INSIDE THIS EDITION: FALL FEST PETITION RAISED TO APPOINT CHIEF OF DIVERSITY IN LIGHT OF CHANGING SOCIAL CLIMATE AND RECENT EVENTS IN CHARLOTTE
WOMEN’S SOCCER HONORS ITS SENIORS AFTER THEIR FINAL GAME OF THE REGULAR SEASON
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OCT. 18 - OCT. 24, 2016
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DISCOVER THE MUST DO’S AT THE N.C. STATE FAIR IN RALEIGH THIS YEAR
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PETITION STARTED TO APPOINT CHIEF OF DIVERSITY Need for chief of diversity postion among University administration due to growing diversity of campus, recent events ANNIE YOUNG STAFF WRITER
Due to increasing student enrollment each year and recent riots and protests that have occurred in Uptown, a UNC Charlotte faculty member has started a petition that would include a new chief of diversity position. Regarding recent events in the Charlotte area and student protests on campus, UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip Dubois has encouraged students to exercise their right to speak about the recent conflicts. Dr. Jan Warren-Findlow, the Master in Public Health (MPH) program director and professor for the Department of Public Health has recently created a petition urging Dubois to add a chief of diversity position to UNC Charlotte administration. “The idea to create a petition came about during a community circle meeting in the Union,” said WarrenFindlow. “The petition is not just in response to the recent events in Charlotte, but to the overarching theme of a growing diverse population at UNC Charlotte.” According to the petition that was created online, it states that many universities that are similar to UNC Charlotte in size and student population have a chief of diversity officer among their administration. The petition specifically notes UNC Chapel Hill as an example of a UNC system school to have such a position. The petition also states that whoever would hold the position
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Students protest outside the Student Union after the death of Keith Lamont Scott. Photo by Pooja Pasupula
of chief of diversity would advance plans for UNC Charlotte’s Diversity Plan and its many diversity initiatives. Additionally, the position would improve official responses in regards to incidents of violence, intolerance and other offenses linked to racial discrimination. The Future of the Faculty Committee also recommended to Dubois that the University establish a chief of diversity position last year. Upon learning about the petition,
Dubois provided a statement. “As Chancellor, I believe that it is my duty and responsibility to serve as chief diversity officer,” Dubois said. Since his appointment as chancellor of the University in 2005, Dubois has used this viewpoint in his decision towards diversity related issues. Since his 2006 installation remarks, he has encouraged the Council on University Community to
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work individually and as a team to welcome diversity and address any issues that arise. “That council is comprised of the vice chancellors of academic affairs, student affairs, business affairs, and university advancement and the director of athletics. These individuals are responsible, individually and collectively, for ensuring that diversity issues are Cont. on page 4
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PETITION, cont. addressed in each and every division of the university,” Dubois said. To support the council, Dubois has funded $150,000 each year for the council to hold diversity events, bring in speakers and many other initiates to promote diversity and inclusion. Dubois also ensures that the University’s business connections reflect the same inclusion that the UNC Charlotte community does. These actions have been locally and nationally recognized over the past several years. “It is very encouraging to know the Chancellor supports (diversity) events on campus and the freedom for civic engagement,” WarrenFindlow said. She agrees that the University has done a good job with inclusion and supporting diversity; yet with the growing numbers of the UNC Charlotte community she believes that a chief of diversity would suit the University well. “We all need to be leaders … This is an opportunity to improve the campus,” Warren-Findlow said. “I encourage students and staff to read the petition and sign it if they are in agreeance with it.” Information about the petition was sent out through several student groups and by word of mouth. “This is just one possible solution to the growing population of UNC Charlotte,” Warren-Findlow said. Chancellor Dubois offered some closing remarks regarding the petition and his stance inclusion on campus. “I remain committed to ensuring that UNC Charlotte creates a climate of open discussion, civility and inclusion on campus, as is called for in the petition … I acknowledged my responsibility as Chancellor to bringing coherence, visibility and accountability to our efforts, and I continue to hold myself and my senior team accountable for doing that,” Dubois said. To view the petition visit: https:// www.change.org/p/chancellor-phildubois-hire-a-chief-diversity-officerfor-unc-charlotte.
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Photo by Natasha Moorehouse
UNC CHARLOTTE CELEBRATES FOURTH ANNUAL HOMECOMING NICK CROPPER NEWS EDITOR
To celebrate the fourth annual homecoming for UNC Charlotte’s football team, the University held a week of different events. The kickoff for homecoming started Oct. 11. The following day Grammy nominated rapper Wale was featured at the 2016 Homecoming Concert held in Halton Arena. The final events before UNC Charlotte’s homecoming game were the Homecoming Parade and Union Takeover. Music echoed down Craver Road as students gathered for the parade Oct. 14. Outside the newly renamed Popp and Martin Student Union, students, staff, faculty and Charlotte community members gathered to watch the procession. Food, T-shirts and foam axes were provided to spectators during the event. The first float in the parade wasn’t so much of a float as a person. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs was the first person in the parade. While traveling down Craver Road, it was announced that Jackson would be
retiring from his position at the University at the end of the school year. Dozens of floats dedicated to UNC Charlotte organizations, the homecoming court nominees and performances from groups in the Charlotte Community followed Jackson. Some of the floats to follow Jackson were: a car from the UNC Charlotte Motorsports program, students enrolled in the Air Force ROTC, a performance from the UNC Charlotte step team Prancing Pridettes, the Jamil Niner Student Pantry, the UNC Charlotte Gold dusters and the Student Government Association. The parade ended with a short performance from the Pride of Niner Nation Marching Band. Several UNC Charlotte fraternities and sororities were also represented during the parade. Directly after the parade, attendants were invited into the Popp and Martin Student Union for the annual Union Takeover as part of homecoming week.
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The inside of the Union was decorated with green and gold streamers. There were different games and activities on the first floor that people could participate in towards the end of the night. Attendants could take photos of themselves using a photo booth, play airhockey and shoot arcade basketball, to name a few activities. For homecoming king, the nominees were: Byron Harris, Charles McLean, Daniel Watson, Estevan Torres, Kevin Fauntleroy, Preston Bumgarner and Xavier Brathwaite. The nominees for homecoming queen were: Danielle Papandrea, Georgina Boateng, Jennifer Tisdale, Jessie Puffer, Justice White, Justyce Watson and Katie Bonilla. The students who would be crowned king and queen were announced during the halftime of the Charlotte 49ers football homecoming game against Florida International Panthers Oct. 15. Harris and White were crowned the 2016 homecoming king and queen.
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Buddy Walk prepares for third year in Jerry Richardson Stadium NICK CROPPER NEWS EDITOR
The 1-mile fun run/walk known as the Buddy Walk is set to return to UNC Charlotte Oct. 22. The annual Buddy Walk, put on by the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte (DSAGC), will return to Jerry Richardson Stadium for itss third year at the University and will take place from 2-6 p.m. During the event, families set up different tents and walk as teams with their children who have down syndrome. Some families like to name their teams after the child who is affected by Down syndrome. Last year, Lariviere had a team set up for her son who was born with Down syndrome. There will be bounce houses, arts and crafts and different games to play while waiting for the walk to start. Additionally, there will be more fun to have once the walk finished on the field of Jerry Richardson Stadium. Each year, the Buddy Walk serves to increase Down syndrome inclusiveness in the Charlotte community. It is also used as the single largest fundraiser that the DSAGC holds each year. “People will see an inclusive community. They’ll see kids with Down syndrome of all ages out there, just being a part of the group,” said Lariviere. Similar to last year, many UNC Charlotte organizations are volunteering during the event.
Students in Greek life on campus are signed up to volunteer. Members of UNC Charlotte athletics also volunteer during the event and play games with the kids. “Everybody at UNC Charlotte has been wonderful to work with,” Buddy Walk Executive Director Kathryn Lariviere said. Last year, the Buddy Walk attracted 3,300 attendees and raised $204,000. This year, Lariviere hopes that attendance will be at least on par with what it was last year, attracting over 3,000 people, and hopes that they can raise $225,000, a goal that the DSAGC has already started collecting donations for. They have already reached over half that amount. “It’s more than just about Down syndrome, it’s about realizing that everybody is different and benefiting from being with people who have differences,” said Lariviere. “The Buddy Walk is our chance to show that individuals with down syndrome are valued members of the community,” To donate or to learn more about the event, visit the DSAGC’s website at: http://www.dsa-gc.org/. The event is free and open to the public.
POLICE BLOTTER OCT. 7-13 ACCIDENT OCT. 7
• South Village Deck, officer took a report regarding a hit and run.
OCT. 10
• Cameron Boulevard, driver of vehicle one exited lot 6 into oncoming traffic and struck vehicle two, which was traveling in the east bound lane on Cameron Boulevard. No injuries were reported.
OCT. 13
• Alumni Way, while backing, driver of vehicle two struck vehicle one, which was parked and unoccupied. No injuries were reported. • Lot 7, both vehicles were backing at the same time and struck each other. No injuries were reported.
INFORMATION ONLY OCT. 9
• Laurell Hall, officers responded in reference to a dispute occuring in Laurell Hall.
LARCENY OCT. 9
• Lot 25, officer responded in reference to a breaking and entering.
OCT. 11
• NERF, unknown person(s) broken the window of a vehicle and removed items without permission.
VANDALISM OCT. 8
• Lot 6A, an unknown vehicle struck a light pole causing it to break from the base.
Families fill Jerry Richardson Stadium during previous Buddy Walk. Niner Times file photo
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OCT. 18 - OCT. 24, 2016
For more information on Mecklenburg County arrests, visit arrestinquiryweb.co.mecklenburg.nc.us
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TREVOR WILT SPORTS EDITOR
GET A KLUGH
After scoring, this player can likely be found getting in the faces of his own defense on the bench, hyping them up for their next assignment on the field. Husaan Klugh, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound quarterback originally from nearby Central Cabarrus High School, has been named the starting QB and Niner Nation and the rest of his teammates are already seeing a culture change on the field. “You can feel the energy and the life he brings,” defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi said. “You almost want to go out there and give him the ball back. My boy is out there balling and giving his all, and I have to do the same for him.” Before the 2016 season started for the Charlotte 49ers football team, Klugh was known by most fans as the “backup quarterback from NC A&T.” After performing at a high level for the Charlotte offense, fans will soon call him the “starting quarterback for the 49ers.” Klugh grew up in Concord, N.C., about 20 minutes away from Jerry Richardson Stadium and was raised with five brothers and two sisters. All his brothers played football, making it one of his first loves at an early age. “I started out when I was about 4 or 5,” Klugh said. “I started out at center actually. My brother played quarterback and I played receiver when we were little.” After switching positions with his brother and becoming a quarterback, Klugh found a love for the position and worked his way to become the starting quarterback years later at Central Cabarrus. “High school was just a really good opportunity,” Klugh said. “Towards my junior year, we got a new coach, Donnie Keifer, and we went 8-4 my junior year. He turned the program around.” After showing that he was one
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Hasaan Klugh runs the ball against ODU. Photo by Chris Crews
of the best quarterbacks in the Southern Piedmont Conference, Klugh and Keifer made a strong connection for his senior year, going 11-2, helping put Klugh’s name on many recruiting boards. “The first school to reach out to me was actually Charlotte,” Klugh said. “It was my first offer. It was amazing. I felt like it was a dream.” Although Klugh enjoyed what the 49ers had to offer while still in high school, Klugh received an offer from North Carolina A&T and committed. “It was a fun experience. They had what I wanted to go to school for: electrical engineering,” Klugh said. “I felt like it was a good environment.” Appearing in seven games and starting in three of those, Klugh threw for 422 yards and one touchdown and two interceptions. After enjoying his time at NC A&T, he wanted to come back home to Charlotte and play in front of his home fans and family. “Coach [Phil] Ratliff was my recruiting coordinator and he had a huge part to do with recruiting and my life,” Klugh said. “Just having a great guy like him made me think that this was a great place to be and I’m very thankful for it.” Making his way back to the
Concord area, Klugh had to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules, allowing him to learn how to take something positive out of a difficult situation. “It was hard at first but after a while, I thought of it as an opportunity,” Klugh said. “It was good to sit back and watch others. I learned something each week from all the guys.” After a rough 2-10 year for the Charlotte football team during his redshirt season, it was time for Klugh to make a name for himself in a 49er uniform. But Klugh was not the only one battling for the start at quarterback. Kevin Olsen, transfer quarterback from Riverside (Calif.) City College and formally a 4-star recruit out of New Jersey, competed with Klugh all summer long, earning the spot over Klugh just before the annual GreenWhite scrimmage. “Kevin beat me out for the position and I’m thankful to have a guy like him around me,” Klugh said. “I knew that I had to get better and it pushed me to get better. I wouldn’t want anybody else in the country to compete with.” With Olsen under center, the 49ers dropped to 1-4, including a 17-52
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loss to rival, Old Dominion. It was difficult to find any positive signs for the fourth year program, having high hopes that Olsen was going to be the player that could help put the 49ers on the map. Although Lambert continued to go to Olsen as the starter through the first five games, Klugh got time in four of the games, but not having a large enough sample size to know if he should be named the starter over Olsen in coach Lambert’s eyes. The leash got shorter and shorter for Olsen, finally snapping the day after their lopsided loss to ODU. That Sunday, coach Lambert told Klugh he would be the starter for the game against Florida Atlantic. Although it’s nice to say that the preparation should be the same moving from the backup quarterback to the starter, it’s not that easy of a transition. “I had to be a lot more serious about everything,” Klugh said. “I had to get in there and watch film a lot more.” After being told he was going to be the starter, Klugh had to make some quick calls to his family. “The first person I called was my brother. He was happy for me and told me to take full advantage of it and just go out and ball. My dad told me the same thing. He was the second person I called.” Klugh did nothing but impress in his first start for Charlotte, leading the 49ers to a 28-23 victory in Miami, completing 14-of-17 passes for 223 yards, and throwing for three touchdowns. The dual-threat quarterback also rushed 14 times for 76 yards and a touchdown. “The team was there for me, and told me that they had my back,” Klugh said. “I felt like those words encouraged me and made me want to go out there and ball. I wouldn’t want to be around another group of players. “
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SO CLOSE, BUT SO FAR AWAY
ZACH TIMMONS STAFF WRITER
Looking to build momentum after last week’s thrilling win against Florida Atlantic, the Charlotte 49ers took the field to face the Florida International Panthers in their homecoming game. In a nail biter, the Niners came up just short as the Panthers barely escaped Richardson Stadium with a W, 27-26. The first quarter was very sloppy, as both teams traded fumbles. The Panthers finally got on the board first when quarterback Alex McGough ran the ball in from 19 yards out. However, Charlotte responded quickly in the second frame. Quarterback Hasaan Klugh fired a 12-yard strike to receiver Workpeh Kofa, who eluded more defenders on his way to the end zone. The Charlotte defense shined the remainder of the half. Defensive back Ben DeLuca recorded his second interception when he caught McClough’s errant pass down the sideline. The Charlotte defense also stopped the Panthers on fourth down right before the half. The two teams traded field goals and went into the half deadlocked at 10 apiece. At the 8:57 mark of the third quarter, the Charlotte offensive line opened up a big hole, allowing Klugh to waltz into the end zone from 12 yards out. FIU managed another field goal in the quarter, but those were the only points they got. Meanwhile, Charlotte’s Robert Washington scored on a 3-yard scamper at the beginning of the fourth. However, the extra point attempt following Washington’s score was blocked, keeping the score at 23-13. This would end up being one of the key plays of the game. Placekicker Stephen Muscarello knocked in a 32-yard field goal for Charlotte, but the Panthers came storming back. McClough moved the offense up the field quickly and found AJ Bransield in the end zone with 4:21 left. Charlotte tried to run
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out the clock but was stopped by the Panther defense. On the ensuing punt, the Niners were flagged 15 yards for a late hit out of bounds, which aided the Panthers’ drive. A few plays later, the Niners were flagged for pass interference, which again drew the ire of the crowd. Aided by the penalties, McClough easily found Jonnu Smith from nine yards out taking the one-point lead with less than a minute remaining on the clock. The Niners tried to get in field goal range. They successfully recorded two first downs, but they settled for a 49-yard field goal attempt. The ball fell short of the uprights and the Panthers walked out victorious. Washington finished with 33 yards on six carries, and backfield teammate Kalif Phillips finished with 99 yards on 24 carries. Klugh showed his versatility, finishing with 95 yards on 14 carries in addition to throwing 21-31 for 171 yards, one touchdown, one rushing touchdown
and interception. Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi was disappointed with the loss, but knows that he needs to keep the end goals in sight. “I’ve been through every homecoming we’ve had here, and we’ve lost them all. I felt like this was the special one. You want to start that tradition. You can’t have a legacy and a dynasty until you build one. But, like I said, our goals are still in tact. We’re not gonna hang our heads. We’re gonna come back to work next week, and focus on what we can do better,” Ogunjobi said. He continued to talk about how the 49ers can use the defeat they keep feeling as a learning experience. “Learning how to win is learning how to take these tough losses and then beating everybody else. That’s how you learn how to win: you learn to never have this feeling again,” Ogunjobi said. Charlotte will take the field again next week at 5:30 p.m. at Marshall.
Player Highlights LARRY OGUNJOBI, DB 10 total tackles 4.5 tackles for loss (ties career high)
KALIF PHILLIP, RB Rushed for 109 yards 14th game with over 100 rushing yards
HASAAN KLUGH, QB 21-31 with 171 passing yards 99 rushing yards Photos by Chris Crews and Leysha Caraballo
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SOCCER HONORS SENIORS KATHLEEN COOK SPORTS EDITOR
The Charlotte women’s soccer team had their final homestand of the regular season this past weekend. Before their 4-0 victory against Louisiana Tech on Friday the five seniors on the team were honored.
zone that you find things you enjoy. You have a better experience when you go out of your element,” Walker said.
Katie O’Neill
Rebecca Beatty
The 5-foot-7 midfielder came to Charlotte from Mandeville, La. and is one of three captains on the team this season. She has totaled nine goals for the 49ers, three of which were game-winners. Beatty joined Martha Thomas during her junior season as the only Niners with multiple game-winning goals after the Winthrop and FIU matches. The pre-public health major and psychology minor has started 41 matches during her time in the Queen City. Coming all the way from the bayou, Beatty was homesick when she first arrived on campus. From soccer, however, Beatty found her home in Charlotte. “From coming in freshman year, I really struggled coming 12 hours away and forming a relationship with them really helped. By October I loved Charlotte. I told my mom I wanted to transfer, but then by October I had to tell her ‘Nevermind, I love it here,’ and I think bonding with my class helped,” Beatty said.
Shelby Hicks
After kicking off her senior season with two assists against Western Carolina, Shelby Hicks has had a solid senior season. She has recorded assists her junior year against Georgia Southern and her sophomore year against UNC Wilmington. Her junior year Hicks played in the full 90 minutes of a game four times, registering a seasonhigh 93 minutes when Charlotte took on North Texas. She earned a spot on the All-Conference USA
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The five seniors and coaching staff on senior night. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Athletics
Academic Second Team after her sophomore year. To highlight her freshman year, the exercise science major snagged a starting spot in the Conference USA Championship quarterfinal. The biggest difference Hicks has seen over her time with Charlotte is bonds within the team. The seniors made it a priority to create relationships with all of their teammates, especially the freshmen. “We definitely got a lot closer with the freshmen. When I was a freshman coming in I was really scared of the seniors and we weren’t really close. Now the teams really meshes,” Hicks said.
Perri Bonner
Acquiring a major in in political science and a minor in women’s and gender studies is Perri Bonner. The Atlanta native has been on the field for at least 10 games every year she’s been a 49er. During her sophomore year, Bonner racked up a career-high four goals. The forward has made an impact during her senior season claiming responsibility for two game-winner goals against Georgia State and Georgia Southern. The lessons learned by Bonner and her teammates extend well beyond the soccer field.
“Every year we’ve had a minimum of 20 girls you have to be stuck with for months and get along with. It’s given us real life experience that we can use when we move on from soccer,” Bonner said.
Kaitlin Walker
Hailing from Apex, N.C. is the midfield defender Kaitlin Walker. Walker has been a force on the field, starting every game her final season at Charlotte. The exercise science major is one of three captains for the 49ers this season. Walker’s solo career goal came against the College of Charleston her freshman year. She tallied another point with an assist her junior season against UAB. One thing Walker has found during her time with Charlotte is a never failing support system. “It’s hard to transition from living at home and having everything taken care of for you and then coming to college where there are some times when it’s hard. In those times you really have to lean on your teammates and they become kind of like your family,” Walker said. Playing soccer has taught the N.C. native valuable life lessons. “It’s when you leave your comfort
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Joining the 49ers late was transfer Katie O’Neill. A history major, American studies minor, O’Neill made up for lost time on the field the past two seasons. She led the team in assists with a career-high six assists last season. The New Jersey native received All-Conference USA Third Team honors for her junior season. She continued to make an impact during her senior season, claiming responsibility for four assists. O’Neill had a memorable senior night when she scored a hat trick, recording her first hat trick during her time in Charlotte. Being on the soccer team helped O’Neill when she transferred to the Queen City from Binghamton in time for her junior season. “One of the best things about this experience is that you come in with twenty something automatic friends. You don’t have to go through some of the other struggles that a normal college student would have to go through. By the time you leave you get to hang on to these friends for life,” O’Neill said. Over her years playing soccer, O’Neill has gained a new perspective when it comes to putting in the work necessary to succeed. “You come in freshman year and everything you’re doing is new. Then you go through and do it every single year. By senior year, everything you ever hated or complained about all gets put into perspective to the point where you wish you could still do this forever, but you can’t. Each year as you move on you start to appreciate things more and more,” O’Neill said.
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MYTHS ABOUT METAL KALYAN CHAVALI INTERN
What image does heavy metal music paint in your brain? Is it the growling vocals and ultra high distortion guitar? Is it the gross and scary album covers? Bonus points if you said yes to both! For the best or the worst, these images are being associated to metal music of today. What’s appalling is the fact that such impressions prevent people from getting into metal music at all. I may not be able change that, but I may clear up some misconceptions. Metal is a relatively new kind of music, taking birth with bands like Black Sabbath in the United Kingdom. It is heavily influenced by the hard rock music of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin in the 1970s. Heavy metal music seemed to correlate to the economic decline and adverse conditions in the United Kingdom at the time. Like many rock and punk albums, this music seemed to be the voice of an anti-establishment, giving voice to the disenfranchised youth of the time. The emotion of protest in the music carried over to the next generations, improving and influencing the bands to come. And that’s all there is to it. While many mainstream songs and albums try to portray many different emotions, heavy metal music was designed to portray a select few: anger, protest, despair and sorrow among others. That explains a lot of growling, distortion and other heavy elements in it. Until 1985-90, not many metal bands even considered growling for vocals. There were fantastic singers like Bruce Dickinson, James Hetfield, etc., who sang and still sing in plain vocals. The point is to put emotion in the faces of listeners and they did fine without the growling. Growling isn’t bad either as it will help cement the emotion and get you into the feel. A myth about metal in general is that it is barbaric and cruel. Nothing could be further from the truth. It takes incredible talent to make metal music in the first place and many musicians are highly intelligent, writing complex themes in their songs. Listen to Metallica’s “One” or Iron Maiden’s “Infinite Dreams” for example. Most lyrics in metal songs are surprisingly complex and require a bit of intelligence to fully appreciate them. Also contrary to the popular belief metal music actually makes listeners calm and happy.
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Iron Maiden has been around since 1975 and still performs today. Photo courtesy of Iron Maiden
The sheer energy in the songs is immense and listening to them is kind of an exercise. It excites people but also makes them focus their anger and depression on the songs making the songs an outlet for these emotions. A lot of people think metal music is antireligion (especially Christianity). There are some bands that sing about Satan and perpetuate general evil, but that’s just literal and the actual message is different. Like I said earlier, most metal bands seem to be anti-establishment. When religion becomes the establishment they tend to sing against it. So if in a song you hear praises for Satan, it actually means praises for freedom and independent thought. Metal music is different from mainstream music, obviously. But that difference comes in many forms. For starters, metal musicians seem to put their heart and soul in making a song. Incredible talent in playing the guitar, bass and drums is often not enough for making a great OCT. 18 - OCT. 24, 2016
song. Many songs feature complex compositions, different time signatures, over-the-top vocals and great music from instruments. I can quote thousands of songs as example, but I’ll leave that as an exercise for the readers. Many metal bands have been great influences for people to learn and appreciate music, spawning more metal bands. Arguably the best metal band ever, Iron Maiden is said to be an influence of Metallica, Slipknot, Slayer and Lady Gaga, among countless other bands and musicians. Finally, Metal music is immensely diverse, consisting hundreds of sub-genres - each with a set of creative bands and loyal fans. What started as a heavier version of hard rock later branched out into death, thrash, black, nu and many other sub-genres. Any form of music combined with metal still remains metal and that is an essential quality to this amazingly electrifying genre of music. Anyone who wants to widen their musical horizons should definitely try metal.
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NETFLIX AND ILL VARUN KRISHNAN INTERN
How many of us are there who do not have a Netflix account? How many of us imagine ourselves having “fun” watching television shows on Netflix, or perhaps even a movie? How many of us imagine fun as lying in bed all day and surviving on junk even while the sun is shining bright outside, inviting us all to take a dose of Vitamin D. Why tire ourselves out when we can “enjoy” watching shows on our laptops or television, right? In my opinion, no. First, I do have a Netflix account and enjoyed watching “Breaking Bad.” It is handy having streaming accounts to watch what you like online at any time of your choice. But my point and question is, must Netflix consume all of our time? This question actually popped up into my head when I was discussing my undergrad life with one of my present roommates. He named a dozen television shows and I
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shook my head to all of them as I am not much of a television fan. He practically started laughing at me and asked what I did in my undergraduate life if I didn’t watch television shows. He asked if I was just a nerd who studied all day long to actually get a good GPA. I just laughed back to throw off the topic, while over a thousand images flashed in my head: of those late night highway strolls with my gang of friends, of evening football in the rain and coming back with shoes filled with rainwater and mud, the casual hop over to a friend’s rooms just to pull their leg or just make fun of them while they call their family or girlfriends. Even something like a late night walk to the highway makes me smile silly. If watching TV shows is life, what did I do? Technology meant to introduce a convenience, a service and a luxury. But it has now become a “distance-
creator” and has made man slaves of laptops and televisions. No longer do children and people wait for holidays, no longer do people call friends to enjoy a sport outside. Gone are the times when people want to plan an outing. The new definition of “fun” has unfortunately been reduced to just watching TV shows. What this has done is that it has created distance amongst people. Not only do people choose the idiot box (over idiot friends, of course), but this has also started to take a hit on people’s social interaction and mental health. For starters, it is very appealing to sit at home on a cozy day and watch TV shows but doing it all day is not particularly healthy. Followed by that is the tendency of us to bend our back due to our concentration. Add to this our work culture which again is not very back friendly and baam! Come mid-30s, hello
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spondylitis! Now speaking from the “humane” perspective. People have lost the interest in getting to know others because getting to know people involves hauling your lazy self to places may it be others homes or even a cafeteria. Life is losing its main thing: it’s no longer interactive. Sure, our laptops and televisions have made our “technological” and “virtual” life very interactive by offering a horde of features but a surge of human interaction with “user-interfaces” has seen a dip in the real world interaction between the “users.” It’s a difference so stark between our generation and the generation just before us that it’s both amazing and shocking. Consider a living situation of four people sharing a house. Let’s say 10 years back, you’d find almost at all points of time more than two people sitting in the main hall or some room cracking jokes, playing cards or doing something “fun”. Come 2016, enter a house and all you’ll find is four closed doors behind which shall be four people with their earphones plugged in watching something on their laptops over the internet. Anything taken to an extreme is too bad and in my opinion, an over-reliance on television shows and movies over people is downright stupidity. My judgement may be critical, but it comes from my personal experience and observations. While these online recreations are sure stress-busters, nothing will ever sound more fun to me than having “fun” with friends, even something as silly as playing cards. At least that entails some basic level of human interaction.
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Photo by Leysha Caraballo
WALE AND D.R.A.M. ILLUMINATE HOMECOMING
Two electrifying rappers take the stage at Halton Arena GINGER DUCHI STAFF WRITER
Watching D.R.A.M. can easily be described as hanging out with your hippy uncle after a holiday party. He gives you flirting tips and gives quick pep talks, telling you to “shoot your shot” and “spread love” all while single-handedly hyping you up. D.R.A.M. which stands for Does. Real. A**. Music, has made it into the music industry scoring features on Chance the Rapper’s recent “Coloring Book,” reminding people that they are special with an easy to listen to and fast to love special. He is more commonly known from his 2015 hit “Cha Cha” and more recently “Broccoli.” Although he doesn’t have a lot of music out there, he has a great following. While he performed, girls would scream “I LOVE YOU, I CAN TAKE CARE OF YOU!” serving as D.R.A.M’s personal hype crew. With a mind boggling vocal range creating beautiful harmonies, D.R.A.M. was the best way to take minds off midterms and let go for the night. To add to an explosion of a night, D.R.A.M jumped off stage to dance with the
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crowd, spinning girls and making the best part of a Snapchat story. Seriously, I’m still getting messages about how lit the concert looked and they’re completely right. With the crowd laughing and dancing, we eagerly waited for the feature artist, Wale. The wait gave Niners time to look around to the people standing with them, talk to the security staff and make new friends. Wale is a rapper from Washington D.C., holding BET Hip Hop awards for Best Club Banger and Best Collaboration, along with numerous nominations, including a Grammy nomination for “Lotus Flower Bomb.” Although he had a hurt throat, he still came out to give a good show. Obviously adored, he was gifted letters, jackets and snapbacks which he appreciatively wore during his set. With admirable audience participation, he jumped off the stage and ran up the stairs through the audience multiple times and when returning to the stage, making sure to sing to the sides of the OCT. 18 - OCT. 24, 2016
stadium, which is really dope considering more artists will only pay attention to the mosh pit standing in front of them. Overall the concert was great; there’s something about the vibe you get at concerts with excitement and the comradery of knowing that you are surrounded by people who either love the same music you love or are here to have a great time. This will not be one to forget. After the concert, D.R.A.M. took to Twitter, praising and thanking UNCC, “#UNCC was lit, thanks for the love!” The performance at UNC Charlotte was done in anticipation of D.R.A.M.’s new album, “Big Baby D.R.A.M.” due out this Friday, Oct. 21, rounding out his already incredible debut year. He is currently on his U.S. headlining tour, the “Spread Love Tour,” which lasts until February of next year. Meanwhile, Wale has been riding high ever since the release of his fourth album, “The Album About Nothing” in March 2015. He is also set to release a new album, “Shine,” later this year.
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Photo courtesy of A24
“American Honey” is a film made for every kid on the wrong side of the track HUNTER HEILMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
You might not have heard of Andrea Arnold before, but once you get a taste of her work, it’s hard to think of a time before then. I was introduced to Arnold’s work in her 2011 adaption of Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights,” starring Kaya Scodelario. Arnold’s stark approach to the classic material breathed a new, sometimes ugly light into it. With a focus on silence (the film lacked a musical score) and verbal communication, the film was a beautifully realized piece of work. After this, I exposed myself to more of Arnold’s work, including her most famous film, “Fish Tank,” that focuses on a British girl caught up in an affair with her mother’s new boyfriend, played by a younger and less famous Michael Fassbender. Both of these films focus on the harsh realities of life in England in both the 19th century and present day and now, Arnold has crossed the pond to look at the reality of American life in “American Honey.” And what a show it is. “American Honey” is not a film that you’re going to be particularly happy watching, but it’s a film that will keep you enthralled for the entirety of its extended runtime. It’s a film that makes you feel like you’re doing something that you aren’t supposed to do, going out to places that you shouldn’t be going and even feeling like you might even be busted by your parents in even watching this film. This all is a
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testament to the type of atmosphere that Arnold brings in her films. She finds beauty in the sometimes ugly reality of our world. Star (Sasha Lane) is a teenage girl trapped in Muskogee, Okla. with her abusive boyfriend and his children, whom she takes care of. After coming across a van of other young adults and being swept off her feet by the roughly suave Jake (Shia LaBeouf), Star leaves the kids with their birth mother and joins their “Magazine Crew,” as they go door-todoor, selling magazines for inflated prices, all the while drinking, doing drugs, partying, having sex and living from motel room to motel room, Star gives into temptation. After seemingly having chemistry with Jake, Star is shut down by the group leader, Krystal (Riley Keough), diminishing her to a small pawn in the large game at hand. Playing her place, Star begins to realize things about herself and her life that she never knew before. A fresh newcomer on the scene, Lane is a literally a star as Star. The fact that Arnold found Lane while sunbathing in Daytona and asked her to be in her movie is astounding, especially after the performance that she puts forth here. Following her in every scene of the film, Lane is always in control of herself and always seems to be one step ahead of the audience in playing Star, knowing to keep a bit of herself private in her performance to avoid
being read too hard by the audience. She’s always aware of herself and how to keep the watchers behind Star, so that they have to catch up with her. She has layer upon layer upon layer that you don’t get in many characters. LaBeouf and Keough are also very good in the film as well. LaBeouf has a reputation preceding him that is outdone by his great, magnetic and equally repulsive take as Jake, a character that we come to love and loathe simultaneously. Keough rocks her role as Krystal, taking charge of the femme fatale role in the most minimalist way I’ve seen it done before, it’s only a wonder where she got that power from (I’m guessing her grandfather, Elvis Presley). While “American Honey” deals with a lot of ugly things, the film itself is beautifully crafted and surprisingly elegant, despite dealing with “white trash” characters and settings (their words, not mine). Never once did I look around and feel clean in the film; always set in dingy, grimy or straight up dirty motels and houses, “American Honey” works for its aesthetic. Like all of Arnold’s other films, it’s shot
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in the narrow 1.33:1 aspect ratio, emulating that of Old Hollywood, while also looking to the future of it. Given its narrow space, Arnold again plays with space in a unique way, existing only in the realm of extrawide shots or extra-close up shots, Arnold finds a way for every shot to have meaning and the perfect amount of space for each character to exist in. “American Honey” is not an easy film to take in, it’s a complex and sometimes very unsettling film with a lot of unpleasant things going on. The most unsettling thing about it is that I know these people, I went to high school with these people, I befriended these people and I know their struggles. It’s easy to pass Star off as an irritable delinquent if you don’t know her story, but when you take into account her fleeing an abusive relationship and losing her mother to meth, things begin to make more sense. “American Honey” is a film about perspective, you can think that these kids are drinking, doing drugs, having unsafe sex and engaging in all sorts of risky behaviors simply because they feel like it, but to these kids, this is life,
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Photo courtesy of A24
this is the thing that keeps things exciting and unpredictable. The life they’ve lived has made it that way. “American Honey” is a long film. Clocking in at an epic 163 minutes, the film has the rare feat of making me want even more of it. After almost three hours with these characters, I wanted more of them and to know more of their story, even though I was content where the story ended. If anything, I could’ve even seen the show being a Netflix mini-series that spanned Star’s story, though I probably never would have caught it if it had. With no dragging or repetition, “American Honey” earns its extended runtime. “American Honey” is one of the best films I’ve seen this year and one of the more important films of the
Millennial Generation thus far. The film explores things that other films have been to afraid to do in the past and confronts them with a brutal, ugly honesty, ultimately making the film even more beautiful than Arnold’s vision has made it. Lane is an absolute superstar with a bright future ahead of her. LaBeouf is surprisingly restrained and Keough also stands on her own, making a name for herself post-“Mad Max: Fury Road,” like many of her other co-stars. Arnold has crafted a classic feeling, yet entirely unique and very millennial drama that will speak to the hearts of those on the other side of the track, leaving nothing but beauty in its wake.
Directed by: Andrea Arnold Starring: Sasha Lane, Riley Keough and Shia LaBeouf. Runtime: 163 minutes Rating: R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity, language throughout, drug/alcohol abuse – all involving teens. Now playing exclusively at the Regal Manor Twin & Ballantyne Village. An A24 release, Maven Pictures, Film4 and BFI present, a Parts & Labor, Pulse Films production, in association with ManDown Pictures, “American Honey”
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ACROSS 1 Dangerous wind for small boats 5 “You’re gonna need a bigger boat” movie 9 Barbecue rod 13 Actor Sharif 14 Verbal exams 16 Actress Lollobrigida 17 Ship-fouling organisms, on Talk Like a Pirate Day? 19 Lights-out tune 20 Horse hue 21 Spyglass component 23 With 48-Down, mediocre 24 “Alas ... “ 26 Cry of fright 27 Burning 29 Key lime __ 30 Pigpen 31 Story surprises 32 What kids ask on a long trip, on TLAP Day? 36 What George Washington could not tell, according to folklore
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37 Oregon Trail wagon pullers 38 Ship’s right-front section, on TLAP Day? 43 Sends to the Hill 45 Agrees to 46 Wonderment 47 Wood-shaping tool 48 Urgent distress signal 49 When right turns are sometimes permitted 51 Tax agcy. 52 Dire fate 54 Two of a kind 55 The color of tropical seas 57 Cold northern region, on TLAP Day? 61 “The Sopranos” actress Falco 62 Human trunk 63 Ring of light 64 Flatfish sometimes served stuffed 65 Recipe amts. 66 Online auction site
DOWN 1 Dollop 2 Doctors’ org. 3 Food storage area, on TLAP Day? 4 Swashbuckler Flynn 5 __ of 6-Down: French heroine 6 5-Down of __: French heroine 7 Minnesota’s state fish 8 Like a smooth-sailing clipper ship 9 Rank above cpl. 10 One tickling the ivories 11 Sitting at the dock of the bay 12 Tries a bite of 15 Taxpayer ID 18 Dissenting vote 22 Fictional Tom or real-life Diane 24 Massage facility 25 Balloon filler 26 Old anesthetic 28 Wicked one 30 Mixes 31 __ Hold ‘em 33 Enjoy, as television 34 Overjoyed 35 Chess castles 38 Shove off 39 Post-WWII babies 40 Bill for drinks, on TLAP Day? 41 Be indebted to 42 Married 43 Upper crust groups 44 Rio Grande city 48 See 23-Across 49 Rowboat propeller 50 Specialized market segment 53 Giants slugger Mel 54 All in favor 56 Director Ang __ 58 Deadly snake 59 Dockworkers’ org. 60 Playfully shy
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5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD’VE GONE TO THE HOMECOMING GAME
Don’t spend the rest of your undergrad years thinking “I should’ve, could’ve, would’ve.” TORI SUMMERS STAFF WRITER
1. You paid for it It’s amazing how a lot of you complain about tuition but never use the resources that your tuition pays for. UNC Charlotte’s football team is fairly new, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t support the come up of the new team. It’s easy to obtain a ticket for the game, and it’s free! Go to ticketreturn.com, type in your student ID number and type “guest” as your password. Does your mom, dad, boyfriend or girlfriend want to come to the game as well? No worries, you can purchase two guest tickets for $10 each! As a student, you can also reserve all of your tickets for each home football game that you want to attend. So, if you missed this year’s homecoming football game, go ahead and plan to be there next year!
dergrad! As a transfer student, I tried my best to get involved in all of the homecoming events so that I would have something to look back on after I graduate. My advice to you is that you should do the same! w Get out and live it up! After all, you want to have a million stories to tell your children whenever you get married right?
2. Relieve stress If you’re stressed, the football game would’ve been a great outlet for you to scream your heart out without looking crazy. The first half of the game was absolutely mind boggling as both teams fumbled the ball and threw interceptions within seconds. Although we lost by one point, the game was exciting! The stadium was filled with alumni and other students cheering the football team on. So next time, come to the homecoming game to relieve your stress by having a little fun with your Niner family! 3. Free stuff If you’re a T-shirt fanatic like I am, you would’ve enjoyed going to the homecoming football game. During timeouts, UNC Charlotte used a T-shirt cannon to shoot T-shirts out into the crowd. The only effort you had to make was actually showing up! Not only did UNC Charlotte give away T-shirts, but also gift cards for gas and food. This homecoming game I received a Chick-fil-A promotional card that will get me a FREE Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit! If you were there, you could’ve gotten one too! 3. Study break Fall break has ended and school is back in, but if you are caught up on your classwork there is nothing wrong with treating yourself right? The homecoming football game would’ve been a great way for you to get away from your schoolwork for a few hours. The best thing about the homecoming game was that you didn’t have to stay the whole time. You could’ve watched the first half of the game, grabbed some food and gone back to your room to study. Yes, you’re here to prosper in the classroom, but there should be a balance. Don’t forget to reward yourself for being an awesome student! 4. Create new memories Unfortunately, this was my last homecoming football game as an un-
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Photo by Tori Summers
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Photos by Candice Kelly
NC STATE FAIR MUST DO’S
Take in all of the flashing lights, the music playing in the background, children laughing and riders screaming. CANDICE KELLY STAFF WRITER
Since its birth in 1986, the North Carolina State Fair has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the state. For a small admission fee, one can get on rides, eat exotic foods, listen to live music and even see some animals. The fair is a unique experience that brings people together from all different cultures and backgrounds to be entertained. If you have never been, I will warn you that it can be pretty overwhelming. The lines are long, the food is expensive and you can forget about getting a close parking spot. But that’s all a part of the experience. After visiting this year, I’ve made a list of the top things that anyone who visits the fair should definitely have on their to do list. Eat a whole turkey leg If you don’t come to the fair to eat, what do you really come for? Turkey legs are one of the staple fair foods and you have got to try it at least once. They’re so huge that one can last for a couple days or be enjoyed by an entire family. Just think about it, a thick, meaty leg of meat that’s been slow roasted over an open flame for hours, the thought of it is mouth watering. Consume something deep fried In any other circumstances eating a deep fried stick of butter would be absolutely repulsive. But at the fair, anything is fair game for frying. Most people just stick to the candy bars, but some
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folks have tried to more extreme concoctions like deep fried bacon or deep fried kool-aid. Just pick the most appetizing snack and go for it. Although it is not the healthiest thing for you by a long shot, a warm deep fried treat on a chilly fall afternoon is the epitome of a day at the fair.
Ride the ferris wheel It’s a slow-moving metal circle and it’s the best ride at the fair. The ferris wheel is guaranteed to have the longest line because it is one of the most popular rides. It allows you and three friends to glide through the air and get s great view of the entire landscape. It’s especially beautiful during sunset. See an ‘amazing creature’ We have all seen the signs before, “The World’s Smallest Elephant,” “The Lady With The Snake Body” and “The Biggest Rat Ever.” My rational thinking told me there was no way these creatures could be real, yet I was always curious to know what was inside these attractions. Usually it’s only a couple of bucks to enter and I can guarantee it will not be what you expected.
Play a game The fair has some cool games where you try to toss a ring onto a bottle or have someone guess your age and win a prize.Many people think that the games are scams and that no one ever wins, but I disagree. Not everyone wins all the time, but it’s just a part of the experience. The fun part is trying to outscore your friends or seeing how close you can get and if you’re lucky you may walk away with a giant teddy bear.
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Watch the fireworks At the end of a fun fair day, fireworks decorate the sky for a beautiful show. It’s so nice to see everyone slow down and really just live in the moment. Take in all of the flashing lights, the music playing in the background, children laughing and riders screaming. Inhale the sausages roasting, funnel cakes frying, chicken grilling. The fireworks were always my favorite part of the fair as a child because it made it seem like a celebration. Celebrating that we are alive and free and able to enjoy such a beautiful event.
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ANGIE BAQUEDANO ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR
“The change is not only in the weather, but there’s a change in mood; everyone is more happy and close-knit. The holidays are approaching, and everyone bundles up in their cute layers, and pumpkin spice EVERYTHING. After a whole season of heat strokes and long sweaty walks to class, it’s so refreshing to feel the cool fall air and see the leaves changing. Fall is by far my favorite season!” - Obianuju Obi
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