The Daily Campus: February 21, 2012

Volume CXVIII No. 95

» INSIDE

UConn conservatives go to D.C. SUBOG using

By Courtney Robishaw Staff Writer

BRUIN ALL UP IN UCONN BUSINESS Student group posts NHL champ’s marketing director.

FOCUS/ page 7

ALL HEART AND HUSTLE Lamb scores 32, Napier hits 3-pointer to win it in overtime.

www.dailycampus.com

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

U C o n n ’s College Republicans took their annual trip to Washington D.C. Feb. 9-11 to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference, better known as CPAC. Thirteen members of UConn’s College Republicans attended the event, known for being “America’s oldest and largest annual gathering of conservatives.”

“CPAC is always an excellent opportunity for American conservatives and libertarians to network and gather to listen and meet some of the most influential minds in the conservative movement,” said Joseph Gasser, president of UConn College Republicans.

CPAC has been held every February in Washington D.C. since 1974, when Ronald

Reagan was the first speaker.

The theme of this year’s conference was “We Still Hold These Truths,” and speakers focused on ways our nation can return to the principles of limited government, personal liberty and valuing human life that our nation was founded upon, according to Gasser, a 6th-semester political science major.

Attendees of the conference were able to hear from and interact with several keynote speakers, including Republican presidential candidates, former Gov. Mitt Romney, former Sen. Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Herman Cain, Sen. Rand Paul, the National Rifle Association Executive VP Wayne LaPierre and author Ann Coulter also spoke. The closing keynote speaker was the former governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin.

The College Republicans

events chair Tim Konola’s favorite speaker was Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, whose parents immigrated from Cuba.

“His speech focused on the importance of protecting and maintaining the American dream,” said Konola, a 2ndsemester undeclared major.

“The uniquely American concept means that anyone who is born or comes to the United States can rise from nothing and achieve great success.”

Konola said he and the rest of the audience were captivated by the speech and the sense of unity that filled the room, which has been absent from Washington D.C. “At that moment, none of us were black or white, rich or poor. We were all Americans, and proud Americans at that,” he said.

The College Republicans also had the opportunity to meet Newt Gingrich, Rand

Paul and Ann Coulter at their book signings.

While events at the conference kept them busy, the College Republicans also used their time in Washington D.C. to meet with students from other College Republican chapters across the country. They also spent part of Friday afternoon interacting with people from the Occupy movement, who were displaying anger about the CPAC event, according to Gasser.

“My experience at CPAC has confirmed many of my political beliefs and challenged others,” Konola said.

“It has inspired me to learn more about American politics and stay well-informed.”

“I recommend CPAC to any person who believes in the freedom of the individual that has made this country the best country in the world,” he said.

Courtney.Robishaw@UConn.edu

Huskies win in overtime

SPORTS/ page 14 EDITORIAL: UCONN’S REGIONAL CAMPUSES CONTRIBUTE MUCH TO COMMUNITY

COMMENTARY/page 4

D5254024

Women silently protest over infuriating issue.

NEWS/ page 2

» weather Tuesday

AP

UConn’s Ryan Boatright, left, steals the ball from Villanova’s Ty Johnson during the game Feb. 20. The Huskies beat the Wildcats 73-70 in the last second of overtime.

See full story on Page 14.

WEDNESDAY/Thursday

Merrill announces primary candidates

By Jimmy Onofrio Staff Writer

High 55 Low 36

High 54 Low 42

» index

Classifieds 3 Comics 5 Commentary 4 Crossword/Sudoku 5 Focus 7 InstantDaily 4 Sports 14

The Daily Campus 1266 Storrs Road Storrs, CT 06268 Box U-4189

In an article titled “SUBOG to hold elections for two execs.” that ran Monday, we inaccurately reported that SUBOG will be holding elections for the two open positions.

According to SUBOG President Mike Carson, there is no election; SUBOG uses a selection process instead.

After students apply for the open positions, they are interviewed by a selection committee. Upon the determinations of the selection committee, those chosen for the position are appointed by the university president for the term of 20122013 starting on May 1.

In addition, we inaccurately reported that the two open executive positions are brand new, but were just not filled during the preliminary executive board selection process.

The selection process for the two executive positions will be held during the same time as the selections for the 13 committee chair positions, according to Carson. There will be no new upcoming elections as we had originally reported.

Students have until Feb. 24 to apply, and interviews will begin on Feb. 27.

Southern Baptist panel recommends add-on to name

INSIDE NEWS: WOMEN PROTEST ANTI-ABORTION BILLS IN VIRGINIA

High 44 / Low 37

By Nicholas Rondinone News Editor

Nicholas.Rondinone@UConn.edu

UConn’s Storrs campus is not the only important campus.

Partly cloudy

selection process, not elections

Connecticut voters will head to the primaries on April 24, and Secretary of State Denise Merrill has announced which candidates will appear on the ballot.

The four remaining contenders for the Republican nomination – Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum – were all

selected to appear. Under Connecticut state law, the secretary of state can select candidates to be listed if their candidacies are “generally and seriously advocated or recognized according to reports in the national or state news media.”

Other candidates can also petition to appear on the ballot if they are not selected by the secretary. The signature requirement is one percent of the enrolled mem-

bers of the party statewide.

Current estimates place this figure at around 7,500 for a Democratic candidate and 4,100 for a Republican.

Candidates have until March 2 to collect signatures and file their paperwork.

Unless a Democratic candidate completes a petition to challenge President Obama, no Democratic primary will be held. Connecticut has closed primary elections, so only registered members of a party

can vote in that party’s primary election. Unregistered voters, and those who are currently registered as independent but would like to enroll in a party, have until April 19 to register by mail.

Registration can be done in person until April 23, the day before the primary.

State officials encouraged voters to make the trip to the polls, as part of a day

» CONNECTICUT, page 2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A panel for the Southern Baptist Convention recommended Monday that its leadership approve a new, add-on description for the denomination — "Great Commission Baptists" — but stopped short of a complete, legal name change.

Officials described the new term as a way to give an official, sanctioned identity to affiliated churches and believers who don't want to use the term "Southern."

The Rev. Bryant Wright, president of the nation's largest Protestant denomination, has said he is concerned that the "Southern" name is too regional and hinders the evangelistic faith's effort to expand beyond the South.

The panel rejected a complete name change, citing the legal costs and difficulties. They also noted the positive associations many hold with the Southern Baptist name, such as with its well-regarded disaster relief organization.

A recent survey conducted by the SBC's own Lifeway Research firm gives weight to the idea that the name does drive away some potential members.

Of the 2,000 Americans surveyed, 40 percent of respondents had an unfavorable view of the denomination and 44 percent of respondents said that knowing a church was Southern Baptist would negatively impact their decision to visit or join the church.

What’s on at UConn today...

Engineering Career Fair 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rome, Ballroom

F-1 CPT Workshop 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

SU, 307

If you are looking for an internship, co-op, or full-time employment in global or national engineering, go to the Engineering College Fair today.

This workshop will go over the Curricular Practical Training application processes. To register, email your name, degree level, major and phone to disp@uconn.edu.

DADT: Lessons from the Israeli Experience w/ Openly Gay Soldiers 12 to 1:30 p.m.

SU, 403 Join Professor Avner Even-Zohar as he presents about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

A Tragedy of Democracy 2 to 3:30 p.m.

SU, 428 The Asian American Studies Institute will present its Day of Remembrance public lecture with award-winning author Greg Robinson.

-LILY FEROCE

The Daily Campus, Page 2

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

News

DAILY BRIEFING

use inside a bedroom. Denke withheld important information when questioned on the scene, which hindered emergency response efforts. Denke gave police statements on two occasions, which were found to be false. Denke was found in possession of heroin, 4.8 grams of marijuana and smoking pipes. Her bond was set at $50,000 and her court date is Feb. 28.

» STATE

Conn. mom to plead guilty in school residency case

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — A Bridgeport woman is set to plead guilty to allegations she fraudulently enrolled her son in a Norwalk school and stole more than $15,000 worth of services from the school district.

A lawyer for Tonya McDowell says he expects his client to plead guilty on Wednesday during an appearance in Norwalk Superior Court.

McDowell was homeless last April when she was charged with felony larceny. Authorities allege she enrolled her then5-year-old son in Norwalk schools using a bogus address when he should have attended school in Bridgeport, where her last permanent address was.

McDowell’s case has drawn national attention and support from civil rights leaders and other advocates who called for the charge to be dropped. The Rev. Al Sharpton headlined a rally in Norwalk supporting McDowell last year.

Malloy wary of US ‘hold’ on immigrant suspects

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is responding cautiously to a federal program that would ask state or local officials to hold a suspect for possible deportation.

Mike Lawlor, Under Secretary for Criminal Justice Policy and Planning, said Monday that federal immigration officials could begin its Secure Communities program in Connecticut on Wednesday. The program uses fingerprints collected in local jails to identify illegal immigrants who have been arrested.

Malloy said the state will respond on a case-by-case basis to requests that immigrants arrested be held until federal immigration officials pick up the suspect.

Salisbury U. gets $2M for English as 2nd language

SALISBURY, Md. (AP) — Salisbury University has secured a $2 million grant to continue funding courses that help local teachers reach students who are learning English as a second language.

The Daily Times (http://bit.ly/woJ9nq ) reports this is the third such grant Professor Anjali Pandey has secured for the university since 2003. It’s aimed specifically at improving science, technology, engineering and math instruction for English language learners.

Schools in Wicomico and Worcester counties are facing a dramatic increase in the number of students learning English as a second language. That population has doubled in Wicomico County schools in the past decade. In Worcester County, the ELL population has grown by about 300 percent.

With the emphasis on improving science and math, educators are hoping to grow the pool of prospective employees in technology industries.

» NATION

Armstrong honors Glenn 50 years after his orbit

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The first man to set foot on the moon says the first American to orbit the Earth was “no ordinary pilot.”

Astronaut Neil Armstrong was the surprise speaker Monday at an Ohio State University gala honoring John Glenn on the 50th anniversary of Glenn’s historic 1962 space flight.

Armstrong says there was a need for leadership in the space program and Glenn “literally rose to the occasion.”

Glenn has had his share of accomplishments. But the former astronaut and U.S. senator from Ohio recently told The Associated Press he envies Armstrong and wishes he could have been part of the first manned moon landing in 1969.

Glenn got another surprise earlier Monday when NASA enabled him to speak live with crew members from the International Space Station.

Romney raises $6.5 million in January

DETROIT (AP) — Mitt Romney raised $6.5 million last month for his presidential bid.

Romney’s campaign said Monday the former Massachusetts governor also had $7.7 million cash on hand.

The campaign says that since announcing his presidential bid last June, Romney has raised almost $64 million.

Romney is far ahead of his GOP rivals in fundraising. His team argues he’s the only candidate with the money and organization to win the nomination and beat Democratic President Barack Obama in the fall.

Still, Romney spent millions to win the Florida primary and is facing tough contests on Feb. 28 in Michigan and Arizona. On March 6, Super Tuesday, he will have to compete across the nation in expensive contests.

The Daily Campus is the largest daily college newspaper in Connecticut, distributing 8,000 copies each week day during the academic year. The newspaper is delivered free to central locations around the Storrs campus.

The Daily Campus is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.

All advertising is subject to acceptance by The Daily Campus, which reserves the right to reject any ad copy at its sole discretion.

The Daily Campus does not assume financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertising unless an error materially affects the meaning of an ad, as determined by the Business Manager. Liability of The Daily Campus shall not exceed the cost of the advertisement in which the error occurred, and the refund or credit will be given for the first incorrect insertion only.

The items below list charges filed, not convictions. All persons appearing below are entitled to the due process of law and presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Individual police blotters will be taken off the Web site three semesters after they have been posted.

of burnt marijuana in Belden Hall. Police found Freudstein in possession of 7.1 grams of marijuana, two pipes with marijuana residue, a marijuana grinder, rolling paper, a scale, $120 and a bottle of Black Velvet Whisky. His bond was set at $5,000 and his court date is Feb. 28.

Feb. 15

Feb. 13 Eric A. Freudenstein, 19, of Chester, was arrested at 12:48 a.m. on Gilbert Road and charged with possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal manufacture, distribution and selling of a controlled substance, possession of alcohol by a minor and possession of drug paraphernalia in a drug factory. Police responded to a report of the smell

Felix A. Irizarry, 19, of Stamford was arrested at 9:41 p.m. on North Eagleville Road and charged with two counts of computer crime in the fifth degree and larceny in the third. Irizarry turned himself in when he learned of an active warrant for his arrest. The warrant was from a December incident when Irizarry was found responsible for stealing two MacBook Pro laptops and erasing their memory.

Feb. 18 Feb. 16 Amanda L. Denke, 19, of Wilton was arrested at 10:05 p.m. at the Wilton Police Department and charged with possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of false statements in the second degree, interfering with an officer, possession of narcotics, reckless endangerment in the first degree and tampering with evidence.

Denke was arrested on a warrant from Jan. 24 when emergency medical personnel responded to an unresponsive male who wasn’t breathing in Mansfield Apartments.

Police determined Denke created a risk of endangerment to the male by not requesting immediate medical assistance. Before seeking help, Denke hid evidence of drug

Jonathan B. Allen, 19, of Arlington, Texas was arrested at 1:38 a.m. on Whitney Road and charged with breach of the peace in the second degree. Police responded to a report of an altercation on Hillside Road, which had become physical by the time they arrived. Allen was found to be involved. His bond was set to $2,000 and his court date is Feb. 28.

Daniel J. Mathew, 19, of Avon was arrested at 1:38 a.m. on Whitney Road and charged with breach of the peace in the second degree.

Police responded to a report of an altercation on Hillside Road, which had become physical by the time they arrived. Mathew was found to be involved. His bond was set to $2,000 and his court date is Feb. 28.

» ELECTIONS

Connecticut will vote in primaries

from MERRILL, page 1

that will see many elections in our region. New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Delaware will also be holding primaries the same day.

“Voters will have an important choice to make when they go to the polls in April so I encourage all voters to start educating themselves about the candidates now,” said Merrill in a press release on Feb. 10.

State Republican Chairman Jerry Labriola also urged both registered and unregistered residents to go to the polls.

“The Republican presidential primary campaign continues to be a wide open, extremely competitive race and that means a lot will be at stake on primary day in Connecticut,” he said. “This is a great opportunity for our geographically small state to be a big player on the national stage.”

Connecticut’s primary

does not select delegates to the Republican National Convention in August. It simply determines the number of delegate positions given to each presidential candidate. The primary results are used by the secretary of state to determine how many delegates to award to each candidate. From there, delegate selection is governed by party rules.

The secretary of state’s power to authorize serious contenders on the ballot helps

the state avoid what happened in Virginia this year.

The complex rules governing the petition process kept Gingrich and Santorum, as well as former contender Rick Perry, off the ballot on this spring’s primary. The state is now being sued by Perry’s campaign.

More information regarding voter registration and the primary election can be found at www.sots.ct.gov.

James.Onofrio@UConn.edu

Women protest anti-abortion bills in Virginia RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Hundreds of women locked arms and stood mute outside the Virginia State Capitol on Monday to protest a wave of anti-abortion legislation coursing through the General Assembly.

Capitol and state police officers, there to ensure order, estimated the crowd to be more than 1,000 people — mostly women. The crowd formed a human cordon through which legislators walked before Monday's floor sessions of the Republican-controlled legislature.

The silent protest was over bills that would define embryos as humans and criminalize their destruction, require "transvaginal" ultrasounds of women seeking abortions, and cut state aid to poor women seeking abortions.

Molly Vick of Richmond said it was her first time to take part in a protest, but the issue was too infuriating and compelling. On her lavender shirt, she wore a sticker that said "Say No to State-Mandated Rape." Just beneath the beltline of her blue jeans was a strip of yellow tape that read "Private Property: Keep Out." One organizer said the event took root, was organized and publicized almost wholly through Facebook and other social media after last week's votes on landmark anti-abortion bills racing through a legislature dominated for the first time by conservative Republicans.

"We could feel that there was a lot of outrage and emotion and people talking about these issues," said Sarah Okolita, a Virginia Commonwealth University graduate student who helped arrange the Monday morning event.

The protest also came as Virginia's highly partisan debate over abortion legislation moved into the realm of comedy and national pop culture when a segment on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" lampooned ultrasound bills sponsored by Del. Kathy Byron, R-Campbell County, and Sen. Jill Vogel, R-Fauquier.

Initially, participants were kept off the interior of Capitol Square. They stood in a queue that stretched nearly three blocks on a sidewalk along the eastern perimeter of the Capitol campus. Later, after many legislators had already taken the 170yard walk from their office building to the Capitol for their 11:30 a.m. caucus meetings and floor sessions afterward, they were allowed to take up positions inside Capitol Square.

Two or three deep, protesters lined both sides of the primary sidewalk from the General Assembly Building toward the Capitol's west door.

Reaction from legislators varied, largely based on party affiliation.

"God bless y'all. You're doing the right thing," Del. Algie T. Howell, D-Norfolk, said as he walked past the unspeaking throng.

Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, acknowledged it was "an impressive crowd."

"So there's opposition to this measure. So what's new about that?" said Marshall, the sponsor of the "personhood" legislation that could outlaw all abortions and, critics claim, some forms of contraception in Virginia if the 1973 Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortion is reversed. The bill passed the House on a vote of 66-32 and is pending before the Senate Education and Health Committee.

Both chambers have passed legislation that would force women seeking abortions to first undergo an ultrasound examination to determine a gestational age for the fetus. In the procedure, a wand-like device is inserted and used to send out sound waves.

Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell, a socially conservative Catholic, has said he will sign the ultrasound bill, but has taken no position on Marshall's personhood bill, a spokesman said last week.

At Monday's protest, the ultrasound bill provoked more scorn than Marshall's.

"My decision to come here today is based on the fact that what states do impacts the rest of the nation," said Carole Lewis-Anderson, who traveled snow-covered roads from Washington, D.C., for the Presidents Day event. "To be able to intrude into a woman's body by law? That's beyond belief!"

Corrections and clarifications Melanie Deziel, Editor-in-Chief Mac Cerullo, Managing Editor Brendan Fitzpatrick, Business Manager/Advertising Director Nancy Depathy, Financial Manager Brian Zahn, Associate Managing Editor Nicholas Rondinone, News Editor Elizabeth Crowley, Associate News Editor Ryan Gilbert, Commentary Editor Tyler McCarthy, Associate Commentary Editor Purbita Saha, Focus Editor John Tyczkowski, Associate Focus Editor Brendan Albetski, Comics Editor

Matt McDonough, Sports Editor Colin McDonough, Associate Sports Editor Jim Anderson, Photo Editor Ed Ryan, Associate Photo Editor Demetri Demopoulos, Marketing Manager Rochelle BaRoss, Graphics Manager Joseph Kopman-Fried, Circulation Manager Cory Braun, Online Marketing Manager

Business Hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday through Friday Reception/Business: (860) 486 - 3407 Fax: (860) 486 - 4388

In Monday’s edition of The Daily Campus, an article titled “SUBOG to hold elections for two execs.” ran that contained a number of inaccuracies. A follow-up story that corrects these inaccuracies can be found on today’s front page.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 Copy Editors: Liz Crowley, Dan Agabiti, Ryan Tepperman, Kristina Simmons News Designer: Lily Feroce Focus Designer: Purbita Saha Sports Designer: Colin McDonough Digital Production: Kevin Scheller

The Daily Campus 1266 Storrs Road Storrs, CT 06268 Box U-4189

eic@dailycampus.com, managingeditor@dailycampus.com, businessmanager@dailycampus.com, news@dailycampus.com, sports@dailycampus.com, focus@dailycampus.com, photo@dailycampus.com

The Daily Campus, Page 3

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

News

Mich. voters: Santorum connects better than Romney MUSKEGON, Mich. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum promised Monday to revive manufacturing, cut taxes and shrink government, pledges that drew loud applause from conservative Michigan voters who said he was more in line with their values than native son and GOP rival Mitt Romney.

Santorum's growing connection with Michigan conservatives risks embarrassing Romney in his home state.

Romney was counting on a strong finish in Michigan's presidential primary on Feb. 28 to carry him into the big, multistate round of voting a week later on Super Tuesday.

But Santorum, fueled by a recent trio of victories and sensing an opportunity to upset or at least bloody Romney with a strong primary finish of his own, is charging hard at a state that he says shares many of the same characteristics as his bluecollar state of Pennsylvania.

Santorum pledged Monday that, under his administration of less government and more individual freedom, "manufacturing jobs will come back here to Muskegon."

Many of those at the standingroom-only rally at a Muskegon Holiday Inn said Santorum's message of religious and social conservatism was more in line with their values.

"I see Mitt Romney as more of a politician who has flipflopped on some issues," said Hal Sisson, a 57-year-old media consultant from Norton Shores

the former senator, hitting him as a big-spending Washington insider. Romney planned to campaign in Michigan on Tuesday. His wife, Ann, also a native, campaigned in the state Monday and was making a pair of appearances Tuesday.

Romney is counting on his fatter campaign bank account and superior campaign organization to edge Santorum aside in the week left before Michigan votes. He has the backing of most of the state's GOP leaders, including Gov. Rick Snyder. In the state's most prosperous county — Oakland, just northwest of Detroit — county Executive L. Brooks Patterson predicted Romney's business expertise and his longtime ties to Michigan will pull voters in.

"Romney is a known quantity to us," Patterson said. "The people who know him and get to understand his positions and get to understand what he's capable of doing will flock to his side."

Although Santorum didn't mention Romney in his speech or the question-and-answer period that followed, he clearly echoed what many in the crowd thought of his opponent.

"I don't change like a welloiled weather vane," Santorum said. "You may not agree with me, but you know where I'm going to stand."

Part of Romney's problem in Michigan is he seems to be struggling to reconnect with voters who backed the Detroit native four years ago, when he first ran for president, after

AP

Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, right, signs the sweater of Robert Casler, 17, of Muskegon, following a rally, Monday, Feb. 20.

who, like Santorum, has seven children. "Rick Santorum has repeatedly been very conservative and has always stuck by his principles."

After holding a second rally at Hope College in Holland, Santorum got a standing ovation from GOP activists in Grand Rapids after criticizing President Barack Obama's policies, declaring they're "destroying business" and "crushing the economy of this country."

Back in September, Romney easily won just over 50 percent in a straw vote among nearly 700 GOP activists gathered on Michigan's historic Mackinac Island, compared to Santorum's seventh-place finish with 3.4 percent. Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, looked especially strong in a Nov. 9 GOP presidential debate in Michigan where Santorum wasn't much of a factor. But Santorum since has gained sig-

nificant ground on Romney.

A recent poll of 500 likely Michigan GOP primary voters

by Glengariff Group Inc., conducted after Santorum swept contests in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, showed 34 percent backing the former Pennsylvania senator while 30 percent were behind Romney, within the 4.4 percent margin of error.

Romney has sensed the threat and has stepped up his attacks on

promising to save jobs in the beleaguered auto industry as then-rival John McCain warned that lost auto jobs would never return.

Now Romney seems to be on the opposite side, opposing the federal bailout of General Motors and Chrysler. Fewer voters remember his father, George, who ran American Motors Co. before serving three terms as Michigan governor in the 1960s. And while Romney was seen four years ago as the conservative alternative to McCain, Santorum is the one many Michigan Republicans say they'll back in the state's presidential primary a week from Tuesday.

"I was a non-supporter of anybody until he came on the scene," Jody Kuhn, a 74-yearold retired community college staffer from Muskegon, said of Santorum. Kuhn said she likes his conservative views.

Not everyone thinks Santorum can go the distance, however.

Clarkston resident Rick Sutkiewicz said recently that he's backing Romney because he stands a better chance of beating President Barack Obama.

"Not that I like Romney best as a candidate," the 45-yearold said while eating dinner in Auburn Hills, home to Chrysler's headquarters and Sutkiewicz's heating and air conditioning business. Sutkiewicz likes a lot of what Santorum says but worries he has too many issues that can be exploited by opponents.

"There's a lot to pick at with Santorum," he said.

Starved Wis. girl’s statements detail her life Gabby Giffords' husband MILWAUKEE (AP) — When the malnourished 15-year-old awoke each morning, she could hear her family eating and getting ready for the day. If she felt especially brave or desperate she would call to her stepmother and beg for food, but usually she just went back to bed and hoped her hunger pangs went away.

The girl was 70 pounds when she was rescued. She told investigators during lengthy interviews at the hospital that most of the food she ate was scraps she found on the floor or in the garbage.

She had spent most of five years in the basement of her family’s Madison home, where she was beaten and sexually assaulted.

The girl’s statements, contained in court documents, paint a troubling picture of physical, mental and sexual abuse.

The girl describes running away, only to be found, brought home and threatened.

Confined to the basement, she had no one to ask for help. She wasn’t allowed to go to school or church, have visitors or talk on the phone.

Dane County officials say the girl is getting help now. She gained 17 pounds after about a week under doctors’ care, a criminal complaint said. She has been placed in foster care, and child welfare officials say there’s been an outpouring of support from people across the nation, who sent cards and letters.

Her father and stepmother have been charged with child abuse, child neglect and reckless endangerment. The charges carry a maximum combined prison sen-

tence of 11 years, 3 months. The girl’s 18-year-old stepbrother is charged with child abuse and child sexual assault and faces 68 years behind bars if convicted.

The three have preliminary hearings set for Thursday morning, and prosecutors say more charges are likely.

The Associated Press isn’t naming them to avoid identifying the girl. The AP does not usually name victims of sexual assault.

The defendants and their relatives have declined to comment on the charges. The stepbrother’s attorney did not immediately return a phone message Monday, and the father and stepmother are still applying for public defenders.

The girl told investigators the abuse started the month she turned 10. Her stepmother beat her, and her stepbrother repeatedly forced her to perform oral sex on him. That’s also when the family began keeping her in the basement.

Because it had no bathroom, she said she often bathed in a basement sink that had no hot water and relieved herself in boxes or containers. If she made a mess while doing so, “they will make me eat it. Or drink it or rub it on my face,” she said.

She said she was forced to do chores naked and had to call upstairs for permission to eat. She was often told her stepmother was too busy to feed her.

“I know it’s a lie,” the teen told police.

“She’s playing with my brother upstairs.

I can hear her upstairs watching TV.” She wasted away to 70 pounds. In

Classifieds Classifieds Dept.

U-189 11 Dog Lane Storrs, CT 06268

tel: (860) 486-3407 fax: (860) 486-4388 for Sale

GREAT FOOD, REFRESHING BEVERAGE 7 days a week @ the True Blue Tavern, and The Blue Oak dining room in the Nathan Hale Inn. On campusmenus at; www. nathanhaleinn.com For Rent

AFFORDABLE STUDENT HOUSING: Studio to 5 bedrooms; fully renovated Victorians; available June 1 - May 31, 2013; Willimantic Hill Top Section; www.meyburdrealestate.com or call 860-208-1040

Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

For more information: www.dailycampus.com FoR rent

ON CAMPUS HOUSING The Nathan Hale Inn is now reserving Spring and Fall housing.

Excellent location, housekeeping, private bath, pool & spa, fitness center, high speed internet, includes all utilities. Parking option available.

Contact missy.diloreto@ihrco.com 860-427-7888 http://www.nathanhaleinn.com

writing children's book

contrast, police records say her father weighs 240 pounds and her stepmother 370 pounds.

The girl implied she could unlock the basement door but said there were motion sensors and an alarm that would draw her stepmother’s wrath. Still, she said she fled a couple times, but her parents always found her and threatened to report her to police as a runaway.

Neighbors expressed concern. One called authorities after watching the parents scream at the girl as she was forced to push cement blocks from one side of the yard to the other for no apparent reason. However, the parents blocked county workers from speaking with the girl.

While there might have been more chances to seek help, the girl said she didn’t until Feb. 6, when her stepmother threatened to throw her down the stairs.

Terrified, barefoot and lightly dressed, the girl bolted through the door and into the cold, wandering aimlessly until a motorist stopped to check on her and eventually contacted police.

“The human brain can only tolerate so much trauma, so much fear,” said Ernie Allen, the president of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

“What children in captivity tend to do is figure out whatever they have to do to survive. So we should never be surprised when children don’t do heroic things, when they don’t try to escape. It’s pretty clear that this girl was in a situation in which she had no power, in which every aspect of her life was controlled.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Retired astronaut Mark Kelly, who collaborated with his wife, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, on her memoir, is writing a children's book about a mouse that goes to space.

"On my first space shuttle flight, we had 18 mice on board as experiments," Kelly said. "And 17 of them, as soon as we got into zero gravity, stayed latched on to the side of the cage. But one of them seemed comfortable through the whole mission, like he was enjoying it."

His "Mousetronaut: A Partially True Story" will be published in October by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

According to Simon & Schuster, which released a statement Monday, the book tells of a little mouse chosen for a space mission.

"While in space," the statement says, "the astronauts are busy with their mission when only the smallest member of the crew can save the day."

Kelly, who retired in the fall, turns 48 on Tuesday. Last year, he collaborated with Giffords on the memoir "Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope," which told of her recovery from a shooting.

He spoke by telephone recently

Rates:

Policies:

For ads of 25 words or less: 1 day............................................................................ $5.75 3 consecutive days........................................................ $15.25 5 consecutive days: ...................................................... $26.50 10 consecutive days:..................................................... $48.00 1 month:..................................................................... $88.00 Semester:.................................................................. $215.00 Each additional word: ..................................................... $0.10 Additional Features: Bold ..................................... ...........$0.50

For Rent

TOWNHOUSE/ CONDO--MANSFIELD Luxury living for 4.

Beautiful 4-bedroom, 2-private/2-shared baths. Six miles from campus. Quiet/ safe/ upscale community.

Inground pool, tennis/ basketball courts.

Includes heat, wireless internet/ cable, parking, laundry, trash pickup. Professionally furnished. Availability limited/ Act fast. e-mail Rosemary Hoffmiller, shortstemrose@yahoo.com 203457-9370

For Rent

3 BEDROOM W/ OFFICE AND A VIEW Available 6-1-2012.

Large 3 unit house in Willington, 5 mi from campus, 1 mi from I-84. Laundry, big yard, parking, new floors and appliances.

Nice@$1200/mo incl heat/hw 860-2129268 CELERON SQUARE APT. We still have units available for the 20122013 academic year!

ONE BEDROOM UNITS - may be rented alone or shared by two ten-

with The Associated Press. The father of two girls from a previous marriage, he had long wanted to write a children's book and said he thought of the mouse story a decade ago.

"But with NASA as an employer, it becomes a little complicated.

Now that I'm retired I can take time to do this," he noted, adding that he thinks kids will have an easy time relating to "Mousetronaut," which also will come out as an e-book.

"Many kids want to be astronauts," said Kelly, who was commander of the Endeavour's final mission, which ended June 1.

"Mousetronaut" will be illustrated by C.F. Payne, who has worked on books by John Lithgow and Steve Martin and has drawn numerous magazine covers.

Kelly's book deal was negotiated by Washington attorney Robert Barnett, who represented Kelly and Giffords for "Gabby," published last fall by Scribner, a division of Simon & Schuster.

"Gabby" told of Giffords' remarkable survival after being shot in the head on Jan. 8, 2011, while meeting constituents at a shopping center in Tucson, Ariz. Giffords, a Democrat, resigned from Congress last month to focus on her recovery.

Classifieds are non-refundable. Credit will be given if an error materially affects the meaning of the ad and only for the first incorrect insertion.

Ads will only be printed if they are accompanied by both first and last name as well as telephone number. Names and numbers may be subject to verification. All advertising is subject to acceptance by The Daily Campus, which reserves the right to reject any ad copy at its sole discretion. The Daily Campus does not knowingly accept ads of a fraudulent nature.

For Rent

ants; TWO BEDROOM LARGE UNITS – may be rented by two or three tenants. Visit our website www.celeronsquare.com, call 860429-3627 or stop by to see Karen, Tina or Paula to discuss details and pricing.

STORRS- Clean, quiet, Three and Four bedroom apartments for rent. All close to campus, one year lease begins June 1st. properties@mindspring.com or 860-429-8455

help wanted

BARTENDING! Make up to $300/day potential.

No experience necessary. Training available, 18+ OK. (800) 965-6520 ext. 163 PLAY SPORTS! HAVE FUN! SAVE MONEY! Maine camp needs fun loving counselors to teach All land, adventure, & water sports. Great Summer!

Call 888-844-8080, apply: campcedar.com

Page 4

www.dailycampus.com

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

The Daily Campus Editorial Board

Melanie Deziel, Editor-in-Chief Ryan Gilbert, Commentary Editor Tyler McCarthy, Associate Commentary Editor Michelle Anjirbag, Weekly Columnist Chris Kempf, Weekly Columnist Jesse Rifkin, Weekly Columnist

» EDITORIAL

UConn’s regional campuses contribute much to community

W

ith a population rivaling that of many towns in Connecticut, our campus has a lot going on. As our reputation as an institution continues to grow, our campus continues to attract incredibly intelligent and talented students who compete on the national level for scholarships and other awards, much like our renowned athletic teams. Many of our professors lead their fields in research and bring honor to the university with grants and both national and international recognition.

Without a doubt, the Storrs campus has a lot to be proud of. But it is important to remember that the University of Connecticut is more than just the Storrs campus. The faculty, staff and students at each of UConn’s five regional campuses and the UConn Health Center are as much a part of the University of Connecticut as those of us in Storrs, and their achievements and hard work contribute equally to the reputation of our institution.

Storrs faculty members are often lauded in The Daily Campus and elsewhere, but many of the regional campuses have hardworking staff that are equally worthy of recognition. Roger Bidwell has coached the Avery Point campus’ baseball team, which plays in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), for 31 years. In that time, he has coached his team to six Connecticut Small College Championships and another 14 Division 2 championships at the New England and East District level. His team has twice appeared in the Division II World Series, and 28 of Bidwell’s players have gone on to professional baseball. Bidwell is an asset to the university and contributes to our reputation as an athletic powerhouse, whether his office is in Storrs or at Avery Point.

At the Torrington campus, English professor Davyne Verstandig worked tirelessly to build the Litchfield County Writers Project for nearly 20 years. The program has included writing courses, a gallery of artwork by local artists and a lecture series that has attracted notable authors like Frank McCourt and Arthur Miller to the Torrington Campus as guest speakers. Verstandig’s hard work shows a dedication to education that students have come to expect from UConn, and the Litchfield County Writers Project is an example of the type of incredible programming that sets our university apart from other state schools across the country.

UConn’s Waterbury, Stamford and Greater Hartford campuses have equally dedicated faculty and staff who run unique programs and departments for their dedicated students. In addition to these regional campuses, however, we must also consider the contributions of those at the UConn Health Center in Farmington when we speak of the prestige associated with the UConn name. The UCHC is both an educational facility and a fully functioning award-winning hospital with worldrenowned health professionals on staff. Hartford Magazine’s list of Best Doctors in 2011 included 72 physicians from the UConn Health Center, and UCHC researchers have been awarded 76 patents since 1980. These types of achievements contribute to the incredible reputation of the university and speak to the quality that Connecticut citizens have to expect from the UConn name.

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.

hi wanna see something?? ;) im on cam now.

So the business office can email telling me exactly how much money I neglected to put in my financial statement and to resend it, but they can’t make the effort to just put it in themselves?

FAT TUESDAY. FAT TUESDAY. Where are my beads UConn?!

The only thing more embarassing than the way UConn played Villanova last night was Villanova’s attendance.

I wonder if Shabazz’s buttocks are sore from the all of Oriakhi’s congratulatory slapping.

Napier just silenced all the fair weather Uconn whiners.

My hope has been restored for the NCAA tournament... sort of.

SHABAZZ!!!!

UCONN, ROADHOUSE. Basketball is so stupid and I love every second of it. Let me at least have tonight.

Send us your thoughts on anything and everything by sending an instant message to InstantDaily, Sunday through Thursday evenings. Follow us on Twitter (@ InstantDaily) and become fans on Facebook.

Keep your politics out of my uterus

P

olitics are listed as a taboo subject for polite dinner conversation. I disagree with that; with good food and better wine present, there is a better chance of politely discussing political issues than at any presidential debate. However, there is one place I will not tolerate any form of political discussion: medicine.

While I concede that politics, welfare and insurance have been long-time bedfellows, the current rise of debate over women’s access to birth control, funding for non-profit organizations that promote women’s health and abortion or fertility treatment access is irresponsible and unnecessary. I won’t lie, I am no expert on birth control, breast

By Michelle Anjirbag cancer screening Weekly Columnist or any number of women’s health issues I should probably know more about. If asked about fertility treatments, all I know is that they are expensive, and that the idea of surrogacy sort of freaks me out (all I can picture is an Orwellian society where women parade around with signs reading “womb for rent”). I know that lumps are something that should be checked. I know that, generally, extreme amounts of pain are a bad thing. Fortunately, I have a wonderful set of resources for all of these issues: a general doctor, a gynecologist and, on campus, the Women’s Clinic. Nowhere in that list is my state representative, the President of the United States, any other member of Congress

or any TV pundit. The simple reason for this is that they are simply not qualified to discuss my “lovely lady lumps” with me. For the same reason, they should not be involved in any type of policy discussions regarding women’s health, or anyone’s health for that matter.

“Nowhere in that list is my state representative, the President of the United States, any other member of Congress or any TV pundit.”

But regardless of their lack of qualifications, every politician and his mother is now sounding off on who should have access to what, how religion should play into things and who should pick up that tab. The reasons for either side of the multitude of arguments are only causing mass-misinformation – the kind of verbal garbage that makes cutting funding to Planned Parenthood seem reasonable – even though a lot of their work is providing breast cancer screening for women who might not be able to afford regular doctors visits. Women’s bodies – people’s bodies – are not political fodder. They are not platforms to build campaigns upon. They are living organisms attached to human consciousness. It is not for politicians to interfere in determining what is right or wrong regarding proper healthcare. That decision belongs to the medical field, and the medical field alone.

And while I have easy access to qualified healthcare personnel, I know that many people don’t. That means that they are dependent on either the media or Google to find answers to their healthcare questions. We are international leaders in medical care, but still, with all the information that we have, we do not ensure that people have access to the care they may need.

My general opinion is that if one does not have to ever consider what it might be like to physically give birth to a child, one has no right to make policies that would impact a woman’s decisions regarding her health. Women need to be able to receive all of the information necessary to make medical decisions that affect them personally under the guidance of a trained medical professional. From birth control to cancer screening, resources need to be made easily available and accessible without social stigma so that, once informed, women are able to make the best decision for themselves. Candidates who clutter the information pool are only interfering with healthcare. It is not any of their business.

There seems to be some idea that making certain things readily available, such as birth control or abortions, will mean that everyone will suddenly rush to take advantage of the system. No one is a mindless drone; people will ultimately make the decisions that are right for them. But everyone should have the liberty to make what are ultimately medical choices (though they may be tempered by personal philosophy or religion) as fully informed medical decisions.

Weekly Columnist Michelle Anjirbag is an 8th-semester English major with a creative writing concentration and an anthropology and indigenous studies double minor.

She can be reached at Michelle.Anjirbag@UConn.edu.

Widespread popularity of pop music not an accident

I

recently came out of the closet. The pop music lover’s closet.

I have embraced the catchiest, sappiest and danciest of pop anthems, and I am not afraid to tell the world about it. In fact, today I cleaned my room to the tune of Lady Gaga’s “Hair,” danced to Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” while mopping the floor at work, and I may or may not be writing this while Selena Gomez’s “Love You Like a Love Song” is blasting.

I’m embracing it.

Two years

By Devin O’Hara ago I was the Staff Columnist epitome of a music snob: I liked Arcade Fire before they won Best Album of the Year, had an iPod full of indie, Canadian-produced tunes and pretended not to know the words when Katy Perry came on the car radio. In short, I was way cooler than you.

So what precipitated my plummet from the pedestal of musical pretention? By the subtle influence of many friends, pop tunes began to creep their way into my music library. There was no cause for alarm at first—I mean, I kind of enjoyed The Fray’s “How to Save a Life,” and Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” was a whole lot of fun to dance to. But soon, without me realizing it, I couldn’t put my iTunes on shuf-

fle without Kelly Clarkson’s “I come back to those and do some Do Not Hook Up” starting, and easier examples first. Madonna’s Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone “Express Yourself” and Gaga’s Now” crept into my iTunes most “Born This Way” come to the played. I’m not quite sure how I forefront of my mind. While managed that last one. both of these icons have detracIt became clear that my impec- tors, they have arguably given cable music taste had become some of the most important tainted — infected by the basest contributions to contemporary of music. At that culture. point, surround“I didn’t appreciate Regardless ed on all sides, I of what my old favorites any you think waved my white flag and surrenthese less, nor did the bros of dered to Jessie J’s figures, next to me at the it’s hard to undeniably catchy hooks. Much to that gym bat an eye as I deny my surprise, the a club full world kept turnmouthed the words to of people ing.

I didn’t to Kylie Minogue’s ‘Get dancing appreciate my old Madonna favorites any less, Out of My Way.’” c l a i m i n g nor did the bros that, for next to me at the women, gym bat an eye as I mouthed the “second best is never enough,” words to Kylie Minouge’s “Get or the fact that Gaga’s anthem Out of My Way.” It was then for sexual minorities debuted I knew I was truly free. Since and rested at the No. 1 spot of that point, I have been making music charts for six weeks is up for lost time. Allowing pop unimportant. The popularity of into my life has allowed me to these songs makes it hard to realize its significance; why it deny that these women give persists in our culture and the voice to a large swath of youth function that it serves besides, across the nation, which otherof course, giving us something wise lack unity. Tunes like these to dance to. allow youth to drive a wedge I imagine that, by now, between old world views and you’re eagerly awaiting me to new ones, allowing a progresexplain the cultural relevance of sive and fresh cultural identity.

Britney’s “Toxic” or Rihanna’s I’m not sure that these songs and “California King Bed.” Let’s their albums are what changes

values originally, but they certainly are a culmination of them.

Savage Garden’s “Affirmation” and Swedish group The Ark’s “In Lust We Trust” are also successful examples of pop artists expressing progressive social views via their music, in addition to body-image-boosting singles like Katy Perry’s “Firework” or Pink’s “F*ckin’ Perfect.”

Now onto those titles brought up before, the dirty laundry of pop: the controversial tunes that often draw criticism from concerned mothers or senators with their ties on a little too tight, lumped with the pop that is labeled as vapid, annoying or trite. Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” was denounced by those in the gay community and overprotective mothers alike, but importantly, the song started a conversation about taste, censorship and what flavor chapstick tastes the best.

Letting pop music into my life has done me a world of good.

Now I can belt out “Domino” without regret and tear up to movie trailers using “Good Life” without shame. Don’t reject pop just because of its popularity.

Instead appreciate its message, its audience and its impact on the world we live in.

Staff Columnist Devin O’Hara is an 8th-semester English major. He can be reached at Devin.O’Hara@UConn.edu.

Do you have opinions?

Do you want to get paid to write about them?

Then come to a Commentary section meeting!

Mondays at 8 p.m. in The Daily Campus

building.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

The Daily Campus, Page 5

Comics

I Hate Everything

by Carin Powell

Side of Rice

by Laura Rice

Stickcat

by Karl, Jason, Fritz and Chan

Froot Buetch

by Brendan Nicholas and Brendan Albetski

Horoscopes

by Brian Ingmanson To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Draw upon hidden resources. Provide excellent service. Accept a generous offer. You’re gaining authority. Review priorities and contemplate your next move.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is an 8 -- A spiritual advisor keeps you on the right path. Share your experience with somebody to whom it would make a difference. Your friends are really there for you.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Consider new opportunities in your career, perhaps by completely reinventing your goals. Make time to help others. What goes around comes around.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Travel and romance both look good for the next two days. Expand your options.

There’s no shortage of information. Learn quickly from a loved one.

Editor’s Choice

by Brendan Albetski

#hashtag

by Cara Dooley

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- There’s action and change going on at work. List options, review considerations and choose. Use top quality materials.

Have someone else write your bio.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Brainstorm brilliant ideas with your team of hotshot experts. Unleash imagination. Write a love letter to your future self. Let friends teach you.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Add some passion and spice to your workplace. The place is bustling with busy innovation. The impossible looks easy. Explore streets you seldom visit.

Monkey Business

by Jack Boyd

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Make something beautiful with plenty of love. Your intuition is getting recognized. Love is a growing possibility over the next couple of days.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Getting in touch with your spiritual side clears your mind. It’s easier to clear up family issues. Play with long-range plans. Maintain optimism.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Fun is in the air. Now’s a great time to let go of old upsets and create new possibilities with loved ones. They help you achieve the next level.

UConn Classics: Same Comic, Different Day Rockin’ Rick

by Steve Winchell and Sean Rose

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- A to-do list helps with tasks. Start by checking off projects closest to your heart. At the end of the day, delegate or erase those you’re never going to do.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- You’re in a time crunch, as you race around getting things done. Luckily, you’re good at this. It gets easier as the day goes by. Have fun with it.

Questions? Comments?

Other Stuff? <dailycampuscomics@gmail.com>

The Daily Campus, Page 6

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

News

Inmate massacre underlines Mexico prison problems

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — The revelation that guards likely helped members of the violent Zetas drug cartel slaughter 44 rival inmates and break out of a northern Mexico jail throws new attention on the enormous corruption inside the country's overcrowded, underfunded prisons.

The top officials and as many as 18 guards at the Apodaca prison may have helped 30 Zetas escape during the confusion of a riot early Sunday in which other Zetas fatally bludgeoned and knifed 44 members of the rival Gulf cartel, Nuevo Leon Gov. Rodrigo Medina said Monday.

The massacre in this northern state was one of the worst prison killings in Mexico in at least a quarter-century and exposed another weak institution that President Felipe Calderon is relying on to fight his drug war.

Mexico has only six federal prisons, and so sends many of its dangerous cartel suspects and inmates to ill-prepared, overcrowded state penitentiaries. Drug trafficking, weapons possession and money laundering are all considered federal crimes in Mexico.

"The Mexican prison system has collapsed," said Raul Benitez, a professor at Mexico's National Autonomous University who studies security issues.

"The prisons in some states are controlled by organized crime."

An increase in organized crime, extortion, drug trafficking and kidnapping has swelled Mexico's prison population almost 50 percent since 2000. But the government has built no new federal prisons since Calderon launched an offensive against drug cartels when he took office in late 2006, leaving existing jails overcrowded.

Calderon's administration has renovated three existing state prisons to use as federal lockups.

Built to hold about 185,000 inmates, the prison system nationwide now holds more than 45,000 above that capacity, according to figures from the National Public Safety System.

Of the 47,000 federal inmates in the country, about 29,000 are held in

state prisons. That has drawn complaints from Medina and other state governors, who say their jails aren't equipped to hold members of powerful and highly organized drug cartels.

The federal government counters that none of the escapes or mass killings have occurred at federal lockups, and it cites corruption on the state level, not overcrowding, as the main cause of the deaths and escapes.

"The constant element has been corruption in the control processes" at the prisons, said Patricio Patino, assitant secretary for the peniteniary system.

Prison employees say guards are underpaid, making them more likely to take bribes. And even honest guards are vulnerable to coercion: Many live in neighborhoods where street gangs and drug cartels are active, making it easy to target their families with threats.

The same can be said for Mexico's municipal police forces, another weak flank in Calderon's attack on organized crime. Thousands of local officers — often, entire forces at a time — have been fired, detained or placed under investigation for aiding drug gangs.

"Yesterday, Apodaca, tomorrow, any other (prison)," columnist Carlos Puig wrote in the newspaper Milenio.

Nuevo Leon's governor said Sunday's breakout appeared to have been premeditated and it would have been hard or impossible to stage without the help of prison authorities.

Medina said guards and officials in the prison in Apodaca, outside the northern city of Monterrey, may have simply allowed Zetas inmates to walk out. No holes were found in the prison's perimeter walls, and no armed gang burst in to spring them.

"Unfortunately, a group of traitors has set back the work of a lot of good police," Medina said at a news conference. He offered a reward of 10 million pesos (almost $800,000) for information leading to the arrest of those involved in the mass escape.

An increase in prison violence and escapes is fueled in part by the increas-

ing presence of members of highly organized drug cartels and other gangs in the prisons. In January, a fight between inmates in the Gulf Coast city of Altamira left 31 dead. A total of 171 inmates died in such violence last year, up from 45 in 2007, according to the newspaper Milenio.

Often, the riots and escapes are aided by authorities.

In the most striking case, prison corruption resulted in a massacre outside prison walls in 2010. Guards and officials at a prison in Gomez Palacio in northern Durango state let cartel inmates out, lent them guns and sent them off in official vehicles to carry out drug-related killings, including a massacre of 17 people at a rented dance hall. After carrying out the killings, the inmates returned to their cells, where they were safe from their rivals.

More typical was a prison massacre last July in the border city of Juarez that killed 17 inmates. Surveillance video showed guards standing passively by as two inmates took their keys and opened cell doors to spray bullets into a room where members of a rival gang were reportedly holding an unauthorized party, complete with women and booze.

The Zetas, with their quasi-military discipline, probably have an edge on their rivals from the Gulf cartel, said Benitez, the professor who studies security.

"Once inside, they gain control rapidly," he said.

The Zetas and Gulf cartel split in 2010 and have been fighting bloody turf battles in Monterrey and throughout much of northeastern Mexico since then.

But Benitez said Mexico's prisons are part of two larger problems: rampant corruption and a dysfunctional justice system.

"The prison system is just one part of the larger penal-justice system, and in Mexico the penal reform movement is going very badly," he said.

Authorities agreed there are huge

AP

A child yells out for her father as she pushes on a gate where police stand on the other side after her mother and other adults pushed the gates in an attempt to get past state police at the Apodaca correctional state facility in Apodaca on the outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico.

problems.

"The shortcomings that exist in Mexican prisons, insufficient food, inadequate space to sleep, (poor) clothing for inmates, bad medical service, have made the prisons into places where corruption and inequality among inmates proliferates," according to a 2008 report on the nation's

prisons, the federal Public Safety Department said The report recommended legal changes to let more prisoners await trial while on bail, and the construction of more and better jails. Three years and hundreds of inmates deaths later, none of those changes have been carried out.

EU ministers work through night on Greece bailout

BRUSSELS (AP) — Eurozone governments worked into the night on Monday, hoping to agree on a long-awaited rescue package for Greece that would save it from a potentially calamitous bankruptcy next month, but several key points of division remained, senior officials said.

Finance ministers meeting in Brussels Monday were still wrangling over how to reduce Greece's debt load further and impose even tighter control over the country's spending, and negotiations were expected to stretch late into the night. Rich countries like Germany and the Netherlands and the International Monetary Fund want to be sure that Athens can eventually survive without aid.

But after months of delays, time for Greece is running out.

The country needs to secure the €130 billion ($170 billion) bailout so it can move ahead with a related €100 billion ($130 billion) debt relief deal with private investors. That deal needs to be in place quickly if Athens is to avoid a disorderly default on a bond repayment on March 20.

"I am of the opinion that today

AP

Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, left, speaks with Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, center, during a round table meeting of eurozone finance ministers.

we have to deliver, because we don't have any more time," JeanClaude Juncker, the prime minister of Luxembourg who also chairs the meetings of eurozone finance ministers, said as he arrived in Brussels.

An uncontrolled bankruptcy would likely force Greece to leave the 17-country currency union and return to its old cur-

rency, the drachma, further shaking its already beaten economy and creating uncertainty across Europe.

Heading into the meeting earlier Monday, ministers were optimistic that a deal could be reached.

"We now have all of the elements to achieve an agreement," said French Finance Minister

Francois Baroin. "Greece knows what it has to do, and we'll watch over it continually. We also know what we have to do."

But the finance ministers were also negotiating on several fronts, trying to move Greece's other creditors to increase their commitments. Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos rushed to Brussels to back up his finance chief, Evangelos Venizelos, in talks with the IMF, the European Central Bank and representatives of private holders of Greek debt.

The goal is to bring Greece's debt down to around 120 percent of gross domestic product by 2020 — the maximum the IMF sees as sustainable. At the moment, the country's debt load stands at more than 160 percent.

Last week, a new report prepared by the European Commission, the ECB and the IMF concluded that the new bailout, Greek spending cuts, and a planned €100 billion debt relief from private investors would still leave Greece's debt at almost 129 percent of economic output by the end of the decade.

Ministers were exploring several options to close that gap, but

as talks dragged on Monday, no final solution appeared imminent.

A Greek official said Monday morning that there seemed to be agreement on further reducing the interest rate on Greece's first, €110 billion bailout as well as having national central banks in the eurozone, which also hold some Greek bonds, participate in the debt relief. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because the talks were confidential.

However, other officials questioned the participation of national central banks, as well as whether the ECB would be willing to transfer profits from its Greek bond holdings back to Athens.

On the sidelines of the finance ministers' meeting, Venizelos headed into a new round of talks with representatives of Greece's private bondholders — mostly banks and investment funds — to explore whether they would be willing to accept further losses.

A current plan foresees private creditors swapping their old Greek bonds for new ones with half the face value, lower interest rates and much longer repayment periods.

But now some countries are pushing for bondholders to also give up on an accrued interest payment of around €5.5 billion on their old bonds, a demand that could further discourage investors from signing up to the debt swap.

Amid the ever-changing mood over the country's rescue, some frustration was setting in among the Greeks.

"Greece comes into today's Eurogroup meeting having fulfilled all the requirements for the approval of the new program," Venizelos said. "For Greeks, this is a matter of national dignity and a national strategic choice and no other integrated and responsible choice can be opposed to it."

The Greek parliament has faced down violent protests to approve the austerity measures demanded by the eurozone. Its main political leaders have committed in writing to uphold the bailout terms even after general elections in April.

On Monday in Athens, the government introduced in parliament another two pieces of emergency legislation that would introduce austerity measures including wage and pension cuts.

THIS DATE IN HISTORY

BORN ON THIS DATE

1848

The Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx, is published in London by the Communist League.

www.dailycampus.com

Nina Simone – 1933 John Lewis – 1940 Alan Rickman – 1946 Ellen Page – 1987

The Daily Campus, Page 7

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Bruin all up in UConn business Student group hosts NHL champ’s marketing director

By Danny Maher Campus Correspondent

Brett Bovio, the director of marketing and promotions for the Boston Bruins, speaks at the meeting of UConn Sports Business Association Monday in the School of Business. The organization hosts regular lectures that feature executives and powerful figures in enterprise.

Brett Bovio, the Promotions and Marketing Coordinator for the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, came to Storrs Monday night to talk with members of the Sports Business Association.

Bovio began and ended his speech with the same message: “You need internships; you have to discover what you like and what you don’t like.”

The 28-year-old graduated from James Madison University in 2006 with a degree in communications studies.

Out of college, Bovio landed his first internship at Walt Disney World as an event–planning specialist then later worked his way up to the Conventions Coordinator.

He was able to plan major events at Disney’s Epcot.

The Peabody, Mass. native returned home and after a pair of healthcare event planning positions, Bovio landed an internship with the Boston Bruins as a game night staff person.

After two months at that position; Bovio described how lucky he got when his boss left and he landed the position he currently holds, the Promotions Coordinator for the hockey team he grew up admiring.

In his current position, he is in charge of coordinating any and all Bruins promotion events, giveaways, comericials and all in-game doings.

Bruins’ employees have a “no fraternization with players” policy; therefore Bovio stressed that he always need to keep in mind that it is a business.

In December of 2009, Bovio was just days into his new position and practicing with iconic Boston Bruins legends and celebrities in preparation for the legends game as part of the NHL’s Winter Classic held at

» ACADEMY TALK

» BOOK REVIEW

ASHLEY POSPISIL/The Daily Campus

Fenway Park two years ago.

“I was playing defense, and this one guy kept coming after me and he hit me, so I knocked him down.

Moments later Ray Bourque told me I just knocked down Charlie Jacobs, the owner of the Boston Bruins,” Bovio said.

Bovio says the most difficult part of his job is managing a large staff and the unpredictability of dealing with live event.

“You want everyone to be happy but sometimes it is impossible to make everyone happy,” Bovio said.

A big part of Bovio’s job is dealing with the Boston Bruins Ice Girls; he helps choose the girls and coordinates their public appearances throughout the year.

“I know more about hair, spandex, and makeup than any guy should,” Bovio said.

He also brought a variety of promotional items, from a wide range of hats to ornaments, and gave them away to SBA members.

“He offered real world insight to the real scope of a job in sports. It was inspirational and I learned things that you could not find anywhere else,” junior Armando Jimenez said.

UConn Sports Business Association is a student run organization dedicated to providing members with a first–hand look into the sports industry. The mission is to provide unique opportunities to students with guest speakers, group outings, community involvement, internships, and special projects.

Bovio said he hopes to eventually own an event planning company of his own, but reiterated that the journey is just as important as the accomplishment.

“I have no regrets,” Bovio said.

“Everything I have done has taught me something and gotten me where I am now.”

ical girls are condensed into this 24-page segment.

Simon’s attitude toward these characters is haphazard and almost dismissive. It’s as if she tried to squeeze in every category she could imagine into her book, yet didn’t conduct enough research to write full profiles for each one. While she only uses four pages to cover political geek girls, she sets aside 21 pages for film geeks. But who’s to say that film geeks are more important, or even more compound than political girls? One distinction is based on a hobby, while the latter is based on a profession. Yet Simon holds both characters to the same standard, making her girl guide frivolous and impractical to a certain degree.

This upcoming weekend is the 84th annual Academy Awards.

While everyone is focusing on the nominees and picking their favorite movies of the year, people don’t always remember that many of the movies that are in the running for awards such as Best Picture were based off of books.

Some of the books that were turned into movies were extremely popular and well– known before Hollywood came along. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and “The Help” graced The New York Times bestseller lists for weeks before the films were released. Fans of the books were eager to see the film adaptations, and the movies probably inspired those who hadn’t read the books to pick up a copy.

However, not all of the movies were based off of extremely well–known books, at least from my perspective.

People are familiar with the movie “Moneyball” because Brad Pitt starred in the movie ,but it was author Michael Lewis who wrote the story.

Sacha Baron Cohen, the star of 2005’s “Borat” was in “Hugo,” a movie based off of the children’s book, “The Invention of Hugo Cabaret”

by Brian Selznick. “Drive,” the violent action movie starring Ryan Gosling as a getaway driver, was originally a book written by James Sallis in 2005.

Given that so many movies are based off of books, I find it beneficial to read the books, especially if the movie ends and you still have questions. Often, the book is part of a series that has been published before all the movies have been released. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is part of the completed “The Millennium Trilogy” by Stieg Larsson. If you wait for all of the American movie versions of the trilogy to be filmed to find out what happens to the protagonist Salander, you will be waiting a long time. Given that the answers to the mystery have been revealed, why wait when you don’t have to?

“Drive” has an ambiguous ending that leaves viewers wondering what actually happens to Ryan Gosling’s character. Luckily, Sallis has written a sequel to his novel.

The sequel, “Driven” is being published on April 3. Taking place seven years after the events from “Drive” have occurred, “Driven,” should clear up the movie’s ending for viewers. Nevertheless, who knows how long, if at all, the film version of the sequel will be made. It will be much quicker to satisfy your curiosity if you read the book first.

Hank Green, brother of John Green whom I have often mentioned, has created a website called “readit1st. com” to promote the reading of books before viewing the movies. The website sends out e-newsletters informing readers what movies are coming into theaters that were based off of books. This can serve as a gentle reminder that while something may be a fantastic movie, the book that it was originally based off of might be even better. It also reminds moviegoers that many of their favorite movies were actually adaptations of an author’s text.

» WRITER, page 10

» GIVE page 10

Daniel.Maher@UConn.edu

Oscar favorite imparts a Hipster guide is blasé lesson on movie industry

By Zachary Fox Campus Correspondent

“The Artist” - a black & white, foreign, silent film – is ostensibly as likely an Oscar contender as “Space Jam,” so how has it become the de facto Best Picture of the year?

In just five short days, the 84th annual Academy Awards will once again light up Hollywood’s iconic Kodak Theatre like the Olympic flame itself. The biggest names and faces of the film industry will don their classiest handbags and glad rags as they walk along that legendary red carpet to the tune of the Oscar’s signature pomp. It is a ceremony as traditional and old as film itself, and tradition seems to be the prevailing theme of this year’s award’s season, with the none more traditional than “The Artist,” the odds on favorite to be the bride on the night.

In The Daily Campus’ review of the film, senior staff writer Joe O’Leary commented that “no one would have expected a silent film to be made in 2011, yet not only does [it] succeed, it thrives.”

While it is true that for many, “The Artist” came straight out of the left field, the truth of the matter is that the circumstances have never been better for a film of its ilk. It has been a quiet year for the film industry, with no major technological advancements as with “Avatar,” in 2009 and no hard–hitting dramas like 2010s “The King’s Speech;” it was a year of transition. 3D, now no longer the gimmick, found its feet as a genuine element of cinema “Hugo” exemplified the development in the technology’s usage, with performance capture experiencing a similar evolution with “Tintin.” IMAX too rocketed in popularity and this, conjoined with the general air of fear fed by the global fragile economic climate, bred the perfect habitat for a “throwback” family film to take to the limelight. There was an opening for something without risk and with an emphasis on the enjoyment aspect of cinema. An opportunity as firmly grasped by “The Artist” as Hazanavicius is likely to grasp his Oscar come Sunday.

What is it about “The Artist” that has made it so infinitely likeable then? History has proven that Hollywood likes nothing more than a film about Hollywood itself, and “The Artist” is as meta a film as is likely to be seen, going some way to explain its extreme popularity amongst voters this awards season. To some, “The Artist’s” basic plot

is an allegory for the current film industry, exploring the affects of the transition from the silent era to the “talkie” much as how film is currently undergoing a technological advancement to 3D, HD and performance capture. While ostensibly a high-flying, jazz-hands family romp, what “The Artist” illuminates is a prevailing fear among much of cinema’s upper echelon: with technology continually advancing, what will become of the old, traditional forms of movie-making? The demise of George Valentin’s (Jean Dujardin) – the central protagonist – career in the wake of cinematic change a very clear message regarding the dangers of a rapidly advancing industry.

Rick Groen, in his review of the film for The Globe and Mail, summarizes this notion, stating that the film “uses old technology to dazzling effect to illustrate the conquest of a new technology.”

“The Artist” then represents a cinematic swan song, Hollywood’s last chance to celebrate itself before succumbing to the inevitable tide of the modern day; the irony of the fact is that its chosen instrument to do so is foreign negated by the film’s silent nature. “The Artist” heartily represents everything that made Hollywood what it is today. “‘The Artist’ was made as a love letter to cinema,” director Hazanavicius said in an interview.

“It was inspired by the work of Hitchcock, Lang, Ford, Lubitsch, Murnau and Wilder.”

With all of this in mind, in addition to a lack of truly strong competitors in which the major danger lies in critically successful by culturally meek “The Descendants,” “The Artist” is firmly poised to clean up come this Sunday. After taking the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards by storm last weekend, taking no less than seven gongs including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor, not to mention its dominance at the Director’s, Producer’s and Actor’s Guild awards, the only way “The Artist” will not come away victorious is if the Academy’s historic bias against foreign films rears its ugly head.

“The Artist” represents a heartfelt letter to cinema of old, a final song and dance before the next cinematic age that, in The Daily Campus’ review, ‘reminds of why we love movies.’ Only time will tell if it can go the whole hog this Sunday and cement itself in the hall of cinematic fame.

Zachary.Fox@UConn.edu

By Purbita Saha Focus Editor

Does anybody actually know what a hipster is? The urbandictionary.com definition is too long for me to quote, so I’ll make up my own: a faction of the American youth that avoids the mainstream courses of fashion, entertainment and ideology.

Associated stereotypes include shopping at thrift stores, subsisting on fair-trade coffee, despairing over censorship and partying at Bonnaroo.

Leslie Simon’s book “Geek Girls Unite” is supposed to be a guide to help us outsiders understand the hipster culture. Except, instead of using the term “hipster,” Simon tries to address a broader scale of women by referring to her subjects as “geeks.” According to her, geeks are super fans of a specific hobby or field. They are distinct from the social constructs of intelligent nerds, oblivious dorks, ironic dweebs and quirky weirdos.

Simon further classifies geek girls into seven categories: fan girl, literary, music, funny girl, domestic goddess and miscellaneous. Each denomination warrants a chapter full of celebrity examples, quotes from members of the Geek Girl Guild and selfdiscovery quizzes. The sections are also capped off with lists of necessary resources. For example, Simon advises funny-girl geeks to read biographies by comedians, listen to joke bands, watch weekly sitcoms and subscribe to humorous websites.

On the other hand, she provides literary geeks with a playlist full of songs inspired by famous novels. “Don’t Stay So Close to Me” by the Police is inspired

Potential Oscarwinning books

by “Lolita,” while “Resistance”

by Muse is inspired by “1984,” Simon says.

The last chapter of “Geek Girls Unite” is entirely dedicated to a ragtag medley of geek topics. Spotlights on athletic girls, tech-savvy girls, retro girls, fashionista girls and polit-

C-

Geek Girls Unite

by Leslie Simon

The Daily Campus, Page 8

FOCUS ON:

Movie Of The Week

MOVIES Upcoming Releases February 24 Wanderlust Act of Valor Gone Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds Tomorrow, When the War Began The Forgiveness of Blood February 29 This Is Not a Film March 1 No Room for Rockstars American Animal Scorn

Over/Under Overrated: March of the Penguins (2005)

Interested in writing movie reviews?

Come write for Focus!

Meetings at 8 p.m. on Mondays.

Do the Right Thing

» FILM REVIEWS

‘Training Day’ for ‘Green Arrow’ star Denzel makes return in mediocre and predictable movie

By Brendon Field Campus Correspondent There are several important things to remember when making an action thriller film. Good thrillers consist of more than car chases, gun fights, stare downs, one liners and plot twists. They have substance, there is suspense, an element of horror, the audience is emotionally invested and the characters are complex and original. A movie that adheres to these standards perfectly is “Michael Clayton.” A movie that does not, is “Safe House.”

“Safe House” is your run-ofthe-mill spies, lies and violence film. Denzel Washington has the lead as a CIA operative turned rogue who ends up the target of a hit man and turns himself into the CIA for safety. His character is built up, or at the very least marketed, as a superior veteran agent with dangerous and slippery tactics, although not much of that is really seen. He certainly displays the most skill out of all the characters in the film, but there is nothing jaw dropping. Washington gives us his

acter is basically a poor man’s Hannibal Lecter.

Ryan Reynolds co-stars as a young operative who runs a safe house where Washington is brought and interrogated. There isn’t anything wrong with his performance, but much like his character, there’s nothing particularly interesting about it. He also has a girlfriend played by Nora Arnezeder, who of course Reynolds can’t have because she’s too dangerous. The problem with her character is not central enough to add much to Reynolds’ character, but she has enough screen time to feel unnecessary. There’s a collection of other characters filing in the standard roles of federal agents, the bad guy and the contact. Again, all of them are fine, just kind of boring, except for Brendan Gleeson, who can’t maintain a steady accent.

The story consists of many elements taken here and there from other films of a similar breed.

After a shootout in his safe house, Reynolds has to escort Washington to a second safe house while being hunted by a more gunmen and the threat of Washington escap-

Safe House

Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds 2/10/12

Aw, look at the little penguin, isn’t that the dullest animal you’ve ever seen?

“March of the Penguins” doesn’t show anything we already didn’t know about the lives penguins. They are such a prominent animal in modern culture, there really isn’t any stone left unturned.

Penguins aren’t interesting or exciting, they’re just cute.

Being cute is not enough to pass as a good film. It’s so boring, not even the narration of Morgan Freeman can keep me awake. If you want to see a movie about penguins, there are plenty of choices better than this.

Underrated: The Fountain (2006)

“The Fountain” is a masterful parable about man’s constant fear of death, and search for eternal youth. Hugh Jackman, in the best performance of his career, has a triple role as a conquistador, a surgeon, and the last man in the universe. Each person desperately searching for the tree of life, and fountain of youth. Rachel Weisz has a dual role as the queen of Spain and a dying cancer victim. It presents a deep emotional story that successfully manages to pack three stories into two hours. Like all films by Darren Aronofsky, it taps deep into the human psyche, but unlike his other films, “The Fountain” is highly relatable.

-Brendon Field

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Focus

5

/10

usual strong performance. He, like his character, is quiet and restrained, but you know there’s more to him. His style in these types of films reminds me a lot of Anthony Hopkins, although that may just be because his char-

ing. Oddly enough, there doesn’t seem to be much direct interaction between the two. Outside of action scenes, they barely have a single conversation. The main problem with the plot is that it lacks coherency, and the story ele-

The Hollywood advent calendar

By Brendon Field Campus Correspondent

Courtesy of Rottentomatoes.com

Ryan Reynolds teams up with former CIA agent and mastermind criminal Tobin Frost, played by Denzel Washington. ‘Safe House’ continues Washington’s streak of playing the atagonist in thrillers.

ments feel jumbled and shallow.

It never felt like anything was at stake, except for the lives of the characters, whom I don’t care about. The only thing mentioned is a file that contains the names of people that has sold intelligence secrets; how original.

There are also two twists that arise in the third act. While both are genuinely surprising, one makes absolutely no sense, and it leaves a fairly large blotch on what was until that point a well engineered screenplay. The film’s message about trust and how corrupted the federal organizations are is nothing new, and feels tacked on.

If there is one thing that “Safe House” does right, it’s action scenes. Each chase, shootout and fight is high energy, well shot and actually generate a small amount of suspense. There is one five minute car chase which is nothing

short of phenomenal. The only problem is that the editing can sometimes be choppy. Certain cuts will depict characters in a different position but in the same location, and vice versa; although this seemed to happen more outside of action scenes, which does not look good.

“Safe House” isn’t what I would call a bad movie, just a really uninspired one. Its central components are recycled and plain. The film isn’t gripping or thought provoking, and what’s worse is that it’s clear that it’s trying to be. It makes the experience fairly boring. Yes, the action scenes are moderately exciting, but it makes everything else look incredibly dull. “Safe House” had a rare effect on me as a viewer and a critic, in that I stopped thinking about it the second it finished playing.

Brendon.Field@UConn.edu

Arrietty discovers big things with small steps

By Jason Bogdan Senior Staff Writer For the past few years, Japanese animation film powerhouse Studio Ghibli has left a sense of wanting in their loyal audience. Whether it was the disjointed pacing in “Howl’s Moving Castle,” the too “kidfriendly” vibes in “Ponyo,” or the boringly vapid, in “Tales from Earthsea,” the days of masterpieces like “Spirited Away” and “Princess Mononoke” have felt farther away. Thankfully, The “Secret World of Arrietty,” a new film inspired from the classic book series, “The Borrowers,” is a wholehearted return to glory for people of all ages.

Like the Mary Norton books, “The Secret World of Arrietty” is about a group of tiny human beings known as Borrowers, who live in regularly-sized houses and take only what won’t be forgotten to survive. Bridget Mendler voices Arrietty, an endlessly curious and adventurous 14 year-old Borrower who lives with her two parents in an old house with only a hungry cat and an old housemaid to worry about. That is, until a physically ill boy, Shawn (David Henrie) comes to stay and instantly notices Arrietty.

The film is about the growing friendship between Arrietty and Shawn and the historic angst between Borrowers and humans

Courtesy of Rottentomatoes.com

The ‘The Secret World of Arrietty’ was finally released worldwide this past weekend, though it has been out of Asia and Europe for a few months now. The anime film follows the adventures of a Thumbelina-sized teenager as she tackles the giants of the regular world.

that keeps both sides separated.

While there is a faint presence of a threatening conflict later on the film, what you see is what you get in the calm aesthetics.

It’s a formula that will likely bore some, but the quality in the storytelling and emotional weight is a thing of beauty. All

The Secret World of Arrietty

Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett 2/17/12

9.5

/10

the characters are understandable and caring, the story is pure feel-good fantasy with no cynicism or convoluted philosophy and the imagination put into the Borrowers’ living arrangements is outstanding. The sense of wonder is palpable, even without magical spells or dragons.

Of course, the luring design also stands strong in how beautifully animated “The Secret World of Arrietty” is. In an industry where computer design is king, Studio Ghibli remains dedicated to their craft and made a film more visually arresting in paint brushes than any amount of polygons could replicate.

This film is also proof of how much care Disney puts into the English dubbing of Ghibli

films. Yes, Mendler and Henrie were pulled out from whatever shows that the Disney Channel churns out to voice the two main characters, but both still put an amazing amount of heart in their performances. Special kudos also goes out to Will Arnett and Amy Poehler who voices the stern, but caring parents of Arrietty. Carol Brunett adds plenty of old-lady charm to the house’s caretaker, Hara.

A labor of love in every aspect, “The Secret World of Arrietty” is poetry in the form of an animated film. Not since “Spirited Away” has Studio Ghibli made a movie that can capture the hearts of both children and adults.

Jason.Bogdan@UConn.edu

Over the last several decades, certain types of movies have begun playing during certain times of the year. One can tell a lot about a movie when looking at the month in which it is being released. Here, I will break down the twelve months of the year as to what types of movies you should expect during each.

January: The beginning of the year is the absolute worst time for movies. January movies tend to be low quality because, if they weren’t, they would have been released before the Oscar submission deadline. January films often come from directors without big reputations, or troubled productions. It seems like there’s one awful movie for every genre, especially horror. However, recently studios have begun releasing the previous year’s limited releases in January, so things may be looking up.

February: While it’s definitely an improvement over January, February can often be a mixed bag. This month often holds the releases of mid-budget genre films and sequels to franchises that didn’t really deserve them.

February movies often come from not confident studios who don’t think they can handle a summer or winter box office, so they get pushed back here. Again, quality varies but there usually is at least one gem.

March and April: Both of these months really don’t have any definitive pattern to them, except this is usually when the some big stars and directors make their first appearance. Unfortunately, many of those are limited releases.

These months contain a slew of romantic comedies, buddy comedies, animated features and the occasional dramatic thriller. In terms of quality, most of these movies are average. I recommend spending these months at home with the recent released DVDs of last year’s best picture nominees.

May: Easily one of the better months of the year. This is when studios begin rolling out big names and the movies they’ve spent years working on.

May is big for action films and comic adaptations, low budget art films, and noteworthy sequels that are usually met with positive reception; except for last year, where disappointment reigned supreme. May is usually when critics give their first four–star review of the year.

June: Summer blockbuster time, well, kind of. June is a big month for highly anticipated releases, but the quality of them is often much lower than the subsequent summer months. The target audiences of June movies are usually teenagers and movies for them tend to favor money of critical praise. These range from low intelligence action films to Adam Sandler comedies. But on the plus side, June usually contains a Pixar movie.

July: Picture June, but the movies are actually worth seeing.

August: I would still consider August a time for summer blockbusters, but of a different sort. Many August films are still star studded and have acclaimed directors, but the audience is much more adult. Most action films would have had their run, leaving the way for large cast dramas, literary adaptations and historical fiction. Quality here runs pretty high and it’s what I would call the most consistent month of the year.

» FALL, page 9

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

» MORE REVIEWS

Love triangle key attraction in movie

By Elmira Fifo Staff Writer The premise of the new action/romance “This Means War” was not entirely original; two guys who are friends (and in this case, co-assassins) like the same girl whom they both pursue, and in the end, one of them wins. With actors like Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy, the acting was well executed. Also, who wouldn’t want to watch Reese Witherspoon being pursued by two hot men? The story is predictable, and the action sequences were just extra movie fluff to help every girl convince her guy to watch while she shamelessly gawks at both the male stars.

Undeniably, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy are great to look at, but it wasn’t all for show.

Pine did a great job of playing

action, as both FDR and Tuck sneak into Lauren’s house to plant hidden cameras conduct background checks, and videotape her conversations with her friend to find out how to please her. Pine and Hardy’s friendship is believable, and almost sweet, and the actors truly work well off of each other.

Witherspoon’s character is independent, making her refreshing. She has a fantastic job, but is a little lost romantically. When she finds herself in the unusual predicament of seeing two guys, her guilt is alleviated by her friend Trish, played

by Chelsea Handler. Handler’s character as a married woman with a son and an overweight husband and boring life provides a seamless comedic counterpart to Witherspoon’s. Trish seems sad in comparison to Lauren’s glitzy agent dates, but serves as a great moral at the

This Means War

Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy 2/17/12

8

/10

FDR, the sexy, smooth talking, arrogant man who eventually falls for Lauren’s (Reese Witherspoon) more confident charm. Hardy, whose muscles make him more believable as an assassin, actually served as a looking-for-love romantic named Tuck. The two best friends decide to make a “gentleman’s agreement,” and let Lauren decide who she likes.

What ensues is a gradual rising tension between the two as they attempt to sabotage each other’s dates. The movie was surprisingly funny. The CIA angle really was utilized for the comedy more than the

end. “Don’t pick the best guy, pick the one who makes you be better,” Trish said.

Overall, the movie ties up loose ends in a tiny bow. The best friends come to terms with who Lauren chooses (you have to watch it to find out) and everyone ends up OK. The best part, though, is that this movie will surprise you. It leaves you leaving the theater rather satisfied with the choice. It isn’t revolutionary by any means, but it’s actually fun and worth seeing at least once.

September: This month is pretty dull. September movies are either the leftovers of summer releases or small studio films that wouldn’t be able to prosper against much competition. Aside from the occasional re-release, this is another month to watch movies at home.

There are occasional years where the summer releases are so vast, the August movies spill over, but they’re few and far between.

October: October is another month for genre films, especially horror, with most of the other space reserved for dramas, dark comedies, documentaries and intellectual thrillers. However, unlike February, the quality is substantially higher, and in recent years more and more acclaimed movies have been released here.

November: As the trailer for “The Descendants” subtly put it last year, “The race for the Oscars

Cage ends up riding a wave of disappointment

By Joe O’Leary Senior Staff Writer I’m thankful that Nicolas Cage went crazy. The man earned his Oscar 16 long years ago.

That means an entire generation isn’t aware of his wonderful roles in classics like “Raising Arizona,” “Leaving Las Vegas” and “Adaptation.”

Instead, the younger generation knows Cage from his gleefully terrible roles in trashy action flicks and thrillers, most of which he did for paychecks so he could buy burial pyramids and avoid the IRS. This streak of insane, unrealistic performances, where Cage looks so deranged that he might actually need psychiatric evaluation, continues in the beautiful piece of garbage known as “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.”

As in the first film, Cage plays Johnny Blaze, a former professional motorcyclist who sold his soul to the devil so he could save his father. In return, he was possessed by a demon.

When it comes out, it turns him into a skeleton on fire. He can’t control this power, which makes him destroy all evil he sees ¬murdering people for sins as innocent as white lies. For some unknown reason, the spirit also enjoys motorcycles. As far as demonic possessions go, Blaze could have gotten worse.

His adversary in this one has the power of decay. Basically, he makes things mold. Ghost Rider fights ‘Mold-Man.’ I’m not kidding.

Cage is bizarrely magnificent in “Ghost Rider.” He plays Blaze as a man who has gone far past the brink of sanity in dealing with his painful power and the innocents he’s

Nicolas Cage dons his fiery costume again in the sequel to the 2007 movie ‘Ghost Rider.’ The two films have different directors, but are based off the same comic book series. In ‘Spirit of Vengeance,’ Cage’s character tries to rid himself of the devil’s curse.

killed. He doesn’t care how anyone sees him anymore. As an example, when he wakes in a hospital, he immediately grabs bottles of pills before fleeing, later chewing them like candy. Blaze in “Spirit of Vengeance” is a performance only Cage could provide. Sure, crazy is all he does these days, but it’s still intensely watchable. An early interrogation scene is a thrill, as Cage shakes, twitches, sweats and spits trying to prevent the Rider from taking him over and killing five hundred relatively innocent people while making sure he still gets information from the thug he’s captured.

There’s glee in watching an actor like Cage at this stage of his career. He knows he can do anything – absolutely anything – and he’ll still get acting jobs.

Notice how there’s no “2” between “Ghost Rider” and “Spirit of Vengeance?” This

“What happens if you need to pee when you’re on fire?”

Blaze happily replies, “It’s awesome. Imagine a flamethrower.” Cut to a rear shot of the Rider, fire exploding from his pants. He turns to the camera and laughs.

Unfortunately, beyond Cage and the film’s overthe-top humor, the rest of “Ghost Rider” is nigh unwatchable. Its directors, Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, are known for their hyper-kinetic shooting style where they go above and beyond, launching themselves down highways and off cliffs to make every shot an action shot. This shakycam, realistic view works wonders in their best films, Jason Statham’s “Crank” and “Crank 2.” But while it was a necessity for those films due to their low budgets, they squander their money in “Ghost Rider.”

The action is kinetic, yes, it has to be, but much of it is shot in the dark and awkwardly captured. It’s hard to fully make out what’s going on during the fight scenes – a kiss of death for a film in the genre that relies on them. But what’s worse is that it has no interesting characters to get audiences engaged and rooting for them. Sure, Idris Elba is a fantastic actor, and he

has begun.” November is a strong month for movies, but the award hopefuls don’t quite dominate the box office. They are joined by quite a few family films, screwball comedies and early Holiday releases.

How good the movies are really depends on the year. The Oscar contenders will always be good, but the rest is fairly unpredictable.

December: My favorite.

December is when Hollywood goes all out to release as many great movies as possible to accommodate for the Academy’s short–term memory. In December, pretty much anything goes, but it is a big time for war films, remakes, art films and historical dramas.

There will of course some be Christmas-oriented movies and a stupid comedy or two, or six.

But one can really enjoy this month if he or she chooses the

Brendon.Field@UConn.edu

Courtesy of Rottentomatoes.com

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba 2/17/12

4

Elmira.Fifo@UConn.edu

Fall and winter provides a crop of high-quality, genre movies from THE HOLLYWOOD, page 8

The Daily Campus, Page 9

Focus

/10

is because the film is completely detached from the first film, except for Blaze’s origin story.

Correctly assuming that no one remembers or cares about the original “Ghost Rider,” the sequel instead jumps right into the action, with frequent random derails from the plot whenever exposition ends up being necessary. These random, rushed cutaways are the film’s best thing, and they’re very reminiscent of the comic book panels that Johnny Blaze originally lept from. They dump the bare– bones plot quickly when needed, amid visual montages that are sometimes beautiful, and sometimes hilarious.

The single best scene in “Spirit of Vengeance” is when it uses this trick for a short cutaway. The spawnof-Satan young boy that Johnny’s trying to protect throughout the film asks the anti-hero a strange question.

plays an interesting Moreau – a Frenchman who’s a mercenary for God and owns some fine weaponry. But why should we care if we don’t learn this until we’re 30 minutes into the film?

Cage’s performance is great, but Blaze is not a fun character to watch. On top of that, there are no stakes, as we see the Rider get hit by a Javelin and survive in the first 15 minutes. When Cage has to act relatively sane, there’s no point The key to “Ghost Rider” is to consider it a modern B-movie. Sure, it’s not good, but there are people out there who will watch a 3D movie with Nic Cage and demons.

The film will be clichéd.

The plot will be boring. (I know no one else saw it, but the “kidnapped child, but this time with demons” plot of “Spirit of Vengeance” is actually torn right from the plot of Cage’s last major action film, “Drive Angry 3D.”) I don’t mind. I don’t deny the film is trashy, but there’s an art to its ineptness. It’s an original, overthe-top experience. In the right mind set, it’s a lot of fun. The fun, of course, is because it’s so bad. It’s an enigma, much like Cage’s career choices since 2007.

Joseph.O’Leary@UConn.edu

The Daily Campus, Page 10

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Focus

'Prima Donna' has US premiere NEW YORK (AP) – Rufus Wainwright's "Prima Donna" took an unusual path to its United States premiere, switching companies and sopranos.

Commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera and then dropped four years ago in a language dispute, "Prima Donna" opened Sunday in a performance by the beleaguered New York City Opera at the Brooklyn Academy of Music – a run threatened by labor strife until a contract was reached with unions last month.

At times haunting, at times filled with shimmering lyrical passages and at times maddeningly slow, the first opera by the 38-year-old singer-songwriter showed promise and was greeted with an enthusiastic response. It simultaneously delights and disappoints, a melodic throwback to the era when Puccini and Strauss were composing, with arias and duets and quartets. But the pacing is uneven, coming nearly to a standstill in the first act.

Set in Paris on Bastille Day in 1970, the opera is about fictional soprano Regine Saint Laurent, who retired suddenly six years earlier at the height of her profession.

Much like the Marschallin in Strauss' "Der Rosenkavalier," she must face her own aging, a turn inward set off by the visit of Andre Le Tourner, a journalist who is as much an admirer as he is a reporter.

She is surrounded by momentos of her last triumph in "Alienor d'Aquitaine," and she intends to return to the stage in that role. But Le Tourner forces her to confront the jarring events in her final performance that caused her to quit singing.

Introspection convinces her that not only is her voice broken, but her spirit is too.

Originally part of a joint program of the Met and Lincoln Center Theater to develop new works, "Prima Donna" was dropped by those companies because Wainwright and Bernadette Colomine composed the libretto in French, not English. It premiered at the Manchester International Festival in July 2009, then traveled to North America for Toronto's Luminato festival the following June.

The son of folk singers Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, Wainwright is a self-described opera junkie, and the composition is an homage that shows influences from several 19th- and 20th-century composers such as Puccini, Strauss and Britten. The harp and timpani are used in many pretty passages. The most effective number, an aria by the maid Marie entitled "Picardie," is at the start of the second act when she sings of the differences between Paris and her home.

It is more concise than any of the music given to Regine.

Writer should stick to day job for MTV from HIPSTER, page 7

By writing “Geek Girls Unite,” Simon fosters avoidable typecasts and isolation of personal preferences. As I read the book, I had trouble fitting myself into the author’s categories. The quizzes felt random and indifferent, and the lists became less enjoyable after a while. Furthermore, the tone that the author uses seems artificial due to her overuse of idioms and slang. The cuteness of Simon’s writing is more appropriate for a blog or a magazine article. She has some exotic ideas, but she needs to reform her presentation and narration if she ever wants to write an insightful piece of social commentary.

Purbita.Saha@UConn.edu

Give credit to movie models from POTENTIAL, page 7

AP

Melody Moore performs as Regine Saint-Laurent during a dress rehearsal of Rufus Wainwright's "Prima Donna" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, in Brooklyn, New York.

In a role reminiscent of Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard," soprano Melody Moore took over as Regine from Janis Kelly, who sang in the premiere and was announced for this run in December 2010.

Somewhat restrained and not near-

ly as mannered as some real-life divas, Moore needed to be more over the top in her affectations to befit a faded star of stature.

Wainwright gave her soaring vocal lines, and she filled them with color, although some turned

Chris Brown, Rihanna collaborate on 2 songs

NEW YORK (AP) — Chris Brown and Rihanna are back together, musically speaking.

Two songs featuring the singers hit the Internet on Monday.

Brown sings on the remix of Rihanna's sexually charged song "Birthday Cake," and she's on the remix of his upbeat tune "Turn Up the Music."

Brown tweeted a link to the new version of "Turn Up the Music" on Monday, and Rihanna later retweeted it. She also tweeted about the remix for "Birthday Cake."

Brown attacked his then-girlfriend Rihanna at a pre-Grammy

Awards party in 2009. He pleaded guilty to a felony charge and is serving five years of probation.

Last year, a judge eased a restraining order after an attorney for Rihanna said she didn't object to removing the stayaway provisions. The order had required Brown to stay 50 yards away from Rihanna, but the restriction was reduced to 10 yards if they were at a music industry event.

After a three-year absence from the Grammys, Brown made his return this year, performing twice at the show and

winning best R&B album.

Rihanna also performed and picked up a trophy.

Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, told Esquire magazine in its October 2010 issue that she no longer resented Brown and that she enjoys his music.

The two singers first collaborated musically in 2007 on the remix to her monster hit "Umbrella."

Brown also tweeted "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBYN" to Rihanna, who turned 24 on Monday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) – YouTube has committed $100 million to 96 new video channels and has recruited top Hollywood talent to produce content. But the Googleowned site's talent search is far from complete. Fancy yourself a filmmaker?

Here are a few tips on how to make it big on the world's biggest video platform.

SUBSCRIBERS YouTube's design changes mean that getting on the mostviewed list isn't the ticket to stardom that it once was. That "Evolution of Dance" video that was YouTube's most-watched clip for ages wouldn't cut it in the new YouTube world.

Now, it's all about getting people to subscribe to your videos. That means fans will know when you post a new video, which often translates to automatic views. Maker Studios cofounder Danny Zappin says most of a video's views now occur in the first few weeks after release because subscribers have been waiting for them.

MAKE IT GOOD High-quality videos do better than slap-dash ones. That's why Peter "NicePeter" Shukoff spends weeks researching each

episode of "Epic Rap Battles of History" before getting in front of the camera.

Shukoff and partner Lloyd "Epic Lloyd" Ahlquist create videos that feature historic figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Shakespeare, and Genghis Kahn, debating – and berating – one another in hip-hop-inspired verse.

The two creators use sampled beats from around the world, and craft their rap lyrics with mind-boggling precision.

You know the "p-brane" referred to in the first season's smackdown between Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking?

It's actually a multi-dimensional theoretical particle in the world of physics. Shukoff knew the reference would tickle some viewers, and it did.

"When you have an audience that big, there's a lot of different kinds of people and a lot of different levels of understanding," he says.

TIME RELEASES WELL Many successful YouTube channel operators time their videos to hit the Web in the same way that an episodic series airs on regular television. Ray William Johnson puts up a new video every Tuesday and Friday.

When he's not there, he finds someone to fill in.

Maker's Zappin also recommends not uploading new videos in the wee hours or early in the morning. Many YouTube fans are young, watching on mobile phones. "If you upload too early, they're in school, so they may or may not see it," he says.

How to become a YouTube star

strident toward the top. She gets two arias, "Quand j'etais jeune etudiant (When I was a young student)" and "Feux d'Artifice (Fireworks)," which is sung while looking out at the Bastille Day celebration and seems anticlimactic.

A pet-peeve of mine is that whenever a movie is released that is based off a book, the cover of the book is often changed to a “movie tie-in edition.” After a while, the movie tie-in editions become commonplace in bookstores, making the original covers scarce. I always try to buy books with the original cover because that is what the authors and publishers of the book intended the cover to look like. As great of an actor as George Clooney is, he isn’t an author and had nothing to do with the book, “The Descendants” so I don’t want him on my copy of the book.

As you are watching the Oscars, remember to keep in mind the books behind the films and enjoy both of them. Just think of how successful franchises such as “Harry Potter” have become because of the movies.

Movies can expose more people to novels and vice versa, each industry helping the other.

Alyssa.McDonagh@UConn.edu

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

The Daily Campus, Page 11

Sports

» NBA

No KG, no Rondo, no Celtics win

DALLAS (AP) — Dirk the rest of the way.

Nowitzki had 26 points and Already without suspendmoved into the top 20 on the NBA ed Rajon Rondo, absent Kevin career scoring list and the Dallas Garnett and injured Brandon Bass, Mavericks beat the short-handed the Celtics lost starters Jermaine and struggling Boston Celtics O'Neal (sprained left wrist) and 89-73 Monday night.

Chris Wilcox (right The defending chamadductor strain) in the pion Mavericks reached third quarter. the midpoint of their Mavericks 89 Boston has lost four regular season schedin a row, and six of 73 seven. ule after never trailing Celtics against Boston.

Nowitzki moved to Nowitzki, who also had a sea- No. 20 on the NBA scoring list son-high 16 rebounds, scored all with seven points in the first quarof Dallas' points in a 10-2 run mid- ter. That pushed him one past Hall way through the second quarter of Famer Robert Parish (23,334), that pushed the Mavericks ahead who played 14 of his 21 NBA by 14. They led by double digits seasons for the Celtics.

NBA

AP

Yi Jianlian drives past Sasha Pavlovic during the Mavs' win over Boston.

» NBA

Nets halt Linsanity in New York

NEW YORK (AP) — Linsanity ran into reality: All-Star Deron Williams wasn't getting embarrassed by the Harvard guy again.

Williams scored a season-high 38 points, outplaying Jeremy Lin and leading the New Jersey Nets to a 100-92 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night.

Lin began his remarkable run against the Nets about two weeks ago, but Williams and the Nets were ready for him this time.

Lin finished with 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, but Williams outscored him 36-11 Nets through three quarters, when the Nets led by 18. Lin shot only 7 Knicks of 18 and the Knicks lost for the second time in 10 games since his emergence against the Nets on Feb. 4.

Carmelo Anthony, clearly rusty in his return from a seven-game absence with a strained right groin, shot 4 of 11 and scored 11 points.

Williams scored 18 in the third quarter, including 12 straight Nets points during one surge. Clearly amped up for the rematch — maybe too much so, because he fouled out with 3:07 left — he skipped across the court with three fingers in the air after burying a second straight 3-pointer during his blistering stretch.

MarShon Brooks had 18 points for the Nets in their third game in three nights.

They shut down a Knicks offense that rang up 104 points against the defending champion Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, when Lin had 28 points and a career-best 14 assists.

But Williams was locked in this time, and the U.S. Olympian could've gone for plenty more if not for spending most of the fourth quarter on the bench in foul trouble. But by then he had the Nets too far ahead for the Knicks to catch.

The Knicks had their five-game winning streak against the Nets snapped and failed again to move back over .500.

Baron Davis had three points in 9 minutes in his Knicks debut after overcoming a herniated disk in his 100 back. Expected to be the starter whenever he became available, he'll 92 be Backup Baron as long as Lin keeps it up.

The Knicks were 8-15, coming off losses on consecutive nights, and had already fallen into a double-digit hole against the Nets on Feb. 4 when Lin got his chance, coming off the bench for 25 points in a 99-92 victory.

So uncertain of his NBA future at the time that he refused to get his own place to live, Lin slept on teammate Landry Fields' couch the night before that game.

The days of sleeping on couches and riding the benches are long gone.

Lin had since averaged 25 points and 9.2 assists, the most remarkable story in the NBA this season. And even the Nets have been impressed. Coach Avery Johnson praised Lin and downplayed the notion that his stats were a product of Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni's system, though Johnson also wasn't buying a certain comparison that has been popping up

NBA

more regularly.

"I've heard a lot of different stories and even I got a question from even my daughter whether Lin was in (Steve) Nash's category. So we don't want to go there, OK?" he said. "It's only been nine games. Give the kid a chance.

"It's a great story and he's inspiring a lot of kids, but let's give the kid a chance to play a whole season, maybe even play a playoff series, before you know, we start putting him in Nash's category."

Nor is he in Williams' category. The AllStar point guard was in constant motion with or without the ball, powering his way to the basket on drives or hitting from well beyond the 3-point arc — once while being fouled by Lin for a four-point play.

It was a learning experience for Lin, anonymous last month but a marked man in the league now.

Knicks ratings have surged — Sunday's victory earned ABC's third-highest overnight rating ever for a non-Christmas broadcast — and celebrities are packing Madison Square Garden again. New parents Jay-Z, a partowner of the Nets, and Beyonce were in the crowd for this one.

Lin graced the cover of Sports Illustrated and was the subject of a sketch on "Saturday Night Live" and there's no telling how far his celebrity will rise. The online sports book bovada.lv even is giving 5 to 1 odds he'll go on a date before the NBA finals are over with Kim Kardashian, split from Nets forward Kris Humphries.

Rose returns, Bulls beat Hawks CHICAGO (AP) — Derrick Rose scored 23 points in his return from back pain, and the Chicago Bulls beat the struggling Atlanta Hawks 90-79 on Monday.

Rose looked sharp after missing the previous five games, and the Bulls played more like championship contenders after a brutal loss to New Jersey two days earlier.

They led by 18 through the first quarter and were up 55-37 at halftime, but found themselves hanging on in the end after a big push by Atlanta.

The Bulls were clinging to an 85-79 lead after a late 3-pointer by Jannero Pargo before Luol Deng nailed a 3 of his own to make it a ninepoint game. Rose then buried a turnaround jumper to make it 90-79 with 2:10 remaining and Chicago prevailed, sending Atlanta to its seventh loss in 10 games.

Rose also had six assists and

five rebounds. Carlos Boozer added 16 points, Ronnie Brewer had 13, and Deng and John Lucas 10 apiece. Joakim Noah chipped in with 16 rebounds.

Pargo provided a big spark off the bench for Atlanta with a season-high 19 points, hitting five 3-pointers. Josh Smith added 17 points and 12 rebounds, but the Hawks came up short again.

They showed little life in the early going after being blown out by Portland on Sunday and paid for it in the end. They were without Marvin Williams, who missed the game because of a death in the family, but it's hard to believe he would have made that big a difference with the way the Bulls played early on.

Coming off one of their ugliest performances in two seasons under coach Tom Thibodeau, they quickly rediscovered their form while taking control.

» MLB

Pujols begins new stage of career at Angels camp

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Decked out in Angels' gear from head to toe, Albert Pujols looked like the same slugger whose swing in St. Louis became as symbolic as the Gateway Arch.

With a halo-topped "A'' logo on his cap, Pujols, his massive chest and arms filling out every corner of his red shirt, sat behind a microphone and excitedly announced the start of a new stage of his career.

"Here I am," he said.

And here he goes.

Arriving just as the morning sun crept above the horizon, and more than a week earlier than required, Pujols reported to training camp Monday with the Los Angeles Angels, who will pay the three-time NL MVP $240 million over the next 10 years to be the face of their franchise — and to hopefully bring them several World Series titles.

"I'm just really excited to be here, it feels good to be outside," Pujols said during a news conference held at a nearby luxury hotel. "I've been training for three months, hitting in a cage in St. Louis, and it feels good to be here for some spring baseball."

Although only the Angels' pitchers and catchers had to be at camp this early, Pujols wanted to be there from Day One as well. That's how the 32-year-old has done it since breaking into the big leagues in 2001 and he wasn't about to change his routine.

He also felt it was important to begin bonding with his new teammates, some of whom were caught staring at him from across the clubhouse.

Driving a black Mercedes still tagged with Missouri license plates, Pujols pulled into the players' parking lot at 7:15 a.m. There were only a handful of fans waiting to catch a glimpse of the ninetime All-Star, who helped lead the Cardinals to a championship last season before leaving the only baseball home he had known.

Pujols stopped in the equipment room and shook a few hands before heading to the clubhouse, where his locker is flanked by veterans Bobby Abreu and Torii Hunter.

"The guys are awesome," Pujols said. "They well-received me as soon as I walked in there."

Shortly after dressing, Pujols made an early request to one of the team's media relations members.

"Let me take a peak of the ballpark," he said before walking out a side door for his first look at Tempe Diablo Stadium, the Angels' spring home, which is sure to be packed with fans throughout March.

It didn't take long for Pujols to feel like he was part of the club.

During manager Mike Scioscia's first team meeting, Pujols' cellphone rang, earning the superstar his first petty fine, which according to a team official, will require him to buy his skipper lunch.

No major league manager had a more productive offseason than Scioscia. Angels owner Arte Moreno spent $320 million in signing Pujols, left-hander C.J. Wilson (5 years, $77.5 million) and reliever LaTroy Hawkins (1 year, $3 million).

Scioscia, entering his 13th season with the Angels, will have the luxury every game of penciling Pujols' name onto his lineup card in the No. 3 spot and at first base.

"His whole game, not only

being a presence hitting in the middle of the lineup, running the bases. He's an offensive machine," Scioscia said. "He's a special player and special players are usually multidimensional, and Albert is."

Scioscia said unless there's a need because of injury he has no plans to use Pujols at third, where the Cardinals had him for seven games last season.

After taking some swings in an indoor cage, Pujols was driven in a golf cart to one of the back fields on the team's minor league complex. With over 100 fans doing everything possible to get a close look from behind the right-field fence, Pujols fielded some grounders before taking his first outdoor batting-practice cuts of the spring.

With Moreno, trainers, coaches and instructors watching, Pujols ripped a few fastballs from hitting coach Mickey Hatcher for line drives and then launched a deep shot over the fence in left, the ball slicing between two giant palm trees and disappearing into the brush.

"It's too early for that," a smiling Hatcher yelled as Pujols switched spots with Kendrys Morales, who will likely bat in the cleanup spot behind him.

Jumping to a new league and facing unfamiliar pitchers might unnerve some players. Not Pujols. He intends to dig into the batter's box the same as always, square up a fastball the way he has for years and pad statistics that are likely to grace his plaque in Cooperstown.

"The game doesn't change," he said. "When I got into the big leagues in 2001, I didn't know anybody, so that's how I'm going to take it. It's a different league, but in 2001 I didn't know any pitchers around the league. It's going to be a little different, but when it comes to playing the game, nothing has changed except that we have a DH in the American League."

Pujols has joined a new team, new league and new city, but he will always have fond memories of his years with the Cardinals.

"You know what, I had a great time in St. Louis," he said.

"Obviously, 11 years, you don't just flip the page and move on. There were some great moments. I was able to accomplish two World Series and that experience is something I want to bring to this city, to Anaheim, to this ballclub and have hopefully better seasons than I had in St. Louis and hopefully more championships."

Pujols said he's fine physically and dismissed the idea that a wrist injury that nagged him early last season lingers.

"Just look at my numbers after the wrist injury," he said.

"It doesn't bother me at all."

And neither does his decision to leave St. Louis, right after the Cardinals won the championship.

There was a point where it looked as if Pujols might stay with the Cardinals, and be that rare player in the era of free agency to spend his entire career with one team.

However, the second-largest contract in baseball history along with the chance to prolong his career as a DH and an additional 10-year personal services contract with the Angels was too much to resist.

It was time for him to go.

The Daily Campus, Page 12

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Sports

Men's track takes 2nd in Big East

By Mike Corasaniti Staff Writer After all of the dust cleared from the frenzy that is Big East Championship weekend, the UConn men’s and women’s track and field teams emerged in with a strong finish. The women grabbed sixth place and the men fell just short of a repeat with a second place finish.

With several top-five finishes including three first place, two second place and three third place finishes, the UConn men’s track and field team emerged with 103 points at the Armory in New York, earning a second place spot in the Big East but 28 points behind champion Notre Dame.

Helping the Huskies get to that position included the three gold medalists on the day: junior Noel James jumped 2.19m in the high jump, senior Tim Bennatan who ran 2:29.96 in the 1,000m and junior captain Jake Waruch broke the meet record in the heptathlon with 5,497 points). Also helping the cause for the men was sophomore Jesse Chapman, who earned 5,184 points in the heptathlon for third place and grabbed two second place finishes in the 60m hurdles and pole vault respectively the following day.

On the women’s side of the track, six medal-winning performances led the Huskies to a sixth place finish behind Cincinnati, Villanova, Notre Dame, Louisville and champion

Georgetown. The Huskies finished with 66.50 points, less than 40 points off the pace at the Armory.

Leading the Huskies to their sixth place finish included sophomore sprinter Celina Emerson, who grabbed second place in the 400m with a 54.56. Senior Heather Wilson ran a 4:47.5 in the mile for second place, and the lone gold medalist for the Huskies, junior Ilva Bikanova, jumped 1.78m in the high jump.

The championship season continues for both teams this weekend at the New England Championships. Both the men’s and women’s teams will be competing in Boston.

JIM ANDERSON/The Daily Campus

Michael.Corasaniti@UConn.edu

The UConn women's track team finished sixth place in the Big East this past weekend, while the men's team finished second.

UConn looks to rebound at Pittsburgh

By Dan Agabiti Senior Staff Writer

ED RYAN/The Daily Campus

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and UConn lost to St. John's Saturday at Gampel Pavilion.

Coming off of a streak-ending 57-56 home loss to St. John’s at Gampel Pavilion, the No. 4 UConn Huskies play on the road at 7 p.m. Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Panthers.

The loss, which ended UConn’s streak of 99 consecutive home wins, also happened on the Huskies’ Senior Night. Any loss is tough, but for UConn’s lone senior, guard Tiffany Hayes, losing on Senior Night did not make it any easier.

“You never expect to lose, especially at home,” Hayes said. “It’s still a loss, so it’s going to feel like another loss no matter what.”

Coach Geno Auriemma thought

» LACROSSE

UConn beats the Gaels

By Danny Maher Campus Correspondent

The UConn lacrosse team showed little sign of early season rust in a 10-7 seasonopening win over Iona (0-1) on Saturday.

The Huskies (1-0) came out of the gate firing and were able to sneak three goals by Iona goalkeeper Blaire Nathanson in the first five minutes.

Three goals from UConn’s Kiersten Tupper and six saves from UConn goalkeeper Brittney Testa allowed the Huskies to take a 6-2 lead into half- UConn time. Tupper fin- Iona ished the game with four goals and an assist.

Shortly after, the Huskies’ leading scorer from last season, M.E. Lapham, gave UConn an 8-2 lead, before Iona began a vicious comeback.

The Gaels would score three goals in a 13 minute span and cut the Connecticut lead down to two with just under two minutes remaining.

But a pair of clutch saves from Testa secured the 10-7 win for the Huskies. Testa saved 15 of 22 shots taken by

the Gaels. The Huskies’ win marked the third consecutive year UConn defeated Iona.

Less than a minute into the contest, UConn midfielder Lauren Kahn weaved through the Iona defense unassisted and scored the Huskies’ first goal of the game – and of the season.

Minutes later, Kahn ran the length of the field on a fast break and found Lapham near the 8-meter arc, and she gave the Huskies a two-goal lead.

Shortly after Tupper added her first goal on the season, with the assist from Kahn, Iona got on the board when 10 Nina Veneziale beat 7 Testa for Iona’s first goal of the year.

A yellow card on Iona’s Kelsey Sickles led to another Tupper goal. Kahn and Tupper added another goal each, and the Huskies went into halftime with a four-goal lead.

“We came out solid in the first half, and we stuck to our game plan to control possession,” said assistant coach Anne Harrington.

Five minutes into the second half, Tupper hit Mackenzie Rainone cutting toward the net, putting the Huskies up 7-2.

Iona did not go quietly.

LACROSSE

Iona midfielder Casey Scully came around the back of the UConn net and found Meghan Testoni for a goal.

Scully added a goal of her own, cutting the UConn lead to 9-7 with just under two minutes remaining.

Iona relentlessly attacked the next minute, but the experience in between the pipes prevailed for the Huskies.

The junior goalkeeper’s 15th and final save of the game was the biggest. She denied Iona’s Kylie Gregory of a hat trick that would have had the Gaels within one goal.

“Testa was absolutely huge down the stretch,” Harrington said.

Kahn’s third goal of the game with just seconds remaining secured the 10-7 win.

UConn was outshot 26-23 for the game and outscored 5-4 in the second half.

“We need to be a little smarter with shot selection that will hopefully lead to better capitalizing on possessions,” Harrington said. “We need to play all 60 minutes.”

The Huskies’ next game is home versus Quinnipiac this Saturday at 1 p.m.

Daniel.Maher@UConn.edu

McDonough: Team shouldn't listen to fake fans from A SORRY, page 14 NBA legend Bill Russell would often say during his playing days that he played for the Celtics, not the city of Boston. The statement by the surly young center, although most likely driven by racially insensitive people Russell dealt with, can relate to UConn. Russell was talking about playing for his teammates, his coach and himself.

He didn’t care for the fake fans who could turn on you in a minute.

So if I’m on the UConn men’s basketball team, I’m thinking the same thing.

Enough with the thick skin, I’m getting selfish. I’m using criticism as fuel. If I’m a player, the last thing I want to

see after a loss is tweets blasting me from people who can’t dribble a basketball. If I’m Tyler Olander, yes I’d want to call out the fair-weather fans that consider themselves UConn diehards. If I’m Alex Oriakhi, I’d be pretty ticked off when the same fans who cheered for me last season when the team was playing well aren’t telling me to keep my head up when things aren’t going as expected this season.

If I’m Andre Drummond, I’m putting my shield up because I can’t tell who’s real.

So if I’m on the UConn men’s basketball team, this Saturday against Syracuse, when I walk on the Gampel Pavilion floor, I’m not playing for the fans because I don’t know who the real fans

are. I don’t know who will be cheering one minute, then typing on their smart phone s the next.

On Saturday, I’ll take the court and think about my family and friends. Then I’ll look toward the bench. I’ll look at my coaches and teammates.

I’ll think about how hard I want to play for them, and only them.

Then I’d look at my jersey, with my number and name on it. I’d think of how hard I worked to get here. Once the ball is tipped, I’d play my heart out for myself.

Nobody else.

Matthew.McDonough@UConn.edu

his team played terrible basketball gling this year. They are just 8-18 and was not afraid to express that. with no wins in 13 tries against Regardless of what the streak is, Big East teams, and haven’t won a he thinks his team has to earn game in 2012. every victory that it gets.

But none of that matters to “I don’t care if its 900 UConn. The Huskies in a row,” Auriemma are coming off of a difsaid. “Tonight remindficult loss and feel as if ed us that you only win they have a lot to prove when you deserve to to the rest of the nation. win.” you lose at Pittsburgh a “When Despite UConn’s game, it’s naturally 7 p.m. stingy defense, the depressing,” freshHuskies were still man Kiah Stokes told Petersen unable to come away the Hartford Courant. with a win Saturday Events Center “We need to show night.

Pittsburgh what type of CPTV “Funny thing is, if team we are. We don’t you hold a team to 57 want to give them any points, you’re supposed to win that reason to think they can beat us. game,” Auriemma said. “That’s Just because St. John’s beat us, not a lot of points.” doesn’t suddenly mean every team The Panthers have been strug- can. We have to turn things around

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

right here.”

The UConn front court has been struggling recently. Against the Red Storm, the Huskies barely out rebounded a St. John’s team that is much smaller in size. Not only were they not rebounding well, but both Stokes and center Stefanie Dolson were unable to establish themselves in the post to create scoring chances.

“I would say that we’re not at our highest spot right now,” Stokes said. “We’ve been struggling, missing layups, those variety of things. ... He has stressed to us [Dolson and Stokes] that we need to get it together, and if we don’t he’ll just play five guards. He’s done it before and I know he will.”

Daniel.Agabiti@UConn.edu

» MLB

Rockies' Tracy receives indefinite extension SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Rockies manager Jim Tracy could become a Colorado lifer.

He would love that, and general manager Dan O'Dowd would love that, too.

Tracy has received what O'Dowd called an "indefinite" contract extension. The new deal at the very least adds the 2013 season and then what both parties hope are many more years beyond that.

"Quite honestly it could be for whatever number of years Jim wants it to be for," O'Dowd said in making the unique announcement Monday before Tracy began his regular postpractice media session following the opening spring training workout for Colorado's pitchers and catchers. "We understand how difficult it is to build a culture in a world that's valued only on performance, but we believe we're going to build a culture of value and we believe that Jim's the right person to build that value. We believe in him completely with what this stands for."

Tracy, who is so at ease and feels he can be himself with the Rockies, insists his contract status was the furthest thing from his mind.

"It's very gratifying and it means an awful lot to me," Tracy said. "They have made it very comforting because of the way

they have worked with me going back to 2009, they are allowing more and more for me to just be who I want to be. The last thing I wanted, and the last thing that I want, is for the focus to be on me, because I think that's wrong.

That's a disservice to your players. That's not what I'm about."

O'Dowd said all they needed was a handshake — no formal paperwork or press release.

Tracy's previous three-year, $4.4 million contract took him through this season, so he eventually must formally sign a new deal to make this move official.

"An extension beyond this year," O'Dowd said. "It's a different world we're living in. I know it's a world where there's got to be a number and there's got to be a term ... and we'll talk every year and we'll continue to move forward that way, but to me the appropriate term is indefinite."

Tracy also has managed the Pirates and Dodgers, but considers his third stop as a manager the best fit for him. And a gentleman's agreement is perfectly fine by him.

"The key to this thing is we're authentic relationships around here where it's a handshake," said O'Dowd, who when asked to clarify the parameters of the agreement noted: "What a handshake should signify is trust.

The gist of the conversation

and understanding is that it's indefinite. To limit it to 2013 would not do justice to Jim. Basically what I'm saying is I should never have to have this conversation with you guys again."

The 56-year-old manager said he would like to one day retire with the Rockies.

"This is actually where I'd like it to end. When the time comes for it to end, this is it, this is the place," he said. "I have a contract, and I'm completely flattered with what it is that I'm doing and the way that I'm treated. Why would you want to go anyplace else?"

Tracy was called into a meeting last week with front office members at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Tracy is 230210 since taking over as manager from Clint Hurdle in late May 2009, when he took over a team that was 10 games under .500 (18-28) with the secondworst record in baseball. He wound up winning NL Manager of the Year honors after leading Colorado to a 74-42 record and the NL wild card.

The Rockies went 73-89 last year for a disappointing fourth-place finish in the NL West. That came a year after an injury-plagued season in which Colorado lost 13 of its final 14 games but still finished a respectable 83-79.

Do you want to be in The Daily Campus?

Tweet answers to the Daily Question.

Put your name, major and semester.

@DCSportsDept To follow us and tweet at us during games.

TWO Tuesday, February 21, 2012

PAGE 2

What's Next Home game

The Daily Campus, Page 13

Sports

The Daily Question Q : “What is the outlook for the rest of the men’s basketball season?” need to build off the momentum from this win and take the rest of the A : “We season game by game.”

» That’s what he said “Usually I hit from real, real deep.”

– UConn point guard Shabazz Napier on his game-winning 3-pointer.

Feb. 28 Providence 7 p.m.

March 3 Pittsburgh Noon

TBD Big East Tournament

Women’s Basketball (24-3)

AP

» Pic of the day

Lin Melos out

Home: Gampel Pavilion, XL Center Today Pittsburgh 7 p.m.

TBD Feb. 25 TBD Feb. 27 Big East Marquette Notre Dame Big East 5 p.m.

9 p.m. Tournament Tournament

Men’s Ice Hockey (13-17-3) March 3 March 10 March 16 Feb. 24 Feb. 25 Atlantic Hockey Atlantic Hockey Atlantic Hockey AIC AIC 7:05 p.m. 7:05 p.m. First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals

Men’s Swimming & Diving March 9 NCAA Zone Diving All Day

Women’s Swimming & Diving March 9 NCAA Zone Diving All Day

Baseball (1-2) Feb. 24 Xavier 1 p.m.

March 2 March 2 Feb. 25 Feb. 26 Charleston Rhode Island Lipscomb Mississippi St. 5 p.m.

11 a.m. 2:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.

Softball (1-2) March 2 Wisconsin 9 a.m.

March 2 Kansas 11 a.m.

March 3 Charles 11 a.m.

March 4 Kansas 1 p.m.

March 9 San Diego St. 2:30 p.m.

The Daily Campus is more than just a paper.

Twitter: @DCSportsDept @The_DailyCampus www.dailycampus.com

Twitter: @DCSportsDept

Tweet your answers, along with your name, semester standing and major, to @DCSportsDept. The best answer will appear in the next paper.

The Daily Roundup Manny signs minor league deal

Home: Gampel Pavilion, XL Center Feb. 25 Syracuse 9 p.m.

“Who’s a better point guard: Jeremy Lin or Rajon Rondo?”

–Matt Ouimette, 8th-semester sports management major.

Away game

Men’s Basketball (17-10)

Next Paper’s Question:

AP

Jeremy Lin rises up for a shot over Deron Williams during the Nets 100-92 win over the Knicks last night in New York. It was Carmelo Anthony’s first game since he injured his groin.

PHOENIX (AP) — Manny Ramirez and the Oakland Athletics agreed on a minor league contract Monday that is worth approximately $500,000 if he’s added to the big league roster.

The A’s announced the deal and said Ramirez is expected to report to spring training by the end of the week, in time for Oakland’s first full-squad workout Saturday. He is a non-roster invitee.

The 12-time All-Star is due to serve a 50-game suspension for his second positive drug test before he can play for the A’s. Barring rainouts, his first game could be May 30 — on his 40th birthday. But that didn’t deter general manager Billy Beane and the Athletics.

“I am very pleased Billy was able to add Manny to our team,” owner Lew Wolff said in an email. “I look forward to welcoming him and the entire team that Billy and his people have assembled for the coming season.”

ESPN first reported earlier in the day that the sides had reached an agreement, speaking directly to Ramirez.

The A’s made public their interest in the enigmatic slugger, who had been working out in Florida this winter.

For the small-budget A’s, Ramirez presents little financial risk. They don’t have to pay him during his suspension and will give him per diem money during the club’s spring training stint in Phoenix, which is shorter than usual because of two season-opening games in Japan next month.

Oakland sent representatives to Florida this winter to watch workouts by Ramirez, who retired from the Tampa Bay Rays last season rather than serve a 100-game suspension. For Ramirez, this could become a chance to help mend his reputation — at least a little bit — and serve as a positive clubhouse influence on a young team.

The A’s recently agreed to terms on a $36 million, four-year contract with highly regarded outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, a Cuban defector who has expressed interest in playing with Ramirez.

Starving for offense, Oakland finished third in the AL West last season at 74-88 and ranked 12th out of 14 American League teams in runs.

At baseball’s winter meetings in December, it was announced that Ramirez had applied for reinstatement. He had his suspension for a second failed drug test cut to 50 games because he sat out nearly all of last season. MLB had announced his retirement on April 8, saying he was notified “of an issue” under the drug program.

Ramirez ranks 14th on the career list with 555 home runs. He went 1 for 17 (.059) in five games last season for Tampa Bay, which had signed him to a one-year deal worth $2.02 million.

NCAA doesn’t have justification

By Ryan Tepperman NCAA Basketball Columnist There doesn’t seem to be a week that passes without UConn and the NCAA being at odds.

By now, most people on campus are probably familiar with the “Academic Progress Rate” (APR), which measures the players’ academic performance, and that under the current rules, the UConn men’s basketball team would be ineligible for the 2013 NCAA tournament.

Students have heard the school’s protest about a breach of the Fifth Amendment double jeopardy, and President Susan Herbst’s statement about how unfair it is that “our current men’s basketball student-athletes could be punished for the problematic academic performance of other students…who have not been enrolled at UConn for over two years.”

Now, in the latest installment of the ongoing saga, the NCAA Committee on Academic Performance met yesterday to discuss which data it should use when tallying college teams’ APR scores.

Under the current system – which requires that teams have either a two-year average of 930 or a four-year rolling score of

900 – the NCAA would use the 2010-11 academic year as the most recent data to determine a team’s 2013 postseason eligibility. The Committee met to discuss whether or not the NCAA should use teams’ 2011-12 scores as the most recent data.

“If they shoot that down, they’re going to have to come up with one hell of an answer,” Hartford Courant columnist Jeff Jacobs said in a phone interview Friday.

“They’re going to come up with something and it’s going to be a doozy.”

Jacobs said he had no problem with the NCAA’s decision to implement the new APR rules for next year, but he did question why the organization was choosing not to use the most recent, available data.

“Are they really going to tell us – the final grades come in on June 15 I think – that they can’t give you an answer by Jan. 1?” Jacobs said. “Granted [student-athletes] can go to summer school, there are waivers, transfers, appeals.

But overall, you’ll have the great bulk of all the scores in. I just think three or four months is quite doable to get the scores in.”

Jacobs did say he applauds the NCAA for “instituting a system” that will actually put an emphasis on student-athleticism, and I agree.

If the NCAA is serious about putting an emphasis on athletes’ academics, I think the APR is a good step. Further more, the organization has worked hard to substantially improve the system since it was initially put into place.

But like Jacobs said: “They’re in transition, so things should be looked at in transition.”

The APR is far from a finished product – its rules aren’t expected to finalized until the 2014-15 season – and has been in constant flux on a yearly basis. Most recently, on Aug. 11, the organization approved new rules that required an APR score of 930 for teams to be eligible for the postseason.

Then, in late October, it voted for those rules to be enacted for the 2012-13 year.

In other words, it agreed to implement the rules retroactively.

UConn’s biggest transgressions occurred in 2009-10, when the team had an embarrassingly low APR score of 826, but at the time the penalty was simply the loss of scholarships (UConn lost two for this season). Therefore, a 2013 tournament ban would mean the team is being punished a second time for a rule that was put in place less than four months ago.

Pretend UConn Parking Services decided to ban every student who’s received a ticket since

2008 from parking on campus, and you get an idea of what the NCAA is doing here. There’s a reason there are laws preventing this type of thing – because it doesn’t make sense.

The NCAA always had a reason for the changes it’s made to the APR system.

Why is it allowed to punish UConn for the same crime twice?

As the governing body of collegiate athletics, whose rules UConn agreed to adhere to, it has that right.

How about implementing the rules retroactively? Well, a lot of schools voted on that change, so UConn should take it up with its peers.

Not using data from the most recently completed academic year? It would be too hard to calculate all the scores in time because of things like transfers, summer school and waivers.

Fair enough, I guess.

But add them all up, and this is what you get: the NCAA is punishing UConn for the second time based on rules it implemented retroactively, despite the fact that there is more recent information available.

Try justifying that.

Ryan.Tepperman@UConn.edu

» INSIDE SPORTS TODAY

P.13: Manny Ramirez signs with A’s. / P.12: Women’s basketball looks to get back on track. / P.11: Celtics lose to Mavs.

Page 14

A sorry state of the union

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

www.dailycampus.com

ALL HEART AND HUSTLE

Lamb scores 32, Napier hits 3-pointer to win it in overtime

Matt McDonough Editors Note: This story was written prior to the end of last night’s game.

There is a growing frustration with the UConn men’s basketball team, and rightfully so.

The Huskies have hit a free fall with no guarantee of an NCAA tournament berth. Their coach is still on the shelf. This season hasn’t turned out the way everyone thought it would.

On Saturday, Shabazz Napier was even critical of his teammates when speaking to the media. On a side note, I personally have no problem with what Napier said. A lot of the comments online are saying he threw his teammates under the bus. He didn’t. He admitted he’s made mistakes and that he has personally told his teammates the same things he told the media.

Keep it in the locker room?

People all year have complained about a lack of leadership. Then when Alex Oriakhi or Napier try to light a fire, people say that they handled it the wrong way.

They are unfairly damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

That’s the reason for this. Fan reaction at UConn is unbelievable. It’s funny how quickly people across this state can forget a national championship. It’s funny how quickly people can say that this team sucks. With the exception of three, these same players were the ones who were No. 1 at the end of last season. Did they suck then, too? This is a good team with good players that have played poorly. If they suck so much, then when they play, don’t watch.

When they win, don’t cheer. Most importantly, don’t feel the need to direct your feelings towards them on Twitter after a loss.

Kevin Duffy, former sports editor of The Daily Campus and current men’s basketball beat writer for The Connecticut Post, wrote a story that everyone needs to check out. Duffy wrote about constant criticism directed towards UConn players via Twitter from fans who’d rather hide behind their smart phones than tell the players their complaints straight up. The criticism, most notably directed toward Andre Drummond, has sometimes even become offensive and insensitive.

What the hell is wrong with people? Those same “fans” are the ones who, if they ever saw the team face-to-face, would ask for a picture. Yet, they feel the need to let them know how much they’ve disappointed them. How much harder they need to play. How much harder they need to work. How they need to be in the gym 24/7 so they can start winning again.

For us.

When did we become so demanding? I don’t understand how people can be embarrassed by a defending national champion.

How dare this team? They are struggling and embarrassing me.

They are ruining the “UConn” name. I wanted to go to New Orleans. I wanted to see a repeat.

They need to make me look good.

Do people realize how selfish they sound? When it boils down to it, as much as Jim Calhoun, George Blaney and the players will credit the fans, we didn’t win a national championship last season. They did. Not one of us was on the court with the Huskies in Houston. We may have bought the hat and t-shirt, but we certainly didn’t earn it.

They did.

That’s the problem. People think the players are supposed to play for us. Win it for the fans. They don’t owe us a thing.

» MCDONOUGH, page 12

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Shabazz Napier swished a 29-footer with 0.6 seconds left in overtime, and Jeremy Lamb scored a career-high 32 points to help Connecticut stun Villanova 73-70 Monday night.

Ty Johnson appeared to send the game to double OT on his tying layup for Villanova off a missed UConn free throw. But Napier, who questioned the heart of his teammates after a loss Saturday at Marquette, hit the pull-up 3 and got all net in the final ticks to keep the defending champion Huskies’ NCAA tournament hopes alive.

The Huskies (1710, 7-8 Big East) rallied from an 18-point deficit to win without coach Jim Calhoun on the bench.

Calhoun should return from a back injury and be on the sidelines for Saturday’s game against No. 2 Syracuse.

Lamb was 11 of 21 from the floor to rally UConn against the Wildcats (11-16, 4-11), who were led by Dominic Cheek with 23 points.

Andre Drummond had 11

rebounds and four blocked shots for the Huskies. UConn overcame a dreadful start from the floor and a brutal 10 of 21 effort from the free-throw line.

Johnson added 14 points for Villanova, and JayVaughn Pinkston had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Leading scorer Maalik Wayns sat out for Villanova with a sprained MCL in his left knee, and guard James Bell was out with a sprained left ankle.

Each team made clutch plays in the final 2 minutes of regulation only to throw in a few silly ones, as well.

Mouphtaou Yarou put Villanova ahead 60-58 with 2:18 left with two free throws.

Ryan Boatwright, a 73 percent free-throw shooter for UConn, missed both of his attempts from the line with 1:05 remaining.

The Wildcats might have been able to hang on after their next possession, but Cheek’s inbound pass was picked off by Roscoe Smith and Alex Oriakhi converted the tying layup. That made it 60-all with 23 seconds left.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

73

70

AP

Alex Oriakhi and Shabazz Napier celebrate after Napier hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left in overtime.

UConn drops 2 at Big Ten/Big East Challenge

By Matt Stypulkoski Staff Writer

The Huskies jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but allowed the Boilermakers to tie things The UConn baseball team up in the bottom half. After opened its season with an up- reclaiming the lead at 4-3 in the and-down first weekend, going fifth, the UConn bullpen could 1-2 in the Big Ten/Big East not shut the door on Purdue’s Challenge in Florida. offense. They put up The Huskies three runs in both the started the weekseventh and eighth end strong, shutting innings, taking the UConn 8 out Indiana in their game 9-4. David 0 Fischer took the loss season opener win- Indiana ning 8-0. Southpaw for the Huskies.

Friday Brian Ward pitched Sunday’s game 7 1/3 innings, giving UConn 4 was shortened to six up four hits, walking due to travel, Purdue 9 innings two and struck out and once again the four to earn the win.

Saturday UConn bullpen let For his efforts, Ward down against 5 them was named Big East UConn Ohio State. It gave up Pitcher of the Week.

Ohio State 9 five runs in the top Despite the win, of the sixth after the Sunday errors were a probHuskies hitters scored lem in the game three runs to tie the for UConn, as they were all game at four in the bottom of weekend. the fifth.

After committing three errors Carson Cross, who had closed in the season opener, the Huskies out the fifth inning with a fly again crippled themselves with ball out after relieving starter five errors on Saturday.

Anthony Marzi, gave up two

BASEBALL

runs on two hits without getting an out in the sixth before Scott Oberg allowed three more, giving up just one hit, but walked four in 2/3 of an inning pitched.

Ted Hurvul then closed out the inning with a strikeout, but by then the damage had been done.

The Huskies tried to rally in the bottom half of the frame, but were unable to make the comeback, plating just one run before falling 9-5. Cross took the loss for UConn.

Despite the tough start to the season, Ryan Fuller and Eric Yavarone swung the bat well over the weekend, hitting .556 and .571 respectively. Fuller also had four RBI, and four runs scored in the three games, while Yavarone batted in two and scored one.

The Huskies will continue their travels to warm weather spots next week, as they make the trip to South Carolina for the Cougar Invitational, hosted by the College of Charleston.

Matthew.Stypulkoski@UConn.edu

ED RYAN/The Daily Campus

The UConn baseball team started its season 1-2 in Florida last weekend.

Huskies start season 1-2 in Georgia

By Mike Corasaniti Staff Writer

last run of the game for the Huskies came from senior outfielder Jen Ward on an RBI The UConn softball team got single by sophomore catcher off to a rocky start to the sea- Andrea Huelsenbeck. Junior son this past weekend, drop- Kiki Saveriano pitched seven ping two games while winning innings en route to her first one at the Georgia win of the season, as Classic. the Huskies took the The Huskies split game 4-2.

4 Later Friday, the their first day in UConn action on Friday­­, W. Illinois 2 Huskies started cruising past Western off even with the Friday Illinois but then fallBulldogs as they ing to the hosting No. UConn 1 headed into the bot14 Georgia Bulldogs. tom of the second tied 8 1-1. But the Huskies In the open- Georgia ing match-up, the struggled offensively Friday Huskies fell behind against the Bulldogs 7 for the rest of the day, early 1-0 on an error UConn but quickly respond- Tenn. Tech 9 grabbing only two ed with a Kim Silva hits off Georgia hitSunday triple to right and ting en route to an then a score on a 8-1 loss. Senior Ali Leatherneck error, sparking Adelman earned the loss after a three-run first inning. The a six run 3 2/3 inning perfor-

SOFTBALL

STEVE SWEENEY/The Daily Campus

The UConn softball team traveled to the Georgia Classic and started the season 1-2.

The Huskies lone win down south came against Western Illinois.

mance.

Rain delays canceled two of the games this weekend and postponed UConn’s match against Tennesse Tech until Sunday, when the Huskies held a 3-1 advantage in the bottom of the third inning. But when the match resumed, the Golden Eagles pulled ahead 5-3 after a four run third inning. Tennessee Tech eventually went on to take the game 8-7, with Kiki Saveriano taking the loss after giving up eight earned runs.

The Huskies return to action in two weeks when they head back down south for the Charleston Southern Tournament. There, UConn will face off against Wisconsin, Kanas and the hosting Charleston Southern.

Michael.Corasaniti@UConn.edu