Niner Times: October 20, 2015

NINERTIMES.COM

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2015

VOL. 28, ISSUE 7

Jordan Snyder editor@ninertimes.com

Nick Cropper news@ninertimes.com

Matt Chapman sports@ninertimes.com

Leanna Pough ae@ninertimes.com

Alyssa Fronk

community@ninertimes.com

Jared Allen

sports@ninertimes.com

John Lineberger lifestyle@ninertimes.com

Casey Aldridge

Ben Robson

opinion@ninertimes.com

photo@ninertimes.com

Diane Gromelski

Andrew Hocutt

copy@ninertimes.com

Nick Clemens video@ninertimes.com

layout@ninertimes.com

Salina Dickie, Hunter Heilman, Sydney Stephens

ADDITIONAL STAFF Indira Eskieva, Chris Crews, Evan Moore, Edward Averette, Hailey Turpin, Carmen Westra

Matt Lorenz

Andrew Hocutt MARKETING STAFF

Tia Warren, Ashley Lyons, David Mendez, Darrell Hayden Jr.

NINER TIMES • RADIO FREE CHARLOTTE SANSKRIT LITERARY-ARTS MAGAZINE MEDIA MARKETING • TECHNICAL

MEGAN VAN EMMERIK

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Cover photos Chris Crews and Makeedah Baker

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2015

NINERTIMES

OVER 35 COUNTRIES GATHER FOR 40TH IFEST The International Festival featured commemorative events for 40-year anniversary INDIRA ESKIEVA STAFF WRITER

UNC Charlotte’s 40th annual International Festival was held Oct. 17. The festival, which was first held in 1975, has evolved to become UNC Charlotte’s staple attraction.

The festival is open to the general public; it gives students, faculty and local residents the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the wide diversity of cultures represented in Charlotte.

This year, over 35 countries participated in the event. Each country set up booths and tables inside and around the courtyard of the James H. Barnhardt Student Activity Center (SAC).

The booths and tables were decorated to represent the colors and flags of each country. Many of the vendors wore costumes native to their countries also.

Countries sold a variety of arts, crafts, clothing and souvenirs, and many offered ethnic foods.

The Russian booth had the infamous matryoshka nesting dolls for sale, as well as hand-carved wooden flutes which read “Made in Russia.”

Other tables also offered unique services. Egypt had an artist drawing Henna tattoos for $5. Japan had artists drawing decorative calligraphy.

Some of the countries involved in the event were Armenia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Columbia, France, Ireland, Israel, Palestine, Poland, Turkey, Venezuela and several others.

The most popular attraction of the festival is the wide variety of foods offered for sale by the vendors. It is a unique opportunity to get to taste foods from countries you otherwise might never have the chance to try.

The countries offered traditional dishes from their native lands.

NINERTIMES.COM

Chinese dragon dancers perfrom outside of the Student Union. Photo by Chris Crews

The Bosnia and Herzegovina table served Cevapi, a Balkan flatbread dish with beef kebabs and a sauce of sour cream and onions. Palestine had falafel sandwiches.

One of the foods that Lebanon had for sale was hummus and warm pita bread. In the courtyard of the SAC, the Philippines table was offering rice noodles, skewered beef or chicken and spring rolls. Colombia had homemade “papas fritas,” or french fries, for only $1.

For dessert, visitors could treat themselves to Italian ice served at Italy’s table.

Prices ranged from $1-10, with sizeable portions and drinks often included. However, many of the

booths that sold food ran short towards the end of the festival.

Throughout the festival, besides eating and shopping, guests could also listen to music and watch folk dances.

Poland, Israel and Russia were just some of the countries who took the stage in traditional garments to showcase a dance.

The Celtic Folk Band, an Irish band, played music, as well as the Steel Vibrations Band, which played Caribbean drums throughout the International Festival.

Towards the end of the festival, a Parade of Nations was held inside the main stage of SAC. In this parade, a representative

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2015

from each country came out on the stage dressed in traditional garments and holding their nation’s flag.

As they made their way on to the stage, the announcer read out loud facts such as the country’s capital and population. Members of the audience would cheer in support for each country.

At the end, all of the representatives lined up on the stage side by side to showcase both diversity and unification.

Visitors were invited by the festival’s organizers to process with the countries towards the Student Union to watch the Chinese dragon dance.

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POLICE BLOTTER OCT. 3-13 ACCIDENT OCT. 6

• Cone Visiter Deck, officer took a report referencing a van that drove the wrong way out of a parking deck and struck a steel pole.

OCT. 10

• Lot 6, an officer took a report referencing a hit and run. Victim stated the vehicle was last known undamaged Oct.7 at 8 p.m.

LARCENY OCT. 3

• Phillips Road, unknown person(s) removed a backpack from near the intersection of Phillips Road and Cameron Boulevard, which was left unsecured in a public area.

OCT. 6

• McEniry, officer took a report regarding a stolen bicycle from the bike rack inbetween the Friday and McEniry lecture halls.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, cont.

The dragon dance was performed right outside of the doors of the Student Union, and was accompanied by instruments such as the drum and the triangle.

After the dragon dance, the large march continued, this time making its way to the Irwin Belk Track and Field Center, where the festival ended with a large display of fireworks.

The firework show did not begin until 7 p.m., an hour after the festival had officially ended.

The fireworks were a special addition to this year for the 40th anniversary of the festival.

There is no certainty that the fireworks will make an apperance at next year’s festival.

“We’re thinking that it will most likely be a special thing for this year, but if we get really positive feedback, you never know. We could continue,” said International Festival Coordinator Kate Poisson.

The Parade of Nations was also moved back to accomodate the fireworks display.

Last year, the parade of nations happened around midday, but this year it was moved back to 5 p.m.

Fireworks from the International Festival. Photo by Chris Crews

OCT. 10

• Epic Building, unknown person(s) removed victim’s jacket from a classroom which was left unsecured in a public area.

OCT. 13

• Atkins Library, victim stated that an unknown person(s) removed his passport from his backpack which he left unattended several times while he was in the library.

VANDALISM OCT. 6

• Friday Building, unknown person(s) removed lettering from the wall in Friday on the first level.

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

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EVAN MOORE INTERN

Messages to the Senate Vice President Jared Dobbertin opened the meeting with his report. He said that students should look for midterm feedback forms coming out soon. These forms are intended to give faculty feedback on how to improve their class for the spring semester.

Dobbertin also met with some alumni representatives to discuss the Alumni Speaker Series. Topics in the past have included careers, finance and

networking. In the meeting, he pushed for the alumni to include topic on athletics, and how to be a good alumnus, so alumni are able to get more involved on campus.

statement.

SGA is the only student organization without one. The mission statement is modeled after UNC Charlotte’s Honor Code, The Noble Niner.

Internal Affairs Head of the Internal Affairs Committee Andre Jefferies introduced the Senate to the SGA Mission Statement Act. This act was brought forth so that the Student Government Association can adopt their own mission

Publicity and Outreach Senator Somgali Ozibigwe presented the SGA Logotype Change Act, with a final draft of a potential new logo. Senators debated the design for about 15 minutes, before deciding to table the bill until the next meeting.

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2015

NINERTIMES

UNC Charlotte builds homes for the less fortunate Staff and students work with Habitat for Humanity for annual build NICK CROPPER NEWS EDITOR

Alumni, staff and students of UNC Charlotte banded together Friday, Oct. 16 to build a home for a family in need during the third annual Habitat for Humanity Homecoming build.

On Friday, volunteer groups participated in framing the exterior of the home.

“Habitat provides a project manager and he or she is always on sight, so they’ve got kind of a plan of what they want each group of volunteers to do, but it looks to me like it’s at a stage of putting up walls,” said Vice Chancellor for Advancement Niles Sorensen.

Sorensen is leading the team of UNC Charlotte staff members who volunteered.

“I think we’ll have a great afternoon of volunteering on an important project with a wide

variety of staff across the campus, so I think that there is that element, which is terrific,” said Sorensen.

The build started Oct. 13 and work will continue on the house until Oct. 23, during homecoming weekend. Construction of the house is currently being done on campus.

By Oct. 23, most of the structure and exterior will be finished.

However, the house is not finished at this point. Once work on the exterior is done, it will be moved to its permanent location, where it will be completed.

Experience with construction is not necessary for volunteers of Habitat for Humanity and many of the volunteers from UNC Charlotte had little or no experience with building. Habitat for Humanity provides a project manager who is on site all day while construction is

taking place.

The project manager helps the volunteers with their tasks during their shifts. The project manager also makes sure volunteers follow the design plan and that they stay safe while working.

“You’re working with nails and saws, so you’ve got to have somebody supervising to make sure things go smoothly,” said Sorensen.

Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to enlist volunteers to build a home for those who would struggle to obtain a home through normal means.

“I think Habitat’s mission and what they accomplish for families is nothing short of miraculous for them,” said Sorensen. “They create a method of home ownership for people who don’t have access to that kind of thing and so to be a part

of building someone’s home ... It’s just a really terrifically meaningful opportunity to volunteer.”

The annual Habitat for Humanity Homecoming Build is part of UNC Charlotte’s Giving Green month. There are several volunteer oppurtunities during this month for green initiatives.

The idea to assist Habitat for Humanity came from the student Habitat chapter three years ago. The students decided that they wanted to raise money and build a house on campus.

“It really is a student driven idea, we just kind of helped to coordinate with them on how to get it accomplished,” said Sorensen.

People looking to volunteer can still sign up, but there are only spaces available for the last few days leading to homecoming.

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OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2015

NINERTIMES

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION WINS 2016 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE The organization’s resistance to change in the face of tragedy earned them the prestigious award

EDWARD AVERETTE STAFF WRITER

In a surprise turn of events, the National Rifle Association of America has received the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize. The award, which has been awarded 96 times to 129 Nobel Laureates over the past 114 years, was given to the gun rights advocacy group on the basis of “consistent apathy and steadfast principle in the face of biweekly mass shooting events.”

“What we saw with the NRA is simply remarkable,” said Norwegian Nobel Committee spokesperson Kirsten Haugen. “The committee was so heartbroken because NRA missed this year’s prize, which went to Tunisia’s National Dialogue Quartet for promoting and bringing about democracy in Tunisia following the Arab Spring in 2011. ” While National Dialogue Quartet will receive the Prize on December 10 at Oslo City Hall in Norway, the Nobel Committee faced a difficult decision that would set a new precedent for the organization.

“The chair and the committee were already meeting in late September and earlier this month deciding on the winner, and then the tragic events at Umpqua Community College took place,” said Haugen. “That changed everything.”

The recent mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore. left 10 people dead and created the burgeoning national dialogue on gun control.

“Somehow this has become routine,” said President Barack Obama during a press conference following news of the shooting. “The reporting is routine, my response here at this podium ends up being routine. And what becomes routine is the response from those who oppose any sort of gun control legislation.”

Over the last two weeks, Obama has faced criticism from the NRA and second amendment advocates who argue he is politicizing mass shootings because of his persistent and admittedly annoying liberal agenda.

NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre graciously accepts the Nobel prize. Photo courtesy of Tribune News Service

“I am so tired of this socialist, Barack Hussein Obama, and his politicization of mass shootings,” said Huntersville resident and NRA member Dana Carbush. “This sort of thing happens all the time and we can’t be up in arms just because one loose cannon decides to kill people. We honestly need to follow Taylor Swift’s suit and shake it off.”

According to Mass Shooting Tracker, which has a broader definition of mass shootings that consists of an event where four or more people are shot, there have been over 300 mass shootings in 285 days.

“It’s just amazing that within this span of less than a year the NRA and its members have been resistant and very calm in the aftermath of these biweekly shooting events,” said Haugen. “Peace is all about maintaining a sense of calm and

not questioning the status quo during times of tragedy, which is what this group has done at an extraordinary level since Columbine. That’s why I think the committee is rewarding the group with this honor a year in advance.”

Carbush thinks this honor has been a long time coming for an organization that has often faced derision for their claim that gun control is not necessary in America.

“Sept. 11 was a real tragedy,” said Carbush, as a single tear streamed during her face. “We need to protect ourselves from radical Islam and terrorism by spending trillions on fighting a faceless, transnational enemy that never seems to go away. It’s all about priorities, and I don’t think we should let one tragedy that happened out of nowhere, define us as a country.”

Disclaimer: In this work of satire, some quoted sources are completely fictitious and any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, is coincidental.

NINERTIMES.COM

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2015

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Photo by Chris Crews

CHARLOTTE VS. SOUTHERN MISS 路 OCT. 24, 2015

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UNC CHARLOTTE FOOTBALL 2015 FRIDAY, SEPT. 4

Georgia State at Atlanta, Ga.

3:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 12

STAFF PICKS

Presbyterian at Charlotte, N.C.

Noon SATURDAY, SEPT. 19

Middle Tennessee at Murfreesboro, Tenn.

7 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 26

Florida Atlantic at Charlotte, N.C.

7 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 2

Temple

at Charlotte, N.C.

7 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 17

Old Dominion at Norfolk, Va.

3:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 24

Southern Miss

FINAL SCORE: CHAR 24, Southern Miss 34

“Kalif Phillips and the 49er offense found a rhythm against Old Dominion. However, the pass defense will have its hands full with Southern Miss quarterback Nick Mullens.”

at Charlotte, N.C.

Noon SATURDAY, OCT. 31

Marshall

at Charlotte, N.C.

TBA SATURDAY, NOV. 7

FIU

at Miami, Fla.

Noon SATURDAY, NOV. 14

UTSA

at Charlotte, N.C.

2 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOV. 21

Kentucky

at Lexington, Ky.

TBA SATURDAY, NOV. 28

FINAL SCORE: CHAR 17, Southern Miss 13

“The Charlotte 49ers are celebrating homecoming which should give the team added motivation. Behind a stout defense, the 49ers win at home”

Rice

at Houston, Texas

3:30 p.m.

2

Tweet us your predictions to @NT_Sports using #CHARSoMIssPicks

GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

THE 49ERS LOOK TO SNAP A FOUR-GAME LOSING STREAK ON HOMECOMING AGAINST SOUTHERN MISS MATT CHAPMAN SPORTS EDITOR

The Charlotte 49ers will return to Jerry Richardson Stadium on Saturday afternoon still in search of their first Conference USA victory.

The Niners welcome the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss to the Queen City with hopes of putting on a show and extinguishing past homecoming demons.

Charlotte (2-4, 0-3 C-USA) could bounce back from last week’s heartbreaking loss on the road against Old Dominion in one of two ways. Hopefully for Niner Nation, the team will continue to build on Saturday’s 536-yard offensive outburst instead of sulking after a disappointing defeat.

“We’ve got to get right back in the saddle,” said 49er head coach Brad Lambert after the loss to the Monarchs.

“We’ve got to get right back at it Monday morning. I have no issue with how hard our team works.

They show up and work every week and that’s what we have to do to continue to keep getting better and show team’s that we can play in this league.”

Charlotte ranked near the bottom of the conference in scoring and passing before last Saturday’s explosion on offense. All three quarterbacks have seen extensive playing time, but redshirt junior Lee McNeill appears to have settled in as the starter at the midway point of the 2015 season. McNeill struggled mightily in his first two starts, but bounced back and managed the game well against Old Dominion.

McNeill completed 23-of-33 pass attempts for 231 yards, providing just enough of a threat through the air to open things up for the 49ers’ ferocious rushing attack.

“We’ve practiced really hard the past couple weeks and I feel like I’m getting more comfortable with the offense and getting used to the speed of the game,” said McNeill after his performance Saturday.

The 49ers take the field before the 2014 homecoming game. NT file photo

“We’ve played some really good teams this year and we’ve played some great defenses. I feel like it’s just an experience curve.”

McNeill’s job as quarterback becomes much easier when Kalif Phillips is carving up defenses the way he has in three consecutive games now. Phillips leads all C-USA running backs with over 700 yards rushing through six games this season. Charlotte’s workhorse in the backfield recorded his first multitouchdown game of 2015 and set a new school record with 204 yards on the ground against the Monarchs.

“Kalif has done this every game since he’s been here. Maybe we shouldn’t take him out of the game and just give him the ball more,” said Lambert when asked about his stud running back.

“I would never say it’s just me because it’s never just me on the

field,” added Phillips.

“I give all the credit to my offensive linemen and at the end of the day I just have to finish.”

Phillips spearheads the Niner rushing attack, but he isn’t the only one who got the job done on the ground Saturday afternoon.

West Virginia transfer Andrew Buie carried the ball seven times for 71 yards and scored his first touchdown in a 49er uniform. All in all, Charlotte racked up 309 yards and four touchdowns with the ground game against Old Dominion.

The Golden Eagles (4-3, 2-1) will bring a lot of confidence into the Queen City, riding high off of a 32-10 homecoming victory of their own against the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners. Southern Miss’s three losses have come against the likes of Mississippi State, Nebraska and Marshall, three teams with

CHARLOTTE VS. SOUTHERN MISS · OCT. 24, 2015

legitimate bowl game aspirations come December.

Southern Miss is led by junior quarterback Nick Mullens who must be licking his chops after watching the 49ers’ secondary struggle to contain Old Dominion’s league-worst passing offense. Mullens ranks second in C-USA with 2,348 passing yards and 17 touchdown throws.

The 49ers have been a bit Jekyll and Hyde in the secondary this season, holding three teams under 150 passing yards, while also getting torched by Middle Tennessee and Old Dominion.

Expect another heavy dose of Phillips and Charlotte’s multifaceted rushing attack against the Golden Eagles, who rank near the bottom of the league in defending against the run.

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49ERS FUMBLE AWAY FIRST C-USA VICTORY The 49ers dropped their fourth straight game in a 37-34 loss on the road against Old Dominion

MATT CHAPMAN SPORTS EDITOR

The Charlotte 49ers went into Foreman Field, nearly crashed homecoming and came within a field goal of notching their first Conference USA victory in program history against the Old Dominion Monarchs on Saturday afternoon. On a day on which Old Dominion’s Ray Lawry entered the game as the leading rusher in C-USA, it was 49er running back Kalif Phillips that stole the show, found the end zone twice and broke his own school record with 204 rushing yards. However, it wasn’t enough as the Monarchs stormed back in the second half and scored the go-ahead touchdown with two minutes and change left on the clock to capture a thrilling 37-34 win.

“I was upset, but I told our guys that we’re a good football team,” said Charlotte head coach Brad Lambert after the game.

“We’re playing with every team we’re playing against, but we’ve got to finish. We had this one and we let it get away at the end. We can’t put it on the ground at the end and we have to make plays in critical situations when we have those opportunities.”

Charlotte’s offense that hadn’t scored a touchdown in the last 10 quarters of football exploded for 536 total yards, spearheaded

by Phillips and the rest of the Niner rushing attack that churned out over 300 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Quarterback Lee McNeill managed the offense well and made some timely throws as the 49ers converted on 12-of-22 third down attempts.

The 49ers (2-4, 0-3 C-USA) wasted no time attacking the Monarch defense with a nineplay, 64-yard drive on their opening possession of the contest. McNeill utilized the play-action pass with Old Dominion expecting the run and marched the 49ers into scoring territory where Phillips finished things off with a one-yard burst up the middle for the touchdown. Phillips’s score gave Charlotte its first lead in over a month and helped the offense gain some desperately needed confidence.

The Monarchs (3-3, 1-1 C-USA) showed plenty of fight and answered immediately when wideoutturned-quarterback David Washington tossed a 53-yard bomb over the top of the Niner defense to stud receiver Zach Pascal. Charlotte managed to cling to a 7-6 advantage however, as Jalen Holt blocked the extra point attempt.

The 49ers continued to find open lanes in the running game late in the opening quarter and

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Andrew Buie took his turn gashing the Old Dominion defense. Buie, a graduate transfer from West Virginia, gave the Niners a 14-6 lead with 4:54 left in the first quarter when he punched it in from the goal-line for his first touchdown in a Charlotte uniform.

The team’s went back-and-forth, trading a few field goals before Phillips broke free again with his second touchdown, a 36-yard scamper late in the first half that pushed Charlotte’s lead to double-digits. The 49ers had an opportunity take command and stun the homecoming crowd, but couldn’t capitalize on a Terrence Winchester Kalif Phillips leads the C-USA in rushing yards. NT file photo interception and had to settle for a 24-12 halftime lead.

“Kalif has done this every game since he’s Charlotte in Old Dominion territory. Offensive been here,” said Lambert when asked about his coordinator Jeff Mullen worked the clock, handing star running back. “Maybe we shouldn’t take him the ball to Phillips five consecutive plays. Phillips out of the game and just give him the ball more.” eclipsed the 200-yard mark for the first time in The Niners once again squandered a chance to his career and set the 49ers up with third-andgo up by three scores on the first possession of the goal at the one yard-line. Mullen inserted Johnson second half when McNeill made his lone mistake into the game at quarterback for the third down of the afternoon and tossed an interception play and called a fade route to the back of the end right into the hands of safety C.J. Bradshaw. zone. It was only Johnson’s second pass attempt McNeill’s turnover didn’t translate directly into of the afternoon and it sailed over the receiver’s points, but it did allow the Monarchs to gain head, forcing Charlotte to settle for a chip-shot a little momentum and score 10 unanswered field goal and a 34-29 lead late in the game. third quarter points to cut the 49er lead to 24-22 Old Dominion’s new quarterback Washington heading into the fourth quarter. was stellar with the game on the line. Washington Charlotte didn’t crumble under the pressure guided the Monarchs on a nine-play, 75-yard drive of the Old Dominion comeback as the Niners and tossed the game-winning touchdown pass to marched the ball 79 yards down the field on Pascal who made another ridiculous grab in the the back of Phillips. The junior back carried the back corner of the end zone. Pascal racked up 49ers all the way to the goal-line and backup 231 receiving yards on 11 grabs, but none more quarterback Matt Johnson capped the drive with important than his third touchdown of the game a one-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal. that gave Old Dominion its first lead of the day.

Johnson looked good carrying the ball seven times “We’ve got to get back in the saddle,” added for 42 yards after suffering a concussion late in Lambert.

September against Florida Atlantic.

“We’ve got to get right back at it Monday Unfortunately for Niner Nation, the game morning. I have no issue with how hard our team turned in the blink of an eye when Buie took a works. They show up and work every week and hard hit and coughed up the football deep inside that’s what we’ve got to continue to do to continue Charlotte territory with a nine-point lead and to keep getting better and show people that we 9:46 left on the clock. That’s when Pascal began can play in this league.” to take over, delivering an acrobatic, diving catch Charlotte will need to rally behind what is for a touchdown on a crucial third down midway sure to be a raucous homecoming crowd at Jerry through the final quarter to cut the 49er lead to Richardson Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24. The two points again.

49ers continue their search for their first C-USA The Niners were gifted another opportunity to victory when they host the Southern Miss Golden seal the game when the Monarchs inexplicably Eagles at noon. faked a punt and failed, turning the ball over to

GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

CHARLOTTE VS. SOUTHERN MISS 路 OCT. 24, 2015

5

HOMECOMING

2015

NT file photos

Homecoming is back and better than ever. The festivities begin on Wednesday and culminate Saturday when the 49ers host James Madison MATT CHAPMAN

Photo by Chris Crews

SPORTS EDITOR

Homecoming is quite possibly the biggest event to take place on a college campus throughout the school year. All the festivities and school spirit build up to an exciting culmination on Saturday afternoon at the annual homecoming football game.

UNC Charlotte got its first taste of a true homecoming in 2013 with the arrival of the university’s brand new football program. Prior to 2013, Charlotte students were forced to celebrate the tradition in dreary February during basketball season.

The addition of the Pride of Niner Nation Marching Band and the new tailgating layout should take the 2015 homecoming to another level.

The party gets started on Monday with the first annual 49er Kickoff pep rally in the CHHS/COED Plaza at 6 p.m., followed by the Homecoming

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Comedy Show featuring Saturday Night Live’s Kenan Thompson at 8 p.m. on the third floor of the Student Union. Admission is free to all UNC Charlotte students with a valid student I.D. The festivities continue with a pair of events at 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Niner Idol, UNC Charlotte’s take on the “American Idol” singing competition, will take place in the Student Activity Center Salons. If singing competitions aren’t your cup of tea, head out to Transamerica Field to watch the Charlotte 49ers men’s soccer team do battle with the Virgina Tech Hokies of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Wednesday, Oct. 21 is the Day of Service. Head out to the CHHS/COED Plaza between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to help the University reach its goal of collecting 4,900 pounds of food for the campus food pantry. Any student that brings two cans of food will receive a free homecoming T-shirt.

Things turn up another notch on Thursday night the annual Basketball Madness event inside Halton Arena at 9 p.m. Get your first look at the 2015-16 men’s and women’s Charlotte 49ers basketball squads. Head coaches Mark Price and Cara Consuegra introduce their teams and the players will compete in skill competitions and possibly even a slam dunk contest.

The homecoming ceremony kicks into high gear on Friday night with the annual homecoming parade throughout campus at 6:30 p.m. Various viewing stations will be set up with bleachers, vendors, judges and announcers. After the parade you can head to the student union and enjoy Campus Activites Board’s annual Union Takeover, or make your way back to Transamerica Field for another thrilling 49er soccer match against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

The party kicks off early Saturday morning with the homecoming tailgate scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., three hours prior to the noon kickoff between the 49ers and Southern Miss Golden Eagles. Come out and experience the new student tailgating village and witness as the marching band leads the cheerleaders, dance team, players and coaches on the Niner Walk through campus to Jerry Richardson Stadium.

The 49ers are currently on a four-game losing skid since opening the season 2-0 and the team needs a raucous crowd to pack Richardson Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Charlotte came within a field goal of upsetting Old Dominion last weekend for their first C-USA victory and will get back in the saddle again this week hoping to shock another C-USA squad. 49er running back Kalif Phillips is having a monster season and will likely put on a show against one of the worst rush defenses in the league.

The Royal Court will be presented at halftime, followed by the crowning of Mr. and Miss UNC Charlotte to conclude the ceremony.

GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

GAME-DAY TAILGATING EDEN CREAMER GUEST WRITER

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

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

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

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

CAMPUS ENTRANCES AND LOT INFORMATION All entrances except the main entrance and the John Kirk Road entrance will be closed five hours prior to kickoff. Game-day entrances open four hours prior to kickoff.

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

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

Tailgating areas will open four hours prior to the game.

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

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

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

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

The complete University Policy 706 is available online. Tailgaters are encouraged to read this policy prior to game-day.

CHARLOTTE VS. SOUTHERN MISS 路 OCT. 24, 2015

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GOLDRUSH 路 A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

LOREN REILLEY: JARED ALLEN

CAPTAIN, LEADER, 49ER

SPORTS EDITOR

The alarm clock sounds, Loren Reilley wakes from a deep sleep, unable to ignore the buzzing. The numbers read 8 a.m. The day isn’t like any other.

It’s Sunday, Sept. 13, her 21st birthday, game-day for her Charlotte 49ers women’s soccer team.

Reilley sits down at the table for the breakfast of champions. Her 29 teammates prepare themselves for a pre-game meal at O’Charley’s.

Regardless, she pours herself a bowl of cereal. Her choice on this special Sunday morning: Captain Crunch Doughnuts.

Hailing from New Jersey, Reilley exhibits her trade 523 miles from home.

“As soon as I got here, I was like, oh my gosh, this campus is beautiful,” Reilley said.

Certainly a feeling that many Charlotte students have upon their first visit but the majority of undergraduates aren’t moving 523 miles away from their home, parents and family.

“I was actually freaking out, crying because coach Cullen gave me a two week time frame to decide,” Reilley said. “I had to decide by a Friday and the night before I cried myself to sleep and didn’t let him know. I talked to my friend and they asked if I had to take soccer out of the decision, where would I go? It was easy, Charlotte.”

Needless to say, the Charlotte coaching staff didn’t ignore the All-South Jersey First Team pick’s phone call Friday afternoon. Chosen to the all-conference first team in 2010 and 2011 and earning all-state plaudits while serving as her team’s captain, Reilley was a top talent emerging from the Garden State.

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“I woke up with a clear head.

This is where I wanted to be and I committed in March,” Reilley said.

Before too long, Reilley found herself on the booming campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She entered her freshman year prepared and ready to go.

Reilley was strong, fit and mentally prepared. Reilley even broke into the starting lineup early on but alas an injury plagued her inaugural season.

“I don’t even know what happened,” Reilley said. “I just remember one practice I couldn’t run. At first the trainer thought it was my tailbone, but two weeks later figured out my sacroiliac joint was enflamed.”

And just like that, Reilley’s freshman season at Charlotte was passing her by as she looked on, struggling with a nagging injury.

“My freshman year was sad,” Reilley said. “No one likes to be injured but to have an injury like, I broke my foot, I’m in a boot. I said, oh my butt hurts. I worked so hard during the summer just for a dumb injury to knock me out.”

Sophomore year was a blur in the eyes of Reilley but a huge stepping stone nonetheless. She was healthy, featuring in every other game and was mentored by former Charlotte defensive mainstay Taylor Dulaney.

It was a transition period as Reilley moved into a leadership role within the team.

Come fall 2014, a well-known, unexpected face joined Reilly in the Queen City. Her sister: Ari Reilley.

“I love playing with her,” Reilley said. “I can’t imagine if we had gone to different colleges. I thought it was funny how she didn’t tell me she was going here. She didn’t even tell me, I

Loren Reilley handles the ball in September match against USF. Photo by Chris Crews

saw it on Facebook,” laughed Reilley.

“Having her here is the best thing that’s happened to me. I always have her support and it was difficult my freshman year not having that. It makes everything better, having her as a roommate, teammate and best friend.”

Reilley had become a regular in the team. Stepping out onto the field, every match, the fans in the stands knew who was bolstering that defensive line.

Her hard work earned her the right to wear the captain armband come the spring prior to her senior season. Reilley’s selection was a simple decision for the coaching staff. She had all the intangibles and experience. She garnered the illustrious armband during her high school career and was the youngest member of the 49ers’ leadership council during her freshman year.

“I felt I had proven myself on and off the field,” Reilley said. “I always take the rules seriously and I think that I push for others to do that as well. I’ll be the first one to

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call someone out if they’re breaking a rule. I won’t throw a teammate under the bus with the coaches but I think the team’s best interest should be first. I don’t like being the bad guy, but I don’t have a problem doing it if that’s what has to be done.”

Her game-day routine was altered a bit as the team’s jerseys were late arriving to the locker room.

“For some reason, they weren’t in the locker room,” said Reilley. “I was thrown off, I couldn’t do my normal routine. I didn’t get to clean my shoes.”

Clean shoes or not, Reilley took the pitch and displayed why she’s the captain and leader of the 49ers, as she’s done all season long. As the clock ticked down, Charlotte didn’t walk away with the result that they were looking in the double-overtime thrilled with East Carolina.

However, upon looking to the sidelines, Reilley didn’t have a reason not to smile. Her parents were waiting.

Check out the full story at ninertimes.com

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SAY’HU: MY OWN WAY

UNC Charlotte graduate finds his lane as a rapper in the music industry JARED ALLEN SPORTS EDITOR

Say’hu, a slender West-African, sits on a black leather couch. His charcoal-colored fedora rests on top of an untrimmed afro; his hands are in the pockets of his khaki pants. Say’hu sits inside his concealed downtown Charlotte studio, a hideaway from the outside world.

His inspiration, Bob Marley, is pictured on his T-shirt, while he gives off the aura of his homeland, Gambia. The majority of the Queen City’s residents are home, tucked away in their beds while Say’hu and producer Nuke verbalize their daily escapades and assessment of the world around them.

The conversation begins to fuel Say’hu’s musical agency as he prepares himself to step behind the glass wall to record his upcoming release, L.I.F.E (Living is Free Existence). The anticipated track is a reflection on the Gambian rapper’s life, as well as the uncertainty that surrounds a novel future he cannot predict.

“Music was always a part of me. I was always around music but in Gambia there isn’t an industry for it. If you tell somebody that you want to pursue music, they’re not going to take you seriously,” said Say’hu.

Following his parents’ wishes, Say’hu found himself in the booming city of Charlotte, N.C. In a new home, nearly 4,100 miles away from his closest friends and the life he once knew, he set out to achieve his parents’ dream.

“The life here wasn’t too much different.

Through community college, I was still around African people,” said Say’hu. “Slowly but surely I was adapting but it never really felt that different. My older brother was with me too.”

Just outside the heart of the city, Say’hu worked to graduate with a college degree. The freespirited Gambian had also decided to pursue his dream of a viable rapping career. Suddenly, the working relationships started to blossom and Charlotte started to feel a little more like home.

Little did he know, it was here that he’d stumble upon an aspiring producer, a mentor and a best friend.

“I was introduced to Nuke. I thought this was

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Say’hu’s newest release,“The Upright Man” is now available on Soundcloud. All photos in spread coutresy of Say’hu

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SAY’HU, cont.

Say’hu and producer Nuke. Photo courtesy of Say’hu

my big break, like, I finally met somebody,” said Say’hu. “It took me at least three months before I could start recording with him. He thought he was a bit of a superstar. I started rapping and he had faith in me.”

It took three months of feeling each other out, as if they were cage fighters circling each other for 60 seconds before recognizing the other’s potential and desire.

“Everyone and their mom wants to rap,” said Nuke. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to put my time into him.

I just wanted to see if he had the passion and commitment to the craft. Not just to rap because it was cool.”

Prior to meeting Say’hu, Nuke made and attempted to sell beats in high school, but never took off. The new Charlotte-based tandem began to push each other towards success.

Say’hu stands center stage as the music begins to ring from wall to wall and the crowd grows more anxious. Nuke stands off to the side smiling. The jubilation is a testament to their togetherness, a road in which they can now envision the light at the end of the tunnel.

Say’hu’s newest anthem begins to drown out the crowd’s intoxicating screams. The track begins with the tune of Islamic prayer. The melody was recorded during Ramadan, a month of fasting commemorating the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad.

With African pride running through his veins, the young man inspired by the exceptional reggae vocalists like Anthony B begins

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to spit his emotional ballad. Each line opens the door to Say’hu’s vulnerability.

“Picture life without music, would it feel the same? What if they told my Pops I was rapping, would he feel betrayed? Would he give me an ‘atta boy’ or tell me to stop today?”

His father is unaware of his son’s flourishing rapping career. Like every other loving parent, he wishes the best for his multi-talented son.

“He sent me here to go to school, which I did,” said Say’hu. “But, I went to school knowing that I wanted to graduate and focus on my rapping career.”

The lyrics are inspired by his own unanswered questions.

“I was like, ‘What if my Pops finds out? What is he going to do?’ Would he tell me to keep going or would he tell me to stop? I’m pretty sure he might say stop,” said Say’hu. “At the end of the day, I’m living for me. I have to be happy. I can’t just please everybody else.”

The strobe lights begin to dim and the anthem begins to fade out. The cheers of the fans are deafening.

Say’hu raises his black trilby off his head in appreciation. Nuke hasn’t strayed from his off-stage post, and tears fall from his eyes. The Gambian rapper strolls toward him grinning.

The duo that met six years earlier through mutual friends, wary of committing to each other, now stands side by side in awe over what their insuppressible hard work has achieved.

66 Leaning Tower city 67 Stadium levels 68 __ buco: veal dish

ACROSS 1 Rifle filler 5 Campus bigwigs 10 Ending for brides, chamber or milk 14 Teller of fibs 15 Humanlike machine of sci-fi 16 Edit menu option 17 Presidency’s last days, e.g.

19 ‘90s TV title toon teen 20 Attaches with string 21 Prefix with deed or lead 23 Quaint lodging 24 Six-pack muscles 25 Pre-cable reception aid 29 Stop for a moment 31 Abolish 32 Leading the field 33 Three: Pref.

34 Rapper __ Kim 35 PC key near Ctrl 36 Anonymous writer,

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maybe, and a hint to the devotee hidden in 17-, 25-, 50and 60-Across 41 Kit__: candy bar 42 “Bossypants” memoirist Tina 43 “__ you ready?”

44 Fire-setting crime 47 Boxing count 48 Gets a glimpse of 50 Commentator dissecting chips and putts 53 Bro or sis 54 Expected landing hr.

55 Wobbly walker 56 Green film on bronze 58 Clear liquors 60 Usual sitcom length (including ads) 63 First chip in a pot 64 “In other words ... “ 65 Cabinet dept. concerned with nukes

DOWN 1 Brewpub fixture 2 Typically 18-inch-long baseball collectibles 3 Double-checked 4 Gold medals, to Spaniards 5 Pipe clog dissolver 6 Scads of centuries 7 Prez on a penny 8 Painter Rockwell 9 A red wine one is hard to get out 10 Stick-in-the-__ 11 Consecrate using oil 12 “Beats me” 13 Steal a pup 18 Links warning 22 Vodka order, familiarly 26 Memorial column, for short 27 Pita filling 28 Catch in a sting 30 Bored with 34 Permit 35 “Trainwreck” actress/ screenwriter Schumer 37 Attacked on foot 38 Reject as false 39 Causes of disappearing beaches 40 Entourages 44 Issue in May-December romances 45 Spiral pasta 46 Slopes 47 Japanese floor mat 48 Laurel of Laurel and Hardy 49 “Handmade fresh all day” pizza chain 51 Like three Cy Young games 52 Bridge measures 57 “The Cosby Show” son 59 Baltic or Aegean 61 Sara whom “nobody doesn’t like” 62 At a distance

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BOOK REVIEW:

‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’ JOHN LINEBERGER LIFESTYLE EDITOR

“We Have Always lived in the Castle” is the final novel written by Shirley Jackson, three years before her death. It was first published in 1962 by Viking Press.

In honor of the season and the approaching proximity of Halloween, it’s time to review some gothic horror fiction. Now, “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” is not exactly horrifying, but it is very gothic and a fairly good alternative for those readers with an aversion to gore, jump scares and general grotesqueness.

The novel follows a young Mary Katherine “Merricat” Blackwood, 18, as she lives in her late parents’ estate with her sister, Constance, 22, and their disabled uncle, Julian. It is clear from the start that none of the Blackwoods quite meet the criteria for “normal,” especially not our protagonist, Merricat.

We quickly learn that Merricat has a slew of atypical interests, from believing that she should have been a werewolf, to her love of amanita phalloides, the death-cup mushroom.

The surrounding town has a general dislike of the Blackwoods, stemming from six years prior, when Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood were murdered via arsenic poison. Merricat travels through the town only when they have a need for groceries, and she is often met with unease or prejudice, which causes her to hate most of them as well.

But the Blackwoods are otherwise very happy living in their large estate by themselves.

The majority of the novel focuses around the appearance of their estranged cousin, Charles, who shows up one day for a visit only to then seduce Constance and begin living there.

Merricat and Charles do not see eye to eye in any way, and there is a growing suspicion that Charles is there for an underlying purpose— to find and steal the Blackwood family fortune.

As the novel progresses, Julian’s health declines and we learn much more about the family and their past, finding clues to the murder and watching Merricat do all kinds of darkly

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humorous antics. In the end, we come to find that not everyone is what they seem to be, and the Blackwoods ominous history unravels.

This is one of my favorite novels that I read last year. I have never been a huge fan of horror, finding most of it generic, and the supernaturalism removes a lot of the impact of the story. That said, creating a story off gothic elements while still keeping it entirely bound by reality can be a really nice combination.

Merricat is a wonderfully interesting character.

Photo by John Lineberger OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2015

I would not call her insane, as she cares about other people and has a concept of morals and etiquette, but her interests and activities leave her completely unpredictable and sometimes menacing. Her two other family members play off of her and each other very well, making the story much easier for me to suspend my disbelief over all of their peculiarities. Constance is the figurehead of the family, but she mostly just cooks, cares for Julian and lets Merricat run free.

Julian also suffered the arsenic poisoning, but survived in a disabled state. He is obsessed with writing his memoir, often forgetting where he is at and then starting all over again.

The novel is only 146 pages, but it does have a slow burning start, and possibly even middle. I was kept interested through the characters and the dark humor of the novel, mostly played out by Merricat. The novel is not very plot driven until we near the climax, when everything suddenly falls into place -- the mysteries surrounding the family fade and a crucial event happens in the town.

Being that it is a gothic/horror novel and these characters are so obviously off-beat, it gets away with a few things. You won’t find much in the way of these characters going through major changes.

Constance changes probably the most, and Merricat will learn a few things about herself, but both of them remain mostly intact and similar to how they started.

If you are looking for something seasonal to read, or just want to step your foot into the dark waters of gothic and horror fiction, then this novel could be a good place to start. I would definitely recommend giving it a go if the novel interests you.

You can find “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” on Amazon, BookDepository, Barnes & Noble and most other major booksellers.

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Methods to make Halloween more memorable HAILEY TURPIN STAFF WRITER

Halloween is a time of fall weather, all things creepy and mountains of candy. From carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, to visiting a haunted house, the night is to be enjoyed with freaky fun and ghastly frights.

Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, was derived from the Celtic festival of Samhain that was celebrated over 2,000 years ago. The Celts ended the harvest year on Nov. 1 and began the cold winter months.

It was said that people believed on the day before the New Year, the boundary that divides the living and dead was blurred, and it allowed the ghosts of the dead to return to earth.

The souls of the dead terrorized crops and caused havoc among the people, but were believed to make it easier for Celtic priests to make predictions about the future. Today, Halloween is celebrated with fancy or flirty outfits, costume parties and the indulgence of many types of candy. But with all the time and preparation for this holiday, Halloween can be an absolute terror.

Here are some tips and tricks to making your Halloween experience a night to remember:

PARTIES

If you plan to have a Halloween party, sometimes a little goes a long way. Keep a solid theme for your party place. That way, you are not focusing on what is going on around you, but instead on the people at your party. Keep the decorations to the specified theme or setting to ensure that your party looks uniform, but play around with different ideas so that your party leaves a lasting impression. If you plan to attend a party, be smart with your decisions.

Make sure you have a ride home, have directions to the party and go with a group you feel comfortable with. Dressing to a party’s theme is not required, but often fun.

Whichever way you choose to dress is not frowned upon during this holiday.

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COSTUMES

Halloween is definitely a holiday to show off creativity. Coming up with elaborate costumes or revamping a simpler piece is eyecatching and will be a great icebreaker when mingling with new people. However, make sure to check the weather forecast, and plan appropriately for its conditions. If you plan to wear a minimal amount of clothing, have a jacket or blanket on hand so the temperature isn’t a problem.

Group costumes are also a conversation starter. Popular group or couple costumes include salt and pepper, the Spice Girls, Popeye and Olive Oil or the Seven Dwarfs. These costumes can be made on a budget, so if a last minute invitation to a party gets sent out then you will definitely win the costume contest.

Photo by Carmen Westra

HAUNTED HOUSES

Haunted attractions are a great idea for people who like the scary parts of Halloween, but aren’t dressing up. For just an admission fee, haunted houses are fun and thrilling.

Some attractions in Charlotte include Scarowinds and The Haunted Mill. If you are up for even more terror, Kersey Valley Spookywoods in High Point and Woods of Terror in Greensboro are sure to give you nightmares.

MOVIES

Halloween-themed or scary movies are perfect for a rainy Halloween night. From ABC Family’s “13 Nights of Halloween” to “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” you are sure to have a night full of laughs and screams. Take advantage of the scary movies section on Netflix and cuddle up with candy and friends to have a night to remember.

No matter how you spend your Halloween, keep in mind all the possibilities for making your holiday the best and most thrilling Halloween of your life.

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