Niner Times: January 26, 2016

Inclement weather struck early this spring semester, leading us to wonder what else is in store.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: SKETCHES OF A POTENTIAL BELK TOWER REPLACEMENT EMERGED BUT ARE NOT INTENDED AS SUGGESTIONS FOR THE BELK PLAZA PLANNING COMMITTEE PG. 3

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OP-ED: A NEW WRITER CAN’T HELP BUT COMPARE THE STAFF OF THE NINER TIMES TO A NEST OF RATS

JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2016

PG. 11

”ANOMALISA” IS AN ANIMATED FILM THAT FEELS FAR MORE HUMAN THAN MOST LIVE ACTION MOVIES PG. 13

VOL. 28, ISSUE 16

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Contents

News 3 4

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, Trevor Wilt, Mia Shelton

Belk Tower replacement Ed Gordon speaks on campus / SGA Update

Sports 6 7

sports@ninertimes.com

John Lineberger lifestyle@ninertimes.com

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Ben Robson

Three things about Lefty Webster Freshman Andrien White helping the 49ers Catalyst for men’s basketball

Opinion

photo@ninertimes.com

10 11

Andrew Hocutt layout@ninertimes.com

Online dating Rats in the basement

A&E

ADDITIONAL STAFF

12 Gallery review: “New York Portraits” 13 Movie review: “Anomalisa”

Chris Crews, Ben Coon, Andy Gustafson, Kathleen Cook, Jasmine Taylor, Indira Eskieva, John Patrick, Stephanie Trefzger, Hailey Turpin, Candice Kelly, Leysha Caraballo

Lifestyle 14 15 16 Matt Lorenz

Loving yourself ABCs of stress Humans of UNC Charlotte

Andrew Hocutt MARKETING STAFF

Tia Warren, David Mendez, Kristen Bobeng, Madeline Lemieux

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 Ben Robson

JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2016

NINERTIMES

Photo by Ben Robson

PICTURES OF POSSIBLE TOWER REPLACEMENT EMERGE

Pictures of potential Belk Tower replacement used to estimate costs ANDREW JAMES VIDEO PRODUCER

As students returned to UNC Charlotte to find an empty Belk Plaza where the Belk Tower once stood, pictures and sketches of a possible replacement tower surfaced online.

The creator of the pictures, however, says the pictures were only to estimate costs if the University chose to build another tower and they are not a design that has been chosen.

The pictures and sketches show a replacement tower soaring close to the same height as the Belk Tower that is made of brick to match the main entrances to campus.

Chris Gilbert, director of facilities

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planning, said of the drawings, “There was a sketch … that I did early on that was just thinking graphically and what might replace it, but it is in no way a design that might be eventuality.”

“It was in order to assess what the cost would be if we were to replace the tower with something of a similar scale,” said Gilbert. “But given that we’re going through this public outreach over the next few months, other ideas will come to the fore.”

After the sketches were complete, Gilbert reached out to various construction companies to find out cost estimates of demolishing the

tower and building another tower of a similar size.

“It was purely speculative but I had to have enough information for the administration to give a good idea,” said Gilbert.

As for the cost estimate of the possible replacement tower, Gilbert says it was over a million dollars, a similar amount to what it would have cost the University to repair Belk Tower, rather than demolish it.

“A bit more, but not vastly more than if we were to try and fix the existing tower,” said Gilbert.

Gilbert shared that officials were not even sure they would be able to fix the Belk Tower until they were

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able to see the inside of it.

The university has created the Belk Plaza Planning Committee to gauge community interest and ideas for the Belk Plaza. Gilbert hopes his drawings will not be shown to the committee.

“You don’t want to hamstring committee members and also the public in their brainstorming or their idea process,” said Gilbert.

“So if you show something too final, if it just looks that way, then that might dovetail them into a certain perspective on what the quad could be or the plaza could be.”

He added that no construction drawings were Cont. on page 5

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Advancing a dream: a call to action, Ed Gordon invited to speak on campus

JAN. 16-20 ACCIDENT

JASMINE TAYLOR

JAN. 17

INTERN

Emmy-award winning journalist and radio host Ed Gordon delivered a speech on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at McKnight Hall on campus in part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration.

Gordon touched on about advancing the dream of the late Martin Luther King, Jr. and how President Barack Obama has helped in making a difference from that dream speech.

“King had given the road map and Obama has simply drove it,” said Gordon.

Gordon also spoke on how Obama’s

POLICE BLOTTER

stance in running for president was about change as he became the first African American president. The real change that King spoke of and the promises of Obama could not have been achieved by either man alone.

“With any real leader and with any real change, the masses must come along,” said Gordon.

The generation of King’s era were the agents of change. As an 8-yearold child, Gordon remembered seeing King on television.

Gordon stated how that generation understood the actions that had to

follow the dream.

“In order advance the dream we have to believe and then move to action,” said Gordon.

Gordon has been a journalist and activist for over 20 years, interviewing celebrities such as Halle Berry, Nelson Mandela and Obama right before he announced that he was running for president Gordon’s speech was followed by a candle light ceremony and a musical selection from UNC Charlotte’s Voice of Eden Gospel Choir, which sung a selection by gospel artist Kirk Franklin.

• Miltimore Hall, while backing, driver of vehicle one struck side of vehicle two causing damage to both vehicles.

JAN. 20

• West Deck, while going from level 1 to level 2, driver of vehicle one struck vehicle two which was entering the deck and had the right of way, causing damage to both vehicles.

ARREST JAN. 20

• College of Health and Human Services, officer responded in reference to an individual who had an active warrant for arrest.

ASSAULT JAN. 16

• Moore Hall, officers responded to Moore Hall in reference to a report of an assault.

INDIRA ESKIEVA

CALLS FOR SERVICE

STAFF WRITER

The UNC Charlotte Student Government Association (SGA) had their weekly legislative meeting Jan. 21.

Messages from the Senate Vice President of the Student Body Jared Dobbertin started off the meeting by reminding SGA members that Betty Dosler, special assistant to the chancellor for constituent relations, will be attending the Senate meeting next week.

She will be addressing questions about the $2 billion Connect N.C. bond pack.

As a reminder, $980 million dollars of the bond pack is allocated for the University of North Carolina (UNC) system.

Dobbertin also stated that SGA has five empty Senate seats that it is looking to fill.

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Belk Plaza public forum The first Belk Plaza forum, which is open for participants to share ideas, will be held on Feb. 1 from 4-6 p.m. in Cone University Center’s Lucas Room.

Approved grants A financial bill supporting student organizations has been approved. Various student organizations received a total of $8,994.89 in grant money.

Academic and Student Affairs Committees Meetings are being held to plan out the college forums.

Each individual college will be responsible for putting on a forum and all are expected to be done by mid-March.

The Library Student Advisory Board has been formed. It will meet once a month on Tuesdays.

The Apportionment Act Internal Affairs Committee Chair Andre Jefferies proposed a new act to create additional Senate representation of the student body. Jefferies said that UNC Charlotte’s student body population has grown in recent years, and two additional seats should be added to represent the freshman class.

The act caused a lot of debate, since the Senate currently has five empty seats that it has yet to fill.

New student organization One new student organization, Souls’ Speak, has been approved by the Senate.

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JAN. 20

• East Deck, officers responded to Moore Hall in reference to a report of an assault.

FRAUD JAN. 16

• Online, officer took a report regarding someone using the victim’s online accounts without their permission.

VANDALISM JAN. 16

• Resident Dining Hall, unknown person(s) caused damage to a door at the lock shop loading dock.

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

NINERTIMES

BELK TOWER REDESIGN, cont. completed with the possible replacement tower.

As for now, Gilbert said the plaza should be open in the coming weeks to foot traffic.

“Draw construction is filling in where the tower had been and paving it with brick and doing repairs to the bricks that were damaged during the demolition of the Belk Tower,” said Gilbert.

The Belk Plaza Planning Committee held it’s first meeting Jan. 19 and will hold the first public forum Feb. 1.

Students, faculty, staff and the Charlotte community are

encouraged to attend the public forums to voice their opinions or concerns about the Belk Plaza redesign to the committee.

This will be the first of three seperate public forums.

Corrections: In the “Marketing more important than innovation” article that was published last week, the names of the professors were misspelled.

The correct spellings are Dr. Jennifer Troyer and Dr. Denis G. Arnold.

A depiction of the possible Belk Tower redesign that surfaced on the Internet.

Photo courtesy of Chris Gilbert

Photo courtesy of Chris Gilbert

NINERTIMES.COM

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SOUTHPAW Three things you didn’t know about Charlotte 49ers junior guard Lefty Webster

JARED ALLEN SPORTS EDITOR

Lefty Webster averages nearly 14 points and plays almost 35 minutes per game. She’s been one of Charlotte’s standout performers since her freshman year. The path she walks to get to her classes doesn’t differ from the non-student athlete and yet there’s so much about the well-known Webster that is fairly unknown.

HOW SHE BECAME ‘LEFTY’ Her family knows her as Danielle, but Niner Nation recognizes the junior guard by another name: Lefty.

Webster was 10 years old. She played AAU basketball in Norfolk, Va. and was the only left-handed player on the team. Webster was one-of-a-kind. Her teammate was a lefty, but she only ate with her dominant hand.

“She played basketball with her right hand and I told her, ‘You gotta

shoot with your left hand’ and she took it,” Webster said.

Webster’s plan backfired. Her teammate graced her with the nickname ‘Lefty’ and the moniker stuck. From that point forward, her birth name would act as an alter ego as she possessed a different identity on the basketball court.

“It just kinda stuck with me,” Webster said “People at home still call me by my first name, but then I got to Charlotte and everyone took that as my real name.”

Although Webster loves the nickname, the moniker poses dayto-day obstacles. Does she introduce herself as Lefty or Danielle?

“You won’t believe that I actual struggle depending on who I’m talking to what I’m going to say,” Webster said. “I think for the most part, I tell people to call me Lefty.”

Lefty Webster streaks down the court. Photo by Benjamin Robson

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What circles does she fill in on Scantron sheets?

“It depends on the teacher, sometimes they ask what you’d like to be called, that’s when I right the name down but normally I don’t tell them,” Webster said.

The nickname stays on the hardwood but it wasn’t always that way. Her first game inside Halton Arena the announcer introduced her as Danielle and it startled Webster.

Head coach Cara Consuegra then asked if she wanted the name changed and Webster went with it.

“She [Consuegra] asked if I wanted the announcer to call me Lefty and I said, ‘Yeah, that’s fine.’ I didn’t think they’d take off Danielle completely,” Webster said. “I was a freshman, I wasn’t gonna ask if they could change it; It stuck.”

WEBSTER THE TRACK STAR Little does anyone know, Webster was a high-school track star. The 5-foot-8 guard competed in state championships year after year for Norfolk Christian High School.

However, as fast as she was at running 400 meters, Webster hated it.

“I hated it,” Webster said. “I felt like I was running for no reason.”

But there was one woman who kept Webster on the track: Norfolk Christian athletic director Shamika Kentish.

“I did it for her, I hated it,” Webster said. “She needed a track player and she was like, ‘you’d be really good.’

She got me to run the 400 because I was long. I only did it for her.”

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Kentish was right, Webster was good. To this day, she holds her school’s record for the fastest 400 meter time, running the quarter mile in 62.3 seconds. On top of that, she sits near the top of Norfolk Christian’s record books with the second best 100 meter hurdle time at 18.76 seconds. Webster was a multi-sport athlete though, and basketball stole her heart.

MS. RELIABLE Webster is part of a rare breed. Up to this point in her collegiate career, she’s played in all but one game for the 49ers over the course of two and a half years. The junior has seen action in 80 games thus far and the number continues to rise each week.

What’s impressive it that Webster’s secret to staying healthy and fit doesn’t include using the famous ice bath.

“I can’t stand ice baths,” Webster said. “We have this thing called NormaTec and I like that better.”

On top of being available for each game, Webster’s contributed from the get-go. Her freshman year she averaged 7.4 points per game while the guard nearly doubled that in her sophomore year scoring 14 points per game. This season, Webster hovers around that mark averaging 13.6 thus far through the season.

“I just know my role on the team,” Webster said. “As I freshman, I just knew I had to take my time and learn what the coaches expect from me. Also, I’m more of a natural player so if I don’t think so much, everything comes natural for me.”

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ANDRIEN HAS THE ANSWERS The Virginia native, Andrien White, is providing all the answers for the Charlotte 49ers in his freshman campaign

ANDY GUSTAFSON STAFF WRITER

Coming into the 2015-16 season, Charlotte basketball was surrounded by questions. Is Mark Price the right hire? How would Charlotte respond with so many players leaving? Who would step up?

Freshman sensation Andrien White is providing a lot of answers.

To begin, White comes from a

family that only knows basketball.

His father played college basketball at Morehouse College and his brother, Andrew, is a member of the University of Nebraska’s basketball team.

“Everybody in my family has played basketball for a long time, so I grew into it,” White said.

“Watching tape of my dad and going on recruiting visits with my brother inspired me to be able to go through the same.”

Perhaps even the one-one-one games with his brother payed its dividends.

“We played a few times and he [Andrew] would beat up on me when

Andrien White is supplying Charlotte with just what they need. Photo by Chris Crews

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JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2016

we were young,” White said. “But he hasn’t beaten me much since then.”

The guard was one of Price’s last signees before the season started.

The Richmond, Va. native thrived at Thomas Dale High School for three years before finishing his prep career at Quality Education Academy, where he averaged 14 points and 4.5 rebounds.

White held offers from several mid-major schools, but decided on Charlotte after the hiring of Price.

“Being a guard and getting the chance to learn from and play for coach Price, played a major factor in my decision to sign with the 49ers,” White said on his college decision.

One thing is sure about White: he isn’t shy about showcasing his talents. He gave Niner Nation a sneak peek at what he could offer the 49ers with acrobatic dunks at Basketball Madness in October.

But what separates White from other freshman around the nation is the importance placed on defense.

“The game of basketball is both sides [offense and defense],” White said. “But defense definitely contributes to offense, so starting on the defensive end gets the rest of my game going.”

Coming to Charlotte, White’s high school coach, Isaac Pitts, called him “one of the best on-the-ball defenders” in all of high school basketball.

White has proven himself and his

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Andrien White slams home a tomahawk in Time Warner Cable Arena. Photo by Chris Crews

coach right by being aggressive on the ball and in the passing lanes.

On the year, he leads the team in steals with 25 and has the duty of guarding the opposing teams’ best player some nights.

But White is much more than a defensive stopper. In the first four games of the season, he scored in double figures, including a 21 point performance against East Carolina and a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds against Furman.

Later in the season, White led Charlotte to their first conference victory by pouring in a career-high 27 points.

“He is a young player that we are really excited about and that has a bright future for us,” coach Price said after White’s performance. “He continues to get better and better.”

White’s ability to shine as a twoway player has garnered much attention by winning Conference USA “Freshman of the Week” twice.

“The coaching staff and my teammates have put me in a great position to be successful,” White gratefully said on receiving the accolades.

The first week White was honored

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as Freshman of the Week, he averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals. He was even better the second time he won the award with 23.5 points, three rebounds and 2.5 steals for the week.

Offense and defense, White brings both to the court. But the one aspect of his game that stands out is his energy. White plays the passing lanes with a vengeance, similar to all-time Charlotte steals leader Pierria Henry. Yet, there have been numerous occasions when he has been too aggressive and misreads the pass. But, White’s energy allows him to recover and get back into the defensive possession.

Another example of White’s energy is his play on the boards. Standing at 6-foot-3, the combo guard has recorded two games with doubledigit rebounds and ranks fourth on the team. The guard is unlike any regular perimeter player. Fans watch as White battles with big men to grab the offensive rebound, something that a guard is not asked to do. Yet, more times than not, White’s energy results in another possession, one reason why he leads the 49ers in rebounds by a guard.

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A true testament of White’s energy was his warrior-like performance against Marshall. The freshman literally gave it all in front of Niner Nation, unable to walk off Halton Arena due to cramps. Before the painful victory walk-off, White recorded his second double-double and career-high in points with 30 and 10 rebounds.

“I like the 30 points, but I like the 10 rebounds better,” Price jokingly said postgame. “Andrien played his heart out. But when he get’s going ... he get’s going.”

The freshman is off to an impressive start to his 49er career, but with three more years remaining, there is no ceiling to his potential. On the year, White is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11 points a game to go along with 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals.

“I try and do a little bit of everything, whatever the team needs,” White said on his role.

A little bit of everything has turned into a lot of production.

White has cemented himself as one of the leaders of Charlotte’s youth movement under coach Price.

NINERTIMES

Watch out, 49ers men’s basketball is emerging KATHLEEN COOK STAFF WRITER

This time last week it was looking bleak for the Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball team. Now, after scoring two wins against conference opponents Marshall and Western Kentucky, the outlook seems to be a bit brighter.

Coming into the final stretch of their homestand, Charlotte held a three-game losing streak. Since, they’ve turned the ship around and currently enjoy a two-game win streak.

In three of the four losses the 49ers faced in conference play, the total margin of defeat was six points.

Those types of losses take a toll on the team’s mindset, but continuing to possess a constructive attitude proves to be beneficial.

“I think as a team we’ve always had a positive mindset. Of course losing all the games we did in the manner that we did is kind of disappointing, but I think the team has done a good job of keeping a positive mindset. We’ve done a good job of taking what the coaches have said to us and it’s starting to show now,” freshman guard Jon Davis said.

Davis has majorly contributed during the back-to-back wins, scoring 30 points against Marshall

and 23 when the 49ers took on WKU. Davis isn’t the only player raking in points; Charlotte has five players averaging double-figure points in conference play.

Charlotte is starting to play as one cohesive unit, averaging 14 assists per game – which situates them fourth in the conference. Charlotte is also beginning to put more points on the board. They are the third overall scoring offense in Conference USA. The two teams ahead of Charlotte, Marshall and UAB, the Niners already faced once.

Behind the arc, the team is also accelerating, connecting on a little over 50 percent of 3-pointers taken in the past two games.

Now the squad is hitting the road and traveling to Florida where they’ll take on conference opponents Florida International and Florida Atlantic. FIU is positioned among the top five in the C-USA standings however Florida Atlantic holds a losing record in conference play.

A constant message from head coach Mark Price has been that this Charlotte team needs to learn how to win. Hopefully these two games prove to be a catalyst for the 49ers for this season.

The 49ers bench explodes mid-game. Photo by Ben Coon

NINERTIMES.COM

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THE POLARIZING ACT OF ONLINE DATING Finding love requires risks, as long as you’re staying safe

MIA SHELTON

ASST. OPINION EDITOR

Lately people have been running around frantically, searching through their little black books and contact lists to find that one thing: love. I don’t know if it’s age, the fear of getting old, or the fact that Christmas just passed and Valentines’ Day is just around the corner. Whatever the reason, people have been desperately searching for that one person who is right for them. There are many different ways to meet that one special person: church, school, your neighborhood, even your parents.

The most unconventional, skeptical and unusual way to meet people is online.

People have very different views and opinions about online dating. Some people feel it’s too risky to meet someone online versus face to face, for fear of being catfished, or meeting a crazy psycho who will kill them.

Others feel it’s OK to take the risk if you find your true love in the process. I understand and empathize with both sides, however I agree with the group that feels that it’s okay to take the risk if you find your true love in the process. I didn’t always have that standpoint.

In the beginning, I was as skeptical as the naysayers.

We all remember in school when we had to go to the auditorium and listen to a lecture on the dangers of talking to people in chatrooms.

Well, every time I heard about online dating that moment would flash back to me. It wasn’t until these last few years that I changed my tune. I decided to broaden my outlook and my surroundings and give online dating a try when I noticed all the guys around me were pathetic and only interested in sex. I did all

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the cliché sites, eHarmony, Match, Tinder. etc… I was fortunate not to have met any serial killers, but I had a backup in case I did (pepper spray and a small pocket taser will do the trick). I met some pretty cool people, none of whom were long term material, but if I wanted a club or drinking buddy I knew who to call.

I got a lot of push back from my family about me doing online dating. I understood their point of it being risky and that people today are crazy, but not everyone on the online dating sites are serial killers. People who you can meet in person and have known for years could turn out to be Hannibal Lecter. As for those lectures in school, the one difference is that those girls got hurt because they gave out their personal address to someone they had only been talking too for a day or they met someone secretly in a secluded area that no one knew about. Don’t get me wrong, those stories taught me a lot. I know to never give out my address to someone I don’t know (If I want to meet or go out with someone from online instead of giving them my address and having them pick me up, I drive myself). I also always meet in public places, so that in the case something did happen there would be witnesses.

My message to people for or against online dating is to live life to the fullest. Life is too short to live it in fear. No one is a saint, but not everyone is a demon. You owe it to yourself to take the risky, but do so cautiously and intelligently.

Tribune News Service

JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2016

NINERTIMES

RATS IN THE BASEMENT Rat (verb); slang- to turn informer; squeal JOHN PATRICK INTERN

The above definition was held in high regard, begging for space in my head as I waited for my first Niner Times meeting to commence.

The concept of the rodent family Muridae, of the genus Rattus, was not something that often frequented my mind. I promise that I do not spend time aimlessly conjuring up notions of beasts hell-bent on plaguing both my mind, with its simple inception, and the world with vile undertakings. Still, though, I couldn’t escape thinking about rats as the meeting progressed.

A quick inner-reflection to the elements surrounding the heralded newspaper quickly waned my perplexities. You see, the Niner Times office is headquartered in the lower level of the Student Union—below the surface. A series of hallways connect the numerous custodial closets and maintenance rooms—too many to count—that hide behind an inconspicuous

mechanized identity. Enter the office of the Times, a sanctuary for ideas and academic communication that appears to peacefully coexist amongst the churning of the machine. Imagine a labyrinth of sorts, pitting the complex corridor connectors together in a rather organized, yet anarchic, fashion.

Each tunnel, so to speak, can be traced back to the main Niner Times office, which serves as the artery that ceaselessly pumps out life to the rest of the basement. The main nest.

It doesn’t take a zoologist or National Geographic enthusiast to understand that rats are rather fond of basements. The dark, damp environment seems to be a quaint destination for an animal that revels in filth. Another noteworthy semblance to the rat lies in its affinity for extensive channels and tunnels. So sitting there, ignoring the one job I had of just listening,

I began making out an awfully apparent distinction: we were rats.

What? No way had this intern guy referred to himself, much less his new colleagues, as dirty vermin.

While I am not particularly keen on owning the label of rat, I really cannot see any way around this matter. Let’s go back to the original sentence, the opening definition of rat. I would say “to turn informer” is sufficient enough a claim to substantiate the work writers do for newspapers. Perhaps little squealing in the literal sense occurs, granted, but I guarantee the figurative approach is well in practice.

At root, anytime the collective minds of the Niner Times places any pieces of work into fruition, they would be subscribing to the action of the informer. Paired with the underground network of our habitat, the office, one can see the comparison in true light. Our job is to seek after information so as

to further assimilate it within the student body. The process of “ratting out” justifies this behavior. And it should, because it is not necessarily a bad thing. This title I can deal with.

The similarity was also emphasized when the editor-in-chief warned us not to wander about the basement hallways after dark or when the Student Union was under lock and key. He explained that the rattling and pitter patter of our footsteps freaks out the janitors, who can only assume our scurrying to be indicative of intruders.

I thought of this as both comedic and strikingly appropriate. I couldn’t even begin to imagine the sheer horror, absolute fright displayed across these workers faces upon the realization that their feared burglars were, in fact, rats scampering as they please. Or equally as traumatizing, student writers.

Archived editions of the Niner Times displayed on the walls of the basement offices. Photo by Casey Aldridge

NINERTIMES.COM

JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2016

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REJECTING THE NORM OF HOLLYWOOD FILM Peter Hutton’s “New York Portraits” is free to visit on campus in the Storrs Gallery STEPHANIE TREFZGER STAFF WRITER

Peter Hutton exhibits exactly what you would expect from an artist: mid-length curly hair, thick rimmed glasses and self-deprecating humor. But most of all, he rejects cultural norms and sees things in ways other people usually wouldn’t.

You see, Hutton is an experimental filmmaker, which is a mode of film making that re-evaluates conventions in Hollywood film and explores non-narrative forms, as well as alternatives to traditional narratives or methods of working. In the 1970s and 1980s, he started filming portraits of cities around the world—in silence and in black and white.

“New York Portraits” is a three-chapter piece, with each film being around 15 minutes long.

The aptly named “Chapter I” was filmed in 1979, “Chapter II” in 1981 and “Chapter III” in 1990.

Hutton filmed America’s most famous city and lays it out 180 degrees around you.

Hutton uses the rules of photography rather than film techniques to make his trips come to life, and he films from an aerial viewpoint, often filming the source of a sound he heard from his window, such as a group of friends playing

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basketball on a concrete court below him or people walking by on the sidewalk across the street.

We are left wondering what the lives of his anonymous subjects are like, and in the end, you feel very small. It is a humbling experience.

We know New York City as “the city that never sleeps,” a loud and bustling place where no one has time to stop. While Hutton’s films obviously JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2016

capture movement, it is actually serene and calming. Even the clip of a man who appears to be passed out and the people around him trying to help is very relaxing despite how frantic the situation must actually have been.

However, not all of the clips in the films are of frantic subjects. There are a few images, such as clouds over that famous skyline or water going down a drain that maintain their calm facades, and even enhance them. Who says that silent black and white films have to be boring? Watching this installation is, all in all, very calming.

“New York Portraits” has been featured in New York’s own Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), as well as several other major museums and reputable film festivals all over the world, and now we are lucky enough to have it on our campus. Take advantage of it! If you are feeling stressed or you just want to view the composition magic that is this gallery, you can find the installation in the Storrs Gallery from now through April 20, excluding Feb. 5 – March 1.

To see more pictures, check out the story at ninertimes.com.

NINERTIMES

‘Anomalisa’ is the most peculiar animated film in years HUNTER HEILMAN A&E EDITOR

You hear the term “animated film” so often thrown around in reference to animated children’s movies from studios like Pixar, Dreamworks and Laika, and it’s these children’s movies that almost always take up the “Best Animated Film” section of award shows because, let’s be real, why should studios spend money on a film only adults can see? This is why “Anomalisa” has had such a hard time coming to the screen, as it is a stop-motion film that lacks fantastical visuals or adventure and finds itself wallowing in R-rated existentialism. Getting its start through a Kickstarter campaign, this film by “Syndecoche, New York” director Charlie Kaufman and animator Duke Johnson was completely independently funded.

“Anomalisa” is a different type of animated film, one that has to be seen to be believed.

The animation in the film, despite being low-budget, is absolutely breathtaking. The 3D printed figures on screen are as lifelike as they come, which makes “Anomalisa” often look more like a live-action film than stop motion.

The settings in which these figurines exist are also insanely lifelike, with the hotel in which most of the movie takes place taking as much of a pivotal role as either of our lead characters. But beyond this, “Anomalisa” is original looking in its hyper-realism, with each character sporting a distinctive break in figure between their eyes for the filmmakers to switch facial expressions out, but it also gives the film a new and distinct look apart from any other film that could come

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along to compete with it, as if there was much competition in the way of peculiarity.

I’ll share as little as possible, but “Anomalisa” follows Michael Stone (voiced by David Thewlis), a writer specializing in customer service non-fiction, visiting Cincinnati to speak at a conference. The film follows the events that unfold that night at the Hotel Fregoli when he meets a peculiar woman named Lisa (voiced by Jennifer Jason Leigh).

Beyond this, the other characters in the film are voiced by Tom Noonan, with no difference in tone with each character, detailing Stone’s feelings on the monotonous mundanity of his ever tiring life.

This also signifies a difference with Lisa, as hers is the only voice to stick out from the crowd of Noonan’s. I found this usage of sound and voice captivating in its simple originality and almost painfully dull monotony.

“Anomalisa” was unlike anything else I’ve seen in years, simply due to its unique look, masterful animation, engaging story, wonderful voice work and metaphorical value. It’s not an easy film to swallow, as the film has an uncomfortable vibe throughout all 90 minutes, but its poignant values are hard to ignore. Charlie Kaufman is an eccentric director and “Anomalisa” is no different from his other work in that regard, but the film has a grounded value about it, which makes the characters and stories in it feel far more human than any film with actual humans.

Now playing exclusively at the Regal Manor Twin.

Across 1 ’90s game disc 4 Infield fly 9 Invites home for dinner, say 14 007 creator Fleming 15 Banish 16 Unable to sit still 17 *Game where one might have an ace in the hole 19 Actor __ Elba of “The Wire” 20 Liability offset 21 Settle in a new country 23 Young Simpson 26 “Coulda been worse!”

27 Biblical beast 30 Least fatty 33 __-12 conference 36 *Financial page listing 38 “__ creature was stirring ... ” 39 Team in 40-Across

JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2016

40 Arch city: Abbr.

41 Ship carrying fuel 42 Iowa State city 43 *Only woman ever elected governor of Alaska 45 Very quietly, in music 46 Artist’s paint holder 47 Farm pen 48 Gave the nod to 50 Payroll IDs 52 Became partners 56 To date 60 Ed with seven Emmys 61 *Stack of unsolicited manuscripts 64 “I’ll do it” 65 Gum treatment, briefly 66 Former president of Pakistan 67 Relaxed 68 “500” Wall St. index ... and a hint to the answers to starred clues 69 Reheat quickly

DOWN 1 Leaning Tower of __ 2 Stable diet 3 Bearded antelopes 4 Coaches’ speeches 5 Losing tic-tac-toe string 6 Water__: dental brand 7 Title beekeeper played

by Peter Fonda 8 Make waves?

9 San Francisco street that crosses Ashbury 10 Netman Agassi 11 *Informal surveys 12 “__ just me?”

13 Financial page abbr.

18 Budding socialite 22 __ dixit: assertion without proof 24 Sales agent 25 Like ankle bones 27 Songwriters’ org.

28 “Put __ here”: envelope corner reminder 29 *Touchy topics 31 Saltpeter, to a Brit 32 Flashy displays 34 Took the loss, financially 35 Sideshow barker 37 Music store buys 38 Actress Peeples 41 Workplace where union membership is optional 43 DWI-fighting org.

44 Growth chart nos.

46 Looked carefully 49 Krispy __ doughnuts 51 Soak (up) 52 Hardly healthy-looking 53 Out of port 54 Snail-mail delivery org.

55 Formal petition 57 Antacid jingle word repeated after “plop, plop” 58 Et __: and others 59 Harvest 62 Barista’s vessel 63 Rocker Vicious

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STORYTIME: The most important love langauge HAILEY TURPIN STAFF WRITER

As a 16-year-old girl, obsessed with boys who didn’t pay attention to her and who thought no one would love her, I spent my days worrying about people who didn’t care about me.

I ran after too many guys who I thought would give me the time of day, when in reality, they sent me the other way crying.

Not only did the boys not like me, but also I started to not like myself. I played this part of the perfect person, and truly, I felt the complete opposite.

Up until senior year, I felt lost and spent most of my time in my own mind, trying to decipher who I was and why I always kicked myself even further down.

I stuck with low life friends who were faker than plastic, and I took all the crap they threw at me, making me feel worse than I already did. In that last year of high school, I realized that the problem was me all along.

It took being lost for almost three years before I realized I didn’t love myself. I was trying to make myself better and striving for perfection in such a negative way for so long that I thought being hard on myself was normal.

I began to watch the people around me, analyzing who they are and listening to the things they said or listened to.

I took it upon myself to decide what I agreed or disagreed with or to see how I reacted in my own head. I dissected my “friends” and eventually decided that I deserved better.

Eventually, things began to fall into place. I wasn’t so easily pushed over by people, I gained my voice back and grew some confidence (still working on that, though).

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JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2016

With time, my voice grew stronger and I didn’t allow myself to be the butt of the joke. I thought about what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go in life, and with some encouraging words, I was able to push past my anxiety and become a successful writer.

The point I’m getting at is that you shouldn’t count your voice out. All the voices in your head telling you that you are worthless, shameful and stupid are now so loud that your own gets quieted in the back.

You are the biggest influence in what happens in your life, and it’s OK to not be OK sometimes. It’s OK to be selfish at times and know that your feelings and thoughts are valid. It’s OK to feel whatever you’re feeling, as long as you don’t let it change how you look at yourself.

You are your own person, and there is no shame in listening to your gut feeling.

What I’m also trying to say is spend more time on yourself and your personal needs. If you are not feeling well one day, take the day off to take care of yourself. If you start to help yourself physically, your mind will feed off of the good thoughts and slowly turn around for the better.

I want to make it known that it’s OK to love yourself and to be your own person.

You are a one of a kind, crazy and complex human being.

Why be like everyone else when you are already so special? Don’t get caught up in the robotic antics of societies culture, and have your own valid thoughts for once.

You were not put in a life that you could not handle, so make the most of the peaks and valleys you face.

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The ABCs of dealing with stress CANDICE KELLY INTERN

Even though it’s the beginning of the semester, stress can begin to pile up as responsibilities grow. Between school, work and social involvements, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and want to call it quits.

Here are some tricks and tips to help you combat the stress of life as a student:

Move things around in your workspace. Rearranging can make a place feel like new and promote a stress free environment.

Netflix is always there for you. Rain or shine, you can binge watch until your heart is content.

Adjusting your routine can offer some relief to the monotony of everyday life.

Bake sweets. Brownies, cookies and cakes are satisfying not only the stomach, but also for the soul.

Create a calendar of what needs to be done so you can complete things in a timely manner.

Drawing can be a uniquely serene experience.

Pick up a pack of colored pencils, and let your inner child roam free for a while.

Eat a good meal. There’s nothing worse than

Organize your workspace. Less mess equals less stress.

Plan for the unexpected. Bring paper copies of your presentation in case the projector isn’t working, or save AAA’s number in your emergency contacts just in case your car breaks down. If you are prepared for the worst, it will save you from scrambling around trying to figure out what to do.

Quiet time is an overlooked solution to stress reduction. Reflecting on upcoming decisions can really help you figure out the best road to take.

Relax. Take some time to read a good book or do something low pressure to rejuvenate your body and mind.

picking up greasy fast food after a tiring day and then getting all the way home to realize your order is wrong. Treat yourself to a filling meal from a good restaurant, or if you’re a culinary critic, make it yourself.

Splurge on a new purse or tickets to a show you’ve been wanting to go to. When you’re doing something you enjoy, you won’t feel so bogged down by things that have to be done.

Focus on what’s important. Figure out what needs

out. Maybe they can offer a solution you hadn’t thought of.

Talk to a friend or family member about what’s stressing you

to be done immediately and what can wait until a later time.

Use your resources. Is that 12-page paper stressing you out? Visit the Writing Resources Center on campus or meet with a small group to work on it together.

Get active. Going to the gym or doing exercises at home has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety.

Visit a psychologist. If things are spiraling out of control and it’s too much to handle, there is no shame is talking to a professional.

Help someone in need. When we take the focus off of ourselves, it can help us remember that our situation could always be worse.

Wine is a stress free way to end a crazy week. Drink responsibly, of course.

Invite friends over and throw a party. We are all

social creatures, and sometimes, just interacting with our fellow humans can lessen the tension.

Jump around at a trampoline park. Defy

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Gravity is less than five minutes from campus.

Keep moving forward. When things get tough, giving up should be your last possible option.

Yoga is an inexpensive way to calm the body and mind. These ancient techniques can relax even the most uptight student.

Catch some Zs. Sleep deprivation can make every situation seem like the end of the world. Squeezing in a nap between class and work can dramatically impact your mood and alertness.

Look at things from a different point of view. Open your mind to different possibilities, and perhaps you will think of an innovative way to solve your problem.

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EXamine the cause of your stress and confront it directly.

JAN. 26 - FEB. 1, 2016

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SYDNEY STEPHENS ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR

“During the ‘snowpocalypse,’ I played a few card games, which was fun. I indulged in some gossip and threw a little shade. My friends and I stocked up on pizza and Jimmy John’s. I went out in the storm for a minute and got pelted with hail, so I was like, ‘No, thank you, good night.’”

Anthony Tate

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