GREEN SPACES

LIFESTYLE

OPINION

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

Does campus need any more green spaces or are there plenty for UNC Charlotte students to enjoy?

ITS TIME TO FIND YOU STUDY NOOK

Do you have a secret spot to study on campus or do you resort to your dorm or apartment?

Take a look at some of the Niner Times’ favorite places to crack open a textbook.

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NINERTIMES Thursday, March 29, 2012

Published twice weekly and online at www.nineronline.com

A product of Student Niner Media • The University of North Carolina at Charlotte • Partially funded by Student Fees • Breaking News? Email us at editor@nineronline.com or call 704.687.7148

New on NinerOnline.com: Find out UNC Charlotte’s new Student Body President Thursday afternoon.

Everybody do your share Slam dunk for the children Eden Creamer ECREAMER@UNCC.EDU

Chi Phi Fraternity is working to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club of America with a basketball tournament. The tournament, called the Chi Phi Slam Jam Basketball Tournament, is a four-onfour basketball competition which will take place April 21, and 22, 2012. This is the second year that the fraternity is hosting this event. Last year the event went well, according to Drew Tweardy, a member of the Chi Phi Fratnerity. “We had 14 teams participate and we raised a lot of money. It was really good,” he said. This year they expect a larger turn out than last year for a few reasons. “Our prizes are better this year,” said Tweardy. “We expect to have more teams sign up.” The first place team will receive $300 and the top three teams will receive trophies. All participants will also receive a t-shirt. The fraternity decided to host this event as a different way to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club of America, which is their fraternity’s designated philanthropy group. Last year when the event was first planned, Tweardy says it was somewhat

Students, faculty and staff work together to clean up the campus once a semester at the bi-annual Campus Clean Up Day. Photos courtesy of the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling Ciera Choate NEWS@NINERONLINE.COM

UNC Charlotte’s Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling will host their seventh bi-annual Campus Clean-Up Day Wednesday, April 4, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The organization will set up tables in the courtyard between the College of Health and Human Services and the College of Education and by the Belk Tower. “The grounds department does a great job [keeping the campus clean], but they have a lot more things they have to take care of,” said Devin Hatley with the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling, about why they host the event every semester. The organization expects about 150 to 200 people to participate based on past semesters, including some student organizations on campus including the World Mission Society of Christ, the engineering fraternity Tau Alpha Phi and others. Although not all groups are able to par-

OPINION Freshman Fireside:

The freshman college experience summed up by a bottle of ketchup.

A Call to Recycle: Have you ever noticed that some students fail to use the plethora of recycling opportunities on campus?

Political Candidates: Why

ticipate at the specified time the recycling office has worked with them to clean up at a different time. With hopes of getting as much help as possible Hatley encourages students to come out for “just 10 minutes if you want to,” and help out in any way. To encourage faculty and staff participation Chancellor Philip Dubois has allotted 90 minutes of free time for all university employees to help out in the campus clean up. According to Hatley, the main focus will be on the parking decks, Toby Creek, Highway 49 and Highway 29 due to the litter from the commuter population driving by the school. All students, faculty and staff can participate. All individuals can stop by any time without signing up prior to the event, but all groups with over 15 people must contact Hatley at dlhatley@uncc.edu before coming to participate in the clean up.

Four apps that help you stay fit on campus

Barry Falls Jr

B FA L L S 4 @ U N C C . E D U

NEWS

A&E

SPORTS

ZOMBIES RETURN TO CAMPUS

Hunger Games: Review of the film and the connection to North Carolina and Charlotte.

WEEKLY NINER REPORT

Comedy: Rory Scovel a local comedian heads to Charlotte on March 28, 2012.

Watch out for flying nerf darts because Niners vs. Zombies has returned to UNC Charlotte.

UNC Charlotte Film: Erick Button a UNC Charlotte senior and president of the UNC Charlotte Film Club talks about his films.

do some candidates assume that certain demographics will vote for them?

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SLAM JAM p.4

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Fill your need for Niner athletics with an overview of last weeks scores, awards and updates. Don’t forget to catch Charlotte Softball this weekend against N.C. State. p.3

Between classes and work, managing to stay fit on campus can seem like an unreasonable goal to achieve. With the arrival of some advanced, userfriendly phone applications, it has become easier and easier to stay fit on campus without having to hire a professional trainer or nutritionist. You already use your Apple/Andriod device for listening to music, watching movies and TV, taking picture and organizing your schedule. Why not use it to stay fit and healthy? Some apps can assist you reaching your fitness goals, while others are wastes of time and money. Here, Niner Times explores four of our favorite apps that have helped us stay fit and healthy on campus. APPS p.11

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

NINERTIMES

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

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NINERS

VS.

UNC Charlotte students are spending the week in a fight of life versus zombiehood as the humans try to stay human and the zombies try to grow their numbers by killing the humans one by one. Photos by Ciera Choate Eden Creamer ECREAMER@UNCC.EDU

Creeping in the shadows and under bridges. Lurking in doorways. Surrounding every exit of every building. Waiting. Watching. Hoping. Armed, but not that dangerous. That’s right, it’s Niners versus Zombies time here at UNC Charlotte. For one week, from Saturday, March 25, through Saturday, April 1, students across the university are captivated by this outdoor excursion. Last fall about 400 students participated and this semester there are 250 fighting the war straight out of a horror movie. Andrew Nome, a UNC Charlotte zombie who is one of the lead players this semester, explains why the numbers are slimmer this semester. “There’s apparently a lot of people with allergies and exams, and stuff that they were worrying about during the spring,” said Nome. For those who prefer not to pick sides on this battle the rules may seem complicated. At first there is only one zombie and all other participants are humans. These early humans are only equipped with socks and marshmallows to ward off any attacking zombies.

When a zombie touches a human, the human is turned into a zombie and the army of the undead grows. When a human hits a zombie with whatever ammo they are using, the zombie is stunned for 15 minutes and then may return to the game. After the first few days, humans may trade in their socks and marshmallows for Nerf six-shooters or ring guns. On the last day any humans that have survived the week may use fully automatic Nerf guns to

games with Nerf guns. “You ever play like cowboys and Indians or super-soaker fights in the yard? Wasn’t that fun? This is a lot of fun, and it’s during a stressful time of year,” said Nome. Price Osmond, a human and known around campus the guy in the robe, participated in the event last year and thinks it is a fun way to spend time. “It’s just a lot of fun and it’s a great way to blow off some steam before exams,” said Osmond. Andrew Kerr, a zombie, believes that the fight between the living and the undead is a great way for anyone to experience something new. “You can nerd it out without feeling bad,” said Kerr. Apart from the opportunity to blow off steam before exams begin, the game allows students who have never met before to get a chance to get to know each other. “You meet a lot of new people. It’s like a community. I met [my girlfriend] the second semester I was playing and we’re still dating,” said Steven Kleinheinz, a zombie. While it is too late to participate in this year’s war, students are welcome and encouraged to consider picking up a Nerf gun in future semesters. “We get out, we have a lot of fun, we make new friends and we hunt people.” said Nome.

“We get out, we have a lot of fun, we make new friends and we hunt people.” -Andrew Nome attack the zombie army. Next year, says Nome, the group is hoping to become an official university organization. This would entitle them to funding like other organizations on campus. As of now, money for the headbands all participants wear comes out of Nome’s pocket. “We had to sit there and cut out all of those two by 18 inch strips,” said Nome. But this time money went to a well deserving cause, at least in Nome’s eyes. There are plenty of reasons why students participate in the game. Nome compares the fight between humans and zombies to childhood

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

Spring into a new job The Spring Career Expo will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Student Activity Center and is open to all UNC Charlotte students. Alan Kelly AKELLE20@UNCC.EDU

UNC Charlotte’s Career Center will host their Spring Career Expo April 3 from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Student Activity Center (SAC). According to the Career Fair, students need to prepare for the event with a professional resume and proper attire. The University Career Center is extending their drop-in hours to 5 p.m., on March 30 and April 2, for resume critiques or any addition help a student may need before the fair. Information pertaining to what to wear and online workshops are available at the Career Center’s website. For some students this will be their first career expo and for others it is routine. The Career Center receives a lot of questions prior to a career expo such as how many people get hired, what questions they should ask the representatives of the companies, and what is appropriate to wear. Not all employers offer on-the-spot interviews and most will still want students to visit their site or have a more in-depth interview. But according to the Center Center, students better their chances of getting an interview whenever they present a professional demeanor, talk about their

career goals and have a resume that highlights their qualifications. One-hundred and twelve organizations attended last fall’s expo collecting over 3,300 resumes and conducting almost 500 interviews at the event. Collectively, they represented over 5,700 job vacancies. According to employers, many of the jobs and internships they offered were to candidates that they first met at career fairs. Employment and networking practice are some reasons the Career Center holds the fair, but students can learn a lot about their career options and how to break into certain industries from attending the Spring Career Expo and talking to the employers. Some employers will also be offering internships or co-ops, and several graduate schools recruiting for their programs will be there as well. The Career Center suggests that students bring a folder to hold business cards and other materials they get from recruiters and professional dress. They also suggest students leave their bookbags in their car or at home and avoid jeans, t-shirts and flip flops. If students have any other questions they can stop by or call the Career Center. 704-687-0789; http://career.uncc.edu .

Companies attending the Career Fair Apple Retail Chicago Pneumatic Retail Tool Company Esri Integration Point, Inc. Liberty Mutual Insurance Peace Corps Stealth Components U.S. Department of State

IDHUNTER@UNCC.EDU

With registration time here many students are planning for the upcoming semester and while most may focus on classes offered by their department there are other options for students, such as independent studies where students and professors work one on one. According to Dr. Margaret Morgan, an Associate Professor of English at UNC Charlotte, independent studies are designated courses that the university offers in which the professor sets up a special program for individual students. Topics can be a range of different subjects based on the interests of the student. “I’ve had directed readings with students on teacher education and technology and on the role of technology in helping teachers teach better,” said Morgan. She would like for students to understand and know that anyone can apply to take independent study or directed reading, but there are several immediate obstacles. Students will likely have to ask a former

The Africana Studies Department at UNC Charlotte is participating in the Charlotte Africa Initiative, an initiative meant to allow those in the Charlotte area to become knowledgeable in current African affairs. The initiative is part of the Charlotte Africa Business Week, hosted from April 24, 2012 through April 28, 2012. The first daylong workshop is scheduled for April 24, and there is a registration fee of $50. Students and faculty at UNC Charlotte are able to register for $40. The second daylong workshop is scheduled for April, 27, 2012, and there is a registration fee of $99 for those outside the university and $20 for students and faculty. Those interested in attending the luncheon with a business delegate from Africa must pay an additional $40. Speakers throughout the initiative will be Rob Smith, founder of Earthwise Ventures, Lauri Elliott, director of Afribiz Media, Hartmut Sleper, CEO of Trans Africa Invest, Richard Schroeder, CEO of First Step Special Economic Zone, Tony Pelshak, CEO of Amana Services, Albert Essien, deputy CEO Ecobank, Carol Tappenden, CEO of Nexil, Sipho Mseleku, president of the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Kendal Tyre, head of Lex Noir. Eden Creamer

Department to host global conference

Program director speaking at event

A member of the Chi Phi fraternity lifts a young boy to help him make a slam dunk at last year’s Slam Jam event to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club. Photo courtesy of Drew Tweardy

Another way to study Iris Hunter

Charlotte part of African Initiative

UNC Charlotte’s Center for Global Public Relations plans to begin their second annual global research conference through the Global Public Relations Resources and Services Unit (GPRRS) on Friday, April 20, 2012. Those in attendance at the conference will hear speakers such as Joe Epley, Juan Carlos Molleda, Alma Kadragic and Oliver Schmidt. Registration for the conference is $60 if paid in advance or $70 at the door. Student rate if paid in advance is $25. Eden Creamer

SLAM JAM from p.1 of an unexpected idea. “We had a [basketball] court in our backyard that had just been repaved. We figured we could use it to raise money for our philanthropy,” said Tweardy. Nine teams are currently registered to participate and Tweardy says that they hope for more. “We’d like at least 16 teams. We want to make the event grow from last year,” he said. The deadline to register is Saturday, April 7, 2012, and the registration fee is $75 a team. The Boys and Girl’s Club promotes safe childhood development and helps children foster qualities such as confidence, integrity and allows them to feel useful. For more information go to the event’s Facebook page, “Chi Phi Slam Jam 2012” or contact Tweardy at dgtweard@uncc.edu

NEWS BRIEFS

professor, which limits the number of advisers. Also, the teacher is not going to get paid or receive any credit, so they are not likely to accept a student’s request if the student is not self-disciplined, self-motivated, highly intelligent or cannot work by themselves, according to Morgan. If a student wants to sign up for one of these courses, they must speak with the chosen professor about the topic that they want to research and, if approved, they will then need to sign a form that states the requirements that must be met to receive credit. After this has been done a course schedule has to be set up as these courses do not require class meetings. The meetings are set up so that the student and teacher can discuss any issues concerning the project throughout the semester. The student will receive a grade as well as the amount of credit hours they have earned. One thing students should expect is to work alone and this may be a disadvantage, which is why students must know if they are independent learners and thinkers. “This is a special opportunity for certain

kinds of students who are smart and independent learners and self-motivated,” said Morgan. Brenda Shue, a second semester graduate student who is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in technical/professional writing as well as a MALS-Master of Arts Liberal Studies is currently working with Morgan. “Dr. Morgan is fantastic to work with. We meet at regular intervals to discuss the work. She provides positive feedback and guidance,” said Shue. Shue’s project involves writing instructions for her office regarding procedures for processing payments on paper and online. “I chose this project because it will greatly benefit my department, it is interesting and it provides important information for cross-training. I enjoy taking the skills I have learned and putting them into action,” said Shue. To find out more about independent studies students can talk to advisors or professors within their department.

The director of UNC Charlotte’s Venture Program Sandy Kohn will speak at the Southeast Region Conference of the Association for Experiential Education. Kohn will be the keynote speaker at this event, which will be held Saturday, April 21, 2012. Eden Creamer

Department chair joins honor society Chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at UNC Charlotte, Robert Kravchuk, has been granted membership to the Scabbard and Blade Society by the cadets of the 49er Battalion. The Society of the Scabbard and Blade is a national honor society geared at those in the Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy. This community stretches across multiple universities in the country. Eden Creamer

Corporation works with Governors Village TIAA-CREF will work with students enrolled in Governor’s Village schools throughout the month of April in order to teach students financial literacy. Sessions will run from Tuesday, April 10, 2012, through Friday, April 13, 2012. Twelve volunteers are needed for each session and applications are begin accepted via email. Those interested should email Katie Suggs, assistant director of community affairs at aksuggs@uncc.edu. Session topics include budgeting, smart shopping and credit scores. Eden Creamer

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

OPINION More green space is just a waste of green

NINERTIMES Volume 24, Number 45 A PRODUCT OF

LOCATED IN THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE STUDENT UNION NINER TIMES • RADIO FREE CHARLOTTE SANSKRIT • MEDIA MARKETING • NINERONLINE

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Joel Hanel

editor@nineronline.com NINER TIMES MANAGING EDITOR

Corbin Peters

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NEWS EDITOR

A&E EDITOR

LIFESTYLE EDITOR

LAYOUT EDITOR

Joshua Wood

Ciera Choate

Haley Twist

Photos by Joshua Wood

Photo of University Lake Joshua Wood OPINION@NINERONLINE.COM

A new topic that was brought up at the recent NinerTV debate for Student Body Presidential Candidates was the want for more green space on campus. Green space is defined as a plot of undeveloped land separating or surrounding areas of intensive residential or industrial use that is maintained for recreational enjoyment. Stephen Belle Isle, a member of the Judicial Board and presidential candidate, was asked “What will you do to make UNC Charlotte a stronger community?” He replied, “One thing I want to do is to develop campus green spaces. But there’s not one place that all the students know they can gather and enjoy fellowship with their fellow students.” I believe that we have plenty of places here on campus where students can “enjoy fellowship” with each other. One thing in particular that keeps coming up is the desire for a new fountain on campus. When asked “What benefits do you see in constructing a fountain on campus?” Belle Isle responded, “[The fountain is] something to draw the students to a place to meet outside. A fountain on campus is something I foresee keeping more commuters on campus.” To be quite frank I don’t believe there are enough fountains in the world to keep commuters on campus

longer than they want to be. A fountain can be a cool, charming place for students to relax on warm days. It would also provide an improvement to campus aesthetics. But do we really need something else attracting more geese? I say no. UNC Charlotte does not need any more of these green spaces; there are many places around campus that can be used as great hangouts. We must utilize what we already have before wasting money on some amenity that will eventually be ignored by the student populace. Take for example University Lake. Most students don’t know of its existence. Located behind the new Energy Production Infrastructure Center (EPIC) building, this lake goes unnoticed throughout the year, just waiting for people to take advantage of it’s presence. University Lake provides a lovely space

for numerous outdoor activities. I have seen several people fishing in the lake. The surrounding area is also good for picnics. Just make sure you don’t feed the geese. More green space on campus includes the remarkable gardens. The campus gardens provide shade during the summer heat and yet so many students don’t take the time to enjoy it. So why should we add more green space when what we already have goes unappreciated? For more information on the campus gardens check out Tuesday’s March, 20, 2021, issue of Niner Times or on nineronline.com. Other places are the quad between Lynch and Wallis Halls and Hechenbleikner Lake, which is currently undergoing construction. These so called green spaces are located everywhere across campus, but the reason why people would like to add more is because students want these green spaces to be located conveniently for them instead walking across campus to access the green spaces. I will agree that having to walk a mile and a half is a bit of downer but people, you were born with two legs. Use them. Before we go spending money that we probably don’t have on projects to provide more green space for the campus, let us use what we already have. Step out of the cave you call a dorm and go check out these wonderful places we have on campus. Who knows what you might find.

Lee Pham

Ryan Pitkin

Christian Billings

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Niner Times is written and produced by students at UNC Charlotte. All unsigned editorials are the expressed opinion of the editorial board and do not represent the views of the University. Views expressed in signed editorials are solely those of the author. Niner Times is published during the regular academic year on Tuesday and Thursday except during holidays and exam periods.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

Ron Paul doesn’t please all students Tricia Bangit TBANGIT@UNCC.EDU

Ron Paul. People either love him or hate him and it seems as if young people are his biggest demographic. The reason that many people give me for supporting Ron Paul is because he is the most different from the other candidates. Just because people are jaded by President Obama and the other presidential candidates does not mean we should settle for a candidate who says a small handful of agreeable things (i.e. his foreign policy). For the most part, I do not agree with his ideas. For one his economic proposal would seek to balance out the federal budget. Sounds good, right? But the question that people should be asking is “how would Paul accomplish it?” In an interview with Wolf Blitzer Paul said that he plans on defunding the Departments of Energy, Education, Commerce, Interior, and Housing and Urban Development in order to accomplish his proposed budget. This would eliminate over 200,000 jobs. If elected Ron Paul would seek to eliminate minimum wage. He claims that this would be good for the economy and that eliminating minimum wage would make it possible for businesses to hire more employees. But at what cost? Let’s say minimum wage is abolished and everyone is employed for $4 an hour. Will people be able to pay for rent, food, healthcare and other costs of living on that

kind of wage even if they work full-time? To me, the numbers don’t add up and what is especially troubling about Paul is that he is against regulating big businesses. Paul argues that it does no good to have government regulations because ultimately, big businesses are the lobbyists that write said regulations anyway. But to say that businesses will fairly regulate themselves naturally makes no sense. If anything, they’ll become even more corrupt than they are now. As a female, one of the things that bothered me about Congressman Paul was his response to Piers Morgan regarding pregnant rape victims that want an abortion. Paul stated that if it was an “honest rape,” the woman should immediately go to the emergency room. What exactly is an honest rape? His statement has generated much controversy amongst feminists and for good reason. Like many of his other policies, Paul is oversimplifying the matter. When a woman is raped, she’s not thinking “hey, I should go to the emergency room and get help.” There’s something called shock and fear that prevents a survivor of rape from immediately seeking help. This does not make them dishonest, it makes them human. There are so many more reasons why Paul is a bad candidate. He has been quoted as saying that he does not support the Civil Rights Act of 1964 because it destroyed privacy. This is the same act that repealed the Jim Crow Laws and banned employment

discrimination. I’m sure the Ron Paul supporters will find a way to defend all of those actions. After all we live in a free country, and I guess people should be free to be racist or not. Just don’t try to cover it up. Since I clearly fail to understand what is so appealing about Ron Paul, I asked Youth for Ron Paul Charlotte President Anthony Rodriguez a few questions. The senior Architecture major explained that what initially drew him to Paul were his ideas on the role of government. He went on to say that “The first thing that drew me to him as a presidential candidate was watching a video of him on the U.S. House floor in 2001, predicting the housing bubble and economic collapse. I believe that Ron Paul as president could help us revive our failing currency, something every president of the past has failed to do.” It cannot be denied that Ron Paul has made a few insightful points and that he promotes a certain “message of liberty,” as Rodriguez put it. At the same time, I do not believe that his solutions to our country’s problems would carry out well when put into practice. What Ron Paul is really painting a picture of is a rogue society. You can’t assume that without minimum wage employers will give decent pay to their workers out of the goodness of their hearts just like you can’t trust that everyone will just magically not be racist if there are no laws protecting minorities.

Refuse to reduce and reuse Caitlin Evanson C E VA N S O N @ U N C C . E D U

At UNC Charlotte “going green” is seen all around campus. In Fretwell, garbage cans with recycling bins are seen at each staircase on all the levels of the building. Walking through campus from building to building you also see a garbage “corner” with a trash can aluminum garbage can, and a place for glass and plastic bottles. Basically what I’m saying is in almost every building on a campus there is some way for everyone to recycle. Considering how easy it is for us to help out on a campus it’s quite sad to see so many people completely ignoring the different recycling bins around them. After a meeting I attended in the Student Union I watched as almost every student threw cans into the trash can in the room. My friend and I had taken a few cans from students to the recycling bin afterwards which were located right outside of the room we were in. “UNC Charlotte has a very extensive and successful recycling program that many students and staff are unaware of,” stated grad student Nicole Rivera, a member of Charlotte Green Initiative on campus. “Personally I try to be an active educator

Graphic by Joshuua Wood

and a source of knowledge for recycling and environmental efforts on campus. I think if more students knew about how influential and positive recycling can be they would be more inclined to make the small effort.” It’s quite sad to see so many students completely ignoring the fact that our school is doing so much to help the environment. Many student organizations are trying to help students recognize how easy it is to help out at school. Recycling bins are literally seen all around campus. We’ve all been hearing stories about the ozone layer thinning out and going green

has become a very common topic amongst people. Grocery stores are constantly promoting using reusable bags and trying to rid plastic bags completely. Cars are being made to be more eco-friendly. Even stores give you an option of emailing your receipt or receiving an actual print out of it. “The Green Book” written by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen with a foreword by Cameron Diaz and William McDonough was designed to teach us the basics of becoming environmentally friendly. If you actually decide to pick up the 146 page book you could easily learn about the every day things you could be doing to help out. Simple things like turning off the water while brushing your teeth or using storage containers instead of boxes can actually make a difference. Everything can really be that simple if you just put a little thought into your every day actions. The littlest things can make a difference. Recycling shouldn’t be that hard to do with so many recycling bins placed around campus. I say if you’re going to take a stand and fight for anything it should be to save our planet. Our generations to come will truly be disappointed in us if we don’t put up a fight to keep our home beautiful.

Letters to the Editor Do you want your voice to be heard?

TIME TO

STAND

OUT FROM THE CROWD Send your thoughts to editor@nineronline.com

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Freshman Fireside:

Katching up on Ketchup

Eden Creamer ECREAMER@UNCC.EDU

The experiences of freshman year are 100 percent identical to ketchup. No really, hear me out. When we start college we can become immersed in this totally different world filled with friends, fun, parties, work, Chartwells and geese. All of these are great, or at least they are in moderation. Just like ketchup. You would never go drink a whole bottle of ketchup. And no that isn’t a dare. You’ll get sick, probably throw up everywhere and let’s not forget that ketchup doesn’t exactly leave a wonderful aftertaste. But we dip our French fries in it anyway. Coat burgers in the tomatoey paste. Add ketchup to normally disgusting items and make it better. But you don’t drink it. Just like freshman year experiences. Which night is more appropriate for you to party on? Tuesday or Friday? Maybe I’m just a square straight out of our parent’s generation but I would say Friday. If the parties start getting out of hand on Tuesday, classes for the rest of the week will seem like pieces out of a Medieval torture chamber. Living and breathing that exhilarating party atmosphere is going to make you sick, just like drinking ketchup. Some nights are just better spent taking a break. A very wise person once told me that people lose their minds when they go to college. After 18 years of living with parents, abiding by curfews and resisting the wild teenage urge to party when the opportunity arises to do whatever you want while you pursue higher education just takes over. The most levelheaded, hard worker from high school becomes a sexdriven lush who trolls Facebook for the location of the next party. Self-control people. Let’s exercise it. I’m not saying cut out freshman year experiences. Eating at Crown Commons and pestering the geese on campus are very important acts that everyone needs to perform at one time or another. But if you throw stones at the geese everyday you are going to get attacked and eating at Crown every meal of every day is going to get repetitive. You won’t die unless the geese really do a number on you, but you will have had too much of a good thing. Just like too much ketchup. All of this college is just getting to everyone’s head. After spring break life on campus for most people seems to have turned into a random nonsensical outpour of party and geese. Promise me something my fellow freshmen. Do something you would be proud to report home about today and tomorrow call home and tell your parents, grandparents or siblings about whatever you’re proud of. You have your whole life to do whatever you see fit. You don’t need to cram all the fun in now. This is America and we will never run out of ketchup. Save some for after graduation. You’ll probably need it more then.

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NINERTIMES

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

A&E

LIVE MUSIC:

3/30 - Temperance League, The Bear Romantic Snug Harbor, 9 pm, Free 3/30 - PonyKiller Tremont Music Hall, 8 pm, $7

NEW IN THEATERS: Wrath of the Titans Bully Mirror Mirror Dark Tide I Kissed a Vampire

May the odds be in their favor Ryan Pitkin

AE@NINERONLINE.COM

“The Hunger Games” made its longawaited debut in theaters on March 23, 2012, shattering records and making names like Katniss and Primrose household names. The movie brought in $155 million, the biggest opening weekend for any non-sequel movie, and has only been beaten by 2011’s “Harry Potter” finale and 2008’s “The Dark Knight.” As a fan of the books, I was looking forward to seeing how the novel would be adapted for the big screen. Not overly optimistic, but excited. The movie starts off with some beautiful images of North Carolina’s mountains, or District 12. Struggling towns in the eastern parts of NC have been hoping that “The Hunger Games” movie would bolster tourism, if only for a short time. It seems doubtful that it will make a huge impact, but I was intrigued by the absolutely serene images. I’ve never been much of a superfan for anything, and although I would never make a trip to tour Katniss Everdeen’s hunting grounds, I wouldn’t mind stopping in where they filmed the main action scenes if I was already driving through town unexpectedly. This gives me hope for these towns, considering that one should never underestimate the lengths that obsessive young adults will go to in order to connect to their favorite flick. One thing can be taken from these shots; no matter how badly we screw up the planet in the next couple of centuries, the Appalachian Mountains will still be beautiful. Where the book spends a good amount of time building character in the downtrodden District 12, the movie hops right along into the contrasting Capitol. If it upsets you how depressed the poor residents of District 12 look, just be aware that the extras looming around during The Reaping are the same ones cheering in the Capitol when the train arrives, looking as if they’ve been waiting for Lady Gaga’s arrival. On said train, it soon becomes apparent that Woody Harrelson and an unrecognizable Elizabeth Banks, as Haymitch Abernathy and Effie Trinket, both play far more likeable characters than in the novels. It seems that no matter how hard director Gary Ross tried to make the view-

QUICK FACTS:

THE HUNGER GAMES AND CHARLOTTE

One of Jennifer Lawrence’s favorite things to do in Charlotte was get coffee from Smelly Cat Coffeehouse.

Photos courtesy of Lionsgate

er hate Haymitch, he’s just too down on his luck and lovable. This might have something to do with my reading the following two books and knowing his role in them. The one part of the movie that worried me was how prevalent the violence would be, and what role it would take in the PG-13 film. As I mentioned in an earlier preview of the film, the violence is not mindnumbingly useless in the story of “The Hunger Games.” It plays a huge part in showing how a game that was once a brutal punishment has turned into something that districts cheer for, betting on a blood sport involving their own children. Ross dodged this problem by making a very violent movie without all of that, you know, violence. He used camera tricks to blur the action during certain times. It would be hard not to flinch at watching someone get his leg chopped off even if the camera flashes quickly

from his leg to his torso right as the blade made contact. Those who suffer easily from motion sickness may not agree, but the swinging blur of the camerawork sent a gory message while still preserving its teenage rating. A record-breaking weekend would not have been possible with an R rating, after all. Save the four guys sitting behind me that kept giving wrong predictions regarding what would happen next, the entire experience was a pleasant surprise. It also seems that my other worry, Hunger Games turning into a Twilightesque Team Peeta vs. Team Gale battle of the teens, can also be forgotten now, as Liam Hemsworth’s Gale character is hardly brought into the film at all. So adult fans of an entertaining film can still pull off seeming normal, for now.

Uptown’s Knight Theatre was the setting of the film’s “interview” scenes.

The cast of Hunger Games will spend much of the next six years in North Carolina filming the next three movies (the last film will be broken into two parts).

NINERONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

PAGE 9

Charlotte student becomes master of multitasking Patrick Bogans

PBOGANS@UNCC.EDU

UNC Charlotte senior Erik Button is a busy man. As the president of the UNC Charlotte Film Club, an open mic host at the Evening Muse, member of a folk-punk band and leader of his own film making company, Button does all of this and more while being a full-time student at UNC Charlotte. He began to pursue his interest in film back when he was in middle school. Button and his friend Matt Willets shot short films and edited them using old Hi8 videocassettes. “We’re both from Burlington, N.C., and there you either find a hobby yourself or become an alcoholic,” Button explained. “So we just started making films.” The two have stuck together since then and both currently head up their own film-making company, Very Professional Films, here in Charlotte. His company aims to make small budget short films that “represent how uncomfortable and strange and terrible and hilarious and fun life is”. One of his films, “Get Away”, is about a man named Chip who decides to help a criminal who just robbed the bank Chip was fired from. Another of his films, “Sude’s”, is a true story of Button’s where a man accidentally becomes trapped in a bathroom while on a date. “It’s weird – I mostly write comedies, but I’m not influenced by any co-

Button at The Evening Muse.

Amy Scheide in Button’s upcoming dystopian short film, ‘Product’ medians at all.” he says. His biggest influence, the horror genre, has given his comedies a particularly unique darker aspect to them. Some of Button’s films, including “Sude’s”, have been successful throughout the Charlotte area. Three of them placed in two separate film festivals in 2010: the Manifesto Film Festival and the UNC Charlotte Film Festival. The festival process, however, sometimes is a daunting one. “The deadlines [for the festivals] are usually close to finals, and it’s really stressful to try and manage your time properly,” he says. “Unfortunately, school work has been thrown under the bus.” But through success like this around the area, Button has begun to make his film interest much more than a hobby, and has started to branch out into other areas as well. “I’m starting to get to the point where I’m picking up independent film contracts. I just filmed something for Chuck ‘Charlyhorse’ Johnson, a local country singer, and I made a music documentary for him,” Button says. He also does freelance work for WTVI, the Charlotte-area’s PBS station, and will also be helping with this season of the UNC Charlotte sitcom ‘Print Er-

Photo courtesy of Erik Button (veryprofessionalfilms.com)

ror’ with its audio and other production needs. He even co-headlines his own folk punk band called Dollar Signs. With all of this success, there is, of course, the college financial drawback. “Unfortunately filmmaking is pretty much the only art form that is really limited by money, and being in college that can be kind of rough,” Button explains. He and his partners have a system where they help each other to balance out the costs of filmmaking with the overwhelming costs of college living. “Matt Willets acts in a lot of my films, and whenever he writes movies, we’ll shoot his stuff. Joshua Yates shoots almost all of our films so when he needs something, we’ll help him out,” said Button. Button also is a personality at the Evening Muse, a music venue in the North Davidson district. As a host of Find Your Muse Open Mic on Monday nights, he helps display local musicians, poets, comedians and storytellers of the Charlotte community. “It’s probably the only open mic in town where people are actually there to listen to music of people playing original songs,” Button explains. “It’s a lot of fun and we actually get a lot of high

Local comedian returns to Charlotte Brian Zarbock BZARBOCK@UNCC.EDU

Comedian and regional native Rory Scovel will return to Charlotte for a strong of shows at the end of March at the Comedy Zone. Scovel was born a stone’s throw away from UNC Charlotte in Greenville, South Carolina. Although he has fond memories of the South, he has adjusted to his life in LA. “I smoke a lot of pot” he jokes, referring to his inspiration writing his jokes for stand up. His career is far from the typical stoner couch comedy, however. He has scored appearances in national commercials and a spot on Conan. Being in the right place at the right time had him opening for comedy’s biggest name, Louis CK. “I would have never thought that I would be performing at that level,” said Scovel.

Success did not come overnight for the comedian. “I have been doing comedy now for eight years,” Scovel said. “It’s only been the past two years that I have been living off just comedy money.” He graduated from the University of South Carolina Spartanburg (now USC Upstate) majoring in communications. Comm majors frequently come under fire as the alternative for students whose original major was too challenging. Scovel, however, sees his education as priceless. “It really is amazing how what I learned helps me while I’m on stage, helps me to read a crowd,” said Scovel. He claims that Human Communications in particular was the most valuable (UNCC has the same class, named Interpersonal Communication). The fame hasn’t gotten to his head however; out of all the shows he’s done his favorite was the one he did in Atlanta at 1 a.m. at the Relapse Theater, a showcase that still remains Atlanta’s

most secretive and most underground comedy club. UNCC has recently been taken over by controversy over Amendment 1, which would change the states constitution to specify that marriage is only between a man and a woman. Scovel’s current state of residence, California, has been through this before. “People who go their lives claiming that marriage between a man and a woman [is the only right way] hide behind their politics but really its stupidity,” Scovel said. He added that comedians, despite their goofy nature, are really fascinated and intrigued by serious issues. Scovel has performed twice before in Charlotte and is a fan favorite among the region. He will be at the Comedy Zone in Charlotte from March 28-March 31. For a sneak peak of his comedic style check him out on Todd Glass’s podcast available on Itunes.

quality performers.” Button is currently in post-production for his new film, “Product”. The film, through the eyes of a prod hunter named Mason, is set in a universe in which the lower class falls victim to cannibalism because it is believed to stop aging and cure diseases. He hopes to have the film out in time for the UNC Charlotte Film Club’s annual film festival on April 24th, 2012. Last Sunday Button hosted the Filmmakers Showcase at the Evening Muse to help fund this film festival, and just to look back at some great short films from Charlotte’s best filmmakers. “It’s always cool to bring filmmakers together and have them hangout, and just to listen to what they talk about is usually pretty interesting,” he explained. “Also with film no one really knows what the hell they are doing, so you always stand to learn something from someone else.” Overall, Button seems to love what he does in the Charlotte area, and hopes to influence other aspiring filmmakers in the area to triumph through the hard parts of it. “Filmmaking is one of the most difficult things you can do,” he explains. “It’s always worth it [in the end].”

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NINERTIMES

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

Where a Niner’s spare moments go

A yogi’s journey

MCT Campus

Ciera Choate

NEWS@NINERONLINE.COM

At this point in the semester when research papers are starting, finals are creeping up on us and finishing the semester is all students can focus on keeping up with other areas of your life can be difficult. At least it is for me. A constant game of catch-up consumes my life on a daily basis. The second I finish one assignment it’s time to squeeze another one in. There are times when I feel like I won’t be able to keep up and keep going, but somehow when it comes to school I always manage to fit everything in and get everything finished. The problem is – I can’t figure out how to transfer that determination into all areas of my life, like yoga. I know going to a yoga class will put me in a better mood. I know going to a yoga class will in the end give me more energy. I know going to a yoga class is what I need to release some stress and tension. But no matter how many times I remind myself of those things yoga takes a back seat. I push it aside because I feel like I don’t have the time to squeeze anything else in. I’ve talked about balance before, and in the end that’s what it comes down to. School has to come first though right? So do you do less in school to focus more on other areas, or do you try and be more efficient and squeeze anything else you can in? This semester had been a constant struggle for me with fitting in my schoolwork, my jobs and making sure I have time to do the things I love. The latter seems to always take the back seat, and it only gets worse as the semester continues. I want to go to yoga classes every night. I want to read books I want to read, not that I have to read. I want to be able to sleep more than five hours a night. I want to hang out with my friends more, while we’re all still here at UNC Charlotte. None of those happen, and maybe I need to realize that while I’m in school those things will have to take the back seat. I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to give up the things I love and want to do, even if in the end it will make my grades a little better. So now, with a little over a month left of school, I am promising myself that I will make time for yoga at least three days a week. I will make time to see my friends. I will make time to read the things I enjoy. I will make time to get more sleep. I will make time to make myself happy, not my mom, my teachers or anyone else in my family.

THE BEST PLACES TO STUDY

OUTDOORS Lee Pham

COMMUNITY@NINERONLINE.COM

Let’s face it: there is no way you’re going to finish reading this article without thinking about the hot sun shining bright and gleaming down over UNC Charlotte’s vast brick surface. Staying indoors during the spring feels foolish especially if you’re toiling over schoolwork. But what’s stopping you from enjoying the heat with everyone else? Don’t let matters like research proposals and Moodle deadlines hinder the pursuit of happiness. Taking the books outside is the only way to deal with going to college in the south, so we’ve rated the best outdoor spots to study at according to convenience, noise and scenery.

MCT Campus

On an average spring day Atkins Library just isnʼt enticing enough to hold our attention. Photo/??? File photo

Belk Tower Sticking out of the ground at the heart UNC Charlotte is the Belk Tower. It’s one of the most recognized landmarks at the school, and at just a stroll away from the library it’s the ideal location to take a breather from the Atkins dungeon. There is a lot of foot traffic between classes, so don’t expect silence on a weekday afternoon. Be weary of campus preachers who oftentimes cause a stir of controversy at the statue, which can be distracting.

Botanical Gardens Scholars who require isolation to focus but still want to enjoy the great outdoors should look no further than UNC Charlotte’s famous gardens. The fenced-in habitat features thousands of native plants from all over the state and spans over several acres. The smell of fresh air is mind-stimulating and you’ll feel at peace while tackling the books. Bring a snack because you are unlikely to head in and out of the garden for breaks.

visit NinerOnline.com for a complete garden guide

Lynch courtyard The quad between Lynch and Wallis hall is a recreational area where students gather to play catch, smoke hookah and most productively study. The courtyard features picnic tables, a smoking section, a volleyball court and lush green grass that is great for lounging on. It is easily accessible to residents who live on the north side of campus and a hop away from the Student Union. The courtyard offers the most fun. Just watch out for stray footballs!

Fretwell Perhaps the most ideal place to study is right in front of most of us. Fretwell holds classes for various college departments, so most students make it through Fretwell at one time or another. Just outside the bottom level entrance are tables for students to get in a quick cram session. At times it feels that the whole campus walks by, yet it is not wholly distracting. Its close proximity to many academic buildings and Prospector Cafe make Fretwell our top pick for outdoor studying.

Photos by Sarah Fricke

NINERONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

Staying fit on campus

and the apps that will help you do it Barry Falls

B FA L L S 4 @ U N C C . E D U

APPS from p.1

Fitness Buddy

$.99 on iPhone/iTouch, iPad and Andriod devices. If you’re looking for an app that contains over 1700 exercises, 1000 high-definition videos and 75 tailored workouts, Fitness Buddy is the place to look. Users cycle through various workout routines and then record it in Fitness Buddy’s built-in journal. Although this may seem tedious the first week, keeping track of each routine (at least for a few weeks) is the first step in developing a lasting plan to reach your fitness goals. Fitness Buddy also has specific workouts that cater to beginners, those who are training for specific sports or those who are trying to loose a specific number within a stretch of time. Other exercises are centered on working out users’ core, lower body, chest, shoulders, arms, cardio and stretches.

Fooducate Free on the iPhone/iTouch and Andriod market. The most used app on my personal iPhone, Fooducate is an app that everyone who ever goes grocery shopping should have. Developed in 2009, the Fooducate application allows users to scan bar codes of food products and then informs the user of the nutritional content and if there are any controversial ingredients. Sure, the ingredients and nutritional content are on the outside of the products packaging but it can often times be vague or misleading. Fooducate takes this information and presents it in an understandable format. The app also contains “daily tips” that links to their daily blog that discusses the nutritional density of new foods as well as give tips on how to live more healthily.

Endomondo Free on iPhone, iPad, Andriod, Blackberry and Sony Ericsson devices. If you enjoy running, cycling, walking, skiing, kayaking, roller skating or any other sports involving movement across a distance Endomondo is one of the best apps on market. Endomondo tracks your speed, distance and duration as well as gives users audio feedback. Simply input how far you would like to run, and Endomondo will track how much of the distance you have completed and alert you when you approach your goal. Contained within the app is a social networking tool that enables users to meet like-minded friends, get inspired by them, challenge them and follow their activities in real-time.

Diet & Food Tracker Free on the Apple market. If building a plan is the first step to reaching your goals, then downloading the Diet & Food Tracker by MyFitnessPal may be a great first step to reaching weight-loss goals. With this application you can build your own personal plan of action to get to the shape you want to be in. Simply input some basic information about yourself and begin logging in each of your meals and each work routine that you complete. The Diet & Food Tracker app calculates the calories consumed and the calories burned. The outcome could be a real eye-opener for many users, but the amount of calories you intake every day can be a necessary realization.

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NINERTIMES

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

DOWNTIME 29

Thursday

Academic Search: The Dark Side Cone Bldg. Rm 268

12:30pm - 1:30pm

SGA Spring Elections Results Announcement Student Union Rotunda

12:30pm - 1:30pm

30

Friday

Part 2: Conducting the Internal Audit Engagement UNC Charlotte Center City 8:30am - 4:30pm

Air Band Pre-Show Cook Out Student Activities Center Plaza 5:00pm

31

Saturday

Uwharrie National Forest Backpacking Meet at Cone Center 12:00am

Late Night Game Night Norm’s

7:00pm

1

Sunday

UNC Charlotte Dance Ensemble Spring Concert Robinson Hall Belk Theater

2:00am - $6 Student

Wrestle Mania XXVIII Norm’s

7:00pm - Free 0am 4:30pm

2

Monday

3

Tuesday

May Day! May Day! I’m Stressed!

Spring Career Expo

12:30pm - 1:30pm

Charlotte 49ers Baseball vs. High Point

Fretwell Rm 310

University Chorale Robinson Hall Belk Theater

8:00pm - $4 Students and Seniors

SAC

9:30am - 3:00pm

Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium 6:00pm

FORMORE MOREINFORMATION INFORMATIONVISIT VISITNINERONLINE.COM NINERONLINE.COM FOR

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT NINERONLINE.COM

Dear Norm... Do you have something you need advice on?

Send it to Norm at editor@nineronline.com

NINERONLINE.COM

SPORTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

Niner Sports: Week in Review

Charlotte Men’s Tennis and their new facility are 12-2 this season. Photo by Michael Stennett

Baseball @ Xavier 3 p.m.

Saturday Men’s Tennis @ George Washington 12 p.m.

Senior Lorena Vela and the Niners are sitting at 13-15 with a full A-10 schedule ahead of them. File Photo

Track and Field: The Atlantic-10 conference announced Monday that both Trey McRae and Juanita Leto have been named the Atlantic-10 Men’s and Women’s Rookies of the Week. Both McRae and Leto were recognized based on their performances in the Weems Baskin Invitational in Columbia, S.C. this past weekend. This is the first award for either student-athlete. McRae, a freshman from Laurinburg, N.C., set a new personal record in the men’s high jump with a mark of 6’8.75 (2.05m) at the Weems Baskin Invitational. His mark, which won the event and earned a spot at third all-time in school history, currently leads the conference. Leto, a freshman from Concord, N.C., recorded a fourth-place finish in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.42 at the Weems Baskin meet. Like McRae, she currently leads the conference in the event. Both McRae and Leto will now prepare for the Raleigh Relays this weekend, as the 2012 Track and Field season rolls on. Softball: Natalie Capone scored the lone Charlotte run of the day, last Sunday, as the Lady Niners fell to league rival Saint Joseph’s in both games of a league doubleheader. The Niners were shutout, 3-0 in game one and held to just one hit in game two, falling 2-1 to the Hawks. With the loss, Charlotte (13-15; 0-4 A-10) has dropped four consecutive games for the first time all

season. Saint Joseph’s pitcher, Taryn Ashway, proved to be unstoppable in the second game, not allowing a hit until the sixth inning when Capone reached first on a bunt single. Capone later advanced to third on the play, when the Hawks left fielder threw out Chelsea Ingersoll at the plate, and eventually came around to score on Alex Rogers’ RBI groundout. Both Hawks’ runs came in the top of the fourth. Lead-off hitter, Nicole Palase, reached on an infield single to start the inning, the first hit of the game for Saint Joseph’s. The next batter, Dana Parks, walked and was driven home on a triple to right field by Bernadette Moran for the 1-0 lead. Moran would come around to score on an RBI single from catcher Lauren Rendon, her fourth RBI of the day. Saint Joseph’s took game one, 3-0, thanks to the bat of Rendon, who homered twice in the game to drive in all three runs. Her first long ball was a two-run bomb to left field in the top of the fifth, with Parks scoring on the play. The second was a solo shot that stayed just fair down the left field line, giving the Hawks the three-run advantage. In that game, Erin Gallagher picked up the win for Saint Joseph’s. Gallagher allowed just five hits with six strikeouts and a pair of walks in the complete game shutout. Katie Watkins was charged with the loss, surrendering three runs on nine hits with seven sit-downs and two walks.

Men’s Golf Finishes Eighth in Linger Longer Invitational Nathan Butler NBUTLER4@UNCC.EDU

As the golf season continues, Charlotte’s latest result was an eighth place finish in the 12-team Linger Longer Invitational last weekend, where seniors Olafur Loftsson and Paul Ferrier posted their best rounds of the tournament. Loftsson had five birdies on his way to a one-under par 71, while Ferrier had three birdies to shoot seven par. In the final round, Charlotte shot 302 as a team, however, falling one spot in the standings to eighth place. “We did some good things and got off to a pretty good start,” said 49ers head coach

SPORTS SCHEDULE

Friday

Nathan Butler NBUTLER4@UNCC.EDU

Women’s Tennis: It was a good week for Charlotte junior Anna Ekelund (Lomma, Sweden), as Ekelund was named Atlantic-10 Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Week. Ekelund Won both doubles matches with freshman partner, Lisa Grosselius, and her one completed singles match last week. Last Tuesday, she defeated Chanel Glasper of Massachusetts in Charleston, S.C. Both Ekelund and Grosselius won both doubles matches, last Tuesday versus Massachusetts and last Saturday against UNC Wilmington to improve 15-1 overall, winners of eight straight matches. The dynamic duo of both Ekelund and Grosselius are now 12-1 in the spring, as the 49ers have posted a 12-2 record so far this season. Grosselius was named Atlantic-10 Women’s Tennis Rookie of the Week last week, along with teammates Alexandra Zinn (February 20) and Andrea Rivera (February 27) earning Atlantic-10 Players of the Week earlier this season. Having said that, the men’s team have also had their fair share of honors this season. Jack Williams (March 6) and Kamil Khalil (March 12) both earned Men’s Tennis Rookie awards earlier this season. Charlotte will now prepare for a home match with East Carolina, Saturday at 10 a.m.

PAGE 13

Ryan Cabbage in an interview for the Charlotte 49ers official athletic website. “We just couldn’t quite capitalize on it. There are some things we still need to work on to get better with.” Both Ferrier and Loftsson shot four-over par, as Loftsson achieved the score by shooting one-under par 71 to climb in 26th place (76-73-71). “Oli was obviously playing very well. He made a lot of good putts and had 10 putts on his first nine holes,” said Cabbage. “Paul did some nice things as well.” Joe Toland (79), Tyler Mitchell (80) and Raoul Menard (81), rounded out Charlotte’s scoring. Mitchell finished at 11-over par 227 while

Menard was 13-over par 229. Toland was 17-over, 233. As Charlotte finished eighth in the tournament, Alabama was the victor, shooting 26-under par, 838, 14 strokes ahead of runner-up Georgia (12-under par, 852). Surprisingly enough, those were the only two teams who finished under par. Charlotte finished eighth at 30-over par, 894. All is not lost for the 49ers, as Charlotte returns home for this weekend’s Irish Creek Collegiate in Kannapolis, N.C. “We are looking forward to coming back home for Irish Creek,” said Cabbage. “We get back home on a golf course we’re familiar with.”

Softball @ Fordham 12 p.m.

Sunday Softball @ George Washington 12 p.m. Softball @ George Washington 2 p.m. Baseball @ Xavier 12 p.m.

SPORTS RESULTS Baseball

LOSS

@ Rhode Island

1-5

Softball

LOSS

vs. St. Joseph’s

0-3

Baseball

WIN

@ USC Upstate

12-6

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NINERTIMES

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

Niner achievements: big week in Charlotte Athletics

Football Construction Update McColl-Richardson Field

Charlotte’s Anna Ekelund was named A10 Women’s Player of the Week Tuesday afternoon. Photo by Michael Stennett

Travis Durkee TCDURKEE@UNCC.EDU

Track claims Men’s and Women’s A-10 Rookie of Week awards: A pair of 49er track athletes swept Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors on Monday. Trey McRae, a freshman from Laurinburg, N.C., recorded a new personal best in the men’s high jump by clearing 6’-8.75” at the Weem Baskins Invitational in Columbia, S.C. to win the event and record the third highest mark in school history. Juanita Leto, a freshman from Concord, N.C., finished fouth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.42 seconds also at the Weems Baskins Invitational. Leto lead the Atlantic 10 in the event. The track and field teams will compete in the Raleigh Relays Friday, March 30 through Saturday, March 31. Softball player blasts her way into record books: Briana Gwaltney, a junior outfielder from Anaheim Hills, C.A., crushed her seventh homer of the year and the twenty-first of her career to set the new all-time record

for 49ers softball in a 9-7 loss to Temple Friday afternoon. Gwaltney’s homer came in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the contest at 7-7 in dramatic fashion. Gwaltney hit four homers in her freshman year and ten in 54 games during her junior season. Charlotte softball returns to the diamond Friday, March 30 when they begin a two-game weekend series at Fordham. Atlantic 10 Player of the Week: Charlotte’s Anna Ekelund was announced as the Atlantic 10 Women’s Tennis Player of the Week by conference officials Tuesday afternoon. Ekelund, a junior from Lomma Sweden, won both of her doubles matches with Lisa Grosselius and her singles match this past week. Ekelund and Grosselius won their matches from Tuesday, Mar. 20 against Massachusetts and Saturday, Mar. 24 against Chapel Hill to bring their record to 15-1. The duo has won eight straight matches. Charlotte tennis will take the courts against East Carolina at 10 a.m. Saturday, Mar. 31.

McColl-Richardson Field will be part of a complex that also includes a field house and two practice fields. Photo by Chris Crews

Charlotte’s inaugural home game is slated for Aug. 31, 2013, against the Campbell University Camels. Photo by Chris Crews

NINERONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

NINERTIMES