Niner Times: April 14, 2015 by Niner Times

SPRING FEVER Student Government funding violations

During the 2014-15 year, SGA withheld funding from student organizations, due to violations against the Financial Procedures Act. How can your organization avoid this? p. 5

OP-ED: Black girls do indeed rock

Black Entertainment Television’s annual award show “Black Girls Rock” sparked social media criticism. As it happens, black girls do, in fact, rock. p. 10

Get ready for warmer weather with this preview of all things spring

What to expect when you expected

Raise a newborn and finish college? Is it impossible? No. Is it difficult? Oh yeah. p. 17

WOMEN’S TENNIS

DOMINATES

Coming off a successful season, the Charlotte 49ers women’s tennis team will travel to Houston, Texas this week. p. 11

A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA • THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE • VOL. 27, ISSUE 26 APRIL 14 - 20, 2015 NINERTIMES.COM

APRIL 14 - 20, 2015

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April 14 through 20, 2015

V O L U M E 2 7, N U M B E R 2 6

4 5 7 9 10 11

JOEL WARREN SGA, BLOTTER, WEATHER YAMILKA BAEZRIVERA, PH.D OP-ED: MEDIA SPIN OP-ED: BLACK GIRLS ROCK

12 15 16 17 18

CHELSEA LISIKATOS PROFILE STEVEN COOPER ROB PARAVONIAN REVIEW RAISING A BABY AMERICAN WOMEN

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Nick Cropper, Salina Dickie, Alex Passannante

ADDITIONAL STAFF Louis Aiello, Makeedah Baker, Chris Crews, Sean Grier, Chester Griffin, Kristen Johnson, Warren Pette, Benjamin Robson, Luis Rumbaut

MARKETING STAFF Katelyn Ford, Malik Francis, Andrew Hocutt, Kayla McCall, Dylan Robison, Tia Warren Promotions Coordinator: Sean Grier

Street Team: Natalie Chan, Amanda Duke, Morgan Richards

SALES OFFICE: 704.687.7144 CIRCULATION BY STUDENT UNION LOADING DOCK TEAM

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Spring Fever: A preview of all things spring, just in time for warm weather! Visit us Thursday, April 16 at the Spring Fever Expo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the CHHS Plaza.

FOR DAILY ONLINE EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, PHOTO SLIDESHOWS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT

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COVER PHOTO BY MAKEEDAH BAKER • INSIDE PHOTO BY BENJAMIN ROBSON

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APRIL 14 - 20, 2015

UNC Charlotte student’s latest victory carries on family’s drag racing legacy Winning the Stock Eliminator category at the Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX dragway is just the start of Joel Warren’s drag racing journey Chester Griffin

STAFF WRTER On March 29, Mechanical Engineering major Joel Warren won the Stock Eliminator category at the Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. Being the third generation in a family of drag racers, Warren states that it adds some mental pressure which he welcomes as he feels it “brings out a racer’s true colors.” “There’s nearly 200 years of combined racing experience in my family tree and countless trophies to go with it,” said Warren. “Something many people don’t know is that I have drag racing in my blood from both sides of my family. My mom’s dad (Phil Hardee) and his son (Michael Hardee) have been largely successful on the drag racing circuit since long before I was born.” He cites his father, Joey Warren as his biggest source of influence, who he sid watches him at the drag way every weekend, being there at both his best and worst times. “He doesn’t tolerate me getting down on myself, but instead he pushes me to be better and better,” said Warren. “And that’s what great coaches do.” According to The Fayettville Observer, Joey Warren is responsible for winning the super stock at the 1993 NHRA Southern Nationals, and Bobby Warren, Joel Warren’s grandfather is a three-time NHRA world champion. “He (Bobby) called me up last minute and asked if I wanted to race his car in this one. Of course I didn’t

turn down that offer! So happy it paid off,” said Warren. Warren has participated in drag racing in some form since he was 7 years old, but he said his interest in the sport predates that. In the Stock Eliminator category, Warren explains that winning isn’t as simple as crossing the finish line, rather it involves two key elements: a “dial-in” and the driver’s reaction time. “A ‘dial-in’ is your personal prediction of the amount of time it will take for your car to cover the quarter-mile,” said Warren. “This prediction is based on practice/ qualifying runs prior to the start of elimination rounds, so you’re not completely in the dark on your estimate.” Warren states that the aim is to stay as close to the dial-in without going faster, otherwise it’s considered a break-out, an automatic loss. “In the final round of the race, my opponent beat me off the line but we both brokeout,” said Warren. “As it turned out, he brokeout by a greater margin

than me (I was closer to my dial-in) yielding my first ever national event win.” With drag racing in general, he explains that it goes beyond driving cars, requiring a hefty amount of dedication. “Probably only about 10 percent of the time is spent at the race track. If you want to have the fastest car out there, it takes an insane amount of testing, building, tinkering, tuning, preparing, cleaning, etc. off the track,” said Warren. “Huge sacrifices have to be made to participate in this sport; you have to be fully immersed.” Part of why Warren relishes the sport so much is the challenge that it brings. “I’ve always said drag racing is 80 percent psychological, 15

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percent race car performance, and 5 percent skill. That 80 percent mental means it requires every ounce of focus you have,” said Warren. “To win, I need to have near-perfect reaction times and go dead on my dial-in. But I can’t do that without pushing myself to the limit on every single run. It’s wild and it’s addicting; I can’t get enough.” Warren describes the feeling of his victory in one word, “Unbelievable,” and it only raises his eagerness to get back on the drag way again. “With a handful of event wins within smaller sanctioning bodies, I had tasted victory before this win. But to win an event of such magnitude at only 21 years old was something special,” said Warren. “Few feelings compare to hoisting that Wally (trophy) in the winner’s circle.”

Joel Warren’s drag racing car. Photo courtesy of Joel Warren’s Facebook

NINERTIMES

POLICE BLOTTER APRIL 4-8

ACCIDENT APRIL 4

• East Deck, vehicle one was at a stop sign waiting to make a left turn out of the parking deck. Vehicle two was making a left turn into the parking deck. Vehicle one began making its left turn as vehicle two was making its left turn. Vehicle one struck vehicle two causing damage to both vehicles. • University City Boulevard, driver of a patrol vehicle struck the curb while turning into Arby’s PVA lot. The wheel suffered minor damage. • Mary Alexander Road, while backing out of an angled parking space, vehicle two struck right side of passenger door of vehicle one causing damage to both vehicles.

ASSAULT APRIL 8

• Witherspoon Hall, officers responded to a fight that occurred between two roommates.

LARCENY APRIL 4

• Witherspoon Lot, unknown person(s) removed items from victim’s car that was left unsecured and unoccupied. For more information on Mecklenburg County arrests, visit arrestinquiryweb.co.mecklenburg.nc.us

weather.uncc.edu UNC CHARLOTTE METEOROLOGY PROGRAM

Nick Cropper

ASST. NEWS EDITOR Twice during the 2014-15 school year, the Student Government Association (SGA) has withheld funding from student organizations because of violations that were made against the Financial Procedures Act (FPA). “My role on SGA now is to make funding as accessible as possible to student orgs and make sure that student funding is being used in an appropriate manner. Unfortunately, this involves holding groups accountable for their actions when needed,” said Organizational Ways and Means (OWAM) Chairman Jared Dobbertin. The most recent incident involved the Model United Nations and an event that the organization recently hosted at UNC Charlotte. This event was primarily focused around members of the Model UN and high school students who were interested in seeing the UN on a college level and learning more about the process. This was the issue that OWAM saw with the event. Under FPA guidelines, any event that receives funding from the OWAM must be open to all UNC Charlotte students who are interested in going and must have the opportunity for students to openly participate in the event. When the Model UN originally filled out the grant to fund the event, OWAM refused funding for this exact reason. Committee members felt that the event would not be open to all UNC Charlotte students. When the Model UN submitted

the grant the second time, they had changed the wording so that UNC Charlotte students would be allowed to attend. OWAM approved the grant and decided that they would attend the event, which is a new requirement of the FPA, which states that OWAM committee members must attend at least two approved student organization events. Upon arriving at the event, OWAM received the impression that the Model UN was not expecting any students outside of the organization to attend. They were invited to come and watch the event, but they would not be allowed to participate. The event also required any person that wanted to attend the event to register in advance. These are also violations of the FPA. No event can be exclusive and students cannot be refused because of dress. OWAM discovered that there was also little publicity of the event outside of their website, a place that many students would not see the advertising. It was because of these reasons that OWAM decided to bring the event in question to open committee in SGA. During the meeting, the Model UN could defend themselves and senators could deliberate. After finishing deliberation, SGA held a vote and had a majority rule that the violations were intentional and withheld funding from the Model UN until the end of the fall 2015 semester. “I would like to believe that a

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY APRIL 16

APRIL 17

73°F

62°F

60°F

70°F

APRIL 14

GET MORE INFO ABOUT THE

FUNDING VIOLATIONS FOR THE 2014-15 SCHOOL YEAR

Cloudy, 80 percent chance of rain. Low of 62.

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APRIL 15

Cloudy, 50 percent chance of rain. Low of 48.

Mostly cloudy, 50 percent chance of rain. Low of 48.

FRIDAY

Mostly cloudy. Low of 55.

APRIL 14 - 20, 2015

SATURDAY APRIL 18

75°F

Partly cloudy. Low of 57.

student org would never knowingly break a rule in order to receive funding for an event ... however, SGA must still hold groups accountable when they do not follow the rules,” said Dobbertin. The first incident this year took place during the fall 2014 semester. The Kappa Delta Sorority had their funding withheld for the remainder of the fiscal year. SGA felt that Kappa Delta had purposefully given misleading information in order to receive funding for supplies for an event that was planned to happen outside of the Student Union. This was the first time in several years that SGA has had to discipline a group to this extent by withholding funding. Now, it has happened twice in one school year. “This issue deserves attention because this is now the second time that my committee has had to suspend funding from a student organization in less than a year,” said Dobbertin. Recently, SGA approved of the Act of Registration Revision Bill. This bill requires that officers of student organizations attend a workshop each year on how to properly fill out grants. “My hope is also that more groups will start applying for funding and feel more comfortable with the process. SGA is now moving into the age of online grants and getting rid of hearings ... these new changes will help make the funding process much easier,” said Dobbertin. SUNDAY

MONDAY

71°F

74°F

APRIL 19

Partly cloudy. Low of 56.

APRIL 20

Partly cloudy. Low of 58.

APRIL 14 - 20, 2015

NINERTIMES

Yamilka Baez-Rivera, Ph.D.: The spark that powers EPIC’s Smart Grid Brittany Davis

GUEST WRITER It’s a Friday afternoon in February and Yamilka Baez-Rivera, Ph.D., is explaining an important requirement needed to enter the Duke Energy Smart Grid laboratory located at UNC Charlotte’s Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC). “Only smart people can come in the lab,” announces Baez-Rivera with stern eyes that quickly soften behind her black-frames. She speaks to a group of about two dozen girls, dressed in matching highlighter green shirts with “Project Scientist” boldly written on the back. Baez-Rivera guards two wooden doors that barely touch, revealing a slither of detail of what lies behind them. Two separate rectangular windows, one on each door, allow a greater view of the computers and desks and other equipment that occupy the facility. The room is secured with a card reader. The Smart Grid lab manager is all-too-familiar with meeting intelligence requirements, although she comes from humble beginnings. She was born and raised in a small mountainous area in central Puerto Rico, where she spent most of her childhood around family and pets. “My neighbor was my uncle so my cousins and I were always together, outside all the time,” Baez-Rivera says. As she counts on her fingers, she recalls having 11 cats, parakeets, turtles, bunnies, a cow and an owl that perched on their fence every night. She collected coffee beans with her father for her first job. Baez-Rivera grew interested in electrical engineering from an electronics course she took during her last year of high school at a STEM academy in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. “It was a combination of the activities the teacher taught and her encouragement towards having more girls in science and math,” she said. If charm alone could run the Smart

NINERTIMES.COM

Yamilka Baez-Rivera in EPIC’s Smart Grid Laboratory. Photo by Brittany Davis

Grid, she could power most of the Charlotte region. “Her personality helps her,” says Sukumar Kamalasadan, Ph.D., an associate professor and director at EPIC who directs most of the activities of the Smart Grid lab. “She’s an extrovert, not bashful about exchanging information/ideas,” he adds. “That helps her in taking care of any kind of job.” Baez-Rivera is tasked with managing a “state-of-the-art facility that supports the education, research and outreach activities needed to modernize the power grid” by offering real-time simulation of the power grid to train the next generation of electrical engineers. She conducts project scheduling, interacts with students, faculty

and visitors and discusses the rules and regulations of the facility, a responsibility that draws attention to her ability to “move around with people freely,” Kamalasadan said. Baez-Rivera is always in transit, back and forth between the lab and her office, usually dressed in jeans and a T-shirt or a blouse with black combat boots clicking and keys jingling, to signal her arrival or departure. She is the linking verb that connects people to action and each other, a necessary component for a facility that strives to unite industry with the university. “So, I’m the laboratory rat for this,” she said jokingly about the opportunity to become EPIC’s first faculty spotlight with nothing less than her expected wry, yet playful

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humor. The same humor her colleague, Valentina Cecchi, Ph.D., an associate professor at EPIC met in her four years ago over coffee. “I remember how comfortable I felt very quickly,” Cecchi says. “She puts people at ease.” The ability to put others at ease is most noticeable when she talks about “home.” She is always eager to spark a connection with others through stories. She visits home about once a year and manages to fit in one suitcase enough clothes for her and her two sons. She always returns with too many toys for her sons, Jahdier, 7, and Alejandro, 2. When Baez-Rivera is not sharing her home life through stories, she shares it through food. She recently shared down a plate of about a dozen small, circular cookies, each containing a gooey, strawberry-filled middle peeking through a mound of sprinkles. “My niece helped me this time,” she said. Polvorones are the compact, soft and crumbly Spanish shortbread cookies she shares at most of the potlucks held at EPIC. She accomplishes everything that she wants to do, reveals her husband of five years, Benny Rodriguez, Ph.D., a lecturer and lab manager in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. She earned her Ph.D. on a full scholarship at Mississippi State University, while working full-time and caring for her two sons. The shortage of women in the science and technology fields was most noticeable in her undergraduate courses. She obtained her bachelor’s at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, where she noticed there were only one or two women in classes with 30 men. “It was good for finding a boyfriendmore selection,” she jokingly said. Her magnetic personality is what

BAEZ-RIVERA cont. attracted her husband, Benny. “I believe that opposites attract and that’s why me, being an introvert, was attracted to her really outgoing and fun personality,” Benny said. She said being one of a few women in the technology program “gave me character.” Baez-Rivera is not one to back away from challenges. Even so, her husband said, “One thing that she has mentioned is that sometimes it is challenging to get her points or opinions to be taken seriously, for example, in conferences or meetings.” Could it be due to her being a woman or that she’s become the very thing she teased her mother for being? Baez-Rivera says “Growing up, my mom, we called her very bossy, so I learned from her.” “Sometimes it looks like women are bossy because there aren’t many of

from the mechanics of power systems to programming and communications. Even so, numerous opportunities are arising for tomorrow’s engineers as a result of senior design projects. “It allows students to contribute to companies and opens a lot of doors to meet people,” she said. “You can probably have a job when you graduate … because you’re actually building something most of the time.” Baez-Rivera’s current projects deal with harmonics and PV integration. She paired up with Dr. Johan Enslin “to see how PV integration brings harmonics to the system and how we can mitigate them.” The Smart Grid lab manager also collaborates with Cecchi and Kamalasadan on inverter control research. The main reason interdisciplinary

All the time, girls are told, ‘Oh, you are too bossy.’ Have you heard that? You are too bossy, but that is not bad. We put color in everything.

Dr. Yamilka Baez-Rivera us and so we end up being against all of these guys,” she adds. “Some may say an idea coming from a girl is probably not a good idea, a different idea, so you have to try to make them see your point of view that may be different from what they’re used to.” Baez-Rivera gained most of her experience from internships at an engineering company in Puerto Rico and twice with Northrop Grumman while at Mississippi State. There has been a significant change in her research since entering the electrical engineering field. “When I was in school, everything was more hands-on, mechanical … get the motors connected and see what happens,” she said. “Nowadays, it’s mostly about simulation, visualization.” Electrical engineering has shifted

research is possible at EPIC is due to its welcoming faculty. “Everybody wants to work with everybody,” she said. “That is one of the things that I like most.” She is also eager to see “more companies, more students doing research.” As Baez-Rivera prepares to end the tour with the group of energetic girls from “Project Scientist,” she tells them she has a very important secret. They can’t tell any boys. She makes the two male students who are present in the lab cover their ears. “I’m going to say a secret for girls,” she said. “All the time, girls are told ‘Oh, you are too bossy.’ Have you heard that? You are too bossy, but that is not bad. We put color in everything.”

APRIL 14 - 20, 2015

NINERTIMES

Everyone has a story to tell Too often, we let the media tell us what to think about people instead of listening to what they have to say

Louis Aiello

STAFF WRITER On Jan. 23, 1952, just outside of Oxford in England, a burglar broke into a home finding two men in a homosexual act. The investigation was swift, and instead of prosecuting the burglar, the two men were prosecuted for indecency because homosexuality was a crime at that time. They were convicted on March 31 of that year and were sentenced to chemical castration. On June 8, 1954, one of the men was found dead by suicide. The media was quick to throw this certain individual under the bus, but at the same time, they knew so little about him. No one knew this person. He was a man living in solitude, working on his passions. When he was found, the investigators got a chance to look at his talents. As they were taking his lifeless body away, staring them in the face was the creator of the very first digital computer. The story of Alan Turing is one of greatness, and at the same time, terrible tragedy. When he was young, words of wisdom from his childhood friend Chris kept him going. He told him, “Those who are different have the ability to make all the difference.” We are so willing to follow the masses that we don’t ever take the time to follow our own hearts. Nothing has changed today. I can think of two individuals and an entire group of people the media have thrown under the bus: former

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Heath Morrison, former Chairmen of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke and porn stars. But I submit to you that have I met all three, and how they are portrayed does not accurately represent who they are. Morrison I first met at temple. I talked to him for five minutes and explained to him what I felt needed to be done. I told him it’s so very important that we teach our children how to think, not what to think. He looked at me, smiled and said, “That is exactly what I mean to do.” He was sincere and loved his new job. He wasn’t the man the media made him out to be. The very next day I got a chance to meet Bernanke. I wanted to approach him and congratulate him on his granddaughter’s bat mitzvah, but as I got closer, I saw his face; he was tired and didn’t want to talk to anyone. He soon retired and fell out of the limelight, but he also lost his father around the same time. There was more to this man than just being a banker for the largest bank in the world. He was a man as well as a grandfather. Another time, I got a chance to meet a girl. She immediately stuck out to me because she was different, and I liked different. I approached her like I would anyone else, with the understanding that she was a human being, and as human beings,

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.

NINERTIMES.COM

Coverage of Ben Bernanke is just one example of how the media spins stories. Photo courtesy of Tribune News Service

we are each unique and have a story to tell. I explained to her that I felt I could be closer to her than anyone at this school because she had the mind to come to temple. She laughed and said, “That is the sweetest thing I have heard.” I wanted to spend more time with her and get to know her, but it wasn’t meant to be. One day she

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APRIL 14 - 20, 2015

stopped coming, and it broke my heart. It didn’t matter who she was or who she had been – to me, she was a friend. In the eyes of God, we all have a story to tell. None of us are strangers, and we are all his children. This is what I sincerely believe, and I am willing to commit my own life to it. SUBMIT LETTERS TO:

NINER TIMES Student Union, Charlotte, N.C. 28223 OR E-MAIL:

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YES, BLACK GIRLS DO ROCK Kristen Johnson

STAFF WRITER On April 5, Black Entertainment Television (BET) aired its annual awards show “Black Girls Rock,” hosted by actresses Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King. The show first aired in 2010 and is tied to the non-profit organization BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc., which was founded in 2006 to empower and mentor the growth, the interests, the self-esteem and the lives of young women of color all while encouraging study and conversation about the ways women of color are portrayed in the media. Despite my love for the awards show and the organization as a whole, I could not help but feel a sense of resentment. As First Lady, Michelle Obama took the stage during the show, and said, “Black girls rock!” and it seemed to upset quite a few people. Some non-black people took to social media, as they did during the airing of the show last year, to speak out in disagreement. “She didn’t mention if white girls rocked or not.” “What about all girls?” “I couldn’t imagine Laura Bush saying that!” “This is reverse-racism.” And my favorite, “Why isn’t there a White Girls Rock?” The reason why it would be outrageous for a “White Girls Rock” program is because white women and girls are “rocking” everywhere. White people dominate

entertainment and most of television. Far too often women of color are left out of the media’s spotlight. There are numerous attempts to limit the ways women of color are viewed in positive images through media, and they are effective. There is no doubt there are controlled images of beauty, intelligence, class and all around inclusiveness within mainstream pop culture. You can type in the words “beautiful women” right now in Google, and you will get pages upon pages of white women with blonde or light brown hair and light eyes. Representation matters. Programs and organizations like “Black Girls Rock” are absolutely necessary. When attempts are made to praise women and men of color, it is not an attempt to degrade or shame non-people of color. “Black Girls Rock” doesn’t seek to exclude white women or make them feel less important. I believe mostly everyone can agree that girls and women of all colors, backgrounds, races and ethnicities are important, but when there are apparent images that bombard us everyday seemingly favoring one certain group of women, there must be some conversation held. There must be some action taken in order to remind little brown and black girls that even though girls like them are not in every make-up commercial, new romance movie or television sitcom, they matter too. Their skin, their hair, their minds and their

bodies are just as beautiful and important. Why does representation in the media matter so much? Well, researchers estimate that before the age of seventeen, 7 percent of black teen girls will attempt suicide. Black women are criticized for wearing their natural hair. Only 11 percent of the women in the top 100 grossing films in 2014 were black, and 87 percent of runway models are white. Black women are subject to constantly reinforced stereotypes that contribute to generalizations and prejudice. In a recent repeat of the “Doll Test,” 47 percent of the young black girls interviewed believed the white dolls (over the black dolls) to be better, smarter and prettier. The point is obviously missed when people take to social media and express their frustration about something meant to include and appreciate the lives of people of color. Perhaps the anger and hate is saying something about the way America feels about people of color challenging controlled images of beauty and intelligence. Perhaps people who were angry at Obama for speaking at this award show must have forgotten she is a black woman and a mother of two teenage black girls. For Obama to acknowledge the beauty and importance of women who are constantly shamed for existing speaks volumes. Her voice resonated through television screens that night stating, “No matter who you are, no matter where you come from, you are beautiful. I am so proud of you. My husband, your president, is so proud of you. We have so much hope and dreams for you … I know there are voices that you are not good enough. Each of those doubts was like a test that I either shrink away from or rise to meet. And I decided to rise.” For those who have ill feelings toward black and brown girls who stand up and embrace their beauty, please continue to be upset. Like Obama and all of the illustrious women who resemble us, we are choosing to rise.

Tribune News Service

APRIL 14 - 20, 2015

NINERTIMES

Women’s tennis stays hot on Senior Day with domination over Pfeiffer The Charlotte 49ers women’s tennis team rolled past Pfeiffer for their eighth victory in nine matches

Matt Chapman

SPORTS EDITOR The Charlotte 49ers women’s tennis team picked up their eighth victory in their last nine matches on Saturday with a 6-1 triumph over Pfeiffer on Senior Day. Seniors Lisa Grosselius and Natsuko Takayanagi were recognized prior to the match and each earned a victory in singles play to finish their career in the Queen City on a high note. “I’m really proud of the way that our team has been fighting,” said Charlotte head coach Michaela Gorman. “We’ve done a great job of really buckling down when we’ve needed to and using our energy. We’ve got to continue to play really good tennis, continue to work hard and continue to be really tough.” Grosselius and Takayanagi started the afternoon paired together on the court in doubles play, cruising to an 8-1 victory at the No. 2 position over Olivia Nelms and Hannah Watson from Pfeiffer. The 49ers (13-9) swept doubles competition to kick off the day as Tyler Baker and Macy Vonderschmidt also dominated their opponents, earning an 8-1 victory. Vonderschmidt, Grosselius, Baker, Takayanagi and Fleur Holtkamp prevailed in singles competition for the Niners on Senior Day as all five ladies made quick work of the opposition in straight sets. Fittingly, seniors Grosselius and Takayanagi were most impressive on Saturday as each only lost one game apiece during their two-set sweeps. “They (Grosselius and Takayanagi)

NINERTIMES.COM

Top: The Charlotte 49ers celebrate after another team victory. Bottom left: The 49ers swept doubles play, winning all three matches. Bottom right: Fleur Holtkamp defeated Hannah Watson in straight sets. Photos by Makeedah Baker and Benjamin Robson

are two amazing people,” said Gorman of her seniors. “We’ve been lucky to have them for four years. They’ve done a fantastic job on and off the court, and all their work in the classroom has been amazing. On the court they’ve both reached 100 victories in the past couple weeks so we’ve

been extremely proud of them and extremely lucky to have them these past four years.” Charlotte’s lone loss of the afternoon came on court number one in a hard-fought battle between Victoria Pahlett and Pfeiffer’s Nelms. Pahlett captured the second set

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6-3 after falling 4-6 in the opening set, setting up a thrilling finale that featured a lengthy tiebreaker. The two ladies battled back-andforth, but ultimately it was Nelms who prevailed with an 11-9 victory, sealing the first and final win of the day for a Pfeiffer squad that struggled mightily. The Charlotte 49ers have finished regular season play, but will continue competition in the upcoming Conference USA Championships this weekend. The Niners are playing their best tennis of the year heading into the postseason, losing just once since March 21. Takayanagi leads the team with 21 victories in singles play and has won 11 consecutive matches. Baker and Holtkamp also boast impressive winning streaks of eight and seven respectively. Sophomore Macy Vonderschmidt has been key for the 49ers in doubles play, recording a team-high 18 wins on the season. The tournament will be hosted by the Rice Owls in Houston, Texas. with first round play set to begin on Thursday, April 16. The Owls are the favorite to win the event, ranking among the top 30 programs in the nation. Charlotte’s seed, opponent and match time will be determined based on the outcome of the other league school’s regular season finales. The Niners will be looking to rebound after the disappointment of a first round exit in last year’s tournament.

LISIKATOS ACHIEVES SUCCESS DESPITE DEALING WITH ADVERSITY SENIOR CHELSEA LISIKATOS LOOKS BACK ON HER CAREER IN THE QUEEN CITY

David Wolf

GUEST WRITER Chelsea Lisikatos recalls one of the first times she was in North Carolina and saw someone holding the door open for her. “I was like, ‘Are you going to move, or get out of the way? We have got places to go.’” Lisikatos, a senior third baseman for the Charlotte 49ers softball team, hails from Cold Spring, N.Y. and was not used to the slow-paced friendly southern culture of North Carolina and had never seen something of that nature. Fortunately for the Niners, Lisikatos’ transition to the softball field was much easier. Lisikatos posted a wonderful prep career where she was a six-year starter on varsity and helped Haldane High School reach its first-ever New York State Tournament. She finished her high school career as the school’s all-time leader in wins (73), shutouts (39), no-hitters (15) and strikeouts (1,076). Lisikatos showed her versatility as a freshman, appearing in 34 games and starting 26 games at third base and pitcher. Now a senior, she has also emerged as one of the best hitters on the team, and is the leader in home runs (10), slugging percentage (.619) and is second in RBIs (27). Lisikatos has started all 39 games so far in 2015 and ranks second on the team with 36 hits this season. “I love playing all positions. I’m just happy to help my team wherever I can,” said Lisikatos. Even with Lisikatos’ success, she has faced plenty of adversity along the way. Amongst all the challenges she dealt with growing up, her lack of height and the poor practice conditions in New York were chief

among them. Coaches often told her ‘no’ because the field. Their bond can be attributed to the of her size and some would not even give her a authenticity and straightforwardness between chance. the two. “I have walked up to tryouts and had “Coach DeVos is unbelievable,” coaches say ‘Sorry we are not going to see Lisikatos said. you pitch, you are too small,’” Lisikatos “When I first came on my trip, she said. touched on things that were specific Hailing from the Northeast, Lisikatos to my wants. She was who she has not always had the warm weather or was. She was not trying to be adequate practice conditions that the 49ers someone she was not just to sell provide. her campus.” In high school, she recalls practicing It was quite evident on until 8 p.m. downstairs in a “dirty opening day this spring that dungeon basement” with her father Lisikatos’ hard work with because it was too cold outside to hit. It DeVos and hitting coach may not come as a surprise that she lists Laura Valentino has paid off. the facilities as one of her favorite things Lisikatos hit two home about UNC Charlotte. runs in a doubleheader These struggles growing against Gardner-Webb, up prepared including a three-run Lisikatos blast in a 10-2 win. for the Her confidence was strenuous immediately boosted decision after starting the all athletes season on such a looking to continue their careers have to make high note. in their senior year of high school. She had “To know it is multiple college options yet several of the finally coming schools did not work out due to injuries together as and other challenges. a senior Fortunately for the 49ers, and all the head coach Aimee DeVos never hard work wavered in pursuing Lisikatos, and the and the two have developed a struggle Senior Chelsea Lisikatos leads the 49ers great relationship on and off with 10 home runs this season. NT File Photo

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and the dirty dungeon basements and 1,000 reps are finally paying off is an unbelievable feeling,” Lisikatos said. While Lisikatos has been having a very successful senior year individually, she stresses that the team goals are just as important. The 49ers are currently 7-7 in the conference entering this weekend’s series at home against University of Alabama at Birmingham and sit in third place in the East Division of Conference USA. With nine conference games remaining, the Niners are hoping to keep up their winning record and end the season strong and capture the regular season crown. Charlotte plays six of their nine remaining conference games at home where they are 13-6 this season, compared to just 4-10 away from the D.L. Phillips Complex. “I would like to go out and win conference. It has always been a goal of mine growing up,” Lisikatos said. “That would be unbelievable especially with this group of girls.” A major part of the girls that Lisikatos is referring to is the 49ers’ senior class. The 49ers have five seniors (Lisikatos, Jackie Kleinsmith, Natalie Capone, Samantha Slade, Hayley Lewis) and one redshirt junior (Lexi Betancourt) that all arrived at Charlotte in the fall of 2011 together and each one of them plays a significant role on this year’s team. These seniors not only contribute on the field, but have done a great job of being leaders off the

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field as well. They have also developed a tightknit bond, one that Lisikatos considers to be rare among most college softball teams. “You never hear anything that relates to the relationship that we have,” Lisikatos said. “We are all very different and we all came from very different areas. We bring such a versatile character to the game and attitude and playing style so that when we all actually come together it is unbelievable. To be graduating with this group of girls is truly a blessing.” When Lisikatos finishes up her career as a softball player, she hopes to stay in the sports world and become a softball coach at a Division I program. She is on track to graduate next December and may stay down south for a little bit, but ultimately expects to end up back home in New York. If she goes back to New York, she may find herself on the opposite side of the situation which caused her to be so confused in the first place. “Things are a little bit slower down here and much calmer,” Lisikatos said. “Now I am used to my boyfriend and my friends holding the door open for me. When I go back home, I get the door slammed in my face and I’m like, ‘Oh goodness.’” Lisikatos posted a team-best 3.55 ERA in the circle as a sophomore. Photo by Chris Crews

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with

STEVEN COOPER

Photo by AubreyErinphoto.com

SWEET ESCAPES

Leanna Pough

A&E EDITOR While everyone is stripping the beat down, he’s doing full on production with live instruments. Lyricist Steven Cooper isn’t afraid to be himself. “The number one thing I love is breaking down those stereotypes,” Cooper said. The Kansas City, Mo. native isn’t the first person to come to mind when considering conscious rappers, but you may need to rethink things. People respect authenticity; bottom line, Steven Cooper is not the norm. He builds his own lane in hip-hop as a positive lyricist, who happens to be white. “Once you kind of accept who you are, you make whatever you want. You don’t really hold back anymore,” Cooper said. He lets loose his creativity in collaborating with talents fans least expect. “I try to stay away from doing features with other artists that are already similar to what I do.” Cooper’s latest EP, “One Night Out,” features songs with artists like Akon and Tech 9 in which Cooper blends his thoughtprovoking lyrics with the hard core lines of the “World Wide Choppas”

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rapper. “That was just an EP I wanted to do that was like a little different from the stuff I’d been doing ... So the ‘One Night Out’ EP, I wanted to do was more like a fun project,” Cooper says. It’s all about the wow factor, “whether that’s bringing back someone who hasn’t done a feature in a long time or working with someone and they’re out of your range,” Cooper said. Cooper’s dream is to collaborate with Nas. “I just really respect his storytelling ability. I respect his whole career,” Cooper said.

The stories Cooper tells in his music result from topics that are real to him. His “crazy” childhood wasn’t the picture perfect scene. Dealing with a parent on drugs, Cooper left home when he was 16 years old and was homeless for a while. It was music that gave him a sweet escape. “Music was the one outlet that I always had, the whole reason I didn’t ever follow through with my suicide attempts,” Cooper recalls. Cooper hopes to use his positive lyrics to uplift fans, just like Casey Kasem’s Top 40 did for him. Cooper would record the countdown, make mix tapes and pass them out at

I just fell in love with entertaining people, just giving them something that changes their mood ... I want to build people up rather than tear people down

Steven Cooper APRIL 14 - 20, 2015

school. “I just fell in love with entertaining people, just giving them something that changes their mood ... I want to build people up rather than tear people down,” Cooper says. The late ’80s to early ’90s was the golden age of hip-hop as artists were becoming more diverse and innovative in their music. A rap group from Ohio caught Cooper’s ear. “The very first album I bought was Bone Thugs n Harmony,” Cooper said. It was their musical arrangements, harmonies and rap lyrics that set them apart. “To me, ‘Cross Roads’ has arrangements similar to any pop song at the time, so that really attracted me to that. I think that really stuck with me,” Cooper said. Stuck it did. Cooper uses this technique in his music today. “We try to add a pop flair to everything, but at the same time, I don’t want it to be cheesy and generic,” Cooper said. Cooper’s high energy, singing, rapping and mixing is sure to please the crowd Tuesday, April 21 when he hits After Hours at 1 p.m.

Rob Paravonian hit the Student Union last week Luis Rumbaut INTERN

Like many people, I am a big fan of comedy, and stand-ups are no exception. In fact, it is what I enjoy the most when laughing, so there was already some predetermined excitement about seeing comedian Rob Paravonian, a man who has opened up for comedy legend George Carlin in the past, perform on our very own campus. What was initially striking about the Rob Paravonian performance was that, where most comedians prefer a closed setting to perform in like a comedy club or bar better control the crowd, this performance was to happen in the open space of the Union rotunda, easily one of the busiest places on campus. Besides that, what also stuck out to me was that Rob is one of the few prop comics in stand up and more so one of the few comics that play their guitar throughout the whole set. About 50 percent of Rob Paravonian’s style is shock comedy, the other half is storytelling. Throughout the night Paravonian moved through the genres of rock, folk, hip-hop and

pop, his guitar being the needle that helped him weaves through these genres. He performs his set like a playlist, interweaving jokes with original songs, which honestly might not be for everyone, but one or two are guaranteed to get a chuckle out of you if you stick around through the performance. But his strongest skill is his ability to connect with his audience. Over the course of his performance people came and went, but he maintained casualness with his core audience that felt very comfortable, even staying after to talk to people. All in all, he may not be the type of comedian that is for everybody, his jokes might not be the type you’re used to, maybe you don’t like guitar with your comedy, but his ability to reach others in a personable level is respectable. Personally I was split between jokes that were alright and jokes that had me laughing out loud, but I would probably see him again if he came back on campus.

ACROSS 1 Drain problem 5 GI sought by MPs 9 Jewish authority figure 14 Fallon’s predecessor 15 “Get a __!” 16 Estate measures 17 Like single-malt scotch 18 Superfluous individual 20 Food from heaven 22 Long-necked bird 23 Ivy League school 24 Compilation of wacky outtakes 28 Pioneer Carson 29 PC key near Z 30 Eastern path 31 Police warnings 33 Some deli breads 35 Part on the stage 38 Stable female 39 Summer blouse 42 Steer clear of 44 iPhone voice-activated

app 45 Hunk of bacon 49 Like many warm sweaters 51 Snaky fish 53 Miner’s discovery 54 Little terror 55 Olympian’s achievement 59 Have to have 61 Flight connection word 62 Capital of Senegal 63 Ride around ... or what the ends of 18-, 24-, 39and 55-Across can do 67 Single 68 Occupied 69 Type of currency 70 Coffee holders 71 Fax forerunner 72 Zipped 73 Editor’s “Leave it in”

DOWN 1 Seaside eatery 2 Within the law 3 Without variation, musically 4 “Please tell me that’s not true” 5 Sitcom E.T. 6 PlayStation 3 rival 7 Put on the market 8 “I’ll handle this” 9 Word before data or deal 10 In need of aspirin 11 Crashing wave 12 Direct route 13 Lands in the sea 19 Shades 21 Abbr. in many an urban address 25 __ of Sandwich 26 Tree anchors 27 Airport waiter 32 Performs hip-hop music 34 Synagogue 36 Polynesian wreath 37 Blundered 40 From square one 41 Concert ticket info 42 “__ to Watch Over Me” 43 Optimistic 46 “Watch it!” 47 Orchestrate 48 Recuperation advice 49 Proceed without preparation 50 Smoked salmon 52 Showed the way 56 Hemingway’s “The Sun Also __” 57 Really enjoy, as praise 58 Allays the fears of 60 Prescription amount 64 Bills coach Ryan 65 Wrath 66 Buddy of Wynken and Blynken

Paravonian is best known for his ‘Pachelbel Rant’. Photo by Benjamin Robson

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49ER FAMILY Having a baby in general can be hard, but trying to finish school while raising a newborn? No easy feat

Michelle Carpenter

LIFESTYLE EDITOR New Years always bring new changes, and this year brought the biggest change of all for me. On Jan. 21, 2015, my husband and I welcomed our beautiful baby girl Sophie Elizabeth into our family. Everyone always says becoming a parent is incredible, but I had no idea just how incredible until I held her for the first time. Everyday brings new excitement and wonder as I watch her grow and explore the world around her. At 2 1/2 months old, she is already cooing and squirming around ready for adventure. While becoming a mother is by far the best experience I’ve had in my short 20 years of life, it hasn’t come without its challenges. I’m in my final semester here at UNC Charlotte, but I feel like a new chapter of my life has already started. In many ways it has. My days are filled with making bottles, changing diapers and laying on the floor staring up at brightly colored, far from realistic animals as Sophie reaches for them in delight. However, I’m still a student. I still have all the same stresses as any other college student with Photo by Michelle Carpenter

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tests, papers and making sure I pass my classes so I can graduate on time. How do you make school a priority when everything in your life has shifted? When there’s a tiny, perfect human being who depends on you for everything? It’s difficult --one of the most difficult balancing acts I’ve ever had to pull off --but it’s doable. First of all, since pregnancy is a nine-month sentence, I had nine months of planning. I made sure my class schedule accommodated the new addition to my life, and my husband did the same. I had to sacrifice taking some courses that I was looking forward to taking in order to make scheduling work, but it was a sacrifice I was happy to make. Most of my classes are online, and I only have to report to a classroom two nights a week. Keeping up with assignments is probably the hardest part of the school transition. With only having to be in class two nights a week, the out of sight, out of mind really comes into play. I don’t have the routine of classes and teachers or even being on campus to keep it at the forefront of my mind so it frequently gets pushed to the back burner. Keeping an updated calendar has been a life saver this semester. It has also been important to block out time to work on my assignments. It is quality time Sophie gets to spend with her dad, and I get my work done. Sometimes, though, things get pushed off and that is when days like today happen. Days where I’ve fed her and changed her but still feel like I’ve barely seen her. The quality time is important. As I said before, it’s a balancing act. Furthermore, communication with professors has been key this semester. I informed them before classes even started that I was going to have a baby to make sure they would be willing to work with me on things like attendance and make up work for when I was in the hospital. Every one of them has been incredibly supportive and encouraging in helping me get through this difficult semester. Graduation is only 25 days away, and I couldn’t APRIL 14 - 20, 2015

Photo by Chris Carpenter

be any more excited to finally only have to focus on my precious little girl. I’m excited for all the walks we will take and the quality time we will spend together. However, it also important to cherish the last moments of college, whether you, like me, have one foot in and one foot out or not. The stresses of senior year hit all of us no matter what our personal situation, but it is important to enjoy the last parties. The last classes. The last papers. The last Starbucks runs, hoping you make it before they close because you might not make it through the night without that last shot of caffeine. You’ll miss these moments, or so I hear about so many aspects of life now. I’ve come to believe that all the tiny moments need to be cherished no matter what phase of life.

PHENOMENAL AMERICAN WOMEN OF OUR TIME Sean Grier

STAFF WRITER

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter She’s Beyoncé. She dropped an album without promotion and it broke every record to date. She performed for the United Nations and partnered with The White House for the “Let’s Move Campaign.” She is a feminist and employs an all female band. Her portfolio is constantly changing the game and pushing the envelope for women in all industries.

GUEST WRITER

Laverne Cox

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Cox is a pioneer for the transgender movement and has led the way as a transgender woman of color in the extremely popular show, Orange Is The New Black. An award-winning diva, we predict that the future is bright for her. The transgender community has gained momentum over the last 18 months.

Justice Ginsburg because of her tireless efforts on behalf of everyday American citizens. Her latest term on the country’s highest court gained her increased notoriety with our age group. Ginsburg was the second woman on the court and so far, the most vocal. She wrote a searing dissent in the Hobby Lobby and Civil Rights Act of 1965 cases. Ginsburg stated, “Throwing out preclearance when it has worked and continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.”

Tribune News Service

Omar Ramirez

Tribune News Service

Elizabeth Warren Congress wrote Elizabeth Warren off as an appointee for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; she took up arms in Massachusetts to become the Commonwealth’s next United States Senator. Warren is fighting for lower student loan interest rates, increased access to home loans and modifications and most importantly healthcare and access. Warren is an obvious choice for this list because of her dedication to the middle class and working families. She supports a minimum wage increase and increased regulations in the banking, housing and education sectors.

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Tribune News Service

Sonia Sotomayor

Michelle Obama

Having a bad day? Look up inspirational DeGeneres segments on YouTube. She has touched our hearts in more ways than one. She has led the effort for one simple thing, love. She stands with the LGBTQ community, using her own story as an openly Lesbian Caucasian woman to help those who need it most. Ellen’s support for the arts, marginalized communities and those in need surpasses that of every talk show host in America. What makes her different? With Ellen, love wins.

Michelle Obama has revitalized the Office of the First Lady. Her campaigns have reached into the homes of essentially every American family. “Joining Forces” and “Let’s Move” are some of the most successful campaigns by first ladies in this century. A culmination of international support in conjunction with support from celebrities and the Second Lady, Jill Biden, has propelled these programs forward. Obama helped craft legislation that reduced sodium and added sugars in government funded school lunches and worked with Fortune 500 companies to reduce sugar in candies.

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Lisa Ling provided America with insight into the vast array of cultures in the United States. By not taking a “Melting Pot” approach Ling focuses on individuals, religions and institutions in this country that impact Americans everyday. Ling’s “Our America” and her “This Is Life with Lisa Ling” have placed spotlights on marginalized communities. Ling represents what is great about America: diversity.

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A former ratings winner for daytime talk show, Oprah Winfrey has trial-blazed the world for women and girls all over the world. From her work in her studio to her school for girls in Africa, Oprah has opened doors for girls everywhere. Her roles in “The Color Purple” and “The Butler” and her support of African-Americans provide a voice for many communities. She is influential to many with her work with the United Nations, United States politics and now her production company is furthering her work in the industry. Oprah is phenomenal.

Lisa Ling

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Tribune News Service

Oprah Winfrey

Tribune News Service

The first Latin-American and third female Justice of the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayer, has blazed the road for not only young LatinAmerican children but also young girls everywhere. Sotomayor brings to the court an all too common testimony. She was raised partially on government assistance and understands the role affirmative action can have on a minority’s life. Sotomayor is the epitome of what good government looks like. In the last term Sotomayor stated, “The Government must be allowed to handle the basic tasks of public administration in a manner that comports with common sense.”

Ellen DeGeneres

Melissa Harris-Perry Melissa Harris-Perry is the one woman every American should watch at least twice. Her speeches and television series have provided a platform for truth from the perspective of an AfricanAmerican women with feminist values. Melissa recently visited UNC Charlotte for her book tour, she spoke frankly of feminism in her talk titled: “Mommy, Mammy and the Maid: Race, Class and Women’s Political Power.” Barnes and Nobles has her book in stock.

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