Bryanna Schwartz

News

Paper explores legality of poker tournaments

By Bryanna Schwartz | April 21

Nourish International's annual Hold 'Em For Hunger poker tournament was scheduled for Sunday. The event was canceled in March because of concerns about its legality, an issue addressed by a UNC law student in an award-winning paper. Blake Griffin's paper, "North Carolina Gambling Law: Joker Club LLC v. Hardin," compared Nourish's annual poker fundraiser to a recent case in which a company wanted to open a poker club in Durham County but couldn't because gambling is illegal in North Carolina. It won a Graduate Student Research Award from The Sport and Recreation Law Association.

News

Christian fraternity uses hip-hop to spread message

By Bryanna Schwartz | March 28

Students walking by the Rams Head Dining Hall tonight will get a taste of hip-hop gospel during a free outdoor concert. Alpha Iota Omega Christian Fraternity Inc., will host "Power of the Truth," a series of hip-hop performances by UNC students and guests, at 7 p.m. tonight on the Rams Head Plaza. "A lot of people haven't heard of Christian hip-hop, and this event helps get it out there to more people," said senior AIO member Ryan Greene, who will perform at the event.

News

Kids granted Carolina Dreams

By Bryanna Schwartz | March 25

Saturday night, 11-year-old Helena Shaw sat with a smile spread across her face as she cheered for the men's lacrosse team while sitting with UNC's women's field hockey team. Shaw loves nights like these - eating pizza with a UNC team, attending a game with the team and often appearing on the JumboTron - all made possible by Carolina Dreams. The organization takes patients from the N.C. Children's Hospital and plans these types of events for kids to connect with athletes.

News

Rwandan witness to speak

By Bryanna Schwartz | February 25

Carl Wilkens saved hundreds of children in one moment during the Rwanda genocide without any weapons. After 50 armed militia members surrounded an orphanage, Wilkens went to visit the corrupt prime minister and reasoned with him to allow the children to live. To Wilkens' surprise, he agreed. "It was a rewarding experience that affirmed my decision for staying," Wilkens said. "But none of the experiences happened just because of me; it was always a joint effort with the people in the group."

News

Dancing the blues

By Bryanna Schwartz | February 15

Senior Brack Burris knows what it's like to airball an attempted dunk in front of thousands of people. His first experience as a Blues Brother was far from smooth, but he still loved it. "It was such a rush," Burris said. "It's so much fun when you run out on the court in front of 16,000 screaming people." For nearly 20 years, two band members in suits, top hats and shades have performed a dance during a timeout in the second half of men's basketball home games. A member of UNC's drumline, Burris became a Blues Brother last basketball season.

News

Girl fighting for family

By Bryanna Schwartz | January 24

English Clemmons and her younger brother, Silas, bond best when stuck at the hospital for weeks at a time. Throughout their lives, they have often spent hours laughing at their favorite comedies such as "Wedding Crashers." And Silas, 9, can always make English, 17, smile by quoting "Transformers." It is in these moments the siblings forget that they have cystic fibrosis, a hereditary disease that affects the lungs and digestive system.

News

Class teaches business of art

By Bryanna Schwartz | January 15

Cupcakes led Kelley Gill to enroll in UNC's first artistic entrepreneurship course - BUSI 509. After baking vegan, gluten-free and special-diet cupcakes for fun, Gill said she realized the demand for these types of desserts in the community. Before long, she had requests flowing in for custom-designed cupcakes, and she decided to start a business out of it. But her business knowledge was limited. "I decided 2008 was the year to focus on the business side," Gill said. "I've done a lot with the arts side, but I want to learn more about how to set up a business."

News

'Cube sitters' squat for free advertising space

By Bryanna Schwartz | October 22

Junior Kortney McClure, a member of service group Gold-n-Love, learned quickly that procuring a space on the cubes in front of the Student Union takes strategy. Students must find out when the most-seen sides of the cube are open, wait in front of the cubes for hours, then when the time finally comes, paint attention-grabbing visuals. But the rules, enforced by the director of the Student Union, are strict, and failure to comply carries stiff penalties.