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APR. 10, 2018 NINERTIMES.COM

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Hunter Heilman editor@ninertimes.com EDITORIAL

Emily Hickey MANAGING EDITOR Alex Sands NEWS EDITOR Kathleen Cook SPORTS EDITOR Jeffrey Kopp A&E EDITOR Hailey Turpin LIFESTYLE EDITOR Salina Dickie COPY EDITOR Mia Shelton OPINION EDITOR Leysha Caraballo PHOTO COORDINATOR Pooja Pasupula PHOTO COORDINATOR Joshua Worley VIDEO PRODUCER Carmen Westra COMMUNITY EDITOR Natasha Morehouse LAYOUT EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITORS

Stephanie Trefzger, Angie Baquedano, Emma West, Madison Dobrzenski, Maya Shefet, Megan Bird CONTRIBUTING STAFF

Evan Moore, Megan Bird, Aaron Febre, Sam Palian COVER PHOTOS BY

Leysha Caraballo & Chris Crews NEWSROOM: 704.687.7150

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NEWS

Checking in with SGA: March Yazidi Survivors of ISISʼ Sinjar Massacre share their stories How would you answer the dreaded “leader question?” Political expo promotes discussion between political parties Healthcare summit highlights opioid epidemic

A&E • •

TV REVIEW: ʻThe Walking Deadʼ – ʻStill Gotta Mean Somethingʼ Ten Great Songs from The Smiths

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MEDIA MARKETING MARKETING DIRECTOR

Fred Brown

mktdirector@uncc.edu

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Ryan Scott

production@uncc.edu

MARKETING STAFF

Kayla Christian, Brandon Cox, Brandon Freer, Teely Yang, Yishni Yun

VIDEO •

Bigger Than Baseball

LOCATED IN THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE STUDENT UNION

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APR. 10, 2018

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Photo by Leysha Caraballo

for the kids Dance Marathon raises $101,761 for levine children's hospital

By Megan Bird

Photo by Leysha Caraballo

Photo by Chris Crews

On March 7, hundreds of people gathered in Halton Arena where they would dance for 12 hours to raise money for the Levine Children’s Hospital. The night marked the culmination of a year and a half of fundraising by UNC Charlotte Dance Marathon. The group is the largest philanthropic organization at UNC Charlotte, joining 300 universities nationwide to raise money for their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. The organization was founded in 1991 by Indiana University in memory of Ryan White, a student who passed away from HIV/AIDS. Dance Marathon has become one of the most widespread student-led philanthropies and in 2016, all Dance Marathon organizations raised a combined total of $32,434,341 with nine campuses raising over $1 million annually. The UNC Charlotte group was founded by the first class of Levine Scholars as “Dance Mine” in 2013. Sarah Richardson, development officer for the Levine Children’s Hospital, was a senior for that premier 12-hour dance. Now, she serves as an advisor for Charlotte’s Dance Marathon. “It’s been really cool to see how the program has grown and evolved,” she said. The group has gone from raising $35,000 in their first year to their largest fundraising effort yet: $101,761. The realization of the group’s goals that night were clear: the night was filled with activities and performances that uplifted miracle children, families, dancers and volunteers. Family Relations Chair Cassandra Campagna began the event by dedicating the 12 hours to Brooke Hair, a miracle child who had survived traumatic brain injury after a car accident but passed away in March of 2017 from a complication during surgery. With Brooke and other miracle children in mind, dancers were challenged to raise $1,000 during “power hour.” By calling friends and family and other fundraising efforts, the goal was exceeded by $652. There were several miracle families in attendance who shared their stories throughout the night. One of the parents was Melissa Brown, mother to four young boys. Daeton has cystic fibrosis, severe tracheomalacia, a gastronomy tube to help with eating and is also hearing impaired. His brother Ryder has a VP shunt because he has an overproduction of cerebrospinal fluid. He has had 31 major hip surgeries and is only 8

NEWS

years old. Levine Children’s Hospital provides these children with crucial treatment, but Dance Marathon provides them with valuable support. “It’s fun to be here. They get to be kind of like the star and get special attention, but not for their illnesses,” said Brown. The children and dancers enjoyed the wheelchair basketball game between Charlotte Rollin’ Hornets and a few Dance Marathon members. There was also Zumba, a bouncy house and an organized dance to keep up the morale every hour. Around 3 a.m. when people were at their most competitive, there was a DJ challenge in which dancers had to pick the best songs for certain occasions, followed by a lip syncing challenge. Miracle child Madi, age 9, said, “I like the fun activities. You can eat; you can dance.” This was Madi’s third year eating and dancing at Dance Marathon. The event lasted until 6 a.m., when the final amount of funds raised were revealed. The Dance Marathon directors and chairs fell into tears of exhaustion and happiness: $101,761. The group had more than doubled their funds from last year and exceeded their goal of $100,000. All of the money will go to the children’s hospital where it will be used for life-saving equipment that does not get covered by their budget. In addition, the Levine family challenged the Charlotte community to raise $500,000 for the Levine Children’s Hospital. The Dawson, Sklut and Levine families will match every donation, dollar for dollar, up to $500,000 until May 17. This means that all of the money raised the night of Dance Marathon was doubled. Development Director Megan Woody attributes the fundraising success to individual efforts. “There was a big push on personal fundraising this year and we really tried to involve all of our dancers,” Woody said. Woody says her favorite part of Dance Marathon is when they reveal how much money was raised. Zeta Beta Tau was recognized as the largest group donor, contributing over $6,000. But the biggest source of money wasn’t any single sponsor: it was the dancers themselves. Each person at Dance Marathon has a large impact and they always need more help. You can get involved next year by registering to dance, serving on a committee or raising funds for the miracle kids.

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APR. 10, 2018

POLICE BLOTTER

Lavien, Crean win 2018 SGA election New student body president and VP to be sworn in Thursday

APRIL 1 - 6 ACCIDENT APRIL 6 •

University Road, subject stated he was struck on the arm while skateboarding by a vehicle that failed to stop at a crosswalk. Subject reported pain to his hand but refused medic.

ARREST APRIL 1 •

Holshouser Hall, while officers were in conversation with a subject who has no affiliation with campus, it was determined that they had an outstanding warrant. Subject was arrested.

ASSAULT APRIL 4 •

Cameron Boulevard, student stated she was struck by a paintball while walking. No injuries were reported.

INFORMATION ONLY APRIL 6 •

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Atkins Library, subject stated a known person touched her leg without permission causing her to feel uncomfortable. Atkins Library, officers responded in reference to a subject taking pictures of women without permission.

INDECENT EXPOSURE APRIL 3 •

Lot five, officers responded in reference to a suspicious person.

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

APR. 10, 2018

By Alexandria Sands Photo courtesy of Lavien Niayai Lavien and Chandler Crean were announced the 2018-19 student body president and vice president April 5. They won with 54 percent of the 1435 votes and will officially be sworn in Thursday. Niner Times: What was your reaction to finding out you had won? Niayai: I couldn’t help but cry because I was so overwhelmed. I could barely get my words out to express my excitement. This campaign was tough and long and I’m so happy with the outcome of everything. Chandler and I are incredibly excited for what this year has in store. Chandler: I was lost for words. I couldn’t help but to stop and think that all the hard work paid off. If you would have told me back in 2014, when I first met Niayai, that we would end up at the same university and campaign for SGA office together, I would not have believed it. However, our fellow peers believed in us to serve the student body. What is the first thing you want to work on in office? N: The first thing that we would like to do is make the SGA website more user friendly. We want to place our

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updates, minutes and photos there so that people will have more access to everything that we’re doing. Too many people don’t know all of the meetings we have and things we can accomplish and we want everyone to stay in the loop. C: The first thing I want to work on in office is making sure that every Forty-Niner knows that we will be available in our office to hear any concerns that they may have. With an open door policy, students will have a direct form of communication with Niayai and I. One major project I will be taking on is working with our information technology services on the alumni email project. This project will allow degreed alumni with having an @alumni.uncc.edu email account via Gmail, the university’s current email service. A year from now when you look back, what do you want to have accomplished? N: I hope to have effectively completed each of the tenants of the platform of amplifying student voice, increasing transparency and creating a legacy. I hope that every student feels like they can actually communicate with SGA administration and feel like their voice is equally important. C: I want to be able to look back and feel that every Forty-Niner has had the opportunity to stake their claim

UNC Charlotte Foundation plans an on-campus hotel By Jacob Baum The UNC Charlotte Foundation has taken a significant step in the expansion of the university. A plan approved and funded by the UNC Charlotte Foundation has been released detailing a 226-room, full-service Marriott hotel with a three-meal full-service restaurant and a 15,000-square-foot conference center. A terraced pedestrian plaza links the light rail bridge on Tryon to the Charlotte Research Institute campus. A campus bus stop would provide access to the rest of campus. The hotel will serve as a “home” for visiting alumni who may be in Charlotte for university business or otherwise. Over time, the goal is for the hotel to become an important alumni engagement opportunity. Niles Sorensen, president of the UNC Charlotte Foundation, believes the project is vital to the growth of the university community. “We believe an on-campus hotel will offer an important amenity to the campus — drawing parents and families for move-in days, commencements, family days and other campus events, serving as a gathering place for out-of-town alumni who visit campus, particularly on football weekends and again, thanks to the light rail linkage, the hotel will draw a diverse set of visitors to Charlotte who will have the chance to experience our campus,” he said. The project is privately funded by the foundation. Sorensen also commented on the Chancellor’s role and stance on the project stating “the accomplishment of the project is among the chancellor’s priorities.” The project will bring the university up to par with the other major research universities in the state, such as UNC Chapel Hill, NC State and Duke, which all have similar on-campus facilities. The project also will fix a long-term problem for the

university. UNC Charlotte is currently restricted in the number and size of academic conferences they can host, because of the lack of conference facilities near the campus. The 15,000-square-foot conference center that is included in the plans would allow UNC Charlotte to host a number of conferences in the coming years. The newly-opened light rail station directly across the street from the proposed site, which creates a convenient linkage to the center city, helped fuel this project. The foundation believes this project overall can be an important opportunity and way for our faculty and alumni to connect the larger community for executive education, certification courses and campus events. The hotel will house a three-meal restaurant which will include outdoor seating, both activating the corner of J. W. Clay and Tryon and providing a university destination for Charlotte residents and visitors on the light rail line. Some students are opposing the creation of a hotel and requesting money go to academic or parking projects. “Again, it is important to note that this is a project that is privately funded by the University-affiliated Foundation, and not by the University or the State of North Carolina,” Sorensen said. “Academic buildings have, in every case, I think, been funded by the State of North Carolina through either appropriated dollars or bond proceeds that are state, not campus, obligations. Parking is a service funded by the parking fees that faculty, staff and students pay.” The Charlotte City Council will hear more about the project in the coming months and will be crucial in approving the project for construction.

ELECTION, cont. here at UNC Charlotte. Students should be able to have a say in major decisions that are being made as our university continues to grow. What do you want students to know going into this administration? N: I want students to know that they can always approach me with any concern or question that they have. This position was created to be a resource and liaison to the student body and we can’t wait to serve. My office is always open and I’m here to not only help but to ensure your experience is a good one. Every part of our platform we plan to execute is based on helping Niners. C: I will put this position at the front of my responsibilities going into our term. I want to make sure that I have ample amount of time to listen to concerns from students. Our administration will be made of

students that will continue to make changes to better our university. What would you like to say to everyone who voted for you? N: Thank you for believing in Chandler and I and our platform. We love UNC Charlotte and want to create a sense of community and improve the student experience. We won’t let you down and we can’t wait to start our term. C: Words cannot describe how thankful I am for the amount of support Niayai and I have had over the past few weeks. With having to vote not once, but twice, you have all stood behind us through our campaign. It would not have been possible without the connections that I have made on campus from various organizations and leadership opportunities.

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APR. 10, 2018

OPINION

The dignity in dying The right for terminally ill people to have the option to chose physician-assisted suicide

By Mia Shelton Photo courtesy of LA Progressive Imagine being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Your faculties start failing you slowly; your eyesight, then you motor ability. You start forget names and people. You need help eating and walking. You are in constant pain and don’t see an ending near. You are desperate for relief, but you know the pain it would cause your family. This is what many people’s lives are like who are suffering from one illness or another. For many the only way they believe they can get relief is if they die. They make the decision that they can’t go on with this pain any longer. They are on a downward slope and it will never incline. They consult their doctor and make the decision to end this pain and suffering forever. Physician-assisted suicide is a topic that sparks much debate. Many feel it is inhumane and cruel, others feel like doing this will hinder their loved ones chances of entering their internal resting place, while the remaining support the idea because they don’t want their loved one to suffer at the hands of their selfish desire to keep them alive. I think about this topic a lot because two years ago my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I think about how I would feel if she told me she wanted to turn to physcian-assisted suicide. I know she would be in pain, but I want to call her every day and hug her on her birthday. However, I don’t want her to suffer. Even if she did want to do it, she couldn’t because it’s not legal in North Carolina. Physcian-assisted suicide is only legal in five states; Oregon, Vermont, Washington, California and Montana. Patients must also meet certain criteria to be a candidate for doctor assisted suicide. Individuals must have a terminal illness as well as a prognosis of six months or less to live. The specific method in each state varies, but mainly involves a prescription from a licensed physician approved by the state in which the patient is a resident. Many people are in support of physcian-assisted suicide and believe everyone has a right to decide how and when they die. There is a campaign called “Dignity in Dying,” that fights for the right for UK citizens to have the option of physician-assisted suicide. Due to the fact that many people are against physician-assisted suicide, legalization is hard. On the “Campaign for Dignity in Dying” website there are many stories from terminally ill people who can’t qualify for physician-assisted suicide. Hearing their stories makes me hurt for them. One man’s story really touched my heart. UK citizen Noel Conway tells his story of being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. “I have the classic form, which is known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The life expectation for ALS is 2 to 5 years from the date of diagnosis. However, I know that my symptoms began at least two years before this date when I started losing weight, felt a pain in my lower back and increasingly began to have difficulty walking.” The news got harder for Noel when he learned from his doctor he only had six months to live.

APR. 10, 2018

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“The consultant had to been frank and given me all the information that was then known about MND. He said I had between six and 18 months to live though it could be longer or shorter.” Noel started considering physicianassisted suicide after learning this but was met with many obstacles. “I’m aware of the ferocious opposition to any change in the law by disability groups, though not necessarily by disabled people themselves.” “Seeking to end one’s life when one is terminally ill with six months or less to live is quite obviously not the same as saying disabled people have less value than others. I do not accept the view that if there were a change in the law this would create overwhelming pressure on elderly people to agree to an assisted death to avoid being a burden on society.” “The changes we are proposing require an individual to proactively request help with end of life and judicial oversight to confirm there is no undue external pressure on him or her. To argue, as some have, that the moral climate will have been so tipped to place indirect pressure on people is spurious and hypothetical and not borne out by practice in those countries where there is such a law.” Many people like Noel have to struggle and fight for their right to decide to stop suffering. By allowing this option to people, we are giving them the best gift we can give them,: freedom.

BAD ROMA NCE

by Julie Brown Photo courtesy of Netﬂix I can’t deny my occasional guilty pleasure in watching a good romantic comedy. Unfortunately, it often seems Hollywood follows the same outline for every romantic comedy released, complete with the same generic cute couple, how they meet-cute and subsequently fall in love. Netflix’s new quirky, offbeat comedy “Happy Anniversary,” written and directed by Jared Stern, is a welcome breath of fresh air about a couple reconsidering their relationship. The perfect romantic comedy for the couple who has perhaps been together too long, “Happy Anniversary” asks the question, “Why are we still together?” On the morning of her three-year anniversary with boyfriend Sam (Ben Schwartz), Mollie (Noël Wells) tells Sam she is unhappy and misses the romantic he once was. She worries their history may not be enough to keep them together and that they will one day become as indifferent to each other like her parents did. Sam is convinced that Mollie refuses to let herself be happy. The main plot takes place over the course of a day and through a series of flashbacks, viewers experience the ups and downs of Mollie and Sam’s relationship and how it began. Stern’s depiction of a couple struggling with becoming too comfortable in their relationship is both genuine and funny, with hilarious moments including Mollie arguing for romance while on the toilet and Sam exploding after stepping on a hair clip. “Happy Anniversary” illustrates realistic relationship milestones like getting a first pet together, as well as trivial daily disagreements like trying to agree on a restaurant. Stern also does not shy away from the more uncomfortable moments, like Sam’s comment about being happier when Mollie was dead and Mollie finding out her dad has

A&E cancer. Including such troublesome points from Sam and Mollie’s relationship was an important choice to illustrate love is not always easy. Schwartz and Wells’ undeniable chemistry onscreen encourages viewers to invest in the couple’s relationship and adds to the overall honesty of the film. “Happy Anniversary” succeeds in portraying the faults in Mollie and Sam as individuals. Mollie is a control freak begging Sam to make decisions, only to turn them down when she is unhappy with his choices. Sam is overdramatic with a delicate temper, which seems to erupt at the slightest provocation. Even though they seem to be very different people, they balance each other and prove sometimes opposites attract. The glaring flaw in “Happy Anniversary” is the characters’ eccentric personalities. They are a couple seemingly too quirky for their own good, which although successfully delivers laughs, comes across as overbearing and contrived. When they first meet at a bar (while Sam is waiting for another date, I might add) they immediately fall into casual banter as if they’ve known each other for years. Perhaps the intention is that they fall in love at first sight, but the whole encounter is simply unrealistic. Their individual personalities are so distinctive, and mesh so well together, it is unbelievable they may have a future with anyone else. “Happy Anniversary” is a sentimental and funny, but overall unimpressive film. The honesty of Sam and Mollie’s relationship may resonate with couples in a long-term relationship, but rather than spend another night watching Netflix on the couch, save some time and just watch the trailer.

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APR. 10, 2018

ACROSS 1 Romantic kissing at the mall and such, briefly 5 Skier’s challenge 10 Ref’s decisions 14 Finnish architect Saarinen 15 Egg-shaped 16 Tipsy 17 Rich 19 To be, in Bordeaux 20 English china 21 With 61-Across, seriously overweight fictional sleuth 22 Chick’s cry 23 Tree-toppling tool 25 “That’s cheating!” 27 Wine evaluators 31 Get in your face about 34 Lisbon hello 35 Shankar’s instrument 38 Personal, as thoughts 39 Break in relations 41 Lawyer’s backlog 43 “I’m paying for the drinks”

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44 Dined at home 46 Indian breads 48 “A mouse!” 49 Sound equipment that may pick up a private remark 51 Prayerful chants 53 Scold loudly 56 Sticky stuff 57 “Cosmos” author Sagan 59 Chief Asgard god 61 See 21-Across 65 Healthful berry 66 Object of the puddy tat’s pursuit 68 Skinny 69 Dominican Republic neighbor 70 Triangle calculation 71 Prefix with -pathic 72 Max of Dadaism 73 Consider

DOWN 1 Benches flanking church aisles 2 Thoughtful 3 Guthrie at Woodstock 4 Went for in an auction 5 Homer’s bartender 6 Pizza maker 7 Ancient Greek physician 8 In __: not yet born 9 Batted first 10 1993 film with an instrument in its title 11 2000s best-seller involving flying toys, with “The” 12 Fairy tale meanie 13 Herding dog name 18 Evil spells 24 Guitarist Clapton 26 Muhammad in a ring 27 Hebrew scroll 28 Samuel on the Supreme Court 29 Protective bar on a flat roof 30 X-Men co-creator Lee 32 Mythical lion’s home 33 Arduous journeys 36 Words that connect each pair of four-letter words intersecting at a circle 37 Unit at Staples 40 Facebook feature 42 Stocking tear 45 Zip, in soccer 47 Wintry and white 50 Provide apparel for 52 “Tough!” 54 No-holds-barred commercial competition 55 Advertising link 57 Suffragist Carrie 58 Tooth pain 60 Brooklyn NBA team 62 Old Italian cash 63 Priceless? 64 Cheese from the Netherlands 67 Tiny songbird

WALKING WITH A PURPOSE

SPORTS

The Charlotte 49ers put on their annual Epilepsy Stroll to raise funds for medical research Story by Imani Gill Photo by Kathleen Cook Once again the Charlotte 49er Athletic Department put on their annual Epilepsy Stroll to raise money for medical research and medicines. This is an event that is true to the heart of the department. Deputy Athletic Director Darin Spease has a son who has battled with the disease since the age of two. Spease’s family was fortunate enough to be able to afford the care needed in order to combat with epilepsy, but that is not the same for all families who struggle with this disease. The stroll has been a fundraiser for the Medication Epilepsy Fund in North Carolina for over a decade. Athletes from various 49er teams took the time to engage in games with children, make bracelets and dance for the cause. Spease described having the opportunity to connect his fellow 49er family to be “almost emotional.” Kim Whitestone, Senior Athletic Director for Internal Affairs, has been on the forefront for years alongside Spease making this Epilepsy Stroll possible. “We have been doing it so long that it’s actually pretty easy,” Whitestone said. “Once we get our student athletes on board, it’s really a pretty simple event to throw together.” Athletes are a large contribution to this event. “They show up, they are enthusiastic, they enjoy it and it is humbling and heartwarming to see them here engaged with the community and be apart of this,” Spease said The 49ers have created an event that have athletes coming back. “We have student-athletes who leave our program and come back and visit and talk about this event and the impact it had on them,” Whitestone said. Freshmen men’s soccer player Hunter Omli spent his morning working the cornhole station with his fellow teammates. In his first

year at Charlotte, Omli has already valued his opportunities to engage in the community and give back. “Charlotte gives us such a great place to come and help out people, the community here is great,” Omli said. Octavia Wilson from the women’s basketball team isn’t new to community service. While working with the kids is rewarding, Wilson also enjoys interacting with the parents. “I think it’s a good thing that a lot more people should be involved in and just to see a community come together and put a smile on kids but not also kids but their parents faces,” Wilson said. With the epilepsy walk, the attention shifts from athletes to children. For Wilson, she appreciates opportunities like this because “you don’t know what the next person is going through.” The Epilepsy Stroll is not only an eye-opener for student athletes, but for families affected by this disease as well.

Children visit the craft table while participating at the annual Epilepsy Stroll.

A parent and active participant of the epilepsy stroll at Charlotte, Temperance Lykins spends each year being humbled by how lucky her family is. “When you look at others in here, we see that we are blessed because it could be worse than what it is,” Lykins said “I see that there is so much support in this area and I think it’s great we have that to fall back on if we ever need it like raising the money, one day I might have to call and say hey I need help, we are fortunate and blessed that we don’t have to right now but we don’t know what the future holds,” Lykins said Lykins also appreciates the support shown by the 49er athletic teams in sending out members of their teams to help out. “It breaks by heart, but it makes me happy because nobody has to come out here and do this. It is so sweet,” Lykins said. Coaches came out as well in support of the stroll. “As these young man are growing and I get fortunate enough to coach and we are chasing victories and loses and we get caught up in our little world and get caught up in this microcycle,” men’s soccer coach Kevin Langan said. “It’s very important we take a step back and realize we are apart of something much bigger than us, we are very fortunate to be in the position we are and we can give a little bit back it is very important.” While soccer is a large aspect of some of these athletes lives, Langan always want to develop skills for his players off the field. “Student-athletes are not all about soccer and we forget that a lot,” Langan said. “It’s about giving back to the community, helping to grow and develop a fine young man who is well rounded, who gives back to his community, who works hard in the classroom and takes their athletics very seriously so it’s that holistic approach.”

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APR. 10, 2018

LIFESTYLE

My Fair Charlotte By Katherine Herrera

When the fair comes to town, it is the place to be

Fairs are always the best places to go for a good time, especially when it is nice and warm outside. I am from New York and I started going when I was maybe six years-old and went every year with my family. So, I have always loved going to the fair and riding the rides. Ever since I left New York I haven’t been to a fair, so I was filled with excitement because I finally went. The Charlotte Fair had everything for everyone from kid rides to more thrilling rides, games to win prizes, a fun house, magic shows, petting zoo and food! Sounds all great right? Well let me share my experience being at the Charlotte Fair for the first time. I had this excitement about going to the fair for two weeks so the day off, I was happy and excited, I just couldn’t wait for them to open. So, my boyfriend and I go to the fair and we took cash out before we arrived, there are ATMs but personally I would advise to take cash with you. We arrive at the fair hungry, so we went around to find food. We first stopped at a Mexican food truck and we ordered two tacos and a chicken quesadilla. They were good, but they were small portions and weren’t as flavorful as I would have liked compared to a Mexican food truck I have tried somewhere else. We were still hungry, so we decided to try something sweet and we got a funnel cake with fried Oreos. Those were actually pretty good and freshly made. They also have fried Kool-aid! What is fried Kool-aid?! I am not sure because I did not want to find out. While we were finishing up the funnel cake, my boyfriend went to get a pepperoni pizza to try it. It just tasted like regular pizza, but not as good as a New York style pizza. You must be wondering what a mix of food in an hour we had before we got on rides. Personally, I can eat anything and not feel sick on a ride, my boyfriend not so much. But he was okay during the rides until the end of the day we got home and realized it was not the best decision to eat all that food plus burgers from Sonic because we were still hungry. The food wasn’t too bad, but I enjoyed the funnel cake and fried Oreos more. After we ate we stopped by the petting zoo. I love animals and I got to pet the goats, especially the baby ones. They also had pony rides and the ponies

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of course were adorable, but if I’m being honest I did not like how small the enclosure and they were tied to a bar receiving no attention from the owner. I mention this because in New York they had petting zoos and the ponies were able to roam around an enclosure that was big enough and the handlers were around making sure kids were safe as well as the ponies. I always have a heart for them and I wanted to pay just to get them moving or entertained someway. There were so many games you could play there from shooting basketballs to guessing someone’s weight for a prize. The games went all around the fair and you had the people working the games trying to get you to play. At least four of them yelled at my boyfriend to play so he could win a prize for me. Isn’t it cute and romantic if your boyfriend plays a game just to win you a prize? It is cute but unfortunately, I did not have that happen to me because he ignored them and said to me, “you don’t need a prize let keep going.” Well alright then no romance here. It was all okay though because he hesitated to get on the rides, but he had no choice. Just a little payback. We also saw a magic show which was fun, of course it was more for the kids, so we moved on to the rides which is what I have been waiting for. The first one we got on was the Rock and Roll ride and that one was my favorite because the speed increases as it goes around forward and backwards. The next one was Chaos and that one swings you back and forth while it spins. There are a few more thrilling rides to enjoy if you’re into that and of course your classic ferris wheel that I love to get on and enjoy at the end of the night to wind down. You should know it can be a little romantic sitting with your loved one on a ferris wheel. Yet again, I did not have that experience because he said, “lets go, its too cold to stay out here.” Yup okay no romance here, so we left. No worries though, he did ask if I had fun and it was actually cold. The Charlotte Fair will go on until April 15 so make sure you make your way out there with your friends, family or loved one for some fun. I had a great time and enjoyed it all, I hope you guys can make it out there and make your own memories.

Five Reasons Why: You Should Get A Dog In College

By Brianna Sumpter Throughout my college career, I have always heard people say college students are “irresponsible” This has been told to me numerous times, especially in a conversation about taking care of others lives, such as dogs. I have previously tried to adopt a dog from Petsmart and I was told that they try to avoid giving dogs to college students because we are “not stable.” I was finally recently able to adopt a dog and it has been the greatest experience in my life. Now that I have experienced this journey for myself, let me tell you five reasons why you should get a dog in college.

1. They prepare you for future children Dogs take almost the same amount of effort and time children take. To properly take care of a dog, you need to make sure their food has the right amount of nutrition, make sure they use the bathroom frequently, as well as potty-train them. You also have to keep a doctor on file and so many more things. Taking care of a dog in college will prepare you for the parenting life that you might have one day and once that time comes, you will be able to say you’ve had practice.

stimulate them and make sure they get the proper exercise. Since I adopted my dog, I have started hiking and walking through trails at different parks. I have been doing more exercise since I have gotten a dog than before when I did not have one. It may suck sometimes, but maintaining exercise is beneficial for both you and the dog. 5. You have a best friend for life Last but not least, having a dog in college means you have a best friend for life. You have someone to wake up to, someone always happy to see you and someone who will follow you everywhere you go. Someone to experience the highs and the lows of life with and someone that loves you unconditionally. When you’re mad, they will be there and when you need to vent, they’re always there to listen. You have a life long best friend and there is nothing more satisfying than that.

2. They help you set goals I have always struggled to become a morning person. Ever since I have been in college, I have had this goal to wake up at 7 a.m. Monday through Thursday. I want to be able to make a nice breakfast and have a peaceful morning before work and school. Instead, I have been rolling out of bed 20 minutes before I have to be somewhere and praying for the best. Since I got my dog, I have been waking up a lot earlier to take him for walks and play with him. Each day I get closer and closer to waking up at 7 a.m. My dog also keeps me on my toes with the cleanliness of my room. Dogs require a lot of maintenance, so you have no choice but to maintain the space around you and stay on your toes. 3. Dogs are therapeutic It is very easily stated your college years are extremely emotional. Mental breakdowns and anxiety attacks are very familiar. Dogs are the perfect thing to cheer you up on your worst days. Frequently, throughout the year you will see “Rent A Puppy,” a campus event that allows you to pay and play with puppies. It is a very popular event on campus and everyone loves to see the puppies. Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are also more common each year. Dogs have the ability to make you smile on your worst days and make you always feel purposeful. My dog has been the saving grace in my life since he has been in it, and I love that about him. 4. Dogs= Exercise It goes without saying that if you get a dog, you will have to incorporate some kind of exercise in your life. If you get a larger breed, such as a Golden Retriever, a Boxer, a Pitbull or many more, you are going to want to take them out for daily walks or runs and incorporate activities that are going to

NINERTIMES.COM

APR. 10, 2018

12 APR. 10, 2018

NINERTIMES