Niner Times: December 3, 2013

Soccer seniors

Arguably once of the most winningist graduating classes for the Charlotte 49ers men’s soccer team, seven seniors end their final season.

p. 14

p. 22

Men’s basketball wins over UNC Asheville

The Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball team improves to 6-1 after a 7756 win over the UNC Asheville Bulldogs

p. 12

A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA • THE DEC. UNIVERSITY NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE • VOL. 26, ISSUE 14 3, 2013 - OF JAN. 13, 2014 NINERONLINE.COM

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DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

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DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

Volume 26, Number 14 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Crash on campus impacts students for the holidays Campus Police set up their annual crashed car at Belk Tower to send a message to students about the dangerous effects of drinking and driving SARA CARSON

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Many may notice the scene of a wrecked car in the Belk courtyard, meant to capture the attention of passersby on campus.

Some thought the car had wrecked into the tree adjacent to the Belk Tower, but upon further investigation found otherwise.

“I think it really brings the point home with what we’re trying to do.

We’re trying to get students to think about that choice that you make.

You know, it could cost you your life by not handing the keys over,” said Jerry Lecomte, one of UNC Charlotte’s community oriented policing officers.

Surrounding the display, the UNC Charlotte Police Department has set up signs displaying North Carolina statistics concerning drunk driving and seatbelt fatalities. The statistics were drawn from the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) website.

“It’s a national campaign. They do a lot of work with the schools, colleges, things like that to try and raise awareness, raise education, provide some statistics and hopefully reduce those numbers every year,” said Lecomte.

Some of the more shocking signs read: “In 2011, 226 children were killed in drunk driving crashes.

Of those, 122 were riding with the drunk driver,” “Last year in North Carolina 402 people lost their

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“Hopefully it makes a difference. Even just in one person. Even if we can save one person a year,” said Officer Lecomte Photo by Chris Crews

lives to DWI traffic crashes. If you drink and drive, you could be next,” “DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE! In 2011 over 1.2 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics” and “Last year in North Carolina 8,486 people were injured in alcoholrelated traffic crashes. If you drink

and drive, you could be next.”

UNC Charlotte is also working in conjunction with M.A.D.D. for the “Tie one on for the Holidays” campaign just as they have in years past.

The campaign uses red ribbons in which students, parents and supporters display red ribbons to

DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

encourage the elimination of drunk driving.

“We’ll hopefully get it to the point where most mothers and most parents in general don’t have to worry about their students or their young ones driving on the roads during the holidays,” said Lecomte.

The UNC Charlotte PD also hopes

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to bring news of their display with them to the Tree of Life event at the governor’s mansion in Raleigh.

The annual celebration is held to honor people who have lost loved ones on North Carolina highways, specifically from accidents that were alcohol or drug related.

The fourth annual tradition of displaying the wrecked car was started by alumni Bradley Tucker.

The art major came to the police force back in 2010 expressing his idea and his interest to raise drunk driving awareness and the importance of wearing a seatbelt.

Man on the street:

Student opinions on the anti-drinking campaign Robin Pariso, junior Nursing major, paramedic who came back to school to get her degree “For me, just because I’ve worked in emergency medical services responding to calls like this, I see the aftermath. I see what occurs and it’s very real. To a lot of people I feel like it’s not real. They think ‘Oh, it can’t happen to me,’ and I don’t think it really hits home until it becomes personal and that, I think, is so sad.”

Photos by Sara Carson

Each year since, Tucker has paid for the towing of a car onto campus, leaving no expense to the university.

“It’s nice to see that a student would take that interest in it. You know, we get a lot of folks that tell us they see it out here and the display kind of draws them into speaking with us. And they do open up and share personal stories, whether it’s a family member or a friend that they’ve lost. They tell us quite often ‘We did lose somebody,’ and that they’re glad we’re out here doing this. I mean, hopefully it makes a difference. Even just in one person.

Even if we can save one person a year,” said Lecomte.

The car will be on display in the belk courtyard area until Dec. 2.

“We want to remind folks also that Thanksgiving is part of the holidays. It pretty much kicks off the holidays, and that from the time you leave campus to the time you come back, we want you thinking about it. We want you thinking about the display, some of the things you may have seen, some of the things you may have heard from us over the year and you know, make that good

choice. Take that second to buckle up and save your life if not someone else’s,” said Lecomte In addition to the car display and the posters, Lecomte will have an alcohol awareness table setup throughout the week of Dec. 2.

The table will showcase different unit measurements of alcohol as well as give students an opportunity to try on the “drunkbusters goggles” and attempt to perform everyday tasks.

In past years, the set-up of the display has been far more dramatic, involving body bags and a real crime scene.

Lecomte reported that his force may add this to display in the coming week.

This year, the happenings of how the car was wrecked are unknown, but in past years they have in fact been from drunken-related driving incidents.

“We just want students to make a good choice. You know? Really, when you look at it there really is only one choice. There’s no reason to get behind the wheel if you’re drinking and driving,” said Lecomte.

Heinz Rautenbach, Political Science major, senior, exchange student from South Africa “I would have to say off the bat I was shocked. It looks like the car hit the tree pretty hard. I usually have a DD or crash on a friend’s couch. It’s way better than trying to drive somewhere else.”

Samantha O’Neil, junior, Communications major, Journalism minor, going into PR “You know we always hear stories about drunk driving accidents but seeing it in real life is much more impactful just because you know you can see exactly what the car went through and just like, what if that were me? And so seeing it in real life just makes it way more real than just hearing about it.”

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DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

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NEWS BRIEFS Chemistry professor nationally honored Daniel Rabinovich, UNC Charlotte professor of chemistry, received an award from the American Chemistry Society’s Committee on Minority Affairs in November.

Rabinovich received the award in recognition of his work to promote diversity in the field of chemistry, both in the university and in the country.

Art display to run through January The UNC Charlotte Center City Projective Eye Gallery will present an art series by Stanley Greaves.

“Murmurs on the Other Side of Light,” which shows the life of a shadow, was put on display Friday, Nov. 22, and will run through Friday, Jan. 3, everyday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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Clark receives Governor’s Award for Excellence

Winter 2013 Commencement set for Saturday, Dec. 14

Steve Clark, UNC Charlotte director of Classroom Support, received the Governor’s Award for Excellence.

Clark was honored at a luncheon at the Museum of History in Raleigh on Tuesday, Nov. 19 for the category of efficiency and innovation.

Clark is responsible for the design of the podiums utilized in all smart classrooms at UNC Charlotte.

The podium has a touch screen control panel, a DVD/VCR player, a document camera and a computer, both linked to a projector and retractable screen, and two-way communication with classroom support and emergency facilities.

The Governor’s Award of Excellence is the highest honor available for state employees to receive.

Winter 2013 Commencement will be Saturday, Dec. 14. The graduation is split into two parts.

The College of Arts and Architecture, the Belk College of Business, the College of Computing and Informatics, the William States Lee College of Engineering, the College of Health and Human Services and the Graduate School will hold their ceremony at 10 a.m.

The College of Education, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and The Graduate School will present at 3 p.m.

Both commencement ceremonies will be streamed live over the Internet and will be available on Time Warner Cable Channel 22 for those in the Charlotte area.

DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

Center City serves homeless individuals On Wednesday, Nov. 27, the UNC Charlotte Center City Building allowed over 50 homeless Charlotteans to receive a meal in the building’s second annual potluck luncheon.

The meal was provided by faculty and staff members at the building, who brought individual pieces of the meal to create the lunch for the homeless individuals.

Faculty and staff members also volunteered to serve the meal to the attendees.

Donations of soap, shampoo, other toiletries and clothing were also given to the attendees.

The homeless individuals who were in attendance are normally served by the Urban Ministry Center, who also provided entertainment at the event, in conjunction with the Voices of Eden.

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Tuition and Fees Advisory Board decide distribution of 2014-15 fee increases After a state-approved 6.5 percent increase to student fees, the Tuition and Fees Advisory Board, comprised of student leaders in the UNC Charlotte community, determined which university departments would receive the increased funds.

SARA CARSON

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

The Tuition and Fees Advisory Board Meeting is held each year to give students and intercollegiate bodies a voice in the increases that various administrative offices throughout the university are requesting.

“I think it’s important to know that UNC Charlotte kind of helped set the standard that was established for student reviews of tuition and fees across the UNC system.

This is now mandatory on every campus, and thanks to the work of Dr. [Arthur] Jackson, this is something that occurred on this campus even prior to that mandate being brought out. Not to the extent that it is now, but some process like this was being done,” said presenter Kevin Hyatt of the University Budget Office.

Each year, there is a set amount of money that is allotted to and divided between all departments requesting an increase.

It is the board’s job to decide which requests need to be either lowered or denied so that the total increase amount is aligned with the allotted amount for that year.

At the meetings, the board of representatives can either accept the proposed increase that each group is requesting, or they can develop an alternate amount.

This year, the maximum amount of money that was allotted for the increase in tuition was $120. The yearly budget increase amount is set by the Board of Governors in Raleigh.

The meetings were held in an

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orderly fashion and included times in which each fee is intricately described, following a discussion session for each individual fee. The discussion period is generally where the board members derive their final decisions on whether or not to keep, discard or lower each proposed fee increase.

For the discussion of the fees, there was generally a representative from each office or organization that requested an increase. As the representatives took their place at the podium, each member of

department's budget is approved. If the overall budget is not approved, the board members go into another discussion to decide which department budgets they feel need to be adjusted.

Although the final decision as to which fees will be attributed to the tuition increase is not up to the board, it is still put into consideration. After the board makes a decision, their findings are sent off to the chancellor and reviewed as he makes his decision on which fees to approve. Once the chancellor has

I think it’s important to know that UNC Charlotte kind of helped set the standard that was established for student reviews of tuition and fees across the UNC system.

-Kevin Hyatt, Presenter

the board showered them with questions, receiving clarification on what the fee increases will be used for and why they are so timely.

The board had to make a majority vote for each department's individual increase, as well as an overall majority vote for the whole budget once each individual

made his decisions, the results are sent to the Board of Trustees, who take a similar course of action and mail their reviews over to the Board of Governors in Raleigh. It is with the Board of Governors that the final decision will be made and the tuition increases will be applied.

This year's meeting was led by

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Co-Chairs Dr. Arthur Jackson, vice chancellor for student affairs, and Brady Nails, UNC Charlotte student body president.

The fees that were up for discussion for the 2014-15 academic year were the Intercollegiate Football Fee, the Intercollegiate Athletics Fee, the Education and Technology Fee, the Student Health Center Fee, the Recreational Services Fee and the Infrastructure Debt Fee. This year's meeting was separated into two, two-hour meetings rather than one, four-hour meeting.

During the first meeting, the proposed increases were presented and discussed.

The Intercollegiate Football Fee was first on the list of increases, but was not discussed as it had been previously approved. The $50 fee is the final increase of the four that were originally approved in the past.

Then the floor opened for any questions on the Intercollegiate Athletics fee. The proposed increase for this fee was $18.

The Education and Technology Fee was next to be discussed with a $35 increase. The increase is said to be needed for Information Technology Services as well as create a reserve for any unexpected expenses that may occur throughout the year.

Following Education and Technology was the $33 increase for the Student Health Center Fee. This fee is broken into two different parts. Seven of the $33 will go to the installation of two new administrative support positions.

There will be administrative

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assistance to the Center for Wellness Promotion as well as to the front desk. The last $26 of the increase will also fund an anticipated 2.5 percent increase in Student Health Center salaries.

The last fee introduced was the Recreational Service Fee. This is a $5 fee which is the first part of what will be another $5 fee for the following year. This fee is going towards the renovation of the Belk Gym, which will be closed next year and has plans to reopen in 2016 at the earliest.

The second meeting opened with a 30 minute-long question session with three minutes allotted to each speaker.

Melanie Pflucker, the president of the Diversified Greek Council, was first to ask her question. Pflucker is an undocumented student at UNC Charlotte, who started her commentary off with a quote from the university’s mission statement. She shared a petition that was started on that Monday has now received 750 signatures and counting.

The petition was made in hopes to approve equal instate tuition opportunities for undocumented students at UNC Charlotte. She ended her commentary by addressing the board with this question: "My question is how all of you representatives here feel about it and can we move for something to be done about this?"

There was no response from the board.

At that point, Jackson stepped in. "As a point of information, this advisory group can give advisory type of mention or recommendation concerning that, but they do not have the power to change that particular type of revision ... that is set by the state legislature," said Jackson.

Pflucker then sat back down and a rush of more students came to the podium with questions. Later, another supporter came to the podium to ask further questions about the undocumented tuition cause.

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At this point, it was recommended that they make an appointment to speak with Chancellor Phillip Dubois, gain a strong student support and seek the backing from SGA. The other questions brought to the floor were similar to the first as they, for the most part, could not be answered by the board members. Some of the questions dealt with the steep cost of parking, desire for a permanent campus prayer building or room, concern in the rising rate of housing costs, the implementation of taxes on meal plans and the question of obtaining a university medical or law school.

As the time limit neared, no further questions were asked from the audience, and the board discussion began.

Upon discussing the increases, the board members ran into a bit of trouble coming to an agreement on which fees

to decrease.

After discussing each individual increase, the board finally came to an agreement, but when it came time for the majority vote, the overall budget plan was denied.

It wasn’t until they reevaluated their decisions that the board finally came to a majority vote on the increases.

Their final decisions for the 2014-15 school year’s tuition increases were to approve the $50 Intercollegiate Football Fee; lower the Intercollegiate Athletic Fee to $11, the Education and Technology Fee to $28, the Student Health Center Fee to $27 and the Recreational Services Fee to $4, resulting in a total increase of $120.

To find out more information about the 2014-15 tuition and fee increases, visit UNC Charlotte’s finance page.

Breakdown of $120 fee increase for 2014-15 tuition Recreational Services Fee: $4

Intercollegiate Football Fee: $50 Student Health Center Fee: $27

Education and Technology Fee: $28

Source: Tuition and Fees Advisory Board Meeting

Intercollegiate Athletics Fee: $11

DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

Interest group works to bring new sorority to 49er Greek life ANDREW JAMES STAFF WRITER

Zeta Epsilon Chi is a new UNC Charlotte interest group that hopes to become a new sorority by the end of the 2014 spring semester.

A group of women are forming the potentially newest UNC Charlotte sorority.

Greek Life is one of the biggest organizations on campus,with different types of fraternities and sororities for students to join.

The various types of chapters include social, educational, cultural and other special interest chapters.

Zeta Epsilon Chi President Hayley Warren has been elected to be the head of the organization.

“Right now we are setup as an interest group through student organizations and we are in the process of finding the insurance policy coverage that we need to be a Greek Life organization,” said Warren.

Warren added that a prospective company in Colorado has shown interest in insuring the group.

Once the group has insurance coverage, they will meet with the UNC Charlotte Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life to become incorporated and start setting up a National Board for the sorority.

Once the sorority breaks successful ground at the university, it will be able to spread to other campuses in the country as well.

When Zeta Epsilon Chi becomes official, they will join the UNC Charlotte Independent Greek Council.

“We’re all dancers and we would like to keep the sorority focused around dance, so we thought that Independent Council would fit best,” said Warren.

The group’s motto is “Live, Dream and Dance” which when translated into Greek contains the letters Zeta, Epsilon and Chi at the start of each word.

The organization will hold a recruitment process in February.

For more information or updates, visit the Zeta Epsilon Chi Facebook page.

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Access to academic aid at the UCAE The University Center for Academic Excellence (UCAE) provides tutoring services, supplemental instructions, workshops and more for students

This resource center is located in Fretwell, Room 330. Photo by Chris Crews

SYDNEY WRIGHT INTERN

The University Center for Academic Excellence (UCAE), is one of the primary resources accessible for students to receive help before exam time.

During the year, the center provides workshops, tutoring, group study sessions and student success.

Each one of the sections works to cater to various types of learners, and help increase students’ chances of passing their classes.

Students should note that the last day for tutoring and supplemental instruction is the last day of classes, Wednesday, Dec. 4.

During exam time, the UCAE will be offering 10 review sessions for classes such as accounting, math, chemistry and statistics.

“It’s really exciting to see students preparing for the end of the semester and we hope students will check out the many resources during this time and throughout the

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semester,” said graduate assistant Jamie Holloway.

Each session is two hours long and provides an opportunity for students to ask questions and gain clarity on unclear topics.

In the past there were only eight sessions but due to a high demand from students the UCAE now decided to add more.

“Finals and exams are a stressful time in the semester. And the UCAE is offering support and opportunities for students to finish strong,” said Assistant Director for Supplemental Instruction Mattie G. Harvey.

In addition, the learning lab which is also in the Fretwell center will be open during exam time for students to study, use the computers and their variety of resources.

If you are interested in visiting the UCAE, their center is located in Fretwell, Room 330.

DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

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POLICE BLOTTER NOV. 20-25

ARRESTS NOV. 25

• Library Lane, officer arrested a subject with an outstanding warrant

CALLS FOR SERVICE

KRISTEN KIMBROUGH INTERN

To kick off the Thursday, Nov. 21 meeting of the Student Government Association’s (SGA) Student Senate, Jason Harsto, president pro tempore, reminded the group that this would be the last meeting of the semester following the weekly role call and Pledge of Allegiance.

Student organizations

The first order of business discussed was new student organizations.

One representative from a group stated his group helped “prepare people to be better alums.”

To ensure that his interest group had the qualifications of being an organization, he said that his group had eight members and he collects dues of $25.

They would attend Homecoming and create other traditions do to together. He ended his speech saying that his group is more open than the other alumni group.

“Our Three Ministries” was the next group. The interest group is currently a ministry for Hispanic and African American Apostolic Christians.

Their representative said that what sets them apart is that they believe that Jesus is God. He said that the Apostolic denomination has a different interpretation of the teachings of the apostles than other denominations. They also have a different way of life (dress, communication and moral beliefs).

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The last group came to represent Charlotte Outdoor Gaming. There were three people: the president, vice president, and a member of the group.

The president of Charlotte Outdoor Gaming said that his group does a game called Manhunt, capture the flag and their most popular game, Niners vs. Zombies.

“We usually get around 250 people playing [Niners vs.

Zombies] every semester but we want to see how many people we can get if we are not paying for everything out of pocket,” said the president.

The vice president of Charlotte Outdoor Gaming said that their group is good for meeting new friends and staying in shape. One of the senators asked how many meetings they have per semester and the vice president responded saying usually two, but it depends on the game.

All of the groups were approved.

Victoria Pike and Gideon Gourley took the podium to speak about revisions made to the Card Access Act. This proposed bill is meant to solely be applicable for architecture majors. They requested card access points for entry into Storrs Hall where architecture students spend much of their time working, when it’s open.

However, Storrs Hall has been a recent hotspot for crime.

Seven laptops have been stolen from the building within the last month. According to Pike

and Gourley, the activations of already existing card access points would reduce doors being left open by students.

The reason the senate was wary of allowing this freedom is because they did not want to open up more doors and increase the number of tagalongs. They also stated that because it is difficult to get into Storrs Hall, students will sometimes leave doors propped open.

Card Access Act

The amendment to the Card Access Act was passed conclusively.

Town Hall Meeting Act

The Town Hall Meeting Act, which was discussed in last week’s meeting, was approved.

Starting next spring, there will be open forums every semester for students to be heard by the student government. The format is said to be similar to a town hall meeting.

The Financial Bill

The Financial Bill gives organizational grants.

Organizations request grants so they can host events. The council reviewed a spreadsheet of money requested by each organization for events. Most were approved for the full amounts they requested, but some were amended for less.

The Financial Bill was passed without amendment.

DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

NOV. 22

• North Library Lane, officer responded to a call regarding the use of a counterfeit bill

NOV. 24

• Alumni Way, officer responded to a call in reference to a suicidal attempt

NOV. 25

• Alumni Way, officer responded to a call in reference to a possible suicide

DWI

NOV. 24

• Eastway Drive, suspect operated a motor vehicle while license was revoked and impared

NOV. 24

• Runnymede Lane, suspect was driving while impared

LARCENY NOV. 20

• Education Way Apt., officer assisted CMPD regarding an attempted robbery offcampus

NOV. 22

• Craver Road, an unknown subject removed property without permission

VANDALISM NOV. 23

• Van Landingham Road, an unknown subject marked on a stop sign For more information on Mecklenburg County arrests, visit arrestinquiryweb.co.mecklenburg.nc.us

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DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

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CHARLOTTE 49ERS MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM NEUTER THE UNC ASHEVILLE BULLDOGS

THE WINS DON’T STOP In first home appearance since Puerto Rico, the 49ers win big and improve to 6-1 after a 77-56 win over the BullLIBBY WEIHSMANN SPORTS EDITOR

Shawn Lester drives past Asheville for a layup. Photo by Chris Crews

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The Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball team (6-1) made a sloppy, but profound win over the UNC Asheville Bulldogs (1-7) in a 77-56 triumph back at home in their first appearance since winning the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Championship.

Coming into the game, the 49ers lone loss of the season came Nov. 12 in their first road game of the season against College of Charleston.

The Bulldogs picked up their only win of the season against College of Charleston in their third road match in overtime.

Asheville opened the game with a 4-0 run before Charlotte answered back to tie it at four early on.

Terrance Williams found himself on the bench early after getting called for a technical foul.

A well executed pass from Shawn Lester to Williams in the paint for a layup gave the 49ers a 10-point lead over the Bulldogs with just over 10 minutes to play in the first half.

The 49ers took a 14-point lead over the Bulldogs for their largest lead of the first half with just over eight minutes left, but went into the locker room only ahead by seven.

A buzzer-beating three by Denzel Ingram helped Charlotte wrap up the first half on a high note.

After the first half of play, Charlotte was shooting 13-27 (48.1 percent) from DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

the field, 3-11 (27.3 percent) from outside of the perimeter and 9-16 (56.3 percent) from the line.

The 49ers were out-rebounding the Bulldogs 38-31.

Ingram led the 49ers with 11 points at the half, followed by Williams with seven and Marcus Bryan with six.

Clayton led the team with seven rebounds followed by Pierria Henry with six.

“The whole first half we were kind of sluggish,” said Lester.

“The shots that we usually take weren’t falling, so we came out in the second half and executed on offense real good. They tried to slow us down taking timeouts, but we still attacked and I think that really helped us.”

The 49ers opened the second half of the game with a solid three by Ben Cherry right in front of the Charlotte bench.

Ingram proved to be crucial in three-point shots for the 49ers as he was 4-5 with just under 12 minutes to play in the game.

On an Ingram assist, Lester gave Niner Nation quite the show on a dunk that put the 49ers up by 15 points with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game.

After only scoring four points in the first half, Lester went on a scoring spree with no sign of slowing down.

Two back-to-back threes followed by a beautiful layup gave Lester an 8-0 run and pulled the Charlotte lead to 19 with 5:25 left

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on the clock.

“This is only his seventh college basketball game. Very proud of the way he’s tried to blend in and be one of the guys, but also pick his spots and figure out when to be aggressive,” said Head Coach Alan Major on Lester’s performance.

“He’s learning on the fly like everybody else, but I’m really proud of the contribution he’s made so far.”

For the first time all season, foul trouble did not plague the 49ers.

Williams tallied three fouls, the most of any Charlotte player during the game.

It was late in the second half when every single person in Halton Arena went silent.

Henry went down on a collision with another player and appeared to be in serious pain.

It was Clayton and Lester that carried him off the court to the bench while Henry held his left knee.

“He banged his knee against someone, so they’re just making

sure if it’s just that, or if something else happened in that collision,” said Major on Henry’s knee injury.

“He’s got a doctor appointment tomorrow, so that’s all I’ll say with that right now.”

Despite losing Henry towards the end of the game, the 49ers were able to rally together and pull out a statement win over the Bulldogs.

Lester led the 49ers with 16 points and four rebounds, followed

by Ingram with 14 points and four rebounds.

Clayton finished the day with his fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

“The performance by Willie Clayton and Mike Thorne just did a fantastic job of controlling the paint,” said Asheville Head Coach Nick McDevitt.

“We’ve played a lot of tough teams, and those two are as tough and as athletic and as good as anybody.”

Thorne finished the day with 12 points and nine rebounds.

No. 15 Pierria Henry during the Dec. 1 game against UNC Asheville. Photo by Chris Crews

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DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

NINERTIMES

THE SENIOR SEVEN The seven seniors from the 2013 Charlotte 49ers men’s soccer team are arguably the most successful class to ever come through UNC Charlotte.

MATT CHAPMAN

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

The senior seven played mark their final season with a Conference USA Championship. Photo by Chris Crews

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DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

NINERTIMES

The Charlotte 49ers men’s soccer team closed the season by winning eight of their final nine contests en route to earning their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, making the 2013 senior class the most decorated in school history.

The seven seniors on the 2013 roster played an integral role in reversing the fortunes of the Charlotte 49ers soccer program and have set the bar high for future 49er teams in the years to come.

Klay Davis, Thomas Allen, Will Mayhew, Aidan Kirkbride, Tyler Gibson, and Anthony Perez provided numerous memorable moments for 49ers fans over the past four years, highlighted by a magical run to the national championship game in Hoover, Al. to cap the 2011 season.

Charlotte’s 2013 seniors won an astounding 56 games during their four years in green and white, including a Conference USA Championship in their final year as 49ers.

Charlotte earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The 49ers fell to the UNC Tar Heels in the national championship game in 2011 and bowed out in the second round of the tournament in each of the past two seasons.

Davis, the 49ers’ keeper, saw playing time in all four of his years at Charlotte but became the team’s starter in 2011.

Davis played a pivotal role in Charlotte’s deep tournament run in 2011 as he recorded the second-lowest goals against average in program history at 0.80.

Davis also recorded two shutouts against Akron and Creighton during the NCAA Tournament.

Allen, the 49ers key defensive leader, also saw playing time in all four seasons at Charlotte.

Allen, much like Davis, earned a starting role with the 49ers in 2011 and played an integral role on a defense that recorded nine shutouts throughout the season.

Allen was named first-team All-Atlantic 10 after the 2012 campaign.

Perez helped anchor the 49ers defense alongside Allen throughout his four years with the 49ers.

Perez saw extensive playing time in his freshman season as he started 14 games for Charlotte in 2010.

Mayhew, Kirkbride and Gibson all occupied the midfield for Charlotte during their time as 49ers.

Mayhew scored three goals and tallied four assists during limited playing in his freshman year at Charlotte.

Mayhew added one goal and three more assists in his sophomore campaign before his season was cut short by an ACL injury in a game against Maryland early in the year.

Mayhew really came on strong during his

NINERONLINE.COM

When these guys joined this team, the program hadn’t made the NCAA Tournament in 12 years. Now that they’re leaving, this program has been in the tournament four out of the last five years ... These guys are going to leave and feel so proud of what they’ve done for this program and this university.

-Head Coach Kevin Langan

senior season as he scored one goal to go along with a career-high six assists as he saw action in 20 games for the 49ers.

Kirkbride earned extensive time on the pitch in all four of his seasons at Charlotte.

Kirkbride was named team MVP after his junior year as he scored two goals on the season to go along with three assists.

Kirkbride had a breakout year in 2013 as he scored a career-high four goals on the season while starting all 21 contests the 49ers played during his senior campaign.

“This has been an unbelievable experience for me personally and it has been the best four years of my life. It’s been a pleasure training with all these boys everyday and it’s kind of like we’re a family. It’s going to be really sad leaving this group of guys,” said Kirkbride.

Gibson started for the 49ers throughout all

four of his seasons with the program.

In 2010, Gibson was named as a College Soccer News Freshman All-American and he was also awarded Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year after contributing four goals and four assists during his first year with the 49ers.

Gibson was named first-team All-Atlantic 10 in 2011 as he tallied three goals and a career-high six assists during his sophomore campaign.

Gibson scored three goals and added four assists during his senior season at Charlotte and he capped his career with a game-winning goal on a penalty kick in the Conference USA Championship Game to give the 49ers a 1-0 victory over Tulsa.

“This has been the best four and a half years of my life. The coaching staff has been unbelievable. The players all get along so well, and like Aiden said, this is a family. I’m really going to miss it,” said Gibson.

The 49ers will be losing a lot of production with the departure of the 2013 senior class. A huge void will be left in the midfield as Gibson, Kirkbride and Mayhew combined to contribute eight goals in 2013 to go along with 11 assists.

The departures of Allen, Perez and Davis may not impact the offensive side of the ball, but the leadership and intensity that those three provided on the backline will be nearly impossible to replace right away.

“These seniors have been absolutely incredible. I couldn’t be more proud of them and I couldn’t ask anything more out of them,” said Charlotte Head Coach Kevin Langan.

“When these guys joined this team the program hadn’t made the NCAA Tournament in 12 years.

Men’s soccer won the Conference USA Championship on Nov. 17. Photo by Chris Crews DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

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Now that they’re leaving, this program has been in the tournament four out of the last five years. This program has never had this much success and it’s all due to how they’ve approached their training everyday.

It’s their demeanor and their great attitudes.

They’ve been great not just on the soccer field but also on campus. The administration and all the students absolutely love them.

They’ve defined what it is now to be a

Charlotte soccer player. They’ve completely set the benchmark and we’re going to miss them like crazy.

It’s going to be weird when we show up for spring practice and these seniors aren’t with us.

These guys are going to leave and feel so proud of what they’ve done for this program and this university.”

The Charlotte 49ers 2013 season was a perfect testament to the skill and leadership that their

senior players possessed.

The 49ers looked down and out midway through the season and were on the verge of missing out on making the Conference USA Tournament.

Charlotte rallied around their seniors one final time and won eight consecutive games, including the Conference USA Championship game, to send the 2013 senior class out on a high note after an illustrious four years at Transamerica Field.

THOMAS ALLEN

KLAY DAVIS

TYLER GIBSON

AIDAN KIRKBRIDE

WILL MAYHEW

ANTHONY PEREZ

Not pictured: Chase Johnston

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Photos by Chris Crews

DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

NINERTIMES

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DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

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INFORMATION OVERLOAD Is the modern brain’s constant exposure to new information allowing us to witness human evolution right before our eyes?

LOUIS BERNASCONI INTERN

It began long ago – about 14 billion years ago – when all energy was condensed into a single point. For some reason it expands, and matter is scattered across the universe. Ten billion years later, there are trillions of galaxies and stars forming throughout.

About 4 billion years ago, if you were to zoom in on the Milky Way galaxy, you’d find an ordinary star among 300 billion others.

Orbiting the star is a planet with enough left over material for the “primordial soup” to create life. Life on earth goes extinct five times before we come into existence.

Homo sapiens go on to share the Earth with at least eight other versions of humanoids. It is now a rather important galaxy because you’re here.

Now this could be all she wrote: the modern brain at the pinnacle of evolution and the end-all, be-all of creation.

But if you stop and think about it, isn’t this viewpoint slightly arrogant? Although the brain is an extraordinary piece of unprecedented biological power, we are more than just our brains.

If we really want to understand who we are, how we feel, love, hate, learn and grow, then we really ought to strive for an understanding of brains. There have been incredible and revolutionary recent advance-

ments – but I’m getting ahead of It controls all those gut reactions myself – how did the brain even you have. come to be?

And on top of the reptilian brain, There are actually three distinct we have this memory system called brains that emerged successively the neocortex. The memory system is in the course of evolution that now sitting over the sensory part of inhabit the human skull. the brain. It’s about the Let’s take a look at size of a table napthe “old brain.” It’s kin, and it doesn’t non-mammal, like even fit properly. a reptile, so we’ll Seriously. That use an alligais why it’s all tor, for exshriveled up ample. This and wrinkly. alligator The neohas some cortex sits extremely there and sophismemorizes ticated all the senses. informaIt has tion that good comes up eyes from the and old brain. ears, a Everypowerful thing. All nose and the people a sense you’ve seen, of touch. the places It has fears you’ve been and and emotions. It things you’ve heard, MCT Campus can attack and swim. It so when it sees something can eat you. But we don’t consider it similar, it’ll play it back. It’s this intelligent – not in a human sort of playback that lets us make intelliway. gent decisions and sing along to our The old brain is still there. You favorite songs. It allows us to predict still have that alligator brain. You the future. really do. It’s your emotional brain.

This is true for all mammals. A rat

EDITORIAL POLICY 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 on Tuesdays during the regular academic year except during holidays and exam periods.

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DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

can memorize a maze after running through it. But nature played a neat trick on the human brain and we developed the anterior part of the neocortex.

We use it for motor control; it enables us to plan out complicated movements and develop skills.

Humans have had these qualities for roughly 3 million years now.

We’re due for a brain upgrade, but this time around we’re going to control the outcome. 3D printing organs, downloading memories, cloning, eradicating genetic diseases and modifying eye color, strength, height, gender and skin color are all possible and they point to a future, for better or worse, of augmented brains commingled with technology.

Of course this will pose political and ethical problems but will nonetheless advance from theory to reality.

There are times when science teaches us something about ourselves. Darwin did this with evolution, and Copernicus did this with the heliocentric model of the universe. These gave us a new understanding of who we are.

The nerve-racking part is the change we will undoubtedly witness in our lifetime; it is entirely possible that our grandkids or great-grandkids will be a species very different from you or me.

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NINER TIMES Student Union, Charlotte, N.C. 28223 OR E-MAIL:

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NINERTIMES

Black Friday annexes Thanksgiving, retailers target Easter next

Police officers attempt to hold back a horde of ravenous shoppers on Black Friday 2012. MCT Campus

EDWARD AVERETTE INTERN

According to the National Retail Federation, last year produced the biggest Black Friday sales on record, with $59.1 million in sales over the four-day weekend. It was estimated that over 140 million people shopped that late November weekend and spent an average of $423 at the checkout.

Although official sales numbers for the 2013 Black Friday weekend are out of reach for the next few weeks, retailers are unsatisfied with the results.

“I honestly feel a lot more people should have showed up,” said Allen Garner, a store manager at a Charlotte Target. “I thought our store hours were convenient for our customers, especially considering it’s the same day as Thanksgiving.”

This was a common response amongst major retailers, such as Walmart, Kmart, Macy’s and others who felt the turnout for Black Friday was slimmer than originally predicted.

“As an industry, with last year’s record profits, there’s really nothing else we can accomplish,” said Senior Vice President and General Manager of a local retail store Donald Germano. “Either

we succumb to mediocrity or we find another day that rivals Black Friday.”

As uncertainty looms over America’s favorite past time, retailers are altering their previous strategies and looking for new dates to attract customers outside of high volume shopping periods such as Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday and Nightmare Before Christmas Weekend.

“I think Christmas is a good day to be open; it’s a retread of Thanksgiving anyway,” said Alexis Randle, CEO of Randle’s Candles.

“Most people would appreciate stores being open to get that last minute Christmas gift and to return what they bought on Black Friday.”

Despite usually being closed on Easter Sunday, Target, Costco, Aldi, Hobby Lobby, Sam’s Club and Chick-fil-A have considered the possibility of being open that day to generate sales.

“Easter would be a great choice because, like Thanksgiving and Christmas, it has built-in significance,” said Hobby Lobby executive board member Laura Kelly. “Good Friday was the original Black Friday, with the crucifixion of Jesus, so

I can’t think of a better way to honor that than by reclaiming the name.”

In a National Retail Federation survey, roughly 75 percent of retail companies considered meaning and cultural significance to be of utmost importance to them in their search for the new Black Friday.

“Although we’re usually closed on Sundays, I can really envision using the Easter holiday to our advantage,” said Chick-fil-A spokesperson Fred Davis. “Easter is never on the same day each year, so it has a certain level of unpredictability that will fuel sales more, while also allowing our customers a place to eat before and after Easter services.”

Despite Black Friday becoming the pinnacle event of a lifetime, retailers are eager to move onto greener pastures and change their strategy to create more business.

No day on the calendar is outside the sphere of possibility for retailers looking to make a bigger statement.

Disclaimer: In this work of satire, all quoted sources in this article are completely fictitious and any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, is coincidental.

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DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

NINERTIMES

Hairy situation averted

THUNDER ROAD 5K, CONQUERED

As No Shave November ends, many mull over mustache motivations

Through a column on NinerOnline.com, Lifestyle Editor Michelle Liringis trained for a 5k. Here is the conclusion to Kickin’ Asphalt, NT’s fitness column.

ASHLEIGH JAMES

MICHELLE LIRINGIS

STAFF WRITER

“You don’t have a sense of pride if you don’t have facial hair as a man,” stated junior Mohammad Konfoh. So many men have reasons as to why they do or do not have facial hair.

Everyone knows about the popular “No Shave November” so how can we not talk about facial hair?

If you see guys around campus that look identical to the Duck Dynasty cast members, you may be able to put the blame on “No Shave November,” or maybe they just love their facial hair that much.

Everyone has different reasons as to why they participate in this event or why they decide to even have facial hair. Before we begin, what exactly is “No Shave November” and where exactly did this originate?

Nov. 1 marked the first day of the annual “No Shave November” where participants do not shave their facial hair for the entire month.

It all started when a group of men organized an event to help raise awareness for men with depression and prostate cancer for 30 days, which is known as the Movember Foundation.

The purpose of the campaign was for men to grow out their hair and embrace it because many patients who have cancer tend to lose hair.

“No Shave November” and Movember are not the exact same

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KICKIN’ ASPHALT:

LIFESTYLE EDITOR thing, but “No Shave November” is a concept that is used for a variety of reasons such as helping to raise awareness, donating money to charities or maybe shaving just isn’t your thing.

Throughout the month of November, you may have men who are fully committed to not shaving for the whole month and men who are partially committed.

After a number of interviews around campus with guys who have facial hair, only three out of the nine said that their reason for having facial hair was to participate in “No Shave November;” whereas others just cannot live without their facial hair no matter what the month is.

Reasons as to why people have facial hair vary and so do the different facial hairstyles.

There are numerous styles to choose from for men who decide to dress up their face with facial hair. Styles can range from a 5 o’clock shadow beard, a full beard, goatee or even just a mustache. Based on the look you’re going for and what style fits you best, there are many options available.

Just like with women trying different hairstyles, some men love their facial hair and aren’t afraid to play around with different facial hair styles.

The same facial haircut or style may look perfect on one person, but totally different on another.

I completed my 5k, and my confidence could not be higher.

When people ask how it went, I have told them “Well, I didn’t cry, and I didn’t quit so I’ll count that as a win.”

My fiancée helped me through; he helped me with the mental battle.

He encouraged me all the way. There were some hills I really wanted to just make him drag me up, but I didn’t. The physical battle had to be all me. I had to show my mind that my body could do it.

My back hurt. I was dizzy and desperate for water, but the confidence and pride I felt was unbeatable.

My grandparents came to see me run, mostly because they were so surprised that I was actually doing it. Once I smiled for grandma’s camera and crossed the finish line, it was all I could do to not fall on the floor.

I believe the runner’s high comes after you finish a run, not during it.

To be completely honest, it went better than I thought it would, but in some ways not how I wanted it to go.

At the beginning of my training, I set a goal to finish the race in 35 minutes or below.

Did I meet that goal? No. I came in with a time of 37 minutes. Two minutes shy of my original goal.

But I did –I did it.

And I am proud of it.

Maybe it took me as long to run three miles as it takes some people to run four or five.

Maybe I didn’t mean my original

DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

goal.

But you know what I did do? I started something, and I finished it.

And that feels good.

I think too often we downplay our accomplishments because they don’t compare to that of others. It is ok to be proud of meeting a goal that you set for yourself, even if it is a small one.

I think that sometimes we make things not ok or lesser than they are because it is embarrassing to be proud of things that seem so small and easy.

To a marathoner, three miles is nothing. To me, it was everything I worked for.

So if you are starting out running, high five yourself when you make it 30 seconds without stopping.

You run a quarter of a mile and don’t feel like dying? Congratulations.

Make it five minutes running? You go, dude.

The little things matter so much more than we realize. It’s the little things that build up to the big things. Cherish those. Cheer for those.

Thank you to the people who cheered me on and encouraged me along the way. It means more than you realize.

So, what’s next?

I am going to take a break from writing this column until January 2014 –but that doesn’t mean a break from running. I’m going to start training for a 10k and come back with some new goals.

NINERTIMES

ONE UNC CHARLOTTE STUDENT, WHO CHOSE TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, TALKS ABOUT WHAT IT’S LIKE TO HAVE A CRUSH ON SOMEONE YOU LIVE WITH In most areas of my life there’s a set order of what to do and why to do it: go to work to pay rent, go to class to graduate, go to sleep on time to not be miserable in the morning.

Until about four months ago, my love life was no different. I had a boyfriend. I wasn’t exactly crazy about him, but he was a practical choice.

And after three years, he was a safe bet to come home to. He was prone to straying to the affections of other women, and he got on my nerves far more often than he charmed me.

But, as a busy college girl more set on the goal of making my career than making babies, having someone to distract me from pursuing new romantic interests and who could be maintained with only lackluster affection allowed me to focus on my more ambitious pursuits in building a writing career.

The truth is, I was selling myself short, and making myself feel as though I wasn’t deserving of true romance— the sweep you off your feet type that we all want deep down inside, no matter how cynical our exteriors may be.

And what I didn’t count on after coming to my senses and dropping Mr. Wrong was that Mr. Right was closer than I expected. Much closer.

It took landing my dream internship and seeing other things falling into place to realize that I needed to end it. Back when I was stuck in the midst of the never-ending relationship, I briefly worked a new part-time job while attempting to find something more stable.

That’s where I met him.

While he was incredibly funny, attractive and intelligent, I didn’t see him in a romantic sense— my good-enough-for-now relationship was still existing for that reason: to distract me from the real distractions.

But a few months ago, I finally dropped the boyfriend in a moment of strength that I didn’t know I had. I felt invigorated by it. I was determined after wiping my hands of the ill-fated pairing to not fall into anything new anytime soon. I had been stuck for too long.

It felt refreshing to say “I” and “me” and “myself” and not feel an ounce of guilt for being happy about being single. I was helped along considerably by my roommates. My female

NINERONLINE.COM

roomie had quickly become my best friend and greatest ally in focusing on myself after my breakup. The new male roommate was now the one who was simply an acquaintance from my brief gig a year prior. He was also supportive, and we became close friends— maybe a little too close.

After a string of short and not-so-sweet affairs, he had not been in a relationship in several years, and not by accident. He had not been looking for several years for a girlfriend, and he intended for it to stay that way. Both of us were not looking for anything, but it happened without our intent.

Like most things, it started small.

I would come home exhausted from work and class only to find him at home, ready to talk about the day and maybe watch some Netflix and cook dinner together.

For someone hopeless at dating because of my unbearable awkwardness, developing affection for someone without even looking for it had an appeal that was impossible to ignore.

It got to the point where I felt excited to go home at the end of each day.

And what was strange was, it didn’t feel one-sided. There was an unmistakable sense that he enjoyed spending time with me too. After one of many talks about our life aspirations he admitted to me, “I really enjoy our talks.”

The flutter I felt in my chest at his use of the word “our” was one I wanted to immediately stamp out. This was my roommate after all.

Starting anything would be unwise. With as crazy as my semester is going, having to move out because of a fling gone awry would only add to the stress and madness. But the connection grew and became undeniable, and it started to feel like I was in well over my head.

Though I wasn’t looking, if I was then he would be everything I was looking for. I felt such an unbearable happiness when talking to him and the attraction had become ridiculously impossible to put aside.

After finding every excuse to be closer to each other (from tickle fights to washing dishes at the same time to impromptu hugs after late-night talks) it got to the point where someone had to say something.

That someone was me.

DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

After dropping as many hints as I had and being about as subtle as an elephant in a room about my affections, he still hadn’t made a move.

After confronting him about how I felt, the anxiety and panic I felt quickly subsided as I realized that he too had been unsure about how to proceed.

Strangely, we didn’t feel the need to immediately rush into a relationship or into some dramatic Hollywood-esque love-making session.

We talked it out, weighing the pros and cons.

It was less romantic than the relationship option and less fun than the take a cue from a movie option, but we felt pretty darn proud of ourselves for being full-fledged adults about the situation.

But the thing about pros and cons lists is that your heart doesn’t really care about them.

In fact, your emotions kind of live to muck up any semblance of logic that your mind may be stuck on. They get off on that stuff.

Though we reasoned it out that we should take it slow and “see where it goes,” once the attraction and feelings have been acknowledged by both parties, it’s all but impossible to not act on them.

Plus, when you live together there are even more opportunities to give lingering glances or find excuses to walk around shirtless (him, not me). Naturally, there have been more than glances exchanged as we try to work out what we’re doing.

As we grow closer and flirt more with the idea of being in a relationship, there’s a growing sense of anticipation on both sides. Regardless, it’s a feeling I didn’t know really existed until I felt it for myself. It’s strong enough and sure enough that it doesn’t even really need a label for now.

I know how he feels, he knows how I feel.

And that’s a good place to be. In fact, it’s the best.

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AUG. 25 Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke made international headlines with their shocking performance at the MTV Video Music Awards.

AUG. 31

MCT Campus

The 49ers football team kicked off the innaugural season at Jerry Richardson Stadium with a historic victory against the Campbell Camels.

Photo by Aaron Cress

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SEPT. 16

SEPT. 17

United Nations confirms the use of chemical weapons during the Aug. 21 attacks in Syria.

Rapper J. Cole brought his “What Dreams May Come” tour featuring Wale to UNC Charlotte’s Halton Arena.

DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

NINERTIMES

SEPT. 18

SEPT. 20

Apple released their newest software upgrade, iOS 7. Once again, countless spent hours upgrading their phones.

Along with the release of the new software upgrade, Apple also released the iPhone 5S and colorful 5C. The iPhone 5 is discontinued.

MCT Campus

SEPT. 29

OCT. 12

The popular AMC series “Breaking Bad” starring Bryan Cranston came to end with the shocking series finale earlier in the semester.

Homecoming events were celebrated with football for the first time this year at UNC Charlotte.

OCT. 1 TO 16 Due to budgetary disagreements, the federal government shut down for just over two weeks.

MCT Campus

MCT Campus

Photo by Chris Crews

NOV. 20 Adam Levine, lead singer of the band Maroon 5, was named People Magazine’s sexiest man alive for 2013.

Photo by Chris Crews

NOV. 19 Oxford named “selfie” its 2013 word of the year, defining it as “a photograph one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media site.”

NOV. 23 NOV. 17 Men’s soccer won the Conference USA Tournament. This was the first time the 49ers won a conference tournament since 1983 and only the second time winning one in program history.

Whovians everywhere enjoyed the long anticipated 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who, “The Day of the Doctor.” The special featured many of the doctors all in one dramatic episode.

MCT Campus

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DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

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YOU DON’T KNOW UNTIL YOU GO This holiday season, remember that home is wherever you are, and you are responsible for making your dreams a reality RYAN HESS

GUEST COLUMNIST It’s Christmas time in Italy.

The largest tree I have ever seen was placed in Piazza del Duomo by crane; she’s now receiving her strands of lightwork.

There are so many red tents wrapping around the cathedral as Christmas markets take over Milan.

Walking to school is now an event

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in and of itself.

As sneaky as the Italian Mafia, lights and decorations are popping up all around the city—some entire buildings have been gift-wrapped.

The lights won’t be turned on until Milan “officially” starts celebrating the holiday cheer in a few days. Anticipation builds.

The Christmas tree in Piazza del Duomo in Milan, Italy. Photo by Ryan Hess

It’s that waiting-to-open-presents excitement all over again. For the first time, however, I’ll be spending the holidays abroad.

Despite the distance, I won’t be alone. I’m headed to Lago di Como to celebrate Christmas with a big Italian family and hitching a ride to Rome for New Year’s Eve. Still, the distance has me thinking.

I’m awfully grateful for this opportunity, and with my last month upon me, I can’t help but thank everyone who managed to make this dream a reality.

That theme overall keeps coming back to me: the people around you make your dreams happen.

If you’re looking for an opportunity, it’s not just you. It’s not just “hustle.” Whether it’s an internship or a dream job, an opportunity is found in a person. And for those starry points to align, there’s a warmth that you need to share first—in being vulnerable and open, in accepting the love and opportunity that your life deserves.

We get so worked up over the holidays with wanting, with perfecting, with resolution-ing. Try giving out more love than you could possibly receive back.

Open up more hearts than presents (this is metaphorical, nursing major).

I marvel at how aware we need

DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

to be, in how awareness makes our lives joyful.

Dreams, opportunities, moments; your whole life will pass you by if you don’t slow down from your dayto-day rushing.

If there’s anything I’ve learned from the Italians, it’s that your accomplishments do not make you who you are—your relationships do.

Every person you’ve interacted with has made a mark on you, no matter how small.

Perhaps, this holiday season, it’s time to refine the signature you leave on everyone’s heart.

This series was never about travel.

You don’t have to travel to change who you are. You can change whenever you’d like, and it’s not too late.

If you’re lost on where to start, perhaps take an unsexy step toward a big and scary dream, or remove what isn’t working, or practice awareness and gratitude this holiday season.

You’ve got everything to need to love right here—beating behind 24 ribs.

You’ll rarely regret living right here—in being grateful. Suddenly, the future takes of itself when you‘re aware of the here and now.

Look around you. Take in your friends, your family, Charlotte, your hometown. Take all that love in and reflect it right back, greater.

NINERTIMES

NINERONLINE.COM

DEC. 3, 2013 - JAN. 13, 2014

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REVIEW: WALKING INTO BROOKYLN

STUDENT TALKS CHALLENGES OF SOLO RAP CAREER CHESTER GRIFFIN STAFF WRITER

James Tristan Redding’s latest album is a mellow treat. Photo courtesy of James Tristan Redding

BRYAN ARCHILLA INTERN

Having released 14 albums, singer-songwriter James Tristan Redding prepares for an international tour celebrating the release of his most recent CD, “Walking Into Brooklyn.” Redding's latest body of work has the right amount of poetry and musicality. It’s a very mellow-sounding album that goes down easily during one sitting. The songs range from talking about family to nostalgic love songs. It’s where the old time blues lyric meet the new generation of musical elements with a soft voice to compliment them.

This album is the child of, in his own words, “Wanting to say something but not knowing how to say, but then saying it anyway.” It’s in its very core a musician’s need to express himself through music, and you can definitely feel it in the lyrics.

With songs like “ A Girl Named Elizabeth,” which speaks of a dear friend of his and their friendship, and “My Dad is a Bad Ass,” which is simply about his father and how he looked up to him. There isn’t a very concrete theme to the album but it still feels concise and controlled because it’s simply what Redding wanted to say and it works nicely for

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this album.

Redding spent some time in Mexico after a close friend offered him a ride there, where he survived by singing on the streets and playing at small venues. He learned about the culture and mastered some of the Spanish language. He confirmed that his time in Mexico did inspire some of his music. “Everything was laid back, and if they wanted to hang out on a morning, they would show up around noon and be with each other and they would feel bad if you weren’t having a good time.

That’s the kind of people they were and some of that definitely rubbed off, and you can absolutely hear it in there.”

Walking Into Brooklyn is a short but sweet album. It’s relaxing, the subject matters are relatable, and in some cases, nostalgic.

You can order the CD from his website jamestristanredding.com or download it at bandcamp.com (with bonus Spanish translation of some songs). If you like Redding’s “Walking into Brooklyn,” come see him on tour in Charlotte’s “The Saloon” on Dec. 4 at 8 p.m.

As a child growing up in Indianapolis, Khyran Shank never envisioned himself pursuing a career as a rap artist. “As a kid I did almost everything that little kids do,” said Shank. “I played sports and had my little gadgets, but my mind was far away from music.”

Even though being a rap artist was way off his radar, music meant a lot to him and his family. “It was a means of getting away from certain issues and dilemmas,” Shank said.

While his first name is Khyran, he’s recognized by his friends and followers as Shank. “I got the name by one of my old track coaches,” Shank said. “He couldn’t pronounce my name so he introduced me to the team as Shank.”

As a UNC Charlotte student, Shank is currently majoring in criminal justice and runs track and field. When he’s not running or studying for an exam, he’s dedicating time to his music career.

He had only begun to play around with the mic when he started receiving positive feedback from people other than his friends and family. Once he decided to take rapping seriously, it all came naturally to him.

His growing fan base offers a potential business opportunity. “For my business to rise and gain profit, I have to invest,” Shank said. “In order to have a career in anything, you must start from the ground up.”

Shank’s first live performance proved center stage as a second home for the artist. “I was very alive and animated, which got people going and paying attention,” Shank said.

For Shank, he believes what sets

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his music apart from other artists is how genuine and relatable it is. “I feel that I’m a whole different sound compared to what other artists are coming out with,” Shank said. “I believe that if more people hear me, it’ll be a refreshing taste of music to their ears.”

While most rising stars tend to look to a famous artist for inspiration, Shank’s biggest inspiration is his mother. “My mom has been through so much, putting up with me and my family; even after all the trials and tribulations, she still stands strong,” Shank said.

“Every time I feel like giving up, I always think about her and what she’s been through and that keeps me pushing.”

One of Shank’s biggest challenges is building connections and finding trustworthy people. “In this industry there is a lot of shady figures and activity,” Shank said. “Just because someone tells you they have the ‘hookup’ on something doesn’t mean they’re looking out for your best interest.”

For those interested in hearing Shank’s music, go to Datpiff.com to listen to his first mixtape called “Welcome to the Intro.” “‘Welcome to the Intro’ shows what my style of delivery, flow and creativity is like,” Shanks said.

“Basically it’s an intro of something new I can bring to the game of hiphop.”

In addition to releasing his first mixtape, Shank will be performing at The Evening Muse on Dec. 8.

The show starts at 6:30 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online at aftonshows.com.

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BURIED IN THE QUEUE This winter break, it might be time to give those Netflix items at the bottom of your watch list a little love Olivia Thirlby in “Dredd.”

Photo courtesy of Lionsgate Publicity

Okay, so it might be somewhat contradictory to suggest Netflix selections after talking about how you shouldn’t put things on your queue suggested by other people.

But these are just some relatively new movies and television shows that may be at the bottom of your Netflix list (and should not be) simply because of pressure to watch other recently popular shows.

Dredd (2012)

PATRICK BOGANS MANAGING EDITOR

The idea of “binge-watching” has created a whole new type of entertainment for our generation. Television marathons are one thing, but being able to choose what to marathon is a wonderful thing.

Finally, once the stress of exams and this devastatingly long and grueling fall semester is over, there will finally be some free time to veg out and catch up on your Netflix list, the only to-do list you actually want to accomplish.

But odds are, the Netflix list is packed with movies and television shows your peers have pressured you into watching all semester.

“Oh girl, you have to catch up on ‘Orange is the New Black’”!

“Wait, you’ve never seen any of ‘Doctor Who’”?

“Dude, you have to watch ‘Breaking Bad’”! (This is usually followed by an expletive in reference to Aaron Paul’s character).

And, as the good friend you are, you promise them it will be the first thing you will watch once you have the time. This is either because you

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actually want to watch the show or movie, but it’s more likely because you want them to stop talking about it before they spoil it.

Yes, “Breaking Bad” is an extremely gratifying series anyone with a mischievous side should experience.

I have nothing against the series whatsoever; personally, I’m currently in the third season of the show and it is fantastic. “Orange is the New Black” is also an innovation in the binge-watchable drama. Yet, hearing the same, empty positive suggestion from everyone over and over really spoils the experience.

Personally, my Netflix list is full of suggestions from other people. I’m not sure if I will ever sit down and watch the entirety of “Doctor Who,” but I will make sure my Whovian friends know it’s “on my list” of things to watch.

I am definitely not trying to put anyone down who is either the source or the receiver of this process.

It has become a natural thing for this generation to share. Whether it’s what we are doing today, what

we are eating (unfortunately) and inevitably what we are watching.

When someone mentions a TV show or a movie I have seen and enjoyed, it’s compulsive for me to suggest to them to watch it. But it’s another thing to suggest to someone a TV show or a movie they’ve probably already been pressured to see already.

I get it; after seeing post after post on BuzzFeed about the series finale of “Breaking Bad” or the 50th anniversary of “Doctor Who,” it would be nice to know what people are talking about.

But when watching a show starts to feel like a chore instead of a purely gratifying and relaxing source of entertainment, the saturation has gone a little too far.

Isn’t the whole point of Netflix is to watch what you want when you want to?

The next time you have a free afternoon, make sure you’re watching what you want to watch - not exactly what is going to give you brownie points with your friends.

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This new take on the Judge Dredd character was the most underrated action film of 2012.

Anyone looking for a no-holdsbarred intelligent shoot-em-up movie should not look past “Dredd.”

Safety Not Guaranteed

Charming and relatively unknown, this comedy follows a few journalists who go to find the creator of an classified ad in a local paper, which asks for someone to join him in a time traveling adventure.

Weeds

For fans of “Breaking Bad,” this drug-motivated family drama is more comical, but just as enthralling.

Friday Night Lights

NBC brought the slow-burning, intriguing drama to mainstream audiences in primetime; if only the network treated it right, the word-of-mouth for this Texas football drama would definitely be much stronger now.

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NEW ‘BORDERLANDS 2’ DLC BRINGS BIZARRE HOLIDAY ACTION TO YOUR CONSOLE CHESTER GRIFFIN STAFF WRITER

In the latest “Borderlands 2” DLC, players are taken to Mr. Torgue’s Hunger for Violence Extravaganza, where they’ll face tributes of past enemies and eventually fight the Wattle Gobbler.

This DLC is chock full of hilarious nods to Thanksgiving traditions and pop culture references.

Unlike the previous DLC, “The Horrible Hunger of the Ravenous Wattle Gobbler” has an amusing story line that’s filled with hilarious dialogue.

It also features the return of Mr. Torgue and his plan to take revenge upon President Smith for taking over his company. He provides funny commentary as the player sets out to sabotage the already rigged show.

Even with a more elaborate story, the main quest line is actually shorter than “TK Baha’s Bloody Harvest,” but far more engaging.

In addition to the main quest line, players can test their patience by listening to one of Grandma Torgue’s tedious stories. At first it seems like a clever lampoon of listening to a relative’s boring story, but its charm soon wears off and eventually becomes the very thing it tries to mock.

It’s also important to mention that while “TK Baha’s Bloody Harvest” tried to innovate the gameplay by introducing ability boosting candies, this DLC doesn’t really do anything innovative.

Most of the enemies are just reskinned versions of Bandits and Goliaths, but with more variations to their attack patterns. For example, the Goliath is now a butcher and will throw cleavers at the player instead of going into a rage mode.

Each environment the player goes through is both unique and offers plenty of variety. At one point you’ll be fighting off swarms of chefs in a dangerous kitchen and in another you’ll be shooting down stabber jabbers in the sky.

For $2.99, “The Horrible Hunger of the Ravenous Wattle Gobbler” is worth the price of admission. It’s an improvement upon the previous DLC, but still comes up short on content. As the second of three headhunter packs, it should be enough to suffice players until the last pack comes out in December.

Image courtesy of Gearbox

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FINDING YOUR MUSE AIN’T ALWAYS EASY Despite the reputation as just an “artsy” venue in the NoDa district, the Evening Muse offers a meeting place for artists and musicians and has deep ties to the Charlotte community.

The Evening Muse is more than just a place to catch a show, but a place where artists can collaborate and share their own muses. Photo by Patrick Bogans.

LIZ LANIER A&E EDITOR

Nestled among the coffee houses and the kitschy shops on the streets of North Davidson is a venue where all manner of genres are performed—R&B, rock, reggae, blues, folk, soul, country—all are welcome at The Evening Muse.

Naturally, the performers that come to show their stuff every Monday for the “Find Your Muse Open Mic Night” are just as varied as the surroundings.

Those who venture past the always popular restaurants and bars like Cabo Fish Taco and JackBeagle’s can find the Evening Muse tucked snugly into a corner of two streets. Inside, the brick walls display local art and the bar beckons patrons to purchase a couple of beers before the show begins— any other drink would be too pretentious for the laid back setting of the Muse.

In front of the tiny stage are cheap chairs lined up in several rows. Rather than hiding away at coffee tables and booths, the audience must openly watch performers.

The effect is fitting and only fair, as many of the performers open their hearts and minds to the audience while performing their music and art—the least the audience can do, is watch.

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For those who arrive early to the showing every Monday at 8 p.m., they will likely get a taste of the musical styling of the emcee, Erik Button.

On this night, he performs alone, guitar in hand, and sings in a sardonic fashion befitting his jeans, black shirt and thick-rimmed glasses.

“I think I’m a good person, for absolutely no reason …”

Though perhaps a little too sarcastic for some (and a little too realistic for others) Button sings of the sentiments of Generation Y’ers and tries to sound cultured in spite of having no real culture.

(A later lyric admits that if he says anything smart, he probably just heard it on television.)

In spite of the ease of his on-stage persona, Button admits he didn’t always perform music.

“Without the open mic I wouldn’t have any musical abilities at all,” Button reveals. “Performing [at the Muse] before I started hosting gave me an opportunity to create a stage presence, and when I started emceeing, I continued to develop that character.”

It can be difficult to find the line between the person and the persona when it comes to Button.

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“[Performing] definitely affects how I emcee because it always puts me on the side of the musicians as opposed to the audience,” Button says.

Any observer might not know the difference though, as Button teases several of the performers mercilessly as they take the stage, like a court jester who’s swapped in his coxcomb for hipster glasses and would only wear tights to be ironic.

The first to take the stage is a teenager with sandy hair that he brushes out of his face before starting his first song, a Nirvana cover. His hands stay firm on the neck of his guitar, fingers rigidly and awkwardly staying in positions likely learned from many guitar lessons.

Rather than anything self-taught, he looks as though he has practiced chords through rote repetition. In spite of the appearance of the awkward formality that comes from lessons rather than experience, the young man impresses the audience as he croons in a voice unexpected from his age.

Although he is young, the average age of the audience seems to be roughly 24, as most of the audience has a drink in hand but look a little too experienced to be freshly legal drinkers.

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A few people in their 30s and 40s congregate at the back tables of the venue, choosing to keep the younger performers of the early show at arm’s length. After a few songs, another high school student takes the stage. With braces and oily black hair, his adolescent appearance is in stark contrast to the young-adult atmosphere of The Evening Muse.

While he starts off confidently enough, proclaiming that his black slacks and suspenders and dress shirt are in deference to “The Man in Black,” the persona quickly fades as he starts to sing and strum. Unlike the focus of the prior student, he stumbles through Johnny Cash’s “Cocaine Blues.”

“Just before the jury started out, I saw the little judge commence to look aroun—a—about ... ” Rather than make the young man feel bad, the audience cheers him

tening as he speaks a poem intended to say the things he wishes he had heard from his father.

“Never had much to give, but if I did, it was always love.”

After the man leaves the stage with relief, Button jokes as a band named Michael Jordan takes the stage. Rather than an NBA player, two young men in their 20s take the stage. With their age comes a confidence unseen that night. A young man takes a guitar and explains that they couldn’t come up with a name, but he’s Michael, and his friend is Jordan. Jordan, the other band member, sits down upon a cajon box drum. Button tries to assemble a microphone in front of Jordan on the small stage, pulling wires and the stand through the cluttered backdrop of the platform.

The young man refuses it. “Aren’t you singing?” asks Button.

“[Performing] definitely affects how I emcee because it always puts me on the side of the musicians as opposed to the audience.”

-Erik Button, Find your Muse Open Mic emcee

on as he makes his way through the rest of the sound. While the ill preparation doesn’t make for the best sound, it is a little more rock and roll to stumble in without a care, and the Muse is a forgiving mistress.

Not so forgiving though, when he announces his next song will be Elvis Presley’s “Blue Suede Shoes.”

“You mean Carl Perkins!” shouts one of the older men from the back.

For a change in tone, a spoken word poet takes the stage. He nervously admits that he has not performed in a while, but the atmosphere of the Muse is so cozy that it is not long before he loosens up and his poetry becomes smoother, less stilted. The audience is intently lis-

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“No,” is the only reply.

It becomes clear why, as Michael launches into a cover of Ellie Goulding’s “Lights” and Jordan expertly pounds on the block of wood, creating an enticing beat.

“Cause they’re calling, calling, calling me home. Calling, calling, calling home.

You show the lights that stop me turn to stone, you shine it when I’m alone. Home.”

Though he is merely singing lyrics written by another, Michael’s words reflect the very nature of The Evening Muse. Regardless of style or genre or art, all can find a kind of home at the Muse.

ACROSS 1 Leafhopper relative 7 2002 Man Booker Prize-winning novel 15 Oath 16 Show of confidence 17 Evict 18 Accounting concerns 19 Ad infinitum?

21 Having a dark complexion 22 Clipper target 24 “Permit Me Voyage” poet 25 Dish prepared hot and served cold 29 Ones, e.g.: Abbr.

31 Fonda’s “My Darling Clementine” role 33 Setting for the 2001 film “No Man’s Land”

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36 Like Singha beer 38 Correction 39 Astronomical scales 40 Tremendous spans 41 Olympic hurdler Jones 42 Inexplicable, in a way 44 Stop wearing down?

46 Fa follower 47 “I don’t care if you __ again”: The Cars lyric 48 Coal container 50 Showed grief 52 Mr. Peabody’s boy 55 Conic section 60 Balance sheet items 62 Make less musty 63 Like some decals 64 Easier to see, perhaps 65 It’s not charged 66 Cakewalk

DOWN 1 Kvetch 2 2011 Best New Artist Grammy winner Bon __ 3 Parting aid 4 Taps absentee, possibly 5 Renaissance standout 6 Hal Foster’s Queen of the Misty Isles 7 Author Yutang 8 Refreshing treats 9 Islamic ruling 10 Put behind bars 11 Sneaker inserts 12 Short-term residence, usually 13 Substance 14 Far from substantial 20 Hummingbird attractors 23 Like some humor 25 Genesis son 26 Genesis city 27 “Song based on a letter,” per McCartney 28 Bigoted 30 Ball Park Franks owner 32 2011 ABC show with multiple pilots 34 The tallest one is nearly 16,000 feet high 35 Took off 37 Emerald __ 43 Statistical anomaly 45 Building material 49 Nita of early filmdom 51 Backup 52 __ doctor 53 Hopping game?

54 __ Carrot: Crayola color 56 Requiem title word 57 Plant’s stoma, e.g.

58 1956 crisis site 59 French 101 word 61 __-Cat

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