Next week when faculty, staff and students walk The University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s campus, they will access something new to help them stay safe. UNCG is now on a growing list of universities that use the LiveSafe Smartphone app.

Previously adopted by Virginia Tech University, University of Kentucky, Yale University and Georgetown University, the LiveSafe app connects users directly to campus police via mobile device. A survivor of the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, Kristina Anderson, champions the app.

The app allows students to submit tips via text, audio and video attachments, check a safety map for regular updates about incidents on or near campus and chat live with safety officials. One of the most popular features on the app is an interactive tool called Safewalk. With Safewalk, students, faculty and staff can enable friends or family to watch them on screen while walking on or off campus through GPS location monitoring.

“LiveSafe provides an extra level of safety in and around campus,” says Assistant Chief of Police Paul Lester. “And it gives students, faculty and staff a place to report occurrences that in the past have not been especially easy.” Some things that have recently been reported include a water leakage in a campus building and various lost and found items. In fact a student recently reported a student’s wallet found at a shopping center off campus.

In the past students have used the campus blue lights – a security help phone that alerts emergency officials when a student makes a call. The blue lights will still be on campus but Lester sees the LiveSafe app as more enhanced, more personal and more efficient than the blue lights. Last academic year, campus police received only 105 blue light calls. Even in its launch phase this summer, LiveSafe has been used more than the blue lights were used throughout the entire past year.

Kristi Reese, a UNCG alumna and program manager at the UNCG Police Department, recalls what she did when she was a student, “When I was a student, I used to talk to my mom all the way from campus to Tate Street, so she knew I was safe. I would have loved to have had this app back then.”

First year Grad Student Ashley Rizzotto and her cohort April Gremillion have already used the app. “We’ve used it while walking at night, meeting up, and even taking the bus,” said Rizzotto. “I think it is going to be great for the campus.”

Lester and the UNCG Police team still urge students and faculty to call 911 first in the event of an emergency. If a user is unable to make a 911 call the LiveSafe app comes into play. The LiveSafe app comes equipped with emergency call features that enable location services to help emergency personnel locate the user.

“The most exciting part for everyone is that it makes it easier for all of us to respond to situations faster,” added Reese.

Students and faculty are encouraged to download the LiveSafe app before class starts next week. While the app is intuitive the UNCG police will be giving tutorials on the app as the school year begins.

For more information, visit the UNCG LiveSafe website at livesafe.uncg.edu/FAQ/. The LiveSafe app is available for free from the Apple App Store and from Google Play.

Story by Nancy Maingi, contributor
Photography by Martin W. Kane, UNCG University Relations

The post Safer Lives – FREE! appeared first on UNCG Now.

An estimated 2,015 UNCG students, faculty and staff have downloaded and are now using the new UNCG LiveSafe personal security app according to the UNCG police department. That’s up from 1,061 within the past week. The LiveSafe app is available for free from the Apple App Store and from Google Play.

Students are using the app to report various kinds of information including a streetlight not working near Spartan Village, blue lights being out-of-order on emergency phones, and even to report suspected questionable activity on and around campus. The app allows students to submit tips via text, audio and video attachments.

But by far the app is being used most for its interactive tool called Safewalk. With Safewalk, students, faculty and staff can enable friends or family to track them as they walk on or off campus, through GPS location monitoring. One particular story about SafeWalk is especially noteworthy. A female international student asked her parents to download the app so they could monitor her walks around campus – all the way from Israel!

Parents and students have reported that they feel safer knowing they can elect to use the personal security app.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to download the LiveSafe app. While the app is intuitive, the UNCG police are giving tutorials on the app as the school year begins.

For more information, visit the UNCG LiveSafe website at livesafe.uncg.edu/FAQ/. It only takes a minute to download the free LiveSafe app from the Apple App Store and from Google Play.

Story by Joe Gallehugh, contributor
Photography by Martin W. Kane, UNCG University Relations

The post Living Safer With LiveSafe appeared first on UNCG Now.

The Fencing Club. Equestrian Club. Quidditch Club. Rugby Club….

At UNCG Fall Kickoff, one table after another of student-led club sports showed off their season ahead and gave students a chance to get involved.

Volleyballs were flying at the Volleyball Club booth. The Bass Fishing Club members wore their uniforms. Some Fencing Club members were all decked out.

Club Sports are an excellent way for Spartan students to enjoy sports at a competitive level while developing and refining their leadership skills. Club Sports assist students with leadership development, communication skills, decision-making skills, and working in a team setting.

And they’re a fun way to make new friends. Previous experience is not a prerequisite.

All the Club Sports are part of the UNCG Office of Campus Activities and Programs, with direct supervision by the Department of Campus Recreation. The clubs compete against other colleges and universities, but they are not varsity sports or part of the NCAA or UNCG Athletics.

Learn more about each of the current Club Sports by visiting the Current Clubs page. Practice times and upcoming schedules can be found on the specific club’s page or by contacting the club’s officers via that page.

Whether you’re interested in Football Club, Swim Club, Lacrosse Club or Running Club – or interested in helping start one for a new sport – learn more at campusrec.uncg.edu/clubs. The clubs are returning to practice this week, so check them out soon.

Intramural Sports at UNCG are also gearing up – a chance to compete against and have fun with fellow Spartans. They’re a part of UNCG Campus Rec.

Have fun, learn some new things, and become Spartan Strong.

Questions? Contact Erik Unger, assistant director, UNCG Intramural and Club Sports, at 334-5924 or edunger@uncg.edu.

Compiled by Mike Harris
Photography by Martin Kane

The post Fun and games appeared first on UNCG Now.

By Thursday, August 27 at 5 p.m., UNCG’s new LiveSafe personal security app had been downloaded 2365 times since the app was launched in early August. The LiveSafe app, designed for UNCG students, faculty and staff, is available for free from the Apple App Store and from Google Play. By last Monday morning LiveSafe downloads had reached 2228 and that number continues to rise as the school year gets underway.

The UNCG police department is actively promoting the app to campus. In fact, the department sponsored a dunking booth at the Rawkin’ Welcome Week carnival last week to encourage students to download LiveSafe and use it. While the dunking booth was a fun take on a serious issue, the police do stress the importance of the safety app in promoting campus safety.

Students are using the app to report various kinds of information including a streetlight not working near Spartan Village, blue lights being out-of-order on emergency phones, and even to report suspected questionable activity on and around campus. The app allows students to submit tips via text, audio and video attachments. Students download and use the app for different reasons.

John Carter, Jr., a freshman from Durham, finds it rewarding to know his female friends reach their destinations safely.

“I downloaded the app because I have a lot of female friends and I want to make sure they’re all safe if I’m not in a position to walk them to their dorms,” said Carter. “I’ve had the app ever since the chancellor gave his address. As soon as they told us to download it, I downloaded it.”

The Safewalk feature is the most popular reason students are using the app. With Safewalk, students, faculty and staff can enable friends or family to track them as they walk on or off campus, through GPS location monitoring.

“I’ve used the app once, and it’s pretty straightforward,” said senior Angelica Knight from Greenville. “I was walking from my room to my boyfriend’s room and he watched to make sure I was safe.”

For more information, visit the UNCG LiveSafe website at livesafe.uncg.edu/FAQ/. It only takes a minute to download the free LiveSafe app from the Apple App Store and from Google Play.

Story by Natasha Williams, University Relations
Photography by Natasha Williams and Martin W. Kane, University Relations

The post LiveSafe! appeared first on UNCG Now.

Movies about college life show football games, wacky professors and wild parties. They rarely show the hidden struggles that many students face – challenges like depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. Students are arriving on college campuses with existing conditions, and the unique stresses of college life can cause others to face challenges for the first time. For example, the 2014 American College Health Association found that 33 percent of respondents nationwide reported feeling so depressed it was hard to function at some time in the previous year. Almost 54 percent reported feeling overwhelming anxiety in the same time period.

That’s why The University of North Carolina at Greensboro marks September as Mental Health Month. It’s a time to educate students about campus mental health resources, encourage them to get help when needed, and de-stigmatize mental health. Students are reminded that, “It’s ok to ask. Ask for help. Ask for information. Ask a friend, ‘Are you OK?’”

The most anticipated event for the month is an appearance from nationally known suicide prevention advocates Sgt. Kevin Briggs and Kevin Berthia. The two will appear together in North Carolina for the first time as they share their compelling real-life story about how they met on the Golden Gate Bridge – one preparing to jump and the other determined to save him. This event is free and open to the public. Find details at shs.uncg.edu/bridge.

Among the 10 events held during Mental Health Awareness Month, the University will also participate in National Depression Screening Day with an event called “Check-up from the Neck Up.” In 2012, UNCG was named one of the top 10 in-person screening sites in the nation for this event.

“College should be an exciting time for everyone, and there are so many resources to help students so that they can tackle whatever challenges they may face,” said Dr. Cherry Callahan, vice chancellor for student affairs. “We just need students to remember that ‘It’s Ok to Ask.’”

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The big start to UNCG’s musical year will be Saturday, Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m., in Aycock Auditorium.

Big is the word. More than 300 students from the UNCG School of Music, Theatre and Dance will take the stage at Collage, along with many of the school’s world-class faculty members, making this the most spectacular event of the year. Some performances will take place away from the stage, for a unique concert.

Collage is captivating and distinctive, featuring a range of performers presenting one riveting work after another without pause. Special lighting enhances the experience and directs the audience’s attention to performances in multiple locations around the auditorium. It’s a non-stop evening of virtuosic performances.

All proceeds benefit student scholarships in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance.

Collage has been completely sold out for five consecutive years. Get your tickets before they are gone.

Ticket information is at performingarts.uncg.edu/collage.

By Jeff Aguilar with Mike Harris

The post Collage of sounds appeared first on UNCG Now.

As part of UNCG’s Fourth Annual Mental Health Month, a colorful array of pinwheels is being displayed on the Kaplan Commons (EUC Lawn) to symbolize the 1,100 college students across the nation who are lost to suicide each year.

The display will remain on the lawn through Sept. 14 and is one of several campus-wide initiatives aimed at promoting mental health awareness. Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death among all Americans, and the risk is even higher for high school and college students. As of 2013, suicide was the second leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24.

“This is not a morbid display,” said Jamie Stephens, coordinator for outreach and peer education at The Wellness Center in Student Health Services. “This is just a way to raise awareness and encourage people to start speaking out.”

Aldrea Speight, a peer health educator and student assistant at The Wellness Center, wants her peers to simply be more aware.

“Our hope with this project is to help students understand that 80-90 percent of students don’t actually ask for help when it comes to feeling depressed or having feelings of suicide,” Speight said.

She wants students to know about the many on-campus resources, such as The Counseling Center, that are available to students struggling with mental health issues.

Speight said that students are very interested in learning more about what the pinwheels represent. “The more attraction we have, the more students we can reach and the more students we can help.”

For a complete list of Mental Health Month events, click here.

By Alyssa Bedrosian with Morgan Glover

Photography by Martin Kane

The post Colorful pinwheels on EUC Lawn raise awareness for suicide prevention appeared first on UNCG Now.

As the school year progresses, the number of UNCG students who download LiveSafe, the university’s new personal security mobile application, is steadily on the rise.

As of 4 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2,878 – nearly 15 percent – of UNCG students had downloaded the app since its launch in early August.

“We’re seeing a lot more tips come in,” said UNCG Police Chief James Herring.

So far the department has received 61 tips from drugs and alcohol to suspicious activity to maintenance issues.

“Some things are as simple as there is a light out,” Herring said, but added that other tips are much more relevant to crime prevention.

“We had one situation where there was a guy assaulting females on campus,” he said. “We got multiple tipsthat the guy was in the dining hall.”

Not only was the university’s police department able to quickly spread the word to students, but they were also able to quickly locate and apprehend the suspect.

When a tip does come in, it opens up a chat dialogue that shows where a tip is coming from and allows the dispatcher to interact with the person giving the tip. Tipsters can opt to remain anonymous and can include photos, audio and video with their tips.

LiveSafe’s Safewalk feature allows users to enable friends or family to track their route through GPS location monitoring as they walk on or off campus.

Herring said he hopes LiveSafe downloads and usage continue to rise. He pointed out that the app is beneficial for faculty and staff as well.

The UNCG LiveSate app is free, and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play. For more information, visit UNCG’s LiveSafe website at livesafe.uncg/FAQ/.

Story by Jeanie Groh, University Relations
Photography by Martin W. Kane, University Relations

The post LiveSafe use on the rise appeared first on UNCG Now.

Battle Canoes, the thrilling intramural sports competition held at universities across the nation, returns to UNCG on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. at Rosenthal Pool.

The high-energy event will feature 24 teams, all fighting to be crowned champion at the end of the night. Teams are comprised of two attackers and one defender. Attackers are provided buckets to fill their opponent’s canoe with water in an attempt to sink the ship, and each defender is given a shield – a five-foot-long sleeping bag pad – to keep water out of the canoe. Team members are constantly switching between attacker and defender to ensure they are blocking the point of attack. A team wins when its opponent’s canoe is completely submerged.

The competition will begin with four, 30-minute elimination rounds where six canoes battle in a free-for-all. The four winners of those rounds will advance to the highly competitive championship round later in the night. The last team standing will receive championship T-shirts and, most importantly, bragging rights until the next Battle Canoes competition in the spring.

The event is open to all students, as well as faculty and staff who have a Student Recreation Center membership.

“Battle Canoes is a really fun, unique event,” said Erik Unger, assistant director of intramural and club sports for Campus Recreation. “This is a competition that doesn’t require any previous experience or a specific skill set. Battle Canoes is all about enjoying some friendly competition with your fellow Spartans.”

Registration opens today and runs through Sunday, Oct. 25. Spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no fee to register for the event.

To learn more about Battles Canoes and to register, visit http://campusrec.uncg.edu/im/bc/.

Story by Alyssa Bedrosian, University Relations

Photography by Khadejah Nikouyeh

The post Popular Battle Canoes competition returns to campus appeared first on UNCG Now.

UNCG is amid a zombie apocalypse with the return of the highly anticipated Humans vs. Zombies (HvZ), a 24/7 game of tag that transports students into an alternate reality of magical creatures, secret missions and a whole lot of fun.

Since the game officially started on Monday, the campus has transformed into a massive playground, with bandana-clad “humans” and “zombies” running, jumping and climbing across campus.

The game is simple: zombies are trying to overtake the human race, and humans are fighting for preservation. Humans become part of the walking dead when they are tagged – with one or two hands – by a zombie. To defend themselves, humans can “stun” zombies with a Nerf launcher, Nerf blaster or rolled-up socks.

Over the course of the next seven days, the nearly 100 UNCG students participating will take part in a number of missions with different story lines and various rules. All missions lead up to the final battle between humans and zombies, in which the zombies almost always come out on top.

While the game may seem like a free-for-all, HvZ is an organized, regulated event held at college campuses across the country, including Penn State, the University of Wisconsin and the University of Florida. UNCG’s game in particular has gone through a meticulous planning process. Andrew Raines, a senior music education major and one of the moderators behind this semester’s event, started planning the game with his fellow moderators back in June.

“We held several Skype and in-person meetings over the summer to discuss our vision for the game and potential story lines,” Raines said. “We’ve been working very closely with the Dean of Students, Housing and Residence Life and UNCG Police to ensure a safe, fun environment for everyone.”

For the first time in UNCG history, HvZ is hosting an open-play indoor event at the Student Recreation Center on Friday, Oct. 30, from 9 p.m. to midnight. All students are welcome to participate regardless of whether they registered for the 10-day game, and everyone on campus is invited to come watch what is expected to be a thrilling event.

“The indoor mission has been a hope and dream of mine for several years,” Raines said. “We’re really excited to see it all come together.”

For Amber Handy, a junior international global studies major and game moderator, HvZ isn’t just about the competition – it’s about meeting new people, making friends and building a community on campus.

“I’ve met a lot of my good friends through HvZ,” she said. “The missions force you to learn how to effectively communicate and find a sense of unity. The game brings people together.”

Raines started playing his freshman year and never looked back.

“It’s such a unique opportunity. There’s nothing else like it on campus,” he said. “HvZ is a really diverse group. It’s a safe environment for people to be themselves.”

HvZ is played at UNCG once a semester and is open to all students who attend a rules meeting, register through the HvZ Source website and sign a liability waiver. All UNCG students, faculty and staff are encouraged to watch the missions unfold throughout the week. For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page.

Story by Alyssa Bedrosian, University Relations
Photography by Chris Snow, Photography Intern, University Relations

The post Supernatural fun appeared first on UNCG Now.

Ain’t That a Ship splashed, paddled and strategized its way to victory Wednesday night, beating Super Splash Bros and two women’s rugby teams to be crowned Fall 2015 Battle Canoes champions.

Team members Chloe Gault, Cheyenne Joy, Courtney Swartz and Ian Michael Bjorgen received the coveted championship T-shirts, as well as exclusive bragging rights until the next competition in the spring.

Winning team for Battle Canoes competition: from left to right: Chloe Gault, Ian Michael Bjorgen, Cheyenne Joy and Courtney Swartz (Photo by Erik Unger, UNCG Campus Recreation)

“Honestly, our strategy was just to stay in the boat,” said Swartz, team captain and freshman English education major. “It was a race to see who could put more water in the other team’s canoe. I think we just had better balance toward the end.”

Swartz heard about Battle Canoes long before she stepped foot on campus this fall. Having learned about the competition on UNCG’s website during her senior year of high school, she knew she had to sign up.

“I wanted to play Battle Canoes before I was even accepted to UNCG,” she said. “I was really surprised when we won. It’s exciting.”

While Joy was reluctant to share the team’s strategy publicly, she didn’t waste any time sharing in the excitement.

“It feels great to be crowned champions,” she said. “We’re so happy and proud of ourselves.”

Women’s Rugby 1 placed second, with Super Splash Bros and Women’s Rugby 2 tying for third place after being eliminated simultaneously.

The goal of the competition is simple: stay afloat. Teams are comprised of two attackers and one defender, with attackers using buckets to dump water into opponents’ canoes. Defenders use five-foot long sleeping bag pads to deflect the water at the point of attack.

One of nine intramural sports offered this fall, Wednesday’s Battle Canoes competition consisted of five heats with four or five teams. The canoes started each heat at the corners of the pool and met in the middle for a free-for-all, with the winners of each round advancing to the championship round at the end of the night.

UNCG Intramural Sports is one of the most active programs on campus, with more than 10,000 participations annually. To learn more about upcoming intramural events, visit campusrec.uncg.edu/im.

Watch a highlight video of Wednesday’s competition:

Story by Alyssa Bedrosian, University Relations

Photography by Chris Snow, Photography Intern, University Relations

The post Rock the boat appeared first on UNCG Now.

Gone are the days of decorating dorm rooms with a few band posters and a “We’re #1” foam finger. For UNCG students in 2015, creating a space that feels like home is an art form.

This fall, 281 students in 180 rooms across 25 residence halls participated in the eighth annual Best Dressed Room Contest sponsored by the Office of Housing and Residence Life. The rooms were judged on style, creativity, attention to detail, best use of space and overall impact.

Grand prize winners for traditional-style rooms Mariah Glynn (left) and Cameron Parker (right) show off their cozy space in Mary Foust Hall.

Lauren Salazar, a junior communication studies major who lives in Spring Garden Apartments, was named the grand prize winner for apartment/suite-style rooms. Cameron Parker and Mariah Glynn, both freshmen in the Ashby Residential College at Mary Foust Hall, won the grand prize for traditional-style rooms.

Freshman communication studies major Alejandro Lopez and his roommate Andrew Wentz, a media studies major, campaigned hard to win the Spartan Spirit Award, which recognizes the room that receives the most likes on Facebook.

For Salazar, color was everything.

“I used little pieces of art to give my room some personality,” she said. “I wanted to create a space where I could unwind – a place that really felt like home.”

Salazar wasn’t the only winner who incorporated bright colors. Lopez and Wentz highlighted the eclectic aspects of their room in Reynolds Hall – a Digimon poster, a life-size cutout of a Star Wars stormtrooper, tie-dye bed sheets and a hammock.

“My side is bright and colorful, and Andrew’s side is more practical,” said Lopez. “It really shows our personalities – we’re kind of like yin and yang.”

Andrew Wentz (left) and Alejandro Lopez (right) won the Spartan Spirit Award for their eclectic room in Reynolds Hall.

Parker and Glynn decorated their space with lots of photos of family and friends, wall decals and, once again, color.

“We started brainstorming color schemes this summer, but we couldn’t make a decision,” said Glynn. “We ended up with a rainbow.”

Students went all out this year, incorporating monograms, streamers, wall-hanging rugs and comfy recliners in their designs. To enter, students completed an entry form and uploaded photos by Sept. 16. This year’s judges, a collection of coordinators for residence life and other staff members, selected one winner for each residence hall and two overall grand prize winners. The winners were announced at a reception on Oct. 14 in the Tillman Smart Room in Shaw Residence Hall.

According to Kory Burgess, assistant director for marketing for Housing and Residence Life, the students take the competition very seriously.

“They get pretty competitive,” Burgess said. “The rooms are getting really difficult to judge because students are getting so good at designing and decorating their rooms. I’ve been really impressed with what students have done.”

The rooms aren’t the only part of the competition that is impressive. This year’s prizes for the top two winners were valued at $400 – the residents of the winning rooms opted for the GoPro Hero4 Silver or an iPad Mini. The winners of each residence hall received an Apple TV or wireless speakers, and the Spartan Spirit Award winners each won a GoPro Hero3 White Edition.

To learn more about campus housing and to view a list of upcoming events, visit hrl.uncg.edu.

Story by Alyssa Bedrosian, University Relations

Photography by Chris Snow, Photography Intern, University Relations

The post Students show off design with 8th annual Best Dressed Room Contest appeared first on UNCG Now.

The final round of UNCG’s Graduate School’s Three Minute Thesis, or 3MT, competition is Tues., Nov. 17, and you don’t want to miss it! Where else can you learn about rodent behavior, teaching students with disabilities, and the Nuremberg Trials in one sitting?

Graduate students from across all disciplines have accepted the ultimate challenge – to explain their master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation in an engaging way to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes. They are armed with their knowledge and just one PowerPoint slide.

The competition is tough. Thirty-three students entered the preliminary round of the competition, and only nine remain. Those nine students will present their three minute presentations to a panel of judges and an audience from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the Virginia Dare Room of the Alumni House. The event is free and open to the public.

The following students will compete in the final round of the 3MT competition:

• Vincent Sica, a chemistry and bio chemistry doctoral student, will present “Six weeks to six seconds: Accelerating natural product drug discovery.”
• Kara Holden, a specialized education services doctoral student, will present “Marshmallows, technology and coaching: Improving academic achievement for students with disabilities.”
• Joseph Ross, a history doctoral student, will present “Judging Nuremberg: Creating the Internal Military Tribunal’s human rights legacy in America and beyond.”
• Jed Diekfuss, a kinesiology doctoral student, will present “Attention and fMRI: How the brain changes with practice.”
• Angela Larson, a biology doctoral student, will present “How do habitat changes impact rodent behavior, populations and community structure?”
• Karen Thomas, a music education doctoral student will present “It’s all about those patterns: Do they help kids learn music?”
• Jason Needham, a biology master’s student, will present “The fickle nature of Epstein-Barr Virus.”
• Melissa Bocci, an educational leadership and cultural foundations doctoral student, will present “’You see us so much more’: Youth participatory action research and Lationo students’ critical agency.”
• Catherine French, an interior architecture master’s student, will present “The preservation of historic character during neighborhood revitalization.”

The event will be judged by Dr. Marianne LeGreco, Dean Priddy Jr., Jackie Copeland, Dr. JoAnne Safrit and Dr. Ginger Hinton. The audience will vote on a people’s choice award.

For more information, visit http://grs.uncg.edu/.

Story by Jeanie Groh, University Relations

The post Winning in 180 seconds: Graduate students to show off their theses in 3MT competition appeared first on UNCG Now.

Did you know that UNCG’s Jackson Library has not one, but two 3-D printers for students to design and create 3-D projects?

Navied Alamoudi, a senior majoring in finance and economics, is one of six student staff members who work in the Digital Media Commons. He helps his fellow students navigate projects in Excel, fixing his peers’ technology problems and assisting them as they put together videos and other technology-heavy projects. His specialty, however, is programming the 3-D printers, as well as showing students how to use them.

Navied Alamoudi holds a prototype made on one of the library’s 3-D printers.

Just like UNCG has a writing center to assist students with written projects, the university’s Digital Media Commons and Digital ACT Studio help students with shooting and editing video, building websites and prototypes, and recording audio projects. Housed in the lower level of Jackson Library, the spaces gives students a place to study, access technology and get help using that technology, as well as produce stronger and more effective digital projects.

“Students uncomfortable with technology tend to learn better from a peer than from an authority figure,” said Armando Collins, head of the Digital Media Commons, adding that as an added benefit, “student employees get hands-on experience.”

Over the summer, the Jackson Library’s lower level underwent a transformation, giving the Digital ACT Studio its own space. Three different maker labs were added to the Digital Media Commons space as well: a 3-D design lab, the VIA (video, image and audio) lab and an enhanced gaming lab. The labs provide students with hands-on access to 3-D printing and modeling technology, green screens for filming, tools for audio mixing and podcasting and an enhanced gaming technology for recreation and academics.

The Digital Media Commons is much more than a technology-driven tutoring space, however. There’s ample study space as well.

The furniture is arranged in clusters, is on wheels and can be easily moved, allowing students to design their own study spaces. There are data ports and electronic hook-ups around the room to encourage students to bring their own technology. High-top tables with bar stool seating line the perimeter of the room for students who want to study independently.

“Students who are able to create their study space generally have better study habits,” Collins said. “The DMC is one of the spaces of choice for students on campus.”

Story by Jeanie Groh, University Relations
Photography by Brian Speice, Intern, University Relations

The post Digital Media Commons bridges the gap between technology and success appeared first on UNCG Now.

UNCG’s campus may be slowing down for winter break, but there’s no rest for Coach Wes Miller and company.

Spartan hoops is in full swing this holiday season, as the men’s basketball team prepares for three ACC games starting tonight with an on-the-road match-up against Wake Forest.

The Spartans (4-5) are heading into tonight’s game after an impressive 84-61 win against Belmont Abbey on Saturday night. The win was a total team effort, with four of UNCG’s starters scoring in double digits.

Despite the injuries and roster changes early this season, Miller has high hopes as he and his team finish out the year and head into 2016.

“We’ve had opportunities to win some tough games against good teams,” Miller said. “We have the right group of guys and the right type of chemistry. We just need to start playing with that chemistry.”

After a tough Triad rivalry game against Elon on Saturday, Dec. 19, the Spartans will travel to NC State on Dec. 22 and then to the Dean Dome on Dec. 28 to take on no. 11 UNC Chapel Hill.

This isn’t the first time that the Spartans have faced off against ACC opponents. UNCG has competed against ACC teams for 13 straight seasons, including signature wins at Virginia Tech and at Georgia Tech.

What will it take to get a win against one of these powerhouse programs? Toughness.

“You have to be tougher than the other team,” Miller said. “You’ve got to win those hustle plays.”

UNCG begins conference play after the first of the year, playing at Wofford on Jan. 2 and then returning to the Greensboro Coliseum on Jan. 5 to take on Furman.

“The league is fantastic,” Miller said. “The SoCon top to bottom is as good as I’ve ever seen it.”

Freshman guard Francis Alonso has emerged as a leader this season, scoring 25 points against NC A&T in his first career start and notching 14 points and four assists against Belmont Abbey.

“Everybody sees how well Francis shoots the basketball, but he’s really smart too,” Miller said. “He really understands the game and where people need to be on the floor. He’s going to have a great career here at UNCG.”

Looking ahead, Miller is excited about his players and their potential.

“Their commitment to UNCG and to this program is special,” he said. “The guys in this locker room are fully committed and invested, and that’s going to translate into the type of success that we all expect.”

Tonight’s game against the Demon Deacons will be streamed online via ESPN3. Game time is set for 7 p.m. Spartan fans can watch all home basketball games for free in full HD on the SoCon Digital Network, as well as all in-conference road games.

For more information about men’s basketball and to buy tickets, visit uncgspartans.com.

Story by Alyssa Bedrosian, University Relations
Photography by Tim Cowie, UNCG Athletics 

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A 54-foot climbing wall. Seven basketball courts. A mat room for combative arts. And a roof patio for outdoor classes and events.

These are just a few reasons why UNCG’s new student recreation center, set to open in August, isn’t your average college gym. Instead, it’s a sleek, sustainable, 216,000-square-foot space designed to strengthen Spartans and bring the campus community together.

The vision for a new recreation center started in 2007 when the UNCG Campus Recreation staff conducted an internal study and audit of the university’s recreation facilities.

“We were woefully undersized,” said Dr. Jill Beville, director of Campus Recreation. “We couldn’t accommodate the types of activities and programs that were becoming popular among our students.”

UNCG hired an outside firm to learn more about what students would want in a new recreation center. The results were consistent with the internal audit, and UNCG began to move forward with building a new facility.

Why is campus recreation such an integral part of the campus community? According to Beville, physical fitness is vital to the overall wellbeing of students.

“Research shows that students who are physically active tend to engage in the community, get a better night’s sleep, have less stress and perform better academically,” she said. “They feel connected to the campus, so they’re more likely to stay.”

The natatorium will include a lap pool, a leisure pool and an exterior deck.

The new facility, which is being built to LEED Silver standards, is designed to offer a wide range of opportunities for students. New features include a fitness studio akin to a CrossFit gym, a games and table tennis area, a state-of-the-art natatorium and a multi-activity court (with rubber flooring) where students can play basketball, indoor soccer, dodgeball and floor hockey, among other sports. The space will also allow for additional intramural leagues.

One of the most impressive features is the new climbing wall, which has more than 20 climbing lanes (compared to the current wall’s seven lanes) as well as an independent bouldering wall.

The 54-foot indoor climbing wall will provide new and challenging routes for climbers of all skill levels.

“The colors and features of the wall are similar to what you see at climbing sites at Pilot Mountain State Park, which has been our backyard climbing destination for many years,” said Mike Ackerman, assistant director of UNCG Outdoor Adventures. “It’s cool to bring a piece of our beloved climbing site to an indoor setting.”

The new center has already drawn national attention. In September, UNCG was named a winner of the 2015 Active Minds Healthy Campus Award, a national recognition given to the top five healthiest college campuses. The facility was cited as one of the nation’s most innovative efforts to create healthy college communities.

The facility, which is being paid for by student fees, is expected to double the number of student campus recreation jobs, putting approximately $1 million back in the hands of students in the form of wages each year.

A small parking lot located next to the building will serve as an “A” lot for faculty and staff between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Alumni with a rec center membership will also be granted access to the lot. After 5 p.m., all members, including students, will be able to park in the lot. However, Campus Recreation is encouraging members to walk, ride a bike or use the Spartan Chariot instead of driving.

Looking ahead, Beville is excited about the flexibility and the new programming opportunities that the new space will provide.

“It’s going to be a clean, functional facility. We’ll be able to adapt to student needs because we have these large, open spaces,” she said. “Students will be hard-pressed to find a school in this region that has a more attractive campus recreation facility.”

For more information about the center, visit campusrec.uncg.edu/recreation-center.

Story by Alyssa Bedrosian, University Relations
Renderings provided by RDG Planning & Design and Walter Robbs Callahan & Pierce Architects, PA

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For nearly 80 years, the Alumni House has greeted students, guests and alumni alike to UNCG’s campus with its inviting facade, stately front porch and graceful entrance.

But that sturdy, walnut door isn’t original to the house.

By the mid ‘90s, the original door was in terrible shape. With years of direct sunlight, the door had begun to disintegrate. Virginia Edwards Hester ’39 and her husband, L.B., donated the replacement door that stands there today. It was dedicated in 1999 – 60 years after Virginia graduated from Woman’s College.

Virginia says they found out about the need through her dear friend, Adelaide Holderness ’34. Holderness brought up the topic one afternoon over lunch at the Hesters’ Chatham County farm on the Deep River.

L.B. mentioned that he had some walnut lumber from the farm that had been stored and air dried for roughly 40 years, and the couple offered to have the wood fashioned into a door they could donate to the Alumni House.

“It was a thick door,” Virginia said.

Unfortunately, L.B. wasn’t able to see the finished door installed because he passed away in January of 1997.

“It was L.B.’s door,” Virginia said.

Since the door was installed in the late ‘90s, it’s undergone renovations twice – once in the mid to late 2000s and again this past summer.

The entire Alumni House underwent renovations between the fall of 2006 and spring of 2008, when the door underwent some significant changes.

“When the renovation took place, it had to be reversed and turned the other way,” Virginia said, adding that an updated fire code mandated that the door open outside rather than inside.

More recently, the door was “showing some damage and wear,” said Alumni House Manager John Comer. So, over the summer, the door was removed and received some much-needed care.

“All the hardware was taken off. The door was completely stripped, and then it was stained and refinished,” Comer said, adding that the door was treated with five coats of a special UV-blocking finish to protect the door from the harsh sunlight.

When Virginia visited the university in October for Founders Day, she had a chance to take a look at the newly renovated door.

“It looks perfect,” she said. “When I drove up, I thought it looked absolutely fabulous.”

Story by Jeanie Groh, University Relations
Photography by Martin Kane, University Relations

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In the latest installment of #GlobalUNCG, Philippines native Rodell Barrientos shares his story of growing up living the “simple life” in Manila, Philippines, and later pursuing a PhD in medicinal biochemistry at UNCG.

“After finishing my bachelor’s degree, I went to graduate school in the Philippines. And then I wanted to experience a little more, and explore more of the world. That’s the reason I went to the United States,” said Barrientos.

After graduating, Barrientos plans to pursue an academic position in the Philippines and apply chemistry to answer medical-related questions.

View this installment of #GlobalUNCG about international student Rodell Barrientos:

Photography by Martin W. Kane, University Relations

Videography by University Relations

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India native Shrirang Sahasrabudhe shares his story about leaving his life in India to come to the U.S. and attend UNCG. Sahasrabude lost his eyesight on his 13 birthday. While his family was very supportive, accessibility for the blind wasn’t always prevalent in India. So, he’s grateful for the accessibility that UNCG offers him.

“So, provided the base of education is a little different, the main thing that is different is accommodations provided to people with disabilities,” said Sahasrabudhe. “Now in India, there are some people who are trying hard to push those accommodations, and things are changing.  So I hope soon it will become accommodative as it is in the U.S.”

After graduating, Sahasrabudhe plans to teach subjects related to accessibility visibility design.

View this installment of #GlobalUNCG about international student Shrirang Sahasrabudhe:

Photography by Martin W. Kane, University Relations
Videography by University Relations

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Germany native Chong Zhang left his hometown of Speyer, in the summer of 2015 to pursue an MBA at UNCG’s Bryan School of Business and Economics.

For Zhang, what stood out most about his UNCG experience – aside from the initial culture shock – was the relations he built with faculty.

“…American professors tend to be more practical. They use more case studies. And what I like the most is that they interact with the students on a personal level,” Zhang said. “It feels like professors care for you as a person and individually.”

Zhang graduated from UNCG on May 6. He has returned to Germany and plans to pursue his dream job as an internal auditor.

View this installment of #GlobalUNCG about international student Chong Zhang:

Videography by University Relations

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