Niner Times: November 7, 2017 by Niner Times

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Hunter Heilman editor@ninertimes.com EDITORIAL

Alex Sands NEWS EDITOR Kathleen Cook SPORTS EDITOR Jeffrey Kopp A&E EDITOR Hailey Turpin LIFESTYLE EDITOR Salina Dickie COPY EDITOR Mia Shelton OPINION EDITOR Leysha Caraballo PHOTO COORDINATOR Pooja Pasupula PHOTO COORDINATOR Chris McKinnis VIDEO PRODUCER Carmen Westra COMMUNITY EDITOR Kathryn Whitesides LAYOUT EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITORS

Stephanie Trefzger, Angie Baquedano, Emily Hickey, Joshua Worley, Emma West, Natasha Morehouse CONTRIBUTING STAFF

Evan Moore, Zoe Radojicic, Elissa Miller, Keri Solaris, Lindsay Smith

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SPORTS

LIFESTYLE

CHARLOTTE FALLS TO MARSHALL ON THE ROAD

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MONARCHS OUTMUSCLE NINERS 6–0

EVOLUTION OF HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

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5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VOLUNTEER AT THE JAMIL NINER STUDENT PANTRY

CHARLOTTE COASTS PAST COBRAS

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MEDIA MARKETING MARKETING DIRECTOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Fred Brown

Linnea Stoops

mktdirector@uncc.edu

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A&E MOVIE REVIEW: ʻTHE FLORIDA PROJECTʻ IS AN UNCOMFORTABLY CHALLENGING, YET ODDLY FULFILLING LOOK AT LIFE

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MARKETING STAFF

Kayla Christian, Brandon Cox, Brandon Freer, Ryan Scott, Teely Yang, Yishni Yun

PORTUGAL, THE MAN AT THE FILLMORE

VIDEO

TV REVIEW: ʻTHE WALKING DEADʼ – ʻMONSTERSʼ THE FIVE ESSENTIAL TOM PETTY ALBUMS

PHOTO

production@uncc.edu

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NOV. 7, 2017

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POLICE BLOTTER SEPT. 17 - SEPT. 23

ACCIDENT OCT. 31 •

Greek Village, while backing, driver of vehicle one struck vehicle two that was travelling down Darryl McCall Circle. No injuries were reported.

Former chancellor to recieve NC public service award James H. Woodward will be recognized for his contributions to academia in NC By Evan Moore Photos courtesty of UNC Charlotte

DRUG VIOLATION NOV. 1 •

South Deck, officers issued four state citations and two campus apperance tickets in reference to possession of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia.

LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION OCT. 31 •

Levine Hall, officers issued two state citations and two campus apperance tickets in reference to underage drinking.

LARCENY NOV. 2 •

Atkins Library, unknown person(s) removed the victim’s cell phone that was left in an unlocked charging station in Atkins Library.

OCT. 28 •

Levine Hall, unknown subject removed a phone from the wall in Levine Hall.

VANDALISM NOV. 1 •

Colvard, unknown person(s) used spray paint to vandalize multiple items in one of the rooms in Colvard.

For more information on Mecklenburg County arrests, visit arrestinquiryweb.co.mecklenburg.nc.us

On Nov. 9, former UNC Charlotte Chancellor James H. Woodward will receive the North Carolina Award, the state’s highest civilian honor. Since 1964, the awards have been used to recognize contributions in the areas of fine arts, literature, public service and science. Gov. Roy Cooper will present the award at a banquet and ceremony to be held in Raleigh. Woodward served as UNC Charlotte’s chancellor for over 15 years. Next month, he will be recognized for public service. Woodward received his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Ph.D. in engineering from Georgia Tech. Woodward also obtained an M.B.A. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Before coming to UNC Charlotte, Woodward taught at North Carolina State University, the U.S. Air Force Academy and at the University of Alabama at Birmingham; where he

first served as the dean of the School of Engineering, then senior vice president for academic affairs. During his time as chancellor, Woodward had a significant impact on the academics at UNC Charlotte. Woodward secured funding that led to the implementation of 12 doctoral programs and developed the Campus Master Plan, which produced $300 million in capital investment. Woodward also expanded the UNC Charlotte community by adding distance education and weekend courses to better serve non-traditional students. Center City, the first UNC Charlotte facility constructed apart from main campus, was also established to provide more opportunities for graduate education. The College of Information Technology and The College of Health and Human Services were also created during Woodward’s time as chancellor. A number of buildings

NEWS on campus were also constructed during this time, including the E.K. and Dorrie Fretwell building and the James H. Barnhardt Student Activity Center. The Irwin Belk Track and Field Center was also completed during this time. In 2005, Woodward was honored by the naming of the UNC Charlotte technology building as Woodward Hall. Under Woodward’s leadership, the Charlotte Research Institute was created, with the goal of enhancing the technological infrastructure of the Charlotte region through collaboration industry and government. Through the institute, UNC Charlotte faculty have developed numerous research initiatives in the areas of bioinformatics, energy production, information security and automotive engineering. During his career at UNC Charlotte, the university’s endowment grew from $14 million to $95 million. Enrollment at the university also increased rapidly. One of Woodward’s missions was to maintain a large, diverse student body. After his time at UNC Charlotte, former UNC President Erskine Bowles appointed Woodward as the interim chancellor at North Carolina State University in 2005. Outside of academia, Woodward likes to work with nonprofit organizations that focus on disadvantaged youth, hike and travel. Woodward also enjoys spending time with his three children, six grandchildren and wife Martha.

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NOV. 7, 2017

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DIGGING FOR GOLD

SPORTS

By Drew Pescaro Photo by Pooja Pasapula

From Brazil, to Bethel University and finally the 49ers Volleyball team, Yumi Garcia has had a major impact on those around her on and off the court. Coming from a different country has not stopped Garcia one bit. “Yumi moved away from home to play volleyball when she was 16 and that helped show just how mature she is,” Head Coach Karen Weatherington said. Her journey which led to Charlotte has been an eventful one and it all started not too long ago. “I decided to play volleyball when I was 10 years old. I started out as a setter and switched to the libero position when I was 15. Playing in Brazil is not too different than playing here other than the fact that the people here are much taller. I enjoy playing in Brazil and here equally,” Garcia said. Garcia has been playing her current position for only five years. Most people do not start playing a position in a sport so late and end up having success, but she is clearly not like most people in that regard. Her talent and passion for the game got her involved with the Brazilian national team after being named the best Parana’s High School best Libero for U-16 in 2012 and for U-18 in 2014. Garcia’s collegiate volleyball career began with Bethel University in Tennessee during the 201617 season. After putting up team best number’s for digs with 554, she knew she wanted to play in higher competition than the NAIA. “One of my best player’s during my coaching days in the MEAC was from Brazil and hinted me towards Yumi and told me she felt that she was playing at a school [Bethel] that was a little under the level in which she wanted to compete,” Weatherington said. These words from Coach Weatherington explain the early recruiting process of Garcia to Charlotte. Weatherington continued to tell the story of how a recruiting email she received from her featured a video of her playing with men from the Brazilian national team.

“I saw her getting digs on one of the guys who was probably one of their better players and she walked around the court like it was no big deal,” Weatherington said. Garcia’s humble attitude towards the game may lead some to view her as quiet, but all she is doing is letting her game speak for itself. “I feel like the level of play here at Charlotte is so high that I really improved my skills. I didn’t necessarily learn any new skills, but I have just really been improving what I have already been doing,” Garcia said. When she first visited Charlotte, she instantly felt that this was the right place to continue her playing career. In her first year with the 49ers volleyball team, Garcia is showing that her game has adjusted quite nicely to the NCAA level. That one visit was all it took for her to realize that she would fit right in with the program and be able to contribute immediately. “I knew I wanted to play in a Division 1 school but when I got here, I got to meet all of the girls and play with them and meet all the coaches and I was like, this is my place,” Garcia said. Early in the season, each player wrote a personal goal for this year. Garcia set the bar high for herself, to break the 49ers record for digs in a single season. Back when she wrote it, it was just simply a goal written on paper. Now, that goal is within reach and it is very possible that Yumi will accomplish this feat. “When I first decided I wanted to break the record, I thought it would be really cool. Right now I am really excited because I am really close,” Garcia said.

With four games left to play in the regular season, Yumi is just 35 digs off of setting the new program record that has stood for nine seasons. Her playing career so far with the 49ers has been outstanding, but Weatherington is even more impressed with her impact off of the court. “She’s a special special person… she is a very selfless and giving player. She makes everyone laugh and she’s a kid walking into a situation sight unseen when she first came to Charlotte. She’s a unique player who goes to ask for help and will constantly give help. Yumi would rather show with actions than words that she is gonna come through for you and puts a lot of extra effort into everything she does,” Weatherington said. High praise for Garcia’s impact on the team so far this season is well deserved. In a matter of a year, the 49ers volleyball team has gone from having a losing 7-23 season last year to competing for a spot in the Conference USA tournament. Garcia’s effect on the team this season can not only be seen in her performance, but the way she makes her teammates feel around her. The team is always laughing and smiling in her presence which goes to show that her heart is one of the most important features to the team. 49ers Volleyball has their final home game of the season on Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. If it has not happened already on the team’s upcoming three game road trip, expect Garcia to shatter the team’s digs record in the final regular season game against the Florida Atlantic Owls.

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NOV. 7, 2017

By Kathleen Cook Photo by Chris Crews

Karrington King had a storybook career. After coming to Charlotte as a walk-on, he earned a scholarship position after his redshirt year. In the following three season, the linebacker was a common fixture on the field for the 49ers. He racked up over 70 tackles in two of those seasons, becoming the second 49er to do so. King became the first Charlotte player to record over 50 tackles in four straight seasons. Entering the 2017 season, he also filled a leadership position for the team off the field. “I had to step into a leadership position, Coach Lambert and Coach Wally asked me to. Typically I was just a soldier where I just follow directions and do everything I was told to do to my best. They wanted me to speak up and have a voice on the defense as well as on the team. I stepped up to it, I felt comfortable in it,” King said. Entering the 2017 season, King touted 205 career tackles. That number was just a handful shy of the 217 mark set by former-49er Larry Ogunjobi for the most career takedowns in program history. In the first drive of the second game of the season, King eclipsed Ogunjobi, taking the first place spot. He continued to show off on the field and midway through the first half of the Western Kentucky game, the linebacker had over 60 tackles on the season. That all changed,

NOV. 7, 2017

however, midway through the second quarter of that game. After shedding a block, a WKU offensive lineman fell on King’s leg, dislocating it. “I heard a pop and I knew right then and there that something was wrong so I just went down,” King said. “Some people came out there, AJ and the trainers came in. Dr. Fleischli, he’s the one doing my surgery, yanked it a couple of times and he put it back in eventually after some painful yanks. He finally got it back in and once he got it back in they just carted me off.” Without knowing the severity of his injury, King still believed returning to the game was a possiblity. “Initially, I just wanted them to put it back in. That’s all I was saying was ‘put it back in,’” King said. “I was thinking I was going to be able to play once they put it back in. But once he started yanking it I was like ‘no, I’m not going to be able to play anymore.’” It wasn’t until King was carted off the field and placed it the ambulance that he realized he wouldn’t see the field as a player again. “Then, once I got in the ambulance I realized I’m not going to be playing the rest of the season,” King said. “Then it clicked on me, I was like ‘wow.’ Then the doors closed and it was dark in there, I felt all by myself. I was like ‘dang, I hope we win this game at least, or something.’” The days following his injury were

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emotional for King, but they were also a time of reflection. “I’m a man of God. So really that weekend I was all in my feelings, I took the Monday off and I just had some time to think about things and wonder where I was going to next, the next chapter all that stuff they say,” King said. After a few days, King slid into his new role on the team. “Coach Wally always talks about body language and what you show and how it’s more important than what you say mostly. I just try to be here as much as possible, I want to still be a part of this team because I love this team. I’ll probably be here as much as possible and I’ll be on the field as much as I can and I’ll definitely follow my team because I want them to be successful,” King said. In the week following his seasonending injury, the 49ers found their first victory of the season on Homecoming against UAB. King was on the sideline, sporting the 49 jersey – an honor given to one player each week that made an impact leading up to the game during practice. In that victory, the Charlotte defense held UAB to 344 yards of total offense which is the fewest yards they have allowed this year. Though he didn’t have a role in the game, his influence was still felt on the field. “You just never think a guy’s career is going to stop,” head coach Brad

Lambert said. “I think everyone was collectively, defensively like you know what, we have to all pull together and stop these guys. Karrington was there with us and he’s done so much for us and I think the guys really took that to heart and wanted to go out there and make plays and play well for him.” Though he could not be beside his teammates during practice or lifting weights, King’s presence in the field house still served to energize his peers. “I think Karrington was a big motivating factor in how well our defense played and how well we are going to continue to play,” Linebacker Jeff Gemmell said. “So not having him definitely felt different. At the same time, he’s always around, he’s in treatment, he’s always giving encouragement to the guys on defense and I think still having him around really makes a big difference not only on Saturdays but throughout the week.” Though his situation seems bleak, King knows there is more to life than playing football. “I’m perfectly fine with it, I just know I have to keep my spirits up because people see me and probably feel bad for me,” King said. “I want them to know I’m fine, I’m good, I’m very positive about it because I know God has a plan for me so I’m just looking forward to seeing what’s happening next.”

An Ode To

NODA

LIFESTYLE

A love letter to the historic Charlotte district By Angie Baquedano Photo cortesy of James Willamor via Flickr

From art to delicious eateries NoDa the hustling and bustling ever-growing section of the Queen City has everything a heart could desire. Noda, oh Noda how you fill my belly and soul. Discovering NoDa for the first time was a moment straight out of a movie. It was four years ago I was down on my luck absolutely detesting my first year of college wondering if I had made the right decision. It was a rainy day and the streets were quiet, I meandered my way into a little shop, Pura Vida, to escape the rain. Immediately I was greeted by the most sunshiney face I had ever seen and she welcomed me into her gorgeous, colorful store. There were handmade purses, gypsy skirts, postcards, teacups, journals and more. I spent the morning looking at every little object in the shop amazed that such beauty had gone undetected this long. To my surprise there was more to this shop, it extended even further back than I initially thought, something like stepping into the artist’s version of Narnia. There were paintings, instruments, tapestries and a very special wall where visitors could leave pictures, candles, letters, anything they desired. If one wished to do so, they could write in a little journal that was provided, like a little place to leave your mark on the world, a place to announce “Hey! I’m here, and I may be passing through, or I may have been here many times before, but hey, I’m here”. I sat on the floor writing in the little journal for a few minutes, immediately feeling better once I got up and made my way towards the paintings. One particularly caught my eye, an orange man and a blue girl, two separately framed paintings that were meant to be together all along. It was beautiful, the way the colors melted into each other, the haziness and complete clearness of it all.

It may sound silly, but somehow this little shop with wooden doors and many secrets made all the difference. I walked in sad, lonely, and lost but after my discovery of this Costa Rican inspired shop I walked out with one of the best experiences I’ve had to date here in Charlotte. I walked further down the street after my discovery feeling invigorated fearless and… hungry. I came across a restaurant named Crepe Cellar a European Gastropub that ingeniously brought together sweet and savory into one spot. I had never had a Crepe, so I thought to myself, do something that scares you, march in there and eat by yourself. So I did and I ordered a chamomile tea and the “Queen City” which is arguably the best crepe I have ever had. The Queen City consisted of Roasted chicken, perfectly crisped bacon, cheddar, diced tomatoes and a roasted tomato dressing served with a side of fries. The kind of fries that are long and crunchy but soft on the inside, AKA the best kind of fries. Of course, me being me I had to add my own twist to the meal and I asked for a side of pesto for both the crepe and fries. Take my advice and add the pesto you won’t regret it, I never get it without since then. After I ordered my food from the sweet waitress, I spent my lunch gazing at the gorgeous Edison light bulbs that hung from the ceilings, counting every petal on the flower placed at my table, people watching through the clear glass windows and I came to a realization. Moving here was no mistake the Queen City’s doors had always been open, I just needed to walk in. I had finally found my home.

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NOV. 7, 2017

A&E

IT ONLY GETS STRANGER...

By Jeffrey Kopp Photos courtesy of Netflix

Things get strange again with the debut of the sequel season to the hit Netflix original series “Stranger Things.” In the summer of 2016, Matt and Ross Duffer quietly released an eight-episode series that would go on to become one of Netflix’s most successful shows; with a massive fan base and the obsession with the 1980s at an all time high, “Stranger Things” has solidified itself into the cultural lexicon, making a second season all the more anticipated. Was the wait worth it, though? Absolutely. Not only does Season 2 build on what made the series already great, it introduces new and refreshing elements to keep the audience guessing. Dealing with themes of trauma and death, the show becomes edgier and darker, while still maintaining the childish atmosphere that generates feelings of nostalgia. Grab your Ghostbusters costume and your box of Eggos as we venture back into the wonderful and strange town of Hawkins, Indiana. The first season left off on several cliffhangers as the characters recovered from their ordeal with the Demogorgon and the Upside Down; Will (Noah Schnapp) may have been rescued, but Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) sacrificed herself for her friends and seemed to be lost to another dimension forever. Season 2 picks up nearly a year later and while life has returned to normal on the surface, everyone is still struggling to come to terms with what happened. Will keeps flashing to the Upside Down, but it isn’t exactly clear if he is hallucinating or if he is still connected to the terrifying alternate dimension; Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Hopper (David Harbour) have been taking Will to the Department of Energy laboratory from last season to figure out what is wrong with him. A major aspect of this season is the exploration of the effects of the trauma inflicted on Will during his disappearance; when life is literally flipped upside down, how do people, specifically children, get

NOV. 7, 2017

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back on their feet? Season 1 balanced time between the child characters and the adults, but that changes in the sophomore season; this isn’t to say that the adult characters don’t play major roles, rather they aren’t given nearly as much screentime this go-around. Joyce finds herself in a relationship with one of the MVPs of the season, Bob Newby (Sean Astin), and the two really have amazing chemistry; Bob’s try-hard attitude and dad-humor is extremely cheesy in the best way possible. Bob really shines as he does his best to get on the good side of Will and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) all the while providing emotional support to Joyce; since the start of the series, Joyce has been through a lot, so it’s rewarding to see her actually be able to smile a bit and have some happiness this season. Will, Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) all really have their own individual sub-stories and missions; while the group may not get up to as many adventures together as they previously did, they all ultimately come together when duty calls, specifically when it comes to investigating the strange occurrences in their town. Hopper’s role in the final few episodes of last season made me really come to appreciate him as a character, mostly because of his tragic backstory becoming a catalyst for him to step up and help in Will’s rescue. Over the course of these nine episodes, a powerful bond develops between Hopper and Eleven as they struggle to keep her hidden from the government, as well as the other characters. This bond is a definite highlight of the season, specifically because of the fact that Hopper takes on a paternal role, something that Eleven hasn’t really had. Hopper’s reasoning doesn’t feel cliché or forced either; rather than him

trying to replace his own daughter, Hopper genuinely views Eleven as her own person. Their relationship isn’t exactly calm and stable as Hopper does become overprotective, afraid of losing another child; both David Harbour and Millie Bobby Brown really sell this fractured relationship in their glares and bits of anger, but also in their lighthearted moments together. Speaking of Eleven, she is mostly separated from the rest of the main characters for this batch of episodes. It’s no secret that Eleven is one of the most fascinating characters on the show and on television currently, and this season really serves to explore just who she is and where she comes from. Having her away from the rest of the group does make the season feel as though it is missing something as this was a crucial aspect of the first eight episodes, but Eleven really grows as a character during this separation. Another standout character of these nine episodes is none other than Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), who has become one of my favorites because of his brilliant development and all around good heart. Never could I have guessed that the douchey jock we met at the series start would evolve into a caring babysitter that would literally die to keep his “children” safe. The bond that forms between Steve and Dustin is especially memorable to watch

as they exchange advice and work together to save their friends. “Stranger Things 2” really succeeds on every level from its expert storytelling and characters to the mystical supernatural elements and horror themes. The driving force of this series has always been the characters and that is especially true in Season 2, where nearly everyone gets their moment to shine and be developed further. The child actors are some of the best I’ve ever seen, but Noah Schnapp really steals the show, delivering some truly raw and emotional performances as Will finds himself caught between dimensions; I would even go so far as to say that Schnapp should be nominated for an Emmy next year. Brown, Ryder and Harbour also nail their roles and help to showcase the additional layers of their respective characters. This has always been a wickedly entertaining series and this season really just builds on that while making the story darker and more frightening; thankfully, the humor and heart aren’t left behind and instead help to make this one of the most enjoyable shows on television at the moment. With several more seasons of story planned, it’s clear that this phenomenon isn’t going anywhere and will likely continue to dominate pop culture with talk of Eggos, Dungeons and Dragons, Demogorgons and yes, Barb. Simply put, “Stranger Things” is television done right.

ACROSS 1 Capital of Poland 7 Actress Moore 11 Dick and Jane’s dog 15 Tropical lizard 16 Large-scale 17 Vagrant 18 “Evita” Tony-winning actress 20 __-ran 21 Diminutive suffix 22 Fort full of gold 23 Guitarist Clapton 24 Spanish king 25 Coast Guard rank 29 Prefix with sol 30 Flight height: Abbr. 31 Ambient music pioneer Brian 32 Rural road surface 34 Carpal or tarsal lead-in 36 Prilosec target 37 Roberto Clemente, notably 41 “__-daisy!”

42 Approximately 43 Small fishing boat 44 D.C. United’s org. 45 Sweetie pie 46 Urge 48 Ceramics shaper 52 34-Down, in Toledo, Sp. 55 Naturalist John 56 “__ Lang Syne” 57 Truant GI 58 Fatherly nickname 59 Tinker in the workshop 62 Move a bit 63 “__, Brute?” 64 Not inclined (to) 65 Meat safety org. 66 Loch with a mystery 67 Blowtorch user DOWN 1 Windshield cleaner 2 Striped quartz 3 Like old wagon trails 4 Appease, as hunger 5 Smart game-show

vowel purchase for “F_LM CR_T_C” 6 “The Color Purple” author Alice 7 Bus terminus 8 Modeling glue 9 60 secs. 10 Devils’ playing surface, ironically 11 Puppeteer Lewis 12 Patrol vehicle 13 Target of captioning censorship 14 “That’s __ bad” 19 “Do __ others ... “ 23 Young salamander 25 Caresses, as a dog 26 Inaugural recitation 27 Envelope part 28 Used a bike 29 Superficially cultured 32 Embassy workers 33 “What a harebrained idea!” 34 52-Across, in Toledo, OH 35 Self-esteem 36 Retired Yankee slugger, to fans 37 Gas station machine 38 Crude dude 39 Catering coffeepots 40 Big screen star 45 Ship’s pronoun 46 One-named soccer great 47 Change, as map details 49 Sparkly crown 50 Light bulb units 51 Many Rwandans 52 See 59-Down 53 Shake awake 54 Change 57 Brother of Cain 58 Nittany Lions’ sch. 59 It’s mightier than the 52Down, so they say 60 4 x 4, for short 61 Blvd.

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10 NOV. 7, 2017

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Broken Promises Trump’s vow to revive the coal industry has yet to come true

OPINION

By Nikolai Mather Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Last year, as he was vying for the presidency, Donald Trump made a stop in West Virginia for a campaign rally. During his stump speech, he praised the coal miners of Appalachia and vowed to revive the stagnating coal industry— to the point where miners would be “working their asses off.” In a show of solidarity, he slapped on a hard hat and mimed shoveling coal. The crowd went wild. This wasn’t the first or last time he made such promises to coal miners. At a campaign rally in Virginia, Trump lamented the regulations on coal companies, which, as he saw it, limited job opportunities for miners. At a campaign rally in Phoenix, he announced an end to the war on coal. Snappy slogans like “Trump Digs Coal” have shown up on t-shirts, signs, and banners since he joined the race for the presidency in 2015. Mr. Trump has been incredibly outspoken about the importance of coal industry and the lives it affects. That sentiment is sorely needed by miners. The industry has been declining for decades as natural gas and renewable energy grow increasingly favored over coal. Not only that, but as mountaintop removal and workplace mechanization have become more common, scores of workers are being laid off, often with minimal employee benefits and residual health issues. Programs like the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Economic Development Administration have already been instrumental in assisting current and retired coal miners, but their efforts have not been enough. After all this talk about coal, there was hope: for the miners, for their kids, and maybe for the future. So it is pretty disconcerting to see Donald Trump’s budget cut funding for the ARC and eliminate the EDA altogether. A couple months

ago, he was cheering on Appalachia and promising to bring back jobs; now, folks all over the region face job insecurity and unemployment due to his actions. Why isn’t he looking out for them?

Often, politicians will conflate the coal mining industry with the actual coal miners, believing that if you help one, you help the other. Mr. Trump has made quite the effort to buddy up with industry magnates.Take his cabinet and core influencers, for example: his secretary of commerce is Wilbur Ross, the chairman of International Coal Group and Bob Murray of Murray Energy was a close confidante of Trump’s on the campaign trail and remains a very good friend to this day. But these partnerships don’t mean that he is helping the actual miners. International Coal Group is the same corporation that allowed for the

deaths of twelve workers in the Sago Mine disaster and Murray’s exploitative mining practices led to the implosion of the Crandall Canyon Mine, which killed six miners and three rescue workers. Nevertheless, Ross remains Secretary of Commerce. And Murray was present at the signing of an executive order rolling back environmental restrictions on carbon emissions. Trump sure hears a lot from these folks, who jeopardize the safety of their workers just to save a buck, but how much is he hearing from the actual miners? How much does he truly understand this fraught situation? Not enough, it seems. Instead of preparing workers for the inevitable collapse of coal and giving them the resources they need to train for new careers in a new market, Trump seems to be pouring money into a dying industry. And no matter how much he gives and how much he repeals, it isn’t working. Scott Pruitt, head of the EPA, claimed in June “since the fourth quarter of last year until most recently, [the Trump administration has] added almost 50,000 jobs in the coal sector.” According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that statement is just not true: closer to 1,300 jobs were created and an untold number were laid off. What Mr. Trump needs to realize is the coal industry is phasing out. There’s nothing he can really do about its death. What he can do is listen to those most affected by it: coal miners and their families. Appalachia backed him in the 2016 race hoping he would bring economic development to the region, not fewer restrictions and riskier careers. If he’s truly a populist president, it’s high time he listen to the people, and not just industry executives.

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NOV. 7, 2017

By Brianna Sumpter

“My favorite place to go on campus when I have free time is the Student Union, because there are always people in there to talk to and there’s always something to do. I occasionally go to Crown and eat and I also love going to Barnes & Noble.” - Mikayla Tilley

12 NOV. 7, 2017

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