2
4 5 9 11 12 14 15 16 18 23 24 25 28 29 33 37 39 40 41 42 44 45 47 50
WELCOME TO UNC CHARLOTTE STUDENT UNION ON-CAMPUS DINING UNC CHARLOTTE HISTORY TIME MANAGEMENT 49ER FOOTBALL LIGHT RAIL NEW SCHOOL NEW YOU SUMMER MOVIES SUMMER PLAYLIST PARKING ON CAMPUS FIGHT THE FRESHMAN 15 ENTERTAINMENT ON CAMPUS WHO TO KNOW IN CHARLOTTE ATHLETICS VISUAL CAMPUS TOUR STUDENT JUDICIAL COURT CAMPUS APPS COUNSELING CENTER LIVING WITH A ROOMMATE 101 THE ART OF BUYING TEXTBOOKS MOVE-IN DAY BEING ALONE FOR THE FIRST TIME SAFETY AND SECURITY ON CAMPUS PLANS FOR BELK PLAZA
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF HUNTER HEILMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR LINNEA STOOPS
MARKETING DIRECTOR DAVID MENDEZ
MARKETING STAFF BRANDON FREER, RYAN SCOTT WRITERS JEFFREY KOPP, STEPHANIE TREFZGER, KATHLEEN COOK, MIA SHELTON, ALEXANDRIA SANDS, HAILEY TURPIN, POOJA PASUPULA NINER MEDIA ADVISER
MARKETING ADVISER
WAYNE MAIKRANZ
KELLY MERGES
BUSINESS MANAGER
LAURIE CUDDY GRAPHICS & PRODUCTION
OFFICE MANAGER
MEGAN SMITH
DANNY HUFFMAN
3
HUNTER HEILMAN Editor-in-chief
Welcome to UNC Charlotte! You’re finally here and we’re so excited to have you. You’ve gotten past high school graduation and you’re taking in the remainder of your last high school summer before plunging into the void that is higher education. Right now, you might be feeling anxious or nervous about starting college, or even about being at SOAR right now, but these feelings are only temporary. In fact, the cliché of college being the “best years of your life” actually holds up in practice. Granted, you’ve already cemented this by choosing UNC Charlotte, lucky you. Even though UNC Charlotte has over 28,000 students, you have the power to stand out as an individual. Here are just a few key steps to think about when joining Niner Nation.
DON’T BE AFRAID, DON’T RUSH THINGS
Approaching my senior year, I am absolutely gobsmacked by how quickly my college experience has flown by me. This might come as a shock to anyone who also felt like high school was far too long, but college is a whole different animal that moves at 10 times the speed high school ever did Don’t rush things in college. You have four years to figure everything out, but you also only have four short years to take it all in. Don’t think that you have to do everything upfront, but also don’t be afraid to jump into the deep end when you feel prompted to. Join that student organization, pledge that fraternity/sorority, take that acting class you always wanted to take, join an intramural sport, etc. The world is yours when you’re at UNC Charlotte. Never be afraid to take that jump. Just because you attend a meeting doesn’t mean you’re locked into an organization forever. Use this time to test your fit with this group and edit as needed. I joined the Niner Times on an impulse decision the first week of freshman year after seeing an ad for it 15 minutes before a meeting started. Three years, four promotions, one major change, 445 articles and a staff that has now become family later, it only shows that these impulse decisions can change your life forever.
LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE
As a freshman, chances are that you find yourself living in one of the famous residence hall towers in South Village, though with new residence halls opening every year, your chances of privacy and luxury are ever-growing. Still, sharing a living space with a potential stranger never really qualifies as “ideal living,” but an integral part of the college experience is making the best out of everything. I’ve found that comfort in your living space directly correlates with that of your success. During my own freshman year, I shared a four person/four bedroom suite with three boys from my learning community in Lynch Hall, which made things quite easy to handle. Find time to figure out what works best for you in a living arrangement and run with it with blinders. Even in “bad” living situations, there are always silver linings to everything. While I certainly love living by myself in an off campus apartment, I still look back on the days sharing bathrooms and living 15 feet away from all my friends fondly. Don’t take advantage of it.
EMBRACE CHANGE
You probably changed quite a bit in high school, but that’s nothing compared to the change you will see in yourself just within your first semester at UNC Charlotte. The nature of being alone, being in classes that challenge how you think as a person, surrounded by people of all ethnicities, religions and identities is going to challenge you to change and improve yourself as the semesters go on. Change is inevitable and wholly positive. Embrace it. Don’t resist these changes, as they seek to shape you into the person you will be entering the real world after college. If you take these changes with open arms and a smile, your experience here at UNC Charlotte will be even more rewarding.
4
JEFFREY KOPP A&E Editor
Every college student needs a place to relax, hang out with friends and study. UNC Charlotte has just the place with the Popp Martin Student Union. The Student Union offers a variety of services and amenities to students and the general public. Whatever time of day you choose to visit, there is pretty much always something going on. The Student Union just might be the most recognizable building on campus, located across from the College of Education and the College of Health and Human Services; visitors may park in the Union Deck for $1 per halfhour Upon entering the Student Union, you’ll notice the rotunda area, which is a prime meeting place for students. This is also where many university events are held, including Student Government debates. If you’re looking for something to eat, the Popp Martin Student Union has several different options. For starters, there is Crown Commons, one of the two dining halls
NT File Photo
on campus. Students may use their meal plan to swipe into Crown Commons and enjoy a variety of buffet style options. If you’re in the mood for something a little more fancy, be sure to check out Bistro 49, a table service restaurant located on the second floor that is perfect for lunch dates. Need a quick bite to eat before class? There are several different fast food choices, including Wendy’s, Bojangles and Einstein Bros Bagels; there is also a Starbucks located inside the Student Union for you to pick up your morning cup of coffee. The Student Union also has multiple different shopping options. First is Niner Tech, a full electronics store that provides students with the opportunity to purchase technology for their educational and personal use. Do you need a new laptop and some software to go with it? Are you looking for a gift for someone? Niner Tech is your one stop shop for all of your technology needs; the store also offers repairs and troubleshooting information for any problems you may have. All students need textbooks and the Student Union makes it easy for you to purchase or rent your books with Barnes and Noble. Spread across two levels, Barnes and Noble sells
not only textbooks, but also regular books, magazines, snacks and school supplies. You can also stock up on UNC Charlotte merchandise at the bookstore; from t-shirts and sweatshirts to hats and socks, you and your family can always show off your school spirit. As you can see, the Student Union has a lot to offer, but that isn’t all. You can even get a haircut in The Campus Salon, a complete hair salon that provides a wide array of services for students. To take advantage of the salon, all you need to do is book an appointment on the salon’s website. The Student Union is also your place to go for all of your student identification card needs. The 49er Card Office is where you can pick up your student ID or get a replacement if you lose your original. If you need a quick snack before heading to class or to study, be sure to stop by Outtakes, a convenience store located on the ground floor of the Student Union. There’s no need to leave campus to go shopping as you can pick up some of your groceries right in Outtakes; there is also a deli counter for sandwiches. Right next to Outtakes is Norm’s, a lounge area with pool tables, televisions and seating areas perfect for meeting with friends and hanging out. In terms of entertainment, the Student Union is especially noteworthy for its movie theater. Yes, you heard that right. There is indeed a movie theater in the Student Union and while it may not play brand new films, there are plenty of recent releases that you can watch. Different films are scheduled each weekend, from Thursday to Sunday and the best part of it all is that admission is free with a valid student ID; just be sure to check out the showtimes online. If movies aren’t your thing, you can check out the Student Union Art Gallery, which is used to showcase different exhibits. This is also where the annual Sanskrit Gallery Showcase and reception is held to launch the literary arts magazine that features works created by students. Finally, the Student Union is home to 5
many different student organizations, including Student Govermnent Association and the Campus Activities Board, giving you plenty of opportunities to find out what you’re interested in, while meeting others that share your interests. There is also the Multicultural Resource Center in Student Union Room 210, which schedules events to celebrate the diverse population of UNC Charlotte. If writing, photography, broadcast, radio or marketing are what you’re into, be sure to stop by the lower level of the Student Union to learn more about Student Niner Media. Whether you’re hungry for something to eat or you just want to hang out with your friends, the Popp Martin Student Union is full of different amenities and activities for each and every student. Because of this, the Student Union is always full of life. This article lists just some of what the building has to offer and you can learn more about the Student Union by visiting the Information Center on the first level or by visiting the website at http://www.studentunion.uncc.edu/. NT File Photo Photo by Chris Crews
NT File Photo
6
7
8
STEPHANIE TREFZGER Asst. A&E Editor
One of the biggest misconceptions about college is that students have to live off of Ramen. While it is still a large part of some students’ diets, it is not their only option, at least not at UNC Charlotte. The university provides ample choices for its students to eat varied and tasty meals each and every day by providing a variety of meal plans, which consist of two parts: Meal swipes, which allow students access to the all-youcan-eat dining halls and declining balance (DB), which students can use at on-campus restaurants and retail locations.
DECLINING BALANCE (DB)
Declining balance is essentially used like a debit card students can only use on campus. Money is loaded onto the student’s I.D. card, which they can then use to buy food at fast food locations, Outtakes convenience stores, and even at concession stands at sporting events or at the movie theater. The amount of DB a student receives is dependant on the meal plan they chose; block plans have more DB attached
to just get a grab-and-go meal. Another factor is where they will be living. Freshmen living on campus are required to sign up for a meal plan as part of their housing agreement. While freshmen living off-campus and commuting are not required to purchase a meal plan, they may want to consider it just for the convenience. Additional information about meal plans can be found at http://aux.uncc.edu/ dining/meal-plans
DINING HALLS
There are two dining halls on campus: SoVi on the south end of campus near Hunt and Crown Commons on the second floor of the Student Union. Both dining halls use one meal swipe every time a student goes in, and both serve breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays and brunch and dinner on weekends. Both dining halls operate around an “action station” model, where nearly all of the food is made-to-order right in front of the person ordering it. SoVi, which opened in 2015 and is the newest and larger of the two dining halls, serves its food on small plates, tapas-style, making the consumer more aware of portion size and reducing food waste. Hungry students need not fear, however, they can always go back for seconds or thirds. Both Crown and SoVi offer options for everyone, whether they are vegetarian, vegan or avoiding gluten
Students enjoy meals at the SoVi dining hall. Photo by Chris Crews
than unlimited plans do. DB can be used all semester, but use it sparingly because once it’s gone, it’s gone.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT MEAL PLAN
There are a number of factors to consider when deciding on which meal plan to sign up for. The first is class schedule. Students should look at this and consider how many sit-down meals they will actually eat during the week, and whether it is easier for them
OTHER DINING OPTIONS
South Village Crossing, which houses SoVi, also features three other dining options: The Den by Denny’s, serving those up late until midnight, SoVi2Go, which, as the name implies, offers to-go meals and SoVi Market + Bakery, a convenience store with a fresh pastry case. The Student Union also contains several options. Found on the same floor as Crown Commons is Bistro 49, a full-
service lunch restaurant serving a seasonal menu. The main floor also contains a food court with Wendy’s, Bojangles’ and Einstein Bros. Bagels. Off to the side are Starbucks and Outtakes, another convenience store, which is open until 12:30 AM for those late-night cravings. In the center of campus is Prospector, which also happens to be the center of the dining scene on campus. It is home to Chick-fil-A, the undisputed favorite on-campus restaurant. Because UNC Charlotte boasts nearly 30,000 students, and a lot of classes get out at 12:30, lunch time can get quite hectic. If that line is too long, students can visit any of the other restaurants in Prospector; Feisty’s serves breakfast sandwiches at, well, breakfast, and changes its menu to hot dogs, melts and fries for lunch. There are also Salsarita’s for that Mexican fix, Mondo Subs, Mama Leone’s for pizza, pasta and all other carb needs and Za’tar for fresh and light Mediterranean food. The Cone Center, the university’s former student union, also hosts several dining options, which include Subway, Panda Express, and Panda Sushi. Neither students nor parents need to worry about food on campus. There are so many options to choose from. And UNC Charlotte is always looking to grow and evolve to fit their students’ needs, so there may soon be even more options. For more information, hours and a dining map, visit http://aux.uncc.edu/ dining. 9
10
STEPHANIE TREFZGER Asst. A&E Editor
UNC Charlotte boasts a number of accomplishments: it serves nearly 30,000 students; it is North Carolina’s urban research university; and it accounted for half of the entire UNC system’s growth in the past year. The school, however, had much more humble beginnings. The city of Charlotte had been looking to add a public university since 1871, but these efforts were continuously thwarted by other cities. For example, Charlotte submitted a bid in the late 1880s for what would become North Carolina State University but lost to Raleigh after a farmer donated land for its campus. In 1946, the city wanted to open staterun medical school; instead, the state expanded the already established two-year school at UNC Chapel Hill. In September 1946, Charlotte finally got a chance when the Charlotte Center of the University of North Carolina opened with less than 300 students to serve the education needs of World War II veterans under the G.I. Bill. North Carolina began closing these centers in 1949 and the Charlotte Center was taken over by the city school district, becoming Charlotte College, a two-year institution. The school became state-supported in 1958 by joining the newly formed North Carolina Community College system and moved to its current location in 1961. Charlotte College became a four-year college in 1963. It adopted its current name in 1965, when it became the fourth school to join what is now known as the UNC system. There was one person who remained consistent throughout the creation of UNC Charlotte, Miss Bonnie Cone. She was chosen to lead the Charlotte Center in 1946 and was a member of the group who convinced the state to keep the school open in 1949. The nickname, the 49ers, was
Bonnie Cone at the 1961 groundbreaking of what is now known as Main Campus. NT file photo.
Classic 49er gear featuring a vintage Norm. NT file photo.
chosen in honor of this event; It is a mere coincidence that the campus is also located on NC Highway 49 and that Charlotte has a rich gold mining history. Cone was the leader who chose the current location of the school and helped plan the original campus. She served as president of Charlotte College until 1965. Cone served as an acting chancellor of the university until 1966, when Dean Colvard was appointed as chancellor because the state wanted a leader who had experience running a four-year university. She continued to serve in an official capacity until her retirement in 1973. After her retirement, Cone remained active on campus, and she could frequently be seen at school functions such as sporting events and concerts. She also continued to motivate and encourage students, win friends and attract benefactors. She remained dedicated to bettering the university. When she was given funding for one new building, she managed to build five separate yet connected buildings: Denny, Macy, Garinger, Winningham and Barnard. Cone continued to work on behalf of the school in unofficial capacities until her death in March 2003. She is buried in the Van Landingham Gardens on the east side of the main campus. She is posthumously known as the founder of the school, a title she rejected during her lifetime because she felt that many people had a hand in the success of the university. During her lifetime, she received 10 honorary degrees and was inducted posthumously into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the highest honors given by the North Carolina governor, in recognition to her contributions to the state’s history. As a new student of UNC Charlotte, you are continuing Miss Bonnie’s legacy and adding a little more history to the school. Who knows where we’ll be in the future thanks to you. 11
MIA SHELTON
Opinion Editor As a new college student, you will have to endure a lot of new challenges: increased workloads; multiple due dates; weekly quizzes; papers; group assignments; and for some, long work hours. With all that work and so little time to get it all done, you might ask yourself, “how will I get it done?” Let’s go over the key to college success: time management. As a person who has worked five jobs and along with going to school full-time, this really helped me out. Time management is not hard, but it requires great determination to succeed at it. A key component to time management is scheduling. You have to schedule your time accordingly and wisely, which means there will be very little time for parties and procrastination. Depending on the number of courses you’re taking during the semester depends on how much free time you will have. Review your course syllabi for the semester, as each instructor will give you a syllabus on the first day of class, which includes grading, course overviews and more importantly, a semester schedule that lays out the weekly topics, required readings, course assignments and due dates. These schedules will help you tremendously, but can also cause some issues. For example, the instructor could unfortunately add additional course work to the syllabus or fortunately omit course material (hence the “subject to change” label on the syllabi). The best way to make sure it doesn’t affect you too badly is to get a head start on the course work. If you can, start two weeks before class starts, which will help you tremendously. You can do this for classes where the instructor gives you early access to the course material, but most of the time you will not be that fortunate. Your next best bet would be to start working on assignments the first week of class. If you get a head start on coursework, it won’t hurt you tremendously if you missed a class or had an issue that hindered your ability to complete the assignment. Once you have your class schedules, for those of us that work, you get your work schedule. This varies because different people have different scheduling situations. Some people get their schedules on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. As with classes, work schedules can also cause some issue with your time management. For example, you could have to call out sick, change shifts or even be given a shift extension that you can’t get out of. In any event if you follow my advice about getting a head start on course work, it won’t hinder your school performance. Once you have gotten your class and work schedules, you can now make your semester work schedule. First thing you want to do when making your schedule is note big assignments and their dues dates; mid-terms, final exams, quizzes, papers and group assignments. Midterms and finals are self-explanatory, but quizzes vary. Some instructors schedule quizzes once a week, once every two or three weeks or even the dreaded pop quizzes. Papers also vary in terms of due dates, depending on how many you have scheduled throughout the semester, which the syllabus should tell you and if the instructor decides to omit or add one. Group projects usually have a time table of a month or month and a half, again depending on how many projects you will have during the 12
Tribune News Service
semester. Once you have noted your major assignments, you then need to take note of the required reading. A majority of required reading is weekly chapter readings, unless you are take a class where you have to read multiple books in one time period or read articles in addition to textbook chapters. Then you will have one novel or collected work reading a week. Once you have noted your required readings, you need to combine your major assignments, work schedule and required readings together in your planner or organizer. Afterwards, it’s time to factor in studying. You need to leave at least one weekday and up to 4 weekend hours free for studying. If you don’t work, increase the weekday study hours. Once you have factored in your study time into your schedule, any hours you have left is your free time. It may not be much, but you know what they say: “work hard play hard.”
13
KATHLEEN COOK Sports Editor
The Charlotte 49er football program has made great strides over their four years of existence. In 2013, the program recorded their first win against Campbell at the FCS level. In 2015, the 49ers played their inaugural season at the FBS level. In 2016, the team won their first game against a Conference-USA program. Now, in 2017, the stage is set for yet another milestone for the Niners: their first bowl appearance. The squad will hit the road for the first two weekends in the fall, starting the season off Sept. 1 at Eastern Michigan, then traveling to Kansas State on Sept. 9. The lights will turn on at Jerry Richardson with a Sept. 16 matchup against North Carolina A&T. Charlotte has a tough road ahead of them, with a schedule featuring six teams that appeared in bowl games last season. It also will mark the first time in the FBS that the 49ers conclude their season at home, hosting Lane Kiffin and FAU on Nov. 25. The 49ers graduated a large senior class after the 2016 season, but they are bringing back enough potential to win the six games needed to play in the postseason. Quarterback Hasaan Klugh fought for the starting position through the summer and into the fall last season, gaining the job after having a breakout game against FAU where Klugh helped lead the charge to the 49ers first conference victory. Klugh, a redshirt sophomore from Concord, N.C., transferred to Charlotte from North Carolina A&T in 2015. After earning the starting position, Klugh completed 120 of his 224 attempts and only threw three interceptions through his 11 appearances. The 6-foot-3 QB complimented his 1,356 passing yards with a net of 426 yards on the ground. Sophomore Robert Washington will aim to take the place of recent grad Kalif Phillips. Washington totaled 489 yards last season, averaging 40.8 yards a game. Washington entered the scene after tallying 120 rushing yards against Eastern Michigan last season. The dynamic receiving duo of T.L. Ford II and Workpeh Kofa return to the field this fall. Kofa finished the 2016 season with five receiving touchdowns, leading the team. Ford II wasn’t far behind with four TD’s in the air.
File photo by Chris Crews
14
Photo by Chris Crews
Amid the commotion caused by Larry Ogunjobi, linebacker Karrington King was silently working and has positioned himself to eclipse a record previously set by Ogunjobi – career tackles. After adding 73 tackles to his name last season, King is within 20 tackles of the mark set by the third-round draft pick Ogunjobi. True freshman Ben DeLuca made waves in Niner Nation, capping off the 2016 season by being named to the C-USA All-Freshmen team along with being named a Pro Football Focus Freshman All-American. The Orlando, Fla. native recorded 68 tackles, which set a single-season record for true freshmen. DeLuca also led the team with 51 solo tackles last season. Joining the defensive back on the C-USA All-Freshmen Team was redshirt freshman Tyriq Harris. The linebacker totaled six games with five or more tackles, finished with 6.0 quarterback hurries and 2.0 sacks. Student tickets are free and can be requested at ticketreturn. com/49ers.
STEPHANIE TREFZGER Asst. A&E Editor
In 2012, The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) officially signed a deal with the federal government to pay for half of the $1.16 billion project that would turn into a 9.2-mile LYNX Blue Line light rail extension, connecting uptown to the NoDa arts district and run along North Tryon St. before ultimately finishing at UNC Charlotte. The on-campus station, one of eight new stations opening with the extension, will be on the North end of campus by Wallis Hall and Lot 25/North Deck. Students will benefit greatly from the light rail extension on campus: • It will offer a cheaper alternative to driving and parking on- and off-campus • Less time sitting in traffic • Consistent and reliable travel time • It is more environmentally friendly • Makes entertainment and employment opportunities easily accessible The extension was originally due to open in August 2017, but after several delays, the opening date has been set for March 2018 by the federal government. With their announcement, CATS also stated that the project will remain under its original budget. They also said that they would implement time-saving activities in an effort to finish the remaining nine percent of the project prior to the new deadline. 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. Additionally, UNC Charlotte is in the midst of negotiating with CATS to get students an all-access pass, embedded in the student’s I.D. cards, that would apply to the light rail, buses and trolley. The predicted fee is $50. The light rail currently operates seven days a week. On weekdays it runs from 5:26 AM to 1:26 AM and is available every 10 minutes during rush hour and every 15 minutes during less busy hours. On weekends, it operates every 20 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes during late night hours.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons (Patriarca12)
15
HAILEY TURPIN Lifestyle Editor
No matter what you think, college is one of the best and most unique times in your life. We as young adults spend years saying that high school was the ‘greatest time of your life’, but that may not ring true. College is the chance for a new beginning-a time no judgement, trial and error and eventually success. For the incoming freshman, welcome to the best years of your life. But along with some of the greatest times and memories you make, there are also some struggles. Here are a few honest truths of adjusting to college.
1. EVERYONE AROUND YOU IS GROWING TOO
This is a big step for success for every student who steps foot on this campus, and yes, everyone is just as excited and scared as you. This is a period of transition, so don’t be sur-
prised when you have friends come and go. The people around you are trying to find their niche in this large and growing campus, just like you. Find what makes you happy and the rest will fall into place.
2. DON’T BE AFRAID TO TRY NEW THINGS
Finding the place that will make you happy is crucial for your years here at Charlotte and it might take a little bit of faith to try something new. Whether it be talking/joining a club you’re interested in, or talking to potential friends, the ability to let go of anxieties will help you to stay on the track to success. Here at UNC Charlotte we have over 300 organizations that you can join, so muster up that courage and find your niche!
3. DON’T FORGET THE BASICS
As you begin your new part of life, remember the things that come with it: laundry, budgeting your money, cleaning, personal hygiene, etc. These simple, yet important things are what moving into semi-adulthood can take some getting used to. Remember, when doing laundry, separate the light colors from the dark. Wash light in warm water and dark in cold. Check to see if each clothing can be dried in the tags of each garment. If you have some sort of income (or even just managing your DB) write down everything you spend so that you know exactly how much is in your bank account. For personal hygiene (which should be common sense), don’t forget deodorant. If you know it’s something you can sometimes forget about, buy a travel size and keep it in your backpack. Clean every so often so that your clutter in your living space won’t clutter your mind.
4. REMEMBER WHY YOU ARE IN COLLEGE: TO GET A DEGREE That means going to class and actually studying so that you know the information that you want to do for a career. You may have not studied in high school, but studying is the only way you will pass. Take time each week and set aside time to study for each class, even if you have nothing to study for. You might find you have an assignment to complete that you would have forgot about, or that study time might be the letter grade difference on the next test.
The adjustment will be something that you will need to get use to, but will be worth it. This is the start of a whole new chapter in your life and thankfully you have chose to start it here at UNC Charlotte, where opportunities and diversity are celebrated. Each day here is a step toward success and it all begins with you. Take the time to get accustom to the campus and all it has to offer, but don’t forget to show what you can offer to the campus.
Busy UNC Charlotte students traverse outside of thre Student Union during their normal mid-week rush. Photo by Snolai Patel.
16
17
HUNTER HEILMAN Editor-in-chief
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
“THE MUMMY,” DIR. ALEX KURTZMAN, JUNE 9
In an age of reboots and remakes, the reboot of the 1999 film “The Mummy” might be one of the stranger ones to come along. Typically, remakes are a step down from their predecessors, but this new remake steps up their game with a much bigger scale, as well as a much more impressive cast, featuring big names like Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe headlining the film. Will the film be good? That has yet to be seen, but for what it’s worth, the trailers and promotional material for the film provide a solid base for what could be an exciting reboot series on the horizon.
“THE BAD BATCH,” DIR. ANA LILY AMIRPOUR, JUNE 23
Following her debut Iranian horror film “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night,” filmmaker Ana Lily Amirpour makes a splash in this hyperactive, stylized dystopian wasteland film. Centering on a girl (Suki Waterhouse) fighting for her life against cannibals in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, this indie action-thriller looks to be one of the absolute craziest films of the summer.
“DUNKIRK,” DIR. CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, JULY 15
While the prospects of a WWII film aren’t particularly original, the promise of Christopher Nolan’s steady hand behind the camera is anything but ordinary. Following up from his 2014 epic “Interstellar,” Nolan has returned with yet another large-scale epic focused on the evacuation of over 400,000 British troops from the French shore of Dunkirk in 1940. 18
Photo courtesy of A24
“IT COMES AT NIGHT,” DIR. TREY EDWARD SCHULTS, JUNE 9
“It Comes At Night” is the second film for Trey Edward Schults, who made his debut in 2016 with the indie smash “Krisha.” While you might not have heard of “Krisha,” the trailers for “It Comes at Night” are making splashes online, with early reviews of the film praising it for its dark, mysterious tone. Focusing on a family in a dystopian environment facing the risk of taking in two lost strangers, the family gets more than they ever expected when dark forces seek to threaten everything they love when night falls. Given how dark Schults made the simple act of coming home for Thanksgiving in “Krisha,” it should be implied that “It Comes At Night” won’t be a particularly upbeat film, or even one with a happy ending, but when it comes to horror movies, it’s go hard or go home.
“A GHOST STORY,” DIR. DAVID LOWERY, JULY 7
Summer is an opportune time for many distributors to release the films snagged up at the Sundance Film Festival, but “A Ghost Story” is unique in that it snagged its distributor before the festival ever started. Shot in secret after finishing work on the absolutely lovely “Pete’s Dragon” (which is on Netflix), the film stars Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara as they both deal with the grief surrounding Affleck’s character’s death early in the film. Dealing with grand, dubious themes while also staying intimate and inviting is what critics say makes “A Ghost Story” so utterly charming.
Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Photo courtesy of STX Entertainment (EuropaCorp Films USA)
“VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS,” DIR. LUC BESSON, JULY 21
While “Lucy” was a commercial success by all means, time has not been kind to the Luc Besson action-thriller starring Scarlett Johansson. No film of Besson’s since his 1995 sci-fi epic “The Fifth Element” have really inspired a great amount of recognition for the French director. Now, 22 years later, Besson returns to the world of the sci-fi epic with “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.” Based on the classic graphic novel of the same name, this film stars Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne and Rihanna in what is reported to be the most expensive independent film of all time, with a budget of $180 million. The trailer promises big action, insane visuals and a proclivity for the weird, which we desperately need at the movies now.
“BABY DRIVER,” DIR. EDGAR WRIGHT, JUNE 28
Coming off of his successful run in the Cornetto Three Flavors trilogy (“Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz,” “The World’s End”), director Edgar Wright takes his first stab at a serious action film with “Baby Driver,” a musically charged car film of the coolest variety. Every second of the film’s trailer oozes with an amount of cool that hasn’t been felt in a movie in a very long time. Bolstered by the film’s soundtrack and uber-cool cast including Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Jamie Foxx and Jon Hamm.
Photo courtesy of NEON Photo courtesy of Focus Features
“ATOMIC BLONDE,” DIR. DAVID LEITCH, JULY 23
If I hear one more person call “Atomic Blonde” the “Female John Wick,” I might actually lose it. That being said, the director of this film, David Leitch, did actually co-direct the first “John Wick” film with Chad Stahelski. Charlize Theron heads this all-star cast in an all out, slambang action thriller that features some of the best action I’ve seen in a single trailer in a long time. If Theron delivers just 50% of what we got a taste of in “Mad Max: Fury Road,” I have no doubt that “Atomic Blonde” is going to be radioactive.
“PATTI CAKE$,” DIR. GEREMY JASPER, AUG. 18
“INGRID GOES WEST,” DIR. MATT SPICER, AUG. 11
There actually isn’t an insane amount of information out on “Ingrid Goes West,” which I slightly attribute to the new distributor, NEON, finding their footing in the distribution game. What we do have is one kick-ass poster and trailer that showcases the film’s dark, edgy and exceedingly hilarious tone. “Ingrid Goes West” seems to open up a character for Aubrey Plaza that we haven’t seen before and while she still has that wonderfully dry sense of apathy about her, I’m really excited to see how this is utilized in the actual film. Early reviews from Sundance point that the film is an exciting and biting comedy. And let’s be real here, any movie that has the guts to drop the F-word and the C-word in the trailer, let alone in the same sentence, is worthy of my attention.
We’ve been here before with “8 Mile” and “Straight Outta Compton,” but Geremy Jasper’s “Patti Cake$” made quite a splash at the Sundance Film Festival this past January, which resulted in a fierce bidding war that Fox Searchlight Pictures eventually won. Focusing on a outcasted white girl living in New Jersey, the film chronicles her rise to stardom as a respected hometown rapper. 19
COLOR
20
21
22
STEPHANIE TREFZGER Asst. A&E Editor
“LAST YOUNG RENEGADE” - ALL TIME LOW (FUELED BY RAMEN RECORDS) 06/02/2017
All Time Low are celebrating signing to their new label, Fueled by Ramen Records by announcing their seventh studio album, “Last Young Renegade.” On Instagram, lead singer Alex Gaskarth wrote, “I tried to change perspective in my approach to writing and center in on all of the different versions of me that other people might have met over the years, through the ups and the downs, in the public eye and behind closed doors. Would I like this person? Do I like this person? Do I even recognize this person anymore?” As a result of flipping his perspective, the 10-track album focuses on a journey to self-realization.
sounds exactly what it was, someone alone in a room trying to make sense of loss and how to move on.” “Gone Now” will address memories of 9/11 and the death of Antonoff’s sister from cancer just after, “That loss is a filter that goes through your whole life,” he said. “It’s not about not moving on. It changes you. It changes your relationships, it changes how you see yourself, the way you see your work. I really wanted to be in all that as I made this album.”
“HOPELESS FOUNTAIN KINGDOM” - HALSEY (ASTRALWERKS) 06/02/2017
After the final date of the Badlands Tour, Halsey tweeted “You can find me in the Kingdom,” hinting at the concept of her sophomore album. Following the example set by her previous release, “Badlands,” “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom” is expected to be a concept album. Rumour has it that the album will follow a modernized storyline similar to “Romeo and Juliet.”: The album is set in a futuristic land, and it revolves around two families, Angelus and Aureum. The Angelus family rules over the kingdom, while the Aureum family lives among the common people. When heir to the throne Solis Angelus falls in love with Luna Aureum, chaos ensues.
moments, all the great moments” of early adulthood. What more is there to say?
“WITNESS” - KATY PERRY (CAPITOL RECORDS) 06/07/2017
Judging by the musical elements in “Chained to the Rhythm,” “Bon Appétit” and the “Witness” snippet, the album will be largely inspired by disco. Sonically, Perry says, “It’s fun and dance-y and dark and light.” Theme-wise, the album will get political, focusing mainly on the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election. “Witness” has been described as “purposeful pop,” which Perry says is a “360-degree liberation: mental liberation, sexual liberation, negative liberation, spiritual liberation.” The record will also embrace the star’s transition from her 20s to 30s and will feature more of an introspective look into the singer.
“MELODRAMA” - LORDE (UNIVERSAL MUSIC NEW ZEALAND LIMITED) 06/16/2017 Photo courtesy of RCA Records
“GONE NOW” - BLEACHERS (RCA RECORDS) 06/02/2017
Jack Antonoff recently detailed the follow-up to Bleachers’ 2014’s “Strange Desire.” On Instagram, he revealed that he has been working on the album for two years in a studio he built in his apartment. On Twitter he said, “The album
Earlier this year, and to everyone’s excitement, Lorde officially announced her second album, “Melodrama.” Having already dazzled listeners with the likes of “Green Light” and “Liability,” the singer introduced two new songs, “Homemade Dynamite” and “Sober” at music festivals a few months ago. Lorde recently revealed that the album is a concept album telling the story of a house party. She says that it was influenced by “all the gross
Photo courtesy of Capital Records
23
JEFFREY KOPP A&E Editor
Learning about parking is a crucial part of your transition to life at UNC Charlotte. You can’t just park wherever you want; if you do, you will absolutely wind up with a ticket and a hefty fine. It is important to note that anyone wishing to park on campus must have a permit (with the exception of visitor decks and metered parking areas), whether you live on campus or commute. Parking and Transportation Services, also known as PATS, makes it easy to purchase a permit and find a place to park, as well as also pay any citations that you may receive. As mentioned previously, anyone that plans on parking on campus needs to make sure that they have the necessary permit beforehand. Students living on campus can purchase a Resident permit, which allows for parking in a variety of lots across campus, but also the South Village Deck and the North Deck, which are in close proximity to many of the residence halls. Those students that do not live on campus may purchase a Commuter permit, which allows for parking in many of the same areas as residents, but there are also select lots and decks that are designated for commuters. If you’re not sure where you’re allowed to park,
it would be wise to refer to the PATS Parking map, a color-coded breakdown of all of the parking areas on campus. Once you’ve been at UNC Charlotte for long enough, you’ll find that the cost of parking permits is a major topic of discussion among students. According to PATS, the high demand for parking spaces combined with the high costs associated with constructing new decks is what contributes to the expensive permit prices. That being said, funds from permit purchases are used to build and maintain parking decks, a fact that is especially important when you consider how fast UNC Charlotte is growing. Purchasing a permit is incredibly straightforward and can be done in person at the Parking and Transportation Services office or online; simply provide your 49er ID Card, a valid driver’s license, the vehicle’s registration and proof of insurance. With such a large student body, faculty and staff, plus the numerous visitors, finding a parking spot isn’t always simple. Parking can sometimes feel like a tense competition, but following these tips may help you avoid being late to class. Campus is a bit crazy the first week of classes, but things definitely calm down after.
NT file photo
24
Still, you should pay attention to the time of day as much of the traffic occurs early in the morning as classes are beginning and later in the afternoon during rush hour. According to PATS, the parking areas that are the highest in demand, and therefore the busiest, are those closest to the center of campus, while the less busy areas are farther away. With that in mind, it would be wise to park in an area further away from the main academic buildings and walk or take a shuttle to the center of campus. For example, instead of parking in Union Deck, which fills up quickly, parking in North Deck before taking a campus shuttle or walking would still allow you to get to class on time while lessening traffic for that area. While this may seem complicated and unreasonable, you will quickly find your perfect parking area as you adjust to your daily routine; coming up with a parking plan and sticking to it will help take away some of the stress, especially in the first few days of class. Purchasing a permit and adhering to the rules is important, but what happens if you find yourself with a citation? You can pay citations via mail or by visiting the PATS office on campus; you also have the choice to appeal a citation with a written statement within 10 business days if you believe a mistake has been made. Avoiding citations is incredibly easy if you pay attention and park in the correct areas based on your permit; a full list of the different violations and fees is available on the PATS website. North Carolina law states that a university is only allowed to retain a small amount of money from citation fees, while the majority is utilized by the state to help fund local public schools. At UNC Charlotte, you are going to hear plenty of rumors about PATS and parking. It’s important to understand that permit prices are high because of the rapidly growing student population and campus size. Finding a parking spot isn’t always easy, but with a little planning, you’ll have no problem getting to class on time. For more information about parking or to purchase a permit, visit pats.uncc.edu.
ALEXANDRIA SANDS News Editor
From stress eating to late night Cook-Out runs, dining hall temptations and sitting at a desk for the majority of the day, college can be the start of a person’s poor health habits. Making the wrong decisions for your body can lead to unwanted weight gain and low energy. Here are some ways you can create a healthier college lifestyle.
NT file photo
1. UTILIZE RECREATIONAL SERVICES
Campus offers two state of the art facilities for students to exercise in: Belk Gym and the Student Activity Center. Both have a variety of strength machines, weights and cardio equipment. Recreational Services has a lot to offer in addition to these facilities. Students can partake in free group fitness classes including zumba, pilates, yoga, cycling and many others. You can also hire a personal trainer for some extra motivation for a fee. Belk Gym’s reopening helped to alleviate the crowds experienced at the Student Activity Center.
2. JOIN AN INTRAMURAL SPORTS TEAM
Another great way to stay active in college is to join an intramural sports team. You can join individually or form a team with your friends. There is a variety of sports students can sign up for throughout the different seasons. These include volleyball, basketball, softball, bowling, mini-golf, badminton and many more. The best part is that no experience is necessary to play. This is a great way to stay in shape, possibly learn a new sport and make friends who also want to engage in an active lifestyle.
3. EAT IN MODERATION
When your friends want to go to Wendy’s for lunch, you don’t have to say no just because you are trying to eat healthy. The best way to enjoy all the delicious food that the campus has to offer is to eat in moderation. Your friend may be getting the whole 10 piece chicken nugget meal with fries, but you can limit your meal to one grilled chicken sandwich and it will be enough to satisfy your craving. Another common trend in college that leads to excessive eating is having a second dinner. You eat at the dining hall at 6, but by 10 your friends want to go to The Den. This is that second dinner that you don’t need.
5. DRINK WATER
H2O does wonders for the human body. It decreases cravings, boosts energy, helps maintain a healthy weight and clears up skin. The best way to reap the benefits of water is to always take a water bottle with you to class. Refilling your water bottle is made easy with the water bottle refilling stations that are all over campus. This helps you not only drink more water, but it saves you money and helps the environment by decreasing plastic waste.
6. MAKE SMART CHOICES AT THE DINING HALL
The dining hall can be your worst enemy or your best friend, depending on the choices you make. When freshmen first get to college, it can be really exciting to always have the option of drinking soda or eating dessert at every meal. These tendencies can lead to bad results in your health. Try to avoid drinking those sugary beverages or if you do decide to indulge in a soda, skip the dessert that day. Make sure dessert is a once in a while thing. Just because you can have an ice cream sundae every day, doesn’t mean you should. Skip the hamburgers and pizza and instead go for a healthier
alternative like the salad bar or sandwiches. Eating healthier will make a big difference in your mood and will have a long-term positive effect on your schoolwork and grades.
7. GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Between staying up late with friends and midnight study sessions, you could throw yourself into dangerous sleep patterns. Sleep deprivation is proven to lead to weight gain and will make you less likely to exercise the following day. College students should be sleeping somewhere between six to eight hours per night. The key to making sure you get in bed by a reasonable hour is time management. Start your homework and studying earlier in the day to avoid having to pull that dreaded all-nighter. Ask your friends if they want to hang out at 6 instead of 10. Also, avoid staring at your phone, laptop or TV before bed. The lights given off by these electronics prevents our brains from releasing the hormone that tells our bodies it’s night, resulting in poor sleep.
25
26
27
HUNTER HEILMAN Editor-in-chief
With UNC Charlotte being the fastest-growing university in the UNC system, we have a lot to live up to when seeking to entertain over 28,000 students on campus. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with just how much there is to do on campus at first, but here are just a few of the key arts & entertainment hot spots on campus
STUDENT UNION ART GALLERY
Fine art is something often believed to be for the privileged, but what if you could find it in your own backyard? Look no further than the Student Union Art Gallery, located on the first floor of the Student Union. Versatile in its artforms, this is the place where you can find modern art exhibits, LGBTQ+ history exhibits, shows that focus on digital art, student art and even comic-book art. They also feature an annual exhibit showcasing Student Niner Media’s Sanskrit for the year, showcasing a variety of art in all different forms. With such a wide variety, it’s hard to guess what you’ll find next.
NORM’S
Resembling that of an American-style pub, Norm’s offers up a relaxed atmosphere for students to kick back in. With pool tables, televisions and live music, Norm’s combines comfort, atmosphere and convenience into one place located in the Student Union. Need a quieter area in Norm’s to study, relax or just to talk? Head up to the Mezzanine level of the Union to find a quieter, private seating area in the balcony above Norm’s. This will also provide for better views of live performances when they happen.
AFTER HOURS
Combining the best of a nightclub, black box theater and an intimate
The Rowe Gallery is the prime spot to check out student art of all kinds. NT file photo.
concert hall, After Hours is a versatile space sure to provide fun in any which way for students to have. Located in the Cone Building, After Hours features a variety of performances like talent shows, comedy shows, singles nights, among many other things. As a freshman, use this space to kick back on a lazy Friday night and enjoy whatever happens to be there that night. It’s hard not to have fun in After Hours.
ROWE GALLERIES
At such a large school, it only seems natural that we would have some pretty amazing artists at the university, but where can you go see their work in action? The Rowe Galleries, of course. While the Student Union Art Gallery features many different art exhibits, the Rowe Galleries feature specially curated exhibits showcasing the work of UNC Charlotte students. Located in the Rowe Building off of Belk Plaza, it’s nearly impossible to enter the Rowe Galleries without having your minds blown.
STUDENT UNION MOVIE THEATER
With Netflix slowly trying to take over the movie industry, it’s becoming increasingly more common for audiences to skip the theater experience altogether, due to high ticket prices, annoying audiences and uncomfortable movie theaters. While theaters are taking steps to upgrade theater comfort, it doesn’t change that tickets are well over $10 now. If you have some patience with your movies, the Student Union Movie Theater is the place for you. With free admission for students and located on the first floor of the Union, the movies are at your doorstep for free. At After Hours, students can enjoy live performances in an intimate, nightclub style setting. NT file photo.
28
KATHLEEN COOK Sports Editor
FOOTBALL
The football team is still a young program after beginning in the 2013 season. They went 4-8 in the 2016 season, the first season in which they were bowl eligible. While the program graduated the inaugural class last season, plenty of forces are still on the field for the Niners. Hasaan Klugh entered the season last year as a backup quarterback, but he quickly earned his spot as the starter after helping to lift the 49ers to their first Conference USA victory against FAU. The redshirt sophomore transferred to the Queen City after playing a year at North Carolina A&T. Klugh showed his strength as a dual-threat QB, recording 1,356 passing yards on the season (which averages to 123.3 per game) and 426 total net yards on the season (which averages to 38.7 per game). The 6-foot-3 Concord, N.C. native has only gotten stronger over the course of the offseason, so expect to see those numbers inflate during the season. True freshman Ben DeLuca arrived on campus last season from Orlando, FL and immediately caught the eye of Niner Nation. In week 2, the 6-foot-2 defensive back recovered a fumble and returned it for 59 yards for a 49er touchdown. DeLuca continued to have a presence on the field, with a season highlighted by 14 total tackles when the Niners took on Florida Atlantic
and 11 solo tackles against Rice, he broke records when he finished the season with 51 solo tackles and 68 total tackles.
MEN’S SOCCER
The men’s soccer team sat in national polls for 15 weeks straight after entering them being ranked 15th in week 3. The Niners were ranked as high up as fourth in the nation at one point. After a disappointing loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the squad is looking to achieve their post-season goals spearheaded by Daniel Bruce and Elliot Pannico. Daniel Bruce was second in team for goals with six, behind recent grad Brandt Bronico. Bruce took 13 shots on goal to end the season with a .464 shot on goal percentage. Elliot Pannico capped off his first year on the field by being named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year, in addition to that accolade, the redshirt freshman also added the Golden Glove Award to his resume. To cap off an impressive first season, Pannico was the only underclassman from the Charlotte squad to be named to the First Team All-Southeast Region NSCAA team. The redshirt sophomore was strong in the goal, tallying 10 shutouts and giving up only 12 goals during the season – leading the conference.
Photo by Pooja Pasupula
NT file photo
SURVIVAL GUIDE 2017
29
Photo by Chris Crews
Photo by Chris Crews
Photo by Katelynn Pennington
Photo by Pooja Pasupula
WOMEN’S SOCCER
For the fifth time in the program history, the Charlotte women’s soccer team qualified for the NCAA tournament. The team graduated five seniors after the conclusion of the 2016 season, but they left behind the heart of the team: Martha Thomas. Thomas, a rising senior, made first team all-conference and was named the Offensive Player of the Year last season. For the third consecutive year Thomas was named to the NCCSIA first team. This year, Thomas was a unanimous decision for the team. Thomas led the team in total points with 30 after recording 10 goals and 10 assists. Coming in a true freshman this past season, Megan Greene was a force on the field. She tied with Thomas after putting up 10 goals this past season. She also added six assists and took a total of 36 shots on goal. After the conclusion of the 2016 season, Green was named to the freshman all-conference team, the NCCSIA first-team as well as being named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
The men’s basketball team showed offensive strengths and defensive weaknesses during their 2016-17 campaign. Charlotte was fourth in scoring offense in conference, averaging 76.5 points per game. They were second in 3-point field goal percentage and second in free throw percentage. The group struggled defensively, being situated last in offensive rebounds and second to last in defensive rebounds. With two dynamic juniors to lead the way, the team hopes to put both halves together in the upcoming season. Jon Davis is a consistent threat on the hardwood. The 6-foot-3 guard had two buzzer beaters in the 2016-17 season when the 49ers faced ODU at home and then when they traveled to UTSA. Davis finished second in conference for scoring, averaging 19.6 points per game. Davis was named to the All-Conference team and made the NABC All-District team. Andrien White is also a threat in the paint and behind the arc for the Niners. The junior finished last season with a .413 field goal percentage and a .399 3-point field goal percentage. Both Davis and White connected at the charity stripe, shooting .782 and .750 respectively at the free throw line. 30
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Cara Consuegra led her team to a landmark season, with many accolades including her 100th win and the two seniors (Ciara Gregory and Lefty Webster) recording over 1,000 career points. Though the team has had key players depart after the 2016-17 season, there is still hope for the 49ers in Laia Raventos and Nyilah Jamison-Myers. Jamion-Myers averaged 22 minutes a game, shot .493 overall and grabbed an average of six rebounds. The Clemson transfer led the team with 63 blocks and averaged 11.2 points per game. Laia Raventos totaled 143 assists throughout the season. When paired with Webster, the two combined for the most assists program history with 298. Raventos was also second on the team with 66 steals on the season.
BASEBALL
The 2017 season featured the most rigorous schedule the Charlotte baseball team has ever seen and the 49ers lived up to the expectations. The Niners posted three wins against nationally-ranked opponents and are poised to make a postseason run for the first time since 2011. Colton Laws has toed the rubber for the Niners and his ERA hovers around 2, with a winning record. The redshirt sophomore has recorded 77 strikeouts through the last series of the regular season while only allowing five homeruns. Jackson Mims also made his debut this past season for the Niners after transferring to Charlotte from ECU. He has five homeruns on the season, 35 RBI and 105 total bases. The Shelby native boasts a .343 average with 70 hits.
SOFTBALL
A young 49er softball team didn’t graduate any players at the conclusion of the 2017 season. Leading the charge of the 49ers softball team is a pair of Haley’s. Haley Pace set a new program record for single season homeruns after she hit her 15th late in the 2017 season. Pace sits on a .433 average, hitting 12 doubles, five triples and 15 homeruns. She is responsible for 47 RBI and has 138 total bases. Haley Wiseman is the woman in the circle for the Niners. Wiseman threw the first perfect game since the 1998 season on Feb. 24 when the Niners faced off against Robert Morris.
31
32
Photos by Chris Crews
A VISUAL TOUR OF CAMPUS SOVI DINING HALL
HECHENBLEIKNER LAKE
CATO TEACHING DISCOVERY MURAL 33
JERRY RICHARDSON STADIUM
BOTANICAL GARDENS
BOTANICAL GARDENS 49ER GOLD MINER
ORBIS 34
35
36
POOJA PASUPULA Photo Coordinator
The UNC Charlotte Judicial Branch is one of the three branches of the University’s Student Government Association – the others being the Executive Branch, which contains executive leadership members, and the Legislative Branch, which contains both class and at-large senate and representative members. The Judicial Branch, while containing the Office of the Chief Justice, Chief Attorney General and Chief Student Conduct Counselor, primarily houses the Judicial Board: a student panel responsible for hearing cases of student misconduct and code violations. The board consists of around 20 current UNC Charlotte students who are interviewed and appointed by the Dean of Students Office and Chief Justice of the Hearing Panel. The entire branch is advised by the Office of Student Conduct and works to help enforce the UNC Charlotte Code of Student Responsibility. The Board is tasked with determining responsibility or guilt and the sanctions or sentence that a student must complete. Three Hearing Panel members are typically assigned to an accused student’s Judicial Board during a case. Eshaan Zaveri, an undergraduate student currently serving on the board, spoke about this experience. “I personally got about 6-7 cases last year, but it always varies based on the number of misdeeds committed. We get cases of student code of responsibility violations and housing policy violations. We occasionally sit in on academic integrity board cases, which consists of 2 administrators and 1 student on a panel, where we hear cases of cheating, plagiarism, etc.” The primary purpose of the Board is to protect the rights of the Student Body. During a case, the board must listen to all sides in order
to insure justice is made when making decisions. They engage themselves with a student by posing fact-finding and educational questions. By doing this, they balance the rights of the individual student with the safety and security of the university community. They then determine the applicable educational sanctions and learning opportunities for the responsible student as they see fit. The Board’s powers have been granted with an aim to be advantageous to students, by engaging student peers in influencing the behavior of fellow students. In order to insure thorough process, though, cases don’t just end with the panel. After a case is settled and sanctions are made by the Judicial Board, the sanctions are sent to the Director of Student Conduct, who has the final say on whether to sustain or adjust them. When asked about the typical severity of sanctions, Zaveri said “It depends on a lot of factors whether the panel is easy or hard on a student, such as the type of case, the panelists, the student’s presentation and history, etc., but ultimately we want them to learn and grow from their mistakes so we always make sure our sanctions allow them to do that.” The ultimate goal of the Board is to redirect behavior that is unacceptable in the UNC Charlotte community, while teaching students to be better versions of themselves. A student can experience one of the most effective means of education at the University, peer influence, by going through the entire Judicial Board process. The Board is set to have an estimated total of 25 students serve for the 2017-2018 school year.
37
38
ALEXANDRIA SANDS News Editor
Head to the app store, Niners! Here are four apps and mobile sites you will need to download as a student at UNC Charlotte.
POLL EVERYWHERE
When in large classes, professors use the Poll Everywhere app to quickly take attendance and quiz students on lecture material. In February, the University made the decision to have students use an app on their smart devices rather than the clickers that were used with the previous student response system. Faculty found using the app would be more beneficial and cost effective for students.
CANVAS
Canvas is the learning management system that professors use to send announcements, upload documents, post grades and create discussions for their class. The organized and easy-to-use layout allows students to quickly pull up the information they need on-the-go. Never struggle taking your laptop out to view your course schedule or syllabus again. Perhaps the best feature of the app is the post notifications sent to your phone as soon as your professor has uploaded anything, so you’ll never miss seeing a newly posted grade.
Photo courtesy of Instructure
LIVESAFE
UNC Charlotte provides a variety of ways for students to stay safe on campus, but possibly the most effective is the LiveSafe app. This app allows University officials to send notifiaions to all users in the case of an on campus emergency, ranging from severe weather to an active shooter alert. Users can anonymously send Police and Public Safety tips with pictures or videos. The app includes a list of safe resources, the ability to text and call police, GPS assistance to on campus buildings and a “safe walk” feature that allows selected contacts to track your location until you have safely reached your destination.
UNCC NEXT RIDE
Late for class and need to get across campus in a rush? The Next Ride app is going to help you do so. Offering up to date location and arrival information for all campus buses, Next Ride gives students the information on how to use the campus buses successfully to avoid missing their buses.
Photo courtesy of PATS
39
STEPHANIE TREFZGER Asst. A&E Editor
A sad fact of life is that sometimes it gets hard for everyone, and it’s especially the case for college students. According to a 2014 study by the American College Health Association ACHA), 54 percent of students felt overwhelming anxiety over the past year and 32.6 percent of students felt so depressed that it was difficult to function. UNC Charlotte is doing its part to lower this statistic by offering counseling services to its students. Psychologists and social workers at the Counseling Center work with students to better their relationships with both themselves and others. They help them “explore and express feelings, examine beliefs and ways of thinking about the world, reflect on patterns of behavior, and work toward making healthy changes.” Students seeking help have a few options: they can meet with their counselor individually, or they can join one of the many weekly group therapy sessions. 12 free sessions a year are available to students and last between 45-50 minutes. Once these run out, individuals are welcome to attend one of the weekly group counseling sessions during which they meet with a counselor and a few other students for about an hour and a half and discuss the group’s respective topic. The UNC Charlotte Counseling Center not only deals with issues of anxiety and depression, but also with relationships, developmental issues, academic issues and health. The Counseling Center is dedicated to celebrating human diversity and understands this to include but not be limited to: race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual identity, sex, age, socio-economic status, religion, ability, nationality, and language, and therefore they offer group sessions dealing with some of these specific issues. One of the most common reasons people do not visit counselors is because they fear that their issues will be made public, but counselors follow the strict ethical codes set up by the American Psychological Association and the National Association of Social Workers, the laws of the State of North Carolina and federal privacy regulations. This means that everything a student shares with their counselor or their group stays confidential unless the student gives written consent, or their statement falls into one of the three categories: 1. The student is at risk to themselves or others in the near future. In this case, the counselor is responsible to take steps to ensure the safety of the student and others. 2. The student shares information about currently-occurring abuse or neglect of any juvenile(s) or disabled adult(s). This information may be required to be reported to the Department of Social Services. 3. If ordered to do so by a judge as part of judicial proceedings. The Counseling Center is currently located in Atkins 158 facing Belk Plaza, but in order to better serve their students, the university is building a new facility to be opened in August. Students can make an appointment by calling 704-687-0311 or stopping by their office. Office hours are from are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. Evening hours are available by appointment. Get more information by visiting counselingcenter.uncc.edu for more information.
40
HUNTER HEILMAN Editor-in-chief
Being a new UNC Charlotte student, it’s likely that most of you, if not all of you, will be living with roommates or suitemates next year. If you aren’t, I envy you and hate you simultaneously. Living with a roommate is never a particularly “fun” experience, but if you take the right steps, plan accordingly and hone your communication skills, it’s easy to make your living situation bearable, if not outright enjoyable.
DON’T BE A SLOB
You aren’t in high school anymore, and you don’t have the luxury of mom cleaning up your messes if you leave them out long enough. No one ever wants to come back to a room or suite to find that the entire place is trashed, let alone trashed out of laziness. Your living space doesn’t have to look like an IKEA setup, but a simple tidying up every now and then is one of the most important things you can do as a roommate.
for anyone. Never make someone feel guilty about how they live their life.
DON’T STEAL
The concept of borrowing implies that permission was granted before taking an object from someone. Without that permission, your “borrowing” is officially stealing, whether you planned on returning it or not. Sharing resources with a roommate is a smart and economic way of living, but be courteous when doing so. Always return items when you say you would in the same condition you received it in. Your roommate isn’t required to share, after all.
COMMUNICATE
The thing with roommates is that nothing is ever perfect. Rules will be broken, or one of you might end up upset. The most important thing to do in this situation is to approach communication as a necessity, not an option. When you don’t approach situations head on, situations will often worsen with gossip, building anger and frustration. It’s not supposed to be comfortable to talk directly with someone about an issue, but it makes all the difference. Stay calm, be willing to compromise and it should all work out.
DON’T BE CLOSE-MINDED
UNC Charlotte is an incredibly diverse and accepting community with students hailing from nearly every walk of life, from every corner of the globe. Your roommate might be from a country you’ve never heard of, or might be LGBTQ+, or perhaps they’re of a different faith. When you’re living with someone, mutual respect, tolerance and a willingness to learn something new is imperative in creating a safe and welcoming space
TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
41
MIA SHELTON
Opinion Editor There are many necessities throughout your college career that are going to contribute to your lack of income during the semester: room and board, food and the cost of classes. The one contribution you can save on is textbooks. Textbooks are a college student’s worst nightmare, mostly because of the cost. Textbooks and course materials can cost you up to $500700 per semester, even more, depending on your major and number of courses you take. This can be prevented if you know where to get them. There are multiple places you can go to buy textbooks. Ideally, you can purchase them at the campus bookstore, which is more convenient, but the prices are often higher because the university typically buys more current edi-
tions of the same textbooks. The changes to the editions are not major, just one or two pages of new research information, or an extra chapter. You have the options of renting the books new or used, or buying them new or used. You can even buy digital copies of some textbooks, which is ideal for the person who likes to read from their computer. It is cheapest to rent them used, but the bookstore only has a limited supply of those books, which leaves you with the next cheapest option of renting them new. If for some reason you buy the book either new or used, at the end of the semester you can do a “buy back,” which is where the University buys the book back for up to half the price you paid for it. However, the condition of the book decides whether or not they will accept it.
The UNC Charlotte bookstore is located on the first floor of the Student Union. NT file photo
42
Some students borrow textbooks from friends who have taken the same course previously. However, most students buy their textbooks from Amazon, Chegg or Grey’s Bookstore, because it is significantly cheaper. Amazon has an option where you can rent your books from them at a lower price and then mail them back at the end of the semester. That option is good, but depending the book, can be costly. Many of students say Chegg is cheaper than Amazon, which presents another alternative. For non-textbooks, like novels and DVDs, two cheap places to buy them besides campus, Amazon and Chegg, is “The Last Word” located on North Tryon and “Second Look Books” in Harrisburg. These bookstores carry DVDs, CDs, multiple versions on various books and even some textbooks for just a few dollars. I had two English classes a few semesters ago and both had book lists of over 15 books. I was able to find 15 out of 30 of them from those two places for under $100. Another tip to help you save money is to look at your class syllabi and see exactly when you need each book. This will allow you to plan out when to buy the books, so you can save your money accordingly. It also keeps you from wasting in case your instructor decides to change the syllabus around. Lastly, determine whether or not you need to buy the books at all. Some teachers have the textbook listed as just an alternative resource besides lecture material. This means that the book has additional, expansive or concurring information that your teacher wants you to have besides lecture notes. However, it isn’t really required for every class. I would suggest waiting at least a week or so, attend the classes and monitor how often the teacher refers to the textbook and the material and determine whether or not you even need to spend the unnecessary money.
43
KATHLEEN COOK Sports Editor
Move-in day. It’s the day welcomed by students and dreaded by parents. It can be a daunting task, but if executed right, can turn out to be a stress-free event. Moving students in is a process that occurs over three days. Students are broken up into groups and assigned times to move in to their respective residence halls as to avoid high traffic in both the halls and on the roads. There will be a well-signed system for unloading belongings from car to the curb. There will also be a team of volunteers that can help transport items from outside to in students’ rooms. As move-in day approaches, it’s crucial that students take a few steps in an effort to alleviate further stress on the big day. Students are notified of who their roommate/s are well in advance of August. Make an effort to get into contact with your roommate before
Photo by Chris Crews
44
you move in. Whether you all plan every detail of your room or just exchange a few fun facts about each other, somewhat knowing who you’re living with will help ease the awkwardness of moving in. One topic that needs to be discussed with your roommate is who’s bringing what. Coordinate with them who is bringing the main items, such as refrigerator, microwave or rug. Before moving items into your room, check out your new space. Movein day is the best time to rearrange your furniture, before the room becomes cluttered with all your belongings. When unloading your car, put similar items together. Group together items for your bedding, closet and desk together to create less of a mess inside your room. Depending on where you live, it might be smarter to use the stairs on move-in day, as the lines for the elevators will back up quickly. As clothing is concerned, plan to your breaks. Fall break is two months away and is a time that you can switch out clothes, so you don’t necessarily need to bring your entire wardrobe to school with you. While it may seem lame, put up at least one decoration in your new room. Adding a personal touch to your new living space will help create a more welcoming atmosphere compared to the white walls. If you live close to campus, use this to your advantage and move in over the span of the weekend. By bringing just the essentials to your assigned move in time, you’ll not only save time but save yourself from stress as well. If interested in joining an organization on campus, an early move-in date can be assigned to students. Ask any organizations you’re interested in joining if they offer this component. Early move-in helps students bypass the mayhem that is regular move in day entirely by coming in a weekend earlier than other students. This applies to Student Niner Media workshops! Move-in day doesn’t have to be stressful. Plan ahead and you’ll be set to tackle the big move with ease.
MIA SHELTON
Opinion Editor Yes, the time has come. You have graduated high school and after years of being under the same roof as your parents, you are now off to college. Yet, something doesn’t feel right. It’s the thought of letting go of your parents. They have always been there for you, from your first goal in soccer to the turning of your tassel. Now, you have to find a way to get along without them. This will be hard to do, you have relied on your parents all of your life, for food, clothing, a place to live, a ride to school or work and allowances. Here is some crucial advice on how to let go of your parents. Have faith in yourself. You have worked extremely hard to get here; staying up late to finish assignments, tutoring, volunteering, extra-curricular activities. It is time that you reap the rewards of that hard work and experience something new. You will have amazing experiences in college; Greek events, tailgating, movie nights and step shows. However, you will also have challenging and difficult experiences as well, like multiple deadlines, 100 question tests, weekly reading and topic papers. Your parents will not be there to force you to do your homework or contact your teachers and work out a plan on how to help you pass the class. That is your responsibility now. You have all the attributes you need to succeed in college –you are tenacious, hard-working, passionate, fun and courageous. All of these things are needed to have a good college experience and you
have it, but in order to prove to your parents and yourself that you are autonomous enough to handle this experience, you have to let go. Remember that now is the time to show your parents that you are responsible. Remember all those times you begged your parents for some autonomy; or
from personal experience, I have to show my parents that I am responsible enough to balance a full college course load and work at the same time, while maintaining good grades. It is hard work, but it is rewarding to know that I have proven to my parents I can do this without their help and you can too.
Photo courtesy of Tribune News Service
going on overnight school trips, taking the car for the first time after getting your license, going to a house party. They always said, “wait until you’re older,” “Maybe you can go to the next one,” “You have to prove to us that we can trust you to make good decisions.” Well, now is the time. Show them you have what it takes. I know
Prove to your parents that you are the responsible child they raised, you asked for this and now it’s time to take it. Make your parents proud. They have spent countless hours and dollars to make sure you could have the opportunity you have now, going to college. For some of you, you are the first person in
your family to go to college. That within itself is an amazing accomplishment and you should be proud. Now, it is time for another accomplishment, graduating from college. It will be challenging, most worthwhile experiences are, but you can do it and you will make your parents proud while doing it. For some of you, you have had others in your family graduate from college, but you still feel pressure. The pressure of meeting the expectations set by your older siblings; getting good grades, playing sports, or being on the board of a club. As a younger sibling whose older sister graduated from college several years ago and all eyes on me, I feel the same pressure. “will I live up to my family’s expectations?,” “Will I make them proud?,” “What happens if I don’t, will they ridicule me forever?” I had all of these thoughts through my time in college even now, however, my parents, as well as yours just want us to do our best and give it our all. They know we can do anything we set our minds to and that we can succeed and with doing so, let’s make them proud. You have ability to succeed, now it is time to show it. Make your yourself and your family proud. Prove to them that you can be everything they have spent years molding you to become. Let go of your hesitation, leave the nest proudly and know that you can do it. I wish you all the best of luck. Welcome to your new journey as a part of Niner Nation.
45
46
STEPHANIE TREFZGER Asst. A&E Editor
KNOW YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT
The biggest misconception about the UNC Charlotte Police Department is that the officers are just security guards with no real power. In actuality, the over 50 officers on campus are sworn in and state certified police officers no different than the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. They share the same state mandates and rules. There are officers on duty at any given time, and they are always willing to help.
ed contacts in your phone to temporarily track your movements while you walk to your destination. In order for your friends to view your location, they must also have LiveSafe on their phones, so encourage them to download the app. • A full list of all campus buildings with GPS assistance that will guide you to the building you are attempting to locate.
button and only one microphone/ speaker so that the user can communicate hands free.
DON’T LEAVE YOUR STUFF UNATTENDED
Theft is the number one crime reported on campus, and, according to Chief Baker with the UNC Charlotte police department, nine out of ten reports of theft are due to the student leaving their valuPhoto by Chris Crews
DOWNLOAD THE LIVESAFE APP
Everyone at UNC Charlotte should have the LiveSafe app. It provides a number of services useful to students and faculty alike, and just in case, it is free. • The ability to call or text with Police and Public Safety (24/7) • A list of contacts for campus emergency and non-emergency services • An electronic copy of the University Campus Evacuation Plan and Emergency Manual • The ability to anonymously report tips with pictures or videos to the University Police Department • The ability to track the location of campus shuttles operated by Parking and Transportation Services (PaTS) • A list of emergency tips and best practices for a multitude of emergency events • The ability to conduct a virtual “safe-walk” that allows select-
Just one of the many campus police cars seen on campus ensuring student safety.
BLUE LIGHT EMERGENCY PHONES
There are over 300 campus Blue Light emergency phones on campus, and they are monitored 24/7/365. They are placed in easily accessible places on campus, creating a reliable way to report a crime, report a crime happening at that time, or use SafeRide. These phones are extremely easy to use; most phones only have a single red
ables unattended. While it may seem like common sense, here’s a reminder to never leave laptops, phones, bookbags, purses or wallets where you cannot see them. This is not exclusive to campus, either; students should get in the habit of keeping track of their things wherever they are.
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS
Students should be aware of what and who is around them at all times. While the campus is very safe, it is always better to be safe than sorry. This also means walking on well-lit paths at night as well as walking with other people. If it’s late, students also have the option to take SafeRide to their desired destination. The SafeRide buses will pick students up from bus stops around campus between 6 PM and 2 AM. Being aware of the surroundings also comes in handy during the day. As every student will come to realize, UNC Charlotte is practically one giant staircase. While people have fallen down the stairs and people will do it again, it’s always nice not to be one of them. One way to prevent this is by not texting and walking. Additionally, many people ride their bikes and skateboards to class and they don’t always watch out where they are going. Walking without headphones is very beneficial here because you can hear them coming and move out of their way before you are run over. Finally, UNC Charlotte’s geese are notorious for attacking innocent pedestrians. There’s no controlling the geese, but there are precautions students can take. First, and perhaps most obvious, DO NOT chase the geese. People know what will happen if they do and still do it; don’t be that person. If geese are on the sidewalk, it’s best to just cross the street and continue the journey from there. 47
48
49
POOJA PASUPULA Photo Coordinator
In the Fall of 2015, Chancellor Phillip Dubois announced that the Belk Tower had structural issues and posed a threat to the University as a potential safety hazard. The Tower was then dismantled and taken down that December, to many students’ dismay. The destruction of the Tower faced immense backlash from the UNC Charlotte community. Many students felt it was taking away a vital part of the UNC Charlotte experience and ripping up a long-standing tradition. In order to tend to the backlash, the University held multiple forums. These forums were used as a way to offer students and the entire campus community the chance to give input on what they wanted the space to be used for, and what they felt the University needs most. The term “Belk Plaza” was coined for this newly formed space. A presentation was given at the first Belk Plaza forum explaining the importance of open space and its guiding design principals. The presentation displayed a variety of visual precedents to inspire and engage the attendees. Attendees then broke out into separate feedback stations. Boards were put up at the Belk Plaza forums containing charts with images of a variety of concepts and ideas that community members could see and vote on. Students would place stickers in boxes under these images that they liked or preferred the most. Some of these concepts displayed were landscapes, hardscape patterns, edge conditions, types of seating, dining options, artwork, statues, water fountains, vastness of space, active or passive quad, types of walking/ movement they want the area to enforce, etc. The forums also had students write down answers to a plethora of questions such as “What is the Belk Plaza to you? What does it need? Have any ideas? What’s important to you?” The forums also had students map out their usual routes they take on campus to get from one area to another. An average of 71 responses were recorded. Types of attendees varied across the board. 78 percent consisted of students, 11 percent consisted of Alumni, 4 percent consisted of faculty, and 5 percent consisted of staff, and 1 percent consisted of the community. According to 78 50
A potential plan for Belk Plaza drawn up following forum discussions. Photo courtesy of Capital Projects/Facilities Management
percent of the attendees, “Belk Plaza currently is a place I walk through.” 15 Percent of the attendees stated “Belk Plaza is a place I never see,” while 7 percent stated “Belk Plaze is a place I go out of my way to visit.” The majority of attendees wished that they could experience more of an Uptown Charlotte vibe on campus. Another portion wished for more campus culture. Some attendees wished for more recreation, while others wished for more arts and creativity. The Belk Plaza Design Committee took the input from all of these methods and culminated them into a final conceptual plan for the transformation. LandDesign, a Charlotte-based urban design and landscape architecture firm, teamed up with the Committee to create an improved aesthetic and design. “We want Belk Plaza to be more inviting to the campus community,” said Peter Franz, chair of Belk Plaza Design Committee, “all of what you see is the culmination of your input.”
The design features a large, open, grassy oval with a passive water fountain at the edge. It also features geometric cut out patches of grass surrounding the large grass area. The entire plaza has paths going through and around all of these grass areas to allow a circular flow, while maintaining a free walking area. Adam Martin, a LandDesign associate and UNC Charlotte alumnus, said “We created a palate that would accommodate just about anything. The functional flexibility of space reflects classic design and introduces contemporary expression.” The project is estimated to cost about 3 million dollars. This final concept will be presented to the Board of Trustees in the fall. After that, the plans will be sent to the state for final approval. The designers predict that construction will start sometime in the Fall of 2017. More information can be found at http://www. facilities.uncc.edu/construction-information/ belk-plaza.
51
52