Volume CXIX No. 69
» INSIDE
Technology changes the way students learn By Loumarie Rodriguez Senior Staff Writer
QUARTET’S INTENSITY CREATES EXCITEMENT The Jupiter String Quartet plays at Jorgensen. FOCUS/ page 5
The new iPad mini will be on the market soon and may be the latest fad for tech-savvy students. With all of these new devices constantly coming out, there is the notion that technology can really affect the student’s perspective when learning in and out of the classroom. Professors and other instructors rely heavily on technology for many of their teaching needs, such as posting slides online and homework as well. A few students feel that with a lot of technology they can really get something from the learning experience. “The cons with technology
in the classroom are many students don’t attend classes when notes are online,” said Sukrit Sekhri, a 5th-semester business major. “Also, with technology we delay a lot of work that we have and don’t manage our times well, since all the information is online. The pros are it is convenient and easily accessible.” A few professors agree with the notion that technology can be detrimental to student learning in the classroom. “I think it’s a distraction,” said professor Oliver Hiob of the literatures, cultures and languages department. “I do like technology, and it is a good tool for students, but to look things up on their own
E.O. Smith holds benefit concert
By Chris Kelly Campus Correspondent
Jammin’ in Paradise
Huskies head to Virgin Islands for Paradise Jam. SPORTS/ page 12 EDITORIAL:SCHOOLS SHOULDN’T PUNISH FOR TAKING LONGER IN COLLEGE Students should be encouraged to learn at the pace of their own choosing. COMMENTARY/page 8 INSIDE NEWS: COMPUTER PROBLEMS AT UNITED AIRLINES DELAY THOUSANDS OF TRAVELERS Technical difficulties cause airline delays.
NEWS/ page 2
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» index Classifieds 3 Comics 8 Commentary 4 Crossword/Sudoku 8 Focus 5 InstantDaily 4 Sports 12
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Friday, November 16, 2012
A benefit concert was held yesterday at E.O. Smith High School in Storrs for the Wounded Warriors Project. Organized by Luke Minuitti, an E.O. Smith student and part-time UConn student, the concert featured performances by the high school’s band, orchestra and chorus. All donations went to the Wounded Warriors Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public and finding aid for severely injured returning veterans. The concert was Minuitti’s senior project. At E.O. Smith, all seniors are required to take on a self-directed project that includes community service work. Teachers have to rate it as successful in order for a senior to graduate. Regarding the project, Patrick Belanger, a 2nd-semester computer science major and former E.O. Smith student, said, “I think it’s fantastic that a lot of E.O. Smith students go out of their way to make their senior projects be something that will benefit the community or the world at some
nect with people and build relations especially with people I don’t see often,” said Thanh Hoang, 5th-semester accounting major. “Google docs have been very useful to share ideas and even setting up meetings with people. The downside is it’s a major distraction, especially with Twitter and Facebook.” But not all agree. “I think it has a two-sided face,” said Zoila Jurado, a 3rd-semester mechanical engineering major. “It could be beneficial if your intentions are to learn. Then it could be a great teaching tool…If your intentions are to abuse it, then it won’t be beneficial. It’s important to remember that you can’t
blame an inanimate object for causing problems – it’s how people use it.” Some believe that technology can greatly improve research methods. “I think technology is very convenient especially for research,” said Skye Gallagher, a 5thsemester allied health major. “I don’t think there is anything wrong with using books in the library, but online can be faster and you can learn a lot in a short amount of time. However, it can be bad because too many people are relying too much on computers to teach everything, rather than doing hands-on learning.”
Loumarie.Rodriguez@UConn.edu
Student prepares for homeless sleepout
point.” The Wounded Warriors Benefit is appropriately timed, coming four days after Veteran’s Day, when UConn held a ceremony at the Remembrance Memorial and the UConn-Storrs Veterans organization painted rocks on campus to publicize Veterans Week. “Americans are so fortunate to possess the liberties entrusted in us from birth,” said Andrew Pett, a 2nd-semester management information systems major. “Oftentimes since we were bestowed with these liberties since birth, we become ignorant of the price. The Wounded Warriors Project acknowledges and aids the veterans who have had to pay that price. I think it’s terrific that a local student has taken such measures to help this organization and their mission.” The Wounded Warriors Project is a non-profit organization based out of Jacksonville, Fla. Founded by a wounded veteran, the organization is composed of divisions that include mentoring, government affairs and campus services.
Christopher.Kelly@UConn.edu
4 dead, 17 hurt when train hits Texas vet parade
DALLAS (AP) — A freight train slammed into a parade float carrying wounded veterans on Thursday, killing four people and injuring 17 others as the float tried to get through a West Texas railroad crossing on its way to an honorary banquet, authorities said. The locomotive was sounding its horn and people were jumping off the decorated flatbed truck before the collision around 4:40 p.m. in Midland, according to witnesses and Union Pacific spokesman Tom Lange. A preliminary investigation indicates the crossing gate and lights were working, Lange said, though he didn’t know if the train crew saw the float approaching. Two people died at the scene, while two others died at Midland Memorial Hospital, City of Midland spokesman Ryan Stout said. Six people remained hospitalized Thursday night, including at least one in critical condition; the other 11 people injured have been treated and released, hospital officials said. About two dozen veterans and their spouses had been sitting in chairs on the float, set up on the back of a flatbed tractor-trailer decorated with American flags and signs identifying each veteran, photos show.
time. People tend to not listen in class, often checking their Facebook or email. Students never turn it off when I tell them to. Taking notes by hand is another way of viewing the material.” “Technology can be a risk sometimes because there is that risk of it getting in the way of communication rather than facilitate learning,” said professor Ronald Schurin of the political science department. “But I think it could be beneficial in large classes for faculty and students to connect with each other.” Many professors and students agree that there are pros and cons with technology. “With technology I can con-
Panic swept through those seated on trailer as the locomotive’s horn sounded, said Patricia Howle, who was waiting at a nearby traffic light as the train approached. “My daughter said, ‘Momma, the train is coming!’ and she was looking for it as I saw the trailer begin to cross the railroad tracks,” Howle told KOSA-TV. “People were jumping off, trying to get off that trailer and the truck was still rolling. “People on the trailer saw the train coming and they were flying in every direction,” she added. “I covered my face. I didn’t want to see.” The float was among two flatbed trucks carrying veterans and their spouses, police said. The first truck safely crossed the railroad tracks, but the second truck’s trailer was hit by the train. Police said some of the people on the second trailer were able to evacuate before the crash. A banner across the truck’s front bumper read, “Heroes on Board.” The parade was to end at a “Hunt for Heroes” banquet honoring the veterans. The wounded service members were then going to be treated to a deer-hunting trip this weekend. The events have been canceled.
RACHEL WEISS/The Daily Campus
In this Nov. 15 photo, Eddie Hoffman, a 3rd-semester psychology major, lays down boxes and prepares for the UConnPirg homeless sleepout.
Feds investigate Fedex, UPS over online drug shipments
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — FedEx and UPS have disclosed they are targets of a federal criminal investigation related to their dealings with online pharmacies, which are at the center of an international crackdown on prescription drug abuse. The shipping companies made the disclosures in regulatory filings over the last several weeks. FedEx spokesman Patrick Fitzgerald confirmed the probe in a prepared statement and a phone interview Thursday. The investigation of the country’s two largest shippers stems from a blitz against online pharmacies that was launched in 2005. Since then, dozens of arrests have been made, thousands of websites shuttered and tens of millions of dollars and pills seized worldwide as investigators continue to broaden the probe beyond the operators. Last year, Google Inc. agreed to pay $500 million to settle allegations by the Justice Department that it profited from ads for illegal online pharmacies. A federal jury on Thursday convicted three men of operating illegal pharmacies that used FedEx Corp. and UPS Inc. to deliver drugs without proper prescriptions. Seven others have been convicted in San Francisco this year. Fitzgerald said he didn’t know
if the FedEx investigation was connected to the San Francisco cases, but U.S. Department of Justice investigators based in San Francisco are looking into issues “related to the transportation of packages for online pharmacies.” He called the probe “absurd” and said the Memphis, Tenn., company denied any wrongdoing A spokesman with the U.S. attorney’s office in San Francisco declined to comment. A spokesman for Atlanta-based UPS couldn’t be reached after business hours Thursday.
“Settlement is not an option when there is no illegal activity.” -Patrick Fitzgerald Fedex Spokesperson
UPS disclosed the investigation Nov. 1 in a regulatory filing reporting its quarterly earnings. “We have received requests for information from the DOJ in the Northern District of California in connection with a
criminal investigation relating to the transportation of packages for online pharmacies that may have shipped pharmaceuticals in violation of federal law,” the company stated. UPS said it was cooperating with the investigation and is “exploring the possibility of resolving this matter.” FedEx was more defiant. Fitzgerald said the company has no plans to plea bargain with federal officials. “Settlement is not an option when there is no illegal activity,” Fitzgerald said. Both companies said they were served with grand jury subpoenas between 2007 and 2009. Fitzgerald declined to discuss why FedEx was now disclosing the investigation, but he confirmed that the company is under investigation for allegedly aiding and abetting online pharmacies that illegally ship prescription drugs. Fitzgerald said the Drug Enforcement Agency has refused FedEx’s request for a list of online pharmacies under investigation. Without such a list, Fitzgerald said it’s impossible to know which companies are operating illegally. “We have no interest in violating the privacy of our customers by opening and inspecting their packages in an attempt to determine the legality of the contents,” Fitzgerald said.
What’s on at UConn today... International Women’s Group Food Drive 9 a.m to 5 p.m. McMahon Hall The International Women’s Group is holding a non-perishable holiday food drive to help supply the Emergency Food Pantry in Willimantic.
MetroPal.is 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Benton Museum of Art The Benton Art Museum will host the creations of the contemporary artist Shimon Attie.
CSA Spring Registration All Day Event Storrs Campus Registration begins for CSA Spring Private Lessons and Group Classes.
New Dining Hall Hours All Day Event Storrs Campus Visit UConn Dining Service’s website to view the changes to the Dining Services schedule for the upcoming Thanksgiving break. -CHRISTIAN FECTEAU
The Daily Campus, Page 2
DAILY BRIEFING » STATE
Ex-president accused of bilking public access TV
BOLTON (AP) — Bolton police say the former president of a public access TV station embezzled nearly $380,000 since 2007. The Journal Inquirer reports that Deborah Hilton of Bolton surrendered to state police on Tuesday and was arraigned in Vernon Superior Court. Hilton’s lawyer, Matthew Potter, argued at her arraignment for her to be released on a promise to appear in court, saying she has no criminal history. She was released on $25,000 bond. Hilton is accused of using her father’s credit card to pay Community Voice Channel expenses after draining its bank accounts. The Community Voice Channel is viewed in Andover, Bolton, Ellington, Hebron, Marlborough, Tolland and Vernon. Hilton denied to police any impropriety but said the signatures on cash withdrawal slips were hers. She also denied making related cash deposits into her personal bank accounts.
Torrington nixes methadone clinic as lawsuit looms
TORRINGTON (AP) — Torrington zoning officials have denied a proposal to locate a methadone clinic, drawing criticism from the lawyer for the proposed clinic that addicts face bias. Officials said they acted because of traffic and safety concerns. Commissioner Paul Summers, who cast the only vote in favor of the clinic, said Torrington could face U.S. Justice Department scrutiny for the denial and accusations that rejecting the clinic is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects addicts seeking treatment from discrimination. Diane Whitney, an attorney for the applicant, Hartford Dispensary, said her client will sue. Whitney said the denial questioned whether the reasons could be seen as bias against addicts because it assumes people seeking methadone treatment would require additional security.
Damage from storm at $360M in Connecticut
NEW HAVEN (AP) — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Thursday that while the cost of the damage to Connecticut businesses, homes and public properties from last month’s superstorm is an estimated $360 million and climbing, it doesn’t amount to “a long-term hit to our economy.” Malloy told The Associated Press that bridges, airports, beaches, boardwalks, and state parks suffered “very substantial damage” from the Oct. 29 storm, and he wouldn’t be surprised if the cost to repair public infrastructure runs into the hundreds of millions of dollars. But “We didn’t experience a catastrophic long-term hit to our economy,” the governor said. “I think the storm for us was a series of personal tragedies playing out in families, but its overall impact on the economy is, I think, manageable.” Connecticut suffered more than $1 billion in damage combined from Sandy, Irene last year, and an October 2011 storm, Malloy spokesman Andrew Doba said. Most of the damage to homes and businesses from Superstorm Sandy involves private insurance claims. The figure also includes claims to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and costs incurred by state agencies, municipalities and certain nonprofits, officials said. Earlier this week, FEMA reported that more than 7,270 property owners in the state have applied for assistance, including 6,000 along the shoreline. About $4 million in federal funding has been awarded to residents affected by the storm, mostly for temporary housing costs. Economists note the large burden placed on hard-hit residents and businesses, but say the economy will benefit from rebuilding, noting that federal and insurance money will flow into the region. “There’s no question there will be an increase in spending to replace what happened to all these homes,” said Joe McGee, vice president of the Business Council of Fairfield County. “I don’t think you ever say that having a major storm is a plus for your economy. But on the other hand, there is a rebuilding that is going to occur, and a lot of dollars are going to be spent to rebuild.”
Hostess says job cuts in Conn. possible in Dec.
HARTFORD (AP) — Hostess Brands Inc. has notified Connecticut that layoffs are possible by mid-December as the snack food company faces a nationwide strike by bakers. The maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Wonder Bread filed notice with the state Department of Labor on Tuesday that an unspecified number of workers could lose their jobs. The Connecticut Post reports nearly 200 jobs are at stake, including drivers, mechanics, thrift store employees and others in Bridgeport, Cheshire, East Windsor, Norwich and Uncasville. Hostess, based in Irving, Texas, operates 36 bakeries nationwide and has about 18,300 employees. It has warned that the strike by about 30 percent of its workforce could lead to bakery closures. The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union went on strike Nov. 9 to protest cuts to wages and benefits in a contract offer.
News
Friday, November 16, 2012
Computer problems at United Airlines delay thousands of travelers
NEW YORK (AP) — A computer outage at United Airlines delayed thousands of travelers on Thursday and embarrassed the airline at a time when it’s trying to win back customers after glitches earlier this year. The two-hour outage held up a total of 636 of the 5,679 United flights scheduled for Thursday, the airline said. That included 257 planes delayed directly by the outage, with the rest caused by planes that were late to arrive for subsequent flights, the airline said. From Los Angeles to London, Boston to San Francisco, frustrated fliers tweeted snarky remarks about the problem. It was United’s third major computer mishap this year. “Does anyone have a Radio Shack computer or abacus to help United get their system fixed?” tweeted Lewis Franck, a motorsports writer flying from Newark, N.J., to Miami to cover the last race of the NASCAR season. In a subsequent phone call with The Associated Press, Franck added: “Why is there a total system failure on a beautiful day? What happened to the backup and the backup to backup?” United said the technology problem occurred around 8:30 a.m. EST and was fixed by 10:30 a.m. But morning delays can ripple throughout an airline’s network for the rest of the day even after the underlying cause is fixed. That’s because once a plane departs late, it can be hard to make up for lost time. The glitch involved communication between dispatchers at the company’s operations center in Chicago and planes at airports around the world, United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson said. Dispatchers communicate information such as weight and fuel loads to pilots, who need it
to operate the flight. Johnson said the airline has identified the specific problem, and said it won’t happen again. The stock price of United Continental Holdings Inc. fell 47 cents, or 2.4 percent, to $19.51 on a day when shares of other big airlines rose. United has been struggling with technology problems since March, when it switched to a passenger information computer system that was previously used by Continental. United and Continental merged in 2010. That system, called “Shares,” has needed extensive reworking since March to make it easier for workers to use. In August, 580 United flights were delayed and its website was shut down for two hours because of a problem with a piece of computer hardware.
Johnson said the problems on Thursday were not related to integrating the computer systems of the two airlines. He said 10 Thursday flights were canceled because of the problem. He said 80 percent of the airline’s flights were still on time. By comparison, government statistics show United and Continental each with about 83 percent of flights on time in November 2011. He said that the problem affected planes that came from United. Planes that came from Continental, and regional flights on United Express, were not affected. CEO Jeff Smisek acknowledged on Oct. 25 that some customers avoided United over the summer because of its computer problems. He said the airline had fixed those problems by improv-
ing software and adding more spare planes to its system, among other moves. “We expect to earn back those customers that took a detour and we expect to attract new customers as well,” he said at the time. Thursday’s problems were exactly what United did not need, said airline and travel industry analyst Henry H. Harteveldt of Atmosphere Research Group. “This event shows an unacceptable lack of planning at United,” he said. “This merger has been an outright disaster on almost every count. United must make some changes in its executive leadership, starting with the CEO” and including its chief information officer if it wants to restore confidence among passengers, he said. That confidence appeared shaken on Thursday.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A police officer was sentenced Thursday to more than four years in prison for using excessive force against a mentally disabled janitor who died after being erroneously suspected of stealing money from an ATM. Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr., 65, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Fred Van Sickle to four years and three months for his role in the 2006 death of Otto Zehm. Van Sickle said he hoped the sentence would begin to bring closure to Zehm’s family and to the Spokane community, which has been at odds with the police department as a result of this case and others. “This had a significant impact on the community and how it viewed its police department,” Van Sickle said. Van Sickle also ordered that Thompson be taken into custody immediately, over the objections of defense lawyers, who wanted him to remain free while the verdict is appealed. Thompson was convicted last year by a federal jury of violating Zehm’s civil rights by using excessive force and then lying to investigators in the case. Six years ago, Zehm was beaten and stunned by
Thompson in a convenience store. He was hog-tied and sat on by other officers until he passed out. The 36-yearold died two days later without regaining consciousness. Zehm had committed no crime. Defense attorney Carl Oreskovich argued for a sentence of zero to 16 months, saying there was no evidence presented that the actions of Thompson led directly to Zehm’s death. Thompson addressed the court, apologizing to Zehm’s mother. “I did not intend to harm Mr. Zehm that night, and did not act in malice,” he said. “I have dedicated my life to protection of the public.” Thompson is a Vietnam veteran and a decorated 40-year veteran of law enforcement in Los Angeles, northern Idaho and Spokane, Oreskovich said. “This man before you is not a villain,” Oreskovich told the judge. But federal prosecutors noted that Thompson attacked Zehm without warning, and struck him repeatedly with a 30-inch baton and also stunned him. “There were seven baton strikes in less than eight seconds,” said Tim Durkin, an assistant U.S. attorney. “There is compelling medi-
cal evidence in this case that Mr. Zehm sustained serious bodily injury.” Prosecutors sought a sentence of nine to 11 years because of the seriousness of the attack on Zehm, and its impact on the community.
inside a convenience store and immediately struck him repeatedly with a baton and shocked him with a stun gun. Other officers arrived and hogtied Zehm, put a rubber mask over his mouth, and sat on him. It was later determined that he had not committed any crime. His last words were: “All I wanted was a Snickers bar,” according to trial testimony. Anger boiled in the community over the death, but the Spokane County prosecutor’s office declined to bring charges against any officers. Amid demands for justice, federal prosecutors eventually charged Thompson with violating Zehm’s civil rights through use of excessive force and then lying to investigators. Prosecutors also alleged the case involved an extensive cover-up by police. That investigation is ongoing. Boutros said it was important to remember that Zehm, a mentally ill janitor, had committed no crime. “He was just going in as he always did to buy his soda and his candy,” Boutros said. Thompson’s actions warranted prison time, he said. “A badge cannot equate to a free pass,” Boutros said.
AP
David Caradine works at upgrading the software at a United Airlines e-ticket kiosk at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012.
4-year sentence in police beating of disabled man
“All I wanted was a Snickers bar.”
-Otto Zehm Janitor Last words
“When officers abuse their power and lie to cover it up, it fundamentally undermines” their position of trust in the community, said Victor Boutros, a Justice Department attorney who helped prosecute the case. On March 18, 2006, police received a report that a man matching Zehm’s description might have stolen money from people at an ATM. Surveillance video showed that Thompson found Zehm
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News
Foreclosure process slower than it was 1 year ago
LOS ANGELES (AP) — U.S. homes are entering the foreclosure process at a slower pace than a year ago, and fewer properties are being repossessed by lenders, new data show. Between January and October, 971,533 homes were placed on the path to foreclosure, down 8 percent from the same period last year, foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday. At the other end of the foreclosure process, banks repossessed 559,063 homes through the end of last month, a decline of nearly 19 percent from a year earlier. That puts lenders on pace to complete 650,000 foreclosures this year, down from 800,000 in 2011, the firm said. While many states continued to see heightened foreclosure activity last month, the decline at a national level reflects several factors working to stem, or in some cases, merely delay foreclosures. Home sales are running ahead of last year, lifting home prices in many parts of the country, which can make it easier for homeowners to lower their monthly payments by refinancing. “Those improving hous-
ing conditions are lifting all boats and lifting some people out of foreclosure,” said Daren Blomquist, a vice president at RealtyTrac. However, Superstorm Sandy drove a large increase in foreclosures late in the month. RealtyTrac said foreclosures in New York and New Jersey more than doubled compared to a year ago, and in Connecticut, activity grew 41 percent. Those were the three largest increases in the U.S. Foreclosure activity rose 92 percent in the 34 counties in those states that were hardesthit by the storm. Even with that increase, foreclosures in those areas were less than half the national average. Nationally, stronger job growth likely has helped some homeowners avoid foreclosure. Still, the country’s unemployment rate remains just below 8 percent. The percentage of mortgageholding homeowners who were at least two months behind on their payments sank in the third quarter to the lowest level in more than three years, according to credit reporting firm TransUnion. Efforts by federal and state
lawmakers to slow down the foreclosure process or make loan modification a more likely option for homeowners also are having an impact. Lenders also appear to be more amenable to short sales, when the bank agrees to accept less than what the homeowner owes on their mortgage, as a way to avoid foreclosing upon a borrower. In February, the mortgage industry agreed to pay $25 billion to settle allegations that many banks and mortgage servicers processed foreclosures without verifying documents. Another instrumental factor in the sharp slowdown in foreclosure activity: The pipeline of risky home loans made before 2008 is shrinking. Loans issued since then, after banks tightened lending standards, are less likely to go unpaid. “We’re past the bulk of the high-risk loans that were most susceptible to foreclosure,” Blomquist said. Even so, there are signs at the state level that more homes could end up in foreclosure in coming months. The trend is most evident in states such as New York, Florida and New Jersey. In those states,
the courts play a role in the foreclosure process, prolonging the time it’s taking lenders to tackle their backlog of foreclosure cases. Fourteen states saw an annual increase in foreclosure activity, which RealtyTrac measures as the number of homes receiving a default notice, scheduled for auction or repossessed by the bank. Of those, only two — North Carolina and Washington State — are not states where the courts are involved in foreclosures. Foreclosure moratoriums in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut in the aftermath of Sandy last month means it will take longer for lenders complete pending foreclosures, Blomquist said. All told, 89,209 homes entered the foreclosure process in October, up 2 percent from September, but down 19 percent from October last year, RealtyTrac said. Lenders repossessed 53,478 homes last month, a drop of less than 1 percent from the previous month, down 21 percent from October 2011. Home repossessions have declined on a monthly basis the past 24 months.
Ancient spear tips older NY man who claims $5 than once believed lottery scam faced debts
AP
This undated image provided by Jayne Wilkins shows different angles of an estimated 500,000-year-old stone point from Kathu Pan, South Africa.
NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists say they’ve found evidence that stone tips for spears were made much earlier than thought, maybe even created by an earlier ancestor than has been believed. Both Neanderthals and members of our own species, Homo sapiens, used stone tips — a significant development that made spears more effective, lethal hunting weapons. The new findings from South Africa suggest that maybe they didn’t invent that technology, but inherited it from their last shared ancestor, Homo heidelbergensis (hy-dil-ber-GEN-sis). The researchers put the date of the South African stone tips at about half-a-million years ago — 200,000 years earlier than other research has suggested. The new study involved analyzing stone points, a bit less than 3 inches long on average, that had been excavated about 30 years ago. Scientists had previously estimated they were about 500,000 years old, but it wasn’t clear whether they were used as spear tips or some other kind of tool, said Jayne Wilkins, a researcher at the University of Toronto and lead author of the new report.
So she and her co-authors looked for evidence that the artifacts were spear tips, focusing on the way they were shaped and fractured. The pattern of damage along their edges fit in with what researchers found when they made copies of the artifacts and thrust them into the carcasses of antelopes. From the age of the stone tips, the researchers suggest the technology may have been used by Homo heidelbergensis. Sally McBrearty, an anthropology professor at the University of Connecticut who was not involved in the study, said it’s clear that the South African artifacts are spear points. She said she sees no logical reason to doubt the trove is 500,000 years old, but she said she’d like to see some firmer proof. “I would be happy to say that this is really half-a-million years old, I just want to be sure that it is,” she said. There’s some room for doubt because of assumptions required in the dating technique and the geology of the South African site where the points were found, she said. Further sampling and analysis could firm up the evidence for the age, she said.
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — A maintenance worker says he and his wife were forced to file for bankruptcy after he was conned out of a $5 million lottery ticket that two brothers have been charged with trying to falsely claim. Robert Miles was identified in court papers as the rightful owner of the scratch-off ticket. Two Syracuse brothers face charges of attempted grand larceny and possession of stolen property after they claimed they bought the winning ticket at their parents’ store. The Lottery Division, which planted a fake story with the media to lure the real winner to come forward, has suspended the parents’ license to sell tickets at least until after the criminal case is completed. Miles told The Syracuse Post-Standard that he bought the winning ticket in 2006 at the corner store near the apartment complex where he works as a maintenance man. Prosecutors say the store owners’ son Andy Ashkar told Miles the ticket was worth only $5,000. Ashkar and his brother, Nayel, were arrested Tuesday for trying to claim the jackpot. Miles told the newspaper that he had a lunchtime ritual of buying as much as $200 worth of scratch-off lottery tickets and knew he’d won big with the $20 ticket in 2006. When he brought the ticket to the market, he knew it was worth $5 million, but Andy Ashkar scanned it and said it was worth only $5,000, Miles said. Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick has said Miles didn’t realize the true value of the ticket at the time he cashed it in and that Ashkar took advantage of his confusion. Miles said Ashkar ran out the door of the store and
drove off in a car with the ticket after giving him $4,000 and saying there was a $1,000 cashing fee. He said he ran after the car, yelling for it to stop, but then dropped the fight because he’d gotten high on crack cocaine the night before and wasn’t feeling well. Friends told him to pursue the matter but he never did because, he told the paper, it would have been his word against the Ashkars’. After the bogus story was floated in October, Miles’ friends again urged him to come forward. He didn’t. A police officer who had heard about it finally tracked him down and persuaded him to go to authorities. A woman who answered the phone at a number listed in Miles’ name said it was not his number and a second phone number listed in Miles’ name was disconnected Thursday. Fitzpatrick and lottery spokeswoman Carolyn Hapeman did not immediately return calls seeking comment Thursday. Miles told the newspaper that he no longer uses drugs, has held a steady job for years and is a good father to his two children and three stepdaughters. “On the day that they did that to me, God spoke to me and said, ‘You know, I’m going to double that,’” Miles told the newspaper. “So I knew one day it was going to come out and people were going to believe what I was saying.” The Ashkar brothers, both employed as managers at area auto dealerships, were being held on $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond after their arraignment Wednesday. Their lawyer, Bob Durr, said the brothers are adamant that they legitimately own the ticket.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Star Wars figures join dominos in Toy Hall of Fame
AP
“Star Wars” action figures Darth Vader, right, and Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi, left, are displayed in this April 7, 1999 file photo, with Princess Leia Organa in her ceremonial dress in front of other packaged characters from the new film. The National Toy Hall of Fame announces its class of 2012 Thursday Nov. 15, 2012. Two toys will be inducted into the Rochester hall from among 12 nominees.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia outmuscled little green army men for a spot in the National Toy Hall of Fame. “Star Wars” action figures join centuries-old dominoes in the class of 2012, which was announced by the Rochester hall Thursday. A national selection committee chose them from among 12 finalists, plucking the most ancient and most modern toys from the list. “Star Wars” action figures went on the market in 1978, following the 1977 release of the 20th Century Fox movie. The 3 3/4-inch figures of Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and company were sold until 1985 and again from the mid1990s to today. Museum officials say their phenomenal popularity inspired other toy makers to tie their products to movies and television series and they note the toys’ appeal extends to adults who continue to collect them. “They are a force to be reckoned with,” said Patricia Hogan, curator at The Strong museum, which houses the Toy Hall of Fame. More than 20 lines of “Star Wars” figures have launched, propelling the film series’ merchandise sales to $20 billion over the past 35 years. The action figures were first made by Kenner, which was bought by Tonka and later Hasbro. Dominoes originated in China in the 1300s and appeared later in Europe in a slightly different form. A standard set of 28 tiles represents all possible results when rolling a pair of sixsided dice, with the addition of two blank sides. Although there’s a variety of ways to play with them, the cascading toppling of lined-up tiles put the “domino effect” into the
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“They are a force to be reckoned with.”
-Patricia Hogan Curator, The Strong museum
To date, 49 toys have made the cut. They range from classics, like Play-Doh and Slinky, to the less obvious, like the stick and cardboard box. Longevity is a key criterion for getting into the 14-yearold hall. Each toy must be widely recognized, foster learning, creativity or discovery through play, and endure in popularity over generations. “Play is an essential activity, critical to learning and to human development,” said Christopher Bensch, The Strong’s vice president of collections. “Play is also a window into understanding American culture.”
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American lexicon. The toys beat out plastic green army men, the board game Clue, the Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Lite-Brite, the Magic 8 Ball, the pogo stick, sidewalk chalk, the electronic game Simon, the tea set and Twister. Officials at the Toy Hall of Fame say anyone can nominate a toy and thousands of suggestions come in every year. An internal committee of curators, educators and historians chooses the finalists and then a national selection committee votes for the winners.
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Friday, November 16, 2012
The Daily Campus, Page 4
Comics
COMICS
PHOTO OF THE DAY
Procrastination Animation by Michael McKiernan
LINDSAY COLLIER/The Daily Campus
Who’s hungry? Anyone want to go to the dining hall in 5? The interior of Putnam Dining Hall.
Side of Rice by Laura Rice
Kevin & Dean Kevin Penrod
Vegetables and Fruit Tom Bachant and Gavin Palmer
Horoscopes Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is an 8 -- For the next month with the Sun in Sagittarius, go for smooth flow and ease. Plan expenditures in advance. Provide leadership, and take the gentler route.
by Brian Ingmanson
Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Organization is not only key, it also comes easier for the next four weeks. Get your ideas in order and meet with key people. An old flame may reappear. Gemini (May 21-June 21) -- Today is a 9 -- For the next month, your partnerships will be your great strength. Continue your studies, and with the encouragement of others, your career takes off. Cancer (June 22-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- For the next month, there’ll be plenty of work. Find balance at home. Housecleaning and preparation leaves you ready for a peaceful evening of relaxation. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Get ready for four weeks of romance. Your artistic sensibility is appreciated. Invent new opportunities and make them real. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 9 -Rethink everything you thought you understood about money. Your focus shifts to domestic matters for the time being. Buy something for home. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Start the day with some poetry. The next four weeks are great for learning. Your team’s gaining strength and can create some real change for a better world. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Finances open up for the next month. Bring it on home; you’re reeling in a fish that you’ve been dreaming about. Don’t hold grudges. Stay active.
A:
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Mercury goes into retrograde, so back up computers beforehand. Stick to goals, but make big decisions later. You’re the star this month. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Use the next month to finish or discard old projects, clothes, papers and possessions. Put those things that you don’t need in the giveaway pile. Such freedom. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 9 -- Team projects go especially well these days. A female has a lot to offer. You’re stepping into greater leadership (and the spotlight). Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 9 -- It’s easier to complete old business, finish what you promised and tie up loose ends. Do what worked before. Use imagination.
THIS DATE IN HISTORY
BORN ON THIS DATE
2001 British author J.K. Rowling’s boy wizard, Harry Potter, makes his big-screen debut in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
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1907 - Burgess Meredith 1967 - Lisa Bonet 1977 - Maggie Gyllenhaal 1982 - Amare Stoudemire
The Daily Campus, Page 5
Friday November 16, 2012
Quartet’s intensity creates excitement
By Loumarie Rodriguez Senior Staff Writer The Jupiter String Quartet graced the Jorgensen Center with their presence last night, playing a variety of classical music that entranced the audience. Throughout the show the musicians barely looked at their music stands, playing with their eyes closed as the music flowed through the theater. The quartet consisted of two violinists, Meg Freivogel and Nelson Lee, one violist, Liz Freivogel, and one cello player, Daniel McDonough. They performed classics from Mozart, Bartok and Brahms. As they played intensely, their heads bobbled and they bounced around in their chairs as they allowed themselves to get lost in the music. Every so often, one musician would stop playing and allow the others to play but then jump back into while another musician paused RACHEL WEISS/The Daily Campus for a moment. This method allowed the musicians to com- The Jupiter String Quartet played dynamically together as they performed pieces by Mozart, Bartok and Brahms at the Jogensen on Thursday night. The group has performed on many plement each other as their stages including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. instrument became the main source of the music. facial expressions. Before playing their received numerous honors for its work brilliantly.” In between the pieces there was compositions they each took a deep and holds residence at the University Lindsey spoke about how much she silence in Jorgensen as the musicians breath and set themselves in place. of Illinois. enjoyed the emotion that the quartet quickly prepped themselves for the Half way through the show, “I won these tickets on the radio put into the pieces, as well as the frannext compositions. The audience held McDonough gave a quick summary from WWH 91.3, the radio station from tic excitement. She noted the intensity their applause until the very end of of the inspiration of the musical com- University of Hartford,” said Gerry she found in the pieces to be exciting as the compositions, which typically con- positions that the quartet was playing. Peterson of New Hartford. “I think well, but didn’t hear the folksy aspect sisted of three to four pieces. Some of these inspirations included a it’s fantastic. I don’t know much about within the pieces. While playing the compositions, the piece displaying a folk-like quality that music other than I like it.” “It was absolutely fantastic and a musicians fiercely played their instru- had a romantic aspect to it. “I was very excited about the Mozart real treat to have quartets and other ments with hard facial expressions that The Jupiter String Quartet has played piece. It is my favorite piece in the orchestral works here on campus,” said went along with the intensity of the at various venues, including Carnegie world and it was beautifully played,” Leo Kasle, a 5th-semester music major. compositions. They breezed through Hall and the Lincoln Center in New said Carleen Peterson-Lindsey. “You the complicated pieces while adding York, and has toured through Europe, can hear that cello dominated but still a touch of drama with more intense Canada and Europe. The quartet has showcased all the parts equally and Loumarie.Rodriguez@UConn.edu
Retailers create black Thursday By Cole von Richthofen Campus Correspondent
What are the chances that the typical UConn undergraduate student will have to work on Thanksgiving day? Surprisingly, this is a question many students who are electing to make some extra cash during their Thanksgiving break may be asking themselves, particularly those who work in big retail. Although it is not at all unusual for returning students to pick up hours on Black Friday, the nation’s biggest shopping holiday following Thanksgiving, slowed holiday spending in recent years has motivated many national chains to steadily open earlier and earlier. In a move some call “Black Thursday,” retailers such as Target, Toys ‘R Us, Sears and Gap have announced that they will be opening Thanksgiving evening, with Walmart leading at 8 p.m. Given that college students are notoriously fond of good deals, many may find themselves forced to excuse themselves from the family early this year in order to take advantage of Black Friday sales while supplies last. Sydney Roper, a 1stsemester communication design major, is glad AP that her place of employment begins its sale on Many large retailers have begun opening their doors earlier in efforts to capture more Black Friday. “Thanksgiving,” she says, “is such a family Friday shoppers. So far, Walmart will be the earliest opener, when shopping starts at 8pm on Thanksgiving. holiday, focused on non-commercial stuff. [Black Thursday] makes the holiday into a brand.”
Chris Bruno, a 1st-semester resource economics major, concurs. He said that, while for shoppers the deals may be helpful, “for the people that have to work, it’s an injustice.” According to CNBC, Target employees have started an online petition with nearly 200,000 signatures to ask Target to delay its 9 p.m. opening on Thursday back to the original Black Friday, but the pressure to compete with Walmart and its ilk for the 10 percent of holiday sales that Black Friday represents is strong. For those looking to take advantage of lowpriced fashion and savings on televisions this season, the push for Thanksgiving evening sales may actually discourage shoppers from meeting big retail’s expectations this season. Lia Goncalves, a 1st-semester ACES major, works for a national department store. For her break, she said she can’t imagine working on Thanksgiving Day. Lia finds “Black Friday excessive as a whole,” and said “I just want to go home and see my family.” The push for earlier Thanksgiving sales comes with a slew of other moves by industry leaders. Walmart began its layaway program a month earlier than last year, giving customers the ability to keep products on hold at the store and pay in installments. What’s more, the popular Toys ‘R Us toy catalog has already been released.
Philip.Vonrichthofen@UConn.edu
Deals under $20 scored on eBay By Michelle Golladay Campus Correspondent Christmas is jolly – we all love being with our families, drinking warm drinks by the fire and telling the young ones about Santa. I don’t know about you, but I’m broke, I could really use Santa’s generosity right about now. Chances are, the rest of your family members are watching their spending as well. Holidays like Christmas have become overwhelmingly materialistic in today’s commercialized society. Couple that with a shipwrecked economy and it’s safe to say being able to find a really great gift for under $10 or $20 is seemingly impossible. I’ve spent the week observing eBay with as much concentration as an economist observes the stock market. Yes – eBay is the online pawnshop. The fact that it’s online makes it more diverse and “vintage,” and it also makes it more dangerous. I’ll get to eBay “do’s and don’ts” after I go over some interesting and inexpensive auctions I’ve noticed. First, let’s go over the five best things I
found this week. The 5 Most Interesting Things Under $20* *Please note that most of the things I’ve found here have probably already been auctioned off by the time this feature runs, but they are for idea purposes for all types of family members or friends. 5. Game/Nerdy/Tech: Purple Gameboy Color w/ game – $9.99 (free shipping) Okay, need to get your brother or nerdy friend (like me) something and have absolutely no money? Search for the old school stuff like a Gameboy Color or a Nintendo 64. Mark my words: One day, the old school technology is going to be worth thousands of dollars. They will be displayed in the Museum of Ancient (Noob) Technology. 4. Game/Nerdy: Spaceopoly – $15.95 (free shipping) You could buy this board game for that same nerdy friend of yours or to any of your family members – an aunt, uncle, cousin or anyone. This game looks promising; instead of going to jail like you do in Monopoly, you could fall into a black
hole…why own property when you can own moons and planets? 3. Vintage/Photography: Pho-Tak Foldex 20 Folding Camera with Leather Case c1948’s - $6.35 (delivery: “varies”) Wow. Talk about vintage. Who knows what “varied” delivery means, but I assume it depends on where the buyer is located. The item is located in Reno, Nev. Shipping it to Connecticut wouldn’t be bad at all. The user claims the camera works just fine, even though there are a couple scratches on the paint. The most expensive part about this Foldex camera purchase is the film, but if it’s worth it to someone who loves taking photos or using Instagram, find a cool old camera like this. If all else fails, it makes a wonderful house decoration. 2. Fashion: Betsey Johnson Jewelry $0.01-$20.00 (free shipping/some shipping) For mom, sister and all your girlfriends, authentic Betsey Johnson jewelry is a good gift. Skulls, hearts, owls, animal prints, feathers — I’m drooling already. It was hard to find pieces close to $20. So many things were under $5.00
with free shipping, I had to order some earrings, rings and necklaces for all of my girl friends. It’s early enough now to order the stuff that takes a while to ship. Keep in mind international sellers may seem sketchy but many of them are authentic. 1. Music/Instrument: “Baby-X XLPC Theremin Synth Sci-Fi”- $15.50 (free expedited shipping) You know that eerie noise you hear in a classic sci-fi film? Have you ever watched the “Twilight Zone?” Well, the feeling you get when you watch that show can be at your fingertips. I mean, at your dad’s or brother’s or boyfriend’s or musician friend’s fingertips, because you would never take a gift you gave someone else back so you could use it, right? The theremin is the first electronic instrument ever created (first popularized in the U.S. by musician Robert Moog). According to the seller, the theremin includes a small, low volume speaker, a red on/off switch, a silver pitch volume knob, an “extra large photo-cell”
» REASONABLE, page 7
Higher gas taxes better promote less gas usage In September of this year, President Obama announced that he had negotiated a deal with U.S. auto manufacturers to nearly double fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks, to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. The standards are predicted to cut carbon emissions from cars in half by 2025 and to greatly improve air quality. On paper, this would seem to be an allaround good move for the U.S., with few, if any, apparent downsides. Closer consideration, however, reveals that improving fuel efficiency may not be all that it’s cracked up to be. In a New York Times article published after Obama’s announcement, journalist Eduardo Porter argues that the fuel efficiency mandates may actually do more harm than good unless combined with a national gas tax. Porter’s reasoning is simple: levying a gas tax would significantly reform driving behavior and would have an immediate effect on carbon emissions. People would drive less, demand better public transit and choose to buy smaller vehicles. In contrast, higher fuel efficiency standards would take many years to actually affect gas consumption, and ultimately they would incentivize more driving – leading to increased traffic congestion and gas use. In addition, the new standards will increase manufacturing costs to auto makers (making prices higher for consumers), with the astonishing result that “this makes mileage standards somewhere between 2.4 and 13 times more expensive than a gasoline tax as a tool to reduce our use of fuel. Indeed, by some calculations, raising fuel-economy standards is more costly than climate change itself.” Nearly all other developed nations levy a significant tax on gasoline consumption at the pump. In fact, gas prices in nearly all other European nations make U.S. prices seem absurdly low. This may not seem like a bad thing, until you consider the hidden costs of cheap gas: urban sprawl, respiratory diseases, smog, and accelerated climate change. A very telling statistic is how much auto makers will lower their standards when they are selling within U.S. borders. Porter cites one embarrassing example, saying, “in Britain, where gas and diesel are taxed at $3.95 a gallon, the American automaker Ford sells a compact Fiesta model that will go nearly 72 miles on a gallon. In the United States, where gas taxes average 49 cents, Ford’s Fiestas will carry you only 33 miles on a gallon of gas.” Increasing fuel efficiency standards should certainly not be taken off the table, but we must seriously consider what the consequences will be unless we also implement some hard-lined policy for incentivizing gas use and incentivizing the production and use of alternative fuels and transportation.
Kelsey.2.Sullivan@UConn.edu
The Daily Campus, Page 6
LIFE & STYLE
Drink Of The Weekend
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Thanksgiving offerings
AP
There are easier ways to contribute to Thanksgiving dinner than spending hours in the kitchen trying to cook above your comfort level.
By Kim Halpin Associate Focus Editor Let’s face it; dorm room living hasn’t exactly prepared us to cook anything edible to bring to a Thanksgiving dinner. But what can a student do when asked to come to Thanksgiving dinner at a significant other or friend’s house? We shouldn’t expect ourselves to suddenly jump from D.P. Dough enthusiasts to chefs every November, but we also don’t want to show up with nothing. The task may be daunting, but there are a few foolproof dishes that you can use, and some ideas to cut out the cooking all together. The first and most important thing to do is to ask the host or hostess if there is anything they could use. Don’t worry, they’re not going to pass the important jobs on to you like the turkey or potatoes, and it will help to reduce the number of string bean casseroles on the table. Some of the easiest Thanksgiving sides to prepare are butternut squash, peas, cranberry sauce and rolls. There’s no need to get fancy, especially if you’re a rookie in the kitchen. The butternut squash is simple. Just peel it, scoop out the seeds and cut it into cubes. Boil them until they’re soft, then drain and mash them. Everyone looks forward to rolls on Thanksgiving, and they don’t need to be made from scratch. On the other hand, they don’t have to be boring grocery store bought rolls, either. Go to a local bakery to see what they have, or bake some premade refrigerated dough rolls. If you’re not ready for the spotlight and are looking for a low profile side, peas are a
Friday, November 16, 2012
Focus
perfect choice. You’re not cheating if you use canned or frozen peas, and both just simply require heating up. The cranberry sauce can be completely simple as well. A can of Ocean Spray cranberry sauce only requires sitting in the refrigerator for an hour or so and a can opener. No stove, pots or pans required. If you’re the type that often shies away from the microwave and a can opener, perhaps a non-cooking gift is your best option. You can always pick up a bottle of wine, or a fall flower arrangement to go on the table. If all else fails, you can buy a pie- preferably one that doesn’t look like a store-processed one and instead of bringing it in the box, put it on a pie plate to make it resemble a homemade pie. My earliest memories of Thanksgiving at my grandparents’ house always ended with us kids passed out from food comas and the adults playing Trivial Pursuit. So why not bring along something for everyone to do while the mass amounts of food have left everyone immobile? You can always go for the classic board games, or try a new video game if you’re going to be with other students your age. Either way they can break up the conversation and inspire a little competition if leftovers are at stake. They also don’t require you to step foot in the kitchen. Impressions made at Thanksgiving can be important, so while you might mean well in bringing your first-ever attempt at cooking, go for easier options or something that doesn’t need to be cooked, and you’re guaranteed success.
Kimberly.Halpin@UConn.edu
Tofurky, not just for dinner By Lauren Silverio Campus Correspondent One of the wonders of the modern world is the perennial butt of Thanksgiving jokes: tofurky. A tasteful vegetarian/vegan alternative to the traditional turkey dinner, this blend of wheat protein and tofu has had more than its fair share of insults over the years. However, the jokes are especially uncalled for. For the moderately creative individual, there are endless possibilities when it comes to making tofurky an entertaining addition to the holiday season. Fun Things to do with tofurky (besides eating it): 1. Use tofurky as a festive center-piece for the dinner table. You can use tofurky as a florist uses foam as a base for arrangements: simply stick leaves, gourds and other autumnal decorations into the loaf and voila - an innovative alternative to the cornucopia. 2. In the off-season, chunks of tofurky make quirky and effective paperweights and poster putty. 3. Tofurky is perfect for making discs for Frisbee golf because you can make the slices thick enough to stick to, rather than bounce off of, the metal cage. 4. Alternately, tofurky is useful for a game of pick-up football between courses. Oh, the joy of
tossing around the ol’ tofu-skin. 5. Sew slices together into a Christmas tree skirt. Some people like to crochet small circles that can be sewn together to create such things as afghan blankets and tree skirts. I find tofurky to be a similar medium. 6. Use slices as coasters. The insulating properties of soggy soybeans and wheat germ will even muffle the clatter of Uncle Jim’s hard cider glass when the conversation turns to politics. 7. Use the full loaf of tofurky as a neck roll if you plan on travelling long distances for the holiday. 8. The gummy tofu mixture can be used as play-doh to keep the children and adults alike amused as they digest. 9. Use tofurky as a time capsule. Simply scoop out the stuffing mix and fill the hole with trinkets and memories. Because tofurky can last for up to 24 months when frozen, burying it deep in the permafrost, or freezer, can provide you not only with an opportunity to reminisce next year but also a nicely aged tofurky loaf. 10. Use small bits of tofurky to plug up drafty windows and doors. As the weather grows colder you will be grateful to the caulk-like resemblance that thinly sliced tofurky can bear.
Lauren.Silverie@UConn.edu
Holiday music comes to Thanksgiving By Katie McWilliams Staff Writer It’s that time of year when people start unashamedly cranking out the holiday music and getting excited about various December celebrations. Christmas-, Hanukkah- and winter-themed music is everywhere from the dining halls to the Co-op. But what about Thanksgiving music? Because Thanksgiving is not a commercial holiday (that honor belongs to Black Friday), nobody really thinks about producing some quality tunes to play around the house while prepping for the big feast. That said, here are some suggestions for Thanksgivingthemed music that will hopefully make you feel a little bit better about burning all three pumpkin pies you were supposed to bring to Great Aunt Alice’s house. The music from “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” is a
great place to start. For starters, it is all performed by a solo piano, so it will not shift the focus from the family fun at the meal table. Good tracks to consider are “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “The Great Pumpkin Waltz.” Another added bonus of this musical selection is that your younger cousins are just as likely to be familiar with it as your great grandmother is! Equally as important to the turkey on the table and quality of the stuffing is where your dinner is located. For most people, there is no place like home for the most thanks-inducing holiday of the year. With that in mind, a good Thanksgiving playlist should pay homage to your favorite place in the world: home! Notable tracks such as Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zero’s “Home” and Phillips Phillips’s and Jack Johnson’s similarly titled tracks are excellent choices. The first two songs are energetic
and excellent candidates for a sing-a-long while baking and cooking up a storm. The Jack Johnson track is better suited for dinnertime. “Thankful” by Caveman, a calm indie rock number, is another perfect track for Turkey Day. It highlights the theme of giving thanks and can be listened to at any point during the day. The same goes for The Shins’ “Young Pilgrims,” a relaxed song with a Thanksgivingrelated theme. This music might not be so easily recognizable to your entire family, but give them something to be thankful for and introduce them to some groovy tunes. “Ashokan Farewell,” a relic of the Civil War, is a haunting violin solo performed by Jay Unger and Molly Mason on the fiddle. While it is not exactly what one might call “Pilgrim” music, it certainly harkens back to the days of
» MUSIC, page 7
Video games any guy wants for Christmas A guide to 5 of the hottest games available this holiday season
By Alex Sferrazza Campus Correspondent For this holiday season, girlfriends everywhere must be wondering what to get for that special guy in their life. Rest assured, gifts of sentiment are quickly cast away. So why not give the gift that keeps on giving: unrelenting, interactive, digital violence. If there’s one thing every American male aged 7-35 enjoys, it’s video games. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it’s a safe bet you’ve heard of wildly popular titles such as “Assassin’s Creed III,” “Halo 4” and “Call of Duty: Black Ops II.” This guide will hopefully shed some light on the not-as-heavy hitters. “The Mass Effect Trilogy” (PS3, 360, PC) combines three of the greatest video games of all time in one complete package. If you’ve skipped out on the “science fiction role-playing game/3rd person” Shooter series, you no longer have any excuse. “Diablo III” (PC) the long awaited sequel to “Diablo II,” lived up to the hype. This action packed RPG dungeon crawler will have you clicking away for hours, collecting loot and such. Note: this game is highly addictive and can be a useful gift if you’re looking for an excuse to break up. The brutal combat and infusion of Greek mythology have mande the five-game action series “God of War” (PS3) a fan favorite. It’s also the closest thing to an educational
AP
Many men between the ages of 7-35 enjoy playing video games, making games one of the best gifts to get for the special guy in your life.
game on this list. With all of the blood flowing, it’s easy to forget you’re being given a quasi lesson in the Greek myths. “Metal Gear Solid HD Collection” (PS3, 360) is a compilation three of the greatest stealth games ever made (“MGS2,” “MGS3,” and “MGS: Peace Walker”). This collection features fantastic-looking HD makeovers for the classic titles.
Combining incredibly innovative stealth gameplay with Hollywood caliber presentations, scripts and cinematics, this collection represents the pinnacle of stealth gaming. Blazing guns and an over-thetop visual style make “Borderlands 2” (PS3, 360, PC) stand out from every other shooter out there. This shooter/RPG’s solid controls and
customizable role-playing elements make this an easy choice. Can’t find any of the games on this list? Too cheap to purchase anything of quality? We’ve got you covered. Whatever awful piece of shovel ware you end up purchasing (“Resident Evil 6,” for example) will be just fine. You get to pretend that you put effort into your gift shopping while he gets the false
satisfaction of believing that his $15-a-year Gamestop Rewards Card is actually paying off when he goes to trade the awful game in for pennies on the dollar and gets an extra 10 percent trade in credit.
Alex.Sferrazza@UConn.edu
Friday, November 16, 2012
The Daily Campus, Page 7
Focus
Reasonably Surviving the extended 4 girls picked to play Broadway’s ‘Matilda’ priced, family visit unscathed great gifts By Zachary Lederman Campus Correspondent
from DEALS, page 5 (how to control pitch from low/ high) and a ¼” output jack. For an amplifier, you’ll still need the amp and the amp cable–not expensive, though. The user, “djsfast,” has included sound samples so you can hear how well the theremin works. Are you still not clear on what it is? It can be controlled without any physical contact from the player. There is normally a volume “wand” and a pitch “wand,” whereby the player can place either hand near it, and the noise changes. It’s absolutely awesome, and $15.50 is a great price. I commend whoever lands this one. On the other hand, this theremin is rather creepy. It has a plastic baby head on it for decoration with eyeballs that light up when you turn the “on” switch. Whoever you give this kind of gift has to have an open mind, but it will definitely be a great method of entertainment during a party. Take care while gazing through eBay. Always check a seller’s reputation. Other people normally have really good input. So, if a seller claims to be selling authentic RayBans, check it out. See if a past buyer has something to say on an item similar to what you’re thinking of buying (especially when it comes to “Buy It Now”). If you’re following an auction, make sure you’re logged in and ready to click the magic button at the last seconds. you will most likely never be the only one “watching” an item. Leave feedback if you buy something. If it comes late, tell your eBay community about it. If it was a really great transaction, don’t be lazy. According to IBM sales geek/executive Robert Golladay (my dear old dad), “with eBay, Amazon, Overstock and things of the like, there is a sense of online etiquette. If others helped you out, you should return that favor.”
For most of us, the time has come to leave our happy, secluded glade up here at UConn and head back home for Thanksgiving. It’s time to head home and see our friends and family, and enjoy a delicious meal while we’re at it. Remember, though, it isn’t all fun and games. Thanksgiving, in addition to the time seeing our annoying siblings and pestering parents, means doing the unthinkable: visiting relatives. Let’s be serious for a moment though. Visiting our extended family isn’t that bad, though there are about a billion ways things could turn ugly. Let’s go over how to make the best of your visit, and have some fun with the people that love you. First off, keep in mind that, these people do love you. Just like your parents, they care for you and, if they don’t see you that often, are likely doing their best to form some good memories. Once you have the mindset that nobody is actively trying to be annoying (except for maybe your cousins), your visit as a whole will be more pleasant, and you will feel more naturally comfortable around your family, knowing that everyone really does have your best interests at heart. This being said, let’s talk about some specific things to do, and to avoid, over break. Remember that with a large group, things are going to be different from the customs
you and your immediate family have developed. Maybe you’re used to this fact, but for those who don’t visit extended family very often, a refresher could be useful. There’s nothing wrong with doing your best to ensure comfort in the activities you and your family decide to participate in, but don’t be upset if you don’t get your way. Try and think about why things might not have gone your way. Is it really appropriate for you to watch “Goodfellas” with your 7-year-old cousin in the room? Think about things from your relatives’ point of view, and you’ll have an easier time understanding your differences. If you really think things are going unfairly, just calmly talk to the problematic relative. Remember, things are different from their perspective as well. Perhaps they’d be willing to make a concession on the issue. Next, try to avoid arguing at all costs. Your extended family is made up of different people. His or her viewpoints are going to be different, just like everyone else’s in the world. Yes, you might be inclined to politely disagree when crazy Aunt Ruth starts blabbering off about how Romney should have won, or when Grandpa starts on about how Obama is the savior of America, but trust me on this: don’t do it. Just don’t. You’re going to start an argument that will not only create a divide between yourself and the person you love, but soon enough the entire table is going
to take sides and things will get unpleasant. There’s nothing wrong with healthy discussion, but save debating for when you get back to school. There’s a club for it. Finally, and this is the most important thing, take a break every once in a while. Feeling like you’re about to throw Grandma out the window? Halfway to dropping Billy down the stairs? Take a deep breath before you explode, head into an empty bedroom and just lie down for a bit. Take some time to yourself. Just because you’re visiting these people doesn’t mean you have to spend every waking moment with them. Take a break when you’re feeling overwhelmed, rest, cool off and come back refreshed. Just sit back, politely inform everyone you’d like to take some time to yourself and watch a little TV or sleep a bit. Some time alone will have you feeling like your old self in no time, and will get you back to enjoying the festivities. Well, folks, hopefully this will help you have a more enjoyable time with your family. Just remember above all, these folks do love you. They’re not trying to be annoying and cause you harm, and trust me: they’re thinking exactly the same things about you. Chances are you don’t see them very often, so take advantage of the time you do have together and show your family you care.
Zachary.Lederman@UConn.edu
Keira’s ‘Karenina’ flips costume drama on its head
Michelle.Golladay@UConn.edu
Music to dine by
Katie.McWilliams@UConn.edu
Actresses from left, Milly Shapiro, Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence and Bailey Ryon, who will share the starring role in “Matilda the Musical” on Broadway.
NEW YORK (AP) — Watch out, Broadway: The four little girls picked to play the telekinetic heroine Matilda in New York have been revealed — and they’re already pretty magical. Meet 9-year-old Sophia Gennusa, and 10-year-olds Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro, who will rotate playing the precocious lead when “Matilda the Musical” makes its New York debut next year. The four — one from New York City, two from the surrounding region and one from Pennsylvania — had never met before they auditioned for the part. All will be making their Broadway debuts — but they don’t lack confidence. “I never thought this would happen when I was this age. I thought I’d be 16 before I did something like this,” says Milly, who has already appeared in “Anything Goes” in Tampa, Fla. Based on Roald Dahl’s 1988 book about a girl who unleashes her magical powers on nasty parents and an evil headmistress, the show begins previews March 4 and opens on April 11 at the Shubert Theatre. The Royal Shakespeare Company’s musical debuted in late 2010 at the company’s home in Stratford-upon-Avon in England and then transferred to London’s West End in 2011, where it is still playing. None of the American girls, who will each star in the role twice a week, have seen the work in London, but they have checked out clips on YouTube. Each girl remembers attending her first big musical as
a turning point in their life’s direction. For Bailey, it was “Wonderland,” which fueled a love of performing that led to playing Cindy-Lou Who last year in the national tour of “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical.” For Sophia, it was “The Little Mermaid” on Broadway. “I knew then that was what I wanted to do,” she said. “This is a big opportunity and I just took it when it came.” When her mom told her around Halloween that she got the part of Matilda, she held her breath. “I said, ‘Excuse me.’ I went into my room, locked the door and started screaming and running around in circles.” Oona’s first Broadway show was “The Addams Family” and that’s where she set her sights. “I don’t know if this sounds bad, but I kind of knew it would happen,” she said. Milly saw “Cats” on tour at age 3 and was transfixed. “I literally couldn’t stop staring at it. My mom said I was just fascinated. It was all I could really think about.” The Shapiro family will actually be enjoying two big theatrical accomplishments. Milly’s sister, Abigail, landed the role of Cindy-Lou Who in the Grinch musical at Madison Square Garden this holiday season. So who gets bragging rights at their home now? “My sister does not brag and I don’t either,” Milly said. “Matilda” is written by the playwright Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by the Australian comedian and composer Tim Minchin.
Clothier who dressed Elvis Presley dies
from HOLIDAY, page 6
yore, and is a perfect track for pensively contemplating what you’re thankful for. Similar to “Ashoken Farewell” is George Winston’s piano solo track, “Thanksgiving.” Although the track comes from his album “December,” the piece is evocative of gratitude and the wintry weather we’ve had of late. To top it off, the softness of the piece makes it perfect to lead off a table-wide discussion of what exactly you are thankful for in 2012. Van Morrison’s track “Glad Tidings” is another great track to add to a Thanksgiving playlist. Spreading cheer and feelings of love is part of any successful Thanksgiving, and this track flawlessly conveys that idea. It’s a happy number suitable for singing along to while you stir up the umpteenth batch of cranberry sauce or play board games with the entire family after dinner. The warm fuzzy feelings don’t have to stop with Morrison, however. “Waiting on the World to Change” by John Mayer and Ben Harper also adds to the happy and cheerful atmosphere at any dinner. As the family leaves and you bid farewell to your favorite uncle who you won’t see until Easter, play something that demonstrates how much you appreciate family. “In My Life” by The Beatles is a great selection for this, as is “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan. It might be a little sappy, but songs like these perfectly convey the feelings of being together as a family.
AP
AP
Director Joe Wright planned a wild and possibly off-putting ride on “Anna Karenina,” confining most of the action to a dilapidated theater where the actors would perform in a stylized cinematic ballet without the usual grand sweep of period-drama locations.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Keira Knightley’s language was anything but prim and proper when she discovered what director Joe Wright had planned for “Anna Karenina,” their latest period drama together. To hear Knightley tell it, some F-bombs were soundly dropped. Knightley wasn’t swearing out of anger with Wright, who directed her to an Academy Award nomination for 2005’s “Pride & Prejudice” and to similar critical success on 2007’s “Atonement.” She worried that Wright’s unusual approach to Leo Tolstoy’s epic of doomed romance would make the hard-sell of a period drama even harder. While “Pride & Prejudice” and “Atonement” were fresh, lively takes for an age that finds costume drama drowsy, Wright planned a wild and possibly off-putting ride on “Anna Karenina,” confining most of the action to a dilapidated theater where the actors would perform in a stylized cinematic ballet without the usual grand sweep of period-drama locations. “The first thing I said was ‘Oh (expletive)!’ I was like, well, people are really either going to love it or absolutely (expletive) hate it,” Knightley said. “I also was going ... you’re taking it and spinning it on its head and turning it into something that is potentially totally uncommercial. Into an experimental sort of art-house film...” “I also went, ‘(expletive), yeah. Let’s give it a go.’” The result is a fluid story that unfolds as much like dance as film, with a brisk pace compared to most period stories and contemporary sensibilities next to earlier takes on “Anna Karenina,” whose previous big-screen adaptations have featured Greta Garbo and Vivien Leigh. Reality gives way to fantasy in the opening moment, as a barber approaches Anna’s brother, Oblonsky (“Pride & Prejudice” co-star Matthew Macfadyen), like a matador approaching a bull and shaves him clean with three lightning strokes of his razor. Walls roll aside, props rise up from trapdoors, a swirl of clerks in an office turns
into a rush of waiters in a restaurant as Wright dispenses with realistic and time-consuming transitions in favor of a motion picture perpetually in motion. The action in Moscow and St. Petersburg, where Knightley’s Anna forsakes her staid husband (Jude Law) in an affair with a young cavalry officer (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), shifts around an aging theater. The idea was inspired by Wright’s reading of historian Orlando Figes, who commented that 19th century Russian socialites modeled themselves on Parisians and lived their lives as though on stage, emulating that ideal. Wright has built a career emulating the ideal of the period drama, once a mainstay for movie audiences now mainly interested in futuristic action or stories of the here and now. But Wright keeps looking for fresh ways to tell those old stories to modern crowds. “I feel that the stories themselves are rich and relevant,” Wright said. “The concern really is that the form that those stories are told in, it has become kind of stuffy and old-fashioned.” But he adds, “just because it’s set in the 19th century, it doesn’t mean it has to look like it was shot in the 19th century.” One of the first people Wright had to win over on his bold approach to “Anna Karenina” was playwright Tom Stoppard, an Oscar winner for the “Shakespeare in Love” screenplay who had adapted Tolstoy’s novel with a conventional location shoot in mind. Two months before production began, Wright decided to switch the action to a confined space and sprang it on Stoppard, saying he would only go ahead if his writer agreed. “He came around with a big folder of storyboards, and the more I got into it, the more interested and finally excited I was about it,” Stoppard said. “It gives the movie a modern spirit, that’s what it does. It’s not the costume drama we’ve seen before.” It’s not even the costume drama we’ve seen before from Wright and Knightley, who defied expectations with “Pride & Prejudice” and “Atonement.”
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Bernard Lansky, the Memphis retailer who helped a young Elvis Presley establish his signature clothing style of pegged pants, two-toned shoes and other flashy duds in the 1950s, has died. He was 85. Julie Lansky, the clothier’s granddaughter, said he died Thursday at his Memphis home. Bernard Lansky and his brother Guy started a retail business in Memphis in 1946, with help from a $125 loan from their father, Samuel. After World War II, the store started selling Army surplus goods on Beale Street. When the supply dried up, they opened a high-fashion men’s store, where Bernard Lansky established his reputation as a natural salesman and storyteller. Lansky Bros. ended up supplying Presley with the pink and black shirts and other outfits. “It’s a statement to say that he dressed one of the most influential entertainers of all time,” Julie Lansky said in a telephone interview. “He knew that for any entertainer, they had to look different.” Even though his style of dress changed over the years — including sparkling jumpsuits — Presley shopped at Lansky Bros. the rest of his life. Presley died at his Memphis residence, Graceland, in 1977. Lansky picked out the white suit and blue tie that Presley wore when he was buried. “I put his first suit on him and his last suit on him,” Lansky was fond of saying. By the early 1950s, Lansky’s shop was known as a place
where a man with a taste for flash could find the styles Lansky referred to as “real sharp.” At the time, Beale Street was a hot spot for blues, rhythm and blues and jazz, and drew a colorful parade of musicians, gamblers and hustlers from the Mississippi Delta. Presley began hanging around Beale Street as a teenager and picked up quickly on its music. One of Lansky’s favorite Elvis stories was how he first met the future King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Presley was a teenager working as an usher at a nearby theater and liked to window shop at Lansky’s. “He said, ‘When I get rich, I’m going to buy you out,’” Lansky said in a standard version of the story. “I said, ‘Don’t buy me out. Just buy from me.’ And he never forgot me.” Presley made his first record, “That’s All Right,” at the old Sun Studio in 1954. Before long, Presley’s star was rising, and he began shopping at Lansky Bros. in earnest. The Lansky brothers often opened the store at night so Presley could avoid drawing crowds and took outfits to Graceland for him to check out. Lansky dressed him for the “Louisiana Hayride” and his first TV spots on the Tommy Dorsey and Ed Sullivan shows. Eventually, Lansky became a favorite of the Elvis faithful who flocked to Memphis by the thousands for annual gatherings in Presley’s honor. Jack Soden, CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc., described Lansky as “a business and fashion pioneer.”
Friday, November 16, 2012
Page 8
www.dailycampus.com
The Daily Campus Editorial Board
Elizabeth Crowley, Editor-in-Chief Tyler McCarthy, Commentary Editor Jesse Rifkin, Associate Commentary Editor Chris Kempf, Weekly Columnist John Nitowski, Weekly Columnist Sam Tracy, Weekly Columnist
» EDITORIAL
Schools shouldn’t punish for taking longer in college
A
“Super Senior” is a slang term that often applies to undergraduate students who are taking more than four years to get their degree. There are a variety of reasons that a student would have to become a fifth- or sixth-year student. However, at California State, the country’s largest four-year college system, the administration is fed up with these excuses. The CSU administration is currently working to pass “incentive fees” to students. These are fees that could more than triple the cost of school for students whom they designate as “Super Seniors.” The mentality behind this is that if the school graduates more students, they will be able to increase its enrollment rate. While this excuse may sound great on a press release, it is a hollow note, since the university gets paid whether tuition comes from a freshmen or a senior. Students aren’t at all pleased with the idea that they can be punished for trying to extend their education. After all, as anyone who has attended a four-year university can attest, there are many reasons why someone would have to be in their fifth year or above. Switching a major, adding a major or a minor and poor advising or academic advice are all common and likely reasons to extend one’s academic career into the realm of “Super Senior.” It is grossly unfair and illogical to marry an undergraduate to a four-year program. With CSU being the largest four-year university in the nation, it’s likely that its system will set a precedent. Therefore, it is important for everyone to realize the scope and measure of this possible precedent. It will force incoming freshmen to an academic path early on simply because there is significantly less wiggle room to find their path as a student – especially if that path includes a possible extra year of schooling. Students at UConn and undergraduates everywhere can understand that not everyone knows exactly what they want out of an academic career fresh out of high school. The sacrifice that CSU wants to force upon its students is not worth it, given the scope of what they will lose. College is a time of growth, not rigid adherence to a single path. Therefore, the entire collegiate world should pay close attention to CSU’s effect on the world of higher education. More so than hope, they should wish that this system fails, forcing the university to revoke it. They should wish for this because education is worth it and making people pay triple to gain it is plainly and simply wrong. The Daily Campus editorial is the official opinion of the newspaper and its editorial board. Commentary columns express opinions held solely by the author and do not in any way reflect the official opinion of The Daily Campus.
Yo friends with points and swipes left, it’s that time of the semester, get at me! I am very thankful for Thanksgiving break Naya Rivera is really beautiful, you guys. I feel like it would be just my luck to finally get into the InstantDaily in an issue that very few people are going to read because of the break, so make that happen for me. Oh no, is it almost time for Christmas music? Turns out walking home with a smoothie is REALLY COLD. Do they really make Reese’s Pieces in 8 oz. packages? Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side! Telling someone they’re 200 percent wrong #sickburn My friends and I are playing fantasy everything. I never win. Why is Emma Stone so likable? Is there any one demographic that doesn’t love her?
Send us your thoughts on anything and everything by sending an instant message to InstantDaily, Sunday through Thursday evenings. Follow us on Twitter (@UCInstantDaily) and tweet at us with the #instantdaily hashtag.
Romney loss a huge blow for GOP morale
I
s this the real life? Is this just fantasy? These are the questions that not just Queen, but also Mitt Romney’s devout acolytes and the Republican Party’s hard-core partisans found themselves asking on Election Night last week. So much was evident from Romney’s remarkable concession speech, which occupied only five minutes of airtime in the early morning hours of Nov. 7. He had said to reporters the day before that By Chris Kempf he had prepared Weekly Columnist only a victory speech: this was evident from the terse address he gave to his supporters in Boston. Because Romney’s concession speech was about as close to improvisation as possible for a political speech, we can gain some insights from it about the strange, supernatural world occupied by the candidate and his campaign, and see how it was the final product of a campaign increasingly detached from reality. The election, at least in terms of the Electoral College vote, was not close. To have gained back only Indiana and North Carolina from its nadir in 2008 amounted to a colossal disappointment for the Republican Party. It is indeed remarkable that Barack Obama is now the only president in American history to have been reelected with a lower share of the popular vote than in his first election, and that the president’s party, having been so beset by economic decline, foreign warfare and resurgent popular animus, made gains in both houses of Congress. But for a certain die-hard segment of the Republican faithful, the result was literally unbelievable. That a president so seemingly fated to serve but one term in office should rather easily fend off his opponent’s challenge was an incomprehensible prospect. Romney’s planned fireworks display over Boston Harbor and his prematurely leaked transition webpage both confirm this sentiment and reveal how deeply ingrained it was. Richard A. Friedman, a science writer for the New York Times, wrote on Tuesday that “once you’ve selected your [political] party, you are likely to retrofit your beliefs and philosophy to align with it.” Any political campaign or movement attracts and intensifies support from its followers by strengthening the emotional investment that they
“Imagine how Romney must blame himself, must feel that he has disappointed the millions of people who loved him and worked tirelessly for him.” feel toward their leaders and the solidarity with which they regard their comrades within the movement. So great is this investment that had Obama had unexpectedly lost the election, his millions of supporters would undoubtedly have been thrown into a paroxysm of grief and anguish greater perhaps than that experienced by Romney’s followers. It’s difficult to witness the defeat of a man you admire and even love. Alternatively, if the winner is a man that you fervently hate, you may be willing to contemplate fleeing to Canada, as many liberals did in 2004, so as not to share a country with George W. Bush. But the Republican defeat was felt more severely than one would expect. Throughout the campaign, Republican leaders variously insisted that opinion polling harbored a Democratic bias; that the enthusiasm of a Republican base looking to defeat Obama would swamp the meticulous grassroots efforts of their opponents; and that a surge of voter fraud could steal elections for Democrats. Karl Rove’s Election Night reaction to the result in Ohio is less an indication that there was some justification for calling into question the projected result than a confirmation of the absolute inability of the devout even to comprehend that their political world view is completely flawed. The polls were correct; the Democratic machine triumphed; there was no fraud. Republicans had prophesied political Armageddon for Obama in 2012 and were left utterly abashed when the sun rose on Nov. 7. In his 2008 concession speech, John McCain urged his supporters “to join me in not just congratulating [Obama], but offering our next presi-
dent our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together…” Mitt Romney, curiously enough, did not urge support in his speech. Instead, he twice asked his supporters to pray for the newly reelected President. It seems that this may have been the only rhetorical plane on which he could operate at the denouncement of the campaign. Romney’s speech emphasized “enduring values,” “belief in America” and a spiritual recommitment in the abstract. But a covenant of grace is not sufficient for the transformation of reality with which politics is concerned. Romney’s defeat was a bizarre human tragedy – the frustration of a life’s effort and a failure to finish the work set out by his father, for which we can all feel some measure of sympathy. Imagine how Romney must blame himself, must feel that he has disappointed the millions of people who loved him and worked tirelessly for him. But imagine also what it felt like to write a victory address and then discard it when it could not be delivered, to be defeated when he believed he would win. The voters dispelled that certitude last week. Caught in an sort of electoral landslide, there was no escape from reality.
Weekly Columnist Chris Kempf is a 5th-semester political science major. He can be reached at Christopher.Kempf@UConn.edu.
Blue Versus White Two writers argue their points of view on separate sides of the same issue. See the debate on page 9 in this issue of The Daily Campus.
This week: “Are celebrities’ lives public?”
The Daily Campus, Page 9
Commentary
Friday, November 16, 2012
» THEY DESERVE IT
» BUTT OUT
Celebrities are public figures There is no need to report on and should be treated as such celebrities’ personal affairs
B
eing a celebrity nowadays is akin to being a Greek god or goddess centuries ago. Perhaps Brangelina is our parallel to Zeus and Hera, or Lindsay Lohan our version of Aphrodite. (Personally, I think Charlie Sheen could make a good By Victoria Kallsen H a d e s . ) The metaStaff Columnist phor holds because, much like the Greeks, Americans are fascinated with their celebrities. The only difference is that we don’t use folklore to discuss their sexual exploits and instead use “People” magazine. The addiction people feel for knowing information about celebrities, like whether or not Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have reconciled, is an interesting concept. Some may argue that the celebrities deserve their privacy and that they are “real” people, too. In many ways they aren’t, because of the lives they chose to lead and because of the way we perceive them. We don’t think of Neil Patrick Harris as “Neil,” because the general public does not know him. Instead, celebrities become icons we don’t fully understand as human. We see them as just gods and goddess with a few discernible traits. I don’t know if Jennifer Aniston goes home to watch the new episode of “Parks and Recreation,” or what color Taylor Swift painted her room. I don’t actually know these celebrities the way I know my friends or family, so how am I invading their privacy? Furthermore, there’s the argument that they chose this life or chose a part of it. There
are many draws to the careers that make you famous, from the fame and fortune to the fact you get to do something you love every day and get paid well for it. It’s hard to feel bad knowing so many details regarding Tom Cruise’s recent divorce when he earned $75 million this year. Nobody today enters the business or takes a career without knowing that once they make it, they are in for the public eye. Jennifer Lawrence, now a huge star because of “The Hunger Games,” took a couple of days before accepting the role because of what being the face of the new huge movie franchise would do for her fame and level of privacy. One must also look at how open some celebrities are to having people involved in their lives. There’s the light version, which would include a verified Twitter account that is mostly dedicated to updates about their current projects. Sometimes your private life seeps in, in the form of intense “Breaking Bad”-related tweets like Patton Oswalt’s or dedicatedly liberal comments like Mr. Roger Ebert. Then there’s a more extreme way of letting people into your private life, like being a reality TV star, such as the show “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica,” or “Jersey Shore.” These people can’t claim any form of privacy when they regularly invite people into their homes to film them. Opening up your private life also isn’t always a bad publicity move for actors and actresses; people like Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen have made millions for being crazy. The opposing side may argue that it is impossible
to keep your private life private when you’re a celebrity and they literally will find out everything about you. I disagree. For certain celebrities, is possible to keep things under wraps. Let’s compare here. When Angelina Jolie gave birth to twins in 2008, the pictures were sold for a record breaking $14 million to “People” and “Hello!” magazines, so “People” could have “19 pages of intimate family photos” available for everyone to see. However, when Owen Wilson’s girlfriend was pregnant in 2011, his rep released the information to the public just four days before she would actually give birth. The contrast here is remarkably evident. In the end, it’s all how the celebrity manages their fame. There are no laws to prevent the delving into of a celebrity’s private life. But why should there be? We don’t actually see them as who they are, just the image they’ve fed us over the years. Maybe I’d be more sympathetic if Taylor Swift didn’t write songs about every single break-up. If they continue to let us into their lives so persistently, get overpaid for doing so and often gain from the publicity attention, it’s hard to argue that celebrities don’t want the exposure and should have laws to protect themselves from it. Celebrities get what they signed up for, and I won’t apologize for buying a copy of “People” this week.
Staff Columnist Victoria Kallsen is a 2nd-semester mechanical engineering major. She can be reached at Victoria.Kallsen@UConn.edu.
T
he life of the modern celebrity is glamorized to the highest degree. To be like them, to wear the same name brand clothing, to drive nice cars and to be effortlessly fabulous at any time of the day By Chynna Davis is what we Staff Columnist all aspire to. Just having all of the attention is something that we desire – but only to a certain degree. A celebrity having their privacy constantly prodded is not okay, and it shouldn’t be accepted as easily as it is. On every magazine cover you see in the supermarket or at a drug store, there are bold words exclaiming what is going on in a celebrity’s life, especially in their love lives. This is ridiculous. Let’s take a look at what differentiates a famous person and a celebrity before I delve further into this issue. To be famous is to be “known about by many people,” according to the New Oxford American Dictionary. A celebrity is simply “a famous person; the state of being well known,” according to the New Oxford American Dictionary. However, the Latin root, “celeber,” means “frequented or honored.” Americans place this term "celebrity” upon famous people that we just can’t get enough of, and I don’t think that it’s fair to them. We’re constantly celebrating them like it’s their birthday every day, when they don’t want cake all the time. This is true especially when it comes to their personal lives, and more specifically, their love
lives. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez recently split up, and the media has gone absolutely mad. Yes, Bieber and Gomez are very famous people, especially to their younger audience, but they really need their own space. I don’t understand why it is such a huge shock that they broke up in the first place. They’re young adults and they’re human beings. People break up; it’s life, it’s natural and there’s no reason to go crazy over two people who went through this ordinary process. It’s no one else’s right to know what exactly happened to end their relationship. For Rihanna and Chris Brown’s situation, on the other hand, that’s not so much private. Radio host Big Boy on Power 106 FM, recently interviewed Brown, where the host asked him about his relationship with Rihanna, and more specifically if they were back together. He simply replied, “No,” and expressed how people he deems as nosy “need to shut the hell up” about all of the rumors and talk about them. After watching the whole interview, I respect Brown’s position and I have to give it to the guy. Brown is trying to make it right, and I could tell that he has grown a lot more mature. Unfortunately, he violated the law by abusing Rihanna. Once he did that, their private life situation instantly became public information. He is on the books for the rest of his life for domestically abusing Rihanna, and this case now is free infor-
mation for anyone. Anything regarding him and Rihanna is going to be scrutinized under a magnifying glass because of what he did, and that’s just something he has to deal with for the rest of his life. He no longer has the right to have privacy regarding his “friendship” with Rihanna. Moving on to other privacy issues with celebrities, the Kate Middleton uproar with her naked photos hit a nerve in me. Middleton was sunbathing with her husband Prince William on a balcony in southern France, in private and totally oblivious to paparazzi skulking in the bushes somewhere. It must have been so devastating to walk down the street and see yourself naked on the cover of a magazine when you thought you were safe in a private area. She didn’t ask for that, but the whole nation indulged and scrambled like mad to get a glimpse of these photos. It’s unethical for the paparazzi and for all of the readers who bought those magazines. Everyone needs to remember that these celebrities are people, too, and they need their space. Invading celebrities’ privacy needs to stop. Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening anytime soon.
Staff Columnist Chynna Davis is a 9th-semester photography and journalism dual major. She can be reached at Chynna.Davis@UConn.edu.
» TOTALLY RAD/TOTALLY BAD My poor feet are freezing. Tryptophan.
Totally bad
No football games mean no embarrassments.
Thanksgiving with the family!
A week off!
Totally saw it coming
Totally rad
What is your favorite Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade float? – By Lindsay Collier
“Kermit the Frog.” Sharon Dinh, 5th-semester business management major
“The KAWS Companion that’s debuting this year.” Brendan Collier, 9th-semester civil engineering major
“Anything Disney or superhero related, or Spongebob.” Jennifer Del Sole, 5th-semster special education major
“Santa Claus at the end.” Matt Burnett, 5th-semester civil engineering major
The Daily Campus, Page 10
Friday, November 16, 2012
Sports
» VOLLEYBALL
Huskies to play first Big East tourney game since '09
By Tim Fontenault Staff Writer The No. 4 seed UConn volleyball team will play its first Big East Tournament game since 2009 on Friday morning when it takes on No. 5 Cincinnati in the conference quarterfinals at Marquette University in Milwaukee. The Huskies (19-11, 10-5 Big East) were projected to finish 10th in the Big East preseason coaches’ poll, but the success of Coach Holly Strauss-O’Brien’s team was a surprise this year. The team relies on a combination of talented seniors and the meteoric rise of the underclassmen, who have come into the spotlight of success since the Big East regular season began. Offensively, senior captain Mattison Quayle, who ended the 30-game regular season with 353 kills, and sophomore Devon Maugle, who had 301 kills during the season, lead the Huskies. For a good part of the season, Quayle and Maugle were the only offensive production the Huskies had. But in recent weeks, sophomore Karson Ratliff and freshmen Erika Thomas and Immanuella Anagu have stepped up their game. Freshman setter Marissa Prinzbach has also had a great season. She earned a regular spot on the court when she quickly
showed that she could outperform senior Angela Roidt. Prinzbach is eighth in the Big East in assists this season, with 874. There is no denying who holds the team together defensively. Senior captain Kelsey Maving is third in the conference in digs with 581. This season, she climbed into second all-time on the team’s list for career digs. It has certainly been a season of individual successes, which has culminated in an unbelievable season for the Huskies, in contrast to the past two seasons, when they were one of the basement dwellers in the Big East. After starting the conference season 3-4, UConn won seven of their last eight. Their only loss in that time came to Marquette (245, 13-2 Big East), who is the No. 2 seed. The key for the Huskies down the stretch was that everyone on the team began to play at a high level together, rather than relying on Quayle, Maving and Maugle to lead the way. Strauss-O’Brien has been waiting for this day all season. “We’re so close,” StraussO’Brien said after UConn’s win over Seton Hall on Oct. 28. “We still haven’t had a night where every single attacker is completely on, and that’s fun because the day that that happens, we’re going to be really hard to beat.”
UConn is looking to make history for the program, as the Huskies have never won the Big East Tournament, despite winning the regular season title in 1994 and 1998. To complete this daunting task in a very competitive conference, however, they will need to start by defeating the 2011 tournament champions. Cincinnati enters the tournament as the No. 5 seed at 9-6 in the conference, despite posting an 11-18 record overall. The two sides met once this season and played a five-set thriller in front of the largest crowd to take in a match at Gampel Pavilion this season. The Bearcats had little problem winning the first two sets, but the Huskies stormed back to tie the match at 2-2. Cincinnati dominated the fifth set, winning 15-8. The two teams will play at 11 a.m. this morning. The winner will take on the winner of No. 1 Louisville and No. 8 St. John’s at 2 p.m. on Saturday, with that winner advancing to Sunday’s championship game, which is at 2 p.m. on ESPNU. The matchups on the other side of the bracket are No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 7 Pittsburgh and No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 6 South Florida.
Timothy.Fontenault@UConn.edu
LINDSAY COLLIER/The Daily Campus
UConn sophomore Brianna Datti goes for a hit during a UConn volleyball game earlier this season.
» CROSS COUNTRY
UConn advances to NCAA Championships
By Jack Mitchell Campus Correspondent The UConn women’s crosscountry team has saved its best for last. On Saturday, the Huskies will compete in the NCAA Championship meet for the first time in the history of the cross-country program. The meet will be held at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ken. UConn secured an automatic bid by finishing in second place at the Northeast Regional meet, which was held on Nov. 9. There will be 31 schools represented at the meet. “Everybody was obviously really excited initially
and feeling really good after Regionals, and there’s kind of a high from that,” Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough said. “But I’m seeing more nervous faces, at least when we sit down and really talk strategy and game plan.” This season, the Huskies have set a gold standard for the cross-country program. Grove-McDonough was named the Northeast Region Coach of the Year on Nov. 13, and her staff was also honored as the 2012 Big East Coaching Staff of the Year. The team reached its highest national ranking ever – 14th overall – as well as qualified for the National Championship for
the first time as a team. UConn will be taking a starstudded roster to the National Championship meet, comprising juniors Lauren Sara and Allison Lasnicki, sophomore Lindsay Crevoiserat, senior Shauna McNiff, freshman Julia Zrinyi, senior Kim Moran and junior Brigitte Mania. Lasnicki, Crevoiserat and Sara were each 2012 All-Big East selections, and each of the Huskies’ top five runners were also named to the Northeast All-Region team. “We’re really a very good team,” Grove-McDonough said. “We could really do some damage and end the year having made a big statement
about our program.” The Sawyer State Park course is one that GroveMcDonough’s team – with the exception of freshman Julia Zrinyi – has experience running on. “It’s not a difficult course,” Grove-McDonough said. “It’s not quite as easy as the Hammonasset course, where we had the Regionals. The course is pretty flat, but is does have a few rises here and there. But on the scale of cross-country courses, its pretty easy. We had the Big East Championship there last year, so I have seen it and the team has run on it. Everybody has raced on the course with the
exception of our freshmen.” Grove-McDonough’s plan for the week has been the same as it would be with any other week; game plan and strategize early, and as the meet gets closer and closer, ease off the coaching gas pedal and let the chips fall where they may. “It’s a business trip,” Grove-McDonough said. “As a coach, my job is to keep the team as relaxed as possible. There’s a fine line between being relaxed and just happy to be there, but the closer we get to race time, the simpler I like to keep it.” Wherever the Huskies finish on Saturday, the fact remains
that it is impossible not to call the 2012 season a success. Coach Grove-McDonough and her staff have taken the women’s cross-country program into rarefied air this year, and with much of the team’s nucleus of talent returning next season, the arrow is still very much pointing up. The Huskies have the roster and the talent to make a serious run at a top-ten finish at the National Championship meet this year, and GroveMcDonough expects her team to run like the top-ranked team that they are.
Jackson.Mitchell@UConn.edu
Club equestrian has region opposition Men's hockey to play game at XL Center By Jack Mitchell Campus Correspondent The UConn club equestrian team has its fifth show of the season on Saturday, and the Huskies will be competing against a full slate of Region 5 opposition. The team, which competes under the umbrella of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, has been enjoying a stellar 2012 season and currently holds an undefeated record of 4-0. “This season is shaping up to be an incredible one,” Coach Alena Meachem said. “The team is in first place so far and has won every show.” UConn competes predominantly against Connecticut schools, namely Connecticut College, Sacred Heart, Post University, Yale, Wesleyan, Fairfield, Central Connecticut and Coast Guard Academy. Each of those schools will be represented at the Saturday show. Equestrian shows work in an interesting way, unlike most tradi-
tional horse and rider events. “In the morning the host team warms up all the horses while the visiting teams watch,” team member Brittney Lamark said. “Then, each rider is randomly assigned a horse and must ride that horse without any preparation. The shows are split into levels based on the rider’s previous experience, and they compete against riders from other teams at the same skill level. They are judged mostly on their position, which should be tall and elegant and, most importantly, effective. They should also show control and safety when riding their horse.” Teams compete in five different riding divisions: Open, Intermediate, Novice, Walk Trot Canter and Walk Trot. Each team designates one rider as their point rider, who acquires points for their team. The team with the most points at the end of the show is declared the victor. Coach Meachem was quick to point out three riders for their excellent performances thus far: Hayley Snell, Sarah Lerch and
Kaitlyn Boggio. “Hayley, Sarah and Kaitlyn are all outstanding riders, and they maintain their poise regardless of what horse they’re on,” Meachem said. UConn is the reigning Region 5 champion, and the team is hoping to maintain its standing as one of the premier collegiate equestrian programs in the country. Thus far, it would appear that they are well on their way towards at least matching their success from last year. “Going forward, we need to prepare for Zone competition, where we will be competing against the top team in each region of our Zone,” Meachem said. “There, the team needs to come in first or second to go on to the National finals. It would be a great accomplishment to make it to Nationals, and I think this team can do it.” The show will begin at 7 p.m. this Saturday at Horsebarn Hill Arena.
Jackson.Mitchell@UConn.edu
Ollie: We're playing together from JAMMIN', page 12 If the Huskies are able to defeat the Demon Deacons, they will play the winner of the Quinnipiac-Iona game. If UConn falls to Wake Forest, they will then play the loser of that game. The Bobcats and the Gaels will play immediately following the UConn-Wake game. Regardless of how the Huskies play in the tournament, they will be guaranteed three games. Depending on the way the bracket falls, UConn will play one of four teams in their third and final game of the Paradise Jam: Mercer, Illinois-Chicago, New Mexico or George Mason. Historically, the Huskies have
only played in the Paradise Jam once, in 2008, but they came away as champions. The No. 2 UConn Huskies of 2008 won the tournament, beating No. 19 Wisconsin, 76-57. Kemba Walker and Jerome Dyson were named to the All-Tournament team, while center Hasheem Thabeet was named the tournament’s MVP. Wake Forest defeated Radford at home in their lone game of the season, 79-67. The Demon Deacons, who were pegged to finish 10th in the preseason ACC coaches poll, are led by senior guard C.J. Harris, who dropped 19 points against Radford. The last time the two storied basketball programs faced off was over 20 years ago, in December
1991. The Huskies defeated the Demon Deacons 84-75 in Hartford as part of the ACC/Big East Challenge. The career series between the two teams is knotted up at 1-1. As he has said several times since he took over as head coach at UConn, Ollie simply wants his team to make an effort and to compete. “I love this group of guys, and we’re playing hard and playing together. We’re playing the game the right way,” Ollie said. “That’s all I want is to compete. If you compete each and every day, you give yourself a chance to win, and that’s what I want them to do.”
Thomas.Souhlaris@UConn.edu
SANTIAGO PELAEZ/The Daily Campus
UConn junior forward Jordan Sims moves the puck up the ice during a UConn hockey game. This weekend, the Huskies play in the XL Center.
By Tim Fontenault Staff Writer Coming off its first two wins of the season, the UConn men’s hockey team will play three Atlantic Hockey games during the Thanksgiving break, including a game at the XL Center next Saturday. The Huskies will begin this three-game stretch tomorrow against Bentley in Waltham, Mass. and will then play a two-game set against Air Force on Nov. 23 and 24. The Nov. 23 game will be at the Freitas Ice Forum in Storrs while the game on Nov. 24 is in Hartford as part of a special event with the Connecticut Whale, the American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Rangers. Despite the medical leave of Coach Bruce Marshall, the Huskies looked impressive last weekend. On Friday, UConn senior goaltender Garrett Bartus became the school’s all-time leader in career wins, with 35, as the Huskies defeated AHA foe and in-state rival Sacred Heart in a 5-3 goal-fest. On Saturday, the Huskies took
care of future conference foe Merrimack 3-1 in Massachusetts. Senior captain Sean Ambrosie led the way against the Hockey East opponent with a goal and an assist. In Saturday’s win, the Huskies were able to score on the power play, something they had not done since the season-opening loss to UMass on Oct. 12. The Huskies are now 2-36 on the power play this season, which is a 5.5 percent success rate. Bentley comes into the game on Saturday at 3-4-0 on the season, 2-2 in Hockey East. The Falcons have spent most of the season on the road, but have been dominant in their two home games: winning 7-1 against Sacred Heart and 9-1 against Alabama-Huntsville. Bentley plays American International College today before facing the Huskies. Next weekend brings the rematch of last year’s intense AHA Quarterfinals series between the Huskies and the Air Force Falcons. The No. 1 seed in last year’s tournament, Air Force was expected to skate circles around UConn, but the Huskies forced the Falcons to go all three games, los-
ing the first and last games of the series by one goal each. Friday’s affair will take place at the Freitas Ice Forum in Storrs at 7 p.m., but on Saturday, UConn and Air Force will get the chance to play at the XL Center. With the Huskies moving to Hockey East in 2014, the state of Connecticut is currently working on ideas for the future home of the program. UConn either has to build a new stadium on campus or play all of its games at the XL Center. For now, at least, it is believed that at the start of its time in Hockey East, UConn will split time between Storrs and Hartford. Next Saturday’s game, UConn’s first home game away from Freitas since playing at Rentschler Field on Feb. 13, 2011, will give hockey fans across the state the chance to see the Huskies in action in a big state venue. The game at the XL Center is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. and will be followed by an AHL game between the Whale and the Norfolk Admirals, the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks.
Timothy.Fontenault@UConn.edu
TWO Friday, November 16, 2012
Stat of the day
PAGE 2
What's Next Home game
Nov. 17 Quinnipiac or Iona TBA
Nov. 25 Stony Brook 4 p.m.
Nov. 19 TBA
Nov. 29 New Hampshire 7 p.m.
Women’s Basketball (1-0) Nov. 18 Texas A&M 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 22 Wake Forest 6 p.m.
Nov. 23 Nov. 24 Marist Purdue 8:15 p.m. 8:15 p.m.
Nov. 28 Colgate 7 p.m.
Football (4-6) Nov. 24 Louisville TBA
Dec. 1 Cincinnati TBA
Men’s Soccer (15-3-1) Nov. 18 NCAA First Round Northeastern 1 p.m.
Volleyball
(19-11) Tomorrow Big East Quarterfinal Cincinnati
Men’s Hockey (2-4-1) Tomorrow Bentley 7:05 p.m.
Nov. 23 Air Force 4 p.m.
Nov. 24 Air Force 3:30 p.m.
Dec. 1 Nov. 30 Canisius Canisius 7:05 p.m. 7: 05 p.m.
Women’s Hockey (2-9-1) Today Vermont 2 p.m.
Nov. 18 St. Lawrence 2 p.m.
Nov. 23 Yale 7 p.m.
Nov. 24 Quinnipiac or BC TBA
Dec. 1 Vermont 1 p.m.
Men’s Swimming & Diving Today Virginia Tech Invitational All Day
Nov. 16 Virginia Tech Invitational All Day
Women’s Swimming & Diving Today Virginia Tech Invitational All Day
16
Percentage of Kevin Ollie’s current contract year he gave to the UConn Basketball Development Center
» That’s what he said
» NFL
Punter sues field workers over turf
“That’s all I want is to compete. If you compete each and every day, you give yourself a chance to win, and that’s what I want them to do.”
Away game
Men’s Basketball (2-0) Today Wake Forest 6:30 p.m.
The Daily Campus, Page 11
Sports
Nov. 16 Virginia Tech Invitational All Day
Can’t make it to the game? Follow us on Twitter: @DCSportsDept www.dailycampus.com
–UConn men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie on what he expects of this year’s team.
AP
HOUSTON (AP) -- Former Houston Texans punter Brett Hartmann has sued the county agency that operates Reliant Stadium, blaming ‘’unsafe turf’’ for a possibly career-ending knee injury. The 6-foot-2 Hartmann signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent in July 2011. He played in the first 12 games last season before tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament and fracturing a bone in Houston’s 17-10 win over Atlanta on Dec. 4. Hartmann’s attorneys filed the lawsuit Thursday in Harris County District Court, naming venue-management company SMG and the Harris County Convention and Sports Corporation (HCCSC) as defendants. It doesn’t name the Texans, but includes past comments critical of the stadium’s surface by nose tackle Shaun Cody, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and former Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy. ‘’Brett has no ill will toward the Texans,’’ said Gene Egdorf, one of Hartmann’s attorneys. ‘’If anything, Brett wishes he was with his teammates and hopes this action will help keep his teammates safe for the rest of this season and into the future.’’ The Texans (8-1) play Jacksonville (1-8) at Reliant Stadium on Sunday. Houston coach Gary Kubiak defended the condition of the field. ‘’I think our field is great. I think our guys do a great job,’’ Kubiak said. ‘’That’s all I got to say.’’ The lawsuit says several doctors have told Hartmann that his knee remains ‘’unstable’’ and that he needs ‘’additional surgery, possibly quite extensive.’’ He says he hasn’t been contacted by other NFL teams since the Texans cut him in August 2012 and fears his playing career is already over. ‘’I’m kind of at a loss for words, not knowing what’s going to happen,’’ Hartmann said. The stadium recently installed removable AstroTurf to be used for non-NFL events. For Texans games, workers piece together more than 1,200, 8-by-8-foot palettes of real grass with forklifts. Hartmann caught his left foot in a seam between palettes and was placed on injured reserve. The lawsuit says Hartmann suffered a ‘’significant and career-threatening injury.’’ Willie Loston, executive director of the HCCSC, also defended the surface and says the county ‘’will defend the lawsuit vigorously.’’ ‘’We have no doubts that the field system is a safe system,’’ Loston said in a phone interview. AP Loston says the turf is inspected by stadiFILE - In this Oct. 14, 2012 file photo, Pachuca’s coach Hugo Sanchez reacts after player Nery Castillo missed a chance to um officials and NFL referees before every score against the Pumas during a Mexican soccer league match. Texans game. Kevin Ollie
» Pic of the day
These hips do lie.
» NBA
D’Antoni, on crutches, accepts Lakers’ coach job
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- Mike D’Antoni circled the court 2 feet at a time, moving smoothly on crutches while his Los Angeles Lakers went through drills orchestrated by his assistant coach and brother, Dan. Although D’Antoni’s surgically replaced knee is slowing him down a bit, he couldn’t wait any longer to get the Lakers rolling. D’Antoni formally took over the Lakers on Thursday, four days after the slow-starting club hired him to replace Mike Brown. The former Knicks and Suns coach is still on crutches and pain medication after surgery earlier this month, but thinks he’ll soon be back to normal while he attempts to transform the Lakers into his vision of an up-tempo, highscoring team. ‘’I’m really happy to be here - excited,’’ D’Antoni said. ‘’(We’re) starting to put stuff in now. Might take a little bit, but ... we’re built to win this year. This is not a five-year project. We have a window, and we’re going to try to get through it.’’ Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak welcomed D’Antoni after practice at a news conference packed with dozens of media members. Given his limited mobil-
ity, D’Antoni isn’t likely to make his sideline debut until Sunday night against Houston, with interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff probably manning the bench again Friday night against Phoenix. ‘’This is a great city to have an up-tempo, exciting game that has a legitimate shot to win a championship,’’ D’Antoni said. ‘’I can’t ask for anything more.’’ D’Antoni’s affable charm immediately worked on the Lakers, who praised their new coach’s demeanor during their first few hours together. The coach acknowledged few qualms about taking over the star-studded roster that got off to a 1-4 start to the season, speaking instead of the limitless possibilities of the Lakers’ talent within his creative style of coaching. D’Antoni said he rooted for Jerry West’s Lakers while growing up in 1960s West Virginia, and he won’t have any problem transferring his allegiances after trying to beat L.A. for so many years in Phoenix. The coach also realizes his up-tempo style of play will mesh nicely with the Lakers’ heritage under Magic Johnson - who has already criticized D’Antoni’s hire. ‘’We would love to be able to play Showtime-type basket-
ball,’’ D’Antoni said. ‘’Now, they might have done it the best that you can do it. We would like to get some place close to that. I think that would be awesome.’’ Los Angeles has gone 2-1 under Bickerstaff since Brown’s firing, and the veteran coach was in practice Thursday along with Brown’s entire staff. They finished their workout with a huddle around D’Antoni, followed by a oneword cheer: ‘’Championship!’’ D’Antoni isn’t likely to have much trouble meshing with Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant. Nash became a two-time NBA MVP running D’Antoni’s offense in Phoenix, while Bryant has played for D’Antoni on the U.S. national team. The coach also recalls the 12-yearold Bryant hanging out at his games in the Italian league. ‘’He can come over and cuss me out in Italian, and you guys might not even know it,’’ D’Antoni said. D’Antoni also has ties to Howard, who has been on U.S. national teams with D’Antoni on the coaching staff, and backup forward Jordan Hill, who briefly played for the coach in New York. How quickly that familiarity translates into wins will decide how quickly D’Antoni is comfortable in his new job. His
greatest task might be forming a bond with Howard, the defenseminded center who will be the Lakers’ top star for many more years if he re-signs with the club next summer. Howard was intrigued by his first practice under D’Antoni, but realizes the process takes time. ‘’We can’t just expect for him to come in and we have one day of practice, and then the next day we’re scoring 150 points,’’ Howard said. ‘’I don’t think it works like that.’’ D’Antoni ran his first practice without his top two point guards: Nash is still out with a small fracture in his leg, while Steve Blake missed the Lakers’ last game with a minor abdominal strain. D’Antoni is excited for his reunion with Nash, but he’s also thrilled by his first chance to coach Blake, a player he identified as an ideal fit for his system a decade ago. ‘’He said we should be scoring 110 points a game, or something like that,’’ said Bryant, who isn’t worried about how the veteran Lakers will play defense. ‘’How many defensive players do you need on one team? At some point, you just throw the ball out there and let us figure things out on our own, which is really what we do best, and that’s what we’re going to do.’’
» INSIDE SPORTS TODAY
P.11: Former punter sues NFL. / P.10: UConn volleyball in first Big East Tournament game since ‘09. /P.10: UConn cross country in Nationals.
Page 12
Friday, November 16, 2012
» SWIM/DIVE
Women’s swim and dive at Va. Tech
www.dailycampus.com
JAMMIN’ IN PARADISE Huskies head to Virgin Islands for Paradise Jam
By Erica Brancato Campus Correspondent The UConn women’s swimming and diving team traveled to Blacksburg, Va. for their three-day meet that started on Thursday, Nov. 15. Coming off a loss in their last meet against Penn, UConn hopes to come back and prove their dominance. The swimming team had a shaky start. The usual leading and central swimmers placed lower than normal. However the 400-yard freestyle relay team took the top three spots and shone in this event. The divers also had an exceptional meet, placing in the top three spots for both the one-meter and three-meter events. “I think the team performed really well at the Penn meet overall,” diver Danielle Cecco said. “Some people threw some new dives, one diver was coming back from an injury and we had some personal best scores. The girls took first, second and third place on both boards. We were weaker in our first event but picked it up and ended strong as a team in the second event.” Despite the loss, the team seems to be shaping up nicely. “The team is progressing really well this season,” Cecco said. “Our freshmen are coming along really well and we have strong upperclassman.” UConn is exactly where they want to be going into the Virginia Tech Invitational.
» SWIM/ DIVING
By TJ Souhlaris Staff Writer
The No. 23 UConn men’s basketball team has already racked up some frequent flyer miles with its trip to Germany last week. After returning to Storrs and defeating Vermont on Tuesday, the Huskies are off on another long plane trip. This time they will be heading to the Caribbean to play in the 12th Annual U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. UConn (2-0) will tip off against unranked Wake Forest (1-0) on Friday at 6:30 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network. “Let’s go down there with a motto of winning the Connecticut way,” Coach Kevin Ollie told the media after UConn’s 67-49 victory against Vermont. “That’s with effort, dedication and passion. But we’re all going down there to bond a little bit and spend a little time with each other [as well].” Even though the Huskies are about to reach more than 10,000 miles of travel so far this season with their voyage to the Virgin Islands, Ollie will not buy the team’s excessive travel as an excuse if the team does not play well. “We’re not subscribing to that newspaper,” Ollie said. “We’re not subscribing to excuses about jet lag and coming back from Germany. We’re subscribing to playing basketball the right way. That’s how Connecticut has been doing it throughout these years when I played here and it’s going to be the same thing when I’m coaching.” Freshman guard Omar Calhoun admitted that there is “definitely jet lag,” but that the team will be fine. “We’re getting closer and closer as we keep playing games,” Calhoun said about UConn’s chemistry. “We’re going to keep working on it and keep getting better as the season continues.” KEVIN SCHELLER/The Daily Campus
» WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
UConn heads to College Station to face Texas A&M
By Tyler Morrissey Associate Sports Editor
» Preview “First semester we build for ten weeks up to an invitational at Virginia Tech,” head diving coach John Bransfield said. “After the meet we will go back and revisit things that have slipped away a bit. We do our greatest amount of work on our training trip and then we come back and hit the ground running.” The Virginia Tech Invitational seems to have greater weight on the teams schedule compared to the regular dual meets they have. Cecco said that the Virginia Tech Invitational structured more like a championship meet and is different from a regular season duel meet because there is a preliminary and finals instead of just preliminaries. With the cancellation of the Big East Quad Meet due to hurricane Sandy, the Huskies lost out on a big meet with numerous teams that bring tough competition. This invitational will not only prepare them for their championships in February, but will get them acquainted with improvements that they need to work on to perform the best in the second semester. “My personal goal for this meet is to final on both boards and dive my best,” Cecco said. “For our team I want as many of our divers to make finals and be able to dive again at night in the finals.” UConn will be competing against William & Mary, South Carolina, Virginia Tech and the Liberty women in this three-day event. The Huskies will be put to the test as they look to improve their record in this 2012-2013 season.
Erica.Brancato@UConn.edu
» OLLIE, page 10
UConn’s Niels Giffey guards an AIC player during a game played at Gampel Pavilion. The Huskies next play in the Virgin Islands.
The UConn women’s basketball team will head down to College Station, Tex. on Sunday to face the Texas A&M Aggies as the Huskies search for their second win and first road victory of the season. Last weekend the Huskies opened the season with a 103-39 rout of the College of Charleston. The dominant victory extended UConn’s home opener winning streak to 17 straight. Freshman Breanna Stewart scored 21 points in her Husky debut, which tied the record of most points scored in a freshman debut, set by former Husky great, Maya Moore. Six Huskies scored in double digits against Charleston, including sophomore Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, who scored 19 points and grabbed eight boards. Head coach Geno Auriemma
said in the post-game following UConn’s victory over Charleston that he hopes his younger players on the team are ready for their first road game against a decent Texas A&M team. “Our three freshmen have not played a road game yet, and they are actually going to play against a really good team,” Auriemma said. “I hope their focus is good because they are going to need it. The young guys are in for a treat and I hope they respond the way I think they’re going to respond.” Freshman forward Morgan Tuck scored 15 points in her debut for UConn and shot 7-15 from the field. She made 50 percent of her shots taken from behind the arc. Tuck is very excited for her first opportunity to play on national television in a Husky uniform. “I’m really excited,” Tuck said. “I know it’s on ESPN 2 and it’s my first nationally televised game, so I am really excited for
it.” Texas A&M is on a two-game losing streak after losing their season opener to Louisville on the road 47-58 and their home opener to No. 9 Penn State 63-58. The Aggies are led in total points by the 6’4” center, junior Kelsey Bone. So far this season, Bone has 30 points in the two games she has played. In the game against Penn State, Bone scored a team high 16 points and grabbed 15 boards. However Bone also had two turnovers in the final minute of the game. Karla Gilbert also scored 10 points and made a team high two blocks for the Aggies against Penn State. UConn and Texas A&M will tipoff on Sunday, November 18 at 2:30 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN 2.
Tyler.Morrissey@UConn.edu
JON KULAKOFSKY/The Daily Campus
UConn’s senior guard Kelly Faris passes the ball up the court during a UConn basketball game. This weekend, the Huskies will face Texas A&M.
» SOCCER
Battle of the Huskies in NCAA Tourney By Danny Maher Staff Writer The UConn men’s soccer team (153-1) accomplished its first goal of the season, a Big East regular season crown, but failed to meet its second goal, a Big East Tournament championship. The third and final goal is to be the last team off the field in Hoover, Ala. on Dec. 9 as national champions. The quest for the program’s fourth national championship begins Sunday at 1 p.m. as the Northeastern Huskies (14-2-4) come to Morrone Stadium for the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Despite being ranked No. 7 in the latest NSCAA coaches’ poll, UConn earned the No. 4 overall and final No. 1 seed in the tournament. That means Connecticut holds home-field advantage through the quarterfinals. UConn is 10-0-1 at home in 2012.
Last year, UConn received the No. NCAA Tournament. The Big East 3 overall seed but lost to Charlotte in claimed five out of the top ten seeds. the quarterfinals on penalty kicks. The Marquette and Louisville also earned Huskies have seen their season end by first-round byes. way of a shootout for the past three Junior Mamadou Doudou Diouf years. The Huskies were knocked led the Huskies and finished secout by Monmouth in 2009, Brown ond in the Big East with 13 goals in 2010 and Charlotte in this season including five 2011. Under Coach Ray game-winning scores. He Reid, UConn is 19-8-5 in joined sophomore goalNCAA Tournament games. keeper Andre Blake and On Nov. 9 the Notre seniors Carlos Alvarez and Dame Fighting Irish Jossimar Sanchez on the achieved revenge for All-Big East First Team. a regular season loss to Alvarez also earned Big the Huskies and knocked East Midfielder of the Preview UConn out of the Big East Year as he finished his Tournament with a 1-0 win. final season at UConn Notre Dame’s Dillon Powers scored with seven goals and eight assists. in the 11th minute, and Connecticut Blake was honored as Big East could not score the equalizer even Goalkeeper of the Year for the second with several scoring chances at the season in a row. He led the Big East end of regulation. in 2012 with a .52 goals against averNotre Dame and Georgetown age and a .846 save percentage. He join UConn as No. 1 seeds in the also recorded 55 saves and posted 10
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shutouts. After dismantling James Madison 5-0 in CAA Tournament semifinals, the Northeastern Huskies defeated Hofstra 1-0 in double overtime in the CAA championship game to earn an NCAA Tournament berth. Northeastern is led by CAA Player of the Year Don Anding. He has 14 goals and six assists in 2012. His 34 points are eighth in the country. Northeastern is making its second appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The first came in 2002, when the Huskies defeated Lehigh in the first round but fell to Boston College, 2-1, in the second round. A record five of Northeastern’s 13 wins in 2012 have come in double overtime. In net, senior goalkeeper Oliver Blum has held opponents to 10 goals and notched seven shutouts.
Daniel.Maher@UConn.edu