EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Madison Dobrzenski TABLE OF CONTENTS [email protected] PAGE 3 Meet the candidates EDITORIAL Olivia Lawless MANAGING EDITOR Tyler Trudeau COMMUNITY EDITOR NEWS PAGE 4 ‘A normal fall’ Megan Bird NEWS EDITOR Hiral Patel OPINION EDITOR Emily Kottak LIFESTYLE EDITOR Anders Hare A&E EDITOR PAGE 5 Alice in Conspiracy Land Bradley Cole SPORTS EDITOR Max Young COPY EDITOR Niyathi Sulkunte PHOTO EDITOR OPINION María Solano VIDEO EDITOR Nic Jensen LAYOUT EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITORS Jessica Ceballos NEWS PAGE 6 SXSW Review: ‘The Fallout’ Milo Cain OPINION Jake Pierce FEATURES PAGE 7 Indie Spotlight: ‘Male Mole’] Miles Ruder SPORTS April Carte COPY A&E PAGE 8 What is NT listening to? Elizabeth McGuire VIDEO Brandon Mitchell LAYOUT Emma Lineberger LAYOUT PAGE 9 Comeback kid CONTRIBUTING STAFF Kathryn Caudill, Issac Naylor, Gabe Lapalombella, Bryson Foster, Lesly Santos, Marina Kilmova PAGE 10 Springing into action NINER MEDIA COVER IMAGES SPORTS UNC Charlotte and Nic Jensen PAGE 11 What a feeling: Endorphins @UNCCMEDIA

NEWSROOM 705.687.7150 Our common thread: Finding joy in fast NINERTIMES.COM/STAFF PAGE 12 @NINER_TIMES LIFESTYLE food work NINER TIMES CREATIVE DIRECTOR @niner_times James Bourke READ + WATCH MORE ONLINE AT [email protected] MARKETING STAFF Ridge Grant NinerTimes.com UPTOWN AUDIO POLICE BLOTTER @uptownaudio 3/18: Accident/Property Damage LOCATED ON THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE STUDENT UNION Officers responded to the Lot 7 in reference to an accident with property damage. Niner Times • Uptown Audio SANSKRIT Sanskrit Literary-Arts Magazine 3/18: Injured Subject LIT ARTS Media Marketing • Technical THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE Officers responded to Cone Center in reference to an injured subject. MAGAZINE Kelly Merges NINER MEDIA ADVISER @sanskrituncc Laurie Cuddy BUSINESS MANAGER Joshua Wood GRAPHICS & PRODUCTION 2 MAR. 23, 2021 NINERTIMES VIEW FULL BLOTTER AT Photo by Niyathi Sulkunte POLICE.UNCC.EDU/POLICE-LOG MEET THE CANDIDATES

RICHARD “DICK” BEEKMAN AND GABRIELLE HITCHCOCK JEREMIAH WILLIAMS AND IDALIS PEREZ by Kathryn Caudill Staff Writer NEWS Beekman-Hitchcock’s platform, allows for us to connect with students about,” Williams told the Niner Times. Beekman - Hitchcock “Strike Gold,” focuses on six topics, who might otherwise feel they don’t have Williams’ and Perez’s platform is including COVID-19, communication, a voice.” centered around three primary points of student affairs, academics, diversity, and “Our extensive years of experience action: community outreach, transparency community. The six main topics are dubbed holding officer positions within SGA has and advocacy. They have prioritized the “nuggets” by the campaign. allowed us to make the connections needed several crucial issues and plans of action. Nugget one is COVID-19, a to make our platform vision a reality,” Among them is an in-person spring 2021 commitment to a safe in-person fall 2021 added Beekman to the Niner Times. graduation and fall 2021 semester. They semester, an in-person commencement Beekman-Hitchcock is running against also hope to implement regular town ceremony and student representation on Jeremiah Williams and Idalis Perez. The hall meetings to communicate to the reopening committees. The University has election will take place March 23-24 UNC Charlotte community and provide since announced plans for an in-person online at vote.uncc.edu. The results will be transparency in current events. commencement ceremony and an in- announced on the Student Government “We want everyone to know that they are Instagram page at 12 p.m. on March 25, heard,” stated Perez in an interview with Photo courtesy of the Beekman-Hitchcock Campaign person fall 2021 semester. Nugget two focuses on communication followed by an announcement on the the Niner Times. “We want to be student Richard “Dick” Beekman and Gabrielle through channels such as hosting regular Student Government website. leaders, but attainable to the students.” Hitchcock have announced their run for town hall meetings and office hours. Nugget Williams-Perez advocates a smoother president and vice president of the UNC three is centered on student affairs and transition into the first year on campus for Charlotte student body for the 2021- includes expanding dining hall options, Williams - Perez both freshmen and transfer students by 2022 academic school year. Beekman is increasing mental health resources, and expanding immersive opportunities. the current president pro tempore of the better parking passes. Nugget four is “I transferred spring of 2020 and Student Senate, and Hitchcock currently grounded in improving academics, such as immediately became involved in SGA and serves as committee chair for the Internal academic recognition, class availability and other student organizations,” said Williams Affairs Committee. Both have been heavily extending academic honors to summer to Niner Times. involved in the Student Government sessions. Nugget five is diversity-based Williams also stated their campaign Association (SGA) and have held many and has goals of creating safe spaces for would work to “make sure people like different positions and passed an abundance the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities, myself, and freshmen can better understand of legislation. This includes acts against creating new diverse student identity not only locations but also customs and the University’s 2020 fall reopening plans, boards and regular engagement with traditions.” advocating for a pass/no credit grading campus diversity councils. Finally, nugget University cohesion on diversity, equity system for two consecutive semesters and six emphasizes community and will consist and inclusion are also important to this they founded SGA’s Diversity, Equity and of regular meetings with state and federal Photo courtesy of the Williams-Perez Campaign campaign, as Williams is the Student Inclusion committee. elected officials, increasing collaboration Senate’s inaugural chair’s Diversity, Equity “Running is important to both Gabi and between all SGA branches, reaffirming Jeremiah Williams and Idalis Perez are and Inclusion committee. I because it represents an opportunity to University traditions, and investing in class running for UNC Charlotte student body Another key issue is the expansion make beneficial change on behalf of all councils’ quality. president and vice president for the 2021- and increased funding of the Counseling students at UNC Charlotte,” said Beekman In a press release to the SGA, the 2022 academic year. Williams currently and Psychological Service (CAPS). to the Niner Times. Beekman-Hitchcock campaign said, holds the inaugural chair of the Student William-Perez also hopes to improve the “Throughout our time at Charlotte, “We believe we are the best candidates Senate’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion affordability and resources available to we have seen just how important strong because of our extensive track record of committee, and Perez is the current low-income students through improving student leadership is and felt compelled to putting students first. From serving on junior class president. Perez and Williams resources such as the student food bank, run to serve as advocates for all students. various committees, contesting the schools have held various roles in SGA and other textbook services, emergency housing, Representing the student body means reopening contingency plans, fighting leadership roles in various clubs and revenue, and support. Finally, Williams- ensuring the student voice is heard to preserve school breaks, establishing organizations on campus. Perez is dedicated to reviewing Title IX throughout the decision-making process a Secretary of Health and Wellness, and “It is important for us to run, and we to ensure that it is fair to all students by and continue fighting to ensure policies are advocating on behalf of Pass/No Credit, we have said this several times as a theme of creating equitable access to students of enacted that are respectful and beneficial to have always been a voice for students. We our campaign, is that even if we do not color and the LGBTQ+ community, after all the students who have put their trust in are active not only in Student Government win, we will still be doing the same work seeing discrepancies while Williams served us,” said Beekman. but in other areas of the University, which because this is what we are passionate Article continued on pg. 4 NINERTIMES.COM MAR. 23, 2021 3 on the Student Senate’s Diversity, Equity highest leadership positions on campus. “Representing the student body means and Inclusion committee, “We are trying to We will utilize this influence to be a direct an opportunity to listen and then to serve bring a human touch to SGA,” explained pipeline from students to faculty. As from what we hear,” said Williams. Williams. leaders, we will be receptive to the needs Williams-Perez is running against In a recent press release, Williams- of those we are leading, and we will fight Richard Beekman and Gabrielle Hitchcock. Perez stated, “We believe we are the best to make our administration a cohesive unit The election will take place March 23-24 candidates for the Student Body President which can best represent students.” online at vote.uncc.edu. The results will be and Vice President Positions because of When asked about the meaning of announced on the Student Government our leadership experiences combined with student representation by the Niner Times, Instagram page at 12 p.m. on March 25, an intense commitment to community Idalis said, “Being in this position means to followed by an announcement on the service. Students will know there are fierce me to advocate for everyone as much as I Student Government website. and uncompromising advocates in the possibly can,” she added. ‘A NORMAL FALL’ UNC CHARLOTTE PREPARES FOR RETURN OF IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION by Megan Bird News Editor

“The fall 2021 semester will look a lot vaccinated, infection rates stay low, people we will want to continue. I know it’s a drag, more like its 2019 analog than 2020,” said continue wearing masks and the University but it really is one of the best things to do.” Chancellor Sharon Gaber in an email continues testing and tracing. Wastewater and random mitigation on March 18. The announcement came UNC Charlotte faculty and student testing will also continue at the same levels. five days before the one-year mark since employees were eligible for vaccinations Conversations with faculty surrounding UNC Charlotte and all other UNC System beginning March 3 as part of Group 3, the fall semester began back in February, universities moved their classes online due and students with pre-existing health although they were reportedly not involved to the coronavirus pandemic. conditions are now eligible for inoculation in the decision-making process. On March The University plans for in-person in Group 4. Students who live in on-campus 11, Chancellor Gaber and Provost Lorden classes to resume at pre-pandemic levels, dormitories will be able to get vaccinations held a town hall for faculty to explain the residence halls at full occupancy, employees beginning April 7. According to President return to face-to-face instruction. Provost returning to their offices, welcoming Joe Biden’s plan, all other students will be Lorden sent out an email on March 15 spectators at athletic events and all campus eligible in Group 5, which begins by May alerting faculty that the University was services–including dining and recreation– 1 according to President Biden’s plan. The planning for 70% capacity in the fall. to be offered in person. University plans to launch a survey in April “I don’t remember ever being consulted “The rates of COVID-19 infections to gauge how many community members in either of these meetings about whether and hospitalizations continue to drop have been inoculated. this change should happen...We were in the county and the state,” explained Provost Lorden said that even with told that it was happening.” an unnamed Gaber in her Thursday announcement. vaccines, the University is not prepared professor said. “Additionally, the vaccine is becoming to say that they will change the mask All employees are expected to return to available to North Carolinians at an even requirement in classrooms, which are work on July 6, says the Niner Nation Cares quicker pace than originally anticipated. It expected to be full capacity. website–with or without a vaccine. is expected that every person in the state “I think masks will be the norm However, Lorden told the Niner Times, who wants a vaccine will be eligible to generally, not just at the University,” said “We do recognize that there are some receive one by May 1.” Lorden in an interview with the Niner people who won’t be able to come back, so According to Provost Joan Lorden, Times. “I think for a while until we’re really we have said to the department chairs that however, the semester is likely to include sure that all of this is under control and we need to think strategically about how testing, contact tracing and mask-wearing. until we’re comfortable about the levels of they address the needs of people who can’t Returning to normalcy is contingent vaccinations, mask-wearing is going to be be face-to-face.” on the assumptions that students get an important public health measure that Photo courtesy of the Niner Times flickr

4 MAR. 23, 2021 NINERTIMES Alice in Conspiracy Land The rabbit hole of misinformation and consipracy OPINION by Issac Naylor Staff Writer There is another deadly pandemic raging for entertainment, which exposed them across America. It is not an infectious to conspiracy theories. However, some disease but the widespread dissemination fault lies with social media companies of lies. Misinformation is apparent, and its such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. perpetrators have willingly fallen victim to It is widely known that many online beliefs that have weaponized falsehoods. algorithms are specifically designed to A This is not just a collection of lies; this is provide a cascade of content individually a bizarre gospel with followers determined catered to its users, which could include to preserve their religion. However, many baseless far-right talking points. unlike a conventional religion, this fringe One notable example was a slew of QAnon doctrine is not about truth but pain. posts using #savethechildren, which was N The past few years have changed how met with late responses from Big Tech the world thinks about one letter of companies. After two years of inaction, the alphabet: Q. On Oct. 28, 2017, an Facebook finally banned hundreds of anonymous user on the message board QAnon pages on Aug.19, 2020. Big Tech’s O 4chan posted a series of cryptic messages neglect of disproven communities such as known as “breadcrumbs” or “Q drops.” men’s rights “activists,” white supremacists The user signed off as “Q” and claimed and QAnon has allowed them to spread to have top-secret national security from the fringe corners of the internet Photo courtesy of Gregoose via Pixabay N authorization known as “Q clearance.” The to mainstream social media, potentially community that followed those messages luring in casual users to dangerous ideas made up a discredited far-right conspiracy completely severed from reality. Service following death threats back in but are speechless about obvious attempts theory called QAnon and alleged that Now, it’s time to briefly talk about the April of last year. at voter suppression. our government, which they referred to Mad Hatter: Trump. Everyone is aware Many conspiracy theorists seduced by The rabbit hole of misinformation is as the “Deep State,” had been permeated of his false claims of mail-in ballot fraud. propaganda through online exposure use meandering and contradictory. The classic by a secret group of satanic, cannibalistic However, one egregious example of how their beliefs to provide temporary relief caricature of an American conspiracy pedophiles that were operating a global misinformation has tangible effects has for their pain. That pain includes the theorist is a white, middle-aged man. child sex-trafficking ring. This secret been the former president’s words directed overwhelming stress of the COVID-19 However, conspiracy thinking tends to faction of left-wing elites, as the theory toward Asians, specifically Chinese people. pandemic, which turned many of them be “even between the sexes and races, and goes, had been plotting against former According to the Center for the Study of to social media and made them targets of relatively flat across age groups,” according president Donald Trump. Preceded Hate and Extremism at San Bernardino, far-right QAnon posts. The economic ails to the 2014 book American Conspiracy by viral theories such as Pizzagate, the the number of anti-Asian hate crimes has brought on by the shutdowns forced many Theories. Anyone can fall into conspiracy QAnon conspiracy asserts that Trump has more than doubled during the COVID-19 into unemployment and financial ruin. theories; all it requires is feeling ostracized been planning a day of reckoning known pandemic. For the president who botched The inability to cope with Trump’s electoral for holding offbeat ideas and seeking a as the “Storm” when the supposed faction the nation’s pandemic response, Trump loss and Biden’s presidential victory stirred like-minded community. When people would be arrested. However, it’s ironic must have known that referring to a virus a rebuke against Black voter turnout that venture further down the rabbit hole, they how Trump, a man who has made sexual whose epicenter has been the United States ultimately decided the outcome. This is eventually begin to believe absurd things remarks about his own daughter, is the as “Kung Flu” and the “Chinese virus” seen especially in Georgia, where newly- like all Democrats are devil-worshipping person the QAnon believers profess is would inspire hate crimes. passed House Bill 531 requires additional baby killers. Overcoming conspiracy combatting pedophilia. Additional presidentially-sponsored ID requirements for absentee ballots and thinking is an important part of healing The COVID-19 pandemic and the social conspiracy theories about bleach and limitations on absentee ballot drop boxes. this wounded nation; otherwise, you too isolation that followed exacerbated many hydroxychloroquine being potential cures It’s also ironic how many conspiracy might find yourself sipping tea with the of the corrosive effects of misinformation. brewed distrust towards the health experts, theorists cite socialist George Orwell’s Mad Hatter. As the pandemic pushed us all indoors, which could be the reason why Anthony “Nineteen Eighty-Four” as proof of many turned to their social media feeds Fauci needed protection by the US Marshal dystopia after being banned from Twitter

NINERTIMES.COM MAR. 23, 2021 5 A&E

The dangers of shell shock and trauma, on top of being a teenager by Gabe Lapalombella Image courtesy of Staff Writer Universal Pictures If that subhead made your skin crawl, please know that and makes a character that feels incredibly humanized. this up because the movie’s point takes some time to be it really shouldn’t. In the release of “The Fallout,” first- Seeing the walls around her slowly start to fall makes the presented to the audience. Being only 95 minutes long, time director Megan Park crafts a film that understands film rather rewarding. Much of the weight of the film the film builds the drama and, once it happens, lets us as teenage angst even in the direst circumstances. Our comes through the themes Park is trying to convey. an audience stew on it. Some moments could make you protagonist Vada (Jenna Ortega), is forced to navigate Here we see a story about coping, told through the feel uncomfortable, but that’s the goal. If you’re ready for the aftermath of a brutal tragedy and its effects on all lens of someone who’s trying to find herself after a that sort of thing, then you’ll get what you want out of it. of those around her. It sounds like a meat and potatoes tragedy by taking drugs or having her first kiss. On paper, “The Fallout” is one of the more surprising films I’ve seen premise of a teenager growing up in today’s technological they’re moments that just about every teenage drama in 2021 thus far. Looking at a tragedy through a teenage society. There are many ideas about the teenage experience or comedy has tried. We’ve never really had a chance to lens—if you haven’t experienced a tragedy yourself— on display here, but they’re seamlessly interwoven see it told with a more dramatic license in those films. makes you see things differently. Being a teenager, with throughout. In no small part, that’s due to the brilliant Some may consider it to be manipulative, but Park your ability to express growing and changing, your ability performance of our lead actress Jenna Ortega. wisely handles the film as a way to get in the mind of to process things might not be very healthy. Here both In the film, Ortega has a tough role to walk in, being these teens. With the constant conversations happening Park and Ortega acknowledge this and make a film that someone who’s forced to hide how she feels. This includes via text messages and detailed music by Juice Wrld, we will make you both think and feel. There’s a balancing hiding it from her best friend Chris (Will Ropp) and learn what everyone’s feeling without anyone saying it. act of working through a tragedy and realizing they don’t even her family (John Ortiz, Julie Bowen, Lumi Pollack). The cliche of “show us, don’t tell us” amply applies end when you’ve healed. Such a painful honesty can be However, she comes close to a fellow survivor, the here because too much explaining lessens the impact. hard to stomach, but that’s what makes “The Fallout” that popular girl Mia (Maddie Ziegler), and her world opens When we’re watching Mia and Vada simply talking much more effective. Whenever it releases, if you’re ready up. It’s a great arc for the character who has moments of or watching TLC, their faces and reactions say it all. for it, it will definitely be something worth your time. great levity but just as much pain that’s stewing beneath Unfortunately, that subtlety could also be your biggest the surface. She takes the high school “every girl” role detriment to the enjoyment you could have. I bring

6 MAR. 23, 2021 NINERTIMES Delivering a Short but Sweet Dose of Platforming Goodness by Jake Pierce Photo courtesy of Asst. Features Editor Talpa Games In recent years, one of my favorite trends in gaming has works a bit differently here than in most platformers, character and personality. This even expands to Molty and been the renewed focus on smaller titles. Games made by as players are more so required to “charge” their jumps the game’s various side characters, who are refreshingly a fraction of the people and with a fraction of the latest by holding the button rather than the jump occurring simplistic in their design. These simplistic graphics also budget from the likes of Sony and Nintendo can sometimes immediately. It takes a bit of getting used to, but the results undoubtedly helped the game to hit a consistently high provide just as much entertainment and charm, which are consistent and repeatable enough to where the game’s 60 frames per second performance, with only a few drops seems to be a realization that gamers have all together. The unorthodox physics will eventually become second nature. from that target in Switch’s handheld mode to speak likes of “,” “Yooka-Laylee,” “Blaster Master Another aspect that is essential to the gameplay in “Mail of. Wrapping up the package is a pleasant if somewhat Zero,” and so many more have shown that developers Mole” is the Dash. Molty’s default movement speed is forgettable soundtrack that serves as perfect backing don’t need millions of dollars or years of focus-group painfully slow, but that seems to be more of a design choice for the laid-back adventure that the game presents. research to make a game that is well worth your time. than an oversight. Holding down a button will make Molty “Mail Mole” may be a much smaller title than many are Nintendo’s latest platform has become a bit of a hub for break into a dash, increasing his jumps’ length and giving used to seeing, but it’s also clear that it isn’t trying to be the small, budding developers looking to take their first crack the game an overall improved sense of flow. Again, this next triple-A blockbuster gaming experience. It may only at a full retail project, which has led to many interesting may throw many players off at first, but after some practice, take a handful of hours to complete, but the asking price and sometimes even brilliant games from relatively you begin to get a sense of when to use the normal speed reflects that amount of content perfectly—$14.99 on the tiny developers. “Mail Mole” is perhaps the most recent to your advantage, such as parts that require pinpoint eShop at the time of writing. Knowing example of this. This game comes as the debut title for a precision in your positioning. As I mentioned before, it’s that this game is the first attempt from a brand-new small development team known as Talpa Games, which, certainly an unorthodox control scheme that may not development studio makes the accomplishments here even according to their website, was formed by a group coming be for everyone. Still, it became immensely satisfying more impressive. A few kinks and holdups in the gameplay fresh out of college. Here, players are tasked with guiding once I wrapped my head around the game’s mechanics. could stand to be worked out if a potential follow-up were an adorable delivery mole named “Molty” through a What helps to make any of the gameplay’s initial to materialize, but as it stands, “Mail Mole” is definitely series of obstacle courses to deliver letters all over the frustration much more manageable, though, is “Mail worth a look, especially if you’re a fan of indie titles. lands surrounding the central island of “Peaceful Plaza.” Mole’s” charming and adorable presentation. Many *Mail Mole is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, “Mail Mole” takes the form of a series of linear objects in the game’s world have a “low-poly” look, but , Xbox Series Consoles, PS4, and PS5. A copy platforming challenges. Molty’s main form of movement it comes off as deliberate and artistically driven, not lazy. for the Nintendo Switch was used for this article. is burrowing underground, but he can also burst through The use of bold, primary colors and simple yet effective the surface to hop over gaps or dodge hazards. Jumping texturing makes every one of the game’s world’s pop with NINERTIMES.COM MAR. 23, 2021 7 What is NT listening to? Matt Brooks is thriving after two years away from the mound

My name is Anders Hare, and I am the Arts & Entertain- ment Editor for the Niner Times. I chose to do a playlist of songs that I can recount from my childhood because I’d like to give readers a bit of perspective of who I am. What often goes unsaid is how music can influence our choices and preferences later in life. Studies have shown that the reason we may play a song over and over again is that it reminds us of memories from our childhood. Born and raised in Charlotte, NC, I can easily recall riding down Independence Blvd. running errands with my mom listening to Jill Scott’s “The Way” by closing my eyes and putting the song on. That is still one of my favorite songs to this day. I believe that songs from our most primitive stages shape who we become as music listeners. My childhood, for example, is made up of a lot of late 90s and early 2000s neo-soul, but it also includes some Southern rap from that era as well as country, rock, gospel, and alternative. In turn, these are the genres that make up my music library today. Dive into this playlist and get to know the real me with “Songs From My Childhood.”

8 MAR. 23, 2021 NINERTIMES Matt Brooks is thriving after two years away from the mound SPORTS

by Miles Ruder Photo courtesy of Asst. Sports Editor Charlotte Athletics/Sam Roberts

As the saying goes, a minor setback paves question. Luckily for him, COVID-19 shortened the “I didn’t really care where or when I threw but the way for a major comeback. season, which saved him an extra year of eligibility. getting the chance to get back into the starting Injuries are an inescapable part of sports for all Brooks was focused on his rehab, starting with rotation on the weekend, especially with the guys we athletes at any level. Even the professionals cannot physical therapy three times per week. He gradually have, is a pretty big honor for me,” said Brooks. stray away from the injury bug that can haunt improved during the process and started light tossing Charlotte will travel to Western Kentucky for their next playing careers for months and sometimes years. and eventually throwing with a full range of motion. weekend series, the same opponent, date and place where Some athletes never return to their previous form post- The time away from playing was a blessing in Brooks injured his shoulder two years ago. Nothing is injury or eventually lose their starting role on the team. disguise for Brooks. He took advantage of it by taking guaranteed except for two things: Brooks will be pitching That wasn’t the case for pitcher Matt Brooks, who battled a step back, becoming a student of the game while in the series, and it’s going to be emotional for No. 41. through a severe shoulder injury the past two years but also remaining a valued member of the team. “It’ll be fun to get back there,” said Brooks. returned to Charlotte’s baseball team stronger than ever. “I definitely learned a lot about myself On March 2, 2019, Brooks stepped onto the mound, and a lot about the game too,” said Brooks. pitching in just his third start of that season against Kent “I wouldn’t have had it any other way.” State. Before the game, while warming up, he felt some This past summer, Brooks fully committed to getting tightness in his throwing shoulder, causing uneasiness back on the mound. Charlotte has a partnership with when pitching. He could tell something was off. Premier Pitching Performance which allowed him “I told my pitching coach, ‘I’m not sure how and 17 other Niner pitchers to travel to St. Louis and long I’m gonna be able to go,’” said Brooks. train during the pandemic. Most extracurricular He pitched six and two-thirds of the seven-inning activities weren’t available due to covid protocols, game that day. He was taken out with one out left which allowed him to concentrate on throwing in the final inning due to the shoulder he worried for the three months fully he was in St. Louis. about. He used a heat pack between innings to stay “There wasn’t much going on other than that, so I loose, but that still couldn’t prevent his shoulder think it kinda kept me focused. I would work in the from nagging him throughout the day. He proceeded morning and then train pretty much every day for three to take the next few weekends off to heal. straight months when we were out there,” said Brooks. Fast forward to March 29, 2019, and Brooks Before his injury, he pitched as one of the starters made his first appearance since the Kent State game. for Charlotte on the weekend series. Regardless of The first inning went smoothly, but as he started past performances, he still had to battle with the warming up for the second, he re-aggravated his other pitchers on the team to secure that spot again. shoulder injury, and his day on the hill was over. Even after a coaching change and extended time off, “I was pretty frustrated to come out after the Brooks impressed the coaching staff with his hard first inning. A lot of questions for sure about what work and earned the starter pitcher yet again. was going on,” said Brooks.” It was rough.” This season, Brooks is currently 1-1 in four starts When he sustained the shoulder injury, and is set to throw a career-low in batting average Brooks was playing his best baseball, going allowed and a personal best for strikeouts in a season at 3-0 and throwing a 1.40 ERA. Charlotte. In his first start since 2019, on Feb. 28, Brooks He had an MRI in the following days, which pitched five innings and allowed only one run with revealed that the injury was serious and required five strikeouts in the 20-4 win over William & Mary. surgery, forcing him to miss the remainder of the He doesn’t throw overly hard or pitch the fastest on 2019 season. This was just the beginning of a long the team, but his game benefits from bringing the same grind to get back on the mound in a 49er uniform. attitude and toughness regardless of the situation. After The surgery forced him to miss the entire offseason the long road to get back to playing, Brooks said he’s to train, and returning for the 2020 season was in thrilled to be pitching again and in the starting rotation.

NINERTIMES.COM MAR. 23, 2021 9 by Bryson Foster Graphic courtesy Staff Writer of Canva After a successful indoor track and field season, Junior Alexandria Wolf came home third in the long come home third with a time of 50.10. Austin Caroll the 49ers started their outdoor season this weekend jump for the Niners with a personal best of 5.39m. was super fast in the 800m with a second-place finish, in the 49er classic. The team accomplished many In the high jump, the 49ers saw sophomore Eve and he now sits 10th in school outdoor history. things over the weekend and have set the tone for the English and senior Maci Bunting tied for second in the Senior Luke Patterson finished third in the rest of the 2021 season. The men’s team is coming event and Wolf finished fourth with all competitors high jump, which resulted in him being the off an Indoor Conference USA Championship, clearing the 1.60m bar. Bunting and Wolf also would highest finishing Niner in the event. while the women’s team placed second. tie both of their personal bests in the event. Aveon Reid led the 49ers in the 400H as he would win The 49ers recorded 12 first-place finishes, eight second- Sophomore Kaitlin McGoogan had a very productive the event with an outstanding personal record of 52.61, place finishes, and 11 third-place finishes. The team event for the 49ers as she finished fourth in the shot put which is good for third in school history. Leaston, Palmer also totaled 37 personal records at the season opener. with a throw of 11.70m. McGoogan wouldn’t stop there and Hayes also were in the top 10 in the event for the team. The 49er classic is a staple for the 49ers to either, as she would win the discus event with a 46.05m Graduate student Terrell Adams won the discus event kickoff the outdoor season. Due to COVID-19, the throw, allowing her to tie for fifth in school outdoor history. for the Niners with a throw of 51.78m. It was a close event was not held in 2020. It was a weekend of In the 100m, the Niners came home with finish, but Adams was able to hold on to get the win. thrills for the team in the return of the event. a 1-2 finish. Junior Maya Singletary won the In the 200m, the Niners showed up and showed “Everybody was excited to get back out there for event, and sophomore Taylor Boykin-Roach out as they took the top four spots and had five the outdoor season,” said Head Coach Bob Olesen. came home with a second-place finish. runners in the top six. Ty Jaye Robbins won the “We were very thrilled to get this meet in.” “On the ladies’ side, we were a very close second at the event with a personal record of 21.36. Smith, Lee The women’s track and field team had a solid indoor championship, but we are probably a stronger and Ware finished in order behind Robbins. day as they dominated most of the events, outdoor team,” said Olesen. “Right away, though we The team took the top five spots in the pole breaking personal and team records. saw some payoff from the ladies on the outdoor side.” vault event as well. Graduate student Keon Howe Freshman Sarah Brown broke the school outdoor The men’s track and field team had top finishers all won the event by recording a mark of 5.10m. pole vault record as she was able to clear 4.00m. Mateya over the place and had an event filled with accolades. The Niners ended the event on another high note in Haintz broke the hammer throw school record with a The team finished first in javelin and pole vault, second the 4x400m relay event. The team of McCray, Johnson, 60.73m. Haintz surpassed Victoria Merriweather, who in the 110H, and third in the discus and 1500m. Lee and Menzel won the event with a time of 3:18.44. previously set the record in 2017 with a 60.33m. Graduate student Robert Yadley had a strong third- “We do have a group of nine men who only In the women’s 1500m, 12 personal bests were posted place finish in the decathlon with 6414 points. have outdoor eligibility,” added Olesen. “We were for the team. The 49ers had four runners’ place in the In the men’s 1500m, graduate student Alex Cornwell especially happy to get them going again, and we top ten, which was a great showing. Freshman Louise won the event with a time of 3:55.06. Keaton Anderson had a lot of success that we can build on.” Lounes was the highest finishing Niner as she finished and Jackson O’Hara were also in the top 10 for the Next week the Niners will travel to compete in the third with a time of 4:44.52. Lauren Johnston came in event. Five 49ers recorded their personal bests as well. Raleigh Relays hosted by North Carolina State and the fourth, and Jade Martin wouldn’t be far behind in ninth. In the 100m, sophomore Gabe Nash would win the Weems Baskin Invitational hosted by South Carolina The women’s long jump saw some of the same event with a 10.30. Kobe Brown was the only Niner on March 25-27. The next event hosted by the 49ers success as they would have many high finishers. that was able to run in the 400m finals, and he would will be the Charlotte Invitational on April 23 and 24.

10 MAR. 23, 2021 NINERTIMES LIFESTYLE

How working out can let you focus on yourself by Lesly Santos Photo by Staff Writer Lesly Santos Endorphins help deal with stress and reduce the and lunges. I researched different routines people had who will wake up at the crack of dawn to go to the gym and feeling of pain. They are a neurochemical that is shared on Reddit and personal trainers on Instagram. work out, but I cannot bring myself to wake up so early. It produced by the central nervous system. This allows I had never heard of a wall-sit or practiced abdominal gets hard to stick to a specific time and find the motivation us to cope with our life better and help us feel good. crunches before, but it was new and worked well with the to get up out of bed. You can implement a short workout Exercise is not only good for your physical well-being rest of my routine. You can download apps that will give routine into your day without forcing yourself to rearrange but also your mental health. The workout doesn’t have you different exercises to practice a day, but I felt like it plans or alter sleep schedules. It can help you start your day to be intense or rigorous for you to become in-tune wasn’t for me. I have tried to use apps to organize myself off on the right foot to take on whatever life throws at you. with your body. It can be tailored to what works for in terms of training or my sleep schedule, but I would By working out, you can focus on yourself. The you and allow you to clear your head the most. You eventually forget them. That’s why I decided to write my feeling of adrenaline coursing through your veins become more in tune with your body because of the plan somewhere where I could not run away from. helps you realize how powerful you can be. There have adrenaline and blood coursing through your system. I wrote my routine on my mirror in my bedroom so been times where I push myself to the point my lungs COVID-19 has changed the way we view the world that I would have to look at it every time I was getting burn, and I start to wonder if I have asthma. That and has forced us to adapt to an isolated-like society. It ready for my day. It helped to hold myself accountable made me change my perspective. It made me feel like can bring on feelings of loneliness and depression from for keeping up with my workout because the routine I could express and externalize my emotions. All the being deprived of the world we once knew. I attempted to would stare right back at me. I kept my routine short running and pushing to get away from my problems try to overpower those feelings with natural endorphins. because I’m always on the go; whether it’s school or allowed me to confront them and talk about them. At first, I tried running a lap around my neighborhood work, I have limited time for myself. Working out at Pain can be overwhelming, especially the internalized which was nice, especially since I would spend quality home can be challenging because there are so many pain one carries with emotional trauma. Stress from time with my dog. It worked out at first but eventually, it distractions, and nobody is necessarily holding you school, work, relationships with loved ones and got too cold outside, leaving me with indoor workouts. accountable. But it is always essential to make time for friends can throw you in a spiral. The endorphins I kept it short for my workout routine because I tend yourself, even if it’s a few minutes throughout the day. that one produces after exercising helps soothe a to do it before I go to work. I limited it to about 10 It doesn’t have to be an hour-long workout because little bit of the overwhelming emotions. A sense of minutes because those would be the 10 minutes I would sometimes we can’t commit to that time. We all live accomplishment for exercising, pushing yourself, shut off my brain and focus on my body. I incorporated different lives and to have a long and detailed training and taking the time to take care of yourself can basic things I knew, such as push-ups, jumping jacks requires commitment and motivation. I have a few friends motivate you to continue pushing on day by day.

NINERTIMES.COM MAR. 23, 2021 11 Color page!

by Marina Klimova Photo by Staff Writer Marina Klimova

I never thought I’d like to work in the fast-food industry. anyone trusted the shift to me. I felt unconfident and different position than usual, but I was confident by the end As college students, we take on the drudgery of service underappreciated. I wondered why I wasn’t getting of the week. Since I picked up those shifts, I treated them work for the time being. But after almost six years at the more hours for someone that had been there so long. differently. Like I wanted to be there. Like I was responsible. same restaurant, I found a thread of joy. In the last year, But I never asked the question aloud. I was too polite Like I was worthy of leading our team. I was given a chance I found my heart was there, and the customer service to demand more and to command others what to do. at showing grit and strength and leadership, and I showed smile warmed me. Even I often ask myself, how did this That was the problem. I had assumed the scheduling it. The knowledge of having done my best lit me up. happen? Why haven’t I moved on to tutoring elementary manager knew I wanted more hours when I told him The summer camp job didn’t work out in the end school-age children or taking phone calls at a fancy office I was available for 35 hours a week. I had assumed no as COVID-19 rampaged through the camp, and or at least in retail where I don’t have to scrub off grease? one talked to me at work because they didn’t want to. it was canceled. Yet, I found I had a new job. At this restaurant, I had found something, and I had assumed I was always in one position because I After that week, I asked my scheduling manager in it wasn’t just the wonderful team of managers and wasn’t good enough for more complicated ones. I had my strange roundabout way that if I asked him for more good pay. I received an opportunity for more. assumed no one would listen to me. I would never have hours would he give them to me? He simply said, “Yes.” A year ago, as a shift lead for the second year and getting known the truth until I had almost left completely. I started asking about the lives of the coworkers I’d less than 20 hours a week even when I was available for I found a job at a Christian summer camp been working with for years. I started asking about more hours, I decided this was my time to go finally. On for low-income families. It was one of the most how to do this or that and striving to do my job better top of the constant pressures of fast food, my twin sister, understanding environments I had ever been in, because that was all it took. All I had to do was ask. who had been working with me the entire five years as but I was a substitute counselor, so my schedule was I bought new non-slip shoes and showed them to my well quit because she’d gotten married and moved away. I contingent on other counselors being absent. It was scheduling manager. It was a promise. He understood, didn’t have anyone to talk to anymore. My non-slip shoes unpredictable, and the hours even more so. I’d taken and that thread of understanding is what connects my were threads away from falling apart completely, and it off the week from my fast food job only to realize heart to this fast-food job. It lights up my smile. My felt like this was the final omen leading to departure. I would be working at the summer camp only one commitment didn’t come without benefits—I got a raise. I’d made my inquiries, gone on a few interviews and day a week after and a handful of days after that. I’m now a manager and plan to stay until I graduate from looked around at the other jobs I could take while still I was devastated. I asked my scheduling manager if there UNC Charlotte. I love my job. That is, most of the time. considering who I was here at my fast food restaurant. were any open shifts for that week. There were. For the I’d been a shift lead for two years, yet I didn’t think first time that year, I worked a 40-hour week. I was in a

12 MAR. 23, 2021 NINERTIMES