2013 Student Survival Guide by Niner Times

Welcome to UNC Charlotte

Student Organizations

On-campus gyms, fitness centers and pool

Move-in day

Roommates & campus safety

Student Health Center

The Counseling Center

Mailing and shipping services

Niner Nation Gold

The Student Union

Atkins Library

Brad Lambert

Fall Tailgating information

Greek Life

Dining options

On-campus parking

Campus tour

Textbooks

Meal plans

Bonnie Cone

A 49er welcome

ALL ABOARD TO SUCCESS! AS YOU EMBARK ON YOUR COLLEGE YEARS, PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME Eden Creamer

BE fearless

editor-in-chief

Ahoy and welcome aboard new 49ers! You are about to embark on an exciting college experience. At times the metaphorical waves will be rocky and your boat might try to capsize, but the weather will clear and you will safely complete your journey. Here are a few tips that should make that journey a little bit smoother.

Find your niche There is something for everyone here at UNC Charlotte, from Intramural sports to Greek organizations, and the hundreds of opportunities between them. Whether you live on or off campus, you’ll find yourself wondering what to do with your free time. Find something you are passionate about and get involved in it. Immerse yourself in the activities and the people that come along with it. When I joined Student Niner Media my freshman year, I knew I had found my niche. My coworkers at the Niner Times have become my best friends and there is nothing else I’d rather do than produce a copy of the publication. With over 370 student organizations on campus, you are bound to find something to spend your time doing. Get out and try something new or get involved with something you area already passionate about. What have you got to lose?

Let UNC CHarlotte become your home Whether you live on or off

Every day at UNC Charlotte is a new and wonderful experience for each member of Niner Nation. Photos by Chris Crews and Niner Times file photos

campus, you’re bound to be spending a lot of time at the university. That being said, get to know it. Find your favorite spot to hang out between classes. Figure out where you want to nestle down with your notes and textbooks when it’s crunch time for a class. Pick your favorite spot for a Tuesday lunch. Explore the buildings, gardens and greenway that make up

the university. Allow the campus to become your personal playground. UNC Charlotte has always had a problem of those who live off campus never spending any time on campus. It’s up to you, as the newest generation of Niners, to fix this. UNC Charlotte is a beautiful and exciting place to work, study, hang out and eat. Your time at the university

will be exponentially more enjoyable if you are having fun and really feel comfortable in the place that you are spending time. For many, the atmosphere of a university can be a make it or break it factor in whether or not they attend that school. UNC Charlotte is a breath-taking university, and not taking advantage of this beautiful campus would be foolish when it is just waiting at your disposal.

I’m not going to lie, college is hard. You’ll make tough choices along the way. You’ll make friends and unfortunately you may lose them. You’ll have to give presentations, write papers and do things you had hoped you’d never have to do. No matter what you have to face, hold your head up high. Despite any hardships that may come to you, a positive outlook and an open mind will get you through it. College is a growing experience and you don’t grow from experiences that all go your way. When they say college is the best four years of your life, whoever ‘they’ is, they’re factoring in the trials and tribulations that you face head on and leap over. You can and you will get through it. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t. This fearlessness includes not being afraid to ask for help when you need it. Don’t let pride stand in the way. Accept help that is offered to you. While you need to face adversities, nobody said you had to do it alone. UNC Charlotte provides help to students through faculty and staff in the academic departments, the Counseling Center and the Health Center, among others. These people are committed to helping when the going gets tough.

HAVE FUN College is about working hard but also having fun. You’re about to make lifelong friendships and lasting memories. You’ll have experiences and learn lessons that will always benefit you. Don’t let your college years go to waste. Good luck, fellow 49ers! Hoist your anchor and go forward!

Find the best crew

Student organizations are the prime way to find other students with similar passions and goals Patrick Bogans A&E editor

It’s nice to know you’re not alone, especially when it comes to something that you are passionate about. New or returning students can find others who have interests in common here at the university through student organizations. According to the Student Organizations website, UNC Charlotte has over 370 registered student organizations and all of them are waiting for new freshman members. The organizations cover a wide variety of interests, passions and outlets. Students may be interested in joining any of the nearly 40 Greek organizations or any of the nearly 90 academic based organizations. There are plenty of organizations focused for Graduate students, sports lovers or religious students. The list goes on and on; it’s nearly impossible not to find a or-

ganization that a student can thrive in. Joining a student organization is the primary way for any incoming student to discover their own passions, interests and goals. And it’s a fun way to become acquainted with the university by throwing yourself into something new and exciting. It may appear to be a challenge to find the perfect one right off the bat, especially since there are nearly 400 of them at the university. But there are plenty of ways to find out about student organizations. On Aug. 21, 2013, the Fall Student Organizations Showcase will have a good selection of the student organizations on display to advertise and recruit new members. The showcase will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the plaza between the College of Health and Human Services and College of Education buildings. A full list of all the registered student organizations is available online as well, at http://studentorgs-legacy.uncc.edu/.

Concerts & Causes at the spring Showcase in January. Photos by Stephanie Suggs

STAY FIT WITH THE ON-CAMPUS GYMS, FITNESS CENTER AND POOL Aaron Tran Staff Writer

Both the Belk Gymnasium and the James H. Barnhardt Student Activity Center (SAC) offer a variety opportunities for students looking to partake in good, old-fashioned exercise. Unless reserved for events or practices, most of the amenities are available for student-use free of charge. Any change in regular schedule of both facilities are posted in advance and are available online.

Belk Gymnasium

Student activitY center

M - TH 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.

M W F 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.

FRI SAT

7 a.m. - 8 p.m. 2 - 8 p.m.

T, TH 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. SAT 12 - 11 p.m.

SUN

4 - 10 p.m.

SUN

The Belk Gym is home to the swimming pool. It seems that not many students know UNC Charlotte has a pool, but it is there and open for use. Located on the basement level of the building, the pool is kept between 83 and 86 degrees, even in the winter. With a few exceptions, the pool is rarely busy, but is the perfect place to hangout with a few friends to swim a few laps or just relax in the water. The pool is open for recreational use Monday and Wednesday from 8 to 9:15 a.m.; Monday through Friday from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.; Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. Other features of the Belk Gym include racquetball rooms, available for reservation or walk in, and another recreational court where many indoor intramural sports are played. On the floor of the recreational court, group fitness classes are taught. These courses are free to students and are taught by certified group fitness instructors specific to the course. Students do not need to register in advance for these courses, and all ages and genders are welcome at every course so long as the individual has a valid 49er ID card. At the locker room, towels and locks are available for rental.

12 - 11 p.m.

The SAC is the newest and largest of the two, offering a plethora of things to do including a state-of-theart fitness center, a rock-climbing wall, an indoor track and recreational courts. The fitness center is a popular place on campus, offering a variety of equipment for use including weight machines, treadmills, ellipticals and rowing machines. Across from the fitness center are men’s and women’s locker rooms. Students can rent towels for showers, also free of charge, but should bring their own soap and locker lock. The fitness center is usually open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., for both those who are early-risers and those who prefer to workout in the evenings. Group fitness classes are also offered in the SAC’s aerobics studios and are also free to students. These are led by certified group fitness instructors. Prior registration is unnecessary for these classes. Students just need to show up before the classes start with their 49er ID card. Group fitness schedules for both gymnasium areas are posted by the Department of Recreational Services online. Personal trainers are also available for hire at discounted rates through the department simply for being a student. Information regarding this service is also available online.

Students working out at the fitness center in the SAC. Photo by Chris Crews

MOVE-IN DAY REQUIRES FAMILIES TO PLAN AHEAD TO PREVENT FEELING OVERWHELMED Eden Creamer editor-in-chief

At the start of the academic year, students who will be living on campus spend a weekend arriving to campus, loading all of their belongings into their dorm room and moving onto campus. Move-in day sounds daunting. The university and the Department of Housing and Residence Life spends countless hours preparing and planning for each move in day. On the day of move in, the department organizes employees and volunteers to have them direct traffic, answer questions and provide help to those who need it. Prior to arriving to campus, there is plenty you and your family can do to prepare for your exciting move to campus. First, begin packing well in advance. The earlier you begin organizing all of your clothes, books, music and other belongings, the better off you will be. Move-in day will be hectic enough without you having to wonder if you forgot any important items at your familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. The night before move-in, visit the Housing and Residence Life website to view floor plans for your building. By viewing these floor plans, you will be able to plan in advance the best way to park and enter your future residence when moving in their belongings. UNC Charlotte students moving into the high rise buildings. Photos by Aaron Cress

Surviving your shipmates TEN STEPS TO HELP YOU MAINTAIN A PLEASANT LIVING SPACE WITH YOUR ROOMMATES Stephany McMillan INTERN

When living with roommates, whether those that you select yourself or those assigned by the university, there are certain things that can make maintaining the peace and having fun a little easier. Here are 10 roomie rules that will help make sharing space with someone a little bit easier.

Maintain an open mind

Students from various backgrounds and different religions, sexual orientations and political affiliations make up the university. Experience something new and don’t make assumptions about something or someone.

Hold a roommate meeting

Allow all roomies to state their pet peeves and personal needs, like quiet time after 10 p.m. or if he or she is a morning person. This will also provide a chance to fill out the roommate contract agreement provided by Housing and Residence Life at the start of the semester.

Directly state problems

Don’t be passive or a pushover. If there is something bothersome then politely discuss the issue with whom it concerns. Going directly to the roomie will cut out the drama and misunderstandings.

Get out there

Even though you have your roommates, still try to experience college life. Explore new organizations and create new friendships.

Announce your guests

Don’t frighten roomies with strangers. Providing knowledge of guests in advance establishes trust and care among roommates.

Give respect

Don’t judge. Respect a roomies’ culture. Trying to learn

Protecting campus from pirates and plunder Campus police work to protect students, faculty and staff Sean Grier INTERN

To assist students on their collegiate journey in the safest way possible, the Police and Public Safety Department of the Division of Business Affairs serves the campus and the surrounding area to protect students, faculty and staff. With jurisdictions including off-campus housing, N. Tryon St. and some of the Concord area, they have reduced crime by over 36 percent over the past few years. Staffed with over 50 sworn police officers, including three full-time detectives, the university is dedicated to campus safety. With patrols all day, everyday on the campus and surrounding areas, a student need not feel unsafe. During any shift there are six or seven police cars patrolling the streets of campus and foot patrols roaming everywhere in between. The university installed over 300 Blue Light Emergency Phones for students to use to contact campus police in the event of an emergency. These al-

low the police to know the individual’s exact location and are hands-free for the convenience of its user. The university has also invested in two Sky Towers. These sit in the parking lots and offer police officers an eye in the sky on the lots at all times. There is also a campus-wide siren system that is periodically tested throughout the school year. The Police and Public Safety Department also sends out emergency email alerts that designate how to deal with a situation, for example, a suspicious person on campus/vehicle, or caution when inclement weather approaches. UNC Charlotte also gained a Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT) and Mobile Command Center in 2011 that will effectively provide the type of safety and support required by a situation such as a lock down. With over 26,000 people on campus at any given time, there are opportunities for anything to happen. It is best to learn the surroundings and remember emergency contact information.

more about it can even serve as a bonding moment. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Do your part

Whatever was agreed during the roommate meeting, hold up to it and play your role in the room. Keeping the living space clean can play a huge part in making sure everyone gets along. No one likes someone who doesn’t keep his or her word.

Be courteous

Sharing is caring; it is okay to allow roomies to use your stuff. As long as each roomie has a mutual understanding to respect everyone’s food and other

belongings. Remember to clean up after yourself and don’t leave it for others.

Keep calm and carry on

Stay cool if something is not going your way. Take time to truly get to know your roomies. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Instead get the roomie’s perspective before jumping to conclusions. Later, move on and don’t let problems linger.

Enjoy college

Take up a new hobby or focus more on your grades and start out with that GPA high. No matter what, stay positive and enjoy college!

Visiting the lifeguard’s station The Student Health Center offer many services to meet the health needs of students throughout the year Eden Creamer Editor-in-Chief

The Student Health Center is located at the corner of Cameron Boulevard and Mary Alexander Road, and is designated as number 65 on the campus map. Photo by Chris Crews

The UNC Charlotte Student Health Center, built in 2007, is a place for students to receive medical treatment, information on health and wellness and more. The Medical Clinic offers primary health care, women’s health services, HIV testing, psychiatric care, x-ray services, allergy shots, physical therapy and other services. There is no charge for students to see a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, nurse, physical therapist or health education for consultations. Some services provided by these individuals, including laboratory tests, certain procedures and specialty services will have fees associated. These include gynecological visits, physical therapy and al-

cohol or drug sanctions, among others. Appointments are required for all non-emergency needs and can be made by calling ahead or by visiting the health center’s website. On the health center’s website, students can easily make appointments, refill prescriptions, complete pre-visit forms and view immunization records. This is all available through the “online student health” link on the health center’s website. The pharmacy through the Student Health Center is able to fill prescriptions and provide over-the-counter medications. A full list of these is available on the health center’s website. Prescriptions from outside pharmacies may be transferred to the Student Health Center. The Student Health Center is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m.to 5 p.m.

THE COUNSELING CENTER OFFERS FREE ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS TO STUDENTS Curtis Kularski Guest Writer

The University Counseling Center provides free mental health services for students. The services offered are designed to assist students in coping with personal, relationship and developmental issues or academic concerns. Counseling is available on a one-on-one basis or in a group setting. Every student at UNC Charlotte is allowed a maximum of 12 free individual sessions each academic year. Individual counseling can focus on coping with crisis, resolving conflicts, managing depression, addressing identity issues or any number of concerns that may arise. Students may also seek couple’s counseling if both partners are enrolled at UNC Charlotte. If a student requires treatment by a psychiatrist, the staff of the counseling center can provide a referral to the Student Health Center. Many group counseling sessions are offered every semester on a variety of topics, or as a general group therapy. Commonly offered topic groups include: meditation and relaxation, mood management, anxiety management and LGBTQ identity. Groups typically meet each week of the semester. Some groups may be attended without prior registration, while others that involve more sensitive topics

The Counseling Center is located between the J. Murrey Atkins Library and Kennedy building and is designated as number 4b on the campus map. Photo by Chris Crews

require a pre-group interview, usually lasting about 30 minutes. Appointments can be made by calling the Counseling Center at 704‑687‑0311 or by dropping by the cen-

ter in Atkins 158 during regular business hours. For more information, visit the center’s website at counselingcenter.uncc.edu.

Shipping and receiving parcels Ship a parcel Learn what to expect when it comes to sending and receiving letters and packages on campus

Eden Creamer editor-in-chief

UNC Charlotte students, faculty and staff are able to utilize the Mail and Package Services provided by Auxiliary Services. The Mail and Package Services is a fully operational Postal Contract Station through the United States Postal Service. Services offered by the Mail and Package Services include express and priority domestic and international mail, certified mail, post cards, bulk mail and package services and more. Near the Mail and Package Services office in the lower level of the on-campus Prospector building, students will also be able to purchase envelopes, boxes and stamps to aid in their mailing and shipping needs. Employees at the office are also trained to walk students through shipping or mailing problems, including sending a bulk package or mailing tax information. Employees are willing and

able to answer studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; questions. Students living on campus will be able to receive letters and small packages to their buildings through the Mail and Package Services provided by Auxiliary Services. Larger packages will need to be picked up at the Mail and Package Services offices. When a package has arrived that a student will need to go pick up, they will receive an email alert to their university email account. A few days after the first email alert, if the student still has not received their package, another email alert will be sent out. After 10 days if the student still has not picked up the package, it will be removed from the offices. The Mail and Package Services Office is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students can also ship letters and packages at the Union Station, located on the first floor of the Student Union.

The Union Station has envelopes, stamps and boxes available for sale, which students can use to package whatever they are hoping to send. They also offer United States Postal Service and FedEx shipping options. Also offered at the Union Station is notarization services and U.S. Passport services. Students are not able to receive letters or packages at the Union Station. Union Station is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and is located on the first floor of the Student Union. When a parent or friend wants to send mail to a student living on campus, it is important that the sender properly label the letter or package. If mail is not properly labelled, it may never arrive to the university or it may be delivered to the wrong student. To mail to a student who lives on campus, label the envelope or package with their name, room number and residence hall and UNC Charlotteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s street address.

Employees at the Mail and Package Services Office are able to help students if they run into mailing problems. Photo by Patrick Bogans

Experience the treasure of athletics See how joining the most prominent student organization, Niner Nation Gold, can benefit you Libby Weihsmann sports editor

You could not have joined the 49er family at a better time. With Charlotte athletics moving to Conference USA and the 49ers debuting their first ever football team, the 2013-14 year will be nothing short of epic. You are about to be a part of Charlotte history. You are about to become a part of Niner Nation. Are you ready? Niner Nation is one of the most powerful and influential collegiate groups in college sports. School spirit is crucial to keeping any athletic program alive, and Niner Nation Gold strives to do just that. Niner Nation Gold is a student organization at UNC Charlotte that focuses on supporting and promoting all of the Charlotte 49er athletic programs. With top notch athletic venues such as Halton Arena, Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium and the new McColl-Richardson Field, just to name a few, what 49er fan wouldn’t want to get a seat to watch their favorite team in green and white? The future of Charlotte athletics is bright. Why not make sure you can be a part of the journey? Joining Niner Nation Gold not only ensures that you will have the first shot at getting tickets to games such as the football kickoff against the Campbell Camels on Aug. 31, but also every other athletic event held at home. This isn’t high school athletics. This is the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), so you might want to consider acting fast. One of the goals of Niner Nation Gold is to spread school spirit and pride throughout the city of Charlotte and the UNC Charlotte campus. Niner Nation Gold prides themselves on giving back to the 49er club after graduation and is proud to be one of the largest student organizations on campus.

why join? The sooner students are able to earn loyalty points, the sooner students will be able to benefit from being a part of Niner Nation Gold. Attending sporting events at any college is an experience like no other. Attending a sporting event at UNC Charlotte is an experience that goes above and beyond any other. Whether you attend a sporting event to hang out with your friends or to cheer on your friend from class, being a part of

Niner Nation allows you to join one of the biggest collegiate groups. Niner Nation Gold allows you to take it one step farther. We all will find ourselves getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of being a college student, but being a part of Niner Nation Gold ensures that your college years are absolutely unforgettable. Being a part of Niner Nation Gold is an experience like no other. Alex Stefanescu, a UNC Charlotte graduate, joined Niner Nation Gold during his freshman year. “I joined Niner Nation Gold as a freshman because I wanted to be a part of a group that loved UNC Charlotte and Charlotte 49ers athletics as much as I did,” said Stefanescu. Ryan Benson joined Niner Nation Gold to enhance his memories of being a 49er. “I got involved with Niner Nation Gold because I had a passion for sports even before I got to Charlotte. Niner Nation Gold has given me awesome opportunities within the athletic department, and I met most of my friends through Niner Nation Gold,” said Benson. To get the most out of your college fan experience, sign up for Niner Nation Gold and take part in one of the greatest student organizations in history. You might not remember some of the vocabulary from Spanish 1201 when you graduate from UNC Charlotte, but you will remember the time you made it on ESPN with all of your friends cheering on your fellow 49ers at a conference tournament.

how to join Signing up for Niner Nation Gold could not be easier. With a credit card to pay the annual fee of $20, students can go to www.ticketreturn.com/49ers and fill out an application. Your annual fee of $20 gets you a Niner Nation Gold T-shirt, exclusive invitations to special events and road trips, opportunities to meet with coaches and athletes of all the 49er athletic teams, premium seating at home basketball games and eight loyalty points. To pick up more loyalty points, students can attend various sporting events. Loyalty points earn students better seating at home games. Niner Nation Gold is a great investment in the long run because of its many perks and opportunities.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT NORM THE NINER Born: April 9, 1949

Height: 6 feet 4.9 inches

Residence: Mineshaft

Weight: 249 pounds

under Halton Arena

(All muscle)

Norm frequents most Charlotte 49ers athletic events, ready to support the Niners. Photo by Chris Crews

THE STUDENT UNION OFFERS DINING, SHOPS AND LOUNGING AREAS Eden Creamer EDITOR-in-chief

Completed in 2009, the Student Union is a bustling hub of life and activity for UNC Charlotte. Here thousands of students find themselves eating, working, socializing, studying and enjoying life as a 49er.

Lower Levels The lower level of the union houses the Student Niner Media offices and plenty of campus mailboxes. Student Niner Media consists of Sanskrit, Niner Media Marketing, Radio Free Charlotte, the Niner Times and NinerOnline. These departments employ countless students who work together to produce various types of media and learn skills to help them after graduation.

First floor The first floor is home to several places for students to occupy their time during the day. The main area of the floor, known as the Rotunda, holds the staircase and elevators that lead to the rest of the building. This area is decked out with plenty of seating for students who want to take a break midday or to sit down and watch any of the shows, speeches or programs that frequently occur here. The area is also equipped with ATMs for quick cash withdrawals. Right off the Rotunda is the campus Barnes & Noble location. This two-floored location is perfectly located for purchasing textbooks, leisure reading and 49er goods and apparel. Outtakes, the campus convenience store, and Starbucks Coffee are also available on the first floor of the building right off of the Rotunda. Next to Barnes & Noble, a small hallway cuts across to give access to the Union Parking Deck.

Along this hallway are numerous little shops. NinerTech, The Campus Salon, the ID Card Office, campus Credit Union and the Union Station are all located here. NinerTech, the campus computer store, is a great place to go for technical issues. Students also receive a discount at this location. The Campus Salon is a student-operated beauty salon that offers haircuts, coloring, nail packages and more. The ID Card office is available here for students who have trouble with their 49er ID cards. The office is able to replace lost, stolen or broken cards. Students are also able to add money to their 49er account here. The Union Station is a copying and printing location that can produce posters or large quantities of papers. Students can come here to mail letters and packages or to apply for a U.S. Passport. On either side of Outtakes are the Student Union Movie Theater and Norm’s. Both of these locations are great places for students to socialize. At the movie theater, two to three recently out-of-theater movies are show nightly Thursday through Sunday. These movie showings are free to students with valid 49er ID cards and $2 for non-students. Norm’s is equipped with numerous large screen televisions, plenty of seating options, pool tables and a stage. This area is a great place to hang out any time of the day and well into the evening, often being the setting for events. Beside the movie theater is the campus art gallery and piano lounge. There is open seating here perfect for relaxing during the day. The grand piano in the center of the lounge is open for student use, and is often in use by talented Niners. The art featured in the gallery cycles throughout the year. These exhibitions are normally student generated, usually consisting of student work. At the Union Square Food

The Student Union has everything a 49er would need. Photo by Patrick Bogans

Court, which takes up the other half of the first floor, there are plenty of options for what to eat during the day. Wendy’s, with the full menu that you would see at any other location of the chain; Mamma Leone’s, an Italian eatery serving pizza and pasta; and Einstein Bros. Bagels, perfect for a delicious bagel, make up this small corner of the first floor.

Mezzanine This is a half floor located between the first and second floors. Here students will find plenty of seating available throughout the day, as well as an entrance to the loft that overlooks Norm’s. This floor is also home to a few computers that students can use to access their 49er Express or their campus email.

second floor On the second floor, students will find places to eat and

may also find an extracurricular activity that interests them. Crown Commons and Bistro 49 are the two dining facilities available on this floor. Crown Commons is a campus dining hall that is frequented by students with meal plans. The large cafeteria offers options that range from pizza to a international bar that rotates its food selection daily. Bistro 49 is a sit-down campus restaurant that is perfect for those interested in a classy lunch meeting or date experience. The Student Government and Organizations Complex is also located on the second floor. This area houses the offices for the Student Government Association and is also equipped with many meeting rooms and office spaces that are open to student use. The Campus Activities Board, Niners on the Weekend, Multicultural Resource Center, Religious and Spiritual Life

and the Center for Leadership Development all have offices either in this area or in the area surrounding the organizations complex. The Student Union administration offices, as well as the Reservations Office, are also all located on this floor and hold regular business hours.

third floor The third floor of the union is generally known among students as a quiet place to relax and study. The main room of the floor is a large multipurpose room, which is frequently used for guest speakers and sometimes is broken into many smaller rooms for smaller group events and activities. The floor also has a new outdoor terrace, currently not open to the public during the day. This area can be booked for campus events.

Welcome to Atkins Library 29

research

Michelle Liringis staff writer

Whether it is finals, midterms, a research paper or studying, the J. Murrey Atkins Library becomes a second home to many Niners during their college careers. However, the library can be more than a quiet place to do work if students are informed about all of the resources it has to offer.

computers The library has over 200 computers for student use. Computers are located on the first, second and third floors. Students may view how many computers are available on the main page of the library’s website. There are also laptops available for student check out at the circulation desk. Laptops may be checked out for a period of 24 hours with no renewals and may not be checked out an hour before the library closes. When a laptop is returned to the circulation desk, the student must wait four hours before they may check out another laptop. If any part of the laptop is lost or stolen, the student whose 49er card is associated with the laptop is responsible for paying for the cost of replacement of missing or damaged parts. Computers can also be used for the online book reserve. To reserve, click “reserve this item.” The website will then prompt students to login with their Ninernet credentials. The books will be reserved for a week, and the students will receive an email when they are ready to be picked up. While there is no limit to how many books may be checked out under the student’s name, they may only reserve five books per day.

Photo by Chris Crews

study spaces The library is a favorite study spot among students. There are numerous places around the library to buckle down and get some work done or work with friends or classmates. The ground floor of the library reopened last academic year after a remodeling in the spring of 2012. It features comfortable furniture, tables, new technologies and a few rooms for group study. Some tables feature screens that students may hook their

laptops up to in order to display content. The screens have a touchpad that allows for navigation. The library also has group study rooms available for reservation on the first and second floors. All rooms may be reserved by students under the “services” tab on the library home page and selecting “reserve study room.” Students may then view what is available right then or select the day and time which they wish to use one.

The university gives students and faculty members access to data bases they would otherwise have to pay for. These databases can be accessed through the library’s website under the “research” or “find” tabs. From there, there are links to different subjects and topics. Students are able to find full articles on a variety of topics as long as they are logged in through the library’s website. There are also research librarians and subject librarians available for help with research. The name and contact information of subject librarians is available under the “research” tab on the library’s home page. These librarians can help direct students to specific resources in the library, such as newspapers, reference texts, books or online materials.

special collections The 10th floor of the library houses the university’s special collections and archives. It is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There students can find historical artifacts, articles and texts. Most of the information is about Charlotte and the university’s history, but there are a variety of subjects to be found here. There is also a special collections librarian available to help students locate what they need. Items found in special collections may not be checked out.

Quiet Zones

library cafe

In order to accommodate for the varying studying needs of students, the library has designated quiet zones for students who need a space with little to no distractions. There are quiet zone rooms on the ground floor in the compact shelving area, the first floor in the Dale F. Halton Reading Room, part of the third floor and all of floors five, six, seven and eight. The quiet zone requires no cell phones and no talking.

Peets Library Café is on the ground floor of the library. It serves coffee and tea, smoothies, sandwiches, pastries and snacks. It is located for students to fuel up while not interrupting their studying. The café also has couches, chairs, tables and a “laptop bar” where students can sit with their laptops. There are a few computers in the café for student use. The café provides an environment for students to meet with friends or get some studying done.

Illustration by Lindsey Hunt

A seaworthy

opponent MEET BRAD LAMBERT, THE FIRST HEAD FOOTBALL COACH OF THE CHARLOTTE 49ERS.

Photo by Chris Crews

Tadd Haislop Staff Writer

An office in the northern corner of the Judy Rose Football Center overlooks a brand new football stadium with freshly placed artificial turf that has never seen game action. The blinds in the office window are open, allowing the entrance of a bright glare from the sun beaming off metal bench seats that have never been sat in. The walls of the office are empty and a faint smell of fresh white paint fills the air. A 48-year-old football man gazes out of the window. He is the first head football coach in UNC Charlotte history. His name is Brad Lambert. A football man is a fellow who loves the sport and has throughout his life. He has always watched football, played football and studied football. He is committed to the game as if the two were in a romantic relationship. Brad Lambert is, and always has been, a football man.

It all started in 1983 on the campus of Kansas State University; home of the Wildcats. A former standout high school player and freshman defensive back on the football team, Lambert was not far from his home in Hoxie, Kan. Like any football man would, he loved to play the game. His skill and passion became apparent after his freshman season when he earned second-team all-Big Eight honors. “My whole career I had always thought about playing,” Lambert said. “I never really thought about coaching. I was always on the playing side, I mean everything was focused on playing football.” Lambert performed well for the Wildcats in the next three seasons, but was even better off the field. The defensive back was an all-Big Eight academic choice his sophomore year, junior year and senior year. He lettered in each of his four years on campus until his graduation in 1987. Despite success both on and off the field, it became apparent that Lambert would not become a professional football player. But

a true football man would never leave his love. He would find a way to stay connected to the sport and excel in it. That is exactly what Brad Lambert did. “Once my career was over at Kansas State I really didn’t want to leave the game. I really loved football and wanted to be around the guys. That’s when it kind of turned to the coaching side.” Thanks to the advice of a position coach that had played at the University of Oklahoma, the football man turned his attention and graduate school plans to Norman, Okla.; home of the Sooners. Unsure if he had made the right decision, Lambert said, “Let’s go to Oklahoma and see if this is what I really want to do. Sure enough, I got into it, really fell into it. That’s how it all got started.” Jim Donnan served as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator when the 22-year-old Lambert arrived on campus. The well-known and respected coach took a liking to Lambert, who had wedged his way into the football program as a

graduate assistant. Soon after Lambert’s arrival in Norman, Donnan accepted the head coaching position at Marshall University in Huntington, W.V. Wanting a true football man by his side, Donnan brought Lambert with him and gave the graduate assistant his first official assistant coaching job. After six successful seasons in Huntington, including a NCAA Division-1 Football Championship in 1992, Donnan was offered the head coaching position at the University of Georgia. Like he did before, Donnan made sure Lambert was right by his side in the move. The coaching duo was successful in the Southeastern conference as well, participating in bowl games in four of their five seasons with the Bulldogs. However, despite a 40-19 record in that time, Donnan was fired as head coach. Lambert then turned to Head Coach Jim Grobe at Wake Forest University. “I had heard a lot of good things about the coach. Didn’t really know him, but I had a

really close friend on his staff that helped me.” Lambert accepted a position as the linebackers coach for the Demon Deacons after the 2000 season. He was then promoted to defensive coordinator in 2007. While at Wake Forest, Lambert heard rumors of a start-up football program in nearby Charlotte, N.C. “I knew they were going to start football and had kind of seen the situation from 90 miles away in Winston. Because of the location of the school I really wanted to investigate. I really went into it wanting to see what the plan was and is. Do we really want football at UNC Charlotte or just say we want football? Sure enough, the plan was in place, just a fabulous plan that the staff had laid out. I got really excited about the opportunity.” After becoming very interested in the job, Lambert submitted an application to be reviewed. “Darin called, Judy called and one thing lead to another. We had a meeting and then I met with the chancellor. When they offered me the job we decided to go ahead and take it.” Judy Rose, the director of athletics at UNC Charlotte, immediately noticed that Brad Lambert was, in fact, a football man. “I read his letter of application and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, who is this guy?,” Rose said of the Wake Forest defensive coordinator. “It was not your cookie cutter letter. No, it talked about growing up on a farm in Kansas, work ethic and what he would do as coach. So I started making phone calls. We had our list of what we were looking for and ‘wow factor’ was on there, a wow factor in what he’s accomplished.” Less than three weeks later, Rose introduced Lambert as the first ever head football coach at UNC Charlotte.The football man could not possibly be more excited about his opportunity with the 49ers. Not only is the gig his first as a head coach, but he is a head coaching pioneer at Charlotte. “As you move up as a position coach you have your 12 guys that you deal with,” Lambert explained.

Illustration by Lindsey Hunt

a start-up. You get to be involved in the construction of a stadium and the complete hiring of all your staff. I’ve really enjoyed it so far.” Lambert realizes that he has complete control over the Charlotte 49ers football program. He has been able to pick his players and establish traditions, such as how the team practices and how they run on the field. However, he also recognizes the downsides of having to build a program from the ground up. “We have a lot of freshmen. They make a lot of freshman mistakes on and off the field. Just being a freshman in college is a new experience for everybody. We had 60-some freshmen that came to us last August and, in a normal situation, you would only have about 20.” Lambert has been equipped with

“

SURE ENOUGH, THE PLAN WAS IN PLACE, JUST A FABULOUS PLAN THAT THE STAFF HAD LAID OUT. I GOT REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

“Then, when you become defensive coordinator, you deal with and influence about half of the team. Now, as the head coach, you have a chance to influence all the guys on the team, set the pace on the way we’re going to practice and the way it’s going to be in the office. That’s been a lot of fun, but this is a unique situation as

”

beautiful facilities. UNC Charlotte and the Athletics Department have given him all the tools he could possibly need to run a football program. Despite all of the exciting aspects of controlling a new program, he is mostly excited about the students. He wants and needs the student body.

“One of the reasons I got involved is Saturdays on a college campus, that’s a fun time for the student. We want to create an environment where [students] want to come watch us play. I’m excited to see them.” The rookie head coach has worked

hard to spread the word about Charlotte’s new football team. As far as football programs are concerned, he has seen the best of the best and wants to get Charlotte to that point. Over the last two years Lambert has attended over 200 events in order to promote football at UNC Charlotte. He often shows off pictures of and encourages alumni to return to the beautiful campus he now calls home. He wants to “field a team that plays well and the right way so that when people leave the stadium, they’re like, I want to go watch that crew play again. They play hard.” Lambert will make his head coaching debut when the Charlotte 49ers take on the Campbell Camels on Aug. 31. After a lifetime of loving the sport of football, he will finally take the reigns and lead his team with complete control. He is no longer a player or a graduate assistant. He is not an assistant coach or a defensive coordinator. He is a head coach. With only a few months remaining before the showdown against Campbell, Lambert can stare out of the window in his office through the open blinds and picture what the scene will look like. He can picture the team’s entrance and other traditions he has been able to establish. He can picture thousands of fans wearing green in place of the bright glare from the empty bench seats in the stadium. This fall, Brad Lambert’s dream as a football man will become reality.

Yo ho ho and a bottle of fun

University places tailgating and gameday restrictions

Tailgating at the UNC Charlotte Green and White Spring Game. Photos by Chris Crews

Eden Creamer Editor-in-chief

With the launch of a new football program, the need for an official university policy regarding tailgating and ticket purchasing at UNC Charlotte becomes necessary. As the university revved up for football, a tailgating policy was created and enacted starting with the inaugural Green and White Spring Game on April 20, 2013. The entire policy is available online, and it is recommended that those planning to tailgate read the policy in its entirety before attending any tailgating event. According to the university tailgating policy, tailgating can begin four hours before a game. Tailgating will begin at 9 a.m., as all games will begin at noon. Tailgating must end two hours after the completion of the game, to allow campus to get back to regular operating ability as soon as possible. Areas where tailgating is not permitted will be marketed. These locations include recreational fields, the botanical gardens, the chancellor’s property and the on-campus graveyard. Tailgating areas cannot impede vehicular traffic. University policy 706 regarding on-campus alcohol regulates alcohol use during tailgating. Kegs and other communal sources of alcohol will be prohibited. People must be able to present a valid ID. Drinking games will also not be permitted during tailgating. “You can play corn hole, because that is a big part of tailgating culture. But you cannot turn tailgating into a drinking game,” said Dr. Michele Howard, associate vice chancellor for student affairs during the Football Town Hall Meeting on April 15, 2013. Grills will be permitted in parking lots, but not in decks or on fields. Open pit fires

are prohibited, and large cookers are prohibited everywhere but in Lot 25. Household furniture will be prohibited as well. Inside the stadium, use of tobacco products, drugs, alcohol, vulgar language or otherwise illegal or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Attendees of the game will not be able to exit and reenter the stadium during the game. Attendees of the games will also not be allowed on the sidelines or on the field. “After we win the game 49 to nothing, please do not rush the field,” said Dr. Howard. Outside food and drink, footballs, umbrellas and bags larger than 8x10x14 will not be allowed inside the stadium. Patrons will be able to bring an empty, clear water bottle into the stadium, which they will be able to fill with water at free bottle filling stations. There will also be recycling and trash at tailgating stations, and the stadium will have recycling, trash and compost stations. These are provided to work with the Zero Waste Initiative and works with the Charlotte Green Initiative. The regular ticket purchasing policies already adopted by the Charlotte 49ers athletic department were also expanded to include football procedures. Student tickets will be available online. Any unclaimed student tickets will be released for sale to the general public. Student sections in the stadium are general admission seating, and those with student tickets will be able to enter the stadium through Gates 4 and 5. There are approximately 7,500 seats in the student seating section. All information regarding these policies is available on the Charlotte 49ers athletics webpage and through the official university policies on the main UNC Charlotte website.

Hanging with your brothers and surfing with your sisters TO RUSH OR NOT TO RUSH? UNC CHARLOTTE SOPHOMORE DESCRIBES WHAT PROMPTED HIS GREEK EXPERIENCE Andrew James Staff writer

One of the many questions incoming freshman will be asked upon arrival at SOAR the summer before their freshman year is, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Have you thought about rushing?â&#x20AC;? Some will already be set to rushing while others may be against it or just not have a clue either way. I came into college convinced that fraternities were not for me, and now I am proud to call myself a brother of NC Nu chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. If you already know that you want to rush then of course go for it! But for those of you who are on the fence my main piece of advice is to be open to the thought of joining a Greek organization. How can you know it is not for you until you have at least given it a chance? As I stated, I had no intention to join a fraternity coming into college. It was not until a friend introduced me to a few brothers months into the fall semester that I even considered rushing. After talking to Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers about joining their fraternity I began to see that

Andrew James and some of his fraternity brothers at the 2013 Homecoming tailgate. Photo courtesy of Andrew James

this was a great opportunity for me. The two main factors that attracted me to Sigma Phi Epsilon were the family like atmosphere and em-

phasis on leadership skills. As a part of Sigma Phi Epsilon I have the opportunity to go to leadership conferences across the nation at no cost. I also have the opportunity to hold leadership positions within the fraternity. The idea that I could be a part of something much bigger than myself and bigger than the UNC Charlotte campus also made me interested. I knew that by joining a fraternity I would be instantly connected to a network of brothers across the country that would be able to help me in various ways throughout my life. With these things in mind I rushed and was bidded in the spring semester. Once you have made the decision to rush the first step is to register with the online database and pay a small registration fee. The fun all begins when the week of rush rolls around. Now for some, rushing can be overwhelming. You will be meeting new people at every event and also learning about many different organizations. The key is to find the organization that you fit best in. Try not to pay attention to stereotypes or rumors about different organizations and learn as much about each one as possible.

UNC CHARLOTTE OFFERS A VARIETY OF FOOD OPTIONS FOR ON-CAMPUS DINING Patrick Bogans A&E Editor

Students looking to live on-campus or around the university will have no trouble finding the perfect meal while at UNC Charlotte. Housing a plethora of restaurants with a variety of choices around every corner, UNC Charlotte has plenty of dining options that satisfy any hungry 49er. Favorite and popular restaurants, such as Wendy’s, Chick-Fil-a, Bojangles’ and Salsarita’s are spread throughout campus in the Student Union, Prospector and the Cone University Center. These options are alongside many other notable and original dining options that help make campus a vast and varied dining experience. Every year, or even every semester, it seems a new dining option is invented or revamped to give UNC Charlotte students fresh, exciting choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. At the beginning of the 2012-13 academic year, the Bojangles’ in Cone was expanded in mind and in matter to include all day breakfast favorites and a variety of boneless chicken lunch items. The Herban Legend Food Truck was also implemented as a mobile food alternative to satisfy students looking to get a dose of international cuisine for their midday meal. Outtakes Carts were also added with hours suited to morning commuters. Prospector gained a revamped burger specialist in place of Smasher’s with the new Grill Nation. Even this past spring semester, pizza palace Mamma Leone’s got a new husband in Papa John’s, which opened up in the Student Activity Center. The pizza chain is now open for students Monday through Thursday and serves up personal pizzas with many topping options, alongside garlic and cheese bread-sticks. This coming school year, students can look forward to another mainstream food chain making its way to campus. Subway, the beloved fast-food sandwich chain, will replace Wild Greens in the Cone Center’s Main Street Market. Alongside this change, Lindsey DePrey, marketing director for Chartwells at UNC Charlotte, explains there will be new options for students who have meal plans and often dine in the Student Union.

Between 5 and 10 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, students can use their meal swipes at the Mamma Leone’s location in the Student Union. The meal swipes can be used at a designated “take-away” menu at the location, and will be available once students begin classes in August. Bistro 49, the more traditional restaurant style dining option on campus, will now be open for dinner during the week. The bistro will also be open Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. starting in August. The dinner menu will vary from the lunch menu, but still offer the same table service that is expected when you dine at the Bistro. Students will need to use a combination of a meal swipe and declining balance to enjoy dinner at Bistro 49. Looking farther ahead, UNC Charlotte will have another grand addition on the dining front after the upcoming school year. The new South Village dining facility will be a state-of-the-art two-story food haven for students. The facility is currently under construction and is located on the south side of campus, in the area of the Moore and Sanford highrises. The lower level of the facility will be similar to Crown Commons, but spacious and more modern, including a European-style kitchen, Asian cooking, a deli and more. There will also be a campus bakery, a take-out area for on-the-go and a retail venue that will serve for students throughout the day. The venue will also have a late-night dining service. LouAnn Lamb, marketing director for Business Services said in an interview with former Niner Times Editor-in-Chief Haley Twist that the upper level of the facility will include a grand outdoor terrace which will wrap around the village and inside there will be a large student lounge with fireplaces and flat-screen televisions. According to the Facilities Management website for UNC Charlotte, the project has an estimated completion date of May 2014. DePrey suggests that students submit any questions, concerns or suggestions to the Chartwells website, dineoncampus.com/unccharlotte. “Anytime that people have ideas, we’re more than welcome to hear them,” said Deprey.

Cafeteria Activities Building Outtakes Crossroads

Charlotte Research Institute Outtakes CRI (Duke Hall)

Mobile food trucks and carts East Deck Outtakes cart Denny building Outtakes cart Herban Legend

Prospector

Student Union Crown Commons Einstein Bros. Bagels Mamma Leone’s

Starbucks Wendy’s Outtakes Bistro 49

Student Activity Center Papa John’s Pizza

Cone University Center Au Bon Pain soups Bojangles UNO PIzza Express Use Your Noodle, Sushi with Gusto Subway

Chick-fil-A Express Feisty’s Franks and Fries Continental Breakfast Bar Soup/salad bar

Grill Nation Mamma Leone’s Mondo Subs Salsarita’s Gold Room Faculty/Staff Dining

J. Murr ey Atkins Library & Fretw ell Buildin g Peets’ Ca fe

Resident Dining Hall Outtakes at RDH RDH Dining Hall

This will be the last year RDH (above) will be open. Photos by Chris Crews and Matt Jackson

Docking your ship: The do’s and don’ts of parking Victoria Karlek Auxiliary Services Intern, Class of 2013

Transitioning from high school to college is…an experience. Almost everything is different, even how you park. Really. “Parking on campus at college won’t be any different than parking at my high school,” said 2008 Me. Bless 2008 Me’s little heart. In high school, I didn’t have to purchase my permit until the week before school started. It cost $50, and came with an assigned parking spot, just for me, 100 yards away from the door. And this is how 2008 Me figured it would be at UNC Charlotte. Then I sat through a presentation from Parking and Transportation Services (PaTS) at SOAR. They talked about parking on campus on campus, emphasizing the importance of buying a permit early. They said things like, “parking is tight,” and “close-in lots and decks fill up early and fast.” The majority of what I heard was forgotten within 10 minutes,

but I did remember to purchase my permit a month before classes were to start. I went to the online purchase site with Dad’s credit card. After announcing the price to him, and hearing him yell, “HOW MUCH?! For a PARKING PERMIT?!”, 2008 Me responded with “But Daaaad…” for a five minutes because I thought I needed my car on campus and was willing to whine to get it there. Once over the hurdle of my dad, I thought worst part about parking on campus was over. Dear sweet clueless 2008 Me. I moved into Moore Hall. My R permit had a bar code and number but I quickly realized there were hundreds and hundreds of 8’ by 20’ rectangles surrounded by white lines, none with numbers, none assigned. I also learned that I could only park in R Lots. Leave your car in the R Lot nearest your residence hall. Don’t even think about driving to class. 2008 Me came to learn that there were always parking spots available but close-by ones were lucky. If I got a “good” spot, I did

not move my car unless I had to. I know you already have 547 other things to take in, but if you plan to bring a car on campus, please keep reading for helpful parking tips and information. First and foremost, buy your permit early. You can order early (available for online purchase by July 1) and if you order by Aug. 8, PaTS will mail your permit to you. If you wait until the first few days of class to purchase your permit, you will be standing in line. A long line. An hour or two of miserably inching forward. If you must wait for a financial aid refund or otherwise won’t have the money to purchase a permit before the first day of class, plan to get to campus extra early to park and pay in a Visitors deck or at a meter. You may also get a temporary day pass from Parking Services for $6. Where you should park depends on whether you are a resident or a commuter. Students assigned to the highrise residence halls for the 2013-14 school year are going to have a brand new parking deck.

South Village Deck will be well lit, have plenty of spaces and provide Visitor parking for your guests. Students residing in other halls, suites or apartments on campus, also have several parking areas in the vicinity of their residences. R permits are also allowed in “orange” coded lots, which accommodate all full-time UNC Charlotte permits. 2009-12 Me was a commuter. Our campus has many lots and decks for commuters but most commuters desire to park in places closest to the academic core. These fill up early and quickly. By 9:15 a.m. those areas turn into the worst game of musical chairs as cars circle repeatedly. At peak times it can take 30-45 minutes for a spot to come open. But there are plenty of other areas where Commuters may park that always have open spaces and are on the campus shuttle line. When I started to park farther out, I always found a parking spot. Best of all, I no longer had anxiety about being late. Permits are expensive. It does seem like a lot of money for a

place to leave your car. Parking is self-funded. No state funding or tuition dollars are used to build and maintain parking facilities. Almost all permit fees go towards design the and construction of new parking decks, maintenance and paying back construction bonds of existing decks/lots, with a small percentage going toward traffic control staffing and support of the CATS Campus Shuttle. A few final tips about parking: ~ To purchase your permit, you need a 49er ID card, vehicle registration, driver’s license and proof of insurance. ~ Parking enforcement begins on the first day of class. ~ Park considerately. We all hate the guy who parks crooked and hogs two spots. Don’t be that guy. So there you have it. In a few short months, 2013 You will be starting college. It’s an exciting and enjoyable time; don’t let new parking realities bring you down. Accept and adapt! Take my advice so that in four years you won’t be thinking, “Bless 2013 Me’s little heart.”

PARKING SERVICES

A view through the looking glass

TAKE A TOUR AROUND CAMPUS BY LOOKING AT A FEW OF THESE IMPORTANT CAMPUS LANDMARKS

BELK TOWER FOOTBALL STADIUM

EST. 1970

EST. 2013 The McColl-Richardson Field is one of the university’s newest landmarks with the addition of football. The stadium’s current capacity is 15,300 patrons and expansion plans are in the works as the 49ers prepare to join Conference USA.

Photos by Chris Crews

Belk Tower, named after William Henry Belk, stands at 148 ft. tall and is the center of the First Amendment quad. The tower originally housed the campus bell, which is currently not operable. Bells are now played using an electronic Carillon.

Photo by Megan Hennings

49ER GOLD MINER EST. 1991 The bronze statue serves as a reminder to the Charlotte region’s history. It sits near the front entrance of campus, beside the J. Murrey Atkins Library and the high rise buildings.

CYRILLIC PROJECTOR EST. 1997 The cylinder is a riddle illuminated in the evening by a light inside the sculpture. Jim Sanborn, the creater of the sculpture, put the letters of the Russian alphabet around the sculpture to mask a hidden message. FILE PHOTO

Andrew Baker

NinerOnline Video Productions Manager

A sailor’s guide to textbooks There are plenty of ways to get textbooks. Which is right for you? Michelle Liringis Staff Writer

College expenses really add up: tuition and fees, meal plans, housing prices, dorm supplies and, of course, the ever-dreaded cost of textbooks. While most of the costs of college are out of the student’s control, there are always ways to save here and there.

BUYING NEW Many first year students buy their books new, either from the campus Barnes and Noble bookstore location or through another bookstore. The campus bookstore makes it easy for students to order all their books with one click of a computer mouse. By going to the bookstore’s website, students can search for textbooks by course and all textbooks assigned to the course will pop up. With one click, students can add these books to their shopping cart and pick them up at the campus bookstore when the books have arrived. Gray’s Campus Bookstore is another easy option to buy new textbooks. Gray’s is located across the street from campus on University City Blvd., and has most of the textbooks required for UNC Charlotte courses.

USED BOOKS For many, buying all new books is expensive. Students frequently purchase used books for lower prices, even though these copies of the book are just as good. There are a variety of options to consider when purchasing used books, both local and online. The campus Banes and Noble location gives the option to buy a used copy of the textbook online when ordering if there is a used copy available. These books will be available to the student when ready at the bookstore just like with new books. Amazon.com is another popular choice among students for purchasing textbooks. When more than one seller is providing the book, students can pick who to buy from based on price, and free two day shipping is available for Amazon Student or Amazon Prime members. Gray’s also sells used textbooks to students. for lower prices than new textbooks would sell for.

Renting Another option is renting textbooks from bookstores or companies. The Barnes and Noble campus bookstore and Gray’s both allow students to rent some books, though not all books that are needed will be available for rent. Sometimes these books can be found online to rent if they are unavailable through these bookstores. Ecampus.com and bookbyte.com are two popular textbook renting sites. Books are ordered online and the price is dependent on the duration of the rental period: quarterly or semesterly, as well as the book itself. The companies provide shipping labels so return shipping is of no cost to the student. They will also issue a 10 percent rebate for all textbooks returned on time and in similar condition to when they were first rented. Renting is a great way to save money, but the books need to be taken care of.

the library Some courses read novels or memoirs for a few weeks out of the semester. In this case, check out the J. Murrey Atkins Library to see if they have the book. The library is of no charge to the student and has a wide selection of books. Library checkouts last for three weeks, and books may be renewed up to two times as long as another student has not put a hold on the book.

Buy-Back Depending on where textbooks are purchased from, the seller may provide students with a buy-back option. This allows students to sell the textbook back to the company at the end of the semester to receive either store credit or money back. The campus Barnes and Noble location and Gray’s offer a buy-back service, but because of the mass quantities of students trying to sell the same books back to these locations, you may have to wait to sell back your books. Those who order their textbooks through Amazon Student or Amazon Prime have guaranteed buy-back. At the end of the semester students can access the Amazon-designed and book-specific shipping label through the orders tab of their account.

Swipes at the mess hall MEAL PLAN 101: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND FOR YOUR INFORMATIONS

Students can swipe in with meal swipes or declining balance to eat at Crown Commons. Photos by Chris Crews

Victoria Karlek Auxiliary services intern, class of 2013

Choosing where to attend college was huge. Choosing a major is huge. Choosing a meal plan? Well, maybe that won’t rank toward the top of your Epic Life Decisions List, but it is an important choice, one you’ll live with about three times a day. UNC Charlotte meal plans can seem confusing for new students because we have quite a few from which to choose (likely several more than your friends at other schools will have). With so many options available to suit diverse students, schedules, and food preferences, the process of deciding upon the best plan takes some thought. To help you make the most informed selection, here are the basic questions most frequently asked during SOAR Meal Plan presentations and through the Auxiliary Services Website (aux.uncc.edu): Who is required to get a meal plan? As freshmen living on campus, many of you will be living in ‘required housing,’ which is on-campus housing without a private kitchen that requires a meal plan as part of the contract for housing. Required housing includes the high-

rise residence halls – Moore, Sanford, Scott and Holshouser — and the suitestyle halls, — Witherspoon, Cedar, Hickory, Sycamore, Lynch, Hawthorn, Miltimore, Oak, and Walnut. Students assigned to these halls are given a several meal plans to choose from: freshmen have five to pick from; upperclassmen have eight. (For specifics, see the Meal Plan Eligibility Chart at aux.uncc.edu/meal-plans) Living in Moore Hall my freshman year was formative to my college experience and half the fun. Many of the friends I made then, with whom I shared a table in RDH for many meals, have remained my friends. What’s the difference between meal plans? If you’re living ‘required housing,’ you have two meal plan types to choose between: ‘Traditional’ Meal Plans that provide a set number of meals per week, and ‘Block Plans’ that provide a ‘block’ (set number) of meals that can be taken anytime for a semester. Traditional Meal plans have two parts: The first part is the number of meal swipes provided per week, taken in either RDH or Crown Commons, the two all-you-care-toeat dining facilities. The number of meals

allotted resets on Monday each week, with one swipe per dining period. The second part is called Declining Balance, or DB. It is a specific amount of dollar amount that can be used at any campus dining venue, including retail locations, like Einstein Brothers Bagels or Chick-fil-A. DB funds can also be used for concessions and for goods from Outtakes convenience stores on campus. We offer four Traditional Meal Plans, each with varying amounts of meal swipes and DB so that you can choose what best fits your lifestyle. So if, for example, you decide upon Traditional Meal Plan C (the most popular), you get 10 meal swipes each week for dining at RDH or Crown Commons. You will also get $400 in DB funds to spend on other meals, snacks or Outtakes convenience items for the semester. The second type of plan offered is the Block style plan. Block Meal Plans also consist of two parts: a set number of meal swipes and an accompanying amount of Declining Balance or “DB” funds. The difference is that Block Plan meal swipes are set by the semester, not by the week; meals may be used anytime, with no limit of use per dining period. So if you choose Block Plan D, you’ll have 150 meal swipes

that can be used anytime during the semester and $100 in DB. Before you decide, consider how often you’re likely to sit and enjoy a real entrée-side-dish-beverage-dessert meal (like when dining at RDH or Crown Commons) and how often you’ll probably go for something quick. Then, factor in your schedule and where you’ll spend weekends. Try not to over buy. Your meal swipes don’t roll over from week to week in the Traditional Plan, or semester to semester in the Block Plan. If you’re not using your meals, they’re wasted. Also, any unspent DB does not roll over to the next semester for either Traditional or Block Plans. Again, if you don’t use it, it’s wasted. Opt for a Meal Plan that fits. And yes, you’ll have time to change your mind. Sept. 6 and 7 are the last days for Required Housing students to change their meal plans and for Non-required students to change or cancel a plan. If you find you’re wasting a lot of meals, consider reevaluating your plan choice and/or your dining habits. (To objectively see how you’re using your plan, request a usage report from the 49erCard and Meal Plans Office at least a few days before the change deadline.)

Personally, I found myself eating in the dining halls about seven or eight times each week and usually preferred grabbing Chick-fil-A at lunch. That’s rather typical and explains why Traditional Plan C and Block Plan D supplemented with some Optional Dining Account funds (more on this) are the most practical and popular choices. Should commuters or someone in “non-required” housing get a meal plan? Since I’ve spent five years as a broke college kid, I can tell you emphatically, YES. Even when living in non-required housing and off-campus apartments, I liked having some kind of plan. It provided the assurance that even though money was tight, I’d be able to eat on campus throughout the semester. And it’s shocking how saving the 8.25 percent sales tax on every dining purchase adds up! (Meal plans are exempt from sales tax.) A meal plan offered me the convenience of being able to eat on campus whether there was cash in my pocket at the time or not. For commuters and students in non-required housing, there are three ‘All DB’ meal plan options. ‘All DB’ plans are great for students who are on campus fewer days a week or fewer hours a day than residents or full-time students. Unspent DB in these plans carries over through the last summer session in the academic

year of purchase. How does my meal plan work? Your 49er ID card provides access to your meal plan. The 49er Card system automatically (and in “real time”) keeps track of the two parts of your meal plan: the meal swipes and the DB. Meals are taken in either RDH or Crown Commons. Your 49er ID card is swiped upon entering. Meal swipes in the Traditional Meal Plans (A, B, C, and H) are reset weekly, on Monday morning. Meal swipes unused after dinner on Sunday are not carried over into the next week. (Again, don’t choose a plan that will cause you to waste meals.) Meal swipes in the Block Plans (D and E) are available for the semester and are counted down as they are used. The DB part of a meal plan is like a debit account and can be used in all our dining locations. Each time you use DB, you will receive a receipt showing the amount you have spent and your remaining balance. Remember: Traditional and Block Meal plans are valid only for the semester of purchase. Both the meal swipes and DB expire at the semester’s end. If, by the end of the semester, you still have DB left on your meal plan, stock up on non-perishables like snacks, drinks, toilet paper, toothpaste and laundry detergent at one of the four Outtakes convenience stores..

What if I blow through all my DB before end of the semester? Can I add more money to it? With so many awesome places to eat like Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s, Papa John’s Pizza, Salsarita’s, Starbucks and more on campus, it should come as no surprise that we get asked that question A LOT. But no, because DB expires at the end of the semester, you don’t add more money to it. Instead, you can deposit funds into an Optional Dining Account (ODA). This is a prepaid, non-expiring dining debit account that can be used for food at all campus dining locations, including Outtakes convenience stores. And like a meal plan, ODA can save up to 8.25 percent in sales tax with every dining purchase (yay). ODA is available to all students; deposits can be made anytime during the year. Unused remaining balance rolls over from semester to semester and year to year, as long as the student is enrolled (again, yay). Students not required to purchase a meal plan often choose to deposit funds onto ODA for dining on campus. What’s the 49er Account? Is that another meal plan? No, the 49er Account is not a meal plan. 49er Account funds are a prepaid debit account you can use for goods and services around campus. 49erAccount is accepted at campus vending machines, laundry facilities and pay-for-print sta-

tions in the library and labs. You can also use your 49erAccount at retail points like Barnes & Noble at UNC Charlotte bookstore, NinerTech store, Campus Salon, and Mail & Package Services. It can also be used at any campus dining venue. But unlike DB and ODA funds (which are exclusively for food purchases), the 49erAccount does not provide an 8.25 percent sales tax savings. If I have all these funds on my ID card, how will I know which to use? Register systems on campus are programmed to choose what’s most economical for you: ~ If you have purchased a Traditional or Block Meal Plan, meal swipes are taken first when you eat in a dining hall. ~ If you have both DB funds and ODA funds, DB is used first since it expires; ODA rolls over as long as you’re a student, so it’s used after DB is exhausted. ~ 49erAccount funds aren’t drawn in dining venues unless that’s all you have left or you’ve asked the cashier to override the default. Want to know more? Go here first: aux.uncc.edu/mealplans If you still have questions, email 49ercard@uncc.edu or call the Meal Plan office, 704-687-7337 or toll-free at 1-877-

Oh captain, my captain 48

NOT MANY KNOW THE HISTORY BEHIND THE UNIVERSITY, OR THE WOMAN BEHIND THAT HISTORY Michelle Liringis Staff writer

Take a walk around campus and evidence of Bonnie Cone is everywhere: the bust sculpture of her in the Student Union, the building named for her: the Bonnie E. Cone University Center and her grave in the botanical garden. Bonnie Cone, or Miss Bonnie, as she was lovingly called by those who knew her, played a vital role in shaping the university into what it is today. When the institution was founded in 1946 and called Charlotte Center, Cone was director. Three years later when the college became Charlotte College, a twoyear institution of higher learning, she served as president and then served as acting chancellor during its transition to the state-supported institution it is today. Cone continued to dedicate her life to the university even after her retirement. Growing up, Cone always knew she wanted to be an educator. She began by teaching the chickens in her family’s back yard and pretended they were her students. Cone worked as a high school teacher for a few years but left to become director of Charlotte Center. Because of this position, Cone became aware of the Charlotte area’s lack of sufficient higher education opportunities. Cone made a lasting impression on students she worked with, many citing her as the reason they did not drop out. Despite many difficulties, Cone was able to bring the university to what it is today. In 1949, with the support of Dr. Garinger and many community members, Cone inspired the change of Charlotte

Center to Charlotte College. This movement was the cause of Charlotte’s athletic teams being called the 49ers. The early college had numerous financial problems, but Cone never let that stand in her way. She was able to make even the smallest gifts seem large. One of the college’s early supporters was Henry Fowler, whose granddaughter, Dale F. Halton, grew up to be a patron of UNC Charlotte. Dale F. Halton Arena, the university’s basketball arena is named for her. Despite donations from community members, the outlook for Charlotte College still looked especially bleak. In 1954, Cone organized a campaign in which voters would pay a two cent property tax to support the school. After four years, the tax expanded to include all of Mecklenburg County. As money became less of a problem, Cone still had to focus on finding faculty for the school. She conquered this task with the same drive and perseverance as finding funding. She convinced numerous professionals to become part time faculty at the college. Among those were editor-author Harry Golden, publisher of the Carolina Israelite and numerous books on American life who taught Shakespeare; Pete McKnight, editor of the Charlotte Observer, who taught Spanish; and lawyer Robert Potter, later a judge of the U.S. District Court, who taught business law. By 1958, Cone’s efforts appeared to be paying off: The North Carolina Community College System accepted Charlotte College as a member. This meant they were now eligible for state support and required to appoint their own board of trustees. At this time, Cone sought to make

Bonnie Cone’s grave in the university Botanical Gardens. Photo by Chris Crews

local business leaders understand the im- and UNC Greensboro. Cone was full of joy at this expansion portance of the university, not only to the students it would serve, but also to the of the institution, but was later dismayed when she was not named chancellocal economy. Investment banker lor of the university. Leaders J. Murrey Atkins and engiwanted a more experienced neer Oliver K. Rowe were administrator which among those who rallied they found in Dean to her cause. Wallace Colvard, Cone’s next goal former Dean of Agbecame to free the riculture at N.C. college from its State and previhigh school surously president roundings and of Mississippi have a campus State. of its own. In Cone 1957, Chardemonstrated lotte College her poise and trustees purprofessionchased the alism, never land on which mentioning the universithe disapty now sits. pointment or Cone felt that letting it dim if the college her outlook. was going to She felt that win state support for college they were there or university to build an instifunding, the camtution and not to pus would need to elevate themselves. serve more than just Cone was ofMecklenburg Counfered the position of ty. Vice Chancellor for Before there were Student Affairs and Comeven buildings on the cammunity Engagement, which FILE PHOTO pus, Cone did what she could she readily accepted. to foster 49er spirit. She held a picnic Over the years, Cone continued on the grounds where students ate, sang to motivate and encourage students, win songs and talked of their hopes for the friends and attract benefactors. She connew campus. tinuously showed her motivation to betThanks to Mecklenburg County’s gift ter the university. When she was given of land and gifts from numerous individ- funding for one new building, she manuals such as Tom Belk, a department store aged to build five separate yet connected executive, Cone was able to lead the col- buildings: Denny, Macy, Garinger, Winlege’s move to two new buildings. ningham and Barnard. Cone continued to recruit faculty When Cone retired in 1973, what was members. She told them that they would then used as the Student Union was rebe a part of building a great university. named the Bonnie E. Cone University She was able to hire Dr. Sherman Burson, Center in her honor. Numerous scholarwho later became the president of the Col- ships and fellowship programs were also lege of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the named in her honor in subsequent years. Even in her retirement, Cone regrowing university, and Dan L. Morrill, a professor of history who later became the mained dedicated to the university. She leader of Charlotte’s historic preservation came to university events and spent time getting to know students and faculty. movement, under this promise. In 1964, Cone’s efforts led to Char- Students were always happy to introduce lotte College becoming a four-year state themselves if they saw her at an event. Bonnie Cone’s dedication to higher supported college. On July 1, 1965, Charlotte College be- education led to UNC Charlotte being came UNC Charlotte, the fourth branch what it is today: a successful, thriving and of the UNC system that at the time only still growing urban research university included UNC Chapel Hill, N.C. State that is home to 26,000 students.

INTRAMURAL TEAMS ALLOWS STUDENTS TO TRY THEIR HAND AT A NEW SPORT Eden Creamer Editor-in-Chief

Two UNC Charlotte students playing Intramural Basketball during the 2012-13 academic year. Photo by Chris Crews

UNC Charlotte’s Recreational Services offers opportunities for any student, regardless of skill, to play on a sports team in either competitive or recreation leagues. That’s right, budding 49ers, through the Intramural Sports division of Recreational Services you and your friends can join or create a free team in a variety of sports. “It’s something to do to meet people, interact with friends and get out of the classroom,” said Ryan Holt, assistant director for Intramural Sports. Intramural Sports posts schedules on a semester-to-semester basis for men’s, women’s and co-recreational teams on their website, imleagues.com. Signing up for the program is completely web based. Through the website students are able to create teams, invite others to join teams, ask to join teams and view other teams created in the sport. Students can also register on the website as a free agent. As a free agent, a student is added to a list of other students who are looking to join teams. Other teams who are looking for additional members can pick up teammates from the free agent list and free agents can request to join specific teams through the website. The addition of competitive and recreational leagues is something that was launched in the fall of

2012, says Holt, though many students were unaware of the change. The competitive league has a set number of games or matches, culminating in a championship game for the sport. For recreational league, the goal is more to have fun learning a new sport. “The recreational league is for people who maybe have never played the sport but just want to go out there and have fun,” said Holt. In August, Intramural Sports also plans to host a freshman only dodge ball tournament. Students who participate will be eligible for prizes and will have the opportunity to meet other students. More information on this tournament will be posted on the Intramural Sports website as it is available. Chad Indorf, coordinator for Intramural Sports, recommends joining an Intramural team to freshman specifically. “There are studies done that show that people who are involved in on-campus activities are more likely to come back for a second year,” said Indorf. “It’s fun. It’s a good way to blow off some steam, to meet people around the university, to go out and stay healthy and active.” Sport clubs, group fitness and aquatics are other activity-based services offered by the Department of Recreational Services.