TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
Do the party buses on campus really increase student turnout? Why are some clubs more reliable with their buses than others?
Find out in this issue of the Niner Times what clubs to go to on what nights and when college nights are in Charlotte. p.6
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CHARLOTTE BEATS VIRGINIA
FRATERNITY GIVES BACK
SPORTS
OPINION
TO CLUB OR NOT TO CLUB
The 49ers beat the #10 ranked team Virginia 2-1 in overtime, Saturday, Sept 16, 2011, in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The men’s soccer team takes on Clemson Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011, at the Tigers stadium.
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NINERTIMES Tuesday, September 20, 2011
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Battle for marriage comes to NC Car show May 8, 2012, citizens of NC will vote on an amendment that could make gay marriage illegal
comes to campus Lauren Dunn R E P O RT E R
The university’s first annual campus car show held over the weekend has proved to now becoming a new popular annual event on campus. The car show, held Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m., was the first campus car show held by the UNC Charlotte Police Department. Various organizations were present to park and show their cars to all UNC Charlotte students, faculty and staff present. The admission was free and food was provided for purchase by Chartwell’s dining services. Lots 4 and 4A off John Kirk Drive boasted several impressive rides including a few notable displays made by UNC Charlotte’s own motorsports engineering program, Campus police, Charlotte Fire Department and Mayhem Mustangs, who meet every Thursday at UNC Charlotte at 7 p.m., among various UNC Charlotte students. The UNC Charlotte Police and Public Safety Department didn’t just host however CAR SHOW p.3
UNC Charlotte professor in top 100 nurses Photo courtesy of MCT Campus
Ryan Pitkin REPORTER
The North Carolina General Assembly approved legislation earlier this month that will let residents vote on whether gay marriage should be banned in the state’s constitution. The amendment will be placed on the ballot for May 2012. The bill was passed by the Senate Sept. 13, 2011, with a vote of 3016, mostly by Republican lawmakers. The House of Representatives had passed the bill the preceding day.
If passed, the amendment would give no legal recognition to any union besides marriage between a man and a woman. That includes civil unions and domestic partnerships between gay or straight couples. Although gay marriage is already outlawed in N.C., this bill aims to amend the state constitution so that the law cannot be challenged on a constitutional basis. Bonnie Green, president of the UNC Charlotte student organization People Recognizing Individual Diversity and Equality (PRIDE), believes this is a major step backwards for the gay community. “Where we
were before wasn’t in a completely negative territory,” she said. “Where as in terms of a ban, that carries very negative connotations.” D.J. White, the treasurer of PRIDE, agrees with Green. “It feels like more of a specific attack this time,” said White. “It’s as if they are saying ‘We are coming after the gay community’ and it shows hatred.” If the amendment passes, Green hopes it could have a silver lining in the long run. She remembers a speech last year given by Brian Simms, an openly gay former college MARRIAGE continued p.5
NEWS
OPINION
A&E
FEATURES
COMMUNITY DAY
FACE-OFF: SMOKING
Box Office: The new movie,
WILDLIFE ON CAMPUS
UNC Charlotte Center City had its first ever Community Day this past Saturday. Many organizations, both from UNC Charlote and the community, turned out to get involved and see what Center City is all about.
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“Straw Dogs” puts too much emphasis on violence.
The debate over what is and is not appropriate with smoking on campus is not a new arguement.
Fox’s Tuesday Line-up:
Check out Fox’s new Tuesday lineup. “Glee” returns with season three, and Zooey desChanel moves in with three guys in “New Girl.”
Read about the debate from both perspectives, the non-smoker and the smoker. p.7
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The history of wildlife on campus, with special focus on the campus geese. Find out why they come back to campus every year, and why some stay year round. p.11
Chelsea Harris INTERN
Recently Mary Smith, one of UNC Charlotte’s very own professors, achieved the honor of becoming a Great 100 Nurse of North Carolina. The Great 100 selects 100 nurses of the 83,000 nominees every year. Its mission is to obtain donations for scholarships for nurses that choose to seek a higher education. There is no interviewing or testing process that the nominees go through to ensure their spot in the top. “It’s purely on my record. I’ve been a nurse for 37 years. I’ve taught for 14, and I do a lot of community service especially with breast cancer advocacy. So I think from that my peers who have either taught with me or worked with me in the community, they probably looked at the whole picture and nominated me,” said Smith. “I literally had no interview. I didn’t even know it was happening. It was purely by surprise. I got the letter in the mail.” Oct. 22, 2011, the selected 100 will meet in Greensboro for the annual formal gala. When Smith first enrolled in graduate school to be a nurse educator she did not know if that would be her final destination, but once she got into the profession she found that she was comfortable and felt NURSE continued p.4