Niner Times: April 21, 2015

OP-ED: Greek life woes

As with everything, there are pros and cons to getting involved in Greek life. One Niner shares why she feels the cons out-weigh the pros. p. 7

Basketball offseason changes

Changes to the team’s roster and coaching staff over the off-season bring a completely different dynamic to the Charlotte 49er’s men’s basketball team. p. 10

Hiking in Charlotte

In and around Charlotte, there are plenty of places for you to hike and enjoy nature this summer. p. 15

ART TO THE

MAX

Unveiled this month, the Mobile Arts and Community Experience promotes art in the Charlotte area. p.6

A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA • THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE • VOL. 27, ISSUE 27 APRIL 21 - 27, 2015 NINERTIMES.COM

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April 21 through 27, 2015

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ADDITIONAL STAFF Makeedah Baker, Patrick Bogans, Chris Crews, Madison DeJaegher, Hunter Heilman, Warren Pettee, Benjamin Robson, Anna Wood

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

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REEDY CREEK PARK SGA, BLOTTER, WEATHER MAX OP-ED: GREEK LIFE SPRING GAME RECAP BASKETBALL OFF-SEASON SIMULACRA REVIEW ‘UNFRIENDED’ REVIEW RAVEN ROCK HIKING IN CHARLOTTE

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APRIL 21 - 27, 2015

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Photo by Seth Kingdon

Taking a look at the springtime advantages of Reedy Creek’s nature preserve and park Owned and maintained by Mecklenburg County, Reedy Creek offers activities like walking trails, a disc golf course and a nature center for children and adults alike to enjoy a sunny spring day

Seth Kingdon

GUEST WRITER The satisfying sensation of the first warm breeze of the season announces one thing: spring has sprung. The blooming flowers and peeping leaves call to adventurers to wander out from stuffy homes and musty bedrooms.

Some of these warm-weather outdoor seekers assemble at Reedy Creek Nature Preserve and Park to soak up the climate.

Two main sections make up Reedy Creek: the Nature Preserve, owned and maintained by the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department, and the park.

Corey Sperling has worked with Reedy Creek Preserve over three years. “We do a wide variety of public programs, anywhere from preschoolers all the way to adults,” he said. “We lead trips into the mountains, any kind of nature program you can think of, [do] recycled crafts and [hold] live animals. [We just] raise awareness of the environment and get people out doors.”

The 737-acre property is located off of West W.T. Harris Boulevard, about 15 minutes from the UNC Charlotte area. Nature adventurers should not be surprised to see wildlife, specifically one of the 109 species of birds in that area.

According to the Mecklenburg County North Carolina government website, hikers or runners can travel on 10 miles worth of trails.

Visitors of the park are additionally allowed to bring pets with them.

Dogs are allowed on trails and throughout the park only if they are

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on a leash that is at least six feet long.

The Nature Center, located in the rear of the park, has a variety of entertainment options for children to experience.

They can explore perched turtles, slithering snakes and lazy lizards in aquariums located at the nature preserve.

The indoor laboratory where the animals are located allows children to safely touch and see animals upclose and personal.

A playground occupies young children as they explore the outdoors.

Aside from the Nature Preserve, the 146-acre park allows visitors to take advantage of many different interests on any given Saturday, Sunday or weekday for that matter.

For dog owners, this is the place to be. A unique amenity to most parks around Charlotte, Reedy Creek has a large fenced-in area, big enough for roughly 50 adventurous dogs to sniff around and play with other K-9s.

Apartments or neighborhood residents may not be able to let their dogs out to exercise on a regular basis, which is Taylor Beam’s reason for a visit.

It takes her about 20 minutes to drive to Reedy Creek, but she likes the area for her dog, Amos.

“Now that the weather is nice, I try to bring him up at least once during the weekend every week because it gets his energy out and people are good here about their dogs,” she said. “We come here about

once a week I would say, especially when the weather is nice.”

Sport enthusiasts particularly enjoy the park because of the 18hole disk golf course, one of four courses in the surrounding region.

Established in 1991, this disc course is the oldest in this area.

The Charlotte Disc Golf Club recently held a tournament and another upcoming event titled “Carolina Clash” is planned for late April.

The event is directed by Bill Jacobson, and currently has 31 individuals registered from throughout the country.

Registration fees range from $40 to 60, depending on tier of competition.

The competition will consist of three rounds of disc golf.

Besides the dog park, there are two main ponds: Kingfisher Pond and Dragonfly Pond.

Fishermen typically catch small bass at these catch-and-release bodies of water. They like this location because it is quiet and serene.

The woods, especially in the summer, stifle sound very well, making for a relaxing afternoon.

A weekend visitor will likely share the large grassy area with families who have children.

Valencia Brown, her husband and their four young children visited the park for the first time recently on a warm afternoon.

Brown likes the park, but she thinks more could be added to the play area.

APRIL 21 - 27, 2015

“The playground is a little small, not what I expected … I think the park could be better if they had some old school attractions like a merry-go-round and see-saw…

Overall it’s a nice park. I like the scenery, I like the trees; the woodstype feeling, so it’s definitely a good park.”

A visitor can best take advantage of the woodsy feel of Reedy Creek by walking on a short trail around Dragonfly Pond.

It’s only a short jaunt, but well worth the adventure. Depending on the direction of travel, an incline may add a form of exercise to your stroll.

For visitors wanting either a vigorous exercise or a casual stroll through scenic views, this trail will do the trick.

Visitors may also take advantage of the park by utilizing its facility rentals. Picnic shelters may be rented for birthday parties or family gatherings, and campsites are available for rent through Reedy Creek’s webpage.

On top of all these amenities, there is also a soccer field, two softball fields, a cricket field, two horseshoe pits, four volleyball courts, nine outdoor picnic areas, an indoor picnic shelter, two playgrounds, a community garden, a lakeside meadow and a short fishing pier.

Whether you want to walk trails, fish or simply read a book in a strapped-up ENO hammock near the lake, Reedy Creek Park can satisfy your outdoor desires.

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POLICE BLOTTER MARCH 26 - APRIL 16

ACCIDENT MARCH 26

• Cameron Boulevard, victim reported being struck by a vehicle while crossing Cameron heading over Craver Road. The vehicle did not stop.

ARREST APRIL 7

• 9203 Mary Alexander Road, subject was arrested for assault and communication threats.

APRIL 15

• Police and Public Safety building, subject was arrested for second-degree trespassing.

LARCENY APRIL 9

• Witherspoon Hall, subject reported her roommate stole her clothes over a period of time and sold them to a local consignment store.

• West Deck, unknown person(s) removed items from a vehicle which was left unsecured in a public area.

APRIL 16

• School of Nursing, officer took report of a missing tablet.

• Athletics, unknown person(s) removed property from football practice field which was left secured in public.

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

weather.uncc.edu UNC CHARLOTTE METEOROLOGY PROGRAM

ASST. NEWS EDITOR The following is a recap of the events that took place during the Student Senate legislative meeting held April 16.

The meeting began with members of Student Government Association (SGA) holding a mock session to familiarize new senators joining SGA and those interested in joining SGA next year with the legislative process.

Committee members gave a brief introduction of their committee and explained how the Reports from the Officers portion of the meeting operates.

The mock meeting also had a couple of pieces of fake legislation that SGA ran through to give new senators and audience members a feeling for the process. The new President Pro Tempore Alex Rodriquez went through the fake legislation as if it were real and answered questions from the audience.

After the mock meeting, the first meeting of the 52nd legislative assembly was held.

This was the first time that senators took their newly elected positions on Senate. This was also the first time that SGA was led by Vice President Jared Dobbertin.

Internal Affairs Committee Internal Affairs is working on updating and fixing some of the

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bylaws to amend the previously mentioned issue.

Publicity and Outreach Committee The Publicity and Outreach Committee did not meet the Tuesday before the meeting; however, the committee chair still had news to report. Publicity and Outreach would like to get name tags for senators to use outside of SGA to better inform UNC Charlotte of who is representing them.

The committee is also working on ways that they might increase voter turnout during elections next year.

The Chronicler Position Removal Act Ever since its creation during the 50th legislative assembly, there has been no interest in the chronicler position on SGA. No senator has ever expressed interest in running for this position and it has remained unfilled.

The role of the chronicler is to keep records of senators and SGA. The chronicler would also be responsible for keeping records of the legislative meetings that take place every Thursday.

While the position has remained unfilled, there have FRIDAY

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been no negative impacts to the operation of Senate. The removal of this position would not harm SGA in anyway and, therefore, it is not necessary.

The bill was referred to the Student Affairs Committee.

Committee members will discuss and review the bill until the next meeting when senators will debate and ultimately, approve or deny the removal of this position.

The Executive Cabinet Confirmation Act Confirmation of the new members of the Executive Branch took place during the meeting. This included chair positions within the branch and the different secretaries that will work closely with the committees of UNC Charlotte.

The members of the Executive Branch were sworn in by Student Body President Mitch Daratony.

Daratony also swore in the new class presidents.

New student organization The UNC Charlotte Rotary Club is a new student organization that was approved by SGA that connects young adults with business professionals. Unlike some clubs featured on campus, the Rotary Club has a sponsor which they can communicate and plan with.

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MAX PROMOTES ARTS UPTOWN THE MOBILE ARTS AND COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE WAS UNVEILED TO THE PUBLIC APRIL 10 UPTOWN, AND WILL BE STATIONED AT UNC CHARLOTTE THIS WEEK

Diane Gromelski COPY EDITOR

UNC Charlotte College of Arts and Architecture has developed and launched the Mobile Arts and Community Experience (MAX), a transportable performance venue and community assembly space.

MAX was unveiled to the public on April 10 on the Levine Avenue for the Arts, housing musical, acrobatic and theatrical performances throughout the weekend.

A number of other departments on campus including the urban design, geography and education programs as well as off-campus organizations have also been involved in creating MAX. Boxman Studios, a Charlottebased company that modifies used shipping containers for use as temporary and mobile real estate, partnered in the assembly and production of MAX. The project was funded by the Knight Foundation, which provided a $350,000 grant in an effort to inform and engage the Charlotte community by promoting the arts, according to Susan Patterson, program director of the foundation’s Charlotte operation.

“Instead of a permanent building, this pop-up public space will go to where the people are and invite them to engage around the arts and community issues,” Patterson said. “Knight believes MAX has the potential to reach residents who don’t normally participate in

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community problem-solving, and we need all residents to help address our critical problems. We are also providing a stage for less-seen artists and artistic performances that will add vitality to our cultural sector.”

Charlotte’s art scene has historically been concentrated uptown and lacked variety, according to Carlos Cruz, assistant professor of voice and movement in the UNC Charlotte Department of Theatre.

Cruz, who attended college and acted in Puerto Rico, developed the idea for MAX as a way to diversify and spread the arts in Charlotte, but also hopes it will serve as a model for other U.S. cities.

“There’s not much going on with arts in Charlotte, and what is out there is not totally representative of the talent in the community The whole idea of the traveling stage is to bring the arts to communities that don’t have art. They have been very popular in Europe and Latin America, but not so much in the United States,” Cruz said. Dean of the School of Arts and Architecture Ken Lambla said he agrees with Cruz that cities in the United States, particularly Charlotte, haven’t done enough to foster the arts at the community level.

“We tend to have a fairly narrow definition of what performing arts are because in Charlotte, they’re either delivered by a major arts

The MAX structure when it was located in uptown last week. Photo by Meg Whalen

organization or you have to drive 20 miles to them,” Lambla said.

“What we believe is that the arts in your backyard may be just as good and may be more important to the solidarity and identity of the neighborhood.”

While MAX has only been used as a performance space since it was unveiled, the space will primarily be used as a community gathering place going forward as it was designed as not just a theatre, but also a classroom and design studio.

There is not yet an established schedule of where MAX will be traveling, but Lambla said it will be used in local neighborhoods that have existing relationships with UNC Charlotte such as Reid Park.

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“It (MAX) has a great active presence as a performance vehicle, but it is important to understand that 60-70 percent of its use will be for the academic engagement of neighborhoods in Charlotte,” Lambla said. “We did not design and make MAX, nor did the Knight Foundation fund MAX, to bring the university to neighborhoods. The concept is to use MAX as a vehicle to work with the community to bring from the community music, theatre, dance, architecture, urban design and community planning.”

MAX’s debut on the UNC Charlotte campus will occur April 21-24 as it hosts three free performances of “The Life of that Little Scoundrel Lazari.”

NINERTIMES

The woes of Greek life Madison DeJaegher INTERN

Having experienced Greek life, specifically sororities, at two different universities in my college career, I have gained a similar perspective from both institutions. I used to say every school is different in regards to its Greek life, thinking some schools are more severe than others. But are they really?

If you’re not familiar with the stereotype, it falls along the lines of catty girls living the same drama and immaturity from high school. They get off by belittling the younger girls or – God forbid – girls that are not like them. They reprimand those unable to put forth as much time as they do into Greek events due to the fact that they have a job and support themselves financially.

I may not be in a sorority, and I don’t ever plan on being in one, but I know plenty of people who are or were and decided to drop. I have been a shoulder to cry on through some unfortunate experiences for best friends and sisters (blood, not Greek) and have experienced the ridicules first hand.

I am aware not all sorority girls fit this stereotype – I would know because I call some of them my best friends. But I am sad to say I have had and have heard more bad experiences than good ones within the Greek community.

How about a story from my freshman year when a good friend of mine asked me to be her date to the end of the year formal for her sorority?

Her boyfriend went to another school, so I proudly stepped in as her date. I did not know many of her sisters, and they didn’t know me. I had heard her past experiences being excluded from lunches, outings and other “sisterhood” events.

But nothing compared to the shunning we received at this party. A girl who lived on my hall, whose hair I had even held back while she vomited her Greek brains out, didn’t acknowledge me. We sat at a table by ourselves, and while all of her sisters were taking pictures with each other, she was barely acknowledged as a part of the “family.” Talk about sisterhood.

Tribune News Service

Or take the account of my sister, who, while being a full-time student here at UNC Charlotte, working thirty hours a week and participating in one of the university’s clubs, was also a part of Greek life. She worked a heavy schedule to support herself, including paying for her own dues. There were more times than one when she was reprimanded for not participating in an event due to the fact that she had to work to pay rent.

Furthermore, let’s look at the aftermath when

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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she dropped from the sorority later that year.

Having classes with the girls she used to be in the sorority with ignites whispering and pointing rather than hugs and kind “hellos.”

I guess dropping comes as an insult to those who don’t understand more important priorities like a job. To put it simply, it seems as though girls you used to be “friends” and “sisters” with reject you once you are not a part of their exclusive club. Talk about sisterhood.

Lastly, I will speak about the most infuriating instance I have had with a sorority. My best friend, one of the most kind-hearted people you will ever meet, has epilepsy. She is well-known throughout her sorority, as are the restrictions her disability brings her. She does not participate in drinking or partying, but does participate in any alcohol-free social gathering and charity event she can.

The one event, however, that she does look forward to is the end of the year formal every sorority always has. This year, I received a call from her in tears, when she should have been having a ball.

Through the tears, she explained to me that the girl who planned this formal, a girl to whom she is always more than friendly to, explicitly went against her need to have an environment that would not trigger a seizure. She bought strobe lights for the event, even after prior discussion and knowledge that such a needless party decoration would trigger a seizure and, therefore, purposely exclude my friend from the biggest event of the year.

As my friend arrived, the girl was standing in the doorway, and the first thing she said to my friend was, “Don’t be mad. The strobe lights are going up in 30 minutes.” This “sister” could have chosen not to put up the lights but, instead, gave her a half hour time limit to enjoy herself. She decided strobe lights were more important than having one of her “sisters” around to enjoy the night. Talk about sisterhood.

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Photo by Patrick Bogans

2015 SPRING GAME SHINES LIGHT ON CHARLOTTE 49ERS FOOTBALL Matt Chapman

SPORTS EDITOR Niner Nation flocked to Jerry Richardson Stadium on Saturday night to witness not only the 2015 spring game, but also the first ever 49ers football game played under the lights. Fans in the Queen City got a good look at the 2015 edition of the Charlotte 49ers as the Green team beat the White squad 19-3.

“It was pretty cool to finally play under the lights,” said Charlotte head coach Brad Lambert after the game.

“That was a good time to do it as well, coming out for the second half.

It was about as close as you can get to a real game for the guys playing the second half under the lights. Our fans never disappoint. The students had a good showing and I though it was a great environment.”

Multiple story lines surround the team heading into the 2015 season, but arguably the biggest of them all is the three-way quarterback competition between Matt Johnson, Lee McNeill and Brooks Barden.

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The three signal callers have battled through spring practice and each got extensive playing time running the offense on Saturday.

“It’s going to be a tough decision for us,” said Lambert when asked about the situation.

“All three of them are winners and I really like the spot we’re in with those guys. It’s going to be an interesting process once we get through summer and get to those first two weeks of August.”

Barden played exclusively on the Green side, while McNeill took the snaps for the White team. Johnson, the most experienced of the trio, played on both sides and attempted the most passes throughout the night.

All three struggled at times, each throwing a single interception while none of the three recorded a touchdown pass in a game that was dominated by both defenses.

McNeill, who started the final three games in 2014 after John-

son went down with a knee injury, totaled just 35 yards on five completions.

Barden, a redshirt freshman from Georgia, completed 10 of 16 passes on the night for 104 yards and led the first touchdown drive of the

game. Barden hit the human highlight reel Austin Duke on a 28-yard strike down to the five yard-line before Damarrell Alexander capped the drive with a six-yard touchdown scamper for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Quarterback Matt Johnson completed 11-of-19 passes for 142 yards. Photo by Ben Coon

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Johnson seemed most comfortable in charge of the offense after starting the bulk of Charlotte’s games throughout the last two seasons.

Johnson completed 11 of 19 pass attempts and worked the ball down the field more than his two counterparts.

He finished with 142 yards through the air, but also tossed a pick-six on the final play of the game that safety Ardy Holmes returned 90 yards for an electrifying touchdown to end the game.

“I thought the quarterback competition this spring went really well,” said Johnson after the game.

“Each one of us brings a little something different to the table and all three of us have a great relationship. Coach Mullen has preached to us from day one that above one and above all the team comes first. The best guy is going to start in the fall, and we all know that the best guy needs to start in order to put Charlotte in the best position. We’ve all given 110 percent and we’ve had our ups and downs, but Charlotte has gotten better. It’s exciting.”

Depth behind Kalif Phillips at the running back position has been

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Redshirt freshman Brooks Barden runs the read-option on Saturday night. Photo by Chris Crews

another question mark for the 49ers this offseason. Phillips carried the ball just two times Saturday night, so the coaching staff got a good look at the guys behind him on the depth chart.

Alexander possesses the quick feet and elusiveness to provide a solid one-two punch alongside Phillips in the Charlotte backfield. He carried the ball 18 times for a game-high 68 yards and scored the lone offensive touchdown of the game.

Garrison Duncan, a transfer from Delaware State, is a big physical

back that the coaching staff has been raving about since his redshirt season in 2014. Duncan got 13 carries on Saturday for just 37 yards, but showed the ability to hit the hole and punish defenders that get in his way.

Perhaps the biggest change for Charlotte in 2015 will come on the defensive side of the ball following the addition of Matt Wallerstedt as the team’s new defensive coordinator.

The 49ers were gashed on multiple occasions last season, allowing over 700 yards to the Citadel at home.

On Saturday each offense was held

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below 300 total yards and the White offense was held to just 146 yards on the night. The defense forced five turnovers, including three interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Wallerstedt, the former defensive coordinator at Texas Tech, will make some changes to the 3-4 defensive scheme the 49ers employed under the direction of Bruce Tall. Wallerstedt told the Charlotte Observer that he plans to use multiple defensive fronts in addition to the 3-4.

“Coach Wally likes to play man a lot and that’s what we like to do in the secondary,” said Holmes after the game.

“We’re more aggressive with the different coverages that we’re running and we’re playing a lot more man like Ardy said,” said Cortezz Nixon, who also recorded an interception.

“When we run more man that means we’re going to have to send more pressure so we’re going to be a much more aggressive defense.”

The 49ers will open the 2015 season in Atlanta inside the Georgia Dome against the Georgia State Panthers.

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Off-season transfers create turmoil for Charlotte basketball The Charlotte 49ers basketball program has lost six of their seven top scorers from last season’s team

Alex Passannante

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR College basketball programs shift and change every off-season. Once they play their last game, transfers and new recruits start to go into and out of the program.

In Charlotte’s case, there has been an abundance of transfers leaving the Queen City over the past couple of years.

Ever since Alan Major took over, players have transferred every single year. This off-season has been no different, even with the addition of new head coach Mark Price.

Not only is there an entire new coaching staff, but there are nearly no players coming back from the 2014-15 starting lineup.

Braxton Ogbueze, Cameron Blakely, Ivan Benkovic and Bernard Sullivan are the only players returning from last season that received notable playing time. Ogbueze is the only one of the four that started on last season’s team, averaging 9.6 points per game while shooting a dismal 34.7 percent from the floor in conference play.

Pierria Henry and Terrence Williams are graduating, and many others have transferred out of the program.

Keyshawn Woods, who led the team in 3-point shooting, has asked for his release from the program. Torin Dorn, who won the Conference USA Freshman of the Year award, has also asked for his release to explore other options.

Dorn and Woods, two local products from the Charlotte area, were viewed as the pillars for the future of the 49ers program after phenomenal freshman seasons. Dorn led the team in scoring with 12 points per game in his first collegiate season. Woods knocked down 46.6 percent of his shots from long range and looked poised to take over the starting point guard role from senior Henry next season.

Mike Thorne Jr., the 6-foot-11 center from Fayetteville, N.C., has announced that he will graduate early and transfer. Thorne Jr. received interest from several top 25 programs, including visits to Pittsburgh, Kansas, Illinois and an offer from John Calipari to join the Kentucky Wildcats.

Thorne Jr. announced that he will transfer to Illinois and play for the Fighting Illini next season.

He said on Twitter that he would like to stay at Charlotte, but that it wasn’t for him.

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The departure of rising sophomore and leading scorer Torin Dorn may be the most damaging for the program.

Photo by Chris Crews

On April 9 Thorne Jr. tweeted, “People showed me there true colors so it was best 2 move on.” He is the only player to come out publicly and talk about leaving the program, while others haven’t officially announced their departure.

Big Mike averaged 10.1 points and 7.3 rebounds this season for the 49ers and has one more year of eligibility after redshirting as a freshman. After graduating this May, he will be immediately eligible to play for another university.

Willie Clayton is another big name to leave the program, averaging 7.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game this season.

Despite having a big role in his first three seasons on the team, Clayton never played more than 16 minutes per game in his last five contests. The writing was on the wall for Clayton to transfer with the emergence of Thorne Jr. and the liability of Clayton’s offensive abilities.

APRIL 21 - 27, 2015

Ebuka Izundu, the four-star prospect that committed to the 49ers back in November, has now de-committed. Jesse Pistocache, a guard from Texas, has also recently de-committed.

To say the least, Price and his new staff have a lot of work to do to restore the 49ers back to national prominence, and more importantly, the NCAA tournament.

The Niners haven’t been to the big dance in 10 years now, which is a fact that Niner Nation despises. Even though Price announced that his main goal was to get Charlotte back into the tournament, he will face an extreme uphill battle with the departure of nearly every key player from last season’s squad.

Charlotte is losing 78.2 percent of their scoring from last season’s team that finished near the bottom of a lackluster C-USA. The Niners are also losing their top five rebounders from a year ago, not to mention Henry who is the program’s alltime leader in assists and steals.

The one piece of good news for Price and his staff is that two four-star recruits return to the lineup this season in Sullivan and Ogbueze, giving the 49ers some sort of talent to work with next year.

Several scouts on Twitter have said that Price and his staff have been out recruiting in Atlanta and other Amateur Athletic Union tournaments, which is something they’ll need to do plenty of this spring and summer.

Former assistant coach Desmond Oliver, who came on board with Major in 2010, was recently hired by the University of Tennessee to the same role. Former interim head coach Ryan Odom has garnered interest from several schools, most notably Louisiana State University.

While the previous staff was not successful in their goals, they always landed good recruits. This new staff will have to deal with getting fifth-year transfers to help Charlotte start their rebuilding phase.

One thing is for sure; Niner Nation is running out of patience with nothing but bad news coming out of the program for the past decade. The hiring of Price was a big splash, but it’s time for this program to get back to their winning fashion and return to prominence.

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All photos by Makeedah Baker

Gallery Review:

Simulacra Fine Arts students display their senior project in the Student Union Art Gallery Leanna Pough

A&E EDITOR Simulacra: a slight, unreal or superficial likeness or semblance.

The perfect term to describe the exhibit on display in the Student Union Art Gallery. Simulacra features the work of several Bachelor of Fine Arts students with concentrations in illustration.

There’s so much art it’s almost overwhelming.

First there’s Rob Bates. I remember his work from a previous exhibit at UNC Charlotte where he highlighted his experience as an embedded journalist and Marine Veteran. In Simulacra, Bates takes a new approach and shows us life after war. His pieces depict an acrylic on canvas of war veterans, all amputees, playing baseball.

Artist Alana Shelby uses ink and watercolor to capture the full lips of each muse and the whimsical coffee steam. “Bad Kitty” stands out amongst the nine compositions. Here, she uses marker and colored pencils that gives an innocent touch to the golden yellow hues of skin and kitty’s fur.

Kaitlyn Waddel forms puffy, bubble-like figures with colored pencils. A feather fountain pen sits on a crimson velvet tablecloth near her artist’s statement. Her creation of doughy-eyed dragonflies and bees is arresting.

Tianna Mchenry sets a theatrical scene with her film art and faux short film.

Dakota Rose’s oil on canvas captures the pale

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skin and cotton candy cheeks of vintage women with blunt bobs and bee hives.

According to her artist’s statement, her interest in old photos sparked the recreation. She’s given them new life.

Sheila Smith adorns her art in Victorian style picture frames, well suited for her marker and digital drawings of sweets and rich toned strawberries.

Kate McCluskey’s embroideries illustrate pictorials of popping pimples, nose picking and urination. Some of her work is sexually explicit in displaying “sensitive spots,” hence the warning at the gallery entrance. I really like that she incorporated a variety of textures and materials like watercolor t-shirts and black fur.

Scott Vayakone provides details of the scourging and crucifixion of Jesus at Nazareth. He outlines the path of spikes and nails and the resulting nerve damage.

With no tying theme, the artists were given creative freedom. Each mini gallery within the Simulacra exhibit is different from the other, all testing some line or boundary to evoke sentiments ranging from sympathy to disgust, and in some cases pure amazement of artistry skill.

Simulacra will be on display in the Student Union Gallery until Monday, April 27.

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Horror film, ‘Unfriended’ perfect scare for students Hunter Heilman

STAFF WRITER “Unfriended” looked hilarious; I was laughing so hard in its trailer and it simply didn’t look scary. I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of a horror film taking place entirely within a computer screen, plus I thought the title for the film was terrible.

It looked like an MTV-produced horror film that appealed to 12 year olds and was a simple cash grab. It wasn’t until I found out that the film was an independently produced festival flick that I began to gain some hope for it, but it didn’t excuse its trailer from being so awful. I opened my mind going into my screening for the film, holding onto the hope of an effective indie film with a R rating and tried to enjoy myself with this digital version of “The Blair Witch Project.”

“Unfriended” revolves around a Skype call of friends who are caught in a supernatural haunting over the computer on the anniversary of a bullied student’s suicide. The said student was humiliated over a YouTube video of herself drunk online and the resulting bullying led her to take her own life, and a video of said suicide also surfaced online.

The accounts of this student’s Facebook, Skype and email are now terrorizing the social medias of her living classmates.

I’m not going to lie, “Unfriended”

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scared me. “Unfriended” scared me a lot. The usage of the computer screen as the setting was very effective and provided a lot of subtle character development for our main character of Blaire. While I found the supporting characters to be some standard archetypes of the typical high school film, but the performances in the film were nuanced and nicely frenetic to match the scary situations happening on screen. I thought that, especially for such a short film, had much more character development than any teen horror film in a long time.

Like I said before, the usage of the computer screen as its setting provided more atmosphere than a typically shot horror film. It’s hard to call this film “found footage,” because it doesn’t adhere to the typical hand-held camera devices that the more clichéd horror films use religiously. The subtle usages of broken sound and images in the Skype call to create the illusion of a bad Internet connection made the scares all the more effective, as it hit closer to home with dealing with the awful on-campus Wi-Fi whilst trying to Skype, it’s like this film was made to hit the hearts of UNC Charlotte students.

ACROSS 1 Hackneyed 6 Work out ahead of time 10 Lily of France garment 13 Prepared potatoes, as for hash browns 14 Boxcar hopper 15 Campus courtyard 16 Unnamed news supplier 19 ID theft target 20 Used a bench 21 Injector for severe allergic reactions 22 Slice opposite, in golf 24 Snappy dresser 26 Actress Aniston, in tabloids 27 Automatic setting for highway driving 33 Nabokov nymphet 35 Cold draft server 36 Weed whacker 37 Wipe off the board

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38 Tidal retreat 39 Take control of 41 Rm. coolers 42 Lao Tzu’s “path” 43 Puts a gloss on, as shoes 44 Christmas display 48 Country singer McGraw 49 Jamaican music 50 Annual spelling bee airer 53 Understood by only a few 56 Portfolio part, briefly 58 Exceedingly 59 Conforms, or what each last word of 16-, 27- and 44-Across literally does 63 Seatback airline feature 64 Otherworldly glow 65 Actress Zellweger 66 “The Fountainhead” author Rand 67 Blue books?

68 Pretty pitchers DOWN 1 Dumpster fill 2 Classic Unilever laundry soap 3 Religious rebel 4 Bowling pin count 5 Frozen custard brand 6 Instagram uploads 7 Soul singer Rawls 8 Crunched muscles 9 Bit of cosmetic surgery 10 Dinner table faux pas 11 Kentucky Derby, e.g.

12 Yemen’s Gulf of __ 15 One of five in a maternity ward delivery 17 Criminal group 18 Ready for business 23 Singer Kristofferson 25 Auto parts chain 28 Sport-__: off-road vehicle 29 Chicago ballplayer 30 Fake diamond 31 Move like honey 32 Dregs 33 Low in fat 34 Aquatic predator 38 Grab a bite 39 “__ Loves You”: Beatles 40 One, in Dresden 42 “Used to be ... “ 43 Frighten 45 Sicily’s country 46 Sicily’s wine 47 Headgear on the slopes 51 Strength 52 Botanical connecting points 53 Mennen lotion 54 One of the Gilmore girls 55 Kilted family 57 Land measure 60 Total amount 61 Capote nickname 62 Opposite of fast fwd.

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RAVEN ROCK STATE PARK SUMMER IS COMING AND IT IS TIME FOR SOME DAY TRIPS. RAVEN ROCK STATE PARK IS THE PERFECT GETAWAY. WHETHER YOU CAMP OUT OVER NIGHT OR JUST VISIT FOR THE DAY, IT IS THE PERFECT HIKING DESTINATION

Anna Wood INTERN

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life and water falls down from the top of the rock, if there was a little more water, it would look just like a waterfall.

At the base of the rock, people climb over boulders that have been blasted off by dynamite and used to help build the fish trap rapids further down the river.

In some of the rocks you can still see the patterned grooves where the engineers placed the sticks of dynamite. Dead trees leave their snake like roots exposed, looking like something out of a spooky forest.

Looking up at the side of the rock you can almost imagine rock paintings left behind from the Native American Indians who once inhabited this region.

Directly to the right of Raven Rock is the infamous Cape Fear River which travels all the way to the

Atlantic Ocean.

If you are lucky, you may be able to see bands of fog creeping down the river in the early morning.

Many settlers have traveled up this river in search of the resources they needed to establish their lives according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation website.

Many rock ledges and trees seem to be great places to sit and take a photograph but you must be careful not to walk too far off the beaten path. One slip could cause you to fall directly in the Cape Fear’s strong current.

Once you hike back up the stairs, the next path to your right will lead you to the overlook of the river.

This view gives a broader perspective of the terrain and width of the river.

You can look up the river and see

Photo courtesy of Raven Rock State Park Facebook

North Carolina is one of the most geographically diverse states throughout the nation with its mountains, piedmont and coastal plains. This makes taking day or weekend trips with friends and family a lot easier.

One great place to take an easy scenic hike is at Raven Rock State Park located near Lillington, North Carolina. Lillington is about three hours from Charlotte, but this beautiful hike is worth the drive.

Many trails in the park lead to the popular Raven Rock, which rises about 150 feet above you and runs for about a mile along the Cape Fear River according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation website.

This type of rock formation seems very out of place seeing that the coastal plain region of North Carolina is commonly noted for its flatlands and sandy soil.

One of the most popular trails is the Raven Rock Loop Trail which first leads to the Raven Rock, then to the overlook of the Cape Fear River and back to the parking lot.

The trail is marked as an easy two point six miles round trip.

The beginning of the trail is a bit rocky, running adjacent to the clear and shallow Little Creek, creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere as the sound of flowing water follows you along the walk.

After about half a mile, narrow wooden stairs guide you down a cliff to the base of the Raven Rock, which soars above your head like a tall building.

During the rainy season resurrection plants instantly come back to

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the rocky rapids of the fish traps and across the river you can see how the land slopes downward, closer to sea level.

After the overlook, the trail loops you back to the parking lot.

If you are looking for a longer hike, you can take the Campbell Creek Loop Trail, marked on the map as a moderate five miles.

Lanier Falls Trail stems off of Campbell Loop Trail where the rocks create a dip in the water, creating a dam like formation across the river.

Raven Rock also has some longer bridle trails that are great for those who would prefer to travel on the paths by horseback.

The new visitor center is a great place for adults and children to participate in an interactive learning experience that teaches the history and ecology of the park through photographs and videos.

Different types of birds, snakes, arrowheads and even a beaver are on display throughout the park office.

Samples of rounded quartz, white quartz, pebbles and pyrite are also on display to touch and examine what Raven Rock is actually made of.

There are plenty of staff and park rangers on duty if you have any questions about the park, they will always be happy to help you.

This state park is great for a day trip in the late spring and early summer.

Though it may be a little bit further than Crowders Mountain, which is usually the go-to mountain for people in the Charlotte area, it is well worth the drive.

NINERTIMES

Best places to hike around Charlotte The perfect day trips for the summer months

Amanda Duke

LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Crowders Mountain State Park Crowders Mountain is about a 45-minute drive from Charlotte and is one of the most popular hiking destinations near Charlotte.

The trails are open to the public and there are two different trails you can take, a four-mile one and a fivemile one.

Both of the trails lead you to the top of the mountain with breathtaking views.

You are even able to see the Charlotte skyline in the distance.

Photo by Amanda Duke

Evergreen Nature Preserve Just a short 20-minute drive from UNC Charlotte’s campus, Evergreen Nature Preserve offers two miles of hiking trails.

Though there are no bikes allowed on these trails, there are many fields and streams to explore.

This park does not only have trails, but they also have a picnic area with basketball and tennis courts.

Linville Gorge Wilderness Linville Gorge Wilderness is in the western part of North Carolina and though it is about two and a half hours away from Charlotte, the views are worth the drive.

Not only do they have trails to hike, but they also offer camping, rock climbing and fishing.

Photo by Andrew James

South Mountains State Park This mountain offers an 80-foot waterfall, 40 miles of trails and an elevation of over 3,000 feet. Here they offer camping, though reservations are advised.

They also have equestrian facilities if you wish to bring your horse with you.

This state park is located an hour and 35 minutes from UNC Charlotte.

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APRIL 21 - 27, 2015

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