It is important that students thoughtfully consider affordability and lifestyle necessities when choosing where to live during college. Overall, living on campus creates the most close-knit experience for students wishing to be involved with campus life. Living on-campus provides easy access to amenities such as the library and dining halls…

In the United States, African Americans often use code-switching to feel more accepted in the workforce. Code-switching is when a speaker shifts from one dialect to another depending on the social context. We should create inclusive environments where people do not feel pressured to be anyone other than themselves.

There is no right or wrong way to show cultural appreciation. Many choose to wear a hairstyle that represents their cultural and ethnic identity. To dismantle someone based on their hairstyle is demeaning to the targeted person and the culture their features represent. Unfortunately, race-based hair discrimination exists in schools, organiz…

High numbers of mass shootings in the U.S. indicate that the federal government must reform gun control legislation. For instance, this can be done through raising the minimum age to purchase firearms from 18 to 21, or by performing thorough background checks that sift through dangerous potential gun owners.

Around the world, women are shamed for having a monthly visit from their uterus. There have always been taboos surrounding periods, but that does not mean that governments should deny access to menstrual products worldwide. With less stigma, more people worldwide would have access to feminine hygiene products and education.

Freezing or near-freezing temperatures can cause road and path conditions to deteriorate, creating difficult and dangerous situations for students. Commuting and on-campus students should stay updated on weather advisories and be aware of what they mean. They could face slippery road conditions on their way to class. Also, walkways and brid…

The NinerAlert and NinerNotice systems ensure that UNC Charlotte students and staff can remain aware of potential campus safety threats. These alerts are beneficial tools for communicating threats and updates. However, they should be amended to inform students of any criminal activities, including those in off-campus student housing.

Stress levels are running rampant among college campuses, especially around academic breaks; harming mental health and academic performance. Along with the workload returning from break, possible explanations for the surge in anxiety include family conflict, financial pressures and social isolation. Students should educate themselves on wha…

Spring break is when students can blow off steam after enduring rigorous midterm exams and assignments. Unfortunately for UNC Charlotte students, spring break will be much earlier this year. Reducing the possibility that students can travel and see their friends at other universities adds stress to the semester, something a break should take away.

UNC Charlotte's fall 2022 semester raised questions about campus safety and security with crimes on campus. As students settle in, some cannot help but fear for their safety, while others choose to trust the University. Campus residents should feel safe due to Charlotte's extensive safety protocols, but they should also take precautions as …

Romanticizing teen sex and drug use in entertainment media for drama is damaging. Many different films and TV shows are centered around teen drama. Unfortunately, many of these frequently include scenes depicting unrealistic sexual material and the use of drugs or alcohol. These scenes give young viewers a false perception of reality.

In our society, people look up to athletes and often feel they can do no wrong. Professional athletes are considered larger than life. This mindset is harmful and, in turn, creates athlete privilege. In order to change this mindset, we need to put aside athletes' fame to see them for who they are and push for accountability.

Explicit depictions of sexual violence in entertainment media can trigger some viewers and desensitize others. Many examples of media, such as movies and TV shows, show fictional sexual violence. Showing these assaults on screen is unnecessary to show how survivors process their experiences.

By the time Kevin McCarthy gaveled out the House of Representatives as Speaker of the House, the assembly had cast 15 ballots. The last time the House required multiple ballots to elect a speaker was in 1923. Beyond the political process, the indecision shows a stark division growing in politics within the United States.

When someone earns their bachelor's degree, they must decide what their future holds. Students contemplate two options: entering the workforce or furthering their education in graduate school. Graduate school is worth the price for some but costly for others in terms of money, time and mental health. If a student can afford to enroll, gradu…

Ocular melanoma has been disproportionately affecting young women in the Charlotte area, specifically in Huntersville. Despite ongoing concern, the state government has not established any legislative push to fund cancer research. Individuals cannot protect themselves against these deadly cancers and live life not knowing which of their nei…

A case study was conducted in ANTH 2171 (Action, Justice, and Change: An Introduction to Engaged and Applied Anthropology) in regard to Housing & Residence Life's (HRL) initial overbooking and their response to students' concerns. This case study was a semester-long project on gathering statistics, input from affected students, and anal…

The following article was written by Richard Boyd, the Founder and CEO at Tanjo Inc, an intelligence & machine learning company based in Carrboro, NC. Boyd has over 3 decades’ experience in the field and co-authored a book on Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) technologies, called 'The Virtus VRML Toolkit'. Published by HaydenBook…

Using social media for hours on end allows us to procrastinate. Consequently, overconsuming media can be overwhelming and distracting. Our brains tend to focus on negative information, and we tend to keep mindlessly scrolling. Overconsumption is a bad addiction, but with work and commitment to change, you can turn your life into something better.

Christmas has been celebrated for over a millennium but has turned into more of a capitalist holiday than a family one over the past century. Corporations have monetized Christmas by encouraging consumerism, superficiality and materialism. This holiday season, make memories with family and enjoy your time together, whether it involves spend…

The job of a police officer is not easy. Law enforcement's reputation has never been looked at under a more critical lens than it is now. However, campus police need to reform and update sensitivity training. This would help police develop better protect students and staff in potentially dangerous situations, prevent future mishaps and enco…

College athletes' pressure is astronomical. They deal with exhaustion, anxiety and depression nearly twice as much as before the pandemic. The NCAA and major universities seem more concerned with making money than giving their athletes mental health resources. This is not acceptable, and we have to be better so college athletes can have a b…

RateMyProfessor is a tool that many students use when registering for classes. On this website, users can rate and review professors. While RateMyProfessor can be useful, it is important to also check with other sources, such as upperclassmen who have taken the class. 

Standardized testing is a part of school systems around the country. Some students do well on them, but it causes anxiety and stress for others who are not good test takers, and it does not properly display their abilities.If all the test questions are the same, but all students are not the same, how can these tests show an individual's tru…

This year, the World Cup's quadrennial game is hosted in Qatar, the first Middle Eastern country to hold the event. This location is controversial due to various human rights concerns. The event being held in Qatar is a big step for Middle Eastern countries, but the controversies should not be excused.

At UNC Charlotte, printing a single piece of paper with black ink costs nine cents. For color, it is thirty cents. This cost can add up for a student, and since many use printing services exclusively for assignments, students should not have to pay for printing. If free printing is not possible, then printing credits could be a solution.

In Charlotte, the Republican Party nominated Donald Trump for a second term as president at the Republican National Convention in August 2020; he was a shoo-in for the position. But, as he runs for reelection in 2024, the road to the nomination will be steeper. Republicans' electoral struggles and events, such as the Jan. 6 movement on the …

Many students choose to live on Charlotte's campus unless they live close enough to commute. Unfortunately, housing on campus is an expensive addition to the hefty cost of attending college. With a lack of available and affordable on-campus housing, first-year students should have the opportunity to choose where they want to live.

Every day, a mass of cars fight their way to leave campus. However, those using greener transportation methods often find themselves at home long before those who waste minutes at lengthy traffic lights. Despite the hundreds of students using bike infrastructure on campus, the existing amenities are lacking. UNC Charlotte needs to commit to…

Elementary school students are taught that Thanksgiving is for celebrating the past year's harvest. Unfortunately, this sets a bad precedent because this early education is false. We need to re-teach ourselves the history of this holiday and be aware of the impacts that celebrating it has on our Native American community.

After winning the National Women's Volleyball Championship in 2021, the Wisconsin Badgers celebrated their victory by taking photos and videos where all the athletes were nude from the waist up. This footage was later leaked and went viral. Athletes are entitled to privacy, and this footage should not have been distributed.

Anti-Semitic speech and assault have increased over the past year, with a 34% rise from 2020. Celebrity Kanye West shares anti-Semitic hate speech across social media, further spreading neo-Nazi ideology. We must hold Ye and other public figures accountable for the hate speech they use on their platforms.

YikYak launched as an anonymous location-based social media platform. It seeks to remove labels and promote free speech. However, some users post hateful, offensive, discriminatory and possibly illegal content simply because it cannot be traced back to their identity. YikYak's administration must keep an eye on the content being posted and …

With the 2022 midterm elections recently concluded, N.C. accepted Republican Ted Budd into Senate, a victory over Democrat Cheri Beasley. Budd's election will change political and social issues as with any political shift. One such issue is voting rights, which ensures that all Americans have the right to vote. Budd's views on election deni…

Being sustainable is crucial, and we, as students, must educate ourselves and advocate for sustainable projects on campus. Every student on campus should strive for sustainability, whether that means being aware of the issues on campus or actively solving them. People across campus are working each day to make our Charlotte campus greener, …

With the recent uptick in stress for college students from the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing pressures of the world, students are putting their mental health on the back burner. The 988 hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is a free and confidential resource that you should take advantage of if necessary.

Social media is home to scammers, misleading advertisements and the door to accessing billions of people within minutes. Scammers have access to any personal details posted publicly online and the tools necessary to attract consumers. Because of this, users should be on the lookout and monitor their accounts closely.

By now, most people are familiar with the seemingly straightforward process of using dating apps, which allow users to connect with hundreds of singles who are ready to mingle. Unfortunately, dating apps are causing us to sacrifice genuine relationships for access to a myriad of options and the paradox of choice.

First-year students at any given university are almost entirely at the mercy of the available campus facilities to survive their first year. However, the dining halls have closed during class breaks this fall. Students, particularly out-of-state first-year students, deserve better dining options while on campus during breaks.

Social media can be an efficient way to express oneself and share ideas, thoughts and beliefs. It is our modern way of communicating free speech, which Elon Musk wants to emphasize and protect on Twitter. However, under his management, avoiding misinformation and hate speech on Twitter is more challenging.

Public safety is no joke at a campus as big as ours. For that reason, rumors can be even more disturbing, unreliable and easier to cause mass panic. Recently, a rumor about a double homicide at East Village was spread. Despite how entertaining gossiping is, rumors about public safety should not be played with.

Parking passes are something most students have to purchase. When coming to class, finding a parking spot is often difficult. Students, faculty and staff alike should not be expected to spend so much money on a pass to park on campus when there are not enough spots to park their cars.

On Oct. 14, a crew of religious protesters arrayed themselves outside the student union. As an opposing crowd formed, one student grabbed a flag and stood firm. Protest is a powerful amplifier for one's cause. However, it will do little without the strong arm of the people in elections and political action to back it up; which is why voting…

"Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" premiered on Netflix and gained a lot of popularity. However, it also received mixed reviews and sparked outrage from the families of the victims, primarily due to the recreations of actual court hearings and witness accounts. The sensationalization of serial killers is harmful and insensitive.

Earlier this week, an anti-abortion group called the Genocide Awareness Project (GAP) set up a display on campus that depicted graphic images of fetal embryos. The purpose was to equate a person's right to choose to genocide. The First Amendment allows the freedom of speech and assembly, but when that speech includes hatred and falsehoods, …

The official start of winter is still weeks away, but Charlotte is already experiencing cold, gray days thanks to a weather phenomenon known as the wedge. Even with temperatures dropping slowly, people must stay prepared for the possible cold threat.

Two members of the Just Stop Oil organization superglued their hands to a gallery wall after throwing two soup cans on Van Gogh's painting, "Sunflower." Though this demonstration gained a lot of attention online, the organization did not gain support for their cause because the public disapproved of their methods.

This statement was submitted to the Niner Times by Dr. John Cox, Director, Center for Holocaust, Genocide & Human Rights Studies at UNC Charlotte.

When eating at a dining hall on campus, people should be able to trust that they are being served safe, well-prepared food that will nourish and satisfy them. Unfortunately, for UNC Charlotte's dining hall patrons, that has not recently been the case.

Halloween's trick-or-treating with friends for candy, making and buying costumes, and eating yourself into a sugar coma have always been thought of as being for children. Now suddenly, adults are treating Halloween like it's their holiday. Parties rich with alcohol, revealing costumes and general ruckus seem to be ways adults hijack the holiday.

The university is only a part of this larger neighborhood we call home. Students support University City without knowing it. Charlotte students should be more involved and explore University City further. Between the hippie streets of NoDa, the highrises of Uptown and the booming nightlife in South End, there is plenty to explore.

There is nothing like receiving a list of required textbooks at the beginning of the semester. And there is nothing like seeing the price tag that makes one wonder why textbooks still exist. Students shouldn’t have to feel so discouraged about the costs of books that they drop out. 

“Toxic productivity” is a detrimental fixation on constant output, which has been shaped into a widespread cultural phenomenon. Productivity culture refers to a view of the world that treats work not as a means to an end but as an end in itself, but we shouldn't value ourselves for just our productivity.

For a professor to mark a student's absence as excused, the professor typically requires the student to provide proof, such as a doctor's note. However, not everyone will be able to receive a note for their ailment, due to not having access to a doctor or for their issue not meeting the requirements for one.

Walking around a city, you may notice spikes on city windowsills or small, evenly spaced metal bolts on ledges. You might also find caged air grates and benches with dividers in the middle. These choices deliberately displace the homeless population by limiting their resting areas, which is cruel and unfair.

'Academic validation' is typically used positively. Validation welcomes a sense of certainty for students. However, reliance on academic validation can quickly turn into an addiction. It becomes a constant search for identity that can only be satisfied through continuous praise from educators and results in a harmful mindset.

There are millions of women worldwide, specifically in third world countries, who suffer daily from insufficient feminine hygiene and healthcare. The North Carolina legislature's formal decision is harmful regarding the right to bodily autonomy and should be changed. People's bodies should not be something to be governed.

University attendance rates are currently not trending in a positive direction within the United States, showing that the path of higher education needs to boost its reputation. Many students decide not to come to class, or to even pursue a college education at all; instead choosing to pursue other career paths.

Social media now plays a role in every aspect of most people's lives: we use it to promote businesses, social causes, political campaigns and above all, ourselves. However, many people display an exaggerated or false version of themselves online. With the app BeReal, users can now express themselves in the moment.

Fan-created work is a gray area regarding copyright law; and it is getting thinner due to the misuse of fair use, which protects freedom of expression by allowing unlicensed use of copyrighted work. The actions of Barlow & Bear through their creation of the unofficial "Bridgerton" musical harms smaller creators.

While Charlotte’s campus does have some accessible entrances, it is crucial for the university to implement more options. As this campus's population and diversity rate grow, we need to accommodate the needs of our students. An open campus should mean a sufficient amount of accessible entrances for students with disabilities.

While it is relatively simple to clean up after ourselves, many students around campus are instead choosing to litter. There is a wide variety of designated areas with trash cans and recycling bins with the intention of keeping our campus clean, but some students are not being as responsible as they should be.

Queen Elizabeth II's recent passing shows how celebrity worship culture can be detrimental. Celebrity worship culture is when people become obsessed with famous figures they see online and believe that they are somehow perfect. It can be harmful to idolize politicians and associate superiority with socioeconomic class and status.

On Aug. 24, 2022, President Biden announced his student loan debt relief plan. Borrowers who make under $125,000 individually, or $250,000 in a combined household, will have their debt forgiven to the tune of $10,000. While many people are glad to hear the news, others believe that it's not enough to make college more accessible.

Flash flooding events are among the most dangerous natural disaster situations, not only in the United States but around the world. People often think flash flooding can only occur if an area is sitting next to a river, but that simply isn't true, and in Charlotte's case, it would be reckless to discount the potential for such a crisis event.

On June 29, 2022, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that limited the abilities of Native American courts. The ruling declares that the state can prosecute crimes committed against Native American victims by non-Native American perpetrators within Native American territory. This means that the power to prosecute will likely defer to the stat…

Planting trees has long been considered the ultimate environmental philanthropic act that's easily accessible. Environmental conservation organizations have pushed the process as a solution to climate change, but it is not enough. While trees do benefit the environment through methods such as cleaning the air and preventing erosion, they ar…

Charlotte is no stranger to severe weather in summer. From thunderstorms and supercell systems to flash floods, summers typically bring an increase in dangerous weather. However, it's hurricanes that make headlines. While Charlotte is at lower risk for hurricane impacts than the Carolina coast, these powerful storms have caused destruction …

On June 30, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to restrict the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ability to regulate the emissions produced from power plants. This ruling has become a significant obstacle in combating our planet's climate crisis. Former environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act, passed in 1970, have aimed to slow…

As an American, it is easy to take for granted the freedoms and opportunities we possess just by hitting the lottery and being born in this country. "Land of the free and home of the brave" -- an expression as iconic as it is true. Yet, in the present day, The United States is at a point of widespread violence and depravity that has left ma…

Content warning: This article contains mention of sexual assault.

As of May 24, 2022, 18 states have placed laws and regulations that either ban or limit transgender athletes from participating in sports. Many conservative policymakers aim to restrict athletes to only participating in sports under their assigned birth gender. Their main reasoning for doing so is that trans athletes have a "biological adva…

In recent years, discussions on mental health have been increasingly positive, and the representation of those who struggle with depression, anxiety or ADHD has become more normalized in our current discourse. In film and TV, the number of characters with mental illnesses has almost doubled from 1% in 2015 to 1.7% in 2019. However, most of …

It's been seven months since UNC Charlotte unveiled their land acknowledgment plaque outside the University Recreation Center (UREC). While a land acknowledgment can be a great first step in acknowledging the wrongdoings that Indigenous peoples have experienced, it feels more like a Band-Aid on top of a gaping wound. The Atlantic describes …

If you love lack of sleep, almost passing out from not having enough time to eat in between classes and never feeling like you've completed everything on your to-do list, then taking 18 credit hours is the way to go! The average number of credit hours that college students take is 15. We always want to aim for above average, anyway. I've ne…

UNC made it to the 2022 Final Four for the first time since 1977. Who says UNC is not an athletic powerhouse?

Hey, bestie! I’m a member of Boura Aigio Eleusis (BAE) and have loved every second of it.

In a creative and groundbreaking paternity shoot, Norm the Niner announced his pregnancy with Normie. This announcement came as a clever Niner Times cover about Drake's album "Certified Lover Boy" that ran on Sept. 21, 2021. Normie "'Lil Nugget" Niner was born on Jan. 1, 2022, at 3:49 p.m. and was 4 pounds, 9 ounces and 15 inches.

About four weeks ago, UNC Charlotte announced that masks would no longer be required on campus. However, many students believe that UNC Charlotte made a big mistake lifting the mask mandate. The removal of masks has come with a hefty price: the reveal of a hideous student body.

After conducting a two-week investigation into J. Murrey Atkins Library, Whiner Times has confirmed the culprit for the library's alarmingly low amount of books. Contrary to the popular narrative of students genuinely being interested in reading, the disappearance appears to be an inside job, which the library staff is classifying as "offsi…

This semester, Academic Affairs created the Know Me Project to help students connect with their classmates and professors online. The project reset Canvas profile pictures for students’ ID photos every day, and many disliked the new change. However, it was especially harmful to those in the LGBTQ+ community.

A pie chart on the Niner Central website illustrates where the $6,997 ($20,431 if you're an out-of-state student) of undergraduate tuition and fees goes for a Charlotte student. Charlotte tuition is divided into five categories, and the fees are split into six different services ranging from building maintenance to debt insurance.

I initially felt relieved when I heard that birth control would be available in North Carolina without a prescription. I thought, "Great! I won't have to endure the stink eye adults give me when I sit in my OBGYN's waiting room!" While access to birth control without the need for a prescription may sound ideal, there are more caveats to thi…

A moral dilemma between music artists and consumers has recently struck the music industry. For the past several years, those who consume music can download an app and pay a flat monthly fee to listen to almost any song. Despite the popularity of Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube and Amazon Music, many artists are now speaking out against these…

Not even three months into the year, 2022 has managed to be just as eventful as the years before it. If you carry a cellphone or watch cable news, you know about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Niner Times Editorial Board endorses the Larson-Olusesi campaign for student body president and vice president. Voting runs from March 15-16, and the results will be announced on March 17.

You’d be in the minority nowadays to not acknowledge the legitimacy of man-made climate change. As grim a realization it may be, it is difficult to deny that the summers have gotten longer and the winters have gotten warmer in the United States and the rest of the world.

The city of Charlotte has had a stellar reputation with higher education, professional sports and fine arts. As the second-largest banking center in the nation, Charlotte has a bright future.

High school seniors in 2020 were put in a predicament like no other. They have suffered from the consequences of COVID-19 for almost half of their high school years now, creating impassable barriers concerning opportunities and resources.

While taking an online exam, it is common for Charlotte students to be required to use a program called LockDown Browser. Developed by Respondus, this application locks students out of everything on their computers, except for the exam. It also monitors students via audio and video. The program is designed to detect and prevent cheating. Ho…

It's 2022 and we're still talking about COVID-19. Things have certainly changed since the start of the pandemic but we still aren't back to normal. The recent update on UNC Charlotte’s mask requirement has sparked a lot of conversation on campus-oriented social media accounts especially regarding the University's decision to only require ma…

The 2022 midterm local elections are coming up, and the Rental Housing Alliance Political Action Committee is representing the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association (GCAA) in hopes of influencing voters to elect a candidate that shares their values.

With everything happening with the pandemic and higher education, student loan borrowers and the advocacy groups that support these individuals are pushing for loan forgiveness regardless of the amount. Nobody thought all educational institutions and classes would switch to online instruction for such a long time.