Coming together to honor cancer fighters, survivors and those who have lost their battle pg. 5
INSIDE THIS EDITION
NINERTIMES.COM
READ THE FULL Q&A CAROLINA PANTHERS LINEBACKER LUKE KUECHLY HAD WITH ONE LUCKY STUDENT DURING THE ‘KONVERSATION WITH KUECHLY’ EVENT.
ACCORDING TO JOHN, UNCC STANDS FOR “UNDER NEW CONSTRUCTION CONSTANTLY.” READ WHY HE THINKS OUR CAMPUS IS A WALKING NIGHTMARE.
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AFTER 12 YEARS OF ANTICIPATION, “ROLLER COASTER TYCOON WORLD” ISN’T WHAT GAMERS HAD HOPED FOR.
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VOL. 28, ISSUE 25
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Jordan Snyder
editor@ninertimes.com
Nick Cropper news@ninertimes.com
Hunter Heilman ae@ninertimes.com
Casey Aldridge opinion@ninertimes.com
Diane Gromelski copy@ninertimes.com
Alyssa Fronk
News
community@ninertimes.com
3 Konversation with Kuechly 4 SGA update 5 Relay for Life 6 Student body presidential delay
Jared Allen
sports@ninertimes.com
John Lineberger lifestyle@ninertimes.com
Sports
Ben Robson
7 Hunter Jones profile 8 Hornets in the playoffs 10 Getting to know Lizzy Birch
photo@ninertimes.com
VIDEO PRODUCER
Andrew James video@ninertimes.com
Andrew Hocutt layout@ninertimes.com
Opinion
MANAGING EDITOR
Sara Carson
managing@ninertimes.com
Contents
Salina Dickie, Sydney Stephens, Trevor Wilt, Mia Shelton, Jasmine Taylor
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ADDITIONAL STAFF
UNCC, or Under New Construction Constantly?
A&E
Ben Coon, Alex Sands, Claire Dodd, Pooja Pasupula, John Patrick, Stephanie Trefzger, Kristen Cheatam, Candice Kelly, Angie Baquedano, Kathleen Cook, Craig Davenport, Leysha Caraballo
12 “Roller Coaster Tycoon World” review
Lifestyle Matt Lorenz
13 Purple’s “Bodacious” album review 14 The Capital Grille / Spring semes ter to-do list 15 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
Contents photo by Ben Coon
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NINERTIMES
“A KONVERSATION WITH KUECHLY”: FOOTBALL, COOKOUT AND UGGS SARA CARSON MANAGING EDITOR
Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly spoke at UNC Charlotte March 23 as part of the Forty-Niner Forum Speaker Series. UNC Charlotte’s Center for Leadership Development sponsored the “A Konversation with Kuechly” event. According to the sponsors, roughly 600 students gathered in McKnight Hall for the event, and of those in attendance, one student was chosen to interview Kuechly. Senior psychology major Meaggan Cochran was the winner and came prepared with questions covering several different topics. The two talked about topics ranging from football, Cookout, North Carolina and UGG boots. They also touched on Kuechly’s upcoming 24th birthday. Once Cochran’s interview with the star was completed, the audience had a chance to offer their own questions. Though most questions were as simple as, “Can I take a selfie with you?” one student’s question asked a bit more of the linebacker. A female student involved in UNC Charlotte’s Greek life asked Kuechly if he would attend an upcoming formal event with her. Though he politely declined, he did settle for a selfie with the student. Read the full Q&A between Cochran and Kuechly at the ninertimes.com. Cochran: What makes you a great leader and what qualities do you think a great leader possesses? Coming in, I was the youngest guy on the team. My mentality was to work hard, keep my mouth shut and play as hard as I could. Fortunately for me, I’ve got Thomas Davis. Thomas leads in the best way possible—he’s a vocal guy, he leads
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by example, he works hard, he shows up every day. When I got there, I thought, ‘I wanna be like Thomas.’ So I believe in working as hard as you can and being true to yourself. You’ve been in the North Carolina area for about five years now. We’ve got this restaurant called Cookout, and the top question for me personally was what you get in your Cookout tray. I was very disappointed to find out that you have not had food from Cookout. But you have had a Cookout milkshake? So, we have this place in Cinncinati. It’s a gas station and it has an ice cream bar in the little shop. They have the best milkshakes. So when I got down here, I had to find a place that had milkshakes. I was going around asking a bunch of guys where I can get a milkshake. I went to a couple different places and they weren’t really what I wanted. So I went to Cookout, and I got a strawberry milkshake. It’s different, but it’s a good different. Can you talk a little bit about your training and some of the greatest inspirations and what keeps you motivated? I try to watch other guys, but at the same time, you’ve got to watch yourself. During the season, I watch tape of other teams. You got to take a look at the season and see what you did well at and what you didn’t do so well at. The areas you didn’t do so well at, you need to put a lot of energy into. Watch yourself. Watch APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2016
others. Then try to put it all into action out on the field. So you talk about watching yourself and how there’s always room for improvement. If you could go back and tell your younger self any piece of advice, what would it be? Just enjoy the moment. Coach (Ron) Rivera always talks about ‘Be where your feet are.’ If you start to really think about that, what does it really mean? Where your feet are, that’s where your brain should be. You shouldn’t be thinking ‘Well I’m here, but I’m thinking about what I’m gonna do when I get home.’ Maybe you guys have a test you’ve got to take or your parents are coming in, but just be where you are right now. That helps when you’re in meetings, that helps when you’re in practice and it really just helps you focus on what’s most Photo courtesy of important. Tribune News Service What is your favorite memory you’ve experienced with the Carolina Panthers? The couple of games that are highlighted for me are when we played in 2013 against the
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POLICE BLOTTER MARCH 29-31 ACCIDENT MARCH 29
• Lot 26, while backing out of a parking space, driver of vehicle one struck vehicle two. No injuries were reported.
ARREST MARCH 29
• W. T. Harris Boulevard, while on patrol, an officer stopped a vehicle for expired registration. It was determined that the driver had an outstanding warrant. The individual was arrested and ticketed for the violations.
INFORMATION ONLY MARCH 31
• Mary Alexander Road, while traveling on campus, a fire started in a patrol vehicle near the jump box. The officer stopped, retrieved the extinguisher from the trunk and extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported.
LARCENY MARCH 29
• Friday Building , unknown person(s) removed victim’s bicycle and lock which was left secured in a public area.
VANDALISM MARCH 30
• CRI Deck, unknown person(s) broke a window in the victim’s truck, which was parked and unoccupied. Victim stated that nothing was removed from the vehicle. For more information on Mecklenburg County arrests, visit arrestinquiryweb.co.mecklenburg.nc.us
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Saints at home. That was the rain game when there was a torrential downpour. They had just smacked us two weeks earlier at the dome. We needed to win that game to be first in the division and go to the playoffs. We were playing well, we were playing tough and then the rain came down and the crowds just erupted. That’s one of my favorite things about playing in Carolina. Our fans are great. You guys are awesome. You guys really impact the game, especially on defense. It gives everyone energy. There’s nothing like playing in Carolina. We all love it—you can ask any of the guys on the team. This year was special because of you guys and we hope to do it again next year.
What hobbies do you have outside of football? I have two brothers, and since I was a little kid, my dad would take us either fishing or hunting. I tend to fish more now than I hunt. Fishing is fun. It’s quiet, usually, and you’re with your buddies. I just enjoy being outside. When I was a kid, we would always go fishing, and on the way home, we would always stop and get ice cream. I think it started as a ploy for my dad to try to get us to go. So I like to fish, I like to hunt and I like to play golf. I’m not very good at it, though. I really like the White Water Center, too. That’s my new favorite spot. So tell me about your brothers. What do you admire most about
John and Henry? So, John is my older brother— he’s 26—and Henry is my younger brother. He’s 17, and he’s a senior in high school. I’m right in the middle. I think the dynamic with my brothers is very different. I think John is the most even-keeled; he’s a caring guy—the ‘he’ll give you the shirt off his back’ kind of mentality. He’s always been there for my brother and I, and he’s very selfless. Henry is my younger brother, and he’s very similar to me. He’s a basketball guy, and he’s very competitive. We go at it quite a bit competitively, but John is there to keep it all under wraps. It’s a fun dynamic. I enjoy having two brothers.
SGA update: March 31 ALEX SANDS STAFF WRITER
The UNC Charlotte Student Government Association (SGA) had their weekly legislative meeting March 31. Parking and Transportation Updates Douglas Lape, director of UNC Charlotte Parking and Transportation Services (PATS), started off the meeting with updates from the department. He first announced that for the third year in a row, there will be no increase in parking permit prices. Starting in the summer, mopeds will not be allowed in the inner part of campus. The department will be creating specific motorcycle and moped parking spots. The permits for these spots will be available for purchase for a quarter of a regular permit price. An ordinance has been put in by PATS that states that hoverboards cannot be used as a form of transportation on campus. PATS is hoping to place around 100 bicycles throughout campus this August. The bicycles will be a part of a bike rental program in which those who sign up can rent bicycles by the hour. Lape also announced new mobile payment for visitor parking. An app
will allow those parking in metered or visitor spaces to pay on the app, be notified when parking is expired and have the option to extend their parking time via the app. With the opening of the light rail in August 2017, the department is looking to revamp the shuttle system. PATS is looking at changing the shuttle routes next summer for more frequent service around campus as well as making stops at the light rail station, which is located near North Deck. PATS has made plans to revamp Safe Ride for next summer and have also begun looking at the possibility of expanding the Union Deck. New class presidents sworn in SGA election results had been announced earlier during the day in the Student Union Rotunda. Robert Flemmings was sworn in as sophomore class president. Adina Houston was sworn in as senior class president. Approved Grants A financial bill supporting student organizations has been approved. Various student organizations received a total of $7,004.04 in grant money.
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SGA Professor of the Year Award The possibility of the SGA Professor of the Year Award, an annual award for a professor that is solely chosen by students, was discussed during the meeting. Nominations would be made online by students who would provide written responses to a series of questions about their desired recipient. Based on these responses, the Senate will select three of the nominated professors to vote on. The bill was referred back to Academic Affairs. Election results Vice President Jared Dobbertin announced that the race for student body president and vice president had no winner. A simple majority was not reached among the candidates, meaning that no ticket received over 50 percent of the votes. This has resulted in a runoff election between the two leading tickets. The candidates that are still campaigning are Fahn Darkor/ Carrie Nowell and Jessie Puffer/ Amber Creft. Voting will reopen from 8:00 a.m. April 5 through 5:00 p.m. April 6.
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RELAY FOR LIFE
Students, UNC Charlotte community spend the night honoring cancer fighters, survivors and those who have lost their battle CLAIRE DODD STAFF WRITER
Photo by Pooja Pasupula
Cancer supporters, fighters and survivors gathered inside UNC Charlotte’s Halton Arena to attend the Relay for Life April 1. The allnight event, running from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., is organized to raise money to help the American Cancer Society fight cancer. “It’s about having fun and celebrating those surviving, remembering those we’ve lost and thinking of those fighting,” said Events Chair Jen Browne. Relay for Life opened with a ceremony dedicated to reminding those affected by cancer that they are not alone and to provide as much community support as possible.
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“The opening ceremony is my favorite because everyone sees what my committee’s done and is doing throughout the night,” said Browne. “It’s nice to see that I’m not alone because my dad had cancer and for other people whose family and friends had cancer, there’s a lot of support.” Student organizations and teams outside the UNC Charlotte community set up tables around the indoor track with food and games to raise money. Games such as Just Dance, corn hole, a life-size version of Angry Birds, even a photo booth and rock climbing wall were in full swing during the event.
Angela Urbina, an elementary education major, volunteered to help encourage attendees to join the marrow registry for Be the Match On Campus at the event. She holds this annual event very close to her heart. “By participating in Relay for Life, I am able to remember the loved ones that I have lost to cancer. But more importantly, I am able to fight for a cure for the disease,” said Urbina. Urbina is a passionate advocate for those experiencing the fight and is inspired by other advocates and survivors. In fact, she feels that the event needed more cancer survivors
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present. “I think it would have been nice to see more support and representation at UNC Charlotte and hear from those who have been affected,” said Urbina. A significant and memorable part of the event is the luminaria ceremony. Participants were handed a purple glow stick around 9 p.m. White paper bags drawn and colored on by Relay for Life attendees stood around the perimeter of the arena. The walk started at 9:30 p.m. Every light turned off so that the entire arena grew dark with only purple lights visible. People dropped their glow sticks inside the white bags in remembrance and honoring lives that have been taken from and fought through cancer. “It’s very meaningful and emotional for a lot of people. And it’s nice to see everyone taking a moment to remember why we do this,” said Ben Coy, a UNC Charlotte graduate who’s attended Relay for Life for five years. Coy had an aunt and fraternity brother affected by cancer. “I became more involved on the committee because of them. But I also do it because it is a way for me to stay involved with UNC Charlotte, even after graduation,” said Coy. The leaders that are preparing for next year’s event will hit the ground running soon. Their entire summer is dedicated to Niner Nights, a time for the Relay for Life committee members to spread the word and generate interest from incoming freshmen. There were 909 people who participated in the event, raising approximately $27,000.
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New student body president and vice president undecided Remaining candidates to continue campaign efforts
NICK CROPPER NEWS EDITOR
The 2016 Student Government election results were revealed March 31 in the Student Union Rotunda. During the speech, Secretary for Internal Affairs Kim Baker delivered the election results of several different campaigns, saving the announcement of the new student body president and vice president at the end of her short 10-minute speech. Baker revealed that, of the 1,811 voters that participated in this year’s election, which is 6 percent of the student body, a simple majority was not reached among the candidates. This meant that no one ticket received more than 50 percent of the votes. Presidential candidate Fahn Darkor and his running mate Carrie Nowell received 43 percent of the votes, putting them in the lead. Candidate Jessie Puffer and her running mate Amber Creft received 34 percent and candidate Andre Jefferies and his running mate Anthony Rizol received 25 percent. Since a simple majority was not reached, the two leading tickets
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(Darkor/Nowell and Puffer/Creft) are set to continue campaigning in a run-off election until April 5, when voting will open once more. Jefferies and Rizol are out of the running because they received the least amount of votes. Voting will reopen from 8 a.m. April 5 through 5 p.m. April 6. The elected ticket will be announced the following day, April 7, at 12:30 p.m. in the Student Union Rotunda. Baker also revealed the results of other campaigns during this election cycle, including the Student Body Constitution Amendment. This amendment is to grant more seats to Senate to better represent the growing student body on campus. Students voted in favor of this bill, approving it by a 96 percent margin. Senators for the different colleges were also voted on during this election cycle. To see a full list of of the 2016 SGA Spring Elections results, including percentages and total numbers of votes, visit: https://sga.uncc.edu/ results
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TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM
It’s not glamorous, but Hunter Jones leads the nation in one important statistical category KATHLEEN COOK STAFF WRITER
Hunter Jones elevates the phrase ‘taking one for the team’ to a national level. The sophomore infielder from Indian Trail, N.C. currently sits atop the national leader board for sacrifice bunts with 13 so far on the season. Charlotte as a team comes in at 14 in the national rankings for sacrifice bunts. The sacrifice bunt is an art form that is slowly dying out of the game. The last major league player to have 20 sacrifice bunts in a season was Juan Pierre in 2007 for the L.A. Dodgers. The sac bunt is something that the Charlotte squad, led by Jones, uses frequently to move runners into scoring position. Jones first picked up a bat when he was just four years old. Though it was an early start, it seemed natural given his family line. His father, Chuck Jones, played collegiate ball at UNC Wilmington and played in the big leagues under the Minnesota Twins. “I’ve always been around it ever since I was little. It’s always been something I do,” Jones said. During his time at Piedmont High School, Jones scored the game-winning run in the 2013 State Championship game after he drove in the winning run in the Regional Championship game. Jones and his team returned to the State Championship game his senior year, but they couldn’t bring home another championship. Though they couldn’t accomplish the feat of back-to-back championships, Jones still sported impressive stats in the 2014 season. He led the team in hits with 42, RBIs with 24, doubles with 9 and in overall batting average with .433. With a resume like that, it wasn’t hard for Jones to join the Charlotte squad, which had been a goal of his for a while. “I’ve been coming here since I was little with my grandma for basketball games. It’s always been a dream to come here,” Jones said. “It’s close to home and I like being at home.”
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His freshman year at Charlotte, Jones saw action in 39 games. He started in the final 33 games of the season after an injury took Derek Gallelo out of the lineup for the remainder of the season. Jones had a six-game hitting streak going at one point last spring and finished with a .229 average for the season. Even in his freshman campaign Jones delivered when he needed to, batting .313 when he was in
Photo by Ben Coon
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the lead off slot and hitting a solid .500 with two outs. Jones also excelled off the diamond, making Conference USA’s Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Athletic Director’s List in both the fall and spring semester. So far this season, Jones is hitting a .219. He is fifth in the 49ers record book for sacrifice bunts, just one shy from a three-way tie for third. With two sac’s in his freshman season, Jones has 15 career sacrifice bunts. The all-time career record is held by Justin Roland with 39. “Hunter is the guy that we want to try have as what we call an ‘action guy’ offensively,” head coach Loren Hibbs said. “He’s a guy that handles the bat really well.” Jones didn’t utilize the bunt as much during his time in high school, but he has known the art form for a while now, even delivering presentations on the topic in class. “I couldn’t tell you what year it was, but I did a how-to bunt project in school,” Jones said. This season, Jones has transformed into a team player. Whenever he comes to the plate with a runner on first, it’s very likely that he will sacrifice himself. Whether through a sacrifice fly, hit-and-run or a sacrifice bunt, Jones’ goal is to move the runner into scoring position. “I just do my job, whatever they ask me to do. If the runner needs to be moved over, I have to do that,” Jones said. Hibbs sees Jones as the player he can count on – not for the big hits, but to do whatever it takes to move the runner around. “He’s not a guy that’s going to hit you 10 or 15 homeruns; I’m not being critical of that, he’s just not that guy. We’ve been in a lot of situations with runners in front of him where we needed either a hit and run or a sac bunt and he’s done a good job with it,” Hibbs said. As for leading the nation in sac bunts, Jones takes the humble approach, saying it’s “pretty cool.”
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BRING BACK
THE BUZZ
The Charlotte Hornets front office faces a difficult task of maintaining their prosperous core over a question mark filled summer CRAIG DAVENPORT STAFF WRITER
The Charlotte Hornets officially sent in their reservation for the 2016 NBA Playoffs. This is their second playoff berth in the past three years and first since the rebirth of the Hornets organization. Thanks to general manager Rich Cho’s offseason moves, the Hornets have come together as somewhat of an underdog miracle team for the 2015-16 NBA season. The 2015-16 Hornets lineup consists of many new faces such as forward Nicolas Batum, guard Jeremy Lin, guard Jeremy Lamb, rookie forward Frank Kaminsky and guard Courtney Lee.
However, out of this list of new contributors, only Frank Kaminsky and Jeremy Lamb are locked up past the end of this season. In fact, only seven of the 15 Hornets on the current roster are signed on past this season. Meanwhile, guys like Al Jefferson, Marvin Williams, Tyler Hansbrough and Troy Daniels all have contracts that expire when this season ends. The Hornets have not had this much success in many years, not only on the court, but also in the stands. Charlotte is simply buzzing around the success of the Hornets; the fans are loving the
Frank Kaminsky hangs his head during the national anthem. Photo by Benjamin Robson
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chemistry this team has. A couple of offseason moves propelled Charlotte into serious contention in the Eastern Conference, but can the short term additions turn into the start of a new era for the Hornets? In mid-July, the Hornets pulled the trigger on what is potentially one of the best offseason moves Charlotte made. The Hornets sent Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh to the Portland Trailblazers and brought Nicolas Batum to Buzz City. Batum was coming off of a season in which he scored only 9.4 points per game, his lowest season average since his rookie year, so the Trailblazers were willing to part ways with the struggling forward. “He provides a 3-point shooting threat and he’s good versatile defender who can guard multiple positions,” Hornets general manager Rich Cho commented on trading for Nic Batum. “He has been in the league for seven years, so he gives us experience. But yet he is still in his prime. He is going to be a great addition to this team.” This trade developed into a steal for the Hornets, as Batum has turned back the clocks in Charlotte. Batum became the first Hornet to notch multiple triple-doubles in a single season, with two, since Baron Davis recorded two in the 2000-01 season. He has experienced an increase in per game averages across the board this season as well. His no-look passes catch defenders by surprise, leading to easy points. However, his contract expires after this season, much like many of the other diamonds in the rough that the Hornets dug up this year. Another offseason addition that proved to be excellent was Jeremy Lin’s signature. Lin was brought to Charlotte to provide Kemba Walker with a viable back-up point guard, but instead
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created a name for himself. He has been able to heat up against the NBA’s best teams this year and helped the Hornets take down heavyweights like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, as well as the San Antonio Spurs just last month. With the Hornets flying high toward the playoffs, Lin’s value continues to rise. But, it’s possible that he could opt out of his contract this offseason to take advantage of the opportunity for a raise or to find a starting position. Right before the trade deadline, the Hornets completed a few moves, but their big splash was the P.J. Hairston and Courtney Lee swap with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Hornets brought in another expiring contract with the hopes of bolstering a squad that lost Michael Kidd-Gilchrist for the second time this season. Lee immediately impacted the Hornets and brought a fire back to the team. Despite being with the team for only a short time, his impact has been felt on both sides of the floor
and he could serve as an excellent long-term addition for Charlotte. The Charlotte Hornets are the only team this year to experience a winning streak of seven games or more as well as a losing streak of seven games or more. This epitomizes a season that has been full of ups and downs. But the Hornets are winning at the right time of the season. The Hornets have flown mostly under the radar this year with the likes of the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers taking up much of the national attention. Nonetheless, this Charlotte Hornets roster is something quite special. The players who came to Buzz City in hopes of revitalizing their career have come together to reenergize a city and a team that has struggled in the past. While it’s easy to focus on the upcoming playoffs, the Hornets’ management should make it a top priority to retain the core of this year’s Buzz City lineup and set the franchise up for long-term success.
Photos courtesy Tribune News Service
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9
GETTING TO KNOW
LIZZY B RCH
JARED ALLEN SPORTS EDITOR
There’s few players in the conference better at reaching base than Lizzy Birch. The freshman ranks sixth in Conference USA with an impressive .481 on-base percentage (26 hits and 21 walks) through 34 games played. Avid Charlotte softball fans have become accustomed to seeing Birch on base but how well does Niner Nation know the Mint Hill, S.C. native off the diamond?
ANY SUPERSTITIONS? IF SO WHAT?
I don’t tie my cleats, but I’m not sure that’s a superstition. I tie them
right when I get them and if I have to tie them again I’d get someone else to tie them.
WHAT IS YOUR PERFECT PIZZA?
I love pizza! I’m really simple, I just like cheese.
WHAT IS THE LONGEST YOU’VE GONE WITHOUT SLEEPING?
Not that long. I’ve never pulled an all-nighter before.
FAVORITE SUNDAE TOPPING? Rainbow sprinkles.
WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL, AND WHY? My parents. They’re really
supportive and fun to be around.
ZOMBIES INVADED THE EARTH, WHO’S FIGHTING ON YOUR TEAM?
Courtney Carroll because we roll in a pack, Becca [Shipper] and Alex Paulson.
WHO’S THE FUNNIEST PLAYER ON THE TEAM? Courtney [Carroll].
FAVORITE PART ABOUT UNC CHARLOTTE? The people.
ONE PLACE YOU COULD TRAVEL TO RIGHT NOW? Greece.
IF YOU COULD ONLY DO ONE DANCE MOVE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Hopefully not, I’m not a good dancer.
WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST? I don’t like snakes.
WHAT’S IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR RIGHT NOW? Salsa, milk and Hot Pockets.
WHAT’S THE MOST RANDOM THING YOU’VE EVER WATCHED ALL THE WAY THROUGH ON NETFLIX?
Any of the documentaries on World War II. I’ve watched about four of them.
IF HOLLYWOOD MADE A MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHO WOULD PLAY THE LEAD ROLE? Amanda Bynes. The Amanda Bynes circa “She’s the Man” era.
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Sour Trolli gummy worms. The pink and blue ones.
BIGGEST PET PEEVE?
When people leave my door just a little bit open. That really gets me.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS?
No. I just don’t find them scary, therefore I don’t care to believe in them.
ONE SUPERHERO POWER YOU’D LIKE TO HAVE?
This one gets me. Either to read minds, be invisible or to fly because I don’t like traffic.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SHOW ON NETFLIX? “Gossip Girl.”
IF YOU COULD SING ONE SONG ON “AMERICAN IDOL,” WHAT WOULD IT BE? I’ve actually thought about this a lot. I’m not a very good singer but anything by Tori Kelly. “Dear No One” or “All in My Head.”
WHAT IS ONE SKILL YOU’D LIKE TO LEARN? How to sew.
HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS DESCRIBE YOU?
I’m not sure, probably goofy and outgoing.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN THE UNIVERSITY AREA? Cheddar’s.
IF YOU HAD TO LIVE WITHOUT ONE OF YOUR FIVE SENSES, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU GIVE UP?
WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?
WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY BUT HAVE BEEN SCARED TO?
IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
My taste.
Photo by Leysha Caraballo
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CANDY?
Brussel sprouts.
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“1984” by George Orwell. I read that senior year.
Probably a turtle, they live a long time.
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Photo by Pooja Pasupula
JOHN PATRICK STAFF WRITER
Man, is UNC Charlotte going places. This notion is an ever constant one, a belief that refuses to depart the minds of students frenziedly caught up in the rat race of achieving. A bulwark for science and engineering, along with other blue-chip institutions like business and nursing, Charlotte is filled to the brim with potential at-large. To illustrate just how straight the compass of success points, look around campus and take in every construction project taking place. Honestly, it’s impossible to ignore. The Craver Road and Phillips Bridge development projects are finished, thankfully lessening the traffic it created when the build was first underway. The city’s vaunted light rail system is, for lack of better words, making “progress” connecting to the school. Just because it’s not happening at the rate we would
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like, I can at least say it’s not going backwards—I’ll extend them that much credit. And with the persuasion of a $90 million science building after the Connect N.C. bond was approved, there is no denying UNC Charlotte’s real acronym: Under New Construction Constantly. I feel compelled to say I should be grateful for all this investment to the school. I should embrace the change and look forward to the completed product because it’s for the betterment of everyone. This sentiment of collective coalescence warrants group hugs in the quad, hand-holding and kumbaya singing at the Student Union. Togetherness under materialistic things! Instead, rather, I feel strongly compelled to allocate all the time and investment—including the newly bestowed $90 million—to one goal and one goal only: flattening out
campus. Seriously, why must my calves cry and wince in pain when the petty act of walking to class turns into a strenuous trek not unlike hiking the Himalayas or the Andes? These boots weren’t made for walking, just for looking really, really cool. Also, I happen to be the best person I know at sweating. Just ask anyone who knows me. I do it extremely well, sometimes without even trying, and it intensifies when grueling hills must be conquered whilst the sun beats down on my back. I would still sweat profusely if the school was leveled to a comfortable 180 degrees, though I’m not sure my spare clothes would be needed to change into before class. My idea will never come to fruition, however. It’s unfortunate because, unlike science buildings or that weird-looking art sculpture
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that was just finished (again, from the backs of the taxpayers), a flat campus is something everybody will use. Think of it as the greatest, truest form of a public good ever conceptualized by the human spirit. This is not to endorse public funding for the leveling—I’m against that— but if money is going to be spent, it might as well be spent wisely. Frankly, I just don’t like exerting physical energy. I’m probably undermining a few benefits that development incites, but marching is a bore. Best to remove the spatial and physical obstacles obscuring progress, like the countless stairs and hills, so we can all get to where we are going with more brisk convenience. Because if Charlotte’s campus were to be flattened out, man, would it make going places easier.
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Photo courtesy of Atari
NOT WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION The 12-year wait for ‘Roller Coaster Tycoon World’ seems all but wasted
HUNTER HEILMAN A&E EDITOR
There aren’t many video game series that I would consider myself a massive fan of, but since age 4, the “Roller Coaster Tycoon” series has been an ever present part of my upbringing, and to this day, I can still say that I play all three original games regularly. The beauty in the original trilogy of PC games was in their differences, as each entry had a different style and tone that made each game playable in its own right. Even though “Roller Coaster Tycoon 3” is the most recent entry in the series, I get just as much, if not more playtime with the original “Roller Coaster Tycoon,” simply because each game is so different. The question raised after the release of “Roller Coaster Tycoon 3” quickly became, “When is ‘Roller Coaster Tycoon 4’ coming out?” But nothing ever came. It took publisher Atari over 10 years to announce another proper game in the series, and in 2014, “Roller Coaster Tycoon World” was announced. Shooting for an early 2015 release date, fans had no reason to believe that the game wouldn’t be anything short of amazing. But then it all went south. I really did try to be fair to “Roller Coaster Tycoon World,” even going so far as to not play
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the “Planet Coaster” alpha until after I reviewed this game, but even then, “Roller Coaster Tycoon World” is a mess in almost every way. From the start, the loading times of the game are borderline unforgivable, making me wait almost two minutes just to enter a park to play. Little did I know, this was going to be the least of my worries. On average, I got about 15 frames per second playing “Roller Coaster Tycoon World,” making the game almost unbearable, as the game would lag and jump like crazy when trying to do anything smoothly, which, in a game about roller coasters, is quite imperative. The game is chock full of graphical bugs, too, ranging from a lack of shadows on many rides to the park guests literally disappearing off a ride completely. The park guests in the game are reminiscent of the guests in “Sim Theme Park” from 1999—they lack detail and have jumpy movements. Despite attempting to upgrade the park guests graphically, they only end up looking worse than the “peeps” in “Roller Coaster Tycoon 3.” It’s no fun when a game not only runs slow, but also refuses to work properly. But this all doesn’t matter if the roller coasters APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2016
are cool, right? Wrong. While the roller coasters are the strongest part of the game, the draw of the “Roller Coaster Tycoon” series is its ability to be picked up and played by the most amateur of players, regardless of skill level. The new “freeform” coaster building system in the game took me upwards of an hour to understand, and even then, the coaster I built was rough and jumpy. I will admit that there was a part of me incredibly depressed at the fact that “Roller Coaster Tycoon World” disappointed me. Sure, “Planet Coaster” is coming out later this year to satisfy our theme park urges in a polished, masterful game, but my childhood has been based almost entirely off the “Roller Coaster Tycoon” franchise, and with this current installment, it seems almost like an end of an era for the series. I can’t imagine this series rising above this current release in the future, but time will tell. For now, save your hard earned cash for “Planet Coaster,” and don’t pay the price of admission for “Roller Coaster Tycoon World.”
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Photo courtesy of the artist
Purple’s ‘Bodacious’ takes us on a high-energy rebellion STEPHANIE TREFZGER STAFF WRITER
Since their explosive debut in 2014, Purple have been described as gritty and extremely versatile, both of which are extremely obvious in their new album, “Bodacious.” The band encompasses several different genres such as reggae, funk, pop, rock and hip-hop seemingly without any effort at all, meaning that there is at least a song or two for everyone. While Purple retains their striking, if not venomous, tone from their first album, “409,” their new album is different enough to be just as, if not more, interesting. The album is a roller coaster from start to finish. But while most roller coasters start slow, “Bodacious” takes off with a bang. The volatile first song on the album, “Backbone,” goes from aggressively shouting the refrain to a more fluid pop melody in a matter of seconds, leaping between the two for the entirety of the song’s run time. The beginning of the album grabs the listener and doesn’t let go until the third track, and first single, “Bliss,” which is a more bittersweet pop rock track. Don’t get me wrong, it is most definitely still highadrenaline. To use the roller coaster analogy again, this is the part you would usually expect first; this is the slow crawl onto the top of the track,
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getting you full of anticipation for the drop that comes soon after. The track starts off with a simple heldout guitar chord and a simple drum beat before gradually building to the dance-worthy chorus. The middle of the album is high energy—these songs are the loop the loops and corkscrews of the album, if you will. Beginning with the ninth song, “Geniva,” Purple go back to the grimy fuzz-rock they are maybe best known for before a more relaxed but still high-energy finish with the rebellious “What a Job.” In this song, they criticize “regular” jobs and praise experiences they have had together as a band over a repetitive “409,” a homage to their first album and their hometown. A perfect end to the roller coaster. I will admit that I hadn’t heard of Purple before writing this article, and that makes me sad. But I am so glad I got introduced to them now. Better late than never! It was the album cover that first interested me in giving this a listen. It is the perfect artwork to summarize the album as a whole, as weird as that may sound. If this band is anything in concert like their album art, I am very much looking forward to seeing them live.
ACROSS 1 Website pop-ups, e.g. 4 Brush with liquid while roasting 9 Jeweled headwear 14 Morse code bit 15 Electric razor brand 16 Like some short-term committees 17 Make a boo-boo 18 Hotel lobby supervisor 20 Bathtub insert 22 Texter’s “Wish you hadn’t said that!” 23 Practical, as a solution 24 Working the room, as at a banquet 27 Words before uproar 28 Dipstick wiper 29 Gumshoes: Abbr. 32 Madrid museum 35 Little kid 36 Went to the bottom 37 Time of reckoning 41 Is the right size
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42 Yea’s opposite 43 Short, but probably not sweet 44 Sneaky 45 Warm lining 46 Feline king 48 Congressional majority, e.g. 53 Nielsen of “The Naked Gun” films 56 Canon SLR camera 57 Indian wrap 58 When one might have a mint ... or where the first words of 18-, 24-, 37- and 48-Across can be found 61 Santa visitor’s seat 62 Fable’s lesson 63 Rear, to an admiral 64 Mao __-tung 65 Unlike poetry 66 Blended ice cream drinks 67 Buddhist sect
DOWN 1 Quite competent 2 “Our Gang” girl 3 Decorative foundation plant 4 Consumer protection gp. 5 “Respect” singer Franklin 6 Upstream swimmer 7 Dutch bulb 8 Britannica, e.g.: Abbr. 9 Wrapping, as an ankle 10 Rover’s collar attachment 11 Melville’s obsessive whaler 12 Stir up 13 Clearasil target 19 Fly 21 Flies like a seagull 25 Sufficient, in poetry 26 Cattle poker 29 Low poker hand 30 Quaint lodges 31 Hebrides isle 32 Many emailed image files 33 Train wheel guide 34 Suit filer: Abbr. 35 “ ... hallowed be __ name” 36 Dictation takers 38 Accustomed (to) 39 Small fruit pie 40 Four-way __ 45 Without prejudice 46 Big name in little trains 47 What an editor’s caret indicates 48 Sincere entreaties 49 Busybody 50 Dance in triple meter 51 Wipe out 52 Mature, as fruit 53 Desk light 54 Get an __ effort 55 Houston player, informally 59 School-of-thought suffix 60 Hosp. staffers
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THE FINAL FOUR: SPRING SEMESTER
Restaurant Review:
The Capital Grille
STAFF WRITER
KRISTEN CHEATAM
1. FINALS
INTERN
Imagine dining at a restaurant with ambient lighting, complimentary valet parking and a professional staff who provide excellent service. The Capital Grille is nestled deep into the heart of uptown Charlotte, adjacent to the Bank of America building. As I pulled up to the curb directly in front of the restaurant, the valet politely offered to park my car at no cost. The staff at the restaurant treat each and every guest with amazing service. I stepped into the restaurant and was immediately pleased with how quickly we were whisked away to our reserved area. The staff took note that it was my birthday and had a neat spread of confetti on the table and offered me a complimentary glass of champagne. Our waiter was very personable and gave great advice on which entrees taste the best. Because Capital Grille is a fine dining, nearly five star restaurant, nothing on the menu is budget friendly. No shade, but if you’re wallet conscious, I would suggest opting for a budget friendly restaurant such as Red Lobster or Olive Garden. Especially for college students, this place shows no mercy. The clientele mainly consists of wealthy businesspeople who could not care less about prices. It was my 21st birthday, though, so I was treated to a finer than usual dining experience. The menu offers salads, fish,
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CANDICE KELLY
lobster, crab and steak. I started off with a lobster and crab cake on a bed of lettuce with a bit of sweet pepper corn and a glass of pinot noir as an appetizer. The cake was fairly small for the price, but it packed a delicious punch of flavor and tasted pure. The person accompanying me ordered the fresh Maine lobster ($45), and I ordered a spinach salad with warm bacon dressing ($11) paired with a side of truffle fries ($16). When the waiter brought out our dishes, he unraveled each of our napkins and placed them on our laps. Not only was the presentation beautiful, but also the food tasted heavenly. The spinach salad was topped with light eggs, bacon, mushrooms, onions and a warm, sweet bacon dressing. The truffle fries were fried to perfection in truffle oil then covered with a coat of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, producing the best fries I’ve ever had so far in life. Seriously, I wish they were bottomless. As the meal ended, I was presented with two small complementary birthday desserts. One of the desserts was a rich flourless chocolate cake, and the other was a mini cheesecake. They both tasted delicious. Overall, if you are searching for great service, impeccable food and a mellow upscale atmosphere, I highly recommend dining at The Capital Grille.
Looming over us like a thick, black cloud, is the dread of finals. Quickly approaching are the allday study sessions, the nights spent locked in the library and the weekends becoming solid chunks of uninterrupted cram time. But finals are a necessary evil in order to earn class credits. If you start studying around early April, it will take away some of the stress during finals week. Also, creating a schedule of what and when you’re going to study will help you use your study time more effectively.
2. SCHEDULING
After finishing up current classes, it’s important to figure out which classes to take next semester. It’s very beneficial to meet with your advisor early to discuss what credits you need and to remove potential holds on your account. When considering how many credits to take, think about your daily responsibilities and extracurricular activities. We all want Fridays off, but make sure your schedule can allow it. It is recommended that you avoid stacking classes as it can add a lot of stress to the week. A tip that can help make sure you get your desired classes is by having all the classes you want selected ahead of time online. When it is your time to register, all you
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have to do is submit your choices. Another option is writing down the course reference numbers (CRNs) of the classes you want and just typing them into advanced search on your registration day.
3. HOUSING
By this time in the semester, most people have already sent in their housing applications. But there are so many variables involved: roommates, availability, cost and more. These variables can make it hard to decide. The two biggest factors to consider when choosing a place to stay is whether you want to stay on campus or off campus and if you want suite, apartment or dorm style living. There are benefits to all options—it just depends on which is best suited for you.
4. SUMMER PLANS
After conquering finals, designing your schedule and finalizing housing, the last thing on your todo list is figuring out how to spend those precious three months off. For some, getting a job is the obvious solution. Or perhaps you have your eyes set on an internship or work study program. If your search is coming up flat, consider some on-campus summer jobs. There are many options available, and some offer free or subsidized housing options.
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ANGIE BAQUEDANO STAFF WRITER
Photo by Angie Baquedano
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“At the end of the day, when life has dragged you through hell and back, just remember that everything will work itself out. Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy. Today was a bad day? Remind yourself that every day is a new chance, and don’t let it slip away. Do this for those who love and support you, but most importantly, do this for yourself. Don’t you dare quit. Put in a ton of effort. It won’t betray you.” Jasmine Galindo
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