gold WHITNEY BAGGS Assistant Editor

Free advice is exactly that, free. You pay nothing for it except maybe those few seconds of your life spent listening to the umpteenth random piece of advice from yet another well-intentioned stranger.

If you take nothing else from this Survival Guide remember this because it might just save your skin: www.ucae.uncc.edu This is the homepage to The University Center for Academic Achievement. At this page you can find information on a vast number of the University’s academic assistance programs. With so much free help available and so many options to choose from you are bound to find a perfect solution for any of your problems.

Tutorial Services Located in Fretwell 318K, Tutorial Services provides free help to students in a variety of different fields. In Spring of 2009, tutoring was offered in 20 different subjects and for 80 different classes.

Students need to sign up for tutoring appointments either by going to the office directly, by calling the office at 704-687-2163, or by scheduling online using TutorTrac.

You can receive one tutoring session per subject per week. Make sure you do your assignments, and bring your work with you so you can as specific questions about the material.

Supplemental Instruction Supplemental Instruction is a group study session lead by a student who has pre-

viously taken the class and received an “A” in the course. The SI Leader also attends lecture and knows what material you are covering in class. SI sessions are great for difficult and high withdrawal rate courses like Chemistry. Students that regularly attend SI sessions have on average finished their courses a whole letter grade higher than their peers.

The Language Resource Center Located in COED 434, the LRC is the place to go for more information or materials for language classes. The LRC has a fullsized computer lab and every machine has headphones so you can complete listening comprehension exercises on campus.

The LRC also has an International TV Viewing room that carries foreign language programming channels that you can watch

and to immerse yourself in the language.

The LRC also has language tutors available on site. Check the schedule. Most language classes are held in COED. Why walk to Fretwell for French tutoring if you can get help in the LRC. There are countless other programs designed to help you succeed academically including The Mathematics Learning Center, the Physics Resource Center, and engineering MAPS Tutoring. Your professor might also mention other places for you to get help in the course.

You are in charge of your academic success. Remember this free advice because it may just prove invaluable.

Hungry? Find something for every taste... follow this schedule for dining locations

Illustration courtesy of Auxiliary Servicces

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Learning Communities give new ‘home away from home’ NATASHA WILLIAMS Staff Writer

This fall, hundreds of students will be a part of Niner Nation. But for some, they will also become part of another community.

The University offers those students a special benefit to the college experience.

Learning Communities are fast-growing and hightly successful programs that focus on providing a true “home away from home.”

They will live with other students who will have similar interests and aspirations Being a part of a learning community is just one way for freshmen students to make immediate connections. Actually, there are both residential and non-residential learning communities.

Those who participate in residential programs, are required to live together in the same residence hall. Non-residential communities have no residential requirements, and students may live off campus if they so choose.

Students can find a wide variety of emphasis, including Business, Criminal Justice, Engineering and Nursing. There are many more to match your interest.

The common goal is to create a smooth transition from high school to college.

Learning communities do this by placing students in a small supportive environment where help is more readily available and when it is most needed. Students will have closer interaction with faculty and their advisors.

Along with the support from the others of their community, students will also have a peer mentor. Students take two or there of the same classes so they are encouraged to study with each other.

Stephanie Schmidt, coordinator for Leadership Journey, one of the communities offered, says the focus is leadership and learning personal strengths and weaknesses –things most students need to work on.

The Leadership Journey is a “live in situation. About 24 students live in Lynch Hall together and tackle leadership-related issues and also experience a couple other courses together.

Learning communities are not all about school work. Students undertake community service and go on a retreat. They also participate in the high ropes initiatives course. Schmidt explains that in the fall, students are divided up into teams to create proposals that can impact the quality of society.

In the spring, students work with Crossroads Charlotte, a communitybuilding initiative on campus. Their proposals can then be explored and enacted.

Schmidt said the retreat takes place right before school starts and students do lots of fun team- building activities. It is an experience where students get to know each other and “kick off” the year successfully.

Sophomore Chalis Sledge, a Left: Students enjoy a break from college life to go rope climbing. Below: Students work on a creativity project for their Learning Community.

Photo Courtesy of Center for Leadership Development

interest as mine would be beneficial for me,” said Sledge.

Sledge liked the learning community experience and she met a lot of people who introduced great opportunities. Sledge was happy that community service was required for the Leadership Journey.

“I found it very rewarding. I don’t regret it at all,” said Sledge.

communications major, participated in Leadership Journey as a freshman. She lived on the second floor of Lynch Hall with 24 other participating students.

“I received a pamphlet in the mail and it sparked my interest, so I went online,” said Sledge. “I was a leader in high school, so I thought it would be wise to continue in college.”

Like most incoming freshman, Sledge did not know many people coming to UNCC. She took the learning community as an opportunity to get involved and meet new friends. “I knew I was the only student from my high school attending UNCC and I knew I wouldn’t know a lot of people…I thought joining a community of people with similar

For more information on all other living communities offered, check out the website .

Students can go to www.lc.uncc.edu and get information on how to submit an application.

LIST OF LEARNING COMMUNITIES *Building Educational Strengths and Talents (B.E.S.T.) Learning Community *Business Learning Community *Community Service Learning Community *Computing and Informatics Learning Community *Criminal Justice Learning Community *Engineering Learning Community *English Learning Community *The Gender Excellence (Gen X) Learning Community *Genocide/International Law/Human Rights Learning Community *Global Village Learning Community *Health and Human Services Learning Community *Leadership Journey Learning Community (LJCL) *Political Science Learning Community *Psychology Learning Community *Teacher Education Learning Community *University College/College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (UCLAS) Learning Community *University Transition Opportunities Program (UTOP) Learning Community

Photo Courtesy of Center for Leadership Development

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How to identify a Niner UNC Charlotte’s colors are GREEN and WHITE. From emerald to forest, it’s easy being green. Adding gold and black is complementary, not official.

Learn the words and be ready to bust out with the Fight Song at any time.

Get your pom-poms, foam fingers, face paint and hair paint and go to the Athletic events; especially Men’s Basketball games. Even if there isn’t a game that day, do it anyways.

As a citizen on Niner Nation, you have something to smile about. Don’t walk around with a look like you hate being here; if you do then you are basically asking an upperclassmen to slap it off of you.

From the moment UNC Charlotte became your college choice, until the day you die, you are a citizen of Niner Nation. Wear your Niner Nation shirt often and with pride. Buy an extra one at the Campus Bookstore for about $10.

Wear UNC Charlotte stuff! All of the T-shirts, hoodies, and other worthless crap that has other schools’ names on them, bring all of it to the 49er Bonfire held before Basketball Madness.

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UNCC demographics explored by the numbers WHITNEY BAGGS Assistant Editor

According to the Office of Institutional Research, last year’s freshman class totaled more than 3,000 students and UNC Charlotte gained almost 1,500 transfers students. Of these new freshmen 60 were international students, 467 were black, 15 were American Indian or Native Alaskan, 162 were Asian or Pacific Islander, 117 were Hispanic, and 2,269 were non-Hispanic white.

These numbers may not seem like much, but take into consideration that 2005-2006 incoming freshmen class had only 22 international students.

UNC Charlotte more than doubled the amount of international students on campus!

Looking at these charts on campus can tell you so many things about UNC Charlotte. For example there were 160 more female first-time freshmen last year, and there were 76 more male transfer students arriving to campus for the first time than female transfer students.

Check out the Office of Institutional Research if you want to see more information about the student body composition by year at http:// ir.uncc.edu You can even find information about how many undergraduate and graduate students have the same major as you and how sizable the faculty is in that department.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Department of English have the largest faculties, while the Department of Africana Studies has the smallest.

You can find demographical information about your instructors as well. Did you know that of the 990 professors, associate professors, assistant professors and lecturers that 17 were under thirty years old and that 420 were more than fifty years old.

As interesting and thought provoking as numbers may be, you are going to miss out on so much of the college experience if you sit in your dorm room and research diversity, instead of living a life full of diversity.

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E-mail is Crucial to Student Success JIM GHEGAN Staff Writer

Your “uncc.edu” e-mail address is a crucial part of your academic life here at Charlotte. Professors send you material through it, the University notifies you of upcoming events (such as guest lecturers for example), and other classmates can contact you via their respective addresses.

It has become so important that many of my professors have the headline “check your uncc. edu e-mail daily” in their syllabus. This way you won’t miss important announcements, updates, and other news about your classes. This article will show you just how important it is.

I’ve grown to realize just how vital it is to have one e-mail arrangement that links all students, faculty, and people involved with the campus together, and that’s exactly what your uncc.edu e-mail address does.

A recent change was made to have both 49er Express and the campus e-mail system became “integrated.” Through the school’s e-mail system (and 49er Express), everyone in the school is connected.

Without that combination you would not be able to add or drop classes, look up grades, or check your e-mail all in one place. This is an often overlooked benefit for students, because so much has been put into one program after the

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combination of both.

Our e-mail system is subject to crashes or outages. However, do not be alarmed; these are usually only very temporary and are usually for a good reason (such as necessary repairs to only make it run even better for you).

Many students still use other programs as our other e-mail locations. Programs like Gmail, Hotmail.com, and Yahoo! Mail are fine to use, but when you’re a student here you will rely on your uncc.edu address much more, because everyone on campus will use the standard to search easily for each student’s address It makes it easier to search..

Although Outlook Express is not the most popular program for users, it does a very good job. Here as it has successfully integrated every staff member and student together in one place to make for fast and easy communication between everyone at the University.

Throughout your time at UNC Charlotte, you’ll soon find out that your e-mail account with the university is a very important tool.

It will be one that you will have to check regularly for updates in courses or announcements from the university. Many other notifications will also come via e-mail.

It will also help you stay connected more easily. This way you don’t have to memorize who has Yahoo, or Gmail, etc.

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Appreciating people who aren’t ‘just like’ you

How to live with your new roommates they may be a good roommate, you should test the waters and make sure you can handle seeing this person all of the time. Chances One of the most common complaints are if they can get annoying during normal amongst college students is something along social interactions then you should reconthe lines of, “I can’t stand my roommate.” sider.

For the most part, with a little bit of comIt’s important to know the difference bepromise and a lot of patience your living ex- tween someone’s being annoying and someperience can be greatly enhanced. Constant one’s quirk. Everyone has their own identifysquabbling over petty things can drive any ing trait that may seem annoying at first, but sane person over eventually you’ll the edge; but using get over it. It’ll what you learned in make you happier Kindergarten can in the long-run if help you a long way you can just accept in the real world. someone for who Sharing is some- DO get to know your roommate and learn what they are. thing that doesn’t interests you share.

Staying up uncome easy to a lot DON’T think that you have to be best friends. til all hours of the of people. Hownight is something ever much it may DO make other friends and get involved in campus that as students, activities. pain you to let your DON’T depend on your roommate to supply every we are used to doroommate get one emotional and social need. ing. But what do of your sodas, or let you do when your them use your toi- DO treat your roommate as an equal. roommate can’t letries…it’ll pay off DON’T give orders, make unreasonable demands or seem to keep the in the end if you just expect favors. volume at a reabite your tongue sonable level, espeand let it be. More DO discuss problems honestly and tactfully when cially when you’re likely than not, they they arise. trying to catch should eventually DON’T hold things in that are bothering you about some z’s before a your roommate. reciprocate the famajor test tomorvor in some way, DO avoid trying to reform or correct your roommate. row? Instead of unless they are a DON’T expect him or her to conform to your stantrying to harbor ‘user’ in which case dards or accept your beliefs. away the frustrait’s recommended tion, talk to them, that you reconsider DO respect your roommate’s right to privacy. politely. Trying to DON’T pry into his or her private affairs unless roommates. deal with the noise If you’ve never invited. is ok, and you hontried living with estly should before someone but think confronting someWILL GRIER Editor-in-Chief

Do’s and Don’ts of building a successful relationship

one, but everyone’s got their limit.

Roommate Bill of Rights They say that cleanliness is next to godliness, 1. The right to read and study free from undue interferand it can’t be any further ence in one’s room. from the truth. Just by picking up after yourself, 2. The right to sleep without undue disturbances from you and your roommates noise, guests, etc. can live in a clean, orderly 3. The right to expect that a roommate will respect one’s place. That’s the first step belongings. to being happy while at home.

4. The right to a clean environment in which to live.

Walking into a dirty living area can greatly damp5. The right to free access to one’s room without pressure en your mood, whether from a roommate. it be because you are not looking forward to clean6. The right to personal privacy. ing said mess, because you can’t trek through the pile 7. The right to be free from fear of intimidation and physical or emotional harm. of clothes, or because you can’t seem to find your lost 8. The right to host guests with the expectation that guests keys. Having a clean place are to respect the rights of the host’s roommates. helps everyone, so be kind and throw away the rind.

9. The right to redress of grievances.

As far as food is concerned: to each his or 10. The right to expect reasonable cooperation in the use her own. When someone of the room telephone and a commitment to honor agreed else puts food in the cabiupon payment procedures. nets or refrigerator, that Source: http://web.odu.edu/webroot/ orgs/STU/HS/ doesn’t make it fair game housing.nsf/pages/roommatetips to eat, unless verbally said that it’s ok to consume whatever they bought. over some people that epitomize ‘sketch,’ so On the other hand, if two or more people can chip in with the gro- what do you do? After the person or people cery bills, everyone can eat better for less. All in question have left, because it would be it takes is one or two people that know how very rude of you to start a conversation about to boil water and all of the food problems are them while they are looking at you, confront your roommate and ask them next time to solved, at least until one of them moves out.

Bringing people over to your humble let you know when they were going to bring abode is a given, but your roommate(s) bring some people over.

This allows for some sense of screening and it keeps everyone in the know. For the most part friends are ok to bring over, with friends of friends you should consider letting your roommates know so they have the option to talk to you about it before the people come over.

Entertainment equipment – your typical Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii- is up for grabs only if the person who bought the console agrees to let anyone play it.

You should be courteous and not break their system or any of its components. Playing video games is a great way to hang out with your roommate; if everyone could get together and play some Gears of War 2 or Halo 3, then it probably wouldn’t be so tense within the living area.

In all, it’s recommended that you spend at least some time with your roommates throughout the week, this way any questions or concerns can be addressed, making sure something small does not escalate into a debacle.

The keys are cleanliness, communication and compromise. With a little effort your living arrangements can go much smoother than some of the horror stories out there.

Photo courtesy of MCT Campus

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Credit Cards are not worth the convenience KRISTEN LITCHFIELD Managing Editor

As parents send their children off to college, most of them receive a credit card for emergencies. But often these emergencies turn into “I need a new pair of shoes” or “Let’s go to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.”

Many parents don’t explain to their children what constitutes as an emergency, or how credit cards work.

One common misconception is that there is a 25 day grace period on purchases, however, it is only if you have no balance on your credit card that you will not be charged for 25 days.

Interest is accrued immediately after you make a purchase if you have some sort of balance on your credit card, even if it’s three dollars from that latte you bought at Starbucks.

However, as students acquire credit cards they are indeed building credit and it will assist them in the long run when they go to lease a car or buy a house.

Having a credit card doesn’t build credit though. In order to build credit you have to make small purchases and pay off your bill

every month. When you don’t leave a balance on your card, you are able to take advantage of the 25 day grace period.

Another small advantage to having a credit card with your name on it, is the fact that you will not be carrying around a card with your parents name on it.

If you happen to charge something that you don’t want your parents to see, it will be a secret until you pay it off. For explain, Spring Break in Panama City, your parents won’t see your bills at the local bars or what else you did on your adventure.

According to a recent study done by a college finacing company, Sallie Mae, the average undergraduate carries $3,173 in credit card debt.

The study also revealed that the higher the grade level, the more credit card debt you will accumulate. Sallie Mae concluded that in 2008, college seniors averaged $4,138 in credit card debt upon graduation.

As credit card debt soars to high levels, so does the cost of college tuition. According to the College Board, the tuition and fees at public four-year colleges have climbed 50 percent, which averages $6,585 a year. With the rise of tuition students have turned to credit cards as a last resort.

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The Highs and Lows of GPA Work hard, hardly working is not an option anymore 3.5 GPA in college.

Just as a high GPA can open doors for you a low GPA can have adverse effects on Your success or failure in class is not your scholastic journey. unrelated to your success in life outside of Academic probation occurs when a stuthese hallowed halls. In the world of higher dent has a grade point deficit between 1 and education, GPA is the standard measure of 13. You can calculate your grade point deficit this achievement. A high GPA does more by dividing quality points over quality hours. than just open the doors to the career of your If you are put on academic probation it will dreams. It is important now, while you are be noted on your official transcript. Check setting off on what may be be the final four the 2007-2009 Undergraduate Catalog for years of your life in academia. further information on grade point deficits.

Earning and maintaining a high GPA is Academic suspension occurs when a stuyour utmost important academic priority. dent has “either a grade point deficit of 14 or The days where a “C” in English was accept- if the student fails to achieve good academic able are far behind you. The Undergraduate standing by the end of two semesters, (not Catalog includes a chart that clearly illus- including summer sessions).” If you are sustrates the University’s implicit opinion on pended you must apply for readmission to grades. A final grade of “C” is the course is the University. listed as “Fair”. There are few things that can Stay in good academic standing. To do positively be described as “fair,” neither the this you need to maintain a minimum GPA weather nor your grades benefit from this of 2.0, in other words at least a straight “C” qualifier. average.

Your GPA will determine whether or not The University recognizes students who you may take part in are successful in some of the Universi- “Your GPA will determine class. If you take 12 ty’s programs and stucredit hours or more whether or not you may dent organizations. If and earn a 3.8 GPA take part in some of the you would like to run with no less than a University’s programs and as a candidate in Stu“C” in any of your dent Government you student organizations.” classes you will make will need to have at The Chancellor’s least a 2.75 GPA and, List. The Dean’s List is just a step below but should you win, a 2.5 is needed to maintain is no less prestigious; it recognizes students your post. with a GPA of 3.4 to 3.79. These honors will UNC Charlotte also offers students the appear on your final transcript and nothing opportunity to partake in more challenging looks better to a future employer or fretful honors courses and to graduate with honors parent than the words “Chancellor’s List” or from your selected department. If you want “Dean’s List”. Who doesn’t want to prove to to graduate with honors from the Anthropol- the world, or at least to the person reading ogy department you will need to maintain a your resume, that you’re a smart and hard3.2 overall and a 3.5 in your Anthropology working person? courses. It is important to note that each department has its own requirements, and for Congratulations. You are at the starting further information you should check your point for a successful life. There are thoudepartment’s home page. The University sands that never make it to their high school Honors Program which is “designed to chal- graduations. But do not rest on your epaulenge and broaden the intellectual growth lets, your future is awaiting you and you must of UNC Charlotte’s most gifted students” earn it. Work hard, because hardly working requires a minimum GPA of 3.5 or a high will not suffice. school rank and GPA that is predictive of a WHITNEY BAGGS Assistant Editor

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Protecting your computer on a student’s budget WILL GRIER Editor-in-chief

There are many programs that advertise that they are the best at what they do, but in reality there are only a few that do an exceptional job at what they do.

There are a few essential programs that I would like to recommend to people; all of them are free. There are two essentials that every computer needs: an anti-virus program and a firewall.

The anti-virus program is pretty self explanatory, it should update itself with definitions-a giant database of different virus signatures- daily and run a scan at least twice a week.

The firewall is a software-based barrier that sifts through packets of information going to and from your computer to make sure

nothing abnormal is going on; its main purpose is to prevent intruders and malicious software sending out your information.

I recommend AVG Anti-Virus – Free Edition for protecting my computer. This program has been around for a while and for the most part it catches everything. I’ve tried Symantec’s (Norton) Anti-Virus and McAfee’s Anti-Virus and frankly I wasn’t impressed.

AVG is effective with using system resources so it doesn’t bog your system down as much when it’s scanning. AVG will pretty much handle its own when it comes to making sure there is no mal-ware on your computer. You can download AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition at http://free.avg.com For firewall protection I use ZoneAlarm Firewall. ZoneAlarm will take a few days to get acclimated to what connections you actually want to pass through your computer, it

learns via a barrage of pop ups in the bottom right-hand corner; it’s worth it though.

Once ZoneAlarm stops bothering you, you’ll notice many more things trying to connect to the internet or your computer that you really shouldn’t. Chances are if something looks suspicious it probably is something you don’t want accessing your computer. You can get the download for ZoneAlarm at http:// download.com, search for “ZoneAlarm Firewall” and make sure it’s free!

Finally, there is PeerGuardian 2. This program is special in the sense that it will protect you greater than most software and hardware (built-in to most modern day routers) firewalls can. There are many tutorials on how to use this program, all you have to do is Google it. PeerGuardian 2 is an ip-blocker that filters, similar to the firewall, connections going to and from your computer. If an IP-a

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computer’s address on the Internet- that is on one of the lists tries to access your computer or retrieve information, PeerGuardian 2 will block its access. This mainly comes in handy when you are downloading things, because many different servers can host the same file; why not use only the one’s that won’t track you. PeerGuardian 2 is available at http:// phoenixlabs.org/pg2 for download.

All of the programs that I have mentioned are verified to work on both Windows XP and Vista, from personal experience AVG Anti-Virus also works with Windows 7 Ultimate Beta. You should always make sure you know what you’re doing before installing random programs, lookup information you don’t understand on Google, you’d be surprised to find out that your questions have already been answered by someone else.

Many computing resources on campus WILL GRIER Editor-in-Chief

Student Computing is an extension of Information Technology Services (ITS) and maintains five 24x7 computer labs in the Barnard building. In order to use these computers you must be a current student and have a valid NinerNET account.

Student Computing can help when you have a problem with your e-mail, 49er Express, Banner Self Service, online courses –­ using BlackBoard Vista, Centra or Moodle, or connecting to the campus’ wireless network.

Stop by the Barnard building and talk to a Student Computing Help Center representative or call (704) 687-6400. The Student Computing Help Center is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

If you would rather submit a help request online, you can do this by going to https:// helpdesk.uncc.edu where you log in using your NinerNET user name (your campus e-mail address without ‘@uncc.edu’) and your password is your UNC Charlotte ID# (800xxxxxx). In the labs you can use Microsoft Office products, the Adobe Creative Suite 3 products, SAS for statistical analysis and various other software programs.

A complete list of software available can be found at http://www.labs.uncc.edu/oncampus/hwsw.html.

For a general overview of computing services at UNC Charlotte, you can visit http:// labs.uncc.edu and explore what Student Computing has to offer. You can also find frequently asked questions and E-Training with SkillPort. SkillPort is a web-based training service that offers more than 300 courses and tutorials in software programs like Adobe Illustrator and Flash, Java programming and

Microsoft Office. In SkillPort, you also have access to Books 24x7, which provides online searchable reference books like the popular …for Dummies series.

About your NinerNET account

Your NinerNET account is used to access most of your online accounts and services.

Your NinerNET account requires a password change at least once every 180 days, for security reasons. You will receive notification e-mails when it’s time for you to change your password. In order to change your password, go to https://pwmanager.uncc.edu and log in using your NinerNET credentials.

If your password has already expired, type in your User Name and click ‘Forgot Password.’ You will have to answer your security questions that you set when you first activated your account.

You will have access to your NinerNET account and email for two registration periods (excluding the summer) past your last enrollment date , after this period your account is marked ‘inactive’ and you will not be able to access your account; including your University email.

#102), Electronic Communication Systems (Policy statement #20), Network Security (Policy statement #10), Proprietary Software (Policy statement #67), Responsible Use of University Computing and Electronic Communication Resources (Policy statement #66), World Wide Web (Policy statement #8). These policies can be found online in their full text at http://legal.uncc.edu.

Pursuant to those policies, the University may take any steps necessary to address violations of those policies, including monitoring, accessing, retrieving, reading, and/or disclosing data communications when there is a reasonable cause to suspect a violation of

applicable University policy, criminal activity, or when monitoring is required by law.

About your University e-mail

Your University e-mail account is one of the most important tools for success at UNC Charlotte. You will receive official communications from the University, your professors, classmates and other important information.

You can set up your University e-mail address to work with an e-mail client, like Microsoft Outlook. You can visit http://www.labs. uncc.edu/gethelp/faq.cfm?id=133 for more information about the settings you’ll need.

About computing at UNC Charlotte

Use of the University’s computing network, including NinerNET Services, is conditioned on compliance with: Data and Information Security (Policy statement

Will Grier/photo

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10 things you have to do in the Queen City There’s no reason to be bored with all the attractions Charlotte has to offer ROB MCCORMICK JR. Staff Writer

The beautiful city of Charlotte and the surrounding area offers vast amounts of activities for UNC Charlotte students to enjoy.

So get some friends together or take some time by yourself to explore just a few of these options for a good time.

Carowinds Amusement Park

Pull down your shoulder harness on some great roller coasters like Afterburn and Nighthawk or soak it up at the water park.

Carowinds, which is located on the edge of South Charlotte, is a surefire way to have an action packed day with friends or family.

Sports Teams

When you aren’t busy watching the 49ers win the Atlantic 10, why not check out some other sporting events nearby?

The City of Charlotte is home to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats, Lowes Motor Speedway for all the race fans, the Charlotte Checkers hockey team, and the Charlotte Knights baseball team.

Recreational Sports

Photo courtesy of Carowinds

Music Venues

Charlotte is home to several excellent venues for hearing live music. Go hear your favorite music performers at venues such as Amos’ Southend, The Neighborhood Theatre, Tremont Music Hall, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, and many others.

To find out what bands will be performing at the various music venues around the Queen City, you can visit each venue’s website.

Tickets for many shows can be purchased the day of the concert for an additional cost, but to purchase tickets ahead of time, tickets can also be bought on line.

Uptown Charlotte

Uptown Charlotte offers everything for a relaxing afternoon or a wild night on the town! The Elegant buildings scraping the

To learn more about NoDa events visit http://www.noda.org

skyline and top notch architecture mixed with tons of things to do easily makes the Uptown area a favorite hangout for UNC Charlotte students.

Maybe you are looking to explore the city, indulge in the exquisite dining of Charlotte’s award-winning Blue Restaurant for a special occasion, or partake in Charlotte’s nightlife at clubs such as Suite, BAR Charlotte, Forum, or find a new personal favorite. It doesn’t matter what you choose to do because you will always have a story to tell after a visit Uptown.

If you are in the mood for something physical, book yourself a tee time, bowl a few games, go rock climbing, or lace up your shoes for some trail running.

There are tons of things for the energetic in and near the University area. Golfers will enjoy playing a round at Skybrook Golf Club, Tradition, or Birkdale Golf Club. Lace up a pair of rental bowling shoes, freshly sprayed with disinfectants at AMF University Lanes or late night bowling at Dave and Busters.

For the more adventurous type, the university offers a rock climbing and bouldering wall in the Student Activity Center (SAC) or you can take a trip to Inner Peaks to climb at a state-of-the-art climbing gym.

Runners can log some miles on nearby trails that range from pancake flat to as challenging as any seasoned runner could wish.

The university houses around fifteen miles of trails that many students are completely unaware of, located on the far end of campus near the intramural fields.

Great runs are also to be had at Reedy Creek Park, Latta Plantation, or the Clark’s Creek Greenway for a flat paved surface that lies just outside of campus.

Places to shop

Do you like to buy things? If you answered yes, you are in luck! You will have no problems finding great places to shop for anything under the sun and two great shop-

Visit a museum

Charlotte offers many incredible museums and places to learn about the world around you.

For an interesting, fun and educational day,check out places like the Mint Museum, the Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, or the Charlotte Museum of History.

Discovery Place hosts a series of exibits that will capitvate the mind while not capturing your wallet.

U.S. National Whitewater Center

Photo courtesy of the Carolina Panthers

ping malls are located within 15 minutes of campus.

Concord Mills is an outlet mall with stores such as Banana Republic, Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, and Outdoor World and is a great place to find cheap prices. Northlake Mall is the newest mall in Charlotte and is very good place to spend entirely too much money.

NoDa

If you enjoy the arts, take a drive to the North Davidson area located about 15 minutes from campus. NoDa is nationally known for it’s art but you will find much more than art here.

NoDa is a great place for music, theatre, food, and just a generally interesting time.

Take an afternoon to walk around and enjoy the cafés, restaurants, art, music, and pubs (for those who are 21).

Gallery crawls are held on the first Friday of each month, generally from 6pm – 9:30pm, however, there is technically no specified beginning or end time. These gallery crawls are a great way to meet people and discover what the beautiful area of North Davidson has to offer and they generally finish at a great restaurant or unique bar or café.

Grab an ore and paddle down stream at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. The facility is a world-class whitewater center and played host to the previous kayaking Olympic Trials, but also appeals just as much to beginners as it does experts. The Whitewater Center offers two whitewater channels for whitewater rafting or kayaking.

Want to stay dry but still want an adventure? Check out the center’s wealth of mountain biking single-track or the largest manmade climbing center in the world.

Lake Norman

Would you still like to get wet but don’t really feel like getting bucked out of a raft traveling at high speeds down a river? Well, put on your shades, find a friend with a boat, and go out on the largest manmade body of freshwater in the Carolinas.

Nothing says summertime is here like going out on Lake Norman with a group of close friends and docking the boat at the Rusty Rudder for lunch. A tip: always remember to take your sunglasses off occasionally so you won’t have to go to class with an embarrassing sunglass tan.

Photo courtesy of Discovery Place

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Things Every Niner Should Know

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Chancellors of UNC Charlotte

-Bonnie Cone (founder; director, 19461949; president, 1949-1965; acting chancellor, 1965-1966) -Dean Colvard (1966-1978) -E.K. Fretwell (1979-1989) -James Woodward (1989-2005) -Phil Dubois (2005-present)

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49er Fight Song

“Hail, Charlotte 49ers, proud as we can be, We stand to fight for the green and white ‘Til we win the victory! (Go Niners!)

We pledge our trust in you And wave your colors high, The loyal Niner Nation cheers Forever! We’ll Fight-Fight-Fight”

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Coach Lutz has been the head coach for the Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball team since 1998. On February 23, 2008 in the Niners home win over Saint Louis, Lutz earned 183 wins passing Jeff Mullin’s mark of 182. Coach Lutz has led the Niners to five NCAA and three NIT appearances.

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The Belk Tower is the center point of campus.

The Belk Tower rings a bell every hour, plays the alma mater three times a day, as well as God Bless America every day. The 148-foot tower is the central gathering place campus activities and serves as the free-speech zone.

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Miss Bonnie Cone

Bonnie Cone, or Miss Bonnie was chosen to lead Charlotte Center in 1946 and played an essential role in keeping the school open in 1949. Miss Cone was the one to pick the location for the current university. Miss Bonnie remained a vital part to UNC Charlotte up until her death in March of 2003, and she is buried in Van Landingham Gardens.

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Foundation of UNC Charlotte

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Atkins Library

UNC Charlotte’s J. Murrey Atkins Library is named for the first chairman of the Board of Trustees of Charlotte College.

The ten-story library houses more than one million books.

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Official Colors

The university’s official colors are PMS 349 Green (dark green) and white. Although gold and black appear in the logo and are occasionally seen on athletic uniforms, they are not considered our colors.

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Official Mascot

The mascot for the Charlotte 49ers is Norm the Niner. You can find Norm at every athletic event on campus and at the front entrance to the University.

How Bonnie Cone started UNC Charlotte

Miss Cone saw that the Charlotte area lacked a source of higher education,. The University of North Carolina tried to close Charlotte Center in 1949, but Miss Cone fought that the Charlotte Center was still needed for returning war veterans as well as the high school students who were unable to go away to college.

With support from Dr. Garinger and other community leaders the Charlotte Center changed to Charlotte College, a two-year institution which was supervised by the Charlotte Board of Education.

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Campus Activity Board

Campus Activities Board’s (CAB) primary goal is to the unify the university community by planning social, cultural, and educational events that compliment the university’s academic mission. For more information visit their website at http://cab.uncc.edu

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The FAFSA

In order to apply for financial aid at UNC Charlotte, students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In order to file your FAFSA go to www.fafsa.edu.gov Paper applications are also available in the Financial Aid office, the first floor of the Reese building. The FAFSA takes about 60 days to process, so plan accordingly.

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Your 49er Card

Your 49er Card is one of the most important things for any student.

If you are living on campus, it gives you access to the residence hall you live in.

It’s used at the dining halls, RDH or Crown Commons, vending machines, and any place that accepts Declining Balance. You will also need to swipe your card to gain access to the computer labs after 9 p.m.

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Parking on Campus

Parking can be a problem on campus. For commuters, if you have classes at 11 or 12:15, parking will be a dilemma so get there early.

If you get there about 30 minutes before your class starts you can usually find a close spot. If all else fails, you can find a spot in Lot 25, or the “overflow lot.”

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Campus Police

UNC Charlotte has its own police department, and despite the common misconception they are not rent-a-cops, each officer is certified by the state and has had extensive police training. If you need to report anything to the campus police, you are asked to contact them at 704-687-2200, or 911.

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How to join Greek Life

In the fall, a formal recruitment will take place, which will allow you to get acquainted with all of the fraternities and sororities.

In the spring an informal recruitment is held for some sorority chapters while the Intrafraternity Council holds another formal recruitment during the spring semester.

The Belk Tower

The University is referred to as Charlotte in athletics. Charlotte competes in Division I of the NCAA with 16 varsity sports in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

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Basketball Coach: Bobby Lutz

On September 23, 1946 the university opened its doors as the Charlotte Center of the University of North Carolina and was originally founded to meet the education needs of World War II veterans. In 1949 the school was close to being shut down before the school district stepped in.

The name changed to Charlotte College and classes were held at Central High school until 1961 when it moved to its current location.

Athletics at UNCC

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Know your major

Know who your advisor is and know your program! Taking the right courses within your major is very important to getting your degree. You will receive a major requirements form from your advisor, make sure you keep up with this because in order to graduate you will have to meet all of those requirements.

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Develop Leadership

The Center for Leadership provides 10 services for students interested in building their leadership skills, if you are interested in getting involved with the Center for Leadership Development visit their website http://leadership.uncc.edu/

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Check your E-mail

You check your Facebook every hour so check your campus email as well. Email is so important. Whenever professors need to cancel classes, they will send you an email so be sure to check before you leave for class.

Homework or lecture notes are also sent to your campus accounts on occasion.

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Geese are everywhere

The geese on campus have become a popular icon. They will stand in the middle of the road and walk everywhere on campus. The geese can be mean during mating season, so your best bet is to avoid chasing them. Don’t attempt to hurt them because they are an endangered species, just not on campus.

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Cell Phone Reception

Cell phone reception is not a huge problem on campus, but it can become a pain in certain buildings. Service in the College of Health and Human Services is almost impossible to come by. Fretwell is also limited as the first and fourth floors offer no service, unless you are near a window, so send your texts before you have class in those buildings.

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How to change your major

In order to change your major you will need to fill out a “Declaration of Program” form.

Before you do anything, meet with your advisor about switching majors. This form is available in all advising centers and in the Office of the Registrar in the King Building.

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By day and by night, catch a ride on the shuttles

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The Campus Shuttle System provides rides to class when walking just isn’t an option WHITNEY BAGGS Assistant Editor

It is the rare soul that enjoys walking from Hawthorne to Grigg at 7:45am in the frosty air of a late November morning; or the intrepid student who must walk in the dark from Woodward to the East Deck after an evening laboratory session.

Our campus is growing at a break-neck pace and as we add new buildings to our verdant campus, we add steps on our daily treks to class, as well.

If you have an 11:00 am class in Fretwell and a 12:30pm class in Grigg you should expect a thirty minute walk ahead of you.

A thirty minute walk in the fifteen minute break between classes on a scorching August

day or a freezing February day. If you are looking for your daily cardio workout you can sprint there, but you will still be cutting it close and you will be the student that arrives to class reeking of sweat and stuck with the worst seat in class.

The University has a shuttle system. Use the shuttles. They will make your life easier.

The campus is divided into three routes; the Goldstreak, the Niner, and the Nugget.

The Gold Streak, was previously called the CRI Express, and it runs across the main campus. It starts at East Deck, runs along Craver Road, and travels out all the way to the CRI East stop before returning back to East Deck along the same route.

The Nugget operates on the south side of

utes. The shuttle is free to all students, faculty, staff and guests of UNC Charlotte and you can get on at any stop.

The shuttles will resume their routes on August 25th and continue their regular Monday- Friday schedule from 7:30am to 6:30pm. The shuttles do not operate on holidays or inclement weather days. If classes are cancelled then the shuttles are as well.

Take note that all shuttle routes include stops along Craver Road and East Deck. If you need to switch shuttles these are great places to do so.

There is a Charlotte Area Transit Sytem, CATS, bus stop at East Deck as well and you can catch a ride to other parts of Charlotte and the surrounding areas from there.

Check, www.ridetransit.org for fares, schedules and routes in and around the area.

In addition to the campus shuttle system the University also has a program called SafeRide. During the day SafeRide acts as an extension of the shuttle system, as a disability transport.

Operating from 7:30am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday SafeRide will take passengers as close to a building’s accessible entrances as possible.

Its range is not limited to the main roads within the campus, Saferide travels along any paved pathway. You must register your mobility impairment with the Office of Disability Services to use SafeRide.

The condition need not be permanent; you can use SafeRide for all kinds of injuries including temporary conditions like a broken leg or recent surgery. Your physician will need to fill out your medical verification form, and the Office of Disablity Services will send you notification by email. This form can be found at: http://www.saferide.uncc.edu/Disability%20Transport.htm.

After you prove your mobility impairment you can arrange scheduled transportation through Parking and Transportation Services. If you need on-demand assistance is available as well At night SafeRide expands its operations and provides transport throughout the campus for students with or without disability impairments.

Between 4:30pm and 2:30am Sunday to Thursday SafeRide provides transportation from Atkins Library on the hour and half hour to other areas of campus.

SafeRide may extend its hours of operation during exam period when Atkins Library extends its hours. To request SafeRide transportation call Campus Police Dispatch at 704-687Illustration courtesy of Charlotte Area Transportation System 2200.

campus, where Robinson and the Highrises are. It too starts at East Deck and heads first to Robinson and the Highrises before heading by Reese, the West Deck, and finally back to East Deck again by way of Craver Road The Niner operates on the north side of campus, it travels along Craver Road and turns right onto Cameron Blvd. and passes the Union Deck, Laurel, Lynch and Hawthorne Halls before returning to East Deck.

An exhaustive trio of maps with all stops listed and estimated times for when the shuttle should be at a particular stop can be found at: www.parking.uncc.edu/shuttle.

Outside of extenuating and uncontrollable circumstances if you miss the shuttle, a second shuttle should come by in ten min-

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Get the shots or get out of school NATASHA WILLIAMS Staff Writer

In order to attend UNC Charlotte (UNCC), all students are required to have immunization records on file. North Carolina has a state-wide law requiring such records. “North Carolina has some of the toughest immunization requirements in the country,� said David Rousmaniere, Director of Student Health Center.

Students should turn immunization records into UNCC before school begins.

Students are given a little time after school begins to submit their immunization records.

If students do not have those records complete and turned in, then they may be asked to leave school.

According to Rousmaniere, students have a few ways to submit immunization records.

Students can fax, mail, and bring their immunization records to the Student Health Center themselves.

UNCC offers a parent session at Student Orientation Advising and Registration (SOAR) to explain the submission of immunization records. Health Center staff members are available at each summer session.

They are available during the department resource fair. The Immu n i zat ions are also given at the Student Health Center if necessary.

Students who receive the immunizations at The Student Photo courtesy of MCT Campus Health Center must complete the verifcation paperwork.

Students receive the necessary shots and the records are updated with the Student Health Center.

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Where UNC Charlotte stands

- UNC Charlotte is ranked number 9 among “Up and Coming” Colleges (US News and World Report, 2009).

- America’s Best Colleges 2009-National Universities: Tier Three - America’s Best College 2007-Most affordable public schools (9th in NC and 98th in the U.S.) - Top 10 public regional undergraduate universities in the South (2006)

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The New Student Union

The Student Union in the University’s newest addition to campus, it will be the new home for the Student Government Association, Student Media Productions, and the Campus Bookstore to name a few. Various restaurants, a new dining hall, a movie theatre, an Apple Store, and several other goodies for students will also be located in the Student Union.

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Athletic events are free for students

For all on-campus athletic events, go to the box office, show your student ID, and you will receive your ticket to the game. At Men’s Basketball games you get your tickets online and guest tickets for those games are $10.

Go to http://charlotte49ers.com and click on Tickets to order and print out your tickets.

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Different majors and degrees at UNCC

UNC Charlotte offers 89 programs leading to Bachelor’s Degree; 62 programs for a Master’s; and 18 for a Ph.D.

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Faculty support

There are 1350 faculty members at UNCC and the student to faculty ratio: 14 to 1.

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How many people go to UNCC?

For the 2008-2009 academic year, total enrollment was at approximately 22,000.

17,000 of these students are designated as undergraduates with 2,957 incomming freshman.

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The names of all the colleges

College of Art and Architecture College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Belk College of Business College of Education William States Lee College of Engineering College of Health and Human Services College of Computing and Informatics The Honors College

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The University Times

The University Times is a student publication that is your source of campus news.

Pick up a copy of the Times every Tuesday and Thursday in the lobby of academic buildings and various news stands around campus.

Student Union rendering courtesy of FWA Architects

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Counseling Center

The University Counseling Center is located in 158 Atkins Building where they offer individual counseling with coping strategies, resolving conflict and handling crisis situations. Each student will start the counseling process with a one-hour long intanke session.

During this first meeting you will talk to your counselor and they will deermine if you could benefit from their services. Nothing can be disclosed about what you talk about with your counselor, unless under dire circumstances

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Registration Advising

You will need to see your advisor prior to registering for classes each semester. Your advisor is there to answer any questions you may have about which classes to register for each semester.

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Password Manager

Password Manager (PW Manager) is a tool that allows you to change your password on your UNC Charlotte account. You will be asked to reset your password every semester.

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Where wireless internet is available on campus

Wireless internet access is available in several buildings across campus, but not in the residence halls. When using wireless internet you just have to connect to the ‘uncc49er’ network, and sign in with your university login & password.

The wireless network is accessible in: Atkins Library: Floors 1-3, No coverage on floors 4-10 Auxiliary Services: Full overage Barnard: Full coverage in student computing labs, limited coverage on floor 2 Cameron Hall: Full coverage CHHS: full coverage COED: most classrooms on floors 0-3 Colvard: full coverage Cone Center: limited Duke Centennial: 1st floor south, 345 lecture hall, Motor Sports building Friday: full coverage Fretwell: full coverage Prospector: limited Rowe: limited SAC: full coverage Smith: floors 2-3 Storrs: full coverage Student Union: full coverage Woodward Hall: full coverage Source: Information Technology Services

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Room inspections

Room inspections for each residence hall will take place once a semester. The residence staff will be inspecting for unsanitary living conditions. They are not allowed to look in personal refrigerators or closets. If your room does not pass inspection the first time, you will be given another chance.

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Academic Calendar

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Problems with Internet in the residence halls?

The UNC Charlotte academic calendar for the next five years can be located at www. registratr.uncc.edu/calendar.asp

If your internet does not work in your residence hall or you are having some sort of problem with internet connections just call RoadRunner and they will assist you in fixing your problem. Normally unplugging your modem and restarting your computer will fix your problem.

RoadRunner can be contacted at (704) 687-3778.

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Who are RAs and RCs?

Resident Advisors (RAs) are students who help with information and support other students living on campus. Resident Coordinators (RCs) are full-time professionals that reside with the residence community and operate the functions of living areas.

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Famous Niner Alumni

Cedric Maxwell-12th overall pick for the Boston Celtics in the 1977 Draft.

DeMarco Johnson-38th overall pick for the New York Knicks in the 1998 Draft.

Rodney White-9th overall pick for the Detroit Pistons in the 2001 Draft.

Eddie Basden-played for the Chicago Bulls from 2005-2006.

Floyd Franks-10th overall pick for the Chicago Fire in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft.

Jon Busch-23rd overall pick by Columbus Crew in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft.

John Maine-drafted in the 6th round of the 2002 baseball amateur draft by the Baltimore Orioles; he is currently a starting pitcher f or the New York Mets.

Clay Aiken-American Idol runner-up (second season)

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How on-campus printing works

Printing and copying is available in the Student Computing labs and in Atkins Library. Black and whire copies are eight cents each and color copies are 25 cents each.

You have to use your 49er card in order to pay for printing.

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Need an on-campus job?

The Student Employment Office is located in the King Building and they can help you look for a job on-campus as well as applying and filling out all of your tax forms.

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Maintenance Requests

While living on campus if you have any problems, just go to the office of your residence hall and they will fix whatever needs to be replaced. To file a maintenance request, log in to Nyumba and the option is on the left navigation bar.

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What time are some of the dining venues open until?

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Student Organizations

Prospector 7:30am-9:30pm Ritazza (Fretwell) 7:30am-9:00pm Ritazza (Library) 7:30am-10:00pm Chick-Fil-A 10:00am-9:00pm RDH 7:30am-9:00pm Crown Commons 7:30-9:00pm Outtakes 6:00am-11:30pm

Are you interested in getting involved on campus?

Student organizations are the best way to meet new people and become apart of the university community. UNC Charlotte offers over 300 student organizations, if you are interested visit: http://studentorgs.uncc.edu.

Visit http://www.auxiliary.uncc.edu/dining/ hours.html for more information about dining services’ hours of operation.

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Noteworthy Staff

UNC Charlotte is the only university in the United States to have three Carneigie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching professors of the Year, on the staff at one time.

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Niner Abbreviations

SAC: Student Activities Center COED: College of Education Quad: four original buildings (Denny, Barnard, Winningham, Macy) CHHS: College of Health and Human Services CLAS: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Campus blue-lights

The over 250 blue-lights on campus are there for your safety. If you are walking back to your residence hall or to one of the parking decks at night and you would like a campus police officer to escort you to your desitination, just press the one of the blue-lights and someone will be there to assist you.

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Welcome to Niner Nation!

You are now a member of Niner Nation.

Welcome to the family! During your career as a Niner, you need to show your pride for this university. Attend athletic events and cheer on your Charlotte 49ers and as always, wear green and GO NINERS!

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Student employment

The university offers various forms of employment for students throughout the year WILL GRIER Editor-in-Chief

Getting a job at UNC Charlotte isn’t as hard as it is right now in the ‘real world’ but it is not like it is guaranteed that you will be able to get a job, you’ll have to work for it. You can constantly check the Human Resources Web site at http://jobs.uncc.edu for any Student Temporary postings and you will be given instructions on how to go about applying for the job.

As a student employee you are allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week when school is in session. When there is no school, you can work a maximum of 40 hours per week. From lab assistants to working at the University Times, there are plenty of opportunities for work here at UNC Charlotte.

The Federal Work Study program is outside of Student Employment, it is considered financial aid. If you are looking for this type of employment, then you will have to consult the Financial Aid office.

Another good way to find out about work opportunities is to talk with different departments, professors, or other students;

word of mouth is sometimes faster than job postings. Keep an eye on University Web sites, sometimes they will post job availability, also look out for signs around campus. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t find the job right off the bat, keep trying. Eventually you will find something that you enjoy.

Working on campus provides several benefits, the most obvious being convenience.

Also employers are more than willing to be flexible with students and their working hours, after all your education does come first.

Working on campus also provides a great opportunity for networking with fellow 49ers and staff. Once the University hires you, and pending you don’t already have an account, you can then open an account at State Employee’s Credit Union (home of the $12 overdraft fee, as of May 2009) and enjoy even more benefits there.

You will need to have a valid checking or savings account in order to be paid by the University. Starting this year paper checks will no longer be distributed for payroll.

What you need to get hired by the University

In order to get hired by the University to work, you will need to fill out the I-9 (citizenship verification), state and local tax forms and you will have to sign a FERPA agreement that states you will not communicate to anyone about information that is sensitive to either the University or students.

In order to fill out the I-9 form you will need two forms of identification, you can find out what qualifies as identification visit http:// uscis.gov and search for “employment eligibility verification.”

You should also consult someone –probably a parent– about your tax forms.

You should know how many exemptions you wish to file for and how much you would like to be withheld from your paycheck in addition to

what is taken out by default.

Once you complete the forms, you’ll be given a yellow card that you will present to your department, and then you can consider yourself an employee of the University.

Will Grier/photo

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Got a ticket?

DANA NIGRO Assistant Editor

It’s that dreaded minute.

From 30 feet you spot it peeking from under your windhield.

Caught again.

Don’t blame Parking Services at UNCC. They ticket improperly parked cars on a daily basis. That’s how you know them but they run the shuttle program and Safe Ride too.

Practically everyone brings a car to campus at some point. For those days, learn the rules and you can avoid that ticket.

You may have friends or family who will come to visit.

There are two actions a visitor can take when it comes to parking. There is meter parking that runs between 8 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and on Fridays until 3pm.

Though these meters can be found all over campus, they are in short supply. Secondly there are designated visiting parking decks.

These three decks are, Cone Visitor Deck, Union Deck, and East Deck 1.

What must be remembered is that if a car is parked in any of these areas that has either a resident or commuter sticker, Parking Services will issue a citation.

Citations can vary in cost in correlation to the offense; however, if the citation is paid

Know the rules, follow the rules, find your space

in 10 days after issued there is a 50 percent reduction from the original fine.

When having a car on campus, both commuters and residents keep in mind that permits will be enforced from 8:00 am until midnight Monday through Thursday and until 3:00 pm on Friday. On the weekends permits are not monitored, so if friends wanted to come for a visit, the weekend would be the best time.

You may think you received a citation unfairly. You may believe parking your car for just a minute while running in to give your instructor a paper and discovered a yellow slip on the car’s windshield when you returned. Parking Services does offer an appeal option but it is up to their discretion.

One of the most helpful services Parking Services offers is the Safe Ride program. This is for students who are on campus late at night and feel unsafe walking from point “A” to point

“B” at midnight. It’s a great help, especially when unfortunately some of the outskirts of campus aren’t the safest at night.

Though parking is one of the more sensitive topics on campus, in years to come with more parking decks and better transportations methods around campus everything will fall into place. While at

times Parking Services can be a pain when it comes to citations, overall it is what keeps our campus functioning smoothly.

Just remember.

Follow the rules.

Union Deck, located next to the new Student Union and Woodward Hall.

Will Grier/photo

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Team Players Intramural sports are an overlooked bonus to students JIM GHEGAN Staff Writer

Did you play sports in high school, or just enjoy playing them for fun?

There is a place to go where you and a group of friends can form teams and compete in your favorite sports. That place is with one of the many intramural sports at UNC Charlotte.

Intramurals are organized tournaments, where student teams are given the opportunity to play against one another in many sports. It all happens through the efforts of Recreational Services.

Sports include three-on-three basketball, flag football, and co-ed volleyball during the fall. Some spring examples are basketball, co-ed dodge ball, and co-ed indoor soccer.

Recreational Services has many different options, so any student should find a sport they enjoy.

With every sport that is offered through intramurals, the various teams compete against each other in a tournament.

These tournaments award prizes to the entire winning team: most of the time it is a special T-shirt from Recreational Services that signifies your team’s victory. Intramurals are also a great way to meet new people.

I know this from experience, as I have played in a few games myself and made new friends every time I’ve been there. If you’re looking to get out of the dorm a few nights a week and play some sports with fun people, then intramu-

rals are for you.

Besides the chance of having the glory of winning one of their tournaments, intramurals are a really easy way to meet new people and help with the transition from home to college.

However, the glory of competition is not the only benefit to be gained from intramurals. Recreational Services is also one of the biggest student hiring centers on campus, and this is where intramurals comes in.

Intramurals always need student referees and scorekeepers at every game. These are perfect jobs for students who would like some money and a manageable side job to go along with a full load of classes.

Students should take advantage of the job offerings that intramural sports and Recreational Services can offer them.

Overall, intramural sports are a great way to get away from the monotonous dorm life that you can get sucked into sometimes as a college student. They also offer students a great workout, which many people don’t take advantage of while they’re here.

Intramurals offer students a place to organize their own teams and play their favorite sports – from basketball to volleyball and everything in between.

They are also a great way to meet new people on campus, and can also offer students great jobs. If you haven’t taken advantage of what intramural sports has to offer, you should consider doing so as soon as you can.

Players at an intramural flag football tournament

File photo

Rec Services want you to come play KRISTEN LITCHFIELD Managing Editor

As a freshman in college, you are going to be experiencing many new things. The university tries to accommodate you and make sure the transition from high school to college goes smoothly. One thing many freshman lack is getting involved on campus

Students doing a cardio workout outside

early.

Recreational Services offers intramural sports, fitness services, sport clubs, and jobs for students.

Intramural sports are for students of all skill levels. Recreational Services offers more than 20 intramural sports that are funded by students and run by student leaders. To play an intramural sport, students must sign up as

a free agent in Belk 222 or sign up as a team.

Recreational Services also offers 40 sports clubs which are designed to give an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to participate in competitive sports.

According to Recreational Services, each club is formed, organized, governed, and conducted by students under the guidelines established by the Department Recreational Services.

In order to participate in a Sport Club, you must email the president of the club, or show up at a scheduled practice.

Recreational Services also offers fitness programs for students year-round.

The Fitness Center is located in the Barnhardt Student Activity Center (SAC). In order to work out in the fitness center, students need to be sure to wear the appropriFile photo ate fitness attire and

show their student ID. Hours for the Fitness Center can be found on the UNC Charlotte Recreational Services website at www.recservices.uncc. edu/fitness.htm, as well as a list of the group fitness classes.

As well as providing the opportunity for students to stay active, Recreational Services is also a great place for student employment.

“Recreational Services hire approximately 200 students per year for a variety of jobs,” said Assistant Director or Promotions and Special Events, Kemet Gatchell. “The pay scale ranges from minimum wage up to over $10 an hour depending on the job and experience.”

Recreational Services provides many opportunities for the student body as well as helping students meet new people outside of the classroom.

“By becoming involved outside of the classroom they are more likely to succeed and stay in school. Our programs give them the opportunity to meet new friends, socialize, and engage in physical activities,” said Gatchell.

For more information on Recreational Services, visit their website at www.recservices.uncc.edu/index.htm.

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Barnes & Noble gets facelift in style

Students always cost conscious consumers on textbook prices WILL GRIER Editor-in-Chief

In its space of prominence in the new Student Union, Barnes and Noble bookstore wants to send new vibes for the long term.

They continue in style Winning a new service contract on the UNC Charlotte campus, the company is making a significant investment and commitment to the University. The Campus Bookstore, is at least 2 times larger than its old home in the Prospector building.

Filling the new digs will be a reading lounge area for leisure reading, as well as many of the features Barnes and Nobles retail stores. Think improved. Parking will be in the adjacent parking deck. Walls upon walls of books will fill expanded space. Bookstore officials are planning a book signing event during the grand opening celebration of the Union. UNC Charlotte merchandise, study aids and a coffee shop will be featured. So students can come in and get a cup of coffee, grab a book and sit down and relax in the reading area.

The price of textbooks There is one thing that every college student can join together and complain about­— textbooks and how expensive they are. Consider your book purcshases wisely to save money. It is entirely possible to be out more than $500 in a single trip, with more trips to follow. Granted you can sell your books back, it is still a costly endeavor to attend classes; you might as well get the best deal on your books.

Within walking distance from campus there is also Gray’s Bookstore.

You can go to http://uncc.graysbooks. com to check their prices. Both bookstores offer a price match guarantee The Campus Bookstore will beat the price by at least $1.

There are a few options you should consider before making your actual purchase. You can see if there is a loose leaf (binder-ready) copy of your textbook offered, this will save you about 30% off the retail price by choosing this option.

There’s only one drawback, you cannot sell this back to the Bookstore; once the shrink-wrap is broken it’s your book to keep.

According to Karren Natale, Campus Bookstore & Licensing Program Manager, there are also several texts that are now digitized and sold as an eBook, this option will cost about 50% less than the print version. Reading your textbooks on your laptop or desktop takes some getting used to, but overall it’s the most convenient and eco-friendly way of getting and using your textbooks. If you get a text that is completely online through WileyPlus, just one of the many publishers that is used at UNC Charlotte,

you could save about 60%. Other publishers offer similar services, Bookstore representatives will be able to tell you if your book is offered in an alternative method.

You can check to see if your book is available as an eBook by going to http://coursesmart.com and looking up the ISBN number of the textbook. Simply typing the number into Google will also bring up how much the book would cost if you were to order it online.

If you decide that you want a hardcopy of your textbooks from the Campus Bookstore you can order them by going to http://uncc. bncollege.com and clicking on ‘Textbooks.’

They will process your order over the taxfree holiday, August 7-9, 2009 and package your books all into one box and have it ready for pickup.

The Campus Bookstore also funds scholarships to UNC Charlotte students that demonstrate financial need. $150,000 was distributed to students via Academic Affairs; all of these funds came from textbook and merchandise sales.

Natale also explained that in order to get the most for your money, sell your books back as soon as possible. The Campus Bookstore offers a 55% buyback guarantee on titles that will be used again during the next year.

Meaning that you will get more than half of the cost of your book returned to you when the semester ends.

Those books that are not going to be used again can still be sold back, only until the Campus Bookstore reaches their quota. The money you would get for a book that is not going to be used again is based upon a national book wholesaler, MBS Textbook Exchange. If they haven’t reached their quota then you can sell it back to the Campus Bookstore for a small price.

Renderings courtesy of Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Auxilary Services

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9 of the Best Places to Eat off Campus Throughout the Queen City there are various places to eat. Where can you go? Just depends on what type of food you want to eat and your financial situation. Many of the local restaurants give a student discount upon showing your 49er Card. You can also look online at each restaurant’s web site for special deals and coupons for 49ers.

Map courtesy of Google Maps

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The Freshman 15 STEVEN DUTY Staff Writer

As an incoming freshman, be prepared for things that will challenge you mentally and physically. Many students are familiar with the infamous term, “Freshman 15.” It refers to the weight gain that freshmen typically experience during their first year of college.

This can be attributed to the lifestyle that all college students experience; late nights and fried foods. The rigors of college can be much different than anything an incoming freshman has experienced before. Don’t worry, help is available!

An early class schedule is usually one of the biggest challenges of an incoming freshman. The ability to go out at night and have that freedom is usually what dictates the beginning of the “freshman 15.”

This mixture of freedom and unhealthy eating practices eventually takes its toll. Examples can be related to late night pizza, an unhealthy soda to water ratio, or all-you-caneat buffets located at campus cafeterias.

Another problem with having early classes is getting up for them. An 8 a.m. class has its mood. All the students are trying to keep their eyes open, all while the professor is doing their best to be their loudest.

When exams, projects, or presentations come around; the freshman 15 comes back into effect. Staying up late to study, or getting no sleep at all really affects your body clock and metabolism. When you get off of a regular sleeping routine, your body gets out of line. So being a slacker on studying can not only affect your grade in class, but your weight as well!

Have no fear. With all this freedom and fun, comes responsibility. It feels good to be in college, and it feels good to succeed. The same feeling comes with taking care of your physical health. UNC Charlotte has numerous ways to stay in shape, and keep that extra unhealthy weight off.

Walking through campus instead of driv-

ing is a great way to get necessary daily exercise. Walking from the College of Arts and Sciences to Fretwell will always give your legs a burn, even if you’re Superman.

If walking isn’t helping enough, try visiting resources in the Student Activity Center, or SAC. The SAC features student weight rooms that are accessible to any UNC Charlotte student.

This will give you the ability to pump some iron, or work on cardio. The student gym has plenty of TVs and music to keep anyone from getting bored.

Also in the SAC is the student gaming room, located above the food court outside Halton arena. This is where any student can play ping pong, pool, backgammon, or arcade games. There is nothing like playing a game you like, while burning calories and getting your mind off of school.

Last but not least are instructor-led programs. These programs are available in the SAC or the Belk Gymnasium. A student favorite is Super Abs. This class is nothing but a nonstop 30-minute workout on the abdomen. Instructors blast music and make sure you don’t cheat. This usually replaces any workout for the whole day!

Need some water? Don’t forget the pool located in the Belk Gymnasium. Here you can swim laps, or try to float on your back.

Swimming is one of the best ways to burn calories and sculpt your whole body.

If water wings are necessary, feel free to earn elective credit and take one of many water courses such as scuba diving or lifeguard certification. These courses are fun and instructional.

Out of the water courses offered are classes such as golf, rock climbing, or other physical activities.

Remember that your lifestyle changes when attending college. Along with more freedom comes more responsibility. This means that your mental and physical future depend on you!

Photo courtesy of MCT Campus

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How to go GRΣΣK

Sigma Kappa recreates “Bring it on” during the annual Greek Air Band competition CHRISTOPHER A. WOOD Staff Writer

Thinking about going Greek? What should you expect? What are the factors that could lead to you finding your best friends for life, or wishing that you didn’t rush at all?

Greek life has been a critical component to the American institution system since the beginning of American history. That’s right – you can find the first fraternity established in America in 1776.

So, in theory, the fraternity or sorority that you join will have amendments and regulations aimed for collegiate success penned before even your Bill of Rights.

So if you’re trying to be a part of history, a place where many men and women before you have found lasting relationships and memorable experiences that they wouldn’t trade for the world, you’re in the right spot.

What do you need to know about the basics of Greek life? Chances are, you’ve seen Hollywood’s version of Greek life. You’ve seen the movies, the parties, the laughs, the drinking, and the drama. Is that reality?

Maybe, maybe not; I can only speak for what I’ve seen. And what I have seen is what takes place beyond the scenes – the stories that don’t make the front page or the news at all; the stories about Greeks helping out in their communities and making a difference in people’s lives every day.

Don’t get me wrong, when you go Greek you’re going to find a social organization, but you’ll also find an organization that places grades before anything else.

With the evolution of the Greek system here in America, organizations realize how important your degree will be to you and your success. Therefore; fraternities hold members to quite a high standard of academic excellence.

Okay, how does one start? Fall rush.

What is fall rush? In short: the greatest week of your life. This is your chance to meet your new family away from home. Rush week is where you get to go around and meet all the different fraternities and/or sororities.

You’ll meet more people than you can put into that new Blackberry Storm you just

got. This is where you get the edge in the social system of UNC Charlotte: networking.

You’ll meet people you would have never thought possible, from students like you and I, to alumni who want you to work for their company after you get that ever-so-important degree.

What should you look for from fraternities and from rush? You’ll get the most out of your Greek experience by finding the people that value the same things in life that you do.

Trust me on this one, don’t change who you are to fit in with a crowd; find a crowd that fits in with you.

And I do not mean judge people based on their clothes or cars – those are things that people have, not who they are. Meet everyone you can, and never judge a book by its cover.

In a social aspect, college is the next chapter; new experiences. You will find out who you are by putting yourself in different situations.

You grow quickest as a person by doing the things you aren’t comfortable with, struggling with them, and then learning how to do it successfully in the future.

A lot of people are overwhelmed when they meet new people. You can call it shyness, social phobia, and so forth. We’ve all been there, but be who you want to be in college.

This is your time for everyone else to see what you have to offer. Be confident, and remember to go out and look at everybody. For example, in the movie Animal House, the two main characters who become pledges in the movie found their home where they never would have expected it to be. Be you, and be who you want to be: make your own story.

What’s beyond rush? Once you get a bid, you will then begin your journey of the new member process, or “pledging process.” Here you will have your class, and what will more than likely turn into your best friends for this and many future chapters of your life. Take this stage in for all it’s worth, there’s only one go-around at it (hopefully, that is).

From here, I can no longer be your guide and help you through this incredible experience – the rest of the story is up to you. Good luck, and go Greek.

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Intrafraternity Council Alpha Sigma Phi Chi Phi Delta Sigma Phi Kappa Alpha Order Kappa Sigma Lambda Chi Alpha Phi Kappa Sigma Pi Kappa Alpha Sigma Phi Epsilon Triangle

National Pan-hellenic council Alpha Kappa Alapha Sorority, Inc. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

Panhellenic association Alpha Delta Phi Chi Omega Delta Zeta Sigma Kappa Zeta Tau Alpha

The 2008-2009 Delta Zeta sisters

Photo courtesy of Delta Zeta

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Get involved Explore 300 campus student organizations ROB MCCORMICK JR. Staff Writer

Ask just about anyone and they will tell you that your college experience doesn’t stay in the classroom.

One of the greatest aspects about coming to a university is the quality of people you will meet and the things you will learn about yourself. More than likely, you won’t get that education from a book or during a lecture.

It’s during discussing goals, sharing with other students who have similar interests and aspirations. You will develop relationships that may follow through your aduthoood..

A brilliant way to expedite the process of meeting great people and truly getting the most out of your college education is to join a student organization.

No matter what your interests may be, chances are one of the 300 student organizations on campus serves those interests and will help you to meet other like-minded people.

For those interested in sports and would like to compete on a larger scale than the intramural level, UNC Charlotte currently has 23 club sport teams registered as student organizations.

These club teams range from soccer, to ice hockey, to Jiu Jitsu and just about everything in-between. Quite a few of the Uni-

versity’s club teams are nationally ranked and several compete internationally each year.

However, despite how competitive these teams are, most members will tell you it’s all about having a good time and doing what you love.

Along with the sports organizations, there are numerous other groups that would make an excellent choice for getting involved with student life outside of class.

Are you interested in making a difference in the policies and structure of UNCC? Perhaps the Student Government Association (SGA) is for you.

For the musically gifted, the university offers several performance organizations such as choral and dance groups.

There are also over 60 academic groups that are excellent choices for making you standout on a resume when searching for your dream job.

To see which student organizations will suit you best, visit http://studentorgs.uncc. edu/ .

What if you don’t see a student organization that offers the things that interest you?

If that is the case, you can create your own It’s quite simple to create a new student organization and all you need is seven of your friends, after that, it’s all formalities.

You can visit the Student Organizations website to learn more about creating your own.

Spotlight on Student Orgs Student Government Black Student Union Campus Activity Board (CAB) University Honors Program Student Media Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Students Taking Action Now in Darfur (STAND) Niner Nation Gold Army ROTC Drill Team 49th Measure for a complete list, check out: studentorgs.uncc.edu

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Freedom of Speech zones fuel controversy MORIAH GIRLEY Staff Writer

“The day of judgment is upon us! College sinners leave your fornication and submit your heart and soul to the Lord. If you wear earrings, watch television, or if you voted for Obama, you are of the souls of the eternally damned!”

Although this statement sounds quite unnerving, it is something that can be heard just about every day at Belk Tower from traveling preachers. Thanks to UNCC’s Freedom of Speech Zones (also known as First Amendment Zones, or “Free Speech Cages”) political activists, preachers, missionaries and just about anyone with signs and an opinion can legally say just about whatever they want.

Zones on campus are located at the Cone University Center Plaza, the Residence Hall Cafeteria Plaza, Holshouser Plaza, Scott Plaza, the Belk Tower Plaza, and the Amphitheater.

U.S. courts established these Freedom of Speech Zones to allow citizens to carry out their First Amendment rights. On college and university campuses such as UNC Charlotte, zones were set up during the ’60s and ’70s because of the severe protests about

the war and political leaders of the time.

The University’s regulations on these speakers are only that they inform the University in advance when they come to

campus and that they don’t interrupt the regular flow of traffic or disrupt classes.

Although free speech is held in utmost regard, there is a thin line that separates free

First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercsise thereof;orabridging the freedom ofspeech, or of the press; or the right of the people peacebly to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances

speech and hate speech. UNCC has placed strict boundaries on what they may deem as “hate speech.” In 1989, UNC Charlotte issued Policy Statement 95, the “Fighting Words” harassment policy, to deal with exactly these types of issues.

The policy defines such fighting words as “those personally abusive epithets which, when directly addressed to any ordinary person are, in the context used and as a matter of common knowledge, inherently likely to provoke an immediate and violent reaction, whether or not they actually do so.”

Controversial traveling preachers like “Preacher Gary” have roused many a student with his bold and critical statements about the salvation of innocent passersby.

Radical pro-life volunteers have also offended many by their signs and banners with pictures of mutilated fetuses.

The image is one that cannot easily be forgotten or erased from the mind. As time wears on, and more controversial topics arise, Free Speech Zones will still be available for one to say anything, and truly everything goes.

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On the beat

Officers work to keep UNC Charlotte campus safe

COREY CONNER Staff Writer

Mall security guards they’re not. They are true blue officers and they want to protect you.

On campus, the UNC Charlotte Police and Public Safety department is the primary law enforcement agency for all crimes that occur on campus, and in the surrounding areas where campus police have jurisdiction.

Some students may compare the campus police officers to mall cops; however, they are no different than the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

Actually, just like many small cities, they patrol for nearly 25,000 students, faculty and staff members who call UNCC their adopted home.

The campus police are made up of 34 full time officers, with 11 part time officers. Both part-time and full-time officers are expected to fulfill the same requirements of any police officer in the state of North Carolina.

The campus police must successfully complete the Basic Law Enforcement Training program (BLET) and be certified by the state of North Carolina.

For students who question their presence, you can be sure they are there. Say you really haven’t ever seen or had contact with a campus p ol ic e

officer?

Ask interim Assistant Director Major Blydenburgh, a retired CMPD officer. “They may not see us, but we’re there.”

The campus police conducts patrols on foot and bicycle in academic areas, but “have no Segways, contrary to what some students think.”

The campus police have a large jurisdiction, which includes many off-campus areas where students reside. With such a large area, it would be unusual to see many clusters of officers around the academic buildings where most students spend much of their time on campus. Also, most crimes do not occur in these areas, but in the parking lots and residential buildings.

Carrie Leigh, sophomore, said she believes that campus police are a good thing, but “the UNCC students have developed a view of the campus police as being more like security guards or mall cops, and I think that something m u s t

change in order for them to gain respect as the real police officers that they are.” Major Blydenburgh addressed the criticism. While laughing, he said, “I guess they can think that if they want to...on the way down town, after they have been arrested.”

The UNC Charlotte police officers can arrest people within their jurisdiction just like any other police department. Although students may see the officers as security guards, Blydenburgh said that he does not really see much disrespect; there are occasional instances of student misconduct, but overall they seem to cooperate.

He went on to say that while most students respect the officers, they do not always heed their warnings.

He recommends that students close and lock their rooms, as larceny in the residence halls is one of the biggest crimes facing the university. In 2007, there were 252 larceny offenses on campus. Most of these could have been prevented if students would have taken a little more time to secure their property, according to Blydenburgh.

Overall, the campus police are an important aspect of the University, and deserve the respect of students just as any other police officer.

Will Grier/photo

Some ways students can get a Campus Appearance Ticket •Not coming to a complete stop at stop signs •Drinking or being inebrieted while under 21 years old.

•Noise violations (ask your RA about quiet hours).

•Smoking cigarettes inside the residence halls.

•Not yielding at a yield sign.

•Buying alcohol for a minor

•Threatning/fighting words •Posessing any type of weapon (air soft guns are considered a weapon).

•Taking common room furniture •Bringing pets, aside from fish in a 10-gallon tank, into the residence halls.

•Smoking marijuana anywhere on campus.

•Hazing •Downloading copyrighted movies, music, software, or any other material.

•Having alcohol containers in plain sight while being under 21.

•Breaking the plane of a window in any residence hall (don’t stick your hand out of the window).

•Falsifying information

•Not complying with the reasonable requests of University officials.

•Arson •Grafiti/Vandalizing sidewalks, buildings, or signage on campus (chalking counts too).

•Larceny •Impersonating a University official or another student.

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Team works to keep campus safe MORIAH GIRLEY Staff Writer

UNC Charlotte is a campus that is attracting more attention with its rapid growth comes a greater responsibility for the Campus Police to keep faculty, students and guests safe. Campus Police along with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department have created and sustained programs and to keep UNC Charlotte’s campus as safe as possible.

Less than two years ago, Student Patrol was formed as a program for students to assist Campus Police in dealing with crime. Student Patrollers are volunteers who walk around campus reporting suspicious activity, checking emergency phones and blue lights, patrolling parking lots and other crime preventative tasks.

Major Blydenburgh of Campus Police stated, “It really shows how students are interested in the safety of their campus. It really helps us out to have another set of eyes and ears walking around, concerned

about the same things that we are.”

Any classification of student at UNCC can apply to be a Student Patroller.

Records are checked for eligibility, and students attend training and orientations to make them better equipped to observe and report situations as safely as possible. Although patrollers do not actually carry out any actions against potential crimes, their efforts to prevent it are as important as the officers handling the crimes themselves.

Applications are available at the Campus Police Department.

Once or twice a year, the UNC Charlotte Campus Police Department, partnered with the ViceChancellor, faculty, and Student Government Representatives, split into three or four groups and carry out a Safety Walk around campus.

This walk is designed to give the Police Department feedback on any needed changes these groups observe that may help in crime prevention. Groups scan campus for possible ineffective blue lights, areas with insufficient lighting, and any

other things that may need improving. UNC Charlotte’s crime e-mail advisories warn students and staff of any major crimes committed, giving dates, times and locations where the crime occurred. These e-mails are sent to raise awareness and prevent the same crimes from happening again. Alerts can also be sent to mobile phones via text message.

According to Sperling’s BestPlaces.net Crime Rate, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, Charlotte placed as an 8, being close to one of the most crimeinfested cities in the nation. The United States average is a 3.

“Overall, I think campus safety is improving on UNCC’s campus.

We just have to be aware that this is a very urban campus and people will come try to infiltrate anything that doesn’t look secured,” Major Blydenburgh explained.

“Remember to keep your valuables in your car and/or dorm safe and secure. Our biggest problems are larceny from dorms and automobiles, and they can be prevent-

ed.”

Never leave anything of value in your car. GPS units, iPods, wallets and purses are the main targets that thieves look for when breaking into a car.

Never leave your dorm room door open for risk of theft. It only takes a minute for a crime to occur.

Always securely close and lock your door.

Never travel alone at night.

Walk in a group and always be aware of your surroundings. You can also call a police escort or request a SafeRide pick up. Their number is 704-687-2200.

Report any suspicious behavior or concerns to Campus Police immediately.

There are more simple things any faculty or student can do to prevent being a victim as well.

Campus Police provides a list of crime preventive measures on their Web site, http://www.police.uncc. edu/, along with pamphlets that are available in the Campus Police office.

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The Student Health Center, curing ills since ‘07 NATASHA WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Feel under the weather? Mom’s not here with chicken soup. Don’t worry. There’s a lot of help for you on campus. You just have to ask.

A new Student Health Center replaced cramped quarters at the Brocker building and moved to its current location in the fall of 2007. With the number of students constantly increasing at UNCC, the move and added space was well-timed.

“The Student Health Center, located at the corner of Mary Alexander and Cameron Blvd, now has almost three times more space to serve students at UNC Charlotte. It was like a sardine can. It was so small,” said Director of Student Health Center, David Rousmaniere.

The center can help you with most anything that ails you, from a stuffy nose to physical therapy. Commuter students can also take advantage of all benefits offered at the Center.

The Student Health Center offers a wide variety of services for students. The services include Sports Medicine, Gynecology Services, HIV Screening Services, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, just to name a few.

Additional unique services include the eating disorder group, and drug education programs for students who wish to quit the habit of smoking and using drugs.

Staff at the Student Health Center consists of three physicians, three physician assistants, and one nurse practitioner. “We didn’t hire new staff—only the psychiatrist,” said Rousmaniere. “We didn’t add any more people. We just kept the same staff.”

In the case of an uncontrollable emergen-

cy medical situation, students are referred to the emergency room. The ambulance picks up students from the emergency entrance, located at the back of the health center.

Students have the option to choose from several payment plans. The options include: charging a bill to their student account, paying by debit/credit card, or by check or cash.

About 50 percent of students charge payment to their student account.

“We started the credit/debit card payment in August, and now about 30 percent of students pay that way,” said Rousmaniere. “The number of students who still pay with cash, and checks are almost negligible. We’ll see maybe one check a day,” said Rousmaniere.

The Student Health Center constantly evolves with the students it serves. Students can move downstairs to enjoy a nicer setting for physical therapy.

“We’re starting a flu/cold clinic, so when a student comes in, they can all see one provider. It just makes it more efficient,” said Rousmaniere. “We’re also adding electronic appointments. We hope that is up and running by the summer, said Rousmaniere.

The hours of operation for the fall and spring semesters are: Mon-Thu 8:00 a.m.-6 p.m., Fri 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. On all weekends and holidays the Student Health Center is closed. Summer and intersession hours are: Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-5:00pm.

The Student Health Center offers a hotline that students can call after hours of operation.

Health Link, based out of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill), offers a real live person for consultation on health issues. Students can call 1-888-267-3675 or 704-687-7400 after hours to start using Health Link.

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Welcome to Niner Nation

Niners will give new fans lots to cheer about

KRISTEN LITCHFIELD Managing Editor

Currently Charlotte lacks a football program, but within in the next couple of years, the Niners will suit up for their inaugural season.

Despite not having Forty-Niner football, UNC Charlotte is home to many outstanding athletic programs.

The women’s basketball was the 2009 Atlantic 10 Tournament Champions and reached the NCAA tournament this past season.

The 49ers golf team has won four straight A-10 titles, the Niners baseball team are back-to-back A-10 Champions with NCAA tournament appearances, the women’s soccer team has won three consecutive A-10 titles, the 2009 Men and Women’s Track teams are A-10 Conference Champions, and both the

men and women’s A-10 Champions for Cross Country are running in Charlotte uniforms.

Even with all of these outstanding programs, the men’s basketball team seems to draw the biggest crowd, however they have struggled to find rhythm since they last made an NCAA tournament appearance in 2005.

Sometimes Niner Nation forgets about our athletic programs that are topping the charts in favor of the men’s basketball team.

Niner Nation Gold is a student organization that was formed to support and promote all Charlotte athletic programs, as well as stressing the importance of giving back to the 49er Club after graduation to support Charlotte athletics.

The entire student body is a member of Niner Nation, but in order to be a part of Niner Nation Gold you have to pay $20 per academic year that you would like to be involved.

As a member of Niner Nation Gold you will receive a Niner Nation Gold T-shirt, eight loyalty points, car decal and 49ers lapel pin, an invitation to cookouts, tailgates, and other social events, as well as the chance to meet 49ers coaches and players, and the opportunity for priority lower level students seating for men’s basketball games.

However, as a member of this student body, you receive free admission to all athletic events on-campus, and in order to receive lower level priority seats for the men’s basketball games, you do not have to join Niner Nation Gold.

By simply attending athletic events in the fall such as men’s and women’s soccer, cross country and volleyball you can earn loyalty points that will put you in the same group with Niner Nation Gold, and you will have the opportunity to sit closer to the hardwood for the 2009-2010 basketball season in Sec-

tion 104, the premier student section.

Loyalty points are rewarded to every student who attends athletic events and records their 800 number on the marketing table at the end of each athletic event.

This university is growing at a rapid rate and it is up to the student body to represent UNC Charlotte and all that is has to offer whether it be in the classroom or on the field.

As incoming freshman I urge you to take pride in this university and show your support for our all of our outstanding athletic programs by showing up to events and wearing green.

Attending collegiate athletic events is a big part of the college experience and a great way to meet people, especially in your first year.

I hope to see you out there supporting Charlotte and as always, GO NINERS!

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49er Card...Don’t live without it WILL GRIER & JIM GHEGAN Editor-in-Chief & Staff Wrier

Don’t lose it.

Its going to be the card to have.

It’s called the 49er card and soon it will take prominence behind your debit card from Visa.

Featuring the UNC Charlotte logo, your new ID card sports your picture and name. They will sit aside your new personal digits.

Gone is your 9-digit social security card number.

This card will be important to you as a UNCC student. You can use it on campus much like a debit card. You can use it like money to purchase things everywhere on campus.

Your 49er card is another way of being identified on campus, as it is technically a photo identification card. It is easy to put money on your card, and that can go a long as a nice complement to your meal plan, if you have one.

You can add money to your 49er Card and Optional Dining Account by going to https://uncc49ercard. blackboard.com. All you need is a valid Visa or MasterCard and you’re set.

Parents can even add money to your card without having you log in for them, just use the “guest deposit” feature. However, auxiliary services has many “49er card stations” set up around campus where you can add cash value to refuel your balance in

a quick and easy way that doesn’t require a computer. Both of these are fast and simple methods of increasing the balance on your 49er card.

Now that you have your 49er card, the question is where can you use it on campus? That’s easy. There are many places around campus that accept the card. Besides the many dining locations and bookstore, most vending machines accept the 49er account as a payment method.

The card is also required as ID to utilize the facilities in the Belk Gymnasium and the Student Activity Center. The 49er ID card is an important tool that allows you to access your residence, some classrooms, labs, and buildings, and washers and dryers in resident hall laundry rooms. It is also the required form of payment for personal copies and printing anywhere on campus.

The 49er card is a very important resource for any student at UNCC. Without it, many of the things students take for granted cannot be accessed, purchased, or viewed.

But don’t fret if you should lose or misplace your 49er ID card – you can always get a new one at the ID Office in the Student Union.

You should report any lost cards to them as well, as they will suspend activity on the card so people can’t use your card without your knowledge. Their office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday

through Friday.

For more information about meal plans, the 49er card and the services offered at UNCC where the card is accepted, please visit http://w w w.auxilary. uncc.edu.

About the accounts

different

Your 49er card has four different accounts, each with a different purpose.

The 49er account is used for printing, copying, vending machines, at the Campus Bookstore, Mail Services, Parking Services, the Library and any other place where Declining Balance (DB) is used.

This account can be replenished at any of the 49er card stations or by going online to the Web site mentioned above. With this account you will still pay 8.25% tax on food items.

Declining Balance is the second account and the most used. When you sign up for a meal plan with DB a certain amount of money is credited to this account. If you sign up for an all DB meal plan, any unused funds will be placed into the rollover account.

If you sign up for a block meal plan or a traditional meal plan, then your DB expires at the end of the

semester.

Any food bought with DB is tax-free. If you have some friends or family that don’t attend UNC Charlotte, you can use your DB to pay for their meals .

Should you use all of your meals for the week –if you have traditional or block meal plan– then you can use DB to pay for your meal until the new week begins. Any unused meals attached to a block or traditional plan are not rolled over, they expire.

The rollover account is used only for DB that was left over from the academic year, this only applies to an all DB meal plan; traditional and block meal plans’ DB do not roll

over, they expire at the end of each semester.

When you want to use this account, simply tell the attendant that you want to use your rollover account.

The Optional Dining Account (ODA) acts like DB in the since that it is not taxed, you don’t pay the 8.25% tax on food items. Funds in this account to not expire, they will rollover every semester until you graduate or until you close the account with Auxiliary Services.

This account is primarily used for meals when DB has been exhausted. This account can have funds added to it by logging on to the Web site mentioned above, or at any of the 49er card stations.

IMPORTANT CAMPUS PHONE NUMBERS Student Health Center

Dean of Students

Atkins Library

College of Education

704-687-4617

704-687-2375

704-687-2030

704-687-8722

Housing and Residence Life

University Center for

COLLEGES

College of Health &

704-687-7501

Academic Excellence

Belk College of Business

Human Services

704-687-2162

704-687-2165

704-687-4690

University Advising Center

College of Architecture

William States Lee

704-687-7717

704-687-4841

College of Engineering

Office of Disability Services 704-6874355 University Career Center 704-687-2231

704-687-4157 Writing Resource Center

College of Arts & Sciences

704-687-4357

704-687-4303

University Counseling Center 704-687-2105

The Honors College 704-687-4824

University Police

College of Computing Informatics

704-687-2200

704-687-8379

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Fun, free, and entertaining!

Campus activity board 704.687.7152 • http://cab.uncc.edu

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Use Academic Services to the best of your ability Variety of services available for students in every aspect of UNC Charlotte life Anni Simpson Staff Writer

Going to college is a completely different experience than a person’s academic career so far. The work load, the resources and the relationships between your teachers and peers all change.

The changes can be overwhelming, but the UNC Charlotte Academic Services Department offers plenty of academic programs to aid in the transition and continuing academic progress up to and beyond graduation, including the Office of Multicultural Academic Services, Learning Communities, the University Center for Academic Excellence, and the Career Center.

Office of multicultural academic services The Office of Multicultural Academic Services offers student support to foster the recruitment, retention and graduation of students, especially underrepresented students at UNC Charlotte.

They offer a variety of programs, such as the University Transition Opportunities Program that involve “freshman in a rigorous five-week summer collegiate experience” that counts towards seven credit hours while developing college survival tips and keep students in contact with the Writing Resources Center.

learning communities Learning communities are aimed at building close relationships between students with similar academic and career goals by “providing small, supporting living and learning environments” to students on- and even off-campus specifically aimed at freshman, underclassman or transfer students.

Communities based in subject material include freshman majoring in Computer Science and Software and Information Systems programs, freshman and transfer students interested in the English department and freshman interested in war, genocide, and human rights.

The full list is available online, as well as information on how to register.

university center for academic excellence

SOS students are encouraged to “attend classes, meet regularly with (an) SOS peer mentor for support and guidance, meet regularly with (their) academic advisor and communicate frequently for professors,” according to the Program Details site.

Students, as the site states, will be matched with a peer mentor to help them tackle their academic problems and keep them in the university as successful, productive and happy students.

It puts students in contact with other available resources, as well, based on the student’s needs.

Tutorial programs offer tutoring sessions in a variety of subjects based on student need. Spanish, biology, philosophy and math are just some of the subjects offered, and even the list online is incomplete.

Students who get in trouble academically aren’t forgotten at the university, either. The Center for Academic Excellence offers many services aimed at helping students succeed in areas where they need the most help with programs like tutorial services and Students Obtaining Success.

Students who are worried about their performance or slide off track in a semester can contact SOS in Colvard 2046.

WRITING Resources CENTER The Writing Resources Center, located in Atkins 109 and Fretwell 220, offers students individual instruction to faculty, staff and students from any major or year.

They work with students to make them better writers, teaching strategies such as peer response and documenting sources in a variety of environments, such as in research papers or word processing.

They can be accessed at http://wrc.uncc.edu/.

Drawing/Sarah Jones

Academic Services Students can visit the University Center for Academic Excellence online at ucae.uncc.edu/ts/ts_home.html call 704-687-2163 or visit the office in Fretwell 318K to make an appointment. Individual, on-going and group tutoring are all available.

Students and parents interested in of the programs offered

by Academic Services can visit academicservices.uncc.edu/ The Office of Multicultural Academic Services can be found online at mas.uncc.edu/

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Need cash?

Student employment office offers job opportunities to lighten fiscal burdens Alyssa Rinaldi Staff Writer

Looking for a job while in school but don’t know where to start? Check out the student employment website at jobs.uncc.edu The website allows you to create an employment profile where you can search available jobs, upload your resume, and save your information to avoid having to re-enter information for multiple job listings.

“There are jobs available, it takes the students initiative to go on the site to look for them though,”

Bryan Myhalyk All positions are paid unless otherwise noted.

The website encourages students to submit a complete application, and read instructions carefully. An incomplete application may not receive full consideration for the job.

All applications should be submitted by the “closing date” of the job posting. After applications are submitted and reviewed, departments will contact you directly if they wish to set up an interview.

The Human Resources department encourages all hiring departments to make decisions as soon as they are able, as to sustain a practical applicant pool. Generally, from the interview process, departments usually make hiring decisions within four to six weeks.

The website isn’t the only place to find help.

The Human Resources department is available too.

Human Resources assistant Bryan Myhalyk says for students looking for campus jobs, there is a great deal of opportunity available if they know how to access the information.

“There are jobs available, it takes the stu-

dents initiative to go on the site to look for them though,” says Myhalyk. He adds that they do help students in person, but the website has all of the information you need to apply for campus jobs.

If you are looking for a position on the website, students can click the student temporary vacancies or federal work study vacancies.

Often times there are more federal work study jobs open than the department can actually fill, so students should consider several options.

As for temporary vacancy jobs, they can be harder to come by at times, as the money for these jobs comes out of the specific department’s budget, so they can vary depending on the amount of money the department can afford.

Myhalyk says they have seen a lot of success from students who have applied for jobs, and that sometimes there are more jobs than listed.

“It is up to the department whether or not they want to post the job on the website. So for students that don’t see something that appeals to them, they should go directly to their department of interest and ask if there are any openings for students.”

As for what to have ready when you want to apply, “Most of these jobs are like applying for any other normal job, you should prepare your resume and cover letter,” Myhalyk says.

If you need help with your resume, the Career Center on campus can help.

Anyone that has trouble with the website - or needs a better understanding of the process may contact Human Resources at 704-687-2276.

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Job Opportunities rec Services:

Recreational services employs nearly 250 students every year. Students are offered a wide variety of jobs that includes everything from being a soccer referee to working as a personal fitness trainer. Student employees will enjoy the benefits of flexible scheduling, on-campus work and professional expertise in a wide range of sporting venues. More information on student employment with Rec Services can be found on their website at: http://www.recservices.uncc.edu/student.htm

Housing and residence life:

Students working for Housing and Residence Life can be anything from a RA (Resident Assistant) to a desk receptionist. RA’s live in the high-rises, suites, Hunt and Martin Village apartment complexes. RA’s are expected to provide information, assistance and support to students living in these buildings/complexes. RA’s are selected for their leadership abilities, interpersonal communication skills and their commitment to excellence. Students can find out more about employment with housing and residence life by visiting: http://housing.uncc.edu/employment/index.htm

Student Union:

UNC Charlotte’s Student Union provides a wide array of opportunities for students to enhance their time at UNC Charlotte.

The Student Union offers jobs in the food services department, as IT support technicians and even building managers. Student Union employees must be enrolled at the university and must be in good academic standing with a GPA of at least 2.0 (2.3 for managers). Find out more about Student Union employment on their website at: http://studentunion.uncc.edu/

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Niners on the Weekend plans activities for every student NOW has hosted many activities ranging from laser tag to foam parties Jessica Arenas Staff Writer

Most students that are bound on campus declare that the weekends can be ‘dead.’ With Niners on the Weekend (NOW), it helps provide life on campus, especially on the weekends.

Niners On the Weekend is an organization at UNC Charlotte that provides events and activities for students to do on the weekend. Their prime focus is on those two long awaited days of the week, Friday and Saturday.

NOW has been around for two years since Spring 2008’s Homecoming Kick-off. Though still a new organization, it has successfully provided students things to do on the weekends.

“Everything is free, and fun. It’s a great way to interact with other students. It’s all cheap entertainment,” said James Contratto, assistant director of student activities for weekend programs and student organizations.

Niners On the Weekend is often confused with another organization, Campus Activities Board

(CAB). CAB focuses on events all throughout the week, while NOW focuses more on weekend-oriented activities.

Examples of some weekend events and activities that NOW offers are carnivals, laser tag, inflatable arenas, skydiving simulator, foam parties and tailgates before athletic events.

“Not only are we planning these events for every weekend, we also are looking forward to having a consistent event. We would like to make sure something happens at 8 p.m. every Friday or a once a month late night program at the Student Union,” said Contratto.

“We like to provide entertainment for as many students as possible, in order to give everyone an experience.”

Things that NOW plans to hold in the Student Union on the weekends are open mic night, karaoke night, video games, poetry slam and a 49er style game show. Not only does NOW plan fun oriented activities, they also take the time to plan community service projects, especially in honor of Make a Difference Day.

Currently, NOW is looking for committee members who are interested in contributing more ideas for new activities; as well as to get the word out about current activities. They hope to continue to plan events that make students want to stay on the weekends and get involved.

niners on the weekend To get involved with Niners On the Weekend, visit their website at now.uncc.edu. On the website, students can sign up to receive emails on NOW activities and events.

Students can also have a faster update by joining the NOW Facebook fan page and be on the look out on their Twitter at now_49er.

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Niner Nation Gold gives the perfect view of 49er athletics Josh Carpenter Managing Editor

Are you a freshman wanting to attend as many Charlotte 49er athletic events as possible with the best seats available? If you are, Niner Nation Gold is probably the group for you.

This student-run organization is the leading fan base for the Charlotte 49ers and represents Niner Nation at every 49er athletic event.

According to the organization’s official website, “The primary focus of Niner Nation Gold is to involve Charlotte 49ers students in an excitement-oriented organization that is committed to supporting and promoting all Charlotte athletic programs.”

At only $20 per academic year, Niner Nation Gold provides many benefits for students. Upon registration for Niner Nation Gold, students receive an official Niner Nation Gold t-shirt, eight Niner Nation loyalty

points, a car decal and 49ers lapel pin, the opportunity to meet 49er coaches and players, and lower level priority seating for men’s basketball games.

Being in Niner Nation Gold also gives students the opportunity to travel to men’s basketball games by bus. Last year when the Niners traveled to Knoxville to take on the Volunteers, Niner Nation Gold took a bus-full of students up to Rocky Top to cheer on the Niners. For only a small fee of $20, students received a bus ride, a free meal and a tour of historic Neyland Stadium.

As members of Niner Nation Gold, students will automatically get an upper leg on their peers and will have a better opportunity at door one tickets.

In addition to adding excitement to 49er athletic events, members of Niner Nation Gold help fund studentathletes’ scholarships through their membership.

More benefits have recently been added as members of the group anticipate Charlotte’s addition of football in 2013. Since Niner Nation Gold works in collaboration with the “49er Club,” students are now able to preserve loyalty points as they make the transition from student to alumni, or even members of the faculty or staff.

Once students become first-year alumni and members of the 49er Club, the more loyalty points they have previously accumulated will help in receiving better tickets for home football games. The 49er Club

is restricted to alumni, faculty and staff, while Niner Nation Gold is strictly student-based.

For away games that are too far to travel to, Niner Nation Gold works in collaboration with local businesses and organizations to host viewing parties for Niner Nation Gold members.

To join Niner Nation Gold, visit www.ticketreturn.com/49ers and request tickets for Niner Nation Gold.

Students may pay online or may visit the ticket office at the Student Activity Center to complete a membership form.

Photo/Alex Georgi

Niner Nation Gold members get to experience high-flying Derrio Green up close.

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Welcome from the UNC Charlotte Student Body President Welcome, incoming students!

Courtesy of Smith/McDonald Chris McDonald Student Body Vice President and Megan Smith Student Body President.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to welcome you to Niner Nation. Each year, UNC Charlotte receives applications from thousands of prospective students.

You should take great pride and satisfaction in knowing that you have distinguished yourself among many well-qualified applicants. It’s an honor to attend an university, and I hope that you remember that as you get acquainted with campus and attend your first classes.

Over the coming weeks, you’ll make new friends, attend classes that are different from any you’ve ever taken, and participate in a student experience unlike any you’ve ever known.

I want to encourage you to take advantage of these new experiences, and to know that the university community is here for you. No matter what you need, there are tutors, counselors, administrators, advisors, and peers waiting to help you. Just ask!

I also want to encourage you to get involved on campus. UNC Charlotte is an amazing place, and

whether you’re cheering on one of our talented athletics programs, joining a student organization or leadership program, or simply taking the time to enjoy our beautiful campus as you walk by the Belk Tower on a fall day, I want to encourage you to get involved.

You can ask anyone on campus, and they will tell you something that they love about UNC Charlotte. Now is the time to find what you love.

As one of the most rapidly growing universities in the state, UNC Charlotte is a place where students come not just to take part in a legacy, but to build one.

As cheesy as it sounds, we’re a family here, and I want to again welcome you to that family. I wish you the best of luck in your first year here, and look forward to seeing what amazing things you’ll do!

Sincerely, Megan Smith Student Body President University of North Carolina at Charlotte

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The ups and downs of parking at UNC Charlotte Parking on campus can be a headache if not thought out before classes Corey Conner Staff Writer

Many universities have issues when it comes to student parking, and UNC Charlotte is not exempt. Along with the growing student population, has come growing frustration when trying to find a parking space.

“At the beginning of Fall 2009, parking availability that first two weeks was unacceptably tight,” said Lou Ann Lamb, UNC Charlotte marketing director for business services.

“No one in Parking Services is in denial about this.”

Over the summer, Parking Services will be putting in one new lot, which will add 245 parking spaces. The new lot, Lot 19, is located beside the Student Union and across the street from Woodward.

New lots mean increased expenses for Parking Services and subsequent-

ly higher permit prices. Next year for both commuter and residential students, the price of a permit will be $335.

For students who are looking to save a little money when buying their permit, Parking Services offers a reduced permit, and a guaranteed parking space for Lot 6A. These permits cost $100 less than others at $235.

As of now, this lot is not sold out, “So it doesn’t make sense to set more reduced rate, remote spaces aside at this time,” according to Lamb.

Even with the new lots and planned decks, Parking Services expects that parking will still be tight, especially during the first two weeks of classes. At this time, students are still trying to figure out their schedules and take care of registration issues, such as paying tuition. After the first few weeks, everyone settles

into a schedule, and parking availability increases.

Despite many students’ attempts, they may still arrive late to a class because they circled a lot for 15 minutes looking for a spot. Parking Services recommends that students plan for the busiest parking times.

Monday through Thursday, and especially Wednesday, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. are the peak times for parking.

For these students, Parking Services has recently brought Hertz Connect to campus. Connect is a rental car that students can take and pay on an hourly basis. The $8/ hour fee includes gas, insurance, GPS navigation, and 24-hour roadside assistance. Across campus there are a total of four Toyota Prius’ that students can use.

Another recommendation to ease the task of parking is to settle for parking spots that aren’t necessarily close to your class building. Spaces that are closest to the academic buildings are premium spaces that typically are filled early in the morning.

If students went to park in more remote lots, such as Lot 6 and the lots behind the high-rises, they would not have to deal with the park-

ing fiasco. It may mean a little bit farther walk, but getting to class on time and without frustration.

For those students that do choose to park farther away to avoid circling the lots and hunting for a space, the University offers on-campus public transit.

On top of on-campus buses, Parking Services is looking at off-campus remote lots that would offer shuttle services and off-campus shuttles to stop by popular off-campus residences.

Parking Permit Prices for Fall 2010

Full year beginning with fall semester Faculty, Staff & Student .........................$335 Partial year beginning spring semester Faculty, Staff & Student .........................$205 Partial year beginning summer term Faculty, Staff & Student ..........................$140 Night Students per semester Fall, Spring and Summer ...........................$80 Remote Parking Lot 6A

Faculty, Staff & Commuters Only .........$235

Gate card access

Faculty & Staff Only ................................$120

Registration of multiple vehicles Per registration periods .............................$15 Replacement decal

Return of Valid Decal Required ..................$5

Daily Temporary Permits

Available at Parking Services .....................$4

Citations Enforced and Penalties

Improper display of permit ..................................................$10.00 Line straddling ........................................................................$20.00 Parking in a non–parking area ............................................$20.00 Parking in an improper area for permit ...........................$20.00 Meter time violation ..............................................................$20.00 Parking on the grass ..............................................................$30.00 Parking without a valid permit ...........................................$40.00 Blocking traffic .......................................................................$40.00 Registration violation ............................................................$40.00 Parking at yellow curb ..........................................................$40.00 Parking in a tow–away zone ..............................................$100.00 Parking in a reserved area / space .................................$100.00 Parking in a space/ramp reserved for disabled...........$100.00 False registration (Article VI, Section 3) .......................$100.00

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Charlotte Athletics get a MAJOR face lift New Charlotte men’s basketball coach Alan Major brings a new attitude; 49er basketball leads the way for Charlotte Athletics into 2010 Josh Carpenter Managing Editor

Photo/Lauren Phillips Alan Major is the newest face in Charlotte athletics.

One of the most important facets of your freshman experience at UNC Charlotte will be taking in the school’s top-notch athletic programs. Most universities possess at least one top-of-the-line athletic team, but the Charlotte 49ers are in the upperechelon when it comes to college athletics with 14 outstanding teams.

Leading the way for Charlotte Athletics is the men’s basketball program. 2009-10 was an upand-down year for the 49ers. The team jumped out to an 18-5 record to start the season, but lost seven of the last eight games to fall out of postseason play.

The season ended bitterly with the firing of longtime head coach Bobby Lutz, but the 49ers have made a MAJOR turnaround in the offseason and are primed for an NCAA run next season.

Director of Athletics Judy Rose officially announced the hiring of Alan Major on April 12. Major, a former assistant at Ohio State, spent six years with the Buckeyes under head coach Thad Matta and three years with Matta at Xavier.

During the nine years the two spent together, they reached seven NCAA Tournaments. They also won one NIT Championship title. Major has coached no less than eight NBA First Round draft picks and landed four top 10 recruiting classes at Ohio State over the last five years.

Another huge upside for the basketball program is that they return their top three scorers and rebounders from a year ago, and will add transfer Jamar “Deuce” Briscoe at the point guard spot.

The women’s basketball team is not to be overshadowed by the men’s basketball program. Led by head coach Karen Aston, the 49ers will be looking to make their ninth consecutive postseason appearance and “stake their claim” as one of the top teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

The Niners lose three of their top scorers from a year ago in Ashley Spriggs, Aysha Jones and Erin Floyd, but will return top scorer Shannon McCallum and starting point guard Kendria Holmes and are poised for a deep run in the A-10.

6-foot-8-inch Mireille Mungedi, who will be the tallest player in 49ers history, and Tiona Burley and Markeisha Gatling have been the highlights of Aston’s recruiting class for 2010.

Charlotte’s women’s soccer team also impressed in 2009, sporting a 16-3-2 record that saw them go deep in the A-10 Tournament. They missed out on an NCAA Tournament bid.

The men’s squad recorded an equally impressive 11-3-6 record in 2009 and made the NCAA Tournament before falling in the first round to UNC Wilmington.

The basketball floor and soccer pitch aren’t the only places the 49ers excel. The baseball and softball teams are both prominent players in the NCAA Tournament discussion each year and are constantly making a name for themselves in the A-10.

These six teams only scratch the surface for Niner athletics. Charlotte is the home to eight other distinguished teams that include men’s golf, women’s and men’s track and field, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s cross country and women’s volleyball. The men’s golf team made national news in 2007-08, occupying the No. 1 spot in the nation during October and eventually finishing third in the NCAA Tournament.

They have also won the A-10 Conference Tournament for five years running. The men’s track and field team won their second straight Atlantic 10 Outdoor title in the spring while the women’s team won their third straight title.

If it isn’t obvious by now, the Charlotte 49ers

are one of the most prominent and distinguished athletic programs in the nation, and if you want to make your freshman experience a fruitful one, I would advise checking them out.

Photo/Alex Georgi

Photo/Alex Georgi

Photo/Alex Georgi

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Finding the right group for U: Student groups are a good way to meet people Derby Cox and Dagny Leonard McClatchy-Tribune (MCT)

Freshman year: a time for new beginnings, personal growth and awkward social situations. If you’re like most freshmen, finding yourself in a sea of strangers can be jarring, and making friends is one of the most important things on your mind.

One of the surest ways to find friends who share your interests is to join student groups. At UNC Charlotte, there are over 300 student organizations Some examples, include: INTRAMURAL SPORTS If you love sports, but you are not exactly a Division I athlete, that’s no reason to give up your athletic lifestyle.

Intramural sports programs offer a terrific way to meet people, stay in shape and have a great time all in one of many club sports teams or intramurals. Contact the offices in the Recreational Services located in the Belk Gym.

GREEK LIFE Greek life certainly may not be for everyone. If you detest being surrounded by large groups of people, for example, joining a sorority might not be your first choice.

If you love being involved and active and working in groups, maybe it’s just for you. Keep an open mind.

- Trust the process. - Have fun.

To learn more about whether Greek life is for you, you can visit www.thesororitylife.com or www. fraternityinfo.com for general information on sororities and fraternities, respectively.

Watch for RUSH promotions posted across campus.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT For aspiring politicos, student government is a logical choice. College students often complain that student government has little ability to change the school, but you may be a

great leader who can make an opinion on college life.

Although officer elections are held in the spring, freshmen can run for some offices in the fall and some senator slats may be available for transfer students.

CLUBS AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS If Greek life is not for you, you don’t like sports or have no big dreams for your student political career, don’t worry you have not exhausted all your options.

Special interest groups and organizations are a great way to meet people that share your interests that you might not otherwise run into.

Check out the student organizations office in the Student Union or check the UNC Charlotte website for a complete list of groups and contacts.

There you can find anything from chess club to various religious groups to ballroom dancing, or tons of special interest groups. Don’t be afraid to branch out.

STUDENT MEDIA For motivated students, working for campus media can provide a unique thrill.

Being part of the newspaper, a dj for RFC or designing and producing a magazine can help challenge your creativity while providing you with invaluable experience for a future career.

Stop by their offices on the lower level of the Student Union.

MULTICULTURAL RESOURCE CENTER As an ever dynamic unit of the Department of Student Activities, the MRC provides support to multicultural student organizations as well as support for student organizational efforts of groups that range from The Black Student Union, cultural groups, PRIDE, religious and spiritual groups.

Visit the Center on the second of the Student Union.

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Professors aren’t ROTFL at students’ text habits Matt Krupnick Contra Costa Times (MCT)

College professors are anything but LOL at their students’ recent writing habits.

Not only are instructors not laughing out loud shortened to LOL in text messages and online chats at the technology-oriented shorthand that has seeped into academic papers, many of them are also sternly telling students to stop using the new language even in less formal writing.

The shorthand often consists of shortened variations of common words “u” instead of you, or “ur” for your. Text speak may be appropriate for a quick note to a friend, but professors are increasingly stymied by how casually students are using the terms.

“Despite the fact that I happen to be perfectly capable of reading any incoherent drivel you may send to my (e-mail) inbox directly from your phone keypad, ‘wut up ya I cnt make it 2 clss lol’ is insanely unprofessional,” reads the syllabus of Alejo Enriquez, a Cal State East Bay instructor.

“Therefore, I am imposing a higher standard of grammar, spelling, and use of the enter key upon you and kindly request that all e-mails sent to me resemble any other letter to your teacher, supervisor, grandparents or parole officer.”

Faculty members increasingly have expressed irritation about reading acronyms and abbreviations they often do not understand, said Sally Murphy, a Cal State East Bay professor and director of the university’s general-education program. One email to a professor started with, “Yo, teach,” she said.

“It has a real effect on the tone of professionalism,” said Murphy, who also has seen younger instructors use the shorthand. “We tell them very specifically how this is going to affect them in life. It’s kind of like wearing their jeans below their butt. They’re

going to lose all credibility.”

The introduction of such casual language into term papers is a sea change from the days when nearly all students addressed their instructors as “professor” or “doctor.” More faculty members ask students to call them by their first names, but many are drawing the line at texting shorthand or even emotions smiley faces

“It’s kind of like

wearing their jeans below their butt. They’re going to lose all credibility.”

Sally Murphy Cal State East Bay professor made out of punctuation marks.

Tech-speak has been moving through the educational pipeline toward colleges for a few years. A 2008 survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that two-thirds of middle- and high-school students had accidentally used instant-messaging-style words in their work, while a quarter admitted using emotions in assignments.

The breakdown in language skills is an odd phenomenon given how much time children and young adults spend in front of the computer, said Marcia Linn, who teaches about technology in education at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education.

“Writing has actually increased as an activity,” she said. “Standards are another issue. Maybe we haven’t quite thought it through well enough in an academic setting.”

Many students communicate constantly via text and instant messaging, so it can be difficult to leave the tech lingo behind in class, said Mohammed Shahid Beig, a senior and student-body president at Cal State East Bay.

“When we sit down to do something formal, it’s hard to switch to that way of thinking,” said Shahid Beig, who grew up in India speaking to teachers in the most formal tones. “We don’t even recognize it.

I’m pretty sure that it has never happened to me, but I might have done it without knowing.”

The phenomenon appears to be widespread. Instructors at Sonoma State, Holy Names and San Francisco State universities have grumbled about text-speak showing up in assignments, and the president of the statewide faculty senate for community colleges, Mission College professor Jane Patton, said she has heard the same complaints.

College always has been a place for students to learn how to communicate appropriately, Patton said, and teaching them to can the techspeak is merely the latest step in that education.

“That’s a standard part of every curriculum, pointing out the standards of appropriateness,” she said.

“In some ways, (text language) is a small modification to add to the list.”

University of California-Berkeley

Drawing/Sarah Jones

professor Ken Goldberg said he has not received assignments using the texting terms, but said he has had trouble getting used to the casual tone of e-mails he receives from students these days.

“They don’t even resort to the niceties,” said Goldberg, director of the Berkeley Center for New Media.

“They just jump right in as if they were texting me. I don’t want to sound like I’m some sort of Victorian schoolmarm, but it’s an adjustment.”

Goldberg noted that although his 6-year-old child spells out complete words in text messages, he received a message from his 70-year-old mother a retired reading teacher that read, “luv 2 u.”

Several professors said they are trying to emphasize the negative effects casual language will have on students’ job searches. Some, such as Diablo Valley College student Alicia Fambrini, are clear on that message.

“I think it’s an error by people my age not to use formal language,” she said. “I’ve always followed the philosophy that it doesn’t take that much longer to add ‘y’ and ‘o’ to ‘u.’ I spell everything out.”

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UNC Charlotte accommodates students with various on-campus dining options Josh Carpenter Managing Editor

For students who live on campus and spend most of their time there, UNC Charlotte provides a wide array of campus dining options.

Eight different dining options range from Chicago-style pizza to a Bistro in the Student Union and provide Charlotte students with some of the best dining around.

The Residence Dining Hall (RDH) is located near the Moore, Sanford, Holshouser and Scott high rises and provides an immense variety of eating options. An all-you-can-eat dining hall, RDH comes complete with a home cooking section, Italian food selection and a grill completely devoted to fried food. RDH also serves Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and

dessert.

Crown Commons, located on the second level of the Student Union is very similar to RDH, but provides a wider selection. Crown Commons is much newer than RDH and almost everything is cooked-to-order right in front of you.

Crown Commons provides pizza, home cooking, deli food, a grilling station, international fare, soup and salad and a waffle bar. Students can pay at RDH or crown Commons with declining balance, optional dining account, cash, debit or credit.

Located near Crown Commons on the second level of the student union is Bistro 49. This state-of-the-art dining locale offers a sit-down, table service luncheon experience.

Union Square is located on the main level of the student union and

is one of the more popular eating locales on the UNC Charlotte campus.

Union Square offers a wide variety of national dining brands such as: Wendy’s, Energy Zone, Starbucks, Mamma Leone’s and Einstein Bros.

Bagels.

About five minutes away in the Cone Center, you’ll find Main Street Market. This weekday lunchtime spot offers Chicago-style UNO Pizza Express, Sub Connection, “Use Your Noodle” (made-to-order noodle bowls), fresh sushi, salads and sandwiches, soft drinks, yogurts, juices and coffee.

Ritazza’s is an on-campus coffee shop located in the Atkins Library and the Fretwell building. Ritazza’s serves up all the expected coffee shop drinks as well as bakery goods, panini sandwiches, smoothies,

soups-of-the-day and a large selection of juices and soft and energy drinks.

On Monday, May 24, a new Chickfil-A Express opened in Main Street Market.

As of May 14, the entire Prospector building was closed for installation of fire sprinklers and renovation.

Prospector’s north side, which houses Mamma Leone’s, Salsarita’s, Mondo Subs, Coyote Jack’s and the Faculty/Staff dining room, are expected to reopen when classes begin in August.

The south side, where the bookstore used to be, will undergo extensive renovation along with much of the exterior of the building. The project should be completed within a year.

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can’t-miss things in the Queen City

Josh Carpenter Managing Editor

UNC Charlotte’s campus is a hotspot for activity, but the greater Charlotte area provides students with many more options for enjoying college life.

So get some friends together or just take some time by yourself and enjoy what the greater Charlotte region has to offer.

Carowinds Amusement Park

Buckle up and get ready to take on the new rollercoaster, The Intimidator, Carowinds’ newest addition. Carowinds also offer classic rides like Thunder Road and Top Gun. This state-of-the-art amusement park also offers a water park that is sure to satisfy your fun-filled needs.

Located in South Charlotte, Carowinds is only a 20-minute drive from UNC Charlotte’s campus.

Music Venues

Charlotte is also a hotbed for live music. Go out for the night and hear some of your favorite musical ensembles at venues such as Amos’ Southend, The Neighborhood Theatre, Tremont Music Hall, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, and many others. To find out when and where your favorite bands will be performing, you can check out the venue’s website. Tickets for many of the shows can be purchased on the day of the show for an additional cost or can be bought ahead of time on the world-wide-web.

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Uptown Charlotte offers UNC Charlotte students a wide variety of options. Just a short 15-minute drive from campus, students can either spend a relaxing afternoon in the shadows of Charlotte’s skyscrapers

or can spend a night on the town in some of Charlotte’s award-winning restaurants and bars. If you’re hungry, Charlotte’s award-winning Blue Restaurant is the perfect place for you, or try out the always-popular Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. After you get done eating, you can partake in Charlotte’s exciting nightlife at places such as Suite, BAR Charlotte, or Dale Earnhardt Junior’s Whiskey River bar. Whatever you choose, you’ll be guaranteed to have a long-lasting memory after your visit to uptown Charlotte.

Professional Sports

When you aren’t busy watching the 49ers dominate home sporting events, why not check out some of the area’s local professional teams?

Charlotte is home to the 2003 NFC Champion Carolina Panthers, the newly improved Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA, Charlotte Motor Speedway for all the NASCAR junkies, the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL and the Chicago White Sox Triple A affiliate, the Charlotte Knights. Charlotte’s sports history is a storied one, and if you get a chance, you might get to be part of it.

Recreational Activities

If you’re in the mood to participate in these sports rather than be a spectator, book yourself a tee time, bowl a few games or just head out to the park for an afternoon with friends.

Golf fans will enjoy local golf courses such as Skybrook Golf Club, Tradition or Rocky River Golf Club, home to the Charlotte 49ers golf team. Bowling fanatics can get their fix at the AMF Lanes located only five minutes away on Tryon or can squeeze in some late-night bowling

at Dave and Busters. Rock climbers don’t have to go off campus as the university offers a rock climbing and bouldering wall in the Student Activity Center (SAC) or you can take a trip to Inner Peaks.

A different kind of golf can be found in the surrounding areas. Disc golf, a popular activity among college students can be played at nearby Reedy Creek or Hornet’s Nest.

Places to Shop

If you enjoy shopping and are worried about having places to spend your money when you get to school, don’t be. Charlotte is home to some of the best shopping locales in the south and provides students with plenty of places to spend money.

Two shopping malls are located just 15 minutes away. Concord Mills is North Carolina’s largest tourist attraction and attracted more than 17 million visitors in 2005. Concord Mills’ anchor stores include Bass Pro Shops, AMC Theatres, T JMaxx and NASCAR Speedpark. Northlake Mall is the newer of the two malls and provides patrons with the perfect opportunity for spending money.

Lake Norman

Just up I-77 before you get to Mooresville is Lake Norman. Lake Norman is the largest manmade body of water in the Carolinas and provides the perfect opportunity for students to spend a Saturday afternoon.

U.S. National Whitewater Center

Grab an ore and hold on tight as you make your way downstream to the U.S. National Whitewater Center, located just 15 minutes from campus off I-85 South. This facility is a world-class whitewater center and recently was the host site for the kayaking Olympic Trials but also pertains to beginners. The center offers two channels for both rafting and kayaking.

If you want to stay dry but still enjoy your time there, you can partake in the largest manmade climbing center in the world or just enjoy some food at the center’s special southern eatery.

History

To learn more about the Charlotte area and its prominent history, you can take in one of the area’s many museums. For an interesting and fun time, check out places like the Mint Museum, Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, or the Charlotte Museum of History.

For North Carolina’s historic motorsports, you can check out the newly-built NASCAR Hall of Fame, located in downtown Charlotte, or the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame, located in Mooresville off of I-77.

NoDa

If you’re a connoisseur of the arts, you might want to make the 15-minute drive to the North Davidson area. This area is nationally acclaimed for it’s art, but there is much more than that. NoDa is a great place for music, theatre and food, and just a good time. To learn more about NoDa events, visit www.noda.org Drawing/Sarah Jones

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Answers: 1. Ref’s jersey 2. ‘C’ in Charlotte 3. Last name 4. American Flag 5. Stripe on shorts 6. Jersey Number 7. Cloned face 8. Missing crowd 9. Turned head 10. Shirt logo

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-FIND 10 DIFFERENCES IN THESE BASKETBALL PHOTOSUNC CHARLOTTE

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Atkins Library provides the academic learning environment that every freshman will need Jamie Brown Staff Writer

Atkins Library, which is located next to the Cone Center and Counseling Center, is your number one place for information. The 10-story building holds over 1,046,000 volumes and over 43,500 unique print and electronic serial subscriptions. Each floor serves its own purpose, as you can find out from the helpful handout at the information desk. According to the handout, the first and second floors are designated to the reference collection, periodicals, newspapers and maps.

The second floor also has a growing DVD collection. The third floor is designated as the quiet zone and recently added an enhanced Ethernet and wireless collection. The 8,939 books in the special collection are located on the 10th floor. There you can find 7,710 individual titles, 1,800 oral history interviews recorded, as well as the oldest book in the library that dates back to 1471, as stated on the fact page on the library’s Website.

Even though the library carries almost every subject imaginable, some of the notable strengths, according to the library, include: Applied Mathematics, NASA collection, Late 19th and early 20th century World atlases, Business, Engineering, History, English, and Religion.

Books can be checked out for 21 days and can be easily renewed at http://library.uncc.edu/renew. Even though UNC Charlotte’s library is not the oldest or biggest, librarian Stanly Wilder believes this is a good quality.

“UNC Charlotte is perfectly well positioned to be as great as Harvard and Princeton but in a digital way,” said Wilder.

Therefore, the library is experimenting with Netbooks, which are currently available for checkout.

While everything can seem a little overwhelming at first, the 101 employees on staff are there to help whenever needed. Numerous desks

File Photo

are located throughout the library to help with specific questions.

The reference and information desk are located on the first floor, where librarians provide their expert help for research assistance, as well as general inquiries. Other helpful desks include the presentation support desk that provides software and hardware technology support, a reserves desk that provides materials placed on reserve by instructors and a research data service that provides access to geographic information system software and extensive data resources.

Besides endless books, the library also provides access to 216 computer workstations and 60 lending laptops.

Recently, the library added five apple notebooks to their collection, and 10 iMac desktop machines.

While the library is currently in negotiations towards going to 24 hours in the fall, the library’s website is just as useful during times the li-

brary is closed. With 24/7 access, the Website offers over 38,700 electronic journals, 283 journal access databases, as well as access to more than 64,000 electronic books, as stated on the fact page. The Web site is also convenient for professors to place class work on, which can be found under the course reserve tab. In the fall, the library plans to unveil a new library homepage.

The library is also a convenient place to study, with 11 group study rooms that can be booked online. According to Wilder, first floor renovations, however, are in the works to add additional group study rooms.

Wilder, who joined the staff this past year, believes the library has a terrific staff, and all the resources it needs to be a fantastic library. Wilder said he, “wants to build systems, collections, provide a physical library that is a great place for students to be.”

Future freshmen and transfer stu-

dents are coming at a great time as many positive changes are planned for the Atkins Library.

Hours of Operation Monday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m.-Midnight Friday: 7:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Sunday: 11:00 a.m.-midnight

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Recreational Services creates opportunities for students Ed Niser Staff Writer

The Recreational Services department at UNC Charlotte offers a wide variety of different athletic activities that one can get involved with regardless of his/her individual skill level.

Intramural flag football draws great attention in the fall semester.

Just last fall, Recreational Services reported well over 100 teams signed up for competition. Students can get involved in any of the intramural sports offered which encompass a sport guaranteed to satisfy any athlete’s appetite. In the fall, flag football, soccer, 3-on-3 basketball, 6 Aside soccer and volleyball are offered in single gender or co-rec varieties.

Spring semester offers more intramural sports for students to par-

ticipate in. Among those sports are basketball, softball, dodgeball and indoor soccer. The best part about UNC Charlotte’s intramural sports is that they are fun and free with your student ID. Lewis Morgan, an intramural indoor soccer referee commented on his experience with the Recreational Service Department here at UNC Charlotte “I refereed indoor soccer this year, and had a blast,” Morgan said. “Next year, I’ll be refereeing a few more sports (at least flag football and basketball) as well as joining the club disc golf team.”

Rec Services does not just limit itself to intramural sports. They also offer club sports run by students that compete at high levels of interscholastic college sports. The main clubs offered on campus that spark inter-

est among students (since no varsity programs exist) are men’s and women’s rugby, ice hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse.

Rec Services offers a wide variety of club sports that any student can get involved in, regardless of previous playing experience and skill level; if you have a love for the game and a competitive attitude, you’re encouraged to join.

If playing club sports or intramurals isn’t your thing and fitness is, that’s okay because UNC Charlotte has group fitness classes to help you achieve your highest fitness goals.

Classes include Super Abs, Cycle Fit, Salsa, yoga and much more. The Rec Services fitness center is located in the Student Activity Center on the lower level where it features a fully stacked free weight and circuit training facility complete with treadmills

and other various cardio equipment.

If you are incapable of competing in these above listed recreational activities and you still have a passion for any of the intramural sports mentioned, you can become a referee and make some extra spending money to help fund your fast food habit or more importantly, your textbooks.

Recreational services Students can find more information on intramural sports by visiting www.recservices.uncc.edu or calling 704.687.2564.

Several tips for living on a collegiate budget Alyssa Rinaldi Staff Writer

The cheap fix of ramen noodles, energy drinks, and Redbox movies is no way to live throughout your college career. Although most try this route at first, there are easier (and healthier) ways to live on a collegiate budget.

So, here’s what you need to know.

There are several things college students want or need to spend their money on. Food, entertainment, and textbooks are three of the highest categories of what a college student’s money goes toward. Being in the know about where deals are or how to save your money can help you save hundreds of dollars if you take the time to read up.

According to the Consumer Expenditure Survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 25 percent of all fast food purchases are made by college students.

Of that 25 percent, college students are spending 8 percent of their total income on eating out. Say you make $10,000 a year while working in college; you will spend nearly $800 in eating out alone, not including meal plan eating when you eat on campus. There are several ways to cut that $800 to a lesser amount.

You need to know about places around the university area that offer discounts. Shane’s Rib Shack

offers 20 percent off on Sundays to all UNC Charlotte students when you present your student ID. UNCC Senior Engineer major Michael Player says “Shane’s has the greatest food you can find around Charlotte. If you go in there enough, they know you by name and they know your order by heart.”

There are ways other than eating out that cut costs for students. Eating on campus with a mealplan can take away the stress of spending too. If you have a meal plan, you have a set number of meals you can eat a week on campus - this is a sure way to save money in the long run.

A final way to cut the cost of food is to grocery shop and clip coupons. In the Charlotte Observer every Sunday (excluding holidays) there are coupon inserts typically for several hundreds of dollars worth of savings. Local grocery stores, like Harris Teeter, offer additional savings by doubling or even tripling your coupons. Try going grocery shopping with your roommate, using coupons and splitting the cost. You’ll be amazed how much you save.

Besides food, college students spend a lot of money on entertainment. Movies, concerts, and clubs all add up to make us go over our budget.

For movies, Concord Mills offers $5 movies Monday thru Thursday, and in Matthews you can

visit “Movies Ten” which shows movies that have been out for a few weeks at the low price of $2!

You can also visit the campus movie theatre in the Student Union - all shows are FREE with your UNC Charlotte ID. If you get into late night life, be sure to check out which clubs host college nights, so that the entrance fee is discounted or free.

Besides things that college students spend money on that are enjoyable, there is always the undesired bill that comes with buying textbooks.

Textbooks can cost upwards of $300 at times, so it is good to know of ways to save money on your books.

There are several stores around Charlotte that offer used textbooks at a more discounted price than the campus bookstore. Check out Miner books or Gray’s bookstore, both located of HWY 49 to find the best discounts on textbooks. Both of these stores have websites that you can visit where you can reserve your textbooks in advance.

If you have your list of books early, you can try purchasing books online from sites like Amazon. com or half.com, both widely used by college students.

UNCC Senior Elementary Education major Bethany Giesler says it best, “The more I save, the less I stress, the better time I have while I’m in college!”

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Campus has many attractions awaiting students Jessica Arenas Staff Writer

Most students, especially freshmen, may find themselves without a car on campus. A freshman will immediately think that being stuck on campus for a weekend without a car will succumb to complete boredom.

At UNC Charlotte, students who are on campus for the weekend need not to worry about not having anything to do. There are a plethora of things that freshmen can do to keep them out of the dorm.

For those who enjoy having a demanding social life, joining a fraternity or a sorority will definitely keep your schedule booked. By going Greek, you will find yourself meeting new friends and keeping busy either planning or participating in events.

“I love being Greek because its given me a chance to meet some really amazing people in every organization, give back to my community and get more involved on campus,” said Alpha Delta Pi member Natalie Scott.

Instead of Greek life, you can join a student organization that shares the same interests as you. Like Greek life, joining a student organization is a good social group that will keep you busy and involved on campus.

Another way to keep you busy is by staying physically active. Fitness centers are available either at the Student Activity Center or the Belk

Gym with operating hours from Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.

At the SAC and Belk Gyms, both provide recreational instructional areas and weight rooms. The Belk Gym includes a swimming pool in the basement, for those who want to swim laps or to just take a dip with friends. Fitting in a good workout during the weekend will help keep you in shape and may relieve some stress from the week.

Not only can you stay physically active at the gym, you can also join an intramural sport. Some intramural sports offered at UNCC are softball, soccer, bowling, fencing, tennis, football and much more. While joining a team, you not only have fun playing the sport but also get to know new people and make friends.

“I participate in intramural sports because it gives me a chance to get to know new people and have fun at the same time,” said freshman Leah Thompson. “I like it because it’s a great environment and keeps me active.”

Students should also take advantage of on-campus events. Athletic events are always a plus to go to.

Students get in free to any sporting event, whether it is volleyball, basketball, tennis or baseball. Going to these events allows you to unwind and get crazy with your friends while showing 49er spirit. Also at these

The Asian Botanical Gardens are the newest addition to the campus grounds

File Photo

The SAC is located in the heart of the UNC Charlotte campus

events, you may be lucky to not leave empty handed. Most sporting events may have a free T-shirt giveaway and cheering supplies like pom-poms.

Campus Activities Board (CAB) and Niners on the Weekend (NOW) also host on and off campus events.

Both are always planning a wide rage of activities and events to keep students busy. CAB focuses on weekly activities filled with free giveaways and music shows for any restless student. NOW features events on Fridays and Saturdays, whether indoors or out, to provide students with something to do on weekends.

If you like the outdoors, spend time trekking around campus. A great place to take a small adventure walk is the Botanical Gardens. The Botanical Gardens is located on the east side of UNC Charlotte’s campus. The main areas of the Gardens include the McMillan Greenhouse, Susie Harwood Garden and the Van Landingham Glen.

At each garden, it provides unique natural art in a peaceful setting. You can literally take the time to smell the flowers by walking around each garden. You can take in the beauty of plants such as orchids, desert plants, carnivorous plants and trees.

Another way one can utilize their weekends to study and catch up on homework is at the peaceful and

File Photo

quiet Atkins Library. Another good place to study is around the Student Union. The Union has lounge chairs for those that like to study with a bit of noise. The Barnes and Noble Bookstore and Starbucks coffee is another good place as well, if not to study, but to grab a cup of coffee and catch up on some magazine or book reading.

Also at the Student Union, if you’re hungry, you can grab a bite to eat at Crown Commons or at the other food places such as Wendy’s, Mama Leone’s and Outtakes. You can eat and meet with friends in the small food court or spend some time at Norm’s lounge watching T.V. or playing a game of pool. The Student Union Movie Theater is also a good place to hang out and catch up on flicks you haven’t had a chance to see.

Lastly, you can choose to stay indoors and have some personal downtime. One can catch up on some sleep, or invite some friends over.

Plan on having a night-in by hanging out, catching up, watching movies and maybe snacking away.

Overall, with all the things UNCC has to offer, think about how much you’re saving for not buying that parking pass! Any students staying on campus should never find themselves with nothing to do, especially without a car.

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Welcome to Niner Nation from Norm You are now a member of Niner Nation. Welcome to the family! During your career as a Niner, you need to show your pride for this university. Attend athletic events and cheer on your Charlotte 49ers. And as always, wear green and GO NINERS!

Chancellors of UNC Charlotte -Bonnie Cone (founder; director, 1946-1949; president, 1949-1965; acting chancellor, 1965-1966) -Dean Colvard (1966-1978) -E.K. Fretwell (1979-1989) -James Woodward (1989-2005) -Phil Dubois (2005-present)

The names of all the colleges College of Art and Architecture College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Belk College of Business College of Education William States Lee College of Engineering College of Health and Human Services College of Computing and Informatics The Honors College

49er Fight Song

Official Mascot The mascot for the Charlotte 49ers is Norm the Niner. You can find Norm at every athletic event on campus and at the front entrance to the University.

Official Colors The university’s official colors are PMS 349 Green (dark green) and white.

Although gold and black appear in the logo and are occasionally seen on athletic uniforms, they are not considered our colors.

The University Times The University Times is a student publication that is your source of campus news. Pick up a copy of the Times every Tuesday and Thursday in the lobby of academic buildings and various news stands around campus.

Student Organizations Are you interested in getting involved on campus? Student organizations are the best way to meet new people and become apart of the university community. UNC Charlotte offers over 300 student organizations, if you are interested visit: http://studentorgs.uncc.edu.

Drawing/Sarah Jones

“Hail, Charlotte 49ers, proud as we can be, We stand to fight for the green and white ‘Til we win the victory! (Go Niners!)

We pledge our trust in you And wave your colors high, The loyal Niner Nation cheers Forever! We’ll Fight-Fight-Fight”

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Freshman weight gain isn’t par for course

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Beware the ‘Freshman 15’ starting college or it could come back to you in the butt

By Ashley Kindergan The Record

It’s difficult to think of a way to add pounds faster than living the stereotypical college lifestyle.

Juggling coursework, jobs and a social life leaves little time for exercising or even regular meals. Latenight study sessions are often fueled by the nearest 24-hour greasy spoon.

Getting too little sleep can also trick the body into craving more food.

On top of all that, many freshmen are taking in many more calories from alcohol than they have in the past.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that not every entering freshman puts on weight, and there are some easy things students can do to avoid packing on pounds.

The first thing to do is to forget the phrase “Freshman 15.” A 2006 study

by Rutgers University nutritionists tracked the weight of 67 students in their first year. Most students did gain weight, but more than one-fourth of students actually lost weight.

Those who did gain weight put on an average of seven pounds, not 15.

But gaining seven pounds doesn’t require all that much extra food. The Rutgers study said that taking in just 112 extra calories each day _ roughly equivalent to a cup of Cheerios _ would do it.

Jackie Ehlert-Mercer, a registered dietitian who runs nutrition programs for students at the University of British Columbia and teaches a course in nutrition at Ramapo College, said that freshmen who gain weight their first semester and don’t lose it in the second semester are more likely to keep gaining weight throughout college.

If the pattern continues, adulthood obesity and related health problems such as heart disease and diabetes may follow.

“An overweight adolescent ... is probably going to become an obese adult if they don’t mediate their

weight during college,” Ehlert-Mercer said. “The stresses they face such as getting married or getting a full-time job tend to increase. They don’t tend to diminish.”

Scott Fisher, director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Health and Fitness Center, recommends that students plan their days to ensure that they eat regularly and healthfully. Skipping meals to lose weight usually backfires, he said.

“You should really go no longer than four or five hours without eating something,” Fisher said. “If you go for too long a period of time without eating, your blood sugar level drops.

When your blood sugar level drops, your body essentially sends you signals that it wants a very quick source of energy, which are the typical sugary foods, and some concentrated calories, which are fatty foods.”

Eating frequently has worked for Mike Sciscione, 22, a senior at William Paterson University. The Rockaway native eats six small meals a day. Something as simple as a fruit smoothie counts, he said.

Sciscione buys bulk packages of 100-calorie snack packs and keeps a bottle of water with him to stave off hunger pangs. “It keeps your metabolism going and keeps you from gaining weight,” he said.

Some students who gained weight said they were able to lose it again by reassessing their food and exercise choices.

Ramya Pallavajhala, 22, a senior at Fairleigh Dickinson University, lost most of the weight she gained the first semester of freshman year by cutting out cheese and cooking healthy, vegetable-rich Indian dishes.

She also walks between her Hackensack home and the Teaneck campus and squeezes in the occasional gym workout when her schedule permits.

“Once you gain the weight, it’s very tough to regain your shape,” Pallavajhala said. “But it’s easy to prevent it.”

Going easy on the alcohol can also

MCT Campus

make a big difference.

Daniel Hoffman, a co-author of the Rutgers study, said that the body metabolizes alcohol before either carbohydrates or fat. That means the body has less opportunity to burn off carbohydrates and fats from food.

The sheer number of calories in alcoholic drinks is enough to make most people gain weight, especially if they are consuming the same amount of food and non-alcoholic beverages.

A single shot of 80-proof vodka contains 97 calories, and a typical light beer contains about 99, according to thecaloriecounter.com.

Combine hard liquor with mixers (110 calories for an 8-ounce glass of orange juice) or down a few beers during a drinking game, and the calories add up quickly.

“A lot of students don’t realize that the number of calories per gram in alcohol is closer to fat than to carbohydrates,” Hoffman said. “If you look at binge drinking ... you’re looking at a lot of calories.”

Eating is only one side of the weight-gain equation. Working out can help burn off the occasional latenight pizza or homesickness-induced pint of ice cream.

Fisher recommended at least half

an hour of cardiovascular exercise most days a week, and augmenting that with strength training a few times a week.

Relaxing a little isn’t a bad idea, either. Researchers at the University of Chicago found that college students who slept for four hours a night produced more of a hormone called ghrelin, which causes feelings of hunger, and less of leptin, which makes people feel full, than peers who had been allowed to sleep for as much as 10 hours.

Though most freshmen will err on the side of eating too much and exercising too little, some students respond to stress by becoming too restrictive with their diets.

Students who have experienced disordered eating patterns before college face the highest risk of developing serious eating disorders in college, Ehlert-Mercer said.

Students who find themselves thinking obsessively about food, purging after eating or exercising compulsively in order to lose weight should see a counselor or doctor.

Most college health centers either employ or can refer students to a nutritionist or psychologist to treat eating disorders.

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The ins and outs of the UNC Charlotte 49er card Make sure not to be without your 49er card

Josh Carpenter Managing Editor

For a UNC Charlotte freshman, the most important thing you need to have available at all times is your 49er ID card. The 49er card provides access to many things, including campus housing, campus activities and programs, all athletic events and recreational facilities, computer labs and the Student Health Center.

The 49er card also serves as a meal plan card, a library card and holds your optional dining

account. To put it plainly, don’t go anywhere on campus without your 49er card. If you happen to lose your card or have it stolen, you should immediately suspend the use of your card.

Students can report lost or stolen ID cards by calling the ID office (704-687-7040) or the 49er card office (704-687-7337). When a card is lost or stolen, the balance on the card cannot be protected until the card is reported. Students can also visit the Student Union ID office or the meal plan office to have the card unsuspended if it is later found.

Temporary cards can be issued and used for seven days, after which cards must be returned to the ID office and a new card can be purchased for $15. If a card is stolen and a police report is filed, students may bring a copy of the police report to receive a free replacement card. Students bear any responsibility for funds that are spent from the time it is lost to the time it is reported.

Unspent 49er and ODA funds will stay available to students and roll over from semester to semester, year to year, as long as the student is enrolled at school. Upon graduation or withdrawal, funds exceeding $5 are refundable.

3 reasons not to lose your 49er card:

1. You might get locked out. All

residence halls on campus can only be accessed with your 49er card. If locked out, visit Oak or Scott Hall for a replacement.

2.

You might go hungry. For most students, their 49er card serves as a means of paying for food.

3. Last but not least, athletics. Most

athletic events on campus (NCAAs not included) are free of charge for students with the presentation of their 49er card.

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Going Greek enriches college life Christopher Wood Staff Writer

Courtesy of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life Above: Members of the Greek Life at UNC Charlotte

Thinking about going Greek? What should you expect? What are the factors that could lead to you finding your best friends for life, or wishing that you didn’t rush at all?

Greek life has been a critical component to the American institution system since the beginning of American history. That’s right – you can find the first fraternity established in America in 1776.

So, in theory, the fraternity or sorority that you join will have amendments and regulations aimed for collegiate success penned before even your Bill of Rights.

So if you’re trying to be a part of history, a place where many men and women before you have found lasting relationships and memorable experiences that they wouldn’t trade for the world, you’re in the right spot.

What do you need to know about the basics of Greek life? Chances are, you’ve seen Hollywood’s version of Greek life. You’ve seen the movies, the parties, the laughs, the drinking, and the drama. Is that reality?

Maybe, maybe not; I can only speak for what I’ve seen. And what I have seen is what takes place beyond the scenes – the stories that don’t make the front page or the news at all; the stories about Greeks helping out in their communities and making a difference in people’s lives every day.

Don’t get me wrong, when you go Greek you’re going to find a social organization, but you’ll also find an organization that places grades before anything else.

With the evolution of the Greek system here in America, organizations realize how important your degree will be to you and your success. Therefore; fraternities hold members to quite a high standard of academic excellence.

Okay, how does one start? Fall rush. What is fall rush? In short: the greatest week of your life. This is your chance to meet your new family away from home. Rush week is where you get to go around and meet all the different fraternities and/or sororities.

You’ll meet more people than you can put into that

new Blackberry Storm you just got.

This is where you get the edge in the social system of UNC Charlotte: networking. You’ll meet people you would have never thought possible, from students like you and I, to alumni who want you to work for their company after you get that ever-so-important degree.

What should you look for from fraternities and from rush? You’ll get the most out of your Greek experience by finding the people that value the same things in life that you do. Trust me on this one, don’t change who you are to fit in with a crowd; find a crowd that fits in with you.

And I do not mean judge people based on their clothes or cars – those are things that people have, not who they are. Meet everyone you can, and never judge a book by its cover.

In a social aspect, college is the next chapter; new experiences. You will find out who you are by putting yourself in different situations.

You grow quickest as a person by doing the things you aren’t comfortable with, struggling with them, and then learning how to do it successfully in the future.

A lot of people are overwhelmed when they meet new people. You can call it shyness, social phobia, and so forth. We’ve all been there, but be who you want to be in college.

This is your time for everyone else to see what you have to offer. Be confident, and remember to go out and look at everybody. For example, in the movie Animal House, the two main characters who become pledges in the movie found their home where they never would have expected it to be. Be you, and be who you want to be: make your own story.

What’s beyond rush? Once you get a bid, you will then begin your journey of the new member process, or “pledging process.” Here you will have your class, and what will more than likely turn into your best friends for this and many future chapters of your life.

Take this stage in for all it’s worth, there’s only one goaround at it (hopefully, that is).

From here, I can no longer be your guide and help you through this incredible experience – the rest of the story is up to you. Good luck, and go Greek.

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Beware misuse of social networking sites

Facebook and Twitter have landed students in hot water when not used properly Dana Nigro Editor-in-Chief

Recently, more and more college students are learning the adverse effect of social networking sites.

They are a great way of staying connected and meeting new people but when they aren’t used responsibly, things can take a turn for the worst.

Just recently 22-year-old, Ashley Johnson, lost her job at Brixx Pizza on Sixth Street in uptown Charlotte, as reported by the Charlotte Observer, thanks to a Facebook status.

The Observer went on to report that after a couple stayed for over three hours and left a measley tip, Johnson took to her Facebook and posted “Thanks for eating at Brixx, you cheap piece of ----camper.”

Usually, it is smart to keep your profile set to private, however, the interesting thing is that Johnson has her profile set to private, meaning one of her Facebook friends reported her.

This is something to keep in mind when you add professors and family members. It isn’t a

smart idea to add your new professor as a friend, and then be sitting in their class that night updating your status to “I’m SOOO BORED! I’m not learning anything in this pointless class.” Most teachers won’t look too kindly on it.

Just because your profile is set to private doesn’t mean much when you consider who your friends are.

If you attend a professional function where you meet people who could be contacts for you when start to look for a job after college, either don’t add them as a friend on Facebook or make sure you never post anything incriminating and neither do your friends.

An easy way to avoid this kind of situation but to still remain in touch is perhaps link them to your Twitter account, a place you could keep more professional than your Facebook.

Be careful who you add as a friend as well.

While it is crucial to have a private Facebook, just randomly adding people you don’t know can lead to serious problems.

According to the Associated Press, one couple believes that their Twitter posts aided a robbery

that occurred while away from home. Their posts read “another 10 hours of driving ahead” and other posts indicating they were away. Their house was then broken into and robbed. Regardless, if Twitter or Facebook is used to say your going to be away from home, don’t post it.

Another aspect of Facebook is listing personal information. While this doesn’t seem so threatening, political party affiliations and political posts can lead to trouble if someone becomes offended by them.

Facebook status updates and posted information aren’t the only things to worry about; pictures are worth a thousand words.

The Slippery Rock University track team faced suspension after pictures of the team drinking and partying surfaced on Facebook after a team member posted them to her account, as reported by their school newspaper, The Rocket.

Facebook can be a great tool if used and monitored properly. The thing to keep in mind is once something is posted online almost anyone can see it, and it can never be taken back.

Students who commute, however, have other common problems as well. “Students who live on campus may be more likely to build a support network of friends and have programs and activities around them to help them adjust, whereas commuter students may need to make special efforts to build friendships,” she said.

The Center offers a pamphlet published by the University of Illinois that offers tips on how to manage stress a little better. It advises students to be aware of stressors and reactions, recognizing what a student can change; reducing the intensity of emotional reactions to stressors; and maintaining one’s physical and emotional reserves to better handle stress.

Students should remember that it’s normal to feel stressed out when going to any new school for the first time, and that’s okay. Other students are going through the same thing, and you are not alone.

If you think you need a little extra advice on how to handle, there are a multitude of resources available to you that are there for these reasons.

“The pressures of academics while being away from home can feel overwhelming,” said MacNairSemands. “Sometimes students find themselves

drinking too much or getting off track with their academic goals.”

UNC Charlotte’s Counseling Center can help students manage their stresses. Students are eligible for up to 12 counseling sessions per academic year and unlimited group counseling . They can get referrals to other resources on campus such as outside providers, nutrition and wellness counseling and psychiatry.

These sessions, except in rare circumstances, are completely confidential and handled by qualified individuals, including eight psychologist, a clinical worker and psychological graduate students under close supervision, according to the Center. Emergency services are also available, including walkins during hours and after-hours support through the campus or Charlotte police and Residential services.

Information and pamphlets are available at the Center that discuss how to handle anything from mental illnesses to how to handle maintaining relationships in school. The Counseling Center is located at 158 Atkins. The entrance faces the King Building. For more information on the Center and the services it offers, students and parents can log on to http://www.counselingcenter.uncc.edu/.

Dealing with stress can be more than some can handle

Anni Simpson Staff Writer

Let’s face it. Going to a new school for the first time can be a scary experience. Even if you’re not outright terrified moving to a new place, adjusting to a new area, and leaving your parents can cause an overwhelming amount of stress.

“Most students adjust quite well to being on campus and enjoy college life, but adjustments can be difficult at the start,” said Rebecca MacNairSemands of the UNC Charlotte Counseling Center.

“Being away from family and friends can be hard, so we recommend participating in many campus activities and reaching out to others.”

“Our most common problems for students at the (Counseling) Center are anxiety, depression and relationship issues,” said MacNair-Semands.

Other issues, according to the center, include posttraumatic stress, eating and body image problems, substance abuse, grief and loss and simply adjusting to college. According to MacNair-Semands, “sometimes a death or loss of a family member or friend, having to manage time for work and school as well as social support” can interfere unexpectedly.

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Living with roommates doesn’t have to be a headache Dana Nigro

Editor-in-Chief

Many freshmen, regardless of which university they are attending, usually find themselves complaining about a roommate.

“I lucked out my freshmen year,” said UNC Charlotte sophomore Carmen White. “My roommate and I actually got along.” Living with a roommate can be like living with a sibling. Some people jump for joy at the opportunity of living with their best friend, while others are more skeptical about living with a roommate who was selected at random.

When placed with a roommate who was selected at random it can go one of two ways: you can become friends, or you don’t.

The biggest lesson that will be faced throughout the year will be learning to share. Sharing time, food, television rights and most importantly space will become a main focus of life with a roommate.

While this may come as a shock to some it can open doors to new experiences and new people.

Regardless of where a student will live, they will find themselves dealing with a roommate.

One of the best ways to handle a tense roommate situation is to respect one another’s boundaries.

If your roommate has an important final the next day, don’t come home at 2 a.m. with friends. Give

How Can You Serve?

them the rest they need.

However if a roommate continuously takes your food and doesn’t return the favor, then the situation needs to be addressed.

There is another living option that is other than being paired with a stranger, you can request a roommate. This means both you and a friend (or acquaintance) must select one another to live with in order to be paired together.

While this can appear as a foolproof plan, it isn’t always the case. Make certain this is someone who won’t get on your nerves easily and that has a compatible personality to yours.

Don’t sign up to live with a partier when you are the type of person who goes to bed at 10 p.m. If you are a neat freak, don’t agree to live with someone who wears the same underwear three days in a row.

The best way to address issues whether you were paired together randomly or not is to come up with a list of rules to live by. This is typically something done with the Resident Advisor (RA), but proves to be very useful in times of difficulty.

Above all, when living with someone remember the Golden Rule, treat others as you wish to be treated. If you remember this there will be no reason why living with a roommate should be unbearable.

Living Agreement for roommates Housing and Residence Life offers a Living Agreement Workbook that is available online at http://hts.uncc.edu/chillout/.

In addition, they offer a “Living Agreement” where roommates can write details they have agreed to for their room/suite/apartment. The document can be used by Housing staff in dispute resolution issues.

Specific areas include: - Study & Quiet Time - Visitation & Guests - Personal Property - Housekeeping - Personal Habits - Miscellaneous

How Can We Serve You?

Relay for Life

Coffee Brake

Join a team, raise money and walk for the cure for cancer!

Need an early morning pick up and didn’t have time to grab breakfast? Every Wednesday, stop by and enjoy a bagel and coffee on us.

Volunteer Fair Are you looking for a community service project that interests you? Learn about almost 40 different nonprofit organizations looking for volunteers by visiting booths with representatives from each.

Blood Drives Want to give blood or have an organization that would like to sponsor a blood drive on campus? We’ve got the connection!

Niners Take the Streets, MLK Into the Streets, 49er Plunge and Service in Action Days Come one, come all and go out into the community for a pre-planned service project. All you have to do is sign up.

Crossroads Charlotte The objective of Crossroads Charlotte is to choose and pursue a future for Charlotte, not just arrive in one. With an emphasis on creating a community that is inclusive and accessible to all, students learn about how they can shape Charlotte’s future.

Food Recycling Program

Vendor Fair Free Stuff! Need say more? Join us as local vendors show you what they are all about!

Locker Rentals Carrying all that stuff can be exhausting. Stop by Cone 382 to get yours.

(Lockers located in Smith and Denny buildings.)

Off-Campus Housing Listing Service All you need to find your perfect place to live is just a click away. Visit www.dso.uncc.edu/offcampus

Safety Presentations We partner with surrounding campus apartments to present information for being safe on and around campus.

Students collect food from dining halls to donate to local homeless shelters.

Dean of Students Office, 382 Cone Building 704-687-2635

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Communication with roommates is the key Elizabeth Fox The Philadelphia Inquirer (MCT)

As anyone who has ever possessed a single square foot of space knows, decorating matters. Even those who profess not to care really want their abodes to look attractive, be comfortable, and feel like home.

Under the best of circumstances, that can be difficult. So imagine the strain of working to organize and decorate a shoebox of a room with people who live far away - people you may not even know.

Ah, college! Not just the harbinger of academic challenges and new social pressures, it offers the bonus struggle of the dorm room.

As someone gearing up for yet another year of the higher-education experience, I’m in a position to understand.

My future residence is a two-room triple, with three desks, three beds, and startlingly little closet space. Other than that, I’m fuzzy

on the details, as are my two roommates, one from California, one from Texas.

Compounding the problem is the fact that my college is on the West Coast, which makes it virtually impossible for me to toss my belongings into the car and drive them to campus. Plus, my Texas roommate has packed up for the summer, leaving only the brief message: “I’m in Paris. I will buy posters.”

So when my California roomie, Caitlin Crandell, called to say she was taking a break from Santa Barbara’s beaches to visit me in Philadelphia (I know, I was surprised, too), I immediately thought, “Oh, good! Now we have time to plan our room!”

University of Pennsylvania sophomore Lua O’Brien understands wanting to sort out the decor issues in advance.

“My roommates are all coming up early, and we’re going to go shopping together,” she said.

She will share an on-campus apartment with three girls. “Posters, furniture, and cooking

stuff, like a George Foreman grill, we’ll do together.”

Rachel Frank, 19, who goes to the University of Michigan, said she and her roommate are talking about decorating now.

“We planned a little bit before we left school.

She already had a refrigerator and a microwave, so I am doing the TV and DVD player,” Frank said. “We’re discussing how we want to do our beds because it’s building-block furniture, so you can do it lots of different ways.”

Some are thinking bigger than just shopping at Ikea.

“We’re all getting there pretty early, so we’ll go trash-picking together in the ritzy parts of the city, like Hyde Park,” said Dana Kaplan-Angle, a sophomore at Northwestern University, near Chicago.

And though she hasn’t talked much with her four suitemates, who live as far away as Washington state, she’s begun planning her own single bedroom by mocking up its life-size di-

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to decorating a dorm room successfully mensions in blue tape on her living room floor.

“I’ve been hanging out in my phantom room so I can see how big it is,” she said with a laugh. “It’s small.”

Some students haven’t made much progress at all.

Chris Pittman, a freshman at the University of Delaware, won’t find out who his roommate is until later this month, leaving him floundering on the decorating front.

And Katherine O’Brien, a freshman at the University of Southern California, has found her Los Angeles roommate frustratingly unresponsive. “I’ve been trying to talk to her or message her online about decorating, but I don’t think she’s even interested in it,” she said, sighing.

All around, there’s worry about differences in taste.

“I’m really into different religions,” Katherine O’Brien said. “Like, I have a Ganesh mask and a couple Buddhas and a cross that I’ve always wanted to hang up together, but I don’t know how my roommate feels about all that stuff.”

I’m concerned about the clash between my brightly colored, Christmas-lighted, morethan-slightly-messy style and Caitlin’s subdued, stunningly neat one. And don’t even get me started on my anxiety over how the Texas roommate will react to all my Eagles paraphernalia.

When tastes collide, “communication is the bottom line,” said Chayse Dacoda, host of HGTV’s decor-compromise show “Get It Together” (Saturdays at 11 p.m.).

As the founder of her own design business, Dacoda Design, the University of Pennsylvania alum fully understands the desire to incorporate personal style into decorating.

But, she points out, “Because you are sharing a room, you have to make sure that you are both getting something out of it.

Be willing to listen to the other person and know that you’re sharing one space together.”

The key to that kind of communication, Frank said, is alerting future roomies to important new developments. “I would call and say `Hey, I’m looking at this’ or even `I bought this’ to at least give them a heads-up.”

Lua O’Brien took that tack recently when she found a chair she thought would go well in her apartment’s double bedroom.

“I called my roommate to make sure that it was OK that I bought it.” When she told her two other roommates, they were also “really excited about it.”

When possible, Dacoda said, it’s a good thing to discuss decorating finds ahead of time.

“I mean, if you’re talking about a pillow case, I don’t think that’s relevant to the other person,” she said, “but if you’re talking about your 37-inch TV, then, yeah, you should talk about it.”

Drawing/Sarah Jones

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