Niner Times: April 9, 2019 by Niner Times

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Alexandria Sands COMMUNITY EDITOR Megan Bird NEWS EDITOR Sam Palian SPORTS EDITOR Elissa Miller A&E EDITOR Hailey Turpin LIFESTYLE EDITOR Madison Dobrzenski OPINION EDITOR Emily Hickey COPY EDITOR Leysha Caraballo PHOTO COORDINATOR Pooja Pasupula PHOTO COORDINATOR Kathleen Cook VIDEO PRODUCER Natasha Morehouse LAYOUT EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITORS

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UNC Charlotteʼs focus on reducing housing insecurities

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Inside Niner University Elementary

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Inside the Jamil Niner Food Pantry

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Charlotteʼs lack of offense results in loss against Owls

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USC shuts out the 49ers 7-0

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Charlotte drops two and ties at Western Kentucky

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FORMER TENNIS PLAYER SUES COACH AND UNIVERSITY UNC Charlotte and the tennis coach Jeremy Feldman are undergoing a lawsuit due to claims of bullying

by Maragaret Rawlings Photo Credit Intern NT File Photo

Cameron was kicked off the team after the coach made an accusation of the player bullying another teammate. In his defense, Cameron states that Feldman was the one who was mistreating him and other players, saying that the allegation of bullying was made up by the coach so that there was more scholarship money to go around for new players joining the team. Feldman, who is in his third season, became the head coach of the 49ers men’s tennis program in June 2016. He is a former assistant coach at Wake Forest and played collegiately at Cornell University. Cameron and his teammates stated that they tried to complain to university officials of Feldman’s improper behavior, which included joking about having sex with the mother of one of his players. According to the lawsuit, UNC Charlotte has not taken any action in these complaints. Feldman has not yet made any comments on the lawsuit. However, a UNC Charlotte spokesperson did speak out saying that the University “is aware of the situation and reserves comment during ongoing litigation.” On March 22 Cameron’s claim was filed to the Mecklenburg County Superior Court. This complaint stated that he was let go from the team while also losing his scholarship in 2018 after Feldman said he had been bullying varsity player Michael Bass. The complaint continues to state that Feldman’s allegation came as a shock to Cameron who said he saw no issue between him and Bass. Last year, Bass and Cameron met with school officials following Cameron’s suspension to argue against Feldman’s accusations and to complain about the coach’s inappropriate behavior. Correspondingly, a group of players reported to the University in Oct. 2017 to make claim of Feldman’s behavior, training methods, and injuries of players, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit goes beyond the involvement of just the University and the tennis coach by identifying University Chancellor Philip Dubois, athletics director Mike Hall and other athletics department officials as co-defendants. All of the following are being accused of defamation, negligence, due-

process violations, civil conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract. Cameron has requested $75,000 in damages. According to the lawsuit, Cameron was required to run a mile during a practice although he had an aggravated knee at the time. Despite the injury, Feldman had Cameron actively participate in training through the course of preseason. “There was significant harm done to his reputation and much emotional harm done from the mismatch in power between coaches and players,” said Sean Wagner, Cameron’s attorney. “It’s hard to put a number on ruining someone’s college tennis career. We’re interested mainly in clearing his name and having justice done.” In Nov. 2017, Cameron first heard of the bullying that emerged between Bass and himself

NEWS

during a team meeting. Several months later Feldman suspended Cameron, claiming that other teammates reported that he had persistently been bullying Bass. According to the lawsuit, the team members never reported these claims. Following the suspension, Cameron, Bass, and other teammates met with the UNC Charlotte executive directors of human resources Jeanne Madorin and Alex Thompkins, the University’s Title IX case administrator. The players spoke out about Feldman’s tendencies of misbehavior and inappropriate remarks as reported in the lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, UNC Charlotte officials said that Cameron’s suspension was a result of his “irretrievably broken” relationship with Feldman. Due to lack of order against Feldman, the lawsuit states that UNC Charlotte did not follow its own anti-bullying policy which includes “reducing the effects of violence on victims and the University community as well as holding perpetrators of violence accountable for their actions.” Cameron’s lawsuit notes that he was granted a scholarship in accordance to his membership on the tennis team. Cameron claims that he was told several times that his scholarship would not be harmed, regardless of his status to the team. However, when time came to sign up for fall 2018 classes, UNC Charlotte informed him that the money would no longer be available. A school official told Cameron that if his scholarship was taken away in any circumstance, UNC Charlotte would be held responsible “for failing to provide due process of law.” This lawsuit is alongside other recent incidents involving the behavior of UNC Charlotte athletics. In 2015, several 49ers baseball players were taken off the team due to hazing. This past year, former 49ers quarterback Kevin Olsen was found not guilty of raping his girlfriend, accusations that led to his removal from both the team and the school. In regards to this behavior, Chancellor Dubois commented “the University stands firm in its resolve that there is no place for hazing, bullying, or misconduct at UNC Charlotte.”

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UNC CHARLOTTE’S FOCUS ON REDUCING HOUSING INSECURITIES UNC Charlotte implements student housing program for students experiencing short term housing crisis

by Maragaret Rawlings Photo Credit Intern NT File Photo

According to a survey published by researchers at Temple University and the Wisconsin HOPE Lab, 36% of students said that their housing was insecure and 9% of students reported being homeless. Universities across the nation have been implementing student emergency housing programs with hopes to aid students who are experiencing homelessness. Housing insecurities really undermine students’ abilities to do well in school and focus on class. UNC Charlotte department of Student Assistance and Support Services (SASS), just implemented a Student Emergency Housing program in hopes to aid students who are experiencing short term housing crisis. These emergencies include a house/apartment fire or flooding, sleeping in a car or any place that is not a residence, sleeping on a friend’s couch, having to move out of your current residence with no place to live, temporarily staying with family or friends. To help students that are experiencing these emergencies, SASS and Housing and Residence Life have partnered together. Larry Gourdine, director of SASS says “Having the Student Emergency Housing Program at UNC Charlotte shows a commitment to be a part of addressing how housing insecurity is affecting our students. The University is dedicated to and invested in the long-term and short-term success of our students, and the SEHP is a way for us to remove barriers that

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could impact a student’s ability to be successful.” The SEHP will be in the residence hall Maple. To be eligible for SEHP, you must show proof that you have exhausted all other options. The SEHP costs $35 a night. It is not intended to replace long term housing, and students are only eligible for 60 days. Sid Williams is a sophomore on campus, and planned to move into Haven 49 this past fall. There was much delay in the construction, and the apartment didn’t open until months after the school year had begun. Sid was often forced to sleep from couch to couch waiting for Haven to finally open. Williams thinks that “The emergency housing program sounds like a fantastic idea, however the cost per night seems very high.” If a student were to stay in Maple for 60 days through the SEHP, the total cost would be $2100. Sid says “If a student were experiencing housing insecurities, they probably wouldn’t be able to pay the cost.” Many other universities have seen success through their housing programs, and have seen a decrease in students experiencing the effects of housing insecurities. “My hope is that the SEHP reaches the most vulnerable of our student population that needs support during a critical time in their lives,” said Larry Gourdine, director of SASS.

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Um, Actually...

How free is UNC Charlotte’s marketplace of ideas? by Nikolai Mather Assistant Opinion Editor

It happened again. I can’t remember the date or the discussion topic, but I’m sitting in class, listening to someone give a weak defense of a philosophical argument. I raise my hand and give a rebuttal, pointing out the factual inaccuracies and offering a different point of view. But rather than challenging my response, six other guys raise their hands and repeat the exact same point the first colleague made. I roll my eyes, check my watch, and I tune out. In his thesis On Liberty, John Stuart Mill introduces a concept treasured in Western thought traditions and most of my political science courses: the free marketplace of ideas, or the theory that free debate helps us find the best ideas. Mill argues that we shouldn’t limit speech in any capacity — not only because it harms those holding a minority opinion, but because the most effective method of sorting “good” or “truthful” ideas from “bad” or “false” ideas is by engaging in free, intellectual competition. Sound familiar? That’s because this is basically the founding principle of college campuses. Universities across America champion “diversity of opinion” and attempt to provide a space where all students can contribute to it. It’s no different at UNC Charlotte. In a statement made to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, Vice Chancellor Jesh Humphrey said: “A key component of UNC Charlotte’s institutional mission is to promote a robust, intellectual environment that values social and cultural diversity, free expression, collegiality, integrity and mutual respect.” For all the significance universities (including UNC Charlotte) give free expression, they sure seem to be doing a shoddy job preserving it. In order for the free marketplace of ideas

OPINION

to actually work — for people to successfully prove the best, most truthful points and debunk the worst, most dishonest points — participants need to meet a few pre-existing conditions. Some are pretty obvious: you need to do the readings, you need to have evidence, you can’t use logical fallacies, and so on. But the number one requirement for a productive conversation is freedom: from harassment, from hate speech, and from systematic oppression. This is where I find myself getting stuck. Let’s return to that classroom. I give a thoughtful, well-reasoned response to my colleague’s initial argument. Six people bulldoze right over it and say the same thing my colleague had said before. I feel shut out of the conversation. So I tune out. I pack up my thoughts and leave the free marketplace of ideas, because clearly nobody in that classroom thinks my points are worth the engagement. Why? I did the readings. I had evidence. I didn’t use logical fallacies. My ideas are clearly worth something. So why am I being forced out? This is where the free marketplace fails as a concept. There could be any number of reasons for this occurring: they’re experiencing confirmation bias, they all read the same newspaper, or it’s just plain dumb coincidence. But this isn’t the first time it’s happened. It is impossible to count the number of times I’ve been interrupted and ignored while speaking in class. Why is that? My best guess is because even as I engage in a supposedly free discussion, I am not free from oppression. The people in that room see that I am trans. They see my queerness, and understand that I am not like them. Because I bring my transness to the discussion, they also bring their preconceived notions of transness to the discussion. Those notions aren’t always harmful, but some of them — like the ones saying I’m a confused dyke who doesn’t deserve to be heard — are. Do you see how we’re at a standstill? On one hand, there’s nothing I can do. People cannot leave their gender (or race, or disability, et cetera) at the door. On the other hand, there’s an expectation that I accommodate this marketplace: that I let people purposefully misgender me, that I let people use slurs in academic settings, that I let people consider the concept that maybe trans people don’t deserve rights or dignity. In other words, they refuse to leave their misconceptions and even hatred at the door. This is the issue at UNC Charlotte and almost every other university. We champion ideas like the free marketplace of ideas, but we fail to recognize that it’s an impossible endeavor as long as unfree individuals exist. The inevitable result is that oppressed people stop engaging in these discussions. Why should we contribute if people refuse to listen? I know the cause célèbre for many conservative activists is preserving free expression. I sympathize with their mission, but I don’t think they understand the true concept of free expression. Free speech is not the ability to say whatever you want: it’s the ability to be heard and understood. So, a request: hear us. When we’re being talked over, uplift our voices. When we’re being subjected to thinly disguised hate speech, defend us from harm. When six Juuling libertarians completely ignore my remarks, give my sorry ass a wink. Let me know that somebody in the marketplace is listening to me.

NT File Photo

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APR. 9, 2019

Mechanica

A&E By Austin Demeglio Copy Editor at Sanskrit Literary-Arts Magazine

Images courtesy of creaters Aum and Minty at rawpixel.com

Only a man can beat the bull. That’s what everyone used to say. At least until mother stepped into the ring, and was able to break its snout. I now wear the ring that used to be bound to its nostrils as a necklace. It’s a reminder. My mom did more damage to the bull than anyone else who has ever tried. I remember watching her. Through the screen. I wish I could have been in the crowd next to my dad. She could have heard me cheering her name. Maybe then she could have beaten it. She wouldn’t have made a mistake. First rule of fighting the bull: never let the bull hit you. You lose. Doesn’t matter who you are. My mother was quick, but the bull was faster. It always is. No one knows what really happened during the fight. It looked like she knew what she was doing. Nobody was able to hear the story from her after the fight, and I did not make it home in time. I curse myself for being on that damn trip. I was 19 then, and two years later, I still watch that video. The tango of the bull and my mother is a dance I am familiar with. Entrancing and Addicting. It is hypnotic watching them go back and forth. It helps me come to a realization: I want to fight the bull. No, I want to beat it. For years, it claimed victim after victim. I’ve had enough. Everyone’s had enough. No one wants to see death by the bull. But people always step up. I am one of those people. I will destroy the bull. -It’s morning and the spring semester ended yesterday. On my run, I stop by the cemetery and sit in

front of a stone that reads: Audriana Rysty. Beloved Wife and Mother. I place a pebble on the stone. “Love you, Mom. Good morning. I start training today. It’s gonna be tough. But I think I can do it. Hopefully, you will be with me every step of the way.”

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Liquid’s Gym isn’t too far from the cemetery. Maybe only a 10-minute jog. I begin to bite my lip as I walk through the doors. There aren’t many people. The only ones are in a ring. A man is coaching a young boy. The coach turns and faces me. “Fey! You showed up! Man, you are early.” He turns to the boy and says,

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An original short story in celebration “Cole, take ten.” The boy nods and slips between the ropes. The air is musty and humid. I never thought I would be in here again. The coach climbs down and gives me a hug. “Of course I showed. Did you think I wasn’t going to?” His name is Oscar. He’s in his mid-40s. His hair is a light brown, and he has some

wrinkles around his lips. He has crow’s feet near his eyes. He puts a hand on my shoulder. “I dunno. I guess I thought it might be hard for you coming back here. Come.

Follow me. I’ll show you the room.” He is a tall and lanky man. Hasn’t changed much since I last saw him. “How is your family, Oscar? They doing all right?” He gets a ring of keys out of his pocket and unlocks a door. “Yeah of course! Nickie and the kids loved it when you guys came for dinner! Ya know, they still talk about you. They wonder if you an’ your father are okay.” I tell him we are doing fine. Oscar is always so genuine. So caring. Hard to think he used to box. He and my parents were best friends. We used to watch his matches. He was real good, but he never had the courage to fight the bull. We step into the room. It’s the same as I remember it. Black and white tiles. The only light in the room leaks from the outside through windows. Again, I begin to bite my lip. “You were right. It was hard coming here. I was at the cemetery before showing up. You know how people always say it gets easier. I don’t think that’s really true. I was not there when she fought it. I was not there when she died, and as a daughter, I feel as f I failed her. Oscar, I am going to fight the bull.” I have never seen Oscar’s face change so quickly. In all of the moments of hesitation in response to my statement, all he said was, “Why?” “For my mother. I want it gone. You know many people die from that thing.” “Which is exactly why you shouldn’t.” I run my fingers through my hair. “Why do you think I came here? To

al Bull-Boxer of Sanskrit Literary-Arts Magazine’s 2019 Edition you?” “I dunno, I thought all you wanted to do is just hit a punching bag.” I laugh. “I want to learn how to punch a certain thing.” He hangs his head low. “Listen, Fey. I am not sure I can agree to train you.” I take a few steps and stand in the doorway. “That’s fine. I’ll find someone else after today. Thanks though.” “Fey, wait! Lemme think it over.” I nod. I walk into the room. There is a blue punching bag hanging in the center.. The room is covered in dust, and the air is thicker. It smells of aged sweat. The walls are lined with old posters of fighters. All of their names preserved into this room, dead or alive. And there she is. Audriana “Goldilocks” Rysty VS. The Bull. This must have been the latest addition. She is wearing a white tank-top and gold shorts. Her blonde hair tied tightly. The bull is always represented by an image of horns, never the full thing. They want you to be terrified when your eyes feast on it for the first time. I set down my bag and wrap my hands. I strike. I strike again. The sound of it being hit and the swinging echoes through the room. More and more dust falls. I cough and my eyes begin to water. I wonder why this place hasn’t been cleaned. I realize that the last person to use this room was my mother. Did she walk in here on her first day, and felt the same way I do? The dust that layers this floor. Is it hers? Did she leave her dust behind so I can find it? Will she live on if these particles linger? In between the punches, there is a

violent silence. It’s too loud and too permanent. I strike faster and faster, so it breaks the quiet of the room. My knuckles begin to hurt and my arms are tired. I hear footsteps behind me. I turn and face Oscar. “I was nervous about asking you to come to here. I was at the cemetery before. And it got me thinking. You asked me ‘why’. After watching her fight over and over. It made me want to step into the ring.” Oscar steps forward. “I understand. But getting into this is dangerous. You of all people should know. And what happens when your father finds out? You think he is gonna let you?”. “He doesn’t need to know right away. I want to beat this thing! If my mother can do it, then I can too.” He is quiet. Takes him a minute answer. Oscar scratched his head. “Fine. But if at all you can’t handle it, or it gets too much. It’s done.” I nod. “Agreed.” I smile. “Thank you, Oscar.” “This will be our secret. Tomorrow we will start. I am glad that I get to see you.” “Me too.” I am so happy he agreed. I really wouldn’t want anyone else. “Wait! Any advice to break the silence?” “When your mother came here by herself, she had the sound of waves playing. Every time.” “Thank you.” He waves. “See you tomorrow.” The sound of the ocean. I run for it. I can hear it now. The roar of the sea. My eyes stare at the horizon. I walk closer, onto the sand. Closer now. It isn’t crowded today. I am at the point where waves are just able to gently kiss the shore.

Out in the distance, there is a large boat. Maybe a freighter of sorts. Hard to determine from so far away. It looks lower than it should be. Water is gushing from the side; looks like huge waterfalls. Is it sinking? Is no one else paying attention? People are caught up in their sunbathing. The children are either looking for shells or building a castle. My eyes are the sole witness. The boat is rising and the water is lessening. It moves out of vision and into the horizon. I call my friend Nel and tell her to meet me here. I want to tell her about my decision. She’s on her way. Nel and I have been friends since middle school, and now we go to college together. She was with me every day when my mother died. I can’t thank her enough. Nel arrives and sits next to me. “Hey, girly.” We hug. I thank her for coming and ask if she brought any water. She did. Of course. “Nel. I asked you to come here because I want to tell you something.” The look on her face changes. She has a smile, but she is ready for the news. Maybe she assumes what I am

about to say. She isn’t as prepared as she wants to be. “I am fighting the bull.” -Sanskrit Literary-Arts Magazine is UNC Charlotte’s premiere Literary-Arts publication. It accepts submissions from writers and artists from accross the globe in the categories of poetry, short story, screenplay, art, photography, and video. The free 2019 Edition is on stands throughout campus now! You can read more original prose by Austin Demeglio at sanskritmagazine. com.

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ACROSS 1 Separated from each other 6 Composer Stravinsky 10 Ashen 14 Reclusive sort 15 Nickname for grandma 16 Baseball Hall of Famer Slaughter 17 Broad decision-making perspective 19 New Haven school 20 Silent communication syst. 21 Intoxicated 22 Org. with a five-ring logo 23 Christmas song 25 Social media barrage 29 Slammin’ Sammy of golf 31 “Let me in!” 32 Figure it out 37 Cavity filler’s deg. 38 Home of many a blue crab 42 Trivial amount 43 Daily grind 44 Except if

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47 Desert retreats 51 Announcer’s voice, metaphorically 56 All-thumbs message, often 57 Barn bundle 58 Peter of “The Maltese Falcon” 60 Mimic 61 Waffle House alternative 63 Hitchcock classic, and a hint to 17-, 25-, 38- and 51-Across 65 “Famous” cookie guy 66 Angelic aura 67 Calf-roping loop 68 “Ain’t gonna happen” 69 Taken by mouth, as meds 70 Defeated narrowly DOWN 1 Saint __: English cathedral city 2 Arsenic, e.g. 3 “Life of Pi” director

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4 Exercise unit 5 Chicago paper, for short 6 Hitched to the back of the truck 7 First-aid kit item 8 How corned beef is often served 9 Actress Charlotte 10 Desert hallucinogen 11 Amazon crusher 12 Facebook chuckle 13 Opposite of WNW 18 Simple bed 22 AOL, for one 24 Lingerie material 26 Big name in little trucks 27 Former NYC mayor Giuliani 28 Base cops, briefly 30 Prosecutors: Abbr. 33 Foot bones 34 Tax pro 35 All __ up: excited 36 Dinghy mover 38 Baskin-Robbins treat 39 Classic Wham-O toy 40 Prefix with logical 41 Rhythm 42 4, in 2 + 2 = 4 45 Pass, as time 46 Barnyard enclosure 48 Old salt 49 Revealing news story 50 Slow-boiled 52 Blue-skies forecast word 53 Cute Down Under critter 54 Swashbuckling Flynn 55 Experian, formerly 59 Mozart’s “__ kleine Nachtmusik” 61 Author Fleming 62 Medical ins. plan 63 Letter after pi 64 Head-bobbing acknowledgment

A love for the game Baseball mangers Sydney Pike and Jordan Hoskins are the unsung heroes of Charlotte’s baseball team

SPORTS

By Jonathan Limehouse Assistant Sports Editor

There are nine positions in the game of baseball, but there’s a multitude of people behind the scenes who’re just as much a part of the team as the pitchers and fielders. Charlotte’s baseball team is loaded with promising athletes who perform admirably each inning, but what about the unsung heroes who assure the team’s prepared before each at bat or pitch. Baseball managers Sydney Pike and Jordan Hoskins don’t play on game-day, but they’re around the game as much as the players are. Both former baseball and softball players respectively, their love for the game brought them back to home plate. While they’re no longer swinging bats or throwing baseballs, they maintain their enthusiasm and glee each time they take a step into a ballpark. “It’s a whole lot of fun, it’s a lot of work, but I love to do it. It keeps me around the game,” said Pike. Pike’s currently a freshman at Charlotte, and before becoming a manager he played first baseman at Photo courtesy of Charlotte 49ers Athletics

Photo by Chris Crews

McDowell high school in Marion, North Carolina. “I played baseball in high school and turned down an offer to go play somewhere else and just wanted to stay with it,” said Pike. The 6-foot former first baseman’s passion and urge to be around the game led to him becoming a baseball manager. “I just sent an email to the coaches and said, ‘do you have anything to do because I want to stay close to the game,’ and they emailed me back and

said ‘yeah,’” said Pike. An email brought Pike back to the game that he couldn’t leave, while Hoskins became involved with the team because of an uncanny relationship. “I played softball with the head coaches’ daughter in high school, so it got me connected to it,” said Hoskins. Hoskins is a female in a male driven-sport, but being the only girl doesn’t faze her, on the contrary it’s the complete opposite. “It’s really interesting being

around all the guys, especially being a girl doing it, it’s a lot of fun,” said Hoskins. “It’s a different environment than softball, but I love it. It keeps my life interesting.” Hoskins played shortstop for Central Academy of Technology & Arts in Monroe, North Carolina. She was a part of the Cougars softball roster until she graduated in 2017. The 5-foot2-inch shortstop played with Coach Loren Hibbs’s daughter Lanie Hibbs who’s a year younger than her. The two played together through the

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NT File Photo

2015-2017 seasons. Being a baseball manager isn’t a walk in the “ball” park, there’s hardships that accompany the job. “Just how time consuming it is, and balancing that with classes is kind of hard, but good time management and you’ll be fine,” said Pike. Hoskins echoed Pike’s sentiment. “I agree, it’s definitely time consuming,” said Hoskins. Managers of any sport have numerous duties to perform throughout the day and baseball is no different. “I usually go to class and then I’m here at the field around 11 [a.m.]. I set up the field for early work around at two o’clock. We have practice from about 2:30 [p.m.] to around 5:30 or 6 [p.m.],” said Pike. “After that, we clean up practice and do laundry that night, or whatever they need done. Then we hang laundry and do it all over again.” A manager’s responsibilities being completed are instrumental in the team’s preparedness, so it’s imperative that they’re done so the team can perform to their full capabilities. This being Pike’s first year as a manager, he’s taking in all the cool experiences and perks that the job entails. “Getting to travel around to universities and meeting a ton of people,

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and a ton of different coaches and players is probably the coolest experience,” said Pike.

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Hoskins offers similar insight and thoughts concerning the benefits of being a baseball manager, but the competitiveness of collegiate baseball appeals to her also. “I’d say definitely traveling and getting to experience the college baseball experience and seeing how competitive it all is,” said Hoskins. The two have visited Clemson, Arkansas, Old Dominion, Wake Forest and Western Kentucky thus far.

Hayes Stadium remains their home. Hoskins and Pike are invaluable pieces to the team, they’re the glue that holds the team together. Regardless if the team’s winning or losing, Hoskins and Pike will be tirelessly working to make sure Charlotte’s baseball team is prepared to conquer its next opponent. The 2019 season isn’t over, so these two have a lot of baseball ahead of them, which I’m sure they don’t mind.

LIFESTYLE The truth about dieting and weight loss By Olivia Lawless Staff Writer

Photo Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

I’ve come to learn this after being mildly overweight most of my life but always being given a clean bill by doctors. I was also very active and developed muscle mass in high school through varsity sports training. Still, it is always tempting to give into a culture that wants you to lose weight regardless of how healthy you are. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services says that “Even for people at a healthy weight, a poor diet is associated with major health risks that can cause illness and even death.” Maybe you know someone who can’t seem to gain weight no matter all the junk food they eat. Maybe you’re that person. Either way, it’s important to note that these eating habits will catch up to the body, even if their appearance isn’t showing it yet. People know healthy weights can vary. So why is there such an obsession with weight loss in our society if we know that weight doesn’t automatically determine your health? I’m going to hazard a guess—the weight loss industry brings in around sixty-six billion a year. This includes gym memberships, weight loss surgeries, pills, shakes, and meal plans. Not only

are products like this marketed to help you lose a ton of weight (probably more than you really need), but they’re also marketed to help you lose it really quickly and easily. Do any of these actually work? Mostly, no, and not always for the reason you think. While the Federal Trade Commission website shows a slew of settlements over false weight-loss products, other methods of weight loss bring actual results. As far as diets go, the Harvard School of Public Health diet review shows that some have been shown to have significant short-term benefits beyond that of just losing weight. For example, the ketogenic diet, which drastically reduces a person’s carbohydrate intake, has been shown to lower blood pressure and insulin resistance. We have evidence of diets working, but truthfully, they’re dreadfully hard to maintain. If you’ve tried to diet before and failed, don’t look at yourself as weak-willed yet. You’re among an average of fortyfive million Americans who report annually that they’re trying to diet. The episode “Why Diets Fail” of the Netflix documentary “Explained” does a great job

of summing up the effects of diet culture on society and why diets usually don’t work, citing information from experts in health and academic journals. Another great source of information is Alexandra Sifferlin’s Time magazine article, published online in 2017, titled “The Weight Loss Trap.” Many of the explanations boil down to a simple summary: people try to change too many habits at once and can’t sustain the changes. Don’t lose hope. It’s not impossible to diet, but there may be better options if you’re trying to lose weight and keep it off. Making small adjustments to your current habits, ones that you can maintain for a long time, will be your best bet. These changes might look like cutting out soda, turning your afternoon snack into a healthy granola bar or fruit instead of chips, or ordering pizza a little less. This way, “dieting” becomes less of a chore and more of a lifestyle. You’re less likely to be miserable because you’re abstaining from your favorite foods and desserts and more likely to feel lighter. Most importantly, you’ll feel healthier, and you’ll be able to keep it up for years to come.

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Looking for advice? Questions about things around campus? New to UNC Charlotte? Ask your questions at askaniner@ninertimes.com

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