The Daily Campus: February 21, 2013

Volume CXIX No. 94

» INSIDE

White House releases college scorecard

By Domenica Ghanem Campus Correspondent

POETRY AND PUPPETRY IN PERSPECTIVE UConn professor emeritus Samuel Pickering comes home.

FOCUS/ page 5

President Barack Obama has fulfilled a promise he made in his State of the Union Address to release a college scorecard that would show “where you can get the most bang for your educational buck.”

If prospective students know which colleges they are searching for or seeking to compare, they can type the name of the institution into a search bar on the site. If they are still not sure of which university they are interested in, they can search for colleges by location, size, area of interest, awards offered, cam-

pus setting and other criteria.

When searching for a college, the site scores the selection on cost, graduation rate, loan default rate and median borrowing. The last scorecard is for employment. However, the U.S. Department of Education is unable to score colleges on employment, as they do not have access to the information they need to do so. They would need the ability to track educational backgrounds and tap into tax return data to score colleges on employment. It is unclear as to how the DOE will get sufficient data to make use of the employment scorecard.

Using UConn as an exam-

ple, the average cost for undergraduate students each year is $14,877. The system calculates this number by subtracting financial aid that does not have to be paid back (such as grants and scholarships) from UConn’s cost of attendance. The card also notes that UConn’s average net price has increased 16.5 percent from 2007 to 2009. As with all the information on each scorecard, the government uses data from at least two years ago.

The next card shows the graduation rate for UConn as “high,” with 82.5 percent of full-time students graduating within six years.

The percentage of students that

» ENGINEERING

BATTLE WITH THE BEARCATS UConn seeking to bounce back against Cincinnati.

SPORTS/ page 12 EDITORIAL: REPUBLICANS WRONG TO FILIBUSTER CHUCK HAGEL NOMINATION Filibuster is blatent example of petty partisan tactics.

COMMENTARY/page 8 INSIDE NEWS: CONCLAVE BRINGS OUT CARDINALS’ DIRTY LAUNDRY Mahony adament about voting at conclave, despite unpopularity.

NEWS/ page 3

» weather THURSDAY

Partly cloudy High 33 Low 21 FRIDAY/SATURDAY

High 40 Low 29 High 38 Low 22

» index Classifieds 3 Comics 8 Commentary 4 Crossword/Sudoku 8 Focus 5 InstantDaily 4 Sports 12

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

Imagine the difficulty of trying to navigate a lake through a slalom course in a canoe – a canoe made of concrete, to be exact.

For UConn’s Concrete Canoe Club – a campus organization associated with the National Concrete Canoe Association and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), which builds and races concrete canoes – the challenges aren’t confined to the races themselves. In fact, the most difficult obstacles appear long before the canoe has even been introduced to a body of water.

“Our job is to design, fabricate and race a 20-foot-long canoe,” said the club’s president, Kevin Vliet, a civil engineering major.

Once a week, Vliet and his team of 10 to 12 fellow students, most of whom are engineering majors, convene in the concrete lab of the Castleman Building to test different styles of concrete mixes and casting concrete molds.

The molds, which are lasercut, consist of foam, agricates, lightweight polymers and plastics, and must cure for 28 days before they are ready to be used.

“We focus primarily on getting a canoe that doesn’t break and is strong,” Vliet said.

Striving to build the most effective canoe possible demands weeks upon weeks of preparation, especially when it comes to the molding process, which the Vliet and the Canoe Club’s secretary, Brian Winger, both identified as the hardest step in the Concrete Canoe process.

“The actual casting is pretty tough,” Vliet said. “You have to build the mold in a way that when you cast it and take it out of the mold, it all comes off intact.”

Winger compared it to taking a freshly baked cake out of its pan: the goal is to release the cake from the pan cleanly, but this task is difficult when the cake tends to stick to the sides of the pan.

The Canoe Club will move on to the molding process this weekend, because they recently finished concocting their con-

crete mix. With the annual competition fast approaching – the 2013 contest is to be held at UMass Dartmouth in mid-April – the team still has plenty of work to do. In addition to crafting and racing the canoe, the Concrete Canoe Club must submit a written report and deliver an oral presentation detailing the design and construction of their canoe.

At the regional competition, UConn and the 10 other competing institutions will be judged on the basis of both the oral and written reports, canoe design and of course, the results of three races: a sprint race, an endurance race and a slalom course race. The top competitors at the regional competition will qualify to compete at the national level in June at the University of Illinois.

While members of the Concrete Canoe Club must exert high levels of brainpower to succeed in the competition, the physicality of the challenge – both in the construction and racing phases – is one that shouldn’t be overlooked. “[Our members] need to know how to row,” Vliet said. “We’ll go to Columbia Lake before our competition to practice rowing.”

In addition to improving engineering skills at UConn, the organization provides a major advantage for its members outside of academia. As a nationally recognized organization, the Concrete Canoe Club looks impressive on a resume, not only because of its reputation, but for the leadership, problem-solving and critical thinking skills it fosters.

Both Vliet and Winger have participated in internships where their supervisors were past Canoe Club members.

Yet for Winger and Vliet, perhaps the most rewarding aspect of their experience in the Concrete Canoe Club is the chance to network with others who share a passion for engineering, especially when it comes to designing and building contraptions like canoes.

“It’s nice to meet new people,” Winger said. “Especially those who work for the same goal.”

Abigail.Mace@UConn.edu

averages. It does not give the net price based on out-of-state students or transfer students with fewer opportunities for university scholarships.

Although the College Scorecard website may be helpful in compiling information about colleges in an easily understandable way, without information such as how successful the most recent graduates of a given institution are, students and parents may still have a great deal of trouble deciding which school will provide them with the best education for the best price.

Domenica.Ghanem@UConn.edu

A WINNING TICKET

Concrete Canoe Club fosters problem-solving

By Abby Mace Campus Correspondent

were unable to repay their loans after graduation was 3 percent – over 10 percentage points fewer than the national default rate. The typical amount for a UConn student to borrow was $19,500. On a federal loan re-payment plan of 10 years, that would amount to a little over $200 a month.

There have been criticisms made about this scorecard system. For one, there are already websites that make this kind of information available for students. Furthermore, the Institute for College Access and Success expressed concerns that the scorecard was misleading. For instance, the information on UConn’s scorecards is based on

CARLES LOPEZ/The Daily Campus

Pictures of President Obama and Harry Potter are projected in a slideshow at Wednesday afternoon’s lecture called, “Harry Potter and the Mistaken Myth of the Mixed-Race Messiah.”

» GAMBLING

Lobbying by Mass. casino firms declines in 2012

BOSTON (AP) — The gambling industry spent less on lobbying Beacon Hill lawmakers last year than in 2011, when Gov. Deval Patrick signed a law allowing the state to license up to three resort casinos and a single slots parlor in Massachusetts.

A review of state lobbying records by The Associated Press found the industry spent nearly $2.3 million trying to sway state elected officials in 2012, down from $3.1 million spent by the industry on lobbying in 2011.

Despite the decline, companies hoping to land one of the state’s coveted casino licenses spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to win over state lawmakers.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe topped the list in 2012, spending more than half a million dollars on lobbying, nearly

double the $277,000 the tribe spent in 2011. The tribe is hoping to build a gambling resort in Taunton.

One reason the Mashpee Wampanoag’s lobbying efforts spiked last year is because – unlike other casino companies – the tribe is negotiating a compact with the state that must be approved by lawmakers and signed by the governor.

Second on the list is Sterling Suffolk Racecourse, which spent nearly $244,000 on lobbying efforts in 2012. That’s less than half the nearly $657,000 the company spent lobbying during 2011. The company runs the Suffolk Downs racetrack and is hoping to turn the East Boston facility into a destination casino.

Officials from Suffolk declined to comment. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe did not immediately return a

request for comment.

Since 2007, the gambling industry has doled out $13.7 million on lobbying efforts, peaking in 2011, the year that House and Senate lawmakers approved the casino bill. The bulk of the money is spent on the salaries of paid lobbyists, many of whom also donate to the campaigns of state lawmakers.

Since Patrick signed the casino bill, much of the attention has shifted to local cities and towns, which must approve a bid for a license, and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which has the final say over awarding the three casino licenses and one slots parlor license. The shift away from the Statehouse might also account for the dip in lobbying activity.

Among the other top spenders on lobbying were firms hoping to open gambling venues.

What’s on at UConn today...

National Engineering Week 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

ITE Lobby Play with indoor sand and snow and test out a printer that creates 3D items.

Bennett Lecture Noon to 1 p.m.

Oak Hall, 438 Professor Dara Kay Cohen of Harvard University will present a lecture called “Understanding Wartime Rape During Civil Wars.”

Professional Workshop Noon to 1 p.m.

John W. Rowe, 134 Learn how to create and present a professional-looking poster.

Alumni Career Panel 7 to 8 p.m.

Oak Hall, 117

Successful alumni in communications, journalism and media will talk about their careers and answer questions.

– VICTORIA SMEY

The Daily Campus, Page 2

DAILY BRIEFING » STATE

Conn. woman charged with threatening college

News

Thursday, February 21, 2013

MEET YOUR NEW BOSS

NEW HAVEN (AP) — A woman has been charged with falsely threatening to carry out a suicidal mass shooting and bombing at Gateway Community College in New Haven, federal authorities said Wednesday.

The U.S. attorney’s office said Wednesday that 19-year-old Amanda C. Bowden of East Haven was charged with one count of false information and hoaxes. She was detained pending a court hearing scheduled for March 1.

“As alleged, this defendant made a series of threats that described in great detail her intention to carry out a suicidal mass murder at a community college in New Haven,” said U.S. Attorney David Fein.

“All threats of this nature will be viewed as serious by this office and prosecuted to the full extent of federal law.”

State considering ban on smoking in cars with kids

HARTFORD (AP) — Connecticut lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban drivers from smoking while small children are inside the vehicle.

The proposed legislation was discussed during a public hearing on Wednesday before the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee. It mirrors an existing law concerning child restraints and would apply to child passengers who are six years or younger, or weigh less than 60 pounds.

East Hartford Rep. Henry Genga, the bill’s chief proponent, said a child’s pulmonary, respiratory and immune systems do not mature until the age of 7 and therefore should not be exposed to secondhand smoke.

Genga has proposed similar legislation in the past. He said this year’s bill has the support of police chiefs because first-time offenders would receive only a warning. A repeat offender would face an infraction.

Malloy doubts bipartisan deal on gun control

MANCHESTER (AP) — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is planning to unveil his plans to toughen Connecticut gun control laws, frustrated by the pace of the General Assembly’s efforts to address the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Malloy spokesman Andrew Doba said the Democrat will announce his “commonsense” gun-related legislation Thursday during a conference on gun violence at Western Connecticut State University. Vice President Joe Biden and parents of a student killed in Newtown are also scheduled to speak.

Doba said Malloy’s proposals will address high-capacity ammunition magazines, the state’s assault weapons ban and gun storage.

Malloy said in an interview published Wednesday that he doesn’t believe the General Assembly will reach a bipartisan agreement on gun control. House Republican leader Lawrence Cafero accused Malloy of trying to usurp a legislative task force.

Conn. could face $15.6M in Pentagon civilian cuts

HARTFORD (AP) — The Pentagon says Connecticut could be facing about $15.6 million in Defense Department civilian payroll cuts if automatic government spending cuts kick in March 1.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told Congress on Wednesday that if a budget deal isn’t reached, he may have to shorten the workweek for the “vast majority” of the Defense Department’s 800,000 civilian workers. They’d lose one day of work per week, or 20 percent of their pay, for up to 22 weeks, probably starting in late April.

The Pentagon’s budget chief, Robert Hale, told reporters in Washington the economic impact would be felt nationwide.

Pentagon figures show its civilian payroll in Connecticut for the 2012 fiscal year was about $184.9 million, and about $169.2 for 2013.

The biggest potential civilian payroll losses would be in Virginia, California, Maryland, Texas and Georgia.

Bill seeks inspections for high-mileage cars

HARTFORD (AP) — Connecticut’s Department of Motor Vehicles commissioner said Wednesday she opposes mandatory inspections of vehicles with more than 100,000 miles, but said she’ll ask whether the state’s emissions testing vendor could also conduct cursory safety checks.

Commissioner Melody Currey told the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee that two new vehicle inspections proposed by legislators – one for vehicles with more than 100,000 miles and another requiring annual safety checks for all cars and truck – are both unnecessary and potentially costly for the agency.

But Currey said the emissions vendor might be able to check seat belts, wiper blades, headlights and blinkers on 100,000-mile-plus vehicles. Issues such as whether existing computer programs used to record data about vehicle emissions could be modified to include the information collected from the safety check, would have to be investigated.

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SANTIAGO PELAEZ/The Daily Campus

Students peruse the tables of prospective employers at the Careers for the Common Good Fair in the Student Union Ballroom on Wednesday. Career Services hosts four career fairs over the course of the academic year.

Official: Calif. gunman was loner, ‘gamer,’ had no history of violence

TUSTIN, Calif. (AP) — The first of three people killed in a gunman’s rampage was identified Wednesday as a 20-yearold woman but police did not know why she was in the home of the shooter, who lived with his parents and was described by authorities as a video gameplaying loner.

Courtney Aoki, 20, of Buena Park was shot multiple times early Tuesday in the home where gunman Ali Syed, 20, lived, said Orange County sheriff’s spokesman Jim Amormino.

Authorities don’t know her occupation, how she might have known Syed, how she got in the house – or what drove Syed to kill her with a shotgun and then leave a trail of dead and wounded as he stole a series of cars and eventually committed suicide at an intersection.

“There is no evidence, no notes that would explain his very bizarre and violent behavior,” Amormino said, adding there was no evidence of a sexual assault and the woman was found fully clothed.

The shootings and carjackings lasted about an hour and created chaos and terror for early morning commuters who were shot at, had their car stolen or saw someone get shot.

In one 911 call, a panicked construction worker reported that the foreman at his business had been shot and one of the company’s trucks stolen.

The man then followed Syed in another truck as he fled on the freeway, telling a dispatcher his location.

“The guy has a shotgun and I need an ambulance too,” the caller said. “There is someone who has been shot. Hurry up! I need an ambulance. Right away.

Fast. There’s someone with a shotgun. There’s someone down! There’s someone down!”

Syed was a loner and a

AP

An Orange police officer directs traffic as an investigation of a shooting continues, Tuesday, in Orange County, Calif. Police say a chaotic 25-minute shooting spree through Orange County left a trail of dead and injured victims before the shooter killed himself.

“gamer” who spent hours holed up in his room, authorities said.

“He took one class at college and he did not work, so that gives him most of the day and evening and most of the time in his free time he was playing video games,” Amormino said.

A 12-gauge shotgun used in the killings belonged to Syed and was purchased by his father about a year ago, he said.

The rampage began before dawn Tuesday at the home in Ladera Ranch, a wealthy Orange County suburb about 50 miles south of Los Angeles, and ended 25 miles to the north during the early morning rush hour.

Syed killed two more people during carjackings, injured at least three more, and shot up cars zooming down a busy

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freeway interchange before he ended it by putting the shotgun to his own head as police closed in.

The shooter forced one commuter out of his BMW, marched him to a curb and shot him three times from behind as shocked witnesses looked on, Tustin police Chief Scott Jordan said.

Syed had no criminal history and no history of mental illness or mental disability, said Lt. Paul Garaven, a Tustin police spokesman.

An autopsy will determine whether Syed had any drugs in his system, but Amormino said no illegal drugs were found in the house and there were no signs he was using illegal substances.

His parents did not recognize the woman who was shot

to death in the Ladera Ranch home, he said.

Syed’s parents called police at 4:45 a.m. Tuesday after hearing the gunshots, but Syed had already sped off in their black SUV. Officials released the 911 call Syed’s parents made as a dispatcher tried to elicit information from the shooter’s panicked, sobbing mother as a house alarm blared in the background.

“I think somebody was shot,” the mother said in her first comprehensible statement. “I heard a gunshot.”

The dispatcher then asked questions to sort out what happened including whether there was an intruder or if the mother had been shot.

“Yes, there is somebody in our house,” the mother said.

Corrections and clarifications This space is reserved for addressing errors when The Daily Campus prints information that is incorrect. Anyone with a complaint should contact The Daily Campus Managing Editor via email at managingeditor@dailycampus.com

Thursday, February 21, 2013 Copy Editors: Kim Wilson, Christian Fecteau, Grace Vasington, Kate Ericson News Designer: Victoria Smey Focus Designer: Julie Bartoli Sports Designer: Andrew Callahan Digital Production: Zarrin Ahmed

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Agency checks water after body found in hotel tank

LOS ANGELES (AP) — British tourist Michael Baugh and his wife said water had only dribbled out of the taps at the downtown Cecil Hotel for days.

On Tuesday, after showering, brushing their teeth and drinking some of the tap water, they headed down to the lobby and found out why.

The body of a Canadian woman had been discovered at the bottom of one of four cisterns on the roof of the historic hotel near Skid Row. The tanks provide water for hotel taps and would have been used by guests for washing and drinking.

“The moment we found out, we felt a bit sick to the stomach, quite literally, especially having drank the water, we’re not well mentally,” Michael Baugh, 27, said.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials issued a do-not-drink order Tuesday while its lab analyzes the water, said Terrance Powell, a director coordinating the department’s response. The disclosure contradicts a previous police statement that the water had been deemed safe.

Results of the testing were expected by Thursday.

Powell said the water was also used for cooking in the hotel; a coffee shop in the hotel would remain closed and has been instructed to sanitize its food equipment before reopening.

“Our biggest concern is going to be fecal contamination because of the body in the water,” Powell said. He said the likelihood of contamination is “minimal” given the large amount of water the body was found in, but the department is being extra cautious.

Powell said the hotel hired a water treatment specialist after the department required it to do so to

disinfect its plumbing lines.

A call to the hotel was not returned.

The remains of Elisa Lam, 21, were found by a maintenance worker at the 600-room hotel that charges $65 a night after guests complained about the low water pressure.

Police detectives were working to determine if her death was the result of foul play or an accident.

LAPD Sgt. Rudy Lopez called it suspicious and said a coroner’s investigation will determine Lam’s cause of death.

Before she died, hotel surveillance footage showed Lam inside an elevator pushing buttons and sticking her head out the doors, looking in both directions. She was later found in the water tank.

Lam, of Vancouver, British Columbia, traveled alone to Los Angeles on Jan. 26 and was last seen five days later by workers at the hotel.

Lopez said the hotel has four cisterns on its roof that are each about 10 feet tall, 4.5 feet wide and hold at least 1,000 gallons of water pumped up from city pipes.

Lam’s body was found Tuesday morning at the bottom of one cistern that was about three-quarters full of water, Lopez said.

The opening at the top of the cistern is too small to accommodate firefighters and equipment, so they had to cut a hole in the storage tank to recover Lam’s body.

The cisterns are on a platform at least 10 feet above the roof.

To get to the tanks, someone would have to go to the top floor then take a staircase with a locked door and emergency alarm preventing roof access.

Another ladder would have to be taken to the platform and a person would have to climb the side of the tank.

Lopez said there are no security cameras on the roof.

News

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Diplomats: Iran starts upgrade of nuclear site, creates suspicion VIENNA (AP) — In a disheartening signal to world powers at upcoming Iran talks, Tehran has started installing high-tech machines at its main uranium enrichment site that are capable of accelerating production of reactor fuel and – with further upgrading – the core of nuclear warheads, diplomats said Wednesday.

Iran already announced last week that it had begun mounting the new enriching centrifuges, but one diplomat said at the time that the announcement was premature with only a “small number” on site and not yet installed.

Diplomats told The Associated Press on Wednesday, however, that installation was now well on its way, with inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency seeing close to 100 or more machines mounted when they toured the site a few days ago. Depending on experts’ estimates, the new-generation centrifuges can enrich uranium three to five times faster than Iran’s present working model.

The Islamic Republic insists it is not working on a nuclear weapons program, but rather is enriching uranium only to make reactor fuel and for scientific and medical purposes – as allowed by international law.

But many nations are suspicious because Iran went underground after failing to get international help for its uranium enrichment program in the 1980s, working secretly until its activities were revealed a decade ago. More recent proposals for international shipments of reactor fuel in exchange for Iranian enrichment concessions have foundered, with each side blaming the other.

Shrugging off demands to mothball enrichment – and growing international sanctions – Iran has instead vastly expanded the program to where experts say it already has enough enriched ura-

AP

In this photo released by the official website of the Iranian supreme leader’s office, Iranian well-wishers attending the speech of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hold up his picture at a mosque inside the leader’s housing compound in Tehran, Iran, Saturday.

nium for several weapons if the material is further enriched.

The start of the centrifuge upgrade at Natanz, Iran’s main enrichment site southeast of Tehran, flies in the face of worldpower efforts to induce Iran to scale back on enrichment. As such, it is likely to hurt chances of progress at Feb. 26 talks in Kazakhstan between the two sides – adding to a string of negotiating failures.

When Iran announced its intentions last month, Western diplomats downplayed the proclamation’s significance, noting Tehran did not say when it would start populating Natanz with the new machines. But any start of an upgrade is sure to increase international concerns, particularly if verified as expected in an IAEA report later this week.

The three diplomats speaking to the AP on Wednesday all are involved in the Vienna-based IAEA’s attempts to monitor Iran’s nuclear program. They demanded anonymity because they were not allowed to discuss confidential information.

Meeting Iran in Kazakhstan are the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

Russia and China often are at odds with the West on how harshly Iran’s nuclear activities should be censured, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said recently that Iran was within its legal rights to install new generation centrifuges. At the same time, he called for a suspension of uranium enrichment during negotiations to improve the political atmosphere.

While moving to increase the potency of its enrichment program with the new centrifuges, however, Tehran also has recently resumed converting some of its higher-level enriched uranium at its Fordo enrichment site into reactor fuel plates after suspending the activity last year. That is likely to provide some reassurance to nations concerned about Iran’s nuclear aims because the plates are difficult to reconvert back into weapons usable material.

About 700 of the old machines at Fordo are churning out high-

er-enriched material that is still below – but just a technical step away – from weapons-grade uranium. Iran says it needs that higher-enriched level to fuel a research reactor With higher-enriched uranium their immediate concern, the six powers over the past months have inched toward meeting Iranian demands of sanctions relief but say Tehran must first suspend its output at Fordo. Iran, in turn, wants sanctions eased before it commits to even a discussion of an enrichment cutback.

The diplomats said Iran was also upgrading its enrichment capabilities at Fordo but declined to provide further details ahead of the release of the IAEA report.

In first revealing plans to update last month, Iran indicated that It could add more than 3,000 of the new-generation centrifuges to the more than 10,000 older models it has at Natanz turning out enriched uranium at grades lower than at Fordo. The lower the grade, the harder it would be to turn into weapons-grade material.

has long kept quiet about priestly abuse and still is deferential to the church hierarchy in its backyard.

That initiative followed a petition by a group in the United States, Catholics United, demanding that Mahony recuse himself.

So far 5,600 people have signed the petition, according to spokesman Chris Pumpelly.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Andrea León-Grossman, a Los Angeles member of Catholics United, said in a statement on the group’s website. “In the interests of the children who were raped in his diocese, he needs to keep out of the public eye. He has already been stripped of his ministry. If he’s truly sorry for what has happened, he would show some humility and opt to stay home.”

Mahony, however, has made clear he will vote. “Count-down to the papal conclave has begun.

Your prayers needed that we elect the best pope for today and tomorrow’s church,” he tweeted earlier this week. He promised daily Twitter updates.

Separately on Wednesday, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan was deposed about clergy abuse in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, which he led from 2002 until 2009. The Milwaukee archdiocese

has sought bankruptcy protection from nearly 500 abuse claims. The attorney for the Milwaukee archdiocese said Dolan was mainly questioned about his decision to publicly name clergy known to have molested children.

Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, one of the Vatican’s top canon lawyers, told The Associated Press that barring any canonical impediments, Mahony has a right and duty to vote in the conclave.

At best, he said, someone could persuade him not to come, but De Paolis insisted he wasn’t suggesting that someone should.

Bishop Charles Scicluna, the Vatican’s former sex crimes prosecutor, said it was up to Mahony’s conscience to decide whether or not to participate.

“It’s not an easy situation for him,” Scicluna was quoted as saying by Rome daily La Repubblica.

Last month, a court in Los Angeles ordered the release of thousands of pages of confidential personnel files of more than 120 priests accused of sex abuse.

The files show that Mahony and other top archdiocese officials maneuvered behind the scenes to shield accused priests and protect the church from a growing scandal while keeping parishioners in the dark.

Conclave brings out cardinals’ dirty laundry VATICAN CITY (AP) — Popular pressure is mounting in the U.S. and Italy to keep California Cardinal Roger Mahony away from the conclave to elect the next pope because of his role shielding sexually abusive priests, a movement targeting one of the most prominent of a handful of compromised cardinals scheduled to vote next month.

Amid the outcry, Mahony has made clear he is coming, and no one can force him to recuse himself. A Vatican historian also said Wednesday that there is no precedent for a cardinal staying home because of personal scandal. But the growing grass-roots campaign is an indication that ordinary Catholics are increasingly demanding a greater say in who is fit to elect their pope, and casts an ugly shadow over the upcoming papal election.

Conclaves always bring out the worst in cardinals’ dirty laundry, with past sins and transgressions aired anew in the slow news days preceding the vote. This time is no different — except that the revelations of Mahony’s sins are so fresh and come on the tails of a recent round of sex abuse scandals in the U.S. and Europe.

This week, the influential

AP

In this Feb. 6, 2008 file photo, Cardinal Roger Mahony officiates during Ash Wednesday services at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.

Italian Catholic affairs magazine Famiglia Cristiana asked its readers if the Los Angeles-based Cardinal Mahony should participate in the conclave given the revelations. “Your opinion: Mahony in the conclave: Yes or No?” reads

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the online survey of one of Italy’s most-read magazines.

The overwhelming majority among more than 350 replies has been a clear-cut “No.” The magazine is distributed free in Italian parishes each Sunday.

The fact that it initiated the poll is an indication that the Catholic establishment in Italy has itself questioned whether tarnished cardinals should be allowed to vote – a remarkable turn of events for a conservative Catholic country that

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Page 4

www.dailycampus.com

Thursday, February 21, 2013

The Daily Campus Editorial Board

Elizabeth Crowley, Editor-in-Chief Tyler McCarthy, Commentary Editor Jesse Rifkin, Associate Commentary Editor Chris Kempf, Weekly Columnist John Nitowski, Weekly Columnist Sam Tracy, Weekly Columnist

» EDITORIAL

Republicans wrong to filibuster Chuck Hagel nomination

P

resident Obama has nominated Chuck Hagel, a former Republican senator, to serve as Secretary of Defense for his second-term cabinet. At first glance, this nominee appears to be a shoo-in. Before Hager’s two terms in the Senate, he served in Vietnam. He then made a successful career in business while serving as president of the United Service Organizations – a nonprofit that provides services to troops and their families.

However, his nomination has not been as simple as one might think. During his confirmation hearings, Senate Republicans grilled the nominee, not only on his political positions, but on past speaking engagements and other unrelated issues. Many members also attempted to use the nomination as political leverage against the president, demanding unrelated information from the White House before they voted on Hagel’s confirmation. Their current filibuster of the vote is a blatant example of petty partisan tactics, and it must end.

Looking at media coverage of the situation, it would appear that there is a wide variety of problems with Hagel’s nomination. Early in the process, Hagel was accused of making antiSemitic remarks in the past. During a discussion about international politics, he stated, “I’m not an Israeli senator. I’m a United States senator.” Also, in 1999, Hagel was the only senator to decline signing a letter to the Russian president, threatening to cut aid if he did not take action against anti-Semitism.

However, allegations of anti-semitism are unfounded. It is true that Hagel was elected to serve the United States, not Israel, and his boldness in standing up to those who favor Israel without question is admirable. He also had a policy of never signing letters to foreign heads of state and to single out that particular letter is misleading.

Other criticisms of Hagel include his calling the defense budget “bloated” and being willing to negotiate with the government of Iran. In today’s budgetary climate, it’s refreshing to have a nominee for Secretary of Defense who realizes that cuts need to be made to the Pentagon, rather than treating the military and its contractors as off-limits to any financial analysis.

Similarly, a poll by the University of Maryland showed 69 percent of Americans support continuing discussions with Iran.

However, it is evident that these criticisms of Hagel are merely a cover, rather than honest concerns of elected officials. Senate Republicans are turning Hagel into a pawn in their unending battle with President Obama. Wyoming Senator John Barrasso is quoted as saying Hagel will be “less effective [at the Pentagon] because of the fact that the president nominated him.” Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte all refused to vote on the nomination until they got more information on the Benghazi attack from the White House, although Hagel had nothing to do with the White House’s response to the crisis.

The 58-40-2 vote on Feb. 12 to end the unprecedented filibuster was two shy of the 60 needed, and the Senate is now in recess. When the Senate reconvenes, the Republicans who voted against the filibuster should put aside their partisan animosity and allow the chamber to vote on Hagel’s nomination.

Anything else would only further cement their reputation as “The Party of No.” 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.

My professor gave out his cell phone number on the syllabus, and the guys sitting behind me in class were talking about Snapchatting him. Lesson learned the hard way.

I’m not even mad at the fact that I had pasta alfredo for two separate meals today.

Wind.

My boyfriend just brought me a frosty all the way from the union in 25 degree weather. Does it get much better than that? Don’t think so.

Another day, another 24 hours gone by with UConn still in the Big East. Why can’t everything just go right for once?

Being a New York fan is literally impossible in Storrs sometimes. #sickofBoston People seem to have forgot that the Harlem Shake was started from none other than the D, the I, the D, the D, the Y. #takethattakethat.

Starting to get a little mad at myself for eating so much alfredo today.

Send us your thoughts on anything and everything by sending an instant message to InstantDaily, Sunday through Thursday evenings. Follow us on Twitter (@UCInstantDaily) and tweet at us with the #instantdaily hashtag.

Do female comics need Dunham?

T

his month, Rolling Stone Magazine gave its illustrious cover to none other than role model female comedy writer Lena Dunham. With the comedic newcomer on the cover of my favorite magazine, it was time to finally answer the question that’s been plaguing me ever since I saw her take a leap into the world of comedy writing – Do I like Lena Dunham?

Her show is fantastic; anyone who hasn’t seen HBO’s “Girls”

By Tyler McCarthy should drop whatever is in their Commentary Editor Netflix queue and find a way to check out the breakout hit. Every episode makes me laugh and her writing and portrayal of these 20-somethingyear-old characters is so honest that you can’t help but laugh as you see a little bit of someone you know in everybody on screen. However, as much as I’d like to give Ms. Dunham the female comic crown, I can’t just yet. After all, is honesty comedy or is it merely a gimmick?

Tina Fey is considered a previous generation of comedy’s reigning queen. Her show is honest and full of a rich attitude, but she is also a comedian. Her jokes are well-crafted, with a setup and a punch line. Dunham, on the other hand, is all about exposing the gritty realism that is our generation. There are jokes, but

a majority of the show’s laughs come from viewers watching and recognizing. To her credit she does do this quite well. Dunham was lightly criticized for something her character said in the pilot episode of “Girls” when, high on opium, she declared that she was the voice of her generation. She might not have been wrong.

However, I toyed with the idea that perhaps everyone was in love with the idea of Lena Dunham. After all, in a world where the comedy writing community is plagued with the “Are Women Funny” debate, a debate that the likes of Amy Pohler, Tina Fey or Sarah Silverman weren’t able to squash, here comes Dunham and “Girls.”

She writes honestly but also unapologetically. She’s the naturally talented rock star that female comics have been waiting to rally behind for quite sometime. For that reason, I was willing to look past all of my problems with her meteoric rise to cultural relevance and stifle some of my gripes with her writing. However, I still wasn’t able to decide if I liked her or not.

Then again, perhaps it’s unfair to compare her to women like Fey. After all, anyone who has watched an episode of “30 Rock” and an episode of “Girls” can tell pretty quickly that they’re taking the same road to reach completely different audiences. You wouldn’t dare compare Rodney Dangerfield to Louis C.K. because it would simply be apples and oranges.

I did find myself defending her work against some of her more ridiculous critiques. For example, “Is Lena Dunham too ugly to be a leading lady?” We don’t

ask if Courtney Cox is too pretty to be a leading lady because that would be offensive. It’s the same principle here.

Dunham does several nude scenes in her show. These nude scenes are anything but vanity. In fact, she is almost never glamorizing herself or her sex life. If anything, it’s the opposite. So if you find her too ugly to watch, you’re rude. But worse, you’re missing the point.

But look at me dancing around the issue like I’m afraid she’s going to read this and shed a tear. The actress is notorious for ignoring most of her criticism and letting it roll of her back like drops of water.

So here it is: do I like Lena Dunham?

Yes. Of course I do. Whether her style of comedy is a little devoid of crafted jokes or not, I’m still laughing every episode, and if we can’t call someone who makes us laugh funny, then what’s the point? It all comes down to whether or not you consider honesty comedy. It isn’t that it always doesn’t work, it’s that it doesn’t always work. Lesser comedy writers would have gotten burned out after season one when all of the passion pieces accumulated in his or her diary ran out. But, here is Dunham working on a second season of her popular HBO series and carrying a Golden Globe. So while she may not be exactly what I envisioned the savior of women in comedy to be, it was my fault for thinking they needed a leader when all that they really needed was laughter.

Commentary Editor Tyler McCarthy is an 8thsemester journalism and English double major. He can be reached at Tyler.McCarthy@UConn.edu.

How you should care about and love the Oscars

A

s an avid critic of all the garbage the film industry can produce, you’d think I’d be a little more cynical about the Academy Awards, which will host their 85th ceremony this Sunday It seems stranger to be as enamored of them as I am, but I am merely swept up by the magic of cinema.

(You have

By Victoria Kallsen to be in Staff Columnist order to be as obsessed and critical as myself). The Oscars are a shining beacon of entertainment adoration, and as a lover of it all, I must enjoy an event that is purely about appreciating what is so magical about the movies.

Let’s start then with what we love about the movies, why they bring us all together. To me, movies are a product that can be relished by all regardless of class or race. It’s an art that entertains, delights, questions and excites.

Movies are a reflection of an essential aspect of the way we live, and if you love movies, you must accept how the Oscars affects them, for better or worse. I’d prefer to think it allows for a more critical appreciation of film. Since the Oscars have been around since the late 1920s, when cinema

QW uick

really took off, they are an integral part of the film industry process.

I will briefly acknowledge what is negative about the Oscars. For starters, it creates a whole new genre, if you will, of “Oscar bait.” There are a lot of politics about which types of films get nominated and which don’t, and which types of roles will get actors the award and which won’t.

Furthermore, the comedy, animation and sci-fi genres are the no-man’s land of the film industry, with minimal nominations in the Best Picture category. Only two “comedies” have won in the past 30 years, with quotations included because the films are “Shakespeare in Love” and “The Artist,” which have other factors influencing the win. Only three animated films have been nominated: “Beauty and the Beast,” “Up” and “Toy Story 3.” No science fiction film has garnered the award yet either.

Truly though, I believe the Oscars reward the best and brightest actors, directors, films and screenwriters, even if you don’t agree with the choice. For example, in 2010, I thought “The Social Network” was a better film than “The King’s Speech,” that year’s Best Picture winner, but that did not mean “The

King’s Speech” was a bad film. Of all the Best Picture winners, they have most certainly been deserving, even if not the most deserving. Actors and actresses nominated for awards are generally perceived as being the most talented in the industry. To compare, the Grammy award for Album of the Year is perhaps analogous to a Best Picture win. Artists like Taylor Swift earning the award is comparable to “High School Musical” winning Best Picture, in my book.

So maybe the Oscars are not for everyone. Maybe you’re sick of patting people on the back for getting paid millions to do what they love every day.

Trust me, I feel you.

Still, I think it’s important to understand what makes something like the Oscars so special.

It commends people for the art they create, provides a goal for the industry to aspire to and appeals as an honor to those who have persevered to make their dreams a reality. It fights back against those who say a film is not aesthetic and that a film can’t make you think.

It praises an art form that you don’t have to travel to Broadway to see, or study intensely to understand perfectly.

Movies are just like us: a little imperfect, but there’s something magical and wonderful in all of them.

Movies speak to us in ways we can’t understand, guide us through times we struggle through, help us to laugh, cry and feel things we can’t experience. It’s an education – a glimpse into a realm we couldn’t visit otherwise.

Movies are beautiful.

To condemn the Oscars wholeheartedly would be to condemn something I have loved since I watched “Aladdin” for the first time, or since my father first asked me if I could spare some time for “Back to the Future.”

Once I discovered the Oscars loved the movies just as much as I do, I had to enter into a committed relationship with them. We can’t all say what is it about movies that draws us or what it is about this art that inspires us so.

The Oscars and I have something in common, and for that, I’ll forgive them for not nominating Ben Affleck for Best Director or letting a couple of comedies earn the big prize.

Both the Academy Awards and I love the movies, and I thank them for saying so.

Staf f Columnist Victoria Kallsen is a 4th-semester mechanical engineering major. She can be reached at Victoria.Kallsen@UConn.edu.

“P resident O bama also gave H ouse S peaker J ohn B oehner a it thumbs - up before the start of his S tate of the U nion address . O r as B oehner put it , ‘B eats the finger I usually get !’”

–J immy F allon

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

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Poetry and puppetry in perspective

By Jason Wong Senior Staff Writer As part of UConn’s ongoing UConn Talks series, Dr. Bart Roccoberton, Jr., director of UConn’s Puppet Arts Program and Associate Professor of Dramatic Arts, and Samuel Pickering, English professor and inspiration for the 1989 film “Dead Poets Society,” gave independent lectures Wednesday morning in the von der Mehden Recital Hall.

Positioned in front of a backdrop of puppets varying in size and complexity, Roccoberton began his lecture by giving a little background on UConn’s puppetry program and the history of puppetry itself.

UConn’s puppetry program is internationally renowned and brings students in from all over the world, including Korea, India and Romania.

Roccoberton stressed the point that puppetry isn’t just the Punch-and-Judy-style shows the public generally thinks of when thinking of puppetry. Contemporary puppetry incorporates styles from all over the world, and Roccoberton expressed his belief that puppetry has been around since the dawn of humanity, helping us make connections about the natural world through masks and more conventional puppets.

Roccoberton emphasized the idea that puppetry isn’t a major to poke fun at. He described it as a “crossroads of creative disciplines,” explaining that puppeteers study all kinds of different subjects to make their work come to life. For example, a puppeteer might study sociology to influence the way his puppets “talk,” or on a more technical note, biol-

BImage courtesy of Blogs.Princeton.edu

Samuel F. Pickering, an English professor at UConn. Pickering’s teaching style was one source of inspiration for Mr. Keating, Robbin William’s character in “The Dead Poets Society.” Pickering spoke at von der Mehden recital hall yesterday.

ogy to construct a humanoid puppet that moves in a convincingly lifelike way.

He ended his lecture by giv-

Poetic release, fun at Student Union Poetry Slam

By Cole von Richthofen Campus Correspondent “Hey! I think somebody’s watching!” exclaimed the hosts of Poetic Release’s 2013 Poetry Grand Slam in the Student Union Theater on Thursday night. “No Shame!” responded the audience, a phrase that has become a staple of Poetic Release events, emphasizing the supportive environment they cultivate and maintain. The slam featured various forms of poetry, rap and even a capella performances, and lived up to its promise to “blow [the audiences’] poetic minds.”

In traditional slam fashion, snapping and laughter could be heard following clever or comical material. Each of the three rounds began with a “sacrifice poet,” to calibrate the judges’ scoring. Emmanuel “DJ Bowtie Bear” Oppong, a 4thsemester urban studies and planning major, kicked off the slam as the first sacrifice, stating that ‘all music is air-food” in a passionate expression of life that set the mood for the entertainment to come. The night’s material featured a range of genres, from 2nd-semester preteaching major Sabir Abdussabur’s proclamation, “I am American life, I follow the Ten Commandments…

I mean amendments” to guest poet and host Alex Charalambides’ humorous recollection of a family reunion in Romania, in which he embraced his inner nine-year old and complained about flat, watered-down soda. The only poet not of UConn, Charalabides represented the Massachusetts Literary Education and Performance, or Mass L.E.A.P. collective, which works to provide spoken word opportunities for youths in the greater Boston area and across New England.

Two rounds of increasingly

charged verse found each of the contestants vying to impress the judges, who gave perfect 10/10’s sparingly. Following a couplet of songs by the a capella group A Minor, the poets returned for a third round. 2nd-semester human rights major and judge Kate Monica is a repeat audience member. “I went to one two weeks ago, and I loved it,” she said. So much, in fact, that she pledged, “I’m joining tomorrow!”

The final poet, who did not compete but performed while the results were tabulated, was team coach and 6th-semester sociology major Devin Samuels. “The beauty” of Poetic Release, according to Samuels, is that unlike “fine arts, performing arts, which can be in a bubble on campus,” P.R. is the all-inclusive “life blood” of campus performance.

Coming in first place with over 80 points was Pamela Achuka, a 4th-semester communication disorders major. As a poet who has been writing since age 12, Achuka recommended that any aspiring slam poet “never throw anything away,” and that once they start writing, to “never assume they’re wrong or being judged.”

Poetic Release was founded in 2011 as a venue for poetic expression within the university. The club is known for its regular competitions, or “slams,” where poets of all genres read and recite their original works. Each poet is then judged by randomly-selected audience judges, and the best poets that UConn has to offer then continue on to represent the university at the College Union Poetry Slam Invitational.

Six, on account of a tie, were chosen to attend the Invitational in New York City this April.

Cole.VonRichthofen@UConn.edu

ing a tour of the puppets behind him, which included a Chinese squirrel, a giant face constructed entirely of

paper and even a life-size polar bear with fur made of plastic bags. “The puppetry program looks for peo-

ple that are creative and can express themselves,” said Roccoberton. “I can teach them how to design and use puppets, but the creativity is what’s important.”

After the puppets had been cleared from the stage, Pickering addressed the audience with a previously prepared essay. “Words transform and create life,” he said.

He spoke about how a good essayist knows that people are complicated and can’t be summed up in a simple diagram or paper. “Essayists recognize that peoples’ opinions are not rational. They come from traditions and loyalties, stories half-remembered… humanity is inconsistent,” he further elaborated.

“I lie a lot and I make up quotes,” said Pickering as he finished an anecdote about his wife. “The aged don’t take life seriously.”

Like Roccoberton, Pickering ended his lecture by taking questions from the audience, often injecting his trademark humor and witticisms into his responses.

“Pray to every god you know,” he joked in response to a question about advice to budding teachers. “But you need to lead an interesting life outside of the classroom.”

“I liked his advice for teachers about having passion for life outside of the classroom so as to bring passion into the classroom,” said Rose Murphy, an 8thsemester English and secondary education major.

“Both speakers had great messages,” said Samantha Ruggiero, a 6th-semester English major. “I really liked how they both talked about dipping into as much of life as you can.”

Jason.Wong@UConn.edu

The Idan Raichel Project performs at Jorgensen

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

The Daily Campus, Page 5

» FROM THE WRITER’S DESK

Timing is everything

By Jason Wong Senior Staff Writer One of my biggest weaknesses when it comes to creative writing is my propensity to ramble. I think it comes from being figuratively weaned on the high fantasy works of Tolkien, but honestly, it’s also just because I like to hear myself talk.

Anyway, a good writer isn’t just someone who knows what to write; a good writer also knows what not to write. This is true in all genres and styles of writing, but is an especially relevant and important skill for the short story.

I guess I just have a soft spot for the older style of writing, when boatloads of description was the norm.

As I’m sure all of you who have read Dickens-era novels can attest, those novels are typically paragraph after paragraph (if not page after page) of pure description without action. You know what I’m talking about; the kind that gives you the family genealogy for every rock, cat and other miscellaneous thing that crosses the protagonist’s path.

That just doesn’t work in contemporary writing anymore. I’ve been given advice that boils down to “condense that paragraph” more times than I can count.

And you know what? I’m surprisingly okay with that.

You can get a surprising amount of information out with just a few sentences, and it’s definitely a skill anybody, not just a writer, should have. After all, nobody wants to read an email or a memo that’s more than a few sentences long.

It’s a useful skill to be able to write concisely no matter what your profession is.

I’m not saying that everything in a piece of work has to be condensed down to its simplest terms; far from it. Sometimes, it’s necessary for characters to talk over coffee for a page or two.

The important thing is to make sure that all details of the conversation are important and also presented in an appropriately succinct manner.

Keep in mind you don’t necessarily have to keep events to chronological scale. If those same characters take a plane trip to Tokyo, the number of paragraphs you use doesn’t have to be relative to the one about the conversation over coffee. That is, it doesn’t have to be 50 pages long when the conversation was one.

That’s a bit hyperbolic (no one scene should take 10 pages to describe, let alone 50), but my point remains.

Ideas shouldn’t be longwinded.

Don’t say in 100 words what you could say in 10 (unless you have a word count to meet).

Make sure your chronology makes sense.

Don’t put a flash-forward in the middle of a flashback.

One of the best ways to organize your writing is to create a simple timeline to keep track of everything.

Remember: timing, as much in writing as in standup comedy, is everything.

JON KULAKOFSKY/The Daily Campus

Images from the Idan Raichel Project, featured at Jorgensen yesterday. Idan Raichel, the creator of the project, blends African, Latin American, Caribbean and Middle Eastern sounds. His global music project is said to have changed the face of Israeli music.

Jason.Wong@UConn.edu

The Daily Campus, Page 6

FOCUS ON:

MUSIC Animalistic Playlist

“Werewolf” Fiona Apple

Album Of The Week

“Big Bad Wolf” Duck Sauce

“Lion in a Coma”

Animal Collective

“May Be Sparrow” Neko Case

“The Plains/Bitter Dancer” Fleet Foxes

Want to join the Focus review crew?

Come to a Focus meeting next semester, Mondays at 8 p.m.

Your name could be on the Music page!

Boys and Girls in America

» CD REVIEWS

My Valentines Day with Armin Van Buuren

By Bliss Forest Campus Correspondent

“Animal” Mike Snow

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Focus

Said to be one of the top Trance producers and DJs in the world today, 36-year-old Dutchborn Armin Van Buuren has finally released his new album, “A State of Trance 2013.”

Given its release date on Valentine’s Day, I couldn’t help but fall in love with this album instantly. Maybe that love was influenced by the half-pound of heart-shaped chocolate I ate, the fact that as a woman on Valentines Day I’m conditioned to want to love something or maybe the fact that Armin Van Buuren just really did create a fantastic album. I would go with the latter, seeing as it’s a week later, I’m unfortunately out of chocolate and I still love this album.

“A State of Trance” is Armin Van Buuren’s weekly radio show, which is heard by an estimated 20 million people all over the world. ASOT is celebrating its 12th year and 600th episode.

At the end of every year, Trance fans can vote for their favorites, and Van Buuren puts the top choices into a two-CD compilation.

The best of the best are finally all together in one album. ASOT 2013 is a very diverse blend of

A State of Trance 2013 Armin Van Buuren 2/14/13 33 tracks

By Thomas Teixeira Staff Writer

7.5

that would make this album stand apart from the band’s previous works.

I never really bought into music until my second year of college.

In high school, I’d throw on an old Marvin Gaye album and run it through seven or eight times in a single weekend without realizing it.

I’d leave it in the stereo and forget about music entirely for weeks at a time.

I started gathering an extensive music library during my first year of college, but still, music served as entertainment, something thrown in the background as I wrote a lab report or cleaned my room. In the winter of my second year, I realized that music could be something more. Music and I connected in a way that I could never forget, in a way I still crave to experience again. Then “Hometown Hero,” a hidden gem on an obscure mixtape, coerced me into 13 plays in a row.

A haunting Adele sample, a “Friday Night Lights” dialogue cut, ghostly piano keys and the unfiltered voice of a twenty-something with nothing to lose condensed my entire world into a series of arranged notes and sounds.

Now, I reach this “sonic zen” once a week if I’m lucky. Sometimes I’m walking to class and a track I’ve never heard before captures my attention so completely that I can’t feel the winter wind cracking my lips. At other times, I’m listening to a song for the 50th time and it seems new; I feel as though I’ve finally understood it.

But whether the track is “Blue Sky” by The Allman Brothers Band or “Hometown Hero” by Big K.R.I.T, it always sticks. Each song to hit me moves from my iPod to my back pocket. I carry it with me at all times, and if I happen to hear it on the radio while I’m riding the Blue Line, through a varsity athlete’s Beats in the library or on my very own stereo, I’m taken back in time.

These tracks constantly return me to the state of mind I was in when the song first shook me.

“Never Been,” a mid-album cut from Wiz Khalifa’s inaugural “Kush & OJ,” brings me back to Spring Weekend 2010, an unusually warm April Saturday defined by a sense of freedom I have yet to rediscover.

When I hear The Root’s “Doin’ It Again,” I remember the weeks I spent getting over a love unreciprocated during my sophomore year.

The song reminds of winter days spent lonely and crushed, pretending my hardest to look as apathetic and unaffected as possible.

A year ago I discovered a new EP, “Art Dealer Chic Part 1,” by Miguel.

Back then, he was ‘that guy with the radio hit “Sure Thing.”’ Willing to take a chance, I found “Adorn,” the three-song EP’s first track. I played it twenty times that week, and when I heard a remix on Hot 93.7 in August, I remembered in vivid detail falling for a girl I took out for the first time that February. While our relationship has since changed, “Adorn” has a consistent and unique ability to take me back to the beginning, for three minutes and 13 seconds, anyway.

One in 500 tracks might become back-pocket musical memories if you’re lucky. But if you’ve found even one of these, you know the feeling, and I’m sure you’re desperate to acquire another.

The fan’s greatest achievement is never an autographed vinyl, or a sold-out show. It’s always that intimate moment when time stops – when music captures the listener’s thoughts and emotions and enhances, alters, affects them. When music and time merge in the mind permanently, a single track can transform the entire world into the emotions, moods and memories of the past.

Loumarie.Rodriguez@UConn.edu

Thomas.Teixeira@UConn.edu

/10

songs producing a kaleidoscope of emotions while listening to the entire album all the way through. Your mood at the end of the song “Teardrops” will be completely different than how you’ll feel at the end of “D# Fat.” The album has two CDs. The first is titled, “For the Beach” and the second is “In the Club,” so you can choose based on your mood. While listening to the entire album you will quickly see how certain songs are much more appropriate for lying on a white sandy beach as opposed to dancing under the lights.

Not all songs in this album are produced by Van Buuren, but they are, at the very least, mixed by him.

My final conclusion about this album is that I have never been disappointed with Armin Van Buuren’s music or mixes.

He has never failed to evoke powerful emotion for me as a fan, and the same goes for this

Image courtesy of Amazon.com

The cover of Armin Van Buuren’s newsest DJ mix, “A State of Trance 2013.” The two disc album is divided into an “On the beach” set, followed by “In the club.”

album. There are many songs in this album that I simply cannot stop listening to, and I suggest listening to a few. However, while there are some I love, I don’t recommend splurging on the entire album, which costs $15.99 in the iTunes store.

While I have all 33 songs, there are a few that I will skip over while walking to class. If you need some song sugges-

tions, my favorites are: “The Expedition (A State Of Trance 600 Anthem),” “Skylarking,” “Lights,” “D# Fat” and “Waiting for the Night.” Each offers a very different, but a wonderful experience. I was ecstatic when I finally got this album and you will be as well.

Bliss.Forest@UConn.edu

Bullet for My Valentine’s new album sounds like all its other albums

By Loumarie Rodriguez Senior Staff Writer

“Wolf Like Me” TV on the Radio

“Tony the Tiger” Manchester Orchestra

“Dirty Paws” Of Monsters and Men

“Horsepower” Justice - Joe O’Leary Photos Courtesy Amazon.com

Upcoming Shows 2/21 - Young Adults TT the Bear’s Place Cambridge, MA 2/23 - George Strait with Martina McBride XL Center Hartford, CT 2/27 - Eels Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA

It appears that the band, Bullet for My Valentine has released yet another emotional, angsty album comparable to a teenager’s overdramatic lifestyle.

The album, “Temper, Temper,” was released Feb. 11 and has 11 tracks that ultimately blend together into one sound if listened all the way through. Throughout the album there are strong guitar solos. But once the lead singer, Matthew Tuck, begins, the guitar essence is gone.

His whiny vocals throw off the listener because they don’t quite match the intense guitar playing.

The first few songs on the album appear to reflect the emotional torment that Tuck is going through, and only in a few songs toward the end of the album does he tone it down. Songs like “Breaking Point” and “Truth Hurt” clearly evince Tuck’s anguished feelings. The singing reflects the past days of pop punk. There is a bit of screamo thrown in here and there to remind the listener they are listening to a heavy metal band. At one point there was an eerie-sounding build-up in track “Leech” before Tuck took over.

The album reflects whatever the lead singer is experiencing, which appears to be losing control of his emotions. The band is going for an edgy sound, especially with the intense lyrics, but have missed the mark. There is some build-up, with a few songs with long intros before the lead singer begins. The vocals, however, eventually lead to an over-the-top climax as Tuck belts out the chorus. I wasn’t impressed, as a lot of the songs sound exactly the same. There is an epic guitar background

Image courtesy of Last.fm

Bullet for My Valentine, a heavy metal band from Bridgend, Wales. The group formed in 1998 and have since released 4 studio albums, the most recent being “Temper, Temper.” Critically, the album has received mixed reviews, most leaning toward negative.

with great drum backbeats, but eventually it does blend into one long song. There are about two songs that show Tuck’s mellow side.

However, it still doesn’t make up for the rest of the album.

The album has received mixed reviews worldwide, with The Guardian only rating it two stars out of five.

The BBC gave it very negative reviews. The sound of this album mirrors the sound produced in their previous album, “Fever,” released in 2010. Although Bullet for My Valentine is a hard metal

Music and memories

Temper Temper

Bullet for My Valentine 2/11/13 11 tracks

4.5

/10

band, it doesn’t hurt to try different styles or play with different patterns to create something unique. This album lacks that “it” factor

Thursday, February 21, 2013

The Daily Campus, Page 7

Focus

On Twitter, a J. Cole gives listeners peanut gallery a sneak preview mocks the Oscars

» CD REVIEW

By Emily Herbst Staff Writer

With the exception of several collaborations with rappers like Kendrick Lamar and Game, it has been a while since we’ve heard new work from J. Cole. Just last week, however, he dropped a five-song compilation for fans, made especially for those who have been awaiting his second studio album. With the five-song mini-mixtape came a corresponding thank-you note from the artist, instructing listeners to “vibe out to these songs in their raw form, no polish... just a lot of my soul.” The purpose, as explained by J. Cole, is to bridge the gap between his last album (Cole World: The Sideline Story) from 2011 and his upcoming sophomore EP, which has seen more than several postponements, by releasing songs that did not quite make the cut.

Describing the compilation as “smooth” is an understatement. Every single one of these tracks sounds like silk, lending attention to lyrical value, aesthetics and beats that draw you in from the start. There are no “fillers,” no songs to skip. J. Cole is surpassing all

“Describing the compilation as ‘smooth’ is an understatement”

Truly Yours J. Cole

2/12/13 5 tracks

8

/10

expectations, and it is apparent that he’s risen to the top in the rap game. The five-song collection is nothing short of a gift for anyone who has watched J. Cole’s flow production, and lyrics continuously refine throughout the last two years.

The first track, “Can I Holla at Ya,” is a reminiscent song set on a Latin-infused beat.

As he looks back on a missed opportunity with a girl from his past, he curses himself for his lack of persistence. Distance is the barrier; “We go a couple years and don’t even speak, but know it’s love though.” This spark is ongoing, as he reassures the girl: “Couldn’t let them dirty your name, I got the utmost respect for you…came back home and had to check for you.” He does not get overly sappy on us, though. J. Cole divulges thoughtful introspection that only occurs under his harder, tougher shell.

In “Crunch Time,” dreamlike, fuzzy beats lays the foundation for J. Coles retrospection. “I thank the Lord for this wonderful gift…looking for strength in this crunch time,” he raps, referring to his career and the accompanying struggles. The song ultimately speaks to perseverance, however, eventually spitting out the

deepest line of the song: “The only thing worse than death is a regret-filled coffin”. The next three songs, “Rise Above”, “Tears for ODB” and “Stay,” are equally astounding.

Humility is a needle in a haystack in the hip-hop and rap world. J. Cole is one of the few who seems to hold it closely.

If a fresh mixtape were not enough, just a day later J. Cole dropped a Valentine’s Day single: a song off of his next album, “Born Sinner.”

The intoxicating song, “Power Trip,” features R&B singer Miguel and meshes the genre with rap. On their second collaboration, J. Cole and Miguel deliver hip-hop and R&B excellence with sex appeal.

“She got me up all night… down and out with these love songs.” In the hook, Miguel cries out, “Would you believe me if I said I’m in love…I want you to want me.” They seem to be out of their element; a once-hook up has transformed into infatuation and feelings.

Already bearing an unhealthy play-count in mine and others’ iTunes libraries, “Power Trip” is comparable to crack for the slow-jam enthusiast. Congrats, J. Cole.

Emily.Herbst@UConn.edu

AP

In this March 5, 2010 file photo, an Oscar statue stands on the red carpet outside the 82nd Academy Awards in Los Angeles. The 85th annual Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013.

NEW YORK (AP) — You can simply tune into the Oscars. Or you can watch them with the peanut gallery on Twitter.

While Hollywood parades in tuxedos and gowns, grandly celebrating itself, a freewheeling cacophony of quips and sarcasm — something like a digital, million-times multiplied version of those balcony Muppet onlookers, Statler and Waldorf — will provide a welcome and riotous counter-narrative to the pomp.

The second-screen experience is never better than on Oscar night, when a separate (and some might say superior) entertainment experience plays out on social media.

The running commentary, in which comedians and others parody the glamorous stars and their sometimes laughable speeches, has become as central to the Academy Awards as the red carpet.

“Following the Oscars on Twitter is like watching the show with one hundred million of your drunkest friends,” says Andy Borowitz, the humorist and author who’s often been a standout tweeter on Oscar night. Last year, he succinctly summarized the previous two best-picture winners, “The King’s Speech” and “The Artist,” as “an English dude who couldn’t speak” and “a French dude no one could hear.”

Live tweeting major TV events, from the Super Bowl to the Grammy Awards, has become engrained in our viewing by now, forming a virtual water cooler that has boosted ratings. But the Academy Awards stream is particularly captivating because it provides an antidote to the on-screen, buttoned-down glamour. It’s as if there’s not an “SAP”

button on your remote, but a “YUKS” one, bringing you play-by-play from some of the funniest people in cyberspace. Comedians assemble as if by duty.

“You gotta say something. Someone has to say something,” says comedian Billy Eichner. “To just stand by and watch it happen is almost too tense. It’s cathartic. You’ve got to just get it out on Twitter because if not, we’re all going to be bottled up thinking about how awkward Anne Hathaway made it for one billion people in real time. I don’t begrudge her the award; I’m just saying she’s a ridiculous person.”

As host of Funny or Die’s “Billy on the Street,” which airs on Fuse, Eichner aggressively and comically interviews passersby about pop culture. So he’s particularly adept at expressing all-caps mockery when it comes to the stars of Hollywood. In the awards circuit leading up to the Oscars, he’s zeroed in on Anne Hathaway, the odds-on favorite to win best supporting actress for her performance in “Les Miserables.”

In Hathaway, Eichner recognizes a great actress, but also a striving theater geek. Nothing is funnier, he says, “than the mix of ego and lack of self-awareness, like Jodie Foster’s Golden Globes speech.”

“Ultimately, it’s just fun because the whole thing is so ridiculous,” says Eichner.

“It’s like, why not comment on it? What is it even there for other than to be commented on?”

The Oscars has become one of the biggest social media events of the year.

Last year’s telecast at one point set a then-record for 18,718 tweets-per-second. A

statuette could be handed out for a new award: most tweeted tweet. In 2011, that honor went to The Onion, which lamented: “How rude — not a single character from Toy Story 3 bothered to show up.”

Last year, “The Artist” may have won best picture, but Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” easily bested it with 110,179 tweets to 78,509 for “The Artist,” according to Twitter metrics analyst TweetReach.

This year, the academy has partnered with Twitter to track the top categories with an index measuring the percentage of positive tweets about the nominees.

Leading as of Tuesday wasn’t the favorite “Argo,” nor was it Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln,” but rather David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook.” So if the film, widely considered the dark horse in the best picture race, wins on Sunday, Twitter will have predicted it.

Mark Ghuneim, chief executive of social media measurement firm Trendrr, says that during the Oscars, Twitter is “’Mystery Science Theater 3000,’ for real,” referring to the cult TV show in which a man and two robot sidekicks wisecrack their way through B-movies.

“It’s really like you’ll never watch TV alone ever again, if you don’t want to,” says Ghuneim. “It’s a natural evolution in television and that’s why it’s so prevalent.”

With real-time data from services like Trendrr, the Oscar conversation can be tracked, revealing which moments resound and provoke audiences. Last year, Angelina Jolie’s leg-baring pose as a presenter immediately put Twitter in hyperdrive, spawning parody accounts from the perspective of her right leg.

It’s such moments where Twitter becomes Oscar’s dance partner. Viewers celebrate with — and chortle at — Hollywood’s self-seriousness, combining together for a TV experience greater than the sum of its parts.

When the 85th annual Academy Awards air Sunday on ABC, countless comedians and others at home will be ready on their mobile phones and laptops with tweets to skewer.

“I just pray we all survive Anne Hathaway’s acceptance speech,” says Eichner.

“And, to be honest, I have my doubts.”

Thursday, February 21, 2013

COMICS

The Daily Campus, Page 8

Comics

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Kevin & Dean Adam Penrod

SANTIAGO PELAEZ/The Daily Campus

For any students not ignoring the fact that one day they will have to graduate, Wednesday’s Career Fair in the Student Union Ballroom provided helpful information and networking opporunities galore.

I Hate Everything

by Carin Powell

Lazy Girl Michelle Penney!

Stickcat

by Karl, Jason, Fritz and Chan

Horoscopes

by Brian Ingmanson

Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 7 -- A productive morning leaves space for a romantic evening; make what you will of it.

You can have whatever you’re willing to stand for: Love is worth it.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Expand your mind and heart with an adventure, perhaps a rendezvous at a secret spot, followed by a puzzle to untangle or an art project to enjoy.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Complete tasks earlier in the day. You’re a powerhouse. Later, reward yourself with relaxation and delicious food. Remember that pampering works best when it goes both ways.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- You’re busy and getting busier at work, and that could interfere with your love life.

Communication is key. Travel could be slow.

Research holds crucial clues.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Don’t overspend on luxuries. Who needs them when you’ve got love? Celebrate with dear ones, and be flexible about how it looks. Your true love holds you to your highest.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- You’re just on fire. New pathways are revealed. Plan to indulge the places where your heart is. Your confidence is quite attractive.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- There could be a clash between love and money. It’s not a good time to get extravagant. Don’t push yourself too hard. You have super study power. Share kindness.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Your capacity to listen makes you more alluring. Stay in contact with loved ones.

You’re getting more powerful, so you might as well raise the stakes.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- It all works out (if you’re willing to do the work). You’re in top gear, and improving, but remember that Valentine’s Day is not all about you. Share.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 7 -Plan a special day together with a loved one.

It doesn’t need to be expensive. Go ahead and give your word. It’s okay to be quiet, too.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- A boost of energy helps you complete projects, but it could also wear you out by the end of the day. Make time for being social later.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -Step into the emotional limelight. “Respectful” and “willing to be of service” get you the farthest. If the recipe falters, add a dash of “love.”

Thursday, February 21, 2013

The Daily Campus, Page 9

Sports

» NBA

Pacers rout Knicks, pull closer to second in East

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Paul Tyson Chandler led New York George scored 27 points and the with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Indiana Pacers powered their way Carmelo Anthony, the league's No. closer to the No. 2 seed in the 2 scorer, finished with 15 points on Eastern Conference by beating 7-for-21 shooting. the New York Knicks 125-91 on George, fresh off a strong perWednesday night. formance in his first All-Star David West had 18 points Game appearance, made 11 of 19 and nine rebounds, and Lance shots and grabbed eight rebounds.

Stephenson added 14 points for New York was called for three Indiana (33-21), individual technical which pulled within fouls and a flagrant a half-game of the foul, and J.R. Smith 125 was ejected.

Knicks for second Indiana place in the East.

The Pacers led New York 91 37-21 The Pacers shot 53 in the second percent from the field, quarter when Amare scored a season-high point total Stoudemire picked up his third and had a season-best 28 assists foul and was called for a technical. against the Atlantic Division leadAs Indiana's lead grew, the ers. It was Indiana's largest margin Knicks unraveled. Kurt Thomas of victory this season and New committed four fouls in six minYork's worst loss. utes, in the second quarter, then

NBA

argued with fans when he went to the bench. Raymond Felton was called for a flagrant foul for elbowing Jeff Pendergraph.

Smith and Stephenson were jawing for much of the final minute of the first half, and they were called for double-technicals right after the halftime buzzer.

Indiana shot 60 percent from the field and led 74-44 at the break.

George led the Pacers with 20 points in the first half, including a dynamic two-handed jam through traffic with 21 seconds left in the second quarter. Indiana's bench scored 27 points before the break and the Pacers made 23 of 29 free throws in the first half.

New York shot just 33 percent in the first half. Anthony scored eight points on 4-for-10 shooting before the break.

AP

New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith (8) looks at the scoreboard as he leaves the court after being tossed out of the game following a technical foul while playing the Indiana Pacers last night.

» NBA

San Antonio tops Western Conference power rankings post-All-Star Break

By Eddie Leonard NBA Western Conference Columnist The NBA Western Conference is much more competitive to play in than the Eastern Conference.

The third-best team in the West, the Los Angeles Clippers, have more wins than the leader of the East, the Miami Heat. Standings can be misleading for West Coast teams. This is why I have made a Western Conference power ranking to give credit to the teams that deserve it and call out the teams that do not.

15. The Phoenix Suns I have the Suns rated last in the conference simply because they are incompatible and do not know how to win. They have some talent in the form of Michael Beasley and Gordon Dragic, but these two players are not good enough to carry the team. The fans only show up for games because they are able to get their money back if they are not satisfied. The Suns are out of playoff contention for the foreseeable future. Oh, it is safe to say that Dragic is not the second coming of

Steve Nash.

14. Sacramento Kings The only time I see the Kings on Sports Center is when Demarcus Cousins flips out at a referee and receives a technical foul. He is a Rasheed in the making. The Kings have Cousins, Tyreke Evans and Jimmer Fredette, but they do not know how to play as a team.

Evans had the potential to be a star last year, but he fell right back into the King’s curse of producing subpar players.

13.Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves have lost their best player, Kevin Love, for the next couple months.

Love is a guaranteed 20-and-10 every night. He keeps possessions alive with offensive boards and scores at will. Ricky Rubio needs someone to pass it to, but they have no shot makers. I would like to see Derrick Williams get more playing time.

12. New Orleans Hornets The Hornets are well below .500, but I am attributing that to their young players trying to create chemistry. Anthony Davis and

Austin Rivers, two of their most notable players, are rookies. Not only are they trying to become more accustomed to the NBA style of play, but they have to learn how to play more efficiently together.

Their owner is banking that changing their name to the Pelican, a laughable bird, will help them accomplish this goal.

11. Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks only have four players on their current team that were on the championship team of two years ago. They are not the same team they used to be.

Tyson Chandler, Jason Kidd, J.J. Barea, Jason Terry and Deshawn Stevenson all made huge contributions in their title run. With an injured Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavs can kiss their championship hopes goodbye. They were a one and done two years ago.

10. Los Angeles Lakers Do I have to say anything here?

I have written two articles about the Lakers and how much of a disgrace they are. I even heard a rumor that Dwight Howard was so unhappy with his Western All-Star

team that he asked Spurs coach Greg Popovich for a trade to the East. The Lakers need to play as a team. Kobe has to pass and shoot.

He cannot be Rondo, passing when he has an open lay-up. He is making the assist a selfish stat.

9. Portland Trailblazers The Trailblazers are a team to watch out for in the future. They have a lot of young talent that is still maturing. Damien Lillard, Nicolas Aldridge, J.J. Batum and Wesley Hickson are all very talented and run the floor hard. They remind me of a young OKC team that has the talent but is in search of that breakout season.

8.Utah Jazz The Jazz are a very quiet team.

They sneak up on you. They are a great home team that would love to catch the Grizzlies to ensure a first round at home.

7. Golden State Warriors The Warriors, coached by Mark Jackson, are a high-powered offensive team that remains baffled by the meaning of the word “defense.” They gave up 23 threepointers to the Rockets, for good-

ness sake. Until they play some defense, they will remain at the bottom of the playoff picture.

6. Houston Rockets The Rockets are a dangerous team with James Harden in the mix. I would not be surprised at all if they slip into the second round of the playoffs. They have been waiting for a Harden since T-Mac’s departure. Maybe Harden will carry Tracy McGrady’s playoff woes to new heights.

5. Denver Nuggets The Nuggets, led by Coach George Karl, are a very impressive show to watch. The Nuggets are near the top of the conference without a real super star on his team. Carmelo Anthony who?

4. Memphis Grizzlies The Grizzlies are a gritty team that is ready to make some noise in the playoffs. They have struggled since the Rudy Gay trade, but I believe the presence of Pau Gasol and Zach Randolph down low with Mike Conley at the point will make them a real nightmare.

3. Los Angeles Clippers Clippers = Chris Paul. If Paul

stays healthy and performs to his fullest capability, they will go far in the playoffs. If they have to rely on Blake Griffin shooting from the outside then they may be an early exit.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder The Thunder will make it to the conference finals but it is not the team it was last year. James Harden was the reason they got by the Spurs. Without him, I do not think they can do as much damage. They look like a two-man show rather than a team.

1. San Antonio Spurs As usual, the Spurs are quietly dominating the NBA. And as usual, they are receiving no credit. Almost everyone is picking the Thunder vs. Heat final.

Slow down, the Spurs have the best record in the league and have four more wins than the next best team. They have a deep bench, with multiple Hall of Famers and Popovich coaching from the sideline.

Edward.Leonard@UConn.edu

» NBA

Rockets trade with Suns, Kings

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Rockets have reached separate agreements on trades that will send Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich and Toney Douglas to Sacramento and Marcus Morris to Phoenix, a person familiar with the situation said Wednesday.

The Rockets will receive Thomas Robinson, the No. 5 pick in last year's draft, Francisco Garcia and Tyler Honeycutt from the Kings, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced and was still pending league approval.

In the other deal, the person said the Rockets will receive a future second-round pick from the Suns in exchange for Morris, who will join his twin brother, Markieff, on the Phoenix roster.

Patterson, Aldrich and Douglas walked out of the Toyota Center just as Houston

was starting its game against Oklahoma City, on the eve of the trading deadline. The Rockets came into the game holding the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference and the moves were unexpected.

The 6-foot-9 Patterson had started 38 games for Houston this season and was the Rockets' fourth-leading scorer, averaging 11.6 points. Douglas was acquired in the offseason in a trade with New York and he played in 49 games backing up Jeremy Lin. The 6-11 Aldrich, acquired in the James Harden trade with Oklahoma City just before the season, averaged 1.7 points in 30 games for Houston this season.

Sacramento had high hopes for the 6-10 Robinson, but he's disappointed so far, averaging only 4.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16 minutes per game.

Kings general manager Geoff Petrie had hinted that he'd only

make minor moves before the trade deadline because of the pending purchase agreement that could move the franchise to Seattle next season.

The Rockets' deal with Phoenix, meanwhile, will reunite Marcus Morris with his twin older brother, Markieff.

The Suns took Markieff with the 13th pick in 2011 draft and Marcus was right behind him again, going to Houston at No. 14.

"If I was to be traded, that's where I would want to go," Morris said outside the Rockets' locker room. "I think Houston knew that. That's all I did was talk about my brother and how happy I was to play with him. I'm excited. That's all I can say."

Marcus Morris had played in all but one of Houston's games this season, making 17 starts.

He was averaging 8.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

» GOLF

Huskies ride freshmen to 16th place finish

By Scott Bernier Campus Correspondent In its first event of the season, the UConn golf team finished 16th in an 18-team tournament hosted by Francis Marion University at the Wexford Plantation Golf Club in Hilton Head.

Leading the charge for the Huskies was a pair of freshmen, John Flaherty and Stephen Pastore, who each finished their 54 holes in 232 shots, good for 16-over par and a tie for 46th place out of the 90 individual players.

Other Huskies to place in the individual event included sophomore Chris Wiatr and freshman Zach Zaback, finishing 51st and 57th respectfully.

As a team, the Huskies posted an aggregate score of 310310-314 over 54 holes for a

total score of 934. Georgia Southern University won the tournament with an aggregate score of 879 over the course of the two-day event, defeating second-place host Francis Marion by eight strokes. The lowest scoring individual for the tournament was South Florida’s Trey Valentine with a 69-73-70 for a total of 212 shots.

UConn will return to action on March 4 and 5 in the Charleston Shootout, held at the Links at Stono Ferry in Charleston, S.C. In a new event on the schedule for the Huskies, they will look to rise to the challenge against host College of Charleston and other Atlantic Sun Conference schools. The 2011 South Carolina Golf Course of the Year, Stono Ferry measures in at 6,814 yards from its

farthest tees. With par set at 72 through 18 holes, there should be plenty of scoring opportunities for the Huskies, with two par fives scattered throughout both the front and back nine. In addition to slick, Bermuda grass putting surfaces, Stono Ferry also boasts an iconic island-green 18th hole.

This hole will challenge the approach shots of all comers.

Coach Pezzino and the Huskies aim to succeed in a very busy March that also finds the Huskies competing in the Mission Inn Spring Spectacular on March 16 and 17 and the FAU Spring Break Championship March 29 through 31.

Scott.Bernier@UConn.edu

The Daily Campus, Page 10

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Sports

Huskies to face Bearcats twice in next nine days Callahan: Polls aren't from BATTLE, page 12

“Everyone in the Big East has great guards,” said Ollie.

“We are going to have to come in and make sure that we contain the dribble, play with effort, play with attitude, and that will allow us to come out on top.”

UConn has had a difficult time throughout the season rebounding the basketball, and it proved to be the difference in the Villanova game. UConn’s undersized frontcourt was outrebounded 41-25 while allowing 21 offensive rebounds, leading to second chances throughout the evening.

“We have to keep Cincinnati out of the lane,” said Ollie.

“When it comes down to it, it is all about rebounding. We have to rebound better than we showed at Villanova.”

absolute, take them for their relative value

Although UConn is banned from postseason play as a result of their NCAA sanctions pertaining to their APR scores from 2007-2011, the Huskies are still in the running for the Big East regular season title, which the team has made clear is their primary goal for the season.

The Big East standings remain an extremely close race, with UConn currently sitting in fifth place. Marquette is leading the conference with a 10-3 Big East record, followed

by Syracuse and Georgetown at 9-3, who are tied at second. Louisville (9-4) and Notre Dame (9-5) are in third and fourth, respectively. The Huskies are 3.5 games behind Marquette and have six games remaining.

Peter.Logue@UConn.edu

from A THEORY, page 12

JON KULAKOFSKY/Daily Campus

Sophomore guard Ryan Boatright drives into the lane against Villanova last Saturday.

» NCAA BASKETBALL

No. 11 Georgetown smashes DePaul

ASHINGTON (AP) — instead of digging in, and that Trying to end a 39-game los- kind of fueled Georgetown." ing streak to Top 25 teams, Brandon Young scored DePaul made a game of it for 16 points to lead the Blue 14 minutes or so against No. Demons (11-15, 2-11 Big 11 Georgetown.

East), who have lost 12 in One glance at the play-by- a row to Georgetown and play sheet shows why the haven't beaten a ranked team threat ended there. in five years. DePaul was "Missed layup coming off of a by Robertson." win over Rutgers ''Missed layup by on Saturday and Melvin." ''Missed Georgetown 90 was hoping to win layup by Young." back-to-back Big 66 East games for the ''Missed layup by DePaul Crockett." ''Missed first time since tip-in by Melvin." ''Missed 2008. layup by Melvin."

D ' Va u n t e s SmithAll of those close-in mis- Rivera scored 33 points for fires came during a 15-4 Georgetown, the most by a Georgetown run to end the Hoyas freshman since Victor first half. Game over. The Page's 34 in the 1996 Big East Hoyas went on to win 90-66. tournament. Smith-Rivera "We missed some really easy went 10 for 12 from the field, layups off set plays, point- 8 for 10 from the free-throw blank range," DePaul coach line and made 5 of 6 3-pointOliver Purnell said. "Then I ers. thought that really caused us "Everyone wants to come not to be as sticky on the in right from Day One blazdefensive end of the floor. ing," Georgetown coach John ... We let frustration set in Thompson III said. "And it's

NCAAB

taken him time to get settled in. He's getting comfortable out there with what we're doing."

The Hoyas (20-4, 10-3) won their eighth straight and pulled even again with Syracuse and Marquette atop the conference. They shot 63 percent and scored a season-high in points, handling with relative ease a possible trap game ahead of Saturday's muchanticipated final Big East visit to No. 8 Syracuse.

Thompson, already nervous by nature before every tipoff, said he was more jittery than usual because of all the attention that has given to the Syracuse game. In addition, he said his team had "probably the worst practice of the year by far" on Tuesday. Asked what was wrong with it, he said "everything."

"I don't have the energy," he said, "to revisit yesterday's practice."

The nerves no doubt ratcheted up a notch when Otto

Porter, the Hoyas' best allaround player, went to the floor clutching his right knee when DePaul's Worrel Clahar was called for an offensive foul about eight minutes into the game.

Porter stayed in the game and didn't seem affected, with a step-back long 3-pointer as the shot clock was expiring and a backcourt steal among his highlights later in the half.

He started the second half but was gone for good with 17:18 to play, making another visit to the locker room and sporting a right knee brace.

"I think he's going to be OK," Thompson said. "He banged knees, and he was sore, and I think it scared him more than anything else. I don't think it's anything big.

We were able to get by without putting him back in. If things got tight, I could've put him back in."

» NBA

Harden scores 46, Rockets rally past OKC

HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden scored a careerhigh 46 points and Jeremy Lin added 29 as the Houston Rockets mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback for a 122-119 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.

Houston was down by 14 points with about seven minutes left. The Rockets used a 21-4 run to erase the deficit and take a 114-111 lead with 1:46 remaining. Harden stepped back under heavy pressure from Serge Ibaka to sink a 3 to tie it, before Lin connected on one seconds later to give the Rockets their first lead of the second half.

Harden, traded from Oklahoma City to Houston before the season, made a bucket before Ibaka made two free throws. Then came another 3 by Lin to extend the lead to 119-113.

A 3-pointer by Russell Westbrook got Oklahoma City

within three points, but Lin made one of two free throws to secure the win.

Thabo Sefolosha led the Thunder with 28 points and had six 3-pointers, both career highs. His previous career high was 22, which he reached twice, most recently in 2008.

Westbrook also scored 28 points and added 10 rebounds and eight assists. Kevin Durant had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for his second career triple-double.

It was Houston's first win this season over the Thunder, who won both previous meetings, including a 30-point win in the last matchup. The loss extends Oklahoma City's skid to three games.

Harden was 11 of 12 from the free throw line, made a career-best seven 3-pointers, had eight rebounds and six assists.

Lin grabbed a steal from Westbrook and dished to Harden, who made a shot

from beyond halfcourt at the third-quarter buzzer to cut Oklahoma City's lead to 92-87 entering the fourth.

The Thunder then extended the lead to 107-93 after Kevin Martin and Sefolosha hit back-to-back 3-pointers before Houston rallied.

Oklahoma City Houston was up by seven OKC points midway through the third quarter when Chandler Parsons scored six points in less than a minute to get Houston within 73-72. He made a pair of free throws before adding consecutive dunks. On the first one, Carlos Delfino stole the ball from Durant and passed to Parsons for the dunk. Lin stepped in front of a pass from Ibaka a few seconds later and found Parsons alone for the two-handed slam.

Oklahoma City was up by eight points with about 1 1/2 minutes left in the first half

when Lin was given a technical for arguing a call. Durant made the free throw on the technical to put Oklahoma City's lead at 60-51.

Harden took over after that, scoring all of Houston's points in a 6-2 run to end the quarter and cut the lead to 62-57 at 122 halftime.

Harden made 119 four 3-pointers early to help Houston build a 34-22 lead in the first quarter. Oklahoma City scored seven straight points after that, before Harden added a pair of free throws to lead the Rockets up 36-29 at the end of the first quarter.

Parsons was helped off the court and into the locker room after twisting his right ankle near the end of the third quarter.

He returned with about 6 1/2 minutes left in the game.

NBA

Can somone replace the Heat or Thunder in the Finals? from WHICH, page 12 roster, but the club’s legitimacy can be easily brought into question. What separates this year’s Knicks from the 2012 version that got steamrolled last April? Only time will tell. Featuring what may be the league’s deepest bench and the most electrifying athlete in Blake Griffin, the Los Angeles Clippers appear as ready as ever to make a deep run this spring. With 466 games of combined playoff experience on its roster, the Clippers’ personnel are anything but amateurs when it comes to the postseason. This could be the year Los Angeles’ “other team” goes all the way.

Headlining the best team in franchise history are MVP candidate Chris Paul and probable sixth Man of the Year Jamal

Crawford. Fans of Miami and OKC be warned: a potential “Pacers-Clippers” Finals could loom ominous.

Phil: I do like the Clippers, especially because they have the best point in the league.

My pick in the West, though, is the Spurs. After last year’s defeat in the conference finals, they will be on a mission in 2013. Led by the veteran trio of Parker, Duncan and Ginobili, the Spurs play textbook basketball. Young players Kwahi Leonard and Tiago Splitter can also handle the load when the old guys need a rest. These facts lead me to predict that the Spurs will make it to the NBA finals to play NYC. Regardless, I think it’s safe to say there is no lock in the NBA finals in 2013.

AP

Heat forward LeBron James keeps the ball from Thunder guard Russell Westbrook in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Feb. 14.

from best to worst is silly because when it comes to separating the top 20 or 30, you’re truly splitting hairs. And due to the constant change detailed above, any team that receives a ranking is generally just as good or bad as the few clubs both above and below them.

Thus explaining what we hear often so simply, “In the world of (insert sport league here), anybody can beat anybody.”

Staying just with college basketball, the proof for this lies in the structure of the post-season: In the tournament, the four best teams are given “No. 1 seeds,” the next four are given “No. 2 seeds” and so on down until 65 schools are selected. This, in my mind, is how teams should be separated almost all season.

Some years there are, of course, exceptions, as recent UConn women’s basketball history will tell us. From the winter of 2008 until the spring 2010, Geno Auriemma and company essentially played keep away with the No. 1 spot over backto-back undefeated seasons. This left even the most impassioned Notre Dame, Tennessee and Stanford fans with no doubt as to who the best team indeed was.

But most years, there’s zero reason to believe that say the labeled No. 4 team defeating the so-called No. 1 being a tremendous deal, because it’s not.

Rankings are relative. In this season alone, Indiana, Duke and others have more or less played hot potato with the title of “top dog,” dropping from the No. 1 ranking every week.

Especially early on, these top 25 lists carry little meaning because no one on the planet has any evidence to gauge how good anyone will be. The only measuring stick we have of a team’s quality is its performance in live competition, and until games have been won and lost, everyone starts unranked (which in my opinion is why perhaps polls for all college sports should be suspended for the first few weeks of every season. But, let’s just stick with one contrarian idea per day, shall we?).

Now, while flawed on multiple levels, these polls are significant in that they give us a rough picture of where things stand. After all, even a blurry picture can tell you whether you’re staring at an elephant or an iPod. Though they are by no means absolute.

They’re relative. Think of it like a grading system, where you don’t receive a singular grade, but rather a rating of “A/A", “B+/B”, “B-/C+” and so on. They’re close enough, so they carry the same meaning at the end of the day — just like a seed does in the tournament. There’s also insufficient reason to delineate any true difference, so why bother?

Now, diminishing the generally accepted value of the weekly polls doesn’t lessen the excitement or greatness of college basketball. The fervor around big games isn’t ever about the numbers that precede each team’s name on TV or in the newspaper. Your heart races before tipoff just like mine because we’re

assured of the rare opportunity to see two great teams battle in a really high quality display of basketball.

And the value for the teams playing isn't in notching another "top-10 team" on the ole belt. It's the fact that should they come out with a win, they'll have played at an extraordinary level and belong amongst the best themselves.

Think about the hype surrounding any championship in any sport—national title, the Super Bowl, World Series, World Cup, anything.

No one ever cares about the seeds or previous rankings the two teams have or had before then— mid-season, post-season or otherwise. All those tools to paint the season’s scenes are thrown out the window because now it’s only about that final game and the two stellar teams who fought to get there. The information your eyes have given from watching them play beforehand is the reason you get up for that final, ultimate clash. The voting done by coaches or media members has nothing to do with that.

Neither does it drive the teams to victory. Instead, the hope to play well enough to win and therefore be the best in the world.

No poll spot, just the trophy.

To me, there ought be the same amount excitement surrounding a game between two of the very best in a given sport, even if the rankings were unknown or suspended from public viewing.

So, let’s take ourselves away the emphasis on polls and rankings. They’re not meaningful or practical anyways up until season’s end. By then, there are no more practices, no more games or workouts, so the teams stop changing. The picture stops moving and then people can finally paint an accurate word-picture.

Meanwhile, let’s simply appreciate the times when two good teams meet and the gravity that those outcomes will have for future matchups — not just future polls. And then, once we’re down to season’s end or whenever we can dub and delineate the great teams from the good, let’s get giddy as schoolgirls when two go head-to-head. You see, the value in top 5 or top 10 or even 10-15 clubs meeting isn’t in the numbers or the history.

It lives in the same reason that people go see world-renowned orchestras, timeless art or plays on Broadway: to witness greatness. Greatness in the form of the world’s very best doing their best for everyone to see.

Speaking of which, do you know how one becomes dubbed “best in the world” in those fields or how any ratings are determined for that matter? I’m not entirely sure, but however it is, I’ll tell you one thing: it’s all relative.

And men’s and women’s college hoops aren’t too different.

Come March, they’ll just be a little more mad than all the rest.

Follow Andrew on Twitter: @ACallahan24

Andrew.J.Callahan@UConn.edu

TWO Thursday, February 21, 2013

Stat of the day

PAGE 2

What's Next Home game

0

Feb. 23 DePaul 8 p.m.

March 6 USF 9 p.m.

Women’s Basketball (24-2) March 2 South Florida Noon

Feb. 23 Feb. 26 Seton Hall Pittsburgh 4 p.m.

7 p.m.

— Cleveland first baseman Nick Swisher on signing the largest contract in Indians history.

» Pic of the day

Captain Creepy

March 4 Notre Dame 7 p.m.

Men’s Hockey (14-13-3) Tomorrow Army 7:05 p.m.

March 2 Sacred Heart 4 p.m

March 1 Feb. 23 Sacred Army Heart 7:05 p.m 7:05 p.m.

March 8 Atlantic Hockey Playoffs 7:05 p.m.

Women’s Hockey (3-26-3) Feb. 23 Boston University 3 p.m.

Feb. 24 Boston University 2 p.m.

March 2 Hockey East Quarterfinals TBD

Men’s Track and Field Mar. 2 IC4A Championships All Day

Women’s Track and Field Feb. 22 New England Championships Alll Day

Feb. 23 New England Championships All Day

Men’s Swimming & Diving Feb. 27 BIG EAST Championship TBA

Feb. 28 BIG EAST Championship TBA

Women’s Swimming & Diving Feb. 27 BIG EAST Championship TBA

Where are they now?

“It’s awesome, isn’t it?”

March 2 Cincinnati 2 p.m.

Feb. 27 Georgetown 7 p.m.

The number of games remaining at the XL Center for the men’s basketball team this season after tonight.

» That’s what he said

Away game

Men’s Basketball (17-7) Tonight Cincinnati 7 p.m

The Daily Campus, Page 11

Sports

Feb. 28 BIG EAST Championship TBA

Softball Tomorrow FAU Strike-Out-Cancer Tournament 4 p.m.

Can’t make it to the game?

Follow us on Twitter: @DCSportsDept www.dailycampus.com

Darius Butler (2004-2008)

AP

By Mike Peng Campus Correspondent

The 2009 NFL Draft saw an array of talented former Huskies take the next steps in their football careers as all four players who declared for the draft were selected within the first two rounds.

For those who still remember that class quite vividly, it would’ve been very easy to mention Donald Brown as arguably the best player out of the group. However, the Huskies would not have had their success around those years without one of the team leaders on defense: Darius Butler.

Born on March 18, 1986 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Butler is one of Mitchell and Sabrina Butler’s eight children. Butler attended Coral Springs Charter School in Coral Springs, Fla. There, he played both quarterback and safety before signing with UConn in his senior year.

After redshirting his first year in 2004, Butler became a regular starter for the Huskies and had a breakout season the next year. He started in all 11 games at the cornerback position and also frequently served as the kickoff returner. On the defensive side, Butler compiled 36 tackles, eight deflections, four interceptions and one forced fumble on the season. As a returner, Butler returned 140 yards, including one for a score.

His efforts earned him both the Big East Defensive and Special Team Player of the Week honors that season.

Butler continued his success the next year as he piled on 50 more tackles and four more interceptions to his career numbers with the Huskies before being named as a team captain by then-coach Randy Edsall in 2007.

In the next two seasons as a team captain, Butler helped to lead UConn to back-to-back bowl appearances. The Huskies dropped the 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl to Wake Forest, 10-24, but were able to defeat Buffalo the next year, 38-20, in the International Bowl.

Butler ended his collegiate career in 2008 with 180 total tackles, 10 interceptions and three forced fumbles, while being named as a member of the All-Big East first team.

In the 2009 draft, the New England Patriots used their 41st pick to select Butler. and agreed to a fouryear, $2.1 million contract.

However, he was waived by the Patriots just prior the start of the 2011 season. In his two years there, Butler played in 29 games and tallied 58 combined tackles with three interceptions (the three takeaways all came in his rookie year).

Butler spent a season with the Carolina Panthers after that but was waived once again before signing with the Indianapolis Colts as in 2012.

Butler has enjoyed some success with the Colts in the past season. In the 11 games he’s played, Butler had recorded 31 combined tackles with four interceptions and one forced fumble. He was also named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week in week 10 after he made two interceptions and recovAP ered a fumble against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Washington Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth has a laugh while warming up during spring training baseball in Viera, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013.

Michael.Peng@UConn.edu

» NCAA

NCAA sues to keep Penn State fine in state

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The NCAA wasted no time in challenging a new Pennsylvania law designed to keep the $60 million Penn State fine over the Jerry Sandusky scandal in the state, filing a federal challenge to the legislation hours after Gov. Tom Corbett signed it into law Wednesday.

State and congressional lawmakers have objected to use of the NCAA fine to finance child abuse prevention efforts in other states.

The complaint asks a federal judge to throw out the Pennsylvania Institution of Higher Education Monetary Penalty Endowment Act, saying it violates provisions of the U.S. Constitution. It also asks for an injunction to prevent the law from being enforced.

Defendants in the lawsuit are Corbett and three state officials who would be involved in handling or monitoring the money: the auditor general, treasurer and chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Corbett believes the bill “makes sense and is the right thing to do,” spokeswoman Janet Kelley said. The lawsuit is under

review, she said.

Penn State signed a consent decree last summer in which it agreed to the fine, a four-year football bowl ban and other penalties shortly after a scathing report into how school officials handled reports that Sandusky, a former assistant football coach, was behaving inappropriately with children. He was convicted of sexually abusing 10 boys and is serving a 30- to 60-year prison sentence.

“By seizing the funds and restricting eligibility to benefit from the funds only to Pennsylvania programs benefiting only Pennsylvania residents, the act will defeat the consent decree’s plain terms and frustrate the parties’ intended purpose,” the NCAA’s lawyers wrote.

The lawsuit claims the new legislation is unconstitutional because it directs state officials to collect money to which the state is not entitled. It argues the state has no legal right to abridge the contract between the NCAA and Penn State and says the new law tries to regulate transactions by out-of-state entities in violation of the Commerce Clause.

NCAA President Mark Emmert released a statement

saying that it was important that the organization’s members abide by its rules and that college sports would be “dramatically altered” if others are responsible for deciding what penalties are appropriate.

NCAA lawyer Donald Remy said the lawsuit concerned legal issues of importance to anyone who does business with staterelated or private entities.

“The state has attempted to grant itself the ability to do whatever it wants to whomever it wants,” Remy said. “The United States Constitution does not permit this kind of legislative overreach.”

Joe Metz, a Harrisburg lawyer with federal litigation experience, said the NCAA’s lawsuit had promise, particularly because the law was passed after the consent agreement was signed.

“It’s impossible to predict how something like this will go, but it’s definitely something I’d read carefully and think about, that’s for sure,” said Metz, who is not involved in the case.

Penn State, which has made the first of five $12 million payments, is not a party to the litigation. An NCAA task force

will determine how the money is spent.

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, a defendant in the case, issued a statement that said people should “remember that this should all be about the kids.”

“I take very seriously my role of ensuring that money is spent in accordance with Pennsylvania law and the distribution of that funding is now dictated by (the bill) which was enacted into law today,” DePasquale said.

In January, Corbett filed his own federal lawsuit in the matter, accusing the NCAA of antitrust violations and seeking to have all of the consent decree’s penalties thrown out. A request by the NCAA to have that case dismissed is pending.

Also Wednesday, the NCAA told two Pennsylvania congressmen it disagrees with their argument that taking some football scholarships away from Penn State unfairly punished innocent student-athletes.

Reps. Charlie Dent and Glenn Thompson released a letter from Emmert that said no Penn State athletes lost scholarships and that each athlete remains eligible for a scholarship at Penn State or another school.

» INSIDE SPORTS TODAY

P.11: Where are they now?: Darius Butler / P.10: Georgetown smashes DePaul, 90-66 /P.9: Rockets make deals with Suns, Kings.

Page 12

Thursday, February 21, 2013

A theory of relativity

www.dailycampus.com

BATTLE WITH THE BEARCATS UConn seeking to bounce back against Cincinnati

By Peter Logue Staff Writer

Andrew Callahan There can be a big difference between having one and two.

Think chances, kids and mortgages. Even speaking strictly within sports, take a second to ponder championships or technical fouls.

But when discussing the spots between you and another team in college basketball polls, the disparity isn’t much at all. Nor for that matter, is the difference between one and four. In fact, mid-year top 25 lists might be one of the bottom 25 most useless “exact” measures we have in sports, because it’s all relative.

Here’s why: The purpose of any poll or ranking is to serve as a wordpicture: a carefully structured look at the current landscape of a season. It shows who’s on top, which teams are below and how we should understand the competition in a big picture sense.

This is how things look, and that’s that.

And therein lies the problem, because the sports scene, no matter what league or level you want to talk about, is constantly moving. You see, on its smallest scale, every participating player works to improve his/her game on a regular basis. Thus, they change themselves and their current performance.

Then, each team engages in its own continual fight against inertia and complacency through collective workouts, video study, practices and games. Therefore, (also taking into account injuries, chemistry development and randomness) each team changes almost every day too.

Finally, when those teams are brought together into a league, they play one another over a series of weeks and months, revealing more about their abilities and adjusting accordingly, it introduces even more change.

So, no matter how you slice it, big or small, sports are constantly on the go.

And no matter how nice of a 1x25 frame you want to put around the college basketball scene, it’s not going to fit because that scene already changed and is more of a movie anyways. The idea of a poll is inherently flawed.

Second, the listing of teams from best to worst is silly

» CALLAHAN, page 10

`

The UConn men’s basketball team will host Cincinnati on Thursday night in the final XL Center game of the season. The Huskies enter the game at 17-7 overall and 7-5 in Conference play, while the Bearcats are 19-7 and 7-6.

UConn is coming off a disappointing loss against Villanova last Saturday, 70-61. The dynamic duo of Shabazz Napier (16.3 points per game) and Ryan Boatright (15.4 ppg) struggled, posting a combined six points while committing 10 17-7, 7-5 turnovers. After practice on Wednesday, Kevin Ollie spoke highly of his two leading scorers, especially Boatright.

“He has looked real good in practice,” said Ollie. “Everyone is going to have tough 19-7, 7-6 games, but you learn Tonight, 7 p.m. from it. He’s been through some adversity SNY, WHUS in his life. I believe that he is going to respond XL Center very positively.”

UConn will need a strong performance from its guards on Thursday night. Cincinnati also boasts a formidable frontcourt tandem in Sean Kilpatrick (18.0 ppg) and Cashmere Wright (13.3 ppg). Mick Cronin’s team has lost three of their last four games, including a 62-55 loss at Georgetown in their previous outing.

BASKETBALL

VS.

JON KULAKOFSKY/Daily Campus

» HUSKIES, page 10

UConn freshman guard Omar Calhoun rises above surrounding Villanova defenders for a two-point shot last Saturday at the XL Center in Hartford.

» NCAA BASKETBALL

Southerland leads No. 8 Syracuse over Providence at home

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — James Southerland scored 20 points, Michael Carter-Williams had 15 points and 12 assists, and No. 8 Syracuse beat Providence 84-59 on Wednesday night.

Syracuse (22-4, 10-3 Big East) has won 38 straight home games, the longest active streak in Division I, and moved into a tie with Marquette and No. 11 Georgetown atop the conference standings.

Providence (14-12, 6-8) had won four straight Big East games, including triumphs over then-No. 17 Cincinnati and then-No. 21 Notre Dame on Saturday.

Carter-Williams notched at least 10 assists for the 10th time this season, but only the second time in a league game. He ranked second nationally entering the game, averaging eight assists per game. C.J. Fair had 20 points and 10 rebounds, his

ninth double-double of the sea- 3-pointers and shot 63 percent son, and Brandon Triche had 14 (17 of 27) in the period, notchpoints for Syracuse. ing 12 assists. Carter-Williams Providence guard Vincent assisted on eight baskets, four Council (424) had 15 points straight to close the half, and and seven assists to become the had no turnovers as the Orange Big East’s all-time assists leader scored at will. with 431 — eclipsing former After Council fed Batts for a Syracuse star Sherman Douglas’ jumper to tie the score at 12-all, previous record of 426, set from the Orange took off behind 1985-89.

Southerland, who LaDontae Henton scored nine points had 15 points and 13 in a 4-minute span 84 and finished the rebounds, Kadeem Syracuse Batts had 13 points, Providence 59 half with 14 points and Big East scoring on 6-of-7 shooting. leader Bryce Cotton Southerland also had 10, half his season average, hit two 3-pointers and dunked on 3-of-10 shooting. off a pretty feed from CarterSyracuse had an offensive Williams to boost the lead to flurry to close the first half, out- 36-16 with 2:09 left. scoring the Friars 31-4 over the Carter-Williams, who started final 10 minutes to take a 43-16 the Syracuse rush with a layup, lead at the break. That matched then fed Fair for a 3 from the Providence’s lowest first-half wing, threaded a nifty bounce total of the season. pass through traffic to set up The Orange were 4 of 6 on Fair for a slam dunk, and fin-

NCAAB

ished the half with an assist on a fast-break lay-in by Triche.

Connecticut’s guard tandem of Ryan Boatright and Shabazz Napier handled the Orange in a 66-58 home victory last week, combining for 27 points and 11 assists in the last scheduled meeting between the fierce conference rivals. Cotton and Council figured to offer a stiff test, too, but the Orange were ready this time.

The Friars missed all six of their attempts from long range and were 8 of 27 (29.6 percent) from the floor in the first half as Cotton, the Big East’s scoring leader at 20.4 points per game, attempted just three shots and scored only two points.

Henton’s dunk and a fast-break layup by Cotton were the only Providence baskets over the final 10:08 of the period.

The Friars shot 23 of 66 (34.8 percent) for the game, just 3 of

18 (16.7 percent) on 3-pointers against the conference’s top perimeter defense.

The Orange led 47-17 after two free throws by Triche early in the second half. The Friars got as close as 63-45 on Council’s steal and layup with 8:50 left.

This was the Orange’s last regular-season Big East game with Providence. Syracuse is moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference after the season.

In the first meeting between the teams this season in early January, Cotton hit five 3-pointers and scored 24 points in a 72-66 home loss, while Council had eight points and eight assists. The Orange trailed 33-30 at halftime, but rallied in the second half as Fair finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds, Rakeem Christmas had a career-high 15 points, and Carter-Williams had 17 points, six assists and six boards.

Which NBA team is most likely to surprise with a Finals berth?

San Antonio

By Phil Guay Campus Correspondent The Finals have always been dominated with superstars. This year appears to be no different, with it looking like another rematch of the LeBron James-led Miami Heat and Kevin Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

However, I don’t think this will be the case, due to the catastrophic James Harden deal. Since they decided to trade away the second-best shooting guard in the league, they are now especially vulnerable to the San Antonio Spurs. With the best record in the NBA and a good mix of savvy veterans and fresh talent. I predict they will rise up to knock off the Harden-less Thunder.

Will the West-leading Spurs make the Finals...

Philip.Guay@UConn.edu

» POINT/COUNTERPOINT Dalton: One cannot overlook the emergence of the Eastern Conference’s Indiana Pacers. The 2012-2013 Indiana Pacers are the nightmare standing between Heat fans and a good night’s sleep.

Boasting a respectable 4-4 record against Miami over the course of their previous eight meetings (including last year’s grueling playoff series), Indiana is slowly re-asserting its early 2000s position as the “Beast of the East.”

The presence of 6’8” All-Star forward Paul George provides Indiana with a defensive counter to the dynamic LeBron James and the frontcourt mismatch created by Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough, David West and a healthy Danny Granger should not be disregarded, either. The Indiana Pacers just may be the rotten apple poisoning Miami’s aspirations of a third straight

NBA Finals berth.

Phil: I agree with you on the point that Indiana gives the Heat a lot of trouble, especially with their size. The team that I think can do the most damage is the New York Knicks. They have solid big men with Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton is a great fit in their system. What I like the most is the similarity they have with the Dallas team that beat Miami in the finals a few years ago. Both teams had Tyson Chandler, Jason Kidd and a bunch of role players who are deadly three-point shooters. Finally, I think Carmelo Anthony can replicate the success Dirk had versus Miami.

Dalton: There’s no denying the talent featured on NYK’s

» CAN, page 10

By Dalton Zbierski Campus Correspondent

Indiana

Athletes such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant expect success. Both live and breathe excellence and have built extraordinary careers. The 2012 NBA season came to its pinnacle when the two opposed each other in last year’s Finals. LeBron’s Miami Heat outlasted Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder in five games as James’ walked away with his first crown. Many have come to the conclusion that a rematch is inevitable but don’t bet money yet. The Heat fans looking to buy up tickets at American Airlines mid-June will stay grounded because here come the Indiana Pacers.

Dalton.Zbierski@UConn.edu

...or do the Pacers have a better shot?