Niner Times: January 27, 2015

International ThermoDyne

This week in Infared, our new science and technology beat, we look at a new edition to EPIC, Tom Risser’s International ThermoDyne. p. 6

OP-ED: Coup in Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina president Tom Ross was ousted by Board of Governors. The only question now is, who should replace him? p. 8

Men’s basketball tournament drought

It’s been 10 years since the Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball team has seen an NCAA Tournament. What do the guys need to do to get a win? p. 9

If you want to act the part, you have to dress the part. Find out what to wear for Mock Interview Day on Jan. 30. p. 14

A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA • THE UNIVERSITY OF 2,NORTH JAN. 27 - FEB. 2015 CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE • VOL. 27, ISSUE 16 NINERTIMES.COM

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ALBERT SCHOLARS SBTDC INFARED OP-ED: FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION OP-ED: REMOVAL OF TOM ROSS

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Inaugural Albert Scholars named The two annual recipients will receive funding for the cost of tuition, housing and books as well as $6,000 stipends for study abroad and research Diane Gromelski COPY EDITOR

Once a student in The William States Lee College of Engineering, and now the director of the largest global and civil engineering company in the nation, Craig Albert is giving back to his alma mater by funding a merit-based scholarship program for upcoming innovators in the field of engineering.

The program, titled the Albert Engineering Leadership Scholars Program, was developed to instill marketable leadership qualities in its participants.

“I’ve seen how important leadership is in accomplishing great things, and I believe the best leaders in our country have good technical backgrounds in addition to good leadership skills. I think engineers, because of their technical background, have the potential to be the best leaders, so I want to teach engineers about leadership so they can leverage more than their own personal capability,” Albert said, according to a statement released by The William States Lee College of Engineering.

The Albert Scholars Program was inspired by the Levine Scholars Program, which offers full tuition and board among other benefits to outstanding incoming students from any major. Because the Levine program offers a limited

number of slots to engineering majors, those who are finalists for the Levine scholarship but do not receive the award are automatically entered into the applicant pool for the Albert scholarship.

To be eligible for the program, students must be incoming freshmen with majors in The William States Lee College of Engineering who are applying in the fall semester following graduation from high school. Applicants are evaluated based on their GPAs, standardized test scores, community service involvement and leadership potential.

As the inaugural recipients of the program, Corin Brown of Boone, N.C. and Henry Speaker of Takoma Park, Md., will receive funds for tuition, housing, meals and books as well as a $6,000 stipend for study abroad and summer research experiences.

Brown and Speaker will also have the opportunity to participate in the freshman learning community for engineers and the Lee College for Engineering Leadership Academy, a leadership development program that

Henry Speaker with a Formula One race car.

Photo courtesy of Henry Speaker

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includes several off-campus trips and the completion of a service project.

“A number of engineering leaders in business essentially get together with a few students who are in the academy to learn about what makes a leader really perform well in the field of engineering,” Speaker said.

“It helps contextualize all of the leadership skills we already have; it’s not the same thing as what you would get from a book. You get a better understanding of what kind of leadership is really needed in the engineering field.”

Speaker has always known he wanted to pursue a career in a scientific or technological field, but it was not until he began racing gokarts in high school that he realized his passion for motorsports.

“The engineer in me wanted to figure out ‘How is this all working?’ so in my free time I watched videos, went online and worked in an auto-repair shop because I wanted to learn how cars worked,” Speaker said. “I was really enjoying the understanding that came with it. I can build a mental picture in my head of what’s going on, and it’s very intuitive now.”

Inspired by his interest in chemistry and material science, Speaker said he hopes to spend a portion of his $6,000 experience stipend on researching materials that would make cars lighter and faster. He will use the remaining amount on studying abroad in Europe, the home of Formula One racing.

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Initially attracted to UNC Charlotte because of its motorsports program and proximity to the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Speaker decided to attend the school as soon as he opened his award letter in March. After he completes the Albert Scholars Program, Speaker said he wants to pursue a career as a race engineer.

“The race engineer works with the driver, helping them manage the car as much as possible. There are a lot of adjustments that they can make on the car based on what computers and data tell them to figure out what is best to win the race,” Speaker said. “Before the race, you set up a strategy to decide when the pit stops will be. During a race, the driver has a limited amount of fuel, so you help them conserve it, you manage the break and tire temperatures and you help mitigate any problems with the car.”

Speaker considers himself to be different from most engineering majors due to his interest in exploring a wide variety of disciplines, a quality he says is supported by the diverse academic community at UNC Charlotte.

“I know a lot of engineering students don’t like to take writing classes or liberal studies courses, but I like being able to go to classes that range from very technical or scientific like organic chemistry to something like history, or writing or literature,” Speaker said. “Having a diversity of strong programs that I can access is really nice. Engineering is great, but I like to experience a lot of different things beyond engineering.”

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POLICE BLOTTER JAN. 18 TO 25

CALL FOR SERVICE JAN. 24

• Alumni Way, police took a report regarding derogatory and racial slurs written on a student’s white board.

JAN. 25

• Martin Hall, subject was found passed out and determined to be intoxicated. He was arrested after becoming uncooperative, disruptive and non-complaint with medics.

LARCENY JAN. 18

• Student Activity Center, subject reported having his wallet stolen which was left unsecured in a public area.

VANDALISM JAN. 25

• South Village Deck, police took a report regarding two vehicles that were vandalized.

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

NEWS BRIEF Interested in Phi Beta Sigma’s annual Sleepout for the Homeless event? Check out our video coverage on

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weather.uncc.edu UNC CHARLOTTE METEOROLOGY PROGRAM

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ASST. NEWS EDITOR The following is a summary of the Jan. 22 meeting of the Student Government Association (SGA) Student Senate.

End of term for senators Senators have two months left in office before they must be reelected. SGA needs to recruit more senators and raise awareness of elections for anybody that is interested in running.

Health and Wellness Center fee Last semester, the UNC Charlotte Student Advisory Board commissioned a $3 fee for the 2015-17 school years. It was first approved by the Student Advisory Board and was then approved by the Board of Trustees. Now, the Board of Governors has also approved of the fee. It was originally created due to the overwhelming amount of support from the student body for the creation of a Health and Wellness Center.

Student Union address Student Body President Steven Serio will be holding a Student Union address next month.

He will be discussing some of the projects that SGA has accomplished and is currently working on.

Publicity and Outreach Committee The Publicity and Outreach Committee is concerned about getting more involved in gathering interest for SGA. They want to make SGA easier to approach during the election process so that any student who wants to run has that option.

The committee also wants to work towards getting more involved with the other branches of student government.

They are also partnering with local high schools to generate interest for UNC Charlotte and SGA. Apportionment Act Amendment The Apportionment Act Amendment increases the amount of student senate seats from 39 to 40. These seats will consist of 10 permanent seats, five at-large seats and five freshman seats.

The rest of the seats will be apportioned to the colleges.

There is also a conflict of what should be done with the Resident Student Advisor (RSA) seat.

The purpose of the RSA seat was to make sure that the students who lived on campus were being fairly represented in SGA. However, many organizations on campus feel that it is unethical that RSA have a

seat, but there is no seat reserved to represent the interests of other organizations.

Eligibility Act The Eligibility Act is designed to change the requirements necessary for senators to be eligible to the vice president and president seats. This act will issue two requirements that are necessary to become eligible.

It will raise the minimum GPA required and will implement a time requirement by which senators would have to serve on SGA for several years before being eligible. Currently, senators could be elected to the president and vice president seats without having any experience in the legislative branch.

Greek Village Stair Act The purpose of the Greek Village Stair Act is to allow for the construction of a staircase up the hill from Darryl McCall Circle to John Kirk Drive; this act will make it so there is a safe path for students to take from Greek Village to the recreational fields.

Academic Affairs Chairperson elected At-large senator Sam Polad was elected to be the Academic Affairs Chairperson by the other members of SGA.

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NINERTIMES

SBTDC SEES INCREASE IN STUDENT INTEREST AFTER MOVE TO PORTAL Chester Griffin

STAFF WRITER Originally located in the Ben Craig Center at the University Research Park, the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) recently relocated to UNC Charlotte’s Partnership, Outreach and Technology to Accelerate Learning (PORTAL) building on Jan. 4.

“One of the features of PORTAL was being able to pull together all the business and technology outreach components of the university under one roof, meaning Office of Technology Transfer, Ventureprise and ourselves,” said Regional Director of SBTDC George McAllister. “So we’re all in one location and able to work with area companies as well as students and faculty.”

Working within the PORTAL building, SBTDC hopes to become more involved with students.

“Since we’ve moved, we have definitely been able to work more with students as well as faculty members,” McAllister said. “Being on campus makes it a lot more convenient for us to interact with the students as well as faculty.”

McAllister finds himself pleasantly surprised by the large number of students interested in the services they offer.

“We have a lot of students out there that are interested in starting their own businesses and

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surprisingly, to us, there are quite a few students who are already in business,” McAllister said.

“They have businesses in which we are able to work with because we provide businesses counseling services free of charge to students as well as faculty and the general public.”

These counselors are prepared to help businesses with needs such as marketing, funding, managing employees and international trade.

As regional director, some of McAllister’s responsibilities include being involved in business community activities, supporting the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, marketing SBTDC services and working with the clients they currently have.

“We reach out to the business community, making sure the local businesses are aware of everything that UNC Charlotte has to offer,” McAllister said.

SBTDC will also add a technology commercialization counselor to their staff early this year.

“This counselor will help companies that have new inventions or technologies they want to commercialize or start producing and selling,” McAllister said.

McAllister also mentioned how SBTDC helps students get involved with companies offering internships.

“The MBA school offers a course

The PORTAL building, new home to SBTDC. Photo by Chris Crews

where students can work and conduct a consulting study for our clients. So these students are actually assigned companies in this region that have issues, and these student teams come up with recommendations on how these companies can resolve their issues,” McAllister said. “We’re trying to not only make the business community aware of what the university is doing, but also look at ways we can bring students whether undergrad or graduate into the business community.”

According to McAllister, students involved in the MBA internship have a chance of finding employment.

JAN. 27 - FEB. 2, 2015

“In some cases, the students get hired, they’ll do the coursework and owners say ‘Wow, you’ve done a great job,’ and sometimes they get hired.”

On average, SBTDC sees a little over 1,000 clients a year.

“We have clients who we work with a couple times, maybe only three, four, five hours and then we have clients that are with us for five, 10, 15 years,” McAllister said.

Now operating from within the PORTAL building, SBTDC will likely see an increase in numbers over the 2015 year.

For more information regarding SBTDC and their services, visit: http://www.sbtdc.org/.

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Infared: science and technology beat International ThermoDyne brings power to EPIC

Edward Averette

STAFF WRITER For Tim Risser, the world is full of limitless energy. The International ThermoDyne co-founder envisions a world in which batteries and chargers are obsolete in a new electronic age, a world where heat and motion alone can power electronic devices and could one day end our unyielding dependence on finite energy forms.

However in 2015, that world hasn’t come to fruition just yet.

“Generally what we’re working towards is electronic devices that never need to be plugged in again,” Risser said.

In December, the Charlotte-based startup, International ThermoDyne, announced a collaboration with UNC Charlotte, which involves developing their foremost innovative effort−−PowerFelt. PowerFelt was originally the brainchild of Wake Forest University materials physicist David Carroll, who created the clothlike material five years ago at Wake Forest’s NanoCenter.

During the initial stages of development, Caroll wrapped plastic fibers around minute-sized carbon nanotubes, which are arranged into the three layers and connected in a z-shape. These carbon nanotubes serve as a potent electric conductor, which allows the flexible fabric to absorb heat and transfer motion into usable and unlimited energy.

“This is sort of the first step towards green energy everywhere,” Risser said.

The cloth-like PowerFelt operates on the heat differential between the surface temperature of an object (e.g. body) and the relative room temperature to generate an electric charge. PowerFelt can also draw power from motion, noises or vibrations, which can come in handy during a sweat-inducing workout or a breezy, short walk to class. However, there’s just one caveat: while a thicker PowerFelt means more power, without

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an energy source in the form of heat or motion, there is no power.

Despite this, PowerFelt has many potential applications for college students and for those beyond the realm of ivory towers. In addition to providing unlimited energy, the fabric could be applied to smart phones, tablets, cars, household appliances and sensors.

“If you think about it, there’s virtually unlimited free energy around us everyday. We’re not tapping into that,” Risser said. “The sun produces and rains down on the earth more energy everyday than we have ever consumed since man has been on the planet. There’s a lot to be harvested.”

International ThermoDyne selected UNC Charlotte as a prime destination to continue development on PowerFelt, as the year-old startup sought resources such as development labs and equipment.

“We sort of informally worked with some of the professors who had some space in [Energy Production Infrastructure Center] EPIC,” Risser said. “We have several students that we have engaged with and we’ve had some special projects from time to time.”

One of the initial issues with PowerFelt and its production results from being a primarily hand-made product, which has limited its output.

“This is a material that’s never been made before, so everything we do, we stub our toes,” Risser said. “I wouldn’t call them problems, let’s call them opportunities in the development process. That’s what makes it fun and exciting and that’s why we do this—to solve problems that need to be solved.”

While Risser and his team are still working on developing PowerFelt, which isn’t currently mass produced, Risser says we can begin to expect seeing PowerFelt-enhanced products in two to three years. For now the charger-less world of the future must wait.

NINERTIMES

Going at your own pace The typical four-year graduation plan, though doable for some, is becoming more unrealistic

Selim Ayyildiz INTERN

Wake up at six in the morning, brush your teeth in the shower and pick out clothes with one eye open as the other one catches up on sleep – a quick daily routine in order to make it on time for that long day ahead. It seems like the older we get, the shorter the day becomes. We are always in a rush, trying to get everything done in the quickest manner.

We live for that satisfying feeling of knowing that everything on the to-do list is marked off. But are the sleepless nights needed to finish that “big” paper really that serious? Is a speeding ticket in order to make it to work on time really worth it? Really think about this next rhetorical question. Is rushing through college to make that fouryear deadline actually realistic?

Yes, I know many people have done it before, but is it really the best course of action for everyone?

No, I don’t think so. It’s the natural thinking of the same society that forces us to believe that standardized tests measure our value. It’s just perceived that people who graduate in four years are the successful ones.

However, the amount of time it takes someone to graduate from college does not guarantee a successful future. In fact, graduating alone doesn’t completely guarantee that future.

As students, we strain ourselves to be that perfect kid that every parent wants. As ideal as it would be to graduate within four years, sometimes it’s just not meant to be. It’s already hard enough juggling our awkward social lives, managing to stay alive with our minimum wage jobs and keeping our perfect little reputations as perfect as they can be for our parents. Now imagine topping all that with 18 credit hours. Each class consumes about an hour and 15 minutes, not including the excessive amount of work outside of class. It’s overwhelming, but somehow, some of us manage to do it.

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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On the other hand, some students are already in their fifth year trying to complete that last bit of classes – and that’s completely understandable. Often, students go into college with a certain major in mind, but by junior year and after three change of major forms, there’s no other choice but to take more classes and push back graduation. In other circumstances, taking five classes a semester can be very difficult. Everyone has different stress levels, and some people are simply better under pressure,.

I’m not trying to encourage anyone to stop setting goals for that four-year plan, but I’m simply trying to saying that it’s understandable if you don’t. Everyone has their own pace and methods. College is meant for our own personal enrichment, so wouldn’t it make sense to set our own goals and follow our own pace?

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COUP IN

CHAPEL HILL The UNC Board of Governors forces out Tom Ross, likely for someone more conservative

Casey Aldridge

STAFF WRITER Just over a week ago, the UNC Board of Governors – governing 17 universities across the state, including UNC Charlotte – became a cadre for right-wing conservatism.

The board voted to essentially oust its current president, Tom Ross, and in doing so, open the job for someone further to the right and further from the interests of students, faculty, staff and communities on campus.

Now, I could write an entire article criticizing Ross’s tenure as president and his track record. I’ve worked closely with the North Carolina Student Power Union during my time as a student and have friends working as a part of the UNC Board of Governors Democracy Coalition, and the board under Ross has more often than not been a target of our work for approving tuition hikes, capping the amount of need-based financial aid institutions could provide and threatening valuable on-campus centers at universities around the state, from the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History to the Carolina Women’s Center.

The longer list includes centers on poverty, indigenous rights and the environment, and it’s clear that the board’s decision to target these centers was a political act.

Ross – himself a political moderate or centrist – presided over an increasingly politicized and reactionary board. But he did often serve as the “last line of defense” for

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vulnerable and marginalized degree and aid programs.

He did have a progressive legacy in making the UNC system “go green,” and even if he wasn’t the kind of president to stand up to the General Assembly and his fellow board members, my interactions with him always left the impression he would at least listen to concerns.

Don’t count on that from the next president of the board. With the seismic political realignment taking place in North Carolina, we can be sure this move was a coup. The board has declined to give their reasoning for asking Ross to leave, but they’ve publicly ruled out age – Ross is 65 years old – and I’m more inclined to believe his merits and governance were too incompatible with the recent right-wing appointees to the board. Chairman John Fennebresque has denied this too, but then again, of course he would.

Now the search is on for Ross’s successor. Names like Art Pope, the conservative kingmaker of North Carolina politics, have been rumored. Although Pope has publicly denied any interest in the job, he just stepped down a month or two ago from his position as budget director for the state, and his ambitions may be set on the UNC system.

If he – or any similarly ideological candidates – surface as Board of Governors president, then students and faculty are in trouble. Austerity is set to accelerate, education quality

Dr. Angela Davis speaks to Charlotte high school students in February 2013.

Photo courtesy of Tribune News Service

and offering to deteriorate and tuition and fees to skyrocket.

Ultimately though, it is still unclear who will come out on top of this “Chapel Hill coup.” My fear tells me that if it isn’t Art Pope, it will be someone of his nature, just as willing to privatize the remnants of North Carolina’s once legendary public university system.

I hope I’m wrong, but as Pope is the only name I’ve heard in rumors circulating the affair, I’ll offer my own suggestion: Dr. Angela

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Davis – a feminist, communist, Black Panther and academic who recently spoke about civil rights and intersectionality in Chapel Hill. I, for one, think she’d make a great UNC system president – an “anti-Pope.” I know, she doesn’t have any close ties to the UNC system, but a handful of you don’t either.

To the Board of Governors: offer the post to Dr. Angela Davis, and you’ll prove this wasn’t a right-wing political coup in Chapel Hill.

NINERTIMES

STATE OF CHARLOTTE

The Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball team is in the midst of a 10-year NCAA Tournament drought with no end in sight

Matt Chapman

SPORTS EDITOR The Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball team currently sits with an 8-11 overall record and an even more disappointing 2-5 mark in Conference-USA action. The 49ers have not made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament since the 2004-05 season and fans in the Queen City have become restless with the mediocre product put forth on the court year after year.

The 2014-15 squad, like so many others in the past, showed promise in the preseason behind a roster loaded with talent and a senior floor general in point guard Pierria Henry. The 49ers looked so good on paper in fact, that they were picked to finish third in the C-USA preseaosn poll despite another lackluster season a year ago.

Unfortunately, Niner Nation has once again seen their lofty expectations come crashing down to reality. After losing five of their first seven games in a less-than-stellar C-USA, Charlotte will need a miracle late season surge, culminating with a conference tournament title to have any hope of their first March Madness berth in a decade.

It’s been a tumultuous season on and off the court for the 49ers, who are now being led by interim head coach Ryan Odom. Head coach Alan Major has taken a second medical leave of absence in just a matter of months.

Major, who appears to be firmly on the hot seat now in his fifth season, departed from the team on Jan. 6 following a loss to Old Dominion in the conference opener. Charlotte hasn’t fared much better under Odom’s leadership, losing four of six games.

It’s not just the fact that they’re losing games, it’s the way in which they’re coming up short. The 49ers appear disinterested from the opening tip, digging a hole for themselves in the early minutes of the game. Odom has made adjustments to the starting five in the past two games, but the same problems continue to plague his team.

Despite the slow starts, the 49ers have had plenty of opportunities late in games. Charlotte has blown late leads in each of their past three outings, including a five-point lead with 3:32 remaining against Middle Tennessee in their most recent contest.

The 49ers’ struggles this season are truly puzzling when you look at the size and athleticism up and down the roster.

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Pierria Henry in 2013. NT File Photo

Henry, a four-year starter at the point guard position, makes his presence felt all over the court.

His tendency to take bad shots and his abysmal .245 3-point shooting percentage have kept him from developing into one of the best guards in the country.

Braxton Ogbueze, a highly sought after recruit who played his freshman season with the Florida Gators, has also been hampered by an inconsistent jump shot this season.

Ogbueze exploded early in the season with two games of 25-plus points during non-conference play. Since then he’s seen his shooting percentage fall to just 38 percent, lowest on the team among players averaging at least 10 minutes per game.

Terrence Williams, Charlotte’s other senior leader alongside Henry, continues to struggle to find his place in the offense. Williams has had his moments, including a 17-point performance against University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) on Thursday evening, but he also disappears far too often in games in which Charlotte needs his four years of experience.

Willie Clayton and Mike Thorne Jr. are each JAN. 27 - FEB. 2, 2015

averaging nearly nine points and seven rebounds per game, but the 49ers surely expected more out of the duo that had the potential to be the best front-court in C-USA. Thorne Jr. showed signs of dominance early in the season, posting 23 points and 16 rebounds against South Carolina, but he’s been missing in action for most of the year.

Both players are absolute liabilities at the free throw line, shooting under 50 percent on the season. Clayton leads the team with 84 free throw attempts this year, yet he has connected on just 35 shots at the charity stripe. Charlotte’s inability to capitalize on these free points has crippled them down the stretch in close games this season.

Perhaps the lone bright spot of the season thus far has been the play of the 49ers’ two true freshmen, Keyshawn Woods and Torin Dorn.

Dorn, an athletic wing player who can jump out of the gym, leads the team in scoring at 12.7 points per game. He delivered a monster performance on the road against conference leader Western Kentucky, tallying career-highs with 26 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

Woods, the future point guard after Henry graduates, is a deadly 3-point shooter. He leads the team in 3-point shooting percentage, knocking down half of his 68 attempts from beyond the arc.

In his lone start of the season against UAB, Woods led the 49ers in scoring with 18 points.

The future for the Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball program would appear to be in good hands with Woods and Dorn, but Charlotte has struggled to hold on to their players in recent years. Darion Clark, Denzel Ingram and Marcus Bryan have all transferred in the past two offseasons, and a handful of other players have been dismissed for various reasons during Major’s tenure.

Major remains under contract with the 49ers through the 2017-18 season after receiving a three-year extension from Athletics Director Judy Rose following Charlotte’s National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearance in 2012. His recent health concerns have made it unclear whether he will return to the team once healthy, but a lack of production on the court has fans and students alike clamoring for a change of direction with the program.

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HILLARY SIGMON REACHES MILESTONE IN LOSS TO UAB HILLARY SIGMON SURPASSES 1,000 CAREER POINTS AS THE 49ERS’ COMEBACK FALLS SHORT

Stephanie Smith

STAFF WRITER After coming off of a road sweep in Texas, the Charlotte 49ers’ (7-11, 3-3) hot streak was snapped on Thursday night by University of Alabama at Birmingham (9-8, 3-3). The Blazers defeated Charlotte 60-52, earning their first win against the 49ers since 2001.

“Very disappointed in our effort tonight. I think tonight was a direct reflection of how we practiced this week,” 49ers head coach Cara Consuegra said.

Energy spewed from the Charlotte players from the opening tip.

Charlotte turned up the heat defensively by forcing three turnovers on UAB’s first three possessions.

In only five minutes of play, Charlotte had four players in the scoring column.

After both teams got settled into the game, the UAB Blazers started to dominate under the basket. However, the 49ers tried to find their offensive rhythm.

“In the first half we went back to some of our old habits of not screening well which is a direct reflection of our shooting at 36 percent for the game,” Consuegra

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said.

Even though Charlotte’s offense was inconsistent and sloppy at times, Lefty Webster kept the 49ers within striking distance as she hit a 3-pointer and a couple of jump shots.

At the 10-minute mark UAB led Charlotte 18-16. Although it was a back and forth battle, the Blazers’ strong rebounding and presence under the basket was the difference maker in the opening minutes.

Charlotte continued to struggle offensively as they went on a fourminute scoring drought.

The Blazers, on the other hand, capitalized and went on an 8-0 run in the final minutes before halftime.

Hillary Sigmon, who entered the game 17 points shy of reaching 1,000 points for her career, only had four points in the first half. Sigmon got in foul trouble with six minutes remaining and did not return to the game until after the break.

“It was the same as any other game,” said Sigmon on her mindset going into the game.

“I did not want to worry about it, I just wanted to go out and play.”

At the half, the 49ers were led

by Webster who had seven points

Hillary Sigmon is the 20th player in program history to record 1,000 career points Photo by Benjamin Robson

and Alexis Alexander who had four rebounds. As a team, Charlotte shot an atrocious 26 percent from the field.

The UAB Blazers were led by Miranda Burroughs, who had nine points, and Brittany Winborne, who had six rebounds.

The Blazers shot 55 percent from the field and out-rebounded the 49ers 19-16. UAB had seven players in the scoring column as they attacked Charlotte from every position on the floor.

As the second half got underway, Charlotte was able to score on their first two possessions. Sigmon provided a spark to the offense when she hit two shots to end the long scoring drought.

The Blazers continued their balanced offensive attack as guards Cheslee Black and Janae Williams emerged as a scoring threats.

The 49ers kept grinding on both ends of the floor to keep pace with the Blazers.

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“We did not quit. That is what I love about my team,” said Conseugra.

With 10 minutes remaining, Charlotte was struggling through another scoring drought and they trailed 42-29 as UAB started to pull away.

Alexander ended the 49ers scoring drought by knocking down three consecutive shots. Her six quick points ignited a Charlotte comeback.

As time dwindled down with less than three minutes remaining, Sigmon swished three short jump shots and a 3-pointer which brought the crowd to their feet.

On Sigmon’s last shot of the night with less than a minute left in regulation, she reached the 1000 career point mark.

Her teammates erupted on the sideline as they were all aware of the milestone she had just achieved.

Despite the late surge by the 49ers, UAB was able to hit two key jump shots to seal the game with a final score of 60-52.

NINERTIMES

49ers over-matched against Middle Tennessee The Charlotte 49ers women’s basketball team suffered a 30-point beatdown at the hands of the Blue Raiders Scott Gordon

STAFF WRITER The Charlotte 49ers women’s basketball team welcomed the Blue Raiders from Middle Tennessee State University Saturday afternoon for the early noon tipoff. Kira Gordon led the way for the 49ers with 19 points and 11 rebounds, but it was not enough as Charlotte fell 8454 to Middle Tennessee.

“I thought Middle Tennessee played very well,” said 49ers head

coach Cara Consuegra after the game.

“They were picked as the top team in our league for a reason and we had major concerns coming into this game on how to guard (Cheyenne) Parker and (Olivia) Jones. Parker is a huge mismatch for us because of her size and length. Obviously they had very good games against us which made it difficult.”

Kira Gordon recorded her fourth career double-double in the loss Saturday. Photo by Ben Coon

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Charlotte (7-12, 3-4) started the game off playing really well. Ayanna Holmes got one of her four steals of the afternoon in the first minute of play before feeding a beautiful pass to Lefty Webster for the transition layup that gave Charlotte the 2-0 lead.

The 49ers continued to keep up the pace getting out to a 15-7 advantage with 14:53 remaining in the first half. From that point on, however, it was all Middle Tennessee.

The Blue Raiders (12-5, 6-1) went on a 40-8 run to close out the half, taking a 47-23 lead to the locker room.

Middle Tennessee’s defensive intensity made it extremely difficult for the 49ers to get many good shots and even when the shot was there, the ball could not find the bottom of the net.

Charlotte shot a poor 25 percent from the field in the first half going 7-28 from the floor. The Blue Raiders forced 10 Charlotte turnovers in the first half, which led to 18 points on the other end.

Charlotte shot a better 43 percent in the second half but they were not able to keep Middle Tennessee from scoring.

Cheyenne Parker and the Conference USA leading scorer, Olivia Jones, both had a big day for the Blue Raiders scoring 30 and 20 points respectively.

At one point the 49ers cut the lead to 18 at 69-51, but again Middle Tennessee went on a big run that killed any momentum for the home

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team. Charlotte finished the game with only nine team assists and 22 turnovers, a recipe for disaster, especially against a team like Middle Tennessee, which was the preseason favorite to win the C-USA title.

Gordon was one of the few bright spots for the 49ers on the evening as she picked up her fourth career double-double.

“I’m just trying to be aggressive and crash the boards,” said Gordon after the game.

“Trying to run to the rim a lot and run in transition and get easy shots.”

She played 37 minutes of aggressive basketball, but the rest of the 49ers could not match her energy.

“This is probably the worst we’ve played this year,” said Consuegra.

“I know I have a locker room of disappointed players and now we got to make a decision about are we going to take that disappointment and use it as fuel for us to improve or are we going to stay disappointed.”

Consuegra knows that her young team is still a work-in-progress and they will continue to build toward the future, she said.

“We have to get back in the gym.

We have to get back to work and understand that we are a better team than what we showed today.”

Charlotte will now travel down to the sunshine state for games against Florida Atlantic and Florida International.

The game against Florida Atlantic is Thursday, Jan. 29 and is slated for a 7 p.m. tip-off.

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‘KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE’

THE MOST FUN YOU’LL HAVE AT THE MOVIES Hunter Heilman

STAFF WRITER I will never cease to see films as a form of entertainment. Enter “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” a movie that plays on the best of both action and comedy, combining British humor and American violence with a stellar cast to bring what should be the most fun movie experience of 2015 early on, or could it be the most fun ever?

An interesting aspect of “Kingsman: The Secret Service” is that amongst the award-winning cast of Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Michael Caine, Samuel L. Jackson and more, the main character of the film is played by a complete newcomer. Taron Egerton plays Eggsy, our delinquent protagonist drafted by Harry Hart (Firth) to test for a position in The Kingsman, an elite, super-secret espionage agency protecting the world. Being a fairly atypical chap, Eggsy fails to fit in with his other competition as he is of noble standing. Egerton has an immediate charm and likability that makes this character one of the easiest to root for in recent memory.

Firth gives a dignified and badass supporting performance that is the perfect compliment to Egerton’s roughness. Jackson gives one of the most entertaining performances as a villain as well, utilizing a hilarious lisp and disdain for violence despite his obsession with destroying the world. Strong also turns in a solid performance as the incredibly

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likable and funny sidekick, Merlin.

By now you’ve realized that “Kingsman: The Secret Service” is not to be taken seriously. What the film does well is staying ahead of the audience; the film features some of the most unexpected scenes of chaos I’ve seen in a movie ever and pulls it off with an air of English grace unlike anything I’ve seen before. The violence is gratuitous, the language is vulgar, the chaos is palpable and it’s exactly what the action genre needed, especially the spy genre, which of late has been taking itself FAR too seriously.

The only real issue that I had with the movie was that it wasn’t made in 3-D, which would’ve heightened the over-the-top experience even more.

I found that after all the insane fun I had with “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” it still stood as a well-made, well-acted and beautifully designed film. Director Matthew Vaughn (“Kick-Ass,” “X-Men: First Class”) has been building his repertoire’s chaos peaking in this beautiful film.

The film oozes cool, with a debonair twist that makes it all the more unique. At the end of the day, when it’s all said and done, even if someone leaves the movie dissatisfied (I don’t know how, but it will happen), they will still be able to admit the film has creativity and originality, even on top of it’s comic book origins and satirical borrowing.

It’s obviously far too early to call this one of the best films of the year, but I can two things in full confidence: 1. I (most definitely likely) will not have more fun at the movies than I did with this one for a LONG time, and 2.

It will AT LEAST make my honorable mentions on my “Best of 2015” list, the rest of 2015 still withstanding. The film is an insane mix of classic 007, “Kick-Ass,” “Grand Theft Auto” and “Skins” all rolled into one film, and that might be one of the best compliments you could give a film that’s attempting to entertain the audience as much as “Kingsman: The Secret Service.”

JAN. 27 - FEB. 2, 2015

Colin Firth in ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service.’

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

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Friday Night Live Comedy Series: Ronny Jordan and Jarrod Harris

Ronny Jordan at After Hours. Photo by Linnea Stoops

Hunter Heilman

STAFF WRITER My addiction to comedy shows on Netflix has left me a bit hardened to acts that don’t make me laugh hysterically or relate in a scarily accurate manner. Going into my first Friday Night Live comedy series was a little concerning. How could people that aren’t super famous be funny and I not know about them? Judging by how sore my stomach was when I left, I think I set the bar too low.

Jarrod Harris and Ronny Jordan have two different comedy styles.

The night started with Harris’s act.

While Harris did pale to Jordan, Harris’s style of awkward redneck comedy resulted in some genuine laughs, including one involving a Vietnamese karaoke bar, Chickfil-A and selling a pancake on Craigslist. Something is telling me that maybe you had to be there for it to make sense. Sometimes I felt the awkward pauses lasted a bit too long, and the order of the jokes could’ve been rearranged, but overall, Harris was better than I

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expected of a college comedian.

Jordan on the other hand, delivered non-stop, gut-busting laughs from the second he stepped on stage to his final bows. Jokes ranging from food, to losing weight, to relationships and having a child, Jordan tapped into the vein of a college student, without overstepping anything to appear like one of those comedians who tries desperately to connect to no avail.

Jordan’s comedy was sharp and quick and felt incredibly natural to watch, which makes all the difference when a comedian can feel comfortable with his own jokes. Jordan connected with the audience early on, which always is the most effective way to ensure a successful performance, even if all of your jokes don’t stick.

I left FNL very impressed; I expected few chuckles from low-rent comedians, but I left with a genuine show, with genuine comedians who love their jobs.

ACROSS 1 Parking lot fillers 5 “Me too!”

10 Cutlass automaker 14 Nike competitor 15 Valuable violin, for short 16 Genesis or Exodus, e.g.

17 Like the 1920s-’30s, economically 19 Wild revelry 20 Audition hopefuls 21 Enjoyed a sail, say 23 Indian melodies 24 Excellent work 27 Dean’s email suffix 28 Japanese sash 30 Back of a flipped coin 31 2,000 pounds 32 Uncooked 34 Greek messenger of the gods 35 Dramatic weightloss program

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38 Geek Squad member 41 Fireworks reaction 42 EPA-banned pesticide 45 Roger who broke Babe Ruth’s record 46 Refusals 48 Prior to, in poems 49 Deadeye with a rifle 53 “A Doll’s House” playwright 55 Decorative inlaid work 56 Watchful Japanese canines 57 Comet Hale-__ 59 Hectic pre-deadline period 61 Thought from la tête 62 Hayes or Hunt 63 Slaughter in the Baseball Hall of Fame 64 Surrender, as territory 65 Grab 66 Emailed

DOWN 1 Musical set at the Kit Kat Club 2 Guacamole fruit 3 Tear gas weapon 4 Margaret Mead subject 5 Georgia and Latvia, once: Abbr.

6 Horseplayer’s haunt, for short 7 Island near Curaçao 8 Perry in court 9 Convention pin-on 10 Section of a woodwind quintet score 11 Conrad classic 12 Guard that barks 13 Big __ Country: Montana 18 Approximately 22 One-to-one student 24 Prejudice 25 Corrida cry 26 Undergraduate degrees in biol., e.g.

29 Scottish hillside 33 Detective’s question 34 Sunshine cracker 35 Massachusetts city crossed by four Interstates 36 Insurance covers them 37 “Please stop that” 38 Film lover’s TV choice 39 Corn serving 40 Hardly roomy, as much airline seating 42 Preordain 43 “It’ll never happen!”

44 Most uptight 47 Many a Punjabi 50 Goldman __: investment banking giant 51 New employee 52 Eyelike openings 54 Tugs at a fishing line 56 Clearasil target 57 Clic Stic pen maker 58 Poem that extols 60 Pince-__ glasses

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DRESS TO IMPRESS WITH MOCK INTERVIEW DAY JUST AROUND THE CORNER, USE THESE TIPS TO DRESS PROFESSIONAL AS WELL AS COMFORTABLE Vivian Westra

STAFF WRITER Mock Interview Day is on Friday, Jan. 30, and that means it is time to pick out the perfect outfit to make the best first impression with companies upon your mock interview.

When dressing for Mock Interview Day, think about wearing something a little more on the conservative side. Your clothing should keep you feeling comfortable as well as confident all day.

Cardigan or sweater

Dress/skirt and blazer A simple dress and blazer is a girls go-to outfit for interviews.

A dress with a pattern or many colors may not be appropriate for an interview, but when you add a simple black or navy blue blazer, it makes your outfit simpler.

Try wearing a patterned dress with a simple blazer, simple jewelry and a pair of nude or black heals. The color will make you stand out and the blazer will make it look more professional.

A skirt and a blazer is just as great as a dress and blazer. This outfit helps your personality shine by wearing a skirt with a pattern. Be sure to stay away from anything too crazy.

Don’t wear a skirt that is meant for a night out at the club.

Lean towards a longer flowy skirt.

For the matching blouse, try to stray away from super sheer and low-cut shirts or anything that shows your midrift or belly.

Be sure to only pick clothing that fits loosely, nothing bodycon or too tight. Your interviewer should be focused on what you’re saying, not how tight or loud your clothes are.

Photo by Eden Creamer

If it is too warm for a blazer, try swapping it out for a cardigan.

Ladies can wear a simple shirt and skirt and wear a lightly colored cardigan to stand out among the crowd a bit, while guys can pair the cardigan with a thin tie and well-fitting pants.

Another idea is to wear a sweater. A sweater with a simple pattern or light colors adds a little bit of excitement to your traditional interview outfit.

Don’t be afraid to play with contrast when using a sweater or cardigan instead of a blazer. You’re going non-traditional, so play it up while still keeping professional.

Piercings and tattoos

Photo by Vivian Westra

Remember when preparing for the interview, remove all visible body piercings and cover up all tattoos. Even though it may seem unfair, many people are overlooked because of their appearance, especially those with tattoos and/or piercings.

DRESS TO IMPRESS, continued on page 16

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JAN. 27 - FEB. 2, 2015

NINERTIMES

‘Paper Towns’ by John Green Michelle Carpenter

LIFESTYLE EDITOR If “The Fault in Our Stars” captured your heart, John Green’s next novel to get a movie adaptation should be on your “to read” list.

“Paper Towns” is set in Orlando, Fla. during Quentin “Q” Jacobson’s senior year of high school. After a night out playing pranks and breaking numerous laws with his neighbor and former best friend Margo Roth Spieglmann, Q’s life becomes consumed by her.

Margo’s character puts a new spin on the traditional “girl next door” stereotype. Rather than being the picture perfect homecoming queen and head cheerleader, she has a more complex and almost darker character. Green really spent time delving into each and every one of his characters. It is apparent that they play off of the numerous stereotypes that appear in high school, but there is a quirk to each of them.

Within the two hours between Q’s crawling into bed after their adventure and waking up for school, Margo disappears. Q soon discovers she has left a trail of clues that would lead him to her, if only he can piece them together in the right way.

Green’s creativity really shines through with the way he puts together these clues. Their complexity is astonishing. This aspect of the novel shows that he is an author who cares about

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JAN. 27 - FEB. 2, 2015

his work, right down to the smallest, most trivial of details.

Throughout the rest of the novel, Q is torn between finding Margo and enjoying the end of senior activities like prom and graduation. Q eventually discovers the things that are really important in life and that people are not always what we imagine them to be in our heads.

Green writes with a style that is both deep and approachable. He utilizes metaphors and connects almost every aspect of his stories to a deeper meaning.

However, his narrative is strong enough to stand alone and be an incredible story without needing to be analyzed for its larger significance.

The idea of “Paper Towns” plays a large role in the novel, hence the title. Paper towns are not real places, but only places on maps that cartographers put on there to prevent copyright infringement. The way this idea plays into the novel is really interesting and gives readers a lot to think about.

Green has a knack for sucking readers in. Dive into “Paper Towns” and when you look up again, you’ll find your day is gone. The young adult genre is taking the literary world by storm and Green’s novel is another prime example of how the genre really is ageless.

The film adaptation is set to be released on June 5, 2015.

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DRESS TO IMPRESS, cont.

Makeup, perfume, accessories and hair Overall, less is more here.

For makeup, a more natural look will prevent the interviewer from getting distracted by your face. Keep it simple with light eyeshadow, mascara and light lipstick for the perfect look.

When wearing perfume, be sure that you do not overdo it. No one wants to sit in a room for too long when the only thing they can smell is another person’s perfume, no matter how good it smells.

Be sure all jewelry and accessories compliment your outfit and don’t overdo it. This goes for girls and necklaces, bracelets, earrings, belts, etc., and guys with ties, tie clips, cuff links, etc.

When it comes to your hair, it should be clean, conservative and not distracting. Ladies should either put their hair up, style with curls or straighten. Guys need to make sure their hair is out of their face, styled professionally and kept clean.

By keeping your hair simple, you will not worry about how it looks the whole time. When getting ready for an interview, style your hair nicely, but wear it in a way that you usually do. This will prevent you from touching your hair during the interview.

NT File Photo

Slacks or tights When you go for an outfit that has a nice pair of pants, whether you’re a man or woman, make sure your pants fit properly and compliment both your body and outfit, while not being too form-fitting. Dress pants as a whole should be less fitting than skinny jeans, but better fitting than sweatpants. There is a very delicate medium here that you must find. Many department stores offer to size you if you are unsure what size pants best fit your body.

Also make sure that your pants are in a simple, neutral color and that they match your shirt, blazer or cardigan. Black, beige, navy or shades of gray frequently look best.

For ladies opting to wear a dress, a pair of tights can look skillful as well as chic. Find a dress that is the perfect length and pair it with tights for some extra coverage. This outfit is great for showing your personality through your outfit. By wearing a simple color, such as black, brown or navy, with matching tights, you can let your personality shine though by adding accessories and an awesome pair of shoes.

Remember though, that this is a job interview not a night out at the club. Be sure to not over do your outfit and still keep it simple.

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JAN. 27 - FEB. 2, 2015

NINERTIMES