INSIDE THIS EDITION: STUDENT ORGANIZATION CHARLOTTE BREAKING OUT FIGHTS TO END RAPE CULTURE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
WINTER COMES TO CHARLOTTE IN THE ‘GAME OF THRONES’ CONCERT HEADLINED BY COMPOSER RAMIN DJAWADI
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CHECK OUT THE CHARMING TASTE OF CHARLOTTE’S ROCK BOTTOM BREWERY PG. 15
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MAR. 14, 2017 - MAR. 20, 2017
VOL. 29, ISSUE 21
Cover photo by Alexandria Sands
Hunter Heilman editor@ninertimes.com
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STOP THE STIGMA. STOP THE SILENCE. Student organization fights back against campus rape culture
Survivor hold signs with quote that abuser said. Photo courtesy of Maura Carroll
ANNIE YOUNG STAFF WRITER
College rape cases are a widespread epidemic with UNC Charlotte ranking 10th in the nation for reported rape cases in 2014. In many situations, however, rape victims do not report their attack and keep their suffering silent. Maura Carroll, the founder of Charlotte Breaking Out (CBO), began the club as an English project in which she took pictures of rape victims with posters that summed up their assault or quoted a line their abuser said during the attack. The response to Carroll’s project was so
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substantial that she grew it into a club on UNC Charlotte’s campus. “When I first started the club, I did not really know which direction to take it in but I just knew I wanted to create a safe place for survivors and all students who support the cause,” Carroll said. CBO is a place where assault survivors can talk about their experience in a safe environment and begin the healing process alongside of other survivors. Carroll explained, “Our goal is to not only serve as a safe community for victims and concerned MAR. 14, 2017 - MAR. 20, 2017
students, but to shine a light on the reality of sexual assault and the ways we can prevent and educate students on these issues.” CBO plans to hold events, meetings and bring in guest speakers to help bring awareness to the rape culture on college campuses. Their slogan is “Stop the Stigma. Stop the Silence.” Rape culture affects all college campuses. Make a difference by supporting organizations like Charlotte Breaking Out and educating yourself about the rape culture epidemic.
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LIGHT RAIL UPDATE CATS says Blue Line Extension is not ready for August opening
Progress of Lynx Blue Line extension on UNC Charlotte’s campus. Photo by Alexandria Sands
ALEXANDRIA SANDS NEWS EDITOR
The Lynx Blue Line Extension that will connect uptown Charlotte to the UNC Charlotte campus has been delayed to March 2018, at the latest. The original opening was planned for August 2017. Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) made the announcement Feb. 27 at a Charlotte City Council meeting, saying that the delay was due to construction coordination challenges, testing and safety reviews but that the $1.16 billion project would still remain under budget. CATS also said that they plan to try any time-saving activities that may help them complete the 9 percent of the construction left and open prior to the March deadline that is required by the federal government. “CATS is truly eager to deliver the next phase of the 2030
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Transit Corridor System Plan to the Charlotte region. The Blue Line Extension will provide key connections between Uptown Charlotte and UNC Charlotte, and we are grateful for the public’s patience as we work to do that,” said John Lewis, Jr., CEO of CATS. The University is negotiating with CATS to get students an allaccess pass for the light rail, buses and trolley that they could access through student ID cards. The predicted fee is $50. Once the light rail extension is complete, 107 trains will be arriving to campus each day. It will be a 20-minute ride to UNC Charlotte Center City. The University is making changes to the on-campus shuttle system to ensure that a shuttle is always available when the train arrives.
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UNC Charlotte student veterans speak at Veterans’ Health Conference in Student Union NC Assistant Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs one of many guest speakers KEENAN FREDHEIM INTERN
A panel of UNC Charlotte student veterans was one of many groups to speak at a conference in the Student Union Feb. 28. Other distinguished guest speakers included current North Carolina Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Prosser and UNC Charlotte Psychology Professor Richard Tedeschi. Topics ranged from research on posttraumatic stress conducted by university professors to panel talks by representatives from the Student Veterans Association who discussed personal experiences adjusting to life outside the armed services. The Student Veterans Association is an on-campus, student-led organization that provides a social support network for student veterans from all military branches. Members of the panel represented three branches of the armed
forces and fielded questions from students, faculty and miscellaneous conference attendees. Faculty and staff discussed methods to better connect student veterans with essential, relatable social support on campus, such as veteran specific SOAR sessions and improved training on preventing the alienation of student veterans on campus. Panel moderator and retired U.S. Army veteran Jerry Dahlberg spoke on the impact that veteran outreach in the campus has on welcoming service members home. Dahlberg, a UNC Charlotte College of Engineering graduate, now works in the College of Engineering helping veterans excel and plugin upon entering the college environment. Dahlberg works with the Department of Veteran
Student Services, which provides specialized service for student veterans entering the UNC system. Dahlberg has been involved with helping veteran students enter the workforce in places like the Department of Defense and naval research and development careers and with staff training to help utilize student veterans to improve performance of not only the student veterans themselves, but the class as a whole. “We’re putting these vets in positions of responsibility in the classrooms and using the skills we already have to get the job done every day,” Dahlberg said. The panel of six student veterans, comprised of both officer and enlisted military personnel, each took questions addressing their own personal experiences and
opinions on returning to civilian life. A popular topic at the panel was the discussion of the difference felt by student veterans between themselves and their peers on the topic of work ethic and mindsets involving coursework. The panel highlighted the critical importance of helping veterans, both returning to college after hiatus and the student veteran entering the college environment for the first time, feel connected and supported by a network of peers and mentors who both experienced and truly understand what veterans experience. The Student Veterans Association continues to reach out and provide support for all service members on the UNC Charlotte campus.
Alpha Kappa Psi takes on Battle of Muscular Dystrophy Syndrome Co-ed business professional fraternity prepares for MDA Muscle Walk in April SELIM AYYILDIZ GUEST WRITER
UNC Charlotte’s Alpha Kappa Psi – Eta Omega chapter is breaking down stereotypes that usually comes with the title of “fraternity” as they take on Muscular Dystrophy Syndrome (MSD). This is the first year that the co-ed business fraternity is teaming up with the MSD foundation. This year, the Eta Omega chapter has set their goal to raise over $1000 for the foundation and sign up 50 people for their MDA muscle walk team. They plan to increase their goal each year with the hopes of growing their chapter as well. According to Chapter President Madison Tambini, this partnership is very “powerful” when working together. “One of the reasons we decided to become involved with the MDA is because it is something very near and dear to our heart. One of our current members is battling one of the many diseases that MDA supports. They assist families by raising awareness, conducting research and being a vital resource to these families. We believe
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that by being involved in MDA we are giving back to this member in a way we never could before,” Tambini said. The chapter has been utilizing their resources on and off campus. Professors, classmates, families and friends of members of the Eta Omega chapter have also showed interest in supporting the chapter with their goal. Whether it was donating online, sharing posts on social media or spreading the word through conversations, the acronym MDA has become more prevalent. Service Director Sophie Hassell has taken the initiative to coordinate events that the chapter has regarding the MDA foundation. Holding the position for only a semester, Hassell has already planned for future endeavors for this partnership and plans to be involved even after her director term ends. “Getting involved with MDA means more for Alpha Kappa Psi than just another service MAR. 14, 2017 - MAR. 20, 2017
requirement. This is a commitment that we all are proud of and willing to invest in. While our involvement with MDA is just beginning, we have high expectations for future collaborations and involvement, ” Hassell said. The chapter has already held five events this year promoting the MDA foundation, events such as MDA social media takeover, which consisted of all members of the Eta Omega chapter promoting the MDA Muscle Walk registration on their personal accounts. Personal fundraisers for the foundation have raised nearly $200 within a month. The chapter plans to create T-shirts to wear on the day of the walk, but also sell to the public as a fundraiser. In addition, each member has made a commitment to walk during the Muscle Walk on April 29. The MDA Muscle Walk this year will start at 10 a.m. at Jetton Village III in Cornelius, North Carolina.
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THE POWER OF
A look into an organition that is changing lives
KATHLEEN COOK SPORTS EDITOR
As the clock ticks near 8 p.m. on Monday nights, a room within the Judy Rose Athletic Center fills with the sound of excited chatter. The room becomes silent as the lights dim and faint strums of a guitar are heard. For 45 minutes each week, a group of Charlotte students pause their school lives, take a break from working out and plug into the gospel. Fellowship of Christian Athletes, or FCA as it’s more commonly known, has taken the Charlotte campus by storm. After starting with four members meeting outside of Prospector in 2012, the meetings quickly grew as each of the four members would bring friends back each week. After a few months of the makeshift meetings, FCA had its first official meeting with 30 students in attendance. The group now has anywhere from 60-90 people showing up for services on Monday nights. At Winter Blast this past December, an annual FCA retreat, the group took 75 students – more than any other school in the Carolinas. Ryan Gloer first joined FCA when he was 19 years old and playing football at Shorter University. After college he started working full time with FCA and eventually felt the calling to serve on a collegiate level. Months of praying landed Gloer and his wife in the Queen City with the task of starting an FCA chapter on the campus of Charlotte.
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One of the Monday night meetings of FCA. Photos provided by Ryan Gloer
“FCA means more to me than I will ever be able to put into words. It is the avenue that God used to change my life when I was a college athlete. My college football coach introduced me to the organization — and it changed the trajectory of my life,” Gloer said. The multitude of student-athletes that are a part of FCA all have various avenues that brought them to organization. The majority of them, however, all begin the same: a fellow teammate or friend invited them come a Monday meeting. “There is a generation of leaders who are genuinely multiplying themselves— leaders who are coming alongside their teammates and challenging them to grow in their faith and sport, taking them to the next level both physically and spiritually,” Gloer said.
Within the FCA family there are representatives from almost every sports team on campus, creating a greater sense of community within the athletic family. Ashleigh Handchen became a believer with the help of FCA. The company offered by the group was truly an answered prayer for the runner. “The first thing I prayed about when I came to know Christ was for community. We’re not called to do this alone. We’re called to be in a community: to pray for each other, to hold each other accountable and to call each other out if we’re falling away,” Handchen said. Sophomore football player Ben Jacques also values the group of people that make up FCA. “There are always people around who are just excited to pour into you and to help you grow. People
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who may be more mature than you or maybe at the same level as you, but you can always go to them for community. That’s been huge for me, personally, to just have that accountability and having people pouring into me to help me grow,” Jacques said. With the setting of college, there are multiple groups one can plug into. Jeff Gemmell sees the benefits of becoming involved with FCA and the friends that come with the group. “You are who you hang out with, whether you like that or not. Coming to FCA and being around a group of people who share the same beliefs as you and are chasing a common goal, it’s really encouraging,” Gemmell said. A big appeal to the group is the sense of belonging and accountability that members hold for their teammates. “I love that all of the teams on campus can come here and feel like they have a safe place,” Darren Drake said. Through the various outlets offered by FCA, many athletes have been able to know Christ. This has become an aid when injury strikes. “A lot of my growing up spiritually was my injury. I had to balance, which not many people go through, an injury in which I had to quit my sport,” Isabella Osborne said. “I had to take a summer to really pray and FCA cont., pg. 9
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THE TRANSFER CHRONICLES
Charlotte’s third baseman Jackson Mims making major impact after coming from ECU TREVOR WILT SPORTS EDITOR
American Legion Post 82 in Shelby, North Carolina. That’s where you could have likely found Charlotte’s third baseman Jackson Mims in high school. Shelby, according to Mims, is “known for their baseball and barbecue.” Although barbecue in Shelby is delicious, head coach Loren Hibbs is happy Mims wanted a future in playing baseball rather than working at a barbecue restaurant. “Mims was excited to play and prepared the right way,” Hibbs said. “He got his work done last year, had a great summer and now he’s going to be a big part of what he want to do moving forward.” For those who do not know, American Legion baseball is a league that is played over the summer for mostly high school kids, with the ages ranging from 13-19. Legion provides ball players with a chance to compete with and against people you played in high school and also different competition from around the state. Legion teams are a veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and good sportsmanship among those who are involved and to advocate
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Photo by Katelynn Pennington
patriotism and honor to those who have served our great country. After having a few successful seasons in Legion ball, Mims knew that he had a chance to play in college and with enough peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, complements of his father, Darryl, to build muscle to catch up with his growing body, scouts started to take notice. East Carolina University and head coach Billy Godwin, who is now a scout in the New York Yankees organization, started to recruit the junior at Shelby High School, recognizing Mims’ versatility in the field and at the plate. It didn’t take long for ECU to offer and it didn’t take long for Mims to commit. “I just jumped on the board early,” Mims said. “I committed my junior summer and I thought I was on top of the world.” Before heading to ECU, Mims went on to win the 2014 American Legion state championship, being named the area four hitter of the year and leading his Shelby team to a 44-4 record. Once Legion ball and high school ball was over, Mims made his way to Greenville, North Carolina,
and became a Pirate. “There were some tough times and it was hard and coach Godwin pushed us really hard but he made you better and got the most out of you,” Mims said. “It was a good learning experience to go off and do things by yourself.” After batting .280 in 100 at bats and starting 36 games his freshman season, Mims wanted to take his experiences that he learned in Greenville and bring them a little bit closer to home. A few hours closer to home. “After the regional,” Mims said about the time when he knew he wanted to transfer, “I started playing in the CPL (Coastal Plain League) and it was just in my mind the whole time. It was a tough decision and something I had to do. So I called coach Godwin and got my release and I started sending stuff to other schools and I knew of UNC Charlotte and I knew of Bo Robinson and he actually came to a Coastal Plain League game and told me that they had room for me.” Due to NCAA transfer rules, Mims SEE MIMS, PAGE 9
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MIMS, cont. had to sit out through the entirety of the 2016 season, being able to get in the weight room and work on things at third base with senior third baseman Derek Gallello. “I was able to kind of relate to Jackson because I had a redshirt year when I was in college (Wichita State) and I told Mims that it was hard to sit on the bench,” Hibbs said about Mims’ redshirt season. After learning from Gallello at third and playing more baseball during the summer with the Gastonia Grizzlies, Mims finally got to put on the Charlotte jersey with the teammates he loves, playing the game he loves. “This is something that I’ve loved my whole life and I still love it and these guys are awesome,” Mims FCA, cont. get into the word and talk to people older than me that have wisdom to figure out that soccer wasn’t in my plan and I had to let that go. That was hard for me. I know that there is a reason why I’m here. If athletics hadn’t brought me to Charlotte I wouldn’t have been saved, I wouldn’t have gone through what I went through and I wouldn’t be here. So athlete to non-athlete, but still a daughter of Christ.” After a concussion sidelined Abby Coffey, she found a new purpose within her team. “Now I’m at this level of peace where I know that I am not on my team to play soccer. My purpose is not to play soccer. My purpose is to be on the soccer team and to reach new people and develop relationships and pour into my
said. “They welcomed me with open arms and I can’t thank coach Hibbs enough. He made me feel at home from day one and so did the players. These are guys that you are going to have at your wedding. You’re going to be friends with them for life. That’s the most fun thing about baseball is being with all these guys and having fun.” By the way he is playing, batting .388 with six doubles, one triple, three home runs and 10 RBI, it looks like Mims has found his home at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium.
non-believing teammates. From transitioning from that winter retreat to current day, it’s been an amazing opportunity to find this new sense of identity that a lot of people don’t have,” Coffey said. While there is love for FCA, all in attendance on Monday nights know there is a much greater purpose than to socialize. “It’s not FCA that’s so great, it’s the God we serve. Through FCA, we get an opportunity to serve and to reach out to people. It’s a good doorway to share the gospel with them,” Gemmell said. Though the name can be deceiving, FCA isn’t restricted solely those who play a sport at Charlotte. Any student, whether a mathlete or an athlete, is welcome. Main meetings are Monday at 7:49 p.m. in the Judy
Members of FCA on a mission trip to Haiti, March 2016. Photo provided by Ryan Gloer
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SATIRE: NEW FORMS OF STUDENT IDENTIFICATION JOHN PATRICK STAFF WRITER
University officials have decided (effective immediately) that students will be issued campus-mandated Rubik’s Cubes as a new form of student identification. This ruling, made by a group of administrators behind closed doors -- the famed “UNC Charlotte Illuminati” -- is in response to the mass confusion taking place campus-wide regarding the appropriate instrument for the job of student tracking. After long deliberation, and much consideration, the bureaucrats charged with puppeteering our institution thought it best to change the medium for student identification … again. Historically, the campus has employed the iconic green and flat student ID cards that the students have grown to love. Adorned with the student’s campus number, and the eroded smile of each respective student’s face, these cards were a campus mainstay. They swiped with style. Then, recently, and seemingly out of nowhere, the administration changed the functionality of the cards from a swiping motion to a chipping motion through the advent of a chip-reader. Per a source, the University wanted to stray away from the action of “swiping” because they believed it posed too great a threat for the student body. The school officially condemns violence. Additionally, the school wants to shy away from another variation of the term, “stripping,” because it suggests promiscuity. Rather, these tenured academics who have never actually held a job save for the realm of education, changed the mechanism to chipping so that anytime a student wants access to their dormitories, or to expense a meal from their dining account, they would simply insert the card into a chip-reader and wait sheepishly. That all changed this week. And this drastic switcheroo is not short of controversy. One of the school officials, Mike Hunt, who championed for the new Rubik’s Cube mode of identification, did so in order to make higher education less accessible. “I wanted a way to
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create a dynamic of pure intellectualism and theoretical development. Forcing students to solve a clunky, difficult puzzle just to achieve the most meaningless and simple task -- like checking out a book at the library or purchasing items at the school store -- will help restore the vision of educational exceptionalism”, Hunt said. Others have been less open-minded about the new change. Lou Sassle, a security guard responsible for monitoring student security for on-campus housing, said the new change has already put a dent in the ebb and flow of traffic going in and out of the dorms. “Every time a freshman tries to get inside the dorms, the poor sucker has to solve a riddle. It used to be so easy; all they had to do was swipe. Then it was to chip. Now I let half of them in because I feel so bad. Bring back disco, man.” Sassle told the Niner MAR. 14, 2017 - MAR. 20, 2017
Times he has even seen students go as far as furiously swipe and chip at dormant card readers in desperation to get in. In the weather months, this could get ugly. Conspiracy theorists have surmised that this change is the result of globalist overlords. Perhaps it’s the new world order, they offered, though they don’t want to get ahead of themselves. School-wide protests erupted in the wake of the transferal of school-sponsored identification. However, like most protests, absolutely nothing happened. Like nothing. I literally cannot stress how much of a nonfactor these protests were. One sign read, “I’m so pissed off I made a sign.”
Card illustration by Kathryn Whitesides Norm illustration by Linnea Stoops
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DUBYA & THE REICHSTAG
CASEY ALDRIDGE OPINION EDITOR
Over spring break I traveled with a group of friends to Milan, Berlin, and Paris. Among the many things we set out to see in our limited time in Europe was the German Reichstag in Berlin. The Reichstag is the seat of power in Germany, within which the Bundestag (or Parliament) meets for official legislative proceedings. Visitors to the Reichstag are allowed access to the glass dome above the building. Accompanied by an audioguide, we ascended and descended the dome with spectacular views over Berlin. The audioguide contextualized what we were seeing: train stations, music halls, embassies, museums, Brandenburg Gate, the Fernsehturm (Television Tower), etc. Right next to Brandenburg Gate, however, it seemed as if the audioguide paused, unsure of what to say as the visitor’s attention naturally turned to Berlin’s Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. A genuine concrete jungle, the memorial is hard to miss, and ostensibly on the list of sites most tourists end up frequenting, along with the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate. But the audioguide reduced its presence to a single fleeting sentence, telling us that the memorial commemorated the “some six million Jews killed when Germany was oppressed by National Social tyranny.” The audioguide seemed, perhaps appropriately, uncomfortable. But by depicting “National Social tyranny” as something external to the Reichstag, it effectively excuses Germany and the Reichstag itself of its role in the Holocaust. The Reichstag, admittedly, was not where the Nazi goverment conducted business, and yet it still proved a useful entity for Nazi rule. When the Reichstag caught on fire in 1933, the Nazis used the alleged arson to justify further political restrictions on communists. The Reichstag fire gave the Nazi government a useful propaganda
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tool for consolidating power, scapegoating its opponents, and accelerating its genocidal ambitions, with Dachau concentration camp opening in the months that followed. Not only was the Reichstag building useful for the Nazis, but there is no decisive rupture between German government before Nazism or after, as the audioguide would like us to believe. The audioguide suggests that Nazi rule was an anomaly, a glitch in an otherwise sound political system of democracy and capitalism. But this idea, of Nazism independent of or divorced from the Reichstag’s history is a fiction. Hitler came to power because of the crises and contradictions wrought by German liberal democracy and capitalism. I’m at this point compelled to raise the more recent and contextually relevant example of former President George W. Bush. At the end of February, Bush addressed the new Trump Administration by telling the press: “I don’t like the racism and I don’t like the namecalling and I don’t like people feeling alienated. Nobody likes that.” For some on the (liberal) left, Bush’s words have redeemed him, at least to a degree. But the president who Kanye noted “doesn’t care about Black people” should not be let off so easily. As observed by Branko Marcetic in his article in Jacobin, almost everything those liberals hate about Trump owe themselves, at least in part, to the second Bush Administration: torture at Guantanamo Bay, deportations, the targeting of Muslims, the enlargement of the surveillance state, and use of alternative facts to encourage war (anyone remember Saddam Hussein’s alleged WMDs?). Bush also spoke positively of an open and independent media, at a time where the Trump Administration has made the media its primary adversary. But that doesn’t make him heroic -- it means only that he adheres to the baseline of presidential precedent in a way
Inside the dome above the German Reichstag in Berlin. Photo by Casey Aldridge
that Donald Trump does not care to do. And anyway, Bush was no friend of the press when he was in office, repressing Al Jazeera journalists in particular on several occasions. In the center of the Reichstag is a tower of mirrors, facing outwards. These mirrors distract and deflect; they are beautiful, and at the same time move one’s attention away from its center, located directly above the German Parliament. When the audioguide at the Reichstag talks about National Social tyranny as something foreign and external,
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rather than something integral to the Reichstag’s own history, it distorts history and deflects responsibility. George W. Bush’s tepid but nice words do the same; Bush’s words seek only to whitewash their speaker, making a hero out of a war criminal and deflecting the responsibility for Trump on the errors of past administrations -Reagan, Clinton, Bush, and Obama together. We can’t let him get away with that.
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Photo by Barry Brecheisen
WINTER COMES TO CHARLOTTE The “Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience” is a powerful celebration of music. JEFFREY KOPP A&E EDITOR
Since its debut in 2011, “Game of Thrones” has gone on to become one of the most successful and beloved television series of all time, thanks in part to its lovable characters, epic battle sequences and moving musical pieces. Composer Ramin Djawadi and his team have managed to bring all of these elements together to create an incredible concert experience that will leave “Game of Thrones” fans in awe and will possibly convince newcomers to binge the series. Special emphasis needs to be placed on the word “experience” as this concert is a fully immersive journey that pulls the crowd in from start to finish. On March 9, the Spectrum Center in Uptown Charlotte was filled with hundreds of eager fans awaiting the start of the “Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience.” The excitement could be felt as everyone took their seats and marveled at the impressive stage that had been set up. With the lights dimmed, a single white dove flies across the three large video screens as a slow-building hum sound rings out. Sparks and smoke can be seen in the center of the stage as the main
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screen changes to a stormy sky with swords flying through the air. The smoke dissipates, revealing the famous Iron Throne as the iconic “Game of Thrones” theme song is played by the orchestra. It’s impossible to not sing along as you fly across the map of Westeros and Essos; the crowd goes wild as the journey through the Seven Kingdoms and beyond officially begins. Make no mistake, this is not your average orchestra concert. That much was clear upon entry into the arena. Using the massive video screens to project scenes from the television series, Djawadi and his fellow performers allow the audience to relive the most important moments from the six seasons by placing the action right in front of them. Alongside the screens, a variety of special effects are used to make the experience fully immersive. During the performance of a chilling White Walker montage, thousands of small white pieces of confetti trickle down from above into the audience, meant to represent a bitter cold snow storm. In the equally moving composition “The North Remembers,” a single violinist plays on a platform as a Weirwood MAR. 14, 2017 - MAR. 20, 2017
tree grows around her, with bright red leaves blooming and falling to the ground. As the theme to House Stark, this particular piece is enough to bring tears to the eyes of loyal fans. Across the Narrow Sea, there are plenty of musical montages dedicated to the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targareyn (Emilia Clarke). Fans are treated to a full recap of her tragic journey from a frightened young woman who is forced into a marriage with Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa), to the confident queen that we all know and love. One particular sequence uses the tense music and flashing lights to recreate the hectic Sons of the Harpy massacre, wherein Daenerys is rescued by her loyal dragon. More impressive is the arrangement “Reign,” in which pyrotechnics accompany the orchestra as the Battle of Meereen is projected on the screens. This performance is especially immersive as the growing intensity of the music culminates into fiery explosions, allowing the audience to literally feel the heat from the flames. The musical pieces involving Daenerys are especially noteworthy for their usage of percussion instruments, which help to
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transport the audience to the sparse lands of the “Great Grass Sea.” The concert also takes plenty of time to pay tribute to some of the more villainous characters, especially the members of House Lannister. Singer Stevvi Alexander takes the stage to perform “The Rains of Castamere,” one of the highlights of the night; Alexander’s voice is hauntingly beautiful as she sings the incredibly powerful House Lannister song. While Alexander is present for most of the pieces, this is where she really shines, sending chills across the audience and likely leaving her elegant melodies in everyone’s head for them to ponder later. In line with “The Rains of Castamere,” the concert takes a dark turn as Djawadi jokingly announces that the doors have been locked; the crowd is forced to relive the absolute horrors of the Red Wedding, a game-changing event where “the Lannisters send their regards” to the Starks in a series of bloody murders. As devastating as this part of “Game of Thrones” is, hearing the jarring collection of instruments shift to a somber farewell ballad in person is truly epic. Knowing how the Red Wedding plays out in no way ruins the overall intensity and power of the moment. The most recent season of “Game of Thrones” introduced viewers to two of the most grand musical scores on television; these scores come from the final episodes of the sixth season, “Battle of the Bastards” and “The Winds of Winter,” arguably two of the greatest episodes of any show in television history. The former throws the audience into the middle of the great battle between Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) over control of Winterfell. While some of the violence is cut, the huge scale of the battle is not lost. Seeing Jon Snow and his army charge head first into certain death as the music changes from melancholy to downright catastrophy allows the audience to feel as though they are fighting alongside all of the soldiers. It’s in sequences such as this were the concert feels fully immersive, but the “Light of the Seven” is where the music really envelops the arena. There is something truly unsettling to hear this piece in person; “Am I about to be the victim of a massive wildfire
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explosion inside the Spectrum Center?” flashed through my head at the start. As Djawadi plays an organ on a raised platform, the entire stage begins to turn an eerie, yet familiar green color. The growing tension alerts the crowd to the fact that something insane is about to happen. As the song reaches its climax, green fire and smoke erupts from the stage paralleling the chaotic scene playing out on the screens. Based on the cheers from the audience, it is clear that this song is the fan favorite; it is most definitely my favorite television musical score. While music plays a crucial role in the television series, this concert allows fans to fully appreciate the soundtrack as it takes the forefront during this performance. Some songs are gentle and sweet, some mysterious and others are thrilling and triumphant, but all are packed with emotions and deep meaning. Attending this concert will leave you with the realization that Ramin Djawadi is brilliant, plain and simple. His ability to compose such magnificent pieces allows listeners to step outside of our reality for a moment and into the fascinating world of “Game of Thrones” (He is also the composer for the other HBO megahit “Westworld,” as well several blockbuster films). Special praise must also be given to the incredible local Charlotte Symphony orchestra and the Clover High School (South Carolina) Choir for contributing to the perfection of the night and for positively representing the region. This is the type of musical performance that sticks with you for a long time after it ends. While this is something that any “Game of Thrones” fan should absolutely attend, those who haven’t seen the series may just become a fan after witnessing this concert. Hopefully, my fellow concert-goers will share in the newfound appreciation that I have for the huge amount of work and care that goes into scoring a film or television series; if you’re not yet convinced that the music is an integral part, try watching one of the many incredible “Game of Thrones” scenes on mute and you will quickly come to understand that the music serves as another layer to the overall experience. This concert definitely helps to hold fans over until the show returns for its 7th Season on July 16.
ACROSS 1 Scalawag 6 Barber’s razor targets, at times 11 Folder identifier 14 Ann __, Michigan 15 “Haste makes waste,” e.g. 16 Color 17 Place for a haircut and a whiskey? 19 Tiny six-footer 20 James Bond is one 21 Be itinerant 22 “Ho ho ho” holiday guy 24 “You’re it!” game 25 James Watt, by birth 27 Storage solution for Disney? 33 Pago Pago’s place 34 Singer Edith known as “The Little Sparrow” 35 Wicked 37 Final notice?
MAR. 14, 2017 - MAR. 20, 2017
38 Taps instrument 39 Dust __: tiny house critter 40 Panhandles 41 “Gotcha” 42 Problem during sleep 43 Farmer’s wake-up duty list? 46 Hawaiian strings 47 High-tech rte. finder 48 Yummy 51 Exclusive 53 Hockey great Bobby 56 __ Wednesday 57 How to ask journalist Roberts if she’d like an Oreo? 61 2016 Olympics city 62 Blacksmith’s block 63 “Lady and the __” 64 Again and again, to bards 65 Boglike 66 Eye sores
DOWN 1 Back talk 2 Losing casino roll 3 How experts do their jobs 4 __ juice: milk 5 Equitably divided 6 Skylab org. 7 Eve’s mate 8 Buddy 9 I problem? 10 Electric eye, e.g. 11 Word after greater or less 12 Uncle’s mate 13 Test version 18 Canceled at 6-Down 23 Efforts 24 Brings forward for inspection 25 Mountain climber 26 Sidewalk eatery 27 Pole tossed in Highlands competitions 28 José’s 8-Down 29 Numbered musical works 30 Landlocked African country 31 Sheeplike 32 Fertilizer ingredient 33 Cry hard 36 Grassland 38 What muzzled dogs can’t do 42 Sides of an issue 44 Airport luggage checker 45 Eye rudely 48 Hawaiian food staple 49 “__ I care!” 50 Photograph 51 “Laugh-In” segment 52 Greasy 53 So-so 54 “The __ of the Ancient Mariner” 55 Gym units 58 “Just __ moment” 59 Egg cells 60 Leftover morsel
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CINNAMON BROWN SUGAR PANCAKES HAILEY TURPIN LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Ingredients: Pancake mix (make as directed) 1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract Brown sugar as needed 1 tsp. cinnamon or cinnamon Sugar
3. Heat up the skillet you are using to make the pancakes, adding butter every so often to prevent sticking. Make sure the burner is on medium heat, as we do not want the brown sugar to burn in the pan.
Directions 1. Make pancake mix as directed. Most mixes require 2 cups of dry pancake mix and water (if your specific mix requires more dry mix, you may want to add more cinnamon).
4. Once you have poured your mix into the pan, sprinkle brown sugar into pancake. When at desired golden color, flip (about a minute and a half to two minutes). Be careful that the sugar doesn’t burn, it will cause sticking. Checking the sides of the pancake will help you judge when it is ready.
2. Add cinnamon or cinnamon sugar and vanilla extract. Mix well. If you have plain ground cinnamon, add a little bit less because it is more potent.
5. Repeat step four for each pancake and enjoy when there is no more batter.
ANGIE BAQUEDANO ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR
“Hanging out with my little brother for spring break was awesome. We finally got to ride around at night just so we can binge eat Taco Bell. Video games and junk food took up the rest of that time while never sleeping before 4 a.m.” - Tommy Stone
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MAR. 14, 2017 - MAR. 20, 2017
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RESTAURANT REVIEW: ROCK BOTTOM BREWERY Life only begins when you hit “Rock Bottom” HAILEY TURPIN LIFESTYLE EDITOR
If you find yourself in uptown Charlotte and want a good brewsky and comfort food, this is the place for you. Rock Bottom Brewery, located on the corner of North Tryon and W 7th St., is a local tavern with its own brewery and restaurant combination that serves craft beers and pub-style food. This is not my first time at the lovely restaurant, but it does not disappoint time and time again. Rock Bottom Brewery was founded in 1991 in Denver, Colorado. Their goal was a restaurant and brewery were to provide food from local brewmasters and chefs to create a unique and amazing experience for every location. They have a saying around the restaurant, “Life only begins when you’ve hit Rock Bottom!” When my significant other and I arrived, we had just missed the Rich & Bennetts St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl attendees, which was what we were hoping for. Even though a handful of people trickled in and out as we ate, there was no large group of people at the bar. However, it was a Saturday night, so we were told it was a 45 minute wait. The hosting staff looked busy, rushed and were slightly distracted when we received the text that our table was ready. All to be expected in Charlotte on a busy Saturday. We were seating within 15 minutes which was perfect time for us to run to our car and grab our coats just as the frigid weather hit. Once we were seated, we ordered our starting drinks and I looked through the menu for something I haven’t tried. I finally settled on the Ale Chicken, which is pan-seared chicken breast (cut in three pieces) and smothered in a dark ale beer and mushroom sauce, served with roasted vegetables and cheddar mashed potatoes. My date ordered the chicken-fried chicken, covered in white gravy and served with mashed potatoes and apple coleslaw. Talk about Southern comfort food! My date also got a flight of the five classic Rock Bottom beers and an extra dark beer of his choice. Once we received our food, we sat, talked and indulged in the goodness on our plates. Both of our meats were well cooked and juicy, even to the last of it. I noticed my mashed potatoes didn’t have much of a cheddar flavor or really any flavor at all, but nothing a little pepper and salt can’t fix. The vegetables on my plate were both roasted and seasoned well and added a nice balance to the heavier potatoes and sauce. All in all my food was probably the best thing I’ve ever gotten at Rock Bottom, and will be on my next receipt. My date enjoyed the entirety of his dish, specifically the gravy that topped the chicken, which he described as having good flavor and not being too thick. They have a big variety of foods, including sandwiches, steaks, southern dishes including chicken and mac and cheese (YUM) and lighter options like salmon with a honey glaze. And if that doesn’t make your mouth water, the prices will. Both of our dishes were $14.99, the total bill coming out to $35. Even though I am not 21, my date also enjoyed the beers that he tasted. His favorite was the Rock Bottom Red Ale, which had a distinct
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amber color and gave an almost fruity smell. He described the beers as uniquely flavored with a wide variety of options, but were not particularly his favorite. However, he said they paired well with the food he ordered. Also, if you part in the parking deck under the restaurant (entrance is behind the restaurant) they have parking validation and are usually greatly priced. That being said, don’t forget your ticket you get from the parking deck, so you can show them when you get the bill. My most recent visit to this restaurant was just as expected: hearty and comforting. If you are looking for a place that brings the soul of beer, comfort food and tavern-like aesthetics, you will feel right at home at this uptown favorite. If you plan on going to this restaurant on the weekend, plan accordingly and make reservations. That will save you time and helps the staff keep the guests organized. You will definitely find me at this location in the future and until then, happy eating Niners!
MAR. 14, 2017 - MAR. 20, 2017
Rate: 4/5 Stars
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MAR. 14, 2017 - MAR. 20, 2017
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