INSIDE THIS EDITION: LEGENDARY UNC CHARLOTTE PROFESSOR LOY WITHERSPOON DIES AT 86
A LOOK AT THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED UPCOMING SEASON OF CHARLOTTE BASEBALL
PG. 4
PG. 7
READ TWO VIEWPOINTS ABOUT THE INAUGRUATION OF DONALD TRUMP AND THE RESULTING WOMEN’S MARCHES IN D.C. AND CHARLOTTE PG. 11 & 15
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JAN. 31, 2017 - FEB. 6, 2017
VOL. 29, ISSUE 16
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Campus community to receive new, improved 49er ID cards New ID cards promise longevity and more secure transactions, contactless technology allows for faster use ALEXANDRIA SANDS NEWS EDITOR
New 49er ID cards have contactless technology for more secure transactions. Photo by Alexandria Sands
New 49er ID cards will be distributed to all faculty, staff and students starting Monday on the first floor of the Student Union. The new cards will ensure stronger security through contactless technology. The magnetic stripe on the back of the current cards will be replaced by a radiofrequency identification (RFID) chip that will allow for tapping at card readers at dining halls, residence halls and other places where cards were originally swiped. “If you have a credit card, does it have a chip? Everything has gone
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from mag stripe to chip, so what we’ve done is generally followed how its been adopted throughout the industry. Mag stripe inherently cannot be made secure,” 49er Card Office Tech Support Specialist Anthony Smucler said. Residence halls that are currently tap-enabled include Belk, Hawthorn, Holshouser, Hunt, Laurel, Martin, Miltimore and Oak. Lynch, Moore, Sanford, Scott, Wallis and Witherspoon are not. The card will also feature two numbers. They will continue to have the UNC Charlotte ID number, also
known as the ‘800 number,’ on the card as well as an additional 16-digit card number. This number will link all transactions to the user and will change whenever a card is replaced. In the past, 49er ID cards have had a tendency for photos to smear off, so the office added an overlay to the photos on these new cards. Smucler said the tapping rather than swiping will also add to the longevity of the card. The University is working with Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) on embedding the CATS transit app onto the card, providing
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students with an all access pass that will allow them to ride buses, trolleys and the light rail. The all access pass, if approved, will be covered by the student’s transportation fee, which is planned to increase next year. The City of Charlotte is starting the process of getting approval from the Metropolitan Transportation Council this week. Up to a certain date, students had the option to upload their own photos online for the new ID cards. If a student needs to replace a card, they will have this option again. The distribution will last until Friday during a campus-wide recard event. Bring a driver’s license or current 49er ID card to pick up the new card. Cards can be picked up from 7:30 am - 7 pm Monday through Thursday and also Friday from 7:30 am - 5 pm on the first floor of the Student Union, across from the ID office and next to NinerTech. All unclaimed passes will be available for pick-up in the Auxiliary Services building. Auxiliary Services will slowly begin terminating the old cards. New students who enrolled last semester received a soft launch of the contactless cards without the embedded transit app, which wasn’t able to be installed by SOAR. Therefore, these students will be included in the re-carding event. Students should ensure their new card functions correctly and wait one business day before disposing of the old card.
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Legendary Loy Senate Update: Jan. 26 Witherspoon dead at 86 Highly-esteemed professor was a pillar of UNC Charlotte
ISA KNAPP
INDIRA ESKIEVA
STAFF WRITER
STAFF WRITER
The founder of the Department of Religious Studies and awardwinning professor, Loy Witherspoon, died on Sunday, Jan. 15, at age 86. After the death of both of his parents, Witherspoon grew up in the Methodist Children’s Home in Winston-Salem. Later, he became an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. After earning his bachelors and divinity degrees from Duke University, Witherspoon received his doctorate from Boston University. He spent time teaching philosophy and religion at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. Witherspoon was a close friend of Bonnie Cone, and she invited him to head the Department of Philosophy and Religion in 1964. Eight years later, in 1972, he played an important role in forming the Department of Religious Studies when it became independent from Philosophy. His legacy is alive and is seen in many parts of UNC Charlotte. In 1984, the Department of Religious Studies established the “Witherspoon Lecture” series, which is considered to be the oldest and most prestigious at UNC Charlotte. Even though Witherspoon retired in 1995, he continued to teach at UNC Charlotte for the next 10 years
and was actively involved with the university’s affairs. UNC Charlotte professor James Tabor recalls his first meeting with Loy Witherspoon. “It was Loy, back in the year 2000, when I first met archaeologist Dr. Shimon Gibson, now on our faculty, who immediately supported us with in establishing our amazing Biblical archaeology program at UNC Charlotte,” said Tabor. “When I came to UNC Charlotte in 1989, it was Loy’s slot in New Testament that I was asked to fill, given his retirement,” remembered Tabor. “Talk about filling big shoes. We were very close and I loved him dearly.” Witherspoon’s legacy includes the establishment of the Greek system at UNC Charlotte, as well as The Loy H. Witherspoon Greek Alumni Scholarship. But above all else, his greatest accomplishment is the relationships he built with his colleagues and students, and the lasting impact he had on their lives. “Loy was truly a legendary teacher and a mentor to his colleagues and scores of students, and he was one of the most active members of the campus community,” said Chancellor Philip L. Dubois. “He was a much-loved colleague who always had time and a kind word for anyone. [My wife] Lisa and I will miss him very much,” said Dubois.
“LOY WAS TRULY A LEGENDARY TEACHER AND A MENTOR.” CHANCELLOR PHILIP L. DUBOIS
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Plans made for Freshman Week, new student organizations approved The UNC Charlotte Student Government Association (SGA) held their third weekly student senate legislative meeting of the year Jan. 26. Guest speaker Freshman Class President Vivian Ojimadu spoke to the Senate to announce the schedule for “Freshman Week,” which will be held the week of March 13, the week after Spring Break. The week will include various activities each day including a chicken wings and pizza night, basketball tournament, humanitarian day, a student discount at Defy Gravity and ending with a party. Ojimadu said that the events are not exclusive to freshman students. The Secretary for Student Affairs Reginald Cobbins spoke to the Senate about the Food Crew, which is a group that meets on a monthly basis to advise Chartwells on preferences that students have when it comes to dining. Students who are interested in joining the Food Crew can email foodcrew@uncc.edu. Senator of the Month Bailey Russell has been named the Senator of the Month for January. Russell was nominated for her dedication inside and out of Senate, her thoroughness and her hard work as the chair of the Organizational Ways and Means Committee, according to senator Amber Creft. Russell is a junior political science major who is a member of the PreLaw Society.
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New student organizations The senate approved the following new student organizations: The National Association of Black Journalists - An organization for students, journalists and media-based professionals that provides quality programs, conferences and events that enhance members skills and experience in journalism. Applied Technology Program Interest Organization - An organization for students with interest in the financial services industry, Bank of America or the Applied Technology Program (ATP). They plan to lead on campus events at which students can learn about Bank of America, the financial services industry, the ATP program and the importance of diversity in business. Japanese Reading Club - A club that meets to read various Japanese reading materials for interest and practice. Veg Club - The goal of the club is to reduce animal suffering by inspiring change at all levels. The club will allow students to meet other vegetarians and vegans as well as anyone who is curious about the lifestyle. This will done through volunteering opportunities, potlucks, movie screenings and more.
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UNC Charlotte declared an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University University’s rapid development leads to a prestigious national recognition SABA SOLAIMANIZADEH STAFF WRITER
UNC Charlotte was founded as a school intended to serve returning veterans, and eventually became a modest school for locals--now, it’s a leading research institution of nearly 29,000 students that has an estimated regional economic impact of $2.1 billion annually. With this, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) designated UNC Charlotte as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University, a recognition created for universities that promote economic development within their regions and work with local organizations to stimulate development inside and outside of the collegiate community. This means that UNC Charlotte has not only created opportunities for its own students to pioneer and implement new ideas, but also incited growth in industries in the greater Charlotte area. The designation involved a 10-month self study with a specific methodology that schools use to self assess. The study surveyed the community, both internally through the faculty and staff and externally through businesses and organizations throughout the region. Dr. Bruce LaMattina, Director of Research for the Charlotte Research Institute (CRI) and part of the team that led the school to this achievement, noted that the selfstudy ultimately helped us not only recognize our own strengths, but helped develop growth plans to make further progress. “We sent a survey out to 500 folks who gave great feedback and provided the basis to go even deeper during in-person focus group sessions. This process led us to identify three areas of improvement: research growth, entrepreneurism and communications. The value of this designation is that it gives us an
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immense basis for growth in these areas,” said LaMattina. He explained that much of the large-scale infrastructure that the university has invested in is closely tied to this economic development and associations with local industries. The EPIC building, for example, originated from demand coming from the energy sector. LaMattina explained that the school’s leadership wanted to make an investment that not only fills the needs of the students, but the greater community and industry as well. LaMattina also described the PORTAL building as the innovation center, where students are able to lay the groundwork for their own companies, as well as interact with outside entrepreneurs, small businesses all the way up to Fortune 500 companies. LaMattina pointed out that one of the unique attributes leading to the Innovation and Economic Prosperity University designation is the ability of our faculty and students to work across disciplines to create what he called “combinatorial innovation.” The school has also been tremendously successful in developing specialized curricula to support the growing demands of Charlotte’s biggest industries, such as advanced manufacturing, motorsports engineering, bioinformatics, data analytics and more. “Our research base is growing rapidly,” said LaMattina. “With the help of a support structure with organizations on campus, such as the Office of Technology Transfer, the Charlotte Research Institute, and Ventureprise, we’re able to transfer our research to commercialization.” Cont. on pg 6 JAN. 31, 2017 - FEB. 6, 2017
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SAVING LIVES ONE PINT AT A TIME UNC Charlotte community donates 773 pints of blood during annual 49ers4Life Blood Drive
Student donates blood in the Halton Arena with help of American Red Cross employee. Photo by Austin Chaney
ANNIE YOUNG STAFF WRITER
UNC Charlotte held its annual 49ers4Life Blood Drive on Jan. 24. This is the eighth year UNC Charlotte has partnered with the American Red Cross in saving lives all over the world. The goal was to receive 800 pints of blood at this year’s drive, and thanks to the help of the 1,300 students that volunteered, 773 pints were filled. Maya Franklin and Jillian Butler, communication coordinators for the American Red Cross, explained that for every one pint of blood, three lives are saved. Junior Derrick Young explained that it was his 20th time giving blood. “I started giving blood when I was 17 with my parent’s permission … It takes 15 minutes out of my day to save three lives. It’s not a hard sacrifice,” Young said. APLU, cont. He noted that the biggest challenge that UNC Charlotte has in this realm is keeping up with the exceptionally fast-growing economy of Charlotte as an urban domain, and that any growing university faces this predicament. However, he believes that the students and faculty at the university embody the attributes necessary to be on par with this growth.
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Many others joined Young in helping save lives. Franklin explained that during the holidays there is an emergency need for blood. “At the American Red Cross, we want to make sure there is always a blood supply for patients who need it,” Franklin said. Thanks to the UNC Charlotte family there is. The blood drive partners with Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Cantina, Chartwells, Jimmy John’s, Wing Zone and many other businesses to provide gifts, giveaways and raffle items for blood donors. Donors received T-shirts, free food and a chance to win one of two UNC Charlotte parking passes as well as gifts from the bookstore. “It’s a small way of saying ‘thank you,’” Butler said. “We have a unique mindset toward use-inspired research which has a significant impact on the commercial sector,” LaMattina said. “Our students mirror that same mindset, and companies love our students. Our students are very special in that regard and they should be really proud.” JAN. 31, 2017 - FEB. 6, 2017
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BASEBALL IS BACK NT file photo
After making the conference tournament last season, Charlotte has high expectations for the 2017 season
KATHLEEN COOK SPORTS EDITOR
Baseball season looms overhead at Robert and Mariam Hayes stadium with opening day only three weeks away. As the team prepares to welcome West Virginia on Feb. 17, the expectations for the 49ers are high this season. The squad is facing one of the most rigorous schedules in the program’s history. The 55-game schedule (32 home, 30 away) will include seven NCAA regional opponents – nearly half of their games. “We’re excited for the challenges. Anybody that pays attention to college baseball will know that we’re biting off a big chunk. If we perform at the level we expect them to perform at we’ll be rewarded in June,” head coach Loren Hibbs said. Their first contest away from the Queen City will be to face off with a nationally-ranked South Carolina team. The Gamecocks also had a showing in the Super Regional last season prior to being swept by Oklahoma State. There are also two games on the Niners’ schedule that will take place Uptown in the Charlotte Knights stadium. Those two contests will be against Wake Forest on March 21 and N.C. State on March 28. This will mark the third year that the 49ers can be seen Uptown. Hibbs says it is an “exciting” atmosphere for his players to be in. The 49ers return all of their infield starters with the exception of third base, a void that will be filled by East Carolina University transfer Jackson Mimms. With the weekend starters
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returning, the experience found on the Charlotte roster will prove to be valuable for the squad. Before the first practice, Charlotte is already being put on the map with junior Brett Netzer being named a third team preseason AllAmerican. Last season the infielder held a .384 batting average that included five home runs and 35 RBI. Along with being named to the All-Freshmen team his first season with Charlotte, Netzer was named to C-USA’s second team to conclude last season. He was second on the Charlotte team in runs, hits, RBI, doubles, triples, home runs and walks. Netzer ranked in the top five in the conference in doubles with 17, on base percentage with .461, hits with 81 and slugging percentage with .555. In addition to his All-American nod, Netzer was named to the preseason all-conference team. Joing him on the roster are seniors Logan Sherer and T.J. Nichting. Sherer had an impressive showing in his junior season. He recorded 12 home runs and 52 RBI and finished with a .336 batting average. Sherer came in second in C-USA in slugging percentage with .574, home runs, and RBI. He was in the top five for total bases tallying 128 and runs scored having 48. Nichting lead the 49ers last season in hits, doubles, two-out RBI and multi-hit games. During the 2016 campaign, the switch hitter had a career best 17-game hitting streak. The senior led JAN. 31, 2017 - FEB. 6, 2017
C-USA in doubles (23), was sixth in hits (82) and finished fifth in RBIs (.358). “It’s nice to be recognized for the work that you put it and it’s nice to see your teammates recognized for their work. Those are preseason awards and as nice as they are, it doesn’t mean too much because we still have work to do and stuff to do,” Nichting said. The team entered the conference tournament last year in the eighth seed. After Charlotte qualified for the conference tournament last season, a major accomplishment in the C-USA league, their sights are set on finishing on top this year. The next step is to compete for a conference championship. “In this league you can finish fifth and still qualify for a regional,” Hibbs said. “We’re striving to be the best in the league.” After putting in work during the off-season, the 49ers are predicted to finish at sixth in the conference. “The level of expectation is a little higher than that, we’re trying to win a conference championship. To keep it in context, with as good as the conference is, if we finish sixth we will be a regional-type team,” Hibbs said. The players are aiming to be the best this season as well, Sherer said. “We want to put another sign out there in left field and I think we can do that.”
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MIDTERM REPORT At the halfway point of conference play, we review the men’s basketball team’s performance game-by-game
TREVOR WILT SPORTS EDITOR
Picked eighth in the Conference USA preseason poll for the 20162017 season, the Charlotte 49ers currently sit in the 10th spot midway through conference play (1010, 4-5 C-USA). The 49ers have gone through their highs and lows during their first nine games of conference action, with nine games remaining before heading to Birmingham, Alabama, for the C-USA tournament. Let’s take a look back on how Charlotte has performed at the midway point. Charlotte got off to a hot start in their first game against North Texas on Dec. 31, winning 101-76, looking like they were on a mission to prove the coaches around the league wrong with their preseason ranking. Offensively, Andrien White led the way with 20 points, including three makes from downtown, on a night that Charlotte shot 14-of-20 from three-point land. Also, the 49ers dropped 20 dimes on the hardwood, while forcing 21 turnovers for the Mean Green. Game grade: A+ After their convincing win against the Mean Green, the 49ers dropped their first game in conference play against Rice, 89-70. In the game, Charlotte held their own in the first half, but broke down defensively in the second half, surrendering 51 points, including 25 points to Marcus Evans. That night, the 49ers allowed four players for the Owls to score over 16 points. Game grade: D+ Traveling for the first time in conference action, the 49ers lost in a hard-fought battle against a talented Western Kentucky team, losing 8082. Charlotte held their own in the first half, but trailed by five heading into the break. Using another great three-point performance from White and Hudson Price, who both hit
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three shots from long range, the 49ers started their comeback in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Their comeback was not good enough though, as WKU got to the line late and capitalized at the charity stripe in the final minutes. Defensively, Charlotte held their own, outrebounding the Hilltoppers 35-28. Game grade: BStaying on the road, the 49ers lost to Marshall 110-93 in a high scoring affair, and for the second time this season, allowed a team to score over 100 points. The 49ers filled up the stat sheet with six players scoring in double figures, including 20 points from Anthony Vanhook and nine rebounds, but allowed four players to score over 15 points, including 29 from Jon Elmore and 24 from Ryan Taylor. Again, the failure to get stops on defense lost Charlotte the game. Game grade: CCharlotte hosted Louisiana Tech on Jan. 12, playing one of their most complete games of the season, but still fell 73-79 in another close game in Halton. The 49ers looked dead early and could have easily rolled over and let La. Tech run away with a win, but fought back hard and outscored the Bulldogs 42-34 in the second half. Braxton Ogbueze played one of his best games as a Niner that night, nailing seven 3-pointers, totaling 26 points. The Achilles heel for Charlotte was their inability to hold on to the ball, committing 15 costly turnovers to lose it down the stretch. Game grade: C+ The 49ers got back to their winnings ways with a 82-66 victory over Southern Miss. This was Charlotte’s best game from start to finish in C-USA play. During the game, the 49ers only allowed two players to score in double-digits, and also held the Golden Eagles to
32.3 percent shooting from the field. Also in the game, Charlotte outrebounded USM 44-40 for just the second time this season, while using five double-digit scorers to blow by Southern Miss and knocking down 10 threes. Game grade: A+ Davis, who is arguably one of the best players in C-USA, averages 19.6 points per game and has scored 391 points this season, which is good for fourth in the conference. Attempting to flip the script from last season’s close games, Davis set his careerhigh in points with 35 against Old Dominion on Jan. 21, while also knocking down a shot at the buzzer to beat ODU 74-72. The team also shot an incredible 24-of-28 from the free throw line. Game grade: A+ After Davis’s clutch shot, Charlotte flew down south to Denton, Texas, ultimately defeating North Texas
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for the second time this season, 8281, picking up another close-game win. That win, which marked their third win in a row, was a game that showed the depth of Charlotte, using six double-digit scorers to capture the victory. Quentin Jackson, a freshman from Raleigh, North Carolina, knocked down eight free throws in the final three minutes to propel Charlotte past the Mean Green. Game grade: A In their last game, Charlotte lost 67-84 against Rice, not being able to handle the fire power of Egor Koulechov and Evans, both scoring 23 points. Although Charlotte lost the game by 17, they had five players score in double digits and forced 18 turnovers, compared to their nine. Game Grade: C+
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KENYA OLLEY: LEADING FROM THE SIDELINES
ZACH TIMMONS STAFF WRITER
Injuries are a common and of the situation before making a unfortunate phenomenon in all decision. In the meantime, Olley has sports. Concussions, broken bones, been an encouraging voice from the tears and sprains are all fair game, sidelines, acting as another coach. and it’s tough to watch players suffer “It’s moreso that I want to see through them. It’s even harder if you my teammates be successful and are a teammate or a loved one of an I want to see them make it to the injured athlete and see the struggle championship. I try to help any way behind the scenes. But, as all cliche’s I possibly can. If it’s helping them off state, it’s not the fall that should be the court, then that’s what I try to memorable-- it’s the grind back. do,” Olley said. For senior basketball player Kenya Olley said the recovery process Olley, injuries have been a bump in is going well. Before getting back the road. The most recent setback, a to physical basketball activity, she torn ACL, has ended her season and must strengthen her legs with left Charlotte one post player short. multiple exercises, including the During her high school career, Olley stationary bike and leg raises. The was injured twice. With a different exercises will help increase her attitude the set backs were difficult to mobility and help her knee to bend Kenya Olley keeping spirits high on the bench. Photo by Chris Crews overcome. correctly. “The first two injuries, I was really Head coach Cara Consuegra had She started out her junior season by starting young and I didn’t know how to handle it. So I nothing but praise for her veteran forward as she the first three games of the season. She missed was very bad at trying to pick out the positives,” works her way back. the majority of conference play due to another Olley said. “I was always negative, like ‘I can’t do “I think one of the most impressive qualities injury. Olley made a timely return in time for this, I can’t do that,’ when really, I can do it. So it’s Kenya has is she is so positive. And no matter the conference tournament, seeing time in the just a mindset.” how many obstacles have come in her way here Conference USA Championship Quarterfinals. The Spartanburg, South Carolina native didn’t at Charlotte, she’s never been down and out,” Her anticipated return this season was cut let the injuries hold her back too much on the Consuegra said. “Maybe for a day, but she always short due to an ACL tear. According to Olley, the court. Though she suffered an injury her senior bounces back. She doesn’t feel sorry for herself; injury happened when she attempted to box out. season, Olley averaged a double-double with 13 she still contributes to the team.” She stepped incorrectly and felt it tear. Later, points and 10 rebounds. She earned all-state and As Consuegra and all coaches know, senior Olley noted that she had felt pain in her knee all-region honors, along with being named the experience and leadership is priceless. when the squad was warming up, but she elected player of the year by the Spartanburg Hearld“Even today in practice, if you watch her, she’s not to say anything. Journal. As a senior she earned all-state and on the sideline giving reminders to the post “I kinda already figured it out when I did it all-region honors. players, she’s giving reminders to the guards. because I heard a pop and a tear. So when I did Her freshman year at Charlotte, the forward Being a senior on this team, we need that from it, I already knew but I was trying not to speak saw action in 16 games, putting up a season-high her. Because even if she’s not out here playing, it into existence. I was trying to be positive, like inner points against Cincinnati. She finished she knows the way that we do things and what I said, and tried to have a good mindset about it. out the season scoring at least one point in the needs to be done. We need to hear her voice,” But when I got it [the result] back, it was like I last four games she played. In Olley’s sophomore Consuegra said. was already mentally prepared.” season she played in all 32 games, starting one Hopefully, that voice will continue to power the Ever since the injury, Olley and the Niners contest. She recorded two double-digit scoring heartbeat and soul of this Charlotte basketball have been going through the process of acquiring performances and set a Halton Arena record with team. a medical redshirt. Being that Olley is a senior, eight blocks against North Texas. She also led the she is trying to weigh the positives and negatives squad with 19 boards in three games.
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JAN. 31, 2017 - FEB. 6, 2017
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(ANTI-) SOCIAL MEDIA VARUN KRISHNAN STAFF WRITER
“Hey there, what’s your username or handle?” is perhaps one of the most if not the most common way nowadays to socialize with people. You find a random person, like their face, sense of humor or anything of that sort and boom -- you ask their name on Facebook and add them. At least, that’s the case if you don’t know the person at all; if you have mutual friends with the person in question, then these mutual friends become invaluable “friend-finders” to make the connection. It’s common to find friend requests from people you may have just met once or twice or perhaps even seen at some party while hanging out with your friends. The internet indeed has spun its own web of networking within the cyberweb, making it a reality to network with people in a much easier fashion and making it possible to stay in touch with people from various corners of the earth. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat; these are perhaps the most famous mobile apps and will be found on almost every person’s phone. While there are numerous advantages of being so active on the virtual world, are we perhaps failing to see the more than obvious short coming of this two-edged sword? Social is defined as an informal social “gathering”; there was a time when gathering very obviously meant people being physically present, unlike now when people “gather” online on social networking sites to chat with each other. Is “social networking” perhaps killing the social? Human beings are known to be social beings, but does that statement still hold? To put forth an example, I need not look far. Walk
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A Los Angeles resident tries on a pair of Snapchat’s new social media glasses. Photo via Tribune News Service
down the road, take the bus, metro, watch people walk down corridors; anywhere and everywhere you can see people of all ages engrossed into their 6-inch screens. While the internet has given us the power to have the world in our palms, it has perhaps in many ways enclosed our social boundaries to within our palms. While the power of social networking does benefit those who are socially awkward, introverts or shy by letting them convey their thoughts and feelings in a way that does not put them on the spot, repeated and constant reliance on the power of virtual networking enslaves us. We take
the easy way out and manytimes form a split personality without realizing. One persona is our real self, the person we are in the real world. We may be shy in public or have some certain interests we are too shy or embarrasses to convey; online interaction saves us from the embarrassment of seeing how the other person reacts. This overreliance on social networking in many ways is making man more of a recluse. While one may confidently chat or flirt online, the same person will stutter and stammer upon meeting the person in the real world. This can lead to further disappointment, perhaps you have a much “cooler”
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and vibrant personality online, one that has a good sense of humor, effuses confidence and the real social interactions shatters that dream. In today’s fast-moving world, where people seem to barely find time to squash in three meals a day, social networking does help us in saving time and effort in finding a friend online and if we do like the person we are free to inform the same. While the upside is so apparent for us to see, we must not neglect the flip side of the fast growing and gripping “social” problem. We must remember that we all do still have lives outside our phones and off social networking.
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OP-ED:A CONSERVATIVE’S REPORT FROM D.C. JOHN PATRICK STAFF WRITER
I voted for Donald Trump. I know, I know -- I’m the worst -- but you can hate me later. I recently visited Washington, D.C. to witness the historic inauguration of President Donald Trump. I stayed with one of my friends who attends school in D.C.; the university will remain nameless, but I can assure you that the entire student body is completely polarized to the left. I quickly realized that Washington, D.C. is a capitol in more ways than one -- D.C. is also the hub of the very metropolitan, millennial crowd divinely endowed with their own reverent virtuosity. Pompous patrons of progressive politics. The diversity left much to be desired. Don’t get me wrong, they all kinda sorta looked different -- a few cliques of different backgrounds strewn around -- but they all dressed in that same boujee ensemble so often worn by the urban elite. However, what made them homogenous was that they all shared similar ideas. Just because they ‘looked’ different, didn’t mean they thought differently. They were all drinking the same soy-based, kale-infused, fair-trade guaranteed proverbial Kool-Aid. My friend showed me around campus and his neighborhood and damned if I wasn’t a leper. Everyone could tell I was in town for the inauguration. They just could. I can’t explain it, maybe it was the clothes I was wearing or my meat-’n’potatoes frame, but something must have screamed nonbeliever. Twice I was singled-out by the volition of my apparent abhorred disposition. And yet the world’s smallest violin began to play, is what these TrigglyPuff social justice warrior’s would say had I told them I was being discriminated against.
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My friends’s roommates were mentioned I like Toby Keith, who more insulted by that question than of the fervent persuasion that if played at the inaugural concert, any of their actual insults. they protested the inauguration I was pegged a white-nationalist. I guess since this is the opinion hard enough, they might just block They asked about my opinion of section, and not a sporadic journal Trump’s presidency. It was the science, and understanding that it entry of my trips, I should give an weekend, so they had no classes to really could get that ridiculous, I opinion here. I really don’t have attend, and short of employment told them that the process entirely is anything other than wwwooowww themselves, they tried their darndest a myth. They didn’t get the joke. is D.C. a cult. That, and it was but ultimately came up short at the Don’t get me wrong, I love disheartening to see so many people hands of a democratic republic. Sad! debating and arguing. Especially -- who claimed to be open-minded They did have plenty of questions when it gets ugly. I thrive in these and tolerant -- act bitter and for me, as I was no doubt the only conditions. But I was the guest. I regressive toward open dialogue. Trump supporter within miles of was outnumbered. They cut me off Labeling me as sexist and racist their bastion of liberal conformity. and called me a bad name instead does more to exonerate people who They wanted to sit down and have a of letting me finish speaking. They actually share bigoted ideologies conversation. didn’t have a conversation, they than it does convincing me that I am In practice, this turned out to be threw a hissy fit. wrong. an inquisition: a three against one That wasn’t even the worst part. This is all to say that both sides, witch trial. Off the bat they told One of the roommates from Los because Lord knows my side has me I was a sexist pig (which, to be Angeles had the gall to ask me if I room for improvement, should trade fair, is not altogether that untrue). I had ever eaten at Chick-fil-a when the characterizations for ideas. was called a white-supremacist for suggesting places to eat. I was far supporting the Pipeline, never mind the fact that the friend I was staying with is black, making me a rather misinformed white supremacist. I had to look up what exactly a “cisgender white male” meant after being called one, and realized instantly that the English language is quite voluminous, though even more petty in its meticulousness, an awful vocabulary to waste, which these enlightened folks proved wrong. When I The Capitol Building during Donald Trump’s inauguration. Photo via Tribune News Service JAN. 31, 2017 - FEB. 6, 2017
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Photo courtesy of FOX
THE LEGACY OF ‘24’
Before the clock resets, it’s time to look back on the groundbreaking series that continues ticking on.
JEFFREY KOPP A&E EDITOR
It’s midnight on the day of the California Presidential Primary. Federal Agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) sits in his Los Angeles home with his wife Teri (Leslie Hope) and daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert), unaware that the longest day of his life has just begun. At a downtown hotel, a Democratic senator from Maryland, David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert), prepares for his final day of campaigning. Unbeknownst to him, a group of terrorists are initiating a plot to assassinate the potential first African-American president before the day is over. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles bureau of the Counter Terrorist Unit learns of this plot and calls in their top agents to handle the situation. This is the start of the roller-coaster ride that is “24.” “24” follows a real-time format where the events of an episode begin at the start of a hour. Throughout the hour, a digital clock will appear to tell viewers the exact time in the “24” Universe, down to the second. Since each season consists of 24 episodes, the main intent of this format is
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to show the events of a full day as they happen, minute by minute and hour by hour; a full rotation of the Earth on its axis. While characters may die and settings may change, the clock is a constant presence throughout the entire run of the series. Any fan of “24” knows that the famous beeping of the digital clock is a sound that will be ingrained in your head forever. While the ticking clock may be the star of the show, “24” wouldn’t be the mega-hit that it is without its main protagonist, Jack Bauer. When the series first begins, Jack is a simple CTU agent that is just trying to keep his country and family safe. He is forced to balance his work and personal life, while the world crumbles around him. As the series progresses, Jack becomes hardened and damaged as his family falls apart and as the work becomes less straight-forward. Jack is a character that the viewer is able to connect with in a way that is unusual as he is essentially the only character that viewers can trust 100 percent of the time. He’s relatable in JAN. 31, 2017 - FEB. 6, 2017
the sense that even after a day of high emotions and impossibly difficult decisions comes to an end and the body count has risen to inconceivable numbers, Jack Bauer is still Jack Bauer. While he may operate outside of the law at times, Jack is still one of the most likable and humanistic characters in the “24” Universe. His almost permanent residence in the moral gray area allows him to commit unspeakable acts in the name of justice, while still being the rallying point for viewers. He gets results, even if has to disregard the rules of politics. While Jack may be most trustworthy of the characters, that doesn’t mean he is always at the center. “24” has always managed to bring in diverse characters that help to keep the story moving forward in refreshing ways. Rather than focusing simply on one group, the series has characters spread across various agencies and occupations, intertwining their roles as the day progresses. Fellow agents Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard), Michelle Dessler (Reiko Aylesworth),
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Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke), Bill Buchanan (James Morrison), Renee Walker (Annie Wersching) and the hilariously iconic Chloe O’Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub), among others, have their own personal and workrelated conflicts, lapses of faith, flings with antagonism and other storylines that make a government law enforcement agency far more interesting than it should be. In the tense political landscape that we currently live in, “24” doesn’t really provide an escape from the constant bickering and gridlock. Instead, the series plays out political scenarios that are sometimes realistic and sometimes over-thetop, but always entertaining. The role of president in “24” is always important and the drastic transfers of power provide some of the most gripping material that the series has to offer. The way they navigate through roadblocks, communicate with Jack and the other agents and negotiate with terrorists give viewers the opportunity to form their own opinions on their role as commander in chief. “Should this president be re-elected or impeached?” and “Would I vote for this person if they were an actual candidate?” are two questions that the audience gets to ask themselves. Much of the success of “24” can be attributed to the brutal realism of the threats that the characters and country face each season. From assassination attempts and nuclear bombs to bioterrorism and genocide, the series always manages to capture the harshness of the real world and encapsulate it into a long-winded story. This is, of course, the series that showed a commercial plane exploding on television less than two
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months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Most of the threats feel as though they were ripped right out of headlines; this is still a television series, so situations are overly exaggerated and fictionalized. Many of the day’s threats are foiled within a few hours before an elaborate contingency plan is revealed, allowing the season to continue; remember that the day does not end until the final clock appears. “24: Legacy” is being described as an expansion of the “24” world with its own story and characters, while remaining consistent with the original canon. Corey Hawkins (Heath of “The Walking Dead” and Dr. Dre of “Straight Outta Compton”) stars as ex-Army Ranger Eric Carter, who lives with his wife Nicole (Anna Diop), a nurse. This 12-episode first season will reportedly not feature Sutherland as Jack Bauer or any of the other original cast members, except for one, who will not be named in this article. While most of the original cast may not be present, the famous real-time format and the clock will return; plus CTU, which is essentially a character itself, will be returning. Many “24” fans are questioning whether the series will be able to stand on its own without Jack and with the “new hero of the new day” instead. Corey Hawkins absolutely has the acting chops to carry the series as the lead and many of the supporting characters look interesting, but only time will tell if the newest chapter of the franchise will last years like the original did. The two-night premiere kicks off on Sunday Feb. 8 after the Super Bowl and continues on its normal night of Monday. Photo courtesy of FOX
ACROSS 1 Song of praise 6 Madagascar primate 11 “Norma __” 14 Fiber-__ cable 15 Last Olds model 16 Make a decision 17 Massachusetts witch trial town 18 Frenzied 19 Speedometer reading: Abbr. 20 Mork’s sign-off 22 Cute Aussie “bear” 24 What we breathe 25 In favor of 26 Native of Damascus 27 Chinese menu letters 28 Eastside Manhattan thoroughfare 31 Dijon darling 33 Brain scan: Abbr. 34 Had the best record in 35 Confidentially, in Cannes
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39 Univ. near Harvard 41 Unspecified number 42 Choppers 46 Boat made from a hollowed tree trunk 50 Ship, to a sailor 51 Zambia neighbor 52 Suffix with east 53 Male or female 54 Pastoral poem 55 Request for the latest update 58 Cozy cat seat 59 Kind of Boy Scout badge 61 Ancient region of Asia Minor 63 “Lux” composer Brian 64 Tylenol alternative 65 “Filthy” moolah 66 “Sure thing” 67 Eight plus one, to aviators 68 Disdainful grin DOWN
1 Places to buy stamps: Abbr. 2 Language of Chile 3 On the loose 4 Property encumbrance 5 Golden Arches egg sandwich 6 Hollywood’s Hedy 7 Stylish vigor 8 Café chalkboard listing 9 Ocean State sch. 10 1990 Stallone boxing film which at the time was thought to be the conclusion of its series 11 Caesar salad lettuce 12 Give a hand to 13 Flammable hydrocarbon 21 There’s __ in “team” 23 Bully’s threat ender 24 “Breaking Bad” channel 26 Palm starch 29 “Later, bro” 30 X, to Cato 32 Update factory machinery 36 “Toodles!” 37 GOP fundraising org. 38 Kitchen implements 39 Humdrum 40 “Lust for Life” punk rocker 43 Defining quality 44 2000s crime drama set in Baltimore 45 Cast a spell on 46 Dan of old MGM musicals 47 Tracey on whose show “The Simpsons” debuted 48 More orderly 49 Dinner plate scrap 55 Chirpy bird 56 Home with drones 57 Sentence subject, as a rule 60 Yale collegian 62 __ Lingus: Irish carrier
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MID-COLLEGE CRISIS The important thing here is to not stress out
NICOLE BUCKENHAM STAFF WRITER
Ending your sophomore year, or somewhere in your junior year there is such a thing called the “mid-college crisis” that you may or may not be going through. This crisis can hit you like a ton of bricks, but it can come in two very different ways. One way is that you are come to the realization that college is slowly coming to an end. This can mean responsibilities are heading your way and no more wild, crazy nights. The other way the midcollege crisis can affect you is you realize you have no idea what you are going to do with your life and have not even started going in any sort-of direction to figure it out. If you are the type of person that is realizing partying ThursdaySaturday, or maybe even more than that, is going to be harder to do … you are most likely experiencing the mid-college crisis. All of sudden you feel the urge to embrace the phrase “YOLO” more than ever. You think that you will never have this amount of fun and less responsibilities again, which is somewhat true. The real world is going to come after graduation. There will still be time to go out and have fun, but those fraternity parties may be a little weird to attend. You want to go and try every bar in the area just to say you did it once.Each paycheck you make, you make sure it mainly goes towards having fun rather than saving for the future. You might all of a sudden get the courage to do things you never would have done. These things can consist of going to a crazy music festival, having a once in a lifetime spring break, meeting new people or simply making great memories. It really does make sense that these are the “best years of our lives.” We have responsibilities, but not nearly what they will soon be. Just
make sure if you are going through this college crisis that you realize you also will not be able to do college over again. The whole reason we are here is to pass our classes and get that degree. So, even though YOLO can apply to having fun, it also should apply to our future. The other side of the mid-college crisis is that you realize maybe you have been partying a little too hard. Maybe you have not even been partying, but it just did not hit you that you will be graduating soon. This is the more common side to the crisis. It usually hits when you actually get into your major and you need to decide what you are going to do with your life. Grades are becoming more important and passing classes ever so important. This is the time you should be busy researching what you should do with your life. It is probably hitting you that you need to find some sort of internship for the summer. They can be hard to find, and if you wait too long to find one… it can be almost impossible. You are probably on Hire-ANiner and LinkedIn every day. It is starting to bother you that maybe you could have had more experience so far in your college career. But, one thing to remember is it is never too late. Clubs are never too late to join and look great on a resume. Internships, even unpaid ones, are a must have and if you look hard enough, you should be in good shape. The important thing here is to not stress out. It may be tough not to since the end of college is quickly approaching. The best thing to do is relax, focus on your grades and remember to still have a little bit of fun. The “midcollege crisis” can be tough for either route you are experiencing. Just try to find a good balance between having fun and staying focused.
ANGIE BAQUEDANO ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR
“I believe that health is the single most important factor to an individual’s enjoyment of life. I’ve seen some of the richest people that are the most unhappy and some of the poorest with incredible happiness. Be mindful in life, in health and in respecting others. Change is slow and takes time but the only real revolution happens inside of you.” - Hudson Hall
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JAN. 31, 2017 - FEB. 6, 2017
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WOMEN MARCH ON CHARLOTTE
To march in the largest political demonstration is an experience one can never forget EMILY HICKEY INTERN
During the weekend of Jan. 21, 2017, Charlotte and 673 other cities around the world held Women’s Marches in opposition to the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump. Being an active participant in community events, I attended the march with excitement with three good friends. From political rallies to different activism events, you can find me there, so it was no surprise that I stood amongst the crowd bright and early Saturday morning. The Women’s Marches were organized as a protest of President Trump’s racial and sexist slurs as well as a fight for rights we – people who identify as ‘women’ – have either not earned yet or have had taken away. In 2017, women still don’t have the same rights and privileges men do, and with the election of our highly controversial president, people decided it was time to raise their voices to the issues at hand. Arriving at around 9:30 a.m, a humongous crowd had already grown around the UNC Charlotte’s Uptown Academic Building. It was riveting to see all the people in one area wearing pink shirts and hats and holding signs. The sea of signs was enough to move someone to tears at the sheer pride in community. The actual marching started at approximately 10 a.m. and was accompanied by chanting, music, and a sense of warmth despite the chilly temperatures. There were photographers and onlookers on the sidewalks, some encouraging and some against what was happening. There were vulgar signs and some desperate signs. My sign read: “Keep your TINY HANDS off our rights.” Some were funny, some were serious, but all were brilliant. People held hands and smiled at one another; everyone was there for each other, themselves and the experience. To march in the largest political demonstration is an experience one can never forget. The atmosphere of the crowd was unforgettable and what we marched for is important beyond measure. Because of this march, issues faced by women everywhere were broadcasted at the highest volume. Since then, there has been unconditional support paired with extreme backlash. There are some who disagree and they’re not afraid to tell you, but that didn’t take away what we were aiming to accomplish. People who criticize political marches seem to forget how women attained anything important in the past, especially the 19th Amendment. On a larger scale, America was founded on a revolt, so it’s in our American blood to revolt against authority when basic civil rights are denied or at stake. These acts of protest have a powerful impact on governments all over the world, especially America. Throughout time people have marched for their rights and raised awareness against the unfair parts of society. We have made so much progress since then yet still have a long way to go, but the Women’s Marches have created a newfound hope in people who were giving up. If we don’t demand, we will never receive, so to stand up for your rights and the rights of others is important in order to maintain a peaceful unity between Americans. If it means to stand in the cold on an early Saturday morning, at least know it’s benefiting not only you, but everyone standing around you.
Photo by Emily Hickey
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