2016 10 25

INSIDE THIS EDITION: THE ANNUAL BUDDY WALK CELEBRATES DIFFERENCES AND RAISES AWARENESS FOR DOWN SYNDROME

FOX’S ‘THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW’ FAILS TO LIVE UP TO THE STANDARDS SET BY OTHER, BETTER TELEVISION MUSICALS

PG. 4

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OCT. 25 - OCT. 31, 2016

PG. 12

DISCOVER HOW TO SURVIVE EVEN THE SCARIEST HAUNTED HOUSE THIS HALLOWEEN PG. 15 VOL. 29, ISSUE 7

Cover photo by Leysha Caraballo

Hunter Heilman editor@ninertimes.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Jasmine Taylor

Nick Cropper

Trevor Wilt

Kathleen Cook

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sports@ninertimes.com

Jeffrey Kopp

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sports@ninertimes.com

Hailey Turpin

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lifestyle@ninertimes.com

Diane Gromelski

Casey Aldridge

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Leysha Caraballo photo@ninertimes.com

Carmen Westra

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opinion@ninertimes.com

VIDEO PRODUCER

Chris McKinnis video@ninertimes.com

LAYOUT EDITOR

Michael Kuhn

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ADDITIONAL STAFF

Salina Dickie, Mia Shelton, Pooja Pasupula, Andy Gustafson, Alex Sands, Angie Baquedano, Daniel Head, Stephanie Trefzger

David Mendez

Saba Solaimanizadeh, Jazz Warren, Selim Ayyildiz, Noah Howell, Perri Smith, Nicole Buckenham

Linnea Stoops

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

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OCT. 25 - OCT. 31, 2016

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CLINTON BATTLES IN BATTLEGROUND STATE

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton visits UNC Charlotte, talks about early voting, platform in battleground state NICK CROPPER NEWS EDITOR

Thousands of students and North Carolina residents gathered for a rally in the Belk Plaza to see Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton where she pushed her platform in one of her final campaign efforts and urged attendants to vote late Sunday afternoon.

Before speaking about her many plans as president, Clinton first took aim at Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, mentioning in their third and final debate how Trump refused to answer whether he would respect the results of the election or not, calling it a “direct threat to our democracy.”

“Trump is not like anybody else who has ever run for president. He has demonstrated unequivocally that he is unqualified and unfit to be president and commander and chief of the United States of America,” Clinton said.

Clinton explained her plan to make public colleges and universities tuition at free for families who earn $125,000 or less annually, giving graduates more flexibility to become successful after college and be debt free.

“I consider it an investment in young people, I don’t want people coming out being burdened by debt and having difficulty paying it back,” said Clinton.

She mentioned how she worked on a plan with Senator Bernie Sanders about rewarding people who go into certain public service and national service jobs by alleviating them of

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Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton meets with supporters at UNC Charlotte. Photo by Pooja Pasupula

most or all of their debt after college.

After the primaries, Clinton and Sanders had collaborated on several ideas.

She spoke about several of the other plans she has if she is elected president. She explained how she wants to raise the national minimum wage, create the largest investment in new jobs since World War II through infrastructure,

high-wage manufacturing and small business, how she wants a new modern electric grid to distribute clean, renewable energy and that she wants equal pay for equal women, a policy that she has always been an advocate for.

“If you have a mother, a wife, a daughter or aister who’s working it’s your issue … It is way past time for women to be paid fairly for the jobs

OCT. 25 - OCT. 31, 2016

they do,” she said.

Like many supporters, sophomore Keila Nateos believes that Clinton stands for many values that match with hers.

“You can tell that she’s for equality for women, people of color and for every American and just everything she said I agreed with,” said Nateos.

Cont. on page 4

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POLICE BLOTTER OCT. 7-13 LARCENY OCT. 15

• Greenhouse, unknown subjects removed a “detour” sign and plant from the greenhouse without permission.

OCT. 20

• South Village Deck, subject reported that someone broke into his vehicle, which was left secured in a public area, and removed items.

LIQUOR LAW VIOLATION OCT. 15

• Lot 21, officers responded in reference to a report of an individual who was passed out on a bench.

• Union Parking Deck, officers responded in reference to a report of an intoxicated individual seated behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT OCT. 15

• Lot 8A, officers responded in reference to a possible stolen vehicle.

VANDALISM OCT. 17

• South Village Deck, unknown person caused damage to a Federal APD Pay on Foot machine.

WEAPON VIOLATION OCT. 18

• Laurel Hall, officers responded in reference to an individual in possession of a Taser.

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

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CLINTON RALLY, cont.

“I feel that my values match [the Democratic Party’s] goals and that’s really the reason why I’m voting.”

Micheal Holbrook is a member of the LGBT community and while he is not a student at UNC Charlotte, he has attended a couple of Clinton’s rallies. He feels that Clinton understands the discrimination that many people face today and opposes laws that allow for public discrimination of the LGBTQ community.

“The more rallies I go to the more I see why I’m supporting her,” Holbrook said. “It’s just an ensuring fact that the woman who I want leading this country, that if one day,

if me and my boyfriend are married and we adopt kids … or whatever we do, they look and say ‘You voted for a president who moved forward into a movement that didn’t take us back’.”

Attendants heard from several guest speakers running for positions in local government including Josh Stein, who is running for Attorney General, Linda Coleman, who is running for Lieutenant Governor and UNC Charlotte student Thurston Alexander, who introduced Clinton onto the stage.

UNC Charlotte’s Finer Niner acapella group also gave several performances before Clinton came on stage.

Clintons visit to UNC Charlotte and North Carolina is no surprise

since North Carolina is considered a battleground state.

Before ending the rally, Clinton gave a final call to action for UNC Charlotte students.

“I am asking you to vote for yourselves as much as I’m asking you to vote for me. I’m asking you to vote for what you care about,” she said, “Please UNC Charlotte, turn out and vote, early vote. Bring your friends, your families. Let’s go out and prove that anything is possible in America.”

Early voting ends Nov. 8. Voting on campus will become available Oct. 27.

Buddy Walk celebrates “different” at Jerry Richardson Stadium ALEX SANDS ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Ava and Keely are a lot alike.

They’re both 7 years old; same heart conditions and the same indestructible bond. They call themselves “The Wonder Twins.”

They’re like any other best friends.

The only difference is that they have Down syndrome.

On Saturday afternoon, “The Wonder Twins” joined 3,000 other people as they walked onto the Jerry Richardson football field, making a statement about Down syndrome awareness at the annual Buddy Walk.

The girls met and have grown closer through events like the Buddy Walk, a 1-mile walk that spreads Down Syndrome awareness and raises money. The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte (DSAGC) raised $187,000 during their largest fundraiser of the year.

“We all benefit from a community that is diverse whether it’s ethnicity, or disability, or race or whatever.

We come out here to show how people with differences are still

part of the community,” said Buddy Walk Executive Director Kathryn Lariviere.

At the Buddy Walk, teams are made to celebrate each child walking with Down syndrome. Some of the teams that came out were “Laynie Bugs,” “Kelsey’s Kazoo Band” and “Michael’s Mousketeers.”

Lariviere’s son, an 11-year-old boy named Cameron, also has Down syndrome. His team is called “Cameron’s Crusaders.”

“As soon as [Cameron] hit the football field, apparently he decided what you’re suppose to do on a football field is tackle people and he started running around tackling his sisters,” Lariviere said, laughing.

The event had arts and crafts, bounce houses and games.

Characters like SpongeBob walked the arena. Teams competed to raise money and prizes were given out to the winning teams.

Not only does the Buddy Walk promote Down syndrome inclusion and acceptance, but it also raises

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money to support the DSAGC, who works to enhance the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome.

This year’s goal was to raise $225,000. Half that amount had already been raised prior to the event.

This was UNC Charlotte’s third year hosting the event. Members of Greek life, Charlotte athletics and different UNC Charlotte departments came out to show support and volunteer.

“Our walkers get so excited to walk out on the field. It’s just a really beautiful place to hold it. The UNC community has been very, very welcoming,” Lariviere said.

Senator Richard Burr, who was credited for drafting the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) also attended the walk. The ABLE Act helps people living with disabilities.

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Head shavings for child savings Alpha Omega coordinates third annual fundraiser event, bringing awareness to child cancer in the UNC Charlotte community SABA SOLAIMANIZADEH INTERN

Claps, high fives and proud chants echoed the room each time a set of three volunteers donated their hair. With the help of 79 of these volunteers, Alpha Omega Epsilon (AOE) hosted a successful event in an effort to raise money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization that specifically obtains funding for childhood cancer research.

Event Coordinator Marissa Burschette has worked to make the event more outstanding every year.

The Cone Lucas Room, where the fundraiser was held from 6-8:30 p.m., had a live DJ, photo booth, a jumping castle, snow cones, pizza and Chick-Fil-A for everyone that attended. In addition, the focus of the room was the stage on which the volunteers would get their hair shaved off by Sport Clips employees.

In the three years that AOE has been initiating the fundraiser, they’ve raised over $10,000 in funds to donate to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

Burschette explained why her personal experiences prompted her to pioneer the event and emphasized the importance of intimately relating to the children that are fighting against cancer.

“I had a family member who has been chronically ill, and I’ve witnessed what it’s like for that person to be left out because they’re not able to do things other people can do,” said Burschette. “I think the fact that with St. Baldrick’s, not only do you raise money, but you shave your head in solidarity, really hit home with me.”

St. Baldrick’s mission is to fund for the development of cancer therapy

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Volunteers are shaved during annaul St. Baldrick’s fundraiser. Photo by Pooja Pasupula

drugs for children, and the proceeds go directly into these research grants. So far, St. Baldrick’s has awarded more than $22 million in 2016.

“I think it’s great that the St. Baldrick’s especially focuses on childhood cancer and getting the word out for it,” said Madison Siler, president of Alpha Omega Epsilon and speaker at the event. “There are many other cancer foundations but most of them are adult based.”

Siler also pointed out that getting people personally engaged in the event will make a much more substantial impact than simply getting donations.

“It’s important for the college community to build awareness for the cause and get more attention drawn to it rather than to just raise money, so we try our best to make the event bigger every year,” she said.

UNC Charlotte freshman Ben Fiser, along with many other bold college students, was one of the participants that was more than willing to give away his hair for a charitable cause.

“It means a lot to contribute to such an important cause,” Fiser said. “I don’t have to go through the struggles that these children are going through, but by just shaving my head I can bring awareness

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and hopefully some sort of help for them.”

The top earning volunteers this year were Eric Joyce, who raised $720, Kristin Jean Randolph, who earned $550 and Gabrielle Maynard, who earned $443.

“I think people forget that it’s just hair. It doesn’t define you in any way, and it’s great when people don’t care about that and put it towards a greater cause,” Burschette said.

To make a donation to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, go to https:// www.stbaldricks.org/events/ mypage/11371/2016.

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LARRY OGUNJOBI: A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH KATHLEEN COOK SPORTS EDITOR

Ask any team preparing to take on the 49ers who they focus on in the Charlotte defense and they’ll respond with one name: Larry Ogunjobi.

The redshirt senior has been a force to be reckoned with on the defensive side of the ball for the program’s entire existence.

He leads the team in sacks and tackles for loss. The biology/ computer science double major ranks eighth in the NCAA with 45 career tackles for loss and he is second in the conference for tackles for loss this season.

After playing his first downs of football during his sophomore year of high school, he has quickly developed skills and passion for football. The name “Ogunjobi” draws multiple NFL scouts to Jerry Richardson on Saturday nights to see the man in action.

The catalyst for the Greensboro, N.C. native was when his parents took away his video games the summer before his sophomore year.

“Long story short, I was getting too big. I was pushing around 350 pounds and my mom and dad took away my game system and told me I was killing myself. They ended up giving me a coach named Robert Mitchell and he helped me develop, he helped me get down to about 325 pounds. We were driving one day and he looked at me and said ‘We’re going to your school,’ and I asked what for, and he said ‘You’re going to play football,’” Ogunjobi said.

Though he had a “football IQ of zero” he stuck with te sport and by the end of his first season the defensive lineman won his first sports accolade: Most Improved JV Player.

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Ogunjobi penetrating the offensive line. Photo by Kathleen Cook

“It was an affirmation that hard work pays off, that’s when I really started everything and I got really close to the Lord,” Ogunjobi said.

After receiving his award, Ogunjobi’s passion grew as well as his curiosity about playing in college.

“I asked my coach what I had to do to get to the next level and he said I had to get stronger, get faster and perfect my technique. I started going to the YMCA after practice and bike five miles, run half a mile. Then I would be able to bike ten miles, run a mile. My body began to grow and change.”

Ogunjobi went on to make the All-Conference team his junior and senior years, and during his final season of high school football, he was named to the All-Area team and selected to play in the East-West All Star game. On signing day, the twostar recruit committed to the only school that offered him -- Charlotte.

The fact that the 49ers wouldn’t

see a real down of football for another year did not faze him.

Instead, it drove Ogunjobi to work harder.

“I didn’t know anything about football, so I didn’t have any expectations. I just wanted to be the best that I could be. There were other guys on the team who had homeboys who went to other schools or older brothers and they had something else to compare it to. I’m the first person in my family to play football,” Ogunjobi said.

One of the reasons Ogunjobi had a lack of football knowledge lies in his roots. His parents moved to America from Nigeria, making him a first generation American. Growing up and seeing the way his parents dealt with adversity very much impacted Ogunjobi.

“I’ve seen people do them wrong, but they’ll still do things for them.

It always makes me realize that every day you have a choice. You can either focus on the negative

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aspects and what’s wrong, or you can look at the positives and realize that you are in control of your life,” Ogunjobi said.

His parents did even more than set an example, the two of them showed the hard work and determination that would eventually translate onto the field for Ogunjobi.

“My dad used to work back-toback 16-hour shifts. My mom quit her job for me so she could raise me and be hands-on with me,” Ogunjobi said. “I couldn’t have asked for better parents. I have never lacked in anything and that’s a big testament to them.”

When Charlotte put on the pads and laced up for their inaugural game against Campbell in 2013, Ogunjobi became the first player to wear the honorary 49 jersey.

During his first year, he registered 42 tackles and went on to record 48 his sophomore season.

Last season the 49ers made the jump from FCS to FBS football.

While the level of competition improved, Ogunjobi’s play remained consistent, if not better. He tallied 62 tackles and 14.5 tackles for loss -- a career high. Ogunjobi attributed the keys to his success to his goaloriented mindset.

“My goal is to be the best defensive tackle, the best defensive linemen in the nation. That’s been my goal since I started, even in high school. If you have small goals, you’ll get small results. If you shoot for the stars, if your goals are so big people look at you crazy -- those are the types of goals you want,” Ogunjobi said. “Belief is such a powerful thing. If you think you’ll

SEE OGUNJOBI ON PAGE 9 7

NINER NATION EMBRACES BASKETBALL MADNESS TREVOR WILT SPORTS EDITOR

In a night filled with dancing, dunking, shooting and screaming, the Cha lotte 49ers men’s and women’s basketball teams enjoyed the madness inside of Halton Arena, kicking off basketball season in the Queen City.

The annual event was hosted by Burpie, a comedian on MTV’s “Wild ‘N Out,” cracking jokes the entire night with over 1,800 fans, known as Niner Nation, in attendance.

The night began at 9 p.m. with the Charlotte cheerleading squad warming up the crowd for the introductions of the two basketball teams. After a stunning routine by the cheerleaders, the lights were dimmed and the new hype video for the women’s team appeared on the new Daktronic’s video board.

With each player coming out to their own song and creative dance moves, head coach Cara Consuegra addressed the crowd about their upcoming season, shortly after “dabbing” a few times with her players.

“We appreciate the support for these young ladies,” said Consuegra. “Its going to be a tremendous year. You’re going to see a lot of points scored, and a lot of young ladies working hard.”

The women’s team will be led by seniors Lefty Webster and Ciara Gregory, attempting to earn another trip to the postseason under coach Consuegra, a feat that Consuegra has accomplished 4-out-of-5 years with Charlotte.

With only one freshman coming in for the 49ers, Lauren Harley, Charlotte will welcome the eligibility of Nyilah Jamison-Myers, a 6-foot-3

center from Clemson. Also making their debut for the women’s team this season will be redshirt freshmen Jaida Robinson and Dara Pearson.

Charlotte’s two young rising stars, Laia Raventós and Grace Hunter, will try and prove that they are two of the best guards in Conference USA, while the versatile Amaya Ransom will be fighting for a starting spot in early November.

The women’s team will open up with an exhibition game at Dale F. Halton Arena on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m., days before their season opener against Wisconsin on Nov. 11 at 5:30 p.m. in Charlotte.

With the lights still dimmed, Burpie introduced the men’s team after their new intro video, starting with the freshmen class. Quentin Jackson and Najee Garvin headline the new faces for the 49ers, with Bo Blight, Ryan Murphy and Luke Sasser being first-year athletes.

The 49ers also introduced a plethora of transfers, led by a former Clemson guard Austin Ajukwa, who come’s to Charlotte as a 6-foot-7 redshirt junior. Trinity Valley Community College sends junior JC Washington to Charlotte, while Hudson Price, head coach Mark Price’s son, transfers in from Texas Christian University.

Also introduced to Niner Nation was walk-on Corey Bias and 7-foot-1 Lukas Bergang, who had to redshirt after coming in from Gothenburg, Sweden.

Sophomore’s Jon Davis and Andrien White will also try and show their dominance in the backcourt for the 49ers, while redshirt senior Braxton Ogbueze will continue to show he his one of the best 3-point shooters in C-USA.

Head coach Mark Price enters the scene. Photo by Pooja Pasupula

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Benas Gruciunas will likely be the starting center for Price and his staff, while Reid Aube and Anthony Vanhook compete for playing time as the only two seniors on the team.

With the introductions out of the way, coach Price had a couple words to say to the crowd before the 3-point shootout. “What a great turnout,” said coach Price. “We are so excited about the start of basketball season. Our guys have been working hard and I know the young ladies have been working hard as well. We have an exciting, fun team to watch. We are no better than when we have the student section filled up and rocking.”

Raventós and Gregory competed in the 3-point contest, as Gregory, who hit a career-best 67 threes a year ago, beat out the sophomore from Spain to capture the title.

After the faculty/student game and the dance routine by the players, choreographed by the Gold Duster’s, the men’s team put on a dunk-clinic for the fans, soaring and flying for emphatic dunks.

With night coming to an end, the men’s team put on a 3-point contest, with Ogbueze beating Davis to face coach Price in the cha mpionship round. Although Price has two NBA 3-point titles under his belt, Ogbueze took down Coach and came out victorious.

The madness ended with a little scrimmage between both Charlotte teams, showing off from long range and also reaching up their sleeves for a few more dunks to leave the crowd wanting more come Nov. 11.

Members of both teams showed off their dancing talents. Photo by Chris Crews.

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VOLLEYBALL HOSTS ANNUAL ‘DIG PINK EVENTS JAZZ WARREN INTERN

The Charlotte volleyball’s 15th annual “Dig Pink” night took place this past Wednesday night, as they hosted the UNC Greensboro Spartans in Halton Arena.

The 49ers pink themed “Dig Pink” campaign is aimed to help raise support, money and awareness of breast cancer from those in and around the community.

“Charlotte Volleyball is excited to kick off the ‘Dig Pink’ campaign this year,” head coach Karen Weatherington said. “We set our goal to raise $5,000 and more importantly creating awareness of the disease and means to prevent it. Our program has a passion for Dig Pink. We are proud of the tradition that has been established here. We look forward to the upcoming events, getting out in the community and playing in pink to promote the prevention of breast cancer. Breast cancer has always been something near to my heart, the prevention of it and bringing awareness to it.”

This year, the Charlotte 49ers had a number of events lined up for the entirety of the month, including “ChickFil-A Day” which was held on Oct. 10 at the University Place Chick-Fil-A. Partnering with the Lady FortyNiners, Chick-Fil-A allowed lunch goers who mentioned “Dig Pink” to have funds from their order donated to the “Dig Pink” fundraiser.

Other events included “Jail and Bait” on Tuesday, Oct. 18 in front of the Popp Martin Student Union, with the match coming against UNCG on Oct. 19. Pink was the attire of the night when Wednesday rolled around.

The fans and on-lookers donned their free “Dig Pink” shirts and pin-on ribbons that they received at the gates to show their support of both the 49ers and their campaign to bring awareness.

The fans huge support and presence allowed Charlotte volleyball to reach their 10th largest single game attendance mark, 1,336. Donation buckets were also present at every event to give fans and supporters the chance to donate whenever possible.

The efforts and devotion of the volleyball team as a whole made the events, fundraising and impact on the community possible. “To see that people who haven’t been touched by it and have been touched by it continue to step up, my players are just completely invested in this program, and they love it and understand what it does,” Weatherington said. “We talked a lot about how to prevent, and it brings up an opportunity for us to teach, so we really enjoyed it and they give it their best efforts so I’m pretty proud of them.”

OGUNJOBI

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 succeed, you will. If you think you’ll fail, you will. It’s not about proving anything to anyone, it’s about proving it to the person that looks back at you when you’re brushing your teeth in the morning.”

Ogunjobi excels off the field as well in academics. He is a computer science and biology double major that has made the Dean’s List and the Athletic Director’s List during his time in Charlotte. The determination displayed by Ogunjobi in the game can also be seen in the classroom.

“There was a time when I left the library at 5 a.m. after I stayed there all night and I had weights at 6 a.m., so I sat in front of the door until they opened at 5:30 a.m.,” Ogunjobi said. “The coolest thing is I haven’t had a class with one of my teammates since my freshman year.

It forced me to branch out and meet different people who weren’t student athletes.”

However, excelling both in

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football and acadmeics isn’t an easy accomplishment, though, it will be worth it when he walks across the stage and gets his diploma.

“Yes it’s hard, it’s very hard. It’s frustrating at times, but you have to understand that it will benefit you in the future. Nothing in life comes easy, if you want it badly enough you’ll find a way to get it,” Ogunjobi said.

Coming into the Niner Nation with the inaugural recruiting class a two-star recruit, Ogunjobi has proved himself. His name sits in the record books next to almost anything that has to do with the defensive side of the ball: total tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and quarterback hurries. His name is now being tossed around the tables of various NFL teams and draws NFL scouts to every game.

“It’s surreal. Everything I’ve worked for is happening, but that doesn’t mean I can take my foot off the gas,” Ogunjobi said.

One of the main reasons he has worked hard is so his sister, Faith, wouldn’t be bullied as she went into high school.

“Growing up, I got picked on because I was big. I didn’t have anyone to look up to. My sister doesn’t have to get picked on because she’ll have an attribute that makes her different. I want to give her that attribute. I want her to be able to say ‘Yeah, my brother plays in the NFL,’” Ogunjobi said.

Being a part of the 49er program and being the only player on the roster to start all of Charlotte’s games during the program’s short history, Ogunjobi has set the bar extrordinarily high for those coming after him.

“It’s all about the legacy you leave.

It’s how you’re remembered. A lot of other things fade away, but there are other things that remain set in stone. I am a part of history,” Ogunjobi said.

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MY NORMALITY AND YOURS

SELIM AYYILDIZ INTERN

English isn’t my native language and I practice 3 other languages on a daily basis, I’m not surprised I stumble upon my words and intertwine my accents with one another. You are right that I don’t eat anything that might be pork, but not because I’m “foreign.”

It’s simply my choice.

Hillary Clinton addresses a crowd of students and community members in Belk Plaza. Photo by Ben Coon.

I value my religion, To the person who claims they you’ve already been warming up which insists that we don’t harm know me, more than I know myself, your seat for 15 minutes by now. You our bodies with anything that may you are right. assume that I’m late because I can’t infect or sicken them in any way.

I am pronouncing the word prioritize and I don’t have the work And of course your very considerate “pillow” wrong by calling it ethic to show up on time. It’s okay, thoughts. You are absolutely damn “pellow.” I don’t eat pork because I understand you’re only thinking right that I am very privileged to be I’m “foreign.” In fact, you actually what you see, not actually “judging.” living in this beautiful, gracious and nailed it when you shared your very We all do it. We make these welcoming country that we both call considerate thought of how lucky assumptions about people by their home. My family and I have earned I am to be in the United States to daily actions, what they look like, every single freedom, voice and your friends. and what they say. Unfortunately, breath that you and I both share.

I see you. I see you looking at me. we think we know each other more No, I am not late to class because I I hear you. I hear you rambling on than we actually do. with such confident commentary However, like I said, you are right. decided to sleep in an extra couple of about my life. You watch me run You are right that I might pronounce minutes, but I do value my education and am willing to put in the effort to around from one class to another some words incorrectly according to make it to class even after a 9-hour trying to beat the roll call, while your “norms.” In fact, considering shift. We’re all obviously striving

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OCT. 25 - OCT. 31, 2016

for that American dream, so instead of making it even more difficult than it already is, start by trying to encourage one another. I’m sure there will be enough neighborhoods in the country for both of us to have a white-picket fence.

“YOU ARE RIGHT, I CAN LEARN A LOT FROM YOU, JUST AS YOU CAN LEARN A LOT FROM ME.”

I hope you understand where I am coming from, as much as I understand why you might have those thoughts as well. I do appreciate your concern, just not your unsolicited advice. We both come from different backgrounds, walk different paths and have different aspirations, so it’s not fair to compare my normality to yours.

You are right, I can learn a lot from you, just as you can learn a lot from me.

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Photo by Austin Chaney

UNCC ARTISTS SHOWCASE SNAPSHOTS OF THEIR TALENTS

The Student Art Showcase continues until next Monday, Oct. 31 STEPHANIE TREFZGER ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR

The Showcase features a variety of art styles and mediums. When you first walk into the Student Union Gallery, you are probably drawn to a very large, bright piece called “Pancake” by artist Philip Cherry. The fun images of people and trees on the painting are contrasted by black bubbles and tentacles which, all together, represent Cherry’s alter ego. Chances are, however, that you did not walk directly to that painting, but started at the beach-themed photographs on the left; instead you pass a picture of a pod of pelicans gathered on a dock, then a birds-eye-view of a wave, then an image of a lone pelican on a wooden post all by photographer Grayson Nance. The theme then changed from nature to people within the next few pictures. These included several portraits and a great remake of Vermeer’s “Girl With a Pearl Earring” by photographer Johnathan Helms.

After passing a few smaller paintings and the titan “Pancake” you arrive on a wall again comprised of portraits: One painting called “Brice”

by Elizabeth Hammock depicts a man with an

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expressive face, another very interesting one, “Poe Meets Gustav,” which is Edgar Allan Poe painted in the style of Gustav Klimt, by Jodie Eiler and “The Misunderstanding” by Domanique Webb, a geometric painting of a black woman. The last section before leaving the gallery is a menagerie of smaller, hand drawn pictures. Almost all of them are in black and white save a very tiny “Self Portrait” by Christine Ledbetter. The images in this corner are perhaps some of the strangest in the gallery. One drawing, Brianna Hommings’ “Body Art” is a portrait of a woman covering her face with her hands, which have eyes drawn on them. Another, “Winding Sands of Time” by Zachary Timmons, a fellow Niner Times writer, depicts what appears to be King Tut’s sarcophagus spilling sand from an hourglass and onto the pyramids, which have been upset and partially destroyed.

The Student Art Showcase not only allows audiences to view the artwork, but also lets them vote on which piece they liked best, promoting a conversation between creator and viewer. The OCT. 25 - OCT. 31, 2016

three artists whose work was voted on most often win a monetary prize at the Showcase reception, which was held this past Thursday, Oct. 20.

This year’s first place winner was Stephanie Lam for her drawing, “Lost.” This image shows a woman with a woeful expression on the part of her face that isn’t covered by her hands. Her arms are covered in lines much like those on road maps. Part of the appeal of Lam’s piece is the incredible shading, which amplifies the mood of the artwork. The second place winner was Dutch artist, Myrthe Biesheuvel, who submitted a small painting, “Territory Drift.” This image is very childlike and fun; it shows a seagull holding a flag and riding on the back of a walrus in a red cape on the beach. Biesheuvel also submitted two other works to the gallery. Third place went to the Niner Times’s own Pooja Pasupula for her photographs of the Keith Lamont Scott protests in September which she called “Black Lives Matter.” There are four images in the frame, all of which are very serene and peaceful despite the high tensions of the actual event.

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LET’S NOT DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN

While it’s not completely hopeless, FOX’s ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again’ does nothing of any real value HUNTER HEILMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the biggest fan of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” though the last time I sat down and watched the movie was in high school, so perhaps it’s time to revisit the film with a new, older pair of eyes, but until then, I knew I had the new version coming my way. Continuing in the trend of “Grease Live!,” “The Sound of Music Live” and “The Wiz Live,” FOX took it upon themselves to make “The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again” (henceforth noted simply as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”) their next theatrical endeavor, with one big twist . . . it’s not live.

While it most likely was taken on for technical reasons, there’s a certain novelty lost in the fact that it’s not live. Without this live aspect, I lose most of my interest off the bat knowing that these are pre-recorded songs lip-synced by the actors who get multiple takes to get it right.

There’s a charm about seeing actors really trudge their way through multiple sets and singing live in the moment that’s lost in this transsexual, Transylvanian transition.

So let’s take this one step at a time.

THE (COMPARATIVE) GOOD Some of the cast: Let’s be real here, we were all in this to watch Laverne Cox as Dr. Frank N. Furter, the role originally helmed by the now legendary Tim Curry (who makes an appearance as the Criminologist). The good news is that, despite a few missteps that can be attributed to some other production snafus, Cox does a pretty good job both channeling Curry’s gravitas, as well as making this character her own in this adaption. Of course, it’s completely over the top, a stark opposite from her role on “Orange is the New Black,” but this is a solid, if inconsequential outing for Cox. The opening number: While the trademark red lips don’t start the show off like we’re used to, the classic number, “Science Fiction/Double Feature,” performed by Ivy Levan (who also performed the fabulous theme song for “Spy”), starts the show in a way that makes you think that the subsequent 90 minutes won’t be a mess.

THE (RELATIVELY) BAD The direction: Directed by Kenny Ortega, most famous for his directorial role on “High School Musical” (as well as “The Cheetah Girls

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2,” Hunter screams in the distance), Ortega’s direction takes on a very polished, clean look, which seems to be everything that “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” simply isn’t. The show is more “High School Musical” than it is “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and its resounding blandless just can’t be ignored once the big numbers kick in. Seeing “Time Warp” performed in 2016 shouldn’t be so underwhelming.

The music: While everyone in the cast can sing pretty well, the music in the film does take on an incredibly polished, often times obviously autotuned sound that also goes against the campy roughness that “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is supposed to offer. Not to mention the cheap, karaoke version feel to many of the iconic songs.

The production values: Sure, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is supposed to be campy, but it isn’t supposed to be cheap. While Cox’s outfits are undeniably fabulous, I can’t say that for the rest of the cast, donning tacky, ill-fitting and sometimes just plain crappy-looking outfits. Add that on top of the cheap, cramped and strangely off-putting sets that felt more like a hearty budget cut than any sort of craft and you have something that, while rough looking, doesn’t hit the right notes of campiness needed in something like this.

THE (UNABASHEDLY) UGLY The rest of the cast: I get it, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is over the top, but can we please find the difference between “over the top” and “bad” please? There comes a point where a deepened voice and a funny demeanor wear off and you’re left with something that feels like high school production more than anything.

This includes Reeve Carney’s Riff Raff, Staz Nair’s Rocky and Adam Lambert’s almost cringeinducing Eddie. All of these people never once found the soul that their characters needed, simply seeking the caricature of what was left from their 1975 counterparts. What’s left after that are empty shells of characters that should be quirky and enjoyable, but are left feeling cold and unresponsive.

The meta humor: “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” might just be the biggest cult film of all time. Every city in America has probably held at least one midnight screening of the film OCT. 25 - OCT. 31, 2016

during the Halloween season (AMC Theatres in Charlotte are playing the film every Friday at 10 p.m. until Halloween) and everyone knows at least one person who has been to one of these screenings. The jokes and gags put forth by the audience are almost as famous as the film itself.

Still, it was a bit strange seeing the show cut back to an audience view of the theater we opened on and the classic gags they played throughout the show. At first, I thought it could work, but as the show went on, it got more and more obnoxious to the point where I would physically throw my hands up whenever I had to sit through another gag by the audience. The point of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is audience participation; when you take that away, you take away the soul of the show.

The fact that it was not live: This is where I draw the line. I discussed earlier how the charm was lost in the show not being performed live, which I stand by, but there is no excuse as to why this show was not shot live. The visual effects present were basic and often times unneeded, making their excuse for why the show was filmed in advance completely null and void. The show lacked a soul without the rough, novel feeling to it and we’re left with something that feels completely disingenuous.

Photo courtesy of FOX

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NINTENDO REINVENTS ON-THE-GO GAMING 2017 looks to have a lot in store for gamers with the recently unveiled Nintendo Switch

NOAH HOWELL STAFF WRITER

Nintendo has finally revealed their newest console called the Nintendo Switch. The trailer reveals that the console will be able to be played at home or pulled out of its dock and taken on the go. The console is a screen with two controllers attached on its side called Joy-Cons, which players can pull off and share with a friend to play games like “Mario Kart” and “NBA 2K17.” While at home, players simply place the console in its dock, which will switch the screen to the TV and players can seamlessly continue playing with either the new Nintendo Switch Pro controller or attach their two JoyCons to a base to play on. Nintendo has also unsurprisingly confirmed that the console will feature support for its giant cash cow, Amiibos.

The trailer does a better job at showing off what exactly the Nintendo Switch can do, but one of the biggest things that I noticed from the trailer is the third party support, which the “Wii U” greatly lacked and played a large part in the console’s low sales. Nintendo seems to have recognized this and from the trailer we see “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” and “NBA 2K17”

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being played, plus Nintendo also released a list of all of its third party partners like Bethesda, Activision and FromSoftware to name a few. We also saw more footage from “Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild,” as well as what is probably new versions of “Splatoon,” “Mario Kart” and an unnamed “Mario” 3D platformer in the same vein as “Mario Galaxy” and “Mario 64,” which fans have been wanting a sequel for. Even with all of this going for it, I see a few flaws that may hinder its success a bit like the battery life and whether or not they can keep the third party support going after year one.

With a lot of positive reception from the internet and myself, Nintendo looks like it is back on track to its former glory. With a hybrid design that sets itself apart from its competitors, Nintendo also brings along some of the best exclusives to the table as well.

The Nintendo Switch has not yet received a price, but we do know it will be coming March 2017 and more information will likely be released in a future Nintendo Direct video.

ACROSS 1 “Handle __ care” 5 Burns with hot liquid 11 Ex-Florida governor Bush 14 “__ Ben Adhem” 15 Reacts facially to a bad joke, say 16 Chopping tool 17 What snowbirds seek in winter 19 “Mamma __!”

20 Mecca’s peninsula 21 Heat in a microwave 22 Indy service areas 23 “Do __ others ... “ 25 Most doubtful 27 Ready-to-send correspondence 31 Network with regular pledge drives 32 D-Day French city 33 Steak orders 37 Calm under pressure 39 Since Jan. 1, in accounting

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41 Folksy account 42 “Bewitched” witch 45 Buster Brown’s dog 48 Jamaican music genre 49 Liqueur holder 52 Last word of a verbally cited passage 55 “Doctor Zhivago” heroine 56 Potpie veggies 57 Hydroelectric facility 59 Quik maker 63 Dad, to grandpa 64 Ideal party thrower described by the first words of 17-, 27- and 49-Across 66 Cutoff point 67 C to C, in music 68 Richard of “A Summer Place” 69 Org. with a PreCheck Program 70 Sets free 71 Facts and figures DOWN

1 Electric guitar effect 2 Letter-shaped beam 3 __ Bora: Afghan region 4 Scrooge’s “Nonsense!”

5 Worry about something, slangily 6 Cloak-and-dagger org.

7 Animated bug film 8 Bar mitzvah toast 9 What fries are fried in 10 Ukr. or Lith., once 11 Actor Foxx 12 Freeway off-ramps 13 Savage sort 18 Tipplers 22 Cockpit figure 24 “I’m __ human” 26 Little lie 27 First fairy tale word 28 Second fairy tale word 29 Trampled (on) 30 ‘80s-’90s crime boss John 34 Mission Control org.

35 Benevolent fraternal group 36 Salty expanses 38 Center of power 40 Bygone phone feature 43 Pal of Piglet 44 Radio City Music Hall design style 46 Cursory looks 47 Long-legged wader 50 “... near and __ my heart” 51 Assailed verbally, with “out” 52 Surprise win 53 Bright signs 54 Press conference format, briefly 58 Degs. for choreographers 60 Old Roman robe 61 Future D.A.’s exam 62 Sicilian volcano 64 D.C. big shot 65 Morn’s counterpart

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ALL HALLOWS EVE Spooky and weird facts for your Halloween

ANGIE BAQUEDANO ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Corn mazes, pumpkin patches, scary movies and candy galore: this is what Halloween is all about. As a kid my parents used to love dressing my siblings and I up in fun costumes and taking us out trick-or-treating, but as the years went by what was once harmless fun became forbidden to my brother, sister and I. My parents are very religious and as time passed us by they decided celebrating Halloween was not something they wanted us involved in. My mother felt it was wrong for us to celebrate the occasion because of its pagan backgrounds, which she associated with satanic rituals, so of course as children this scared my siblings and I to the core. Later we found out paganism doesn’t necessarily have to do with evil rituals, but at the time we were terrified and as any dumb kid would do we searched all over the internet for the scariest facts and myths about

Halloween. We found a lot but also we found interesting things about it.

Halloween is a spooky time for us all especially now with all the clown sightings. Some of us relish in being scared and doing some scaring and others force themselves to get through it (me). Whether you’re a Halloween fanatic or you simply can’t wait for it to be over with, I think you will all find the rich history behind it incredibly interesting! So here’s a little on what you were never told about Halloween.

1. Halloween was once an ancient Celtic holiday.

The Celtic festival is called Samhain and it’s a holiday for the dead to return to earth as ghosts.

So people would dress up in costumes and leave treats outside their doors so the spirits would not bother them.

2. You used to have to dance for candy, I know

I know, it sounds weird, so let me explain. Back in the day Trick-or-treating in Europe was called “mumming” and people would dress up in costumes and go door to door doing practiced dances and get candy in return.

3. If you lived in ancient Germany and France, certain tribes would have you wear animal heads and skins in order for you to better connect with the spirits of the dead more. You would have to paint your face black so as to appear like an evil spirit.

Now you know a little about Halloween, mostly on the creepy side of it because that’s what I remember most from when it was forbidden for me as a kid. For all you Halloween lovers, enjoy this creepy crawly holiday because what I am looking forward to is Thanksgiving. Happy spooking!

PERRI SMITH INTERN

“In my family, they’re very Catholic, so they don’t like it … In Nicaragua, if I wanted to do Halloween, I would go to a club wearing a costume. The clubs are decorated just for the week of Halloween and they have costume contests, but it’s more for older people.

We don’t trick or treat, we don’t have areas with just houses. It would be like walking alone in Uptown Charlotte at night. We don’t have those big orange pumpkins. The ‘Nica’ Halloween is mostly in Masaya, next to the capitol. Los Agüizotes is a party in the whole city on the last Friday in October for Saint Jerónimo. If you want to celebrate, you have to go there.”

- Carlos Campos 14

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HOW TO:

SURVIVE A HAUNTED HOUSE NICOLE BUCKENHAM STAFF WRITER

There are two types of people: those who love haunted houses and those who are forced to go with the people who like the haunted houses. I, for one, love everything to do with Halloween and all the scary things that come along with it. With that being said, I know how to survive a haunted house and not suffer from the effects like having nightmares after. These five steps will help those who get scared easy survive a haunted house.

1. Go with a big group It is fine to go with just one person other than yourself or a couple others. But, the best way to avoid being super scared is to go with a large group. This not only would be more fun with more people but it is easier to hide away in the middle with a larger group. If you are in the front of your group you will most likely be more scared because all the scary things and people will pop out at you first. And if you are in the back of the group, some of the scary actors can follow you throughout the haunted tour.

important thing to keep going through your head the whole time is to not act scared. This may be hard to do, but like I mentioned before, some of the actors can follow you throughout. I’ve been in a situation before where I screamed so loud it made me an easy target to a clown standing beside me.

He then decided to literally follow me throughout the whole entire haunted house till the end breathing down my neck. If you want to avoid situations like this, it is best to not show your emotions. You should try to scream a little quieter, don’t run too fast and do not cover your face up. It may be hard to look at some things while going through the attraction, but sometimes the actors see that and will pop up in your face once you open your eyes. It is important to enjoy your time but do not make for an easy target.

4. Think happy thoughts One thing I pride myself in is avoiding having nightmares after something scary. No matter what it is, a scary haunted house or a scary movie, I never seem to have any after effects. What I do to avoid this is just remind myself it is not real and think of happier things.

I also like to counter-act whatever scary thing I just saw. For example, if I were going to walk through a haunted house I would make sure I do something opposite after. Maybe I would see a scary movie, hang out with friends or maybe even play with puppies. The best thing to do out of anything though, is laugh.

Funny movies are the best things to see and make sure you go do something light-hearted with your friends. Laughter really is the best medicine to anything.

2. Go with people you know It really helps to go to a haunted house with people you are familiar with. If you go with friends or even a significant other that makes it just so much better because then you can hold on to someone tight throughout the haunted house. Also, if you are with some people you know pretty well, that means they probably know you pretty well too. This means they know how you can be around scary situations and haunted houses so they can help you out as you go along. Lastly, Photo by Nicole Buckenham the best thing about knowing who you are going to be scared with is that you won’t feel embarrassed when you are screaming and running around. Your friends are there to guide you 5. Have fun through the haunted attraction and not make fun of you as if you went with The last step into surviving a haunted house is to have fun. Just people you are not really close with. remember no matter how scary something can seem to be, it is all in good fun. The scary things you will experience through the haunted attraction are 3. Don’t act scared meant out of pure joy and not to actually scare you. Halloween only comes This to me is what really gets me through a haunted house. The most once a year, so the best thing to do is to enjoy it and enjoy being scared!

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