JANUARY 22, 2019 NINERTIMES.COM
READ MORE ONLINE AT NINERTIMES.COM
Jeffrey Kopp
editor@ninertimes.com EDITORIAL
Alexandria Sands COMMUNITY EDITOR Megan Bird NEWS EDITOR Sam Palian SPORTS EDITOR Elissa Miller A&E EDITOR Hailey Turpin LIFESTYLE EDITOR Madison Dobrzenski OPINION EDITOR Emily Hickey COPY EDITOR Leysha Caraballo PHOTO COORDINATOR Pooja Pasupula PHOTO COORDINATOR Kathleen Cook VIDEO PRODUCER Natasha Morehouse LAYOUT EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITORS
Nikolai Mather, Noah Howell, Haseena Evans, Jonathan Limehouse, Jacob Baum, Kellyanna Atwell CONTRIBUTING STAFF
David Clancy, Breanna Herring, Arik Miguel, Lucas Ewing, Sara Zimmerman, Daniel Hall COVER PHOTO
Niyathi Sulkunte
A&E • •
SPORTS
Gaming Roundup: January 2019
•
The Top Ten Best Films of 2018
•
VIDEO •
Charlotte falls vs. Marshall
•
Charlotte women win vs. FAU
Defense lifts Charlotte to Victory over Louisiana Tech Charlotte fails to come back against LA Tech in a tough road loss
•
Niners lose heartbreaker on last second shot
•
Southern Miss stumps the 49ers
NEWSROOM: 705.687.7150 ninertimes.com/staff
Follow us on Twitter @niner_times
MEDIA MARKETING MARKETING DIRECTOR
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Fred Brown
James Bourke
mktdirector@uncc.edu
production@uncc.edu
MARKETING STAFF
Kayla Christian, Eddy Falls, Lillian Taylor, Abigail Guadarrama. Caleb Adams
LOCATED IN THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE STUDENT UNION
NINER TIMES • RADIO FREE CHARLOTTE SANSKRIT LITERARY-ARTS MAGAZINE MEDIA MARKETING • TECHNICAL T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F N O R T H C A R O L I N A AT C H A R L O T T E
NINER MEDIA ADVISER: WAYNE MAIKRANZ MARKETING ADVISER: KELLY MERGES BUSINESS MANAGER: LAURIE CUDDY GRAPHICS & PRODUCTION: JOSHUA WOOD OFFICE MANAGER: KELLY DUDDEN
2
JAN. 22, 2019
NINERTIMES
LIST OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS HIGHLIGHT UNC CHARLOTTE’S FUTURE Second Center City location, a new Early College and building renovations are key elements of UNC Charlotte’s plan to grow. By Jacob Baum Assistant News Editor
Documents obtained by the Niner Times show UNC Charlotte has begun the initial phase of planning on over a dozen potential new capital projects. A UNC Charlotte spokesperson confirmed to the Niner Times, that the University has requested $45 million from State Legislators for the renovation of both the Burson and Cameron building. After the request for funding, UNC Charlotte confirmed it hosted local representatives from the North Carolina General Assembly for lunch, and a tour of UNC Charlotte on January 18th. The hope is to revitalize UNC Charlotte’s main campus, which has over two dozen buildings listed as “poor condition”, according to the current UNC Charlotte “Facilities Condition Index” When asked about the potential projects, Kathryn Horne, the Director of Planning at UNC Charlotte, explained, “the Capital Renewal Deferred Maintenance (CRDM) tool tracks both current and potential projects and our needs for repair and renovations across campus. Information is compiled from multiple sources. It is also used to track our repairs and renovation needs and deferred maintenance needs.” Horne went on to explain, “It is important to note that being shown on CRDM in no way implies that it is a current project or will become a project in the future. Whether something on the list becomes a project is dependent on identifying funding. Part of the planning effort is prioritizing needs and potential projects and aligning them with available funds to implement those that are most crucial to the success of the University. Even if it does become a project, it is possible the timeline could be 20 years or more in the future.” The following projects are listed as “prioritized planning” projects meaning they are future projects identified but not yet underway. Second Center City Building One of the most notable and expensive projects, called “Center City II,” is a second uptown location. UNC Charlotte records indicate that it is in the initial stages of a $98.5 million dollar building in Charlotte. The same records indicate that UNC Charlotte anticipates acquiring land in downtown Charlotte for an estimated $19.1 million. Early College High School This project will cost $20 million, and the project description states, “The Early College High School project is intended to provide a permanent building for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) and UNC Charlotte shared initiative. Currently, CMS has a temporary facility to accommodate the Engineering Early College function on campus. This building will house two early college programs; one in engineering.”
NEWS
Student Academic Success and Retention Center This project will consolidate academic support services into a single, convenient location on campus. This project’s estimated cost is $94.7 million.
NT File Photo
Arts and Humanities Building A $95 million dollar Arts and Humanities building is also under-works. The project states, “This new building will provide expanded facilities in support of the new College of Arts and Architecture. A new 1,500 seat performing arts facility is needed on campus to accommodate student body growth.”
Science Building Two This building will be a separate project from the current science center which just began construction at an estimated cost of $90 million. This addition will cost an estimated $50 million. The description states, “This project will build upon the improvement provided by the bond referendum and add teaching and research capacity for growth of an estimated 35,000 students.” New Entrance N. Tryon This project will provide a new road connecting CRI to main campus at Cameron Boulevard and adds a 3rd entrance on the Tryon/Highway 29 side of campus. This project is estimated at a cost of $10.8 million Additional Projects include Burson Renovation $24 million, Storrs Building Expansion $40 million, Computing and Informatics Building $48.5 million Engineering Innovation Hall $46.8 million, Parking Deck K $20.8 million, Prospector Renovation $3 million, Cone Center Renovation $36 million, Crown Commons Renovation $2.5 million, Friday Building Renovation $29 million, Smith Building Renovation $15 million, Cameron Building Renovation $26 million, Colvard Building Renovation $14 million as well as additional smaller projects. UNC Charlotte did not speculate on any other details of the project or a time frame of any of these projects and are still in the planning phase of development. According to UNC Charlotte public records, the University is currently still in the middle of its five year capital construction plan. That plan has fifteen projects uncomplete still which includes the new Science Center, Admissions and Visitor Center, as well as the University Recreational Center all of which will be complete in late 2019 or 2020.
NINERTIMES.COM
JAN. 22, 2019
3
REVAMPING AND REZONING IN UNIVERSITY CITY
By Jacob Baum Assistant News Editor
As UNC Charlotte has grown, so has its economic impact on the University City region. A number of new commercial developments are coming to the area to meet the demand of the area’s ever growing population according to documents released by the Charlotte City Council. Top Golf, a global sports entertainment community, submitted a rezoning petition to the Charlotte City Council for a new 13.2 acre entertainment district on McFarlane Boulevard near Ikea Blvd. The University City Top Golf facility will feature 102 hitting bays for groups, a bar, a restaurant and has marketing programs aimed toward college students.
Photo Courtesy of Top Golf
Top Golf tried to expand to the UNC Charlotte area in 2017 but stopped pursuing a University City location after an outcry of concerns from local residents at City Council meetings over concerns that the development would be built directly next both a residential area and a historic cemetery. Concerns were also raised about the large netting that has to surrond Top Golf facilities, to keep in golf balls. That fence is 150-160 feet in the air or the equivalent of a twelve story building. Top Golf is not the only new business coming to the University City area. A Dallas-based fund-manager, EB Arrow, has acquired two large parcels of land directly next to UNC Charlotte. EB Arrow purchased University Place I and II for a total cost of $18.2 million and has already filed a petition with the City of Charlotte to rezone the land. EB Arrow repositions commercial projects in prime locations that are suffering operational difficulties. Its mission statement explains that upon acquisition of land, each retail center will be renovated or redeveloped to add apartments, office buildings or hotels, or alternatively their operations will be optimized for value enhancement. According to public records released by the City of Charlotte, EBA Crystal Real Estate LLC, which is
4
JAN. 22, 2019
NINERTIMES
affiliated with EB Arrow, has proposed a project with up to 300,000 square feet of commercial space, multiple parking decks, a library, 600 residential units and, potentially, a hotel. One of the few confirmed new tenants for the new shopping center is the Armored Cow Brewery. The brewery will be a first for the University Area and will specialize in gluten-free beer. The Armored Cow will operate out of an already existing building at 8821 JW Clay Blvd, which will be directly across the street from EB Arrows development. The University City Chick-Fil-A, which currently has a standalone location in the shopping center, has also filed a rezoning petition with the City Council to move from its current location to a new and larger location across the street to meet the high demand of customers. That petition to move to a new location was approved by the Charlotte City Council late last year. At the center of all the new commercial developments in the area is the University City Partners, which is an organization that implements strategies to drive University City forward. The University City Partners have been actively engaged in the new commercial developments and has a plan for the future growth and redevelopment of the area. When asked about EB Arrows’ redevelopment plan, a representative said, “While no two projects are alike, their basic formula is exactly what this site needs – more residents and office workers helping to create a strong center for University City.” Some Students are thrilled for the new businesses that are moving to the area. Sophomore Robert Mills told the Niner Times, “It will be great to be able to go out and have a good time with friends without having to drive to Uptown Charlotte or the Concord Mills area.” Mills went on to explain that, besides restaurants, the University City area lacks entertainment, like a bowling alley, movie theater or other options for residents or college students to explore in their free time. The University City region does have a movie theater three miles away from the center of campus as well as a bowling alley nearly five miles away from campus, but nothing directly surrounding the University. The new highly anticipated commercial developments are a direct result of UNC Charlotte’s continued growth and rapid expansion in the University City region. As the area continues to grow, so does the demand for places of entertainment. The University City district has had a high amount of request to rezone, or redevlop land in the area, compared to other districts. The City Council will meet over the next few months to continue to discuss some of the proposed projects, with developers and residents of the areas affected.
MAINTAIN OUR AMPIHITHEATER Have you noticed the amphitheater on our campus?
OPINION
by David Clancy Opinion Intern
Nestled in between the endless oceans of parking of Lots 5 and 6, hidden behind gnarled trees and construction fences, lies a scene of decay and neglect. Behind the Cafeteria Activities Building (CAB), there is concrete seating facing a blank wall. This forgotten structure has no signage nearby, however it was clearly a theater. Previously, this structure was not so secluded, as it was surrounded by the former Martin Village dorms. No doubt this stage was used for a variety of uses. Its main purpose was probably for showing movies, the picture projected onto the blank wall of the CAB. The Student Union has taken over the task of showing movies, with its indoor theater and other amenities. As of late the outdoor theater has fallen into a state of relative disrepair. Plants are growing in the cracks of the weathered foundations. Water pools at the lowest levels after large bouts of rain. In its current condition, the theater’s fate is bleak. The Belk Tower’s 2016 demolition shows that unmaintained concrete structures do not tend to stick around. Though no blame should be put upon anyone for the lack of maintenance in the first place. With so many complicated revitalization and construction projects on campus to manage, the outdoor theater is a low priority. One may ask why we should keep this structure, as it could interfere with the university’s future plans for the area. In a Feb. 20, 2018 Niner Times article by Jacob Baum, a map was published showing the massive redevelopment of the eastern portion of campus. Along with rerouting roads and building various new structures, the area that is now occupied with the CAB and the theater is depicted as being a lake. While there is no doubt that this lake would be a nice addition to the space, it would lose the potential that an amphitheater inherently creates. If the CAB was demolished and the theater seating left in place, we could have an amphitheater on campus for various events and lectures to be held. One use would be for the Department of Theatre, whose current outdoor production setup requires seating be placed around
Photo by Olivia Gregson
the stage by Robinson and Rowe. This takes away manpower from building the production’s set. An amphitheater would require little to no work in regards of seating, as the structure itself is mostly seating. Student organizations and greek life would also find use from an amphitheater. The space would provide large outdoor seating for events or meetings. The space could also be rented out by third parties seeking an outdoor event space. The university does not need to scrap the idea of a lake. We can take note of our sister campus in Wilmington, UNCW. One of the many features of their campus is an amphitheater which faces a man-made lake. The stage features simple outdoor fabrics to provide shade for speakers and performers. It is comparatively smaller than our existing theater, though we can bring this concept to a larger scale. Another potential use of space is to incorporate nature within the amphitheater seating itself.
Swarthmore College, located in Pennsylvania, has an amphitheater where the terraced seats have a covering of living grass. In addition the Scott Outdoor Amphitheater also has trees growing in the seating area, providing natural shade for event attendees. This nature motif is aesthetically pleasing, and would allow the structure to be added to the already incredible botanical gardens on campus. Our outdoor theater has great potential for our growing university. The East Campus Infrastructure Project is estimated to begin March 2019, concluding May 2020. That is just for the traffic improvements. It will no doubt take many years to fully realize the changes made to that part of campus. As we revitalize the eastern area of our university, we should consider breathing new life into our outdoor theater. For now though, the seats remain empty, waiting for the next show to begin.
NINERTIMES.COM
JAN. 22, 2019
5
A&E By Breanna Herring Staff Writer
HIGHLIGHTING HISTORY THROUGH THEATER
Photo Courtesy of Wali Jamal
Can you believe it has been less than one hundred years since the Civil Rights Movement? The hardships African Americans had to endure to gain equal rights in America is gut-wrenching. Imagine not being able to be who you want to be in life simply because of the color of your skin. As we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. and his accomplishments this month, we should remember him as a hero who was determined to fight against racism and social justice. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Department of Theatre presented the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson’s “How I Learned What I Learned.” It was performed by one actor, Wali Jamal, who portrays August Wilson sharing stories of his life in Pittsburgh. The performance took place on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 at Robinson Hall. August Wilson was born on Apr. 27, 1945 and died on Oct. 2, 2005. He was raised in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but eventually settled in Seattle, Washington. He is an American playwright and known for his series of ten plays, “The Pittsburgh Cycle.” Each play in the series is set in a different decade and depicts the hardships African Americans faced in the 20th century. His work has received prestigious awards such as Pulitzer Prizes and a Tony award for “Fences” (1987), an Emmy nomination for “The Piano Lesson” (1990), a 1999 National Humanities Medal and many more. Wali Jamal is a Pittsburgh-based performer and playwright. He happens to be the only actor to have performed in all ten of August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Jamal has also been named the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2018 Performer of the Year. A mentee of Wilson, Jamal participates in productions that represent Pittsburgh’s African American history and culture. When asked what he wanted the audience to learn from August Wilson, his response was simply “family, justice and literacy.” Throughout the play, August Wilson expressed the importance of family, especially in the African American community. Family became the safe haven for many African
6
JAN. 22, 2019
NINERTIMES
Wali Jamal travels to UNC Charlotte for production of “How I Learned What I Learned” Americans living in segregated America. Justice represented the agonizing desire for equal rights by African Americans. There were scenes from the play that depicted the unfair treatment August Wilson went through growing up in Pittsburgh. One that stood out to me was August Wilson struggling to find a decent job. He had to travel far from where he actually lived and was still underpaid. Literacy was also a common theme that I saw. It was normal that most of the African American community did not have the ability to read or write. As I reflect, I will say that I am proud to be an African American. I am proud of my ancestors and
acknowledge their hardships in order to give me a better life. One line from the script stood out to me, “[...] we are not black by the accidents of our births.” August Wilson made it clear that we are what we are. He brought up the economic conflict that African Americans faced during his time, the idea that they have to be white in order to be successful in life. And even though today is much different from the 1960s, there is still work to be done. Issues such as racism, sexism and a system of injustice still exist today. Let Martin Luther King Jr. Day be a reminder for us to come together as one and become the change we want to see.
100 ARTIFACTS By Arik Miguel Staff Writer
School of Architecture faculty explores the vastness of the architecture field in art exhibition Photo Courtesy of Toby Shearer
At the start of the fall semester, UNC Charlotte’s School of Architecture displayed 100 artifacts of student work. The exhibit encompassed everything from first year students all the way up to the graduate level. On Jan 7, the school unveiled a counterpart to this exhibition. Until Jan 18, Storrs Gallery featured a wide array of models, drawings and other architectural artifacts, all created by the School of Architecture faculty. During the opening reception, both Adam Justice, the Director of Galleries, and Greg Snyder, Associate Professor and curator of the event, spoke about the exhibition. They likened the event to a “kunstkabinett.” Kunstkabinett is a German
word that translates to “Cabinet of Curiosities” and was used in the 16th century to refer to large collections of art, historical artifacts, and other intriguing collections of objects. One of the most popular objects in these places was a narwhal horn, which was exhibited as a unicorn horn. In many ways, the exhibit on campus is like this faux-unicorn horn. Many of the works presented take fairly normal objects and elevate them to something extraordinary. Things like a ceramic bowl or a video of a subway train are presented in incredible ways, and their basic ideas are exposed in a way that pushes the act of designing art and architecture. The result is a collection of
fascinating items that blur the line between what makes something mundane, and what makes something profound. A “Cabinet of Curiosities” is also an adequate metaphor simply because of the variety of objects that are on display in Storrs Hall. I expected to find myself analyzing architectural drawings and diagrams, but instead I found myself equally captivated with linoleum prints from associate professor Jeff Balmer’s studies in Rome and a virtual reality map that shows changing demographics in Mecklenburg County. Every artifact on display provides a small window into the lives of individual faculty members and the many different ways they have chosen to explore the field of architecture over the years. . The objects on display are an important reminder that our professors and faculty at this school do not spend all their time grading papers and writing lesson plans. They are always working on different projects, writing books and participating in research conferences. The things that they spend time on are not meaningless and use the same foundational ideas and methods that they teach us in class. As a follow up to 100 Artifacts from the students, this event shows a progression of ideas, a clear relationship between the things that we are taught and tested on, and the manifestation of these things in everything from Master’s theses to actually working in the professional field. These ideas are not present just in architecture, but the exhibition on display is an exquisite testimony to the growth we can achieve as students and the rewards that await us if we are willing to put in the time and effort that our instructors did. I come back again to the mystical metaphor of the unicorn horn because of the power many of these objects hold and the way they may feel otherworldly or unattainable. We must remember that the curation of the unicorn horn began with the narwhal, a real animal with strange yet somewhat humble roots.
NINERTIMES.COM
JAN. 22, 2019
7
ACROSS 1 Broadway auntie 5 Sean Connery, for one 9 Strong winds 14 Words while calling a bet 15 Any volume of Hume’s “The History of England,” e.g. 16 Banded marble 17 “Am I coming in loud and clear?” (Verizon) 20 Boutros-Ghali’s successor 21 Happen as a result 22 USCG officer 23 __ Tomé and Príncipe 24 Round Table title 26 Bluesy James 28 “Waiter, isn’t my steak ready yet?” (Wendy’s) 34 The Vols’ sch. 35 Astronomical red giant 36 “The Wizard __”: comic strip 39 Gawk 42 Like Cheerios
8
JAN. 22, 2019
43 Sonata movement 45 Flu symptom 47 “Don’t settle when it comes to personal potential” (U.S. Army) 51 Cylindrical cheese 52 Genetic “messenger” initials 53 “Morning Edition” airer 56 Letter before omega 59 Largest Greek island 61 Drink served with marshmallows 63 “No fakes here” (Coca-Cola) 66 Shire of “Rocky” 67 London art gallery 68 A single time 69 Precipitous 70 Flock’s “Absolutely!” 71 Garden scrapers
NINERTIMES
DOWN 1 Layered minerals 2 Appliance brand 3 Bait fish 4 One-named New Age singer 5 Consecutive alphabet trio that spells a name 6 Easy to understand 7 Black cat, to some 8 It includes cups, a pot and a sugar bowl 9 Reproductive cells 10 242, for the USA 11 Narrow street 12 Berkshire school 13 Puts in stitches 18 Initial stage, as of the flu 19 Baseball’s Babe 25 More than annoys 27 Soak up 29 Gathering around the quarterback 30 Big mess 31 In-flight approx. 32 “Dig in!” 33 Cook in oil 36 Heavenly body 37 Them, vis-à-vis us 38 Once-lifetime link 40 Make over 41 “Dear __ Hansen”: 2017 Best Musical 44 British buddy 46 Legislate 48 Easily maneuvered, at sea 49 Mafioso code of honor 50 Affluent Los Angeles district 54 Explorer __ de León 55 Fits of anger 56 Indy service areas 57 MD’s “Now!” 58 “Cast Away” setting 60 Angels or Saints 62 “Oops!” 64 Game with no winner 65 Actor Cariou
PREVIEW: 49ers go on the road to face Roadrunners SPORTS
By Jonathan Limehouse Assistant Sports Editor
The Charlotte 49ers will will look to capture a win against UTSA at the Convocation Center on Thursday, Jan. 24.
Memory Lane The last time Charlotte played against the Roadrunners was Saturday, Feb. 17 of 2018 at Halton Arena. The 49ers lost their last encounter with UTSA 9789. Former Charlotte guard Andrien White was the team’s leading scorer with
25 points. Current senior point guard Jon Davis was the team’s second leading scorer with 19 points. Davis also led the team in assists with eight. Current sophomore guard Luka Vasic led the team in rebounds with 11, and he was the team’s third leading scorer with 13 points. Reigning Conference USA Freshman of the Year guard Jhivvan Jackson led the Roadrunners in scoring with 30 points.
Obstacles UTSA is currently the fourth scoring offense in Conference USA. Now a sophomore, Jackson is currently Conference USA’s and the Roadrunners’ leading scorer, averaging 21.7 points per game. Sophomore guard Keaton Wallace was a member of the 2017-18 Conference USA All-Freshman Team and he’s currently the Roadrunners’ second leading scorer, averaging 18.2 points per game. The Roadrunners are No. 1 in Conference USA in defensive rebounds averaging 28.2 per game.
Keys to victory The 49ers are the fifth best scoring defense in Conference USA, so they’ll need to be defensively stout against UTSA’s high octane offense. Both Jackson and Wallace are bound to be on Coach Ron Sanchez’s weekly game plan. The Niners will need to find another productive scorer aside from Davis. White led the 49ers in scoring in their last meeting with the Roadrunners, and since White is no longer on the team, someone else will have to join Davis in providing offensive productivity. Davis is Charlotte’s leading scorer averaging 21.6 points per game, so getting him going is crucial as well. Cooper Robb, who recently hit the floor for the Niners again, may help add to Charlotte’s offensive goal. Charlotte is currently the last scoring offense in Conference USA, so offensive efficiency is vital. The 49ers need to play good defense and score when the opportunities present themselves. Charlotte will also have to limit turnovers and play smart as a team. The 49ers average 15.4 turnovers per game, which is second to last in Conference USA. The 49ers will have to be a force on the glass in order to out-rebound the Conference’s top ranked defensive rebounding team. Sophomore forward Milos Supica is currently Charlotte’s leading rebounder, averaging 5.3 per game, so he should be an integral part of the game plan. The game is scheduled to tip at 8 p.m. and it will air on ESPN+.
Photo by Chris Crews
NINERTIMES.COM
JAN. 22, 2019
9
PREVIEW: Charlotte to take on UTSA at home By Lucas Ewing Staff Writer
Niners look to snap losing streak with win at home
The Charlotte 49ers women’s basketball team (10-8) will be facing off against The University of Texas at San Antonio (6-11) at home on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 7 P.M at Halton Arena. The University of Texas at San Antonio will be traveling 1,260 miles for the matchup on Thursday against the Charlotte 49ers in a game that will likely be a close one. If all goes well for the home team, the Roadrunners’ trip back home will be a long one. Both teams are currently on a two-game slide as Charlotte lost to C-USA opponents Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss by an average of three points. Meanwhile, UTSA lost to C-USA opponents Middle Tennessee and UAB by an average of five points. Statistically, the teams match-up well. UTSA averages 60 points per game, while Charlotte averages 63. But the Niners are likely favored at home for a couple of reasons: history is on the home team’s side as Charlotte is 4-1 in their five matchups in the past five years since their entrance to C-USA in the 2013-2014 season and they average 11 points over the opponent in their four victories. UTSA is also 1-4 while playing away while the 49ers are 8-1 at home. The Roadrunners are 6-11 in Head Coach Kristen Holt’s second season with the team. Holt saw moderate success in her first season in 2017, leading the team to a 9-21 record (6-10 C-USA) and to the second round of the conference tournament for the first time since the team’s 2013-2014 season. The team has struggled as of recent, however, going 1-4 in the month of January. UTSA is also having a down-year in field goal percentage, shooting just 38 percent from the floor to Charlotte’s 41 percent. The Roadrunners are led by Junior Forward Marie Benson, who leads the team in field goals (16.8 ppg), rebounds (11.6 rpg) and steals (1.5 per game) on 31.8 minutes per game. Charlotte is led by Redshirt Junior Guard Jade Phillips who averages 12.1; 7.3 and 1.1 points in rebounds and steals, respectively. The Niners have also had a tough stretch in January, going 2-4 since the start of the month. The team is coming off the heels of a tough loss vs. Louisiana Tech in which the team lost by 37 points. After outscoring the visitors by six in the first quarter, the team would quickly lose control of the game, being outscored 75 to 32 in the final two quarters. In the fourth quarter, the team would muster only seven points. A common theme for losses in the season is the home team was hounded under the glass, being out-rebounded 32-50, allowing Bulldogs’ Junior Bright Grayson to grab ten total rebounds in the game. In losses, Charlotte averages eight less rebounds than their opponent. In wins, the team averages plus four. The team also allowed 30 points off turnovers -- almost the difference of the lead. The team was also heavily-outscored on the bench with a 19 point difference between the two teams. It’s clear that if the Niners want to win the game, they will have to out-muscle the Roadrunners from the start. If the team can control the glass, limit turnovers and play strong transitional defense, the team will be able to pull off the win. The bench will also need to step up production as the team continues down the stretch of the season if they hope to turn around their January drought.
10 JAN. 22, 2019
NINERTIMES
The game vs. UTSA offers the perfect opportunity to turn it around, and shutting down Benson will be a large point of emphasis. The leader of the Roadrunners will be tough to stop, but it will be pivotal in winning the game. Photo by Chris Crews
LIFESTYLE By Sara Zimmermann Staff Writer
E
BOOK REVIEW:
“Kafka on the Shore” by Haruki Murakami
very once in a while I pick up a novel that I really want to enjoy, only to find myself disappointed. “Kafka On the Shore,” in many ways, was that novel for me. I love Murakami’s work and I’ve been reading him for years; ever since I discovered some of his short stories in the New York Times. “Kafka” is one of his most highly rated novels; widely considered a classic. I was buzzing with excitement when I bought the novel, which took me several years to finish -- and not because of how long it was. I feel that it’s necessary to first acknowledge that this novel is not without its strengths. Some of the plot points were fascinating, if not preposterous. Spoiler alert: there is a scene involving Colonel Sanders and a dead cat that I may never forget for as long as I live. The genre is one of my favorites, and Murakami should be given a lot of credit for his contributions to magical surrealism as a genre. He has an uncanny way of combining mundane reality with the magical and mystical into something intriguing and familiar. “Kafka” hits that mark, but keeps going until it falls over the edge. The characters are miserably simple and flat, made worse by the ridiculous nature of the plot. This is certainly a matter of opinion, but I felt that his plot either deserved better characters or that his characters should have been given a plot that matched their pace. This story follows two seemingly unrelated plots surrounding two characters who are very different but who are both embarking on a journey to find something. Kafka, the teenage boy who the novel is named after, is fleeing his emotionally dormant home where he lives with his father. He is searching for his long lost mother and sister. Nakata is a mentally disabled old man who has an uncanny ability to track down missing cats. One lost cat takes him farther than he’s ever traveled before when he then teams up with a jaded trucker. The plot picks up when Kafka’s life becomes unexpectedly dark. All at once, he begins being visited by a ghost and becomes the subject of a murder investigation. He has to go into hiding in the woods where he experiences all levels of surreal delusions. All of this seems fascinating enough, but it falls flat. The characters are bland and unsympathetic, making all of the things happening around them feel insignificant and detached. As a reader, you want to find out where everything is going, but it felt difficult to proceed with this one. I think it is worth mentioning that some of this may have come from cultural differences between reader and author. Haruki Murakami is Japanese and writes in his language. All of the copies of his novels in publications and novels have been translated into the preferred language. I do not doubt at all that some of the meaning is lost in translation; however,
I don’t think this fully excuses the novel, as I have enjoyed his work before. That being said, despite the low rating I’m giving it, don’t think this novel was necessarily a waste of time. It certainly touched on some interesting themes in unconventional ways. I only wish that it had been done with more passion and energy.
Photo by Sara Zimmermann
NINERTIMES.COM
JAN. 22, 2019
11
Photo courtesy of StartupStockPhotos via Pixabay.com
By Daniel Hall Intern
Networking Genuinely How to meet people the right way
N
etworking can appear as stiff, cliché interactions where bland business cards are exchanged along with disingenuous smiles. Small talk can drain all parties involved when topics of conversation don’t impact worthy reactions. Fake chuckles after awkward statements can exhaust anyone’s emotional resources for potentially having a good time. And worst of all, in my opinion, when someone is performing how they believe a professional should perform and they intentionally restrict themselves from genuine expression. I’ve done it, I feel when it’s being done to me, and I don’t like it. However, networking is extremely fun when the focus is on finding communities where you can contribute your gifts, talents and skills while also being supported for who you are. Actively seeking people/organizations/ institutions that are aligned with your values is empowering because it allows you to enter into networks that assist in your professional (and even personal) development by offering insights, inspiration and eventually... experience. By seeking out these communities, I’ve developed confidence in my professional (and even personal) pursuits. I’ve been able to grab coffees, drinks and lunch with people that I’m genuinely interested in, and I’ve found that people can feel when you express genuine interests, allowing them to be more willing to take time out of their day for a conversation. The point I really want to drive here is GENUINE INTEREST. In the past, I have pursued companies, organizations and individuals who were deemed as fancy and high status which would arbitrarily validate my professionalism. However, I wasn’t as interested in their missions/pursuits as much as I was trying to impress them, falsely prove something to myself, and get paid. Long story short, those relationships would fizzle out immediately (probably because they sensed the disingenuousness of my interests), and left me broke, bored and riddled with self-doubt. “Maybe I didn’t do this right, maybe I didn’t do that right...” would perpetually loop in my mind after not getting my desired result. After completely exhausting myself, I began to seek conversations with people who I just thought were doing cool things while I wasn’t expecting anything more than a conversation.
12 JAN. 22, 2019
NINERTIMES
And that is exactly what I got: great conversations with great people. No, these conversations didn’t immediately lead to jobs, but neither did the fake ones. I began engaging with a network of people that were generous enough to share their time and insights with me which allowed me to further cultivate confidence in my professional journey. Eventually, some job offers came about, but it wasn’t the time and place for me to accept; however, my relationships with these individuals and organizations weren’t impacted by if they offered me the job or not; these people contributed to my confidence as a professional and that is way more valuable than money (that will come)! Not to be cliché, but be yourself. That might mean going to a career fair with 100 employers but only seeking that one person/company/organization that is aligned with your desired mission. If you’re genuinely interested, research won’t feel like research and you can demonstrate your interests by asking questions about the nuanced details of their experience. Nardwuar is my biggest inspiration when demonstrating his enthusiasm for his interviewees by bringing them nuanced gifts specific to their individuality that not many people may know. The best gift sometimes can be a genuine question about a detail that required some research and that kick starts a great conversation where both parties leave satisfied and willing to reconnect. Suggestions: - If you’re genuinely interested, do your research, and bring interesting questions (not impressive questions, but something you’re genuinely interested in). - It’s not a popularity contest. Find the few that genuinely interest you. Before you know it, you’ll be spending way too much money on coffee and wasting both parties’ time. - Don’t be outcome dependent. The conversations should be rewarding enough. It may not lead to a job, but that’s not what it’s about. Focus on connecting with a community and cultivating confidence in your professionalism.