Niner Times: January 19, 2016

PH I SIG MA BE TA BR OT HE RS SL EE P IN TH E LY NC H BR EE ZE WAY FR OM 7 P.M . - 7 A.M . TO RA ISE AW AR EN ES S OF HO ME LE SS NE SS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: GRACE HUNTER’S YEARS OF HARD WORK FOR CHARLOTTE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HAVE PAID OFF PG. 9

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OP-ED: CASEY COMPARES UNC SYSTEM PRESIDENT MARGARET SPELLINGS TO A WIDELY HATED HARRY POTTER VILLAIN PG. 12

JAN. 19 - JAN. 25, 2016

Q&A WITH CHRISTAL BROWN, CHOREOGRAPHER OF THE UPCOMING DANCE-THEATRE PIECE, ‘OPULENCE OF INTEGRITY’ PG. 14

VOL. 28, ISSUE 15

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Contents

News 3 4 5

Jordan Snyder editor@ninertimes.com

Nick Cropper

Alyssa Fronk

news@ninertimes.com

community@ninertimes.com

Hunter Heilman

Jared Allen

ae@ninertimes.com

Casey Aldridge opinion@ninertimes.com

Diane Gromelski copy@ninertimes.com

Salina Dickie, Sydney Stephens, Andrew James, Trevor Wilt

Pharmaceutical study Upcoming events Sleep Out For The Homeless

Sports

sports@ninertimes.com

John Lineberger

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Bright future for men’s basketball

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Grace Hunter feature

Opinion

lifestyle@ninertimes.com

Ben Robson

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photo@ninertimes.com

Margaret Spellings is our Dolores Umbridge

Andrew Hocutt layout@ninertimes.com

A&E

ADDITIONAL STAFF

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Pooja Pasupula, Chris Crews, Luis Rumbaut, Nicole Buckenham, Sydney Swafford, Angie Baquedano

“The Opulence of Integrity” Superman musical

Lifestyle

Matt Lorenz

17 18 19

Andrew Hocutt

New Year relationships Winter recipes Humans of UNC Charlotte

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

www.ninertimes.com/app 2

Cover and contents photos by Pooja Pasupula and Chris Crews

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MARKETING MORE IMPORTANT THAN INNOVATION A UNC Charlotte professor’s study shows trends in drug advertising INDIRA ESKIEVA STAFF WRITER

Dr. Jennifer Troy, associate dean for research and graduate programs, partnered with Dr. Genis G. Arnold, professor of management and Surtman Distinguished Professor of Business Ethics at UNC Charlotte, to write a 23-page paper on pharmaceutical marketing and innovation.

Troy and Arnold conducted research that found that pharmaceutical companies are willing to spend more money on marketing drugs that are similar to what is already on the market, rather than spending money on developing and producing innovative drugs that can really help people.

The former also requires considerably less time and effort.

“Many scholars have argued that large pharmaceutical firms have emphasized the marketing of expensive, new drugs that are no better than existing generic or over the counter drugs as a business strategy rather than developing truly innovative new drugs,” said Arnold. “Our study is the first to investigate this issue empirically.”

While this business approach might be financially safer for pharmaceutical companies, it is disadvantageous for the general public.

There are people with many diseases and a slew of health problems who are in dire need of new drugs that will help their ailments.

In their paper, titled “Does Increased Spending on Pharmaceutical Marketing Inhibit

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Photo courtesy of Tribune News Service

Pioneering Innovation?”, Troy and Arnold point out that a problem stems from the U.S. patent laws.

An exerpt taken from their paper states that, “If the benefits of new drugs with patent protection are negligible in comparison to alternative therapies (e.g., overthe-counter medication, generic prescription medications, or lifestyle changes), then patent protection, and the high cost of these drugs, is difficult to justify.”

Instead, pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars marketing the drugs that they already have patent rights over.

Troy and Arnold note in their research paper that, “The pharmaceutical industry has seen an overall rise in expenditures on marketing coincidental with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) change in policy that permitted direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) on television.”

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They add that not all of the marketing methods used by pharmaceutical companies have been legal.

Throughout the course of Troy and Arnold’s study, the pharmaceutical industry has paid billions of dollars in penalties for using illegal marketing strategies.

Arnold and Troy list off-label marketing, which is when companies promote uses and benefits of a drug that Cont. on page 4

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POLICE BLOTTER JAN. 10- 15 ACCIDENT JAN. 10

• CRI Deck, after wrecking his vehicle and causing damage to the vehicle and a parking gate, driver of the vehicle was arrested for DWI. No injuries were reported.

See what’s happening at UNC Charlotte

• Miltimore Hall, officer arrested subject for seconddegree trespass.

JAN. 19: MLK DAY UNC Charlotte will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 19.

Held in McKnight Hall, in the Cone Center, this free event will feature key note speaker Emmy awardwinning broadcaster Ed Gordon.

Gordon has held many roles at BET including host of “BET Tonight,” anchor of “BET News,” and is creater of his series “Conversations with Ed Gordon.”

Gordon has been a contributor to CBS’s “60 Minutes,” and NBC’s “Dateline” and “Today Show.”

He is also the creator of Daddy’s Promise, which is an initiative designed to become more involved in the daughter’s lives.

Following Gordon’s speech, there will be a candle lighting ceremony and a community reception in the Lucus Room afterwards.

The event starts at 3:30 p.m. and will end at 5 p.m.

It is open to the general public.

THEFT

DRUG MARKETING, cont.

JAN. 14

• Lot 19, while entering the parking lot, driver of vehicle one “T-boned” vehicle two.

JAN. 15

• South Village Deck, driver of vehicle two stated that while backing to get into a parking space, they were rear ended by vehicle one.

No injuries were reported.

• East Deck, while pulling into a parking space, driver of vehicle one struck rear driver side passenger door of vehicle two. No injuries were reported.

ASSAULT JAN. 15

• Fretwell, officer took a report referencing an assault between two female students.

ARREST JAN. 15

JAN. 10

• Greek Village, unknown person(s) broke into victim’s room and removed multiple items.

JAN. 12

• Lot 8A, unknown person(s) removed a vehicle which was left secured in a public area.

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

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UPCOMING EVENTS AT UNC CHARLOTTE FEB. 6: GOLDRUSH 5K The annual Goldrush 5K is on Feb. 6 at 9 a.m. this year.

Hosted by Recreational Services, all proceeds raised will go towards developmental scholarships.

UNC Charlotte students can register for $15, with prices varying for all other participants.

Register at https:// recservices.uncc.edu/ signature/5k.

NT file photo

JAN. 26: 49ERS FOR LIFE BLOOD DRIVE This year, over 200 student volunteers are preparing for the seventh annual 49er’s for Life Blood Drive.

UNC Charlotte students, staff and faculty will be partnering with the Red Cross to acheive their goal of getting over 1,000 pints of blood in less than 12 hours.

People who donate blood that day will receive a “I Bleed 49ers Green” T-shirt and will have the chance to win other prizes.

49ers for Life is supported by several student organizations including Health Occupations Students of America, Student Government Association, Lambda Chi Alpha and more.

The blood drive is from 8 a.m.- 7 p.m. and will be held in the Student Activity Center, just like it has in previous years.

were not previously approved by the FDA, as well as physician kick-backs, which is when doctors are paid by pharmaceutical companies to prescribe drugs, as just a few illegal marketing strategies that are being employed.

“The persistent utilization of illegal marketing in the pharmaceutical industry, despite the significant financial and reputational costs, is one indication of the important role of marketing in enhancing revenues,” Troy and Arnold write in their research paper.

Troy and Arnold list five recommendations for policy makers to remedy the issues that are hindering innovations within pharmaceutical companies.

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JAN. 28: MOVIE MARATHON To celebrate the huge success of the Hunger Games movie series, the Student Union Movie Theater will feature the Hunger Games Movies from Jan. 28- 30.

The theater will show a marathon of the four blockbusters Jan. 30.

During the event, the Student Union Movie Theater will be giving out prizes to students.

Show times vary depending on the day. Non-students can get in for a $2 fee.

A complete list of showtimes for the marathon can be found on the theaters website, https:// studentunion.uncc.edu/movies.

One such recommendation is to modify the Internal Revenue Code to make all marketing expenditures nontax refundable.

At the moment, most marketing expenditures are.

As for what the general public should be aware of, Arnold said that, “We should all be mindful that many studies have demonstrated that prescription drug advertising is misleading and typically downplays the risk of the drugs while overstating the benefits.”

“Does Increased Spending on Pharmacuetical Marketing Inhibit Pioneering Innovation?” was published in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law Jan. 5.

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Sleep Out For The Homeless Members of Phi Sigma Beta sit out all night to collect donations for the homeless in Charlotte, demonstrate solidarity with homeless individuals

SARA CARSON MANAGING EDITOR

The men of UNC Charlotte’s Phi Sigma Beta didn’t let falling rain and temperatures stop them from supporting the homeless Jan. 15.

In their annual Sleep Out For The Homeless event, nine members of the fraternity gathered in the Lynch Hall breezeway to collect goods and demonstrate solidarity with homeless individuals living in Charlotte.

During the sleep out, which the Rho Gamma chapter has held for more than 20 years, members assembled in the breezeway from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. the next day.

According to Brian Thompson, fundraising and philanthropy chair for the fraternity, all members remained in the breezeway for the entire 12 hours, with no shifts or

breaks.

“We just feel as though the homeless community doesn’t get the awareness it should,” said Thompson. “People tend to shy away from the homeless, like they’re a problem.”

“They say, ‘If you give them money, they’ll just use it for obscenities, and stuff like that’, but that’s not really the case. They do need help to get back on their feet. It is their choice to do what they want with the things we give them, but we would just like to provide as much as we can to them and get them back on their feet,” said Thompson.

The men of Phi Sigma Beta chose to do the sleep out not only during the coldest month of the year, but also on one of the coldest days of the

year to signify their dedication to the cause.

“That’s the range where it’s the hardest in the streets for the homeless because of the weather, and it’s at night, so it’s just a little more difficult,” Thompson said.

In addition to the Lynch Hall breezeway offering a constant flow of students going to and from their residences, the breezeway was chosen as the location of the sleep out because of the protection it offers from the weather.

Participants furthered their “homeless” experience by gathering boxes to sleep and rest on throughout the night.

“If we chose to do it somewhere else, we couldn’t necessarily stay out as long as 7 p.m.-7 a.m.,” Thompson

said. “Since we’re down here, we can still get the homeless experience, but get some kind of weather protection.”

“We do have the boxes down here, so later on, probably around two or three is when we usually break them out. Around then is when it starts getting really cold,” said Thompson.

The men also made and displayed signs that read things like “1 Out Of 5 Homeless Children in N.C. lives within 8 miles of Uptown Charlotte” and “The poverty of being Unwanted, Unloved and Uncared for is the GREATEST poverty.”

During their night in the breezeway, members collected items such as canned goods and non-perishable foods, clothing and money.

Fraternity members urged passersby - most of which were students - to contribute in any way they could.

Thompson urged students to use their declining balance at the nearby campus Outtakes to purchase things like Ramen Noodles to donate.

Ten Phi Sigma Beta alumni also joined in the sleep out, stopping by throughout the night to drop off donations.

In total, the fraternity collected more than 900 donations, all of which will be taken to the Urban Ministry Center.

If you missed Phi Sigma Beta’s Sleep Out For The Homeless event, but would like to donate, contact Thompson at bthomp68@uncc.edu.

According to the Homeless Services Network, there are approximately 2,001 people experiencing homelessness in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County.

Also, more than 18, 597 children experience homelessness for some period of time each year. Statistic taken from homelesschildrenofamerica.org.

Phi Sigma Beta fraternity members sit outside in the cold to support the homeless. Photo by Pooja Pasupula

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Photo by Pooja Pasupula

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OPTIMISM BACKED

BY NEW FACES

Charlotte men’s basketball’s newest faces headline a transitioning team TREVOR WILT

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

After taking the top three teams in the conference down to the wire in three consecutive games, the 49ers are playing much better than their 4-12 record shows.

Charlotte suffered another loss to a highly talented Conference USA opponent, this time at the hands of the UAB Blazers, who are sitting in the top spot in the C-USA standings.

After being down by 16 points with a little over 15 minutes remaining in the second half, the 49ers fought back to make it a game Saturday, Jan. 16 inside Halton Arena. Robert Brown finished with 18 points for UAB and hit a floater with 3.5 seconds remaining to break the tie, giving the Blazers a road win and extended their 12-game win streak.

Charlotte’s competitive game with the Blazers didn’t come as a shock to anyone who’s followed the 49ers thus far this season.

With a depleted squad due to injury, Charlotte could’ve easily thrown in the towel and used this season as a rebuilding year. Instead, the 49ers, led by Mark Price, are expecting to win, night-in and nightout.

“I’m proud that we are getting better, and the effort that we are putting in, but I don’t think there is ever a better loss,” Price said. “A loss is a loss at the end of the day. We all know that this is a process. We’ve played the top teams in the league early on, and we are battling hard.

Most of these guys are seeing these

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teams for the first time, and they are starting to see that every time we step on the floor, we have a chance to win.”

When asked about if he feels a breakthrough coming for this young team, he answered, “Oh yeah. It’s coming, it’s coming.”

Charlotte has done nothing but prove themselves to Niner Nation and the rest of the C-USA teams that they want to be taken seriously, no matter how many new players were added to this year’s roster.

“I’m not going to let them feel sorry for themselves. No one is going to feel sorry for us,” said Price.

Charlotte brought in seven new players who are currently eligible to play, but only a few have impacted the 49ers’ rebuilding season on the court.

Jon Davis continues to impress with his ability to play complete 40-minute games, running the show for Price’s offense. Davis averages 14.2 points per game, while dishing out a team leading five assists per game during conference play this year.

Andrien White burst onto the scene with some improbable dunks, catching the eyes of everyone in Halton Arena earlier in the season.

White currently averages 13.4 points per game, second to only Braxton Ogbueze, over the last five games, who is a ‘do it all’ type of player.

Curran Scott emerged as another young freshman in conference play

Jon Davis spots up for a 3-pointer. Photo by Chris Crews

thus far, averaging 12.4 points per game, while dropping a career-high 30 points Saturday night against UAB. Scott possesses the ability to drive baseline to draw fouls, or jump out and knock down the big 3-pointer late in games. Scott might just make a case to win a few C-USA freshman Player of the Week honors this season, joining teammates White and Davis, who won those awards in consecutive weeks beginning C-USA play.

“We’ve been playing better, together as a team,” Scott said.

“We’ve been moving the ball well, and when your teammates have confidence to give out he ball, then that should give you confidence to make a shot. I credit them for

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finding me.”

Senior transfer Joseph Uchebo has been nothing short of spectacular in C-USA play, recording 18-plus rebounds in three straight games, and is the only true center on the court since conference play started.

Uchebo is receiving big minutes as of late, dominating the glass whenever he is out on the hardwood.

Additionally, the Nigerian born center has emerged as Charlotte’s key emotional leader, energizing the squad during their lowest moments in each match.

Charlotte’s new faces are headlining the newly motivated team as they progress into the season with one goal in mind: to win.

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GRACE HUNTER:

A DREAM BORN IN THE BACKYARD The story of how family pickup games behind a Raleigh ministry created one of Charlotte’s most promising freshman

JARED ALLEN SPORTS EDITOR

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Grace Hunter’s alarm clock sounds. It’s the crack of dawn, approximately 40 minutes before the freshman needs to rise and leave for class. For Hunter, the first day of the Spring semester isn’t a typical one. She scrolls through Twitter as she does every other day however on this brisk January afternoon Hunter glances over one particular tweet that brings a smile to her face.

Conference USA announced via Twitter that Hunter earned the distinguished, weekly accolade, Freshman of the Week.

“Excited, shocked, thankful, honored,” Hunter described her emotions from the moment she read the tweet.

It’s nearly 365 days since the Raleigh, N.C. native reached the 2,112 point mark, finishing her high school career as Athens Drive’s most prolific scorer. She was on top of world, setting records left and right, scoring 30-plus points on a nightly basis.

“I‘m so proud of her. She’s like a daughter to me,” Athens Drive coach Dayna Jordan told The News & Observer fighting back tears following Hunter’s final game. “It’s hard to believe that I’m not going to be with her anymore. But I’m proud of her and where she’s going. She’s going to be a great player in college.

I’m just blessed to have coached her.”

It’s been a long time coming for Hunter and the transition to the collegiate game hasn’t been easy.

Growing up with 12 siblings, 10 of

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them being older, Hunter learned the ins-and-outs of basketball the physical way. Her parents who ran a small ministry in their hometown instilled the game within their children from a young age.

“They kind of learned in the backyard with us beating them up when they were little,” Hunter’s mother Franceston told The News & Observer last March.

Many of Hunter’s siblings were homeschooled however after her older brother Xavier earned a spot

on Louisburg Junior College’s roster without organized basketball experience, the realization that Hunter possesses a promising future within the game became palpable.

Hunter enrolled in high school and joined the basketball team. All of the childhood pickup games in the backyard began to pay dividends in more ways than one. She averaged 30.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game as a senior despite only measuring 5-foot-9. Her exemplary play on the court led to a full

mailbox as Hunter began to receive offers from Division 1 colleges coveting her abilities.

“Everyone in my family played more than one sport, but basketball took everyone the furthest,” Hunter told The News & Observer in early 2015. “It means a lot to me because it’s going to get me to college and things I need to do in life.”

Hunter’s hard work payed off.

Years of toil in the sun playing on the patchy green grass behind Stand in the Gate ministry

Grace hunter drives the lane in her hometown, Raleigh, N.C. Photo by Ben Robson JAN. 19 - JAN. 25, 2016

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honed Hunter’s persistence. She challenged her siblings constantly even if she never came out on top.

She was determined to dominate, whoever it was, regardless of age.

Hunter’s perseverance earned her an opportunity to play for Charlotte under former WNBA guard Cara Consuegra.

“Coach Cara made it in the WNBA,” Hunter said. “I thought that was really cool, being coached by someone who knows how it feels to be playing college basketball, someone who wants to get to the next level. I want to do the same.”

However, Hunter’s success didn’t immediately translate to prosperity at the college level.

“I had tough days, crying and stressing,” Hunter said. “It was definitely hard. I had to go back to skill-set because I used to just depend on my athletic ability all through high school. I had to step back and humble myself and be very coachable.”

On Dec. 6, 2015, Hunter finds herself back in her hometown where it all began. Charlotte is in the heart of their non-conference schedule, set to battle N.C. State in the historic Broughton High School, 2.9 miles away from the backyard court she battled her 12 siblings on years ago. The compact gym provides the Wolfpack with a favorable, deafening atmosphere. However, Charlotte

Grace Hunter handles the ball at the top of the key. Photo by Ben Robson

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boasts their own support section tucked away behind their bench: Grace Hunter’s family and friends.

“Going back to Raleigh to play N.C. State was exciting,” Hunter said. “It was like I had to represent my home but it was definitely fun having everyone I know come to the game.”

Her family’s whoops and cheers clash with the beatings of the band’s drums opposite of the team’s benches. On the Sunday afternoon, her brothers and sisters jumped up off the purple bleachers passionately applauding each of Hunter’s key contributions. They shouted even louder when they disagreed with the referee’s calls.

“You can hear them louder than everybody. They’re so loud,” Hunter told The News & Observer during her high school days. “But it means a lot. I love the support. It lets me know that they’re there for me no matter what.”

Some things just never change, even if Hunter is now playing basketball 168 miles from home.

Weeks later in Halton Arena, Hunter’s new home, Charlotte prepares to battle Southern Miss in just their second C-USA game of the season. Hunter is suited up, still donning the No. 24 jersey she’s worn proudly for years. She sits near the end of the bench, next to assistant coach Randi Henderson as she eagerly awaits for Consuegra to look her way.

The yellow numbers on the game clock positioned above the backboard inside the arena read 4:47. Consuegra looks over and gives Hunter the nod. Teammate Lefty Webster makes her way to bench meeting the freshman guard halfway. Hunter hands Webster a rolled white towel as she steps onto the court. Charlotte fought back from a seven point deficit, now tied with the Lady Eagles, 11-11.

Lashrya Cotton dribbles the ball in the post. She’s guarded by 5-foot9 Hunter, a defensive mismatch in Cotton’s favor. However, Hunter is unaware that her size provides her opponent an advantage. She reaches in, stripping the ball, creating a

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fast break for the 49ers. Charlotte hurries down the court in four seconds, opting to shoot from within the arc. Hunter bolts 90 feet, from one end of the floor to the other. She reaches the block, stops, and leaps to corral an offensive rebound as her team’s shot bounces off the rim.

Her tenacity overpowers Southern Miss creating a second chance opportunity in which teammate Laia Raventós cashes in on. At the 3:57 mark, Charlotte leads.

Hunter defies the odds. She’s not meant to pull down 10-plus rebounds a game but that doesn’t stop her. She doesn’t read into the potential physical disadvantages knowing she holds the mental edge.

“It’s just wanting the ball and knowing that we need the rebound no matter what. I just have really good legs honestly,” Hunter laughed.

Hunter went on to record the first double-double of her career scoring 12 points and hauling in 10 rebounds. The top-notch performace sparked a run of form matched by only two other players in the C-USA. Since, Hunter has averaged a double-double per night (11 points and 11.5 rebounds).

“The thing about making Grace just continue to improve and continue to impress people is that she’s really bought into her role and what we’ve asked her to do,” Consuegra said. “When she’s locked in rebounding, she just a physical player, she’s a great athlete and she also has a hunger to go get the ball.

That’s what makes a really good rebounder and that’s why she’s so good.”

Her efforts aren’t going unnoticed.

On Jan. 11, for the first time, Hunter was tabbed C-USA Freshman of the Week. It’s the first personal accolade Hunter’s obtained in her young collegiate career. It’s a testament to how far she’s come in just a few years and an indicator of how high the ceiling actually is for the freshman. She’s living her dream, one that was born in a spotty backyard with her 12 siblings behind her family’s ministry.

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Grace Hunter displays her tanacity under the rim. Photo by Ben Robson

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#SPELLCHECK Margaret Spellings is the UNC System’s very own Dolores Umbridge CASEY ALDRIDGE OPINION EDITOR

To my fellow customers: Sorry about that. Poor choice of words.

To my fellow students: The concept of the student and the concept of the customer ought to be understood quite clearly as two distinct categories. Sometimes in my life, I’m a customer. When I go to the bookstore or go shopping for groceries, I’m looking for the best product for the lowest cost. That might not sound like a bad thing, at least at first. But in a customer model, the only reason a vendor has to provide a quality product or a low price is to make a profit.

Most reasonable people agree that state education ought not be organized around a for-profit model.

You don’t have to be a socialist like myself to accept this premise, you just have to be ordinarily concerned with the quality of education here at UNC Charlotte and our sister institutions across the state.

Margaret Spellings is not a reasonable person. Spellings, set to become the new President of the University of North Carolina System, has called students customers on more than one occasion. She has done so not out of some harmless naïveté, but as a revealing and disturbing insight into her ideology of privatization and neoliberalism. Lest we forget, Margaret Spellings was the Secretary of Education during the

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Numerous student protests have opposed the decision to make Spellings UNC System president. Photo courtesy of Tribune News Service

second term of the second Bush Administration, instrumental towards the policy of No Child Left Behind. As with the idea of a customer model of education, the name – No Child Left Behind (NCLB) – sounds innocuous, but the devil is in the details. In the case of NCLB, the devil is that such policies marginalized students of color as well as poor students from working-class families across racial

backgrounds.

Spellings more recently has worked with the Apollo Group. The Apollo Group, of course, conjures less negative public outcry than ties to the Bush Cabinet, but it shouldn’t.

The Apollo Group is notorious for its operation of for-profit universities, including the University of Phoenix.

From a profit perspective, Phoenix looks just fine, but a USA Today report in 2013 showed Phoenix’s

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Detroit and San Diego campuses with graduation rates at a mere 10 percent, but student loan default rates at over 26 percent. Not necessarily the standard of the UNC system which has for years been regarded North Carolina’s best public institution and one of the best public university systems in the United States.

If Spellings isn’t forced out by students and faculty standing

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Protesters have compared Spellings (left) to the widely hated Harry Potter villain Dolores Umbridge (right). Photos courtesy of Tribune News Service and Harry Potter Wiki

against her far-right agenda, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) will come under threat, as will departments and centers and majors not deemed “profitable” by Spellings’ individual metric. Majoring in Africana Studies or Women’s and Gender Studies? Go ahead and expect Spellings to throw everything she has at you and your major.

Statewide, students and faculty are already bracing for the hits to come, and will protest this Friday, Jan. 22, when the Board of Governors meets at North Carolina Agricultural and Technological University’s (NCA&T) AlumniFoundation Event Center. It is fitting that in Greensboro, where students organized sit-ins at Woolworth’s and other lunch counters 55 years ago, students are again organizing on behalf of the right to well-funded and maintained HBCUs. I will be there, and invite any and all of you concerned about the quality of education here at UNC Charlotte and across North Carolina to travel

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up I-85 to protest with me.

Consistent with the threat she poses to Women’s and Gender Studies, when asked about accomadating LGBT students, Spellings said she didn’t want to talk about “those lifestyles.” Slate ran an article on how “The University of North Carolina’s New President is Shockingly Anti-Gay.” In that article, Equality North Carolina’s executive director Chris Sgro has expressed deep concern over the “negative impact of Spellings’ appointment on the lives of LGBT university students.”

It isn’t as if the Board of Governors was blameless before, and somehow Spellings has invaded the Board to send it sharply rightward. Or that Spellings came to power by way of an innocently naïve mistake of the Board. No, her appointment to president is the culmination of a long and disturbing politicization of the university’s leadership since the right-wing takeover of North Carolina’s state government. No students had any

say in her appointment, no faculty had any say in her appointment, no university staff had any say in her appointment. Her appointment was merely the product of supremely undemocratic processes, and sets a dangerous precedent.

For the closest parallel I can find, imagine Spellings then as Dolores Umbridge, who despite not at that time having any ties to Voldemort was nonetheless among “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’s” most despicable antagonists. There is, in fact, a Facebook page making the claim that Spellings is Umbridge, and personally I’ve seen more evidence for than against the theory.

Both were imposed by an out-oftouch, paranoid and conservative government in the fashion of a coup d’état. Both were bestowed with more power than they ought to have been trusted with. Spellings wants a whiter, more heteronormative UNC System as Professor Umbridge wanted a more pure-blood Hogwarts institution. They both love wearing

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pink, and they both are hell-bent on educational “efficiency.” But Umbridge always missed what Hogwarts was about. It wasn’t about getting a job in the Ministry of Magic, it was about being exposed to a truly magical and transformative experience, encountering the beauty and the wickedness of the world and being able to process it.

The University of North Carolina, likewise, is not a business. It is a public university, a commitment by our state to provide quality education, research, and community services across our state, to foster and link communities, and to expose student-citizens to the magic of the world, and how to process it. UNC Charlotte and our sister schools, unlike the University of Phoenix, do not exist to make a profit, and Spellings’ résumé, comments, and actions leading to her presidency demonstrate incompetency in governing our university system.

She needs to go the way of Umbridge; that is, escorted away from our school by a sea of centaurs.

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‘THE OPULENCE OF INTEGRITY’ LOOKS TO TAKE CAMPUS BY STORM Christal Brown takes dance, theatre, history, inspiration and a strong social message and creates a dance-theatre show like no other

HUNTER HEILMAN A&E EDITOR

On Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Belk Theatre, located in Robinson Hall, choreographer Christal Brown and her nine member ensemble group will be performing their dance-theatre piece, “The Opulence of Integrity: A Movement Odyssey Exploring the Life and Legacy of Muhammad Ali” for the students of UNC Charlotte. The show combines the best of modern dance, theatre and multimedia art into a single show detailing the legacy of world-famous boxer and cultural icon Muhammad Ali. Brown was gracious enough to take time out of her busy schedule to sit down with the Niner Times to discuss this fascinating upcoming show.

In your own words, could you describe how “The Opulence of Integrity” differs and sets itself apart from a traditional modern dance show?

“Even in using the term ‘modern dance’ you get a huge gamut of what you could see in a theater, so ‘The Opulence of Integrity’ is much more of a dance-theater work. It uses the life of Muhammad Ali as a catalyst to examine the lives of men of color in the United States, in terms of where their personal power lies and how their talents transfer into cultural capital and what cultural capital can do for a community, for an ethnic group and people in general.”

You dedicated the show to your father, brother and uncle, saying, “They fought but did not win,” and also to your son, saying, “His battle has yet to begin.” Could you talk about the meaning of this in relation to the show?

“When I started to study out the life of Ali, in terms of making this piece, I started to see how it was he lived out his divinity or his larger purpose in life and how his humanity somehow got in the way of how his purpose in life was perceived by others. When I think about my father, who did two tours in Vietnam and lost both his legs, and my brother and I being born after that, I think of that battle as being one that he lost in terms of trying to make a decision to provide for his family and at the same time putting his life in jeopardy, seeing as that might not have been his calling or purpose in life.

Then, my brother, who has come to struggle as being a member of the prison industrial complex for the last 10 years and thinking about how his divinity is being squelched or recapitulated in a way that’s not about what he is, but about what he’s trying to become from a worldly standpoint. My son, on the other hand, is five and a half now, and we live in a small town in Vermont called Middlebury, and I think about him finding himself first before he’s told who he is by the world as a part of creating and preparing him to fight this battle.”

Is that divinity that you saw in both Ali as well as the men in your family the reason you chose Ali as the subject of this piece?

“This piece actually began as a collaboration with a jazz musician by the name of Fred Ho, who has since passed away. He was really in love with Ali, and he was really using the legacy and energy of Ali to fight his battle with cancer. So he asked me to choreograph the last piece of music he wrote called ‘The Sweet Science Suite,’ which was dedicated to Muhammad Ali, which is how I got into the research on Ali.”

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UNC Charlotte Department of Dance

How did you find a way to incorporate boxing elements and dance into the same show? It’s not something you would think could go together, but are arguably very similar.

“I think they really are very similar. Being a professor and chair of the dance department at Middlebury College, I have a very broad definition of what dance is. I feel as if any type of embodied scholarship or any type of knowledge in the body that comes out or is displayed with a distinct movement characteristic for me is dance. Boxing, I feel, has a very particular way of using the feet, as well as a very particular way of using the torso and dissecting space. What we’re trying to do is to galvanize these movement qualities into that of the work.”

The show is divided into four movements. How do you feel these movements differ from each other? Without giving any spoilers, of course.

“It’s a four movement work that is set up in different areas of Ali’s life.

Movement one is called ‘Passing the Torch,’ which details that of the cultural shift between Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali, how Ali came under Malcolm’s tutelage and became this other kind of cultural icon in his own

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UNC Charlotte Department of Dance

right. Movement two is more along the lines of that of legendary Ali, at the time where Ali was treated more like a superhero than that of a real person. Movement three is called ‘No Vietnamese Ever Called Me N*gger,’ which detailed that of Ali’s defiance against the Vietnam War. Then, the last movement is more about the transcendent nature of who Ali has become in the lives of people as a cultural icon, as a historical figure, as a boxer, as a man and as the legend that he lives as today.”

In the end, what would you like viewers to take away from the piece?

“I think one thing that I really want people to take away after seeing the piece is for them to find their own opulence in life, to find out what they can do to the fullest, to think about how integral that is to who they are and never let go of that. I think that’s one thing we’ve gleaned from the legacy of Ali, that he held onto what his truth was, no matter what.”

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JAN. 19 - JAN. 25, 2016

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‘It’s a Bird...It’s a Plane...It’s Superman!’ starts UNC Charlotte Theatre’s semester on the right foot LUIS RUMBAUT STAFF WRITER

Seats filled the Black Box theatre almost completely as the musical’s live band, sporting the Superman logo on their black shirts, played lounge music until everyone was situated. Liberal studies professor and one half of the directing force of this musical Jay Morong went out to welcome the audience. After the red and blue stage lights diminished and came back on to signal the show’s beginning.

“It’s A Bird … It’s A Plane ...

It’s Superman” opened up the first spring presentation of UNC Charlotte’s Black Box theatre on Jan. 15. From the start of the show, the actors and the band were able to create and keep a great amount of momentum and energy going until the very end.

It must have helped that the show involved UNC Charlotte students and regulars used to performing in the Black Box. For example, Lucas King played the part of the main antagonist Dr. Abner Sedgwick wonderfully. But what really tied everything together was the chemistry between the actors and the way each individual from the main cast explored their characters through body language, verbal mannerisms and unique personality traits.

Justin Fischer, who played both Superman and Clark Kent; Erin Darcy, who played Lois Lane; Kevin Brenner, who played the other main antagonist Max Mencken; Aubrey Young, who played office

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sweetheart and love interest Sydney and the aforementioned King, all did an excellent job of making their characters come alive. So much so that the few hiccups and probable first show jitters that popped up during the performance were insignificant to the entirety of the show and easily forgettable.

The secondary cast made up of cops, criminals and assistants also contributed greatly to developing the world of this production with their added quirks and personalities.

Through these actors as well as the live band, Morong and musical director Dr. Alissa Deeter, I feel that the message and comedic timing of this musical was conducted clearly and effectively. Not only that, but also Beth Killion from costume design and Matt Fergen from lighting design deserve a mention for their success in further immersing the audience into the musical with their choice of costumes and effects.

If I had the money and the time, as well as if this musical was playing nationally, I’d be interested in traveling around and seeing how different studios compare to this production. Not just because the story itself is hilarious and mentally stimulating on a certain level, but because the way the actors and production team handled this musical was top notch. With this musical, UNC Charlotte theatre has started the semester off on the right foot.

ACROSS 1 Labor leader Jimmy who vanished in 1975 6 Good, in Guadalajara 11 Tech co. whose name is its ticker symbol 14 Sunni’s faith 15 Exclamation that’s a near-homonym for an Arabian Peninsula country 16 Aye’s opposite 17 1994-2000 medical drama 19 35mm camera type 20 Big galoot 21 Terre Haute sch.

22 Fragrant compound 24 One is made before blowing out candles 28 “Behave yourself!”

31 Group of ships 32 “There’s __ Out Tonight”: 1961 hit 33 Autumn

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35 Network with an eye logo 38 Ideal “Are you hurt?” reply 39 Raid 40 Perlman of “Cheers” 41 Big galoot 42 Parkway off-ramp 43 Songs for two 44 Magnified map detail 47 Eyeglasses pair 48 Narrow-mindedness 52 Make mad 53 Sleep phase initials 54 Top-row PC key 57 Madre’s hermano 58 Historic 1963 civil rights speech words 63 Justice Dept. arm 64 Deodorant brand 65 Hearing-related 66 NBA official 67 Squiggy’s “Laverne & Shirley” pal 68 Punish with a swat

DOWN 1 Hyphenated fruit drink brand 2 Worker welfare org.

3 Hairstyle with upturned ends 4 Social media website 5 Dr.’s group 6 Elevate 7 “Yup” 8 Confessional rock genre 9 Afternoon snooze 10 Cyclops feature 11 Laughing uncontrollably 12 Hay bundles 13 Magi’s resin 18 Encircle 23 Nor. neighbor 25 Charged particle 26 Black key after C 27 Partner in war 28 Scott of “Charles in Charge” 29 Jane Austen heroine 30 Messing around 33 “The Simpsons” network 34 Onassis nickname 36 __ noire 37 Smart-alecky talk 39 Touch 40 Second-place finisher 43 __ volente: God willing 45 Opposite of SSW 46 Story told in episodes 47 Peruvian capital 48 Mongol invader 49 Come together 50 NFL network analyst Michael __ 51 Not at all swank 55 Word repeated in a Doris Day song 56 James of “The Godfather” 59 1,000-year Eur. realm 60 Prince Valiant’s son 61 VIPs at trials 62 58-Across speaker, initially

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New Year relationships The New Year is the best time to put yourself out there and try new things NICOLE BUCKENHAM INTERN

Because it’s a new year, there’s no better time than now to not only improve yourself, but also your relationships. If you are still single, maybe it’s time to change up some things to get yourself back into a relationship. If you are in a relationship, it may be time to spice things up.

First of all, make yourself seem available. Stop looking at your phone when you’re out and about. Look around, make eye contact and smile. Most of the time, people you would date are in everyday places such as around campus, the gym or the grocery store.

Try to always look presentable as well.

That one day you don’t, you might see the person of your dreams standing before you. If you look good, you’ll feel good and exude confidence everywhere you go. Also, try to do things and go places by yourself.

People are much more likely to approach you if you’re not in an intimidating group.

Now, once you have successfully landed yourself a significant other, it’s time to make this the best relationship you’ve ever had. Look back at your previous relationships and think about what went wrong or what could have been better. A key to a healthy relationship is trust and honesty. Find someone in the New Year that will let you do whatever your heart desires, and who supports you along the way. Find someone who will tell you straight up how they feel and help you improve yourself in 2016. Most importantly, find someone who will make you happy.

Find that person that can be your best friend, go on adventures with you and still give you butterflies when they kiss you.

A New Year’s resolution should always be to try new things. Often, people in successful relationships try new things. So, grab your partner and go do as many crazy things as possible together.

Start by making one bucket list each. This way you have everything documented and can see each other’s interests. You can decide when and where to do the

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things on the list.

Sometimes you and your partner may not see eye to eye, but with the list, you can support each other and take turns doing what the other person wants to do. Also, when you are out trying all these new and exciting things together, you will probably meet people along the way who have the same interests as you. Then, you and your significant other can meet a new social circle and have mutual friends to go out and do things with.

One last thing that will contribute to giving your old relationships a run for their money is having alone time.

Something I am sure we have all learned, or will learn, is that the key to a romantic relationship is to have a healthy balance between spending time with people and spending time with yourself. Before you even commit to anything in the New Year, make sure you are truly OK with being yourself and hanging out alone.

The old saying is true, you have to love yourself before someone else can love you. If you aren’t OK with having some Netflix time alone then how can you possibly cherish it with someone else by your side? The true test to this is to go somewhere populated or to a restaurant alone. See if you feel comfortable or uncomfortable. If you feel OK, then you passed the test and are ready to let someone love you.

Once you’re in a relationship it’ll make time apart from that person so much more bearable and maybe even enjoyable. It’s nice to get a break from your person every once in a while. You can do you, and they can do them. You can relax, unwind and enjoy time with friends or family. This will really make you realize just how much that person means to you.

If you can let yourself follow these New Year resolutions, this should be the best year for you and your dating world.

JAN. 19 - JAN. 25, 2016

Tribune News Service

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WINTER RECIPES:

German chocolate cookies SYDNEY SWAFFORD STAFF WRITER

I’ve been trying to stay away from everything greasy, salty, starchy and sweet. My resolution for the new year is to lose weight like so many other Americans. Unfortunately, there’s this thing called Pinterest.

Pinterest forcefully thrusted upon me this recipe for German chocolate cookies. I’m also not a fan of cake, so this recipe was truly calling my name.

If you’re looking for the delicious flavor of traditional German chocolate cake but want an easier and faster way of getting it, this is the recipe for you.

It’s really difficult to find a unique cookie flavor. Everyone either makes traditional chocolate chip or sugar cookies. This recipe is surprisingly easy and delicious, making it the perfect treat for any party, family gathering or Netflix and chill date.

Not only will the flavor impress your guest, but also the look of the cookies is impressive with little effort.

INGREDIENTS:

Cookies: 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

powder 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 stick unsalted butter 3/4 cup dark brown sugar 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 1 large egg yolk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup chocolate chips Toppings: 1/2 cup evaporated milk

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1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg yolk 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 heaping cup shredded coconut 1/2 cup chopped pecans 2 ounces chocolate, melted

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a bowl, mix together flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder.

3. In a separate bowl, mix together butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Once combined until smooth, add egg, egg yolk and vanilla.

4. Mix together the two bowls, adding chocolate chips when desired to make a thick dough.

5. Drop tablespoons of dough onto lined pan and bake until done, approximately 10 minutes.

6. Let cool on pan for 10 minutes, then an additional 10 minutes on wire racks.

DIRECTIONS FOR TOPPING:

1. In a small saucepan, mix milk, sugar, egg yolk and butter over medium heat.

2. Let thicken for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

3. Remove from heat and add pecans, coconut and vanilla.

4. Let cool until thick enough to spread over cookies.

5. Once cooled, ice cookies sparingly. Then, microwave extra chocolate chips and pour melted

Photo by Sydney Swafford

chocolate into a plastic bag.

6. Cut a small hole in one corner of the Ziploc bag and drizzle chocolate over cookies.

7. Enjoy!

If you want to make these cookies look their best, try cutting the smallest hole possible on the Ziploc bag in order for you to have more

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control over the chocolate drizzle.

This will allow you to make detailed patterns instead of it looking like someone spilled chocolate on the cookies by accident.

If you’re not into the topping that gives these cookies the traditional German chocolate flavor, try mixing up icing flavors to fit this yummy chocolate base to your needs.

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ANGIE BAQUEDANO STAFF WRITER

“Well, I still live in my childhood, and I don’t think I have one particular childhood memory that peaks above the others. Now if I had to pick, I would say it was when my father would read out loud to my siblings and I. He would read to us six nights a week up until I was in eighth grade. The best part about it is he wouldn’t just stick to small children’s books, but we would venture into Charles Dickens territory, like ‘Oliver Twist.’ It was my favorite part of the day, and that’s why I became a children’s literature professor.”

Mark West, Ph.D.

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JAN. 19 - JAN. 25, 2016

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