2016 09 13

INSIDE THIS EDITION: GOLDRUSH, CHARLOTTE VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN UNC CHARLOTTE SETS RECORD FOR STUDENT ENROLLMENT, MAKING IT THE FASTEST GROWING SCHOOL IN THE UNC SYSTEM

CHARLOTTE SOCCER PLAYER BRANDT BRONICO SETS HIS SIGHTS FOR THE PROS

‘THE DISAPPOINTMENTS ROOM’ LIVES UP TO ITS NAME BY BEING ONE OF THE MOST UNDERWHELMINGLY BLAND HORROR FILMS OF 2016

PG. 6

PG. 9

PG. 5

NINERTIMES.COM

SEPT. 13 - SEPT. 19, 2016

VOL. 29, ISSUE 2

Hunter Heilman editor@ninertimes.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Jasmine Taylor

Nick Cropper

Trevor Wilt

Kathleen Cook

managing@ninertimes.com

sports@ninertimes.com

Jeffrey Kopp

news@ninertimes.com

sports@ninertimes.com

Hailey Turpin

ae@ninertimes.com

lifestyle@ninertimes.com

Diane Gromelski

Casey Aldridge

copy@ninertimes.com

Leysha Caraballo photo@ninertimes.com

Carmen Westra

community@ninertimes.com

Salina Dickie, Mia Shelton, Pooja Pasupula, Andy Gustafson

David Mendez

opinion@ninertimes.com

VIDEO PRODUCER

Chris McKinnis video@ninertimes.com

LAYOUT EDITOR

Michael Kuhn

layout@ninertimes.com

ADDITIONAL STAFF Saba Solaimanizadeh, Alex Sands, Indira Eskiva, Brittany Wilson, Tori Summers, Sarah Ro, Vanessa Martinez

Linnea Stoops

MARKETING STAFF Blake Strickland, Michael Powers, Emily Mercado, Shelbee Barber, Ryan Scott

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

MEGAN SMITH OFFICE MANAGER: DANNY HUFFMAN

www.ninertimes.com/app 2

SEPT. 13 - SEPT. 19, 2016

NINERTIMES

CAMPUS POLICE HIGHLIGHT ALCOHOL AWARENESS UNC Charlotte’s Police Department partners with Mecklenburg County ABC to encourage safety amidst drug, alcohol culture SABA SOLAIMANIZADEH INTERN

Student attempting to take a field sobriety test requiring her to walk in a straight line while wearing drunk googles. Photo by Pooja Pasupula

NINERTIMES.COM

Football season is right around the corner and drinking is a prime concern for community officials, as the vibrant spirit of college tailgating brings in the likelihood of excessive alcohol consumption.

With this is mind, the Mecklenburg County ABC Board partnered with the UNC Charlotte Police Department to host an alcohol awareness event Sept. 6 from 4-7 p.m. in the College of Health and Human Services Quad.

Other facilities took part in the event by setting up interactive stations that provided students with infographics, personal stories and activities to inform students of the repercussions associated with irresponsible alcohol consumption.

These facilities included the Dean of Students Office, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, Highway Patrol, Monroe Police Department and Mecklenburg County Safe.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg ABC Board and The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department allowed participating students to drive golf carts while wearing drunk goggles and take Standard Field Sobriety Tests.

Students that completed the challenge had the opportunity to get a free T-shirts and wristbands while learning firsthand about the risks of driving while impaired.

“One of our initiatives is that we want to partner with any college or university that will partner with us

SEPT. 13 - SEPT. 19, 2016

to help keep their students safe,” said Julia Paul, community outreach director of the Mecklenburg ABC Board. “We brought these sobriety tests to help people really see what it feels like before they make that fatal mistake.”

Gabrielle Williams also took part in the event by sharing a story of her best friend who died by the hands of a drunk driver; providing a new perspective on the poignant impacts of drunk driving.

“Me and my best friend Lacee were driving down I-77 and got hit from behind by a drunk driver that was going over 100 miles per hour,” said Williams. “We ended up flipping off of the interstate and she completely lost consciousness. I never saw her after that.”

The vehicle from the incident was brought out for display in the CHHS Quad, with a poster commemorating Lacee Sullivan in front of the vehicle. Williams is now sharing her best friend’s story on a larger scale to help prevent similar tragedies in the realm of alcohol and drug use.

The possibility of student conduct repercussions is a notorious fear amongst college students when it comes to seeking help when one’s health is put at risk from drugs or alcohol.

The Dean of Students Office had a panel at the event to introduce the newly revised Help Seeking Protocol, a process that allows students to utilize community and campus Cont. on page 4

3

POLICE BLOTTER SEPT. 7-9 ACCIDENT SEPT. 7

• Lot 19, driver of vehicle one came in stating that a note was left on his vehicle indicating that someone saw him hit a vehicle that was parked and unoccupied and leave.

He stated that he did not believe that he hit the vehicle. The driver of vehicle two was contacted and came into the police department stating that their vehicle had in fact been hit.

SEPT. 8

• Student Union Lane, driver of vehicle one failed to stop at a stop sign and struck vehicle two causing damage to both vehicles.

Driver of vehicle two was seen at the Student Health Center.

MEDIC ASSIST SEPT. 7

• Fretwell Building, officers assisted an individual who had fallen and injured their hand. Subject refused MEDIC and was transported by officers to the Student Health Center.

POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY SEPT. 9

• South Village Parking Deck, officers assisted parking services with the recovery of a stolen parking hang tag, stolen license plant and stolen vehicle. The parking hang tag was recovered by parking services. CMPD responded to the scene and recovered the stolen vehicle and stolen license plate.

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

4

Niner Nation on the go with new app The NinerGo app makes it easy for students to access university-related information, services ALEX SANDS STAFF WRITER

A new semester has brought about a faster, more efficient way for students to access school-related information at their fingertips.

NinerGo is a mobile app that is just starting up, with basic features that cater to students.

Students are given the option to log in with their NinerNet credentials. After doing so, they’ll be able to view their course schedule and a record of grades.

The app also features a campus map that pinpoints where the user is. Users can get directions for the building they’re looking for by typing in the name.

NinerGo also makes it fast and easy for students to pull up the academic calendar, which displays dates like student recesses and deadlines for dropping and registering for courses.

“It’s basically MyUNCC in an app,” wrote orientation counselor Jackson Morgan on Twitter.

The app came with the administrative software, Banner, that is used as the student information system on campus.

Information Technology Services (ITS) worked with the app to transform it into what is now NinerGo. “It was a matter of plugging it in, fine-tuning it and making it look more ‘UNC Charlotte,’” said University Registrar Chris Knauer.

There are big plans for the app, and a recent email sent out to

students promised updates soon.

Future plans may include pop-up notifications, which Knauer thinks could be useful in notifying students about updates, from a spot opening up in a waitlisted class to finding out where you stand in line for graduation.

Some other possibilities that have been brought up are being able to register for classes through NinerGo and the idea of a parking app.

“I would envision that a student

might come to campus through the main entrance and plug in ‘parking availability,’ and it might pop up with two or three different locations and say ‘15 spots, 12 spots.”

Before going ahead with any changes, ITS and the Office of the Registrar are observing how students use the app and asking for feedback.

NinerGo is available for Apple and Android, and offered for Apple Watch.

Student using his phone on the way to class. Niner Times file photo

ALCOHOL AWARENESS, cont. resources for help without the barrier of student conduct liabilities if proper measures are taken.

“We want to ensure that students have a safe experience, especially with football coming up and make sure students realize that they have options,” said Officer Jerry Lecomte, a coordinator of UNC Charlotte’s Community-Oriented Police Division. “If there’s a call to be made when somebody’s had too much to drink or they are afraid for their friend’s safety, we are a resource on campus.”

SEPT. 13 - SEPT. 19, 2016

Lecomte also noted that there are a number of recovery resources available for students.

Anuvia, a treatment and recovery center funded by the Mecklenburg ABC Board, was one of these resources available at the event to talk to students about seeking professional help.

With the prominent tailgate culture of college athletics approaching soon, Lecomte advises students to be sound decision makers in response to peer pressure and utilize campus resources.

NINERTIMES

Photo by Chris Crews

UNC Charlotte sets record enrollment UNC Charlotte remains fastest growing university in UNC school system, over 30,000 students enrolled INDIRA ESKIEVA STAFF WRITER

UNC Charlotte broke its own record this academic year for number of students enrolled. The university expected 28,700 students to be enrolled this semester. In the last ten years, UNC Charlotte experienced the fastest growth of any UNC-system campus.

In 1999, the student body population totaled 16,950. The university expects future growth to double that number – 32,500 students. This number includes all students, including those in graduate, undergraduate and doctoral programs.

A UNC system report showed that UNC’s 17 campuses saw growth in the minority population.

Last fall, undergraduate Latino enrollment grew by nine percent, and undergraduate multi-racial enrollment grew by ten percent.

To keep up with the growth, UNC Charlotte has multiple construction

NINERTIMES.COM

projects underway.

The design for a 143,500 squarefoot health and wellness center is being finalized, and its newest residential building, Levine Hall, is expected to be finished this fall. It will house up to 435 students. With the approval of the Connect NC Bond this past spring, $90 million was allocated for the construction of a new science building. Since the current science building opened in 1985, enrollment at UNC Charlotte has grown by 142 percent, said Chancellor Philip Dubois.

But there have been some concerns from students with UNC Charlotte’s record breaking population growth. Crime around the university area has been on the rise, and CMPD has extra officers patrolling the area.

“Car break-ins are almost 20 percent higher than any crime we have on a weekly basis,” said

Captain Brian Foley, the University City commander of the CMPD. In June of this year, a federal report showed that UNC Charlotte’s campus, along with Brown and Harvard University, was ranked top ten in the country for reported rapes.

In 2014, there were 32 reported rapes on campus.

Another concern that some students have is class size. With the student body population growing, it is reasonable to assume that class size will grow as well. But Maureen Sanders, a senior communication studies student, says that larger classes don’t take away from her experience as a student.

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing, because larger classes have labs that are a smaller size. That way, you can get that more intimate setting in the lab,” said Sanders.

SEPT. 13 - SEPT. 19, 2016

5

EYES ON THE PRIZE After a stellar collegiate career Brandt Bronico’s sights are set on the pros

KATHLEEN COOK SPORTS EDITOR

Bronico battles with a Rutgers player. Photo by Chris Crews The first season Brandt Bronico was on a soccer field he could be found sitting on the bench, crying.

Over ten years later Bronico now leads the 49ers men’s soccer team on and off the field.

“My parents signed me up for a rec league and I cried the first whole season and sat on the bench saying I didn’t want to play. The next season I started to get into it and I found the fun of the game,” Bronico said.

Soccer wasn’t the only sport Bronico played as a child, he also partook in baseball, soccer, basketball and flag football. However he discovered that he “enjoyed” soccer and found a “knack for it.” His passion for the sport only grew from there until it became a part of his life.

“Soccer has been the core of my life. I usually plan everything

6

around soccer: my classes, my free time, it’s all planned around soccer.

I’m just trying to always work. If I’m not at practice I’m either in the gym or watching film, I just want to improve every day,” Bronico said.

With the talent displayed in Bronico, there were many schools vying to bring his skills to their field. His senior season at Wesleyan Christian Academy he was named an NSCAA All-American. He also helped Wesleyan bring home the state championships in 2012 and 2013. It was Charlotte’s homey feel that drew the High Point native to the 49ers.

“The coaches just made me feel at home here,” Bronico said. “I love the campus, I love the people and the team is awesome. All around it was the best option for me.”

The energy Bronico brought to

the program as a freshman is what made him a true standout. His freshman year, he appeared in 19 games and started in 16. During the season, he took 16 shots on goal and netted three. He was also named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team.

“When he joined us he was new, he was green, he was excited. He had a great youth career and a great PDL career. When he was playing we would see flashes of just absolute brilliance from Brandt as a soccer player,” Kevin Langan, head soccer coach, said.

Bronico has only improved since his first year with the 49ers.

His sophomore year he took 20 shots on goal, scored five goals and was attributed the assist on six goals. During the 2014 season Bronico scored the winning goals against no. 5 New Mexico and no. 22 Wake Forest and started all 19 games in the season.

He continued to grow his junior year putting 35 shots on goal, scoring eight goals and assisting on ten.

He was named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the week and finished first in the conference with 10 assists.

Both his sophomore and junior seasons Bronico was named to the first-team All-Conference USA teams. His junior season he was on the NCCSIA First-Team All-State.

“What’s been really exciting and made us proud is watching him mature as a player. Now he still has those moments of brilliance, but he has also matured as a person now.

He is very serious about soccer and

SEPT. 13 - SEPT. 19, 2016

his studies. He is a great example to his teammates, he’s our hard worker, he’s the fittest on the team,” Langan said. “We’re sad it’s his last year, but as a team and a staff we want to send him out with a great year.

Bronico’s impressive skills didn’t go unnoticed on a national level as well. Two summers ago he traveled across the country and played for Seattle’s U23 team. Going to Washington was a daunting task, but Bronico did it for the sport he loved.

“I was a little nervous going across the country, but you have to make sacrifices. To play for Seattle is a really good situation and it’s a good sacrifice to make. The coach and the team were awesome out there and they made me feel at home,” Bronico said.

The summer was full of opportunity and competition.

“It’s about getting exposure and getting my name out there. It’s just a whole other level. It’s the difference between the top college players that make it,” Bronico said. “Everyone is athletic there so you have to step your game up. It was an awesome experience.”

In addition to playing for the Sounder’s U23, Bronico was able to train with Kansas City and Columbus all in an effort to extend his soccer career past college.

“I just want to play soccer. Hopefully I can get out of college in the combine, get drafted and have a chance to play for the MLS. That’s been my goal since I started playing, so that would be great,” Bronico said.

NINERTIMES

CHARLOTTE VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN · SEPT. 17, 2016

1

STAFF PICKS FINAL SCORE: CHAR 34 E. Michigan 17 “Young running backs Robert Washington and Ben LeMay will continue to impress, while Kevin Olsen will throw for three more touchdowns.”

FINAL SCORE: CHAR 28, E. Michigan 10 “The depth Charlotte displayed in the game against Elon will be beneficial to them against Eastern Michigan.”

FINAL SCORE: CHAR 34 E. Michigan 24 “Charlotte’s offense played better at home, evident with their win over Elon. This game should be high scoring, but 49ers have the advantage playing at Jerry Richardson.“

FINAL SCORE: CHAR 21, E. Michigan 17 “Kevin Olsen and the offense will have another solid outing and take advantage of the turnovers created by the 49er defense.”

2

GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

49ers welcome Eastern Michigan to the Queen City GET OFF TO A QUICK START

ANDY GUSTAFSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

The Charlotte 49ers look to defend Jerry Richardson Stadium for the second consecutive week, this time against the Eagles of Eastern Michigan. Last week in front of a sellout crowd, the 49ers snapped their 11-game losing streak in comfortable fashion, beating Elon 47-14.

Charlotte’s offense was firing on all cylinders, racking up 506 total yards. The defense responded well a week after a rough showing against Louisville, forcing three Phoenix turnovers including a fumble recovery for a touchdown. So much for the first win being the hardest to get.

Week three offers Eastern Michigan for Charlotte football. Both teams come into Jerry Richardson Stadium with identical records at 1-1.

The Eagles are coming off a 61-21 loss to the Missouri Tigers. This is the first time ever Charlotte will play Eastern Michigan. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

Despite scoring 47 points against Elon, Charlotte got off to a slow start. The 49ers didn’t score their first points until the second quarter.

If it were not for the defense holding the Phoenix to only seven points in the first half, that slow start could have haunted Charlotte.

But, looking at how Charlotte was able to put up 47 points, it proves that the offense, and defense, is capable of scoring in no time.

Just look at the second quarter: the 49ers scored three times in eight minutes. From there on out, Charlotte would score twice in the last two quarters.

While offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen is orchestrating the offense, it really begins with Kevin Olsen at quarterback.

Olsen proved the hype was real, going an efficient 19-25 for 155 yards and three touchdowns. The passing game is a dynamic that has been missing from the Charlotte offense in the four seasons.

Teammates Kevin Olsen and Austin Duke share a brotherly moment on the sidelines.

Photo by Leysha Caraballo

But Mullen even turned back the clock, drawing up a screen pass from Charlotte’s alltime passer in Matt Johnson to Austin Duke that went 76 yards for a touchdown.

The running game impressed as well. In the past, if Kalif Phillips were to go down with an injury, Charlotte lacked the necessary depth to replace him. After Phillips injured his hamstring, the freshman combination of Ben LeMay and Robert Washington picked up the slack.

A little thunder and lightning between the two freshmen, with Washington’s two red zone touchdowns and LeMay’s 44-yard dash showed Charlotte can continue to have success on the ground.

So a simple message to Mullen: use your weapons. Charlotte can’t go scoreless in the first quarter all season long if making it to their first bowl game is a goal. The 49ers have the talent to get off to a better start, it’s time to prove it to the rest of college football.

EASTERN MICHIGAN SCOUTING REPORT Eastern Michigan out of the Mid-American Conference come to the Queen City for the first time.

The Eagles are a good offensive team, putting up 61 points in the week one victory and 21 points against a South Eastern Conference foe in Missouri.

Eastern Michigan’s backbone is their running game, behind their two sophomores Ian Eriksen and Shaq Vann. Both running backs account for seven touchdowns and average over five yards a carry on the season.

With that being said, stopping the running attack of the Eagles is how Charlotte can successfully defend Jerry Richardson Stadium again.

The 49ers did a good job against Elon, holding the Phoenix to less than three yards a carry.

When Charlotte is able to stop the run, turnovers come as a result.

Last week, the 49ers secondary grabbed two interceptions against Elon. Forcing Todd Porter of Eastern Michigan to throw the ball could pay dividends for Charlotte, as he has three interceptions this season.

CHARLOTTE VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN · SEPT. 17, 2016

3

49ERS FIND SUCCESS AT HOME ZACH TIMMONS INTERN

A week after a humbling loss to 19th-ranked Louisville, the Charlotte 49ers football unit bounced back in a big way with a convincing 47-14 victory over instate foe Elon.

Elon had more first downs, passing yards, committed three less penalties and held the ball longer.

The Niners outgained the Phoenix on the ground and continued to use that to their advantage. The Niners compiled a staggering 234 yards on the ground while holding the Phoenix to just 97. Charlotte also picked up 274 yards through the air for a balanced attack of 508 total yards.

The Charlotte backfield of Khalif Phillips, Robert Washington and Ben Lemay wreaked havoc on the Elon defense. Washington scored twice and Lemay ripped off two huge runs over 20 yards.

The Niner offense didn’t click

at first, as they opened with consecutive three-and-outs, making the home crowd restless. However, quarterback Kevin Olsen and the receiving corps went to work.

After Elon successfully scored on their opening drive, Olsen fired a pass to T.L. Ford II across the middle to tie it up at seven apiece. Olsen followed that score up with two more touchdown passes, leading to a 20-7 halftime advantage for Charlotte.

“You know, sometimes all it takes is that one drive, one play that sparks us. We got that one play and the rest of that was on us,” Olsen said.

Olsen also praised the depth displayed by the backfield.

“Our whole backfield room is pretty good. We have some young guys that came in, they can obviously play. Having guys like that who back up Khalif is huge,” Olsen said.

While the Charlotte offense had a big day, the defense stepped up tremendously as well. Charlotte’s defense forced three turnovers and converted those turnovers into 20 points.

Defensive backs Kedrick Davis and Alex Duncan picked off two Elon passes and Ben DeLuca picked up a fumble and rumbled 59 yards to the house for the only defensive touchdown of the game.

“The whole first quarter, everyone was saying ‘We’re better than this,’” Davis said. “We kept getting in everybody’s ear, being positive and saying ‘Come on guys, we’re better than this,’ and once we got going we didn’t slow down for the rest of the night.”

The Niners never let go of the momentum they had, scoring seven times before Elon finally scored their last touchdown with 6:53 remaining.

Olsen led the way with three

Player Highlights KEVIN OLSEN, QB 155 Passing yards 3 Touchdowns

AUSTIN DUKE, WR

4 Receptions, 103 yards Recorded 200th career reception

BEN DELUCA, DB 59-yard fumble recovery returned for a touchdown

Photos by Chris Crews and Leysha Caraballo

4

GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

touchdown passes, and Washington scored twice on short runs. The biggest highlight score came from receiver Austin Duke, who caught a screen pass from Matt Johnson and somehow got by would-be tacklers to score a 76-yard touchdown.

“The last thing I told our team before we left the locker room was that we have to play through adversity, keep playing and focusing on the little things that happen during the game,” Lambert said.

Lambert added that he was disappointed in how the backfield corps was playing early on, but that it got better throughout the game.

Lambert and the Niners can use this positive momentum to fuel their practices this week. With the Louisville game, a home win and all of Niner Nation behind them, Charlotte should be a force to be reckoned with in these coming weeks.

PHOTOS OF THE NIGHT Charlotte vs. Elon 9/10/16

Photos by: Chris Crews and Leysha Caraballo

COLOR

CHARLOTTE VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN · SEPT. 17, 2016

5

NT FILE PHOTO

FOOTBALL NEEDS NINER NATION Charlotte needs a good backing by fans to build their FBS résumé

EMERSON CREECH STAFF WRITER

Home opener football games are always exciting for fans. The start of a new season can rejuvenate the spirits of any fan base. The 2016 season for the Charlotte 49ers football team is a special one.

The 49ers are eligible to qualify for a bowl game after getting their first year of FBS football out of the way.

Charlotte has officially made it onto the scene of big boy college football.

The 49ers routed Elon with a score of 47-14 on Saturday, giving Charlotte its first win of the 2016 season, a nice bounce back victory after having 70 hung on them by Louisville nine days prior. A total of 15,807 fans packed into Jerry Richardson Stadium on Saturday. All 15,000 plus should be extremely proud of the way Charlotte played on Saturday, as the 49ers showed how resilient they are by shaking off the opening weekend loss.

Losing by 56 points is certainly not the way anyone would want to start a season. However, it says a lot about the character inside the Charlotte locker room from the way they were able to put that loss behind them and move forward.

The first few weeks of every college football season features many non-conference matchups. Teams can get a chance to schedule games against teams they wouldn’t otherwise play due to the alignment of conferences. Charlotte has taken advantage of that opportunity by scheduling

6

teams like Louisville in the first few weeks of the season.

The only way for this young program to build up into a national name is by playing against nationally respected programs. Getting the experience of playing in a tough road environment, against well coached football teams is something that can help any smaller program like Charlotte build for the future.

Charlotte has road games scheduled against Kansas State, Tennessee and Clemson over the next three years. All three of these games are opportunities for 49er players and coaches to get the chance to compete with Power 5 programs.

These types of games build programs into contenders in their own conference and help them become competitive with any team in the country.

Charlotte fans can look just two hours up the road as an example of building a program. Just over nine years ago, Appalachian State pulled off one of the biggest upsets in college football history by defeating Michigan in Ann Arbor. App State has used out of conference games to their advantage by continuously scheduling games against well-respected Power 5 programs.

Charlotte is facing a crisis that not many other teams in modern college football are dealing with: being a new program at the FBS level. New teams are established quite frequently in college

football. Not very often, however, is a program playing FBS football in their third season of existence.

Playing in just their fourth season, the Charlotte football program is one of the youngest in the country. Coach Brad Lambert and the 49ers staff have made strides since taking they keys to the program in 2011. The biggest contribution that we, the students of UNC Charlotte, can add to the construction of the 49ers football culture, is by showing up to every home game and rallying behind the players and coaches.

Having an elite football program means the school has passionate fans that will ride with their team through anything. The atmosphere at Jerry Richardson Stadium on Saturday is an example of what it will take from the fans to help build this program up.

Coach Brad Lambert was certainly pleased with the atmosphere on Saturday.

“How about our fans. We had a great crowd,” Lambert said.

As fans of Charlotte, it is our responsibility to bring it every Saturday in support of the 49ers, and make Jerry Richardson Stadium the toughest place to play in Conference USA. The next test for the home crowd is this Saturday, as the 49ers take on Eastern Michigan at 6 p.m.

GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

KATHLEEN COOK

CHARLOTTE HONORS FIRST RESPONDERS

SPORTS EDITOR

On the eve of the 15-year anniversary of 9/11, the 49ers paid tribute to the first responders during their game on Saturday. On the sidelines coaches could be seen sporting hats representing police, fire and EMT. First responders were given discounted tickets to see Charlotte defeat Elon 47-14. One season ticket holder, James Killan, was glad the police, fire and EMT were being honored during the game. Killan graduated from Charlotte in 1973 and went on to be a firefighter in the area at one time including the Charlotte campus.

“It’s nice to get recognized. A lot of times you feel like you’re unknown out there so it makes a big difference to see that,” Killan said.

Head football coach Brad Lambert gained an appreciation for the first responders after a personal encounter with the fire department.

“When I was at Wake Forest we had to call 911 one day because we had a chimney fire in our

Coaches wore hats displaying police, fire and EMT during the game. Photo by Chris Crews.

house. The fire department showed up and they were there in three or four minutes. It ended up being okay, and my two little boys thought it was the greatest thing ever with the firemen showing up in full garb,” Lambert said.

With the number of first responders that work with the football program to ensure their safety, Lambert thought it was appropriate for the coaches to represent them during the game.

“There are so many people that do so many things for you and you can’t thank them enough,” Lambert said. “It’s something we wanted to do. It was pretty cool to wear the stuff tonight.”

First responders came into the limelight after the events on Sept. 11. Lambert holds first responders to a high regard.

“The number of people that just went into the building and tried to save people,” Lambert said.

“People that do that, there’s something special about them.”

2016 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE THURSDAY, SEPT. 1

FRIDAY, OCT. 1

SATURDAY, NOV. 5

Louisville, Ky.

Jerry Richardson Stadium

Hattiesburg, Miss.

#19/#23 Louisville 7 p.m.

L, 70-14

Old Dominion

Southern Miss

6 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 10

SATURDAY, OCT. 8

SATURDAY, NOV. 12

Jerry Richardson Stadium

Boca Raton, Fla.

Jerry Richardson Stadium

Elon

6 p.m.

W, 47-14

Florida Atlantic 3:30 p.m.

Rice

2 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 17

SATURDAY, OCT. 15

SATURDAY, NOV. 19

Jerry Richardson Stadium

Jerry Richardson Stadium

Jerry Richardson Stadium

E. Michigan 6:00 p.m.

FIU

6 p.m.

Midd. Tennessee 2 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 24

SATURDAY, OCT. 22

SATURDAY, NOV. 26

Philadelphia, Pa.

Huntington, W.Va.

San Antonio, Texas

Temple Noon

Marshall 5:30 p.m.

CHARLOTTE VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN · SEPT. 17, 2016

UTSA 7 p.m.

7

8

GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

FREE SPEECH CULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM The mission to change the college perspective BRITTANY WILSON INTERN

College campuses have long been the birthplace of revolutionary social and political change. From the civil rights movement to the antiwar movement, students have led the way, engaging with ideas that were largely controversial, giving a platform for rational discourse and creating immense societal value as a result.

It is no coincidence that students are the leaders of these movements.

College, by its very nature, is designed to give students a platform to challenge norms, expound upon controversial topics and grow intellectually. And this culture should start in the classroom.

For this reason, as I stepped onto UNC Charlotte’s campus in the Fall 2013, I was most excited about the deep conversations I would have with classmates about political theory and current events.

I expected to be greeted by other students who wanted to engage in a similar forum of open debate and professors that would value the opinions of their students and give them a platform for ideological inquiry.

I couldn’t have been more enthralled by the allure of the college experience and the culture of free speech that accompanied it. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The unfortunate truth is that America’s higher institutions of learning have become extremely hostile towards these ideals that they once championed. It seems as though America’s most coddled generation would happily trade in their First Amendment right of free speech for trigger warnings, safe spaces and parental policies.

I don’t want things which offend me to have power over me. This

NINERTIMES.COM

means that I must use my intellect to distance myself from the emotion of the argument. This means that I must view the argument in such a way that I can gain some insight from it, regardless of whether I agree with it or not, whether the argument is right or wrong, whether the argument is just or unjust.

itself. As a free speech advocate, I am very opposed to legitimate hate speech which targets minorities, for example. However, the conversation we have about hate speech and the conversation we have about the recent rise in trigger warnings and anti-microaggression policy are very different.

Freedom of speech is one of the biggest talking points of this election.

Photos by Olivier Douliery and Clem Murrway

There is truly something that can be gained from all arguments, even offensive ones. It is inevitable that some speech students encounter will be foreign, uncomfortable, offensive and wrong. These situations are a perfect opportunity for opening the minds of students. Modern classroom culture has made it especially difficult to have these conversations, though.

With this being said, I believe that it’s important to make a distinction between the endorsement of the right of free speech and the speech

According to a Wall Street Journal report, which highlighted a survey conducted by the William F. Buckley Jr. Program at Yale which commissioned a survey from McLaughlin & Associates about attitudes towards free speech on campus, 63 percent of students favor requiring professors to employ “trigger warnings” to alert students to material that might be discomforting. Not only do they think professors should implement trigger warnings, they think that trigger warnings should be

SEPT. 13 - SEPT. 19, 2016

mandatory.

Advocates of trigger warnings don’t often dwell on the ramifications of instituting such policies, but the consequences are many. By putting red tape around certain topics that could be found offensive or controversial, we are in effect robbing students of a full and rich education. Often works that address colonialism, racism, sexism, etc. touch upon humankind’s most urgent issues - issues that college students as members of society should be wrestling with, not hiding from.

Furthermore, the rise in awareness is actually making students more sensitive towards arguments thrown around in class.

Is encouraging students to ask “Am I offended by this?” before they ask “How valid is this argument?” discouraging students from speaking up?

I have spent my college years thinking deeply, fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship within myself and debating with students who care about the important issues despite college speech culture, not because of it. I have befriended the students that embrace open and honest debate, I’ve joined extracurriculars that value free speech, I’ve had internships devoted to exploring new ideas and now I am making it my mission to spread this culture that has so influenced me, to the place which it should begin: the classroom.

I’ve made the decision that if my school won’t champion the ideals of free speech, I will. And if you’re reading this I encourage you to fight the same fight.

7

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON “Sully” is a winning, completely conventional biopic

HUNTER HEILMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Want to win an Oscar? Make a biopic. Of the past few years, the awards for Best Actor have gone to performances in biopics, from Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Revenant,” Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything” and Matthew McConaughey in “Dallas Buyers Club,” it’s become a sure fire way to attract the attention of the Academy. So it only seems natural that come Oscar season, the cinemas are FILLED with biopics hoping to vie for the coveted golden statue. We’ve already been treated to “Hands of Stone” this season, but our first high-profile biopic has hit screens for this Oscar season: “Sully.” Chronicling the fateful day of the water landing of U.S. Airways flight 1549 from LaGuardia to Charlotte, “Sully” examines the life and aftermath of this miraculous crash… …to less than miraculous results.

Don’t get it twisted, “Sully” is a good film, but for everything going for the film, there’s a distinct feeling of something missing in the grand scheme of things, which first stems from the performance of Tom Hanks.

Of course, Hanks is great as Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was Tom Hanks AS Capt.

Sullenberger, not Capt. Sullenberger himself.

This isn’t as big of a problem as it sounds,

8

as Hanks is always welcome on the screen, but there was something missing, that extra oomph that prevented it from being a surefire Oscar.

Meanwhile, the rest of the cast is relatively underused. Aaron Eckhart is given a decent amount to work with, but in a film called “Sully,” relegating much to the first officer doesn’t fit the bill of sensationalism.

Powerhouse Laura Linney is wasted on a role that gives her nothing but a few phone conversations with Sully. Meanwhile, underrated actors Mike O’Malley and Anna Gunn are given a smidge of material to work with, but nothing compared to the bravura work Gunn put in with “Equity.” This is all Hanks’s show, which is fine if you aren’t wasting any other incredible talent.

“Sully” looks pretty, for the most part.

Director Clint Eastwood utilized shooting with IMAX digital cameras, which its effects, even in a normal theater, are greatly utilized.

There’s a clear, almost surreal feel to the film, making us feel like we are in just as much disbelief as Sully and the passengers of the flight. Unfortunately, I was unable to catch the film in IMAX, as the press screening was presented solely on digital 2.35:1, but the benefits of shooting on such high detail SEPT. 13 - SEPT. 19, 2016

cameras felt worthwhile.

“Sully” takes a while to get started, if only for its odd structure of showing the aftermath of the crash before the actual crash, but once the film takes the dive back to the fateful event, “Sully” shines. The landing sequence was one of the more expertly done sequences in any film I’ve seen this year. This is the time where I thought I need to see the film again just for its IMAX sequences, as the film makes the best of natural scale. The film uses the best angles and movements to make the audience feel as small as possible and to make this seemingly average size airplane feel gargantuan. The work that Eastwood does here is nothing short of spectacular.

“Sully” has a lot of good going for it, but it doesn’t mask the iffy things going on throughout the film. Hanks is quite good as Sully, but it often times feels too much like Hanks than it does Sully. The film is gorgeous to look at for the most part, but grows thin in the scenes not directly involving the crash.

The supporting cast is generally wasted and it’s far too short to really involve an audience for anything beyond a few weeks of memory.

“Sully” does a lot of good things, but it just doesn’t do anything particularly memorable either.

NINERTIMES

Photo courtesy of Relativity Media

“The Disappointments Room” brings truth to its title HUNTER HEILMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Little did I know that after “The Lazarus Effect,” it would be a long time before I ever saw the Relativity Media logo before a film again. Now, while I still haven’t seen one since (this film was released under their rebooted Rogue brand), it’s nice to know that they’re back with “The Disappointments Room,” a film I’ve been interested in for quite some time. What’s nice about the principle of “The Disappointments Room” is the fact that it has helped the N.C. film economy from being shot in Greensboro and Ramseur, so despite whatever I think about the film, I appreciate and respect its contributions to N.C. jobs and the film scene. “The Disappointments Room” is a bit of a strange film, if only because the film’s poster and trailer were only released less than three weeks ago, which is easily the quickest turnaround I’ve ever seen for a film like this. Originally touted a dual theater and video-on-demand (VOD) release, the film has since settled into a theatrical release without VOD plans.

And yet it somehow still feels cheap enough to be on VOD. “The Disappointments Room” isn’t an awful film per se, but it’s a seriously misguided one in need of a good trim. The film feels like two separate thrillers rolled into one, without any sort of cohesion. On one hand, “The Disappointments Room”

is a standard supernatural horror film about a typical white family moving into a new country house that just happens to be haunted.

The other film within it is a film about the effects of a mother’s grief, à la “The Babadook.” Neither one is as good as the better films in their sub-genres, but the latter sub-genre is the one that works far better than the former.

Despite this, I can at least say that Kate Beckinsale was fantastic as Dana, a mother grieving after the death of her infant child and moving from Brooklyn to rural North Carolina with her husband, David (Mel Raido) and her son, Lucas (Duncan Joiner). Upon moving into their grand, yet dilapidated house, Dana soon realizes that the house she’s in holds a far more sinister history than what anyone expected, all held in a mysterious locked room in the attic known plainly as a disappointments room, where rich families would imprison their disabled children. As Dana investigates the history of the house, she begins to realize the line between fantasy and reality is becoming more and more blurred.

“The Disappointments Room” is a unforgivingly cliché horror film that could easily be exchanged for any other horror film of its kind without notice. There are a few things, though, that do keep “The

ACROSS 1 Is blessed with, as talent 4 Creator of Finn and Sawyer 9 Leave rolling in the aisles 13 That, in Spain 14 “Olde” store 15 Ring over an angel 16 Crustacean catcher 18 Out of town 19 Intent 20 OB/GYN procedure 21 Hiding spot for a cheater’s ace 22 Put off bedtime 25 Weapon in Clue 27 Brewery product 30 “Defending our rights” org.

33 Electrified atoms 34 Scans for injured athletes, briefly 35 __ Mawr College 36 Piece of pizza 37 To-do list entry 38 Worse-than-one’s-bite

quality 39 Online TV giant 40 Since, in a holiday song 41 Fifi’s friend 42 Slip for a tardy student 45 Like the Arctic, compared to most of the planet 47 Two-base hit 51 Debate issue 53 Illness characterized by a red rash 54 Soon, to a bard 55 Decorator’s wall prettifier 58 Subtle look 59 Lion groups 60 Former AT&T rival 61 Former fast planes 62 Unemotional 63 Bladed gardening tool DOWN 1 Makes a difference 2 “I won’t tell __!”

3 Buffalo hockey player

4 Title venue for Hemingway’s old man 5 Sported 6 Kindle download 7 Wall St. debut 8 Volleyball barrier 9 SeaWorld star 10 Backyard bash 11 Jai __ 12 String-around-yourfinger toy 14 Cooking appliance 17 Explore caves 20 Sailor’s word of obedience 22 Information that ruins the ending 23 Costner/Russo golf film 24 Basilica recess 26 Water down 28 Bank claim 29 Salinger’s “With Love and Squalor” girl 30 Palindromic pop group 31 Study all night 32 Keats or Byron, e.g.

34 Pageant title with 51 contestants (the 50 states plus D.C.) 36 Roe source 42 Partners’ legal entity: Abbr.

43 Madison Ave. bigwig 44 Most TV “operas” 46 Sounds from sties 48 “Mutiny on the Bounty” captain 49 Slow movement 50 Perfumer Lauder 51 Four-note lights-out tune 52 Singles 53 Prefix with care 55 Collectors’ albums ... and a hint to six puzzle answers 56 Gallery collection 57 Chihuahua uncle

Cont. on page 10

NINERTIMES.COM

SEPT. 13 - SEPT. 19, 2016

9

“SULLY” QUICK INFO

Directed by: Clint Eastwood Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Mike O’Malley, Anna Gunn, Jamey Sheridan, Holt McCallany.

Runtime: 95 minutes Rating: PG-13 for some peril and brief strong language.

Also available in IMAX Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Flashlight Films production/a Kennedy/Marshall Company production, a Malpaso production, “Sully”

“THE DISAPPOINTMENTS ROOM” QUICK INFO

Directed by: D.J. Caruso Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Mel Raido, Celia Weston, with Gerald McRaney and Lucas Till Runtime: 93 minutes Rating: R for violent content, bloody images, some sexuality and language.

Photo courtesy of Relativity Media

‘THE DISAPPOINTMENTS ROOM’, cont.

Disappointments Room” from being a complete and utter disaster. As noted above, Beckinsale is fantastic as Dana. While the first half of the film is mostly just her walking around looking distressed, there is a scene in the final act of the film that takes place at a dinner table that showcases many of Beckinsale’s talents as an actress, even if it does feel out of place to the rest of the film. The film’s atmosphere is another strong point of the film. While the film does indulge in quite a few jump scares, the film does its best with the N.C. wilderness to paint a scene.

Perhaps my bias towards being in North Carolina contributes to this, but it still is nice regardless.

There’s just one small problem with “The Disappointments Room”: it’s not scary, at all. As atmospheric as the film wants to be, the film takes and takes and takes from other, better horror films of the past. It’s a bit shameless at some points, which makes the film hard to enjoy at some points. Director D.J. Caruso, while not known for being a particularly thorough filmmaker, still seems to be on autopilot here, not doing much with what he has and being unable to cover up a modest budget.

This lack in finesse makes “The Disappointments Room” feel incredibly cheap in some scenes, while some of the film’s awkward camera angles and movements

10

don’t do it any favors as well.

“The Disappointments Room” also tends to think that it’s a lot more clever than it actually is, favoring patting itself on the back for being “edgy” rather than actually being scary. While the film is rated R, it doesn’t feel deserved.

If anything, it feels like a PG-13 film that inserted a few usages of “f*ck” and a few more drops of blood than a typical horror film, “The Disappointments Room” is no more edgy than your typical PG13 horror film. A wolf in sheep’s clothing is still a wolf.

Forgive me for indulging, but “The Disappointments Room” is pretty disappointing. From all the potential that rural North Carolina holds for creepy, atmospheric horror, it feels almost completely wasted here in this cliché and generally unscary horror film.

Beckinsale is a good enough actress to make “Jem and the Holograms” seem good, so it’s no surprise that her performance here is fine tuned and well-played, but it’s so much more of shame from that when “The Disappointments Room” ends up being so tepid.

I’m glad to see North Carolina featured so heavily in a film, as I’m glad to see Relativity back in action, but if they plan to keep either things afloat, major renovations are needed, and the next one should remove their disappointments room altogether.

Rogue presents, in association with Los Angeles Media Fund, a Relativity Studios, Media Talent Group, Demarest production, a film by D.J. Caruso, “The Disappointments Room”

SEPT. 13 - SEPT. 19, 2016

NINERTIMES

BEAUTY REVIEW:

Ambi Skin Care Even & Clear 3 Step Skin Care Regimen TORI SUMMERS INTERN

Do you want your skin to be smooth and have a natural glow? Are you tired of those unwanted breakouts on your forehead, chin, cheek and nose?

Well, there is a product just for you! Ambi Skin Care Even & Clear is a skin care collection designated for African-American skin complexions. Its formula treats skin discolorations to give an even skin tone and it prevents breakouts from occurring. This product is also hypoallergenic, oil-free, rich in Vitamins C&E and contains salicylic acid. You can purchase this product at Wal-Mart or Target for a starting price of $7.

For those of you who are looking for a skin care regimen to keep your acne under control, here is a 3-step regimen that I use that you can follow to achieve your desired result for healthy looking skin.

Step 1: Ambi Skin Care Even & Clear Foaming Cleanser (6 oz.)

When starting a new skin regimen, it is best to try a product that does not have a fragrance. Products with a fragrance tend to be the main cause of skin irritation. The Clear Foaming Cleanser is a white foam that is light with no fragrance and easy to apply. It comes with a pump and can be carried inside your purse. To make sure you are using the product effectively, follow these instructions: First, damp your face with a wet warm rag to open-up your pores. Then, pump the product into your hand three times. Next, take your hands and apply the foam all over your face and lather the product in a circular motion. To help makeup come off effortlessly, use a facial scrub brush for deeper cleansing. Finally, rinse your face with warm water and use a towel to pat your face dry. This product will leave your skin feeling smooth and clean. If you suffer from extremely dry skin, this cleanser will leave your skin feeling refreshed.

After the skin has been exfoliated, you must replenish your skin with a protective barrier. This unique moisturizer built in has SPF 30 sunscreen, so not only will your skin be restored with moisture, but your skin is protected from the sun’s UV rays.

Ambi’s daily moisturizer comes with a pump and has the texture of lotion. Simply apply the product like you would apply lotion to your face and continue with your day. For darker skin complexions, we tend to have issues with using sunscreen due to the difficulty of blending it without a white residue on our face being left behind. I’m ecstatic to share with you all that this moisturizer does not leave a white residue behind!

Results: Of course this skin care regimen will not work overnight, but I guarantee that if you use these products consistently, you will see a major difference in your skin!

Step 2: Ambi Skin Care Even & Exfoliating Wash (4 oz.)

The biggest mistake people make is not exfoliating their skin. After wearing make-up for a day, your pores begin to clog. This exfoliating wash contains microbeads that gently strips the dead skin off your face after it has been cleansed. Instead of a pump like the foam cleanser, you squeeze the product out of the container. One squeeze will be sufficient to apply to your face. The exfoliating wash has no fragrance and it does not irritate your skin. To make sure you are applying the product correctly follow these instructions: First, make sure you are applying this product to clean skin. Squeeze the product into your hand and apply it on your face in a circular motion just like you did previously with the facial cleanser. Next, let it sit on your face for 2-3 minutes. Finally, rinse the product off your face with warm water and use a towel to pat your face dry. You will notice that your skin will appear more vibrant.

Step 3: Ambi Skin Care Even & Clear Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 (3 oz.)

The most important step in a skincare regimen is a daily moisturizer.

NINERTIMES.COM

SEPT. 13 - SEPT. 19, 2016

11

HOW TO: GREEN JUICE SARAH RO STAFF WRITER

Juicing has been all the hype in major fitness-frenzy cities such as Los Angeles, New York City and Chicago with new pop-ups businesses opening left and right. Recently however, juice shops have been making their way down to Charlotte, N.C. (perhaps a sign that we are indeed a modern, growing city?). Some of the popular ones include Juice Bar on Park Road, Clean Juice at Stonecrest and Viva Raw in Uptown Charlotte.

As most things, there are pros and cons to purchasing juices at these stores. The pro is the juice itself, which is made of multiple fresh ingredients and packed with vitamins essential to your body. The con however, is the price. Sold at $6 for a small sized cup, it is definitely not an average college student’s budget-friendly drink.

On the bright side, juicing is something that can be done at the convenience of your home for a much cheaper price. Though purchasing a juicer is an upfront investment, there are many low-priced options available at retail stores such

as Target and Walmart ranging from $40-50.

Remember, this is only a one-time cost and quite worth the investment that will break-even the cost of buying a few cups of green juice at a store.

In addition, buying fresh ingredients at the local supermarket for about four cups of green juice will cost around $10, which eventually leads to each cup costing about $2.50. Let’s think about that: $2.50 a cup compared to $6 a cup- quite a large saving especially if you continue to drink green juice on the regular.

This recipe includes both fresh greens and fruits providing you with a healthy sweet and slightly sour juice that tastes and makes you feel amazing. Drinking green juice in the morning is a great way to start your day by fueling your body with much needed vitamins and nutrients.

It also fills you up for a few hours, so considering adding it or making it an alternative to breakfast for a couple days as a trial run.

Green Juice Recipe Ingredients: -2 apples -2 stalks of celery -1 cucumber -6 leaves of kale -½ lemon, peeled 1. Wash all ingredients thoroughly and safely chop into smaller pieces.

2. Turn on the juicer and place a cup or thermos under the peak.

3. Place ingredients into the juicer and push down with presser.

4. After all ingredients have been used, turn off the juicer and enjoy your fresh, green juice!

VANESSA MARTINEZ INTERN

“Other than giving me communication and writing skills, I don’t feel like I was that prepared for marketing and advertising as a whole. But that is also because I don’t feel like UNCC’s Marketing and Advertising department is as strong as other departments. Take the Finance department as an example; the school puts all of their efforts toward the finance department, whom by the way are making pawns to ship off to Bank of America or Wells Fargo.

I have learned way more at internships than I ever have in school.

I’ve interned at Alter Imaging, which is a small agency. There I learned Google analytics, SEO’s, and ad-words. It exposed me to a world of digital marketing and digital advertising analytics.

After that I did a little work for a startup, and after that I took an internship at Addison Whitney –a brand strategy firm. I learned about brand architecture, brand nomenclature and of course brand strategy. It was tons of research and reporting. Now I am at Tattoo Projects. I wanted something creative and so far it’s been real.”

-Dustin Dodd

12

SEPT. 13 - SEPT. 19, 2016

NINERTIMES