Niner Times: December 6, 2016

INSIDE THIS EDITION: CHECK OUT DARA PEARSON, THE FRESHMAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER MAKING WAVES ON AND OFF THE COURT

OP-ED: THE VISTORY AT STANDING ROCK RESERVATION PROVIDES PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD TO ENTER 2016 WITH A RAY OF HOPE

PG. 8

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DEC. 6, 2016 - JAN. 9, 2017

PG. 11

PROCRASTINATION DOES FAR MORE THAN JUST INCONVENIENCE YOU AT THE LAST MOMENT, IT CAN ALSO DAMAGE YOUR HEATH. PG. 14 VOL. 29, ISSUE 12

Hunter Heilman editor@ninertimes.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Jasmine Taylor

Nick Cropper

Trevor Wilt

Kathleen Cook

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Jeffrey Kopp

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Hailey Turpin

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Diane Gromelski

Casey Aldridge

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Leysha Caraballo photo@ninertimes.com

Carmen Westra

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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

Delfina Erochenko, Saba Solaimanizadeh, David Shepperd

Linnea Stoops

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

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DEC. 6, 2016 - JAN. 9, 2017

NINERTIMES

SEMESTER REVIEW

NICK CROPPER NEWS EDITOR

Over the course of the fall 2016 semester, there have been several important events involving UNC Charlotte. Take a look back at the seven top moments from the fall semester: Exponential Campaign and Founder’s Celebration The Exponential Campaign is UNC Charlotte’s largest fundraising campaign in history. With this campaign came a week of events during the Founder’s Celebration.

Each day, there was a different event celebrating the University’s 70th anniversary, which all led up to the naming of the Popp & Martin Student Union. The Union was named after Karen A. Popp and Demond T. Martin in honor of their significant donation to the Exponential Campaign.

Popp served as the Chair of the Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board. She is also the second alumna to serve as the Board of Trustees chair and is a member of

the Alumni Hall of Fame. She was also the first woman elected student body president at UNC Charlotte.

Martin served on the Foundation Board, received the Outstanding Young Alumnus award and funded several scholarships for low income students enrolling at UNC Charlotte who had a track record of academic excellence.

The Exponential Campaign’s goal is to raise $200 million for the development of current and future projects at UNC Charlotte, all of which are to compensate for the demand created by the continually growing student body.

International Festival UNC Charlotte celebrated its 41st annual International Festival Sept.

24, the same week as the Founder’s Celebration. Dozens of booths representing different countries filled the Student Activity Center and the surrounding area.

Like previous International Festivals, many of the booths either

Photo by Alex Sands

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sold trinkets or food that attendants could purchase for a small price.

There were also multiple dance and musical performances scheduled throughout the 8-hour event and the parade of nations Keith Lamont Scott Protests erupted within walking distance of UNC Charlotte after 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott was killed by police officers. When officers arrived at the Village at College Downs apartment complex in search of another suspect, they encountered Scott while he was waiting in his car. Officers approached him and report seeing Scott with a firearm. According to reports from the officers involved, Scott refused to comply with multiple orders made by the officers before he was eventually shot

by Officer Brentley Vinson, who is also African-American. Scott was transported to the Carolina’s Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Photo by Pooja Pasupula

DEC. 6, 2016 - JAN. 9, 2017

What followed next were a series of protests turned riots that lasted well into the early morning hours of the following day. Protestors were met by officers in riot gear on Old Concord Road. At 1:45 a.m. that night, protesters walked onto I-85 and shut down the interstate.

Protestors began looting trucks that were trapped and setting fires.

The following night, the protests and violence were taken to the heart of Uptown Charlotte. What began as a peaceful demonstration quickly turned violent as the night progressed. Many innocent bystanders who were there to peacefully gather and protest police brutality found themselves trapped in the city as the scene turned violent. Five Niner Times staff members were trapped in Uptown as well while they were reporting on the protest.

The night eventually turned deadly, as one demonstrator was fatally shot. It is unclear why Cont. on page 6

Photo by Leysha Caraballo

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Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel speaks at UNC Charlotte SABA SOLAIMANIZADEH STAFF WRITER

The Office of International Programs welcomed former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to speak to UNC Charlotte students, faculty and staff about his perspective on foreign policy, international security and the United States’s role on the global scale after the 2016 presidential election Dec. 1.

Hagel, who is a registered Republican, believes that a lack of bipartisanship is why the U.S. had the election it did. He noted that despite this, he has confidence that America is capable of undergoing political realignment.

“Democracies do that, that’s one of our strengths: we can self-correct without revolution. It is imperfect but it works really well,” Hagel said.

Hagel also discussed that a lack of bipartisanship is a byproduct of the American people having lost confidence in their institutions.

Polls taken in the past few years show that journalism ranks right at the bottom of institutions that Americans have lost confidence in.

“The only one that does not rank at the bottom is the military.

Nearly 70-80 percent of people have confidence and trust in it,” said Hagel. “Every other institution is at the bottom. However, again, we have some opportunities to get realigned.”

In describing what he believes to be the quintessential form of bipartisanship, Hagel alluded to the coalitions of common interest after World War II in which we built the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other major institutions, all of which were predicated on the best interests of the people despite ideological differences.

“If we don’t start building a platform of consensus, we’ll never solve the rest of the problems and wind up in World War III,” Hagel said. “In a sophisticated technological age, no one would win.

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Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel speaks in the Atkins Library Halton Reading Room. Photo by Saba Solaimanizadeh

Emerging countries are becoming stronger, there is a diffusion of economic power that the world has never seen.”

Hagel explained that Americans are always adapting and adjusting, and they must do that to stay relevant on a geopolitical scale.

Given this, he advocates the United States’ continuation of building alliances and relationships so that it does not have to carry all of the burden as a country. He referenced the United States’ involvement in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as an anecdote to demonstrate this.

He pointed out that though he believes NATO helps make us more relevant and creates pacific power, Trump has challenged NATO countries into taking more action in order to make it more effective.

“25 out of 28 of the nations in NATO are not complying with one of the basic charters of membership in NATO and that’s 2 percent of your

GDP that goes to your own nation,” said Hagel. “One of those nations is Estonia. Not a lot of revenue coming in from there.”

Secretary Hagel argued that listening to one another is the most basic and critical constant in politics, but institutions tend to make it complicated for the society.

“In politics, we let absolutism seep into politics where we now have divisions,” he said. “Therefore, the Department of Defense and other big departments are not able to plan, resulting in a loss of productivity.”

Branching off of this, Hagel applied this to the 2016 election, expressing that this is why Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton did not win the presidency.

“She represented the status quo, everything America was fed up with,” he said.

Hagel also mentioned that the press has been irresponsible with the gravity with which it has hyperbolized Trump’s platform.

DEC. 6, 2016 - JAN. 9, 2017

“He won’t be nearly as strident as anybody has guessed,” he said.

“We’re not going to pull out of NATO or anything like that. Congress has a lot of power.”

All things considered, Hagel said that he is optimistic about the future of the Trump Administration.

“With our system, he did win, and no recount will reverse that,” he said. “We owe him the opportunity to form his government, and where he wants to take this country.”

Christina Sanchez, associate director of International Programs, appreciated Hagel’s candidness and forthright nature in providing a balanced and realistic perspective on where this country currently stands.

“Quite poignantly, it ended on a discussion about finances, and our viability as a nation to maintain security based on how trustworthy we are,” said Sanchez.

“It shed a light on how our fiscal responsibilities plays a role in that leverage.”

Student Assistant Elizabeth Prothero, who worked the event, said that she thought it was great to see people interacting with politics in the collegiate community.

“The talk made me understand more about the positions given to our political leaders and learn more about different political views because it’s a part of our everyday life,” said Prothero.

Hagel mentioned that his position as secretary of defense was challenging given the muddled nature of uncontrollable factors in foreign policy. However, the gratifying aspects of the position ultimately makes it worthwhile for him.

“I was privileged to work with magnificent men and women and their families that give so much to this country and ask for so little in return,” Hagel said. “To see that kind of dedication and service--that’s what really sustained me.”

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GRADUATE SCHOOL LAUNCHES THIRD YEAR OF VETERAN ASSISTANTSHIPS

Three military veterans awarded assistantships, upholding UNC Charlotte’s historical values SABA SOLAIMANIZADEH STAFF WRITER

This year, three military veterans will be selected to receive assistantships for a graduate education with funding from the Graduate School.

This funding, valued at $36,000 for master’s degree candidates and $45,000 for doctoral students, requires recipients to engage in tasks such as pursuing research under the guidance of a faculty member or working as a teacher’s assistant.

Students must be accepted into a graduate program and nominated by their Graduate Program Director in order to qualify for the program.

The assistantships provide funding for resident tuition support and health insurance for two academic years, both for master’s students and doctoral students.

UNC Charlotte was founded immediately after World War II to serve returning veterans with the rising demands for education. Built under this platform, the school has grown to become a large researchintensive institution.

By creating this program in support of optimal educational opportunities for veterans, the Graduate School continues to embody the traditional and historical values of UNC Charlotte as a school established for veterans.

Dean Tom Reynolds of the Graduate School, a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, believes in the noble value of military veterans to the UNC Charlotte community.

“These are students that are

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engaged, on time and are motivated, so I want to try to provide an opportunity to help them in different ways,” he said.

In addition to their academic

“THESE ARE STUDENTS THAT ARE ENGAGED, ON TIME AND ARE MOTIVATED”

TOM REYNOLDS

endeavors and their participation in teaching assistant and research positions, the recipients of the program also take part in resources that help other students on campus, including other veterans.

“We’re getting the second year students together to provide mentoring for other veterans on campus through the Center for

Graduate Life and other various professional development programs,” Dean Reynolds said.

The well-rounded nature of the assistantships’ funding through work and campus contribution was rooted in the veterans’ outlook on education.

According to Reynolds, veterans exceptionally recognize the value of their education and the value of the funding, so they seek to make the program a meaningful pursuit.

“We interviewed some veterans about what kind of funding they would like, and they were not receptive to the concept of doing a scholarship,” Dean Reynolds said.

“They felt like it was unfair to just take money and didn’t want to feel like they were receiving money for nothing. So we made it an assistantship where they could be TAs or do research.”

The outreach and support for veterans is an integral part of UNC Charlotte’s community, and the assistantship program is expected to grow substantially in the following years.

The invaluable contribution of veterans to the University, both academically and culturally, makes it a worthwhile undertaking for the Graduate School.

“I want to make sure its endowed and has sufficient funding so that the program can continue to grow and do the great work it has been doing,” Dean Reynolds said.

DEC. 6, 2016 - JAN. 9, 2017

POLICE BLOTTER NOV. 30 - DEC. 2 ARREST DEC. 2

• Cameron Boulevard, driver of vehicle one stated that vehicle two struck his vehicle in the rear and left the scene. Driver of vehicle one followed vehicle two until it stopped. Driver of vehicle two was arrested after it was determined that she was intoxicated.

• Lynch Hall, after conducting a knock and talk, subject was arrested in reference to found drugs.

BREAKING AND ENTERING NOV. 30

• Johnson Band Center, unknown subject removed a sound system from the band center and it was located at a pawn shop.

CMPD is retrieving the item.

DRUG VIOLATION NOV. 30

• Hunt Hall, officer issued a state citation in reference to possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

• Hunt Hall, officer issued four judicial referrals in reference to drugs.

INFORMATION ONLY DEC. 1

• McEniry, UNC Charlotte employee reported that one of the two-way radios used by their department was missing.

LARCENY DEC. 2

• North Deck, unknown subject removed victim’s license plate from her vehicle, which was parked in a public area.

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

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SEMESTER REVIEW, cont. protestor Justin Carr was shot or what the motivations behind the shooting were. However, Carr’s death was the accelerant that turned a peaceful city into a tear-gas filled war zone.

Over the course of the next couple days, multiple student demonstrations occured on campus.

The day after the shooting, two student gatherings were held at the Popp & Martin Student Union.

Hundreds of students took to the floor of the Union as part of a lay-in protest.

Hillary Clinton takes UNC Charlotte Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton urged UNC Charlotte students to vote during her trip to campus just one-week before early voting would begin.

During the rally, thousands of UNC Charlotte students, staff and faculty, along with Charlotte community members gathered at the Belk Plaza in support of Clinton.

She spoke about her ability to lead the country and the different plans she would enact once elected president. She also took aim at President-Elect Donald Trump, who was the Republican nominee for president, claiming that he was a threat to democracy.

Unidentified body found on campus An unidentified body was found on

campus Oct. 21 on the front fields of campus, across from Robinson Hall.

As University officals collaborated with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Homicide Department, the University issued a statement regarding the body, stating that there was no connection to UNC Charlotte, nor was there ever any threat to UNC Charlotte and students’s safety.

Cato College of Education The Cato College of Education was named after John Cato, president, chairman and chief executive officer of the Cato Corporation.

Cato made a $5 million donation to UNC Charlotte’s Exponential Campaign and a ceremony was held in honor of Cato.

According to Cato, his family has always been supporters of education.

The Cato College of Education became the third lecture hall on campus to be named after a donor.

The first two being the William States Lee College of Engineering and the Belk College of Business.

Tuition and Fees Advisory Board University officials as well as student leaders met for the biannual Tuition and Fees Advisory Board.

Over the course of the two-day meeting, students discussed tuition increases for different departments at UNC Charlotte. They also made recommendations regarding some of the proposed increases.

UNC Charlotte alumnus John Cato poses by the new Cato College of Education plaque.

Photo by Allison Tran

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DEC. 6, 2016 - JAN. 9, 2017

NINERTIMES

OPPORTUNITY: THE STORY OF JC WASHINGTON

Photos by Chris Crews

KATHLEEN COOK SPORTS EDITOR

New to the 49er basketball squad this season is junior college transfer JC Washington. The forward has taken advantage of all of the opportunities presented to him throughout his career.

The Houston, Texas native began playing basketball in the seventh grade after being exposed to the game through his gym class.

“My dad was a big-time basketball player in Houston, but he didn’t really force the ball in my hand. I saw it in the gym during PE and ever since then it’s just been something I do. I just fell in love with it,” Washington said.

As Washington grew, so did his basketball abilities. By the time the 6-foot-7 forward graduated Yates High School he had helped take his team to three straight Texas state championship games. He was ranked a threestar recruit by Scout.com, Rivals.com and ESPN. During his senior season Washington averaged a double-double with 19.5 points and 12.5 throughout the state tournament.

Washington kept his talents close to home when signing day came around, enrolling in the University of Houston. In his first game as a Shasta, Washington tallied six points and a gamehigh nine rebounds.

Washington wasn’t satisfied in Houston, however, and made the decision to transfer to Trinity Valley Community College.

The move to Trinity Valley was the “greatest thing” Washington ever did. In the 20152016 season at Trinity Valley, Washington

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averaged 10.2 points and 6.4 rebounds. With his performance, the Cardinals were able to hold a 33-2 record and were given the number one seed in the NJCAA tournament. In the NJCAA tournament, Washington and Trinity Valley made it all the way to the Final Four where their championship run was cut short In his time at Trinity Valley Washington said he “couldn’t have asked for more.”

After his stellar season had concluded, offers started pouring in for Washington to return to division one basketball. Putting their name in the conversation in the last minute was Charlotte.

“I wasn’t going to come here until I actually came and saw the city and the campus, then I fell in love with it. I didn’t think I would ever be here, but now that I’m here I’ve just adapted to it.

I come from a big city in Houston and Charlotte is a growing city with great people. I have great teammates and a coaching staff that care about me. I’m away from home, but I feel like I’m home,” Washington said.

Shortly after arriving in Charlotte, Washington went with the team on their Canadian adventure.

This trip offered the transfer an opportunity to get his feet wet with the team both on and off the court.

“Coming in from junior college, having to get used to playing division one basketball again, I think Canada was a great trip. We spent time together. We’re always around each other, that made it even better. When we went to Canada we grew together and I think it gives us an edge over DEC. 6, 2016 - JAN. 9, 2017

the other teams that didn’t make a foreign trip this summer,” Washington said.

Don’t expect Washington to bring rack up points. It’s what the junior does off the ball that makes him a competitor. So far this season Washington is responsible for 35 rebounds, 11 assists and six blocks.

“One game I didn’t come out too hard and coach got on me. I’m not really a fan of someone yelling at me so I took that to heart. I can’t be a big cry baby and mope around about it, I just have to accept the challenge, come out, and play hard,” Washington said. “I think my role is to do all the dirty work: take charges, jump on loose balls, get extra possessions for the shooters and pass the ball around. It’s small, but it’s very important.”

Throughout his years playing the game, it makes sense that Washington has harvested a love for the sport. The therapeutic nature of basketball is what entrances Washington.

“I love basketball because when you’re on the court it’s just you and nine other players.

Everything outside the lines erases. If you have a bad day and you come out on the court, it can change your whole day,” Washington said.

Basketball has given Washington a chance to do things he never imagined.

“From the neighborhood I’m from, I never thought I would be traveling so much out of the country. There are so many states, so many cities I never thought I would go to but basketball took me there,” Washington said. “I’m just grateful that God gave me an opportunity to play this game.”

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DARA PEARSON:

ROLE PLAYER EXTRAORDINAIRE After a stellar high school career, freshman Dara Pearson makes an impact from the bench

TREVOR WILT SPORTS EDITOR

Last season, the 6-foot-3 forward was looking on from the bench, watching her teammates work hard on the court while she sat out the season as a redshirt. This season, Dara Pearson has had her name called numerous times from head coach Cara Consuegra, providing great minutes off the bench on offense and defense.

“Dara has been tremendous all season long for us,” coach Consuegra said. “She’s been a great spark off the bench and what I keep saying is the thing about Dara is that she plays her role.

She does what she needs to do and that’s why she’s been so successful. We need her to play great defense and to rebound; also, finish off put backs off rebounds and take shots she needs to be taking around the rim. Because of that, she’s really thriving and giving us that great spark off the bench, which is badly needed.”

Acting as a role player is not a new character for Pearson to play. The redshirt freshman from

Hampton, Virginia, acted as a role player early in high school, playing behind multiple Division I athletes. With most role players being known for scoring less than 10 points and just providing quality minutes on offense and defense, Pearson took matters into her own hands in one game her sophomore season.

In a game against Denbigh, she scored 43 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. In three quarters. Yes, you read that right. Asked why she didn’t play the fourth quarter, Pearson laughed and said, “My coach didn’t want to play me in the fourth quarter because he said he wanted to have a respectable win. But I felt unstoppable. Every shot felt great and was going in that day.”

After her 43-point outburst sophomore year, Pearson started to get well-earned recognition for her play on the court. Charlotte was one of those teams who reached out to the Hampton native, offering her a scholarship during her junior season.

“Once I visited Charlotte, I knew this was the place I wanted to play,” Pearson said.

“I just loved everything about it. The facilities are nice and the campus is growing. And once I met the coaches, I felt like they cared about me on and off the court.”

On National Signing day, coach Consuegra said, “Once she’s able to get some strength by working with us at our level, I think the sky’s the limit for her.”

So after years of hard work and dedication to the game she grew up loving, with her father playing overseas in Chile, Pearson committed to the Green and White, knowing she would have to work hard to play at the next level.

As a 49er commit in her senior season, Pearson averaged a triple-double, averaging over 20 points, bringing in over 10 rebounds and blocking 10 shots per game. So after an outstanding and

unheard of senior season, Pearson traveled just over five hours down the east coast to Charlotte.

As Consuegra said, Pearson understood that she had to put on muscle to compete at the next level, excelling in high school with her tall and lean body frame. So instead of jumping straight into the action at Charlotte, it was a joint-decision to sit Pearson for the 2015-2016 season.

“It was one of the hardest things that I had to do,” Pearson said. “I knew it was going to benefit me in the long run. I just had to get my weight up. College basketball is a lot different than high school basketball, but after that year, I feel a lot stronger and feel like I can finish at the rim a lot easier with contact around the basket.”

With 2016-2017 in full effect and multiple ladies seeing their first action in a Charlotte jersey, Pearson has to continue to work hard to earn minutes off the bench. Against College of Charleston earlier in the season, Pearson scored a career-high 13 points, scoring 11 of those in the fourth quarter.

The sophomore also had a career-best game on Nov. 20 against Presbyterian, tallying seven rebounds, with five of those being offensive.

With her minutes and production increasing each game, look for No.34 running up and down the court, being the role player the 49ers need to make a deep run in Conference USA.

“SHE’S BEEN A GREAT SPARK OFF THE BENCH AND WHAT I KEEP SAYING IS THE THING ABOUT DARA IS THAT SHE PLAYS HER ROLE.” HEAD COACH CARA CONSUEGRA

Dara Pearson fights the ball against Wisconsin.

Photo by Ben Coon

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DEC. 6, 2016 - JAN. 9, 2017

NINERTIMES

49ERS USE TECHNOLOGY TO ADVANCE TALENTS KATHLEEN COOK SPORTS EDITOR

The Lady Niners are embracing 21st century technology through the use of iPads this season. Instead of using an old-fashioned film room, Charlotte has put an iPad in every player’s hands that holds game film, practice film and scouting reports.

In a campaign spearheaded by video coordinator Eric Besserman, the 49ers have transitioned to using iPads to help put the game in the palm of player’s hands.

“We’re just trying to keep up with the times, we had talked about a way for the girls to see more film.

Last year we just put stuff on Dropbox and they did it on their own with whatever computers they had,” Besserman said.

The software the team uses comes with a free app, so there was a smooth transition from the traditional film viewing to the iPads.

Before the players got to use their new tablets, Besserman put restrictions on the technology, deleting the messaging and FaceTime apps.

“They were probably a little

bummed out because I put restrictions on their iPads so they can’t FaceTime or message. We didn’t want them to be in film and get a text message or something.

We really limit it to strictly film and iBooks,” Besserman said.

The timeliness and convenience of the iPads has shown to benefit the squad so far this season.

“I think it’s made a huge difference, it’s much easier for them to access. Coach or I can text them, say ‘Hey there’s some film up,’ and they can go download it,” Besserman said. “I think they’re enjoying it because they get to be more involved in the scouting reports.”

Each season a binder would be filled with scouting reports of each team the 49ers would face. Now in place of paper, Besserman has the ability to put a PDF version of the reports on the iPads. This allows an easier access of the reports to the players.

“I think it’s a real good tool to use for our scouting reports. Last year we would forget our paper copy of

the report in the locker room. Now we just have it whenever and we can pull it up wherever,” senior Ciara Gregory said.

The new technology allows players to learn more about their play on the go, and on their own time.

“It’s a great advantage to be able to watch film whenever we want, late at night when we’re in our own place. We don’t have to watch it with coaches,” Gregory said.

Junior guard Amaya Ransom also enjoys the new additions of the iPads.

“It’s just exciting using technology.

Our age group is more adapted to technology. I feel like with the film being on technology it makes it more hands-on and we’re more receptive to what they’re trying teach us,” Ransom said.

The ease of access to information seems to be working so far this season, Charlotte is currently 5-3.

The Niners take their talents on the road and return home Dec. 11 to play Longwood at home at 4 p.m.

A LOOK AHEAD

With both teams’ non-conference portion of the season coming to a close, take a glance at what they are facing during break.

MEN’S BASKETBALL:

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:

TUESDAY, DEC. 6

TUESDAY, DEC. 6

Winston-Salem, N.C.

Pittsburgh, Pa.

WAKE FOREST 7 p.m.

DUQUESNE 5 p.m.

SATURDAY, DEC. 17

SUNDAY, DEC. 11

Sunrise, Fla.

Charlotte, N.C.

FLORIDA 4 p.m.

LONGWOOD 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, DEC. 20

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21

Baltimore, Md.

Charlotte, N.C.

MARYLAND 7 p.m.

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DAVIDSON 6 p.m.

DEC. 6, 2016 - JAN. 9, 2017

Photo by Chris Crews

9

ADVERTISEMNETS AND ADVENT DAVID SHEPPERD INTERN

As I’m sure many of you have experienced, often when I arrive at my home after a long day of classes, I like to unwind by watching a little television. For many of you, this may mean that you will spend a couple of hours binge-watching the latest fad on Netflix. However, since I do not own a Netflix account, this means that I am reduced to watching cable.

It really isn’t too bad. Sure, I will admit that there are a number of shows that are sub-par in quality, but it’s the same with Netflix. To be honest, a lot of the times when I want to watch something funny, I’ll turn on TV Land and watch some reruns of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” or I’ll catch up on some “Seinfeld” on local channels. That being said, there is something that I do detest about television, and for the most part, so does everyone else.

In the end, what gives television a bad name is the endless amount of commercials that constantly interrupt whatever you are watching. Although I do enjoy a few of these commercials, they are very few in number, and I don’t enjoy watching them in the middle of a plot-twist of a movie on AMC. One commercial in particular that I strongly dislike is the latest K-Mart Christmas advertisement. If you don’t know the one I am referring to, watch it on YouTube. It may not seem bad at first, but watch it about 300 times in a row and then get back to me.

The thing about commercials is, about 95 percent of them take no thought to write. That, and the fact that 95 percent of them are

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extremely stupid. Someone once told me that the more stupid a commercial is, the better – because that will make people remember the product, and they are more likely to buy it. Let me tell you something – the next time I drive by a K-Mart, their annoying Christmas

The point is, a big reason why people don’t watch regular television is because they hate being interrupted by irrelevant commercials. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told that people canceled their Hulu accounts because of the amount

first place? “Here, let’s sit down and watch an unlimited amount of movies and television whenever we want, without any commercials.”

Sounds pretty good to me. But what do I know? Here’s a great idea for a commercial – let’s make an Angel Soft Toilet Paper ad using popular

Children hang out the window of a car driving by a Christmas light show.

Photo via Tribune News Service

commercial is not going to persuade me to go in and buy something for $8 more than I could have gotten it at Walmart. But perhaps that’s just me.

of commercials. I do suppose that a number of people would rather watch Netflix because overall, their shows are better. But why do you think Netflix became a thing in the

DEC. 6, 2016 - JAN. 9, 2017

Kentucky Fried Chicken slogans.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to buy that product? “Angel Soft Toilet Paper: It’s Finger-Lickin’ Good!”

NINERTIMES

LESSONS IN HOPE

FOR 2017, FROM STANDING ROCK CASEY ALDRIDGE OPINION EDITOR

On Jan. 13, 2016, I penned an opinion-editorial for this newspaper on New Year’s resolutions, and the need to do away with them entirely. In that piece I lamented that 2015 had been “an awful year for the world.” I wrote that “at the beginning of 2015 I held so much hope for the year and it turned out that much of my hope was misplaced. Jan. 1, 2015 did not mark a new era of compassion or justice, it was a mere continuation of the broken world it inherited from Dec. 31, 2014.”

Little did I know just how awful 2016 was going to turn out.

Like 2015, 2016 wasn’t without its high points. I was able to travel to Palestine in May and return to Scotland in September. I grew as a scholar and got accepted to a strong M.Div. program that I’ll enroll in next fall. There was “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” there was “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” and there was “Stranger Things.” There were some good times with friends and family through it all.

But on the whole, I shouldn’t need to convince you just how awful 2016 was. Cops escalated the war on Black people and it returned to our own backyard with the killing of Keith Lamont Scott. We lost Bowie and Prince and Cohen and Rickman and so many other favorites. Flint still doesn’t have clean water. There was a weird thing with clowns for a bit. A bigot won the longest, most insufferable presidential campaign

in history between the two least popular major nominees ever.

And since then, there has been an unprecedented surge in hate crimes against queer and transgender people, Muslims, Jews, immigrants, Latinos and Black folks, and there has been an unprecedented surge in public and visible Nazism, often coded as the alt-right.

There’s no reason at all to believe 2017 will be anything better. In my previous article, I quoted Antonio Gramsci: “That’s why I hate these New Years that fall like fixed maturities, which turn life and human spirit into a commercial concern with its neat final balance, its outstanding amounts, its budget for the new management. They make us lose the continuity of life and spirit.

You end up seriously thinking that between one year and the next there is a break, that a new history is beginning; you make resolutions, and you regret your irresolution, and so on, and so forth. This is generally what’s wrong with dates. . .I want every morning to be a new year’s for me. Every day I want to reckon with myself, and every day I want to renew myself. No day set aside for rest. I choose my pauses myself, when I feel drunk with the intensity of life and I want to plunge into animality to draw from it new vigor.”

Following Gramsci’s poetic argument, there’s no reason to believe 2017 will be anything better, but there is ample reason to believe that 2017 can be something

different, something new.

Last week I wrote about Standing Rock, and how the Army Corps planned to clear the protest site to resume construction by Dec. 5.

At the time of writing this article, on Dec. 4, the Army Corps has just announced that the permit for the Dakota Access Pipeline current route (which would have infringed upon indigenous sacred burial sites and threatened water supplies) will be denied. In one week, the protesters went from being attacked and nearly expelled to winning.

The Dakota Access Pipeline and its backers will try to reroute, and when they do they must be met with ensued protest. Oil pipelines, often ominously called “the black snake,” threaten indigenous communities with pollution and catastrophe, and must be fought at every turn.

The war against the oil companies and their financiers and the police state is not over. But ask any of the water protectors on the ground in Standing Rock, North Dakota right now and they will tell you that this is a victory. This is a victory won by months of relentless protests, by the courage of the indigenous water protectors and incredible solidarity from veterans and others. Hundreds of tribes joined forces at Standing Rock, along with supporters, in a camp that reached up to 15,000.

The decision from the Army Corps and Obama Administration was not charity; they were forced to act by the power of the people.

I have friends of mine at Standing

Rock who I saw crying tears of joy in response to the news. In the eleventh hour, right before threatened eviction, the opposition caved and the water protectors won a (limited, temporary, but no less real) victory.

For me, in the eleventh hour of 2016, the victory at Standing Rock is a beautiful reminder that our movements - in support of Black Lives Matter, Palestine and the Fight for $15, or against sexism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism - can in fact win. Where there is solidarity and courage, there can be a better world. For those celebrating Christmas this month, the idea of a light coming into the world, just in time, is a familiar one. When Christians celebrate Advent, they celebrate the fact that the future can be something new and beautiful, and in fact will be something new and beautiful. There is no guarantee of when things will change or how, but there is the historical fact that there is always change, and that the change we seek can be just around the corner. 2017, in all likelihood, will be brutal; after all, that racist we elected this year will be officially sworn in as president of the United States. 2017 will inherit the broken world of 2016, but there is hope in the fact that 2017 doesn’t have to be another 2016. The world doesn’t have to remain broken, just because it is today. In the meantime, it is our obligation to keep on seeking justice and loving one another through the storms to come.

A wristband left at a vigil for Keith Scott in September reads ‘HOPE’. Photo via Pooja Pasupula

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Photo courtesy of Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions

‘MANCHESTER BY THE SEA’ IS A STARKLY SOMBER DRAMA With stunning performances from Casey Affleck and Lucas Hedges, this film blows its initial clichés

HUNTER HEILMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

This film has been a long time coming.

Much like “The Birth of a Nation,” the buzz for “Manchester by the Sea” has been incredibly palpable ever since its January premiere at the Sundance Film Festival that opened to rave reviews. Since then, the film has constantly been on many people’s Oscar radar leading up to its release two weeks ago in New York and Los Angeles. What’s somewhat shocking is that with these rave reviews comes a story that looks very cliché on paper: a selfish, single man must take care of his troubled nephew after his brother passes away. To me, this sounds like the plot to every other uplifting drama that you would see on AMC on a Wednesday night, something like “Uptown Girls,” “Big Daddy” and almost cut-anddry from “Raising Helen” and “Life as We Know It.” Luckily, in itself, “Manchester by the Sea” finds

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ways to bypass these clichés for a very engaging drama.

Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is a janitor working in Boston to a very monotonous, depressing life of solitude. One day, Lee receives a call informing him that his brother, Joe (Kyle Chandler), has died of a sudden heart attack, orphaning his 16 year-old son, Patrick (Lucas Hedges). Initially taking care of Patrick in the days following his death, Lee soon find out that Joe’s will specifies Lee as Patrick’s sole guardian, with the understanding that he would relocate from Boston to Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass. to raise Patrick. Lee soon struggles to come to terms with taking care of a teenager, finding a plan to benefit both him and Patrick, while also coming to terms with the dark past that Manchester holds for him.

As the film progresses, it becomes increasingly DEC. 6, 2016 - JAN. 9, 2017

clearer how high Affleck’s chances of snatching the Oscar trophy this year are. While Lee isn’t a particularly warm and cuddly character, he has a complex backstory that Affleck injects into even the smallest scenes of dialogue. Lee is a broken, deeply troubled man looked upon by society as a failure and a pariah, which heartbreakingly is seen in nearly every scene masterfully. Hedges is nearly Affleck’s match as Patrick, a different take on the troubled teen, as the new world for millennials has turned nearly every teenager into a different version of the typical troubled teen. Patrick isn’t leaps and bounds ahead of the troubled curve, but he has his own unique downfalls that plague every millennial in different ways. The way in which Hedges makes this seemingly ordinary teen unique is fabulously nuanced and sweetly endearing. Other cast members including

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Michelle Williams as Lee’s ex-wife, Chandler as his brother and Gretchen Mol as Patrick’s troubled mother all put forth very nuanced and heartbreaking performances.

From the sound of it, “Manchester by the Sea” is a dim and somber film with little room for happiness to shine through, which is only partially true. While most of the film is shrouded in snow-covered agony, there are a few scenes of humor that really shine a light on some of the range of many of the actors involved. “Manchester by the Sea” is through and through an actor’s piece, which makes the ability to drop some of the clichés of the script so easily.

What comes with the film that isn’t as moving are a few of the choices that director Kenneth Lonergan makes that really cause a disconnect in the film’s initial effectiveness: certain long scenes of action with no dialogue, questionable character choices and other things often give the film an artsyfartsy vibe in a few scenes that really took me as an audience member out of the film in a way that I wasn’t a massive fan of. This could pose a problem to a mainstream moviegoer entering the film expecting something like the aforementioned films that “Manchester by the Sea” somewhat replicates.

Make no mistake, don’t let the plot and vetting by Amazon make it seem like “Manchester by the Sea” isn’t anything but an art-house film, through and through. This isn’t an issue for those who are okay with that, just know what you’re getting into.

Photo courtesy of Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions

But don’t take this as a deferment, “Manchester by the Sea” is a beautifully crafted film with stunning cinematography, production and costume design, as well as some incredibly effective editing, weaving past and present events through perfectly without ever confusing audience members. On a technical level, as well as the level of an indie film that premiered at Sundance, “Manchester by the Sea” is one of the best of its kind.

“Manchester by the Sea” doesn’t quite live up to its immense hype, but it in no way is even slightly a let-down like “The Birth of a Nation” was. This is a gorgeously crafted film that takes a tired concept and invigorates it with new life thanks to a few darker plot turns and some absolutely stunning performances from the cast, primarily from the glowing, yet broken Affleck, whose melancholy energy is a surprising light in the darkness of this awards season. Lonergan’s vision for the film is fully realized in this final product and is complimented greatly by the film’s wonderfully built technical department.

“Manchester by the Sea” finds itself being an above-average film while not hitting the insurmountable hype set forth by film journalists at Sundance, all the while still being a moving, beautiful film.

Directed by: Kenneth Lonergan Starring: Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Gretchen Mol, with Matthew Broderick and Lucas Hedges.

Rating: R for language throughout and some sexual content.

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ACROSS 1 Poets 6 Ocean breaker 10 Former Iranian ruler 14 From another planet 15 Golfer’s club selection 16 Golfer’s target 17 What the star gets on a marquee 19 Express checkout lane unit 20 “__ Haw” 21 Contemptuous manner, in slang 22 “Pet” annoyance 23 Dejected 26 Wrap tightly, as in bandages 30 Poker holding 31 Charged atoms 32 Madame of physics 34 Guy’s partner 37 Level of optimal accomplishment 41 Bygone jet, briefly

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42 Act with passion 43 Caution 44 Song at the Met 45 Like most peanuts 47 Meeting of world leaders 52 Name on rented trailers 53 Lane with a nose for news 54 Pasta suffix 57 Dirt road grooves 58 Honorable ... and like the starts of 17-, 23-, 37- and 47-Across 61 Emancipated 62 Pigmented eye layer 63 Watchdog warning 64 Part of NIMBY 65 Swiss capital 66 Foul, weather-wise DOWN 1 It’s drawn in a tub 2 Natural skin soother 3 Unlike green tomatoes 4 Star of the ball 5 Tattletale

6 Witty Oscar 7 Astrological Ram 8 Maria __ Trapp 9 Subj. with grammar 10 Handheld riot gear 11 Marriott facility 12 Advil competitor 13 Macho guys 18 Tempt 22 “The Hunger Games” nation 24 Severe pang 25 Carnival 26 Drinks that make a drink last 27 Troubles 28 Vet sch. course 29 Disdainful click 32 Zagreb native 33 N.Y.-based educators’ union 34 Insect in a dusk swarm 35 Realtor’s lot unit 36 Allow to borrow 38 Danger 39 Give out 40 Tapered tool 44 Tickled 45 Less than 1%?

46 Give, as homework 47 Like the beach during a storm 48 “Star Trek” lieutenant 49 Alma __ 50 Rags-to-riches author Horatio 51 Lindsay who played Liz in “Liz & Dick” 54 Wedding promises 55 Mature eft 56 Relaxed way to sit by 58 O’Hare, for United Airlines 59 “__ been thinking ... “ 60 Org. promoting hunter safety

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FIVE REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD STOP PROCRASTINATING It is hard to stop procrastinating, especially if you have been doing it for a long time.

DELFINA EROCHENKO INTERN

Procrastination: one of the weaknesses that most of us have to face at least a few times in our lives. Putting our responsibilities off until the last possible moment may seem appealing at a first glance, but is it really worth it? While they might not fix the problem right away, these five reasons why you should stop procrastinating can give you a good place to start addressing the problem.

you can get tasks done, you are doing yourself and your friends a favor! Work and a social life are important, but your grades are important too. By following a study schedule and turning it into a routine, you will notice that you have more time to relax and do what you want. There is nothing better than having fun without responsibilities nagging at the back of your mind.

Procrastination harms your body How many times have you been desperately cramming the night before an exam? Or maybe you had to work on a project from another class because you put off working on that project until the last minute–it’s all a never-ending story, isn’t it? You leave doing something for later, then you do the same for another thing, then another and suddenly you have four different things due on the same week and you don’t know how you are going to get everything done in time. Sound familiar? If it does, you are probably accustomed to procrastinating. Those late night cramming sessions deprive your body of something very essential: sleep. If your sleep schedule gets imbalanced, you feel crankier, pay less attention and crave more junk food.

Procrastination can harm your future One of the dangers of procrastination is that it leads to a dangerous path of unproductiveness.

If you do all the research for an important paper the night before it is due, the paper you turn in will probably differ greatly in quality than a paper that you did extensive research on. Once you know what you are going to write about, why not open a Google Document where you can store sources for future reference? If you do this two or three weeks before your paper is due, you will make sure to have at least some work done.

If you procrastinate and leave yet another paper for the last minute, your subpar work will affect your grades. Today it might not seem like a big deal, but the quality of your grades can determine whether you get a much-needed scholarship, an important internship or perhaps even your first job once you are out of college. So try to plan ahead for those exam and paper due dates! You might even be surprised at how good it feels to be on top of things.

Procrastination messes with your relationships Have you ever had to say no to going out because you had to finish an essay that you could have easily completed had you started working on it days ago? Or have you ever missed an important event because you needed to cram for a difficult exam that you could have started studying for weeks ago? These can affect your social relationships. Saying no to things you really want to do because you simply have to get to work on that assignment/paper you’ve been putting off for so long can leave you feeling down.

But by organizing yourself with a study schedule or coordinating specific times each week when

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Procrastinating will always follow you around if you don’t stop Once you develop a habit, it becomes difficult to break, doesn’t it? Procrastination is a neverending cycle that constantly stresses you out and takes the fun out of your college experience.

Sure, maybe procrastination isn’t causing you to fail any classes, perhaps you are passing with B’s, C’s–maybe a few A’s here and there- but if you would cut the procrastination in your life in

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half, you could start to see some positive results.

By not putting a stop to this bad habit, you are following a pattern that keeps on hurting you. It is difficult, but forcing yourself to start studying or working when you really don’t want to is the most effective way to break this habit.

Procrastination not only affects your grades, it can trickle into your work life and social life as well. If you permit it to grow more and more, it will follow you into your future jobs and relationships. By making a list of the tasks you need to do now and actually doing them, you are doing yourself a favor.

Procrastinating can destroy your reputation That paper you turned in late? Your professor noticed. The poorly edited part of your group project that you submitted? Your group members noticed that, too. These people were aware of your poorly done work, and now they probably don’t think very highly of you. Maybe you don’t really care what others think about you, perhaps you believe that other’s opinions about you aren’t important. Even if you don’t care at all, it is convenient for you to stay on your professor’s good side. That same professor who now thinks of you an unreliable student could have given you a reference letter, a networking opportunity or even some help for that upcoming test. Think of all the opportunities available to you if you put in just a bit more effort!

Hopefully the five reasons above will help you cut out procrastination–or give you a good idea about where you can start! The truth is, being a college student is stressful. Try to cut procrastination from your life slowly if it is too overwhelming. Something as simple as getting a calendar, buying a planner or even an app that helps you organize your priorities can be of tremendous help to you. Remember that nothing can beat the feeling of having your grades–and life under control.

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ANGIE BAQUEDANO ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR

“My favorite thing about the holidays is all the decorations that get put up, everything looks so nice.

I didn’t really ask for anything for Christmas just because I feel like I don’t really need anything, nothing’s a necessity. I hope it snows. I would really like to get some snow, I have family flying in from Greece so I would like it to snow.”

- TJ Vlahos “My favorite thing about the holidays is family coming together and the presents. I have no idea what I want, well honestly at this point all I want is money. I also really want it to snow I think that would be nice.”

- Corbin Wilson

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