WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2014 SPORTS
FOCUS
COMMENTARY
For students looking for ands on career experience, a co-op is the direction to go
Slow your mustang down
Forecasted state budget surplus should be used to pay down debt
page 5
page 12
page 4
NEWS
Conn. Gov. proposes minimum wage increase page 2
New UConn student business starts the party on the bus Volume CXX No. 74
By Alban Murtishi Staff Writer
The Student Organization of Entrepreneurs, or SEO, is the hot bed of student business ideas on campus, including the soon to be launched WeBusU. The company intends to offer large-scale transportation in the form of school buses and shuttle students to popular off-campus events. WeBusU is being fully funded by the owners of the company, most of whom gained their capital from working with Belltower Books, the used book buying company that hired UConn students during exam week. This includes general manager Sarab Kukreja, a 6th-semester international business, event coordinator and 6thsemester athletic training major John McInally and chief marketing officer and 8th-semester health sciences major Frank Laratta. The company is headed by CEO Max Cutler, an 8th-semester management information systems major. “The UConn nightlife has been dying down, and we want to capitalize on that and let UConn students have fun,” said WeBusU CFO and 6th-semester math major John Stankiewicz. WeBusU has planned for its public unveiling to coincide with a Barstool Sports event at the Webster Theater in Hartford on Feb. 21.
Zarrin Ahmed/The Daily Campus
University of Connecticut students involved in the Student Organization of Entrepreneurs discuss logistics of their ongoing projects at a meeting Tuesday night. SEO is planning to launch WeBusU, a bus service business that provides entertainment for riders on their way to off-campus events.
The pamphlets for the event reads, “WeBus college students 2 all the biggest events.” The company will be renting a fleet of buses to shuttle the 50 students currently signed up for the Barstool Sports event, however that number as well as the size of the fleet are both expected to grow. Advertising is currently being done through Facebook, the pamphlet as well as their recently launched website,
www.WeBusU.com. The Barstool Sports event is only the first event of what WeBusU partner and 4th-semester individualized studies major Nishant Majitha hopes will launch a fruitful relationship on campus. “For example, UConn Surya dance competition is in early April, they need ten buses for a competition in Hartford and WeBusU can help out,” Majitha said.
Other target demographics include fraternity and sorority formals and socials, as well as any club or organization that needs transportation for off campus events. “The long term strategy is that when anyone wants to do a outer school event they come to us,” McInaly said. For WeBusU, the trip is only half the fun for its customers. The bus will be managed by a bus
jockey, who will keep the spirit of the night alive while playing music, but they will also enforce certain rules and etiquette. “We can’t control what kids will do before they get on the buses, but there will be no alcohol on the buses,” Stankiewicz said. “We want people on the bus to be comfortable, safe and having fun.”
Alban.Murthisi@UConn.edu
Storrs, Conn.
Purdue fraud case still has relevance
By David Weigand Campus Correspondent
Dr. Rusi Taleyarkhan, a professor of nuclear engineering at Purdue University and a researcher of nuclear energy from alternative sources, was found guilty of research misconduct by Purdue officials in July 2008. A memorandum released by Purdue, dated Sept. 6, 1991, stated that, “The mere suspicion or allegation of wrongdoing, even if totally unjustified, is potentially damaging to a person’s career” — words that would come to be charged with meaning more than a decade later, when the events of the “Bubblegate” scandal begin to unfold. Taleyarkhan began his research in nuclear reactions during acoustic cavitation while working at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. He continued his efforts at finding a new source of clean energy after being recruited by the Board of Trustees to undertake professorship at Purdue. His experiments with nuclear energy utilized acoustic cavitation, or the bombardment of bubbles in a liquid solvent with powerful ultrasonic vibrations. The bubbles are meant to collapse, creating small pockets of intense pressure and heat, potentially fusing hydrogen atoms and releasing substantial amounts of energy. According to New Energy Times Magazine, his work was hailed as “Nobel Prize material” by fellow scientist Lefteri
» PURDUE, page 2
300 programs to be featured Friday marks first deadline in UConn spring election cycle at Study Abroad Fair By Jackie Wattles Associate News Editor
FILE PHOTO/The Daily Campus
This Thursday, there will be a study abroad fair held in the Rome Ballroom. The event is expected to run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Students will have the opportunity to learn about the over 300 programs offered by UConn Study Abroad. Those attending this event will also be able to speak with past participants of study abroad programs and UConn faculty responsible for both organizing and maintaining these programs. Students who have any level of interest in studying abroad are strongly encouraged to attend this event. -Fatir Qureshi, Campus Correspondent
Internship fair delayed
By Nikki Cunningham Campus Correspondent
As the spring semester progresses, UConn’s Center for Career Development is providing students the chance to gain useful experience in the working world. Originally scheduled for February 5, the 2014 Internship/ Co-op Career Fair has been
moved to a later date due to the severe weather forecast for the middle of this week. Presented by the Department of Career Services, the event will be held on Wednesday, February 12, from 11:00AM–3:00PM in the Student Union Ballroom. As stated on the Center for Career Development website, ‘the Fair is intended for students
in a wide range of majors with a variety of experience.’ This event is a main focus of Center for Career Development’s “30 Days of Internships.” Numerous companies covering many areas of interest will be represented at the fair. Businesses such as Cigna and United Health
» SNOW, page 2
The spring election season is kicking off as the first major deadline for Undergraduate Student Government candidates approaches. This Friday, the declaration of interest form is due for those interested in running for president, vice president and comptroller. The Declaration of Interest form is mandatory for those running for the top three elected positions in USG. Those interested in running for USG Senate are urged to submit the form as well; doing so grants candidates access to “resources provided by the Elections Oversight Committee and the Joint Elections Committee,” according to the form. Those resources include a candidate photo shoot and an insert in the Daily Campus paid for by USG, according to the Spring 2014 Elections Packet. John Giardina, the organization’s current chief of staff, said the packet only asks for basic information. “The form is very simple,” he said. “It asks for a candidate’s name, NetID, PeopleSoft, email, and the position they are seeking. After candidates have submitted a Declaration of Interest, they will receive an email from
me with dates for trainings and the deadline to submit campaign materials for the Daily Campus insert.” The next major date for candidates is Feb. 21, when the elections packet is due. This form is required of all candidates and secures them a place on the ballot. The full list of candidates will be posted on Feb. 24, three days before candidates for top positions will meet at the annual debate in the Student Union. Voting will open on March 5 and close on March 10. Voting
will coincide with a variety of other on-campus elections and approvals, potentially including a referendum to approve USG’s proposed constitutional changes. More information about spring elections can be found at vote.uconn.edu. All of the required forms for candidates can be found on USG’s website — usg.uconn. edu — and should be turned in to the USG office in room 219 of the Student Union.
Jacqueline.Wattles@UConn.edu
FILE PHOTO/The Daily Campus
High-ranking USG officials, including the Student Body President Edward Courchiane (center-right), sit in a meeting last semester. All elected positions in the organization are up for election this spring.
At UConn today
High: 32 Low: 15 Winter storm warning in effect until 6 p.m.
The university is closed today. All classes at all UConn campuses are closed due to the winter storm.
The Daily Campus, Page 2
News
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Governor proposes $10.10 hourly minimum wage
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Tuesday called for increasing the state’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour by 2017, which would make Connecticut’s the highest in the nation. “There is a debate happening across our country on how to tackle the growing income inequality that is detrimental to our middle class families and to our families,” Malloy said during a news conference in Bridgeport. The Democrat said “a good and decent wage is good for workers and good for business.” Malloy’s proposal will be included in his legislative package to be considered by the Democraticcontrolled General Assembly, which will have its opening-day session on Thursday. Under his plan, the minimum wage would increase to $9.15 on Jan. 1, 2015; to $9.60 on Jan. 1, 2016; and to $10.10 on Jan. 1, 2017. Republican legislators criticized the move as election year politics, even though Malloy has not yet announced his re-election plans. The $10.10 rate proposed by the
Democratic governor is the same as President Barack Obama’s proposal for the federal minimum wage. “As soon as President Obama mentioned a minimum wage of $10.10 in his State of the Union speech, I said to a friend of mine, I would expect Governor Malloy to do the same,” said Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, a GOP gubernatorial candidate from Fairfield. He said Malloy was “copying the national Democratic play book.” “I think he’s putting forward policies that will help him get elected,” McKinney said. Connecticut’s minimum wage just increased from $8.25 to $8.70 on Jan. 1. A second increase to $9 is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2015. About 68,000 workers in Connecticut were paid the minimum wage in 2013, or about 4 percent of the state’s employed labor force, according to the state Department of Labor. House Speaker Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, welcomed the proposal.
gling working families, and add hundreds of millions of dollars to our economy.” Andrew Markowski, the Connecticut director of the National Federation of
Independent Business, said further increasing the minimum wage will hurt struggling small businesses, such as family-run restaurants, convenience stores, landscape contractors and seasonal business-
es. He predicted it will discourage employers from hiring workers. “I think it would be one more mark, giving the state of Connecticut the dubious distinction of a place that’s not conducive to do business, particularly small business,” Markowski said. “By 2017, if things are going as they are, we’d have the highest minimum wage in the nation, the only state in the nation with mandated paid sick leave, very high income and property taxes and high unemployment. I don’t think those are things to be proud of.” Malloy has not always fully embraced proposed minimum wage increases. In January 2013, he was noncommittal about a bill that would raise the wage to $9.75 by 2014. That same legislation also called for automatic raises that would be tied to increases in the Consumer Price Index, a federal measure of inflation. A spokesman for Malloy said at the time that the governor “supports the ideals behind the legislation,” but also understands the cost pressures facing businesses, particularly in a weak economy.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — U.S. Reps. Jim Himes and Elizabeth Esty have raised far more than their Republican rivals, each pulling in more than $1 million for this year’s election, but the GOP vowed Tuesday the races will be highly competitive as they try to break Democrats’ lock on Congress in Connecticut. Himes raised about $1.2 million by the end of the year, compared with $303,000 by Republican Dan Debicella. Esty raised $1.1 million, compared with $325,000 by Republican Mark Greenberg, much of that from a $130,500 loan to himself. Himes had $1.2 million cash on hand, while Esty
had $846,000. Debicella and Greenberg had $273,000 and $36,000, respectively. Debicella, a former state senator who lost to Himes in 2010 for the Fairfield County seat, said he only began fundraising about three months ago and is well ahead of his pace last time. He said he expects to raise between $2 million and $3 million. “I think once again you’re going to see this this be one of the premier competitive races in the Northeast as it was in 2010,” DeBicella said. DeBicella said he actually outpaced Himes in the fourth quarter in individual contributions. He said Himes gets a significant amount of his con-
tributions from Washington and political action committees, which his campaign said he’s not proactively soliciting. Maryli Secrest, Himes’ campaign manager, said Himes is proud of the hundreds of grassroots supporters who have contributed to his campaign. Himes has raised more than $700,000 from individuals. “It will be interesting to find out where the GOP candidates really stand as they compete with each other over who will be the worst advocate for gun violence prevention, women’s reproductive rights, and middle class families,” Secrest said.
AP
This May 4, 2011, shows state Gov. Dannel P. Malloy speaking after signing a two-year $40.1 billion budget bill into law at the Capitol in Hartford, Conn. Malloy called for increasing Connecticut’s minimum wage to $10.10 on Tuesday.
“Connecticut helped start the conversation when it comes to a $10 minimum wage, and I support the governor on leading the way again,” he said. “This will help tens of thousands of strug-
GOP senator wants Conn. education official to quit HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — McKinney said, Malloy and Senate Minority Leader John Commissioner Stefan Pryor lost McKinney, a Republican candi- the confidence of parents and edudate for govercators across the nor, on Tuesday state. called on Also, he said Connecticut’s “As we reassess the the rollout “has education combeen met with missioner to implementation of confusion and resign, saying frustration” by education reform, I he has failed teachers, adminto implement istrators and parfeel it is imperative Gov. Dannel P. ents. to do so with new Malloy’s key “As we take education initiaa step back and leadership.” tives. reassess the McKinney implementasaid proposals of educaJohn McKinney tion for Common tion reform in Core curricuState Senator C o n n e c t i c u t , lum standards I feel it is and new teacher imperative evaluations received “limited input to do so with new leadership,” from teachers” during “an overly said McKinney, who recently ambitious schedule.” Ultimately, attended a meeting with about
487 Fairfield County teachers organized by the Connecticut Education Association. He said many expressed their frustration over the changes. Malloy, a Democrat, has not said whether he will seek reelection. Allan Taylor, chairman of the State Board of Education, expressed confidence in Pryor. “Commissioner Pryor is helping to bring Connecticut education to where it needs and ought to be. He has tackled all challenges with great skill and extraordinary energy,” he said in a written statement. Malloy’s chief of staff, Mark Ojakian, said the administration is working with teachers and parents to improve public education while McKinney “is working to further his political ambitions by scoring points at the expense of Connecticut’s children.”
prove that this “tabletop fusion” method, as delineated in the New Energy Times. Taleyarkhan cited his fellow physicist, Yiban Xu, as having independently replicated the experiment, although he was involved with the process of publishing Xu’s paper, and perhaps furthermore of being involved in the experiment, further discrediting the “independent” claims that he himself made. He also was charged with adding a students’ name to the publication when the student had not contributed to the research. Taleyarkhan was reported by the New York Times as saying that, “from a technical point, we stand by our data,” defiantly challenging his bureaucratic accusers and fellow scientists, who have been putting his work under such heavy fire. In effect, he believes he has found a cheap method of achieving small-scale nuclear fusion, and challenges the rest of the world to recreate it. Purdue officials have refused to comment on the “pending litigation,” and the future seems less certain than ever for the research of Rusi Taleyarkhan. Other universities take note: the scientific research process can be a highly
competitive and emotionally complicated matter, particularly when reputations are at stake and the fate of clean energy is called into question. Dr. Michelle Williams, the Associate Vice President for Research at UConn, clarified the University’s stance on research misconduct, whether substantiated or simply alleged. “Ensuring the integrity of the research process is absolutely critical to the generation of new knowledge and the advancement of science,” Williams said. As a public research university with over $200 million in annual research spending, UConn has an obligation to uphold the integrity of its researchers and to hold the accused and accusers accountable in the event of questioned research. UConn’s research office “has very explicit policies and procedures regarding research misconduct.” A strong policy base, combined with proactive, involved and knowledgeable administrators and researchers should ensure that what happened at Purdue will not occur at the University of Connecticut.
Conn. Dems in Congress have more cash
Snow delays internship fair
Purdue case gives valuable lesson from PURDUE, page 1
Tsoukalas, who at the time was the head of the Nuclear Engineering. If ever independently recreated, this method could begin a new era of cost-effective and environmentally friendly nuclear fusion, which has never been seen before. Although investigations by Purdue officials in 2006 turned up no evidence of fraud, Taleyarkhan’s case was reopened after Tsoukalas – who had become his rival – along with other scientists from around the nation and reporter Eugenie Reich, submitted their accusations of fraud to the federal government, whose Office of Naval Research was providing funding to Taleyarkhan. The ONR put pressure on Purdue to find its once-cherished nuclear engineer guilty of fraud. The resulting investigation would trigger a massive debacle and lead to the end of Taleyarkhan’s endowed professorship, the sullying of his scientific reputation and the decline of his involvement with the research world. Taleyarkhan’s accusers found his references to independent replication of the experiment fraudulent, as no documentation can
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Students converse with potential employers at a fall 2013 career fair. The internship fair aims to give UConn students a similar experience, putting them in touch with potential employers who can give them short-term work experience.
from INTERNSHIP, page 1
Group are just a sample of the major corporations that will be present, along with other companies such as Target and Macy’s. Students can check the Center for Career Development website for a full list of participating employers. Also available on the website is a series of support tools that provide advice for
David.Weigand@UConn.edu
attending internship events. A particularly useful link is a PowerPoint presentation detailing the ins and outs of this type of event, which is meant to serve as a guide to a successful visit. Other resources provided by the Center for Career Development include interview practice sessions, held at the office of the Center for Career Development in
the Wilbur Cross building, and mock interviews run by companies such as General Electric, PepsiCo and CVS Pharmacy. To make the most of this event, and to access other resources that support students in obtaining internships, log on to the Center for Career Development website at www.career.uconn.edu.
Nikki.Cunningham@UConn.edu
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News
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Senate sends farm bill to Obama Facebook barrels » BUSINESS
ahead in yr. ten
AP
This Feb. 5, 2007 file photo shows Facebook.com founder Mark Zuckerberg smiling at Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif.
NEW YORK (AP) — It has been 10 years since a Harvard sophomore named Mark Zuckerberg created a website called Thefacebook.com to let his classmates find their friends online. They did. And in the decade since, so have more than a billion people, not just American college students but also farmers in India, activists in Egypt and pop stars in South Korea. Facebook has transformed how much of the world communicates. Zuckerberg’s insistence that people use real identities, not quirky screen names, helped blur, if not erase entirely, the divide between our online and offline worlds. Long-lost friends are no longer lost. They are on Facebook. From its roots as a website with no ads, no business plan and a hacker ethic, Facebook has grown into a company worth $150 billion, with 6,337 employees and sprawling headquarters in the heart of Silicon Valley. Born in the age of desktop computers, three years before the iPhone’s debut, Facebook is now mainly accessed on mobile devices. Many of these mobile users never had a PC. “People often ask if I always knew that Facebook would become what it is today. No way,” Zuckerberg wrote — where else — on his Facebook page Tuesday. “I remember getting pizza with my friends one night in college shortly after opening Facebook. I told them I was excited to help connect our school community, but one day someone needed to connect the whole world.” Facebook has had plenty of stumbles along the way, from privacy concerns to user protests when Facebook introduced new features, not to mention a rocky public stock debut in 2012. Even its origin was the subject of a lawsuit and a Hollywood movie. So far, though, Facebook has trudged on. As Facebook enters its second decade, the company faces a new set of challenges in reaching the next billion users, the billion after that, and the one after that, including the majority of the world without Internet access. It must also keep the existing set interested even as younger, hipper rivals emerge and try to lure them away. There are 1.23 billion Facebook users today, or roughly 17 percent of the world’s population. Although that’s far from connecting the whole world, Facebook is here to stay. It’s reached critical mass. “One of the things Facebook has been good at is that it’s very easy to use and understand,” said Paul Levinson, professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University.
“It’s a much friendlier system than any email system.” Javier Olivan joined Facebook Inc. as vice president of growth and analytics in 2007. It was a different time. Myspace was the dominant online hangout with 200 million members. Facebook had 30 million. Facebook’s user base had been accelerating steadily, Olivan said, as it expanded from Harvard’s campus to other colleges, then high schools, and in 2006, anyone over 13. Users in the U.K. and other Englishspeaking countries then began signing up. But around 2007, growth plateaued. “The thinking at the time was (that) we’ll never have 100 million users,” Olivan said. “That’s when the growth team was created.” If Facebook was going to connect the world, as its mission states, it couldn’t be an Englishonly service. So Facebook turned to its users to help translate the site. A Spanish version came in 2008, followed by dozens of others. Growth accelerated again, and volunteer translators are still adding new tongues, whether that’s native African languages or pirate slang. Facebook got its 100 million users by August 2008 and half a billion two years later. By 2012, a billion people were logging in to Facebook at least once a month. While sharing photos and updates with friends is a universal experience, Facebook is customized depending on where you live. In Japan, for example, users can list their blood type on their profiles, as it’s something that would typically come up in conversation when you meet someone — kind of like horoscopes in the U.S. Beyond language, another hurdle was mobile. The iPhone came along in 2007, and Facebook’s iPhone app soon followed. But the app was slow and buggy, fueling concerns that it wouldn’t be able to transform into a “mobile-first” company, as it wanted to be. About the time of its initial public offering of stock, potential investors fretted about its ability to make money from mobile ads. That’s no longer an issue. Facebook’s stock is trading near record highs. The majority of the company’s advertising revenue now comes from mobile, rather than Web ads. No doubt other challenges will come. “At some point there will be barriers such as illiteracy, (creating) hardware for people who can’t read and write,” Olivan said. Content on the Internet will have to be translated into languages that are barely repre-
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The sweeping farm bill that Congress sent to President Obama Tuesday has something for almost everyone, from the nation’s 47 million food stamp recipients to Southern peanut growers, Midwest corn farmers and the maple syrup industry in the Northeast. After years of setbacks, the Senate on Tuesday sent the nearly $100 billion-a-year measure to President Barack Obama. The White House said the president will sign the bill on Friday in Michigan, the home state of Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow. The Senate passed the bill 68-32 after House passage last week. The bill provides a financial cushion for farmers who face unpredictable weather and market conditions. It also provides subsidies for rural communities and environmentally-sensitive land. But the bulk of its cost is for the food stamp program, which aids 1 in 7 Americans. The bill would cut food stamps by $800 million a year, or around 1 percent. House Republicans had hoped to reduce the bill’s costs even further, pointing to a booming agriculture sector in recent years and arguing that the now $80 billion-a-year food stamp program has spiraled out of control. The House passed a bill in September that would have made a cut to food stamps that was five times more than the eventual cut. Those partisan disagreements stalled the bill for more than two years, but conservatives were eventually outnumbered as the Democratic Senate, the White House and a still-powerful bipartisan coalition of farm-state lawmakers pushed to get the bill
AP
In this Oct. 16, 2013 file photo, Larry Hasheider walks along one of his corn fields on his farm in Okawville, Ill. Cuts in food stamps, continued subsidies to farmers and victories for animal rights advocates.
done. The White House has been mostly quiet as Congress worked out its differences on the bill. But in a statement after the vote, Obama said the bill would reduce the deficit “without gutting the vital assistance programs millions of hardworking Americans count on to help put food on the table for their families.” He said the farm bill isn’t perfect, “but on the whole, it will make a positive difference not only for the rural economies that grow America’s food, but for our nation.” Obama praised the bill for getting rid of controversial subsidies known as direct payments, which are paid to farmers whether they farm or not. Most of that program’s $4.5 billion annual cost
was redirected into new, more politically defensible subsidies that would kick in when a farmer has losses. To gather votes for the bill, Stabenow and her House counterpart, Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., included a major boost for crop insurance popular in the Midwest, higher subsidies for Southern rice and peanut farmers and land payments for Western states. The bill also sets policy for hundreds of smaller programs, subsidies, loans and grants — from research on wool to loans for honey producers to protections for the catfish industry. The bill would provide assistance for rural Internet services and boost organic agriculture. Stabenow said the bill is also intended to help consumers,
boosting farmers markets and encouraging local food production. “We worked long and hard to make sure that policies worked for every region of the country, for all of the different kinds of agricultural production we do in our country,” she said. The regional incentives scattered throughout the bill helped it pass easily in the House last week, 251-166. House leaders who had objected to the legislation since 2011 softened their disapproval as they sought to put the long-stalled bill behind them. Leaders in both parties also have hoped to bolster rural candidates in this year’s midterm elections. Conservatives remained unhappy with the bill.
Health care law to reduce labor participation WASHINGTON (AP) — Several million people will reduce their hours on the job or leave the workforce entirely because of incentives built into President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday. That would mean job losses equal to 2.3 million full-time jobs by 2021, in large part because people would opt to keep their income low to stay eligible for federal health care subsidies or Medicaid, the agency said. It had estimated previously that the law would lead to 800,000 fewer jobs by that year. The new findings could provide a new political weapon for GOP opponents of the overhaul, though the White House pointed out that the reduction would be due to voluntary steps by workers rather than businesses cutting jobs. “CBO’s findings are not driven by an assumption that (the health care law) will lead employers to eliminate jobs or reduce hours,” said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. The agency also reduced its estimate of the number of uninsured people who will get coverage through the health care law. The budget experts now say about 2 million fewer people than had been expected will gain coverage this year, partly because of the website problems that prevented people from signing up last fall when new markets for subsidized private insurance opened. On a positive note, the new estimates also say that the health care law will, in the short run, benefit the economy by boosting demand for goods and services because the lower-income people it helps will have more purchasing power. And the agency predicted that federal budget deficit would fall
AP
President Barack Obama speaks to students and teachers, Education Department and Maryland officials at Buck Lodge Middle School in Adelphi, Md., Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014.
to $514 billion this year, down substantially from last year’s $680 billion and the lowest by far since Obama took office five years ago. But the budget experts see the long-term deficit picture worsening by about $100 billion a year through the end of the decade because of slower growth in the economy than they had previously predicted. As for health care signups, the website woes have largely been cleared up, but the nonpartisan congressional analysts said they expect 1 million fewer people to enroll through the new insurance exchanges than had been expected, for a total of 6 million in 2014. Enrollment will pick up in 2015, topping 20 million in 2016 and beyond, they say. The Congressional Budget Office also revised its Medicaid projection down by 1 million, for a new total of 8 million signups in
2014. About half the states have accepted the health law’s Medicaid expansion. The broad federal deficit projection shows another yearly improvement. Obama inherited an economy in crisis and the first deficits ever to exceed $1 trillion. The 2009 total, swelled by the costs of the Wall Street bailout, hit a record $1.4 trillion, while the deficits of 2010 and 2011 each registered $1.3 trillion. Tuesday’s report predicted the economy will continue to rebound, growing at a 3.1 percent rate this year and 3.4 percent next year. The CBO foresees the jobless rate holding steady at 6.8 percent this year and remaining above 6 percent through the remainder of Obama’s term. The agency sees the deficit sliding to $478 billion next year before beginning a steady rise years through 2024 that would
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bring the annual imbalance back above $1 trillion a year. Overall, it forecasts deficits totaling $7.3 trillion over the coming decade, about $1 trillion more than it previously estimated. “CBO expects that economic growth will diminish to a pace that is well below the average seen over the past several decades,” the report said, citing an aging population and decrease in the rate of growth in the labor force. As it has for many years, CBO predicts the stark demographics of the nation’s retirement programs, especially the growth of Medicare, will eventually spark a debt crisis. The ratio of people paying into the Medicare program and those receiving benefits is shrinking as the baby boom generation retires. Economists say that too-high deficits and debt are a drag on the economy, squeezing out investment, and if unchecked could eventually precipitate a Europeanstyle fiscal crisis. Tuesday’s report comes as Obama and Republicans in Congress are taking a respite in the budget wars that have periodically consumed Washington since Republicans took control of the House in 2011. The declining deficit numbers mean they could feel even less urgency to act now. A December budget agreement and last month’s follow-up spending bill could buy peace through November’s midterm elections. Republicans also appear to be taking a less confrontational approach to legislation needed this month to increase the government’s borrowing limit to avoid defaulting on its obligations. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Tuesday that Republicans have “a lot of opinions about how to deal with the debt limit. No decision’s been made.”
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Take Traditional Shotokan Karate with the UCONN KARATE CLUB. Mon, Wed, Fri
7:00pm at Hawley Armory. Beginners welcome. Credit option available (AH 1200-
001). uconnjka@ charter.net, www. jkaconn.com/karate. htm.
Waterfront House – 9 month rental. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, laundry, dish washer.
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Wednesday, February 5, 2014
The Daily Campus
Editorial Board
Kimberly Wilson, Editor-in-Chief Kayvon Ghoreshi, Commentary Editor Kristi Allen, Associate Commentary Editor Daniel Gorry, Weekly Columnist Victoria Kallsen, Weekly Columnist Gregory Koch, Weekly Columnist
» EDITORIAL
Forecasted state budget surplus should be used to pay down debt
A
few weeks ago, the Malloy administration announced that state finances are on pace to finish with a $506.1 million surplus when the fiscal year ends come June 30. This projection is much more optimistic than a little over a month ago when projections were for a $273 million surplus. There is no denying that a surplus is a good thing, but it is only as good as the response it garners from the administration. Often when a government runs a surplus, both at the state and federal level, there is a desire to implement more spending, such as additional government programs, or provide for more tax cuts. It creates a mentality that we are able to afford these extra expenditures without raising the deficit and therefore won’t cause a problem. Unfortunately this isn’t reality. Government revenue streams aren’t constant year to year, and by putting in place new spending based off of this fiscal year it will only increase the budget and potentially throw the state into another deficit come next fiscal year should revenue be lower. Governor Dannel Malloy has already proposed his plan on how to spend the surplus. As reported by the CT Mirror, he would use $155 million in the form of rebates, which would essentially give $55 million and $110 million checks to single filers and couples, respectively. Meanwhile, the remainder of the surplus would be split between putting $100 million towards reducing unfunded pension obligations and putting $250 million in the state’s “rainy day fund.” Republicans, on the other hand, proposed $247 million in consumer and business tax cuts in the wake of the surplus. While the rebates are certainly a nice gesture and will undoubtedly help out families and individuals, it is of the utmost importance that most of this surplus goes towards paying down our debt. The $100 million going towards unfunded pensions is a nice start, but it is a rather small stepping stone, considering that Connecticut’s pension liabilities are roughly $20 billion, or almost double the annual state budget, according to Moody’s Investors Service. There are definitely areas that could use more state spending, but in the long run it is more beneficial to use the surplus to combat the state’s debt and avoid a downgrade in credit, which could be harmful to Connecticut’s already recovering economic activity.
Better evaluation methods needed in education system
J
ust as UConn was gearing up for a new semester, the Hartford Courant published an editorial entitled, “Why I Want to Give Up Teaching.” The article was written by a middle–school English teacher Elizabeth Natale, who claimed that the Common Core was “stripping the joy out of teaching” and had forced her to consider quitting. The piece fanned the flames of a debate that’s been going strong for some time and won’t stop any time soon. This piece resonated with me for several reasons, but not necessarily because I agree with everything the author said. The Common By Kristi Allen Core and stanAssociate Commentary Editor dardized education in general are tricky topics, although I know how I feel about them as a student. What struck me were the anguish and the sense of a loss of control that this teacher conveyed. She feels as though her whole profession is failing. As students, I think we all feel that our educations have failed us from time to time– some more than others-–but that feeling now seems common to individuals involved in education at all levels, from students to national policy makers. Articles everywhere from Reader’s Digest to the Atlantic have deemed American education to be in a state of systemic failure. U.S. public schools haven’t met targets for improvement, and our students are falling behind those in other countries. Universities and colleges are too expensive, and a university
degree doesn’t guarantee a job. The tone of Natale’s article is present in a lot of discussions about education. Adults seem just as likely to call American education a broken system as high school students are, and the feeling of alarm is certainly understandable. Many feel that our education system needs major changes, but no one is sure what those changes ought to be. An interesting aspect of the Courant article is that while Natale expressed disappointment in the current direction of education, she didn’t seem have a better system in mind. In the last paragraph of her editorial, Natale says that teaching is “art, not science” and that tests can’t measure a student’s learning. She ends the article by expressing hope that legislators will come to agree with her. Critics of the Common Core note its many faults, but they rarely prescribe a course of action beyond “stop doing what we’re doing” or “go back to the way things were.” Those sentiments may sound good on paper, but there’s a reason initiatives like the Common Core came about, and those reasons can’t be ignored. A general set of requirements for education is a good idea, but the Common Core just doesn’t meet that need efficiently. Unfortunately, evaluations and standards are going to remain a necessity. Educators and policymakers need some way to assess their progress on a large scale. Standardized testing may not be the best way to evaluate student performance on any scale, but it’s currently the only way to realistically conduct those evaluations. There’s too much room for error in randomly sampling classrooms or students for progress, so we’ll probably have to deal with large scale testing for a while. With that said, it’s clear that our current evaluation system isn’t working.
The way we measure school performance shouldn’t be the most divisive factor of education, and it shouldn’t be disrupting curriculum and wasting as much classroom time as it does. “My most important contributions to students are not addressed by the Common Core, Smarter Balance and teacher evaluations,” Natale says. In her view, the formation of peer relationships, the exchange of ideas and the mentorship provided by teachers are what make or break a student’s experience. To a degree, she’s right. Standardized tests don’t measure progress, nor do they take into account the many obstacles students face. They don’t measure desire to learn or critical thought. While Natale is right that standardized tests have become an issue, we do need a way of making sure students are learning. The trouble is, one can ace a multiple-choice test without actually having learned anything. The focus needs to be on creating better tests–ones that are shorter, less distracting and better at assessing student progress. Teacher evaluations are also a necessity, but the current system is oversimplified, and it fails to address many facets of the teaching process along with other reasons that students might not be excelling. If anything is clear, it’s that change is needed. Not more money, or more schools, not more smartboards or standardized tests, but a different system. The Common Core and the evaluation initiatives that preceded it are a good start (even if what we’ll learn from them is mostly what not to do) but it’s going to take new ideas to fix our education system.
Kristi.Allen@UConn.edu 4th-semester journalism and geography
Obama fails to allay major concerns in O’Reilly interview
Solving the mystery from yesterday, classes are “canceLed” with one L today. Spelling! Thank you Jay Hickey. ^^ but really, what happened to that guy? Told my mom I wanted to give blood today and her response was, “I’m pretty sure they don’t accept red beer.” We want pictures of the new husky playing in the snow! It never fails to annoy me when I see someone write/ type “UCONN.” It’s UConn. Seniors, remember freshman year when UConn ran out of plow money and we ended up with 7 snow days? “I just really want to be on Bridezillas one day, that’s the dream” “Can we steal trays from the dining hall to go sledding tomorrow? Does anyone actually do that?” I once got in the InstantDaily saying the women should give 10 points to the men every game, but they could probably spare 30 points a game and still be safe.
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B
efore the Super Bowl, Fox News aired an interview of President Obama conducted by Bill O’Reilly. Throughout the interview, O’Reilly asked President Obama about several issues that have sparked criticism of his administration, By Brian McCarty such as the Obamacare Staff Columnist rollout and the attack on the consulate in Benghazi. In many of his answers, the president was evasive and did not take responsibility for the blunders of his administration. However, he does deserve credit for agreeing to be interviewed by a network that has been highly critical of his presidency. O’Reilly began by asking the president when he became aware of the severe problems with the healthcare government website. The president said that he had predicted some technical bugs, but that he did not “think anybody anticipated the degree of problems that you had on HealthCare. gov.” This answer is not very satisfying. The employees in the Department of Health and Human Services tasked with implementation should have been aware of the functionality of the website before its
launch. They should have conducted testing to ensure that the site was ready for the public. The fact that no one involved had any notion of the website would work suggests an incompetency in government that is disconcerting. This led O’Reilly to ask the president why he did not fire Secretary Sebelius. The president responded, “You know, my main priority right now is making sure that it delivers for the American people.” This evasive answer is troubling. Under her leadership, the department botched the rollout of the president’s chief policy goal, and through its failure, the department failed to deliver on the president’s promise to the American people. I do not see how it is beneficial to the American people to keep cabinet members who stumble through the tasks given to them. O’Reilly also asked the president if he felt that promising Americans they could keep their existing insurance policies was the biggest mistake of his presidency to which Obama responded, “oh, Bill, you’ve got a long list of my mistakes of my presidency.” The president should have begun by taking responsibility for this blunder, rather than employing an ad hominem argument. The president must have known that the mandatory standards
of care in the law would result in the cancellation of substandard plans, and his repeated assurances to the contrary deliberately misinformed the American people. This question is not unreasonable merely because Bill O’Reilly is the one presenting it. When O’Reilly questioned the president about the response to the attack in Benghazi, the president stated, “people don’t know at the very moment exactly why something like this happens,” and that he “revealed to the American people exactly what we understood at the time.” These responses do not adequately explain why false explanations were given for the attack. On Face the Nation, Susan Rice described the attack as a “spontaneous protest.” In response to assertions by Mohammed Magariaf, President of the General National Congress of Libya, that the attack was a planned act of terror, Rice said, “we do not have information at present that leads us to conclude that this was premeditated or preplanned.” Similarly, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney stated, “we saw no evidence to back up claims by others that this was a preplanned or premeditated attack; that we saw evidence that it was sparked by the reaction to this video. And that is what we
know thus far based on the evidence, concrete evidence - not supposition - concrete evidence that we have thus far.” The president suggests that in the swirling cloud of conflicting accounts immediately following the attack, the government simply got its facts wrong. Assuming this to be the case, it was incredibly irresponsible to tell the American people that the attack was a spontaneous reaction to a YouTube video before the government was sure of what transpired. With Libyan government officials giving accounts that pointed to a premeditated terrorist attack, it would have been wise for the president to wait before proclaiming it a “spontaneous reaction” and stating that no evidence existed to support the Libyan government’s assertions. In this interview, the president had the opportunity to apologize for speaking too soon and giving a false account of events, but instead he sought to vindicate his past actions. Despite his failure to take responsibility for his administration’s shortcomings, the president deserves respect for sitting down to answer these questions instead of avoiding them entirely.
Brian.McCarty@UConn.edu 4th-semester political science
THIS DATE IN HISTORY
BORN ON THIS DATE
1994 white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith is convicted in the murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers.
www.dailycampus.com
1964- Laura Linney 1984- Carlos Tevez 1985- Cristiano Ronaldo 1987- Darren Criss
The Daily Campus, Page 5
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
» CAREER CORNER
For students looking for hands on career experience, a co-op is the direction to go By Kathleen McWilliams Senior Staff Writer Experimental learning and applying classroom knowledge to the real world are the key components of a co-op program, according to the Center for Career Development’s “Co-Op 1001” workshop. Unlike an internship, which usually occurs over 10 weeks, a co-op program takes a student from the classroom and employs them with a company for six to eight months. During this time, students are encouraged to take only three credits and focus solely on working in a real, professional environment. Students are hired as real employees, but on a shortterm basis, and they accomplish the same work as full-timers. “The fundamental purpose is to work in a real environment,” said Ashley Pedersen, the internship resources consultant hosting the event. Pedersen said UConn is trying to expand its co-op program so that students can get hands on experience and explore a career they are interested in. Other universities, such as Northeastern in Boston Mass., mandate that students participate in a co-op program prior to graduation and while Pedersen says that UConn will most likely not make it a requirement, the university is trying to bring more co-op opportunities to students. “It’s a hands-on learning experience in a company of your choice,” Pedersen said. “You get
Ashley Maher/The Daily Campus
Amanda Fontana, left, and Kim Blomk, right, dicuss the benefits of doing a co-op, a full time work position that gives students hands on experience in a professional work environment.
hands on and can see if it’s the right field for you.” While students may have doubts about their qualifications for co-op positions, Pedersen assured students that companies hire co-op students knowing that they will do what is called “experimental learning,” or working to learn the ropes of a company. Pedersen explained that participating in a co-op means that students retain their full time student status, while only taking one class. They work full time instead, earning a place for the co-op to appear on their transcript. While there is a $104 fee for a co-op and course fees, students do not pay tuition while on co-op, nor do they have
to pay room and board. An additional financial incentive, Pedersen said, was the fact that co-ops are always paid. According to Pedersen, the average UConn co-op student makes $16,000 for their 25 weeks of full time work. For students facing post-graduate loans, Pedersen said a co-op is an excellent way to start paying them off early. Additionally, Pedersen emphasized that a co-op is often looked upon more favorably than an internship because of the quality and intensity of the work experience. “A lot of companies think of a co-op a lot higher, because the pipeline [to full-time post graduate
work] is much stronger,” Pedersen said. Joining Pedersen in the presentation was Kim Blomk, director of financial talent development programs at IBM, and Amanda Fontana, a UConn Stamford student who just completed a co-op with the company. Blomk urged students to get outside their comfort zone and explore a co-op because it offers a much more real experience than an internship. “As an intern, you work on a special project; you’re not seeing the day to day life at the company,” Blomk said. From a professional stand point, Blomk told students that co-ops
are the quickest way to employment, although the result is dependent on one’s job performance. “From our experience, a co-op is our way to find potential candidates,” Blomk said. “It is a sixmonth interview.” Blomk told students that most co-op employers are looking for are high academic performance, relevant work, research experience, leadership and teaming skills. While these qualities may be of foremost interest to employers, Blomk emphasized that doing well in the interview portion is the most important part of the process. Blomk, who personally interviewed Fontana for her co-op
Maximizing your job search:
Kathleen.McWilliams@UConn.edu
Center for Career Developments presents the five steps to effective job searching
By Evan Goad Campus Correspondent
Michael Petro presented a short and valuable information session at Laurel Hall last night. These sessions are facilitated by the Center for Career Development, at which Petro is the assistant director for employer relations, and aim to aid job or internshipseeking students in their search for employment. Petro’s presentation pushed students to form a personal brand during the collegiate experience, one based on self-analysis of individual interests, skills, values, and personality. It also urged students to take advantage of the abundant networking opportunities and tools that are provided to them, whether from the university or online platforms. Petro said job applicants should manage their personal brand via tools such as Husky Career Link and LinkedIn. These online platforms easily allow their users to get a foot in the door with potential employers and estab-
» CLUB SPOTLIGHT
lish common ground before the actual, physical process of interviewing. Husky CareerLink provides students with a filterable “Career Search” – soon to be “Career Beam” – that allows the user access to hundreds of prospective employers and expected qualities and prerequisite accomplishments from applicants. Petro said students seeking employment from smaller companies and organizations should utilize this tool and see it as an alternative to career/job fairs. Membership in field or job-specific professional organizations jump out at hiring managers. Much like untapped LinkedIn circles, any other networking opportunities should not be ignored. Once further into the application process, Petro said students should brush up their professional image and interaction with interviewers, but most importantly their potential use or relevance to the specific company, or goals/functions of the company. Petro added that applicants are, now more than ever, expected
to be informed members of society. “Read lots of publications,” said Petro, and especially those which cater to your intended field. Petro said being proactive is key, and doing so with any avenue creating common ground with your employer shows them that you are likeminded. Petro said employers chomp at the bit for applicants with this promising quality. Initiating job opportunities and pursuing them through email, networking events or conferences show the confidence employers are looking for, and doing so in a professional manner is imperative. Petro said these sessions share how to foster a career-friendly mentality, but focus on how this mindset play into presentation of a student’s professional personality along with a job-specific skill-set.
And the 5 Steps Are: 1. Know who you are and what you want from a job. 2. Network through LinkedIn and Husky Career Link
4. Keep up with the news of the companies you are interested in- it demonstrates your dedication to their business.
3. Maintain a professional image on social media and in person
5. Initiate opportunities by talking to people and asking for help.
Evan.Goad@UConn.edu
New student group focuses on financial advising and investing By Kim Halpin Focus Editor
If you, like Jordan Grzesczyk, Ravin Walters and Frankie Laratta, have an interest in financial investing and advising, check out UConn’s newest club, The Advising and Investing Club. The group, officially formed by the trio on Monday, is dedicated to learning more about a variety of financial investments. At the meetings, students will be able to actively engage with the financial industry through current event discussions, the Stock Program Challenge and other interactive learning tools. There will be opportunity for group discussions as well as the chance to hear lectures on targeted financial topics. The goal of
the meeting is to pool members’ collective experiences. So while one person might not have all the answers, someone in attendance will likely have experience in that area. “I believe UConn needs an organization like this because people face a variety of investment decisions throughout their lives on a daily basis,” Grzesczyk said. Meetings will cover topics that students encounter either in their current lives or in the near future, including real estate, financial advising, stock market trading and general financial tips. The club is not only interested in large financial investments, but also everyday tips that students can implement into their lives now to improve their financial position.
The Advising and Investing Club already has a line-up of guest speakers for the semester that will present on “investment related fields and exclusive industry knowledge pertaining to their specific field,” according to Grzesczyk. Face time with these guests can be beneficial to members seeking advice on investments and the industry. Members of the organization will also have the opportunity to gain volunteer experience through participation in certain projects. All students are invited to join the club, especially those looking for the opportunity to learn better methods of investing their current and future earnings. Members do not have to be finance or accounting majors, and the club can be a way for students to learn
outside of their major. Founding members also encourage people who have unique investing ideas to attend and share their thoughts with others in the club. “I did not start [the club] because I have all the answers; I started it because I believe bringing together many like-minded people can stimulate collaborative learning,” Grzesczyk said. “We want the atmosphere of meetings to be based around everyone learning from each other and bettering their investment knowledge through collaborative efforts.” Currently, UConn plays host to a few other financially minded clubs, including the Trading & Investment Group and the Finance Society. Founding members of the Advising and
Investing Club feel that this new group will go beyond what is offered in the other clubs by discussing more than just analytical techniques and business models for targeted markets. The hope is that the interactive element among members will allow for better understanding in the collaborative environment. The first meeting of the Advising and Investing Club will be held on Monday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Union room 325. Interested students are also encouraged to contact Jordan Grzesczyk at Jordan. Grzesczyk@uconn.edu for more information.
Kimberly.Halpin@UConn.edu
Exploring the female orgasm
By Imaani Cain Campus Correspondent Recently, a friend of mine admitted that she has never had an orgasm before. “It just, like, hasn’t happened and I don’t know why!” she told me. We ruminated over why it hadn’t happened, even though she’s sexually active—it seemed incredibly strange to the both of us. The assumption is that once you start having sex with other people, you’ll be showered in orgasms and bliss. Unfortunately, like most things, the mechanics of sex are much more complicated than they seem. Women’s Health Magazine informs its audiences that only 25% of women climax during sex, while 99% of men are consistently able to. Why is there such a huge disparity? I’d like to blame the portrayal of sex in popular media, as most media usually implies or directly shows the usage of the missionary position, which does not often hit the g-spot or stimulate the clitoris in any way. Then there is the pornography industry’s portrayal of sex, which doesn’t place any importance on mutual orgasm. This is likely because there is often no physical outcome for women when they achieve climax (though it is not uncommon for some women to ejaculate, or “squirt”), so their partners often assume they’ve had some sort of undetectable orgasm. Dr. Kerner of Women’s Health magazine recommends any one of the varying cowgirl positions (which allow for more clitoral stimulation and control), as well as working to combat any self-image issues you might have. Excessive selfconsciousness can make it too difficult for a person to orgasm, leaving them unsatisfied and irritable after sex. In order to have the best sexual experience, you have to relax. Alternately, Brown University’s Student Health Services website recommends masturbation in order to find out what arouses you most or what causes you to orgasm. Becoming more familiar with your body never hurts. Increased amounts of oral sex can also help with the intensity of orgasms. Try doing a little research with your partner if they’re inexperienced. “The Lowdown on Going Down” by Marcy Michaels was a very popular book during my freshman year of college (and the research applied yielded positive results). Kegel exercises can also assist in increasing orgasm intensity by strengthening the pelvic muscles. Regardless of whether you utilize any of the tips listed, it is important for both you and your partner to achieve orgasm. Many women I’ve met just seem to accept with resignation that they won’t ever have one. Is this because well-meaning peers and the media often teach us that only male orgasms are of any importance? Our own pleasure is seen as superfluous at best and gross at worst. I recall an interview I conducted last year, where the majority of men I asked asserted that they would never want to go down on a woman, saying it was “nasty.” They likely thought it would come at the expense of their own climax, which isn’t a helpful attitude. What’s important is to have an equal sexual relationship, one in which both partners end up happy and satisfied. Imaani.Cain@UConn.edu
The Daily Campus, Page 6
FOCUS ON:
GAMES Focus Favorite
“Super Mario Sunshine” “Super Mario Sunshine” is many things. Is it the most unique, and risk taking game in the main “Super Mario” series? Probably. Is it one of the most difficult 3D platforming games of all time? Possibly. Is it of fun? Absolutely.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Focus
Game Of The Week
Interested in writing games reviews? Come write for Focus! Meetings at 8 p.m. on Mondays.
“Super Mario Sunshine”
» 10 YEAR BIRTHDAY GAMING RETROSPECTIVE
‘Fable’ celebrates double digits
Ditching the iconic Mushroom Kingdom for the tropical paradise of Isle Delfino (void of nearly all of Mario’s iconic enemies), “Sunshine” mixed classic Mario gameplay with a water shooting-backpack named FLUDD.
Next Gen wars heat up
While alarmingly different, the waterspraying gameplay led to some of the most inventive (and intensely frustrating) scenarios seen in a platformer to date. Add in some throwback levels, remixed Mario tunes and the return of Yoshi, and you’ve got yourself a winner. -Alex Sferrazza
Upcoming Releases LEGO Movie Video Game–Feb. 7 Dark Souls III–Mar. 3 Mad Max–May 31 watchdogs–Jun. 30
By Alex Sferrazza Staff Writer
6aming.com
“Fable,” a Lionhead Studios game, turns ten years old this year. To celebrate the momentous gaming anniversary the studio released an HD version of the popular game.
By Zachary Lederman Staff Writer When any game, or series, turns ten years old, it’s considered a pretty significant event. It’s a chance for fans of the game to look back on the memories they’ve built over the years and remember the times they shared playing it with friends or the feelings they had as they progressed through the story the first time. Or maybe even start up the game one more time and play through it to relive those good days. This September “Fable” is turning ten years old, as it was in 2004 that it was first released on the original Xbox. In honor of its birthday, Lionhead Studios has released “Fable: Anniversary,” an HD rerelease of “Fable: The Lost Chapters.” In honor of this, here’s a retrospective on the original game. Even before it was released, “Fable” was getting plenty of attention, thanks to the input of chief designer Peter Molyneux. Over the course of development,
Molyneux was the face of the game, promising features left and right that seemed far ahead of their time. The chief of these was that “Fable” would never play the same twice, due to the input of player choice. In fact, this was the game’s chief selling point – that every action you took would have its own consequence and would change the game’s direction. Even the back of the box states, “Imagine a world where every choice and action determines what you become. Where you evolve in real time based on every little thing you do.” This, unfortunately, ended up being far from the truth. In fact, there were only a handful of decisions throughout the course of the game, with very few of them having any true lasting impact. In one instance, I chose to kill a girl at the end of an arena fight instead of sparing her. All that happened as a result was that I was able to duel her brother later on in the game. Nothing about the actual story changed.
Additionally, there were never more than two “options” in any choice. You were either the devil incarnate, or an angel sent down from heaven. Very infrequently was there any gray area in the decisions offered to the player. “Do you want to save the orphans, or throw more gasoline on their burning orphanage?” Decisions like that, where the only real result was that your character either became more attractive or uglier based on your choices. This wasn’t the only feature that ended up missing from Fable. Other things that Molyneux had promised, such as the ability to have and raise children, ended up being completely absent from the game. Eventually, Molyneux himself offered an apology for the hype, build-up and eventual disappointment. However, despite these criticisms, none of this is to say that Fable is a bad game. In fact, it’s quite a wonderful game that was unfortunately harmed by an overzealous developer (I still love
you, Molyneux). The gameplay is challenging and interesting, with a wide variety of combat abilities and spells, and the story (despite being relatively short) is an interesting and compelling one. The game also benefits from hours upon hours of sidecontent for players to enjoy once finished with the main campaign. There’s also no question that the game was both a critical and commercial success. It received high praise from most review sites and magazines and was successful enough to spawn three sequels (which eventually made good on most of Molyneux’s original promises) and two minigames. If you have the time to play it and the money to purchase it (retail cost is about $40) then I strongly recommend you pick up “Fable: Anniversary.” It’s a great game developed by a great studio that is guaranteed to leave you glowing.
Zachary.Lederman@UConn.edu
‘Snake Eater’ a timeless classic » FRANCHISE GAMES courtesy of gamestop.com
Top Purchases 1. Sim City Windows 2. Crysis 3 Windows 3. Grand Theft Auto V Xbox360 4. Need for Speed Rivals Xbox360 5. Grand Theft Auto PS3 6. Call of Duty Ghosts Xbox360 7. Company of Heroes 2 Windows 8. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag- Xbox360 9. Just Dance 2014 Nintendo Wii 10. Pokémon X Nintendo 3DS
courtesy of amazon.com
By Alex Sferrazza Staff Writer We live in an era where hardcore games continue to evolve with advances in storytelling and cinematic presentations rivaling Hollywood’s finest offerings. But every few years, a landmark title comes around that manages to expertly blur the lines between video games and films, presenting a cinematic interactive entertainment experience unlike any other. In 2013, one such title was “The Last of Us,” but almost a decade earlier, a similar feat was achieved by “Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.” The third installment in the blockbuster tactical espionage, “Metal Gear Solid” franchise, 2004’s “Snake Eater” brought the unparalleled cinematic quality of the earlier installments in the franchise to new heights. The “game” didn’t just serve as a great homage to the James Bond films that have so obviously influenced the series–it was even better. Game designer and storyteller Hideo Kojima truly outdid himself with MGS3, a prequel to the entire “Metal Gear” saga set in the heart of the Cold War. It’s a familiar plot of conspiracies and spy operations, and while a work of complete fiction, Kojima made us question bureaucracies in ways we never before imagined. A great hero, “Naked Snake,” who in earlier titles played the villainous Big Boss, was simply the cherry on top of what was already an incredible package. As far as the actual gameplay in “Metal Gear Solid 3” went, the title set a new gold standard from which all action stealth games would be judged.
Moving the serious out of the cold, enclosed buildings of earlier titles and into the open jungles of the USSR, the game had the freedom to break new ground. Food could now be hunted for on the battlefield, and the new camouflage system gave players the ability to “hide” out in the open. The title was also the very first in the series to introduce advanced Close Quarters Combat or “CQC.” The boss battles remain some of the best in video game history. Who could forget the horrifying flame-thrower duel against exCosmonaut “The Fury” or the “death” sequence one was subjected to against “The Sorrow”? “MGS3” also featured Hideo Kojima’s trademark sense of humor. Memorably, if one saved their game at the start of a certain boss battle against an extremely old opponent and did not boot up the game again until two weeks later, they would be informed that the boss died waiting for the player to return. The first installment of “Metal Gear Solid V” is set for release later this Spring. “Ground Zeroes” will serve as a prologue to the upcoming main campaign of “Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.” Naked Snake will return as the main protagonist for the second time in a main MGS title in what promises to be a spectacular finale showing his ultimate fall from grace becoming the villain known as Big Boss. While every “Metal Gear” fan has a favorite, “Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater” stands as the true heart of the entire saga and remains just as incredible experience ten years later.
Alex.Sferrazza@UConn.edu
The name’s Bond, James Bond By Max Engel Campus Correspondent
The “James Bond 007” franchise is arguably one of the most successful cultural exports from England, next to “Top Gear” and “Harry Potter.” With dozens of films spanning decades, this martini-loving MI6 agent has enjoyed much success with various videogame adaptations, especially with “007 GoldenEye” for the Nintendo 64. Developed by Britain’s finest at Rareware, “007 GoldenEye” remains iconic for it’s local multiplayer to this day. As technology moved forward, new video game systems were released in 2002 by another British developer, Eurocom, culminating in “James Bond 007: Nightfire” for the Playstation 2, Xbox and GameCube systems. Despite having an egregiously lacking PC version, this game isn’t just for your eyes only. The game’s story centers around a wealthy CEO named Raphael Drake, who runs Phoenix International, a company that is used for a front for arms smuggling. As a result, Mr. Bond is sent on a mission to prevent Drake from receiving a nuclear missile guidance microchip at his Austrian estate. Like the films, Bond has a myriad of gadgets to use at his discretion, as well as a few femme-fatales working alongside him. Interestingly, the voice actresses for the Australian and Japanese char-
acters are indeed their respective nationalities, so you won’t have to worry about bad accent impersonations. As for the gameplay, I found it to be very good. The twelve missions in the game encompass a variety of scenarios; in one mission, you’ll be sneaking through an office building trying not to alert patrolling guards, and in another, you’ll be driving none other than an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish. There are quite a few different kinds of weapons as well. You’ve got your pistols, machine guns, sniper rifles and rocket launchers, but the weapon selection doesn’t feel so large that it is overwhelming. That’s more than I can say for games like “Call of Duty” or “Battlefield,” in which a sizable amount of guns feel very similar to each other and non-distinct, and the gameplay differences between some rifles are negligible. I found the variety in the missions a good way to keep things from getting monotonous and an excellent replication of the “James Bond” genre. The game can be played on three difficulty modes and each of the twelve missions can net you a bronze, silver, gold or platinum medal. Silver medals unlock multiplayer game modes, gold medals unlock single-player weapon and gadget upgrades and platinum medals unlock multiplayer skins resembling characters from older Bond movies, such
» 007, page7
Only a few short months into the next-generation console war, Microsoft should begin to get a bit worried. Across the board, Sony’s Playstation 4 is already consistently outselling Microsoft’s Xbox One. From a software perspective, both systems have yet to release a killer app or at the very least a major, triple-A exclusive title. While this will be remedied shortly with the releases of “inFamous Second Son” and “Titanfall” for the PS4 and Xbox One respectively, this current lack of software shows that customers are buying consoles based on the merits of the systems themselves. No longer does a must-play game sell the system; the console must be able to sell itself. And that is where Microsoft’s concern should lie with the Xbox One. While consumers have come to expect modern consoles to include multimedia features like DVD/Blu-Ray playback and the ability to stream Netflix and other video services, main selling points of the Xbox One, including a picture-in-picture mode and seamless integration with the user’s cable box can’t help but come off as a bit gimmicky. Does it really take that much of an effort to pick up a remote and switch from your Xbox to cable? Furthermore, these features show a Microsoft that has seriously misjudged their audience. The kinds of people who will be spending an extensive amount of time on Xbox aren’t necessarily the same people who are big traditional television watchers. Over the life span of the Xbox 360, many a game journalist would joke about ditching cable altogether as Microsoft added Netflix streaming and a flurry of sports content to the system. In the end, the selling point gamers are most concerned with is the system’s raw graphical power. Bottom line, some people simply don’t want to pay an extra $100, fancy camera or not, for a piece of technology that is inferior to a cheaper competing product. While Microsoft has done their very best to downplay the graphical disparity between Xbox One and PS4, you’ll start to see some heads turning when it’s announced that “Call of Duty GHOSTS” is only able to run natively in 1080p on the PS4. When it’s announced that “Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition” will run at 60 frames per second on the Playstation 4 and only at 30 fps on Xbox One, things will start to get serious. While the casual observer might brush off these details as nothing more than high tech mumbo jumbo, the core gamer does not. These are for the types of people who adopt new systems earlier than anyone else and therefore set the precedent that the rest of the market will follow. To them, these “slight” differences mean everything. The sales numbers certainly show it.
» CONSOLE page 7
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Controversy over consoles
The Daily Campus, Page 7
Focus
It’s a major don’t: Video games to movies
from NEXT GEN, page 6 The PS4 sold 4.2 million units worldwide in 2013, while the Xbox One only managed 3 million units. The PS4’s lead is all but guaranteed to increase when the system launches in its home country of Japan, a market that has shunned the Xbox for over a decade, on Feb. 22. It was recently announced that the PS4 is outselling the Xbox One in the UK by a ratio of 1.5 to 1. While figures for the US aren’t readily available, it didn’t take more than a trip to my local Best Buy to get my answer. Want an Xbox One? They had plenty lying on the shelf. I asked an employee where the Playstation 4s were. After a short chuckle, he explained that not only had they been sold out for weeks, but that the demand is so high, that Sony simply can’t manufacture enough systems to meet keep up.
Alex.Sferrazza@UConn.edu
007 makes an enjoyable game from BOND, page 6 as “Goldfinger” and “A View to a Kill.” In addition, the only way to obtain platinum medals is to both play on the hardest difficulty for a difficulty-based point multiplier and replay a mission in which you have previously obtained a gold medal. Doing the latter will spawn a number of 007 tokens scattered in each level in well-hidden locations and a further bonus can only be obtained if the player has collected all of the tokens in a level. The number of tokens to collect depends on the level. I personally have obtained platinum medals on nearly every mission of the game and I can attest to the fact that this feat is challenging but not frustrating, as it can be fun to find out the best strategies to conserve your health as well as improve your marksmanship. Overall, I found “Nightfire” to be a relatively enjoyable game that pays a healthy homage to the “James Bond” franchise. With a good variety of gameplay and challenges, some gamers put “Nightfire” on par with the legendary “GoldenEye” in regards to both its single-player campaign and its multiplayer modes. When it comes to videogames based on 007, I’d say that “Nightfire” shakes the formula, instead of merely stirring it.
Max.Engel@UConn.edu
amazon.com
Video games like “Silent Hill Revelation” and “Super Mario Bros” were fantastic video games, but their film counterparts were box office disasters that managed to alienate the loyal fan bases.
By Zachary Lederman Staff Writer If there’s one thing any gamer knows not to do, it’s watching a movie based on a video game. I know it’s tempting to think that a movie based on your favorite game or series must be good, but trust me, it probably isn’t. They’ve been making these types of movies for over twenty years and they’ve always been consistently bad. Hollywood, refuses to give up on the concept, however, with at least two movies based on games in the next few years (“Sly Cooper” and “Warcraft”). Don’t believe me yet? Well then why don’t we take a look back at the biggest video game-to-film blunders ever filmed? No list could possibly start off without this “gem,” “Super Mario Bros.” Originally released in 1993, it was one of the first of its kind to try
and make money off of the name with absolutely none of the content. The movie features Mario and Luigi as they try and stop “King Koopa” from invading Brooklyn, along with his army of Koopas and Goombas. If it already seems to bear no resemblance to “Super Mario Bros.” then congratulations, you have a working brain! Really, other than using the names of popular Mario characters (with Peach notably absent and replaced by Daisy, for some reason) it doesn’t resemble Super Mario at all. Also, the dinosaurs speak English, and the movie is full of terrible puns. Nothing more need be said about it. Let’s all just try to forget that it exists, because Nintendo certainly has. Next up is a personal favorite of mine, because I actually remember its release. “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” starring Angelina Jolie. Now, I had
never played a “Tomb Raider” game when this terrible piece of garbage was released in 2001, but I’m fairly sure my 8-year-old brain could tell that this was nothing at all like the games. Although the movie was a commercial success, it held none of the interesting Indiana Jones-esque charm of the games. It featured nothing more than a continuous flow of action sequences, without anything resembling a plot (maybe there were triangles or something; I can’t really remember). The last franchise I’d like to include on my list is actually two films, “Silent Hill,” and “Silent Hill: Revelations 3D.” I don’t even know what to say about these movies, other than, “stop, don’t make me try and think of something to say about these movies.” The plots were basically incomprehensible masses of trash and any “scares” were just jump scares.
The “Silent Hill” series has always relied on creating eerie atmosphere and frightening the player to their very core, not just throwing out a scary face in a window and calling it a day. These movies (if you can really call them that) do not deserve to have the same title as “Silent Hill.” They don’t even deserve to be in the same genre. Also, Sean Bean didn’t die in the first film, so that’s a problem in and of itself. Ok, I lied about “Silent Hill” being the last one on my list, because I wanted this one to come as a surprise. Without question, “Postal” is the worst movie based on a game of all time. It makes all three of the aforementioned movies look like “The Godfather” in comparison. If there’s a plot in this movie, I can’t find it. To me, it just seemed like endless scenes of politically incorrect jokes, combined in a way that somehow made them
worse together than individually. This movie is bad. It’s just so bad, and I can’t think of a single better way to describe it. It has no redeeming qualities at all, and all of humanity is worse off for its creation. If I could travel back in time only twice, I would first ensure that this movie was never made and then travel back to that moment again to watch myself do it. It would take days to list all of the terrible, horrible gamebased films. There are more I’d like to write about, but it would take a few issues of the Daily Campus just to do so. So before I go, here’s my “honorary mention” list of other terrible movies: “Hitman,” “In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale,” “Max Payne,” and “Street Fighter.” If you want to have a truly miserable day, I could not more strongly recommend any of these films.
skills, you can learn those anywhere,” Fontana said. “What you take away from a part time job is what is important.” Fontana delivered the student perspective on co-ops and spoke favorably about her experience. “Entering IBM at this age is very advantageous,” Fontana said. “You get to experience the full culture and dynamics of IBM.” Back to being a full time student in Stamford’s Financial Management program, Fontana
reflected on her six months working in major and growth markets during revenue consolidation and said that the experience made her more detail oriented and focused on doing things right the first time. “At a place like IBM you’re not going to want to make mistakes… it’s not homework you can put off until the morning. Your boss needs a report now and you do it and you do it well,” Fontana said. Fontana spoke of her frequent need to self-evaluate, and said that
being faced with a real-world job where mistakes were not tolerated was a stressful transition. To help keep herself on track, Fontana wrote down areas in which she needed to improve, keeping her learning curve high. Fontana also went the extra mile and sought out mentors and connections at IBM, something that Blomk said most employees don’t do on their own. As for how her co-op experience has influenced her, Fontana said that the experience was very
positive and helped her to grow both as a student and a professional. “Now that I’m back to school,” Fontana said. “I’m very detail oriented and I am much more confident in engaging with adults.”
Unique work opportunity for students looking for a more in depth and intense career experience from CO-OP, page 5
position, said that Fontana displayed transferrable skills, those learned outside of the classroom that cannot be taught, such as communication skills, and that those were the reason she was hired. Despite her lack of financial experience, Fontana’s ability to handle difficult customers with grace at her Ralph Lauren retail job made her stand out during her interview. “It goes back to transferrable
Zachary.Lederman@UConn.edu
Kathleen.McWilliams@UConn.edu
The Daily Campus, Page 8
Comics
Wednesday, February 5, 2013
PHOTO OF THE DAY
Meek Beesk by Meewillis
ZARRIN AHMED/The Daily Campus
UConn UNICEF campus initiative meets in CUE.
SweaterCorps
Classic Side of Rice
by Kevin J.
by Laura Rice
Classic Lazy Girl
Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is an 8 -- More income is possible today and tomorrow. Friends inspire your move. Confer with allies, and get in action. Pay attention! There's an opportunity presenting itself like a low-hanging pear. You can make it happen.
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HOROSCOPES
Today's Birthday (02/05/14). Strengthen and build support this year, especially around health, career and romance. To keep fun and play alive, get inspired by children. Realign your path to include true priorities, physically, creatively and spiritually. It's profitable. Renew your home around March and April, in between adventures. Love, romance and partnership expand around the solar eclipse (6/10). Begin a new phase. To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Assert your desires confidently over the next two days. Help comes from above when you pledge with your heart. Keep meditating on what you love. You're even more powerful than usual. No more procrastination. Take action. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is a 6 -- Get philosophical today and tomorrow. Something's coming due. There's a brilliant insight percolating. Take time for thoughtful introspection. Personal values drive your decisions. Friends help you get farther. Retreat from the world, and set long-term goals. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Your friends are a big help today and tomorrow. Follow the rules, and a strong leader. Keep your own goals in mind, too. Discover hidden benefits. Hold off on a household decision. Pay a debt first. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Be prepared for inspection today and tomorrow. Schedule for the unexpected. With increased scrutiny, stay balanced. Follow rules obediently, and get stronger. A new door opens after you pass the test. Share dreams with friends. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Let your thoughts roam. Dream big. Use common sense in your planning. Follow a hunch. Set long-range goals today and tomorrow. New expenses could change things. More work leads to more benefits. Share your studies when ready. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Consider your next move. Focus on finances for the next two days, and grow your nest egg. You're getting closer to the truth. Maybe you hit the society page. Fantasies come true. Allow for miscues with humor. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Is there a leak? Check out household items carefully before buying. Your partner's opinion matters. A new direction in your collaboration develops. Another partner or friend mediates. Try a new flavor. Consider unexplored options. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Refocus on work priorities today and tomorrow, and ignore distractions. Let yourself get persuaded to take action. Find unexplainable inspiration. Indulge your inner workaholic, and fuel with hot drinks, creature comforts and a rewarding promise. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 6 -- With confrontation possible, consider how to present your view to erase objections. Keep family in mind. Draw upon hidden resources. Love's a comfort when money's tight. You're entering a cuddly mood. Music soothes the savage beast. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 6 -- Enforce household rules, and handle home repairs today and tomorrow. Make a dream come true. Others offer inspiration. Declare, "It can happen." Research yields a surprising discovery. Invite folks to participate. Share what you're learning. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 6 -- Study and practice today and tomorrow. Explore and challenge assumptions. Go ahead and get philosophical. Test your theories, and map out a route to a dream. Price it out. Share it with someone close.
by Brian Ingmanson
by Michelle Penney
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
The Daily Campus, Page 9
Sports
Elway knows the pain will linger for Broncos, fans ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Three times during his Hall of Fame playing career, John Elway slogged through the rubble of a Super Bowl landslide. Forty-eight hours after Denver's devastating 43-8 defeat by Seattle in this year's Super Bowl, the Broncos' boss was asked how long it took him to get over those big blowouts. "I'm not over them yet," Elway said. "I just add this one to it." Elway understands Broncos fans are struggling to come to grips with just how the highest-scoring team in league history self-destructed and five-time MVP Peyton Manning managed but a single touchdown throw against the Seahawks. "It was a great year," Elway said. "We came up short, but it wasn't due to lack of effort or lack of want-to. We didn't play very well two days ago. I know that's what everybody is disappointed about. We're disappointed about it, players are disappointed. But, it was a hell of a year. We went through a lot of different things, but I'm proud of the team." A half hour later, with coach John Fox by his side and the season-ending news conference wrapping up, Elway asked to add one thing because he felt the need to remind everyone that this season wasn't an utter failure. "Right now the focus is on what happened instead of how we got there and what we did this year, what we went through as a team. But I say that the farther you get away from this, the less you concentrate on just that one game, the more you recognize the whole season and really what we did as a football team and really as an organization," Elway
said. "And I'll tell you what, I'm very proud of that." Sure, changes need to be made, he said, but not the wholesale kind. After the Broncos' crushing loss to Baltimore in last year's playoffs, Elway created what Manning called an "uncomfortable atmosphere" around Dove Valley, a reminder of the scar that loss left. It served as the impetus for this 15-4 season that came up just short of a championship. Now, Elway's promising to navigate this offseason with the notion that this Super Bowl loss will drive Denver to next year's title game in the Arizona desert, and this time, he hopes they'll be better prepared for the big stage. "The goal has not changed and it will not change," Elway insisted. "We will use this as an experience that we went through, be disappointed that we didn't play better, but the bottom line is this organization and what (team owner) Pat Bowlen wants from this organization — that has not changed and it will not change. "The bottom line is we're going to work as hard as we worked this year, if not harder, and continue to do that with the mindset that we want to be world champions and we're going to do everything we can to get there." An hour earlier, players trudged through the locker room cleaning out their belongings and saying goodbye to one another, some for a couple of months, others for good. "It's tough, talking about the game and where we go from here," said wide
receiver Eric Decker, soon to be a free agent. "Obviously we're very disappointed about the results. You can't change anything, you just learn from it. It's just as tough today if not tougher than two days ago." Like Elway, Decker wasn't sure he's ever going to really get over this loss. "I don't know where or when that corner is," he said. "We were in this similar situation last year, Baltimore, we felt like we had the pieces for a championship season. It sticks with you and motivates you, it never goes away. You learn to fuel your fire from it, to deal with it and to move on with it." Decker and Knowshon Moreno and Zane Beadles said they prefer to stay in Denver, but they know the Broncos can't keep all their guys together. Either way, none of them wanted to ponder their own future just like they didn't want to look back on the Super Bowl and try to figure out where it went wrong. "It's too fresh to get a good idea," Beadles said. "As the offseason goes on here there will be plenty of time to reflect back and figure those things out. If I am here we've got to come back stronger than ever." Fox told his players to walk out of the building with their heads held high. "I know there is disappointment," Fox said. "It will take a while to go away for all of us, but at the end of the day, it was a successful season: 15-4 is not real shabby." AP
Denver Broncos Vice President John Elway speaks during an end of the season news conference
Report in Dolphins bullying scandal expected soon
AP
In this Oct. 27, 2013 file photo, Miami Dolphins tackle Jonathan Martin sits on the bench in the first quarter of an NFL football game against New England
MIAMI (AP) — The NFL's report in the Miami Dolphins bullying case is expected to be released soon, shedding further light on the muchscrutinized, troubled relationship between offensive linemen Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito. The report likely will address whether the Dolphins organization was at fault for the locker-room culture that led Martin to leave the team last October. He later said he was harassed daily by teammates, including Incognito, and alleged their racial, aggressive and sexually charged comments played a role in his departure. Incognito's suspension by the team was lifted Tuesday. Dolphins officials say that was an administrative move agreed to by all parties last year, and had nothing to do with any new developments in the league investigation of the case. Last week, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said he has an idea of what will be in the league's report, and indicated he doesn't expect any new revelations. He said he's proud of the way the people running the franchise responded to the scandal. Martin has said he tried to be friends with Incognito. The two players traded more a thousand text messages in a year's span, and the teasing and vulgar banter went both
ways, with references to sex, drugs, violence and bawdy behavior, often in a jocular tone. The back-and-forth continued last week. In his first interview since the scandal broke, Martin told NBC persistent vulgar language around the team made him feel trapped. Incognito's attorney Mark Schamel responded with a statement saying Martin was "hiding behind false allegations" rather than dealing with "his poor onfield performance and myriad other issues." The NFL report will come from New York attorney Ted Wells three months after he was retained by the league to investigate the case, which inspired a national debate about hazing and workplace bullying. Wells will determine the role of coach Joe Philbin, his staff and Miami management in the case. One issue is whether anyone on the coaching staff ordered Incognito to toughen up Martin, who became a starter as a rookie in 2012 but played poorly at times. Martin has said people in the organization knew he was unhappy about comments teammates made to him, but he didn't talk to Philbin about it. The 6-foot-5, 312-pound Martin abruptly left the team Oct. 28. He was briefly hos-
pitalized and then joined his family in California and underwent counseling for emotional issues. Incognito was suspended Nov. 3 and sat out the final eight games. Both players have said they want to play in 2014, but it likely won't be with the Dolphins. Incognito becomes a free agent next month and will probably sign with another team, and Dolphins are expected to trade or release Martin, who has two years remaining on his contract. In a tweet Tuesday, Incognito said he supported Martin "100 percent in his return to football in 2014." Teammates said the two linemen seemed to be good friends, despite their contrasting backgrounds. Martin, 24, was a classics major at Stanford, while Incognito, 30, was kicked off his team at Nebraska and went on to develop a reputation as one of the NFL's dirtiest players known for out-of-bounds behavior. Incognito has said he regrets racist and profane language he used with Martin, but said it stemmed from a culture of locker-room "brotherhood," not bullying. Incognito is white and Martin is black. Teammates both black and white have said Incognito is not a racist, and they've been more supportive of the veteran guard than they have of Martin.
Alabama's season could spiral
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama's difficult season has taken a turn for the worse. Coach Anthony Grant and the Crimson Tide are trying to reverse a recent downward spiral of lopsided defeats and continuing road woes. Alabama (9-12, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) has lost four of its last five games by an average margin of 15 points going into Wednesday's visit to Arkansas (13-8, 2-6). "Our vision is to build a program that can compete for championships, and we're not there yet," Grant said Tuesday. "But we're going to keep working. We're going to keep grinding every single day. I think the guys in the locker room will tell you the same thing. "That's what we talk about every day. These guys want to win." Wins have been hard to come by this season for the Tide, which has averaged 23 victories over the past three seasons. Alabama started the season competitive even in losses despite a schedule ranked the second-toughest
in the country by ESPN.com. Four of the seven nonconference defeats were by five points or less, and the most lopsided loss was 74-64 to No. 11 Duke. Alabama hasn't been nearly so competitive lately. The Tide is coming off a 76-59 loss to Tennessee that followed a 74-55 thumping by Auburn, which had dropped 16 consecutive SEC games. Alabama has been cold from the floor in the four losses, shooting a combined 35.9 percent (75 of 209) from the field and making just 20.6 percent (13 of 63) of its 3-pointers. Grant said the team and coaching staff remain confident, but that now it needs to translate into victories. "We've got to pull some games out. We've got to go win," said Grant, who has led the Tide to the NCAA tournament once in his first four seasons. "What I want to see is our team compete, play with that pride and energy for 40 minutes, put a full game together. Let's let the chips where they may after that.
The Daily Campus, Page 10
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Sports
Super Bowl XVIII aftermath By Mike McCurry NFL Columnist
Demoralized. Heartbroken. Just downright gloomy. The state of the Broncos after getting stomped to the tune of 43-8 against the Seahawks, you assume? Incorrect. Rather, it’s how I’m feeling knowing this is the last NFL column I’ll write for The Daily Campus. If I had a dollar for every time an old-timer warned me that four years in college moved at Godspeed, I would probably have the cash to pull a Floyd Mayweather and put up a couple million on various sporting events. (The old-timers were right, by the way.) And if these four great years at UConn have flown by quickly, the last two seasons covering the NFL for the school paper have seemingly ensued in the blink of an eye – also known as a Percy Harvin kickoff return to the house. I want to thank everyone who has made this tenure possible for me, including: my two loving parents, who also happen to be my biggest supporters; my great group of friends both back in Jersey and here on campus, never hesitating to lay on the constructive criticism and disagree with my opinions; and guys like Tim Tebow, Chad Ochocinco and Mark Sanchez, who have provided me with more than enough material to use them as punch-lines and cause my devoted fan base to double over with laughter (not double over in the Sanchez “Butt Fumble” way). For my sendoff, I will share with you five things I am absolutely positive of after watching the bloodbath that was Super Bowl XLVIII. As always, feedback is recommended and appreciated. It’s been a helluva ride serving as your NFL columnist but, as we’re all aware of, contracts do eventually run out. Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Tebow? Referring to Russell Wilson as “just another Alex Smith” is an unforgivable sin…This is not a knock on Smith as much as it is an endorsement of Wilson. Smith, who set a career-high in yards and touchdowns this season en route to his first Pro Bowl selection, constantly gets labeled as nothing more than a “game manager”– someone that plays fundamentally sound football, doesn’t turn the ball over and mostly defers to an elite running back. While Wilson has a top-tier running back in Marshawn Lynch and has thrown only 19 interceptions in 32 regular-season starts, his carving up of the Broncos in the Super Bowl served as the latest example that he is entering the realm of top-10 quarterbacks league wide. Wilson has a cannon for an arm (that’s the MLB draftee in him), and his heart is the size of the lines of people hanging around outside MetLife Stadium waiting for New Jersey Transit on Sunday night. It may be premature to throw Wilson into the Rodgers-Brady-Manning category, but keep in mind that neither the Packers, Patriots nor Broncos have anyone close to Lynch as a backfield option. Besides, the Seahawks are often leading by so much in the second half of games that Wilson needn’t do anything more than hand the rock
off and attempt to kill clock (he ranked No. 22 among NFL quarterbacks in attempts, but No. 4 in yards per attempt). Against Denver, Wilson completed 72% of his throws, accumulating 206 yards and two touchdowns. Not only is Wilson a franchise quarterback, at age 25, he’s already a Super Bowl champion. The Seahawks acquisition of Percy Harvin was officially validated on Sunday… In March, the Seahawks surrendered three draft picks, one of which was a 2013 first-rounder, to acquire dynamic wide receiver Percy Harvin from the Vikings. Seattle had to wait nearly a full year for their transaction to pay off but, under the brightest of lights versus the Broncos, Harvin shone like the closest thing to a diamond. Undeniably, I told everyone that Harvin would have zero impact in the Super Bowl, seeing that the guy is prone to suffering a brutal migraine, concussion and broken bone in his lower body every time he gets touched – that, plus the fact he totaled one catch all season after coming back late from hip surgery. Well, it turns out that Denver ignored him to the extent that I did. Because as much as Harvin seriously does seem to get significantly injured whenever a defender touches him, the Broncos barely laid a finger on him all evening. On the Seahawks’ second play from scrimmage, they ran an end-around for Harvin that went for 30 yards and put Seattle deep in Denver territory. Harvin would add another 15-yard scamper before the first quarter came to a close (those 45 rushing yards were a gamehigh for either team). Then, to open up the second half, Harvin provided the dagger that knocked out any remaining wind that was left in Denver’s’ sails: an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, one that was fielded off of one hop and put Harvin’s tantalizing combination of breakneck speed and explosiveness on full display. It gave Seattle a 29-0 lead, but more than that it gave Seahawks fans a dreamy picture of what to expect if Harvin were to stay healthy for an extended period of time. Even with a young receiving core, the offense would be virtually impossible to stop. Seattle’s WR’s are vastly underrated, but that’s not even the most underappreciated unit on their roster… A wide receiver core of Harvin, Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and Golden Tate deserves to get more respect around the NFL, but it’s actually the Seahawks’ defensive line that most merits a love-fest. I think the main reason that the D-line flies under the radar is due to the insanely ferocious secondary. In reality, though, as much as I am enamored by Seattle’s defensive backs, they are allowed to be premier ball hawks and ultra aggressive due to the guys that do the dirty work in the trenches. The Seahawks’ number one offseason priority should be to resign Michael Bennett, their defensive end who totaled eight-and-a-half sacks this year and anchored a unit that allowed under four yards per carry to opposing running backs. But Bennett isn’t the only stud in those D-line meetings; Chris Clemons (four-and-ahalf sacks) – whom Seattle acquired on the cheap
from Philadelphia – and Cliff Avril (eight sacks), who came over from Detroit, also represent the group that quietly ranks among the NFL’s best. Going up against an impenetrable Denver offensive line that normally gives Peyton Manning Pope-like protection, Avril and his boys were the unsung heroes of the 43-8 rout. Manning was under duress the entire game, and his two interceptions were both a result of being hassled and on the verge of being sacked. Additionally, the Seahawks yielded a laughable 27 Broncos rushing yards. Now, that front office must figure out how to hang on to Clemons, Avril and Bennett. It’s not a debate: Peyton Manning’s legacy did get tarnished a bit in the Seattle massacre… Peyton Manning has now lost two Super Bowls, and his only Super Bowl victory has come against a Rex Grossman-led Bears squad. Brother Eli has more rings than him, and it’s impossible to argue against the notion that Eli is a superior big-game quarterback. And honestly, who puts up more ducks: Peyton Manning, or a bird adoption? True, he has tossed a lot of wobbly pigskins in his record-setting campaign, but no two were as ugly as the two interceptions he accounted for versus Seattle—one even went for a pick-six by eventual MVP Malcolm Smith. If we’re talking regular-season, Peyton has to be in the conversation for greatest gunslinger of all-time. Postseason-wise, though, LeBron James’ resume blows away that of Peyton’s. The elder Manning is currently 11-12 in 23 career playoff appearances, and I loathe that too many fans tend to ignore this based on him being such a likable character in interviews. Peyton’s forehead is massive, but the elephant in the room is bigger: he is not at an all-time level when it comes to playoff greatness. Eric Decker and Knowshon Moreno didn’t exactly put on an encore presentation for future suitors… Like the Seahawks, Denver has some serious numbers to crunch in between today and the start of next season. Broncos’ players whose contracts have or may expire include cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, defensive end Shaun Phillips, offensive guard Zane Beadles, wideout Eric Decker and running back Knowshon Moreno. The latter two, Decker and Moreno, couldn’t have posted worse performances in what is likely to be their last game in a Broncos uniform. Decker, who for the second consecutive year eclipsed 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns, was baffled by the Legion of Boom and had one catch for six yards. Moreno, meanwhile, quieted those who had considered him a bust (he was the No. 12 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft) by running for 1,038 yards and finding pay dirt 13 times (10 rushing touchdowns, three receiving touchdowns) this season. Still, in the Super Bowl he tallied just 17 yards on the ground. Hopefully, whichever NFL team scoops these guys up will pay them based on their entire year’s production rather than just the Super Bowl.
Michael.McCurry@UConn.edu
UConn doubles opponent's score from MUSTANG, page 12
keep coming into the lane,” Stefanie Dolson said, “kind of knowing that we might block it and that we have a really good chance of blocking it.” With how the Huskies were able to keep shots from underneath the basket from ever reaching their target, SMU’s outside shooting was put at a premium, but was unable to convert. The Mustangs shot just 3 of 19 from behind the arc. “It changes a lot,” Bria Hartley said. “I remember when we did play Brittney Griner, you think you’re going to have a wide open layup and then she comes and blocks it. So you kind of need to go in there kind of cautiously and kick the ball out if you see a shooter… it’s hard, especially when you have three shot blockers like [Breanna Stewart], Stef and [Kiah Stokes] back there, it’s not only just one person, it’s three of them.” For the second straight game, it was a collective effort on the offensive end of the court for the Huskies (24-0, 11-0 American Athletic Conference) as well. Five players – Moriah Jefferson, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Stewart, Hartley and Dolson – scored in double-digits, and six of UConn’s seven scholarship players had tallied at least a point within the first eight minutes of the game. Hartley opened the night by scoring seven of the Huskies’ 11 points, but picked up two fouls within the first 5:01 and was forced into a stint on the bench. The layoff cooled her hot hand temporarily and limited her to just two points in the remainder of the half, but the offensive rhythm returned in the second half. “There’s times when you kind of get out there and you sit out the rest of the half, it kind of takes a shot at your confidence a little bit, the fact that you’re not out there playing,” said Hartley, who finished with a game-high 21. “But I think you’ve always have to come back strong...I think we always come back strong because we have that chip on our shoulder when we come back in.” The Huskies, who have struggled to rebound the ball at times this season, won the battle on the glass, 48-39, thanks in large part to 11 boards apiece from Dolson and Mosqueda-Lewis, both of whom finished with double-doubles. Brianna Banks reinjured her previously sprained left ankle in practice Monday and was unable to play. The biggest home game of UConn’s conference slate, a national championship rematch with No. 4 Louisville, looms on Sunday. That game is set for a 1 p.m. tip-off on ESPN.
Matthew.Stypulkoski@UConn.edu
Flood finally adds Friedgen to Rutgers staff
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — If Rutgers had been off on the first weekend in October last season, the school might have lured former Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen out of retirement a lot earlier. Scarlet Knights coach Kyle Flood disclosed Tuesday that he talked to Friedgen about becoming the team's offensive coordinator last season, but was turned down because the veteran coach's daughter, Kelly, was getting married. "I had too much money sunk into it to say I could coach unless he had an open date on Oct. 5," Friedgen quipped. When Flood telephoned again after offensive coordinator Ron Prince left Rutgers to join the Detroit Lions, the 66-year-old Friedgen jumped at the chance to return to the college ranks. "I really missed the association with the players," Friedgen said in a conference call to introduce the Scarlet Knights' three new coordinators. "That was the biggest thing I missed. I couldn't replace that in my life. ' Friedgen said working in a recent allstar game got his coaching juices flowing again. Having his wife, Gloria, tell him to get out of the house more also helped.
With the exception of receiver Brandon Coleman, who is leaving school early to join the NFL, Friedgen gets most of his offense back for Rutgers' first season in the Big Ten Conference. The biggest question will be whether quarterback Gary Nova can regain the job he lost because of ineffectiveness during a 6-7 season. Friedgen has been meeting with players and watching videotape since being hired five days ago, the same day that Flood promoted Joe Rossi to defensive coordinator and hired Bob Fraser as special teams coordinator. The specials teams coach the past two seasons, Rossi served as the interim defensive coordinator for the Pinstripe Bowl in a 29-16 loss to Notre Dame after Dave Cohen was fired following the regular season. Fraser is returning to Rutgers after two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Friedgen has operated option, pro, one-back and two-back offenses in his career. He won't decide which to use at Rutgers until he knows what the players can do. Friedgen spent 10 seasons at Maryland, posting a 75-50 record. He was fired in
2010 despite leading the Terps to a 9-4 record. He has long resume as an offensive coordinator working with the San Diego Chargers of the NFL, and Georgia Tech, Maryland, Murray State, William & Mary and The Citadel. Flood said he elevated Rossi based on his work at the school, his work at the Pinstripe Bowl and talks in the last month. "We'll be very similar to what we've done," Rossi said. "We'll be an attacking defense. We'll be a defense that's opportunistic. The things that we've been able to do at Rutgers over the years that have allowed us to play great defense are going to continue to be the things we're going to look to do." Lack of experience, injuries and the loss of seven starters from the previous season caused Rutgers to struggle on defense in 2013. This will be Fraser's third tour with Rutgers, adding he followed the Scarlet Knights while away the last two years. "In a lot of ways I felt like I never left," Fraser said.
AP
In this Oct. 18, 2008 file photo, Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen yells from the sidelines
More than half of Americans plan to follow Olympics
AP
A Russian Olympic volunteer poses for snapshots next to the Olympic rings in Sochi, Russia
NEW YORK (AP) — Just over half of Americans surveyed plan to watch or follow the Winter Olympics, according to an Associated Press-GfK Poll, and one-third of respondents say they have only a little or no confidence about Russia's ability to safeguard safety at the Sochi Games that start this week. The likely audience for the Olympics is on the older side, with 65 percent age 50 or over planning to follow the quadrennial event compared with 47 percent among younger adults, according to the survey, conducted from Jan. 17-21. Few are deeply confident Russia can keep the games safe: 19 percent are extremely or very confident Russia will protect the Olympics from terrorist attacks, 46 percent are somewhat confident and 33 percent just a little or not at all confident. Asked how they would follow the games, 86 percent who said they would follow plan to watch events on television, while 17 percent intend to view online streams. Thirty-five percent say they will read about the results online and 20 percent in newspapers. There's a broad age gap, with one-third under
age 40 planning to follow online streams and just 9 percent aiming to follow the Olympics in newspapers. Among senior citizens, 37 percent intend to read about the games in newspapers. With the competition held in a time zone nine hours from the U.S. Eastern Standard Time, NBC's prime-time coverage will include replayed events, but few are concerned about spoilers. Sixty-eight percent of respondents say it won't matter if they know the results before broadcasts, and just 20 percent of those planning to watch will actively avoid learning of the results of events they care about prior to the telecasts. While 61 percent of whites are interested in following the Olympics, the percentage among nonwhites dips to 43 percent. Sixtynine percent from households with incomes of $100,000 or more plan to watch, with 26 percent in that group intending to avoid spoilers. Figure skating is by far the most popular Winter Olympic sport, with 24 percent citing it as their favorite. A mixed team event was added this year in figure skating, which has competitive events on 11 of the Olympics' 18 days. Ice hockey is a distant second at 6 percent,
followed by Alpine skiing and snowboarding at 4 percent each. Forty-six percent of respondents say they have no preference. Among those planning to watch or follow, the percentage identifying figure skating as their favorite rises to 35 percent. There's a gender gap, however, with 55 percent of women who plan to watch calling figure skating their favorite, compared with 15 percent of men. Among men, ice hockey runs even with figure skating; 16 percent call it their favorite. While 45 percent of senior citizens who plan to watch say figure skating is their favorite, that falls to 24 percent for people under 40. Snowboarding tops the list for 12 percent under age 40. Speedskating is the favorite of 11 percent of nonwhites but just 3 percent of whites. The AP-GfK Poll was conducted using KnowledgePanel, GfK's probability-based online panel designed to be representative of the U.S. population. It involved online interviews with 1,060 adults, and had a sampling error margin of plus-or-minus 3.9 percentage points for the full sample.
TWO Wednesday, February 5, 2014
The Daily Campus, Page 11
Sports
Stat of the day
PAGE 2
2
What's Next
» That’s what he said
Home game
Away game
Men’s Basketball
(17-4)
The number of undefeated teams left in men’s college basketball. Syracuse and Wichita State have yet to lose a game this season. » MLB
Braves re-sign first baseman Freeman
“We knew what route concepts they liked on different downs, so we jumped all the routes. Then we figured out the hand signals for a few of the route audibles in the first half.” -Seahawks’ cornerback Richard Sherman on Super Bowl success
AP
Richard Sherman
Feb. 6 Cincinnati 7 p.m.
Feb. 12 USF 7 p.m.
Feb. 9 UCF 6 p.m.
Feb. 15 Memphis Noon
Women’s Basketball Feb. 9 Louisville 1 p.m.
Feb. 16 USF 4 p.m.
» Pic of the day
Someone get it off
(24-0)
Feb. 22 Houston 5 p.m.
Feb. 19 UCF 7 p.m.
Feb. 20 Temple 9 p.m.
Feb. 25 Houston 8 p.m.
Men’s Hockey (13-8-4) Feb. 7 Bentley 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 14 Feb. 11 Feb. 8 Feb. 15 Bentley Providence Holy Cross Holy Cross 7:05 p.m. 7:05 p.m. 7:05 p.m. 7:05 p.m.
Women’s Hockey (7-19-2) Feb. 8 Boston College 2 p.m.
Feb. 9 Feb. 16 Feb. 21 Feb. 15 New Northeastern Northeastern Maine Hampshire 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m.
Baseball Feb. 14 Ohio State 5 p.m.
Feb. 21 Wichita State 4 p.m.
Feb. 15 Feb. 16 Indiana Auburn State Noon 11:30 a.m.
Softball Feb. 21 Hofstra Noon
(0-0) Feb. 22 George Mason 5 p.m.
(0-0) Feb. 21 DePaul 2 p.m.
Feb. 22 College of Charleston Noon
Feb. 22 Feb. 23 UMass Illinois State 2 p.m. 11 a.m.
Men’s Track and Field Feb. 8 Skykes Sabock 10 a.m.
Feb. 28 AAC Champ. TBA
Feb. 14 Feb. 22 Lafyette/ Alex Wilson Ryder Invitational Invitational 12:30 p.m.
March 1 AAC Champ. TBA
AP
Alex Gough of Canada crosses her eyes after putting on her helmet prior to a training run in the women’s singles luge at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
THE Storrs Side
Women’s Track and Field Feb. 7 Feb. 8 Feb. 15 New New Brown Balance Balance Invitational 9:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. TBA
Feb. 28 AAC Champ. 9 a.m.
Men’s basketball back among nation’s top 25 teams
March 1 AAC Champ. All day
What's On TV NBA: Portland Trail Brazers vs New York Knicks 8 p.m., ESPN Carmelo Anthony and the reeling Knicks look to not have a follow up performance of their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks and get back on track. The Trail Blazers come to the Big Apple looking to show the Tri-State area what they’re made of. Portland currently has the league’s top rated offense, averaging 108 points per game, while also leading the league in rebounds per game with 46.4. AP
NBA: Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Clipper, 10:30 p.m., ESPN LeBron James will lead his Miami Heat squad against the high flying Clippers in “Lob City.” The Heat are coming off a strong victory against the Detroit Pistons and look to keep the ball rolling, but will have to hit the boards a little bit harder as they rank 30th in the league in rebounds. Blake Griffin and the Clippers have the second highest scoring average in the league, averaging 106.1 points per game. The Heat’s defense will have their hands full.
AP
By Elan Decarlo Campus Correspondent After a four-week absence, UConn men’s basketball is back in the AP Top 25 poll. Receiving 252 points from the 68 voters, UConn (17-4, 5-3 American Athletic Conference) checks in at No. 22 this week. The Huskies began the season ranked 19th and were ranked as high as ninth after defeating Florida in December. After a rough stretch ending 2013 and beginning 2014, the Huskies fell from the rankings, but they have since hit a hot streak, winning six of their last seven games. UConn dominated its only game this week, defeating Houston 80-43 without junior forward DeAndre Daniels. UConn’s next opponent, Cincinnati, is the highest ranked of the four AAC teams in the Top 25. After beating defending national champion Louisville and surviving a scare against South Florida, the Bearcats (21-2, 10-0 AAC) are ranked seventh in the country, which is their highest ranking in the past 10 years. Thursday’s game will be the first between the two as part of the AAC, but the Huskies have beat the Bearcats in eight out of their 12 matchups
dating back to 1995. UConn’s trip to the Fifth Third Arena could be a difficult test. Cincinnati has won 88 percent of its home games since the arena opened, and the Bearcats are undefeated at home this season. In total, the American Athletic Conference is tied with the Atlantic Coast Conference for the second highest number of teams in the top 25, behind the Big 12 Conference. Joining UConn and Cincinnati in the rankings are No. 14 Louisville (18-4, 7-2 AAC), who dropped two spots after the loss to the Bearcats, and No. 24 Memphis (16-5, 6-3 AAC). The Tigers remained in the rankings despite losing to Southern Methodist by 15 on Saturday. SMU (17-5, 6-3 AAC), meanwhile, was twentyninth in voting in this week’s poll. Syracuse was unanimously voted No. 1 this week after Arizona lost on a last-second shot to California on Saturday night. Syracuse outlasted Duke in overtime Saturday night to improve to 21-0 and obtain the No. 1 ranking for the first time since the 2011-12 season. Despite losing Saturday night, Duke climbed six spots from No. 17 to No. 11 this week.
Elan-Paolo.Decarlo@UConn.edu
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves agreed to eight-year contract with first baseman Freddie Freeman that is worth about $125 million on Tuesday. The deal was confirmed by the team on Tuesday night. Earlier in the day, outfielder Jason Heyward and the Braves agreed to a $13.3 million, twoyear contract. Heyward and Freeman had filed for salary arbitration last month. The 24-year-old Freeman was an All-Star last year when he hit .319 with 23 homers and 109 RBIs. He matched his career high in home runs and set highs in batting average and RBIs which finishing fifth in NL MVP voting. He has topped 20 home runs in three straight seasons. “Freddie has established himself as one of the best young talents in the game,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said. “We are excited to sign one of our own homegrown players to a contract that will keep him in a Braves uniform for the next eight seasons.” Closer Craig Kimbrel is the Braves’ only player left in arbitration. Heyward, also 24, and Freeman are key members of the Braves’ core of young stars. Kimbrel, shortstop Andrelton Simmons, outfielder Justin Upton and starting pitchers Julio Teheran and Mike Minor are 26 or younger. Evan Gattis, 27, is replacing Brian McCann as the starting catcher. Heyward was happy to avoid arbitration. “In my head it basically says to me, let’s go play some baseball,” he said. Heyward is coming off an injury-filled season, and Wren said the relative lack of playing time complicated the arbitration process and helped make the two-year contract possible. Heyward hit .254 with 14 homers and 38 RBIs in a career-low 104 games during his fourth season with the Braves. He had an appendectomy on April 22 and broke his jaw on Aug. 21 when he was hit by a pitch from New York Mets left-hander Jon Niese. “Last year was such a tough year physically, through no fault of his own, with the appendectomy and getting hit in the face,” Wren said. “So it also made it tough for both sides in an arbitration situation because it’s hard to pin a number when you’re comparing to players who played a lot more.” Heyward said he has moved past his injuries. “Physically, I feel great, being 24 years old and being blessed with some genetics to go along with that,” he said. “I’m growing up still in this game and I’m looking forward to what my body is going to allow me to do going forward.” Heyward’s deal calls for a $1 million signing bonus, payable in equal installments on May 1 and July 1, and salaries of $4.5 million this year and $7.8 million in 2015.
THE Pro Side Patrick Kane overcomes death in the family for two goal game By Scott Carroll Staff Writer Pregame can be one of the most crucial parts of an athlete’s ritualistic day. Justin Verlander likes to eat Taco Bell, while Red Sox great Wade Boggs used to enjoy chicken. Either way, preparing for the game and getting in the right mindset is key for athletic success. Tragedy struck Patrick Kane and his family Monday when Kane’s grandfather, Donald, passed away. Kane was notified of his grandfather’s death just before the game against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, but decided to play nonetheless. Kane was very close with his grandfather, as he lived next door to him as a child. Despite his grief, Kane was able to put on a show Monday with a two-goal performance. Kane’s first goal came with only 62 seconds ticked off the clock in the first period. With the Blackhawks on the power play, Kane received the puck from the right boards on the goal line, approached the net, deked out the goaltender and sent the puck between the
goaltender’s legs to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead. But, Kane was not finished. The Blackhawks found themselves on a three-on-one rush with Kane controlling the puck, careening up the left wing. Kane sent the puck to teammate Bryan Bickell, picking up the assist as the Blackhawks took a 2-0 lead with 11:16 left in the first period. Kane still was not finished. With the Blackhawks leading 4-2 in the third period, Patrick Sharp stole the puck along the right boards and approached the goal with only a man to beat as Kane rushed up the left side. Sharp was met with Kane’s stick as Kane beat the goaltender for his second goal and third point of the game. After the game, Kane commented on his grandfather’s passing. “You think about it a couple of times on the bench, but I was just trying to focus on the game tonight,” Kane said. “Just play well for him, I guess.”
Scott.Carroll@UConn.edu
» INSIDE SPORTS TODAY
P.9: Report expected in Jonathan Martin scandal / P.10: Kyle Flood adds Friedgen to Rutgers staff / P. 11: Braves re-sign Freddie Freeman
Page 12
Politics can’t kill Olympic excitement
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
www.dailycampus.com
SLOW YOUR MUSTANG DOWN UConn destroys Southern Methodist by 61 points By Matt Stypulkoski Associate Sports Editor
Matt Stypulkoski I’m no expert in human rights or international politics, and I certainly have a less than comprehensive knowledge of homeland security. But I do know that despite all the shadows being cast on Sochi, I’m damn excited for the Games to begin. Maybe that’s easy to say from 5,000 miles and nine time zones away; perhaps it’s a naïve view of the very serious issues at play. Recently, I’ve seen a number of articles, blog posts and Twitter ramblings involving boycotts, protests and general disgust with the host city and nation. Frankly, it’s understandable. Vladimir Putin and the Russians have less than a stellar track record in numerous areas of public interest. Current events, however, have never been my forte. As for the Winter Olympics…now that’s a different story. While most red-blooded Americans tend to prefer the summer iteration of the Games, the winter gathering has always been more my speed. Somehow, I think my 14 years of hockey are to blame for that. But it’s not just the hockey tournaments that make Sochi so appealing (or the incredible USA Hockey-themed cans Labatt Blue has rolled out for the competition), though the thought of two potential USA-Canada matchups for a gold medal are enough to induce salivation. Curling – yes, curling – is one of the most intriguing events in either the Summer or Winter Games. It may be slow, but it’s a bit like baseball in that it’s a thinking man’s game. The strategies and thought process behind it are fascinating. The Winter Games, with their abundance of ice and steep downhill slopes, also come with more than their fair share of speed. Ski jumping, speedskating – both short-track and long-track – bobsled, skeleton and luge are all blisteringly fast. The rarity of the sports, being that they’re only seen once every four years by the mainstream population, makes them a joy to watch. But perhaps my favorite part of the Sochi Olympics has nothing to do with what will happen once the athletes arrive, but rather with where they’re going. The nine-time-zone difference creates a unique opportunity for us in the United States to watch sports at ungodly hours. And while that may seem like a drawback for some, I for one am very much looking forward to hockey at 7 a.m. and falling asleep with curling on the screen at midnight. Somehow, the magic of the Olympics seems that much more magnified at odd hours amidst exhausted delirium. Of course, the added bonus with any Olympics or international competition is the unity it brings. Patriotism may be irrational, but it’s also a helluva lot of fun when it comes to sporting events. No matter where you are throughout the country, during those 16 days of competition in Sochi, there will always be something to talk about with coworkers, watch with family or cheer with friends. So I may not be an expert in foreign politics or any of the ongoing issues in Russia that have inspired (rightful) outrage throughout much of the U.S. and the world, but I do know one thing: despite all of that, the upcoming Olympics are still an
Matthew.Stypulkoski@UConn.edu
As they so often have the ability to do, No. 1 UConn took a respectable team and made them look pedestrian Tuesday night. The Huskies stymied SMU (14-8, 5-6 American Athletic Conference) for the opening five minutes and racked up a 19-0 lead in the process en route to a 102-41 win. Things didn’t slow down much in the late stages, either – UConn shot 76 percent in the second half to keep the Mustangs at bay. “It’s easier to make shots when you’re up 50 than it is when you’re up five,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “[…]But I’ve also seen it go the other way, when we’re up a bunch and it just turns into a circus out there. It didn’t do that today.” His squad’s stifling defense allowed Keena Mays, who entered the night as the conference’s leading scorer at 20.1 points per game, to pick up 20 on the night, but severely limited the effectiveness of the Mustangs’ other players. No one else for SMU cracked five points. UConn’s ability to turn shots away – the Huskies’ 14 blocks were the seventh time this season they had blocked at least 10 shots – was vital to the effort, which held SMU to its lowest total of the season and well under its season average of 71.3 points. “It’s surprising, I give them credit that they JON KULAKOFSKY/The Daily Campus
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
102 41
UConn Senior Bria Hartley goes up for a lay-up in Tuedays 102-43 blow out while four SMU Mustangs look on. Bria Hartley finished the game with a game high 21.
»STYPULKOSKI, page 10
Huskies celebrate snow day news with win By Erica Brancato Staff Writer
The early snow day announcement didn’t deter the No. 1 UConn women’s basketball team from heating up Gampel Pavilion as they played Southern Methodist in their last long stretch of conference games. UConn effortlessly surpassed SMU, defeating the Mustangs 10241. UConn had a total of 31 assists and 14 blocks as a team. They dominated nearly every aspect of the game with ease. Their competitive play is not found in just one player, it includes every single player on the court. The team did especially well in passing and keeping a balance between which type of shots they made. “[Passing is] just one of those things that gets contagious. We have a lot of finishers so that’s as much of an answer that I can give you,” head coach Geno Auriemma said. “We have whoever you
pass it to can make shots so at the right time.” that helps too. If you pass it However, Mustangs senior you know you are going to Keena Mays is the leading get an assist.” scorer in the conference. Best AAC shooter goes Breanna Stewart follows at a to… close second averaging 19.2 UConn has been the talk points per game. Mays, who of the American Athletic has played 21 games this Conference this season season, has scored a total boasting a red-hot frontcourt of 422 points and averages and backcourt. The 20.1 points a game. team averages 84.5 Mays proves to be points per game while the lone offenMoriah Jefferson and sive threat on the Bria Hartley top the Mustangs’ lineup. conference in assists. She was still able Jefferson leads the to attain her averway with 5.3 assists age of 20 points per game while this game, howHartley averages 4.7 ever her team» Notebook mates were unable a game. “When you get kids to make ten points every night that are getting against the Huskies. The six, seven assists and one or team had a total of 21 points, two turnovers that means a while Mays racked up 20 by lot. That statistic does mean herself. a lot,” Auriemma said. “That “We knew coming into it means that every time… or Mays is the leading scorer in 90 percent of the time at least the league,” senior Stefanie we are getting a great shot so Dolson said. “[Jefferson] was that is significant…This year assigned her but we knew we have done a really good that it was going to be a job of making the right pass team defense to make sure
that she didn’t get all their points. She did a great job tonight but we made sure we talked to each other and communicated and listened. We played really great defense.” Lucky No.7 Although Brianna Banks played in the last game against Cincinnati, she was unable to play this game due to a reinjured ankle during Monday’s practice. Banks tried to warm up with the team, but she did not feel like she could play her best in the game, resulting in only seven healthy players yet again. “It’s not looking good,” Auriemma said. “It’s like the fifth time she’s done it this year so I don’t know, hopefully it will get better soon.” Although Banks’ status is shaky, the team doesn’t seem to be worried about the lack of players, Hartley said. They seem to be accustomed to it this year and will continue to play as hard as they can despite the lack of players. Rebounding. Rebounding. Rebounding
its first NFL title topped all those previous celebrations. It may just be the beginning for the Seahawks. “This is exactly what we envisioned from day one. We were going to be right here and win this football game — and it just happened to be in New York. which makes it even more special — in the fashion that we were able,” Carroll said. “We deserved it and we earned it because this is exactly what we’ve been preparing for, and we expected it. That may sound cocky. That may sound arrogant. But it’s a mentality you can’t get in one week.” Seattle’s coronation was the culmination of an overhaul that Carroll and general manager John Schneider
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, right, celebrates with general manager John Schneider after the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game against the Denver Broncos
» WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The hottest topic for Auriemma and the Huskies is undoubtedly rebounding. UConn has leveled out with almost identical total rebounds in the past three games averaging 40 total rebounds and ten offensive rebounds. Although the team’s rebounding was better than both the Temple and Cincinnati games, the 23 offensive rebounds SMU racked up was not what the Huskies wanted. Although it is hard to argue that the team needs to work on rebounding when all five starters have double-digit points, rebounding is key. “This game we did a lot better [in rebounding],” Hartley said. “I think we just need to work on [offensive rebounding] everyday and be aggressive about it all the time. The way you get those shots is being aggressive.”
Erica.Brancato@UConn.edu
Carroll and Seahawks don’t expect any fallout SEATTLE (AP) — The guitar riffs ripped from the hotel ballroom where owner Paul Allen’s band was performing and filled the lobby. Down on the lower level, Hall of Famer Walter Jones posed for pictures with exuberant fans. This celebration in the wee hours of Monday morning was what Pete Carroll envisioned when he arrived in Seattle in January 2010 and was finally given the full say over an NFL franchise in the hopes of replicating at the professional level what he was able to accomplish in college. Celebrating was standard practice when Carroll was at USC. But the party that followed Sunday’s 43-8 blowout of Denver that gave Seattle
embarked upon when they took control of the Seahawks. Nearly 1,000 roster moves later, they could finally take the ultimate satisfaction in what they had created: the envy of the NFL. The Seahawks are mean and talented on defense. They have one of the most dynamic young players in the game in quarterback Russell Wilson. And the surrounding cast complements him well. There is very little indication this will be a one-year flash. “One of the things that happens every so often is teams have a big fallout after they win the Super Bowl,” Carroll said. “We’re not in that situation.”
AP