2015 Survival Guide by Niner Times

2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA

WELCOME TO UNC CHARLOTTE Use this guide to ease your transition into Niner Nation JORDAN SNYDER Editor -In- Chief

CHOOSE THE RIGHT LIVING SITUATION

Congratulations on being accepted at UNC Charlotte! Hopefully you’re ready to dive in and start making your own Niner memories. You might be wondering if the college years really are the best years of your life. So far, I’ve found that to be true. Sure, it’s a little overwhelming at first, but rest assured that all the other new students are feeling the same way, even if they don’t show it. But once your nerves have settled, you’ll be ready to call UNC Charlotte home. Until then, let this Survival Guide and my personal advice in this article fill you with useful information that will give you a leg up when the fall semester comes around.

Whether you’re living on campus or off campus, with close friends or with random people, it’s important to find a living situation that works for you. My freshman year, I lived with a foreign exchange student in a suite-style dorm. My sophomore year, I lived in an off campus apartment with three of my close friends. Needless to say, those were vastly different experiences, and I had to adjust my studying and work habits accordingly. If you know that living with your best friend(s) is going to make you lose focus, it might be best to go a different route, at least until you have a handle on the average college workload.

DON’T BLINK One day, you’ll be like me – facing your senior year and wondering where the time has gone. Is it really possible that I only have one year of school left, barring some academic catastrophe? It’s true, and so is the old phrase “time flies when you’re having fun.” Make the most of your college experience by getting involved as soon as possible, whether it’s a student organization, intramural sports or Greek life. I joined Niner Media in my sophomore year, and the hands-on learning I’ve experienced and the amazing people I’ve met only make me wish I had started a year earlier. Find a list of student organizations online and take note of the ones you might want to learn more about. Email a contact for the organization or attend a meeting to see if it’s for you. There’s no harm in trying it out. I’ve attended meetings for a couple of clubs only to discover that it wasn’t for me. Ultimately I found the place that felt right, and you will, too.

STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE Many of you are already doing this by moving out of your childhood home. Waking up in a dorm room every morning is going to be a shock for the first few weeks. But that’s just one of the many differences you’ll experience. On a campus with over 27,000 students, you’re going to interact with countless people from other cultures or different ways of life. You’ll take courses that will challenge your beliefs. But that’s a good thing. Embrace it. How far would we get as a society if we only ever talked to people we already agree with? You may not ever have another opportunity like this to grow as a person, so take advantage while you can. 2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY ALYSSA FRONK community editor

It’s 2015 and social media has never been bigger. Like any good millennial, you probably already have a Twitter, Instagram and Facebook account. Some may warn that being heavily invested in social media may take away from your studies or college experience. While all things should be taken in moderation, social media should definitely be used during the four most intense years of your life. Use social media as a stress reliever, study break, creative outlet or a practical tool in navigating your time in Charlotte. Aside from the standard social media accounts, here are a few unconventional ones that are worth a look or follow.

YIK YAK Essentially an anonymous Twitter feed within a five-mile radius, people with the app can post wherever and whenever. Yaks on a college campus are on another level. The social media app provides harmless entertainment – thanks to Yik Yak’s censorship of profanity and cyber bullying. If you’re curious what other campuses Yik Yak looks like, you can peek at other colleges like the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of South Carolina or Boston College University. Yik App is free to download in the app store.

MYFAB5 Calling all foodies: We found a perfect social media account for you. Take a break from the dining hall and “Treat Yo’ Self.” Try and find the best local food from various Charlotte restaurants! This Instagram page features all beautiful pictures of local cuisines paired with restaurant info that will literally leave you drooling. MyFab5 also has a free city food guide app.

LINKEDIN This is where social media meets professionalism. Stay ahead in the competitive world of college and start building your online resume. This is the latest trend among employers and recruiters for any job ranging from volunteer, internship, parttime or full time.

NINER TIMES Last but not least, stay in the loop at UNC Charlotte and follow the Niner Times for breaking news coverage and exclusive content posted daily. Read live tweets from games and campus events, or check out our popular online photo stream. (Like us on Facebook: Niner Times, follow us on Twitter: @niner_times and IG: niner_times and download the free Niner Times mobile app). And as a final social media tip, be sure to connect with fellow UNC Charlotte social media users, by using the hashtag #uncc on your posts from any platform.

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Hire-A-Niner helps students find work JOHN LINEBERGER Lifestyle Editor

The university offers a database website called Hire-A-Niner to help students find their way into paying jobs or internships. You can find Hire-A-Niner on the University Career Center website. The service uses the same NinerNet credentials that students use for everything else, such as email and 49er Express. This guide will help you navigate the website a little faster and give you an introduction to all of its uses.

RESUME CREATOR One of the first things students may want to do when exploring Hire-A-Niner is create a resume to submit to potential employers. Once logged in, click the options on the bottom of the left side menu, “Create Resume using Resume Creator.” From there, Hire-A-Niner helps students by allowing them to choose between 12 potential resume templates. After the user selects a template, it opens a screen

where they can fill out all of the requested information, and Hire-A-Niner will generate the resume for the student.

for any particular form to fill out, they can most likely find it in the “Resources Library” tab on the side of the website.

JOB SEARCH

INTERVIEWING AND EVENTS

Across the bar at the top of the main page, students should click on an option called “Job & Internship Search.” This will pull up a list containing hundreds of the jobs, internships and co-ops offered by UNC Charlotte and sponsored companies around the country. Students can narrow their search for specific companies by typing into the keyword textbox at the top of the page. If a student is interested in seeing exactly what companies other than the school are offering work, they can click on “Employer Directory” at the top of the page to view a list of over 13,000 companies. Most commonly, students can expect interested employers to contact them via their UNC Charlotte email address in the following weeks. If students are looking

Hire-A-Niner is kept up to date by the university on upcoming career events and interviews as well. You can find those links along the top bar of the page and they will take you to more lists of locations and times in which they will occur. Some students are not yet interested in taking on a job or internship but still want to learn more about the practice they are interested in. If this is the case, then Hire-A-Niner also offers job shadowing opportunities. By clicking “Job Shadowing” in the top bar, users are taken to a page that lists names of the professional workers and their companies, allowing students to visit and become more knowledgeable about that particular career.

2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

DINING ON CAMPUS THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF PLACES TO EAT AT UNC CHARLOTTE

NICK CROPPER news editor

For a new student, the sheer number of dining options on campus can be overwhelming. With all these options, it can be tempting to buy as much as possible. However, students who only eat at restaurants on campus could run out of their declining balance within a month and have to either add more money to their card or eat nothing but cafeteria food for the rest of the semester. It is important to choose a meal plan that is correct for your eating habits and to find a good mix of eating at restaurants and at dining halls. UNC Charlotte has two dining hall options: South Village Dining Hall (SoVi) and Crown Commons. SoVi is the newest dining addition to campus. It is located next to the freshman highrises and features several options for students. SoVi contains a more traditional cafeteria, which offers several food choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the menu’s theme changes daily. SoVi also has a Denny’s located inside called The Den. The Den is open until 2 a.m., making it one of UNC Charlotte’s few late night dining options. There is also a bakery with fresh baked goods for sale and a convenience store called SoVi2Go, which offers students prepared meals to take on the go. Crown Commons in located on the second floor of the Student Union. It is similar to SoVi in that it serves different selections for breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, Crown is slightly smaller than SoVi and has less

above: wendy’s in the student union is perfect for late night dining. NT file photo below: chick-fil-a in prospector is always in high demand during lunch hours. nt file photo

food stations because of its size. There are a few other dining options located in the Student Union, as well. There is a Wendy’s, which is another restaurant on campus open until 2 a.m., a Bojangles, which will be

opening this fall, and Bistro 49, which offers more of a luncheon experience and a unique seasonal menu. Einstein Bros. Bagels is another option in the Student Union for students who have

early morning classes; however, the restaurant does close during the mid afternoon. Starbucks is also a popular place for students, and the line often stretches out the door in between classes. Prospector is another building with several dining options located inside and is home to UNC Charlotte’s most popular restaurant, Chick-fil-A. It can be a nightmare attempting to get food from Chick fil-A during the busier times of day, with a line that stretches all the way to the back wall. However, the line moves fast, and with enough patience, you can get your chicken sandwich. There is also a Feisty’s located next to Chick fil-A, a better option for students who are in a rush or prefer hot dogs. On the top floor of Prospector are more restaurants, including: Salsarita’s, offering fresh Mexican food; Mondo Subs, preparing sandwiches to order; a Mama Leone’s, serving pizza and pasta; and Za’tar, serving up Mediterranean cuisine. The Cone Center is located next to J. Murrey Atkins Library and has several fast food options. Main Street Market, located on the ground floor of Cone, has the majority of the building’s restaurants. There you’ll find a Subway, Au Bon Pain and Use Your Noodle. All of these restaurants tend to get pretty busy during typical eating hours. A Panda Express is also set to open there this fall. There are also cafes located in both Atkins Library and Fretwell. They offer snacks, sandwiches, juices, coffee and smoothies.

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2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

TEXTBOOK OPTIONS IT’S EASIER THAN EVER TO FIND THE BEST DEALS ON TEXTBOOKS

SEAN GRIER staff writer

Registering for courses can be one of the best feelings at UNC Charlotte. Many things can ruin these feelings, like checking the ratings on Rate My Professor or, in more cases than one, textbooks. Textbooks can be a hassle, and many students do not want to take on the extra effort during a summer vacation to find the best and most affordable option. This is where we can help. After four years here, I have found many options that can assist you no matter your major, minor or concentration.

UNC CHARLOTTE BOOKSTORE UNC Charlotte’s official bookstore is operated by Barnes & Noble. The store has a special section dedicated to works published by university professors and even a section dedicated to classics. More important to students, though, is the basement, which houses the actual “bookstore” for textbooks. Here, you can pick up your textbooks, purchase blue books for exams and buy required materials for a course. Students can also purchase their textbooks through their NinerNet account, which simplifies the process tremendously. Some courses require special packages that the bookstore will be able to handle and order on your behalf.

GRAY’S COLLEGE BOOKSTORE Gray’s is located just off campus on University City Boulevard and offers new and used books much like the campus bookstore. Depending on the book, Gray’s might be a cheaper option for students. Some courses only have books available at Gray’s, which is within walking distance of campus, complete with sidewalks and crosswalks for students’ safety. You can also order your textbooks from Gray’s online. Both Gray’s and the campus bookstore offer UNC Charlotte apparel and souvenirs for students, alumni and faculty.

AMAZON Amazon offers a vast array of options for our students. Students can sign up for Amazon Student to get access to deals on shipping and handling, special pricing and promotions that can all reduce the cost and hassle of purchasing textbooks. For students

The UNC Charlotte bookstore is located on the first floor of the Student union. nt file photo with a personal laptop or desktop, Amazon offers a Kindle app for buying and reading digital books. It might be more economical to buy a Kindle or download the app on an iPad to reduce the costs of textbooks over the course of the college career. With the Kindle app, students can choose to purchase, rent or download trial versions until funds come in from paychecks or refunds. Amazon allows you to “check out” Kindle and physical textbooks at the same time which streamlines the process. Amazon also provides great customer service and can refund your order within five to seven business days and launch investigations for missed or late packages.

CHEGG Another online option for ordering textbooks is Chegg. The website is mostly a hub for buying, renting and selling textbooks but it’s also expanded to a destination for

tutoring and homework help. If you buy from Chegg, you can get up to 90 percent of your money back if you sell it back to them.

PURCHASING OPTIONS There are many ways to obtain a textbook, the most popular with my friends is purchasing because at the end of the semester, it gives you the opportunity to sell your textbook back to the bookstore, your friends or another third party like Amazon, eBay or Textbook Brokers. You will have the option to buy new or used copies or rent textbooks. Depending on your finances or the quantity of textbooks required for the semester you will need to decide if buying is a better option than renting your textbook. No matter how you go about obtaining your textbooks, it is best to make a list from your trusted vendors and compare prices to determine what is best for you.

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Treatment available at campus Health Center SEAN GRIER staff writer

Built in 2007, the University Health Center at nearly 32,000 square feet features 21 medical exam rooms, including two negative pressure rooms that are used to prevent the spread of infectious bacteria. The health center provides medical care, disease prevention, wellness promotion and a variety of educational resources and other health services to all registered UNC Charlotte students. They are staffed with experienced medical doctors, pharmacists, physician assistants, family nurse practitioners, a team of nurses and a psychiatrist. The Health Center offers a wide variety of vaccines for those that request, as well as a variety of disease testing to ensure a healthy campus environment. The center caters to the student body better than most students know. Students who are injured in a sport or simply require a surgery can go to physical therapy through our health center after a referral from a doctor, and there is an on-site pharmacy for medication needs. The Health Centers services include physicals, gynecological services, birth control, STD and HIV screenings and the treatment of pain, asthma, pneumonia and other injuries. They are equipped with x-ray machines, and offices and professionals specifically for the nutrition, womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health, wellness, sports and allergies or immunizations. There is no charge for students to see a physician, physician assistant, nurse, nurse practitioner, health education consultant or physical therapist. However, certain services listed on the centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website will result in fees.

nt file photo Appointments that are non-emergency must be made in advance of arrival. Requests for appointments and prescription refills can be made online through the Health Centers website or in person. The Student Health Center is open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

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2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

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STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE CLUBS AND ORAGNIZATIONS OFFERED AT UNC CHARLOTTE, YOU CAN MAKE FRIENDS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY

CASEY ALDRIDGE opinion editor

If you’re coming to college straight out of high school, chances are you’re leaving a lot of friends behind. Sure, you’ll stay in touch and visit your old friends from time to time – or maybe you won’t, and that is more than OK. But getting to college for the first time can be daunting, precisely because you may know just a handful of people – or no one at all – on a campus of over 27,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Some of you likely were friends in high school with people you’d known since

community or to stay in touch with your own national culture, these are the things that friendships, or at least acquaintanceships, are founded upon. With that in mind, student organizations are a great way to integrate yourself into communities with whom you share similar interests and backgrounds. From this foundation, it will be easier to branch out and make friends with whom you share little. UNC Charlotte offers hundreds of studentled organizations on campus that are active

huge crowds check out the numerous options at the student organization showcase. nt file photo kindergarten or even before that. Deep friendships had time to grow, and four years of college may seem too short to connect with anyone the same way. But it isn’t, and finding a supportive group of friends is absolutely within your power. Good friendships are based on dialogue, and dialogue is based on subjects. The more you share in common with someone, whether it is academic interests, political, religious or philosophical views, a desire to serve the

in the Charlotte community regularly and vary in size. There are political organizations spanning the political spectrum, not limited to College Democrats or College Republicans, but also encompassing the Feminist Union and Young Adults for Liberty. From a spiritual side, there are a number of Christian groups on campus, as well as the Muslim Students Association or Hillel or the Baha’i Campus Club. Students also run a chapter of the Student Secular Alliance as an 2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

alternative. If you’re looking for friends who share a background but not necessarily the same beliefs, the multicultural organizations under the Multicultural Resource Center may be a good place to turn. UNC Charlotte has a Black Student Union, Native American Student Organization, Palestinian-American Cultural Club, an LGBT network known as SPECTRUM, a Latin American Student Organization and a plurality of other ethnic, national and language-based cultural groups. If you’re looking to “get moving” with friends, the campus Bollywood team Adaa or step team My Sister’s Keeper may be your thing. These are just two of several offered dance and performance-based clubs. You can also join a sports group like the Running Club or a more organized club team ranging widely from cricket to Quidditch. In the case that you want to make friends not through any particular shared interest but out of a spirit of giving back to the Charlotte community, there is a wealth of groups doing just that. Habitat for Humanity is a frequently active group, and Charlotte Dance Marathon is entering its third annual year of organizing an all-night dance event to raise money for Levine Children’s Hospital. UNC Charlotte offers so many clubs based on so many interests, including film, environmentalism and Model United Nations, or pre-professional tracks geared towards your prospective career field. These are a great way to network not only to make friends, but also to have a support base of people living and working around the world in your field long after college. If not a single one of the hundreds of existing groups appeals to you, you can always start your own by visiting the Student Government and Organizations Complex on the second floor of the Student Union. Or, you can visit OrgSync for the complete list of active organizations at UNC Charlotte.

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GET TO KNOW THE CAMPUS MEAL PLANS Meal plan options have been remodeled to accommodate new student trends

LOUANN LAMB marketing director for business services, guest wrtier

THAT WAS THEN Back in the 1970’s, when all on-campus housing comprised four highrise residence buildings, the Residence Dining Hall (RDH) was the only place on campus for hot meals three times a day. Food was prepared “back of the house,” in a huge kitchen and dished out from pans lined up on a steam table. A meal plan took the form of circles printed on a vinyl sheet that was folded multiple times and affixed to the back of the UNC Charlotte ID. Students would unroll the sheet for the cashier to punch. Every hole represented a meal eaten, every skipped-over circle was a meal not used. It was a very simple, low-tech system. As the University grew, new residence halls were built with multiple living configurations like suites and apartments. Meal plans changed and expanded, too, as did dining options. Favorite national brands were established all over campus: Chick-fil-A, Salsarita’s, Bojangles’, Subway, Starbucks, Einstein Brothers Bagels, Papa John’s and Wendy’s all have presence at UNC Charlotte. Declining Balance (DB), by itself or as part of a traditional and block meal plan, provided easy, card-swipe access to all the retail choices.

THIS IS NOW Crown Commons opened in the Student Union as the new all-you-

Social meals with friends are now as likely to be for mid-morning coffee or a late evening burger but “traditional” meal plans were modeled on a breakfast, lunch and dinner standard.

TIME FOR A CHANGE, JUST IN TIME

above: students dine at rdh in 1973. photo courtesy of atkins library archives below: at crown commons, two students stop by the full salad bar. photo by wade bruton

UNC Charlotte Business Services in collaboration with dining services partner, Chartwells, spent two years studying meal plans and developing a new model. The goal was to retool meal plans so they would provide: simplicity in purchase, meal flexibility, greater value, financial sustainability, balanced facility use and shortened wait lines.

HOW 2015-16 MEAL PLANS MEASURE UP

care-to-eat dining hall in 2009. Its gas-fired pizza oven, madein-front-of-you cooking stations and ability to apply endless customization to numerous entrees made RDH appear as tired as the linoleum floor in

grandma’s kitchen. Equally dated and due for an upgrade were the meal plans UNC Charlotte offered. Plans needed to accommodate the fast-emerging trend of eating several smaller meals during the course of a day.

2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

Simplicity. Plans are based on housing assignment and hours earned. Students living in “required housing,” which are residences without private kitchens, require selecting a meal plan as part of the housing contract. There are two meal plan choices for first-year resident students (freshmen/those with 29 or fewer credit hours). There are four meal plans available to sophomore residents, five for juniors residents and six for seniors. Commuter students may pick any offered plan, regardless of class status. All plans offer either unlimited

a chef at sovi dining hall cooks chicken on an evo grill. photo by patrick wisniewski meal swipes or are block plans that have a set number of swipes that may be used at anytime throughout the semester. All plans have either $200 or $300 attached Declining Balance (DB) funds that can be used at any dining facility, including all the national retail brands. Flexibility. Expanded dining options give more choices for students. Last January, after four decades of service, RDH closed and South Village Crossing opened with a new meal-plan dining room called SoVi. Its model, says Bill Bremer, resident district manager for Chartwells Dining Services, “serves students with a 22nd Century program.” SoVi embraces the latest culinary trends. Meals are prepared at action stations and are made in smaller batches, served tapasstyle on small plates. New unlimited plans (seven days or five weekdays) fit the modern “action station” dining model of SoVi and Crown Commons to a T. These plans allow students to eat smaller meals throughout the day on a frequent basis. No more having to load up on a full meal to get their money’sworth. Students can stop in for

cereal and juice before class, grab a sandwich for lunch, have a yogurt at midafternoon, eat some dinner and then get coffee and dessert later. Meal swipes are unlimited throughout service hours, and, at SoVi2Go, may be used for take-out meals. In addition to flexibility in when students eat, SoVi further expands the flexibility of what they eat. SoVi, like Crown Commons, is set up in multiple stations, with food preparation and action stations in the front of the house. “This gives us a real opportunity to improve choices, said Bremer. There are expanded menus for vegans/vegetarians and those with dietary restrictions (e.g., gluten and dairy sensitivity). And just about everything can be customized to individual preference.” Greater value. The design of the current meal plans is based specifically on data from meal plan use on the UNC Charlotte campus. “We know that students with plans that set a specific number of meals per week tend to lose meals,” says Bremer. “If a student has meal times fixed by their plan but a class schedule that’s all over the place, that student is going to miss meals. That’s why none

of UNC Charlotte’s meal plan offerings are set by per week. “Block plans are used more fully,” he explained, “because swipes can be used anytime throughout the semester. There’s no reason to lose meals.” Block plan choices have been refined based on how students historically use them (first-year students typically use more meal swipes per semester than upperclassmen). The new unlimited swipe plans may be the best value for many students, particularly first or second-year students who will take most of their meals and make most of their first social connections in the dining halls. Athletes and those who enjoy bigger meals as well as those who prefer to eat smaller portions several times a day will also benefit from an unlimited plan. Unlimited meal swipe and block meal plans also come with either $200 or $300 in DB. The amounts were chosen to be practical; dining habit data indicates these are amounts proven to be sufficient for most students. Financial sustainability. Meal plan sales provide a framework to ensure maintenance of existing dining facilities and expansion when needed. Business Services’ mission statement mandates providing “essential human, financial, facility and administrative support to the university…” Supplying wholesome food from properly equipped kitchens is most certainly essential! The last part of that mission statement, “…customer focused, results oriented, fiscally sound and integrity bound,” is equally important. Plans designed to give students the most value for the dining services they need and expect, falls fully in line with that mission. Balance facility use and wait lines. All restaurants experience peak times around meals, but dining venues on a

college campus are subject to concentrated surges around class times. SoVi at South Village Crossing took pressure off Crown Commons by providing convenient premier dining for the thousands of students who live on the South side of campus. Unlimited meal swipes mean that quick meals and snacks can be had in the dining halls, too. And while a burger from Wendy’s and nuggets from Chick-fil-A will always be very popular, expanded healthy and customizable entrée options attract students who seek greater balance in their diet.

EXPERTISE IN THE KITCHEN The trend in dining halls now demands broader menus and greater opportunity to eat a balanced diet. Chartwells has a full team of campus chefs. And to underscore their commitment to good nutrition, Chartwells added a full-time Registered Dietitian (RD) to their staff. The chefs and the RD work together to plan menus that offer meal options for students with different palates and diverse dietary needs and preferences.

BREAKING BREAD, NOT JUST GETTING FED Updated Meal Plans and stateof-the-art facilities set the table for our dining model. Broad choices and good value are served in equal parts, too. But with all the improvements made here since the early 1970’s, here’s what remains as constant as salt-and pepper: UNC Charlotte campus dining provides an environment conducive to making connections and building friendships. Nothing adds to the pleasure of a meal more than that!

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Meal Plan specialists can answer questions and help you choose a plan. Call 704-687-7337 (M-F 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) or write 49erCard@uncc.edu

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Student success hinges on academic integrity DIANE GROMELSKI copy editor

When completing assignments in college, there is nothing more important than adhering to the Code of Academic Integrity, but this can be difficult for students who are not familiar with what academic integrity means. However, students are responsible for adhering to the code whether they understand the meaning or not. Academic integrity in college often involves plagiarism, the submission of another’s work as one’s own including using another person’s words or ideas or submitting an entire paper written by another. Though plagiarism is the most well-known version of academic integrity, there are a number of other offenses for which students can be punished. These include cheating on exams by copying another student’s test or using unapproved resources; fabricating or falsifying information; submitting substantial portions of the same work more than once; and aiding another student in an act of academic dishonesty, among other violations. Academic integrity is important not only because it can cause you to fail a course or

be kicked out of school, but also because it assures the value of every graduate’s degree; promotes academic discourse; and encourages pride in one’s work. Professors at UNC Charlotte often utilize resources like Turnitin to check the originality of students’ work, greatly increasing the likelihood that students will be caught. Turnitin is a website that can identify previously submitted work from papers turned into other academic institutions as well as information found on the Internet. If a professor suspects a student has violated the code, they will bring the student before the Academic Integrity Board (AIB). The board is composed of students and faculty who will determine whether the student is responsible and any relevant penalties. The consequences of violating the academic integrity code are based on a number of factors, but can include a formal warning, a reduced grade in the class, disciplinary suspension or expulsion from the university.

2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY 1) Don’t procrastinate: prepare for exams thoroughly and start assignments early so you don’t feel the pressure to commit academic dishonesty. 2) Do use reference managers like Zotero and Mendeley to help you create and organize your citations, but make sure to double-check them to ensure they adhere to the style guide you are using. 3) Do schedule an appointment with the Writing Resources Center at http://writing. uncc.edu/writing-resources-center if you have questions about how to properly cite a source or whether information needs to be cited. 4) Don’t allow friends to pressure you into “lending” them your work or providing them with answers on tests. If you help a friend cheat, you are just as liable under the code as the person who submits the dishonest work.

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2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

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Know your campus technology MASTER EMAIL, MOODLE AND 49ER EXPRESS TO STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE JOHN LINEBERGER Lifestyle Editor

As a UNC Charlotte student, you will be expected to make use of technology in all of your classes. Things like checking your student email for important announcements, viewing assignments on Moodle, accessing banner services in 49er Express and remotely answering questions through clickers – it’s all part of the program. You can use this guide to get insight into some of the most crucial pieces of technology that will be coming your way in the near future.

UNC CHARLOTTE EMAIL All UNC Charlotte students and faculty receive their own email account. The username is a combination of your first initial, part or all of your last name and sometimes numbers. This username and password is also known as your NinerNet credentials, which you will use to log into the majority of the university’s programs. UNC Charlotte uses Outlook 365 to create all accounts which can then be accessed through Outlook or 49er Express. University email accounts should be used carefully to avoid being flooded by spam. They are the university’s official method of contact to all students and faculty, with important updates such as emergency notifications, police updates and emails from academic departments regarding internship or scholarship opportunities. This is also the email that professors will use to announce course updates, class cancellations and provide feedback to students. Treat your account well.

MOODLE Many professors at UNC Charlotte will require their students to frequently check Moodle. Moodle is an online course management system professors can use to give tests and quizzes, assign work, open forum discussions. Similarly, students can use Moodle to take tests or quizzes, submit assignments, contact other students in the course and view grades. Teachers of physical or hybrid courses have the option of utilizing any or none of these features. However, students in an

online course can expect to use all of Moodle’s components, unless the professor opts to use an external website, which is common among the social sciences. Moodle also allows students and faculty to view and interact with past courses they have participated in. This may be useful to retain important class materials.

49ER EXPRESS 49er Express is every student’s one stop shop for information. Just like Moodle and the university email, 49er Express uses standard NinerNet credentials to log in. From the main page, students can access Niner Advisor, their email, Banner Self Service, campus information and other useful links to university related topics. If employed at UNC Charlotte, users will also have an “Employment” tab where they can view their pay stub and fill out their electronic timesheet, if needed. Banner is a major asset to students. This is where you view final grades, transcripts, financial aid information, class schedules and register for classes. Banner contains much of students’ private school related information and is the best way to keep track of how you are doing overall in college.

CLICKERS They look like little calculators. When students get them with their first math or other huge lecture hall class, they will probably try to use them as one. Clickers are small devices that have been recently rising in popularity at UNC Charlotte for providing quick poll answers to questions within a very large class size. Clickers must be registered to each class that a student plans to use it in. This is done through Moodleby entering the clicker’s Device ID Number. This is located on the back of the clicker, just below the barcode. It will be a six or eight character code. Once you have your clicker registered, there’s just one more step. Every classroom at UNC Charlotte has its own clicker channel. These channels are designated by a small white sign located somewhere in the room. Locate it, press the channel button on the 2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

clicker, enter the channel number and you should be good to go.

COMPUTER LABS So what if you don’t have access to a computer? Maybe it got struck by lightning or you spilled your coffee straight through the fan vents. What if your printer just ran out of ink? Luckily, UNC Charlotte has multiple computer labs with printer access all around campus to help students get that last minute assignment finished. Students can enter these computer labs, log in using their NinerNet credentials and have access to all the usual Microsoft Office programs one would expect. If you are in a class that uses specialized programs, such as Final Cut Pro in Video/Film Production, those courses also offer access to special, restricted labs with the software that students need. If this is the case, the student will need to be registered for the course and have their UNC Charlotte ID card to swipe at the door before entering. If a lab doesn’t have a local printer, it should offer a wireless connection to Ink Spot locations around campus. Students can access Ink Spot from their computer or any mobile device to print their document from a selected printer somewhere on campus. By simply following the instructions provided on the Ink Spot page, the student may choose if they want a black and white or colored printer and then submit the file to be printed. There are on-campus computer labs all over UNC Charlotte, but if you are looking for technical assistance as well, the best options are the first floor of Barnard, the second floor of the J. Murrey Atkins Library and the ground floor of the College of Education (COED). The Barnard lab is open 24/7; however, Atkins and COED are only open when the entire buildings are open. If nothing else, you even have the option of checking out a MacBook from the Student Union. These can be checked out for three hours at a time from the information desk on your immediate right after entering the building.

AVOID A MADDENING LIVING SITUATION Use these tips to make the most of your rooming assignment ALYSSA FRONK community editor

Here are few tips to keep in mind as you begin one of the greatest college experiences of all: living with your first roommate. Whether you’re living with your best friend or you have been paired with a random, these living tips are applicable to every roommate situation. We’ll start off with some generic rules: Clean up after yourself. This includes not leaving dishes in the sink, clothes on the floor or trash around the room. Always ask before using something that belongs to your roommate. Do not take or use anything without permission. “Borrowing” is actually stealing and an invasion of personal space. If you do borrow something, always return it, clean it or restock it. Your roommate did a favor for you; prove you are grateful by returning the item well kept. Communication can make or break a living situation – good or bad. Having open communication with your roommate is vital to a peaceful living environment. Newsflash: You are young adults now. Not being able to deal and solve problems will hinder you in any type of relationship. Here are a few things that should be discussed or addressed: If you have a problem, discuss it. Gossiping to your friends about the situation or choosing to be passive aggressive will not solve any problems. This advice comes from personal experience. Yes, confrontation can be a little tense, but it is the mature, responsible thing to do. Get on the same page. Do you know your roommate’s tribune news service

schedule? Are they a morning or night person? Are they a light or heavy sleeper? Do they prefer the room hot or cold? These are things you should learn within the first few weeks of living with a roommate. If your personal living preferences differ, compromise. This could save you from having problems down the road. And finally, always remember a little consideration goes a long way. Practice these nice gestures throughout your time living together. Chances are they’ll return the favor sometime. Offer to take out their trash when taking out yours. Ask if they need anything from the store while you’re out. Let them know when you have friends coming over. Restock the toilet paper roll when it runs out. Invite them to join you at the dining hall if you both haven’t eaten. Worst-case scenario. OK, so you and your roommate didn’t exactly hit it off – or maybe you hate each other. Guess what. You can still live cordially with someone without being friends. It is very possible and a great patience strengthener. Again, take this advice from my experience. Living with someone is absolutely doable. More often than not, your roommate will become one of your closest friends. Simply remember to keep open communication and be considerate. We wish you the best of luck on all your roommate endeavors.

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Present a valid UNCC Student ID and receive a 10% discount on any purchase Monday Through thursday. Mallard Pointe Shopping Center 9211 N. Tryon Street â&#x20AC;˘ Charlotte, NC 28262 908.265.1716 Offer valid only at Mallard Pointe Jamba Juice, 9211 N. Tryon St. and requires a valid UNCC student, faculty or staff identification card. No coupon required. This offer cannot be used in combination with any other offer, coupon or discount. Valid 2015-2016

2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

STUDENT UNION GUIDE Take a thorough look at one of the most highly trafficked buildings on campus

nt file photo

SEAN GRIER staff writer

STUDENT ACTIVITIES The Student Union is homes to student activities as well as a host of other student organizations. One of the most notable departments is the Center for Leadership Development, which maintains the Emerging Leaders, Leadership Fellows, Programs in Leadership and Organization Training, LeaderShape, Learning Community and 49er Forum programs. On the second floor are the Multicultural Resources Center and Religious & Spiritual Life hub, which put on various Heritage Month celebrations, LGBTQIA educational programs and support, culturally based student organization support and educational programming on spirituality. The Student Involvement unit supports Student Organizations, Student Government Association (SGA), Campus Activities Board

(CAB), Homecoming and Niners on the Weekend.

DINING Dining on campus should not be a problem for most students, especially in the Student Union. Most residents on campus will be required to have some sort of meal plan, which will ensure adequate intake of meals. Students have an ample amount of options from which to choose. Crown Commons offers a full buffet style dining option complete with sections dedicated to vegan, vegetarian or gluten free diners. Crown has a full salad bar, pizza bar, burger and fry station, soup station and an international section. Crown also has sections dedicated to fruit, deserts and cereal. There are many seating options including tables for two, four or six people, booths and open and closed patios. Crown was made for

students who love options. Bistro 49 exemplifies what it means to live in the Queen City. Bistro 49 is our on-campus restaurant with a gourmet menu that features local and fresh ingredients. Bistro 49 provides best in class service to students, faculty and staff with affordable prices, averaging $14 for a meal. On special occasions, Bistro 49 will provide four or five course meals for a great deal. The food is made to order, complete with service from trained employees, experienced cooks and a great view of the Charlotte sky. The first floor of the Student Union has four dining options: Wendy’s, Starbucks, Mamma Leone’s and Einstein Bros. Bagels. Wendy’s is a full service franchise on campus. It’s one of the best options for students who wake up after 11 a.m. or whose classes end after Crown has closed. It’s open until 12:30 a.m.

unless otherwise noted. Starbucks is also a full service franchise on campus with respectful and professional staff ready to complete your order to perfection, sometimes with inspiring messages! Starbucks provides a clear and colorful menu of their offerings. Einstein Bros. Bagels is the place to go if you have an 8 a.m. class. There’s a breakfast and lunch menu ready to serve each individual student’s needs. Bagels range from plain to blueberry and cinnamon. Cream cheese, peanut butter, butter and other toppings are also available to students.

ENTERTAINMENT There are a lot of venues for entertainment in the Student Union. Most notable is the oncampus movie theater, which shows movies Thursday through Sunday and is available for reservation by clubs and courses

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throughout the week. Most recently the movie theater has expanded to three movie options a day that rotate time slots each day. Movies typically start at 5:15 p.m., 8:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. and are free to students and $2 for all guests. The Student Union also provides students with an art gallery supported by students as well as national and international

of entertainment is the piano lounge. Unlocked and ready for any student, you can hear the baby grand piano being played from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. It’s a space for amateurs, professionals, clubs and visiting choirs.

RETAIL Outtakes is the on-campus grocery store that complements both dorm living and eating on

and dinner. Whether you wish to make spaghetti, ramen, cereal, oatmeal or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Outtakes has what you are looking for. The Student Union is home to two ATMs located behind the main stairway. Those two banks are Fifth Third Bank and Bank of America. The Campus Salon is home to licensed professionals that are

Packard, Dell and much more. The store offers special deals for students who wish to purchase a laptop, portable keyboard or printer. Union Station is an official U.S. Passport processing station that also offers a student discount and photo service, ensuring your photo “meets stringent Passport guidelines.” Union Station faxes documents for a flat fee, rents out

ready to complete a wash, rinse and dry or a perm. Staffed with friendly and professional stylists, the Campus Salon is ready for every student no matter their hair texture, density, length or color. The Student Union also houses the NinerTech Computer Store, which is the on-campus location for everything Apple, Hewlett-

mailboxes housed in the Union, handles graphics services and even sells balloons. Barnes & Noble operates UNC Charlotte’s on-campus bookstore for students, faculty and staff. It comes stocked with Niner apparel and memorabilia, snacks, cosmetics, non-fiction, fiction, magazines and textbooks.

above: students hang out and play pool at norm’s. NT FILE PHOTO Right: the main stairway of the student union decorated for homecoming. nt file photo below: the union art gallery features exhibits open to all students. nt file photo

guests with yearly offerings from Sanskrit Literary-Arts Magazine. There’s a gaming space called Norm’s on the first floor, which comes complete with pool tables, seating areas for card games, charging stations for phones and flat screen televisions for gaming, sports and special events. One of the more elegant areas of the union in terms

the go. Outtakes sells easy to carry products like yogurt, fruit and salads that do not sacrifice nutrition for convenience. However, not all of Outtakes offerings are healthy. The store has a whole wall dedicated to the stereotypical college student – the one your parents fear. Sections of the store are dedicated to snack foods, energy bars, breakfast

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With intramural sports, athletics are for anyone

TO RUSH, OR NOT TO RUSH? FIND OUT IF GREEK LIFE IS THE RIGHT LIFE FOR YOU

STEVIE BILLMAN guest writer

nt file photo You’ve spent all of high school playing organized sports, and now you’re moving on to college, where your hopes of becoming a collegiate athlete didn’t quite make the cut. What do you do? The answer is intramural sports. If you’re looking to meet new people, play sports with old friends or keep off the freshman 15, look into joining the world of intramurals. Recreational Services here at UNC Charlotte offers a wide variety of organized sports. Most of them are what you would play in high school, save a couple less common activities such as badminton, inner tube water polo and rock climbing to name a few. In the fall, the main sports offered are soccer, volleyball, tennis singles, flag football and three-on-three basketball. In the spring, the main sports include basketball, bowling, softball and tennis doubles. If any of these interest you, look into joining a team or forming your own. The great thing about intramurals is that you can play in either a competitive or recreational league. It all depends on the skill level you want. You can make a team with people that you know or join a new team if

you don’t have anyone to play with. Don’t be afraid of playing with or against people you don’t know. There’s always a place for willing participants in intramurals. If your team makes it to playoffs and wins, each participant on the team wins a championship shirt, unique to each year of intramurals. Most intramural sports will be housed in Belk Gym once renovations are complete, which means you don’t have to drive far away to participate in games. Here are a couple tips: Show up to each game on time, make sure you’re not wearing jewelry and be a good sport. If you can do those three things, your intramural experience will surely be positive. So you’re not interested in playing a sport you don’t know? Consider being an official or scorekeeper. Each sport needs referees, and Recreational Services holds training sessions for every sport. It’s a great way to be involved in intramurals even if you don’t want to play. For more information, go to recservices. uncc.edu.

As an incoming student to UNC Charlotte’s campus, being involved in an organization is something everyone will think about doing. Rushing a fraternity or sorority is a great way to become immediately involved with many different parts of campus life right off the bat. Some have decided they will rush, some are against it and some aren’t quite sure how to feel about it. If you’re not sure about whether you want to rush, take the time to become informed about the benefits and the process. Greek organizations are a plentiful source of leadership abilities and training and one of the best ways to create connections with people you wouldn’t previously have had the chance to meet. Each chapter, whether it’s a fraternity or a sorority, has a philanthropy they support

through fundraising and unique events. While there are many stereotypes about Greek life and partying, the social side can be very positive. Chapters often support other on-campus organizations like athletics or the arts. Students who are interested in rushing can register by paying a fee and signing up for rush week online. Once rush week starts, students will participate in events where they meet members of each organization and get to know more about the different values and activities they participate in. Are you already against Greek life? Don’t worry. There are plenty other organizations to be a part of on campus. If you later decide you want to rush, you have plenty of time to do so in the coming years.

members of the delta zeta sorority participating in the annual greek life air band competition. nt file photo

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2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

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ENTERTAINMENT HOT SPOTS THERE ARE NUMEROUS VENUES FOR COMEDY, ART, MUSIC AND MORE

LEANNA POUGH a&E editor

Looking for spots on campus to enjoy live music, games, art and more? These venues are sure to deliver.

STUDENT UNION ART GALLERY One of the more popular galleries on campus, the Student Union art gallery promotes the work of the Charlotte area and surrounding art community. The gallery’s mission is “to create visual dialogue for student life using exhibitions as a means of expression and a learning environment.” It does so by exploring creative processes to spark student discussion. Past exhibits include Simulacra and the Sanskrit Literary-Arts exhibit.

NORM’S The Student Union has it all: food, art and fun. Norm’s, next door to Outtakes, offers a lounge area for students to play pool or enjoy the occasional live performance by visiting musicians. It also has TVs for watching sports in a community setting or playing games.

AFTER HOURS If the walls could talk, they would tell stories of fall talent shows, comedians, singles nights and more. Found in the lower level of the Cone Center, After Hours has seen it all. Its cafeteria-style seating and the style of the stage blurs the lines between audience and performer

at after hours, experience some live music in a night club style setting. nt file photo

the rowe arts building often features thought-provoking exhibits. nt file photo making packed events all the more intimate.

ROWE ARTS BUILDING Just across from Belk Tower, the Rowe Arts Building – identified by its camera-shaped structure – houses three exhibit spaces. Its main, upper and side galleries features work from UNC Charlotte’s department of art and art history students and faculty. Rowe is also home to the newly renovated Rowe Recital Hall. This fall you can expect concerts by cellist, Mira Frisch and both the faculty jazz and brass quintet. Liz Paradis, audience and service manager for the College of Art + Architecture says music performances vary from the student jazz ensemble to men’s and women’s choirs. There’s also the Faculty and Friends series showcased each semester. “The dance department presents a fall and spring dance concert each year featuring student performers in works choreographed by dance faculty,” said Paradis. This September, the department will also host its annual Faculty Dance Concert and the “always innovative” Fall Dance Concert in November. “Featured performances have included everything from Shakespeare to musicals. Guest artists occasionally perform in these productions alongside students,” said Paradis.

2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

The music department will also present student ensembles throughout the semester from percussion to opera, ending the semester with the university chorale with chamber orchestra performance in December.

ROBINSON HALL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Entering campus from the University City Boulevard entrance, you’ll find Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts. According to its website, Robinson Hall is “more than a venue.” It provides a space for its headliners and audiences to discover new ways of seeing the world. The proscenium style theatre is inspired by ancient Greece with an arch surrounding the stage opening. While the Anne R. Belk Theater seats 340, Robinson Hall’s Lab Theater or “black box” allows for a more closed setting. Both are used to promote the education of dance, theater and music students by providing a learning environment to master the process of performing arts. “The theater department has a lot of exciting performances on deck for the upcoming semester, including readings of works by renowned playwright, Constance Congdon in early October and a nightly anticipated production of Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ in November,” said Paradis. UNC Charlotte performance venues are instrumental in connecting students to artistic expression. These state-of-the-art facilities allow students to experience various facets of art and culture.

STORRS HALL Venturing past Robinson Hall, there’s UNC Charlotte’s main School of Architecture building, Storrs Hall, designed by Charles

“FEATURED PERFORMANCES HAVE INCLUDED EVERYTHING FROM SHAKESPEARE TO MUSICALS.” LIZ PARADIS, AUDIENCE AND SERVICE MANAGER FOR THE COLLEGE OF ART + ARCHITECTURE Gwathmey of Gwathmey Siegel Associates in New York. Storrs is equipped with design studios, a library, wood, metal and digital fabrication labs and an exhibition gallery. According to its website, “the Storrs Gallery showcases professional and student work relating to the curriculum in the School of Architecture and the creative endeavors of the college.”

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Leadership skills are among the top 10 qualities sought by employers according to the National Association of College Employers.

The Center for Leadershipt Developmen

ership programs offers group lead d upperclassmen for freshmen an ce their college seeking to enhan programs that experience. Find marketable. make you more include Emerging Programs offered adership Fellows Leaders, PILOT, Le and many more!

Emerging Leaders is open to 50 freshmen. You will learn personal and professional skills that will help you succeed on campus and beyond. Emerging Leaders is a great way to get involved your freshman year and show your commitment to yourself and to UNC Charlotte. Applications available online September 4th.

PILOT is a self-directed leadership program and is free and open to all students. PILOT is the largest leadership program at UNC Charlotte with over 1000 student participants annually. PILOT is great for students who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the time for a group leadership experience though many students in PILOT are also in our other leadership programs.

Student Union, Room 280 704-687-LEAD (5323) â&#x20AC;˘ leadership.uncc.edu

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A VISUAL TOUR OF CAMPUS Photos in spread by chris crews

CATO TEACHING DISCOVERY MURAL

HECHENBLEIKNER LAKE

“WINGS OF PRIDE” SCULPTURE 36

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JERRY RICHARDSON STADIUM

SOVI DINING HALL

BELK TOWER 49ER GOLD MINER

GREEK VILLAGE 2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

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LEARN TO LOVE ATKINS LIBRARY

Whether you’re studying for an exam or writing a research paper, the library is an essential resource for students

DIANE GROMELSKI copy editor

Some Niners may claim that the Student Union is the hub of activity on campus, but any student who has visited the J. Murray Atkins Library on a busy weekday knows that it rivals the union as a space for both academic and social engagement. While the library has traditionally been a dispenser of books, Atkins Library has adapted to meet the wide range of needs at UNC Charlotte by offering study space, access to technology and a number of online resources that are essential for academic success in college. One of the more important features of Atkins Library is the nearly 75,000 books the library owns, either in the form of an e-book or a physical book. Students can check out an unlimited number of books at one time and can reserve books for up to a week through the library catalog. The loan period for undergraduate students is 21 days and 60 days for graduate students, after which the students will be charged an overdue fee.

Unlike many college libraries, Atkins Library offers a wide range of variability in study spaces so students can choose whether they would like a silent room or a busier, noisier environment. The upper level floors generally have fewer people and are ideal if you need a quiet place with no distractions. The ground level is perhaps the most frequented floor of the library as it is a friendly, modern space with abundant study rooms and Peet’s Coffee, where students can interact whether it is studying for a major exam or having a chat over coffee. Also popular are the first, second and third floors

where Niners can access one of the more than 200 computers Atkins Library offers for student use, including Mac and PC desktops and laptops. Laptops can be checked out for 24-hour periods and are nonrenewable as students must wait at least four hours until they can check out another laptop once they turn one in to the circulation desk. The number and type of computers available are displayed on the main page of the library website. Also displayed is the number of group study rooms on the ground, first and second floors, which students can rent using the “Services” tab on the main page. These rooms can fill up quickly, particularly during finals week, so it is important to reserve the rooms at least a few days in advance. Open from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the 10th floor is home to the special collections and archives division of the library where students can find articles and artifacts, mostly focused on the history of the school and

surrounding area. Students cannot check out items found on the 10th floor. One of the most important library services Atkins offers to students is access to a number of online databases, including broad category sites like JSTOR and EBSCOhost as well as subject specific databases. These databases are the go-to place for up-to-date information on any subject on which you have a research paper or project and can be accessed through the library website. In college, it is important to develop research skills using databases because the articles they contain are peer-reviewed unlike most of the information that can be found in a Google search. Many Niners fail to take advantage of these vital resources until they are upperclassmen, but what they may not realize is that access to databases can cost thousands of dollars, which they are paying for in tuition anyway. Atkins Library also employs 12 subject librarians who specialize in a set of related topics in which they typically have an extensive background and can help students and faculty locate appropriate academic resources online or in the library. Students can use the library website’s page on subject librarians to identify the specialist in their field of study and can reach the librarian in person at the research desk on the first floor, or by live chat, email, phone or text.

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WATCH WHERE YOU PARK PARKING ON CAMPUS IS MESSY IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE RULES

SEAN GRIER staff writer

As a brand new student at UNC Charlotte, you will need to have a grasp of more than your class schedule and dorm living; one of the most important aspects for students is parking. Whether you are an on-campus resident who is employed off-campus or a student commuting from Gastonia, N.C., you will need to know which permit to purchase, where you can park and when you can park there. Parking is one of those headaches that cannot be avoided at times, but it is best to ensure the headache is short lived. UNC Charlotte is growing rapidly and the Campus Master Plan has planned for continued growth, but for now, you will feel as if there is never enough parking, which is somewhat true, and here’s why: At no given time will every registered student or visiting guest be on campus at the same time, so there is no need for 28,000 student parking spaces and 3,500 faculty and staff parking spaces. In terms of availability and efficiency, it is best for all students to map out their schedules not only in terms of when to wake up and how long it takes to walk to class from your vehicle, but also compensating for regular traffic flow throughout Charlotte and traffic on campus. Spaces closer to the academic core will naturally fill up faster, and most of these spots fill up in cyclical fashion 20 minutes before a class begins. Because the majority of our students are commuters, you can imagine how interesting this can be when you are running late and need a parking space but the lot is already full. There are better

parking in a lot without the correct parking permit can result in an expensive ticket. NT FIle photo parking options not only in terms of availability of space, but also in terms of logistical ingress and egress to and from campus. After a class ends, traffic can get bad in the core of campus, it is best to choose options away from that congestion, like parking lots and decks further away from the core that are also closer to your destination: home. Parking and Transportation Services (PATS) controls and enforces parking on campus. This department sells parking permits, collects payment for citations and controls the parking decks. There are seven types of permits students can purchase. Two of the most common are the Resident – for those living on campus – and Commuter permits – for students who commute to campus. The cost of a full year permit is $450 for students, faculty and staff.

For students taking summer school courses or an on-campus internship, permits are still required for parking during the summer. If you already have a full or partial year permit, then your permit will work throughout the summer. Otherwise, you will need to purchase a permit from PATS for $185. It is best to purchase permits online to avoid the long lines. You can purchase your permit(s) at pats.uncc.edu. Parking on campus without a permit or in violation of rules and regulations can be costly. PATS maintains an enforcement division that ensures compliance of UNC Charlotte’s Permit Policy Guide and the Parking Ordinance. Parking on campus without a permit could result in an $80 ticket. If you have four or more

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unpaid tickets, PATS reserves the right to transfer your balance to Student Accounts, which affects course registration, transcript requests and more, but also add your vehicle to the University Tow List and subject your vehicle to an immobilization device. During special events, sporting events and in special circumstances like construction or closures, parking options can be reduced, so it is best to plan ahead and expect the unexpected. By overcompensating, you can save yourself a headache, reduce the risk of reckless driving and speeding and, most of all, find a parking space that best fits you, your schedule and priorities. More information about Parking and Transportation Services can be found online at pats.uncc.edu.

AVOID THE FRESHMAN 15 Stay fit by checking out these places to exercise on campus JARED ALLEN sports editor

To avoid the freshman 15, students may be looking for a place to work out on campus – but what is the best option? This year, the answer is simple. In the beginning of the fall semester, the doors will reopen on Belk Gym, which has been newly renovated over the past year. The students’ voices were heard and they’re getting exactly what they wished for. Fortunately, incoming freshmen will have four years with the state-of-the-art gym equipment. Prior to this semester, students were confined to a very small workout area in the Student Activity Center (SAC). The gym consisted of all the essentials: free weights, weight machines and treadmills. However, the space was too small for the amount of students trying to use it at once. Fellow Niners felt trapped and were found waiting in line to use certain machines at the peak hours of the day. It was not an environment that made students excited to work out. With the fall semester right around the corner, the times are changing on campus and students will have a second gym with plenty of space. When the doors open on Belk Gym in the fall, students will have the privilege to utilize the 8,000 square feet of fitness space, refinished basketball courts and new lab spaces. Belk Gym will also include a few high seating lecture halls, landscape improvements and a redesigned interior. All of these amenities are included in tuition, and students can enter Belk Gym during operation hours with a valid student ID. The same applies for the SAC, which school officials anticipate is going to be much less crowded this upcoming semester. Therefore, students can still enjoy the splendors of the SAC, including its indoor track and climbing wall. The ways of staying fit on campus

Reopening belk gym will help to alleviate the crowdedness experienced at the student activity center. nt file photo are endless. In addition to the popular campus gyms, students have the choice of joining over a dozen sports clubs as well as participating in intramural sports. The sports clubs on campus are diverse, ranging from men and women’s soccer to bass fishing. Fencing, archery and kung fu are also options if students are looking for more of an uncommon way of working out. The campus also connects to multiple nature trails, where you can find many students walking or jogging on the weekends. In addition to the walking trails,

just across the street from campus, students will find the recreation fields, often home to pick-up flag football and soccer in the evening. The options are endless for Niners, so no student should be worried about their ability to stay fit on campus. Whether you’re looking to run on the treadmill between classes or participate in a game of ultimate Frisbee, the choice is yours as UNC Charlotte offers both. Staying fit and working out on campus is easy, and there are always new and unique ways to exercise.

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2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

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2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

TANAKA’S GRILL & SUSHI Specials Daily!

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On Special Monday - Friday 11 - 2 Tanaka’s Favorite - Hibachi Chicken, Fried Rice, Sweet Carrots, Egg Roll, and a Fountain Drink - $7.50 To see a full menu, go to: www.tanakasonline.com

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MANAGING MOVE-IN MADNESS Preparation is key to ensuring a smooth move-in process NICK CROPPER news editor

Although move-in day can be a stressful time, there are ways of making the experience much less painful. Moving all students into their respective residence halls is a several day process. Students are randomly put into groups, and each group will be given a day and time to move in. It is important to arrive early and be prepared for any delays or complications that might occur. There will be a system in place for families to pull their cars into the drop off areas,

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unload their things and take them inside. There will be volunteers to help carry belongings to rooms, and resident advisors will be there to help in any way they can. Before move-in day, UNC Charlotte students are told who they will be roommates with. Try to get in touch with this person through Facebook, Twitter or some other medium before move-in day. Get to know this person and coordinate who brings what. There is no point in having two microwaves. This will also give a good idea of whether it would be a good idea to request a change in roommates. There are two move-in days throughout the school year, one for the fall semester and another for the spring semester. Unless students request a new room at the end of the semester, that is where they will stay for the remainder of the year. Plan for the semester, not the entire year. When winter break comes around, students will have the opportunity to take home items and bring them back or just leave everything if they are not changing rooms. For the fall, bring jackets, sweats and anything necessary for surviving those brutal North Carolina winters. Over break, take some of those things home, and for the spring semester, bring back clothes that are better suited for warmer weather. This might seem obvious, but there are plenty of incoming students who overlook this. Also, for those who are able and live near UNC Charlotte, bring only the essentials on move-in day. This will drastically reduce the amount of time you spend moving in and the number of trips up and down the elevator. Bring in more things over the weekend. Many students return home for the weekend, so there should be no problem bringing in the last of your possessions throughout the next few weekends after move in. However, out of state students are out of luck and will simply have to endure bringing everything they need on move-in day. A slightly more exclusive option would be to have an early move-in day. Many UNC Charlotte clubs and organizations allow their members to settle into their residence 2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

nt file photo hall before the first official move-in day. This is because certain clubs and organizations require that their members be on campus for training or other beginning of the year activities. For students who plan on joining an organization, ask if they offer this service. It is a great advantage to any student who wants to avoid the hassle of moving in at the same time as hundreds of other students.

Q&A WITH CAMPUS POLICE CHIEF BAKER THE UNC CHARLOTTE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DEDICATED TO MAINTAINING A CRIME-FREE CAMPUS

SARA CARSON staff writer

Founded in 1970, UNC Charlotte’s Department of Police and Public Safety wasn’t always what it is today. The department now has six different divisions: the patrol division, criminal investigation division, community policing coordinators, bicycle officers, cross-trained SWAT officers and administrative officers. Currently, the department has 50 sworn officers, six to 15 of which are on-duty during the academic year at any given time. UNC Charlotte’s officers, however, haven’t always had the same jurisdiction as county and state officers. It wasn’t until 1984 that officers in the department became state certified. What feature offered by the department do you think is most underutilized by students, and how can it be better utilized? By far, the newest addition to safety for our students is the LiveSafe App. This app provides our community with the ability to directly contact the UNC Charlotte Police Emergency Tele-Communicator by phone or text. It will also locate the caller offering our officers the exact location of a student needing help. There are many other fantastic options for safety provided by this unique app. We are hoping that the entire campus

community will download the safety app for their personal security. The UNC Charlotte Police & Public Safety is a state authorized police department focused on crime prevention, dedicated to protecting the welfare and safety of the university and committed to building strong campus and community partnerships that support and advance the research and educational goals of UNC Charlotte. The ongoing collaboration of our dedicated law enforcement officers and members of the campus community allows us to better respond to the needs of those we serve, and we encourage any input that will assist us in building a culture of safety. To maximize your academic experience, we encourage you to make choices that will ensure your personal protection. Please feel free to visit our website for more valuable safety tips. What do you think is the most common misconception students have about the department, and how can it be clarified? That’s a great question. I think the most common misconception is a belief that we are security guards and not sworn and state certified police officers. We are no different than the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department or any other police department

just a university.

“NINE OUT OF 10 THEFTS ON CAMPUS ARE CAUSED BY STUDENTS LEAVING VALUABLE ITEMS UNATTENDED.” POLICE CHIEF JEFF BAKER in the state. We share the same in-service training, the same state mandates and the same rules. What is the leading crime on campus, and how can students avoid this in their first year at UNC Charlotte? The leading crime on campus, hands down, is theft. Nine out of 10 thefts on campus are caused by students leaving valuable items unattended. No one should ever leave their smart phone, laptop, book bag or purse unattended. This is a problem everywhere and not relegated to

What is some advice you can offer students to feel safe in their first year at the university? Students and people should minimize their personal risks in life. We have a very safe campus and our administration has invested a great deal of monetary resources to ensure individual safety. It’s critical to remember why you are attending a university. Be sure to download LiveSafe and keep your valuables secure. Avoid substance abuse; it’s no secret that alcohol and drugs negatively impact many life experiences. Many students are reluctant to report crimes they’ve either witnessed or endured themselves. What can you tell students to make them feel comfortable about reporting a crime? We are a highly skilled police department that focuses on success. We want to ensure that students are able to pursue their academic dreams in a safe environment. We will assist each and every student in an effort to resolve a situation they are faced with. We are also a very diverse police department and reflect our community.

A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA

international enricHment seminar Explore the many ways to be global through the

office of international programs Join the Global Village Learning Community | Make a friend through the Friendship and Culture Exchange | Attend the International Speaker Series | Join the International Club | Live in the Global Gateways residence hall | Become an International Studies Major or Minor | Join the Education Abroad Student Association international welcome party | Friday, August 28, 7pm - 11pm, Student Union, 3rd floor study abroad fair | Wednesday, September 30, 10am - 2pm, Check edabroad.uncc.edu for location international coffee Hour | 1st & 3rd Thursdays of every month, 4-6pm, Prospector Faculty/Staff Dining Room international festiVal | Saturday, October 17, all day event, Student Activity Center international education week | Monday - Friday, November 16 - 20, Multiple events

2015 SURIVIVAL GUIDE

Learn about different cultures while engaging in international initiatives at UNC Charlotte & expanding your intercultural competence! Register for the 3-credit unit seminar to bring international dimensions to your UNC Charlotte experience. Register online for UCOL 1200: Sections listed under Dr. Sanchez Questions? Contact international@uncc.edu

A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA