Volume CXVIII No. 98
» INSIDE
www.dailycampus.com
Monday, February 27, 2012
HUSKIES ARE ‘OUTJUICED’ BY ‘CUSE
STUDENTS COME OUT TO ‘ROCK THE U’ Live music in Union Theater sends good vibrations. FOCUS/ page 7
JIM ANDERSON/The Daily Campus
Fans expressed enthusiasm and urged the UConn men’s basketball team on at Saturday’s game despite a rough first half. The Huskies rallied in the second half and tied up the game before losing 71-69.
FAIR OR FOUL Smith thought Fair fouled him at the end of loss to ‘Cuse. SPORTS/ page 14 EDITORIAL: VIOLENCE NOT AN ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE TO DISSENTING OPINIONS Campus incident shows intolerance of ideas COMMENTARY/page 4 INSIDE NEWS: MICHIGAN VOTE COULD DETERMINE ROMNEY FATE Romney will face his biggest challenge this Tuesday in his native state. NEWS/ page 3
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» index
Classifieds 3 Comics 10 Commentary 4 Crossword/Sudoku 10 Focus 7 InstantDaily 4 Sports 14
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By Matt McDonough Sports Editor Following a Fab Melo put-back slam, the UConn men’s basketball team had the ball with an opportunity to tie or win the game. With 17 seconds remaining, Ryan Boatright, who finished with 14 points and was 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, took a three-pointer. But Dion Waiters, who scored 10 points, was there to block the attempt. After the ball went out of bounds off the Orange, the Huskies took a timeout. “We were trying to get penetration,” said UConn coach George Blaney. “They played it pretty well.” Following the in-bounds pass, Jeremy Lamb, who scored a team-high 19 points, had the ball behind the three-point line. Syracuse’s 3-3 zone defense stretched beyond the perimeter and Roscoe Smith found the soft spot in the zone. Lamb found Smith with the clock winding
down. And with one second, Smith was blocked by C.J. Fair. The clock ran out. Close, but no cigar. The No. 2 Orange (29-1, 16-1 Big East) bested UConn (17-11, 7-9 Big East) 71-69 before a raucous standing-room only crowd at Gampel Pavilion. The Huskies, who trailed by as much as 16 points in the first half, erased a 14-point halftime deficit. “Our offense was rather anemic early,” Blaney said. The crowd was the loudest of the season and was still energized following ESPN’s College GameDay show that morning. “I thought the crowd was anxious for us to do well,” Blaney said. “They kept urging us. We certainly didn’t do anything to gain their respect in the first half.” UConn rallied back and tied the game
at 63 points with 4:18 remaining on a Drummond lay-up. Syracuse answered with baskets from Kris Joseph and Melo to take a four-point lead and the teams traded scores until Smith’s tip-in tied it at 69 with 47 seconds remaining. Melo’s put-back slam on the next possesssion proved to be the game-winner. “We had to keep scoring because they kept scoring,” Boeheim said. Boeheim pointed to key plays from Melo, who scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Waiters, who scored 10 points and Joseph, who finished with a game-high 21 points. The longtime Syracuse coach said the clutch plays are common practice from his players. “It’s everything,” Boeheim said. “They make all the key plays.” Drummond scored 17 points and
MEN’S BASKETBALL
71
69
grabbed 14 boards and Smith, who started, finished with 11 points and four rebounds. Alex Oriakhi had eight points and four rebounds. The Huskies didn’t have much help coming off the bench as DeAndre Daniels, Niels Giffey, Tyler Olander and Shabazz Napier all went scoreless. Napier was 0-of-3 from the field. The win was Syracuse’s first at Gampel Pavilion and clinched the Big East regular season title and No. 1 seed in the conference tournament for the Orange. “I don’t think too much about those things... Hartford is tough too,” Boeheim said. Coach Jim Calhoun is expected to return to the sidelines against Pittsburgh on Saturday at Gampel Pavilion for the team’s final regular season game. The Huskies take on Providence at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Tuesday at 7 p.m. on SNY.
Matthew.McDonough@UConn.edu
» TECHNOLOGY
Scientists’ neutrino results Husky Bus iPhone app uses GPS may be due to loose cable signals to locate buses
By Kim Wilson Senior Staff Writer
The erratic and confusing UConn bus schedule often leaves students puzzled as to where and when their desired bus line will be arriving. The new iPhone Husky Bus app can eliminate this worry with real-time GPS signals that detect the location and arrival times of all UConn buses and the Windham Region Transit District’s StorrsWillimantic bus, which is free for all UConn students. Launched Feb. 15, the Husky Bus app for the iPhone includes features like the ability to “favorite” bus stops and a driver-change alert. Creator of the app and UConn student Evan Kimia is currently developing an alarm feature that will give users the option to have their phones honk at them when their bus is five minutes away. Kimia, a 7th-semester computer science major, said he created the app so UConn students can “figure out where the buses are and where they are going in a clean and organized way.” Having grown up in New York City, where subways are a major mode of transportation, Kimia said he was surprised that UConn Transportation Services did not provide an organized method for students to locate the buses and
Courtesy of Evan Kimia
The new Husky bus app for the iPhone maps the routes of each bus line and updates GPS signals from the buses every five seconds.
determine which one to take. “For a school with 12 different bus lines, it’s not very easy to figure out which one to take,” Kimia said. As an Apple developer, Kimia has created a free version of Husky Bus as well as a $2.99 version that is ad-free. Kimia said he plans to donate 20 percent of any profits he receives to a different UConn organization every month and encourages organizations to advertise on his app.
Since the app launched 11 days ago, more than 200 iPhone users have installed the Husky Bus app. Kimia said the app gets an average of 1,000 views per day. The Android version of the app, which is currently being updated, has more than 1,000 downloads. Kimia was also the creator of the Husky Bus app for the Android phone, which was released last semester. Kimia said that with GPS signals update every five seconds, the Husky Bus 2 app for the iPhone has made significant improvements over the Android app. “I used my own app today and was able to see the bus was running late,” Kimia said. “I was able to have breakfast instead of waiting outside wondering when it would come.” Kimia said creating the app has been an enjoyable side-project that, unexpectedly to him, has led to job interviews with several major companies and a paid internship. Kimia is currently seeking students with a knowledge of computer science to maintain the project after he graduates in the spring. “I’d like the project to continue and not fizzle out,” Kimia said. “I’d like it to stay in the UConn community.”
Kimberly.Wilson@UConn.edu
By Deepti Boddpati Campus Correspondent
Scientists in Switzerland shocked the world last September when they announced that they had found a type of particle, called a neutrino, which could travel faster than light. The OPERA collaboration studied the neutrinos released by Cern’s Large Hadron Collider as they travelled through 730 km of rock to the Gran Sasso lab in Italy and found that they travelled 60 nanoseconds faster than light would have across the stretch. However, last Thursday they released a statement saying that the exceptional results may be just due to a loose cable. The Large Hadron Collider was constructed to study Hadrons: particles composed of two or more quarks. While hadrons, like protons and neutrons are easy to study, others like the hypothesised Higgs boson particle require the input of large amounts of energy to be studied. This is because force carrier particles like photons and the Higgs Boson can’t exist in the same way other hadrons do, and instead blink rapidly into and out of existence. Therefore scientists use the Large Hadron Collider to accelerate the particles to dump enough energy into them so as to momentarily give them mass so they can be studied. The OPERA project is an offshoot of the search for the Higgs
boson. In it, scientists study neutrinos released by the Collider, and their report of faster than light neutrinos last September challenged the long-held Einstein’s theory of relativity. The findings had the potential to “challenge one of the cornerstones of physics” according to Professor James Stirling, head of the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University, via CNN news. The loose cable connected the experiment’s GPS device and the clock and could have caused faulty underestimations of the time the neutrinos needed to travel. The scientists have since fixed the faulty connections and are testing again. The scientists are guarded, however, in asserting that the faulty connection was the explanation, or in dismissing the faster-than-light neutrino completely until they finish testing with the corrections made. The team also found a second error, one that could do the opposite and augment the results of faster-than-light neutrinos. This error could have measured the neutrinos to appear to be travelling slower than they are. The OPERA team has fixed this error as well before recommencing testing. Therefore, Einstein could still be wrong, which would result in physicists scrapping century old theories and returning to the drawing board.
Deepti.Boddpati@UConn.edu
What’s on at UConn today...
Suicide Prevention Quilt Project All Day Event SU, 310
5 Steps to Finding an Internship: 3rd & 4th Year Students 5pm - 6pm CUE, 122
The Body Politic: Body Image, Power, and Society 6 to 8 p.m. SU, Theatre
Members of the UConn community were asked to write messages of “Hope, Help, and Healing” on colorful bandanas. The quilt is on display in the Student Union.
Learn what you need to do to find an internship. For more information contact career services at career.services@ uconn.edu.
Join Caryl Rivers for an interactive discussion about how ancient, fearful myths about women persist today in the political arena and the media
Jazz Showcase 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. von der Mehden Recital Hall Admission Fee: General Admission: $7, Students with ID and Children: FREE
– KIM WILSON
The Daily Campus, Page 2
DAILY BRIEFING » STATE
Crime fell around Conn. casinos
LEDYARD, Conn. (AP) — When the first of two massive casinos opened in a remote corner of Connecticut two decades ago, some officials and residents feared the gambling centers would lead to organized crime, prostitution, drunken driving and other crime. But the crime rate since Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun opened has fallen in the nearby municipalities compared to the years before the casinos opened — mirroring a drop in crime nationwide. Crime did not decline in some towns near the casinos as much as it fell statewide, but local officials acknowledge the worst fears never materialized. “I’d say those fears have not come to pass,” said Montville Mayor Ron McDaniel.
Norwalk Museum faces uncertain future
NORWALK, Conn. (AP) — While walking through SoNo on a recent afternoon, Allan Aitkens stopped at the corner of North Main and Marshall streets to gaze at the Norwalk Museum’s towering white columns. Aitkens, who was visiting with family from Brooklyn, N.Y., asked his brother-in-law, Norwalk resident Mark Garcia, if he had ever stepped foot inside the museum. “I’m a museum lover,”?Aitkens said as he wandered the halls with his daughter, Alance Aiga. “A lot of people grow up in historic neighborhoods, but have never been to a museum. They walk past it every day.” It was here, in the museum’s rotunda, that Aitkens learned from this reporter about the city’s plan to shutter the building for an annual savings of $216,395.
Killers’ defense in home invasion trials: $2.1M
WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut has spent $2.1 million to defend two men who were convicted and sentenced to death for killing a mother and her two daughters in a 2007 home invasion. The Republican-American of Waterbury reports (http://bit.ly/wF1iB0 ) that Steven Hayes was represented by public defenders at a cost of $939,200 as of Dec. 31, 2011. The amount includes portions of salaries of two lawyers based on their hours on the case. Joshua Komisarjevsky (koh-mih-sar-JEV’-ski) was represented by three lawyers. His defense, through Dec. 31, 2011, cost the state $1.2 million, with $659,511 in lawyers’ fees. Money also paid for specialists, including an expert to help with jury selection, three mental health professionals and an expert in fundamentalist Christianity to explain to jurors the religious environment in which Komisarjevsky grew up.
Greenwich official proposes leaf blower compromise
GREENWICH, Conn. (AP) — A Greenwich selectman is proposing a Sunday ban on gas-powered leaf blowers as a compromise to reduce noise. The Hearst Connecticut Media Group reports that critics of leaf blowers in the wealthy Connecticut town want a six-month ban. They say recommendations by Selectman Drew Marzullo don’t go far enough to address quality-of-life and health concerns. Peter Malkin, president of the Greenwich Tree Conservancy and principal owner of the Empire State Building, says a Sunday ban would do nothing to enhance tranquility the other six days a week or reduce environmental harm and health impairment caused by gas-powered leaf blowers.
East Haven mayor calls for unity after protest
EAST HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. is pleading for unity and cooperation after hundreds of residents and civil rights activists marched to highlight allegations of police discrimination targeting Latinos. Four East Haven police officers were arrested last month by the FBI and accused of singling out illegal immigrants for abuse. Marchers on Saturday carried United States’ and foreign flags, chanting slogans denouncing police abuses and calling for an end to civil rights violations. One protester wore a T-shirt declaring “Being Brown Is Not A Crime” A U.S. Department of Justice representative monitored the March for Unity that attracted activists from as far as Brooklyn, N.Y. Maturo later said that he is committed to rebuilding trust with all groups.
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Monday, February 27, 2012
News
Honors Alternative Spring Break trip receives a $2500 grant from Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
By Olivia Balsinger Staff Writer
Students participating in he Honors Alternative Spring Break trip, also known as HASB, will be traveling to Virginia to build and renovate homes in Central Appalachia with a little financial nudge from Liberty Mutual. HASB received a $2,500 grant from Liberty Mutual Insurance’s Alternative Spring Break Program. According to a Liberty Mutual Insurance press release, the University of Connecticut’s HASB program was one of 10 college undergraduate organizations from around the country to receive a grant. This is the second year HASB has received money from the program. “The grant definitely has taken the away the stress of paying
more for this trip,” said Catherine Smallman, a team leader for the trip and a 6th-semester sociology and HDFS double major. “It really helped us to not have to focus too much on whether we could or could not do something because of money.” Laura Hatchman, a 6th-semester history major and the director of the trip, explained how the program was able to receive such funding for its program. “To get the Liberty Mutual Responsible Scholars Alternative Spring Break grant, we wrote an essay detailing how our program and specific trip fit into the Liberty Mutual’s mission,” she said. Fifty-five UConn students, both honors and non-honors students will be bussing down to Virginia to help restore houses
in Dungannon. Working directly with Project HELP, an organization that organizes housing for volunteers, the students will help build and rehabilitate homes for those families impoverished families. The group will also work directly with the community to try and better understand effects of extreme poverty and provide assistance. “In years past, HASB has traveled to the Gulf region to work on natural disaster relief, so our trip this year is very new for us, and will definitely help us form new perspectives,” Hatchman said. “I had such a great time last year on HASB that I couldn’t imagine not doing it again this year,” Smallman said. “Helping others when you have the chance to is such a rewarding experience
Michigan vote could determine Romney fate
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mitt Romney’s slipping lock on the Republican presidential nomination faces its biggest challenge on Tuesday when party voters cast ballots in the primary election in his native state of Michigan. Polls show Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, roughly even with former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who has ridden a powerful emphasis on ultraconservative social issues to climb into contention in one of the most chaotic Republican nominating races in recent history. He is the fifth Republican to challenge Romney’s front-runner status since late last summer when Rep. Michelle Bachmann won the straw poll in Iowa. Romney’s candidacy has failed to attract the conservative rank-and-file in the Republican party, a base of voters suspicious of his past moderate positions on issues such as abortion, gay rights and health care reform. Party voters seem most concerned not only with those issues but on choosing a nominee who can defeat President
Barack Obama, who is deeply vulnerable in his bid for a second term because of the slow U.S. economic recovery from the Great Recession of 2007-
2009. Defeating Obama now has been complicated by signs that the economy is picking up steam, compounded by Republican disarray.
(AP) – Rick Santorum’s political good fortune in the Republican presidential primaries has come about in large part because of his appeal to evangelicals. A Roman Catholic, he is a beneficiary of more than two decades of cooperation between conservative Protestants and Catholics who set aside theological differences for the common cause of the culture war. Doctrine — and anti-Catholic bias — once split Protestants and Catholics so bitterly that many evangelical leaders worked to defeat John F. Kennedy because of his religion. When Kennedy sought to confront suspicion about his Catholicism, he made his now-famous faith speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, a group of evangelical Protestants in Texas. Five decades later, when some prominent evangelical leaders gathered at a Texas ranch to discuss backing a 2012 GOP
candidate, Santorum was their choice. Now running about even with Mitt Romney, Santorum has nearly doubled his support from white evangelical Republicans, from 22 percent last month to 41 percent two weeks ago, according to surveys by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life. An Associated Press-GfK survey conducted more recently, Feb.16-20, found Santorum leading Romney among white evangelicals, 44 percent to 21 percent. White Catholics also preferred Santorum, 38 percent to 29 percent, in the AP-GfK poll. The high regard extends to Santorum’s personal life. His seven children have been homeschooled, a practice much more common among conservative American Protestants than Catholics, who have a network of parochial schools
built over centuries. His concerns — opposing gay marriage and abortion, promoting traditional roles for women — contribute to that appeal. The Christian Post, an evangelical media outlet, published an article this week called “Catholic Politicians You Thought Were Evangelical,” with a short list of the most-often misidentified, led by Santorum. The former Pennsylvania senator’s pointed rhetoric questioning the authenticity of other Christians can make him sound more like a preacher than a politician, but it draws support among many conservative Christians. He said recently that President Barack Obama, also a Christian, holds a “phony theology,” then insisted he wasn’t attacking the president’s faith but his environmental views. The Obama campaign condemned his remark.
AP
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at an “Americans for Prosperity” campaign event in Troy, Mich., Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012.
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Paul moves into Michigan, looking for momentum
» POLITICS
Santorum benefits greatly from mistaken religious identity
and I hope the participants this year feel the same way. This year I hope the trip also opens up the eyes of the participants to break down stereotypes they may have about the area of Appalachia.” The other nine programs that received a grant from Liberty Mutual’s Alternative Spring Break Grant Program were from Boston College, Bryant University, Georgia Southern University, Illinois State University, Purdue University, Southwest Minnesota State University, University of California at Davis, University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Rep. Ron Paul launched a three-day tour of Michigan on Saturday, calling on a packed hall of energized college students and military veterans to back him in the state’s Republican presidential primary this week and to help him drive home his limited-government message in Washington. Paul, who along with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich trail front-runners Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum in the polls ahead of Tuesday’s primary, told the roughly 1,300 supporters lucky enough to get into the auditorium that, “a very powerful message can be sent by winning this election.” The Texas congressman, who has served in Congress since 1997, said Washington is “sound asleep” and “they need to hear our message loud and clear.” Saturday’s event was meant to show that Paul has support among military veterans, however hundreds of college students attended and some couldn’t get in because the auditorium reached capacity. Supporters lined the walls inside the hall and the campaign said at least 150 others listened outside via speakers. Paul planned to speak Sunday to small business owners in Hudsonville, on Michigan’s west side. On Monday, Paul has events scheduled in Detroit, at Michigan State University in East Lansing, and in Dearborn. Paul has not won any states early in the primary season but he’s working to amass delegates, which could land him a significant role in the Republican Party’s national convention this summer. Some of Paul’s views on limited government and low taxes fit in with the Republican mainstream, but he breaks with much of his party when he criticizes American intervention abroad and puts a premium on individual rights as the nation works to root out domestic terror. Paul addressed most of his main themes during Saturday’s campaign stop. He railed against intervention in the Middle East and the federal debt, saying he wants to keep money in citizens’ pockets rather than making them give it to the government.
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 mangingeditor@dailycampus.com.
Monday, February 27, 2012 Copy Editors: Sam Marshall, Lauren Szalkiewicz, Tyler Morrissey, Brandon Prescott News Designer: Kim Wilson Focus Designer: Michelle Anjirbag Sports Designer: Matt McDonough Digital Production: Jim Anderson
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The Daily Campus, Page 3
Monday, February 27, 2012
News
Mysterious orbs confound NC county for decades
» NATIONAL
NYPD monitoring of Muslims enters mayoral race
NEW YORK (AP) — Potential candidates for Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office are taking stands on the New York Police Department’s surveillance of Muslim students, ranging from cautious support to a warning about curtailing civil liberties. Bloomberg, who leaves office after the 2013 election, has said that he finds “worrisome” the idea that his successor might abandon NYPD policies that have kept New Yorkers safe. The NYPD used undercover officers and informants to infiltrate Muslim student groups at a dozen colleges in New York City, upstate New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, documents obtained by The Associated Press show. The monitoring was part of the department’s anti-terrorism efforts. But Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer said in a statement to the AP over the weekend that “it is troubling when people are subject to surveillance and investigation simply because they are members of a particular group.” However, the Democrat, a declared candidate for mayor, praised the city’s police department for doing an “extraordinary job protecting our city,” as long as authorities make sure anti-terrorism efforts “do not trample on the civil liberties that all citizens have a right to enjoy.” Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Friday that his department is “continuing to do what we believe necessary to protect the city, pursuant to the law.” He did not elaborate.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Two orange orbs, just about 10 feet off the ground, floated past Steve Woody and his father as they hunted deer more than 50 years ago. The mysterious lights passed them, then dropped down the side of a gorge in the Blue Ridge foothills. For at least a century, the Brown Mountain Lights have confounded residents and tourists in a rugged patch of Burke County, bobbing and weaving near a modest peak. Are they reflections from automobile headlights? Brush fires? A paranormal phenomenon, or something natural not yet explained by science? “I didn’t feel anything spooky or look around for Martians or anything like that,” Woody said. “It was just a unique situation. It’s just as vivid now as when I was 12 years old.” Whatever the explanation, tourism officials are hoping all those decades of unanswered questions add up to a boost in visitors making their way to scenic outlooks around Linville Gorge with the goal of spotting something mysterious. Unexplained mysteries like the Brown Mountain Lights have been the subject of cable TV documentaries and have fueled vast online communities of amateur investigators. Ed Phillips, Burke County’s tourism director, is hoping to capitalize on that. Earlier this month, a sellout crowd of 120 paid $20 a head to attend a symposium on the lights at Morganton City Hall, and there was a crowd outside the door hoping to get in at the last minute. “It’s a good problem to have,” Phillips said. “I could have sold 500 tickets.” Interest in the lights has waxed and waned since the first known printed reference to the phenomenon appeared in The Charlotte Observer in 1913. John Harden, a Raleigh-based radio personality, devoted an episode of his 1940s series “Tales of Tar Heelia” to the lights, saying they “not only have attracted the attention of the people of this state, but have aroused the curiosity of a nation as well.” There was also a folk song, recorded by The Kingston Trio and others, that posited the lights came from a slave wandering the hills with a lantern in search of his master.
AP
In this Dec. 29, 2011, file photo, New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly speaks at a news conference with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, left, in Brooklyn, N.Y. New York Police Department spying operations began after the 2001 terror attacks with unusual help from a CIA officer.
NYC Comptroller John C. Liu, who is expected to run for mayor, praised “the dedicated men and women of the NYPD” for doing “an extraordinary job of keeping New Yorkers safe.” But in a statement, he also warned that “we should not as a matter of policy profile people based on religion or race — it goes against everything this
city stands for.” Liu, a Queens Democrat, faces a federal investigation into his fundraising operation after reports of inconsistencies in his campaign finances. When asked about the NYPD surveillance, media executive Tom Allon didn’t hedge.
the case. The brief order issued by Barbier on Sunday said only that the delay was granted “for reasons of judicial efficiency and to allow the parties to make further progress in their settlement discussions.” Among other things, the trial that is now set to begin March 5 is meant to determine the penalties that need to be paid by BP and other companies involved in the oil spill. Billions of dollars are at stake. BP PLC confirmed in a news release that the trial had been delayed. It said the oil giant and the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee were working to reach an agreement that would fairly compensate people and businesses affected by the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and resulting spill. Separately, BP has had discussions in recent days with the federal government and cement contractor Halliburton, according to several people close to the case. If no settlement is ultimately reached, Barbier will preside over a three-phase trial that could last the better part of a year. The first phase is designed to identify the causes of the deadly blowout and to assign percent-
ages of fault to the companies involved in the ill-fated drilling project. The trial may not yield major revelations about the causes of the disaster, but the outcome could bring much-needed relief for tens of thousands of people and businesses whose livelihoods were disrupted by the spill. The decisions and actions that led to the explosion and spill already have been painstakingly investigated by the Coast Guard, federal regulators and a presidential commission. Their probes concluded BP, rig owner Transocean Ltd. and cement contractor Halliburton Energy Services Inc. deserve to share the blame for a string of risky decisions that were designed to save time and money. The Deepwater Horizon was drilling in water a mile deep the night of April 20, 2010, when an explosion and fire rocked the rig, killing 11 people. It burned for two days before sinking. An estimated 206 million gallons of oil spilled out of the BP-owned Macondo well over several months, fouling sandy beaches and coastal marshes and shutting vast areas of the Gulf of Mexico to fishing.
Gulf oil spill trial delayed for settlement talks
A judge is pushing back the federal trial over the nation’s worst offshore oil disaster by a week, saying Sunday that BP PLC was making some progress in settlement talks with a committee overseeing scores of lawsuits, according to people close to the case. Two people close to the case told The Associated Press the decision was made Sunday during a conference call between parties in the case and U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the call. They said the judge told those on the call that BP and the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee — were “making some progress” in their settlement talks. The steering committee is overseeing lawsuits filed by individuals and businesses in the wake of the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig on April 20, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico. The blast killed 11 workers, and the resulting oil spill soiled miles of coastline. However, the judge did not mention the status of settlement talks between other parties, nor did he mention any numbers being discussed, according to the people close to
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The profile of the lights has dimmed in recent years, although the number of reports doesn’t appear to be falling off. Making the area a destination for fans of the unexplained and anomalous helps give Burke County an edge, Phillips said. “When you look at everything, you look at what people are really interested in, and the Brown Mountain Lights was something I really wanted to bring back to people’s attention,” he said. There are plans for another symposium and a contest with a cash prize for the best photo or video of the lights. There are even T-shirts and refrigerator magnets for sale in the area now. Also in the works is a regular event tentatively called the Brown Mountain Paranormal Expedition, where people will pay to hear a presentation on the lights at a dinner, then travel by bus to overlook sites where the lights have been reported. The events will be guided by Joshua P. Warren, an Asheville native and paranormal investigator who plans to allow attendees to use equipment like night vision goggles in hopes of spotting the lights. “The folks who attend will have a true firsthand experience of what it’s like to be out there trying to judge what’s happening with this mountain,” Brown said. The Brown Mountain Lights have drawn serious scientific interest since the 1920s, when the U.S. Geological Survey issued a report concluding the lights were reflections from automobiles, trains and brush fires. Daniel Caton, a professor in the physics and astronomy department at Appalachian State University, thinks that’s part of the explanation for what people have reported seeing over the years. But Caton thinks there’s more to the lights, at least in some cases. Caton said that about seven years ago, he was ready to give up studying the lights when he began hearing from people who said they saw them from mere feet away, not miles across the Linville Gorge. Those accounts sounded to Caton a lot like firsthand reports of ball lightning, a little-understood but naturally occurring phenomenon involving luminous spheres often said to move or bounce about in the air.
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Monday, February 27, 2012
The Daily Campus Editorial Board
Melanie Deziel, Editor-in-Chief Ryan Gilbert, Commentary Editor Tyler McCarthy, Associate Commentary Editor Michelle Anjirbag, Weekly Columnist Christopher Kempf, Weekly Columnist Jesse Rifkin, Weekly Columnist
» EDITORIAL
Violence not an acceptable response to dissenting opinions
A
female student and columnist who writes for the The Comment, the college newspaper at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts, was physically attacked after two people who approached her on campus asked her if she was the one who wrote an editorial supporting marriage equality for same sex couples. This is particularly troubling because it didn’t happen in middle school. It wasn’t high school. This happened on a college campus. Destinie Mogg-Barkalow, a student journalist, wrote a pro-gay marriage article about California’s Proposition 8: “Prop 8 Generates More Hate,” and for this was physically assaulted by a couple of her peers. Apparently, the young lady who punched Mogg-Barkalow doesn’t agree with same-sex marriage. That’s tolerable. Using violence for any reason isn’t. For the record, “Prop 8 Generates More Hate,” is decently written and makes valid points. Nothing inflammatory. MoggBaralow writes, “Proposition 8 was banned on February 7, causing celebrations all over the U.S. Excitement spread across the country when the law was signed, giving same-sex couples the right to marry again. There was never an ounce of equality or respect in mind when the right was taken away in the first place. In fact, the support of the law was supposedly said to be for educational purposes. It was never specified what education. In other words, this was a load of religious bigotry. How would you feel if politicians and religious leaders told you not to feel a certain way? It would kind of feel like your parents were telling you to do something. I know how to run my life and I can love whomever I want.” And, for that, she was attacked. The levels of intolerance and bad judgment in this case are absurd. Absurd, but not necessarily surprising. It is completely OK to believe in what you believe in and to express your beliefs, but it is how you express those beliefs that take a truer measure of the type of individual you are. College newspapers, like The Comment and The Daily Campus, allow student writers the opportunity to write thoughtful, informed and stimulating columns that address contended social issues. Most of these newspapers also allow students to write letters to the editor that argue against the perspectives articulated in the columns. The students who disagreed with Mogg-Barkalow’s stance on same-sex marriage should have pounded the keyboard, not the writer. Mogg-Barkalow should never have been attacked. She wrote an op-ed piece about something she felt passionate about: freedom of speech. But, because their opinions obviously didn’t match, students decided to attack her for voicing her opinion. 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.
On a scale from one to Ke$ha, how trashy is it for a girl to want to initiate a strictly “friends with benefits” relationship? The only good thing about the ‘Cuse game on Saturday night was that I bought my ticket for face value #didntgetscammed Further proof that engineers and architects are dumber than we think: the high powered hand blow dryers placed immediately above the trash bins filled with used paper towels in the bathrooms of the Classroom building. I love fishes because they’re so delicious … my goldfishes! I could eat them everyday, and my mom says that’s OK! Y me no remebur submishun idea!? It was incredibly hard for me to be in D.C. and not at Gampel on Saturday, but the student section looked and sounded like the best one in the country. Husky Pride, always. For any UConn fan still sad about Saturday’s close loss, close your eyes and remember Kemba’s shot against Pitt, and you’ll feel alright again. Why don’t we have a Cirque du Soleil major? I’d be on board for that. Are you still in chapter? Emma Stone is on stage. The Oscars just got 1000 percent more likable. You is smart, you is kind, you is important.
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Time for the Oscars to recognize comedy
A
s quickly and mysteriously as it began, the 84th Academy Awards season has come to a close. With every Oscar season, there comes the hordes of fans screaming about their favorite picks for the year that were unapologetically snubbed by the Academy. This year the complaints with the Academy began with a lack of recognition for a movie and quickly snowballed into complaints for a lack of recognition for an entire genre. In May 2011, Kristen Wiig’s “Bridesmaids” hit theaters to an adoring crowd, who By Tyler McCarthy fell in love with the Associate Commentary Editor raunchy yet clever ladies of the cast. Wiig’s writing was great and Melissa McCarthy’s “out of her mind” performance will be talked about for years to come. The film was a gigantic step in the right direction for women in comedy in a time when they’re not always given the respect and attention they deserve. As a result, many were upset when they learned that the film would be getting no attention at this year’s awards. Fans of the movie initially cried sexism, saying that the movie didn’t get a nomination because it was largely a cast of women and the film was written by a woman. As time passed and peoples’ wounds healed, however, cooler heads decided that the
issue might not be with misogyny but rather comedy. “The Academy” shows a very noticeable bias against comedies, or films that aren’t dramatic or overly artistic. The last comedy to be awarded an Oscar was in 1978 with “Annie Hall.” Since then, a cavalcade of noteworthy comedies have hit theaters only to fall on the Academy’s deaf ears. This isn’t to say that one genre has more validity than the other. Quite the opposite, both genres hold equal merit. That is why the Academy needs to wake up and recognize what a tremendous void there is in their show, a void that no amount of Billy Crystal will be able to fill. Comedy Central recently did a survey that showed some surprising results. It discovered that men born after 1981 value a sense of humor as a defining characteristic over anything else. It makes sense. Humor is how this generation has defined itself for quite some time now. Rarely do people share as much of a bond with a drama as with a good comedy like “The Hangover” series or “Bridesmaids.” People use Facebook and Twitter to pass humorous videos to one another as a form of selfexpression. People are constantly reaching out to one another and saying, “I find this funny, I’ll bet you will too.” Where is that sentiment with any of the other films nominated by the Academy? Comedy has come a long way. There was once a time when comedy could be considered lowbrow and guilty of having little to no artistic merit. This, however, has changed over the years. Today, comedy is not only ready to be recognized by the
artistic film community, but it’s becoming necessary that it be recognized. With comedy so undeniably important to the modern generation, there is no longer a justification to snub the genre for its lack of artistic merit. If anything, the wild popularity and importance of comedy requires the genre to be more artistic. Eliciting a melancholy response from an audience isn’t hard, but in this day and age, making them laugh is. In a piece written for the New York Times, Matt Atchity, editor-in-chief of Rotten Tomatoes, had this to say on the subject: “Lobbying aside, the Academy members are looking for artistic merit, and so it’s all too easy to point to the more dramatic fare as worthy of attention.” Art is a subjective term. It can have many different meanings to many different people. The Academy Awards are in an unfortunate position of having to decide what constitutes respectable art for the entire film industry. As a result, they’ve traditionally played it safe and gone with unarguable artistry: dramatic roles that show the human experience at its most realistic. This has ranged anywhere from completely dark to optimistically hopeful. With comedy reaching such a vital point in how people define themselves and their tastes, it’s time to recognize human experience in one other way – funny.
Weekly Columnist Tyler McCarthy is a 6th-semester journalism and English double major. He can be reached at Tyler.McCarthy@UConn.edu.
Students should vote in pivotal election in March
H
ey UConn, student body president Sam Tracy here. This week I’d like to take a moment to talk about the upcoming elections, including the referendum question about USG’s fee increase. As I hope you have heard, joint elections will be held March 5-7, and will include a lot to vote on Student Body President and Vice President, Comptroller, Academic Senators, and Multicultural and Diversity Senators; student members of the Co-op Board of Directors; and referendum By Sam Tracy questions on fee increases Staff Columnist for USG, the Daily Campus, and the Nutmeg Yearbook. It is incredibly important that students vote in these elections, not only because you will be electing your representatives for the upcoming year, but because you will have a chance to vote on the fees you pay every semester. The Undergraduate Student Government currently receives $40 per student a semester, which is covered under the “Activity Fee” on your fee bill. Some of this money is used to advocate for students’ interests, such as sending groups to lobby at the state capitol or funding IdeaScale to find out student
opinion on various issues. A decent amount of this money also goes towards running programs that help students, such as GUARD Dogs, which provides safe rides home on the weekends, or UConn Cycles, which allows students to borrow bikes from the library for free. But the vast majority of this money, roughly twothirds of USG’s budget, goes directly towards funding student organizations to host events on campus, attend competitions and conferences, and purchase equipment they need to operate. These student organizations, including Club Sports, Area Councils, political organizations, academic clubs, and more, are the backbone of student life on campus. Over the past few years, the number of student organizations has risen sharply from about 250 to over 500. While an increasing number of clubs is great, as it creates more opportunity for involve-
ment and a broader variety of things to do on campus, it has strained USG’s budget. This was demonstrated most starkly in the Spring 2011 semester, when USG’s Funding Board ran out of money halfway through the semester and was unable to fund groups until Fall 2011. We implemented many reforms to our funding policies in order to make sure that we would not run out of money for Fall 2011, including only funding off-campus events at 75 percent and lowering the semester cap for groups from twenty thousand to twelve thousand dollars. We also cut down spending in other areas of USG in order to provide more funding for groups, such as sharply cutting the number of retention events that can be held and selling off excess equipment. While these cuts did work in the shortterm, our budget projections
“... joint elections will be held March 5-7.” -Sam Tracy USG president
show us operating at a deficit in future years. Since we can also expect that the number of student organizations will continue to rise, and inflation will continue to reduce the services we can provide with our current fee (inflation has gone up over 10 percent since USG’s last fee increase four years ago), USG has requested a fee increase of $5 per semester, to take effect in Fall 2013. While no one ever wants to increase fees for anything, USG’s fee will go directly back to students – allowing USG to continue providing funding for student organizations, continue running GUARD Dogs, and continue providing other services to the student body. All of USG’s members are volunteers, and unlike a vast majority of other schools, USG’s leaders are not paid – we work hard to improve life for our fellow students, and this fee increase will allow USG to make UConn a better place to live and learn. Please, help USG help students by voting yes on USG’s fee increase during the elections March 5-7.
Staff Columnist Sam Tracy is a 6th-semester political science major and president of USG. He can be reached at Samuel.Tracy@UConn.edu.
Do you have opinions? Do you want to get paid to write about them? Then come to a Commentary section meeting! Mondays at 8 p.m. in The Daily Campus
building.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Comics
The Daily Campus, Page 5 I Hate Everything by Carin Powell
Royalty Free Speech by Ryan Kennedy
Procrastination Animation by Michael McKiernan
Horoscopes by Brian Ingmanson
To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 9 -- Follow a stronger leader, and beat your best time. You’re a champion. Toss the ball to your partner. Your luck has just improved immensely. Pay it forward. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Take every opportunity to share good tidings. Important people speak well of you. Be prepared for uninvited company. Accept a pearl of wisdom from a friend. Gemini (May 21-June 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Handle kitchen repairs, and you’ll appreciate it daily. A discovery brings sought-after information. Accept a tough assignment that brings more income. Cancer (June 22-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Think of ways to increase your resources. Offer new services. Help your friends, and let them help you. Expand your view. It’s a great time for travel.
Stickcat by Karl, Jason, Fritz and Chan
Mensch by Jeff Fenster
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Your career can really take off now. The money’s available, but save more than you spend. Relationships are most important. Rid yourself of unnecesary obligations.
Nothing Extraordinary by Thomas Feldtmose
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- You’re on a roll. Step onstage, and speak your part. You’re lining up the pieces for a positive change. Be prepared, so you can move quickly when necessary. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Suggest an innovation. What you learn today benefits more than just yourself. Your theory works! Replenish your reserves. Tap into your environment.
One Thousand Demons by Bill Elliott and Rachael Pelletti
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Work in partnership with others to get the most value today. Your good energy’s contagious. Extra effort earns you a bonus. A romantic evening beckons. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Today’s a whirlwind of activity. Your productivity reaches new heights, especially when you’re having fun. Anything’s possible. Leave time for relaxation.
Editor’s Choice by Brendan Albetski
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 9 -- Ideas flow like water, so pluck some from the stream and write them down. Charm customers with your skills. Competition has you pick up the pace. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- Friends help you solve a philosophical problem. Your imagination profits. Make commitments and promises in the privacy of your own home. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Get into the books for the next couple of days. You may get mixed signals and contradicting information. Find out what works for you, and use it.
Questions? Comments? Other Stuff? <dailycampuscomics@gmail.com>
The Daily Campus, Page 6
Monday, February 27, 2012
News
» INTERNATIONAL
West dismisses Syria constitution vote as ‘farce’
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The U.S. and its allies dismissed the Syrian regime’s referendum on a new constitution Sunday as a “farce” meant to justify the bloody crackdown on dissent. But voters in government strongholds suggested why some Syrians have not joined the uprising against President Bashar Assad: Loyalty, distrust of the opposition and fear his fall will ignite a civil war. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called the poll “a cynical ploy” and urged Syrians who still support Assad to turn against him. A “farce” and a “sham vote” was how German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle described it. “It’s a phony referendum and it is going to be used by Assad to justify what he’s doing to other Syrian citizens,” Clinton said in an interview with CBS News in Rabat, Morocco. “The longer you support the regime’s campaign of violence against your brothers and sisters, the more it will stain your honor,” she added, addressing Assad supporters, especially the military. “If you refuse, however, to prop up the regime or take part in attacks ... your countrymen and women will hail you as heroes.” While casting his vote at the state broadcasting headquarters, Assad showed no signs of giving in on international demands to end his crackdown. And as he has done in the past, he tried to deflect blame in other directions. He said Syria was under a “media attack.” “They may be stronger on the airwaves but we are stronger on the ground, and we aspire to win both on the ground and on the airwaves,” he said in footage broadcast on state TV. The U.S. and its European and Arab allies met Friday at a major international conference on the Syrian crisis in Tunisia, trying to forge a unified strategy to push Assad from power. They began planning a civilian peacekeeping mission to deploy after the regime falls. The new constitution allows — at least in theory — for the formation of competing political parties and limits the president to two seven-year terms. Such change was unthinkable a year ago. Syria has been ruled by the Baath party since it seized power in a coup in 1963 and the Assad family has ruled since Bashar’s father Hafez took over in another coup in 1970. Even as the regime hailed the refer-
AP
A Syrian woman, center, dances between pro-Syrian regime supporters wearing police uniforms as they celebrate outside a polling station during a referendum on the new constitution, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012.
endum as a giant step toward reform, its military kept up a crackdown that has been focused for the past three weeks on the opposition stronghold city of Homs. The city, parts of which are controlled by rebels, has come under intense shelling and hundreds have died, including two Western journalists. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 36 civilians and 23 security personnel were killed Sunday, mostly in Homs. Another group, the Local Coordination Committees, said 55 people were killed nationwide, including 23 in Homs province. The opposition called the referendum an empty gesture and boycotted voting, saying it will not ease the country’s crisis. Supporters of the uprising say nothing short of Assad’s ouster will end the bloodshed. Activist groups estimate nearly 7,500 have died in 11 months of unrest. Still the referendum demonstrated the support that Assad continues to enjoy among many Syrians and pointed to the
difficulties of regime opponents — both internal and external — will face in trying to push him from power. For the 41 years Assad’s family has ruled Syria, it has used shrewd politics, a nearly omnipresent intelligence service and brute force to maintain power. Many of Syria’s minorities — Christians, Druse and Alawites, which include Assad — count on the regime for protection on the understanding that they remain loyal. Many others have also benefited from regime ties. These groups could be loath to see the regime fall, especially given how disorganized and unfamiliar those fighting Assad are. Regular state propaganda characterizing them and Islamist extremists and “armed gangs” also plays a role. Even a successful vote — results are expected Monday — is unlikely to bring immediate change. Activists say too many people have died for them to accept anything less than Assad’s ouster. Legal expert Omran Zoubi, who
Afghani protesters hurl grenades at US base
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Demonstrators hurled grenades at a U.S. base in northern Afghanistan, and a gun battle left two Afghans dead and seven NATO troops injured Sunday in the escalating crisis over the burning of Muslim holy books at an American airfield. More than 30 people have been killed, including four U.S. troops, in six days of unrest. Still, the top U.S. diplomat in Afghanistan said the violence would not change Washington’s course . “Tensions are running very high here, and I think we need to let things calm down, return to a more normal atmosphere, and then get on with business,” Ambassador Ryan Crocker told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “This is not the time to decide that we’re done here,” he said. “We have got to redouble our efforts. We’ve got to create a situation in which al-Qaida is not coming back.” The attack on the base came a day after two U.S. military advisers — a lieutenant colonel and a major — were found dead after being shot in the head in their office at the Interior Ministry in the heart of the capital. The building is one of the city’s most heavily guarded buildings, and the slayings raised doubts about safety as coalition troops continue their withdrawal. The incident prompted NATO, Britain and France to recall hundreds of international advisers from all Afghan ministries in the capital. The advisers are key to helping improve governance and preparing the country’s security forces to take on more responsibility. A manhunt was under way for the main suspect in the shooting — an Afghan man who worked as a driver for an office on the same floor as the advisers who were killed, Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi said. He did not provide further details about the suspect or his possible motive. The Taliban claimed that the shooter was one of their sympathizers and that an accomplice
AP
Afghan security forces arrive at the scene of an anti-U.S. demonstration at a NATO military base in Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012.
had helped him get into the compound to kill the Americans in retaliation for the Quran burnings. Afghanistan’s defense and interior ministers were to visit Washington this week, but they called off the trip to consult with other Afghan officials and religious leaders on how to stop the violence, Pentagon press secretary George Little said. The Afghan officials had planned to meet with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey. The protesters in Kunduz province in the north threw hand grenades to express their anger at the way some Qurans and other Islamic texts were disposed of in a burn pit last week at Bagram Air Field, north of Kabul. President Barack Obama and other U.S. officials have apologized for the burnings, which they said were a mistake. But their apologies have not quelled the anger of Afghans, who say the incident illustrates foreigners’ disrespect for their culture and religion. Last week, during a protest in Nangarhar province in the east, two other U.S. troops were killed when an Afghan soldier turned his gun on them. In Sunday’s protest in Kunduz, thousands of protesters tried to
enter the district’s largest city. Armed individuals in the crowd fired on police and threw grenades at the U.S. base on the city outskirts, said Amanuddin Quriashi, administrator in Imam Sahib. Seven NATO troops were wounded by the grenade. One protester was killed by troops firing from the U.S. base, and another was killed by Afghan police, Quriashi said. A NATO spokesman said an explosion occurred outside the base, but that the grenades did not breach its defenses. In a televised address to the nation, Afghan President Hamid Karzai renewed his calls for calm. Karzai did not mention the killings at the ministry in his opening remarks but when a reporter asked, he said he was “saddened” by their deaths. He said the unprecedented recall of advisers was understandable, calling it “a temporary step at a time when the people of Afghanistan are angry over the burning of the holy Quran.” Members of the international military coalition described the removal of advisers as a temporary security measure, stressing that they did not expect it to affect partnerships with the Afghans.
helped draft the new document, said Assad’s time in office so far doesn’t count. That means he could serve two more terms after his current one ends 2014, keeping him in office until 2028. In the capital Damascus, a regime stronghold where many in business and minority communities support Assad, many appeared eager to vote in what they considered a safe step toward reform. “I’m here because I love my country,” said housewife Fayzeh Fadel, wearing large sunglasses, jeans and high heels. She said she didn’t want Syria to have a civil war like Libya or neighboring Iraq. She and other voters spoke to foreign reporters who were accompanied by government minders. “My biggest fear is civil war,” said a woman named Lana at a pro-Assad demonstration downtown who declined to give her full name. “That’s why we are standing by our president and Syrian institutions.” Nearby, hundreds of people waved
Syrian flags and carried signs telling Assad: “We love you.” Reflecting Assad’s international allies, street peddlers sold flags for Russia, China and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Eleven months after protesters inspired by successful Arab Spring revolts in Tunisia and Egypt first took the streets, the real extent of Assad’s support is unclear. Syria has no reliable polling, and authorities have restricted media work. Most Damascus voters are likely regime supporters or people scared of unrest. Actual opponents probably stayed home. The two main opposition groups, the Syrian National Council and the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria, called for a boycott, and other groups declared a general strike that appears to have been observed in some places. Fewer voters turned out in the Damascus neighborhoods of Rukneddine and Barzeh, where anti-government protesters have recently demonstrated. About 20 percent of shops were closed in Barzeh, and one voter said he had come from another center where there was “pressure not to vote ... intimidation and calls for public disobedience.” He did not give his name for fear of reprisal. Videos posted online Sunday by activists — their primary means of communicating with the outside world — gave a very different view. Some showed protests against the vote outside of Damascus and Aleppo. One video from the northern Idlib province showed hundreds of men chanting, “To hell with them and their constitution.” A lighter video from elsewhere in Idlib showed dozens of men filing through a fake polling station and dropping their ballots in a trash bin. The videos could not be independently verified. Other videos showed the continued violence, as security forces shelled dissident areas and clashed with armed rebels. The central city of Homs saw some of the day’s worst violence. One video showed men firing a rocket-propelled grenade at a tank. Another from the neighborhood of Baba Amr, which has been subject to a weekslong government siege, showed huge plumes of smoke clouding the horizon while exploding shells boomed.
THIS DATE IN HISTORY
BORN ON THIS DATE
1980
The first and final Grammy for Best Disco Recording was awarded on this day in 1980, to Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”
www.dailycampus.com
John Steinbeck – 1902 Elizabeth Taylor – 1932 Chelsea Clinton – 1980 Josh Groban– 1981
The Daily Campus, Page 7
Monday, February 27, 2012
Students come out to ‘Rock the U’ By Zarrin Ahmed Campus Correspondent Solo performances and band gigs shook the Student Union Theater during Rock the U on Feb 26. In the middle of a stage decked out with microphones, amplifiers, lights suspended on towers, instruments on their stands and wires running the length of the stage, host Brian Allen introduced the first act of the afternoon, Jen Quha. Quha performed solo, singing while playing her acoustic electric guitar. Her first song was called “The Weather Outside Is Weather.” In between songs, she chatted with the audience while trying to tune her guitar. She played a few songs that she wrote herself, and her styles ranged from indie to country. In between sets, Allen fielded comments from the audience while the next act was getting ready. He told the story of his search for colored jeans when asked where he got his red pants from. The crew on the sound board were quick on their feet, playing cricket sounds when the crowd became silent. The next act was singer and guitarist Will Leet, who began his performance with Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Put Your Records On.” After, he played three of his own original songs, including “Get Out,” “Runaway” and “Can’t Always Be Right.” He encouraged the audience to check him out on Facebook. Before the Condescending Foxes took the stage, the crowd cheered them on. Originating from Storrs, the Condescending Foxes are a four piece band comprised of lead singer Nick Stevens, guitarist Drew Bligh, bassist Brian Tamburello and drummer Cody Roberge. The Foxes pumped their music throughout the room, their bass and amplifiers shaking the stage. There was a clapping section in their second song which they led the crowd through. For the third song, Stevens switched from keyboard to electric acoustic guitar, while lead guitarist Bligh
NEBCo. gains notoriety
By Joe Pentecost Campus Correspondent
ZARRIN AHMED/The Daily Campus
Storrs-based band The Condescending Foxes plays at Rock the U Saturday afternoon in the Student Union Theatre. Also performing were Jen Ouha, Will Leet and The Sun Parade; Brian Allen hosted the event.
switched from electric to acoustic to produce a variety of sounds. The band’s fourth song was written by Bligh about a war scenario that was based on two true stories that incorporated military style drums. Before their last song, the band did a birthday shout out to Tamburello’s dad. Chris Jennings, Jefferson Lewis and Doni McAulay made up Sun Parade at the U that day, explaining that they “lost” their
bassist on the way from North Hampton, Mass.. They all wore sunglasses on stage, and even played ukulele, opening with their song “Sometimes Sunny.” Captivated by the music, people in the audience even stood up and danced during their performance. “I think the sound and lights were great; everything was balanced well where one musician wasn’t louder than the other,” said Anessa Liljedahl, a 2nd-semester
history major. “There was a good blend of solos and bands. There were so many bands that you had to find one you’d like. I loved the Sun Parade, they were probably my favorite band. I would definitely go next year.” The Sun Parade encouraged the crowd to check out their 13-track EP album and to follow them on tour in the south and southwest. The last band of the show, Nemes, consists of five band members
from Worcester, Mass. Led by dual frontmen Dave Anthony on guitar/vocals and Josh Knowles on violin and vocals, the band brings what Worcester Magazine calls “a nuclear power plant’s worth of energy.” At the beginning of their show, Knowles told the crowd, “Feel free to clap, stand up, dance, shake your booty – it’s gonna be fun.”
Zarrin.Ahmed@UConn.edu
Asian Nite 2012 celebrates colorful, diverse cultures By Zarrin Ahmed Campus Correspondent Sixteen different acts took the stage of the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts at Asian Nite 2012, where Asian groups and societies on campus showcased their talents and culture. Hosted by emcees Navi Cheema, Josh Andrade, Albert Lee, Brian Ingmanson and Ted Yoo, Asian Nite boasted a large audience despite the uproar in Gampel for the UConn vs Syracuse game. They introduced the first act of the night, Blue Revolution. Blue Revolution began their set with a member dressed as Aladdin, while another member strummed the guitar and sang “A Whole New World.” They switched up their style by adding an electric violin, drums, and vocals and incorporating songs like “Marvin’s Room,” “Wild n Free” and “No Woman No Cry.” This was the group’s last performance for Asian Nite. Before the second act, three of the hosts performed a dance to “Jump On It” to prepare the crowd for the dance group Illumin8. The group consisted of nine dancers. At first, all of the dancers were together, then they featured parts that were only males and only female dancers. Their performance included breakdancing and ballet to songs like “Gotta Have It” by Jay-Z and Kanye West and “Stronger” by Kanye West. To open the third act, two hosts tried their hand at a Spanish rap. A Cappella group Husky Hungama took the stage, singing a mix of Hindi and English songs like “How To Love” by Lil Wayne. The Nepali Student Association took the stage next
with a skit that described a mela – a street festival. The story behind the skit goes as follows: it’s a dance off between the guys and girls where if the guys win, they get to meet the girls. The Korean Student Association kicked off the next act, where the entire group danced to Korean music. One part of their performance even featured a dance off between the girls of the group. After them was the Vietnamese Student Association did a story telling skit about a bird giving gold to poor farmers in Vietnam in exchange for eating the star fruit from their tree. The story had plot twists that included greedy brothers and rocks that turned into gold when put into a bag. UConn group Surya took the stage after the VSA. Donned in red, gold, and black, the predominantly female group danced to a mix of hip hop and classical Indian music. Before the next act, there was a guest performance by A-Minor, an A Cappella group. Husky Bhangra went up next. The males and females of the group paired up and matched their outfits by color. They danced mostly to Hindi songs, but also occasional Spanish and hip hop songs as well. The hosts of the show did a special thanks to Kim Pho, coordinator of Asian Nite. They brought out a bouquet of roses and even recited poetry to her on stage. UConn Taiko then braced the stage, beginning with a drumming duel between two members. They began with four members on twelve drums and quickly added eight more drummers to create sounds that shook the Jorgensen auditorium.
JON KULAKOFSKY/The Daily Campus
The Nepali Student Association performs at Asian Nite 2012 in the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. The Nite featured music, skits, stories and dancing that celebrated the varied nature and facets of Asian culture.
Before the next act, the hosts had the crowd sing along to Spongebob’s “F.U.N. song” in efforts to help Yoo learn the meaning of “fun.” Saathiya, a dance group, took the stage. They danced a style of Bollywood fusion while telling the story of lovers and arranged marriages. The Filipino American Student Association showcased their national pride by dancing a traditional folk dance. The men wore grass skirts while the women
wore the colors of the Philippine flag and flowers. They used props and ended their performance arranged as the colors of their flag. Carnatic Beatz is a duo of classical Indian singers. Incorporating drums into their performance, the duo sang songs originating back from 500 B.C.E. The next act was T Huskies, or Tae Kwon Do Huskies. They did a short sequence of moves with all the team members and then led into
a practice routine of moves and stunts. Greek houses Pi Delta Psi and Kappa Phi Lambda performed a remake of Grease, complete with a step routine at the end that showcased Greek pride. The final act of the night was Thunderaas, a dance group that included stick props and colorful outfits to showcase the dance moves of South India.
Zarrin.Ahmed@UConn.edu
Luckily, Connecticut is home to one of the east coast’s most respected and consistent breweries: New England Brewing Co. While other breweries sometimes get complacent or fall into the mode of producing their mainstay beers, NEBCo is always looking to push the envelope with innovative seasonal batches and one-off specialties. Business must be good, as these offerings never seem to last on shelves. Perhaps New England Brewing Co. is best recognized for their canned year-round offerings such as the nicely hopped Sea Hag IPA and crisp Elm City Lager, but recent one-off and seasonal releases have begun to garner a greater following. Two years ago, their famous Gandhi Bot Double IPA was canned for the first time. Much to drinkers delight, this intensely aromatic offering is hopped with Simcoe and Columbus to create juicy citrusy notes before a satisfyingly bitter finish. In 2010, their “668: Neighbor of the Beast” debuted. Brewed in the style of a Belgian Pale Ale, 668 clocks in at a hearty 9 percent ABV and boasts a great, balanced, spicy yeast character combined with a subtle hoppiness. The beer that has brought New England Brewing the most notoriety is none other than the Imperial Stout Trooper (IST). Weighing in at 9.5 percent ABV, this rich, roasty imperial stout sees limited distribution on taps and in 750mL bottles during the winter months. Though it has been brewed since 2006, owner Rob Leonard ran into some resistance to the “Storm Trooper”themed label in 2010, when he received a cease-and-desist letter from LucasArts. In order to comply with intellectual property laws, the Star Wars-inspired label was adjusted for future bottlings by the comical addition of a fake moustache and glasses. Beers like IST are brewed in small batches, and thus, see limited availability, but are most abundant near the southwest part of the state. But events like Prime 16’s annual New England Brewing Co. Tap Takeover are surefire ways to experience several offerings in one place. Taking place last Tuesday night, more than 12 NEBCo tap lines were flowing – including 2010 and 2011 vintages of the Imperial Stout Trooper, as well as two specialty casks. The first featured an addition of fresh cherries and vanilla beans, lending a subtle sweetness and adding even more complexity to the base beer. The second was infused with coffee, resulting in a great aroma of fresh coffee grounds, combined with the chocolaty and roasted notes of the original brew. Though NEBCo began in Connecticut, you can now find their beer in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Florida. But if you want to taste it at the source, the brewery in Woodbridge is open for tours, tastings, and growler fills on a weekly basis (check their website for hours). The real party falls on the last Friday of every month. Dubbed “Final Friday,” locals head to the brewery in Woodbridge for live music and lots of deliciously fresh beer. So the next time you’re looking for a local beer, just remember New England Brewing Co.’s motto: “Drink it. It’s Good.” Cheers!
Joseph.Pentecost@UConn.edu
The Daily Campus, Page 8
FOCUS ON:
TV
Top 10 Broadcast
Monday, February 27, 2012
Focus
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» REVIEWS
Not your parents’ comedy
1. NCIS (CBS) - 11.7 2. American Idol Wednesday (FOX) - 10.8 3. American Idol Thursday (FOX) - 9.8 4. VOICE (NBC) - 9.4 5. NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) 9.8 6. The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 9.3 7. The Mentalist (CBS) - 8.4 8. Person of Interest (CBS) 8.0 9. Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 7.8 10. Criminal Minds (CBS) - 7.6 Week ending Feb. 19
Top 10 Cable Photo courtesy of Tvguide.com
A still from “El Contador,” an episode of season three of FX’s hit series, “Archer.” The show features the voices of Aisha Tyler as Lana Kane, Adam Reed as Ray, H. Jon Benjamin as Sterling Archer and Chris Parnell as Cyril Figgis.
‘Archer’ stays strong through mid-season with string of one-liners
Numbers from TVbytheNumbers.com Week ending Feb. 19 (Numbers of viewers x 1000)
What I’m watching “Oscars Red Carpet Show” ABC Sunday, Feb. 26, 7-8:30 p.m. Watching the Academy Awards preshow is both tedious and fun! Materialism and hegemony prevail as insufferable hosts ask celebrities exactly the types of questions you weren’t wondering. This annual tradition is deeply entrenched in the practice of awarding rich and famous people for being rich and famous and putting a superlative value on art. The fashions from the widely watched event will be discussed on E! for an entire year, all because Tina Fey’s dress was poofy in a very awkward spot. - Brian Zahn, Associate Managing Editor
Billie Piper charms as ‘Belle’
By Hima Mamillapalli Staff Writer
Ratings from TVbytheNumbers.com
1. The Walking Dead (AMC) - 6,890 2. Pawn Stars (HIST) - 5,397 3. Jersey Shore SSN 5 (MTV) - 5,354 4. Gold Rush (DISC) - 5,307 5. Whitney Houston: Her Life (CNN) - 5,249 6. Whitney Houston: Her Life (CNN) - 5,239 7. Pawn Stars (HIST) - 5,110 8. Whitney Houston: Her Life (CNN) - 4,800 9. Whitney Houston: Her Life (CNN) - 4,387 10. Swamp People (HIST) - 4,355
» STAY TUNED
By Jason Wong Staff Writer Following the season premiere, “Archer” has continued to be a laughing riot with its off-color and absurd brand of humor. Since then, the ISIS crew has taken on everything from Canadian terrorists to drag racing Yakuza. In “El Contador,” Malory sends Archer, Cyril and Lana to capture a Brazilian drug lord. In addition to an hilarious parody of “The Most Dangerous Game,” the episode was also fantastic in terms of character interaction. The presence of Cyril on a field mission led to many opportunities for both Lana and Archer to display their wit. Meanwhile, the other ISIS staff foolishly turned to Krieger for help in order to pass a drug test, where among other things,
a great “Transformers” refer- Problem” to be the worst of the ence was made. season so far. While the parThe next episode, “The ody of the “Fast and Furious” Limited,” featured the gang franchise was acceptable, the transporting a Canadian ter- obvious product placement rorist back over the border. was annoying. In addition, While the episode Malory’s parentwas not as enjoying style in the Archer able as the previous episode was not FX one, even though amusingly bad as 10 p.m. I am a Canadian, I in previous epifound myself laughsodes, but actuing at the “jingoist” ally somewhat jokes made about terrifying in the them. This episode sense that we also had a lot of conactually feel bad tinuity in it, referencing both for Archer. On the other hand, “Skytanic” and “El Secuestro” George Takei guest voiced in in its plotline. Finally, the real- the episode, so it wasn’t all bad. istic approach that the episode Luckily the next episode, “Lo took to the cliché fight aboard Scandalo” makes up for the a train roof was beautiful prior weaker episodes with a (“There’s no point! You’re still great story parodying the clason the train!”) sic murder mystery, as well as Unfortunately, I found the a deeper glimpse into Malory’s following episode, “Drift past. The dildo jokes come at
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a steady pace, and Krieger’s fairly prominent place in terms of laughs in the episode was great as well (“Is Krieger hard at work?” “He literally might be.” “Ew.”) Finally, in the most recent episode, “Bloody Ferlin,” Archer and Cheryl/Carol accompany Ray down to the backwoods of West Virginia to help his brother fight off a crooked sheriff. Despite not being as well put together as some other episodes of the season, “Bloody Ferlin” made up for it with one-liners and throwbacks to previous episodes and running jokes. It’d been a while since we had a good “phrasing” joke. Overall, “Archer” continues to be a brilliant show for its target audience, namely, not your parents or elders.
Jason.Wong@UConn.edu
‘Abbey’ ends season two as ‘sudden success’ By Alexandra Ball Campus Correspondent
engagement to newspaper mogul Sir Richard Carlisle. Carlisle has vowed, however, that if she calls Last Sunday, PBS Masterpiece off the wedding, he will publish Classics finally aired the season the story of her secret affair, tartwo finale of “Downton Abbey”, nishing her family’s name and the critically acclaimed drama leaving her socially ruined. By about the inhabitants of the title the end of this episode, Mary will aristocratic estate during the early be forced to make a life altering twentieth century. Although this choice: to remain with the man she episode debuted in Britain in fears, or to sacrifice her reputation December, this was first time it for the man she loves. has appeared on As these relationAmerican televiships are tested, all of sion and it certainly Downton is shaken by Downton Abbey lived up to the high the arrest of Mr. Bates, PBS expectations. the beloved valet. He Though the has been arrested as Great War has a suspect in his exended, life at wife’s apparent suiDownton is still cide, and is now being far from normal. charged with her murAfter a scandalous der. Although both the marriage to the chauffeur, Lady family and the servants wholeSibyl has moved to Ireland and is heartedly believe that he is innonow pregnant. While her moth- cent, their courtroom testimonies er is delighted by this news, her may inadvertently paint him as a father is conflicted and unwilling killer and condemn him to death. to acknowledge her marriage. This Overall, this finale is a satisseems hypocritical, considering fying conclusion to season two. his own brief affair with a house- Although too much time was maid, but Lord Gratham neverthe- wasted on pointless plotlines (Lord less finds it impossible to accept a Grantham losing his dog, Daisy former employee as a son-in-law. whining about being a servant), it Meanwhile, Lady Mary is strug- still gave viewers enough drama gling with relationship troubles of to hold their attention and proher own. After rekindling her feel- vided a long-awaited happy endings for Matthew, she regrets her ing. Also, this episode focused on
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Photo courtesy of Tvguide.com
A still from season two of “Downton Abbey,” featuring Dan Stevens as Matthew Crawley and Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary. Season three will air in September.
the close bond between the Lord’s family and their servants. Though the groups often seem to exist in different worlds, they set ranks aside and unite as equals to support Bates in his time of need. This display is not only touching, but it emphasizes the true purpose of “Downton Abbey.” In the end, the show is not really about the stories of individual people, but rather how such different charac-
ters come together to uphold the tradition, elegance and dignity of their estate. Although season three will not air until September, it will surely supply the same engaging plot, historical relevance and flawless acting that has made “Downton Abbey” such a sudden success.
Alexandra.Ball@UConn.edu
College can be expensive, even if you go to a state school. Therefore, many students have small jobs to support their expenses. Some of my friends work in the various game rooms on campus while others restore books at the library. Dr. Brooke Magnanti, a research scientist and writer, found another way to finance her doctoral studies. For more than a year, Magnanti was a call girl known by the pen name of Belle de Jour. In her popular blog “Belle de Jour: Diary of a London Call Girl,” Magnanti spoke about her life as a parttime prostitute. For many years, there were numerous speculations as to the real identity of Belle de Jour. After fearing being identified by an ex-boyfriend, Magnanti revealed her identity to the public. Since then, she has authored many books on sex and sex education while working as a research scientist in cancer epidemiology and developmental nuerotoxicology at Bristol University. Magnanti’s story has also been the inspiration for the popular television series “Secret Diary of a Call Girl.” The show stars Billie Piper as Hannah Baxter (Belle de Jour). Upon first glance, Baxter looks like any other woman in London but little do we known that she has a secret night life. The show focuses on the troubles that Baxter faces when trying to balance her professional and private lives. “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” came out in 2007 and ended in 2011 with four seasons. The show received an A- from “Entertainment Weekly” and was well received by numerous other critics. One of the most appealing aspects of “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” is that besides the voiceovers, Baxter often speaks directly to viewers. Throughout the series, she talks to viewers about how she prepares to satisfy a client or how she manages to balance her professional and personal lives. Another appealing part of “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” is Billie Piper. The actress does a really great job of enticing viewers into the secret life of a high class prostitute. After watching the show, it is surprising to think that Piper is actually not a prostitute because she portrays her role very well. But what I found most fascinating about “Secret Diary of a Call Girl,” is relating everything in the show to the life of Brooke Magnanti. I cannot even begin to imagine how a graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. has the time to work as a call girl on top of her heavy university load. “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” has faced harsh criticism throughout the years by feminists who felt that the show objectified women. The show was also criticized for making the life of a call girl seem extravagant and for falsely advertising prostitution. Throughout the series, Baxter reassures viewers that she entered prostitution of her own will. However, some critics argue that those who enter prostitution almost never make the decision by themselves. Despite the controversies centered on the “Secret Diary of a Call Girl,” the show is highly entertaining and reveals to us another side of the prostitution industry.
Hima.Mamillapalli@UConn.edu
Monday, February 27, 2012
The Daily Campus, Page 9
Focus
Tooting his own horn
Caribean-themed dinner at McMahon a success By Kathleen McWilliams Campus Correspondent
JON KULAKOFSKY/The Daily Campus
UConn undergraduate student David Dorfman performs in von der Mehden Recital Hall on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012.
Musicians wow audience with talent By Julie Bartoli Senior Staff Writer Two of UConn’s most talented musicians showcased their abilities last night at von der Mehden Recital Hall. Tuba player Christina Nadeau and trombonist Mary Bartolotta played a 1-hour show with accompaniment by Nicholas Stanford and Kurt Galván. “I’m excited,” said 6th-semester math and economics major Phil Chuw, adding, “It’s going to be a great show.” Both Nadeau and Bartolotta are 6th-semester music education majors, with Bartolotta working toward an Integrated Bachelor/ Masters degree. The women began playing their instruments as freshmen in high school. “I switched to tuba from flute,” said Nadeau. “Actually, both Mary and I started on the flute.” Since graduating high school, Nadeau has performed with the UConn Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Pep Band and Concert Band, among others. Bartolotta plays with the UConn Wind Ensemble, the Symphony Orchestra and the University of Connecticut Marching Band, as their newly elected Band Captain. “I love to help the UCMB, and I figured becoming Band Captain was the best way I could do it,” said Bartolotta. During last night’s recital, the woman performed pieces from the late seventeenth and eighteenth century. Nadeau opened with Barat’s “Introduction and Dance,” and Bartolotta closed with Eric Ewazen’s “Sonata for Tenor Trombone and Piano.” “I’m happy with my perfor-
Kathleen.McWilliams@UConn.edu
» REVIEW
TNT drama evolves but remains faithful to roots
By Purbita Saha Focus Editor
JON KULAKOFSKY/The Daily Campus
Christina Nadeau, a 6th-semester music education major, performs at the von der Mehden Recital Hall on Sunday night.
mance,” Bartolotta said afterward. “I think I did great.” Nadeau agreed. “I think I did well tonight. I’m always petrified to perform live, but I enjoyed it.” When asked about pursuing a professional tuba career, Nadeau said, “I mean, maybe someday. I did it tonight.” As for the audience’s opinion on the recital, many agreed with Bartolotta and Nadeau. “They were both amazing,” said 4th-semester communications major, Sadie Doyle. “I can’t
believe they only started playing in high school. They sounded polished.” “They did great,” agreed James Berardinucci, a 6thsemester actuarial science major who plays in Marching Band with Nadeau and Barlotta. “Especially for it being a Sunday,” added Lindsey Roberts, a 6th semester communications major also in Marching Band. “It’s a tough day to put everything together, and they sounded really good.” “They’ve been going nuts prac-
ticing, plus it was Mary’s 21st Birthday last week, so she had a conflict struggle,” Berardinucci said. Roberts added, “She had a concert Thursday, too, then four days later was this recital. Not to mention there are two shows this week that both of them are performing in.” If you want to check those shows out, stop by von der Mehden on Tuesday, February 28th or Thursday, March 1st.
Julie.Bartoli@UConn.edu
‘The Artist’ earns best-picture, lead-actor Oscars
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “The Artist” won five Academy Awards on Sunday including best picture, becoming the first silent film to triumph at Hollywood’s highest honors since the original Oscar ceremony 83 years ago. Among other prizes for the black-and-white comic melodrama were best actor for Jean Dujardin and director for Michel Hazanavicius. The other top Oscars went to Meryl Streep as best actress for “The Iron Lady,” Octavia Spencer as supporting actress for “The Help” and Christopher Plummer as supporting actor for “Beginners.” “The Artist” is the first silent winner since the World War I saga “Wings” was named outstanding picture at the first Oscars in 1929 had a silent film earned the top prize. “I am the happiest director in the world,” Havanavicius said, thanking the cast, crew and canine co-star Uggie. “I also want to thank the finan-
Friday night, as most UConn students prepared for the Saturday’s game against Syracuse, approximately 100 students crammed into the tiny McMahon community room for Essence of the Caribbean. The event was hosted by WISO, the West Indian Student Organization, and co-sponsored by UConn Residential Life. The plan for the evening consisted of poetry readings, dance performances, presentations and games. The event was attended by more students than the vice president of WISO, Desiree Wimberly, had predicted. “We didn’t intend for it to be so packed,” Wimberly said. Despite the lack of seats, students continued to stream in filling every corner of the community room and filling the space with laughter, banter, and enthusiasm. Demietris Thompson, another host of the event, started the evening off by calling an “island roll call.” As each West Indian Island was listed, students from the island were invited to represent their home country by cheering. Twelve island nations were represented, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, the British Virgin islands, Cuba, Guyana, Haiti, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Martin, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. The celebration not only focused on the specific cultures of each island, but on diversity in general. Chi Anako, an 8th-semester molecular cell
biology, noticed the diversity. “It’s a great event to support and promote WISO and West Indian culture, and show diversity at UConn,” Anako said. Not only did the event demonstrate diversity on campus, but it also brought some of UConn’s brightest talent to students’ attention. The event featured performances by two student artists and alumni. Mikhail Gilbert, a student poet, performed an original poem about slavery in his native Barbados. The poem was a narrative on the fourth slave rebellion in Barbados led by a slave named Bussa. His poem connected well to the poem that alumnus Danielle Daily wrote on the current status of African and Caribbean Americans. Her poem delved into the issue of lingering racism in the United States and how the notion of slavery persists in modern day society. Jodie Angail, the third performer, performed a sign language interpretive dance to the Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill. After the performances, students were invited to enjoy some traditional Caribbean food and mingle with other students. It was a refreshing experience to see so many students immersing themselves in the arts and celebrating diversity. Ken Looby, a 2nd-semester mechanical engineering major who is half Jamaican and half Antiguan, thought that the atmosphere was familiar and comforting. “I felt like I was in Church … It’s nice to be surrounded by so many similar people,” he said.
AP
Jean Dujardin holds Uggie after accepting the Oscar for best picture for “The Artist” during the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.
cier, the crazy person who put money in the movie.” The win was Streep’s first Oscar in 29 years, since she
won best actress for “Sophie’s Choice.” She had lost 13 times in a row since then. Streep also has a supporting-actress
Oscar for 1979’s “Kramer vs. Kramer.” “When they called my name, I had this feeling I could hear half of America go, ‘Oh, no, why her again?’ But whatever,” Streep said, laughing. “I really understand I’ll never be up here again. I really want to think all my colleagues, my friends. I look out here and I see my life before my eyes, my old friends, my new friends. Really, this is such a great honor but the think that counts the most with me is the friendship and the love and the sheer job we’ve shared making moves together.” Streep is only the fifth performer to receive three Oscars. Jack Nicholson, Ingrid Bergman and Walter Brennan all earned three, while Katharine Hepburn won four. The 82-year-old Plummer became the oldest acting winner ever for his role as an elderly widower who comes out as gay in “Beginners.”
during the season after a few of his snitches are targeted for their infidelity. Sherman on the other The advertisements for hand, has ruined his relationship “Southland” make bold claims with Cooper. The senior officer that it is the best cop show on refuses to talk to his former television. That testimony has charge because Sherman turned yet to stand against the test of him into the chief for abustime. ing medication. Sherman also Season four made its pre- is derided by the Los Angeles miere in January. The first epi- media after he hits a female stusode picks up after an elapsed dent during a potential riot. amount of time from last seaLead character Lydia Adams son; John Cooper is back from continues to be the steal the drug rehab, Russell Clarke and spotlight on the show. She has Daniel Salinger have officially a revelation in her life after left the department and Sammy she finds out that she is pregBryant and Ben Sherman have nant. Although the father has been reassigned not been revealed to be each others’ yet, the topic of Southland partners. Broken maternal instinct TNT hearts seem to have is prevalent dur10 p.m. been mended and ing every episode. new relationships Adams is advised are immediately by her mother, docforged as the show tors and partner to jumps right back take time off and into its usual, frantend to her health. tic pace. Yet she stubbornly remains on Cooper is matched up with the force and ends up having new officer Jessica Tang, played multiple brushes with danger by Lucy Liu. Tang is famous while working as a homicide on the cop campaign for being detective. mauled by a suspect during an “Southland” has only been unconventional arrest. Video of on TNT since 2010, and has the assault has been discharged had a total of 33 episodes in on the Internet, making Tang its short history as an action the local mock show. Still, she drama. Somehow the writers and Cooper hit it off right away. and creators of the show have They slip into their daily routine succeeded in making every with their well-balanced alli- weekly installment unique from ance to tackle everything from its predecessors. The characters temperamental teenagers to have remained constant through the four seasons, but have also homeless veterans. Meanwhile, Sherman and undergone dynamic transformaBryant have also found their tions at the same time. This evostride together. Both enjoy talk- lution from beginning to end has ing about their sexual exploits “Southland” into an adaptive and pulling inventive pranks and captivating review of execon each other, while running utive force and social injustice. down shooting suspects and drug pushers. Bryant experiences inner conflict multiple times Purbita.Saha@UConn.edu
B+
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Monday, February 27, 2012
Focus
» OSCARS
Moments to remember from Oscars 2012
The Oscar telecast takes hours, but it's the moments we remember. Just a few of them, of course — ones that are so emotional, funny, or bizarre that they'll stand out in our collective memories, candidates for future Oscar montages, of course, but also for office watercooler talk. Here's a running look at some of the Oscar moments we may be talking about in the morning: AND HE'S BACK! Last year, the joke-starved Oscar audience was so thrilled to see Billy Crystal by the time he showed up, they gave him a standing ovation before he even said a word. This time, now back as host, he was greeted warmly if less ecstatically as he launched into his timeworn routine: first the montage where he inserts himself into films — he even got a kiss from George Clooney in his "Descendants" hospital bed — and then his medley of songs. "You didn't think I wasn't gonna do this, did ya"? he quipped. No, we didn't. In a clever nod to the need for a bit o' youth, Crystal brought Justin Bieber into his "Midnight in Paris" bit. Later he was even blunter: "We're gonna slam the 78 to 84 demographic," he said. Next year, he added, we'd be in the Flomax Theater, referring to the prostate medication. The old-age reference became a running theme of the night. After 82-year-old Christopher Plummer won the supporting actor prize, Crystal quipped: "The average age for winners has just jumped to 67." MERYL AND MARRIAGE From longevity in life to longevity in marriage: One of the most moving moments of the
night came when Meryl Streep, winning best actress for "The Iron Lady," thanked her husband, Don Gummer — not at the end, but at the beginning of her speech, so that the music wouldn't drown out the acknowledgement as it often does. "Everything I value most in our lives, you gave me," Streep said tearfully. Then she thanked her other partner: J. Roy Helland, her makeup artist on every movie for 37 years — who had quite a night, also taking home a statuette for transforming Streep into Maggie Thatcher. "Thanks Meryl, for keeping me employed for the last 37 years," said Helland, who won with Mark Coulier. I'M FREAKING OUT! The first emotional moment of the evening came with Octavia Spencer's expected yet still heartwarming supporting actress win for her turn as a tart-tongued maid in "The Help." From tarttongued to a little tongue-tied: "Please wrap up ...I'm wrapping up!" she cried. "I'm freaking out!" YES, ANOTHER ONE... This could become a trend: For the second year in a row, a winner dropped an F-bomb. Last year it was supporting actress winner Melissa Leo; This year it was documentary feature winner TJ Martin, co-director of "Undefeated," which documents a high school football team. Martin confessed he'd been, er, defeated by his excitement. "That was not the classiest thing in the world," Martin said backstage. "However, it did come from the heart." THE CUTEST DOG IN THE
AP
Members of Cirque du Soleils "Iris" perform onstage during the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.
WORLD Uggie, the adorable dog in best-picture winner "The Artist," got a deserved shoutout from the best director winner, Michel Hazanavicius, and made an appearance onstage when the movie won best picture. However, the director allowed that the canine star does have his limits. "I don't think he understands what I'm
saying," Hazanavicius said. "He's not THAT good." A MESS ON THE CARPET (NOT FROM UGGIE) Sacha Baron Cohen always has something up his sleeve. This year, the comic actor spilled it all over Ryan Seacrest's sleeves — and the red carpet, too. Parodying the Moammar
Gadhafi-type dictator he plays in his upcoming film, "The Dictator," Baron Cohen showed up carrying what he said were the ashes of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. Then he spilled them all over the E! host's tuxedo. Said Seacrest: "Anything can happen and it most certainly did, all over my lapel." A CIRCUS IN THE HOUSE
Wait, was that Spider-Man flying up to the rafters? No, this wasn't the Tonys, it was the Oscars, and those were Cirque du Soleil aerialists in a lavish tribute to the movies. Crystal noted the circus-like atmosphere when he quipped: "We've got puppets, acrobats ... we're a pony away from a bar mitzvah!"
Meryl Streep wins 3rd actIranian 'A Separation' ing Oscar for 'Iron Lady'
» FOREIGN
wins best foreign Oscar In a humble speech amid tense times, Asghar Farhadi accepted Iran's first Oscar for best foreign film as a chance to celebrate a culture "hidden under the heavy dust of politics." It was a stirring reminder, instantly hailed at the Los Angeles ceremony and around the globe, of the human side behind rising geopolitical animosity. The acclaimed domestic drama "A Separation" is the first Iranian film to win the award. The only other Iranian movie ever nominated was 1997's "Children of Heaven," which was defeated by Italy's "Life Is Beautiful." Writer-director Farhadi alluded to the tensions over his home country. Amid talk of "war, intimidation and aggression" among politicians, he said, Iran is "spoken here through her glorious culture, a rich and ancient culture that has been hidden under the heavy dust of politics." With his daughter, Sarina Farhadi, who co-stars in the film, looking on from the audience, Farhadi added: "I proudly offer this award to the people of my country, the people who respect all cultures and civilizations and despise hostility and resentment." Tensions between the West and Iran have risen in recent months over Tehran's nuclear program. Iran denies Western claims that it seeks to develop atomic weapons, and says its disputed nuclear program is
designed to produce energy and medical isotopes. But Iranian cinema has for years been among the most exciting in the world, notably including the films of Abbas Kiarostami and Majid Majidi. In Iran, followers of Iranian state TV said the Oscar win shows the world-class talent and sophistication in the Islamic Republic even as it confronts the West over its nuclear program. Comments and Twitter messages posted on Press TV's website expressed hope that the award could help show the common ground between the U.S. and Iran. The widely-hailed "A Separation" was so roundly supported by the academy that it was also nominated for a best screenplay Oscar — a rarity for a foreign film. It also won best foreign film at the Golden Globes. Though the film, made under Iranian sensors, isn't overly political, it deeply explores the complex social and religious codes of contemporary Iranian society. The film begins with the divorce dispute between a husband (Peyman Moadi) and wife (Leila Hatami), a situation that becomes far thornier when an argument leads to criminal charges. This year's Oscars took on a broadly international flavor, particularly given that the best picture favorite, "The Artist," is in most ways a French film, made by a French director (Michael Hazanavicius) and
starring a French actor (Jean Dujardin). The Mexican actor Demian Bichir was also nominated for best actor for his performance in the immigrant drama "A Better Life," and the Spanish film "Chico and Rita" was nominated for best animated film. In all, 63 films were submitted for this year's foreign language film category, a nomination process that has often been criticized for leaving out critical favorites. In recent years, an executive committee was added to the multi-step process, which can add movies to those selected by the judging body. Few founded major fault with this year's selections, though there were quibbles over the absence of the Turkish film "Once Upon a Time in Anatolia," the Finnish submission "Le Havre" and Pedro Almodovar's "The Skin I Live In," which Spain opted not to submit. The other nominees were Michael R. Roskam's crime drama "Bullhead" from Belgium; Philippe Falardeau's immigrant substitute teacher tale "Monsieur Lazhar" from Canada; Joseph Cedar's Talmudic scholar saga "Footnote" from Israel; and Agnieszka Holland's World War II drama "In Darkness" from Poland. Last year, Denmark's submission, "In a Better World," directed by Susanne Bier, was the winner.
AP
Meryl Streep, right, and Don Gummer share a moment in the audience after Streep wins the oscar for best actress in a leading role for "The Iron Lady" during the 84th Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Meryl Streep joined a very exclusive club on Sunday, winning her third acting Oscar for her role as a strident Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady." Streep, 62, won best actress for her 17th Oscar nomination, the most times any performer has been nominated by the Academy. Her third win put her in a category with other three-time Oscar winners Jack Nicholson, Walter Brennan and Ingrid Bergman. Only Katharine Hepburn with four wins had more. She joked about how many times she's been up for acting's highest honors. "When they called my name, I
had this feeling I could hear half of America going, 'Oh no... her again,'" Streep said. Streep played the British prime minister as a senile retiree, as well as a hectoring, dominant figure who instilled fear and respect in her own cabinet. At the film's pinnacle, Streep as Thatcher is the backbone of a nation that goes to war over the distant Falkland Islands after Argentina invades in 1982. She thanked her fans "for this inexplicable wonderful career" and paid special tribute to her husband, sculptor Don Gummer. Streep also called out for special mention her "other partner," J. Roy Helland, who has done her makeup since 1982 in
"Sophie's Choice," the movie that won Streep her first best actress award. Streep also won for best supporting actress for the 1979 movie, "Kramer vs. Kramer." Makeup artist Helland also won earlier in the night, sharing the award for best makeup with Mark Coulier. "I want to thank all my colleagues, all my friends. I see my life before my eyes," said Streep. "My old friends, my new friends. Really, this is such a great honor. But the thing that counts the most with me is the friendship, and the love and the sheer joy we have shared making movies together."
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Monday, February 27, 2012
The Daily Campus, Page 11
Sports
» MEN'S HOCKEY
UConn's regular season had ups and downs By Carmine Colangelo Staff Writer
RACHEL WEISS/The Daily Campus
Ryan Tyson handles the puck in the Huskies' 2-1 loss to Bentley in overtime on Feb. 17.
Just like the spring, summer, fall and winter, hockey seasons come and go, leaving memories of the good times and the bad. The UConn men’s hockey team closed out the regular season this weekend in a two game series against conference opponent AIC. With playoff implications on the line for both squads, the Huskies and Yellow Jackets squared off for each teams’ respective senior night. After Friday’s contest, which ended in a 3-3 overtime draw in West Springfield, MA, the Huskies headed home for their final game of the regular season. Senior defender Brad Cooper had gone the previous 33 games without a goal. On Saturday night his scoreless streak would come to an end as he recorded a hat trick on senior night. Cooper
scored his first goal of the sea- team-leading 18. Schneider was son 14:39 into the second period also the team leader in game and scored the other two in the winning goals, recording three third period. of them this season. UConn’s season was full of The Huskies also had their great stories, like the emergence struggles this season. November of goaltender of Garrett Bartus. was not a good month for the Bartus had his strongest sea- Huskies, as they went 1-5-1. son yet recording a They have also had goals against average 9 games where they of 2.58. The junior scored one goal or less goaltender allowed 86 and were shut out in goals compared to his two of those contests. 1000 saves, good for The Huskies found a .921 save percentways to escape these age. He also had four slumps. During winshut outs this season, a ter break, the Huskies record for the Huskies. went 6-1 and had a » Notebook four game winning Another highlight of this year was the play streak in January. of forward Cole Schneider. In his During that streak the Huskies sophomore season, Schneider scored 16 goals. Two of Bartus’ led the Huskies in many offen- shutouts were during winter sive categories. He led the team break. with 18 goals, 35 points, and The Huskies finished this 116 shots. He was also second season 13-17-4 record and in assists with 17, only one went 12-12-3 in conference behind forward Billy Latta’s play. In the Atlantic Hockey
» MEN'S HOCKEY
Association, the Huskies finished in eighth place with 27 points. In their 3-3 overtime tie against the Yellow Jackets, the Huskies clinched home ice for the first round of the playoffs. They will host Canisius in the first round of the playoffs. The Huskies played the Golden Griffins twice this season, sweeping the season series in Buffalo, N.Y., winning 6-2 and 4-3. These wins were the final two in the four game winning streak. The Golden Griffins finished in ninth place in the AHA with 23 points and a 10-14-3 record in conference play. The first round of the playoffs will begin this Friday night for the Huskies at 7:05 p.m. in the Mark Edwards Freitas Ice Forum.
Carmine.Colangelo@UConn.edu
NHL Stanley Cup playoffs format needs change
By Matt Stypulkoski NHL Columnist
If the common wisdom that a playoff format should give incentive teams during the regular season and reward them for their play, then the NHL’s could use some tinkering. It’s nothing major, but automatically giving the division winners the top three seeds in the playoffs has got to go, as it fails to provide that incentive, and certainly does not fairly reward teams for their regular season performance. This season, the standings are a perfect example of this problem. In both conferences, the current No. 3 seed is occupied by a team that, if the standings were sorted solely by points earned, would not even sit among the top five playoff teams. In the East, Florida currently resides at the top of the Southeastern Division with 68 points. If not for automatically being placed in the third slot, that number would qualify them for being tied with Winnipeg in the playoff race, who currently sits in eighth. The same scenario has emerged in the West, where Phoenix is in third place with just 73 points, the same number as Chicago, who sits sixth. This is a ridiculous system.
» NASCAR
It hurts the teams that are playing good hockey, like the Devils, Flyers, Penguins, Blues and Predators, who would otherwise be in a far better position for the playoffs. No one can argue that Florida, who has been slightly above average at best in the mediocre Southeast, is a better team than Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New Jersey. Yet in the current system, they would enter the playoffs with guaranteed home ice advantage in the first round by virtue of winning their division, while only one of those three teams would be given that opportunity. Division winners should be given automatic playoff berths– they would have to if the divisions are to retain any meaning–but that does not mean they should be handed home-ice. There is nothing wrong with seeding the division winners amongst the top eight, based on the points they have earned, which would put Florida in seventh as of now, and give Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New Jersey a more fair chance of earning a top four seed. In addition to causing problems when it comes to who gets home ice advantage, the current system also sets up situations where lower seeded teams, mostly the
No. 6 seed, can sometimes gain an advantage by staying in that position, rather than fighting to move up in the standings. For example, if the season ended today, New Jersey would play Florida in the first round in the 3 vs. 6 matchup, while Philadelphia and Pittsburgh would face off in the 4 vs. 5 series. So even though the Flyers would have beaten out the Devils for the sixth seed, New Jersey would actually be at an advantage because they would face an easier opponent in the first round. This kind of disincentive to move up in the standings is exactly the opposite of what a playoff format should be encouraging, which is the legitimacy of the regular season. In almost all sports in recent years, the regular season has lost some of its importance, as more and more emphasis is placed solely on the playoffs. Altering the playoff format in the NHL could be one way to restore some of the meaning to the first 82 games of the season. Hopefully this season will help prove the system is broken to the people in Toronto, because a change is in order.
Matthew.Stypulkoski@UConn.edu
AP
The New York Rangers currently lead the Atlantic Division with 84 points.
NASCAR postpones Daytona 500 for first time ever
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — NASCAR has raced on the beach at Daytona, under the lights and even around a pesky pothole. But never on a Monday — until now. The Daytona 500 was postponed Sunday for the first time in its 54-year history after heavy rain saturated Daytona International Speedway. NASCAR officials spent more than four hours waiting for a window to dry the famed track, but it never came. When the latest storm cell passed over the speedway around 5 p.m., they had little choice but to call it a day. The 500-mile race was rescheduled for noon Monday. It will be aired on Fox. "This is one of the toughest things for us drivers," pole-sitter Carl Edwards said. "It's now who can really stay focused. That's not just the drivers, that's the pit crews, the crew chiefs, everyone, the officials. But I think we'll be just fine." But Monday might be another test for both drivers and fans. The forecast calls for more rain, and officials are prepared to wait all day and into the night to avoid a Tuesday race, which would strain teams that must get to Phoenix for next week's race. "The longer runway we have tomorrow to get in the Daytona 500, the greater the likelihood for us to start and finish the event on Monday," NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said. "There are certainly a lot of considerations that go into the start time decision, and we believe scheduling it for noon gives us
the best opportunity for us to get the race in tomorrow." Eight previous Daytona 500s have endured rain delays, the latest in 2009. But never before had storms forced NASCAR's premier event to be moved. "I think that's a pretty good record for NASCAR," Edwards said. "They've been living right to have 53 of these and never have one postponed. That's pretty spectacular. ... I think NASCAR, they're doing the right thing, you know, not dragging this out." Noontime showers sent fans scattering for cover and leaving everyone in wait-and-see mode. Puddles of water formed in parts of the infield, and many fans got drenched as they tried to make the best of a less-thanideal situation. Drivers retreated to their motorhomes, relaxing while keeping an eye on developments. Edwards, Brad Keselowski and others took naps. Former Daytona 500 winners Jamie McMurray and Trevor Bayne did in-studio interviews with Fox. Another previous race winner, Ryan Newman, played with his daughter in the motorhome lot. "I guess I'm gonna have to win the first Monday Daytona 500," driver Greg Biffle said. "As you can tell, I'm still in my uniform because I was optimistic that this weather was gonna get out of here and we were going to get this thing going. But I'll have to save my energy for tomorrow. "I know a lot of race fans are disappointed and a lot of people at home on TV, but we just hope
AP
Crew members push cars into the garage after NASCAR postponed the Daytona 500 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. The race was postponed.
they tune in tomorrow." The last shortened Daytona 500 was Matt Kenseth's victory three years ago, when rain stopped the event 48 laps from the finish. He was declared the winner while the cars were parked on pit road. The 2010 race had more than two hours in delays as NASCAR twice stopped the event to fix a pothole in the surface. Jamie McMurray held off Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win that race. This time around, drivers
didn't even get in their cars. "I didn't know when to eat. I didn't know when to rest. I didn't know what to do," Bobby Labonte said. "I never took my uniform off. I took a nap. I think we cleaned out the refrigerator snacking on things." Now, NASCAR must deal with the downside of moving its biggest race. Ratings and attendance will suffer, falling short of what the series expected. Fans surely will have complaints, too. Daytona president Joie
Chitwood said he understood fans were frustrated about the scheduling change that pushed the race back one week later than usual. NASCAR and the track made the decision to move the start of the season to address an awkward early off weekend and to avoid potential conflicts with the Super Bowl. Had the race been run on its traditional Sunday, it would have been completed under a bright, blue sky. "I'm sure I'm going to have some customers tell me about
the date change and the challenges that we have with it," Chitwood said. "But I think weather is unpredictable. I think based on the NASCAR schedule, the TV schedule on whole, this was the right move for the industry. We'll continue to work with the last weekend of February. "It's unfortunate that this had to happen the first year after we made that change. I'm sure I'll be talking to a number of customers in the next weeks ahead about that situation."
The Daily Campus, Page 12
Monday, February 27, 2012
Sports
A running diary of the weekend that was
By Matt Stypulkoski, Tyler Morrissey and Tim Fontenault Sports Writers
This is the true story of three students picked to write a journal to find out what happens when people stop being sane and start being Husky fans. OK, so maybe this isn’t exactly the same as an episode of “The Real World,” but this is the true story of what happened this weekend in the days and hours leading up to “College GameDay” and the UConn vs. Syracuse game, as told by Tim Fontenault, Tyler Morrissey and Matt Stypulkoski, who were in the front row for the game, as always. 9:30 a.m. Friday: Get to Gampel, fully aware that camping doesn’t start until 5 p.m. Naturally we’re asked to leave, but we just move into the U for a while. –Tim 11:30 a.m. Friday: Done with class and heading back to my room when I see the GameDay bus parked out on Fairfield Way. It’s like Christmas, only better. –Tim 1:06 p.m. Friday: Digger Phelps, you’re welcome for the directions. –Matt 4:31 p.m. Friday: Everyone just made a mad dash for the doors of Gampel, I’m not really sure why, but hey, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere. –Matt 5:20 p.m. Friday: Panda Express is a godsend. –Tyler 6:53 p.m. Friday: Fender bender across from the north entrance of Gampel thank God,
we needed some entertainment. keep you warm. – Tyler P.S. to the guy whose bumper 7:38 a.m. Saturday: Thanks fell off his car, I’m sorry. –Matt CSC Event Staff. First one 7:30 p.m. Friday: A small through the door and it took at basketball hoop is attached to least two minutes for the woman a pillar and people are slam to “search me.” Apparently I dunking empty soda bottles. had too much in my pockets. –Tyler Contents: my phone. -Tim 9:30 p.m. Friday: The dunk 7:40 a.m. Saturday: Doors contest on the steps of the North are open and students are flowEntrance has provided the best ing into Gampel in the most dunks I’ve seen at Gampel disorganized way possible. since the Dyson to Sticks alley- I really wonder if any foreoop against Texas. -Tim thought by the administration 11p.m. Friday: I have now went into planning that, what hit the 12 hour mark of wait- an absolute mess. –Matt ing. Only 22 hours until tip. 7:55 a.m. Saturday: “ESPNI’m starting to realElephant Squirrel ize how crazy this Pterodactyl really is, but I don’t Narwhal” #bestcare. -Matt signever –Tim 11:55 p.m. 8:32 a.m. Friday: “Levels” Saturday: I win a is playing for Subway gift card about the fifth and get to go on time. Really, there the court and meet Journal needs to be rules Emily Noonan. about these kinds of This has been one things. –Matt of the best days of my life! 12:15 a.m. Saturday: Ok –Tyler I’m back from visiting friends. 8:42 a.m. Saturday: If In my absence I have missed a there’s one thing I’ve learned DJ that played “Levels.” Damn. so far this weekend, it’s that –Tyler people will go insane for the 1:46 a.m. Saturday: dumbest things, so long as The boys outside the North they’re free. Also, State Farm Entrance showing their love will put their name on absofor Fab Melo. By love, I mean lutely everything. –Matt an expletive-filled chant about 9:39 a.m. Saturday: Tyler their absolute hate for the just recited the entire Herb taller, uglier Jamal Coombs- Brooks speech from “Miracle.” McDaniels. –Tim How is it only 9:39?! –Matt 4:50 a.m. Saturday: I have 11:52 a.m. Saturday: Niels officially given up on sleep and Enosch chilled next to me and The New York Times may in the student section for the be “All the news that’s fit to second half of GameDay... print,” but it does nothing to Niels said he didn’t think Lamb
FROM THE FRONT ROW
could handle the pressure of the “know your teammate” segment. He clearly knows Jeremy better than AO does. 12:00 p.m. Saturday: Show’s over. That can only mean one thing, Coffee. –Tyler 12:15 p.m. Saturday: GameDay was sick. Nothing left to do but meet up with the crew. Six hours until the doors open. –Tim 2:00.01 p.m. Saturday: Mad dash for the doors at both entrances. Which is why you can talk to CSC Event Staff ahead of time. Stayed put and didn’t move, and waited for them to walk us over in orderly lines. Patience is a virtue, people. –Matt 4:51 p.m. Saturday: All the students at North Entrance just tossed around a free Sgt. Peps shirt for about five minutes then threw it on the roof, which was quickly followed by the UConn Huskies chant and apparently nothing unifies students like a terribly boring spur of the moment game.-Matt 5:15 p.m. Saturday: Earlier this week it was almost 60 degrees, now the sun is setting and there is a blizzard taking place at the same time. What is going on?-Tyler 5:16 p.m. Saturday: Where’d the blizzard go? –Matt 11:14 p.m. Saturday: I’m not going to write down the details of the game, because frankly, I’m assuming all of you watched it. Or at least, you sure should have. But despite the outcome, I have never been more proud to be a Husky than
ROCHELLE BAROSS/THe Daily Campus
UConn fans showed up in full force for ESPN's College GameDay show that was broadcasted live from Gampel Pavilion on Saturday morning.
I am tonight. The team showed an unbelievable amount of courage, heart and most important, teamwork in that second half. And for that, I am incredibly proud of our boys. -Matt 11:45 p.m. Saturday: Walking back into my dorm a girl who was at the game said that she “would have been happy with a tie.” There are some times when you just don’t know what to say. This is one of those times. - Tim 12:30 a.m. Sunday: I sit
down at my desk, lean back in my chair, look up to the UConn Huskies banner that adorns my room and can’t help but smile. The heartbreak from losing to Syracuse will fade, but the memories of this weekend never will. This is what sports are all about: sometimes you win, sometimes you lose but always the magic of the game survives. –Tyler
Sports@dailycampus.com
Why UConn should be proud after Saturday's game By Matt Stypulkoski Featured Columnist
JIM ANDERSON/The Daily Campus
Freshman guard Ryan Boatright goes up for a shot in the Huskies' loss to Syracuse.
The buzzer rings, and after 20 minutes the scoreboard reads Syracuse 43-29 UConn. The fans are edgy and disgruntled. The second half starts, Andre Drummond misses a layup, and Kris Joseph hits a three after an offensive rebound. Syracuse leads by 16. Moans and angry grumbles fill the air inside Gampel Pavilion, and fans throughout yell at their team in discontent. Then, the final 19 minutes and seven seconds happened. A jumper by Alex Oriakhi with 15:37 to go. A tip-in by Drummond with 14:56 to play. A three by Ryan Boatright cuts the lead to single-digits. And Gampel Pavilion comes back to life. A ridiculous and-one layup by Jeremy Lamb off a behind-theback pass by Shabazz Napier. And Gampel Pavilion is on fire. The “U-C-O-N-N” chants echo throughout the building. Now let’s skip ahead a little.
Drummond throws down a dunk to cut to get within two. A minute and 51 seconds to play. Drummond tips in a rebound to tie. There are 51 seconds to go. And Gampel Pavilion is shaking. The entire crowd jumps, screams and stomps. Fab Melo puts Syracuse ahead by two. 25 seconds remaining. Roscoe Smith can’t find the mark. UConn loses by two. And Gampel Pavilion groans. We lost and none of it matters. Or does it? A team that has struggled in the second half of the season, and had lost seven of its last 10 games coming into the night, just lost to the No. 2 team in the country by two points after trailing by 17 in the second half. Yes, we lost the game. But no, all isn’t lost. For a team that has been criticized all season long for a lack of heart, chemistry and teamwork – a team that Jay Bilas described as full of Robins but lacking a Batman – this was a huge step forward. It would have been easy to go into the locker room at halftime,
Gay inducted into Ring from FAIR, page 14 GameDay comes to Storrs The defending national champions earned the right to have ESPN’s College GameDay come to campus on Saturday morning. Rece Davis, Digger Phelps, Jay Bilas and Hubert Davis were on hand for the weekly GameDay show on Saturday morning in Gampel Pavilion. Blaney and the players also said the fans at Gampel nine hours before the game were great supporters. “It was phenomenal,” Blaney said. “It was something to be really proud of.” Blaney also said he wished the team played better in the first half to pay them back for camping out and hanging around Gampel most of the day. “I tip my hat off to all the fans,” Smith said. “That’s Husky Nation … kind of sad, kind of heartbreaking that we couldn’t pull away for them.” Gay gets into Huskies of Honor Rudy Gay is the latest inductee in the UConn Huskies of Honor. Prior to the game, a short ceremony was held as his No. 22 was unveiled on the wall of Gampel Pavilion. Gay and his family met Paul Pendergast at midcourt and Gay was given a plaque celebrating his accomplishments during his two-year career at UConn. Coach Jim Calhoun was shown on the scoreboard and delivered
a message to the fans prior to announcing Gay as the newest member in the Huskies of Honor. Then a highlight video was shown, with Flo Rida and Sia’s “Wild Ones” playing in the background. Gay, now a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, was named National Freshman of the Year and was named to the All-Big East team in 2006. His sophomore season, he helped the Huskies to a 30-4 record and a share of the Big East regular season championship. UConn earned a No. 1 seed and reached the Elite Eight before being upset by George Mason. Off the Rim With 11:56 left in the first half, Warde Manuel and his son were honored at midcourt with President Susan Herbst. Syracuse clinched the Big East regular season title with the win. It was also the Orange’s first win ever at Gampel Pavilion. They had been 0-4 prior to Saturday. “I don’t think too much about those things,” said coach Jim Boeheim. “They’re all tough. Hartford’s tough, too.” Quotable Jim Boeheim On Syracuse earning a double bye in the upcoming Big East tournament: “As we get the worst thing ever invented, the double bye,” Boeheim said. “People that are so smart, penalize teams for finishing first.”
Colin.McDonough@UConn.edu
pack up the tents and go home. Down 14 to one of the nation’s best can have that effect on a team, especially one that is expected to lose. But instead they fought. They turned things around, taking it to a talented Syracuse team. After being out-rebounded 24-14 in the first half, UConn flipped the script, grabbing 21 to the Orange’s 15 in the second half. They set the pace, forcing turnovers and getting out in transition when they could, but also working effectively in the halfcourt sets, moving the ball in and out and getting quality looks against the stingy Syracuse zone. They got back into the game. When the going got tough, they got going. So no, we didn’t get the win. But yes, this team proved a lot on Saturday night. It proved that it could hang with one of the best teams in the nation. It proved that it had more heart than most were giving it credit for. And it proved that they are going to fight,
as hard as they can, down the stretch. That’s something to be proud of. Maybe it didn't earn us a quality win on our NCAA Tournament résumé, or move us up in the conference standings. And yes, it stings when we lost to our biggest rivals, especially in such heartbreaking fashion. But in a season filled with distractions and adversity – a coach who is suspended, then ill, a player who is held out over eligibility concerns, the possibility of looming NCAA sanctions – this team has kept going, kept playing. For that reason, I have never been more proud to be a Husky than I was on Saturday night. And I hope you all were, too. Our boys deserve that pride – they’ve fought, and they’ve earned it. Now, let the journey continue. See you on Tuesday, Providence. Expect a hard fight.
Matthew.Stypulkoski@UConn.edu
Agabiti: Experience of camping out for College GameDay was amazing from GAMEDAY, page 14
AP
Rudy Gay holds his plaque after being inducted into the Huskies Ring of Honor.
The entire experience was amazing. The atmosphere was great, the fans were loud and the two hours of ESPN filming College Gameday were like one big, Husky-themed dancing and jumping party devoted to disliking Syracuse. I didn’t even have tickets to the actual game. I watched it on television. I went to bed as soon as it was over, not because I was upset about the loss, but because I was still feeling like crap after a malnourished, poorly hydrated, loud, bright and freezing all-nighter in a tent outside of Gampel. The security guards and overall setup of the campout were so awful that those of us who camped out got worse seats to Gameday than the punks that
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showed up at 7 a.m. and cut the line. Even with the negatives, the experience was incredible and I’m so glad that I went. After College Gameday, I now have a sincere apology to make to the superfans. At times, I look down on you for your passion and at times, I think less of you because you have a fire for sports that I feel as if I’ve moved on from. That’s wrong of me and I’m sorry. You guys that make the games what they are. You guys create the thrill of the collegiate sports atmosphere— which trumps even the rowdiest of professional environments any day of the week. Follow Dan on Twitter @ DanAgabiti
Daniel.Agabiti@UConn.edu
TWO Monday, February 27, 2012
PAGE 2
What's Next Home game
Away game
Next Paper’s Question:
“Did you think Roscoe Smith got fouled on the final play of the loss to Syracuse?”
–Andrew Kappel, 6th-semester marketing major.
» That’s what he said – UConn basketball associate head coach George Blaney on the fans.
Home: Gampel Pavilion, XL Center March 3 Pittsburgh Noon
The Daily Question Q : “Describe the Syracuse game in one word.” A : “Kemba-less.”
TBD Big East Tournament
Women’s Basketball (26-3)
» MLB AP
George Blaney (right)
» Pic of the day
A pleasant surprise.
Home: Gampel Pavilion, XL Center Feb. 27 Notre Dame 9 p.m.
TBD Big East Tournament
Men’s Ice Hockey (14-17-4) March 3 March 10 Atlantic Hockey Atlantic Hockey First Round Quarterfinals
March 16 Atlantic Hockey Semifinals
Men’s Swimming & Diving March 9 NCAA Zone Diving All Day
Women’s Swimming & Diving March 9 NCAA Zone Diving All Day
Baseball (2-4) March 2 March 3 March 9 March 2 Lipscomb Mississippi St. Mississippi St. Oklahoma 2:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2 p.m.
March 10 Illinois 11 a.m.
Softball (1-2) March 2 Wisconsin 9 a.m.
March 2 Kansas 11 a.m.
March 3 Charles 11 a.m.
March 4 Kansas 1 p.m.
March 9 San Diego St. 2:30 p.m.
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The Daily Roundup
“It was phenomenal. It was something to be really proud of.”
Men’s Basketball (17-11) Feb. 28 Providence 7 p.m.
The Daily Campus, Page 13
Sports
AP
Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun addresses fans prior to the UConn men’s basketball game against Syracuse on Saturday at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs.
Zumaya to miss another year with elbow tear
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The fireballer has flamed out once again, and this time it may be for good. Minnesota Twins reliever Joel Zumaya was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his right elbow on Sunday, meaning his latest comeback bid has ended almost before it began. Zumaya had signed an incentive-laden, oneyear deal with the Twins, who hoped he could bolster their bullpen with his 100 mph heat. General manager Terry Ryan knew Zumaya’s long injury history when he offered the contract, but the possibility of getting the overpowering arm that electrified the Tigers in 2006 intrigued him. “I took a risk. It was a high risk with high reward,” Ryan said after the MRI exam revealed the torn ulnar collateral ligament. “Unfortunately it didn’t work. And he feels bad. I feel bad.” Zumaya lasted just 13 pitches in his first session of live batting practice Saturday before walking off the mound with pain in his elbow. Ryan spoke with him on Sunday after they received the news, but said it was too early to talk about Zumaya’s plans for the future. The 27-year-old could choose to have Tommy John surgery and start another exhaustive rehab program that could last a year or longer. Or he could choose to retire. “He’s distraught, as you’d expect,” Ryan said of Zumaya, who was unavailable for comment. “He’s going to come in here in the next day or so and we’re going to talk about the immediate future for him.” Zumaya had not thrown a pitch since June 2010 after breaking his elbow while pitching for Detroit in a game at Target Field. He has never been better than in his rookie season with the Tigers, when he was a 21-year-old blast furnace who struck out 97 hitters in 83 1-3 innings and became one of the most feared setup men in the game. Injuries to his wrist, finger and shoulder followed, limiting him to fewer than 40 innings in each of the next four seasons. Then his elbow snapped in 2010, a frightening scene that led some to wonder if his body could withstand the sheer force of the pitches he uncorked. But he had never torn the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, a common and devastating injury that usually requires surgery and at least 12 months of rehab before a pitcher is ready to get back on the mound. After a long and arduous rehabilitation of his broken elbow, Zumaya worked out for several teams this winter. Looking for a right-hander at the back end of their bullpen to complement lefthanded setup man Glen Perkins and closer Matt Capps, the Twins offered him $850,000. The contract is only guaranteed for $400,000.
THE Storrs Side
THE Pro Side
Men’s Basketball’s comeback falls short, Baseball has letdown
Heat halt Lin and Knicks, future NFL stars hit Combine
By Aaron Kasmanoff-Dick Campus Correspondent Game of the Week: Men’s Basketball vs. Syracuse The phenomenal upset was not meant to be Saturday night in Gampel, as Fab Melo’s dunk with 31 seconds left sealed the deal for No. 2 Syracuse. The game was close; with 47 seconds left the Huskies had it tied up. Unfortunately, the momentum was not with UConn at the very end. “We should have won that game,” Drummond told reporters after the game. “We had a couple of tough plays down the stretch and they made their shots. At the end of the game, we didn’t get the foul call that we were looking for.” The 71-69 win lifted the Orange to 29-1 on the season, and 16-1 Big East. The Huskies’ loss dropped them to 17-11 on the season (7-9 Big East). Jeremy Lamb scored 19 points and Andre Drummond added 17 to go along with his 14 rebounds.
Syracuse is now 1-4 at Gampel Pavilion. UConn improved its defense substantially from the last meeting of the two teams, holding the Orange to 44 percent shooting, as compared to 59 percent in the last contest. The game was broadcast on ESPN as part of the College Gameday series. Letdown of the week: Baseball vs. URI The UConn baseball team was shutout by rival URI on Sunday afternoon. The Rivalry has endured since 1896, this being the 184th time the two teams have met. Rhode Island scored twice, both on unearned runs caused by UConn errors, while UConn was shut out. The loss, UConn’s second of the weekend, puts the Huskies at 2-4 on the season. Sophomore lefty pitcher Anthony Mari held URI to no hits for the first 6.2 innings, but gave up the first run of the game in the fifth inning.
Aaron.Dick@UConn.edu
By Darryl Blain Staff Writer Game of the week: Heat burn out the Knicks In possibly the most hyped matchup heading into the allstar break, the Knicks traveled to South Beach to take on the red-hot Heat Thursday night, and it wasn’t easy from the get go. New York had a high amount of turnovers early (15 in the first half) but hung in to only be down by 4 at the half. In the end, it came down to a very underwhelming performance from star point guard Jeremy Lin, who shot 1 for 11 from the field, and a 67 point performance from Miami’s “big three.” Final score: Heat 102 Knicks 88 Big Letdown: Danica Patrick’s debut delayed The Daytona 500--the signature race of NASCAR--was delayed by rain Sunday, as well as the debut of perhaps the most talked-about racer in the sport, Danica Patrick. The very famous Go Daddy
girl was looking to see how she would compete against the boys until scattered thunderstorms had something else to say about it. In the 54 years of Daytona 500, this also happens to be the first time it has been delayed. The race will take place today at noon. Wish we were there: NFL scouting combine The future of the NFL strutted their stuff at the combine, which started on Thursday and will end tomorrow. The most notable performance is from Heisman winner Robert Griffin III who ran a 4.41 30-yard dash, which also happens to be the fastest by any quarterback this year. The impressive run could possibly bump his draft stock up to second, behind the highly-touted Andrew Luck of course. Speaking of Luck, the Stanford prodigy ran an unofficial 4.59 himself and had a very similar overall combine to Cam Newton.
Darryl.Blain@UConn.edu
» INSIDE SPORTS TODAY
P.13: Zumaya on the shelf again. / P.12: From the Front Row: A GameDay Jounal. / P.11: NASCAR postpones race Daytona.
Page 14
Monday, February 27, 2012
FAIR OR FOUL
GameDay thoughts
Smith thought Fair fouled him at end of loss to ‘Cuse
By Colin McDonough Associate Sports Editor
Dan Agabiti Among people that actually care about sports, there are three categories; casual fans, fans and superfans. Casual fans are those who know enough about sports to stay relevant. There is no real passion in them for sports—not that that’s a good or bad thing—and they are simply content with getting by. They only go to games if they get tickets for free. If a game’s on, they’ll watch it and they’ll know the score the following day, but that’s the extent of it. Then, there are fans. Fans keep tabs on all games, watch most and attend few. Some people in this group get the breaking news updates to their phones, which on occasion will have a team logo or stadium somewhere on them. They care, but losses don’t completely break them. It’s not uncommon to see a fan in a jersey, but don’t expect their wardrobe to be littered with team logos. The highest level of dedication is the superfan. If there’s a home game, the superfans aren’t just there, but they get there hours before the start. When the game starts, they get loud and they stay loud. When their team is on the road, if unable to watch, they get the closest thing possible to a play-by-play. Superfans know all the stats, both current and past, and it’s rare for a day to go by when they don’t don the colors of at least one of their teams. Though proven to be anatomically false, I remain convinced that somewhere in the brain of a superfan, there’s an extra lobe with no other responsibility than to file any and all information pertaining to their favorite team as well as release extra adrenaline when said team is playing. I fall under the category of the regular fan. If you read my columns enough, you’ve probably gotten that vibe. I try to write sports columns for the average sports fan and casual fan because it’s unrealistic to think that everyone is at the level of a superfan. I’ve always taken the Colin Cowherd approach of “Love your family. Like sports.” I refuse to spend over $20 on a shirt, simply because there’s a logo on it, and the only jerseys I get, I receive as a gift. I’m just too busy. I serve as president of a Tier-II organization, cover women’s basketball, write this column as well as copy edit and design for the Daily Campus, not to mention that whole studying thing. Plus, I have several oldman tendencies. I hate crowds, I loathe waiting in lines, loud people annoy me and I get extremely cranky if kept up past midnight. In spite of my super-fanaticism in high school, I lost the spark in college. I don’t care as much as I used to and the part of me that loves sports has shrunk significantly. So, why did I camp out for College GameDay? For one night, I wanted to go crazy again. The average fan wanted to spend the night as a superfan. Friday night, I showed up at 5:30 p.m. to a tent set up by my friends, Mac and Brian, with a sleeping bag and pillow in hand, ready to make the 14 hour wait to get let into College GameDay.
» NCAA, page 12
www.dailycampus.com
After coming back from a 17-point first half deficit for the second straight game, at Villanova it was 18 points, the UConn men’s basketball team chipped away and sat tied at 69 with No. 2 Syracuse Saturday night at Gampel Pavilion. The Orange didn’t let the Huskies take the lead in the final 47 seconds of the game and used it to finally silence the crowd for good in Storrs. Fab Melo dunked a C.J. Fair miss with 31 seconds left and then Fair blocked Roscoe Smith at the buzzer to ruin the College Gameday experience for UConn. Although the team credited Syracuse for winning, some players thought the final two calls could’ve gone the Notebook other way. “I got fouled but I think the officials did a great job. You can’t really call a foul in that situation,” Smith said. Smith said that most referees keep their whistles in their pockets for the final plays of the game. Andre Drummond also thought Smith was fouled. “At the end of the game … We didn’t get the foul we were looking for,” Drummond said. “He got fouled. He got hammered.” Drummond also thought Melo’s put back was offensive goaltending. “Yeah, it happens. It’s a part of basketball,” said Drummond. Associate head coach George Blaney said he wanted Smith to go stronger to the basket on the final play, although he did credit Smith for playing a great game. “I would’ve preferred he made something,” Blaney said.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
JIM ANDERSON/The Daily Campus
Syracuse’s C.J. Fair blocks Roscoe Smith’s last-second shot attempt in UConn’s 71-69 loss to the Orange before a sell-out crowd of 10,167 at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs on Saturday night.
» DRUMMOND, page 12
Huskies take care of AIC on Senior Day
By Willy Penfield Staff Writer
With a 3-3 tie at AIC on Friday night, the UConn men’s ice hockey team earned home ice in the first round of the Atlantic Hockey Association playoffs. They added a 5-3 win at home on senior night Saturday to finish off the regular season at UConn 13-17-4. The Huskies will AIC host Canisius in the first round of the AHA playoffs beginning Friday at the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum, which will run through Sunday if necessary. On Friday, the first period went scoreless before a four goal second period that began with AIC taking a 1-0 lead 7:19 into the period. Cole Schneider responded with a goal of his own a little over two minutes later. At the 12:00 mark in the second,
AIC took the lead when Blake Peake scored his second of the period. Sean Ambrosie answered 25 seconds later to tie the score at two. UConn took the lead at the 8:02 mark in the third period, 3-2, and it looked as though the Huskies would win game one of the homeand-home until AIC’s Steven Mele tied the 5 game with 1:18 remainin the period to send 3 ing the game into overtime. Both teams went scoreless in OT with the game ending in a tie. Saturday night was a different story for the Huskies as they took the 5-3 win on senior night with senior Brad Cooper recording a hat trick. The Huskies fired off shots all night, outshooting AIC 40-23. Just 2:15 into the game, senior Cody Jendras put the Huskies on the board but AIC tied the game
MEN’S HOCKEY
six minutes later with the first period ending in a 1-1 tie. Cooper notched the first of his three on the night 14:39 into the second period. A minute and fiftyeight seconds later, AIC tied the game at two. The floodgates opened in the third period with a total of four goals. Cooper added his second of the night just 1:24 into the third period to put the Huskies ahead 3-2. Brant Harris gave the Huskies a two goal cushion 1:28 later. AIC scored a power play goal at the 13:48 mark in the period to close the gap to one but Cooper finished his hat trick and closed the door on AIC at the 17:32 mark to make the score 5-3. The Huskies welcome Canisius to Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum Friday at 7:05 p.m. to kick off the AHA playoffs.
ROB SARGENT/The Daily Campus
William.Penfield@UConn.edu
Brad Cooper had a hat trick in UConn’s 5-3 win over AIC at Mark Freitas Ice Forum.
UConn hopes for revenge in primetime By Dan Agabiti Senior Staff Writer
The last time the national spotlight was on the Huskies and the Fighting Irish, the game did not disappoint. The two teams played their way into overtime, where Notre Dame topped the Huskies 74-67. Tonight at 9 p.m. on ESPN2, the Huskies get their chance at payback from the friendly confines of the XL Center in Hartford. In the Jan. 7 game, UConn had put itself in an excellent position to win. The Huskies had the lead late in the game, but in spite of having several chances to close the game, Notre Dame was able to keep up with UConn long enough to force overtime. Once overtime started, the Huskies became overwhelmed and
the Fighting Irish dominated, earning them the win. Down the stretch, Notre Dame’s senior guard Skylar Diggins— the Preseason Conference Player of the Year—came alive, scoring 16 points in the second half overtime. “We knew it was going to be a game of runs,” Diggins said after the Jan. 7 win. “We played better in the second half. We knew we had to attack and we knew if we did, it would be worth it.” UConn’s coach Geno Auriemma was not pleased with the way the Huskies seemed to collapse at the end of that game. He knew they could have won that game, but were unable to seal the deal. “We have to make free throws at the end of the game, too,” Auriemma said after the Jan. 7 loss to the Fighting
Irish. “Notre Dame took November. advantage of the opportuniNotre Dame also has a very ties we gave them. They’re strong presence thanks to forone of the top two or three ward Devereaux Peters, who teams in the country for a averages just over 12 points reason.” per game and brings down 9 Along with Diggins, the rebounds per game. Fighting At the I r i s h t i m e , h a v e UConn o t h e r had not potent f a c e d threats m u c h that the adversity, Huskies with the 26-3, 13-2 27-2, 14-1 h a v e exception to keep the XL Center, Hartford, 9 p.m. of t h e i r Baylor ESPN2 eye on. loss. Senior “It just guard Natalie Novosel is aver- shows that we are not ready aging just under 15 points per to win those kind of games,” game on the season. Novosel Auriemma said after the has a knack for coming up big Notre Dame loss. “We have against the elite teams in the too many guys who have not country, she scored 28 points been in that position before.” against No. 1 Baylor back in Over a month and a half
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS.
later, the Huskies have played their way through some very difficult games, like the home win against USF on Jan. 28, where UConn struggled against a tough and fast team, yet prevailed. There were others, however, that the Huskies were unable to play their way out of. Last weekend, the Huskies fell at home 57-56 to St. John’s with a chance at winning 100 games in a row. Tonight, there’s more than just payback on the line for the Huskies. UConn has a chance to show that they’ve matured enough over the season to get to a point where they can beat the elite teams in the country.
Daniel.Agabiti@UConn.edu