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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 , 2011
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NINERTIMES Thursday, October 27, 2011
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The not-soscary day Lauren Dunn LDUNN8@UNCC.EDU
Halloween marks a holiday made for spooks, haunts, parties and...crime? Every college student knows that Halloween means a time to dress up and go to a party. However, at UNC Charlotte, Campus Police and Public Safety and CharlotteMecklenburg Police are urging students to use caution when going out on Halloween night and weekend. In a look at past campus police records through 2005, crime on campus around Halloween has been surprisingly steady. “Over the last six years we have only experienced an increase in crime during Halloween 2007,” said Lieutenant Josh Huffman of Campus Police. “That particular year we received several reports of larcenies from motor vehicles. There were also several reports of bicycles that were taken.” Huffman also noted that reports of vandalism and a slight increase of alcohol violations were seen but that Halloween at UNC Charlotte is fairly similar to every other day. “Halloween does not usually present an increase of crimes on campus,” Huffman said. “Believe it or not we haven’t really experienced any particularly unusual inci CRIME p.2
Keeping up with technology Ciera Choate NEWS@NINERONLINE.COM
Beginning in spring 2012 UNC Charlotte will start to roll out the implementation of online course evaluations in place of the paper evaluation system currently in place. This switch is the result of a study done by UNC Charlotte on the effectiveness of online versus paper evaluations. According to the study, changing the method for evaluations would decrease the total operating costs by 68 percent or $850,000 over five years. Web-based evaluations allow for the university to save money by not buying the paper for the evaluations, running them through the OpScan machine and paying the individuals that type out all of the free response answers. “It is supposed to have a large cost savings associated with it,” said Rich Lambert, a professor in the College of Education that worked on the study with other professors. “It’s supposed to have quite a substantial cost savings. It’s a lot of money.” The response rate was also seen to have gone down for the web-based system from a 92 percent response rate to 59 percent. EVALUATIONS p.2
In honor of Morgan Spease’s (right) fight with epilepsy the Charlotte 49ers came together to raise awareness for the disease. Photo courtesy of Sue Case
49ers help fight epilepsy Ashley Dorrell ADORREL1@UNCC.EDU
In honor of Morgan Spease, who was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2003, UNC Charlotte’s athletes will partner up with the Epilepsy Foundation of North Carolina to host the Fall Stroll for Epilepsy. They hope to raise awareness for the condition during the event on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, at the Irwin Belk Track and Field starting at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 11:30 a.m. This will be the fourth year hosting the event on UNC Charlotte’s campus but the fifth year for the event’s history. It began
when the 49er athletes wished to support the son of Senior Associate Athletic Director for Business, Darin Spease. “It kind of blows me away, they choose their own community service projects, but they still choose to do this event and they do a great job getting it off the ground,” said Darin. Morgan, who is 11-years-old, showed signs of epilepsy as an infant and had his first seizure in 2001. “There was no history in our family for epilepsy, on my wife’s side there was a history for migraines and headaches. We didn’t really know what it was,” said Darin.
Over the next couple of years Morgan’s condition worsened to the point that in the summer of 2003, EVENT Morgan had 80 seizures in seven days. What: Fall Stroll Once a seizure lasted for Epilepsy for about 30 minutes before it was done. When: 9 a.m. on “It was like clockSat. Nov. 5 work, as soon as one Where: Irwin was done, you knew Belk Track and another was coming, Field just like a train coming on the hour, you knew another seizure would come,” said EPILEPSY p.3
NEWS Promoting Equality:
MRC has teamed with the Office of Student Conduct and Outreach to produce Stake Your Claim in Civility Week Monday, Oct. 31 through Friday, Nov. 4, 2011.
Registration: Monday, Nov.
7, 2011, at 9 a.m. marks the first day that students will be able to login into 49er Express and begin the frenzy of snatching up classes to fill their schedule.
OPINION
SPORTS
A&E
GHOSTS: FACT OR FICTION?
HORROR ENTHUSIAST You might think you know the horror
Are they real, or just part of our
movie genre inside and out. But you
imaginations? Two writers square off
don’t know UNC Charlotte student,
on the supernatural phenomenon.
Joshua Yates.
Which is the truth? Do ghosts really exist and walk ampng us or are they fake, something made up by Hollywood to boost revenue?
Yates “resurrected” the UNC Charlotte Film Club this time last year with Jeffrey Simpson and is still heavily involved with the club.
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DEPTH AND NEW FACES FOR 49ERS p.12
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NINERTIMES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011
EVALUATIONS from p.1 Those in involved in the research, however, said that the reduction in the response rate does not affect the outcome of the data. “There was a difference in response rate, and that would be expected. So research from other universities shows that there is an initial drop off in response rate, but then after a while students get use to it and they know that’s the new normal and it
“It’s supposed to have quite a substantial cost savings. It’s a lot of money.” -Rich Lambert
picks back up,” said Lambert. “The ratings really didn’t differ that much. They differed a little bit, and when there were differences it was generally that the teachers were rated lower. They weren’t meaningfully lower, and that is consistent
with what other universities have found.” It is still unsure if the university will take steps to encourage student participation, but it is something that other universities do in order to increase response rates. “There are some studies that show that there are different incentives to give students to participate, and that will be considered in the future. That has not been discussed yet, and our study did not cover that,” said Lambert. “There are other studies that show incentives rack up that response rate.” Another downfall of the paper-based evaluations, according to Lambert, is the amount of time that it takes for professors to receive their comments and evaluations from their previous students. “Besides the cost savings there are other advantages. There is a much faster turnaround, and it varies by department and by college. We wait until someone hand keys in all of the open-ended responses so we sometimes don’t get responses until months later,” said Lambert.
Let the registration begin Lauren Dunn LDUNN8@UNCC.EDU
Registration for spring semester sits right around the corner at UNC Charlotte. Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at 9 a.m. marks the first day that students will be able to login into 49er Express and begin the frenzy of snatching up classes to fill their schedule. Undergraduates will join the chase Tuesday, Nov. 8 and are sure to notice some new classes added to the catalog. The majority of these classes are either for students working toward a masters in business administration or a masters in public administration. For graduate students in these programs it presents a much wider range of selection. For undergraduates, the Mechanical Engineering Department implemented six new courses. Two of these are introduction courses; however, all of them are categorized as electives. Other newly added courses for the spring semester include two reading, language and literacy courses and one teaching English as a second language course. There are, as always, an array of classes with topics
more akin to less traditional topics. The American Studies Department offers a variety of classes on topics as diverse as the Godfather trilogy to classes dedicated to entire decades up to the 1990’s. One American studies class, for example, is solely dedicated to food. Monica Belus, who is the professor of that class, says she loves teaching this class that she created and has even created modified version for the honor’s program this spring. “I began teaching it because the food we eat today is not the food our grandparents ate,” said Belus. “So much food is heavily processed with numerous additives that we can’t pronounce. I also became concerned about meat and how the vast majority of the meat we eat today is from factory farms whose conditions are horrifying. Students also complete an assignment in which each student researches each of the ingredients in the Twinkie, needless to say, few want to eat Twinkies after these presentations.” Other non-traditional classes allow for more interaction. For instance, one exercise class, taught by Professor Heather Shaughnessy, teaches students the
basic principles and philosophy of yoga. Prior to attending class students don’t need to have any experience with yoga, just the willingness to learn. “I sometimes hear people say that they are bad at yoga because they are not flexible, and I love to share that yoga is about much more than achieving pretzel-like poses,” said Shaughnessy. “Yoga is a non-competitive mindbody practice that can increase strength, flexibility and balance, while also bringing about a greater sense of peace and wellbeing. I find that my own yoga practice helps me stay fit and helps me to navigate life’s ups and downs with compassion and patience. So many of us are juggling multiple priorities and hectic lives, and yoga can help to reduce stress, even in the midst of chaos.” These types of classes offer more creative and fun ways to experience the college classroom and they make great electives if your schedule fits it. In the meantime, before registration begins, students can always browse through the available list of courses and see what is offered in preparation for their allotted registration time.
Promoting equality Organizations on campus come together over understanding of the beliefs of others Malcolm Carter MCARTE72@UNCC.EDU
The Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) has teamed with the Office of Student Conduct and Outreach to produce Stake Your Claim in Civility Week Monday, Oct. 31 through Friday, Nov. 4, 2011. Vidal Dickerson, director of the Multicultural Resource Center and Christine Reed Davis, director of Student Conduct and Outreach, complement and support each others’ work and for a while have been trying to find a program they could start together. The MRC proEVENT motes awareness of What: Civility other cultures. It is Week not expected of one to adopt every othWhen: Mon. er perspective and Oct. 31 to Fri. value, but to accept Nov. 4 a fundamental unWhere: UNC derstanding of different beliefs. Charlotte The programs planned for the week are organized around these ideas. Monday, Oct. 31 marks the beginning of Stake Your Claim in Civility Week. Starting this day and continuing throughout the whole week, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., a table will be set up in the rotunda of the Student Union. At this table, students can take a Civility Pledge. Following the pledge to be civil
CRIME from p.1 dents on campus during Halloween.” Still, Campus Police do advise students to be alert as they would any other night on campus and be mindful of all state laws and university policies. “We remind our students who are of legal age to please drink responsibly,” Huffman said. “Drinking alcohol while under the age of 21 is illegal. Never operate a vehicle after consuming alcohol. Avoid walking alone if possible. If you do find yourself alone, utilize the SafeRide Program to get to your campus destinations.” Huffman also reminds students of a more Halloween-related and lesser-known state law – NC General Statute 14-12.7. That law prohibits any individual over 16 years old from wearing masks or hoods in public. The law states, “No person or persons at least 16 years of age shall, while wearing any mask, hood or device whereby the person, face or voice is disguised so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, enter, be
in all mannerisms, students will receive civility wallet cards to “Stake Your Claim in Civility.” Wednesday, Nov. 2 Dr. P.M. Forni, an award-winning professor at Johns Hopkins University, will deliver a lecture on civility in McKnight Hall located in the University Cone Center at 7 p.m. Forni is nationally known for his efforts in civility. In 1997 he co-founded the Johns Hopkins Civility Project, an organization that “aimed at assessing the significance of civility, manners and politeness in contemporary society.” In his lectures he frequently assesses the necessity of civility in today’s workplace. This particular lecture is an open event that all UNC Charlotte faculty, staff and students can attend. The next day, Forni will hold two workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. A small group of 40 faculty and staff will attend the morning workshop. In the afternoon, 40 students will go to the workshop at 1 p.m. “I’m hoping that students can explore the routes of hot buttons, that they take time to explore value, things that make them who they are, and what makes that advantageous and even challenging when engaging in conversations with people with different values,” said Dickerson. Civility is already present on campus though. It takes form in clubs and organizations that promote awareness. The groups band together to support their ideals, ideals that range from politics to religion to even the environment.
or appear upon any lane, walkway, alley, street, road, highway or other public way in this State.” CMPD spokesman Bob Fey also advises students to be wary of anyone wearing a mask that can conceal their identity. He also agrees with Huffman about students being cautious. “Whether living in a dorm, or off campus house or apartment, keep your lights on even whether you are home or not,” Fey said. “It is best practice to always walk with at least one other person at all times, not just on Halloween... safety in numbers. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. If you are going to a party, make sure that you have people there who you can trust and always make sure you are aware of all the exits. If you go with someone, leave with that person.” So for all the ghouls, ghosts, princesses and other Halloween creatures that are sure to be prowling around campus this weekend remember that just because it’s Halloween doesn’t mean the police take a day off. Oh, and don’t forget to take your mask off before crossing the road.
NINERONLINE.COM
EPILEPSY from p.1 Darin. Once Morgan was diagnosed in 2003, he was given medication, since then he does not often have the grand mal seizures, or the larger seizures most commonly associated with epilepsy. “For the most part it has been about eight years. He currently takes three medicines, three times a day and two additional supplements. While some kids grow out of it, since their brains are always developing, we don’t think that will be the case with Morgan,” said Darin. Darin named Susan Carter, Kim Whitestone and Cass Ferguson as people who help put the event together and make it succeed from UNC Charlotte’s end. “Susan Carter runs the craft tables, she stocks up all year round just for this. Kim Whitestone really helps orchestrate the event from our end and Cass Ferguson makes sure all the scoreboards are working and is really like our ‘johnny on the spot’ and helps get things done,” said Darin. Money raised in the event will go to providing services for people with epilepsy or dealing with epilepsy such as: newsletters, support groups, medication funds, a helpline, advocacy and counseling services, in-school education programs, community education programs and in-service training for professionals. The Epilepsy Foundation of North Carolina provides most of the above services in order to help and increase awareness of epilepsy. “Our mission statement is: ‘to improve the care, and understanding of those with epilepsy in the state of North Carolina,’” said Sue Case, who works for the Epilepsy Foundation of North Carolina. According to the foundation’s website, the biggest problem for people with epilepsy is the lack of public understanding about the disorder, which affects an estimated 80,000 people in North Carolina alone. “It’s a misfiring of neurons in your brain, it’s such a broad spectrum, many
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 , 2011
people can be controlled with medicine and others can experience up to 100 or more uncontrolled seizures in a day,” said Case. The Fall Stroll for Epilepsy is the largest fundraiser for epilepsy in North Carolina, with the money staying in the state to help families dealing with the impacts of epilepsy. “It helps with the medication fund for people who fall in the insurance gap, medicine is expensive. It also helps with education. When a parent who has never seen an epileptic seizure before, experiences their child having one, they can call a helpline that can walk them through on what they can do and what is happening,” said Darin. Even though there are many kid-centered activities, Mr. Spease stressed that it was about epilepsy in general. “They concentrate on the kids cause I think a lot of kids look up to athletes. The athletes get to interact with the community in a way other than a game. All of our teams if they are home and not traveling have at least some one here, helping at the event,” said Darin. Registration for the event will begin at 9 a.m. During this time there will also be games and activities for children who attend such as: crafts, face painting and pumpkin painting. Norm the Niner will also appear at this time to meet with people who gave their time to come to the event. At 10 a.m. the walk will begin with various athletes walking with some children to keep them company. Anyone can participate for free; however, they are asking for donations to help support services for families and people with epilepsy. There will also be prizes that can be won through a drawing; participants can get tickets from registering for the walk or buying tickets for a specific prize. About 200250 people are expected to attend. “It’s always neat when you look around on the day of and even though it is a Saturday morning they still show up, support me, my son and others that are affected. Everyone has things they want to do and yet they choose to spend their time helping at the event,” said Darin.
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OPINION PAGE 4
NINERTIMES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011
GHOSTS
NINERTIMES Volume 24, Number 17 A PRODUCT OF
Are they real, or just part of our imaginations? Two writers square off on the supernatural phenomenon.
LOCATED IN THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE STUDENT UNION NINER TIMES • RADIO FREE CHARLOTTE SANSKRIT • MEDIA MARKETING • NINERONLINE
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NINER TIMES STAFF EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Corey Conner
editor@nineronline.com
FACT Erika Metzger NOEDITOR@NINERONLINE.COM
As Halloween approaches, people seem to have a personal encounter with a ghost story that they just have to share with anyone and everyone. Movies like “Poltergeist” reel in millions of dollars every year that feed into people’s obsession with the after life. There are some people out there who feel that there are no such things as ghosts and the notion of a ghost is nothing more than a cheap reason for when others are scared. But not me. I completely, totally, 100 percent believe in ghosts and I am not ashamed of it. And why should I be ashamed? If there are ghosts in the world, there’s the positive estimation that there is an afterlife. When I hear ghost stories or encounters with the other side, I am just a little more hopeful that there is something after our time on earth. In movies and tv shows, there are two kinds of ghosts: friendly and pure evil who want to devour your soul. Now do I think that there are evil spirits? Oh sure. I’m sure that there are millions of evil spirits in the after world. Since terrible people exists in the real world, why not in the afterlife as well? However, good people also exist in this world so I’m sure that they exist in after life as well. Also, how much fun would it be to actually be a ghost? Seriously, I would mess with people all the time. Another positive of ghosts is that ghosts bring us awesome reality shows like “Ghost Hunters” and “Ghost Adventures” or scripted shows like “American Horror Story.” Now whether you think the reality shows are staged or not, you still get on edge when something moves in the background. For those who say that ghosts are not real and that they are only a figment of our imagination, I say try to reconsider this nothing and then try a ouijia board and see how easily frightened you become.
NINER TIMES MANAGING EDITORS
Dana Nigro managing@nineronline.com
FICTION Analiz Laracuente-Espinal ALARACUE@UNCC.EDU
People have been buying candy, spooky costumes and watching creeping movies in order to get in the spirit of Halloween. This is the time to tell scary stories and what’s better than a spooky ghostly tale to set the tone...if you believe in ghosts! Lately, vampires, zombies and werewolves have been the public craze; however, each raises the question of what happens to our souls when we “die.” This usually sparks conversations on whether or not people believe in “ghosts.” I don’t believe in ghosts. There is no acknowledged scientific evidence to prove that they are real however, many pictures, videos and research have been uploaded to the internet, published in books, and seen in reality shows. Movies and shows, such as MTV’s “Fear”, “Parannormal Activity” and “A Haunting”, have depicted spiritual encounters, usually dealing with fearful spirits. Unfortunately, because we have technology that can alter images, sounds and videos, it is impossible to prove the existence of ghosts without the question of credibility. Because ghosts have been central topics in literature and films, it is difficult for people to believe in ghosts past a certain age. Both books and movies use our fears to entertain us by using fiction. Because we know it is fake, we know there is no possible way that it could happen which makes us doubt the existence of ghosts in real life. People use logic to explain things and because there is no evidence or real explanation for ghosts, then it is understandable that people will not believe in ghosts. Even though I don’t believe in ghosts, I do believe in creepy places. There are many places around the United States that are extremely creepy and uncomfortable such as hotel rooms and old houses. When a light bulb flashes or the floorboards creak we instantly get nervous, not because we necessarily believe in ghosts but rather because we do not feel comfortable in our surroundings. However, there is a logical explanation and solution to these scary events. If you replace the flashing light bulb and accept the fact that floor boards creak when the house is old, you will have stopped the feeling of “being haunted.” Please know that I am not condoning going to “haunted” places or using Ouija boards. In fact, I highly recommend staying away from any form of communication with ghostly beings because when people go “hunting” for things, they usually find it...you might not like what you find.
Corbin Peters
online@nineronline.com
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NINERONLINE.COM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 , 2011
Costumes not worth the price
Dressing up where the sun don’t shine
Corey Conner EDITOR@NINERONLINE.COM
Whether going to the Halloween parties as a sexy maid, a banana or a large-furry gorilla, the cost of the costume has to be considered. Is it really worth spending $50+ on a costume for one night that will likely fall apart because it is poorly made? I say not. Instead of spending money friviously in the current economy, people should take a look around their dorm and see what kind of costume they can come up with. Or, go a more money-savvy route of buying a costume and visit a thrift store. While the store probably won’t have ready-to-go costumes, they will have all of the pieces necessary to make a creative and cheap ensemble. Don’t limit yourself to the clothing section either. Kitchen utensils, home decor and toys can play an interesting role in a homemade costume. So, do yourself a favor and spend your money on something that will matter more than one night.
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While some may ignore the holiday altogether, others have begun making the “scary” night a real nightmare for some kids and their parents. Photo courtesy of MCT Campus.
HALLOWEEN HELL Do some take the holiday a bit too seriously? Olivia Stott OSTOTT@UNCC.EDU
H
alloween is a time for scares and screams, spider webs, zombies, ghoulish decorations and fake blood. Sounds good, right? Some people are just into carving pumpkins and candy corn on Halloween and others spare no costs to pull off a heart-pounding Halloween experience. Among most people, there seems to be a scale of scare tolerance. If you drive into a neighborhood on or near Halloween night, this scale of scare tolerance becomes evident. Take a look at the decorations in the yards. Some are adorned with a few pumpkins carved with smiling faces, and other houses are practically dripping in fake blood and severed limbs. I had a neighbor last year who did not even pass out candy to the kids because Halloween fell on Sunday, and I had another neighbor who had their yard filled with fog, tombstones, fake blood, and bones, ghosts and zombies. Children of course stormed off in anger in result to not getting candy from the first family, but they also screamed in terror as a result of the second yard with a Halloween display a little too dramatic for young kids. These two extremes convey this scale of scare quite well. So how seriously should people take Halloween? Halloween is supposed to be scary of course, but its also supposed to be fun. So back the question at hand, how far is too far? There are many factors contributing to how seriously you take your Halloween decorations such as your family back-
ground, the age of the children around you, how sensitive to scares you are and maybe even religious beliefs. But all of that aside, remember to keep Halloween a balance of horrors and goblins as well as fun and games. I would personally draw the line where people are legitimately terrified. There is a difference between being casually scared and being petrified. Being startled by a little ghost or by a spooky hand guarding a bowl of candy is different from being chased by a zombie with a bloody chainsaw in his hand. Sure everyone’s “scare tolerance” may be different, but you have to draw the line somewhere. If you know children will be involved, then obviously be careful and respectful of them enough to hold back the horrific Halloween decorations and behavior. Just have fun and keep things lighthearted when you’re involved with children on Halloween or if you’re handing out candy to trick-or-treating kids. Keep things age-appropriate. What a five-year-old and what a 12-year-old can tolerate are completely different. A five-year-old can probably only tolerate a little “boo!” and maybe a rock thrown in with the candy like Charlie Brown got when he went trick-or-treating. But a 12-year-old can probably take a little more, maybe being startled by someone dressed as a zombie. Just don’t take any chances with young kids because I’m sure all of us can look on to a time in our own childhoods when we were spooked just a little more than we would have liked. Just be respectful to people who may not be able to take the scares like you. The point is just to have fun on Halloween and enjoy the pumpkin carving, the corn mazes, the bon fires, the candy, the haunted houses, the costumes and the ghosts.
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Well it’s about that time of year again when you must pick out the perfect Halloween costume. Which will you go with this year? Maybe one of those skimpy nurse outfits or maybe something a bit classier like Marie Antoinette? In searching for the top 5 sexiest costumes for women, I found on Bettyconfidential.com that the top 5 in order were: Black swan, sexy fox, charming Alice, pirate and miss Freddy Krueger. Not sure who has been doing the voting, but I am guessing men because there is no way I would wear a Miss Freddy Krueger outfit. When it came to men I thought the top5 choices were a little more realistic. Facebook voted in order: policeman, Elvis, greek god, superhero, and athlete. The men’s outfits were very simple and could have been home-maid. Like for the Greek God he is shown wearing a white toga with a crown of leaves on his head. I have begun looking at different costumes and I have found one thing they are always the same every year. Okay, so I’d like to look sexy on Halloween too, but come on a French maid outfit that’s just not what I am looking for. In pursuit of this outfit, I came upon many different attires and even the more risqué: lingerie. Many websites such as lingeriediva. com offer hosiery that I have never seen before. For example, bodystocking that is similar to panty hoes but covers your whole body appears to be a popular item on this site. They sell many different styles, some which are made of lace while others are completely made of fishnets. Most styles are completely see through, many with a few holes in the nipple or groin region. There are also styles that are more of a halter-top or just expose the booty. When searching the website I checked to see if they offer men’s lingerie as well and they do! The site offers suspender thongs, vinyl vests, leather thongs and thongs that dress up your junk. A few of the funny ones were a thong in the shape of a Christmas stocking, a sinful devil, alligator pouch, rooster pouch, and the stars & stripes men thongs. Who knew a pair of underwear could make your penis so many different animals. When searching the site for Halloween costumes they also offer a section for that as well, but trust me, you would not be able to wear these costumes out to anywhere unless it’s a bedroom. When flipping through the pages of many popular magazines such as Cosmo or Glamour, you may find how much they recommend role-play. For men and some women roleplaying can be a good way to spice up the bedroom. So when purchasing a Halloween costume consider using it for another function, not just a night in uptown. No matter if it’s Halloween or just a hot Saturday night, considering roleplaying in the bedroom could be perfect for any season. - Naughty Niner A.
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A&E
ON CAMPUS:
ON CAMPUS:
Paranormal Activity w/ Chad Calek Cloud Nine Thursday, Oct. 27 Thursday, Oct. 27 8:00 p.m. 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Robinson Hall Cone Center Black Box Theater McKnight Hall
NEW IN THEATERS: Anonymous In Time Like Crazy Puss in Boots The Rum Diary
UNC Charlotte’s own horror film enthusiast UNC Charlotte student Joshua Yates talks “big picture” of the horror movie genre Barry Falls B FA L L S 4 @ U N C C . E D U
You might think you know the horror movie genre inside and out. But you don’t know UNC Charlotte student, Joshua Yates. Yates “resurrected” the UNC Charlotte Film Club this time last year with Jeffrey Simpson and is still heavily involved with the club. The two carried out the third annual UNC Charlotte Short Film Festival earlier this year, which had a 400+ turnout. Additionally, Yates is a member of the National Communication Honors Society and the Charlotte Film Society. Yates was kind enough to talk to me about his thoughts on horror movies past and present as well as his own history and future in cinema. Q - So you have made some of your own horror films? A - “I’ve made two comedic horror shorts that don’t really take themselves too seriously. They were a lot of fun to make and I think people, for the most part, enjoy watching them. Google search “T IS FOR TACENDA” if you’re looking to be offended. Sorry, ladies. Kinda. Currently, I’m working on an idea for a feature length horror script that will be far, far from a comedy.” Q - With the exception of “Paranormal Activity 3,” “Scream 4” and “Insidious,” 2011 has been a terrible year for box office horror flicks. “Dream House,” “Straw Dogs,” “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark,” “Apollo 18,” “The Human Centipede 2,” “Final Destination 5” and “The Thing” were all terribly rated. Do you think this year’s poor selection of horror flicks is an accurate representation of where the horror movie industry is in the big picture? A - “I think ‘industry’ is the first problem there. And I’m not sure if box office profit is necessarily the best way to evaluate the creative, or progressive, state of a cinematic genre. You can’t forget that some of the most seminal horror works were micro budget, independent films. “Halloween,” “The Last House on the Left” and “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” are a few that in-
stantly come to mind. These films were made by nobodies [at the time at least] and for a fraction of a typical Hollywood budget, yet they are unarguably some of the most transcendental horror films ever produced. In the big picture, it’s commonplace for an unknown, amazing film to come along and introduce nuances to the horror genre every so many years, but that also leads to Hollywood getting ahold of the concepts and repeating it ad nauseam. I mean, I’m not even sure which ‘Saw’ we’re on now.” Q - With almost all of these films being a sequel, prequel, remake or adaptation, do you think a lack of originality may have contributed to a decline in eagerness towards new additions to the genre? A - “Across all genres I think the progression of digital cinema and special effects has led to Hollywood productions becoming less creative in most cases, although there are always exceptions. However, this is the exact opposite of independent filmmaking, which seems to be more and more groundbreaking due to the technological advancements. If you’ve lost faith in the pictures being shown at big theaters and need a breath of fresh air, I’d highly suggest attending some regional film festivals, and definitely screenings held by local communities. For example The Light Factory has a unique film showing nearly every
week and the Charlotte Film Society, specifically their Back Alley Film Series, is consistently screening movies that would have otherwise never played in Charlotte or surrounding areas.” Q - Would you say that originals are almost always better than the remake or sequels? A - “More often than not, yeah. I think a lot of remakes get carried away with what they can accomplish now in special effects, and fail to capture the cultural landscape and societal anxieties of the contemporary time period like the originals managed to do so very well.” Q - Are there any exceptions? A - “I like the remake of “Funny
Games” more than the original, but that’s about it. Michael Haneke is trying to critique American viewership in the original, but Americans seem to have an unexplainable distaste for subtitled films. So hey, why not direct a shot-forshot remake with American actors, in English, to get your point across and implicitly insult your target audience even more? As far as the genre, horror flicks stem from what’s repressed in society at the time of their conception, and replicating that in a remake is beyond difficult. If an awesome independent horror film earns financial success, it is usually in the hands of Hollywood by the production of a prequel or sequel. They almost always lose their artisanal feel and become impersonal, which could be an explanation as to why people are so often let down by remakes, sequels and prequels.” Q - How many indie horror flicks do you watch in comparison to more mainstream horror movies? A - “I try to keep it spread out, for sure. You can’t appreciate the gems if you don’t view bad stuff, too. See rest on Nineronline.com
Photo courtesy of Carter Short
NOW PLAYING PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 Directed by: Henry Joost, Ariel Shulman Chloe Csengery, Jessica Tyler Brown, Lauren Bittner
✭✭✭✭✭ Barry Falls bfalls4@uncc.edu Taking place before the events of the first two films, “Paranormal Activity 3” (PA3) follows the story of Katie (PA) and Kristi (PA2) as children in the 80’s. While it implements a much darker ghostly antagonist, it does not exactly bring anything new to the table as far as set-up. But it is the familiarity of the franchise that fans of the series gravitates to. Over its opening weekend, “Paranormal Activity 3” did not just beat out the first two installments of
Photo/ Paramount Pictures
the series, it became the biggest horror movie opening in history. For fans of the first two, the third installment is a must-see. For those who weren’t inpressed with grownup Kristi and Katie’s story, PA3 will note likely change your opinion of the series. Still, given the choice between PA3 and The Thing (the only other horror movie in theaters), PA3 is the obvious choice.
NINERONLINE.COM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 , 2011
PAGE 9
Niner Times Halloween costume picks Lee Pham LPHAM7@UNCC.EDU
Halloween is the most competitive holiday of the year. Millions across America strive to choose the best costume to wear to the party every October. It’s a competition unparalleled by any other. Some bleed for it (corn syrup and red food coloring), while others put their dignity on the line for it (banana hammock). Whatever the case, these are our picks for the best costume ideas of the year:
Charlie Sheen at Comedy Central’s “Roast of Charlie Sheen” in Sept. 2011. Photo courtesy of MCT Campus
1
Charlie Sheen
2011 has been the worst and best year for the former “Two and a Half Men” actor. After losing his job, checking in to rehab, dropping a few anti-Semitic remarks and gaining over 5 million followers on Twitter, who wouldn’t want to be Charlie Sheen? He has tiger blood coursing through his veins for God’s sake. The man is so on top of the world that even Charlie Sheen is dressing as Charlie Sheen for Halloween this year, according to the Daily Mail.
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Celebrity tribute
Too soon? We think not. Halloween is the perfect occasion to pay tribute to fallen stars. Their recent deaths make these costumes awesomely relevant and the most talked about at the party. Steve Jobs - Jobs passed away in early October, leaving behind the company that he founded and cradled. Simplicity was the late visionary’s goal for Apple and its innovative products. He extended the less is more approach to his wardrobe, which makes Jobs an easy and budget-friendly costume. Jobs was known to sport round thin-wire glasses, a black turtleneck, blue Levi’s jeans and New Balance sneakers. Pay tribute to Jobs this Halloween and he is sure to look down from the iClouds with approval. Amy Winehouse - The English jazz singer and former crackhead passed away last July. Other female Brits by the likes of Adele and Lily Allen credit Winehouse for paving the way for their success. Winehouse
has won five Grammy Awards amidst controversy surrounding drug and alcohol abuse. The late songstress’ signature beehive and emaciated structure will make a truly frightening costume. Tip: Going as a pair? Winehouse’s drug junkie exhusband Blake Fielder-Civil will make a superb costume partner.
3
Black Swan
Natalie Portman’s iconic character, the Black Swan, is a devilish Swan Lake ballerina that will be the standout of any Halloween party. The Black Swan has the palest of complexions; she is so pale she looks sickly. Heavy eye shadow and black lipstick is a must. Ballerina-wear is also required. With a black tutu, black leotard and ballet shoes, everyone will recognize you as the Black Swan.
4
Warbler (“Glee”)
5
Variant of Ke$ha
Darren Criss performing live as a Warbler. Photo Courtesy Vagueonthehow. The Dalton Academy Warbler is a sophisticated costume for a sophisticated guy. It’s a dressier costume that is suitable for a cocktail affair. To get started, find dark slacks and a white button up shirt with a red and navy striped tie. It is completely acceptable to slick your hair back. Most importantly, you must wear a blue blazer with red lining. Without it, no one will realize your intent to be a Warbler.
Last year, Ke$ha was one of the most popular Halloween costumes in Charlotte. Not only did her single “We R Who We R” debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 a week before Halloween, but the pop star headlined the 2010 Gravedigger’s Ball in Charlotte. For Ke$ha, every day is Halloween, which is why she continues to be a top choice costume this year. Sleazy Ke$ha - The Ke$ha that we all know and aspire to be. This Ke$ha requires enough glitter to fill a swimming pool. A ripped vintage tee and teased hair is all but off limits. Extreme intoxication and slurred speech will reinforce the authenticity of this costume.* *Note: Niner Times does not condone underage drinking or alcohol poisoning. Cla$$y Ke$ha - A tamer Ke$ha that can walk a red carpet without losing the edge. Classy Ke$ha is a modern rockstar who wears her leather tight but does not bare it all. Her teased hair is less reek, more chic. This Ke$ha is likely to mix whiskey and coke rather than to drink liquor straight out of the bottle.
6
Netflix
Wear a red envelope this Halloween to be the mailin and streaming video service. Put a knife in it to represent the fallen shares of stock that the company endured after raising subscription prices this summer. Netflix shares lost half of its value over two months. Though Netflix is still in operation, its mistake is sure to go down in economic textbooks as what not to do with a successful business model.
7
Beyoncé
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Children’s character
Throw on some heels and a bootylicious outfit to be Destiny’s favorite child. Dressing as the R&B legend will come with a catch this year. Mrs. Beyoncé Knowles, sometimes “Sasha Fierce,” announced her pregnancy at the VMAs in late August. Put some padding or a prosthetic pregnant belly under your shirt to complete the look. Can’t keep your baby in place? Don’t worry! Rumor has it that Beyoncé’s pregnancy could be a sham following an incident on an Australian talk show in October where her pregnant stomach appeared to implode as she sat down. Just let it go with the flow.
Any classic children’s character will work because they are easily relatable. Men, ladies are instantly attracted to guys that dress like children. They are turned on by the innocence of these costumes and will grab Pooh Bear in ways that children, we hope, have never imagined possible.
LMFAO performing. Photo courtesy YODCOX!
9
LMFAO
Need a group costume? Assemble your party rock crew and grab your tackiest neon sneakers for a night of shuffling. LMFAO is a duo made of Redfoo and SkyBlu, but your crew count is limitless. Bright colors and tight denim are the key to success for this costume. No matter the party, an LMFAO song is sure to play (“Shots,” “Get Crazy,” “Party Rock Anthem,” or “Sexy and I Know It” to name a few), so make sure you learn to dance. For a bonus, your crew should include the Shuffle Bot.
10
Queen City turns to Scream City Patrick Bogans PBOGANS@UNCC.EDU
Local Charlotte radio station Kiss 95.1 FM is preparing to host their spookiest event of the season this Saturday, Oct. 29 at Dixie’s Tavern. The Gravedigger’s Ball is an annual costume contest and concert that notoriously “turns the Queen City into the Scream City” around every Halloween. The best costume of the night get $1000 and $500 goes to the sexiest costume of the night. This event has staged some very talented acts for over a decade, from Run DMC to Katy Perry to last year’s glitter-filled performance by Ke$ha. This year, mainstream favorites Cobra Starship and OneRepublic will hit the stage. Cobra Starship, a pop rock band from New York, formed in 2003 by Gabe Saporta. Underground success with their first two albums “While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets” and “¡Viva la Co-
bra!,” led to the development of a massive fan base that sparked the success that was soon to come. The band truly made their mark on the radio with their third album “Hot Mess.” The album’s addictive singles “Hot Mess” and “Good Girls Go Bad” hit the airwaves in 2009. The latter single peaked in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 that year. This year, their newest album “Night Shades,” released at the end of August, has already garnered a top 10 hit: “You Make Me Feel…”. Their pop/synthpop/ dance feel has pushed their band into wild success these past few years, and they show no signs of stopping. Headliner of the Gravedigger’s Ball, OneRepublic, was formed in 2002 by Ryan Tedder and Zach Filkins in Colorado Springs, Colo. They were signed by Mosley Music Group in 2006 and released their first album, “Dreaming Out Loud,” the following year. Their first released single, “Apologize” was a huge hit to say the least. It
Girls: slutty, Guys: hunky
Can’t come up with anything? If all else fails, slut it up. Ladies, reveal more skin. Guys, wear tighter costumes to show your muscles. Pick any standard profession (nurse, doctor, firefighter, etc.) and apply accordingly. You can’t go wrong...
holds the record for the most digital downloads for any song ever, held the record for the most amount of airplay in one week (until “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis was released) and got nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group for the 2009 Grammy Awards. Needless to say, this led to massive acclaim for the band worldwide. Singles “Stop & Stare” and “Say (All I Need)” from this freshman album became very popular as well. In 2009, OneRepublic released their current album, “Waking Up.” This album has garnered many hit singles in the United States, including “All the Right Moves,” “Secrets” and currently popular through the airwaves “Good Life”. Both bands are far from unfamiliar with one another; Tedder worked with Cobra Starship on their new album, primarily on their soon to be released next single “#1Nite (One Night).” See rest on Nineronline.com
PAGE 10
NINERTIMES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011
DOWNTIME 27
Thursday
UNC Charlotte Paranormal Activity w/Chad Calek Get in the Halloween spirit with Chad Calek who will present a spooky lecture. Then go hunting for ghosts! Cone University Center McKnight Hall 7:00pm - 9:00pm
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Friday
Union Take Over Haunted Union
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Saturday
Cloud Nine
The Union will be transformed into a haunted house. Will you dare enter the Haunted Union?
This play, set in Victorian Africa and contemporary London, confronts sexual taboos and gender stereotypes head on. For mature audiences.
Student Union 8:00pm - 11:45pm
Robinson Hall 2:00pm *Cloud Nine can also be seen on other days.
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Sunday
Charlotte 49ers Vollyball vs. La Salle Wear a Halloween costume and come out to support the 49ners in their game against La Salle.
Halton Arena 1:00pm $5 Adults, $2 Youth, Free for UNCC Students
31
1
Monday
49th Day Celebration
Survivor UNC Charlotte: Wellness for Everyday Living Maximize your academic potential with health tips that will affect your outer and inner self.
Fretwell Rm 310 12:30pm-1:30pm
Tuesday
Student Union Rotunda
12:00pm - 3:00pm Celebrate the 49th Day of the school year with the SGA and CAB and snag some great 49ner gear!
FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 7, 2011
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
See the answer to the sudoku puzzle by scanning the code with your smartphone.
The answers:
Get the answers at www.nineronline.com/downtime
ACROSS 1 Magician’s bird of choice 5 Seattle’s Best product, slangily 9 Fall faller 13 Pub picks 14 Special Forces cap 15 Fairy tale starter 16 Strike gold 18 Give __ to: approve 19 Canadian coin nicknamed for the bird on it 20 Hand-waving or finger-pointing 22 For each 23 Mythical Egyptian riddler 25 Cornfield bird 27 Smallest prime number 28 27-Across plus one, in Italy 29 Lines of theater seats 30 Goes down in the west 32 Debatable point 36 Encouragement for a matador 37 Lane straddler 39 LAX hrs. 40 Welsh dog 42 Screwball 43 Dalai __ 44 A bit amiss 46 “Milk” director Van Sant 47 Oval segments 48 Guy “nipping at your nose,” in a holiday song 52 Inquire 53 Rand McNally references 54 Takes home from the pound 57 Yogi, for one 58 Singer of the 1961 #1 song found in the starts of 16-, 23-, 37and 48-Across 61 Can of worms, e.g. 62 “Drat!” 63 Brooks’s country music partner 64 Sources of immediate cash: Abbr.
11/7/11
By Jeff Chen
65 Mends with thread 66 FBI personnel DOWN 1 Author Roald 2 Assortment 3 President’s weapon 4 Station with game reports and highlights 5 Clampett patriarch 6 Onassis patriarch 7 Brink 8 Declare to be true 9 Despises 10 Boredom 11 Piece of the sky, to Chicken Little 12 Shipping giant 14 “Sayonara!” 17 It’s roughly 21% oxygen 21 Unit of parsley 23 Tinker with 24 Franks 25 Hook nemesis, for short 26 Cylindrical caramel candy 27 General of Chinese cuisine 31 Loud call
Saturday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
33 Auto tune-up item 34 Camp Pendleton letters 35 LAX incoming hrs. 37 Jazz licks 38 Approves 41 Amusement park racers 43 Longtime Dodger skipper Tommy 45 Brittany brothers 48 Sluglike “Star Wars” crime boss
11/7/11
49 Persistently bothered 50 Allegation 51 Missouri river or tribe 52 Cavity filler’s org. 54 Blissful sighs 55 Camping shelter 56 9-digit IDs 59 Deviate from a course 60 DJ’s stack
NINERONLINE.COM
SPORTS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 , 2011
PAGE 11
SPORTS SCHEDULE
Men’s Soccer vs Xavier
Women’s Volleyball vs La Salle
Fri. 7pm, Charlotte, NC
Sun. 1pm, Charlotte, NC
Women’s Soccer vs Xavier
Women’s Soccer vs Dayton
Fri. 7pm, Cincinnati, OH
Wed. 7pm, Charlotte, NC
Men’s Soccer vs Dayton
Cross Country vs A10 Champ.
Sun. 1pm, Charlotte, NC
Sat. TBA, Concord, NC
A-10 turnaround
After beating the Temple Owls, the Niners now have a chance to get into the conference tournament Brian Chan BCHAN1@UNCC.EDU
49ers look to regroup following last weekend’s 0-1-1 performance Photo by Chris Crews
Charlotte wraps up season at Transamerica Field Niner Times reflects on the men’s soccer season so far, as they move into thier final 3 matches Joel Hanel JHANEL1@UNCC.EDU
After an unsuccessful weekend, with a loss to Fordham and a tie at La Salle, the Charlotte 49ers men’s soccer team has dropped in the both the Atlantic 10 and in the national rankings. Despite this minor glitch in the season, the Niners are still 10-3-2, taking out several major opponents including Virginia and UNC Greensboro, who were both ranked in the top 30 going into both matches. In the Atlantic 10, the Niners have had big wins over St. Bonaventure 5-1 and Massachusetts 2-1, but have recorded two ties against Rhode Island and La Salle. Playing this weekend against Xavier, who barely trails the Niners in the A-10, the Niners will have home field advantage. With record attendance at several games, the Niners have not lost at home, going 5-0 at Transamerica Field. The Niners continue to outshoot their opponents, averaging 17.2 to 9.1 a game, and average 1.87 goals per game. Leading the Niners in points this season are the yellow cleats of senior Evan James, who has recorded four goals and seven assists. James’ goals have come in several key moments, leading the 49er to win at Coastal Carolina and Clemson. Trailing James in points is freshman Ardery Kell product Guiseppe Gentile, who has recorded seven goals this season. Gentile recently scored three of these goals against St. Bonaventure, giving him his first hat trick as a 49er. At keeper, Klay Davis has guarded the Niner goal all season with 42 saves and five shut outs. A strong defensive effort by junior Aaron Weldon, seniors Issac Cowles and
Charles Rodriguez, as well as sophomore Thomas Allen, have helped keep opponents out of the net. The Niners will face Xavier and Dayton this weekend at Transamerica Field and will pack their bags for St. Louis the following weekend. Against Xavier, the Niners will face a team that is 9-3-1 on the season and have won three out of their four last games. Xavier averages 1.57 goals a game and averages 14.6 shots a game this season. When taking on the Musketeers, the Niners need to watch for junior Luke Spencer, who has had five goals and four assists this season. Another threat on the Xavier squad is sophomore Gino Depaoli has had four goals and four assists this season. The Musketeers have had two keepers in front of the net this season, saving 55 shots and recording six shutouts. Last season, Charlotte fell to Xavier in the A-10 Tournament and ended their season much sooner than many expected. On Sunday, the Niners will take on the Dayton Flyers, who are ranked second in the A-10 despite a regular season record of 5-11. The Flyers average 12.8 shots and average less than a goal per Graphic by Joel Hanel game. Abe Keller leads the Flyers in points, recording three goals and three assists. Behind Keller is Dayton’s Greg Enstone, who has scored three times this season. Friday night, the Niners will take on Xavier at 7 p.m. under the lights at Transamerica field. Sunday, the Niners will have their last home game of the season against Dayton, beginning at 1 p.m. As the last home stretch of the season, the final game against Dayton, Sunday, will be a very special game for the nine senior on the roster.
In a span of 48 hours, the Charlotte 49ers women’s volleyball team went from being a cellar team in the Atlantic-10 to a team closing in on one of the six postseason slots, defeating the Temple Owls in four sets (21-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-23). Charlotte (9-12, 3-6), a team that started 0-4 in conference play and finished with a 7-8 record last season, fell into a deeper hole this year, losing its first six conference matches. Charlotte now sits alone in the seventh slot, a game behind the Rhode Island Rams, who pulled off an upset win over the Xavier Musketeers on Saturday. Temple (6-16, 2-7) dropped to 3-4 at home. Charlotte led 8-5 and maintained a 14-12 advantage midway through the opening frame after a kill from sophomore middle blocker Amanda Videmsek. Temple answered with three straight points on a couple of attack errors from Charlotte and built an 18-16 lead after a kill from sophomore outside hitter Elyse Burkert. Burkert, who led the Owls with 205 kills last year, came into Saturday’s match ranked third on the team with 185 kills, being one of three players averaging at least three kills per set. Burkert was a dominant force as she led Temple to a 25-21 win, leading all players with seven kills and a .636 attack percentage in the first set. As a team, the Owls put together a .364 attack percentage, while the Niners posted a .150 attack percentage on eight attack errors in the frame. Burkert finished with 15 kills and three service aces. Charlotte trailed 5-2 early in the second set, but responded with six of the next eight points and took advantage of 11 attack errors from Temple in the set to even the match at 1-all with a 25-19 win in the second set. Sophomore outside hitter/right side Gabriella Matautia helped the Owls with six kills in the set, but that wasn’t enough to make up for the 11 attack errors as junior outside hitter Bianca Rouse and senior outside hitter/right side Leah Leventhal contributed four and three kills in the set, respectively. After a quiet second set, where she had just one kill and three attack errors, Burkert answered in the third set with five
kills, but her efforts weren’t enough as the Niners continued to get contributions from various sources on the team. Rouse added four more kills, and Videmsek provided three kills and three blocks in the set. Charlotte, a team that came into the match with an 8-13 third-set record, took the pivotal third set on Saturday with a 2522 win. The Niners won the third set in each of their past three contests. Temple jumped out a 7-4 lead early in the fourth set, but Charlotte managed to respond with five straight points on a pair of service aces from freshman middle blocker Savannah Gaster. Gaster had a match-high three aces to go along with six blocks. Coming into the weekend averaging 1.35 aces and 3.5 service errors per set, the Niners made improvements in limiting the number of unforced points given to their opponents. After compiling 11 aces in the win over the La Salle Explorers yesterday, the Niners totaled eight aces on Saturday. The Owls came back to take an 1814 lead, and the Niners responded with three straight points to cut the lead to one. Leventhal sparked the offense with three consecutive kills during a series to tie the game at 20-all. Leventhal, who had a career-high 20 kills against the Campbell Camels last month, had her highest kill total since then with 15 on Saturday. Leventhal was especially effective in the final set as she registered seven kills to help the Niners to a 25-23 win. Rouse recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 14 kills and 13 digs, and Videmsek added eight kills and a matchhigh seven blocks as the team amassed 14 total blocks in the match. Junior outside hitter Jenna Litoborski contributed 12 digs, and senior setter Sheri Davis posted 36 assists, nine digs and four blocks. Charlotte had to battle against Temple’s top two attackers on Saturday. Burkert and Matautia combined for 89 attacks, which accounted for 66.4 percent of their 134 attacks and posted 15 kills apiece. Burkert registered a double-double as she also recorded 10 digs. Junior defensive specialist/libero Chelsea Tupuola led all players with 17 digs, and sophomore middle blocker Emily Frazer led the Owls with seven blocks and added five kills. Charlotte concludes its road trip next Friday against the league-leading Dayton Flyers at 7 p.m.
Graphic by Joel Hanel
PAGE 12
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011
NINERTIMES
aren Pierce Photos by K
Depth and new faces compose 49er roster Ed Niser ENISER@UNCC.EDU
The 49ers men’s basketball team is looking to put last season in the rearview mirror and keep their eyes on improving in 2011-2012. In Alan Major’s first season as a head coach, Charlotte had trouble adjusting to his coaching style and philosophy, as off the court issues and troubles plagued the team. Charlotte was also left waiting for documents from the NCAA to clear Slovenian point guard, Luka Voncina to take the court in his freshman season. Depth chart issues plagued Charlotte from reaching their fullest potential last season as they were forced to rely heavily on Derrio Green and Jamarr “Deuce” Briscoe at the point guard position. At the conclusion of the team’s first week of practice, Major had this to say about how he looks to fill the point guard slot this season; “ If we play as hard as we can, we won’t have to ride anyone for 35 minutes a game and even for guys with a bit of size, the demand of being out there it is still tough, you need to handle the ball against pressure, not turn the ball over and know what every other guy on the floor is supposed to be doing. “ On fan day the 49ers appeared to be beat up, now at first glance you might think that this is a bad thing, while in actuality it is not. The main difference in the current squad compared to last years’ is that the team now possesses depth and players that are willing to push their adversary on the court during practice. Guards Pierria Henry and Voncina, were sporting the Rip Hamiltonesque face guards to protect their noses that they injured in the practices leading up to the split squad scrimmage. “Our practices have been competitive, we have been getting up and down the floor a lot and try to share the ball, we have a
whole new team this year and we have to get a feeling for how Coach Major wants us to play,” said Braswell Big Illja Ivankovic impressed the fans with his strong play inside the paint and his ability to work as a swingman when necessary in the Charlotte offense. Ivankovic gives Charlotte an added edge under the basket as the 6-foot-10 junior competed strongly against returning classmate Chris Braswell. Ivankovic also showed the ability to cut to the basket, something that is rare for a big man, his ball handling skills were not noteworthy, but he rarely has to drive to the basket much, except on cuts. Chris Braswell, Mike Thorne, Javarris Barnett and Ivankovic give Charlotte depth as bigmen. Last year, Charlotte put the brunt of the load on the shoulders of Braswell, especially after Phil Jones was released from the team. In the first week of last season Charlotte squared off against Gardner-Webb, when they had just eight active players on the roster. At the start of this year senior walkon Ray Morganstern left the team for unforeseen reasons; however the 49ers still have 14 players on their active roster leading into their exhibition with Belmont Abbey on Nov. 3 inside Halton Arena. Newcomer E.Victor Nickerson delighted the crowd, with his composure and ability to drive to the hoop and draw the foul. Nickerson possesses the ability to draw contact and finish strong at the basket, a trait rarely found in a freshman. Charlotte may fly under the radar in the A-10 conference this season due to many holes in the starting lineup from a year ago, that will need to be filled by some of the younger guys. If Charlotte is to be successful this season, their young players need to adapt to the demands of Division 1 basketball very quickly. Similarly, Charlotte needs to stay healthy if they want to keep a deep bench and contend for a spot in the postseason.