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Welcome to unc Charlotte WE’RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU IN THE NINER FAMILY

hunter heilman EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Congratulations on winning the parenting game by raising your child to be a new UNC Charlotte student! We welcome you to the 49er Family. After 18 years of backbreaking parenting, the time has come in just a few short months, to let your baby birds leave the nest.

Despite all this hard work, saying goodbye is never easy, even if you will still be in close contact and see them on some weekends.

I assure you that your child is far more nervous about this transition than you are, so your unconditional support during this important time is vital to your child’s success here at UNC Charlotte.

This Survival Guide is to help ease the pain of this time and to give you tips on how to take your child’s freshman year by the horns. While you’ll come across many tips in this guide, here are a few of my own.

Don’t Hover

You’re going to want to know what your child is doing in college, which is a completely understandable feeling. Yet, college is the time for your child to develop a sense of independence and adulthood, and it’s really hard to do that with a parent constantly down your back about every single thing that you’re doing.

Trust that your previous 18 years of parenting have prepared them to properly adjust themselves to the college life and to make the right decisions while here. You might not agree with everything your child does, but trust that it’s helping in shaping them as functional members of society.

Embrace Their Mistakes

Your child is going to learn a lot in their numerous classes, but the most valuable lessons are going to come from the mistakes that are made throughout their years in college. Trust me, I learned more in losing my memory card with an entire short film on it for a class than I actually did shooting said short film.

Embrace that mistakes are going to come and that there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Looking at these mistakes as

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learning experiences rather than failures is going to help everyone move on from them more efficiently and will hammer in the morals learned from the mistake.

Do not resist change

Here is the big one. Like it or not, college changes people, and that very well might happen to your child in their time here. In finding out who they are as adults, your child, as well as every other person on this campus, grows from the change in lifestyle they begin to experience from living alone and being surrounded by such diverse students.

Don’t resist this change, because while you might not always agree with it, there’s no way to truly stop it, and that’s okay.

Change is perfectly natural and trust that these changes are coming in your child’s search for their sense of self and happiness, which always should take precedence.

“Treat yo’ self”

This is especially applicable to those with an empty nest. You’ve done well as parents, and you deserve a break. Sit back, take a breather, and be proud of everything that you’ve done to help motivate your child get to where they are today. Not only that, you should be proud about everything your child has done too, and how their experience here at UNC Charlotte is going to shape them further.

At the very least, you deserve that. But beyond the bare minimum, try to treat yourself to something nice for your amazing work as parents. Money might be tight, as we all know that a college education doesn’t come cheap, but even the smallest of rewards can remind you of everything you and your child have done to get to this point.

We’re so excited to have you in our 49er family, welcome aboard.

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student union guide

Take a look at one of the most highly trafficked buildings on campus

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stephanie trefzger STAFF WRITER

According to the online site bestcollegevalues.org, UNC Charlotte has the sixth best student union in the country. Not to brag, but it is pretty great. Because the union is the most central part of campus, it is highly trafficked by both student organizations and individual students who want to meet friends.

For whatever you need, chances are that Student Union is the place you’ll find it.

Dining

Stereotypes of the “broke college student” are true, so is the “freshman 15,” and students should have no fear of going hungry on UNC Charlotte’s campus. As a requirement, every resident on campus must have some kind of meal plan that they will be able to use in restaurants on campus. Crown Commons, the Union’s dining hall, is the place for students who love variety. The buffet-style dining hall offers everything from a pizza bar, salad bar, and a grill which offers

burgers and fries, to a soup section, international foods section, and extensive dessert options.

Bistro 49, found on the second floor of the union, offers a more gourmet take on-campus dining. For around $14 per meal, students have access to made-to- order meals made from local and fresh ingredients and prepared by experienced cooks, delivered by servers If a student is running late or is in the mood for something of the fast food variety, the first floor of the union is the place to go. In addition to full-service franchise Wendy’s, Bojangles, and Starbucks, the Union is also home to Einstein Bros. Bagels, great for breakfast and lunch.

Entertainment

The Union is a great place to go to meet up with friends. One of the best places for this is the movie theater, which is free for students and only $2 for their guests. The theater shows recently-released movies three

times a day from Thursday through Sunday and has a concession stand for all popcorn and candy needs. It is also available to reserve for student organizations throughout the week.

For those who like to see unique art created by students, the union is also home to one of the many art galleries on campus.

Norm’s, a gaming space complete with pool tables, card tables, and televisions, is also found on the first floor of the union.

Retail

Outtakes is an on-campus convenience store great for more on-the-go type snacks. While offering a variety of healthy snacks such as fruits and granola bars, they also sell foods meant to satisfy cravings such as ice cream and ramen.

UNCC’s Barnes & Noble location is known to most students, as the place to purchase and pick up textbooks they need for class.

However, it also stocks Niner merchandise, snacks, magazines, and

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books to read for fun.

In a small hallway next to Barnes & Noble are a number of other useful services including UNC Charlotte’s on-campus hair salon. Its licensed professionals are experienced in everything hair-related that anyone could need regardless of hair length, texture, or density.

Across from the hair salon is the NinerTech Computer Store, which is the place to go for computer repairs and accessories. The store often offers special deals for students who buy their laptops from them. And no need to stand in long lines at the post office anymore, because Campus Station is an official US Passport processing station. They take those annoyingly specific passport photos and fax out all of the necessary documents for a flat rate.

They also rent out union-based mailboxes and sell balloons.

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Avoiding the Helicopter Parent Trap Ensuring a successful college transition for students nikki martin

EDUCATIONDYNAMICS

The transition to college is no longer simply a student adjustment, it’s an adjustment for the entire family. According to the Enrollment & Retention Services Division of EducationDynamics, parents can easily avoid the “helicopter parent” trap, maintain a positive relationship with their child, and contribute to their child’s collegiate success by maintaining the right balance of involvement and support of their child’s transition to college.

“Helicopter parents have received a bad rap, but the reality is, some level of parental involvement is necessary for a student’s successful transition to college,” says Dr. Adam Troy, director of research for the Enrollment & Retention Services Division of EducationDynamics. “The keys to a successful college transition for the entire family include encouraging self-reliance, engaging in intentional communication and embracing change.”

To help embrace parents in the process, schools are developing online communities and social networks specifically for parents, such as EducationDynamics’ First-Year Retention and Engagement Program (FYReTM) for parents. The program helps institutions build an alliance with parents through tailored content and custom surveys, among other tools.

University of Alabama uses EducationDynamics’ FYRe Program to engage both students and parents.

Dr. Jennifer Jones, assistant professor of higher education administration at the University of Alabama, who has overseen the program, offers a list of 10 considerations parents of college-bound students should keep in mind to maintain a positive relationship with their child and help ensure their child’s success.This advice con8

sists of these recommendations: 1. Give Your Child a Voice: If your child has a college-centered question or concern, encourage him/her to make the call to the appropriate person at their university. Empowering your child to speak on his or her own behalf builds confidence and fosters independence.

2. Create Problem Solvers: Let

tations regarding home visits, phone calls, money matters, and academic performance; do not assume you and your child have the same expectations and philosophies. Be clear about what you expect and what will happen if those expectations are not met.

4. Review Basic Money and Time

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your child be the principle problem solver when faced with challenges.

You can continue to provide guidance, but your child needs to be able to negotiate the challenges of daily life. College is a good time to practice this skill.

3. Be Clear about Expectations: Be clear with your child about expec-

Management Skills: Teach your child about time and money management. Place the responsibility on your child to manage his or her bank accounts and payment deadlines. Having to pay a late fee can be an inexpensive lesson with minimal consequences that can teach your child responsibility.

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5. Revisit Touchy Conversations: Ask questions such as “How are you going to handle it if there is alcohol at a party?” or “What are you going to do if you are having trouble in a class?” Addressing touchy topics in advance will encourage your student to anticipate possible conflicts they may face and consider possible ways to address the conflicts before they occur.

6. Expect Drama: When drama ensues, consider the possibility that the situation may not be as bad as it sounds. Instead of calling in the cavalry, listen and empathize. Give your child someone safe to talk to without jumping in to offer solutions that “save the day.”

7. Embrace Change: Remember that your child’s collegiate independence is a credit to you, not a personal affront. The reality is that your child does not need you less, just in a different way.

8. Recognize Your Transition: A large majority of “helicopter parent” behavior stems from a lack of recognition that parents are going through their own transition. Recognize that your life is going to be different and you may face difficult days due to the loss of your previous routine. Prepare for the transition; build up your support system and plan activities for yourself.

9. Know Your Resources: Find ways to be productively involved in the college community through parent associations or online parent programs provided by your child’s school.

Colleges do not want to cut you off from your child; they just want you to assume a support role to help ensure your child’s success.

10. Remember the Parent Honor Code: The parent honor code should be a mantra for any parent of a college-bound teen. “On my honor, I will try, to allow my child to be an adult, even if it stinks for me.”

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healing hearts, healing minds GET TO KNOW THE SERVICES AND DETAILS OF THE UNC CHARLOTTE COUNSELING CENTER

stephanie trefzger STAFF WRITER

One inconvenient truth of life is that sometimes it gets hard for everyone, and for college students, it’s no exception.

According to a study by the American College Health Association, 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 battling this statistic partially through its Counseling Center, located on Belk Plaza.

Psychologists and social workers help students better their relationships with both themselves and the people around them by encouraging them to “explore and express feelings, examine beliefs and ways of thinking about the world, reflect on patterns of behavior, and work toward making healthy changes.” There are a few options for students who wish to partake in counseling. Students can have up to 12 free sessions, lasting for 45-50 minutes of individual counseling per year, or they can join one of the many weekly group counseling sessions in which they can meet for about an hour and a half with a counselor and other students to discuss topics such as stress, academic success,

and dealing with family issues. The UNC Charlotte counseling center also offers relationship counseling, where couples can meet to improve their intimate relationships.

Many people fear that the things they talk about with their counselor will be shared with others, but the counseling center follows the ethical codes set forth 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. Though, there are three exceptions to the confidentiality rule: 1. If the student clearly likely to do physical harm to themselves or another person in the near future, it is the counselor’s duty to take steps to protect their safety and the safety of others.

2. If they share information about currently-occurring abuse or neglect of any juvenile(s) or disabled adult(s), the counselor may be required by state law to re-

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port that information to the Department of Social Services.

3. If ordered to do so by a judge as part of judicial proceedings.

The counselors are also dedicated to creating safe spaces for students of all backgrounds including individuals identifying as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Diversity is very important to the staff, and according to their website, “[they] understand diversity to include, but not be limited to: race, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socioeconomic status. [They] are committed to serving students and the campus community at UNC Charlotte by striving for social justice through increasing awareness of the effects of oppression, prejudice, and discrimination.

Students can make an appointment by calling 704-687-0311. Stop by their office in the Atkins 158 building. Get more information by visiting counselingcenter. uncc.edu for more information.

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on-campus treatment available at the Health Center kathleen cook SPORTS EDITOR

College is filled with new experiences, new friends and new germs.

It is very common for college students to become sick very easily during their stay on-campus. The Student Health Center is the place to go whenever you are feeling under the weather.

The center’s current location was completed in 2007 and it takes up almost 32,000 square feet. Inside the center sits 21 medical exam rooms, two of which are negative pressure rooms that are used to prevent the spread of viral bacteria.

The Student Health Center has services for medical care, disease prevention, wellness promotion and a wide variety of other educational resources that prove valuable for students. The staff is a knowledgable source in many different avenues of life. On hand at the center are experienced medical doctors, pharmacists, physician assistants, family nurse practitioners, a squad of nurses and a psychiatrist.

There are a lot of services that are offered at the Center that are unknown to students.

If a student is injured while playing a sport or has a surgical procedure that requires physical therapy, that therapy can be done on-campus at the Student Health Center, all students need is a referral from their doctor. Also located in the center is an on-site pharmacy to which students can have their prescriptions sent and their medical records will be kept.

Other services offered in the center are physicals, gynecological services, birth control, STD and HIV screenings and the treatment of pain, asthma, pneumonia and injuries. X-ray machines are found onsite for practitioners to use. There are also professionals available that specialized in areas such as nutrition, women’s health, wellness, sports,

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NT FILE PHOTO and allergies among other fields.

The major plus to visiting the Student Health Center is the cost, or the absence of cost. It is free for students to see a physician, physician assistant, nurse, nurse practitioner, health education consultant or physical therapist. Not everything is costless however, there are some services that have costs coupled with them. Students can make nonemergency appointments online through their Starfish accounts and prescription refills can also be made online or in person.

The Student Health Center operates Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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a visual tour of campus CATO TEACHING DISCOVERY MURAL

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JERRY RICHARDSON STADIUM

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plan ahead for parking PARKING ON CAMPUS IS MESSY IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE RULES

NAVIGATING THE ON-CAMPUS PARKING OPTIONS

stephanie trefzger STAFF WRITER

One of the biggest concerns for students and their parents upon move-in is parking. There is a lot of information to learn surrounding parking such as which passes to get and where to park. With a student population of 28,000 that is only growing, it may seem that finding parking is impossible, but thanks to tips from the dedicated people at the Parking and Transportation Services (PATS), the inevitable pain of parking is short-lived.

Parking permits are required to park on campus and are best ordered online at pats.uncc.edu to avoid long lines. There are seven different types of permits, but the two most common are the resident pass for those who live on campus and the commuter pass for those who commute to campus every day.

Prices are available on the PATS website.

There is no sugarcoating it, the ideal parking space is hard to find, so it is advised that students plan out their schedule to find parking closest to the building where their classes are. The “good” parking lots, the East Decks, Union Deck, West Deck and the lots closest to them tend to fill up quickly and early, usually by 8:45am. Don’t fret if those lots do happen to be full, though. Students can park in areas toward the edges of campus and take the shuttle in. According to their website, “lesser used” areas include the lower level of Lot 6 (on Cameron Boulevard near Campus Edge Apartments) which is on the Rt. 50 Red Line, or the back end of Lot 5 or 5A near Martin Village, where a path through the gardens 16

PARKING IN A LOT WITHOUT THE CORRECT PARKING PERMIT CAN RESULT IN AN EXPENSIVE TICKET. NT FILE PHOTO

takes you straight to McEniry.

A school this size gets a good number of visitors. There are five visitor decks on campus: Cone Visitor Deck, Union Visitor Deck, Visitor parking at East Deck 1, Visitor parking at South Village Deck (Level 1 Only), and Visitor parking at CRI Deck 1. Currently, visitor lots are $1 per half hour and a maximum amount of $10 per visit per day, but prices are subject to change. For shorter visits, there is metered parking in many areas all around campus.

Metered parking is limited and fills quickly. Meters cost 50 cents per 15

minutes and accept nickels, dimes, and quarters only. Pay-by-space parking is available in Lot 4, Lot 30 (time limited), and Lot 28 (ADA only). Pay-by-space stations accept coins (nickels, dimes, quarters, and $1 coins) and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express).

While PATS are nice enough to provide students with parking tips, they are also the ones who enforce the rules, patrolling the parking decks and lots. Anyone found not obeying the stated rules will find themselves with a citation and a fine and maybe even a boot. Failure to pay the fines will have further

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consequences. While appeals are granted, it is rare and under only special circumstances. Lack of knowledge of the parking rules is not grounds for an appeal, so keep in mind that parking may be limited and change during game days and special events or even around construction work. Plan ahead and arrive early to save the trouble of being late.

More information about PATS, parking permits and parking in general can be found at pats.uncc. edu

levine hall THE NEW STANDARD OF UNC CHARLOTTE LIVING

diane gromelski COPY EDITOR

Levine Hall, a new residence hall geared toward honors students, is under construction and will open in late fall 2016. The building is named for longtime UNC Charlotte donors Leon and Sandra Levine and is located in South Village near the entrance of campus.

While the more than 400 residents will not be required to be in an honors program, housing spaces are reserved for Levine Scholars and members of the Honors College and the building will also house the administrative offices of both the Honors College and the Levine Scholars program.

Like many of the recently constructed buildings on campus, Levine Hall is designed to promote academic and social interaction among students and professors. The building will not only contain student suites and apartments, but it will also have kitchens and lounges, faculty

workspaces, classrooms, student study areas and seminar spaces that can be combined to host large events.

Honors housing is currently located in Witherspoon Hall in North Village, isolating the primarily freshmen students that reside there from the other freshmen who live in South Village. Junior Christopher Dong, a member of the Political Science Honors Program, said he believes the transition from Witherspoon to South Village will allow honors students more opportunities to interact with other students.

“As honors students, part of our role on campus is to be role models for others, and it is important for us to be visible and interact with other students in order to do that,” Dong said.

“Also, it will be cool to have a space where all of the honors programs can host events and guest speakers because there isn’t currently very much

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interaction between the different programs.”

The Honors College has assembled a committee composed of Housing and Residence Life staff as well as students and program directors from the various honors programs on campus. The committee will provide input on logistics, programming and visiting scholars and guest speakers.

The residence hall offers housing options in the form of one, two, three and four person suites, as well as four person apartments.

Because students will not be able to move into the residence hall until late in the fall semester, new students will be temporarily housed in Sanford Hall while students returning to housing can either choose to stay in their current assignment or in another available room on campus.

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three reasons to go to a 49er football game

kathleen cook SPORTS EDITOR

A new school year also means a new football season. The Charlotte football program got its start with practices in 2012 and played their first game the fall of 2013. Though the football program is still in its early stages, the team is rapidly growing. Last year was the squad’s inaugural Conference USA season and this year is the first bowl-eligible year for the Niners. While the football team is spending the summer preparing to take on its first bowl-eligible season, here are three reasons why you should come out and support your Niners

Tailgating

Around 8 a.m. on game day, students can be found pitching tents, placing cornhole boards and setting up food in anticipation of the crowd that will arrive in a few short hours. The tailgating scene is one that is quickly escalating with crowds growing with each game. Students from all different groups can be found hanging out in the ‘sand lot’ before each game – from frats to church groups all walks of life are represented. The ‘sand lot’ refers to the grassy patch behind the alumni pavilion along the walkway to the stadium. Just follow the sound of the thumping base – you can’t miss it. As long as you are decked out in

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your best Niner apparel, you will be sure to fit right in.

Atmosphere

In addition to joining C-USA last season, the Niners added lights to Jerry Richardson stadium. The lights allowed Charlotte to have the full football experience with the first night game on Sept. 26 against Florida Atlantic. With the addition of lights fans are allowed a full day experience instead of the early mornings that noon kickoffs call for. Another new sight for Niner fans last season was the presence of an entire marching band dubbed the “Pride of Niner Nation.” Prior to the full-fledge band, Charlotte fans were entertained by the drum line, but the full out marching band exudes college football. The band gives the fans a great show before and after the game, as well as musical interludes during the game. The lights and band only added to the already amazing atmosphere available at the games. The job done by the marketing and athletic departments to games have really paid off and created a stellar scene at each home game.

Bowl Eligibility

For the first time in school history the football team is eligible for a bowl game.

The team has done major preparations to

put themselves in position to be playing in December. This past offseason, Charlotte received their first four-star recruit in FIND OUT. They also received starting quarterback Kevin Olsen as a mid-year transfer from a California community college. Returning from last season is junior running back Kalif Phillips. Phillips was ranked fifth in C-USA rushing yards with 961 yards last season, he also made second team all-conference. Joining Phillips on the field for the last time is wide receiver Austin Duke. Duke has led the 49ers in receiving yards with over 2600 career yards.

He has played in all 34 of the program’s football games. When this new talent is paired with the seasoned veterans on the Charlotte team, the outlook is bright for the Charlotte football team.

The team can always be found on the sidelines each Saturday, and you should always be found in Jerry Richardson too.

In order for a team to succeed, they must have support from their peers. With such a young program, it is exciting to experience it grow. Students need to make it a priority to support the boys of fall during the first few weeks of school.

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light rail speeds into campus PROJECT COMPLETION SLATED FOR 2017 leanna pough INSIDE UNC CHARLOTTE REPRINTED WITH PMISSION

UNC Charlotte is a vibrant, expanding institution, and the University is making plans for another transformational jewel in its crown.

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE) is an approximately nine-mile addition to the Queen City’s existing light rail service that will connect UNC Charlotte Center City and the main campus. There will be two stations that will provide service to the University.

Scheduled for completion in summer 2017, the Blue Line Extension will add stations along the light rail’s path from I-485 at South Boulevard to its terminus, the UNC Charlotte Main Station across from Wallis Hall near the Student Union and the North Deck. A total of 11 new light rail stations will provide service along the extension.

As construction moves forward, contractors aren’t the only people on the job. UNC Charlotte is working behind the scenes to prepare the

campus community for light rail.

The Light Rail Coordinating Committee (LRCC) was chartered by Chancellor Philip L. Dubois in 2015. Led by Beth Hardin, vice chancellor for business affairs, and Betty Doster, special assistant to the chancellor for constituent relations, the LRCC serves as UNC Charlotte’s planning team during the construction and introduction of the BLE to the University community.

The committee consists of four working groups: ridership, construction, security and communication. It is working closely with CATS and others to ensure that light rail is implemented for the convenience of students, staff, faculty, alumni and visitors.

UNC Charlotte’s Police and Public Safety Department will work with CATS security and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department to ensure rider safety; the University ridership

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group is partnering with CATS to determine the cost of an access pass for members of the campus community and to develop a more robust campus shuttle system that coincides with the light rail schedule. Teams have joined forces to produce a ridership survey and an analysis of where members of the campus community commute from to determine demand for both bus and light rail ridership.

The communication group is developing a website dedicated to the BLE, expected to launch in late May. The LRCC also is developing a comprehensive internal and external communication plan.

See more at: http://inside.uncc.edu/newsfeatures/2016-05-04/coordinating-committeeprepares-arrival-light-rail#sthash.vPjI61Sl.dpuf

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Dining on campus THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF PLACES TO EAT AT UNC CHARLOTTE

lou-ann lamb GUEST EDITOR

For many new students, the large number of campus dining options appears overwhelming at first. Choosing a meal plan that best fits a new college lifestyle you’ve yet to experience is daunting as well. But the important thing to know is actually quite simple; meal plans consist of two parts: 1. Meal swipes for the all-youcare-to-eat dining halls, and 2. Declining balance (DB) to use in the retail locations.

Meal swipes

UNC Charlotte has two all-youcare-to-eat dining hall options: SoVi at South Village Crossing and Crown Commons in the Student Union. Both dining halls serve breakfast, lunch and dinner (brunch and dinner on weekends) and a meal swipe is used every time you go in.

Some meal plans offer and “unlimited” number of swipes which is nice for those who like a lot of small meals during the day.

Other plans have a set number, or “block” of swipes to be used over the course of the semester.

Both dining halls are modern and designed around an “action station” model, where almost all the cooking is on open display and prepared made-to-order.

SoVi is the larger and newest of the two, with meals produced in small batches and served tapasstyle on little plates. Benefits to this culinary trend are brighter flavor, eye-appeal, and portion awareness. It also makes assembling a balanced meal easier and with less waste. But it’s not restrictive; students can go back for as much as they want.

Crown Commons and SoVi offer much variety daily and there’s always something for vegetarians, vegans and those who avoid gluten. A registered dietician will personally advise you on what 20

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to look for and how to maximize the dining hall experience around food preferences. All you have to do is ask.

Declining Balance

The Declining Balance (DB) part of a meal plan is a dollar amount for use at retail dining locations like Wendy’s and Chick-fil-A and also at campus convenience stores and sports/ theater concessions. DB can be used all semester. Block meal plans have more DB attached than Unlimited plans.

Choosing a plan

Factors to consider: Look at your class schedule.

Figure out how many sit-down meals you will likely eat during an average week at Crown

Commons or SoVi How many quick and grab-andgo meals will you need?

Where will you be living? First year students living on campus are required to purchase a meal plan as part of their housing agreement. Freshmen who live off campus and commute are not required to purchase a meal plan but they may want one for the reasons of convenience and the assurance of being able to eat all semester.

You can find out more about all the meal plans UNC Charlotte offers at aux.uncc.edu/mealplans.

Or you can get advice from a meal plans specialist at 704-687-7337.

Where’s the food?

South Village Crossing, located next to the Hunt Hall and the

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high rise residences, features three dining venues in addition to SoVi dining hall: The Den

by Denny’s, SoVi2Go, and SoVi Market + Bakery. SoVi2Go offers take-out meals; both meal swipes and DB are accepted. SoVi Market + Bakery is a convenience store with a fresh pastry case and The Den fills the need for a late-night option; it’s open until midnight.

The Student Union where you’ll find Crown Commons and on the same level, is also the fullservice lunch restaurant, Bistro 49, serving a seasonal menu. On the main level of the Union is a retail food court with Wendy’s, Bojangles’ and Einstein Bros.

Bagels. Nearby, off the Union rotunda are Starbucks Coffee and an Outtakes convenience store.

Wendy’s and Outtakes serve the

Student Union’s late-night crowd; both stay open until 12:30 AM. The Prospector building, positioned in the center of campus, is home to UNC Charlotte’s most popular brand, Chick-fil-A. With many classes ending at 12:20, the lunchtime line get long. But don’t let that stand between you and a chicken sandwich! The line really does move quickly.

Also in Prospector is Feisty’s, serving breakfast sandwiches in the morning and hot dogs, fries and melts during lunch hours.

In addition, there’s Salsarita’s (Mexican), Mondo Subs, Mamma

Leone’s, (pizza and pasta) and Za’tar (Mediterranean-style gyros, salad and falafel).

Nearby Main Street Market in the Cone Center is where you’ll find Subway, Panda Express and Panda Sushi.

The dining landscape at UNC Charlotte is always changing and adjusting to better serve UNC Charlotte students and staff.

Don’t be surprised if there new venues and improvements by the time classes start!

You can find a dining map, complete list of dining venues and dining hours at aux.uncc.edu/ dining.

SOVI OFFERS SEVERAL FOOD CHOICES FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER.

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letting go 101

THE BASICS OF NOT BECOMING A HELICOPTER PARENT

hailey turpin LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Before you know it, you’ll be dropping off your young and eager student for the first time at this wonderful university. You’ll see the happiness in their eyes, and wonder if they will make it on their own, and you’ll wonder if you’ll be ready to swallow the idea of letting go.

You raised this child with your morals, thoughts and beliefs and you hope they stick with them. It’s easy to tear up a little. It’s not easy leaving your child miles away from home, but we’re here to help.

Here are some tips and things to remember if you have a case of empty nest syndrome.

Remember why your child is here. College has a lot of things that come along with academics, but ultimately we as students come to college to further our education and to make a career for ourselves. Sure, there are other aspects to what college is, like making lifelong friends and networking with future employers and others to help us in the long run. Your child is starting their future, learning how to live on their own, and it’s important to let them make decisions for themselves. You taught them right from wrong, let them implement those teachings in their lives.

You’ll always be our parents. It’s that once you

leave home, you appreciate your parents more. Children never believed this until they were actually on their own, and having to do adult things. They realize that they should have listened to all of your constant requests to clean their room and to put up the dishes.

Now they know that you were preparing them for our time away from home, and trust me, it stuck. They are now thankful for the times of nagging and telling them to do things around the house because they will use those acquired skills every day at school. You raised them to do the right things, and even though they won’t be at home, they will never forget where they came from, and where they belong.

Trust me, new students are just as terrified as you, being all on their own makes them anxious, but their excitement helps to balance out the nerves. They are here at this university to help shape their future. Have faith that you raised them right, and let them prove to you just how much you did for them, and how well you raised them.

So when the time comes that you drive away on move in day, remember that you helped your student get here, and that sooner or later, they will come back home to you.

DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES THAT HAN AND LEIA DID. (LUCASFILM)

Think of the free time you’ll have. Look on the

bright side, and take advantage of the free time you’ll have. You won’t have to hear them complain about things every day, you don’t have to worry about them doing chores or forgetting things you told them, because they are away worrying about all the things they have to do. So sit back, take a breath. This time is a great time to take up a new hobby, like spin class, painting, or trying the things you’ve always wanted to.

They know you’ll always be here for them.

Even with their busy schedule, they can still call you up and talk to you about how their lives are. They know that if they need a little encouragement or just someone to talk to, you will be there with open arms and ears to listen to what they have to say. Even when they are slammed with essays, assignments and finals at the end of the year, you’ll be there to hear about it all and to encourage them to always do their best.

PARENT SURVIVAL GUIDE

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A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA