Niners by the num-
bers features base-
Summer program brings changes to services
Jamie Brown
Staff Writer
jbrow318@uncc.edu
The Summer Program at
UNC Charlotte means minor
changes to student services
throughout the summer sessions.
While the summer program
offers an advantage for students
looking to get ahead in their
studies, the new changes could
either inconvenience students or
Summer changes will bring more dining options to the Cone Center.
What it means to be ‘textually active’
“Sexting” has become more prevalent today,
and students are becoming more aware of the
dangers involved when sending “sexts”
Andrew Watkins
Staff Writer
awatki29@uncc.edu
What does being textually
active mean? Being textually
active according to the urban
dictionary defines it as either
someone who texts more than
they breathe or being sexually
active via text messaging.
On April 26, Melanie
Rodriguez and Cecelia Aponte
from the Alpha Lambda chapter
of Chi Upsilon Sigma hosted an
informational session on what
it means to be textually active.
Their definition comes from the
word “sexting,” which is defined
as the act of sending sexually
explicit messages or photographs
electronically primarily through
the use of mobile phones.
According to the National
Campaign to Prevent Teen
and Unplanned Pregnancy, 39
percent of all teenagers have sent
or posted sexually suggestive
messages, and 20 percent of those
have sent nude or semi-nude
photos or videos of themselves to
others.
Being textually active has
also raised attention recently
throughout the world. News
shows have made sexting a
worldwide issue by highlighting
cases where teenagers were
charged with possessing child
ball, track, golf,
and softball
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte • www.nineronline.com
benefit them.
According to Kim Burris,
Director of the Summer Program,
over 700 classes are typically
offered but due to high demand,
30 more classes have been added
beginning this year.
The Summer Program, which
is entirely funded by summer
tuition, is determined by the
demand from each department.
A new project, which allows
teacher doctoral the opportunity
pornography through these
messages. Cell phone companies
can track what was sent, so teens
are getting caught more often
than ever since the beginning of
the text messaging craze a few
years ago.
How does one prevent
themselves from being textually
active? Rodriguez and Aponte
advised the crowed with five
rules, known as the “Rules
of Sexting.” The first rule is
knowing the risk. If a person
participates in sexting, then they
should know the risk they’re
taking when doing so. Sending
a picture to someone could seem
harmless, but once it’s sent, that
person has no control over where
it gets sent and what the recipient
might do with it.
The first rule goes hand in
hand with rule two, not making it
easy. “When you send something
over the internet, it’s no longer
yours,” Aponte explained. “In
this world, there are people who
exist that have the technological
skill to access your system and
steal anything you send online.
The risk might be greater than
you think, and the more you do
it, the more you play into the
odds of someone finding your
photos.”
Rule number three is don’t
trust anyone. In this world,
College students need
to be more aware of
page 6
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to teach courses, has also allowed
more classes to be offered.
Although, due to the number of
students that choose to participate
in the summer program, special
accommodations are made
regarding dining, housing and
financial aid services.
Dining is one service that
has to accommodate for students
on campus during the summer,
while attempting to save money
at the same time. Hours and
Photo/Lauren Phillips
protection of private property is a
very big priority in a person’s life.
If a person recently broke up with
their boyfriend or girlfriend and
were being textually active with
them, they could possibly put the
photos that were assumed to be
private in a more public domain.
“It doesn’t take much for an angry
ex-lover to put your business on
blast,” Rodriguez stated.
The fourth rule is to keep
“good housekeeping.” No, it
didn’t refer to making sure one’s
room is clean or that laundry is
folded neatly. “Basically, keep
your cell phone clean. Delete
everything on a regular basis
because you never know who can
stumble across and pick up your
phone,” Rodriguez explained.
The last and final rule,
don’t get hooked. “Texting,
instant messages and emails
are easy because they lack the
confrontation aspect. You don’t
have to go to the trouble of saying
the words out loud. With that, it’s
easy to get hooked on sexting,”
Cecilia explains. Text messaging
and the like can be emotionless,
because the sender isn’t physically
saying anything. They’re typing
it. According to the presentation,
it’s unwise to get hooked when
talking about something that a
person may want to reserve for
talking about in person.
locations are thus affected for
the fewer students on campus.
Minor changes are forced to take
place because of the long awaited
Prospector renovations.
Chick-fil-A is scheduled to
move to the Cone Center on May
24, where it will be accompanied
by UNO pizza, Au Bon Pain
Soups, Sub Generation and
Outtakes Grab-N-Go.
This will also be the first
summer that the Student Union
will be open for service, which
will help accommodate for
the dining options affected by
Prospector’s renovations.
As of Monday, April 26,
dining services was still working
with the university to finalize the
hours of the locations that will
be open. At this time, according
to Andrew Lipson, the resident
district manager for Chartwells,
the locations expected to be
open in the Union consist of
Wendy’s, Starbucks and the
Union Outtakes.
Dining locations that were
open in the previous summer
sessions consisted of Fretwell,
Atkins, and RDH, with the later
only being used for camps and
conferences.
As for meal plans, most expire
at the end of the spring semester,
but the declining balance plans,
such as F, G and K, are active
until the last day of summer
classes.
Housing is another service
that implements changes in order
to efficiently accommodate the
students that desire to live on
campus during the summer.
According to the housing and
residence life website, in order
for a student to be eligible for
summer housing, a student must
Students pose after the presentation of “Textually Active.” The presentation was designed to
inform students about the dangers of “sexting.”
The overall message of the
presentation was that people who
text should think about the risks
involved when sending a message
or picture through their cell
phone, or even posting it online.
Once it’s sent, it’s permanent,
and putting that much trust in
someone they think they can
trust now might not turn out so
well in the end.
the dangers of energy
drinks
page 7
TUESDAY
April 27, 2010 Vol 22, No. 48
Partially Funded by Student Fees Published twice weekly
be registered for summer classes for this summer.
or be enrolled for Spring 2010 As for financial aid, any loan,
and pre-registered for Fall 2010 Federal Stafford loan, federal
classes. graduate plus loan, or any parent
Incoming freshmen who are plus loans that are borrowed from
not enrolled in summer school summer point 2010 forward are
may not live in summer housing. going to be a part of the direct
Due to end-of-spring cleaning and loan program.
maintenance, summer residents The change is in conjunction
will be housed in Greek Village, with President Obama’s Student
Phase 5 (Elm, Maple and Pine Aid Fiscal Responsibility Act that
Halls) and Phase 3 apartments. was put in effect on March 30, as
Whether a student is stated on financialaidnews.com.
requesting to live on campus for The new law redirects all federal
the first, second or both summer loans through the Department
sessions, only one deposit of $100 of Education, which cuts out the
is required. use of any independent bank.
The summer contract for SAFRA puts an end to Federal
Residential Services begins May Family Education Loan, which
22 to June 30 for the first term, UNC Charlotte has used for
with the second term beginning several years.
July 5 to Aug. 12. If a student is Celina McPhail, Assistant
residing in campus housing at Director of Student Financial Aid,
the end of the spring semester, said UNC Charlotte previously
housing will also be provided used the direct loan plan but saw
from May 14 to 21, as a part of a drastic default rate. McPhail
the first summer term contract. said, “Of course, we are hoping
Cost and financial aid plays that won’t happen again,” because
the biggest handicap for students a school’s default rate determines
wanting to take courses during which loan programs will work
the summer break. According with the school.
to the summer program website, The biggest challenge with
students who take three credit the new implication, however, is
hours will cost $621.15. Six credit spreading the word. Parents and
hours, which is the minimum students are required to sign the
amount between both sessions a new contract before the summer
student has to take to be eligible program beings to be eligible and
for financial aid, will cost a reimbursed for their loans.
student $1,237.75. Overall, the new direct loan
These numbers, however, process will not affect students
regard undergraduate fees, and but rather whom they are
for students taking the courses borrowing the money from.
in person. Online classes cost Enrollment for summer classes
sufficiently less, with three credit is currently in the process, with
hours listed as $297.15 and six the first session beginning May
credit hours listed as $589.75. 24. All information regarding the
Burris expressed the sudden Summer Program can be found
demand for online classes, and on the school’s homepage, uncc.
thus added 15 more online classes edu.
Photo/Andrew Watkins
Correction
In the article “Parking Services increases permit prices for Fall 2010”
published on April 27, it was said that “The Auxiliary Service blog
states that by state law, the school is only allowed to keep 20 percent
of the proceeds...” In clarification, the Auxiliary Service blog states
that the University is only allowed to keep 20 percent of the proceeds
from citations, not permit sales.
To see more go to http://aux.uncc.edu/parking/
PAGE 2 ❚ April 29, 2010 ❚ THE UNIVERSITY TIMES
 THE UNIVERSITY TIMES ❚ April 29, 2010 ❚ PAGE 3

viewpoint
Dana Nigro Editor-in-Chief
ridget Landwehrmann News Editor Josh Carpenter Managing Editor
B
Jillian Mullen Viewpoint Editor Jonathan Brody A&E Editor
Ed Niser Asst. Sports Editor Rob McCormick Feature Editor
Jessica Arenas Asst. A&E Editoritor Shannon Morgan Photo Editor
Victoria Creasy Copy Editor Anni Simpson Asst. Copy Editor

Are final exams indicative of a semester’s worth of learning?

anni simpson they’re soaking in.
Asst. Copy Editor This situation could be unfair,
asimps27@uncc.edu but I’m not sure that it is.
English majors, when they get
It’s exam time. Your professors have either tests, are often asked to identify
informed you themselves or referred you to the texts or explain the overall relevance
website to tell you when, where and on what day of a given quote. Sometimes,
you’ll be parked in a room with them for the they’re asked to answer short essay
last time to either silently scribble away in a blue questions. That’s if they get tests at
book too small for your handwriting or to fill in all, however. Just as often, they are
countless scan sheet bubbles. Are you ready? simply asked to write essays that
Whether you are or not, that will be your situation culminate a semester’s worth of
in a few weeks, expected to regurgitate everything research on a specific topic, such
you’ve learned in the past semester. Is that session as a Shakespeare class or a survey
indicative of actual learning, however? focusing on American literature.
Some students may, and reasonably so, argue Sometimes, they have both. What
that finals aren’t an accurate reflection of a student’s all of those things have in common,
overall grade. Finals require students who may though, is that they utilize the skills
have learned the material well enough to know it – writing and the ability to analyze
to sit in crowded, silent rooms and focus perfectly texts – that people in the major are
for over two hours in order to rehash facts from expected to know. Through the use
any point in the semester the professor deems fit. of essays, English professors are
If you’re unlikely, those facts may be obscure dates able to gauge both the knowledge
in a history class or an equation in a math class. they learned in performing the
They could be anything and everything under the skill they’re required to use well,
sun from a liberal studies course. Students in those not simply a parroting of random,
settings could be poor test takers or do poorly strung-together facts. Writing five
because of extenuating circumstances totally papers all due around the same
unrelated to the test before them. time might not be fun, but writing College students, like these above, study for final exams constantly during the last few weeks of school. How-
Those exams could also be the kind of finals coherently about a text the student ever, the question remains: is it worth it?
that are so heavily weighted that the final exam analyzed is what is expected of the
MCT Campus
grade makes or breaks the overall grade for the major. English students know that.
student, regardless of how well they did earlier imperative in major and minor courses, because education a student received in the class. Even if
Students won’t be given exams in formats that these are classes that teach students how to function the system fails a student, that student can still
in the semester or how much they participated. don’t make sense for their own line of study if the and perform in the career path of their choice. appeal the grade at the termination of a course to
In some classes, students don’t even start getting professor understands both the material and how Evaluations on how much students take away from debate just these points.
grades until they take their midterm, making it to teach it to their students. In a perfect world, the information they need to know in their future
impossible to gauge early enough on whether or Exams are the unpleasant end to what is
students wouldn’t need these evaluations to begin careers and how well they perform doing similar hopefully a much more engaging semester, but
not they can handle the course content. In some with the judge their learning, but those evaluations work is an important way to watch how students they are a necessary evil and imperative at judging
situations, it takes doing poorly on an evaluation of are necessary in order to determine how much will progress when they get to said career. Without student learning.
some kind before a student realizes just how little the student took away from the course. This is a “final grade,” there is no cumulative end to the

FEEDBACK
Have a strong opinion about a story that ran in the University Times, or a hot topic on campus about
which you want to vent? Voice your thoughts by sending the University Times a 200 word or less letter
Movie theater should
broaden its lineup
to editor@uncc.edu. Be sure to include your name, year, school, major and telephone number. Letters are
subject to editing for length, style and content.

brittany norton It could even be a stepping stone to a number of

Staff Writer
bnorton4@uncc.edu
Having a free movie theater on campus is one
of the many perks of being a student at UNC
Charlotte. Having movies play on the weekends
gives many students some entertainment when
there is no other entertainment to be found. The
thing about that is there are normally alternatives
on weekends, so the Union theater is not always the
first choice. So I think that there is a way we could
utilize the theater during the weekdays.
Who says that a movie theater can only show
recent movies or, for that matter, just movies in
general? I look at it more as a big screen full of
opportunity, and there are more options to explore.
The Student Union should be able to play classics,
such as “The Godfather” series or “Do the Right
Thing.” The Union could branch out and play
international films to ensure that we appeal to every
background, and playing international hits allows
students here to explore a new movie watching
experience. That way, it could also be seen as a
learning experience, which is what college is all
about.
Other choices include being able to watch old
television series that our generation would truly
appreciate. Although “Family Guy” is great, that’s
not the kind of show to which I am referring.
I’m talking more along the lines of the original
“Rugrats” and episodes of “Martin.” These are the
types of shows that don’t air on basic cable anymore,
and it is not rare to walk by a group of students
and hear them reminiscing about the “good old
days.” No, the elderly aren’t the only ones capable
of “taking it back.”
The Union theater has so much potential and
the ability to be greater than what is already is.
students’ careers. For example, showing a film
directed by a UNC Charlotte student would give
him or her great exposure. Since this school takes
pride in caring for its students, I think that we
should be doing everything possible in order to
boost their chances of success. We already have an
art gallery that displays the artwork of students, so
why not use the theater for those involved in film?
Not everyone wants to make the walk to Rowe just
to see a student directed movie, especially those
who live in the suites.
“I don’t see a better place to exhibit the work
of student filmmakers than the Union theater. If
we are already paying for the facilities through
our tuition, then using it to promote the work of
students seems like the perfect idea,” said freshman
Alexes Johnson.
Instead of me ranting on about how to better
use the theater, students should be taking the
necessary steps to bring about some positive
change. Everyday around campus, there seems to
be an organization making their voice heard or the
signing of a petition. If students feel compelled
enough to make the theater is all that it can
be, someone needs to make a move. I couldn’t
imagine too many roadblocks that would hinder
the proposal. From what I have seen in my year on
this campus, the voice of the students is usually the
loudest.
The Union does allow classes to use the facilities
to show film in the curriculum, as well as various
organizations, but I think we could still fit in a little
more room for pure entertainment. Many students
are not around on the weekends, so the theater
should not be neglecting the ones who want to find
something good to enjoy on a Tuesday night. So
UNC Charlotte, I am daring you to say something.
Go do something. I want my “Rugrats!”

Feedback from university helps to improve library

Responses from students lead to positive changes and beneficial feedback for Atkins Library
stanley wilder
Atkins Librarian
We get an incredible amount of feedback from
students, from our web-based suggestion box
(http://library.uncc.edu/suggest), our Facebook
page (UNC Charlotte Atkins Library) email, and
on and on. I know I read every single suggestion,
along with library staff who can actually change
things. We’re working on hundreds of suggestions
now, but I thought you might be interested to
read some of the best, and some of the most…
creative.
Feedback: It would be great to have all of the
chalk boards in the study rooms changed out with
white boards. No one uses the chalk boards and
it is a waste of a perfectly good learning tool. If
white boards were in the study rooms, this would
be one more method of learning that could be
utilized and result in a better education here at
UNC Charlotte.
Response: Switching from chalkboards to
white boards is a great idea. We are purchasing a
whole lot of them, at least one for each group study
room, and then portable, free-standing boards for
general use. These will be up for fall. We’ll try
to stock them with markers, to see whether that
works.
Feedback: I want to use the tower floors to
study, but there’s no internet access. Can you at
least get wirelesss up there?
Response: This has been an extremely popular
suggestion – as of this week, the ENTIRE
LIBRARY TOWER has wireless access! We
realize that the library also has old wireless
systems that are slow, and those are on a schedule
to be upgraded in the next year.
Feedback: Just wanted to say a big thank you!
The “Available computers” feature is freakin
fantastic. This feature is incredibly useful during
high traffic times in the library. THANKS!!
Response: As you see, folks don’t just
complain! We really appreciate that.
Feedback: The library needs hotter librarians,
a Taco Bell, a fountain in the middle of the atrium,
and a pony.
Response: We have a growing collection of
comments that make us laugh. More!
Feedback: I study in the quiet rooms in the
library all the time and there are people talking
loudly to one another on their phones all the time.
I ask politely for them to be quiet but rarely do
they stop. What can I do?
Response: This is a huge issue that just gets
bigger as everyone prepares for papers and exams.
We do try to maintain quiet in the designated
quiet areas, but we need your help too. When
polite doesn’t work, ask for help at the library’s
security office, next to the main quad entrance.
Feedback: I am a TA and a graduate student
in the Language department and I would just
like to give the library my appreciation for their
Atkins Request service. It is very convenient and
a time saver to be able to request books I need
and then just pick them up at the 1st floor desk.
I would also like to say I am very pleased with
the inter-library loans. Thanks for the hard work,
and if possible, please forward this message to the
appropriate staff.
Response: The services mentioned here are
run by the library’s Access Services staff, and we
are so lucky to have them. They move mountains,
and move them quickly and creatively too. If you
haven’t had a chance to put them to work for you,
stop by a library service desk or click on “Atkins
Express!”
Good luck on your finals and keep your
feedback coming!

Newspaper staff: Jamie Brown, Kimberly Palmer, Madeline Maingi, Natalie

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PAGE 4 ❚ April 29, 2010 ❚ THE UNIVERSITY TIMES

arts&entertainment
Museums, magazines, fans all agree: Bring out your Dead
Jonathan Takiff
Philadelphia Daily News
MCT
For a band that was counted out 15 years ago
when front man Jerry Garcia died, the Grateful
Dead has shown remarkable endurance and stay-
ing power.
Last month they were subject to a major analysis
in The Atlantic, with academicians testifying to the
Dead’s groundbreaking, pre-Internet inventions of
social networking and viral marketing.
Now, the New York Historical Society, the
city’s oldest museum, is staging an exhibit of
Grateful Dead memorabilia _ through July 4 _ that
argues the same points. Along with the expected
rare disks, band instruments and props, like that
Jerry Garcia skeleton marionette that jiggled in the
“Touch of Grey” video, are artifacts ranging from
the Deadhead hot-line answering machine to genial
letters sent out to the fan base (“Got a good place
for us to play?”). This exhibit-goer also relished
survey responses from viewers of a closed-circuit
Dead telecast. “This will be even better when it’s
holographic,” prophesied one futurist.
These exhibit materials are culled from The
Grateful Dead Archive, a collection of “600,000
linear feet” of stuff which the band recently do-
nated to the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Eventually, all the content will be available as an
online resource for students, fans and scholars at
www.GratefulDeadArchive.org.
This Deadhead also is having fun playing the
recently-issued board game “Grateful Dead-Opo-
ly” (Discovery Bay Games), designed by Philadel-
phia fan Debbie Gold. Properties you can buy and
build on include favored concert venues and Dead
albums (“Working Man’s Dead” and “American
Beauty” are the most valuable). And you’re reward-
ed/punished with Karma cards _ “Left Off the
Guest List? Advance to the parking lot.”)
And, for those seeking a fresh music fix, a
“new” Grateful Dead CD/DVD package has hit
stores and download sites. “Crimson, White &
Indigo” (Rhino, A-minus) shares the complete,
three-hour Dead performance from July 7, 1989 at
Philadelphia’s JFK Stadium, momentous on sev-
eral counts.
“It was the last show to ever play the facility,
though we didn’t have a clue of that back then,”
recalls Dennis McNally, the band’s longtime pub-
licist and author of “A Long Strange Trip: The In-
side History of the Grateful Dead.”
“That was also the show which got the local
promoters at Electric Factory Concerts hauled into
Federal court and convicted of felonies for having
ghost employees on the payroll. But we forgave
them, continued to work with them. Even Bill
Graham ripped us off. We figured it was just them
balancing out the contractual score.”
On the artistic side, notes group bassist Phil
Lesh, that JFK show is arguably from “one of the
strongest periods in the band’s touring history,
thanks to the presence of Brent (Mydland) on key-
boards.” Sadly taken just a year later (a drug O.D.),
Brent “had a soulful vocal tinge that was special.
He harmonized great with Jerry and Bob (Weir)
and occasionally me, and he got a conversation go-
ing with Garcia (on guitar) that no other keyboard-
ist ever managed.”
You hear it in the hot fun in the summertime
grooves they summoned in Philadephia on tunes
like “Iko Iko” and “Fire On the Mountain,” and
on Mydland’s impassioned debut of “Blow Away,”
which earns as big a stadium roar as standard bear-
ers like Garcia’s “Loser” and the Lesh-sung “Box
of Rain.”
Also, dig the then-new, synthesized tones that
the band was applying to the percussion-centric
“Space” jam. “Working with electronics was just
a natural evolution for us, part of the search for
different sounds,” says Lesh. “I had fun coaxing
flute sounds out of my bass. It allowed me to oper-
ate in stealth mode. You didn’t know it was coming
from me.”
Much is now being made over the Dead’s pre-
science in recording most of its shows. “We did
something like 2,300 performances, and we have
tape on about 1,500 of them,” calculates Lesh.
Several concert recordings were released, of
course, during the band’s working life, most fa-
mously the jamming improvisers’ chronicle of a
“Europe ‘72” tour. Those concert packages repeat-
edly underscored the bumper-sticker slogan “There
is Nothing like a Grateful Dead Concert” because,
like snowflakes, no two were exactly alike.
The inventory “really became important as a
source of income after Jerry died” in 1995 “and we
stopped touring,” says Lesh. Sales of the “Dick’s
Picks” series of mixing-board tapes put together by
band archivist Dick Latvala would prove so com-
pelling to fans that it eventually grew to 36 volumes.
Simultaneously, Rhino was putting out “From the
Vaults” shows captured as higher-quality multi-
track recordings. And, of late, there’s emerged yet
another series of disks/downloads called “Road
Trips” which cobble together sets from different
shows.
Still, historian McNally disputes the contention
of Dead scholars, expressed in the Atlantic maga-
zine piece, that the Dead were sharp marketers,
somehow envisioning the gold they could someday
reap from these recordings. It’s even been asserted
that they laid the groundwork by first allowing
amateur tapers to record the same shows in lesser
quality and then trade the material with others, in
the process building up the “legend” of certain
performances.
“It never occurred to the Dead that they could
make money from the board tapes,” says McNally.
“The taping started when Owsley (soundman/
chemist August Stanley “Bear” Owsley) was their
mixer and was attempting to get the band to be
disciplined, which was hysterical in the abstract,
as he was also the most manic of people. I can’t
think of anyone less disciplined. But he got into the
habit of recording every show and then afterwards
the band would gather and listen and evaluate the
performance.”
“For a while, we even carried a whole listening
room with us on tour,” remembers Lesh.
That business of taping just about every show
“then continued as a matter of record keeping,”
says McNally. Then when the group got mega-huge
in the late 1980s, after “Touch of Grey” went to
No. 1, “and they were doing summer tours of sheds
and stadiums, they also started accruing video re-
cordings of shows. In a stadium, they needed video
reinforcement to make it colorful for people in the
last row. And they’d run a copy for the archives
because, well, that’s what we did.”
The establishment of an official tapers section
and viral spreading of Dead lore was similarly “luck
and serendipity,” believes McNally. “The Dead
were lousy cops. We didn’t want to mess with the
atmosphere and ambience of the concert by stop-
ping the tapers. It was easier to elbow the record
company, since the band basically didn’t care about
record companies.”
“Jerry set the tone with his famous line ‘When
we’ve played it, we’re done with it. So let them
(tapers) do what they want with it,’” recalls Lesh.
“That was a perfect example of our values.”
The bass player does grant that there was finan-
cial strategizing in the pioneering establishment of
the Dead’s own record label and ticketing service,
both gambits now quite popular with bands. “But
we were ahead of our time, especially on the la-
bel side. There was no ecosystem, no YouTube and
iTunes to get the music out there. So we still had to
rely on major record companies to get distribution.
And we’d wind up losing money on the deal.”
Lesh says he’s certain that the entire Grateful
Dead collection of 1,500 shows “will eventually
become available online, with random access.” And
he’s finally starting to create some new music with
Bob Weir in their current incarnation as Furthur.
“We’re going to dribble the music out a little
at a time on the Internet,” Lesh hints. “I have no
interest in making a record. In this day and age,
why bother?”

On the bus with Merle Haggard at Stagecoach 2010

By Randy Lewis
Los Angeles Times
(MCT)
Parking was a journey to the dark
side for all concerned this weekend.
Several acres were set aside for free
parking for those coming to the Stage-
coach festival just for the day, and the
three-lane-wide jam of cars and, mostly,
pickup trucks jockeying to get in earlier
Saturday was breathtaking.
Even a musician of Merle Haggard’s
stature got caught in the fracas, his bus
“I guess it’s a little more
from the heart than the
last few albums.”
Merle Haggard
pulling in about an hour behind sched-
ule to the area in back of the Palomino
Stage, where he would play later in the
evening.
But the esteemed singer and song-
writer was relaxed when I caught up
with him on the bus, as Tiger Army lead
singer Nick 13 launched his new roots-
country side project just a few feet away.
(Nick 13 paid earnest homage to Hag-
gard and 84-year-old Ray Price, both of
whom would be following him shortly
on the same stage.)
Haggard’s new album “I Am What I
Am” came out last week, and he spoke
about the intimate tone of many of the
homespun songs. There’s no flash, little
outward fire in the gentle
collection.
“It’s pretty personal,”
Haggard, 73, said softly, sit-
ting at a small table at the
back of his bus, while other
members of his entourage
hung out in the front joined
by Bobby Bare, who climbed
aboard after finishing his
own set a few minutes be-
fore.
“There’s not a lot of poli-
tics,” said Haggard, dressed
in a comfortable-looking
old New York Athletics jer-
sey. “I guess it’s a little more
from the heart than the
last few albums.” There’s a
sweetly reflective remem-
brance about growing up
in Bakersfield, “Oil Tanker
Train”; a song about his
home in Northern Califor-
nia, “Down at the End of the
Road”; and a bittersweet ob-
servation that love is “Pretty
When It’s New.”
The one exception to
the general tone of songs
of the heart and hearth is
“I’ve Seen It Go Away,” the Photo/MCT Campus
new album’s lead-off track.
Without throwing barbs, he
gently but sadly notes many long? date.” For himself, Haggard was looking
of the things he’s observed of the best “Some people might say that,” he Haggard said the lung cancer for forward to hearing a bit of Price’s set
of what defines America to its citizens said. “Maybe I am,” he added with a lit- which he underwent surgery in 2008 scheduled immediately before his own.
and the rest of the world, how over time tle chuckle. “But I think there are some has stayed in remission and he’s feeling “Willie and I went on tour with him
“I’ve seen it go away.” people who are going to agree with it strong enough to pump up his touring two times, and he sounded great,” Hag-
Is the man famously “proud to be too. I think more people have started to schedule again. “We have a couple of gard said. “He really made us take no-
an Okie from Muskogee” getting disil- turn our direction in the last couple of children who are out of the house now, tice.”
lusioned with the land he’s loved for so months, so I think it sounds right up to and we have some extra time.”

arts&entertainment
“The Adventures of Bobby Ray” makes its debut
UNC Charlotte students hang out with B.o.B before the show
Ricky Finlan resides at number one on the Billboard
Staff Writer Hot 100.
rhfinlan@uncc.edu “It’s crazy, because I’m the type of people don’t even listen to radio,” said
artist that has always spoken out against Simmons, “A lot of my fan base, prior to
Bobby Ray, I didn’t know that you radio,” said Simmons. “If irony were ‘Nothin’ on You,’ just kind of listened
could play guitar like that! food, I’d be fat right now.” Fortunately through the internet.”
Bobby Ray Simmons may hate the for us, the single is good, even if we have
radio, but it sure loves him. The rap- to hear “nuh-nuthin’ on you babe” four 100, let alone at number one, isn’t all
per, also known as B.o.B., has struck or five times a day. At the very least, he bad. The whole “exposure to millions
gold with his single “Nothin’ on You,” feels that his music is pushing the air- of listeners” thing has its benefits for
featuring Bruno Mars, which currently waves in a positive direction. “I feel like an up-and-coming new artist. But this
‘South Park’ Score
1 for terrorists, 0 for free speech
Mary McNamara
Los Angeles Times
MCT
The terrorists won.
It’s become something of a joke, that line, over-
used to the point of banality, a punch line so easy a
child can use it. But when Comedy Central decid-
ed to bleep mentions of the prophet Muhammad
from a recent “South Park” episode because, and
only because, an extremist website had made what
amounted to death threats against co-creators Matt
Stone and Trey Parker, the terrorists won.
Because that is the point of terrorism _ to use
acts of violence, in this case the murder of the
Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, who dared to
make a film critical of Islamic society, as a contin-
ual and pervasive threat in order to change social
and political policy. In this case, that policy would
be free speech.
Free speech has never meant you can say what-
ever you want. Regulation of content occurs all the
time on television, where certain words and acts of
sex, violence, vulgarity, racism and other forms of
incitement to hate are not allowed.
There are rules, after all, even on cable. But
“South Park” did not break any of them. Neither
did the network’s decision to modify the content
of the second half of a two-part episode, in which
the prophet Muhammad appeared in a bear suit,
come as the result of rational protest or conversa-
tion with Islamic watchdog groups.
No, it was made out of fear, for the lives of the
show’s creators and perhaps the network execu-
tives who decided, basically, that the joke wasn’t
worth the risk.
And so the creator, or creators, of what purports
to be an Islamic extremist website was allowed
to dictate American policy by taking free speech
hostage. Now, I’m no huge fan of “South Park,” a
show I find occasionally funny, occasionally offen-
sive and mildly irritating mainly because I’ve spent
hours explaining to my kids why they can’t watch
it, even though it’s a cartoon.
But it doesn’t matter, because what happened
this week isn’t about “South Park” or even Comedy
Central. It’s about whether we, as a society, are go-
ing to allow a group of crazy people to dictate what
we see on television.
Girl with a Dragon Tattoo
Erin Reeve
Downtime Editor
ereeve@uncc.edu
Based on a story by internationally recognized
author, Steig Larsson, “The Girl with a Dragon Tat-
too” is a twisting murder mystery that deals with
issues of everything from incest, rape and abuse to
the awkward feelings behind a business romance.
The movie unfolds when young computer hack-
er, Lisabeth Salander, is teamed up with financial
journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, to solve the mystery
of a young and beautiful girl from the Vanger Clan.
The Vanger Clan own and live on an island but do
not necessarily get along with one another. Saland-
er, who has a dysfunctional family of her own, sees
these problems in visions of her own.
After killing her abusive father, Salander was
labeled with “psychiatric” problems and placed
with a guardian who also abused her. Her moth-
er was eventually put in a home. She did not kill
her guardian, however, as she did her father. Her
guardian tried to bribe her into doing sexual acts
with him, refusing to turn over her own money un-
til she did. Salander then tied him up and physi-
cally abused him, forcing him to watch a tape of
THE UNIVERSITY TIMES ❚ April 29, 2010 ❚ PAGE 5
it’s not a brick in particular single, with its catchy hooks of Bobby Ray,” set to release April 27,
the wall but one about innocent flirtations and monoga- a month earlier than anticipated. “I’m
less brick, like my, is only the tip of the iceberg. B.o.B., probably one of the last people to have
we’re tearing not unlike a transformer, is more than it,” said Simmons. “It sounds good, ev-
the wall down meets the eye. erything on it is cool. It’s my spin on all
and opening up Bobby Ray has a skill set that extends of the music that I like, from rock to hip
doors for the far beyond the microphone, though. For hop, to reggae and techno. It tells a story
radio to loosen one thing, he plays guitar extrordinarily emotionally, not necessarily like a lin-
up its (ridgidly) well. About three songs into his set, last ear story, like chapter 1, chapter 2, and
formatted play- Friday, B.o.B. picked up his six-string chapter 3, but it still takes you through
lists,” he said. and got to work destroying eardrums. my world.”
Even though Switching between genres on the fly The jack of all trades also plays key-
casual listen- all night, his eclectic set hinted at the board, as illustrated on the street single
ers may have performer’s diverse taste in rock music. “I’ll Be in the Sky,” and he produces as
been caught B.o.B. cites John Mayer, Lenny Kravitz, well. B.o.B. produced about half of the
off guard by Coldplay, My Chemical Romance and tracks on the new album and provided
his sudden rise Led Zeppelin as influences. many of the instrumentals. “I’m not re-
to fame, B.o.B. Lyrically, B.o.B. admires Eminem ally a big sample guy. I know that a few
has, to quote and DMX. Speaking of Eminem, the songs on that album, that I didn’t pro-
Earl Boykins, rap icon is featured on B.o.B’s track duce, use samples, but the album was
‘been doing “Airplanes, Pt. 2,” alongside Haley Wil- about half and half.” said Simmons.
work, son.’ He liams of Paramore. “It was something It can be difficult to find the right
has released that kind of started as an idea,” said mixture of songs for the first album, and
six mix-tapes Simmons. “When (Paul Rosenberg) first B.o.B. anguished over debating which
and two EP’s heard it, he was like, ‘Okay, that sounds tracks were the cream of the crop. “It’s
in the past four crazy.’ He kept looking into it and even- hard, because sometimes I let my ego
years, gaining tually he wanted to get into the studio. get in the way,” said Simmons. “I’m like
Photo Courtesy of Daniel Coston the modern ver- Of course, as a lyricist, you want to ‘Well, I produced this one and this one
sion of a grass- work with Eminem, but it’s something and this one, so that’s going on the al-
roots following that you don’t even put on your to do list bum,’ but ultimately it’s all about what
amongst the because it’s so farfetched. It just seems songs make it a better album.”
online community. “I know that a lot of so unreal to me, even now.” Rosenburg Bobby Ray is well on his way to be-
managed the musical talent behind coming an accomplished musician, rap-
Eminem, Three 6 Mafia and Blink 182. per and producer and the man is only
B.o.B has also collaborated with 21 years old. It may only be a matter of
River Cuomo of Weezer, pairing up time before B.o.B. steps out from under
Having a track on the Billboard Hot with the nerd rocker for a track called the long shadow of current big kids on
“Magic.” the block OutKast to claim Atlanta all
Those songs, along with “Nothin’ for himself.
on You,” will appear on his debut al-
bum “B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures
It was not just the brutal murder of Van Gogh
that the bullies on this website used as a threat; it
was also 9-11. On that day, extremists hijacked not
only planes but the power of television to terrorize
a country so large and powerful they could never
hope to wage, much less win, an actual war against
it.
By claiming to be religious extremists, these
particular bullies and murderers also hijacked
Islam, just as those who have killed or terrorized
physicians performing the legal act of abortion hi-
jacked Christianity. Which is why, though it would
be easy to dismiss this as just one in a string of those
“South Park” controversies, it is much more.
If one group of crazy people claiming religious
outrage is allowed to use the threat of violence as
a way to control the public dialogue, what’s to stop
every crazy person with an objection or a grudge or
a website and too much time on their hands from
doing the same? Certainly “South Park” has man-
aged to offend every group of living organisms at
one time or another.
Stone, Parker and other satirists court condem-
nation, disgust and even hatred because that is their
job, that is the point of satire: to, by the act of of-
fending, force society to contemplate its definition
of offensiveness and, more important, acceptance.
It operates, by its very nature, at the far end of
free speech. A good satirist steps over the line all
the time; a great satirist moves or even erases it.
Inevitably, mistakes are made, both in decisions to
say and air certain things and to avoid or delete
them. People are fined or fired, rules and guide-
lines are modified. But the punishment is never
death.
No doubt, the “South Park” numbers will jump
in the next few weeks, and I suppose that’s one way
of making a statement. But it is important for us
to remember that the airwaves are just as vital and
fragile as our airspace. And if we are serious about
national security, it must protect our essence as
Americans with the same dedication it protects our
lives as Americans.
Free speech, in all its messy, profane, heretical,
offensive, irritating and soul-stirring glory, built
this country. And whether it’s “South Park” or the
State of the Union, we, as a nation, must rise to de-
fend it.
his raping of her. She told him that if he did not
cooperate with her, she would show the tape to
the public and media. Since he was a politician, he
fearfully complied.
Salander and Blomkvist, on the case together
for a while, wind up developing a romantic rela-
tionship. The relationship is complicated by Blom-
kvist’s inability to understand her, because he’s
completely unaware of her past.
Although it is somewhat hard to pay attention to
movies in different languages and keep up with the
subtitles, this movie was more than worth it. The
vulgarity of the crimes portrayed a truer reality of
incest and abuse. However, it did not overwhelm
the movie with degrading or repetitive abuse, and
instead only highlighted the storyline’s problematic
scenes when the situation warranted it.
The story reflected on the feelings, emotions
and reality of romance, love and familial prob-
lems that were portrayed in a way that constantly
kept you tapping your toe in anger or in frustra-
tion, not knowing how the story would turn out.
In watching the movie, you will surely find yourself
surprised and intrigued the entire two and a half
hours. It is a definite must-see for those who love
action-packed mysteries!
downtime
PAGE 6 ❚ April 29, 2010 ❚ THE UNIVERSITY TIMES

“
The great advantage of living in a large family is that early lesson of life’s
essential unfairness.”
-Nancy Mitford

Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday

29 30 1 2 3 4
Certified Internal
Graduate School Prospective Auditor Review
Student General Information Movies: Legion & Inglorious Course: Part III
Session Bastards 6:00 PM
4:00 PM 4:30 PM Registrants will receive
Cato Hall, 228 Student Union Movie Whitewater Kayaking Trip confirmation
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Venture Office, Cone 222 Annual Cookout @UCF/
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Cone Center, Lucas Room Crowne Plaza Hotel Front Field Gym
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Horoscopes
By Nancy Black and Stephanie Clement
Tribune Media Services
Today’s birthday (4/29/10). Align yourself with powerful associates who invite you to participate in new
ventures. You understand certain communities, which helps you to adapt to greater responsibilities in
your career. Think it through before communicating your ideas or signing papers.
To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 6 -- Prepare to bow to the decision of the group. While
you’re at it, enthusiasm wouldn’t hurt. It all works out in the long run.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 6 -- Don’t waste time trying to convince family members
to act. Take care of the essentials yourself. You don’t need to keep score. It wil even out later.
Gemini (May 21-June 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Dragging your feet wil not get the job done. Fol-
lowing your inspiration, however, gets you out of the dust and onto the right path.
Cancer (June 22-July 22) -- Today is a 5 -- To keep everyone in the loop, test communication
devices to ensure they function properly. Changes need to be tracked closely.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 5 -- Make the most of every conversation today. No idea is
too small to consider. Make notes for future reference concerning practical matters.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Your biggest challenge is to find words that your
audience wil understand. Communicate spiritually inspired ideas without jargon. Speak from the heart.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Today you realize that effort over the past several
days has been worthwhile. Inspire others with your enthusiasm. Then add the final touches.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 5 -- Your mind goes in three different directions. You
see the challenge of convincing others to go along with you. The only problem is choosing a destina-
tion.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Whatever you decide, choose the method of
delivery carefully. Tone of voice could make all the difference. Hint: add sugar.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 5 -- No amount of personal effort wil accomplish
what you want today. You need at least one ally to get the job done. Don’t be a lone ranger.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- Meditation or a dream prods you with an existen-
tial question. A close friend shows you how creative you can be. Believe what he or she tells you.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Someone is pushing their chores onto you today.
Find a way to get things done, but don’t let this become a habit. They can pay it back later.

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 ninersports
Rivers became the second 49er in a row to win A-10 Player of the Week
Rivers’ 11 hits earns A-10
Player of the Week honors
Ryan Rivers led the Niners to a 4-1 week, including a 2-1
series win over George Washington over the weekend
Josh Carpenter
Managing Editor
jacarpe1@uncc.edu
Charlotte junior first baseman
Ryan Rivers was on fire last week
on his way to Atlantic 10 Player
of the Week. Rivers is now
hitting his stride as the Niners
prepare for a crucial three-game
weekend home stand against the
Temple Owls.
Rivers led the way at the
plate for Charlotte on its way
to a 4-1 week that included a
weekend series win over George
Washington, which was second
in the conference standings
entering the series.
In two non-conference games
against Wake Forest and North
NINERS BY THE NUMBERS
.340
Charlotte baseball’s team
batting average is tops in the
A-10.
1.39
Charlotte senior Emily
Jeffery’s season ERA. Good for
second in A-10 softball.
Carolina Central, Rivers went
5-for-6 at the plate, including at
least two hits, a run and an RBI
in each game.
In Charlotte’s 7-4 win over
the Colonials on Friday in the
series opener, Rivers drove in
three runs, including two home
runs. One of those round trippers
broke a 4-4 tie in the eighth
inning. In the Niners’ 8-5 win
on Sunday, Rivers drew a bases-
loaded walk, scored twice and
had a double to help Charlotte to
the series win.
Rivers batted .579 for the
week, had a team-high seven RBI,
11 hits and nine runs scored. He
also slugged 1.000 for the week.
In just 15 conference games,
Rivers leads the Niners with five
70.97
Corey Nagy’s team leading stroke
average for Charlotte golf.
46.29
Darius Law’s time in the 400m dash is
tops in the A-10 for that category.
Photo/Alex Georgi
home runs and 17 RBI.
Rivers has also been coming
through in the clutch for the
Niners, recording the game-
winning hit in three of Charlotte’s
seven games. Rivers recorded a
hit, run and RBI in all five of the
Niners’ games last week.
The award for Rivers marks
the second consecutive week that
a 49er has gone home with the
honor. Second baseman Corey
Shaylor, who had the game-
winning two-run homer against
George Washington on Sunday,
was Player of the Week for the
previous week.
The Niners begin the
weekend set with Temple on
Friday at 6 p.m.
THE UNIVERSITY TIMES ❚ April 29, 2010 ❚ PAGE 7
SPORTS SCHEDULE
Softball @ George Washington Fri. Apr. 30 3:00 p.m., Arlington, VA
Golf @ A-10 Tournament Fri. Apr. 30 All Day, Orlando, Fla
Baseball vs Temple Fri. Apr. 30 6:00 p.m., Charlotte, NC
Follow us on Twitter at UTimes_sports
Gwaltney leads 49ers
down home stretch
Charlotte hits the road for six consecutive games
before heading to the A-10 Tournament
Ed Niser
Asst. Sports Editor
eniser@uncc.edu
 Brianna Gwaltney was named
this week’s Atlantic 10 Rookie of
the Week. Gwaltney is the team’s
most talented freshman bat, she
boasts a .270 batting average on
the season, logging starts in each
of the team’s 47 games.
  Gwaltney is tied for second
in home runs this season with
Tenaya Tucker. She also has
already secured a spot in the 49er
record books as fourth best in
home runs. She has also driven in
25 RBI, putting her in fifth place
all-time for a Niner freshman.
  This past week, Gwaltney
registered a hit in each of the
Niners’ games, two of those hits
came in the first game of the series
with Elon. One of those hits went
soaring over the fence, giving her
an impressive four home runs on
the season. Last week she drove in
three RBI, propelling the Niners
to a 3-1 mark at the week’s end
with the sweep over conference
foe La Salle.
  Charlotte caps off the week
with a conference match-up with
George Washington on Friday
and Saturday, then they travel to
the Bronx to take on Fordham
in a pivotal doubleheader. The
Niners look to improve upon
their 12-2 conference record,
which is good enough for a tie for
second place with Fordham.
Following the final regular
Photo/Alex Georgi
season game against the Saint
Louis Billikens, the Niners head
Sophomore Lorena Vela has been critical to the Niners’ success
to Amherst, Mass. for the A-10 as they come down the home stretch. Vela is second on the team
Tournament. with seven doubles and is tied for the team lead in walks.
PAGE 8 ❚ April 29, 2010 ❚ THE UNIVERSITY TIMES
intersection
Energy drinks hold dangers Mental agility plays
you might not know exist role in preventing falls
Erin Reeve
Staff Writer
ereeve@uncc.edu
As college students, energy
drinks seem to be the go-to option
when we need a quick boost for
anything from cramming for exams
to partying. They make us hyper and
sometimes even give us the shakes.
Some feel a crazy energy high from
them, which makes us even more
prone to use the drinks as a crutch.
In addition, Red Bull, Monster
and Amp marketers personally
drive-up and hand students these
quick energy boosts, which means
many students are going to accept
them. Free energy drinks for a tired
student can make for an attractive
temptation.
Sometimes we use the fact
that some energy drinks contain
B vitamins and ginseng to try to
convince ourselves that the energy
drinks are not that bad for us. The
fact of the matter is, the sugar and
caffeine content in high quantities
take a toll on the body.
The amount of caffeine in an
energy drink, which can be up to
280 milligrams, is outrageously high
when compared to the average cup of coffee, which
has 125 milligrams.
With more than twice the caffeine, energy
drinks are very dehydrating. Think about it this
way: one cup of coffee takes away one serving of
water from your body. Just think how many cups of
water it would take to replace the amount of water
lost in an energy drink!
Besides making you extremely dehydrated and
filling your body up with an overload of sugar and
caffeine, energy drinks also make your heart beat
at a high rate and increase your blood pressure.
This can eventually cause an irregular heartbeat,
and can often cause a permanent increase in your
heart rate.
Common sense may tell you, drinking energy
drinks and exercise do not mix. They dehydrate
your body, which can make you light-headed and
cause headaches.
Having an energy drink before you work
out can almost act as a double whammy, as both
will dehydrate and increasingly raise your heart
rate. The two together will act as an intoxicating
supplementation of the other and will put you at
risk for fainting and even heart attacks in extreme
conditions.
If you want a quick boost before a workout, an
Study shows evidence relating to coordination
Thomas Goldsmith
McClatchy Newspapers
(MCT)
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - An agile mind may be
as important as strong limbs when it comes to the
crucial task of preventing falls.
That’s the finding of recent research at the
University of North Carolina that had exercise
classes trying mind-over-matter exercises such
as the “four square step test,” a regimen that
resembles a Scottish sword dance in its focus on
memory, movement and speed.
“This is the most wonderful thing that’s been
offered here,” said Elaine Jerome, 81, taking part
“The research is really showing
that even changing environ-
mental risk factors doesn’t
really help,”
Tiffany Shubert
MCT Campus
apple has more energy than a cup of coffee, and its
juice will help you hydrate better.
in a class for older adults. “I’ve noticed that my
That being said, alcohol and energy drinks do
balance is 100 percent better since I started taking
not mix well either. From Red Bull shots to simply
this.”
using energy drinks as a mixer, a lot of college
Previous studies have shown that balance
students get caught up in the use of energy drinks
training can reduce falls. But researchers
to get hyper and drunk at the same time.
didn’t know exactly why, because apparent risk
As much fun as this may seem to some, doing
factors such as weak muscles didn’t always show
this can cause your body harm, as the alcohol is
improvement.
a depressant, and the energy drinks increase your
New results indicate that improving “executive
heart rate. These mixed signals can confuse the
function” - the ability to react mentally to complex
body, and can actually make you misjudge the
situations _ may be the missing link in designing
amount of alcohol consumed. This can lead to more
the best methods for reducing falls. In other words,
alcohol consumption, which will dehydrate you
honing the mind may be as crucial as toning sagging
even more, leaving your body vulnerable to more
muscles.
damage from alcohol and a terrible hangover.
“Leg strength is obviously important, but it
If you do choose to drink, hydrate yourself
might be that your ability to interact with the
well and avoid mixing alcohol with energy drinks
environment is more important,” said Tiffany
whenever possible.
Shubert, a Ph.D. physical therapist who led the
Drinking energy drinks with alcohol or pre-
study.
workout can be dehydrating and may sometimes
Falls cause $325 million in injuries each year in
cause life-threatening situations. Remember to
North Carolina, and brought about the death of
always hydrate yourself when going out or working
more than 475 older people in the state in 2007. So
out, and look for healthier options (such as a glass
any advance in preventing them is significant.
of water or an apple) instead of body-deteriorating
“The idea is to train both systems to work at
energy drinks.
once,” professor Carol Giuliani said of working on
both mental and physical skills.
Elaine Jerome, 81, a member of the class and a
registered nurse, said the idea that cognitive skills
are key to maintaining balance makes sense to her.
“When you’re older, there’s a loss of the senses,”
Jerome said.
“You’re wearing bifocals, it’s so easy not to look
down.
“The whole person is still there, but it’s the
senses that are bewildering them.”
For many older people, fear of falls and their
often catastrophic consequences has a dampening
effect on getting out of the house and on exercise.
Yet, those activities are crucial to maintaining
vitality and social contact.
“We have found that younger and younger
people, in their 40s and 50s, have fear of falling
and limit activities because of it,” Shubert told a
packed conference room at the UNC Institute on
Aging in Chapel Hill, as she briefed colleagues on
the study results.
Shubert cautioned that her research is still in an
early phase and that further results are needed to
bear out her findings. But small-scale fall-reduction
results are promising. In addition to the positive
test data, there’s increasing evidence that discounts
other possible causes.
“The research is really showing that even
changing environmental risk factors doesn’t really
help,” she said.
Instead, improvements in concentrating while
moving seem to make the most difference.
“A challenging, dynamic balance test might be
walking and carrying on a conversation,” she said.
If that sounds easy, try one of the balance tests
mentioned by Shubert: Reciting every other letter
of the alphabet while maintaining walking speed.
The principles being developed by Shubert,
Giuliani and others will get a further test if the
National Institutes for Health agrees to a proposal
to fund more in-depth research.
In the meantime, trainers are showing up to
learn the methods, and researchers are working to
help several local assisted living centers. The goal
is to move older people beyond the kind of weight-
focused, sitting exercises that don’t seem to help
reduce falls, Giuliani said.
Participants in the class said they feel more
confident, some even in the face of vertigo that had
curtailed their exercise in recent years.