Check our UNC Charlotte family news for October!

OCTOBER 2016 - ISSUE I

Greetings, Niner Nation Family!

We've got even more articles for October! Check out the information below, and look out for the November issue in the coming weeks.

Helping Your Student Navigate Midterms

By Caitlin Carey, New Student & Family Services When October rolls around, midterms do, too. For students across the nation, this can be a stressful time and a huge wake-up call. Every semester tends to go smoothly at the start, but during midterm season students begin to realize how many chapters they still need to finish reading, how much needs to be done on a paper or project or how much material they need to memorize for an exam. While students may have encountered exams in high school, college exams are different; midterms give students a college reality check.  As parents of college students, you may feel helpless as your student feels worried about midterm projects, papers and exams. This is one of the moments where your student needs to learn how to cope individually, but here are some tips to help:  Send a care package! Create a package of your student’s favorite food items and a supportive note to help him or her get through the midterm season. This show of love and support is always appreciated. Encourage your student not to panic and to have realistic expectations. Remind your student to prepare for a grade he or she may not be expecting since this is a first-time experience. Like anything else, midterms take practice, and this is a new level of studying that students need to master. Remind your student to think about their health. Getting enough sleep? Making sure to eat well? Don’t forget to remind your student about the Student Health Center and the Center for Wellness as resources available on campus. Use your listening skills. Your student may need to vent about the amount of work, the difficulty of the assignments and more. Provide an ear and let your student know you are there for him or her and understand.

Homecoming 2016: ‘Back to the Norm’

By Kelsey Wilkins, New Student & Family Services Homecoming is a time when all 49er fans come together to celebrate one thing — UNC Charlotte. Homecoming was Oct. 12-16, and the whole week is jam-packed with fun things to do! The theme was “Back to the Norm.” Students, families and alumni were able to celebrate their love for the University by attending the homecoming parade, tailgate, football game against Florida International University (FIU) and more! UNC Charlotte’s homecoming was in the spring until the football team came to campus in 2013. Since then, the tradition has grown to what it is today.   Using the hashtag of #bringbackthenorm2016, you are able to view other students tweets, Instagram posts and memories from homecoming. We had the opportunity to talk about the celebration with Tracey Allsbrook, the Homecoming Committee chair for 2016. "We are excited about this year’s homecoming,” Tracey said. “We have worked hard to plan an event-filled week that everyone can enjoy!" We were also able to talk with Amy Jolly, assistant director of Alumni Affairs. She gave us her take on homecoming from an alumni standpoint. “Homecoming is one of the most electric and exciting times on a college campus every year. There are many events and activities for everyone to participate in, especially alumni. Homecoming is all about bringing alumni and friends of UNC Charlotte home again to reconnect and share fun memories from the past and to see the University’s bright plans for the future."  Homecoming featured many events geared toward alumni. On Friday, Oct. 14, the Young Alumni Chapter hosted the 3rd Annual Green and White Social. Alumni were also invited to the Festival of Lights Parade and Pep Rally Friday evening on campus.  Saturday the fun continued when alumni and friends were invited to the Alumni Tailgate Village and 3rd Annual Homecoming Oktoberfest from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Hauser Alumni Pavilion. The event featured an all-you-can-eat buffet, open bar, local craft beer samples, live music, a bounce house and much more. All of this led up to the main event, which was the football game against the FIU Panthers at Jerry Richardson Stadium at 6 p.m. The Official After Party hosted by the Black Alumni Chapter capped off the evening’s fun. Homecoming weekend is sure to make alumni and friends of the University feel nostalgia for their time at UNC Charlotte and to show them the progress the University has made in investing in future generations of 49ers. For more information on homecoming activities or to join the Niner Connection, please visit 49eralumni.uncc.edu.

Staying Safe this Fall

By Kelsey Wilkins, New Student & Family Services Fall semester means students experience the beauty of UNC Charlotte’s campus as the leaves change color and sunsets come earlier. But if students have a night class, they could potentially be getting out of class when it is dark and cold outside. We understand parents might be a worried about safety. Here are tips on how to safely navigate campus at night as well as ways to stay safe during Fall Break and Halloween. Fall Break Tips: Inform your friends and family if you are taking a trip anywhere. If you are going to an unfamiliar place, do your research before you go. Stick together with your friends or family; don’t wander off. Stay hydrated if you are in the sun. Halloween Tips: Don’t go out by yourself. If you do go out and drink, make sure you have a designated driver ready to pick you up. Don’t leave your drink unattended and never accept drinks from someone you don’t know. Do not walk alone at night. If you feel uncomfortable somewhere, leave. Overall, students can also participate in National Campus Safety Awareness Month, National Crime Victim’s Rights Week, Operation ID, Oktoberfest and Gotcha. There is also a women’s only self-defense class called R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense). This class is offered three times throughout the fall semester. To sign up for R.A.D., go to http:/police.uncc.edu/crime-prevention-safety. All students can also take advantage of SafeRide shuttles and PaTs buses that run throughout the campus.

Secrets of Success: Advice to New Students

By Daniel Watson, New Student & Family Services New students often benefit from the advice and experience of upperclassmen and others at their University. Here are “secrets of success” shared by a host of students and one administrator.

“My secret to success is to know your campus and the resources that are here to assist you. Knowing the organizations that are around you will help you figure out where you fit best — so that you can have a memorable and productive time here at UNC Charlotte.” -- Michael Ferrell, Sophomore, Communications   “My secret to success is making sure you do community service. One, it helps when you give back to your community; two, it helps build your character; and three, it looks good for future employment.” -- Amaya Pressley, Junior, Mathematics

“My secret to success is being proactive in the classroom and getting to know your professors in advance. Getting to know them will help you be successful… (because) you know that whenever you need help you can reach out to them and they can help you out with open arms.” -- Kevin Fauntleroy, Junior, Psychology   “My secret to success is staying organized and actually using my planner. They’re very beneficial, especially as you get more involved and have multiple things that you’re committed to.” -- Danielle Caster, Junior, Political Science

“My secret to success is always doing my homework in the library so during the weekend I have time to relax.” -- Destefano St. Germain, Senior, Communications   “Utilize your resources, take on new experiences and go to your professor’s office hours.” -- Shaniqua Marlowe, Assistant Director for Multicultural Recruitment

“My secret to success is finding what works best for you. Where you like to study, who you like to study with — what works for others may not work for you.” -- Kierra James, Junior, Nursing   “My secret to success is to be open-minded to all opportunities that come your way.” -- Payton Welch, Sophomore, Organizational Communication

“Branch out, go beyond your comfort zone. The people that you don’t know right now could end up being your best friends later on.” -- Deepali Patel, Sophomore, Biology

Think You Can Dance? Of Course, You Can

By Daniel Watson , New Student & Family Services So you think you can dance, huh? It’s safe to say that the Monster Mash and the beloved Twist just won’t get the job done in 2016. Youth across the nation are imitating Cam Newton’s “Dab” and the liberating dance craze “Whip/Nae Nae” in scenes familiar to the Charlotte Dance Marathon. The dance marathon is one of UNC Charlotte's largest student-run philanthropies. It raises awareness and financial support year-round for children treated at Levine Children's Hospital (LCH). Students, alumni and members of the community come together for a 12-hour marathon that takes place every fall to celebrate the kids and the funds raised. No matter how you “shake a tail feather,” all are welcome. Charlotte Dance Marathon 2016 will be held from 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4, to 7 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5. Jasmine Williams, Charlotte Dance Marathon public relations and marketing co-chair, is eager to get this year’s marathon rolling. “What we’re doing right now is just trying to raise money and awareness for it,” she said. “The new thing we’re doing is 75 days for 75k; our goal is $75,000 this year.” Charlotte Dance Marathon encourages participants to stand or move for the full 12 hours. If dancing is not your thing, there are a variety of activities to keep you occupied and entertained: cornhole, a bounce house, a photo booth, Jazzercise, cardio kickboxing and even a live band. “That’s actually why I joined — I went to the one last year and I just had a good time; I didn’t know it was going to be that fun,” Williams recalled. “I enjoyed it so much that I said, ‘Let me see if I can actually be a part of the process in making this a big event,’ and I stayed the whole time.” Anyone can register and donate on Charlotte Dance Marathon’s website:  charlottedm.org. To register as a participant, click the green "Register Now!" button at the top of the web page. You can create your own team, join an existing team or register as an individual. The $10 registration fee is credited to Charlotte Dance Marathon’s overall fundraising total, which directly benefits the children at LCH. “Come for the kids, that’s our motto,” Williams said. “If you want to give something, do Charlotte Dance Marathon; it’s a great experience — and you get food.”

ZTA Support Breast Cancer Awareness through Events

By Ena Walker, New Student & Family Services Each October the Charlotte community comes together to raise awareness about breast cancer. Many major organizations sponsor teams for Susan G. Komen: Race for the Cure. We attach pink ribbons to our backpacks and work to fight this brutal disease. One of the largest supporters of this awareness month, Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) Sorority strives to bring breast cancer education and awareness to campus through creative events that educate and fundraise for the cause. The sorority hosts their Big Man on Campus (BMOC) event in McKnight Hall Auditorium, where male contestants provide entertainment for guests by dressing in formal wear, demonstrating a talent and answering an on-stage question to compete for the title of ZTA’s BMOC. At the inaugural BMOC event in October 2015, ZTA raised more than $11,000 for its philanthropy and sold out McKnight Hall, where more than 500 guests attended the event. ZTA hosted BMOC again this fall on Wednesday, Oct. 19, with the goal to fundraise more than $15,000 for breast cancer education and awareness. Also, ZTA partners with 49er Athletics to host a Think Pink football game each fall. At the game on Saturday, Oct. 1, the sorority fundraised, passed out pink ribbons and celebrated survivors by having them walk onto the field at halftime. A new event took place Wednesday, Oct. 5 — Bright Pink — was open to the seven Panhellenic sororities at UNC Charlotte to further educate women on being knowledgeable about their risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer. In 2017, ZTA plans to open this workshop to all female students and faculty to widen the audience and increase educational outreach.

Student Spotlight Q&A: Benedict Mangala

By Benedict Mangala, Senior Psychology/Public Health Major from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Raleigh, N.C. What is your favorite spot on campus and why? The Student Union because it’s like the “living room” of UNC Charlotte and my favorite spot to hang out on campus! It embodies its name by unifying all students by providing different food choices, places to study and places to have downtime. It is also the perfect lively place to meet new people and get involved. Tell us something you are involved with on campus and why you love it! I’m involved in several student organizations on campus, such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Campus Activities Board and Autism Speaks U. These organizations allow me to flourish as I grow in my leadership skills, connect with various people and positively impact the student body.  Why did you choose UNC Charlotte? UNC Charlotte was the right fit for me because it is a growing university. From my first time visiting, I knew that I wanted to be a part of new traditions. Moreover, I loved the diversity of our student population and being only a few miles away from uptown Charlotte adventures! What have you learned (or are learning) that's made a difference to you? Being in college has taught me a lot about myself. I have learned to be resilient and that has made all the difference in my life. College comes with its challenges, but with perseverance, I have overcome and grown tremendously. I have also encountered many peers and staff who challenge my viewpoints and inspire me to be a better person. What has been your greatest challenge? Balancing the different aspects of my college life — academics, social life and personal development. Utilizing a planner helps a lot! What advice do you have for incoming students? Not be afraid to ask for help, go out of your comfort zones and explore your passions! A lot of opportunities will present themselves, but it’s up to you to go after what you want and also get assistance when needed. We also heard that you are involved with homecoming. Would you also mind sharing about that, too?  As the reigning UNC Charlotte princess, I am thrilled for the month of October! This year I will be involved in a different way by helping choose the new Royal Court and participating in several activities. I will also get to execute the homecoming concert as a Campus Activities Board coordinator. Overall, I’m excited to see the student body come together to showcase its Niner Pride and for all of the alumni to find their way back home!

Family Weekend 2016 Recap

By Caitlin Carey, New Student & Family Services Family Weekend is a highly anticipated event hosted every year by New Student & Family Services, an occasion that allows family members and their students to spend time together on campus.  This year the weekend of events began on Friday, Sept. 16, at the Student Union, where families enjoyed treats from Insomnia Cookies and took part in Union Takeover: Casino Night, hosted by the Campus Activities Board. The evening featured a variety of casino games, such as blackjack and craps; showcased a variety of student organizations; and featured a ceremony to reveal the UNC Charlotte class ring. The following morning, families and their students who purchased the gold package dined at the Chancellor’s Brunch. Chancellor and Mrs. Dubois as well as college deans, faculty, administrators, student leaders and members of the Parent and Family Advisory Council helped celebrate 70 years of UNC Charlotte with families during this event.  Delicious food was served, and prizes raffled off included a $1,000 tuition stipend, a free semester of parking and a $500 gift certificate from the bookstore. Guests had a splendid time and left the brunch happy and full! Later in the day, families showed their Niner Pride at the Family Weekend Game Day Celebration. Participants enjoyed a barbecue buffet, live entertainment and giveaways, including novelties such as football seat cushions and custom Family Weekend photos.  Many family members and students also enjoyed the obstacle course, the rock wall and getting their faces painted! At the close of the Game Day Celebration, families headed over to Jerry Richardson Stadium to cheer on the 49ers against Eastern Michigan.  Everyone at New Student & Family Services loved hosting Family Weekend and looks forward to seeing parents and students at Spring Family Reunion in February.

Niner Nation Family New Student & Family Services Dean of Students Office  UNC Charlotte parents.uncc.edu | parents@uncc.edu | 704-687-0341