Niner Times: September 2, 2014

GOLDRUSH: CHARLOTTE VS. JOHNSON C. SMITH “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” Review

The second installment of “Sin City” leaves viewers emotionally unattached to characters and seeking more from the plot than provided in the film. p. 8

International Student Spotlight

Meet Lou Fabra, international student at UNC Charlotte from Chambery, France. Get to know Lou in the first installment of our new international student spotlight. p. 10

Game Predictions

Check out some of the Niner Times staff’s predictions for Saturday’s game against Johnson C. Smith. Who do you think will win?

Inside Goldrush

Delays in construction of apartments slated for an August opening leave students in hotels and on couches. p. 3 1

A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA • THE UNIVERSITY OF9,NORTH 27,I N ISSUE SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 2014 CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE • VOL. N E R T2I M E S

Sept. 2 through Sept. 8, 2014

V O L U M E 2 7, N U M B E R 2

ASSISTANT EDITORS Amanda Duke, Aaron McCain

ADDITIONAL STAFF Casey Aldridge, Edward Averette, Marvin Bartolo, Corlene Beukes, Patrick Bogans, Chris Crews, Claire Dodd, Sean Grier, Hunter Heilman, Chester Griffin, Warren Pettit, Daniel Vallejo

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APARTMENT DELAYS HERBAN LEGEND OP-ED: MILITARIZATION IN CHARLOTTE GOHKAN YILMAZ PROFILE “SIN CITY” REVIEW WEENIE ROAST PREVIEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROFILE YOGA GUIDE

MARKETING STAFF Sales: Michelle D’Silva, Katelyn Ford, Briana Kiser, Faith Lee, Melissa McHugh, Dylan Robison, Brandon Weiner Promotions Coordinator: Sean Grier

Street Team: Natalie Chan, Sydney Cunningham, Amanda Duke

SALES OFFICE: 704.687.7144

Inside this issue! A special eightpage preview for the Charlotte 49ers game against Johnson C. Smith University on Sept. 6, 2014.

CIRCULATION BY STUDENT UNION LOADING DOCK TEAM

COVER PHOTO BY CHRISTINA HARRIS • INSIDE PHOTO NT FILE PHOTO

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SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 9, 2014

NINERTIMES

Construction at Arcadia Student Living. Photo by Daniel Vallejo

Investigating University City apartment delays Arcadia, Millenium One, Circle and Aspen Heights face construction dilemmas, forcing students to adjust in first weeks of school

Edward Averette

STAFF WRITER With the fall semester in full swing at UNC Charlotte, Millennium One and Aspen Heights residents are settling into their new environments.

However, not everyone has settled in. Out of the four new apartments that opened in August, two are still undergoing construction, Arcadia and Circle University City.

“We anticipate 30 of the 33 leased buildings to be ready throughout September (starting after Labor Day),” said Shawn Regan, Southeast regional manager of Grand Campus Living (Arcadia). “There may be some that deliver in October, but we are pushing to make sure it doesn’t go past the first week.”

According to Crescent Communities Spokeswoman Heather Tamol, Circle University City is open and students have moved into three buildings on the complex within the last few weeks.

“We are doing everything we can to complete the remaining buildings as quickly as we can and are updating residents and their families as we determine timing,” said Ben Collins, vice president of the Carolinas and

NINERONLINE.COM

Tennessee for Crescent Communities’ multi-family group.

The two student living complexes have faced their share of problems during development, which has caused delays.

“There are a large number of items we can control in the construction process, but unfortunately weather is not one of them,” said Regan.

“Based off of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] report, Charlotte has experienced 117 bad weather days since last August.

This is an extraordinarily large number, impacting every project in the university area.”

Such conditions generally are not ideal for construction development, but were further exacerbated by the hilly terrain and land size of Arcadia, which according to Regan is twice the size (25 acres) of most complexes in the area.

“Our development team started with a timeline based on years of experience that would have finished the project ahead of schedule, but the amount of rain days and the winter

storm that shut the city down for days translated to weeks drying out, which overran that schedule by over 60 days,” said Regan.

Meanwhile, Circle has faced obstacles of a completely different beast.

“Widespread labor shortages have had a significant and unanticipated impact on the schedule, which changed our opening date by a few weeks,” said Collins.

While the general contractor and crew are working towards completion, Circle officials are offering alternate housing options, transportation and a weekly stipend during the delayed period to accommodate residents.

“We want to extend our apologies to our residents and their families who have been affected,” said Collins. “We want to ensure they are disrupted as little as possible as they settle in for the new semester.”

Arcadia managed to move in some students on Aug. 23, while other residents are staying in nearby hotels around the UNC Charlotte campus. These students are receiving

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accommodations similar to that of Circle residents and are receiving daily stipends, shuttle service to campus, storage options, parking passes, laundry service and a meal plan while Arcadia finishes construction on Phase One of their complex. Students that elected to find temporary housing are being prorated for every day they are not in their unit and are provided a daily stipend.

Although from certain vantage points the 40-building complex may look like it’s not far in the construction process, that may be because that’s Phase Two of the development, which will not begin leasing until later this year as it is currently under active construction.

“Those buildings were intentionally not leased in Phase One to ensure that there would be a minimal delay on move ins,” said Regan.

Both residencies are updating residents in a variety of ways, including through social media. Over Facebook, residents from all four new complexes have expressed praise for the staff and amenities, while

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APARTMENTS, CONT.

Circle officials are offering alternate housing options, transportation and a weekly stipend during the delayed period to accommodate residents. Photo by Daniel Vallejo

also sharing their experiences and problems following move in.

“When we first moved in, we were told that there would be some things wrong with the apartments,” said Rachel Karrer on Millennium One’s Facebook page. “I walked in and the first thing I noticed was that I did not have any water, but when I called they answered and had the plumbers come in less than an hour, great customer service.”

Other reviewers such as Faaria Aliya Watson and Trey Riley echoed the opposite sentiment of Karrer’s, and expressed frustration at Internet connectivity issues, miscommunication and response time to pertinent issues such as electricity being out in Watson’s case.

“I had no electricity in my room the other night, and I was told that they couldn’t do anything about it until the next day,” said Watson on Millennium One’s page. “They have no emergency maintenance on call, so if something goes wrong in your apartment be prepared to wait until the next day (or the next couple of days).”

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

94°F

88°F

87°F

SEPT. 2

weather.uncc.edu GET MORE INFO ABOUT THE UNC CHARLOTTE METEOROLOGY PROGRAM

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“With any move-in there are always hiccups you encounter on the way, especially when a brand new property goes from having zero residents to 740 in a matter of hours,” said Ashley Carriker, Millennium One general manager.

“Millennium staff has worked hard and will continue to work hard to handle all items of concern that arise from construction.”

Aspen Charlotte has also experienced similar issues around their move-in dates with Wi-Fi, cable and shuttle availability, but has communicated with residents over Twitter and a resident portal about resolving such issues.

In addition to these problems, Aspen experienced a two to three week delay with the completion of their clubhouse and one residential building, but managed to move in a majority of their 480 residents during Aug. 13 move-in. Approximately 40 more students are scheduled to move in on or before Sept. 1, with their leases beginning on that date.

“Residents at Aspen Charlotte

Chance of T-storms.

Low of 75.

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Mostly sunny.

Low of 74.

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Mostly sunny.

Low of 74.

were able to take advantage of the ‘Aspen Promise,’” said Stuart Watkins, director of public relations for Aspen Heights. “The ‘Aspen Promise’ is an established agreement with Aspen Heights and the lease signer that outlines what Aspen Heights is responsible to provide to the resident in the event of a delay in units.”

According to Watkins, residents were given $500 to $1,000 depending on their delay situation, hotel accommodations (if needed) and shuttle transportation to and from campus. With the delays pushing back the completion date for the clubhouse and pool, Aspen Charlotte provided all residents with a $100 gift card or a pass to a local water park attraction.

“We are proud of the product we have brought to the [UNC Charlotte] community,” said Watkins. “Aspen Charlotte was built to code and met all approvals by the city of Charlotte and lives up to the Aspen Heights standard.”

These four new complexes are the beginning of what University City Partners has called the revolution in student housing, with features such as granite counter tops, resort style swimming pools, outdoor lawns with movie screens and gate access.

“They feature remarkable amenities that are sought by our millennial student population,” said Darlene Heater, executive director of University City Partners. “We believe these new developments support the robust growth of UNC Charlotte and will continue to serve our student resident needs well into the future.”

In the coming year, UNC Charlotte will see another new off-campus student living complex in University House Blvd., at the corner of University City Blvd. and Mallard Creek Church Road that is planned for completion by fall 2015, along with the completed renovation of on campus mainstays Holshouser and Oak Hall by summer 2015.

FRIDAY SEPT. 5

84°F

Mostly sunny.

Low of 73.

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SATURDAY SEPT. 6

86°F

Partly cloudy.

Low of 72.

POLICE BLOTTER AUG. 23 - 28

ARREST AUG. 27

• Craver Road, while on routine patrol, officer arrested a subject for violating a trespass order.

ASSAULT AUG. 23

• Witherspoon Hall, victim reported an acquaintance forced her to engage in intercourse after being told to stop.

CALLS FOR SERVICE AUG. 27

• Union Deck, officer responded to a call of a gate arm falling on a vehicle.

AUG. 28

• Storrs Building, officer responded to a report of a bicycle colliding with a Facilities Management club car.

CYBERSTALKING AUG. 24

• Victim reported that an acquaintance continuously attempted to make contact with her after being told to stop.

LARCENY AUG. 28

• South Village Deck, an unknown subject forcibly removed a LED light bar from the victim’s vehicle.

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

SUNDAY SEPT. 7

88°F

Partly sunny.

Low of 74.

MONDAY SEPT. 8

84°F Mostly cloudy.

Low of 68.

NINERTIMES

HERBAN LEGEND BECOMES URBAN LEGEND UNC Charlotte’s campus food truck removed from dining line up for fall 2014 Claire Dodd

STAFF WRITER If you’ve ever seen a giant white and blue truck near Prospector or the Student Union with welcoming spirits and the aroma of international street food, you were probably near The Herban Legend Mobile Café.

If you were a fan of their cuisine, you were not alone; however, Chef Brian Seeley, owner of the Charlottecentered business, is the saddest of all to see the truck drive away for good.

“It was a really good business and so it’s unfortunate,” said Seeley.

The business’s last day on campus was Aug. 18.

The passionate globally-inclined chef was asked to leave campus by Chartwells, UNC Charlotte’s official campus food vendor, in hopes of shifting on-campus food in a different direction.

Not only did Seeley own a truck at UNC Charlotte, but he also had one that traveled to various parts of inner-city Charlotte. In addition, Herban Legend catered for special events. To his disappointment, he has made the decision to close down the second truck as well.

“I want to keep one truck open for [UNC Charlotte customers], but Chartwells wants to go in a different direction, so I decided to close both trucks,” reported Seeley.

Herban Legend’s last day of business for both trucks will be Sept. 6.

NINERONLINE.COM

NT File Photo

Attracting about 150 UNC Charlotte customers per day, according to Seeley, students were shocked to see it go.

UNC Charlotte junior Edward Gonzalez visited the truck twice and was more than satisfied both times.

“My experience was awesome. The environment they would create just outside their food truck was very chill with the music playing. I would always order their garlic parmesan fries. It was always very friendly and inviting,” said Gonzalez.

On their homepage www. thehurbanlegend.com, there is a description of The Herban Legend: “We use all fresh ingredients which we source from local growers and purveyors when possible,” states the website.

The business’s most popular item on the menu was the Shawarma, described on their website as an,

“Arabic style seasoned grilled chicken Tzatziki sauce, tabouleh, tomatoes and french fries wrapped in Middle Eastern flat bread.”

Seeley’s love for cooking international foods began when he was given the opportunity to sell products globally to the U.S. military.

The next thing he knew, Seeley took on the job of creating menu ideas at

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an American style restaurant chain located in Qatar.

After the business closes down, Seeley still wants to stay in the food business. One of his ideas is to eventually move into the bed and breakfast business.

“It’s been a good two years out there and it’s sad the way it had to end,” said Seeley.

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FERGUSON HERE Racial inequality and the militarization of police in a post-DNC Charlotte

Casey Aldridge INTERN

When the Democratic National Convention (DNC) came to Charlotte in September 2012, over 35,000 delegates, members of the media, attendees, celebrities and protesters came with it.

The convention brought $163.6 million into local economies and was the largest event the Queen City had ever seen. Jobs were created, hotels and restaurants overflowed and Charlotte was the national spotlight for one short but vibrant weekend.

Yet something else was imported into Charlotte for the DNC and never truly left: the militarization of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).

By this point, you’d be hardpressed not to have heard of the protests and crackdown in Ferguson, Mo. that erupted after the death of Michael Brown. Brown, 18, reportedly was shot six times, hands above his head, as he ran from Officer Darren Wilson.

Since then, the small St. Louis suburb has seen protests almost every night, met with police dogs, urban tanks, tear gas and assault rifles. City and state police in paramilitary gear resemble an occupying army trying to quell high emotions after Brown’s murder.

On one hand, Ferguson resembles the past, when police beat and hosed civil rights and anti-war demonstrators, and earlier, when racist lynch mobs terrorized the land.

On the other hand, Ferguson appears downright dystopian. But for people of color in this country, particularly youth, women, the LGBTQ community and the poor, it’s routine.

There are two major factors at play in Ferguson that led to the death of Michael Brown: racism and police militarization, both of which are heavily at play in Charlotte.

The chaos in Ferguson is about race, no matter what people say, and racism is very much alive in the United States – it just manifests itself differently than in the past.

You’ll see fewer Ku Klux Klan rallies today, but they’re replaced with an irrational fear of black and brown youth, with real consequences.

This baseless profiling manifests in high levels of minority incarceration for non-violent drug use, though usage rates are right on par with drug use of white people.

It means that Eliot Rodger – whose misogynistic shooting spree killed six people in Santa Barbara, Calif. earlier this year – was remembered as “soft-spoken, polite, a gentleman,” while media refers to victim Michael Brown as “no angel.”

It means youth like Charlotte’s Jonathan Ferrell are seen as criminals first.

Then there’s the systemic side of racism. Ferguson’s population is 67 percent black, but it is represented by a police department that is 94 percent white and a white

EDITORIAL POLICY Niner Times is written and produced by students at UNC Charlotte. All unsigned editorials are the expressed opinion of the editorial board and do not represent the views of the University. Views expressed in signed editorials are solely those of the author. Niner Times is published on Tuesdays during the regular academic year except during holidays and exam periods.

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mayor. Likewise, in Charlotte, the 2010 Census reported 35 percent of respondents as black, yet CMPD is just 18 percent black.

Our officers are 80 percent white and 86 percent male. Furthermore, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are becoming increasingly re-segregated, and the history of slave labor for which former slaves never saw reparations still haunts the South.

What I’m trying to say is, Ferguson is here. And Charlotte’s police arsenal, due largely to the DNC, is more sophisticated and potent than anything in Ferguson. According to the Pentagon, what we’ve seen in the news came to the St. Louis County Police Department by way of a “1033 Program,” that transitions retired war materials to domestic police.

The armored vehicles deployed against protesters were supplied to surrounding counties via the same program.

Similarly, Mecklenburg County acquired at least 38 assault rifles and three shotguns – more than St. Louis – and more than five armored tanks have been distributed among Union, Cabarrus, Gaston and York counties.

But militarization isn’t limited to the 1033 Program. Charlotte received a $50 million federal security grant for the DNC and was woefully unclear about its spending in 2012 – which may have played into why the Department of Justice charged the

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city in May with misusing $132,000 – but we know now that a sizeable portion of the “upgrades” went to an Uptown surveillance center and more than 500 new cameras around Uptown that have outlasted the convention.

Officers at the peaceful “March on Wall Street South” during the DNC wore riot gear plainly and were equipped for confrontation.

We can be sure by observing the situation in Ferguson or patterns in Charlotte, these tools will be used against the already marginalized.

When the American Civil Liberties Union inquired about CMPD involvement with the 1033 Program, CMPD declassified documents showing what kind of arms were being utilized and who were targets, and the numbers disproportionately indicated a racial divide in police force.

If we don’t want the unrest of Ferguson in our streets, we can take a higher road. We can value the lives of black youth like Jonathan Ferrell and Michael Brown and millions more just like them; we can mitigate the systemic aspect of racism by raising the minimum wage, fighting gentrification and displacement and combating poverty; and, finally, we can be honest with ourselves about what the DNC left Charlotte – military-grade weapons – and begin the necessary scaling down of our militarized CMPD.

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NINERTIMES

CHARLOTTE VS. JOHNSON C. SMITH 路 SEPT. 6, 2014

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GOLDRUSH 路 A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

49ERS RESPOND IN SECOND HALF, DEFEAT CAMPBELL 33-9 THE CHARLOTTE 49ERS COASTED TO A 33-9 VICTORY ON THE ROAD IN WEEK ONE MATT CHAPMAN SPORTS EDITOR

SEPT. 6, 2014 CHARLOTTE VS. JOHNSON C. SMITH VOLUME 2 · ISSUE 1

3 Campbell recap 4 JCSU preview 5 Game picks 7 2013 statistics EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Eden Creamer CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Megan Van Emmerik NT SPORTS EDITORS

Matt Chapman Alex Passannante

Contact the NT Sports Editors: sports@nineronline.com or @NTimes_Sports

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Emmanuel Loredo SALES: Dylan Robison, Linda Wang, Brandon Weiner NINER TIMES STAFF: Ben Coon, Chris Crews, Aaron McCain

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The Charlotte 49ers (1-0) kicked it into gear in the second half as they coasted to a 33-9 victory over the Campbell Fighting Camels (0-1) on the road on Thursday night.

Running back tandem Kalif Phillips and true freshman Maetron Thomas sparked the 49ers offense that struggled throughout the entirety of the first half.

Phillips racked up 70 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns before leaving the game in the third quarter with cramps.

Thomas filled in nicely in the final quarter, carrying the ball just six times while picking up 74 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown run on the first carry of his career.

Charlotte quarterback Matt Johnson limped out of the gates on the first drive, overthrowing his intended target which resulted in an interception for the Campbell defense.

Missed field goals troubled the Fighting Camels during the first half, missing their first two attempts of the ball game.

Charlotte kicker Blake Brewer nailed a school-record 50-yard field goal in the first quarter, followed by another 38-yard boot late in the quarter to give the 49ers a 6-0 lead after one.

The 49ers looked out of sync throughout the second quarter but the defense held strong. Campbell drove the ball 91 yards late in the half, but the 49ers forced a field goal with three seconds left to preserve a 6-3 lead heading into the locker room.

Johnson completed just 35 percent of his passes in the first half for only 42 yards. The Fighting Camels put up 125 yards through the air, but couldn’t overcome the two missed field goals early on.

“The old adage is that football is

four quarters, not two,” said Campbell Head Coach and former Carolina Panthers safety Mike Minter postgame.

“I thought we did a great job in the first half, and the difference in the game really was the third quarter and the big plays.”

The 49ers offense began to find a rhythm on their first drive of the second half behind the arm of Johnson and the legs of Phillips.

Phillips capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown that put the 49ers on top 13-3 early in the third quarter.

Phillips found the end zone two more times in the quarter, propelling Charlotte to a 27-3 lead after three.

“The offensive line did a good job for me and set us up well, and then I knew I had to go through and break some tackles just to keep the ball moving,” said Phillips after the game.

Unfortunately, Phillips went down with cramps after his third and final touchdown of the night.

The 49ers coaching staff decided to hold their starting running back out for the remainder of the game with a 24-point advantage heading into the final quarter.

Thomas entered the game for Charlotte in place of Phillips and immediately broke a 40-yard touchdown run on the first carry of his career following an interception

by Tyler DeStefani on the previous Campbell drive.

Campbell scored their lone touchdown of the night early in the fourth quarter on a 23yard back-shoulder catch by Ben Bolling.

The 49ers pulled their starters in the final quarter en route to a 33-9 final score, improving their overall record to 1-0 to kick off year two of football in Queen City.

CHARLOTTE VS. JOHNSON C. SMITH · SEPT. 6, 2014

Johnson picked it up in the second half completing 8-of-13 passes for 147 yards.

Austin Duke, the team’s leading receiver from 2013, reeled in five catches for 51 yards in the final 30 minutes. Justin Bolus set a new school record when he snagged a 62-yard pass from Johnson that set up Phillips’ final touchdown of the night.

Charlotte’s defense gave up 341 yards on the night, but stood tough whenever Campbell threatened the end zone.

Ardy Holmes led the 49ers with 11 tackles in the game, and newcomer Branden Dozier broke up four passes in his debut on the Charlotte defense.

“I thought the defense came out and played well,” said 49ers linebacker Caleb Clayton-Molby who finished the game with four total tackles, including one in the backfield.

“I think our defense held up really well and the offense turned it around in the second half.”

Charlotte Head Coach Brad Lambert said all the right things in the locker room at halftime, lifting his team after a difficult first half.

“I thought our guys responded well in the second half,” said Lambert postgame.

“We knew (Campbell) would be ready. We knew what was coming and they didn’t disappoint. Just really proud of our guys and the way they responded.”

The 49ers will be working on their offensive rhythm in practice this week leading up to their home opener against Johnson C. Smith on Saturday, Sept. 6 inside Jerry Richardson Stadium.

Johnson C. Smith is off this weekend and will open the season next weekend in Charlotte.

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THE BREAKDOWN The Charlotte 49ers host the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls in their 2014 home opener inside Jerry Richardson Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6 at noon.

MATT CHAPMAN SPORTS EDITOR

The Charlotte 49ers (1-0) head into their home opener against the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls on Saturday, Sept. 6 riding a wave of momentum from a strong second half performance against Campbell on Thursday night.

The 49ers worked out some early season kinks during halftime on the road against Campbell and now will return home looking to improve to 2-0 for the second consecutive season.

The Golden Bulls didn’t play a game this past weekend and will be playing their season opener in the Queen City on Saturday afternoon.

Johnson C. Smith fought through a mediocre 2013 season, finishing 5-5 overall after starting the year on a good note at 3-0 early.

The Golden Bulls struggled in conference play down the stretch, dropping five of their final seven games of the season.

Johnson C. Smith also didn’t find much success on the road in 2013. The Golden Bulls lost three of their four contests away from home.

The 49ers offense struggled early and often against the Fighting Camels on Thursday evening.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Matt Johnson never found a rhythm in the first half after throwing an interception on the team’s first drive of the game.

Johnson completed just 35 per-

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cent of his passes for only 42 yards in the first two quarters against Campbell.

Charlotte was able to make the right adjustments at halftime and running back Kalif Phillips carried the 49ers offense with three touchdown runs in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

True freshman running back Maetron Thomas looked impressive in place of Phillips in the fourth quarter, including a 40yard touchdown scamper on the first carry of his college career.

Johnson also looked more comfortable at the helm of the offense after halftime.

He completed 8-of-13 passes, racking up 147 yards through the air including a school-record 62-yard completion to Justin Bolus that set up Phillips’s third and final touchdown of the night.

The one-two punch of Phillips and Thomas should be a staple in the Charlotte offense throughout Saturday’s game against Johnson C. Smith.

The Golden Bulls allowed 1,361 yards rushing a year ago and gave up an average of 26.4 points per game in 2013.

On the bright side for Johnson C. Smith, their leading tackler linebacker Anthony Allen returns for his senior season with the Golden Bulls. Allen led the team with 77 total tackles in 2013.

Defensive back Damion Miles is another returning senior to watch

on the Johnson C. Smith defense.

Miles is a playmaker in the Golden Bulls secondary that intercepted a team-high four passes last season.

Johnson C. Smith alternated between two quarterbacks throughout the majority of the 2013 season.

Both players, Keahn Wallace and Andrew Alexander, are returning as experienced seniors leading the Golden Bulls offense.

Wallace is more of a passing threat in the backfield, putting up a team-high 1,950 yards through the air a year ago to go along with 15 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.

Wallace rushed for a dismal negative 23 yards last season but did manage to find the end zone four times with his legs.

Alexander also provides a threat in the passing game, completing 58.3 percent of his throws for 763 yards and an impressive 9-3 touchdown to interception ratio.

His rushing stats look better than Wallace’s but just barely.

Alexander averaged just 2.2 yards per carry in 2013 while compiling 87 total rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground.

The 49ers defense held strong against Campbell in the red zone in game one, allowing just nine points in the contest while benefiting from two missed field goals early on.

Fortunately for Charlotte if they can repeat their performance in

GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

week two, Johnson C. Smith also struggled in the field goal kicking department last season.

Returning sophomore kicker Erik Amaya knocked through just 7-of-15 field goals for the Golden Bulls, including a long conversion of only 38 yards.

Ardy Holmes made plays all over the field on Thursday night, leading the 49ers defense with 11 total tackles in the game.

Branden Dozier, a new starter at safety in the Charlotte secondary, disrupted Campbell receivers all night and broke up four pass attempts in his first action as a member of the 49ers.

The key for Charlotte on Saturday afternoon will be the play of Johnson at quarterback. Johnson will need to find a rhythm early in the game to get the offense flowing out of the gates.

49ers offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen should look to build on the momentum gained in the second half on Thursday night.

An effective ground game from Phillips and Thomas should collapse the defense and create better throwing lanes for Johnson in the secondary.

Kickoff for the home opener is scheduled for noon on Saturday, Sept. 6. Expect a raucous crowd at Jerry Richardson Stadium with the excitement of a new season on the horizon.

STAFF GAME PICKS Members of Student Niner Media give their predictions for the first home game of the season

GAME-DAY TAILGATING EDEN CREAMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

With the launch of a new football program, the need for an official policy regarding tailgating at the university becomes necessary.

As the university revved up for football, a tailgating policy was created to make sure students and fans have the most fun possible while being safe. These rules and regulations are meant to maximize safety and comfort for all that attend.

Tailgating rules and regulations are completely broken down in University Policy 706, Alcoholic Beverages.

Any violation of this policy may cause students and campus guests revoked tailgating rights, criminal prosecution, disciplinary action through the Office of Student Conduct if the violator is a UNC Charlotte student and/or trespassing charges should the individual be a campus guest.

CAMPUS ENTRANCES AND LOT INFORMATION FINAL SCORE: CHAR 30, JCSU 14

“The 49ers should establish the run game early to open things up for Matt Johnson. Charlotte’s defense will need to contain both senior QBs for the Golden Bulls.”

FINAL SCORE: CHAR 42, JCSU 17

“If Charlotte can build on the momentum from the second half against Campbell, it should be a blowout. I don’t think the Golden Bulls can handle Kalif Phillips.”

All entrances except the main entrance and the John Kirk Road entrance will be closed five hours prior to kickoff. Gameday entrances open four hours prior to kickoff.

Parking and tailgating will be available in lots 5, 5A, 6, 7, 7A, 14, 18, 19, 23, 25, 27 and CRI 2 and 3. Decks available for parking are Union Deck, Cone Deck 1 and 2, West Deck and CRI Deck. On-campus residents not attending the game can park in East Deck 2 and 3 or North Deck.

Students who live on campus who normally park in lots designated for tailgating for football game-day parking will be required to move their vehicles to an alternative parking location the night before a home game. If there are any cars in the parking lots as of midnight on game day, the vehicle will be automatically towed.

Tailgating areas will open four hours prior to the game.

Tailgating at halftime and during the game time is prohibited, and tailgaters will be encouraged to vacate lots. Lots must also be evacuated no later than two hours after the end of the game.

LOT CONTRABAND Kegs, glass containers, drinking games, devices used to accelerate the consumption of alcohol, grills in parking decks and on brick pavers, open pit fires, staked tents, household furniture and animals are prohibited.

FINAL SCORE: CHAR 20, JCSU 13

“Charlotte’s one-two punch at running back should control the tempo throughout the game. I don’t believe either offense is efficient enough to make this a high-scoring game.”

FINAL SCORE: CHAR 35, JCSU 21

“For JCSU, this is their first game of the season. Coming off the Niner’s dynamite win last week, I see JCSU starting strong in the first half, but Charlotte bringing it home in the end.”

Tweet us your predictions to @NT_Sports using #CHARJCSUPicks

STADIUM CONTRABAND Tobacco products, other drugs, alcohol of all kinds and weaponry are prohibited.

Football patrons will be permitted to bring empty, clear, plastic bottles into the stadium to fill with water at designated fill stations, but other beverages will be prohibited.

The complete University Policy 706 is available online.

Tailgaters are encouraged to read this policy prior to game-day.

CHARLOTTE VS. JOHNSON C. SMITH · SEPT. 6, 2014

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INTERESTED IN BECOMING

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TUNE IN NOW AT WWW.RADIOFREECHARLOTTE.COM

EMAIL RADIOFREECHARLOTTE@UNCC.EDU

FOR MORE INFORMATION

6

GOLDRUSH 路 A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

UNC CHARLOTTE FOOTBALL 2014 THURSDAY, AUG. 28

Campbell

at Buies Creek, N.C.

7 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 6

Johnson C. Smith

MATT CHAPMAN SPORTS EDITOR

at Charlotte, N.C.

12 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 13

North Carolina Central at Durham, N.C.

5 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 20

Elon

at Elon, N.C.

7 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 27

Charleston Southern

(Family Day Game) at Charlotte, N.C.

12 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 4

Gardner-Webb

at Boiling Springs, N.C.

1:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 11

The Citadel

at Charleston, S.C.

2 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 25

James Madison

MATT JOHNSON QUARTERBACK

ARDY HOLMES

14-30 (46.7 %) 189 Yards 0 Touchdowns 1 Interception

CORNERBACK

11 Tackles 1 Pass Deflection

BRANDEN DOZIER

KALIF PHILLIPS

SAFETY

RUNNING BACK

10 Tackles 4 Pass Deflections

13 Carries 70 Yards 3 Touchdowns

NICO ALCALDE

LINEBACKER LBNICNCIN7 Tackles

MAETRON THOMAS RUNNING BACK

3 Tackles For Loss

6 Carries 74 Yards 1 Touchdown

LARRY OGUNJOBI

(Homecoming Game) at Charlotte, N.C.

12 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOV. 8

Coastal Carolina at Charlotte, N.C.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

AUSTIN DUKE

4 Tackles 1 Sack

WIDE RECEIVER 7 Catches 51 Yards 0 Touchdowns

TYLER DESTEFANI

12 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOV. 15

Wesley College at Charlotte, N.C.

12 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOV. 22

Morehead State

TRENT BOSTICK

NT FIle Photo

WIDE RECEIVER 4 Catches 42 Yards 0 Touchdowns

LINEBACKER

3 Tackles 1 Interception

Based on the 2013-14 Charlotte 49ers season

at Charlotte, N.C.

12 p.m.

CHARLOTTE VS. JOHNSON C. SMITH 路 SEPT. 6, 2014

7

8

GOLDRUSH 路 A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

LOOKING AT THE NEW FACE OF CHARLOTTE 49ERS VOLLEYBALL Alex Passannante

SPORTS EDITOR For the first time in seven years, there is a new head coach at the helm of Charlotte 49ers volleyball.

Gohkan Yilmaz was hired last spring from Florida State University, where he saw major success as the associate head coach and training coordinator.

When it comes to volleyball, Yilmaz’s resume has been quite impressive. He started his coaching career in his native country of Turkey with the Turkish Junior National Team.

From there, Yilmaz paid his dues at Western New Mexico University, Northwood University, Arkansas University, Cameron University and finally Florida State University, where his staff garnered three Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championships.

Fast forward to 2014 and Coach Yilmaz is finally ready for his chance to be head coach.

Coach Yilmaz has plans for the future of the Charlotte 49ers volleyball team, many of which come from his past experiences.

The major difference, he says, at Charlotte that he has experienced is being in Conference USA (C-USA) compared to the ACC. “Surprisingly, this is a very good conference,” said Yilmaz.

“It is a top 10 [Rating Percentage Index] RPI conference, and several teams have top 25 history, as well as Sweet 16 history. [University of Texas at San Antonio] UTSA, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Rice have good programs.”

Yilmaz mentions that the 49ers have what it takes to surpass people’s expectations. He said that there is so much potential here, and he plans to fulfill it.

“The first thing I noticed when I came in is that it’s really under re-

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cruited. The goal is to recruit better athletes who can help us in the next couple of years to get into the upper half of the conference,” he said.

“We need skilled players as well as athletes, which we have started to bring in.”

Yilmaz says that the preseason rankings for C-USA this season point toward yearly improvement.

Charlotte was picked to finish 12th out of 13, saying that helps them add more fuel to the fire when working to get better.

“We have a lot of girls that are motivated to do better. They feel that there are several matches that they could have won last year. The goal is to make the conference tournament and play in late November,” he said.

As for coming to Charlotte, there were numerous reasons he chose to come to the Queen City.

“I interviewed at several positions. It’s a good academic school, and being in the UNC system is huge. It’s in a very competitive conference, although not in a top two conference. It is also located in a place where you can play a lot of ACC and [Southeastern Conference] SEC schools where I have a lot of connections,” said Yilmaz.

“The city is a big plus, and there is still a nice college feel. Overall, when you put everything together, it is a very good recruiting sell to get players.”

Connections are very important in today’s sports world when job seeking and scheduling opponents, but most importantly while recruiting. The newcomers this season are shaping up to be good, and Yilmaz is trying to improve that year after year.

“We added three players late after we got the job here. The 2015 class

is going to be good, and the 2016 class is full of players who will be impact players in Conference USA,” he said.

“Prepvolleyball.com has a top 150 recruiting class, and we might have someone in that next year. Western Kentucky had a top 30 recruiting class this year, which is great competition for us.”

On the subject of recruiting, Coach Yilmaz mentioned how excited he is to move forward with his current roster.

“They are here to learn, and we are trying to teach them how to win and compete like a top 25 team.

We told the administration and team that we are going to run this program like an ACC team, because our goal is to beat those high quality programs.”

This style of coaching is much different than some players are used to, most noticeably when it comes to aggression and practice intensity. Senior right side hitter Laura Cantrell said that Yilmaz’s style is much different than the previous coach, but it isn’t a bad thing.

“There is a sense of urgency and pride for the program. If you’re going to go beat a team, then go and beat the team.”

Freshman outside hitter Sarah Adams said, “I heard about him since I’m from Florida and he was at Florida State. He pushes us a lot harder and expects a lot out of us as a team and as individuals; he accepts nothing less.”

Changing the culture at Charlotte is a big to-do for Yilmaz and his staff. He understands how losing can affect a team, especially when it happens in multiple seasons.

“Charlotte has lost so many times and it got into the players. Change of style and using all of our practice

SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 9, 2014

Photo by Marvin Bartolo

hours, as well as lifting a lot more is how we are going to change that into a winning style.”

Yilmaz mentioned a few times how previous experience with his coaching staff will add to team improvements, saying that Nicole Miller played at South Carolina, and Margeaux Sinibaldi won a national championship at the University of Tampa.

Add in Yilmaz’s ACC experience, and that makes for a solid staff with a lot of connections.

With new recruits, experienced coaches, competitive opponents and fans packing Halton, this program can win their way to the top of C-USA and possibly top 25 in the country. Charlotte’s next home game is Tuesday, Sept. 2 against Winthrop at 6 p.m.

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Photos courtesy of The Weinstein Company

MOVIE REVIEW: “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” has guts, but not in the right way Hunter Heilman INTERN

You would think 3-D would enhance the atmosphere of an amazing cinematic world, but unfortunately, “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” is ironically flatter than its 2-D predecessor.

Released nine years after the first installment, “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” boasts more impressive visuals but stories that are nowhere near as captivating or interesting as those in the first film.

Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s signature “Sin City” style is certainly in place, but it seems as if the film relies solely on visuals this time around rather than incorporating plot.

However, this doesn’t make “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” a bad film; there are aspects that redeem it, but it falls short of its predecessor.

If you’re unfamiliar with how the “Sin City” stories work, here’s the rundown: the films are comprised of several short vignettes revolving around Basin City, otherwise known as Sin City, where violence and corruption are rampant.

Every story slightly intertwines with each other to create one large anthology film. The films are produced in black and white with certain colors occasionally poking through for visual flare.

The films are near-perfect adaptations of the comic books published by

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Frank Miller, which means “Sin City” is without a doubt visually spectacular.

“Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” bounces around in time with each story, which disjoints the flow of the film as a whole and takes the audience out of the story.

The problem with the stories in this one is that they’re focused more on the sensory aspect of the film than the emotional aspect.

“Sin City” was by no means an emotional film, but it certainly kept you interested in how each story would play out. Whenever something in “A Dame to Kill For” turned out for the worst, I felt nothing but indifference to each character’s fate even though I am familiar with the franchise.

The acting is definitely one of the saving graces of the film, especially from the performances by Eva Green and Mickey Rourke. Eva Green is a deliciously seductive villain that

Directed by: Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller Starring: Jessica Alba, Powers Boothe, Josh Brolin, Jamie Chung, Rosario Dawson, Mickey Rourke, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Eva Green, Dennis Haysbert.

could be identified as a few select words not appropriate for school publications.

Green has proved herself worthy as a villain in past outings such as “Dark Shadows”and this year’s “300: Rise of an Empire,” another Frank Miller comic book adaption. I didn’t have doubts in how she would handle herself in the role of Ava. While it may not have been as impressive as her role in “300: Rise of an Empire,” she certainly was one of the better parts of the film.

Mickey Rourke returns as Marv, our friendly neighborhood sociopath from the first “Sin City,” and probably the only aspect of the movie that equals its predecessor, which is saying a lot. The rest of the cast, including Jessica Alba, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Josh Brolin, Powers Boothe and Rosario Dawson turn in passable performances, just not as memorable as those of Green and Rourke.

I got to see “Sin City: A Dame to

Runtime: 102 minutes Rating: R for strong brutal stylized violence throughout, sexual content, nudity and brief drug use In theaters, digital 3-D and RealD 3-D.

SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 9, 2014

Kill For” in 3-D, which is easily the best way to see it.

The depth of Basin City is quite absorbing, and Robert Rodriguez has quite a bit of fun throwing things in the audience’s face with the 3-D, even changing the framing of some shots to make it appear as if objects were coming beyond the black bars of the screen,which is particularly interesting in something as stylized as this.

“Sin City” is one of my favorite films; it was a game changer in how I viewed cinema and certainly will live on as such. “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” suffers from Sequel Syndrome.

It tries to be too much of what made the original so wonderful and misses out on the subtle aspects that quietly made the predecessor so deep. If you love “Sin City,” you’re going to see this film regardless, but if you’re unfamiliar with “Sin City,” I would definitely rent the first one before diving into seeing this one in cinemas. Seeing the original would be more worth your time.

It’s by no means a bad film. The acting is solid with standout performances from Eva Green and Mickey Rourke, the 3-D visuals are certainly jarring and the comic book feel is definitely still there, but in the end, “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” isn’t quite the sequel it wants to be.

NINERTIMES

END of summer Weenie Roast features Charlotte’s own alternative act Queen City’s Flagship takes the stage alongside some of rock’s biggest names

Patrick Bogans

STAFF WRITER

New Politics at the 2013 Weenie Roast. Photo by Patrick Bogans

Charlotte, it’s time to get your weenie roasted.

Local rock station 106.5 the END is bringing back their staple end of summer concert tradition to the PNC Music Pavilion this weekend. On Sept. 6, a variety of rock bands, from the well-known (Weezer, Fitz and the Tantrums) to the will-be-known (Flagship, Sir Sly), will hit the stage for the END of Summer Weenie Roast.

Fans of newer alternative rock will enjoy this lineup, similar to 2013’s; popular alternative acts such as 30 Seconds to Mars, AWOLNATION and New Politics were just a few of the acts that graced the stage at last year’s show.

Hot alternative bands like Wild Cub, Bear Hands and Charlotte’s own Flagship look to take on the stage and propel their name and sound to rock listeners in the Carolinas.

Flagship formed here in the Queen City in 2011, released an EP in 2012 and their debut self-titled LP hit shelves last July.

Singles like “Still I Wait” and “Are You Calling” from the respective releases have propelled them around

9

the world, with supporting and headlining tours through the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

“The music is slowly getting into people’s ears, and they are responding well. I hope we can keep spreading it through as many outlets as we can,” said lead guitarist and backing vocalist Matt Padgett.

Being on the Weenie Roast lineup is an exciting opportunity for the band in more ways than one: Flagship hasn’t had the opportunity to play the PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, and Padgett, like many others, gets to cross off Weezer from his concert bucket list.

Padgett says performing Charlotte’s featured rock concert will be a highlight for the band, getting to play alongside the aforementioned, as well as other up-and-coming rock acts on the scene.

“It feels so great to be on this lineup. We consider it an honor to play this event, and we are very excited to be at that venue with so many great bands,” said Padgett.

The END of Summer Weenie Roast kicks off at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6 at the PNC Music Pavilion.

ACROSS 1 Junk email 5 “A Streetcar __ Desire” 10 Talks and talks and talks 14 Strauss of denim 15 Double-reed instruments 16 Author __ Stanley Gardner 17 Fateful date for Caesar 18 Unlucky thing to draw 20 Poverty-stricken 22 Share and share __ 23 Banned apple spray 24 Solved, as a cryptogram 26 Tabletop game requiring steady hands 30 Witch trials town 31 Like a prof. emeritus 32 Narrate 36 Supermarket chain initials 37 McCain’s title

SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 9, 2014

41 Pizzeria order 42 Male offspring 44 Univ. proctors, often 45 Seat of New York’s Oneida County 47 Go on strike, in slang 51 Vehement speeches 54 Have in mind 55 “I’ll do whatever you need” 56 “Language” that gave us “amscray” 60 Menace who destroyed houses made of the ends of 18-, 26- and 47- Across 63 Common quitting time 64 List-shortening abbr.

65 “...had a farm,__” 66 Bullpen stats 67 Really annoy 68 Rose essence 69 Hankerings

DOWN 1 Got one’s uniform dirty, as a base runner 2 Feet pampering, briefly 3 State confidently 4 Error 5 “Never gonna happen” 6 Finds repugnant 7 Tieupinthe harbor 8 At any time, to Frost 9 Summer hrs.

10 “Amscray!”

11 Extra Dry deodorant 12 Eubie of jazz 13 Embroidered, e.g.

19 Potato bag 21 Future prunes, perhaps 24 Weight loss plan 25 Opposite of endo26 Trident-shaped Greek letters 27 “Othello” villain 28 Scottish family 29 Garbage 33 Larger-than-life 34 Kiss from a dog 35 Grazing grounds 38 Suffix with major or Smurf 39 D.C. baseball team 40 Beyond the burbs 43 Shuffling gait 46 “30 Rock” creator 48 Brainstorm 49 Wife of 27-Down 50 Request earnestly, as mercy 51 Potato or yam 52 “Lord, __?”: Matthew 53 Fit for a king 56 Couplet creator 57 Michelin product 58 Tennis great Lendl 59 Mythical monster’s loch 61 Org. with narcs 62 Oscar Wilde’s forte

NINERTIMES

INTERNATIONAL

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Meet Lou

Photo courtesy of Lou Fabra

Age: 20 Studies: German and English Hometown: Chambery, France Home university: Lyon 3 University Favorite color: Blue Favorite food: Chinese What do you miss most from home? At the moment, the food. And maybe the mountains too. And obviously my friends and family.

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From: Chambery, France

Corlene Beukes INTERN

With hundreds of international students on campus, UNC Charlotte boasts a uniquely diverse student body.

Check out this exclusive Niner Times Q&A with Lou Fabra, international student from France.

Q: Why did you choose to be part of an exchange?

A: I want to discover the world. I love traveling, and the agreement between the two universities is that I do not have to pay tuition or accommodations.

It was a perfect opportunity. I also want to be completely fluent in English so that was a huge motivator.

I believe that you should travel while you are young and meet as many people as possible, because when you are older you experience things differently. You can do so much more when you are young.

Q: What made you decide to come to UNC Charlotte?

A: I had to put down five universities as my options when I signed up for the exchange.

I went to the all universities in the States’ websites. UNC Charlotte stood out as it seemed really good.

I put UNC Charlotte down as an option and then my home university chose UNC Charlotte for me.

They had to spread out the exchange students as much as

possible, and I was lucky. I am enjoying it so much.

Q: What is the most prominent way in which your culture and American culture differs?

A: Everything is bigger, louder and so chaotic! For example, when I went to my first baseball game, there were fireworks, people talking over speakers the whole time and food everywhere.

People here are also very patriotic.

Q: What has been your most exciting moment on the exchange?

A: The first day of orientation when all the exchange students met each other. There were 28 different countries represented in the room.

It was unbelievable!

It was amazing to see so many people from totally different countries meet in one room. It

SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 9, 2014

seems so far away now, though, that day. But it has truly been only three weeks.

Q: What do you most look forward to here at UNC Charlotte and in America?

A: Right now, I think the upcoming football season. I do not know the rules at all, but it will be so exciting. Football is such a big part of the American culture, and I really want to experience it. I imagine that it will be a big gathering, everyone in green and gold. I really want to see that.

Q: What is something that you would like UNC Charlotte students to know about your home country?

A: We don’t stink! There is more than Paris, and we do take showers.

France is really cool. I encourage people to come visit France and experience it for themselves.

September’s book is

‘Wild’ by Cheryl Strayed Check back at the end of the month for a review Tweet us @niner_times or email lifestyle@nineronline.com to tell us your thoughts about the book

NINERTIMES

STRIKE A POSE Check out the benefits of yoga and some simple poses to kick-start your practice

Amanda Duke

Yoga is a great way to unwind after a long day of classes and work. Photo by Amanda Duke

ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR Yoga has been growing in popularity. It teaches breathing techniques and meditation, as well as stretching muscles. Some studies show that doing yoga leads to a healthier and happier lifestyle.

The practice of yoga started over 5,000 years ago and there are more than 100 different schools, or types,

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of yoga.

Some of these schools are Health Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Each school of yoga is different, but they all tie together in the sense that they focus on health and breathing techniques.

Yoga helps release stress which is one of the many reasons that people

practice it. You can improve your brain function and increase flexibility after just one class.

After a few months of practicing, you will lower your blood pressure and can relieve chronic back pain.

Once you have been practicing for a year, you will have stronger bones and lower risk of heart disease.

SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 9, 2014

Each different yoga pose has its own benefits for your health.

The warrior pose helps work on your balance and posture. It is usually used as a warm-up pose and there are different variations depending on your level of experience.

To do this pose, you get into a lunge position and put your body weight on your front foot. Turn your back foot on a little bit of an angle and place one arm in front of your body and the other behind it.

Different yoga poses have modifications so that you do not strain your body or hurt yourself when you first start practicing.

It is strongly recommended that you start with beginner’s poses rather than the harder ones to lessen your chance of getting hurt.

Extended triangle pose is a little like the warrior pose. To start, you get into a lunge position. If your right foot is in the front, place your right hand on your ankle. For a deeper stretch, put your hand on the floor.

When doing the extended triangle pose, you may feel unbalanced. A tip is to place your back foot against a wall to keep yourself from moving too much.

This pose is also good for relieving stress and back pains.

The tree pose is a great pose to do if you want to work on your balance.

For this pose you stand straight up and place the heel of one of your feet as far up as you can on your opposite legs thigh.

You then place your hands up-

NINERTIMES

YOGA, CONT. ward. You can also place your hands together above your head, but it is a little bit more difficult.

Sometimes beginners find that they cannot place their foot up on their thigh as high as others. You will still get the same benefits if you place your foot lower on your leg.

Once you become more comfortable with the pose, move your foot up your leg a little bit at a time.

One thing to be wary of is not to place the arch of your foot around

your knee. Either place the foot above or below the knee, whichever is best for your practice.

If you have tight quads, an aching back or tight hamstrings, you should do the low lunge, or runner’s lunge, pose.

To do this pose, get into a lunge position and lower your back leg’s shin to lie flat on the ground. Place all of your body weight on your front leg and place your hands above your head. If you have an aching back,

lean backwards a little bit while keeping your lower body in place.

If you are interested in yoga, there are a few places around campus that offer cheap classes.

If you do not have access to a car, there are classes Monday through Friday in the Student Activity Center. The classes are Mondays and Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:45 a.m. and again at 8 p.m.

There are also two yoga studios

nearby. Gotta Yoga Studio is located at 9359 Pinnacle Drive, Charlotte.

Their classes are $15 if you show up at the door, but it is recommended you sign up in advance. They also have $5 or $7 community classes in order to make yoga more affordable.

Another place to go is Yoga One located at 10039 University City Blvd., Charlotte, 28223. They have a first month special where you pay $31 for 31 days of classes.

Yoga poses and benefits Helps back pain. According to Self Magazine, people who did yoga twice a week for 90 minutes had reduced back pains by more than 50 percent in only a few months Better nights sleep. Doing yoga for 30 to 45 minutes before bed has been proven to help you fall asleep faster as well as get a better night’s sleep Keeps stress away. Doing yoga once or twice a week for a year will make you more relaxed and stress-free than if you never did yoga

Helps self-confidence. A study done at the University of California in Berkeley found that women practicing yoga had 20 percent better body satisfaction than those women who did aerobics Reduces migraines. Yoga has been proven to help reduce migraines within three to five months of beginning. The reasoning behind this is that in many yoga poses you lift your head and back high and doing that imbalances muscles that can cause headaches and migraines

Asthma. Doing yoga, you learn “how to breathe” and learn how to control your breathing. People with asthma have found yoga beneficial and do not have asthma attacks as often Clockwise from top left: Child’s pose, triangle pose, low runner’s lunge, warrior pose. Photos by Amanda Duke

Helps sculpt your body. Using weights is not the only way to sculpt your body. Yoga helps sculpt because you are using body weight when you switch poses. While doing some of the more difficult poses you sometimes are lifting your whole body weight Better posture: Because yoga focuses on proper alignment, continuous practice is sure to improve posture.

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SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 9, 2014

NINERTIMES