2017 01 17

INSIDE THIS EDITION: FIND OUT WHEN AND WHERE YOU CAN DONATE BLOOD ON CAMPUS TO SAVE LIVES IN THE UPCOMING 49ERS4LIFE BLOOD DRIVE PG. 4

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OP-ED: ASST. OPINION EDITOR MIA SAYS THAT DESPITE CONTROVERSY, MERYL STREEP’S POLITICALLY CHARGED GOLDEN GLOBES SPEECH IS PERFECTLY WARRANTED PG. 9

JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

FOR THOSE WHO LIKE COLD WEATHER AND NATURAL BEAUTY, COLORADO SPRINGS COULDN’T BE A MORE PERFECT TRAVEL DESTINATION PG. 13 VOL. 29, ISSUE 14

Cover photos by Chris Crews

Hunter Heilman editor@ninertimes.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Jasmine Taylor

Alexandria Sands

Trevor Wilt

Kathleen Cook

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Jeffrey Kopp

Hailey Turpin

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lifestyle@ninertimes.com

Diane Gromelski

Casey Aldridge

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VIDEO PRODUCER

Pooja Pasupula

Chris McKinnis

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Carmen Westra

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ADDITIONAL STAFF

Salina Dickie, Mia Shelton, Angie Baquedano, Daniel Head, Stephanie Trefzger

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JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

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RODNEY KING: ONE-MAN SHOW Roger Guenveur Smith’s raw performance in Belk Theater at Robinson Hall examines complex issues

INDIRA ESKIEVA STAFF WRITER

Roger Guenveur Smith and WBTV Journalist Steve Crump have panel discussion after show. Photo by Indira Eskieva

UNC Charlotte’s Belk Theater was packed Tuesday night for Roger Guenveur Smith’s award winning one-man show “Rodney King,” which was followed by a panel discussion with Smith and Journalist Steve Crump from WBTV.

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The emotional performance, which won the 2015 Bessie Award, was inspired by the life and death of Rodney King. King survived a brutal police beating in 1991, which was filmed by a bystander and later released to the media. The

video of the beating, as well as the subsequent acquittal of the officers involved, sparked the Los Angeles riots of 1992. As a result of the riots, which lasted for days, 55 people were killed and thousands were injured.

In 2012, King died from accidental

JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

drowning in his backyard pool.

Smith, a notable playwright, actor and director, was so moved by King’s life and death, he put together the one-man show titled “Rodney King.”

“I’m trying to take my audience on a journey of discovery,” said Smith. “The same one that I’ve been on since I opened up my laptop on Father’s Day 2012 and saw that Rodney King had drowned in the bottom of his swimming pool.”

The one-hour show, performed without intermission, was full of raw emotions that ranged from anger to forgiveness. Smith spit, cried and yelled on stage as audience members snapped their fingers in approval.

It examined police brutality and racial divides in America. After the show, both Smith and Crump got emotional talking about the 2015 Charleston Church shooting.

During the panel, Smith said that the message of the show is to tell the truth. He later added that forgiveness is an important theme in “Rodney King,” saying that forgiveness is what distinguishes a weak person from a strong one.

Audience members, many of whom were fans of Smith’s previous work as well, were given about 30 minutes to ask questions. Many used the time to thank him for the heartfelt performance.

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49ers4Life annual blood drive could save thousands of lives Annual on-campus blood drive needs donors after winter shortages, strives for 1,000 pints

ALEXANDRIA SANDS NEWS EDITOR

POLICE BLOTTER JAN. 7 - JAN. 13 ACCIDENT JAN. 13

• Craver Road and Cameron Boulevard, while making a left hand turn, driver of vehicle one struck a pedestrian who was crossing Cameron Blvd. in a crosswalk. The pedestrian was taken by the driver of vehicle to the Student Health Center for evaluation of his injuries.

ARREST JAN. 8

• Lot 8, subject was arrested after it was determined that he had broken into a UNC Charlotte vehicle.

DRUG VIOLATION JAN. 11

• Oak Hall, officers issued state citations in reference to possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

LARCENY JAN. 10 Students get their blood drawn at last year’s 49ers4Life blood drive in the Halton Arena. NT File Photo

UNC Charlotte is working with the American Red Cross to potentially save thousands of lives at the eighth annual 49ers4Life blood drive on Jan. 24.

The drive, which will be held from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. in the Halton Arena of the Barnhardt Student Activity Center, is one of the largest in the Red Cross Carolinas Blood Service Region.

This drive is more important than ever after severe winter weather impacted the blood supply. Blood products were distributed faster than they were coming in and about 100 blood drives were forced to cancel in December.

The holidays impacted the blood supply as well, with there being about 1,700 fewer blood drives in November and December than the previous two months. The blood supply received 50,000 fewer donations.

“Winter is one of the toughest times for the American Red Cross to collect enough blood to meet patient needs,” said Jillian Butler, donor recruitment manager for the Red Cross. “When the UNC Charlotte community comes together for this drive, they can help boost the blood supply – and ultimately offer hope to sick children, cancer patients and accident victims.”

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To make up for the shortages, organizers are hoping to collect 1,000 pints of blood, a record for the 49ers4Life blood drive. Organizers are encouraging everyone to get involved, including students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members.

To schedule an appointment, potential donors can download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org, or call 1-800-REDD-CROSS (1-800733-2767).

Donors can use RapidPass to complete their predonation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation. At check-in, donors will need a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification.

All those who donate will receive a “I bleed 49ers Green” T-shirt while supplies last and free ice cream from campus vending sponsor Canteen. There will also be free food from restaurants. Donors will be entered for two drawings: a UNC Charlotte academic year parking permit for 2018 and a Charlotte 49er apparel, gear and tailgating package from Barnes & Noble.

JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

• West Deck, unknown person forcibly removed victim’s purse from her vehicle which was locked and parked in a public area.

JAN. 11

• Wallis Hall, unknown person(s) removed artwork from a frame.

• Construction area, unknown person forcibly removed copper shower valves and tubing from the walls at a construction site.

VANDALISM JAN. 7

• Belk Hall, unknown subject caused damage to a glass pane on a door by etching words into it.

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

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Senate update: new student orgs, approved legislature SABA SOLAIMANIZADEH STAFF WRITER

The UNC Charlotte Student Government Association (SGA) had their weekly legislative meeting Jan. 12.

Message from the Senate Student Body Vice President and Leader of the Senate Carrie Nowell and Student Body President Fahn Darkor discussed various events and meetings organized for SGA to start off the new semester, such as a spring planning meeting and an Association of Student Government (ASG) meeting.

Interfaith Niners Initiative A vacant room in the Cone University Center is going to be transformed during the summer to accommodate the Interfaith Niners Initiative and be used as a functional space. Darkor will continue working with the Chancellor about updates on this project.

Approved Legislature: Campaign Rules and Regulations A new bill, called the Elections Act and Procedural Modifications Act, by Internal Affairs was approved by the Senate. The bill makes modifications to the regulations in campaigning, advertising, spending limits and expense reports involved in SGA elections.

New Student Organizational Approval Bill The Senate approved of the following new student organizations: Business Innovation Club - A multidisciplinary organization that provides a platform for graduate students to explore and apply

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innovative concepts. It brings together students from a versatile range of academic areas and experience levels for joint learning.

Intersections UNC Charlotte - An organization that brings together students to learn biblical principles that can help them grow as ethical leaders. Encourages strength, faith and new perspectives of success no matter what career they choose. The club is primarily business-oriented but open to everyone, regardless of where they are spiritually or academically.

Water Polo Club - An intramural club that provides a competitive water polo environment for those who are interested. Members are able to attend games and gain effective and fun practice in water polo.

D.O.P.E. (Dreams of Pursuing Entertainment) - An organization that is intended for artists, musicians, producers, etc. to create fully produced performances on campus.

Ideas for New Legislature The Internal Affairs Committee introduced an idea for Comprehensive Senate Leadership Remodeling Act, designed to balance power between members of the Senate and maximize efficiency.

The bill would eliminate the vice president and pro tempore roles and transform it into a Speaker’s Office, where all of the administrative powers will be transferred.

The bill has not been approved yet because the Constitution would have to be modified in order for the legislature to take effect.

JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

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KATHLEEN COOK

MORE THAN TEAMMATES

SPORTS EDITOR

Jon Davis drives down the court, takes the ball almost to the rim before he dishes it out to fellow teammate Andrien White, who then converts from behind the arc to give Charlotte another three points.

This is a charade that has occurred in basically every men’s basketball game since the two entered the program last season as freshmen.

White came in a 6-foot-3 guard from Richmond, Virginia. During his senior season at Quality Education Academy, White averaged 14 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. After taking his talents to Charlotte, his skills translated on the court for the 49ers as well.

On top of setting the record for three-pointers made by a freshman in a single season with 67, White also had a team high 53 steals on the season. To cap off his first season with Charlotte, White was named to the Conference USA AllFreshman team.

Hailing from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Jon Davis came to the 49ers after being named the Conference Player of the Year and Conference Tournament MVP at Clinton Christian as a senior. At Hargrave Military Academy, Davis averaged 14 points and seven assists while starting every game of their 38-win season.

In his freshman season with the Niners, Davis averaged more assists per game than any other freshmen in the conference with 4.67. He also became the 25th player in the program’s Andrien White. Photo by Chris Crews history to

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record over 100 assists after tallying 154 assists on the season -- coming in second for the season assists record by a freshman. Davis joined White at the conclusion of the season on the roster of the All-Freshmen team.

Both players received C-USA Freshman of the week honors twice throughout the season as well.

Their stellar first year performances have carried over into their sophomore seasons. Davis is currently fifth in conference averaging 17 points a game while White sits at fifth in the conference standings of 3-pointers per game.

Davis is also within the top ten for assists, and White is in the top ten for steals per game.

Since coming in as freshmen over a year ago, the two’s relationship has grown on and off the court.

“The beginning of my freshman year, he was kind of a quiet guy,” Davis said. “It wasn’t until the fall semester when we all moved in together that me and Andrien really started to connect and talk.”

Through their constant play, the duo has been able to pick up on the other’s tendencies. This enables White and Davis to play off of the other effectively.

“We know what the other does well. I know he’s a driver, that he can shoot. He always knows where I am on the court and what my tendencies are,” White said.

Their comfort with each other on the court allows for a harmonious playing style between the two.

“Andrien and I compliment each other very well. What he does best is three-point shooting, so he spreads the floor and opens the floor for me.

At the same time I’m a driver, so I attract a lot of attention getting to the rim,” Davis said. “That’s why I think I was second in assists last year and he was first in three-pointers.”

While they spend time together on the court, being roommates offers more time for the two.

The increased exposure also allows them to get to know the odd tendencies of the other.

“A lot of times I’ll be in my room and I can hear when he gets in the shower. Sometimes he’ll have JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

the water running for two hours, he won’t even be in the shower.

I’ll come out and ask ‘Bro, what are you doing?’ And he says ‘Bro I’m about to get in the shower.’ I said ‘The water has been on for two hours,’ and he said “Yeah I know, I’m just chilling.” So he likes to chill in Jon Davis. Photo by Chris Crews the bathroom I guess,” Davis said.

While White spends a majority of his free time in the bathroom, Davis enjoys stinking up the apartment (not in the bathroom).

“He burns some bad incense. He thinks they smell good, but I always close the doors and then spray everywhere,” White said.

The relationship between Jon Davis and Andrien White is one that will continue to flourish as seasons progress.

“It’s been great growing with him, I look forward to spending the next few years with him. He’s grown as a player and as a leader, he’s helped our team grow a lot,” White said.

The talent possessed by each player sets the stage for a friendly competition that benefits the entire team.

“Andrien is a competitor and he’s a hard worker so he pushes me to do better. I see the strides he makes and that just makes me want to do better,” Davis said. “That’s something else I like about him is that he is a hard worker and he’s always looking for the best in himself and whether he knows it or not that helps me look for the best in myself too.”

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Photo by Ben Coon

Photo by Chris Crews

Photo by Chris Crews

Photo by Ben Coon

DESPITE INJURIES, JAMISON-MYERS PERSEVERES TREVOR WILT SPORTS EDITOR

A native of Orangeburg, South Carolina, Nyilah Jamison-Myers has been hit with multiple injuries throughout her basketball journey, dating back to her days in high school at Orangeburg-Wilkinson, but has continued to bounce back on the court in big ways.

In ninth grade, Jamison-Myers stood at 6-foot-2, but didn’t exactly have the feel for the game in just her second season on the hardwood.

“I was trash for a while,” JamisonMyers said. “I still played varsity my freshman year because I was tall but I liked my time on JV (junior varsity) as well that season.”

For whomever has watched Jamison-Myers play basketball lately, hearing her describe herself as once “trash” on the court would be a struggle, but sports were one time not a priority for the 6-foot-3 redshirt junior at Charlotte.

“When I was young, I didn’t play sports,” Jamison-Myers said. “I did ballet until fifth grade and then I played volleyball in middle school and started playing basketball in eighth grade.”

Once Jamison-Myers started to find out what she was capable of on the court, she officially traded in the dance shoes for basketball shoes, and began to work on her new craft.

As a junior in high school, Jamison-Myers started to gain attention with her tall body frame.

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But as soon as she started to build her solid foundation as one of the best players in South Carolina at her position, she hit a bump in the road.

“I had a torn meniscus and my cartilage in my left knee was cracked,” she said. “So my senior year was like a comeback but it was frustrating because I felt like as soon as I started to get good, I got hurt then.”

With her dreams of playing college basketball slowed down by injury, she continued to work hard off the court so she could get back on the court as soon as possible.

“With my injury, colleges didn’t look at me as much but Clemson had an eye on me,” Jamison-Myers said.

“So I committed to Clemson right after my junior year.”

Once her senior season came along, Jamison-Myers showed out on the court and overcame her heartbreaking leg injury from the past year in a big way. During her final season in high school, she was rated as a 91 by ESPN.com, while being ranked as high as 13th nationally at her position. JamisonMyers was also nominated for the McDonald’s All-American game, a game used to showcase the best college basketball players in the nation.

Going into her freshman year at Clemson, Jamison-Myers

was healthy and ready to make an impact in the Tigers’ lineup when her name was called. As a freshman, she took advantage of her opportunities on the court, tallying 16 minutes, averaging 4.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and one block per game.

In her second season with Clemson, Jamison-Myers led the team in field-goal percentage with 52.5, while also leading the team in blocks with 37. She continued her success on offense, averaging almost seven points per game, while adding in almost four rebounds per game.

Just like she did in high school, things only got better for JamisonMyers in her junior season, but unknowingly to her, her junior season would be short-lived. After jumping out to a hot start in her first three games, including a career-best 20 points and 13 rebounds against Ohio State on Nov. 27, she suffered another injury, but this time, it was an injury that she did not know how to deal with.

“I felt like I was hitting my stride again and felt good on the court,” Jamison-Myers said. “But going into my junior year, I had a concussion.

That was a lot. It was probably the hardest thing that I had to go through because it’s a brain injury and it’s not like you can just get surgery and its healed; you just have to rest until its better. I wasn’t expecting it to last for four months

JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

either.”

So with a lot on her mind during her head injury, Jamison-Myers decided to transfer from Clemson and try to find another home for two more seasons on the court. With plenty of teams in need of a 6-foot-3 forward, Charlotte reached out to Jamison-Myers and once she came for her official visit to head coach Cara Consuegra, she found her new home.

“When I came on my visit here, I just fell in love with it.”

And Charlotte fell in love with her.

After getting off to a solid start with the 49ers this season, JamisonMyers has started to make a huge impact in the 49ers’ starting lineup as of late. Over the last eight games, she has tallied six doubledigit scoring performances. She is currently averaging 9.6 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game and creating a perfect balance to Charlotte’s impeccable outside shooting.

“You’re just starting to see her scratch the surface of the player she can be,” Consuegra said. “That’s significant to not play game speed for two years and she’s starting to get her feet under her. You can feel that by seeing the way she plays. I think it boosted her confidence and I’m excited moving forward that she can blossom into what we expect.”

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ON APATHY and Social Media Politics

JOHN PATRICK STAFF WRITER

Don’t you just hate it when you’re scrolling through social media and you don’t see people arguing over politics?

That really grinds my gears, man. All I see is doltish clips of dogs behaving whimsically, maybe a cat mixed in every now and then.

My timeline is littered with those bland, thoughtless videos of food production; labeled, rather boorishly, as “tasty” or “yummy.” Mentions saturated by links of gauche articles compiling “facts” (read: opinions) into lists to a yawning effect.

I suppose the only politicallycharged posts I see on social media is various memes undermining the legitimacy and credibility of the vicepresident of the United States.

But void are offerings of controversial and touchy subjects.

Where’s the fire?

Where’s the gumption?

Is everyone really that thinskinned?

Delicate fairies, triggered snowflakes if you ask me.

I want scorched-earth warfare. I want that open-minded cousin from Portland and that intolerant Aunt from Dumpsville to rip into each other: he says she’s Caitlyn Jenner, and she says he’s Bruce Jenner.

I want entire posts the length of novels devoted to why Colin Kaepernick is a hero, or why he’s the devil. Abortion? Please, I am begging for digital dialogue. I implore you to explain to me, even after a free and fair democratic election, why he’s still ‘#notyourpresdient.’ I gotta know your opinion of President Obama. Gotta have it, can’t get

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enough of it.

I don’t merely want this, I need this.

Cursing and name-calling is not only allowed, it is encouraged.

Everyone is bush-league.

Wine-andcheese fans sitting on their hands during the game. I need passions flaring. Bigotry begetting tolerance, diversity inciting prejudice.

I want this agglomeration of opinioned content to reach such a peak that if you don’t post something cringe-worthy An intergenerational family sits around a laptop, engaged in social media warfare. Photo via Tribune News Service I will have no choice but to political reservations. Virtuous, poking war, but damned if they don’t unfollow/unfriend you. I am fully even.

They chastise my use of social share anything polarizing. prepared to lose as many friends as media as an avenue to vocalize my I much prefer the clashing of necessary in the process. thoughts.

They do so much as call it passionate opinions - irrelevant if And believe me, my closest friends a faux-paus.

I agree with them or not - than the have threatened to unfollow me if Then, indifferent to irony, they’ll agonizing monotony of pious trends I continued this pattern. They say go on to share a life hack or invite and humdrum clickbait. that they’re above it all. That they’re me to Candy Crush. They’ll post too darling and nonchalant to give selfies, post humblebrags and start a into the brutality of expressing JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

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Meryl’s Speech MIA SHELTON

ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

Although there were many memorable and well-regarded events that happened at this year’s Golden Globes, the most talked about ordeal of that historic night was the speech by well-renowned and iconic actress, Meryl Streep. Streep was awarded the Cecil B. Demille Award that night at the Globes. The Cecil B. Demille Award is an honorary award for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment. Most of us thought we would get the same old run-of-the-mill responses: “I am truly honored for this award,” “I would like to thank (insert name here)” or some other overused acceptance speech line. Well, we were wrong. Though we did get a few redundant lines here and there, the rest of Streep’s speech was her discussion of President-Elect Donald Trump.

Though she did not mention him by name, she discussed the time he shamelessly mocked disabled New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski: “There was one performance this year that stunned me. It sank its hooks in my heart. Not because it was good. There was nothing good about it. But it was effective and it did its job. It made its intended audience laugh and show their teeth.

It was that moment when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter, someone he outranked in privilege, power, and the capacity to fight back.”

Streep expressed how hurt and saddened she was after Trump’s antics and talked about how important it is for her fellow actors and actresses to use their platform to evoke change and to help protect journalists’ rights of freedom of speech.

Everyone has their own opinion of Streep’s speech. I personally loved it. No, I am not a Trump supporter, but you don’t have to like someone to hold them accountable for their actions. I love when people with a

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powerful platform stand up for what is right for everyone and inspire people to come together and protect each other despite gender or race.

In the early part of her speech, Streep talked about how diverse “Hollywood” is. All of the actors and actresses we see in the movies and television shows are from different places: different states, different countries and they have different ethnicities. They all get recognized for their outstanding performances and work, and no one notices or pays attention to the fact that they are foreigners. So, if Trump deports all of the “foreigners,” what will this country have then?

Of course, everyone had their own opinion on Streep’s speech.

Well-renowned actor and fellow Cecil B Demille recipient Robert de Niro is in agreement with Streep’s “sentiments about punks and bullies. Enough is enough.” Actor Alec Baldwin respected what Streep had to say and agreed with the issues she spoke of, but he felt it was inappropriate for her to discuss this topic at an awards show. Of course the biggest rebuttal to Streep’s speech was from none other than the president-elect himself. The president-elect retaliated by calling Streep “overrated,” which sparked further retaliation from other actors and actresses who came to Streep’s defense. Actor George Clooney responded to the president-elect’s response by saying that “(t)he right time for actors to get involved is when their platform can spotlight important issues that don’t get enough attention.”

I personally find it ironic how the most overrated person in the country has the audacity to call a woman of great talent, elegance and prestige overrated. A woman who is far more successful and accomplished, in my view, than this man. The man with numerous failed business ventures, who has bragged about sexual assault and who added fuel to an already blazing fire of racial hate.

A man who created an increasing storm of hate crimes around the country since his entrance into the presidential election.

In response to Alec Baldwin’s remark about it being inappropriate that Streep chose to use the Globes to discuss her topic, I disagree. I believe that if you have a platform that can evoke change, use it. If Streep had chosen to write a tweet

or make a Facebook video talking about this, it would not have gotten this much attention. It was the best time to talk about it because that was her special moment on stage, and everyone was watching. There is no point in having a large, respected platform, if you are not going to use it to make positive change.

Meryl Streep at the Golden Globes. Photo via Tribune News Service

JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

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Photo by HBO/SkyAtlantic

THE YOUNG AND THE PIOUS The HBO limited series is not what you expect but is certainly something to behold.

JESSE NUSSMAN STAFF WRITER

You aren’t ready for “The Young Pope.” I repeat, you are NOT ready for “The Young Pope.” Why? Because this show is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Perhaps if you are familiar with the work of creator/director Paolo Sorrentino – his movie “The Great Beauty” won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar back in 2014 – you’ll know what to expect.

At first glance one might expect “The Young Pope” to be like “House of Cards” but in the Vatican. After all, the show does have a charismatic movie star, Jude Law, as an antihero of considerable power causing an uproar within a particular institution, in this case the Catholic Church. There are power struggles and back dealings, but with a touch of surrealism.

Unlike, “House of Cards,” “The Young Pope” is unafraid to be weird, campy or even satirical. It’s the kind of show that can have a scene of Law’s character getting dressed for a meeting with

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the church Cardinals while the song “Sexy and I know It” plays, immediately followed by a chilling monologue in which he talks of making the church more elusive.

Law plays Lenny Belardo, a young American cardinal elected to be pope, calling himself Pius XIII. It’s all done as a publicity stunt with the hope that his age and inexperience will allow the older cardinals to essentially use him as a puppet to control. However, their scheme soon turns on its head as Lenny becomes a more unpredictable and extremist leader than they expected. He openly mocks and ridicules the other cardinals and their old ways, alienates Christians all over the world by making the church more inaccessibe and creates a shroud of mystery around himself.

Of course, there are those that attempt to council Lenny, such as Diane Keaton as Sister Mary, the nun that raised him as an orphan, or James Cromwell as his old mentor, who claims JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

he should have been elected the new pope.

Constantly haunted by the notion that he was abandoned by his parents as a child, Lenny is a complex character that the audience is constantly trying to grapple with. At times he seems to be mercilessly cruel, a pathological liar and gleefully humiliating those around him. There even seems to be the chance he doubts the existence of God entirely. Yet, there are also moments when it seems Lenny could hold some divine power. Is he a Christ-like prophet? A religious extremist?

Or, is he simply out to destroy the church as an institution?

Whatever the case, Law manages to deliver one of the juiciest television roles in a long time.

To say that he chews the scenery would be an understatement; he devours it. He’s fiercely intimidating on screen, appearing to suck the air completely out of the room with just a glance or stare. What’s perhaps more incredible is the level

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of layers that make up this character and the manner in which Law so effortlessly moves between them. I’ve never seen him work so hard at a performance like this, let alone make it all look so easy.

However, the element that takes this series over the edge is its visuals. Yes, “The Young Pope” is not simply another difficult man/ antihero program; it’s got the operatic and surreal touch of a truly unique filmmaker. Sorrentino keeps his camera constantly moving with each frame looking like a beautiful cathedral painting. You feel ashamed for watching it on your television set.

You want to run to the store, buy a projector and throw those gorgeous images up on the largest blank canvas you can find.

The gorgeous images stem from two categories: the real and the surreal. Obviously, there are the sequences of lush gardens and awe inducing cathedrals, meant to take place within Vatican City, but there are also marvelously bizarre dream sequences and hallucinations there to represent the inner turmoil of the characters. How bizarre is bizarre,

you may ask? The first episode’s opening shot is of an infant crawling over a mountain of other babies with Lenny subsequently crawling out from underneath the pile himself.

That’s the kind of filmmaker you are dealing with in Sorrentino: someone who believes in the blurring between the real world and the dream world.

Yet, apart from the images, Sorrentino also seems to want to explore the complexities of religion, such as the way corruption and politics play a role within the church, how scripture can obtain various meanings to different people and how ultimately it can be used as a healing force. These are themes that may prove too weighty for some, but Sorrentino approaches them with a sly wit and operatic scope. He’s not afraid to satirize the obscenities within the Church, but also understands that it does also have the power to heal in surprising ways.

So, is “The Young Pope” for you?

Maybe. Should you at least check it out? Most definitely!

Photo by HBO/SkyAtlantic

ACROSS 1 Car roof accessory 5 __ Romeo: sports car 9 Go Fish request 13 Cybermessage 15 Agreement to shake hands on 16 Shabbat service site 17 Hercules types 18 Jazz trumpeter Al 19 Opposite of stuffy, roomwise 20 Record-setting aviator of the 1930s 23 Started to eat, with “into” 24 Apr. is in it 25 Old nuclear agcy.

26 Sixth sense, for short 29 2007-’14 E! comedy talk show host 33 Hammerhead parts 34 “All My Children” vixen 35 Letterhead design 38 RBI and ERA

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JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

41 Sunset direction 42 King’s decree 44 Separate by percolation 46 Looney Tunes rooster with a Southern accent 51 Singer’s syllable 52 Word before a birth name 53 Modern: Ger. 54 Move it, old-style 56 First to walk on the moon 60 Letter after epsilon 62 Et __: and others 63 Down-yielding duck 64 Showy perennial 65 Half a picking-up tool 66 Cubic meter 67 Treaty 68 Concludes 69 Mgr.’s underling DOWN 1 Detox program 2 Feeble

3 O’Neill’s “The Iceman __” 4 “As seen on TV” record co.

5 Supporter 6 Sci-fi princess 7 Fawcett who played one of Charlie’s Angels 8 Tennis Hall of Famer Gibson 9 Russian ruler until 1917 10 “Little” deception 11 Couple’s word 12 Guileful 14 Maroon, as after a shipwreck 21 Vaulted church areas 22 Stridex target 27 “Gimme a few __”: “Be right there” 28 Rear end in a fall?

30 Pleistocene period 31 __ get-out: to the utmost degree 32 BBC time traveling hero 35 Hit the road 36 You may get a whiff of one 37 Humongous 39 “Popstar!” and “Tiger Beat,” casually 40 Wise guys?

43 Novelist Morrison 45 Ladders partner in a kids’ board game 47 Empathize 48 “SNL” alum Kevin 49 Colossus island 50 Bay Area NFLers 55 Marsh denizen 57 Sunrise direction 58 Watermelon cover 59 “Lovely” Beatles ticket writer 60 Nil 61 Victorian __

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JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

NINERTIMES

Photo by Emily Hickey

IT’S NOT SPRINGTIME IN COLORADO SPRINGS

Just remember to bring a heavy winter coat if you visit in the cold months EMILY HICKEY INTERN

The holidays are known for being the time to spend with loved ones and those you hold dearest, but it’s also prime travel time, so I took advantage of just that. In early August 2016, I decided to give myself an early Christmas present of round-trip airline tickets to visit friends in Colorado Springs, Colorado. My first ever holiday trip, my first ever escapade completely by myself and my first time ever to Colorado – in fact, before this trip, I had never been anywhere in America besides the East Coast. It was an experience I will remember for a long time to a place I encourage others to visit as soon as possible.

Touching down at Denver International Airport at 10:19 a.m, I was running on three hours of sleep on the first day of the new year. Denver’s airport apparently has some bad juju surrounding it with creepy murals that plaster the walls and a steel horse statue out front whose eyes gleam red, so I was more than ready to evacuate the premises and get to Colorado Springs. The hour and a half car ride there was filled with good friends, good music and an even better view. Both Denver and Colorado Springs sit just before the mountains, so as you drive the highways you are presented with one of the most spectacular views I have ever witnessed. It’s beautiful enough to make you sit back and genuinely feel grateful for the life you live.

My vacation in Colorado Springs was packed with hikes, park visits and a lot of Starbucks. The first place I visited was Garden of the Gods where I successfully hiked in heels. It’s one of Colorado Springs’ wonders and I could see why: the dark red rocks that protruded from the ground were a place to hike, climb and take in the view of the beautiful city. The name of the park came from a dispute between two European surveyors in which one wanted to build a beer garden and the other, awed by the beauty, claimed it was

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a better fit for gods to assemble. No, there aren’t actually gods there, and there isn’t a beer garden either. It’s just really pretty.

Another memorable experience I had was my drive to the top of Pikes Peak. The infamous coffee mountain had an elevation of 14,114 feet and was 3 degrees Fahrenheit. It was almost too cold to even enjoy the view, but I definitely enjoyed the spectacular doughnuts the small shop offered. I also learned Pikes Peak was the inspiration for the song “America the Beautiful”

by Katharine Lee Bates.

After visiting the top of the mountain, we spent the afternoon in the eccentric small town of Manitou and played at the arcades that made up the town center. For the next couple of days, we just hung-out and did miscellaneous activities around the Springs area until Thursday when we traveled through the Rockies to the ski village of Breckenridge. This by far was my favorite thing we did due to how spectacular the views were. The whole day it snowed and driving through the winding, snowy mountains as gray clouds rolled over above them was a sight like no other. Breckenridge itself was a beautiful town that was packed under feet of snow that only kept falling. If you find yourself in Colorado, definitely visit Breckenridge. I promise you’ll thank me.

My trip to Colorado was filled with memorable experiences and a lot of culture since I stayed with a German family. Not only would I go back to the places I visited, but I want to explore more of the Rockies and of Colorado.

I am a big encourager of travel and I strongly encourage everyone to visit Colorado at least once in their lives – just remember to bring a heavy winter coat if you visit in the cold months because trust me, it’s freezing.

JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

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HOW TO:

PREPARE FOR A FUTURE CAREER You can never have too much information about your career

DELFINA EROCHENKO STAFF WRITER

When beginning a new stage in life during freshman year of college, most of us have so much on our minds! From what this experience will be like, to the people we will meet and what type of classes we will take, there are many things a new student takes in. One question that most of us have probably not considered before is: What path should I take to prepare for my future career? Yes, knowing what major and minor we want is extremely important, as is registering for our required classes, but after that hectic organizational period many of us experience at the beginning of the semester, we tend to reduce ourselves to going to class, studying and taking exams. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this at all, but we should always make sure that we are on the right path and preparing for our career, whatever it may be!

A very important part of preparing for our future career is having a LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is a professional network in which people can create an online resume, network with each other and find jobs related to their field. On LinkedIn, you can add your education, employment and internship experience, as well as professional skills and volunteer experience. It is a very useful tool, especially for college students, because it is a professional way to present yourself to companies in which you may be interested.

Another important tool related to LinkedIn is their student app: LinkedIn Students. This useful app lets you see the job opportunities available to

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you with your degree, the earning potential of those jobs and discover internships. Overall, if you haven’t joined LinkedIn yet, make sure you do!

Have you taken advantage of the resources here on campus? Another great way to prepare for your future career is to visit the Career Center, located next to Atkins Library. The University Career Center provides several free resources to students that are committed to their future.

You can make an appointment with a career advisor to talk about career opportunities, schedule mock job interviews, evaluate your options and find careers that fit for you, get help with preparing your cover letter and résumé, attend informational sessions and much more. And again, this is all free! While students are in college, they should take advantage of opportunities like these because all the resources that we can get for free at UNC Charlotte will not

necessarily be free once we graduate.

Internships are another way to ensure we are prepared. Employers value university degrees, but what they mainly want is experience.

Internships are always a great way for students to gain experience in a career area in which they are interested Having an internship (or more than one!) is a great way to show prospective employers that you have the skills they are searching for. The University Career Center can also be helpful if you are interested in finding an internship.

Get to know your professors.

Professors give you vast amounts of knowledge and they are happy to talk to you if you’re interested in their career area. By forming a good relationship with your professor, you can find out about useful information, get a letter of recommendation and even get recommended for an internship.

When a professor notices that a

student is motivated, they are happy to help you move further in your career path.

A useful way to learn more about your career is to do some research. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can use the website to search for what type of jobs people with your career focus choose to work in. You can even view previous alumni from UNC Charlotte and see what job positions they have accepted. The idea behind this is not to copy someone, but to see the career possibilities you have.

This is all about expanding the perspective through which you view your career.

Career fairs are a great way for you to network with representatives from companies and learn about what they are looking for when they are hiring employees. Instead of networking online, these fairs allow you to do so face to face. This opportunity also allows you to learn about employers you did not know about previously, and who knows, maybe this employer could be a future job opportunity.

Overall, it’s important to accept that even when you are out of college and have a job, the learning process never ends.

You can never have enough information about your career. It’s good to keep adding experience and skills to your resume, and to keep up to date with the news that is pertinent to your job field. Hopefully this information has helped you and you are on your way to developing a career path. Remember that we are responsible for shaping our future!

Photo by Tribune News Service

JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

NINERTIMES

EASY CHICKEN PASTA

Quick and simple for your everyday meals

CANDICE KELLY STAFF WRITER

This is one of the easiest pasta dishes I know. Perfect for a simple date night, this five ingredient, five step recipe allows all the satisfaction of a nice dinner while accommodating a college budget. It serves about 2-3 and only takes about 25 minutes total cooking time.

Ingredients • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts • Salt and pepper to taste • 4 strips applewood smoked bacon • 1 cup penne noodles • ½ jar of alfredo sauce Directions 1. Pour noodles into saucepan with a cup and a half of water and let simmer over medium heat until noodles are soft.

Remove from heat and set aside.

Photo by Candice Kelly

Photo by Candice Kelly

2. Place bacon strips into skillet and cook until crispy.

3. Wash chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper. Drop into greased skillet and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.

4. Cut chicken into half inch cubes.

Break bacon into small pieces with hands and add to pan.

5. Reduce heat to low. Add noodles and alfredo sauce to pan and let simmer until warm. Add parmesan if desired.

Photo by Candice Kelly

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JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

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CANDICE KELLY STAFF WRITER

The semester is going pretty well; I’ve only had two classes so far but they seem to be alright. I’m just going to press through like I always do and hope for the best.

My major is theater and my minor is journalism, so hopefully after I graduate I can use those. This semester I will try to reach out more and use the resources around me to make sure my grades are where I want them to be. They weren’t bad last semester, but I didn’t reach my goal. I’m in four clubs so it wasn’t too bad, but it didn’t help my workload. But I still managed to make it work.

I just wish I had pushed a little harder last semester.

So I’m just making sure I stay on top of that and don’t spread myself too thin, and make sure everything is in order this year.

- Shamar Crosby

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JAN. 17, 2017 - JAN. 23, 2017

NINERTIMES