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• • • •
SPORTS
49ers drop ninth straight at Louisiana Tech National Signing Day brings four new Niners Softball swings into the 2018 season with a weekend sweep Charlotte downs UTSA for third win in a row
A&E • •
MOVIE REVIEW: ʻFifty Shades Freedʼ is yet another unfortunately hilarious drama TV REVIEW: ʻRuPaulʼs Drag Race All Starsʼ – ʻThe B*tchelorʼ
•
Lana Del Rey: A Queen in the Queen City
•
TV REVIEW: ʻHere and Nowʼ – Season 1
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JONES WINS AT DAYTONA
SPORTS LIFESTYLE
Senior collected a victory at one of the most storied tracks in racing
Story by Kobe Lambeth Photo courtesy IMSA
Devin Jones, a UNC Charlotte senior won the Street Tuner (ST) class at Daytona International Speedway with teammate Nick Galante Jan. 23. The dynamic duo held off their competitors to give the No. 81 BimmerWorld Racing BMW 328i the top step on the podium. The 23-year-old sports car racing driver currently living in Mooresville, North Carolina accomplished a dream many years in the making. “Daytona is the track every driver wants to win at, it’s the pinnacle of motorsports,” Jones said. “I grew up watching races at Daytona and dreamed of getting a chance to race there.” Jones, a native of California, grew up racing go-karts as he developed the skills necessary to be a successful driver. He won multiple races and championships during his karting career. “The first time I came to Daytona was as a kid for Daytona Kart Week,” Jones said. “We lived in California then, so my family and I drove across the country to race there.” “At the end of the weekend, my dad and I went into the old Daytona victory lane that they were tearing down to rebuild. We took a brick from the old victory lane. I still have that brick. So to stand in that same victory lane as a winner in IMSA is truly a culmination of years of sacrifice and hard work. I will remember it for the rest of my life.” For the past two seasons, Jones drove for Bodymotion Racing behind the wheel of a Porsche Cayman. According to Jones, you have to be
very precise with your racing line in the Cayman or it will cost the driver plenty of momentum. This season, Jones must change his driving style to meet the demands of a completely different animal with BimmerWorld Racing. “The BMW 328i is a turbo car, which is something I had to get used to,” Jones said. “The turbo kicks on a bit after you pick up throttle, this can be tricky.” “Once I got a feel for how the car needs to be driven, the turbo is a big benefit. Car placement isn’t quite as critical on corner entry compared to the Cayman, but when the turbo comes on, you have to get the car pointed for a strong exit off the corner. Both cars are fast in different parts of a certain track, that’s part of what makes the IMSA Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge such a great series,” Jones said. As a senior communication major at UNC Charlotte, Jones must find a way to balance life in the classroom,
while traveling around the country to focus on his racing career. “The faculty has been accommodating and very supportive of my goals with racing. I’ve known of many students who have attended UNCC and have gone on to do great things in the motorsports industry. It’s inspiring to see so many students who have a passion for racing. I am a Communications major and when I am at the track, I can use things that I’ve learned in the classroom towards building relationships with fans, teams, and sponsors. I can also draw on my experiences from the business side of motorsports to help me make connections to theories in class. It’s been an honor to attend UNCC and I always proudly call this school my home,” Jones said. Despite settling down in the sports car racing world, Jones has two career starts in NASCAR. During the 2013 season, he finished twenty-fourth in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut
at Martinsville Speedway, while bringing home a twenty-sixth place finish last year in his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Watkins Glen. UNC Charlotte is relatively close to many NASCAR related facilities, which gives those wishing to pursue a career in motorsports the perfect opportunity to get their foot in the door. Although Jones has success in sports car racing, could a potential NASCAR career be in the works. “I wouldn’t rule out anything, but my main focus is sports car racing,” Jones said. “With that being said, I had a blast racing at Watkins Glen in Xfinity last summer, so if the right opportunities come about I would always love to jump back into one of NASCAR’s top three series.” In the past, Jones had a goal of competing in NASCAR full-time but it can be challenging to find the right opportunity to secure a ride. Ultimately, he fell in love with sports car racing and it appears that he has found a home. Jones and Galante’s ST class victory at Daytona put them in a good position as the ST title battle will heat up throughout the course of the season. Jones is confident that the 2018 season will be a memorable one. “Our goals for the IMSA season is to win races and win the championship,” Jones said. Jones and Galante will be back in action on March 16 at Sebring International Raceway for the second round of the IMSA Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge.
NINERTIMES.COM
FEB. 13, 2018
3
LIFESTYLE
NOT THE RIGHT SUBSTANCES A story of the mixing of the stimulants
By Brianna Sumpter Photos courtesy of Pixabay The overwhelming feeling of trying to meet deadlines, studying for tests and completing assignments is a familiar feeling for most of us. It is extremely common to find college students in the library throughout the night and for nights on end, drowning in their studies each and every week. I honestly commend all of us for working so hard and pulling occasional all-nighters and hours of study sessions, with the help of caffeine and other substances that keep us awake. On the other hand, let me tell you a story on why you should not over do it with these substances that you consume to stay awake. Last week my roommate had two tests back to back, a physics test on Wednesday and a chemistry test on Thursday. With that being said, it is very obvious that she spent most of her time that week studying. Early in the morning on the day of her first test, she woke up and went to Starbucks to get some coffee, so she could begin to start studying again. About an hour and a half after she consumed the coffee, she decided that she wanted a little more energy. So, determined to stay awake and memorize everything for these tests, she took some adderall. According to center4research.org, the use of adderall, also known as the “Study Drug” has skyrocketed over the past two decades. My roommate has a very mild case of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which causes her to not be able to focus sometimes and for that reason, she is prescribed adderall. She normally doesn’t even take the adderall, because her ADHD is so mild that in most instances she is able to fight through it and prefers to not take the adderall. But in this instance, she decided to take the adderall for some extra strength to focus for the test. Sure enough, once it kicked in
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she was extremely alert. In the beginning, she loved the feeling. She flew through her study guide and was able to complete two other assignments on top of that. About an hour and a half into that, she started to feel her heart race really fast. That may not seem out of the ordinary too much, but about an hour after that she started to have an anxiety attack. She stopped studying and started walking around the living room, freaking out about her test. The anxiety attack that she had was worse than any anxiety attack that she has had in the past and she kept saying that she felt so different and was not familiar with what she was experiencing. She had such a traumatic anxiety attack that she wasn’t even able to go in and take the Physics test that she just studied so hard for. Everything that she worked hard for was thrown out the window and she got a zero on her test. Soon after, we realized that this happened because she consumed the caffeine and then took the adderall shortly after. Mixing different substances like that is a BAD IDEA. You are putting yourself in extreme danger. Luckily, it was just an anxiety attack for her, but her heart could have stopped at any point because of the mix of the adderall and caffeine. It’s understandable we have a lot on our plates and on most days it seems as though there is not enough time in the day to get everything done. Assignments start to pile up and it truly becomes overwhelming, but you need to remember that you and your health are what’s most important and you cannot receive a degree if you’re dead. Take care of yourself and understand it is not good for your body to consume too much of these substances!
NINERTIMES.COM
FEB. 13, 2018
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COUNTDOWN NEWS NEWS
TO THE
LIGHT RAIL By Alexandria Sands Photo by Jordan Gorski The whole university has been waiting for it. March 16 could mark a transformational day for UNC Charlotte. Next month, students will take the first of many rides on the light rail extension and begin experiencing a Charlotte full of opportunities such as sports, food, the Arts, cultural experiences and festivals. Unlimited rides to Uptown, NoDa and other parts of Charlotte, outside of the university area, could open up a whole new city for students. “We’re all, as a university, still a little excited and curious to see how the campus community takes light rail and uses light rail,” said Jared Moon, a member of the Light Rail Coordinating Committee. “I think a lot of our prospective students come from places that aren’t Charlotte and don’t realize what you can connect to in a city this size and it’s at your fingertips, it really is.” The opening day is also the first round of the NCAA basketball championship games at the Spectrum Center, located in walking distance to the Arena Station. Its been almost five years since Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) signed a deal with the government to pay for half of the $1.16 billion it would cost to extend the LYNX Blue Line. The extension’s opening was originally slated for August but a delay pushed the opening to March. With the completion, the light rail will now have a total of 26 stations, including its terminal at UNC Charlotte and a stop at the university’s Center City campus. After negotiating with CATS, the university was able to make a deal that provides students an all-access pass for $25 a semester that will be paid as part of tuition. Students will only pay $10 for Spring 2018. The pass gives students unlimited rides on light rail, trolleys and majority of CATS transit including local and express buses. Faculty and staff can buy a pass for $75 a year. For non-students, the cost for a one-way is $2.20, a round-trip is $4.40 and an unlimited day pass is $6.
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In a 22 minute ride, passengers will be able to travel from main campus to 9th Street, only a short walk from UNC Charlotte’s Center City campus. The extension added 11 new stations to the light rail, now 26 stations total. 107 trains will arrive on campus each day, with one arriving every 7.5 minutes during peak hours, every 15 minutes during non-peak hours, every 20 minutes on weekends and every 30 minutes at late night. CATS buses will be available to ride at most stops and Niner Transit is adding new buses in April to ensure a bus is available at the station every eight minutes. With the new 49er ID cards that were distributed to students last year, riders will be able to tap their cards at contactless readers that will be installed later this year. Until then, riders will present them to conductors when asked. As the opening day inches closer, some students have voiced concerns with safety, considering the light rail will be attracting more people to campus. In response, the UNC Charlotte’s Police and Public Safety Department added more police officers so there could be constant patrol at the station, especially during peak and night hours. In case of an emergency, the department’s building is right next to the station and there are blue light phones surrounding the area. However, those working on the light rail don’t believe crime will be a large issue. “If somebody is coming to campus to steal or to cause harm, they’re probably not taking the light rail train to and from, where there’s cameras everywhere, where they’re kind of stuck,” said Claire Apaliski, the project manager on the UNC Charlotte Light Rail Coordinating Committee. CATS also takes their own safety measures at stations by installing security cameras and having security officers on trains.
EVERYONE KNOWS
THE LIGHT RAIL IS COMING, BUT
WHERE IS IT GOING?
Photos by Kristopher Harris
UNC Charlotte J.W. Clay Boulevard/UNC Charlotte • • •
Ninety’s Ice Cream and Sandwiches Paradise Valley Par 3 Dave’s Paddleboats
McCullough •
University City Library
• • • •
Smelly Cat Coffee Reigning Doughnuts Heist Brewery Benny Pennello’s
25th Street • •
Free Range Brewing Amélie’s French Bakery
Parkwood •
Abari Game Bar
3rd Street • • •
Convention Center Station Amelie’s French Bakery NASCAR Hall of Fame
• •
The Mint The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art Harvey B. Gantt Center Bank of America Stadium
9th Street • •
University City Boulevard •
• • • •
7th Street Public Market ImaginON Levine Museum of the New South First Ward Park Google Fiber Space Mert’s Heart and Soul Discovery Place
•
Old Concord Road •
The Last Word bookstore
Crown Station Coffee House
Crêpe Cellar Kitchen and Pub Cabo Fish Taco The Evening Muse Hart Witzen Gallery Popbar Neighborhood Theater Haberdish
Bill Spoon’s Barbecue Vietnam Grille
500 Degrees Pizzeria
• •
Tamaleria Laurita La Catracha Restaurant
Sharon Road West •
Carson
Midnight Diner
Snyder’s-Lance Factory
I-485/South Boulevard •
Wooden Robot Brewery All American Pub Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art Futo Buta The Brass Tap
•
Target, Old Navy, Nordstrom Rack AMC Carolina Pavilion 22
East/West Boulevard
36th Street (NoDa) • • • • • • •
Three Spirits Brewery Arepas Grill Beef ‘N Bottle Steakhouse
Arrowood
• •
Sugar Creek •
•
• • •
South 21. Jr
• • •
Archdale
Bland
Tom Hunter
Woodlawn
• •
•
IKEA
Queen Park Social Great Wagon Road Distilling Company The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
Tyvola
Center City McColl Center for Art and Innovation
7th Street • • •
• • •
Stonewall • •
Scaleybark
Charlotte Transportation Center/Arena Station • •
Spectrum Center The EpiCentre
• • • •
Tupelo Honey The Liberty Price’s Chicken Coop Clair De Lune boutique
New Bern • • •
Triple C Brewing Co. Lenny Boy Brewing Co. Mac’s Speed Shop
NINERTIMES.COM
FEB. 13, 2018
7
A SAFE HAVEN
The Students Advising for Freshman Excellence program ensures that first-year students have a smooth transition from high school to college By Daniel Watson
Senior Paris Barnes with her mentees James Carrington, Kayla Mero, Karina McMillian, Fernando Cabrera and Andrew Hund. Photo courtesy of Andrea Age
Studies show first-generation students are less likely than their peers to graduate in four years or to graduate at all. The Student Advising for Freshman Excellence (SAFE) program is doing its part to close that gap. SAFE is a peer mentoring program designed to help students successfully transition from high school to college. “Peer mentoring works when you do it right,” said SAFE Program Director Jarrell Anderson. “We have a profound belief in the power of mentoring. It’s something that has been invaluable to the experiences of hundreds of students on this campus and has launched their leadership journey into other places. The E in excellence is not taken lightly.” Since beginning his tenure at UNC Charlotte back in 2014, Anderson has seen the program grow tremendously. “We’ve been able to offer more services to students now than at any other point in the program’s history,” said Anderson. “We have 257 students that we serve, which is unheard of for this program. Before I got here, it teetered between 70 and 80 students. My first year we went to 125, my second 158 and then now we’re at 257. We have also pushed the student grade point average from a 2.8 to a 3.2 in just a short time.” SAFE meets its three aims, mentoring, academic support, and social networking, through a variety of mediums. Mentoring - SAFE Counselors provide ongoing support for students dealing with academic, personal and social issues. Academic Support - SAFE has a lasting partnership
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with the Office of Multicultural Academic Services who provide personal tutoring services that are free of charge for all program participants. Social Networking - Students participate in monthly SAFE socials, multicultural events and bimonthly community service projects. SAFE standout and mentee Jada Dove has benefited from the unique support system of upperclassmen. “Since my mentor pushes me to do my best every day, I have grown in my confidence in the classroom, getting out of my comfort zone and networking through the program by going to the events. I continue to grow everyday with the help of the SAFE program which has become like a family for me. It motivates me every day.” Freshman mentee Jamar Poston acknowledges the fact that SAFE is rooting him on from the sidelines. “Being able to have a mentor helps a lot because I can ask them anything and they will answer it to their best ability. As a mentee, I feel like all the mentors believe in me and want me to succeed. Not to mention the fact that I basically met all my friends during SAFE and continue to make new ones.” The SAFE staff is comprised of one graduate student, four student coordinators and 36 counselors. “So not only are we able to reach more first-year students, but it also creates more leadership opportunities for aspiring mentors,” said Anderson. “The more students that we get, means the more mentors that we need. It’s not only about the first year experience, it’s also about those subsequent years in the leadership experience of those students because they are allotted more opportunities to lead first year students, molding themselves into better leaders. Senior Amaya Pressley, a first-time counselor, learned a lot about herself and her mentees last semester and plans to do the same this year. To be given the opportunity to help someone not make the mistakes I’ve made in the past has been very humbling and rewarding,” said Pressley. “Whenever I get to sit down with a mentee and they tell me about how I helped them in a class, or in life with advice or how me just listening to them means something to them is the best feeling ever. SAFE is a great program for incoming students and if given the opportunity, each student should take advantage.” Mentoring matters.
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FEB. 13, 2018
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A&E by Jeffrey Kopp Photos courtesy of Fremulon/NBC
STUCK IN THE MIDDLE Season 2 of NBC’s ‘The Good Place’ continues to impress with strong messages and wonderful levity
“The Good Place” is exactly what television needs right now. Not only does it have a creative premise and a wildly talented cast, it is a show that reinvents itself practically every episode. Few shows on the air right now are as imaginative and willing to take the risks that this show has. What this series does it that it throws a wrench right into the cog of traditional storytelling. You can predict how things will unfold, but you will likely be proven wrong and surprised by the time that the finale rolls around. The story of Eleanor (Kristen Bell), Chidi (William Jackson Harper), Tahani (Jameela Jamil) and Jason (Manny Jacinto) is one of friendship and growth, but also morality and philosophy. It challenges the viewer to think about life and how they treat others; that is precisely the kind of story that we need right now. When the Season 1 Finale first aired, the characters and viewers were thrown for a loop when Eleanor figured out that The Good Place is actually The Bad Place. The revelation was marked by a shift in the friendly and welcoming Michael (Ted Danson) as he was revealed to be the mastermind behind an elaborate torture plot of the four aforementioned characters. This will go down as one of the most flawlessly-executed plot twists in recent memory and Season 2 only builds upon it by continuing to shake things up for the characters. The second season premiere finds the characters in a mind-bending situation as Michael repeatedly runs the torture scenario over and over again, erasing the minds of the foursome each time that they figure out what’s happening. While this change in narrative could have easily destroyed the rich character and story development of the first season, the opposite is true. The premiere is an excellent catalyst for the tons of development that takes place throughout this season, specifically for Michael. Based on structure and creativity of storytelling alone, “The Good Place” is the type of series that could run for multiple seasons without losing its spark. At its heart, this is a story about the power of
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friendship. Four complete strangers meet, not while they are alive, but after they have died and have been transported to a hellish afterlife with a beautiful disguise. While they are meant to be suffering, they instead shatter all expectations and become friends with one another. Sure they may get on each other’s nerves and things may not be perfect; Chidi and Eleanor dance around their romantic tension, while Tahani and Jason also flirt with romance. Still, there’s something to be said about the fact that there is an undeniable sense of loyalty that forms among this group. As Michael’s plan ultimately fails, he becomes involved with the quartet as they work on a ploy to escape their eternal damnation. There’s also Janet (D’Arcy Carden), who isn’t even a human, yet she builds a bond with the others that transcends the laws of existence. There’s an inherent sense of worry present in the characters and viewers as Michael becomes a student of Chidi’s philosophy lessons and assists in their escape attempt; will he turn on them...or is he still working behind their back and this is just another torture experiment? With the conclusion of the season and the actions of Michael in the final episodes, that seems to not be the case. He has changed. If an evil demon is capable of compassion and care, then we all are. “The Good Place” is the type of show that will stand the test of time. It has all of the elements that make comedies great and then some. This show has some absolutely hilarious moments with the cast bringing their A-game in every scene; the cast of characters are the real draw of the series, taking a fascinating concept and bringing it to fruition. Kristen Bell is a true star, taking her character from a snarky, hateful and mean person to a loving and more thoughtful Eleanor that truly cares for her friends, even the man responsible for misleading and torturing her. Chidi on the other hand, remains anxious and indecisive, but certainly loosens up; he’s the moral center of the series and may just be the most relatable character on the show. Tahani is selfish and stuck up, although she does learn to be a team player
as the season progresses. And then there’s Jason ... who is dumb as rocks, but still an adorable and necessary pawn in the game; his love for the Jacksonville Jaguars and his random-fact spitting makes him enjoyable to watch, even if he has no clue what is happening (although he did figure out Michael’s experiment once, so there’s that). Last but not least, Janet is a incredible aspect of the series and is comedy gold; DA’rcy Carden is a powerhouse and should be showered with awards for her portrayal. “The Good Place” is a difficult show to describe, because it one that is constantly changing. You can’t just pop in and watch an episode every now and then as the story is heavily serialized. Watching the series allows the viewer to learn about morality and ethics through Chidi’s lessons, but also in the actions of the characters as they navigate the afterlife. The show is a character study of how people grow and change, and how second chances can benefit everyone; look at how much Michael has grown just from the plot twist reveal to now, as well as how the others came to accept, trust and work with him. This series teaches a lot of life lessons and sends a strong message that no matter what, it is never too late to change and become a better person. When history looks back on “The Good Place,” it will likely be one of those shows that people refer to as having a major influence on their life, providing context to the questions of existence and guiding decisions. If you ever wonder if we are truly living in the “Golden Age of Television,” look no further than “The Good Place” and you will have your answer. Spoiler alert: we are. "The Good Place" is currently available to stream on Netflix and Hulu.
ACROSS 1 Send (to), as an inferior place 9 Partner of Paul and Mary 14 Trite 15 WWII bomber __ Gay 16 Trifling matters 18 Iroquois enemies 19 Editor's "never mind" 20 IRS form IDs 21 One out on the lake, e.g. 24 Cookie holder 27 Focal point in a theater 29 That girl 32 18-wheeler 33 Tablet with Mini and Pro versions 34 John Paul Jones was a commander in it 39 Chevy subcompact 40 Rowlands of "The Notebook"
41 Originally named 42 May observance for those who died in military service 46 Two-__ tissue 47 Troubled state 48 Has a midnight snack, say 52 __ upon a time ... 53 Kate's TV sidekick 54 Statesman born 2/12/1809 whose surname can precede the starts of four long puzzle answers 59 Señor's squiggle 60 Schemed 61 Bottomless chasm 62 Ones storming the castle, say DOWN 1 Lassos 2 Activist Medgar 3 Russian Revolution
leader 4 Diving seabirds 5 Fellows 6 Busy __ bee 7 Bill with Hamilton on it 8 NYC summer hrs. 9 Be a nuisance to 10 Goes in 11 Promote big-time 12 North Pole worker 13 U.K. flying squad 17 East, to 48-Down 21 "__ there, done that" 22 "I've got this round" 23 Prickling with excitement 24 Tokyo's country 25 Tequila source 26 Color again, as hair 27 TV forensic series 28 __ Pan Alley 29 Rascal 30 Ramshackle home 31 Hostile force 35 In addition 36 Kennedy and Koppel 37 Gray's subj. 38 Dismiss from work temporarily, with "off" 43 Put spots in magazines 44 Foot's 12 45 Side squared, for a square 48 Legendary Spanish hero 49 "__ like ours / Could never die ... ": Beatles 50 Flooring specialist 51 Mails 52 Paris airport 53 Kendrick of "Twilight" 54 One step __ time 55 Baby's spilled food protector 56 1101, to Romans 57 Chaney of horror 58 Bill for mdse.
NINERTIMES.COM
FEB. 13, 2018
11
Pay Her
Stripper’s Rights OPINION OPINION Charlotte strippers fight for their money and rights
By Nikolai Mather Photo Courtesy of Kaz/Pixabay
There are two phases unique to the college experience: one, accepting party invitations from randos on the only_49ers Snapchat story; two, feeling so frustrated with one’s grades, coursework and student debt that less conventional career options feel more acceptable. By that I mean at one point or another, everybody has slammed a book shut, slid down in their chair and thought: “screw this, I’m gonna become a stripper.” And who could blame them? Thanks to party boys flexing on Instagram to wild stories of 2 Chainz & Drake dropping $2 million at one Atlanta club, stripping is widely seen as an easy way to make fast cash. We tend to make the assumption that all that cash manages to make it from the dancers’ G-strings to their bank accounts. And that is a dangerous assumption to make, because not only is it untrue, it jeopardizes the safety
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and livelihood of arguably the most vulnerable class of wage earners: strippers and sex workers. Recently, five strippers filed a lawsuit against Cameo Nightclub for flouting labor rights laws by failing to pay salaries and overtime. The dancers allege they are treated like employees—the club owner, Damon Woodlums and “house mom” (identified only as “Sirinity”) determine who gets to dance, when they get to dance, where they get to dance (in VIP or in regular sections), and how they get to dance. Cameo has restrictions on what the dancers can wear and how they’re allowed to do their makeup. Dancers are required to pay a house fee and various, sometimes hefty fines for otherwise insignificant mistakes (such as missing a stage cue). And
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though the DJs and staff receive their own salaries, strippers are required to pool their money and split the tips with them. There’s nothing wrong with being treated like employees. The problem is that here in North Carolina, strippers are not legally defined as employees. They’re labeled as “independent contractors.” Essentially, independent contractors are self-employed workers. They’re typically hired as outside help for a short period of time, and by large control their own employment circumstances, including when and how work is completed. It’s an industry norm to label strippers as independent contractors; in fact, because so many dancers enjoy the creative ownership and empowerment the term lends, it is favored. “If given the choice,” says Angelina Spencer, spokeswoman for ACE National and former stripper, “most dancers prefer the independent contractor model.” But when an industry is forcing its “independent contractors” to obey the rules and do the work of an
employee—without the salary of an employee—then something is amiss. There’s a couple of things we can do to fix this. For one, it’s about time we start respecting strippers and other sex workers for selecting and mastering an incredibly difficult line of work. Despite sex work being the oldest profession in history, those who work in that field have been ridiculed, ostracized, and brutalized for centuries. Enough with the “dead hooker” jokes and educate yourself on the challenges sex workers face on a day-to-day basis. Cardi B didn’t fight her way out of the Bronx just so you could hate on women stronger and cooler than you. Two: if you’re upset because you think that strippers aren’t “empowered,” then maybe you should try and empower them. I don’t mean “rescue” them from the industry, because believe it or not, most folks choose this line of work and their choice must be respected. But if you see a lady in seven inch platforms at the next women’s march, maybe pass her the mic. Let sex workers lead the way to their own liberation; support them in whatever way you can. Three: if you’ve read this whole article and are still chortling about the fact that it’s about strippers, this is for you: PAY HER. Next time you and “the boys” roll up to a gentlemen’s club, keep in mind you’re not only paying the dancer, but also her boss, the bartenders, the DJs and the house mom backstage. Don’t be that guy with a fifty in his pocket. Who knows, you might meet the next Amber Rose.