Volume CXVI No. 68
» INSIDE
Former UConn official charged for ethics violation
By Garrett Gianneschi Staff Writer
Kick off your sunday shoes UConn Dance Company, special guests, tap, point, jazz their way through recital FOCUS/ page 7
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Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Former UConn official Jeffery Reynolds admitted to ethics violation charges after he used university funds for unauthorized stays at the Nathan Hale Inn and other expenses, according to an official complaint by Thomas K. Jone, an ethics enforcement officer at the Office of State Ethics. From September 2008 to
December 2009, Reynolds “stayed at, and/or made reservations to stay at the Nathan Hale Inn no less than 23 times and charged his stays to [the school budget],” according to the complaint. Reynolds also charged other expenses, including meals, alcoholic beverages, parking and entertainment during his time at the inn. He was confronted by other university officials in December 2009. “Public resources are for pub-
lic use, not for any personal use,” said Carol Carson, executive director of the Office of State Ethics. UConn did authorize 10 stays at Nathan Hale between May to mid-August 2008 because of Reynolds’ medical condition. Reynolds, who is no longer associated with the university, denies his actions violated the Code of Ethics, according to the complaint. He said he did not do it “willfully or knowingly” and believes he was authorized
because he considered it “reasonable accommodation” under the Americans with Disabilities Act. But he acknowledges that the meals, alcoholic beverages, parking and entertainment were not permissible. Reynolds agreed to settle the matter to avoid lengthy and costly legal proceedings. Reynolds, who was making $190,000 as an interim vice president, according to an article by Jon Lender in the Hartford Courant, will pay the state $4,000 dollars for the vio-
UConn alumnus named professor of the year By Elizabeth Crowley Campus Correspondent
KNIGHTS OF NEW JERSEY No. 6 UConn faces Fairleigh Dickinson SPORTS/ page 14 EDITORIAL: FACEBOOK ‘ACTIVISM’ UNCLEAR, MISLEADING Internet campaigns don’t affect larger issues. COMMENTARY/page 4 INSIDE NEWS: ELIZABETH EDWARDS DIES AT 61. Edwards was diagnosed with breast cancer during the final days of her husband’s VP campaign. NEWS/ page 2
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Frances Pilch, a UConn alumnus and professor of political science at the Air Force Academy, was chosen from 300 candidates as the Colorado Professor of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education last month. Pilch received her bachelor of arts degree in political science from UConn in 1963. She has been teaching at the Air Force Academy since 1998. A professor and deputy head of the political science department, Pilch enjoys teaching, but feels she is no better than other professors at the academy. “I love teaching, I love the classroom…I’m interested in communicating stuff to students. And helping students kind of find themselves and fulfill themselves. And, get [them] curious about the world. And be enthusiastic about learning,” said Pilch. She was a passionate student who was able to finish her undergraduate degree in three years. But Pilch did not miss out on anything that UConn offered. She took a wide range of classes from political science, to chemistry, to music. “I did a lot of stuff, I really did. I loved UConn. I even took horsePHOTO COURTESY OF FRANCES PILCH back riding one semester. It was one of the only Bs I got because I UConn alumnus Frances Pilch, a professor of political science at the Air Force Academy, was named Colorado Professor of the Year by the was a terrible rider,” laughed Pilch Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Pilch was an active member of the student body and graduated in three years. at the memory. She was a member of Delta Pi made everything come alive,” Pilch said. “And 25-year break from teaching to run Poor and a pianist in musical theatre productions then I did some lab stuff on the side and he sort Richard’s Bookshop, her own bookstore. including “Oklahoma!” and “Brigadoon.” She of supervised me with that, and I loved it. I was When large book chains began opening, she was also a member of multiple music groups very close to being a chemistry major,” decided to return to teaching at Rutgers. From and worked in a chemistry lab. After graduating from UConn, Pilch com- there she moved on to the Air Force Academy, Pilch remembers many professors that pleted an internship with the State Department where she has been for the last 13 years. had a significant impact on her. One in the Division of African Affairs. She joked Pilch feels connected to the school and the chemistry professor in particular inspired that she did not do much of anything during success of her students, especially because her so much that she began working in his her internship, but that it was still a great learn- her son graduated from the Academy in lab and credits him for inspiring in her a ing experience for her. 1993. For her, the most poignant part of winpassion for the subject. Pilch earned her graduate degree in politi- ning this award was the student letters that “It’s so hard to make chemistry fascinating, cal science at Yale University and then began » ALUMNUS, page 2 and he was just a phenomenal lecturer. He just teaching at Rutgers University. She took a
Mass. judge: Jurors can see video of Uzi death SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A graphic video showing an 8-year-old boy accidentally killing himself with an Uzi submachine gun at a fair can be shown to the jury during the manslaughter trial of a former police chief, a judge ruled Tuesday. Hampden Superior Court Judge Peter Velis also ruled that the jury in Edward Fleury’s trial will hear the recording’s audio track at least up to the shooting, but Velis was still deciding whether to leave out some of the sound after the shooting – the boy’s screaming and his father praying aloud that his son is all right. The video “would shock the conscience of any reasonable human being,” Velis said, and he has to be careful that the evidence doesn’t prejudice jurors against Fleury. “The greatest risk in this case is invoking any sympathy,” Velis said.
The video shows Christopher Bizilj, of Ashford, Conn., losing control of the 9 mm micro Uzi submachine gun during a 2008 gun fair at the Westfield Sportsman’s Club and accidentally shooting himself in the head, authorities say. Fleury, the former Pelham police chief, was charged because he owned a company that co-sponsored the gun fair, prosecutors said. Jury selection in the case began Tuesday and was expected to take several days. The judge said the trial could take up to two weeks. Fleury’s lawyer, Rosemary Curran Scapicchio, sought to have the video excluded from the trial, saying both sides agree that the boy shot himself and that the footage is too “horrific” for the jury to see. Scapicchio also had asked the judge, if he allowed the video into evidence, to mute the sound.
AP
Former Pelham Mass., Police Chief Edward Fleury appears in Hampden Superior Court, in Springfield, Mass. on Monday, Dec. 6.
lation and more than $3,000 dollars in restitution to the university for the 23 stays. He contends that he should not have to pay for 10 of his 23 stays even though he used them after their authorized time period. University spokesman Michael Kirk declined to comment on the matter and Reynolds did not respond to calls for comment.
Garrett.Gianneschi@UConn.edu
Chewing tobacco maker agrees to $5M settlement
NEW HAVEN (AP) — The maker of Skoal and Copenhagen smokeless tobacco has agreed to pay $5 million to the family of a man who died of mouth cancer in what is believed to be the first wrongful-death settlement won from a chewing tobacco company. A legal expert said the case could open the door for more lawsuits against makers of chewing tobacco, an industry that drew fewer legal battles during the 1990s than cigarette manufacturers. U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. will pay the award to the family of Bobby Hill of Canton, N.C., who began chewing tobacco at 13. He died in 2003 at 42. Attorney Antonio Ponvert III, who represented Hill’s relatives, told The Associated Press about the agreement Tuesday. Regulatory documents confirmed the deal. Steven Callahan, a spokesman for Altria, which acquired U.S. Smokeless Tobacco last year, said the company admitted no liability and does not make any health claims about its products. Ponvert and Mark Gottlieb, director of the Tobacco Products Liability Project at Northeastern University in Boston, both said the Hill family settlement is the first case of its kind. Gottlieb predicted more lawsuits targeting smokeless tobacco would follow, calling the settlement “a wake-up call” to plaintiffs’ attorneys “that there are a lot of victims of smokeless tobacco use out there, and it’s possible these cases can be successful.” Smokeless tobacco companies managed to fend off most previous lawsuits. In the past, lawyers focused more on cigarette makers because of stronger evidence to back up their claims, even though smokeless tobacco is harmful as well, Gottlieb said. “So this is an unusual instance and runs counter to what had been the sort of the playbook for tobacco litigation,” Gottlieb said. The settlement shows that “perhaps there is a new strategy afoot in terms of dealing with some of these types of cases.” But, Gottlieb added, Altria may have simply concluded it was cheaper to settle than risk a larger award at trial. Callahan said the case involved unique circumstances because it was a settlement offer made before Altria acquired the company. “And we have no intention of settling cases like this in the future,” he said. Ponvert said his case was bolstered by previously undisclosed letters from the 1980s that the company sent to minors thanking them for their business and offering free samples. The company even sent a can opener to one child to help open the chewing tobacco, he said.
What’s on at UConn today... Out to Lunch Lecture 12 – 1:30 p.m. Student Union, 403 The Rainbow Center’s Out to Lunch Lecture Series ends the semester with the presentation, “Gay, Greek, and Proud: Unlearning Anti-LGBT Bias in the Greek Community.”
Stress Out Day 5 – 8 p.m. S.U., 104 and North Lobby Combat your stress with free yoga classes, crafts, refreshments and other activities designed to help you relax before finals.
Internship Recruitment 7 – 9 p.m. Business School, 127 INROADS is looking for freshman and sophomore students interested in paid summer internships in business. Representatives from major companies will speak at this information session.
A Flea in Her Ear 7:30 – 10 p.m. Jorgensen Theatre The Connecticut Repertory Theatre will stage the comical farce, “A Flea in Her Ear.” Admission ranges from $11 to $29. - VICTORIA SMEY
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» STATE
Conn.’s tougher teen driving rules save lives
HARTFORD (AP) — State officials say Connecticut’s tough new restrictions on teenage drivers are saving lives. There were six fatal crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers in 2009, the lowest in 12 years. Gov. M. Jodi Rell created a task force on teen driving following several high-profile tragedies. The commission issued recommendations for more stringent laws and state lawmakers passed the new requirements in 2008. They included moving back the driving curfew to 11 p.m. and doubling the amount of behind-the-wheel training required for teenagers. Lawmakers also required parents to take a two-hour seminar on teen driving before their child is issued a license. Democratic State Rep. Antonio Guerrera tells The Hartford Courant teens these days are “more serious” behind the wheel.
Jury selection set for Feb. in home invasion trial
NEW HAVEN (AP) — The second defendant charged in connection with a deadly Connecticut home invasion has been scheduled by a judge to go on trial Feb. 22. The trial of Joshua Komisarjevsky (koh-mih-sar-JEFF’-ski) will start with jury selection, a process that could take months as prospective jurors are questioned by prosecutors and defense attorneys. Komisarjevsky is accused of following a mother and her daughters to their Cheshire home. Authorities say he and Steven Hayes tormented the family for hours in July 2007 before killing the mother, Jennifer HawkePetit, 11-year-old Michaela and 17-year Hayley. The girls’ father, William Petit, was beaten but survived. Hayes was convicted Oct. 5 and condemned to death by a New Haven Superior Court jury last month. A judge handed down the sentence Thursday.
» NATION
Officials cite ‘layers of failure’ in copter crash
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal safety board says the cause of a firefighting helicopter crash that killed nine people was the intentional understatement of the aircraft’s weight and other actions by the company that leased the chopper to the U.S. Forest Service. The National Transportation Safety Board has voted that insufficient safety oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Forest Service also caused the 2008 accident. The leasing company – Carson Helicopters of Grants Pass, Ore. – said in a statement it believes faulty fuel parts were responsible. An FAA spokeswoman declined to comment.
UPS to require photo IDs for shipping packages
NEW YORK (AP) — UPS is now requiring photo identification from customers shipping packages at retail locations around the world, a month after explosives made it on to one of the company’s planes. The Atlanta-based package courier said Tuesday the move is part of an ongoing review to enhance security. The directive will apply at The UPS Store, Mail Boxes Etc. locations and other authorized shipping outlets. UPS customer centers have required government-issued photo identification since 2005. In late October, a printer cartridge on a UPS cargo plane bound for Chicago was stopped in London after explosives were discovered. The package was later traced to a retail location in Yemen. The stepped-up security also comes as UPS prepares for its busiest shipping day of the year. United Parcel Service expects to deliver 430 million packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and 24 million packages alone on its busiest day, projected to be Dec. 22. That’s up 60 percent from a normal day.
» WORLD
Top Israel rabbis: Don’t sell property to non-Jews
JERUSALEM (AP) — Three dozen top Israeli rabbis threw their support Tuesday behind a religious ruling barring Jews from selling or renting homes to non-Jews — an indication of growing radicalism within the rabbinical community at a time of mounting friction between Israeli Arabs and Jews. The action by the clerics – chief rabbis in some of Israel’s largest cities and influential among the devout – fueled charges of racism. The religious opinion first became a focus of controversy last year when the chief rabbi of Safed – a town in northern Israel that has a large concentration of devout Jews – urged that it be applied specifically to Arabs. Nitai Morgenstern, an aide to Safed’s chief rabbi, Shmuel Eliahu, said the town has “a problem of a lot of people renting and selling to Arabs, and that destroys the city’s social fabric.”
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Conductor David L. Mills leads the Symphonic Band in their performance at Von der Mehden on Tuesday.
Elizabeth Edwards dies at 61
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Elizabeth Edwards, who closely advised her husband in two bids for the presidency and advocated for health care even as her marriage publicly crumbled, died Tuesday after a six-year struggle with cancer. She was 61. She died at her North Carolina home surrounded by her three children, siblings, friends and her estranged husband, John, the family said. “Today we have lost the comfort of Elizabeth’s presence but, she remains the heart of this family,” the family said in a statement. “We love her and will never know anyone more inspiring or full of life. On behalf of Elizabeth we want to express our gratitude to the thousands of kindred spirits who moved and inspired her along the way. Your support and prayers touched our entire family.” She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, in the final days of her husband’s vice presidential campaign. The Democratic John Kerry-John Edwards ticket lost to incumbent President George W. Bush. John Edwards launched a second bid for the White House in 2007, and the Edwardses decided to continue even after doctors told Elizabeth that her cancer had spread. He lost the nomination to Barack Obama.
AP
In this Sept. 10, 2010 file photo, Elizabeth Edwards arrives at the “Stand Up To Cancer” television event at Sony Studios in Culver City, Calif.
The couple separated in January after he admitted fathering a child with a campaign videographer. Elizabeth Edwards had focused in recent years on advocating health care reform, often won-
dering aloud about the plight of those who faced the same of kind of physical struggles she did but without her personal wealth. She had also shared with the public the most intimate struggles
of her bouts with cancer, writing and speaking about the pain of losing her hair, the efforts to assure her children about their mother’s future and the questions that lingered about how many days she had left to live. Elizabeth Edwards and her family had informed the public that she had weeks, if not days, left when they announced on Monday that doctors had told her that further treatment would do no good. Ever the public figure, Edwards thanked supporters on her Facebook page. “The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered,” she wrote. “We know that. And yes, there are certainly times when we aren’t able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It’s called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful.” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, one of John Edwards’ rivals for the Democratic nomination in 2008, said the country “has lost a passionate advocate for building a more humane and just society,” while the Edwardses’ family and friends “have lost so much more – a loving mother, constant guardian and wise counselor.”
Alumnus would ‘be very enthusiastic’ to teach at UConn from UCONN, page 1 were sent in about her. She feels that her mission as a professor is to encourage learning and positively affect her students’ lives. “What I really hope is that they get inspired to be enthusiastic about learning for their whole lives,” she said. “Because, I know they are not going to remember the specifics that I teach, because I don’t remember the specifics of what my UConn professors taught me. But what they did do was make me very interested in a subject area.” Second Lieutenant Bradford Waldie took Pilch’s course as a first class cadet. He feels she had a large impact on his academic experience and wrote her a recommendation for the award.
“It would be a vast understatement to say that she has been an inspiration, a trusted mentor and an integral part of my development and education while working toward my undergraduate degree,” Waldie wrote in his letter. Waldie also said that Pilch turned a class in which most students would not be interested into one of the most powerful and thought-provoking courses offered at the Academy. “Dr. Pilch’s success in encouraging learning beyond the school boundaries is only matched by her ability to engage her students within the classroom,” he wrote. During her time at the Air Force Academy, Pilch worked to create the course War Crimes, Genocide and Human Rights. One of her goals as a professor is to make students aware of
human rights violations. She started the course a year after she began at the Academy because there were no courses about armed conflict, which she felt was unbefitting of a service academy. Her course, which is the most popular elective offered at the school and typically attracts 110 students, addresses atrocities that have taken place in human history. The course covers the Holocaust, the Cambodian genocide and the Rwandan genocide. It also teaches about torture, Guantanamo Bay, Iraqi prisons, the My Lai massacre in Vietnam and the death penalty. “They go away from that course with their eyes open. They think it’s very depressing...but at the same time if they don’t confront these issues they won’t know they’re out
there,” Pich said. Pilch is very active in her community, in the World’s Fair Council and in the United Nations Association. She has applied for a Fulbright teaching position in Mongolia next year. Her plan is to retire in about three years. She wants to continue writing and hopes to teach at different universities after she retires. “If UConn wants me to come teach a course I’d actually be very enthusiastic [about it],” she said. Pilch said she loved her time at UConn and has many fond memories of it. Her advice to current students is to “have a wonderful time, and thrive, and do everything you feel like doing.”
Elizabeth.Crowley@UConn.edu
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Wednesday, December 8, 2010 Copy Editors: Joe Adinolfi, Michelle Anjirbag, Melanie Deziel, Brian Zahn News Designer: Victoria Smey Focus Designer: Caitlin Mazzola Sports Designer: Colin McDonough Digital Production: Ashley Pospisil
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Japan probe reaches Venus but shuts itself down
TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese space probe sent to the thick clouds of Venus shut itself down, and its future looks as hazy as the planet it was built to study. The probe, called Akatsuki, which means “dawn,” reached Venus on Tuesday to orbit Earth’s neighbor on a twoyear mission. But communication problems left scientists in the dark about whether it was successfully in orbit. An American scientist on the probe’s research team said the probe shut itself partially down and is in safe mode. That means it is sending back signals indicating it is alive, but not transmitting any data. At first, controllers back on Earth lost contact with the probe and got modulating signals indicating that spaceship may be wobbling a bit, said Sanjay Limaye, a University of WisconsinMadison professor who is one of five American scientists on the Akatsuki research team. But after a few hours, engineers at NASA and the Japanese space agency, JAXA, were able to lock on the probe’s signal and found it shut itself down to protect itself, Limaye said. “That means at least things are looking better if not perfectly the best,” he said.
It would be the first time Japan has ever placed a spacecraft into orbit around another planet and comes after the country recently brought a probe back from a trip to an asteroid. Russia, the United States and the Europeans have successfully explored other planets. The Russian space program has been sending missions to Venus since 1961 with more than 30 attempts. Its early missions were marred with many failures. Limaye said it was unclear if the probe was successfully inserted into orbit around Venus, but Gerald Schubert, a University of California, Los Angeles, scientist who is on the probe team, said he thinks it is in some kind of orbit around the hazy planet. “There appears to be a problem, but exactly what the problem is I’m not sure,” Schubert said. Japan has long been one of the world’s leading space-faring nations. It was the first Asian country to put a satellite in orbit around the Earth – in 1970 – and has developed a highly reliable booster rocket in its H-2 series. In recent years, Japan has been overshadowed by the big strides of China, which has put astronauts in space twice since 2003 and was the third country to send a human
AP
A model of Japanese probe Akatsuki is displayed during a press conference at the office of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, in Sagamihara, near Tokyo, Japan on Tuesday.
into orbit after Russia and the United States. Japan’s space program
has never attempted manned flight and instead operates on a shoestring budget that
focuses primarily on smallscale scientific projects. Akatsuki, launched May 20, is designed to monitor volcanic activity on Venus and provide data on its thick cloud cover and climate, including whether the planet has lightning. The probe is equipped with infrared cameras and other instruments to carry out its mission. The 25 billion yen ($300 million) project is supposed to maintain an elliptical orbit around Venus, ranging from passes 190 miles (300 kilometers) from the planet’s surface to outer swings 50,000 miles (80,000 kilometers) away that will allow it to comprehensively monitor weather patterns. One of the mysteries scientists are hoping to clear up is the intensity of surface winds on Venus that are believed to reach up to speeds of 220 miles per hour (360 kilometers per hour). Inserting the probe into orbit would be a big success for Japan, which previously failed in an effort to put probes around Mars. The Mars mission, called Nozomi, or “hope,” and launched in 1998 experienced a series of technical glitches. The program got a big morale boost earlier this year with the successful return to Earth in June of the Hayabusa probe. The
probe successfully captured dust from an asteroid for the first time in history, bringing back microscopic samples from the Itokawa asteroid that could offer insight into the creation and makeup of the solar system. It is only the fourth set of samples to be returned from space in history – including moon matter collected by the Apollo missions, comet material by Stardust, and solar matter from the Genesis mission. The spacecraft’s capsule landed successfully in the Australian Outback in June after a sevenyear, 4-billion-mile (6-billionkilometer) journey. The Venus mission also follows Japan’s first lunar probe, which completed a 19-month mission last year. The lunar project gathered data for a detailed map of the moon’s surface and examined its mineral distribution. NASA has launched several probes that have orbited other planets: Pioneer Venus in 1978, Mars Global Surveyor in 1998 and Messenger, which is expected to settle into orbit around Mercury in 2011. The European Space Agency’s Mars Express successfully reached orbit in 2003, while its Venus Express completed the maneuver in 2006.
WikiLeaks founder is jailed in Britain in sex case LONDON (AP) — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested and jailed without bail Tuesday in a sex-crimes investigation, but his organization scarcely missed a beat, releasing a new batch of the secret cables that U.S. officials say are damaging America’s security and relations worldwide. A month after dropping out of public view, the 39-year-old Australian surrendered to Scotland Yard to answer a warrant issued for his arrest by Sweden. He is wanted for questioning after two women accused him of having sex with them without a condom and without their consent. Assange said he would fight extradition to Sweden, setting the stage for what could be a pitched legal battle. And as if to prove that it can’t be intimidated, WikiLeaks promptly released a dozen new cables, including details of a NATO defense plan for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania that made Russia bristle. The Pentagon welcomed Assange’s arrest. “That sounds like good news to me,” U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on a visit to Afghanistan. WikiLeaks spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson insisted Assange’s arrest and the decision Tuesday by both Visa and MasterCard to stop processing donations to the group “will not change our operation.” Hrafnsson said the organization
has no plans yet to make good on its threat to release en masse some of its most sensitive U.S. documents if it comes under attack. At a court hearing in London, Assange showed no reaction as Judge Howard Riddle denied him bail while he awaits an extradition hearing Dec. 14. The judge said Assange might flee if released. When the judge asked him whether he would agree to be extradited, Assange said: “I do not consent.” It was not publicly known which jail Assange was sent to, since British police never reveal that for privacy and security reasons. Some prisoners occasionally get Internet access, though only under close supervision. The U.S. government is investigating whether Assange can be prosecuted for espionage or other offenses. On Tuesday, Pentagon and State Department officials said some foreign officials have suddenly grown reluctant to trust the U.S. because of the secrets spilled by WikiLeaks. “We have already seen some indications of meetings that used to involve several diplomats and now involve fewer diplomats,” said State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley. “We’re conscious of at least one meeting where it was requested that notebooks be left outside the room.” Pentagon spokesman Col. Dave Lapan said the military had seen
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An artist impression by courts artist Elizabeth Cook of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court in London, Tuesday, where he was denied bail after appearing on an extradition warrant.
foreign contacts “pulling back.” “Believing that the U.S. is not good at keeping secrets and having secrets out there certainly changed things,” Lapan said. During the hour-long court hearing in London, attorney
Gemma Lindfield, acting on behalf of the Swedish authorities, outlined the allegations of rape, molestation and unlawful coercion that were brought against Assange following separate sexual encounters in August
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with two women in Sweden. Lindfield said one woman accused Assange of pinning her down and refusing to use a condom on the night of Aug. 14 in Stockholm. That woman also accused of Assange of molesting
her in a way “designed to violate her sexual integrity” several days later. A second woman accused Assange of having sex with her without a condom while he was a guest at her Stockholm home and she was asleep. A person who has sex with an unconscious, drunk or sleeping person in Sweden can be convicted of rape and sentenced to two to six years in prison. Assange’s lawyers have claimed the accusations stem from disputes “over consensual but unprotected sex” and say the women made the claims only after finding out that Assange had slept with both. Prosecutors in Sweden have not brought any formal charges against Assange. WikiLeaks lawyer Mark Stephens said there are doubts as to whether Sweden has the legal right to extradite him simply for questioning. Experts say European arrest warrants like the one issued by Sweden can be tough to beat. Even if the warrant were defeated on a technicality, Sweden could simply issue a new one. The extradition process could take anywhere from a week to two months, according to Assange’s Swedish lawyer Bjorn Hurtig. If Assange loses, he may appeal to the High Court. There can be further appeals, and Sweden also has a right to appeal if the court finds in Assange’s favor.
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Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Daily Campus Editorial Board
John Kennedy, Editor in Chief Taylor Trudon, Commentary Editor Cindy Luo, Associate Commentary Editor Michelle Anjirbag, Weekly Columnist Arragon Perrone, Weekly Columnist Jesse Rifkin, Weekly Columnist
» EDITORIAL
Facebook ‘activism’ unclear, misleading
S
ocial networking is a great tool for raising awareness about difficult issues. Take, for example, the current Facebook “game” where, in the name of child-abuse awareness, users are encouraged to change their profile picture to a favorite cartoon character, accompanied by the following status message: “Change your Facebook profile picture to a cartoon character from your childhood and invite your friends to do the same, for the NSPCC. Until Friday (Dec. 10), there should be no human faces on Facebook, but an invasion of memories. This is a campaign to stop violence against children.” This is obviously a positive message. People should be made aware of a prominent international issue. However, when activism doesn’t cost anything but a few clicks of the mouse, it isn’t really doing its job. The message may be is unclear and misleading. Vital information, such as what NSPCC stands for, is missing. While the organization’s full name is the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, there have been several rumors circulating on the Internet that the ‘game’ was actually started by a pedophile group. These two conflicting messages do nothing to actually help children in abusive situations. Also, because the majority of the pictures are not even accompanied by the vague status message, this movement does not even generate salient conversation about child abuse, the frequency at which it happens or what can be done to stop it. Instead of activism, we see a trend of childhood-images. Let’s face it, someone about to abuse a child is not going to pause, check their Facebook, notice a slew of cartoon characters and reminisce about their childhood, only to suddenly stop themselves and become a reformed citizen. If people want to learn about an issue and actually work to raise awareness, donating their time and personal resources, that is an example of activism. Disney princesses and Patty Mayonnaise, though a trip down memory lane, hardly have the same power as real activism and legal action against abuse. While social networking can make a lot of people pay attention, we have to remember that actually helping disenfranchised people takes more than changing your profile picture. The Daily Campus editorial is the official opinion of the newspaper and its editorial board. Commentary columns express opinions held solely by the author and do not in any way reflect the official opinion of The Daily Campus.
Within the span of one week I drank a beer with Kemba Walker and took a shot with Zack Frazer. Now all I need to do is sip a martini with Phil Austin and I’ll be the coolest kid on campus! No matter which direction you’re facing, on this campus, you will be walking into the wind. Judging by the feeble squeaking sound it’s making, even my printer knows it’s time for this semester to end. I feel sorry for the legs of girls who wear skirts in this cold. To the anonymous writer on the board infront of the sex ed office in South: again this weekend? I don’t think chasing a rabbit around West Campus at 5:30 a.m. was the best use of my time last night. My whole wagon party just drowned while playing an Oregon Trail tournament, a sign I should start studying for finals. Quote from my roommate, who was sitting at his computer when I walked in: “There’s a perfectly good reason for why I don’t have on pants.” Tonight the Huskies will make Fairleigh Dickinson look Fairleigh Ridiculous. To the Segway driver who hit a pedestrian on Alumni Drive today: we saw you. Thanks for entertaining a bus full of people. Sincerely, Red Line bus driver. I saved all my paychecks over the summer so I could bribe Jay Hickey during this winter... just in case.
Send us your thoughts on anything and everything by sending an instant message to InstantDaily, Sunday through Thursday evenings. Follow us on Twitter (@ InstantDaily) and become fans on Facebook.
Politicians should not declare ‘popular mandate’
A
fter an election, the leaders of the winning political party usually invoke the words “popular mandate” to legitimize their new authority. But after this past election, which saw Republicans retake the House of Representatives and make gains in the Senate and By Arragon Perrone governorships, top Republicans Weekly Columnist were careful not to use the term. Their silence speaks volumes about the way in which the contemporary voter interprets the word “mandate.” Voters no longer see a mandate as a legitimate tool with which to demand change, but an arrogant exaggeration of political capital. Politicians who claim a mandate have already overestimated their victory. Instead of relying on “the will of the people” to tout their legislative agenda, Republicans should remain humble in the knowledge that voters did not vote for them, but instead voted against Democrats. Until this year, politicians from both political parties could invoke electoral mandates without worry that they were over-estimating their victories. In short, they could claim a mandate as an excuse to do whatever they wanted and would get away with it. In 2002, Republicans claimed a mandate after they defied conventional wisdom that said the president’s party would lose seats in the midterm elections. In 2004, President George W. Bush touted his re-election victory that gave him the legitimacy he did not have in 2000. Speaking to reporters, Bush said, “I earned capital in this campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it.” Then, in 2006, on the night Democrats retook Congress, Nancy Pelosi proclaimed, “Tonight is a great victory for the American people. Today, the American people voted for change and they voted for Democrats to take this country in a new direction.” And in 2008, President-elect Barack Obama
claimed the biggest mandate in recent memory when he told thousands in Chicago, “They [those who voted for him] believed that this time must be different.” According to Obama, the vast and undefined “they” were “the young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled.” Frankly, no politician has claimed a bigger mandate than that.
“In the future, politicians should refrain from declaring a mandate whenever they win an election.” But why the change since then? Why are Republicans so unwilling to claim a mandate this time around? The answer is that the appeal to a mandate began to lose its luster years ago, and Republicans know that Americans are fed up with both political parties. This has not been the case during the past decade. When President Bush lost his mandate in 2006, Democrats took it as a win. When Republicans lost their mandate in 2008, Democrats took it as a win. But when Democrats lost their mandate last month, Republicans took it as a humble opportunity for redemption. No one set the mood quite like the emotional and soon-to-be Speaker of the House John Boehner: “...we are humbled by the trust that the American people have placed in us and we recognize that with this trust comes the responsibility to listen, and listen we will. Let us recognize that this is not a time for celebration. It’s a time to roll up our sleeves and go to work.” Boehner’s prudent words reflect the altered mindset of the American voter in the postGeorge W. Bush world where most no longer vote for a particular ideology, but against one. As a result, it is not only silly but naive to
claim to have a mandate from the people who only voted for the party they believed was the lesser of two evils. As Republicans and Democrats have both learned, mandates come and they go. They transfer from Party A to Party B when Party A over-extends its mandate. The Ancient Greeks believed that this zealous act of “overstepping” one’s rightful authority would bring about a “nemesis,” who would in turn knock the hubristic power down to size. Declaring a mandate, which argues that one speaks for all Americans, is in and of itself an act of hubris because it is fundamentally false. If a political party represented all Americans, every American would have voted for it. Yet from 2004 to 2008, political leaders have had the foolishness to declare a mandate when poll after poll showed that Americans were split at a near 50-50 divide. With the “popular mandate,” the victorious party governed as if 100 percent of the population had suddenly and unanimously swung to the left or the right. In doing so, they alienated the vast majority and found themselves on the electoral chopping block two years later. In the future, politicians should refrain from declaring a mandate whenever they win an election. The short-term political excitement is not worth the long-term loss. In the 21st century, Americans can vote someone in one year on a wave of change and two years later send his party running for the hills. Will politicians take this advice? In this political climate, probably. But when the next big, one-sided popular movement comes around, I expect there will be a smiling politician standing up on that podium, telling an adoring crowd, “I have a mandate, I have the power, and I can do whatever I want.” Until the next election.
Weekly columnist Arragon Perrone is a 5th-semester political science and English double major. He can be reached at Arragon.Perrone@UConn.edu.
Cultural relativism falls short in explaination
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lobalization, a term that has both positive and negative connotations, has in part caused the increased relationships between By Alex Welch people of Staff Columnist different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds. In the wake of this growing global connection, the world has generally learned to tolerate, and finally accept, people of differing cultures. We have also learned to understand that cultures should not be judged in comparison to our own, but be viewed as separate and equal. This is known as cultural relativism. While moral relativism (the notion that there are no objective moral truths) and cultural relativism should be viewed seperately, cultural relativism does have moral implications. Cultural relativists believe that it is difficult to criticize other cultures, because what is considered the norm in one society may not be the norm in another. Ethnic and cultural pluralism is a beautiful thing, but the idea that other cultures’ practices cannot be criticized is ludicrous. Some may call this a form of ethnocentricity, but it is not.
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Pluralism not only calls for an acceptance of other cultures, but also for a critical analysis of one’s own.
“Cultural relativism falls short when it comes to the concept of fundamental human values...” Our own culture is not immune to criticism in the least. The West’s disconcerting emphasis on consumerism and economic imperialism, for example, is particularly objectionable. Americans are so preoccupied with purchasing expensive brand-name goods that we have forgotten the value of a simpler lifestyle. While I am not averse to buying the brand-name shirt, I try to find a balance and indulge only on occasion. I would just as soon shop at the Salvation Army as at American Eagle. Through the early 20th-century in China, women were forced to bind their feet, causing serious damage to the foot and impeding their lifestyles. Women were seen as more desirable if they bound their feet, often at the
danger of marginalization if they refused to do so. While this practice is worthy of contempt, cultural relativists would claim that because the practice was a cultural difference, criticism from external sources would not be valid. Cultural relativism overlooks a key point: just because some practices have become inculcated in a society does not give them validity. The wearing of the hijab in many Muslim countries is enforced because of legal or social pressures. The coercion to do so restricts freedom of choice and expression. Areas practicing Sharia law attempt to rid the country of any outside cultural influence. The continual threat to be ostracized or even killed if one shows interests in other cultures has caused populations to forgo such interest. Is this truly cultural relativism? Cultural relativism falls short when it comes to the concept of fundamental human values (which, it claims, is an anachronism). When cultural practices proceed to restrict individual choice under social and legal pressures, as well as under threat of marginalization, humiliation, or even death, those practices must be criticized, and, if not abolished, then reformed.
To replace the relativist idea, society should instead adopt a cultural liberalization that offers freedom of choice and an acceptance of other cultures, as well as self-criticism. Too many cultures (ours included) find it difficult to objectively examine their faults. This is ethnocentrism defined, which is ironically facilitated in part by the idea of cultural relativism. Therefore, a transformation must take place – one that eliminates ethnocentric ideas and promotes a true acceptance of other cultures and values. The United States, on the whole, has not completed this transformation. Unnecessary social pressures and bigotry still exist that promote complete assimilation. One should have the option to completely adopt a foreign culture, completely retain one’s tradition or find a middle ground between the two. No authority or society can force an individual in one direction, and any attempts to do so should not be viewed as simple “cultural differences.” Free will is one notion that transcends any cultural distinctions.
Staff Columnist Alex Welch is a 5th-semester political science major. He can be reached at Alexander.Welch@UConn.edu
“Because of a printing error, a billion new $100 bills have to be destroyed. They’re going to burn $100 billion dollars — just like they did with the last stimulus program.” – Jay Leno
The Daily Campus, Page 5
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Comics
Classic I Hate Everything by Carin Powell
www.happydancecomics.wordpress.com
29 __ Today 30 Red Square honoree 31 Restaurant host’s purview 33 FBI employee 34 Gush 35 Barely beat 36 Not taking calls, perhaps 37 “__ Ben Adhem”: James Leigh Hunt poem 38 Web surfer’s shortcut 39 Paternity suit letters 43 Intent 45 Class with dissections, for short 46 Poise 47 Gas up 49 Not qualified 50 Double: Pref. 51 Brief brawl 53 Wrath, in a hymn title 54 Smidgens
55 Military group 56 Casting need 57 Banned bug killer 58 “Are __ pair?”: “Send in the Clowns” lyric
Super Glitch by John Lawson
Down 1 Swabbed 2 Bedtime ritual for many 3 Provider of millions of hits 4 Woodlands deity 5 Lip balm ingredient 6 Pastoral verse 7 Cut with a surgical beam 8 Indian metropolis 9 Tool for scouting pitchers 10 “Are you out __?” 11 Count that may diffuse anger 12 Part of 1-Across 13 QB’s gains 19 Birthstone after sapphire 21 “When Harry Met Sally...” co-star 25 Doofus 26 1974 CIA spoof 28 Fragrant evergreens
Classic JELLY! by Elise Domyan
Across 1 Rd. traveler’s stat 4 Spinnaker, e.g. 8 Tending to hang down 14 Treasure de la Sierra Madre 15 “M*A*S*H” star 16 Merited 17 Kung __ chicken 18 Members of a small army 20 Lumbering critter of Borneo 22 Conger catcher 23 Publicize 24 Delivery experts, for short 27 Remnant 28 Stuffed 31 “Knock it off!” 32 Poker ploy 34 Grumpy co-worker? 36 Some Steinways 40 WWII depth charge targets 41 Bungling 42 Any day now 43 Bite like a beaver 44 Construction beam 48 Loud laugh 49 Japanese veggie 51 Take potshots 52 Game often involving a windmill 57 Pluto, now 59 Former CNN anchor Dobbs 60 Wreck, as plans 61 Losing proposition? 62 Soul, to Sartre 63 Start liking 64 WWII Normandy battle site 65 OPEC unit
Happy Dance by Sarah Parsons
The Daily Crossword
Horoscopes
Poop by Michael Badulak
Aries - Seek balance today between independent study and group effort. The combination creates a practical blend. Persuade others to follow your lead. Taurus - An associate fusses over financial details. You may feel an independent impulse and go off on your own. But you get better results if you work together.
Cancer - Your project requires some changes. Use a very delicate touch and a slight mental readjustment to avoid damage. Then step back and admire.
Dissmiss the Cynics by Victor Preato
Gemini - One team member feels stressed because an idea doesn’t mesh with the plan. Take time to soothe any hurt feelings. Then make it fair later.
By Michael Mepham
Nothing Extraordinary by Thomas Feldtmose
Leo - Early in the day, your attention shifts from work matters to a relationship based on fun. Coworkers can manage details while you pursue a recreational activity. Go play! Virgo - Productivity could be tricky, with your mind on romance. Imagination carries you far from practical considerations, yet those ideas get the job done. Libra - Your attention focuses on household matters today. To resolve a difficulty, first establish a balanced perspective. Then create options and choices.
Bucephalus by K.X. Ellia
Scorpio - The best foundation for today’s effort is creativity. You don’t need to finish anything, but you do need to get a good start. Allow emotions to flow. Sagittarius - Produce and direct your own drama today. You won’t need much to get fired up. A shortcut limits potential less than you’d imagined and gets you there faster. Capricorn - You feel selfcontained in your plans and ideas today. Creative thinking becomes action, easily. Stick to practical means and minimal budget. Then go. Aquarius - To surprise someone special, maintain an outer appearance of busy activity. You can even ask questions to divert attention. Develop your act ahead of time. Pisces - Most of your attention is on other people now. Research facts and listen to intuition, rather than following blindly. Protect personal assets, and then choose.
Pundles and Droodles by Brian Ingmanson
www.cupcakecomics.com.
Why The Long Face by Jackson Lautier
The Daily Campus, Page 6
UN’s Ban at climate talks: ‘We need results now’
AP
Two protesters from environmental groups protest holding up a banner against the REDD, the UN program to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries.
CANCUN, Mexico (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, trying to revive long-stalled climate talks, told world environment ministers on Tuesday he is “deeply concerned” that many years of negotiation have proven largely fruitless. “The pace of humaninduced climate change is accelerating. We need results now, results that curb global greenhouse emissions,” Ban declared at the opening of high-level talks at the annual U.N. climate conference. In the two-week session’s final days, environment ministers will seek agreement on knotty side issues in coping with global warming, but once more the U.N. climate treaty’s 193 parties will fail at Cancun to produce a sweeping deal to slash greenhouse gas emissions and control climate change. “I am deeply concerned that our efforts so far have been insufficient,” the U.N. chief told delegates. “Nature will not wait while we negotiate,” he said. “Science warns that the window of opportunity to prevent uncontrolled climate change will soon close.” U.N. environment chief, Achim Steiner, reminded the conference that countries’ current, voluntary pledges to reduce emissions would, at best, offer the world
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
News
limited protection against serious damage from shifts in climate. Another reminder came from the mountains of south Asia: In a new report, experts said people’s lives and livelihoods are at “high risk” as warming melts Himalayan glaciers, sending floods crashing down from overloaded mountain lakes and depriving farmers of steady water sources. Low-lying Pacific island states, in particular, are losing shoreline to rising seas, expanding from heat and the runoff of melting land ice. Following Ban to the podium, President Marcus Stephen of Nauru, one of those states, said the reality of climate change has been lost in scientific, economic and technical jargon. “Without bold action, it will be left to our children to come up with the words to convey the tragedy of losing our homelands when it didn’t have to be this way,” he said. Despite such evidence of growing impacts, and scientists’ warnings that temperatures will rise sharply in this century, nations have made little progress over the past decade toward a new global pact on emissions cuts to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The Republican rebound in Washington promises to delay action even further.
Pearl Harbor survivors gather 69 years later PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — Aging Pearl Harbor survivors on Tuesday heard reassurances their sacrifice would be remembered and passed on to future generations as they gathered to mark the 69th anniversary of the attack. “Long after the last veteran of the war in the Pacific is gone, we will still be here telling their story and honoring their dedication and sacrifice,” National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis told about 120 survivors who traveled to Hawaii from around the country for the event. Merl Resler, 88, of Newcastle, Calif., was among those who returned. He remembered firing shots at Japanese planes from the USS Maryland and standing in the blood of a shipmate hit by shrapnel during the attack. “My teeth was chattering like I was freezing to death, and it was 84 degrees temperature. It was awful frightful,” said Resler. On Tuesday, fighter jets from the Montana Air National Guard flew above Pearl Harbor in missing man formation to honor those killed in the attack, which sunk the USS Arizona and with it, nearly 1,000 sailors and Marines. In all, about 2,400 service members died. Sailors lined the deck of the USS Chafee and saluted as the guided missile destroyer passed between the sunken hull of the USS Arizona and the grassy landing where the remembrance
AP
Pearl Harbor survivor Nelson Mitchell, 90, of Phoenix, walks with a wreath to the USS Arizona Anchor Memorial Tuesday in Phoenix, to remember those killed sixty-nine years ago when the Japanese attacked the Hawaii military base, and other military installations on the island.
ceremony was held. After the ceremony, the survivors, some in wheelchairs, passed through a “Walk of Honor” lined by saluting sailors, Marines, airmen and soldiers to enter a new $56 million visitor center that was dedicated at the ceremony. “This facility is the fulfillment of a promise that we will honor the past,” Jarvis said.
The Park Service built the new center because the old one, which was built on reclaimed land in 1980, was sinking into the ground. The old facility was also overwhelmed by its popularity: it received about 1.6 million visitors each year, about twice as many as it was designed for. People often had to squeeze by one another to view the
photos and maps in its small exhibit hall. In comparison, the new center has two spacious exhibition halls with room for more people, as well as large maps and artifacts such as anti-aircraft guns. There was a minor disruption on the center’s first day when the discovery of an unidentified bag inside one of the galleries prompted the Park Service to briefly evacuate the two exhibit halls and a courtyard. But the rest of the visitors center remained open, and everyone was allowed back in the galleries after the object was determined to be a medical bag carrying oxygen. U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Patrick Walsh said the new center, which has twice the exhibition space as the old one, would tell the story of those who fought and won the peace. “This museum gives a view into their lives, a window into the enormity of their task, an appreciation of the heaviness of their burden, the strength of their resolve,” Walsh said. Assistant Secretary of the Interior Thomas Stickland said the events of Dec. 7, 1941, were so traumatic and marked by heroism that they had become ingrained in the nation’s consciousness. “That day is now fundamental to who we are as a people. Its stories must be preserved. They must be honored and they must be shared,” Strickland said.
THIS DATE IN HISTORY
BORN ON THIS DATE
1980
John Lennon, a former member of the Beatles, the rock group that transformed popular music in the 1960s, is shot and killed by an obsessed fan in New York City.
www.dailycampus.com
Sammy Davis, Jr. – 1925 Jim Morrison – 1943 Kim Basinger – 1953 Sinead O’Connor – 1966
The Daily Campus, Page 7
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Kick off your Sunday shoes Trusting your gut By Alessandra Petrino Campus Correspondent
KEVIN SCHELLER/The Daily Campus
Members of the UConn Dance Company (UCD) perform the UCD choreographer Gina Guerrera’s number ‘Hold on to Hope Love’ to Amy Stroup’s song of the same name. UCD showcased eleven dances at its Fall 2010 recital at the Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts.
UConn Dance Company, special guests tap, pointe, jazz their way through recital By Loumarie Rodriguez Campus Correspondent The Jorgensen Theater hosted the UConn Dance Company’s Fall 2010 Showcase on Tuesday night, which drew a large audience. The company performed to many different genres of dance and music. Throughout the night, the walls of Jorgensen were vibrating with the loud bass, while a light show accompanied each dance. The night was separated into two acts that each included many guest performances. Two pulldown screens set up on both sides of the upper
mezzanine showed a slide show that documented each dance number. This continued throughout the show, showing pictures of how they arranged each and every dance number. In between each act put on by the Dance Company, there were guest performances, including two members from the UConn Ballroom that performed multiple styles of dance combined into one long number. During the second act of the show there was an explosive routine from the UConn Kickline. Finally, the last guest stars was the P.R.E.M.I.E.R. Dance Troupe that delivered a sleek and
» FINALS
» FASHION
popping performance. As the night continued, the company displayed several dance styles. Whether it was a slow-tempo dance number set to “Crossroads” by John Mayer, or a fast-paced rhythm beat like “Outta Your Mind” by LMFAO and Lil’ Jon, the dance company didn’t slow down and moved from one number to the other. During the intermission, the Dance Company made a quick announcement that they will be joining the cause in this year’s Huskython, an 18-hour dance-off in which none of the participants are permitted to sit. They proceeded to ask for donations
“They brought in a lot of styles in such a unique way.” Brittany Histing, 3rd-semester nursing major
for a children’s fund in which they passed around bins to collect the proceeds in. Once intermission was finished, the show got back to its energetic state. There was a great applause from the audience during the bows. Brittany Histing, a 3rdsemester nursing major, said, “I was in the company for two semesters and I thought the show was great. They brought in a lot of styles in such a unique way.” Harrison Pollock, a 5thsemester journalism major said, “It was excellent and very well done.”
Loumarie.Rodriguez@UConn.edu
Atypical The DC holiday party fashion guide for women study tips
By Jenny Hurwitz Campus Correspondent Finals week is stupid. Everyone knows that it’s impossible to take 12 exams in four days and still come out on top. The only way to do well and stay sane is by fitting in some me-time. So if you’d rather stay afloat than drown this finals season, then I suggest you read the following. 1. Teach yourself how to Dougie Stop pretending you know the dance every time the song comes on and do Cali Swag District the favor of teaching yourself. For every hour worth of studying, grant yourself thirty minutes of “Dougie Time.” Why? Knowing how to Dougie, (I mean really Dougie) is still cool and you too can be awesome. I admit I’m still learning, but I’m using finals week to perfect it. Dougie-ing is an easy way to unwind, get some exercise and hopefully boosts your confidence the next time you’re trying to land some dime piece (dime pieces can be boys, too). 2. Schedule stalking You know it’s true. One hour into studying and you’ve stumbled upon that random friend
» TAKE, page 9
By Purbita Saha Staff Writer
Ugly sweaters, candy cane stripes, chunky snow shoes and Grandma’s poorly knit winter hat – is that what the holidays are really about? Not really. Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, solstice and New Years are a chance for us all to dress up and be cheerful, despite the dreary weather outside. Look as pretty as a bow at the next holiday party that you go to by putting together some of these fancy yet simple outfits. Tights Colorful tights are one of the biggest trends this season. Try a thick pair of tights under a muted bubble dress or flared skirt. It will keep you warm and comfortable, but make you seem fashion-forward at the same time. If you’re wearing something monochromatic on top, pick out a bright color to match, such as forest green or electric blue. But if you’re color heavy on top, look for a print such as lace or houndstooth to wear on your legs. Forever 21 has a large and cheap selection of tights, so buy multiple pairs to couple with more than one outfit. Dresses A dress can be a good centerpiece for a holiday ensemble. Many women opt
for sparkly pieces to make a splash at parties. But, the problem with wearing something bold is that it is hard to accessorize without being over the top. A simpler dress can be more functional and appeasing too. Black is always a go-to color, but white and steely silver are fine options. And just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t go short. Raised hems are exciting, and by wearing tights underneath you’ll be ensuring that your outfit will be family-friendly. Check out ModCloth.com for chic pieces. The website is a little pricey but the dresses are extremely unique. Plus, the website is updated everyday with new arrivals. Flats Riding boots are all the rage right now. Although they make jeans look polished, they don’t work too well with dresses. A comfy pair of suede flats with some sort of embellishment on them, like ruffles or jewels, is one way that you can dress up your feet. Look at urbanog.com as it has an extensive inventory of shoes at extremely low prices. Accessories Now, finish off your outfit with a few tasteful accesso-
» FINISH, page 9
Photos Courtesy of Amazon.com
Flashy hair accessroies and flats, the little black dress and colorful tights can dress up any holiday party look this season.
Without fail, every summer, at least one of my friends decides to plan a camping trip. Sure, it sounds fun, but it just isn’t for me. I hate camping. The whole idea of pitching a tent in the woods, sleeping on the ground with wildlife all around you and not having a bathroom just isn’t appealing to me. I’m a city girl; I’m not made for camping. By this time, you are probably asking yourself what all this has to do with sex and relationships. Obviously you don’t care about where I prefer to sleep or use the bathroom, but don’t worry, I do have a point. Clearly, those of you who go camping know there is more to it than sleeping on the hard, cold ground, dousing yourself in insect repellant and wishing for indoor plumbing. Here’s where the connection to this column comes in. If it is immediately clear that a person, a place or even a profession is not for you, is it better to ignore your better judgment and read between the lines, or should you judge a book by its cover? “It’s important to give things a chance and see how they work out instead of just dismissing them right away, otherwise you’ll never grow as a person,” said an anonymous source. Once, I started talking to this guy through a mutual friend of ours. My instinct was that this guy was going to be, for lack of another word, an ass. He was one of those guys that is just way too good-looking to be nice (you know the one). I knew that I was judging a book by its cover. Believe me, you would too if you saw what he looks like. He wasn’t exactly “boyfriend material,” but he was nice and I had fun with him. Therefore, going against what I thought was my better judgment gave me the better outcome. So why did I go against my instinct? Perhaps I was enchanted by his amazingly good looks or merely the fact that he fit my “ideal-man” criteria almost exactly. Or, maybe, when it comes to people, I’m not as judgmental as I am with the idea of roughing it in the woods, and truly believe everyone deserves an equal chance (It’s probably the former, but the latter makes me look better). “People are hardly ever truly themselves when you first meet” anonymous said. “It’s only once you get to know them and get more comfortable with each other that you truly find out who the other person is.” Judging a book by its cover isn’t always the best idea. That first judgment you make is not always true to that person’s character. “When you’re first entering a relationship most people act differently than they normally do because you don’t want to show your true self and your flaws right off the bat,” said an anonymous source. Instincts regarding careers are generally spot-on. If a person isn’t good with numbers, they clearly shouldn’t go into accounting. Yet, instincts regarding new possible relationships (whether it be a romantic one or merely physical) aren’t always correct. Think about it, how many times do you hear about someone having a terrible “firsttime” with another person and later hear that those same people now have amazing sex? If you judged a book by its cover
» EVEN, page 9
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Upcoming Releases Dec. 12 Supermario All-Stars (Wii) The Agency: Covert Ops (PS3, Win) Dec. 21 TrackMania Wii (Wii) Jan. 3 Battle vs. Chess (Wii, PSP, NDS) Get Fit With Mel B (X360) Jan. 4 Two Worlds: The Temptation (PS3, X360, PC) Venetica (PC, X360)
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You know what was also a good year for games besides 2010? 2009. From Bowser’s Inside Story to Shadow Complex, the previous year was also a fine one for gamers. I’ve already had a Focus Favorites for my #1 pick of 2009, Uncharted 2, so today I’d like to give props to the second on my list, Batman: Arkham Asylum. All my life I’ve wanted a legitimately great Batman game. Not only was Arkham Asylum the answer to my prayers, but it was also a consistently thrilling game where you truly felt like you were playing the Caped Crusader. - Jason Bogdan
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (X360)
This is Kong country
Games of the year: Part II By Jason Bogdan Staff Writer
this whole game is a treasure trove for animation fans. The underlying theme of Epic Mickey is one of despair and redemption. Despair in all the characters of Mickey Mouse’s cartoon shorts who weren’t able to go on to have Disney World rides, and the redemption of having Mickey see them and help heal their home. Unfortunetly, the game itself isn’t too powerful, but anyone with any shred of care for the beloved cartoon character will take the experience on a whole as a satisfying one.
As the fall semester comes to a close, so does 2010 – a year when many quality video games were released. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to pick my personal top five games. 5. Alan Wake: If there’s one thing that Alan Wake did better than most other games I’ve played, it completely pulled me into its world. At just eight hours, it was a short adventure, but every minute had me completely enthralled with Bright Falls and the many disturbing things that appeared in Alan’s path. 4. Kirby’s Epic Yarn: I never thought I’d see the day where a Kirby game would even reach the top 10 of my yearly games, yet here I am, proud to have it in the No. 4 spot. It’s the rare video game that’ll be fun for whatever difficulty I want it to be. If I want to just wind back and play an easy and well designed game, Epic Yarn fits the bill. And if I want a hardcore challenge, I can go farther than just reaching the finish line and actually go for those challenging gold medals. 3. Red Dead Redemption: Even after Rockstar North released Grand Theft Auto IV, there’s something about RDR that makes it feel like the true progression of the GTA games from the PS2 era. It is a great new story with a compelling lead character, hidden challenges that aren’t a chore like in the previous GTAs and a new setting that feels right. It might have been buggy at points, but Rockstar North certainly has a rough challenge if they plan to top this masterpiece. 2. Mass Effect 2: I had many dreams when I was younger about how far video games would go by the time I reached adulthood, but I don’t think I ever imagined the storytelling in games would get as good as it is in Mass Effect 2. An awesome action RPG to be sure, but the game made me care deeply for every member of the Normandy. Whether it was my mission team or my cheerful secretary, the branching dialogue in this game made me think carefully about every choice I made and just thinking about it makes me want to play it again. 1. Super Mario Galaxy 2: It doesn’t matter how much fun I’ve had playing such awesome platformers starring Sonic, Donkey Kong or even Meat Boy, I still go back to Galaxy 2 and immediately say it’s just better. Nintendo took the already-superb Mario Galaxy and crafted a sequel that is gaming perfection. I’ve had many great gaming memories this year, but no game reminded me why I got into video games as much as this one. It’s the most fun video game I’ve played in my young adulthood, plain and simple. I hope you all also have some great games to play once the finals are over as well as a safe and fun winter break!
Jason.Bogdan@UConn.edu
Jason.Bogdan@UConn.edu
Image courtesy of Gamespot.com
Donkey Kong does what he does best in this screenshot from Donkey Kong Country Returns: smash thins in pursuit of a bunch of bananas.
King of jungle games resurrected for Wii By Jason Bogdan Staff Writer He may have spent the last decade making guest appearances in Mario’s non-platforming games and dabbled in some weird bongo peripheral offshoots, but true fans of Donkey Kong know that he always does best in those awesome platforming games made by Rare. But ever since the company went from Nintendo to Microsoft, DK’s had no such adventures. Metroid Prime developer Retro Studios decided it was time to resurrect that lovable gorilla. And as crazy as it sounds, Retro managed to bring back the Country series to modern gaming standards that easily tops what Rare has done. The first one or two worlds have the level designs on par with the previous DKCs, but once things get harder, it goes to levels impossible to pull off on the SNES. The original Country may have set the standards for the “mining cart level,” but the crazy thrills that the lev-
els in Returns have are downright awe-inspiring. There are also plenty of great new levels including ones with everything in silhouette and levels with DK in a rocket barrel. Retro Studios may be new to the 2-D platformer scene, but the levels here are consistently brilliant. If there’s one thing I have to complain about, it’s that
it forces you to shake the remote even in the preferred sideways-controller setup. The shaking is used for the new blow-air and ground-pound moves, as well as the standard roll. Thankfully, you don’t need to know these moves to make it to the goals, but considering how hard this game is, the one-to-10 ratio of success
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Wii
9.5
/10
The Good
-The best Dong Kong game I’ve ever played -Even if the game gets too hard, it allows you to skip the level for later
The Bad
--The need to shake the remote for certain moves could have been solved with classic controller support, but it’s not available -Where’s Funky Kong at?
is not cool. Returns might not have the same attention to detail as Metroid Prime in terms of graphics, but Retro seemed to realize that this series was meant to be cartoony rather than realism sci-fi. The result is a game that looks incredibly colorful and has great environmental effects. The sound effects also have a jungle-flavored Nintendo charm, with a fantastic jazzy soundtrack that fans would expect from a DK game. There are things that might put off hardcore DKC fans like how Rambi is the only rideable animal here and Diddy Kong spends all his time (except in co-op) on Donkey’s back for a neat jetpack-hover jump. But give those changes a chance and you’ll see that DK is finally in some great new hands. Retro Studios has given the Country games an incredibly difficult and fun sequel that I cannot recommend strongly enough.
Jason.Bogdan@UConn.edu
Mickey follows the path of redemption By Jason Bogdan Staff Writer
Batman: Arkham Asylum (X360)
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Focus
Imagine Mickey Mouse, on the cusp of his rise to fame, one day accidentally messing up a world for all the forgotten Disney characters. Cut to modern day, with Mickey literally dragged to see both the mishaps of his mistake, as well as the creations time has forgotten. Such is the setup for Epic Mickey, a game that may not play masterfully, but stars one of America’s most beloved cartoon characters in a lovingly created intervention. Although this is a strong story about Mickey reuniting with characters abandoned on his path to
becoming the symbol of a massive corporation, it’s also largely about his long-lost brother, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Oswald was the original creation of Walt Disney who was meant to one day be the king in Kingdom Hearts. But due to contractual obligations, he was replaced by Mickey and spends the majority of the game despising him for it. The rivalry between the two is a compelling one, which is resolved in one of the most touching endings I’ve ever seen in a video game. In this game, Mickey has the power of paint and thinner, to repair or erase many things, making for some very creative puzzles. It also makes for moral choices in the game that can affect segments of the ending, though the darker
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
PS3, X360
7.5
/10
The Good
-A great story that will make you want to give both Mickey and Oswald a hug. -The recreations of generations of art styles make for a game worth of any art history class.
The Bad
--It’s a good action adventure game, but riddle with some awful camera and graphical polish. - I can undersant why people would want to try a “dark path “ with Mickey, but isn’t this supposed to be a tale of redemption for him?
Photo courtesy of Gamespot.com
Mickey learns what the world of Disney characters would have been like if he wasn’t the leader in the tale of Epic Mickey.
options feel awkward for such a lovable mouse. Sadly, this addition isn’t the only misfire. It’s a decent action adventure game, but is riddled with occasionally bad camera control and a spotty frame rate despite having such jaggy environments. Although the graphic quality never goes above the PS2 era, the artistic aesthetics shows how much love was put into this game. Whether it’s the Mickeyjunk Mountain area riddled with the mouse’s old merchandise, the beautiful cutscenes or the 2-D levels between main areas that are all based on his old cartoons,
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Daily Campus, Page 9
Focus
» TECHNOLOGY
Disney's ‘Tron’ reverse-ages Jeff Bridges LOS ANGELES (AP) – Hollywood has famously had better luck using makeup to make young actors look old – like Russell Crowe in “A Beautiful Mind” – than making old actors look young. But the ability to manipulate images digitally could prove to be a fountain of youth for some. In “Tron: Legacy,” which opens Dec. 17, 61-year-old actor Jeff Bridges will play Kevin Flynn, at his natural age, and a computerized avatar called “Clu,” who hasn’t aged since around the time he was first created in the original “Tron” in 1982. Clu bears Bridges’ face, altered to make him about 35 years old, but it’s grafted onto a younger actor’s body. While it may be eerie for audiences to see a new performance from a younger-looking Bridges, it was no less strange for the actor himself. “It’s bizarre. It’s great news for me, because now it means I can play myself at any age,” Bridges said. There have been digitally created faces before, even on fully animated bodies.
Think Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings” or Dobby from “Harry Potter.” But no movie yet has done what The Walt Disney Co.’s “Tron: Legacy” attempts – putting an actor’s rejuvenated face on a younger body, and in 3-D no less. Inevitably, the 61-yearold-turned-35-year-old face will be compared to Bridges when he was actually 35. “With Jeff, we can go rent ‘Against All Odds’ or ‘The Fabulous Baker Boys’ or ‘Starman,’” visual effects supervisor Eric Barba said. “All this makes it incredibly difficult.” The filmmakers did not want Bridges’ Clu looking precisely as he did in 1982. The idea was that some time had elapsed, and Clu was meant to look like Bridges in “Against All Odds,” which came out two years after the original “Tron.” “In our mythology, Clu was created after the events of the first film,” director Joseph Kosinski said. “This is Clu 2.” Computers have already been used to roll back the years. Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen were made a cou-
ple decades younger in scenes from “X-Men: The Last Stand” from 2006. Head alterations have happened, too. Helena Bonham Carter had an oversized cranium as the Red Queen in this year’s “Alice in Wonderland,” and the late Oliver Reed’s face was put on a body double after he died during the shooting of “Gladiator,” released in 2000. But the triple-toe-loop of complexity in “Tron: Legacy” is a notch tougher than all that. It also goes beyond the techniques that Barba and “Tron” animation supervisor Steve Preeg pioneered on Brad Pitt in the 2008 movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” for which they shared an Oscar for visual effects. Pitt was digitally remade to look older, but he was never re-engineered to appear as the younger actor who has been seen by countless millions on celluloid. By contrast, “we know what Jeff looks like and how he acted,” Barba said. “It just means that people’s perceptions will vary across the board.” In “Tron: Legacy,” Clu was created to help Bridges’ char-
acter and the other program, Tron, build a perfect virtual world, but Clu turns evil with his own dark notions of building a virtual society. To make Clu, filmmakers made a silicon mold of Bridges’ face and painted it like real flesh. They took multiple photos, put them into a computer and gave him a “digital face lift” that took out wrinkles, tightened the skin and shrunk down his nose and ears. He then performed a series of facial movements, such as raising his outer left eyebrow or lifting his cheek. Those were recorded by camera and computerized in 3-D. Finally, when Bridges acted in scenes as Clu, he wore a helmet with four tiny cameras pointed at his face. Dozens of dots on his face acted as reference points for the computer. “Sometimes I could be in my street clothes and just have this weird helmet on,” Bridges said. The captured expressions are replicated on his younger-looking self. Actor John Reardon mimicked Bridges in later takes and had his face swapped out later.
AP
(Top): Jeff Bridges, who is 61, was reverse-aged for his character in Disney’s ‘Tron’ (bottom). The character, Kevin Flynn, is supposed to be 35.
» FASHION
Take a little ‘me time’ during Taylor Swift savors the stylish perks of fame finals week to de-stress
NEW YORK (AP) – Don’t look for Taylor Swift in rumpled clothes and no makeup: She’s not interested in dressing down to go incognito. Gowns, red lipstick, hairstylists, front-row runway seats – and, as icing, a CoverGirl model contract – are perks of her fame. She’s not going to run away from them, especially if her fans are watching. “When I’m in Nashville, I feel like I can go natural and not really worry about it, but I generally love makeup and I love dress-up. That’s why award shows are so much fun for me,” Swift says. “I’d never wish away makeup and getting all dolled up.” She owes it to her supporters to put on a good show, she says, and at 5’10” she’d stand out in a crowd anyway. Swift, in a recent telephone interview, says she still sees her adventures in the fashion world with very wide eyes. The
40-year anniversary runway show that Roberto Cavalli staged in September and the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala Benefit in New York this past spring were highlights. “I went to the Met Gala with Ralph Lauren! It was an amazing time, an enchanting night. I got to wear a white gown like a wedding gown from one of his collections,” she says. One of her last big redcarpet appearances was at the American Music Awards where she wore her normally curly locks in an atypical blowout and her dress was short and edgy, unlike the more old-Hollywood looks the public got used to her wearing. That got fashion followers buzzing. Swift, who turns 21 Monday, says she was “amused” and “flattered” that so many people had an opinion, but, contrary to some of the commentary, she wasn’t sending any larger message:
She just followed her mood of the day – and that’s what consistently guides her style. “I go through phases. When I was recording my new album, I wore a side braid on the left side every day. It just seemed to be the only style that seemed like the right one at the time. Then there was a phase when I’ll pin my hair in elaborate updos. In wintertime, I’ll usually straighten my hair, and in the summertime and spring, I wear a lot of headbands. In the fall, I wear a lot of knit beanies.” In her new CoverGirl NatureLuxe ads debuting this week, she has a more ethereal vibe. Yes, she says, there have been quite a few offers to be a spokeswoman for products, but some make more sense than others. Her partnership with American Greetings cards, for example, is a natural fit because her expertise lies with writing sayings and making memories, she explains.
from ATYPICAL, page 7 from high school’s Facebook page you thought you completely forgot about. Twenty minutes later and you know exactly what they’ve done the past three years, who they’ve hooked up with, and why you stopped talking to them in the first place. Rather than feel guilty for creeping instead of studying, think of this as a reward for being such a studious student. Facing the facts and allotting yourself special stalking moments is bound to recharge your batteries.
Taylor Swift.
AP
But, Swift adds, her whole life isn’t going to become a commercial. “I love cooking, but I’m not going to pursue that.”
» PEOPLE
Oprah begins her ‘ultimate’ Australian adventure SYDNEY (AP) – Oprah Winfrey landed in Australia on Wednesday, joining 300 eager audience members for her ultimate giveaway – an actionpacked, Down Under adventure including close encounters with kangaroos, surfing lessons and a journey to the remote and dusty Outback. Winfrey kicked off her 25th and final season of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in September by surprising her shrieking, jumping and sobbing fans with what she’s billed as the trip of a lifetime. The handpicked audience, who arrived in Sydney on Tuesday, was made up of some of who the program called its most loyal viewers over the years. Winfrey landed in the northeast coastal city of Cairns, and was expected to head directly to Hamilton Island, on the Great Barrier Reef, to join some audience members awaiting her arrival. The itinerary for “Oprah’s Ultimate Australian Adventure” has been kept a closely guarded secret, with
AP
Oprah Winfrey.
the audience still left in the dark upon their arrival in Sydney. But travel details finally released by Australia’s tourism minister on Tuesday reveal a sweeping adventure in store for Winfrey’s fans, with trips planned to each of the country’s eight states and territories. The audience, which ranges
in age from 18 to 75, has been split into several smaller groups and will be sent off to explore the glittering Great Barrier Reef, the crocodile-infested rainforests of northern Oz, and the famous red monolith called Uluru, in the Outback. They will also tour the country’s wine regions, visit a historic prison colony in the island state of Tasmania, and check out the wildlife on Kangaroo Island, home to koalas, sea lions and, of course, kangaroos. Excited audience members waved at reporters and photographers as they were ushered through Sydney airport and onto a bus, which whisked them away to a hotel for a briefing and a traditional Aboriginal dance performance. “It’s an unbelievable experience, and I just want to soak in every bit of it,” said Jocelyn Kelley, of Boston, who was traveling with her mother, Gloria. “To be in that audience, to be a part of something so big, is just amazing.” Winfrey will film two episodes at the Opera House
(which the Australian media has renamed the “Oprah” House) and a third episode at a yet-to-be disclosed location, rumored to be somewhere in the Outback. The shows are scheduled to air in January. Her arrival has been treated with breathless anticipation in Australia, which is forking out more than $4 million for the trip between the federal and state governments. Officials say that’s a small price to pay for the many millions of dollars of tourism advertising the show will bring. “Oprah is a household name, not just in the United States but in the 145 countries where the show is broadcast,” Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson said in a statement. “That Oprah has chosen Australia as her Ultimate Adventure destination sends a powerful message to her millions of fans around the world.” The Winfrey fans will have a packed schedule, enjoying everything from surfing lessons and snorkeling to nature hikes and beachside barbecues.
» OBITUARY
4. Buy a coloring book Coloring is therapeutic and I wouldn’t suggest this elementary activity to college students if I hadn’t experienced the benefits myself. Coloring has a calming effect and I can promise you thirty minutes of coloring will help you see straight again. In between flipping flashcards and
Greenwich Village neighborhood. “He’ll be sorely missed by family and friends alike,” his sister said when reached by The Associated Press by telephone at his studio. Though Garry Gross earned his reputation as a celebrity imagemaker – his pictures graced the covers of albums by Whitney
Houston and Lou Reed – in 2002 he switched careers and became certified as a dog trainer. Most recently, he had turned to photographing portraits of canines, including such notable dogs as talk show host Rachael Ray’s pit bull Isaboo. But it was the 1970s images of Shields that marked his
career most significantly. In 1975, the actress’ mother, Teri Shields, consented to allow her daughter, then a child model, to be photographed nude for a Playboy Press publication. She and her mother earned $450 for the shoot, which included a full-frontal nude image of the girl standing in a bathtub.
5. Make your New Year’s resolution A new year is a new you, and by the end of finals you should know exactly what you’re going to change during 2011. When the lighting in Homer Babbage has brought you to your breaking point, and you realize the coffee at BookWorms really is just water, take some time to map out this coming year’s goals. Even if you just commit yourself to quit eating Cheese Doodles, it’s still a resolution. Never lose sight of your real aspirations during finals, as creating a concrete plan for the New Year is a fantastic way to spend a study break. I wish you all the best during finals. Take my study tips to heart and realize it is possible to take all 12 finals in four days and still do well. Be the boss you know you are and learn how to Dougie or even figure out how Cleary and Harding choreographed their hand dance. It’s truly been a great semester, and I hope to see you all in sombreros at the Fiesta Bowl.
Jennifer.Hurwitz@UConn.edu
Finish your party ensemble with a few choice accessories from DC HOLIDAY, page 7 ries. Bulky and glitzy rings have a nice holiday feel to them, as do delicate pendants and gem stud earrings. Also try a pearly headband and loose waves or curls for your hair. Lastly, put on a small cross body bag so that you can hold all of
your essentials during your outing. Piperlime.com has a large assortment of bags and offers free shipping on everything. Follow these tips and soon your holiday outfit will be set! Now comes the best part: put in on and celebrate
Purbita.Saha@UConn.edu
Even if your gut says no, take the time to get to know someone from TRUSTING, page 7
NY photographer of young, nude Brooke Shields dies
NEW YORK (AP) – Garry Gross, a fashion photographer known for his 1970s nude images of Brooke Shields, taken when she was 10 years old, has died in Manhattan, his sister said Tuesday. He was 73. His sister, Linda Gross, said he died Nov. 30 from a heart attack at his home in the
3. Watch “We Speak No Americano ft. Cleary and Harding” Now, you don’t have to watch this hilariously mesmerizing video, but watching something mindless is a simple way to decompress. However, I recommend this video. A good friend of mine showed this to me about three weeks ago and I’m embarrassed to reveal how many times I’ve watched it since. If you can learn this hand dance and how to Dougie by your last final, I’ll definitely pay your cover at huskies for the first three weeks of the spring semester.
highlighting, just color a little. You’ll find yourself completely immersed in your picture and impressed with how well you’ve stayed within the lines. It’s an easy way to remind yourself how awesome you are when you’re feeling guilty for skipping Wednesday night class to sing Third Eye Blind at karaoke.
in this situation, the bad sex wouldn’t have made either person stick around. “Sometimes we misjudge things by thinking its not for us because we see it as ‘I’m not good enough for that person or that person isn’t good enough for me,’” said 20-year-old Alyssa Maresco of Southern Connecticut State University. “It’s not always good to judge a book by its cover because
people places and things can surprise you,” she said. Taking a chance to get to know someone you originally may have thought wasn’t right for you could lead to a great relationship, great friendship or perhaps just great sex. But no, I will never change my mind about camping unless I’m bribed with a really good-looking man in my sleeping bag.
Alessandra.Petrino@UConn.edu
The Daily Campus, Page 10
» PEOPLE
» THEATER
Star of traditional Japan theater barred for brawl
TOKYO (AP) — A star of traditional Japanese theater who called in sick, then went out drinking and ended up brawling in a bar apologized Tuesday for the scandal that has embarrassed the rarefied world of Kabuki. Ebizo Ichikawa, 33, known as the “prince” of Kabuki, gave a televised news conference Tuesday hours after leaving a Tokyo hospital where he was treated for the facial injury sustained in the fracas that has riveted the nation for almost two weeks. Originating in the 1600s, Kabuki is a stylized all-male theater that combines music, dance and acting to tell stories about samurai vendettas, love suicides and everyday citylife in performances that use outlandish facial makeup and elaborate costumes. Although the audience still tends to be elderly, young performers like Ichikawa have revived interest in Kabuki in recent years by tackling TV shows and other works outside their genre. Ichikawa, from one of the most respected kabuki families, has won fans with his telegenic look and powerful performance at home and abroad, including France, the U.S. and Australia. But Ichikawa has been suspended indefinitely from performing Kabuki by theater operator Shochiku Co. following the incident at a celebrity bar in a ritzy Tokyo neighbor-
AP
Japanese traditional Kabuki actor Ebizo Ichikawa bows during a press conference in Tokyo, Japan on Tuesday.
hood on Nov. 25. He had been out drinking after skipping a daytime media event, citing health reasons. “I’m very sorry for causing tremendous trouble and concerns. I deeply regret what I did,” Ichikawa told reporters, wearing a dark suit and a tie,
with his left eye still bloodshot. He spoke somberly and bowed deeply several times in apology. Ichikawa said he had been drinking with a group of young men whom he had just met and later helped one of them who passed out. He said this may have led to a misunderstanding,
as other men in the group then attacked him. He declined to give further details about the brawl. Japanese media have reported that police have obtained an arrest warrant for a 26-yearold man for an alleged assault, but quoted one of the attackers as saying Ichikawa encouraged the fight. The Kabuki star admitted he was very drunk. He said he suffered a fractured left cheek bone, two chipped front teeth, and multiple internal and head bruises. The injuries have already forced him to cancel an appearance in a high-profile year-end show in Kyoto. At least three main sponsors have pulled TV commercials featuring him. Food company Yamaki Co., medical products maker Pip Co. and soft drink manufacturer Itoen Co. said they have temporarily suspended TV commercials featuring him “until all records are set straight,” citing “social impact.” Japanese media reports estimated the damage from his absence on stage and TV commercials to be around 100 million to 200 million yen ($1.2 million to $2.4 million). “A major blow to Kabuki’s frontman,” the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest, said recently of Ichikawa’s injury and his scandal. “It could also hurt the overall image of the world of Kabuki.”
» MUSIC
Beastie Boys DJ Mix Master Mike to perform in Vail
The Beastie Boys, from left: Adam Yauch, Mix Master Mike, Ad-Rock and Mike D. arrive at VH1 Hip Hop Honors at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York in 2006.
DENVER (AP) – Mix Master Mike has performed around the world on his own and with the Beastie Boys, but there’s one more place the DJ says he wants to play one day: the moon. “It may sound corny, but anything can be done,” he said. “I’d like to scratch on the moon, a full-on, two-hour set. Then after the set, plant the flag and then come back.” For now, the turntablist is promoting new headphones he launched with Skullcandy, new albums, and an iPhone application set to come out in January that he describes as putting an iPod with two turntables and a mixer in someone’s pocket. He also is among musicians interacting with fans online at http://www.thepublicrecord.
» TECHNOLOGY
» MUSIC VIDEOS
AP
com, where he invites people to send him guitar riffs, synthesizer tones or other clips, and he’ll videotape himself mixing them in on his turntables. “It’s pushing the envelope. I can’t imagine back in the day being able to make music with my musical heroes, and this website gives fans the opportunity to make music with us,” he said. Mix Master Mike is set to play a free concert Thursday as part of Vail Mountain’s annual Vail Snow Daze for early ski season. Weezer, O.A.R. and Dwight Yoakam also are scheduled to perform during the week. After playing around 200 shows this year, Mix Master Mike says he might spend New Year’s Eve at home with his wife and daughter.
New York's discount theater M.J.'s first posthumous music booth goes high-tech video precedes album
NEW YORK (AP) – New York City’s TKTS booth just got really, really small. The nonprofit Theater Development Fund, which runs the theater district’s famed discount-ticket booths, has unveiled an iPhone app that tells users what shows are available in real time. The app, which through March 1 will be available free at the Apple iTunes store, could cut down on lines at the three TKTS locations in Times
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Focus
Square, South Street Seaport and downtown Brooklyn. This is the first app endorsed by the Fund, known for its half-price Broadway and off-Broadway ticket booths. An app for the Android system is being worked on. For those who prefer a more human touch, the Fund also has introduced workers in red jackets who can help patrons at the physical booths navigate the ticket-buying process and advise them on shows.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – A new Michael Jackson music video is hitting the Internet preceding the launch of a posthumous Jackson album. The video, previewed by The Associated Press, debuts at midnight Thursday Eastern time on worldwide websites, including MichaelJackson.com, said Jackson estate co-administrator John Branca. It showcases Jackson’s
duet with Akon, “Hold My Hand,” recorded before the superstar’s 2009 death. It’s the first single release from the 10-song CD, “Michael,” launching Dec. 14. The hyperkinetic, fourand-a-half-minute video shows Jackson in concert, Akon singing and dancing, sentimental scenes of children, families and old people holding hands and a woman weeping.
Fonda wants TV role, releases workout DVD NEW YORK (AP) – Jane Fonda has something she’d like to work out: A television series. “I have a sort of a vision of what it could be and that’s all that I’ll say,” Fonda said in an interview last week. “I think the best, edgiest writing is now on cable television. It’s pretty exciting.” While the Oscar-winner hasn’t officially signed up for a TV show, she can be seen in new workout DVDs designed specifically for baby boomers. “People who are of a certain age tend to be ignored by the fitness industry and being that I’m older and I’ve done a lot of research on what happens to a body when it gets older, I know that it’s essential that we stay active,” Fonda said. The 72-year-old recently released “Jane Fonda: Prime Time Walkout” and “Jane Fonda: Prime Time Fit & Strong.” She says too many older people dismiss working out, and that needs to change. “It’s the worst thing that a person could do when they’re older is to say, ‘Why bother now? I’m older. I don’t need to,’” Fonda said. “I’m on this crusade to get older people out of the chairs, off their couches, moving in a way that’s safe, easy and very doable even if they’ve never done it a day in their lives. It’s never too late.” Fonda says she’s also writing a book about aging called
AP
Jane Fonda.
“Prime Time: Creating a Great Third Act.” It is due out next year. “It was the research that I did while writing my book on the aging body that motivated me to get back into the fitness industry again,” Fonda said, who hasn’t released a workout video since 1995. She recently finished filming two movies and will take her Tony-nominated performance in the Broadway play “33 Variations” to a Los Angeles theater next year. Fonda said as she gets older, life gets easier. “You get a little wiser as you get older. You’ve been there, done that. You know it’s not gonna kill you. You’ve survived it before. You tend to make lemonade out of lemons instead of mountains out of mole hills,” she said.
» CRIME
Gun likely not linked to Hollywood publicist death LOS ANGELES (AP) – The gun a man used to kill himself as undercover police tried to talk to him about the slaying of a Hollywood publicist was likely not the same weapon used in her slaying. Harold Martin Smith died Wednesday as Beverly Hills police investigating the death of Ronni Chasen went to speak with him at a rundown apartment building. He shot himself with a handgun as police approached him in the lobby. A law enforcement official, who was not authorized to speak about the case so asked for anonymity, told The Associated Press that Smith used a revolver to shoot himself. The official did not say what caliber bullets the gun fired but noted it was not a 9 mm weapon.
An initial coroner’s report stated that Chasen appeared to have been killed with 9 mm hollow point bullets. The report, obtained by KTTV’s Fox 11 News, said one such bullet was pulled from Chasen’s back in the hospital, and the 64-year-old had been shot multiple times. Chasen’s final autopsy report has not been released, and Beverly Hills police have said little about the investigation. Police spokesman Lt. Tony Lee said his department would not be releasing any ballistics information for now. Investigators last week called Smith a “person of interest” but stressed that it was not known if he was connected to the slaying. Officers approached Smith after someone phoned a tip into the TV show “America’s Most Wanted.”
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Daily Campus, Page 11
Sports
» NFL
Embarrassed Jets coach: ‘NFL deserved better game’ FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets went to New England looking to make a statement. They did. The wrong one. A day after being embarrassed on national television, the Jets were wondering how everything went so wrong in a 45-3 drubbing on Monday night. “It was the game of the year,” a bloodshot-eyed coach Rex Ryan said Tuesday. “The unfortunate thing is I feel bad for ourselves, obviously, our fans and, really, the NFL. The NFL deserved a better game than that, but we weren’t up to the task.” That was clear early in the Jets’ most lopsided loss since falling to the Miami Dolphins in 1986 by the same score. New York was 10-1 at that point, and that defeat, along with injuries, sparked a fivegame losing streak. Ryan acknowledged that there’s plenty the Jets (9-3) need to fix before their game Sunday against the Dolphins (6-6) to avoid a similar fate. He said he never left the facility after getting back from the game early Tuesday morning. “We got pummeled, we played terrible, but it’s one game,” Ryan said. “Everything we talked about is still attainable.” Everything, meaning, a Super Bowl trophy — something Ryan guaranteed during training camp. Ryan even evoked the 1985 Chicago Bears, a team whose defensive coordinator was his father, Buddy. That team lost its only game that season to Miami 38-24 on a Monday night in Week 13, a result Ryan said he thought “was probably just as humiliating, bad, all that kind of stuff on a national stage, maybe even as big or even bigger than this.” Ryan added that he hopes “history repeats itself” as the Bears went on to win the Super Bowl that season. And, despite his own team’s lousy loss, Ryan is confident his guys can turn things around. “We have a quarter of our season left,” he said, “so we’re far from pressing the panic button.” The same can’t be said of some distraught fans who flooded sports radio shows with calls wondering if the Jets can possibly bounce back from this kind of loss. The performance was also heavily criticized by the media,
AP
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) turns to walk off the field after not being able to convert a third down and short yardage play during ther second quarter of their NFL football game against the New England Patriots Monday night in Foxborough, Mass. New England Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington (27) celebrates.
with everyone from Ryan to Mark Sanchez to the vaunted defense getting clobbered. “This humble pie tastes like a car tire and it goes down like peanut butter,” defensive tackle Sione Pouha said after the game. “That’s how it feels. Sunday can’t come soon enough.” There will be lots to do in the days leading up to that, though. The players will
gather as a team Wednesday morning, and Ryan said he’ll address them at that point. “I’ll have a specific message,” he said, “that I’ll share with them first.” You can be sure there won’t be many smiles in that room, nor should there be after what went down at Gillette Stadium. “We really have to do some soul searching and see what
we’re really about, what type of team we want to be,” wide receiver Brad Smith said. “I think we will be all right.” It couldn’t get much worse than it did Monday, when there were serious breakdowns on offense, defense and special teams that Bill Belichick’s team capitalized on each time. “We couldn’t have played much worse in all phases of
the game,” tight end Dustin Keller said. Sanchez was off target all night, throwing three interceptions against a pass defense that ranked last in the league coming in. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and the Jets’ offense also never really took advantage of the Patriots’ young secondary. “This was a good old-fash-
ioned butt-kicking,” Sanchez said. “There’s no two ways around it. I need to play better, especially down the stretch.” With the Jets trailing 24-3, Sanchez’s interception at the Patriots 2 early in the third quarter ended any comeback chance New York had. The rout was on after that. On special teams, Nick Folk missed another field goal, falling short on a 53-yard attempt, and punter Steve Weatherford shanked a 12-yard punt that led to a score. The Jets’ defense, which Ryan has said will be ranked No. 1 at the end of the season, was picked apart by Tom Brady drive after drive. The Patriots scored on each of their first four possessions, taking a 21-point lead into halftime. It only got worse in the second half as the Jets appeared unable to stop or tackle anyone, including former teammate Danny Woodhead. Other than Darrelle Revis, the secondary — already short-handed with the loss of Jim Leonhard — was exposed by Brady as Eric Smith struggled as Leonhard’s replacement and Antonio Cromartie had probably his worst game with the team. “We stunk up the joint on defense,” Ryan said. “We stunk up the joint on offense, and we were probably worse on coaching.” Ryan and his staff had 10 days to prepare for the Patriots after last playing on Thanksgiving. It’s the third time this season — including the opener and the game after the bye-week break — that the Jets have lost after an extended break. “We should have tried everything but what we did,” Ryan said. “We thought we had a great scheme, but the execution was poor. But, again, it’s not all on the players. It’s on the coaches, too.” The Jets now have lots to prove, especially considering that every win except for one against the Patriots in Week 2 has been against teams with .500 or worse records. After Miami, the Jets have games at Pittsburgh (9-3) and Chicago (9-3) before ending the regular season at home against Buffalo (2-10). “Throw out last night,” Ryan said. “We’ve got to try to rack up as many wins as we can.”
49ers turn to Alex Smith again for key Walker continues roll, averages 29.1 points per game game against division foe Seattle SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Alex Smith is the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback yet again. Coach Mike Singletary made the announcement on his regular KNBR radio show Tuesday morning and the team later tweeted a reference to it. The move comes a day after Singletary said he was contemplating the switch from Troy Smith back to the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick following a 34-16 loss at Green Bay on Sunday. The 49ers (4-8) face a key game at home against NFC West rival Seattle on Sunday. Later Tuesday, the 49ers announced that Johnnie Lynn the secondary coach and special assistant to Singletary has resigned for personal reasons. Alex Smith dislocated his non-throwing left shoulder Oct. 24 at Carolina and hasn’t played since, despite being medically cleared several weeks ago. Singletary has said he will pick a starting QB each week. “Our quarterback is going to be Alex Smith,” Singletary told KNBR. “We felt at this time, Alex with his experience and all of the other things, he would give us the best chance to win at this particular time, at this time of the year. Still very confident in what Troy has been able to do and would not rule out at any point in time him playing again. Right now it’s just a matter of looking where we are in the season and the opportunity we
from THE KNIGHTS, page 14
AP
San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Troy Smith (1), David Carr (5) and Alex Smith (11) practice at the 49ers’ NFL football practice facility in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010.
have before us.” Alex Smith has completed 143 of 242 passes for 1,554 yards and nine touchdowns with nine interceptions and 13 sacks this season. He has a subpar 75.0 quarterback rating. This very well could be his last hurrah and farewell season in San Francisco. The 26-year-old Smith, who took over as the starter from the now-departed Shaun Hill at halftime on Oct. 25, 2009, at Houston, is in the final year
of his contract with a team trying to end a seven-year playoff drought despite a surprising 0-5 start. Troy Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner with Ohio State, went 3-2 in five games as the starter after signing with the 49ers in September following his release by Baltimore. His late timing joining the Niners put him behind in learning the playbook, but not so much that Singletary didn’t have confidence he could do the job —
picking the third-stringer over backup David Carr to replace the injured Alex Smith against the Panthers. Troy Smith is 66 for 126 and has passed for 1,023 yards and four touchdowns, including throwing for 356 yards in a 23-20 overtime victory over the St. Louis Rams on Nov. 14. “I think the most important thing is the guys understand I’m going to go with the guy I figure will give us the best opportunity to win. I think they know that
“They play a zone so looking inside we’ll have to rebound and make sure we box out,” said freshman forward Tyler Olander. “On defense we can’t let them get in the paint. We’ve got to keep them out and make them hit outside shots.” Senior forward Kamil Svrdlik is another experienced player who can score and rebound for the Knights. Svrdlik, a native of the Czech Republic, averages 13.8 points per game and a teamhigh 9.2 rebounds, but has yet to face an inside presence like sophomore Alex Oriakhi. Oriakhi is averaging a double-double, 12.1 points and 10.6 rebounds, after finally finding consistency on the offensive end. Oriakhi dropped 11 points against UMBC, a game where six Huskies reached double figures. The sophomore center only had seven points and 10 rebounds in the 62-55 win over New Hampshire on Nov. 30 because he was limited to 25 minutes after getting into foul trouble early in the first half. The offense got into a flow against UMBC, with the scoring being deferred away from junior point guard Kemba Walker in the second half. Olander, however, went scoreless after not taking a shot from the field. “I’m gonna look to get more
opportunities,” Olander said. “The main way to do that is get offensive rebounds and get to open areas in the zone and get off a quick jump shot.” Walker remains on a roll, averaging 29.1 points per game. Walker is coming off a triple-double against the Retrievers. The junior grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out 10 assists to go along with 24 points. It was the eigth triple-double in UConn history. Walker opened the game with two free throws, reaching the 1,000-point milestone, becoming the 45th in school history to do so. He now has 1,022 points for his career. According to the Hartford Courant’s Mike Anthony, Walker is a candidate for early graduation this year. According to the AP, former Husky great Art Quimby died Tuesday at the age of 77. Quimby averaged 21 rebounds per game during his stint in Storrs during the 1950’s. He led the nation in 1954 with 23 boards a game. His career total of 1,716 rebounds still stands today as the school record. Quimby said no to an NBA contract from the Rochester Royals when his college career ended. He is on the UConn all-century team.
Matthew.McDonough@UConn.edu
The Daily Campus, Page 12
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Sports
Huskies skate with Union in last game of ‘10
By Peter Logue Campus Correspondent
basics,” said Linstad. “Win board battles, get to the front of the opposition’s net, create screens [and] tips and find loose The UConn women’s hockey pucks. Our scoring is non-existeam is looking to bounce back tent because we are not gritty.” Although Union is 2-12-2 on from a disappointing weekend by traveling to Schenectady, the year, teams that play the N.Y. tonight to face Union. The controlled style of hockey that contest will be the final game the Dutchwomen will feature have given the Huskies of the calendar year trouble in recent weeks. for the Huskies, who “They are a very will have a break disciplined team, very from competition similar to Yale,” Linstad until New Years said. “Hardworking, Day when they face at Union look to take advantage Dartmouth. 7 p.m. of quickly breaking out Over the weekend, the Huskies Messa Rink of their defensive zone.” The Huskies were lost a pair of con- Schenectady, thumped 5-2 by Yale on tests to Hockey East N.Y. Nov. 26 in the Nutmeg foes. On Saturday Classic. they were shutout at After a 1-7-1 start to the seahome by Boston University by a score of 4-0, before traveling to son, the Huskies have showed Providence College on Sunday flashes of last year’s team. In where they would fall 5-1. In 2009-2010, UConn overcame order to get back on track and a mediocre start to run off a pick up the road win tonight, 12 game winning streak in UConn (6-10-2, 4-4-1 Hockey the second half of the seaEast) will need to have more of son that launched them into what coach Heather Linstad has the top 10 nationally and all been searching for all year: grit. the way to the Hockey East “We need to get back to Championship, where they
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
JOHN LEVASSEUR/The Daily Campus
Maude Bllain skates up ice during UConn’s 1-0 win on Nov. 13 over New Hampshire at the Frietas Ice Forum. Trailing behind Blain is Casey Knajek. The Huskies travel to New York to face off against Union.
fell to Boston University in an overtime heartbreaker by a score of 2-1. In the month of November, it appeared that the Huskies had rekindled that magic by
going 5-1 and surging into a tie with BU for second place in the Hockey East rankings. However, they will need to overcome being outscored 9-1 over the last weekend and
good. We beat Portugal in the group stage and then we beat Mexico in the round of 16. I was amazed. All of a sudden my country was a major player in a game that seemed so foreign and so distant to me. The United States lost to Germany in the quarterfinals, but it didn’t matter. Somehow my love for this game had grown even more than I had imagined. Since then, I’ve avidly followed Manchester United and United States soccer, and probably will continue until the day I die. Studying abroad in London two years ago allowed me to immerse myself in the soccer culture which I had long dreamed of, and even more importantly allowed me to see Manchester United at Old Trafford, which was a dream come true. The average American sports fan, my self included, is
obsessed with their loyalties, ardently monitoring stats and results of their favorite teams and players. But soccer is a sport that runs much deeper than results and statistics. It is a sport that inspires hope in some of the most war-torn and underprivileged countries in the world. It is a sport that brings peace to enemies in times of unrest. It is a sport that can make you feel as if you are on top of the world when your side wins and just the opposite when your team fails to do so. Watching your team and listening to the supporters sing and cheer their team on is a feeling unlike any I’ve ever felt otherwise. This is why they call it the beautiful game, I invite you to come and join.
Roche: Soccer inspires hope, brings peace from THE BEAUTIFUL, page 14 to my imagination, which was something I enjoyed. I remember them making a big deal out of one of the players, who had a dodgy haircut and played for a team called Manchester United. Someone named David Beckham. I also remember how loud the crowd was, but the fans weren’t just yelling, it was more melodic than the sporting events that I had attended. It was almost as if they were singing. Not knowing when the games would be on, I tuned in to ESPN every day after school and only caught a game every once in a while. I began to read about Manchester United, one of the biggest sporting clubs in the world. I read of the history, the players, the founders, the league, the competitions, and the songs. It was like a whole new world of sport had been
revealed to me. I was hooked from day one. Then, one winter I started seeing advertising for the World Cup. Of course I had heard of the World Cup, but I had never been interested enough to watch it. In 2002, the World Cup took place in Japan and South Korea. Due to the time difference, most matches went on in the early morning. I remember waking up before school and watching matches while I ate breakfast. Once I arrived at school I would beg my teachers to let us watch it during free periods. I recognized David Beckham, England’s captain, along with the rest of the players who played for Manchester United like Paul Scholes, Fabien Barthez, Diego Forlan, Roy Keane, and Juan Sebastian Veron. But the United States was also involved, and we were
Jon-Paul.Roche-@UConn.edu
from PATRIOTS, page 14
AP
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, celebrates a touchdown by teammate Aaron Hernandez against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, in Foxborough, Mass. At right is Jets safety Eric Smith.
Green-Ellis are all fairly new. The commander of the offense is a future hall-of-famer in Tom Brady. With his squad gelling, Brady has thrown for over 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns with no picks at a rate of 73.4 percent over his last four games. Those numbers mostly came against the top-tier pass defenses of the Steelers, Jets and Colts. Alongside a steady running game, New England has returned to a controlled pass offense that never fails to reach into its bag of tricks. They average over 31 points a game and for the near future show now signs of slowing down. Defensively, Belichick has managed to pull out a very neat trick of his own by organizing a unit that features six starters in either their first or second year. His work in 2010 may very well earn him the Coach of the Year award as being the de facto coordinator. He’s seen his
defense improve every week. Through twelve games, the Patriots have employed more personnel groups than almost anyone else in the league and are now starting to gather momentum. While they are not the owners of many gaudy statistics, Vince Wilfork and his boys are turning the ball back to Brady’s bunch better than all but five other NFL defenses. And in return, the offense has given it away a league-low nine times. This group may not be close to the dominant teams that paraded around Boston in Duck Boats over the past decade. But in the 2010-2011 NFL, the New England Patriots are first-class in efficiency, points and winning. If they are able to keep this up, they may soon be making an offer to the NFL it can’t refuse: A one-way trip to Dallas for Super Bowl XLV. QUICK HITS To all the Jets fans thinking of jumping off the GWB: Listen,
if the Jets win two more games, they’re in the post-season. Buffalo and Miami shouldn’t be too bad but have fun with Chicago and Pittsburgh. The Cleveland Browns are 9-7 in their last 16 games. Mangini has earned the right to be back in 2011 and he should have more talent to work with then. As for the MVP debate, it’s Brady’s to lose. He’s the top QB on the top team. But for you Michael Vick groupies: Vick has played 31 quarters and missed 17; he may be the MVP for guys who put together highlight reels at ESPN, but not of the National Football League Albert Haynesworth should star in the next Mastercard commercial: one malcontent defensive tackle: $34.75 million over two years. Seeing Mike Shanahan turn colors like a mood ring: priceless
Andrew.J.Callahan@UConn.edu
team to define themselves,” Linstad said.
Peter.Logue@UConn.edu
Photo courtesy of Kevin Curry
Ryan Curry does push ups with his father Kevin after the Huskies score during UConn’s 33-30 win over Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. on Nov. 21, 2009.
Curry considering attending UConn from FACES, page 14 Ryan said he has no idea why he hasn’t been put on the big screen during the dance cam, yet he has gotten on in the past couple of years. His first shirtless escapade came three years ago against Seton Hall. On Friday night in UConn’s win over UMBC, Ryan and his father were in their XL Center seats. When the music came on, Curry hopped out of his seat and his shirt came off again. Ryan, who plays the drums in school, danced until the XL Center speakers went silent. Curry’s accountant and his granddaughter were with them as well. The Currys have traveled to games at North Carolina and Miami. Kevin has taken Ryan, an Indians fan, to Cleveland. They go to all the Husky basketball games at Madison Square Garden, and take time off of school for the Big East tournament. Kevin said the trips are planned around Ryan’s school and basketball schedule. The priest at Ryan’s school even joked that he could only miss school for the Notre Dame game if he wrote a report on Touchdown Jesus. The Currys are also big UConn football fans and frequent the Rent. “We have a good group of 50 guys, we get together and tailgate,”
Callahan: MVP is Brady’s to lose, Vick plagued with injuries Following film study, one can see that the late shifting of defensive linemen shortly before the snap allowed the Pats to get sufficient pressure on Mark Sanchez while still playing seven or eight men in coverage. The Jets’ decision to put the game in Sanchez’s hands early on in the shotgun turned out to be disastrous as they got away from their offensive foundation, running the ball and using play-action. The second-year pro just proved to be unready for the combination of running a more spread out offense against heavy coverage and threw three picks. The last was by far the worst when James Sanders waited patiently for the skinny post to Santonio Holmes and then picked off the early Christmas gift from St. Mark, taking it the other way for twenty-eight yards. While the Jets could churn out yards on the ground, the Pats’ coaches simply did a much better job of putting their players on that side of the ball in position to be successful. Matchups were dictated to the Jet defense that played predominantly man-to-man coverage and paid for it dearly. With a variety of crossing route combinations, Patriot receivers ran for over 200 yards after the catch. The Patriots’ pounding leaves their rivals at 0-3 with extra time to prepare, while Bill Belichick and company are 3-0. Not to mention Rex Ryan’s club is just 1-3 against winning teams with one touchdown. How about Brady’s bunch? They own a mark of 3-1, which had been 6-1 prior to this weekend. Pretty impressive. Though perhaps even more remarkable about New England’s 10-2 performance thus far is who exactly is carrying out these wins. Outside of Wes Welker, every offensive Patriot playmaker has been calling Gillette Stadium home over the last few years. Deion Branch, Danny Woodhead, Brandon Tate, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and BenJarvus
gain a sense of identity if they are to match, or perhaps even improve on, last season’s tremendous campaign. “I think the most important thing right now is for the
Kevin said. The Currys are headed to Arizona on New Year’s Day for the Fiesta Bowl. Kevin said they are also going to see the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. He was excited for the two to spend quality time together. “It’s good we get to go to the games and travel together,” Kevin said. But there is no better feeling than the student section cheering Ryan on. “It’s awesome,” Ryan said. “I get a feeling of pride.” “I think the students look forward to him,” Kevin added, saying it was a joy for Ryan to be in the student section during the Texas game last season, and he was hopeful he can spend more time with the students this year. Although only 11-yearsold, Ryan said his early college choices are Notre Dame, Harvard and Yale. But Kevin was quick to add that UConn is definitely on the short list. So in 2018 it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Ryan cheering and dancing in the front row of the student section in Storrs, shirtless.
Matthew.McDonough@UConn.edu
Red: I do it to help the team on the court from FACES, page 14 The 36-year season ticket holder made his debut this season in a win over New Hampshire at Gampel Pavilion on Nov. 30. Although he said he would never embarrass a player, the Huskies were not embarrassing the Wildcats, so he felt the need to spell out UConn to try to rally the boys. “I don’t embarrass teams,” Red said. “Being a sports fan, the energy comes from the fans.” Red, as unselfish as most of Calhoun’s teams over the years, did not want to talk about the feeling he gets when 10,000 to 16,000 fans are looking at him for support. Instead it’s all about the team. “It’s not the feeling I get, it’s what I can give to the players on the court to help them when they need me,” Red said. Big Red has witnessed three Final Four teams, two national champions and countless future NBA players, and he foresees this group of players to be
something special. “This could be in the top four teams I’ve watched,” Red said. “I think they have enough talent. They just need to be seasoned” The Huskies have proved one of their most loyal fans right thus far. Although Red was interviewed in the second game of the season against Vermont at the XL Center, UConn stunned Michigan State and Kentucky to win the Maui Invitational and has reached No. 6 in the nation with five freshman in its rotation. Even if the Huskies have down seasons, it hasn’t stopped Big Red from showing up in Hartford or Storrs. Big Red said he’s only missed 11 home games in the last five decades of UConn basketball. “This is my energy,” Red said. “This is what I do.”
Colin.McDonough@UConn.edu
TWO Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Daily Question Q: “Will UConn upset Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl?” A: “Absolutely. Oklahoma has a history of blowing it.”
PAGE 2
“Willl the Patriots get the No. 1 seed in the AFC?”
» That’s what he said
Away game Gampel Pavilion, XL Center
–New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after the Pats 45-3 win over the Jets.
Oklahoma Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl Glendale, AZ 8:30 p.m.
» FOOTBALL
Freshman offensive tackle suspended
Tom Brady
» Pic of the day
Staff Report
Take that!
Men’s Basketball (7-0) Dec. 22 Dec. 27 Dec. 31 Harvard Pittsburgh USF 7:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m.
The athletic department announced yesterday that freshman offensive tackle Greg McKee has been suspended indefinitely. The brief statement from the university did not give a reason for the suspension or a timeframe for reinstatement. The university also indicated that they would not comment further on the matter. McKee is a 6-foot-6, 290 pound freshman from Chicago. He did not make a start for the Huskies this year.
Women’s Basketball (8-0)
» MEN’S BASKETBALL
Tomorrow Dec. 19 Dec. 28 Dec. 30 Dec. 21 Stanford Marquette Ohio St. Florida St. Pacific 7:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
Former UConn basketball star Art Quimby dies at 77
Men’s Hockey (4-7-3) Dec. 10 Dec. 29 Sacred Holy Cross Heart 7:15 p.m. 7:05 p.m.
Dec. 30 TBA TBA
Jan. 7 Jan. 8 Mercyhurst Mercyhurst 7:05 p.m. 7:05 p.m.
Women’s Hockey (6-10-1) Today Union 2:00 p.m.
Jan. 2 Jan. 1 Dartmouth Dartmouth 4:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m.
Jan. 9 Jan. 8 Robert Robert Morris Morris 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.
Men’s Track and Field Jan. 21 Jan. 29 Jan. 20 Feb. 4 Jan. 15 UConn Great Dane Saturday Night Collegiate Yale Invite at the Armory Heptathalon Invite Invite 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. TBA
Women’s Track and Field Jan. 15 Armory Invite All Day
Jan. 22 URI Invite 10:30 a.m.
Feb. 5 Jan. 28/29 Feb. 4/5 Penn St. New Balance Giegengack Invite Invite Invite All Day All Day 2:00 p.m.
AP
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after a touchdown by running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis against the New York Jets during the first quarter of a football game in Foxborough, Mass.
THE Storrs Side
Men’s Swimming and Diving Jan. 22 Seton Hall 1:00 p.m.
STORRS (AP) — Former University of Connecticut basketball star Art Quimby, who averaged more than 21 rebounds a game for the Huskies in the 1950s, has died, the school announced Tuesday. He was 77. UConn officials did not give additional details about his death. The Potter Funeral Home of Willimantic said Quimby, of Columbia, Conn., died Monday. Quimby led the nation in rebounding in 1954, averaging almost 23 per game, and still holds the UConn career record with 1,716. He also holds the school records for rebounds in a game (40), and most combined points and rebounds in a career (3,114). “They are numbers that are inconceivable today and still make him among the best rebounders in the history of the college game,” UConn coach Jim Calhoun said in a statement. “I was fortunate to get to know Art Quimby in my time here at Connecticut and not only was he a great player, but he was an even better person and ambassador for the state of Connecticut and Connecticut basketball.” Quimby was named to the UConn all-century team in 2001 and to the UConn Huskies of Honor in 2007. After playing at Connecticut, Quimby turned down an offer to play for the Rochester Royals in the NBA and instead pursued a career in education. Visitations are scheduled for Sunday at noon at the Potter Funeral Home, with a funeral to follow at 1 p.m.
THE Pro Side
UConn men’s basketball off Celtics stay on a roll, Heat begin first hot streak of season to a surprising 7-0 start
Jan. 29 Feb. 11 Feb. 5 Jan. 28 Bucknell Big East Yale Bucknell Invitational Championship 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Noon All-day
By Colin McDonough Senior Staff Writer
Women’s Swimming and Diving Jan. 22 Seton Hall 1:00 p.m.
E-mail your answers, along with your name, semester standing and major, to sports@dailycampus.com. The best answer will appear in tomorrow’s paper.
The Daily Roundup
“We really take after our coach (Bill Belichick), and he says ‘When you win, say little. When you lose, say less.”
Football (8-4)
Today Dec. 20 FairleighCoppin St. Dickinson 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Tomorrow’s Question:
Christopher Gross, 5th-semester secondary education major.
What's Next
Home game
The Daily Campus, Page 13
Sports
Feb. 11 Jan. 29 Feb. 5 Jan. 28 Big East Bucknell Yale Bucknell Championships Invitational 1:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. All Day All Day
What's On TV
NBA BASKETBALL: . Denver Nuggets at Boston Celtics Wednesday, 7 p.m., ESPN The Celtics enter the game with the NBA’s best record at 16-4. Carmelo Anthony will try to improve the Nuggets record to 14-6 at the TD Garden in Boston. Rajon Rondo averages 11.4 points per game and 14.1 assists, but is battling a hamstring injury. Kevin Garnett(left) has been solid for Boston as well this season, averaging 15.6 points per game and 9.8 rebounds.
AP
The UConn men’s basketball was unheralded and unranked heading into the season. The Huskies were picked by the coaches to finish 10th in the Big East. But in the first month of the year, UConn has shot up to No. 6 in the nation. After wins over Stony Brook and Vermont, the Huskies made the trip to Hawaii with more question marks than answers. Kemba Walker and Co. had a resounding answer for skeptics around the country: UConn basketball is still UConn basketball. The junior put on a threeday exhibition in the Maui Invitational, leading the team to wins over Wichita State, No. 2 Michigan State and then No. 11 Kentucky to win the tournament championship. Walker averaged 30 points per game and won the MVP of the tournament. After the stunning performance by Walker and the Huskies, UConn made the second-biggest jump in AP poll history, going from unranked to seventh in the poll.
Coach Jim Calhoun wanted his team with five freshmen in the rotation to prove the pollsters right. So far, so good. The Huskies held on in a tight contest at Gampel Pavilion with New Hampshire. Walker scored 30 as UConn won 62-55. The early Player of the Year candidate followed that up with a triple-double Friday night at the XL Center in a blowout win versus UMBC. Walker may be carrying much of the load but the Huskies used a team effort to begin the season 7-0. Alex Oriahki is averaging a double-double while freshmen Shabazz Napier and Roscoe Smith are close to averaging double figures in scoring. Fellow newcomer Niels Giffey scored 14 points in the win over Kentucky and from top to bottom, UConn’s roster has more weapons than originally thought. Time will tell how the Huskies play in the Big East conference and if they can make it back to the NCAA tournament. But so far, UConn is the surprise team of college basketball.
Colin.McDonough@UConn.edu
By Dan Agabiti Staff Writer Boston on a hot streak The Boston Celtics enter tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets riding a seven-game win streak. The Celtics own the best record in the Eastern Conference and the number one ranking in ESPN’s Power Rankings. This season, the Celtics have been doing it the old-fashioned way,spreading the ball around and creating high-percentage shots. Rajon Rondo is one of the main reasons for success and leads the league for assists, with 14 per game. Paul Pierce, the leading scorer for the Celtics only averages 19 points per game, and six other Celtics average at least 10 points per game. Tonight’s game will not be an easy one for Boston. The Celtics will face a talented Denver team that ranks in the top five in offensive production. If Boston wants to extend their winning streak to eight games, they are going to have to play tough defense and continue to spread the ball around to create open shots. Turning up the heat After a rough start to their season,
the Miami Heat have now won five games in a row. In the next week, the Heat will have the opportunity to show the world whether or not they have improved with a three-game Western Conference road trip. That streak starts tonight against a skilled Utah Jazz team. This is not going to be easy for Miami. Utah is very good at moving the ball around and beating them, especially in Utah, is going to be difficult. The struggle for Miami has been offensive production, which is odd, considering the caliber of offensive talent they have Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Their defense has been excellent and ranks second in the league in points allowed per game. Some blame head coach Erik Spoelstra for the team’s tepid start to the season, because he cannot handle the star power on the squad. But Spoelstra remains the coach, at least for now, with no sign of a change coming soon. Miami needs to step up their game on offense if they want to continue their winning streak especially against a good defensive team like Utah.
Daniel.Agabiti@UConn.edu
» INSIDE SPORTS TODAY P.13: Former UConn star Quimby dies at at 77. / P.12: Women’s hockey takes on Union. / P.11: Ryan says NFL deserved ‘a better game.’
Page 14
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The beautiful game
www.dailycampus.com
KNIGHTS OF NEW JERSEY
No. 6 UConn faces Fairleigh Dickinson
By Matt McDonough Associate Sports Editor
Jon-Paul Roche
During my time writing for The Daily Campus, I’ve covered topics pertaining to world football. I’ve written stories about some of the best clubs in the world like Barcelona, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and several others. I’ve also written about some of the elite competitions in the sport, such as the UEFA Champions League and, of course, the World Cup. But, no matter the topic of the story I write, I have always tried to use my writing to attract readers to the game. Soccer is a game that many people feel relates exclusively to the world’s population outside of the United States. But I refuse to believe that this sport has no bearing on avid sports fans in this country, especially as of late. After this summer’s World Cup, I had more people than ever before coming to me because they were interested in the sport and didn’t know where to start. The one consistent answer I could offer was to simply pick a team and invest your loyalty in them. Picking a team to follow be it club, international, or both - is something that you should take seriously, but have fun with. I first started paying attention to soccer during middle school. I remember coming home from school, turning on ESPN and seeing the UEFA Champions League. I distinctly remember the foreign accents of commentators Tommy Smyth and David Rae as they described the sporting event in a style which I was not used to. Letting play go on, not recounting every action the players made – the commentary left a lot up
» ROCHE, page 12
Patriots make yet another climb to NFL mountaintop By Andrew Callahan NFL Columnist Paul Brown, the late godfather of pro football, used to tell his championship teams one thing: “When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less.” Had Brown been alive for the Patriots’ Monday night slaughter of the New York Jets, he would’ve been one proud football coach. Led by longtime Brown admirer Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots have once again established themselves as the best team in the NFL. Following an astounding 45-3 victory over their 9-2 rivals who ran their mouth like the NYC marathon, the Pats simply went about their business. They’ve won nine of their last ten and have the Jets and the NFL partying like it’s ‘03 and ‘04. So what does this mean? Well in truth, not much - at least not yet. With four games to go, the Patriots may be atop the power rankings of every ‘expert’ out there, but the only ranking that ever matters is playoff seeding. At the moment, this team is in control of its destiny, which looks to have its course set for a No. 1 seed in the AFC. But there’s work to be done. As for the Jets, their work now essentially consists of four finals weeks to get themselves together before the playoffs. The Patriots picked them apart and blew them out of the water. They were simply outclassed in every phase. Here’s a brief look at how it went down.
» CALLAHAN, page 12
The No. 6 UConn men’s basketball team will look to improve to 8-0 with a win over Fairleigh Dickinson tonight in Storrs. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion. The Huskies defeated UMBC 94-61 Friday night at the XL Center in Hartford to boost their record to 7-0. UConn moved up in the AP Top 25 poll after Michigan State 7-0 lost to No. 1 Duke this past week. The Huskies were previously ranked No. 7. The Knights enter the contest at 3-3 on the season. Fairleigh Dickinson lost 3-3 at home versus. Wed. 7:30 p.m. Stony Brook and Gampel Pavilion Albany, and at North Carolina SNY/WHUS State to open the season, but has since reeled off three straight. The Knights won at Longwood, and opened Northeast Conference play with home wins over Bryant and Central Connecticut State. Senior guard Mike Scott is the team’s leading scorer. Scott, in his second year with the program after previous stops at the College of Eastern Utah and TCU, averages 17.7 points and 6.5 rebounds. Senior guard Terence Grier can also score. The transfer from Rhode Island averages 12 points per contest in his third year at FDU.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
VS.
DANA LOVALLO/The Daily Campus
Kemba Walker drives to the hoop during the Huskies’ 94-61 win over UMBC Dec. 3 at the XL Center. Walker had 24 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in the victory. UConn plays Fairleigh Dickinson tonight at Gampel Pavilion.
» WALKER, page 11
» HUSKY HARDCORES
Faces in the crowd: Big Red and Ryan Curry ‘Red’ recalls the history behind the infamous cheer
By Colin McDonough Senior Staff Writer The most memorable moments in UConn basketball history on most lists are the 1988 NIT championship, 1990’s “Dream Season” and the two national championships in 1999 and 2004. These wins catapulted the men’s basketball program into the national spotlight and created a winning tradition for the Huskies. But one basketball tradition was started long before Tate George’s shot and still continues today. Big Red may be the most recognizable face in Gampel Pavilion besides coach Jim Calhoun. Big Red didn’t go to UConn, and when asked what his real name was, he responded with “Big Red” and a hardy chuckle. He didn’t give many details to his personal life, but Red’s spirit for the Blue and White is seen more than any Husky Hardcore in history. At Gampel Pavilion and the XL Center, Red rallies the men’s basketball team during timeouts after big runs in crucial moments of the game. At Gampel he sits in section 221, in Hartford he is behind the basket in section 109, but is shown on the scoreboard with a caption reading “It’s Big Red time.” When his time comes, Red gets out of his seat and spells out “U…C…O…N…N” with his arms while the student section points at him and chants. Big Red doesn’t remember the exact year, either 1976 or 1977, but he knows it was a cold night at the old Greer Fieldhouse. The story of this incredible tradition goes something like this. Red and a friend were watching the Huskies struggling and the cheerleaders were not getting the crowd into it. As the squad does now, the cheerleaders spelled out the letters of UConn to the fans, but Red said the students weren’t getting excited enough. That’s when Big Red became a legend. He stood up and yelled, “Are you ready?” and spelled out “UConn” with his arms while the crowd screamed,
Photo courtesy of Kevin Curry
“Big Red,” center, and Kevin Curry, bottom, pose with Jonathan the Husky and the UConn Marching Band before the Huskies took on Michigan State in the 2009 Final Four at Ford Field in Detroit.
“U…C…O…N…N, UConn, UConn, UConn.” He said he did the chant a couple more times that game but doesn’t remember who they played or the outcome. The next game Big Red walked into the fieldhouse, past the student section, and took his seat. He was wearing a softball jacket, with his name, “Big Red,” emblazoned on it. After UConn made a run, the student section turned to Big Red and began chanting “Red, Red, Red, Red!” He spelled out UConn and has not stopped since. “It just continued and evolved,” Red said. “I think it’s great. I do it when I need to get the crowd involved at the right time.” Big Red’s energy is usually not needed until the Big East schedule. The have mostly blown out their home non-conference slates in the last 20 years, so Red has become accustomed to waiting until winter to help the team. “If the team is doing well then they don’t need the extra energy and support,” Red said. “I don’t want to embarrass a player that is trying hard on the court.”
» RED, page 12
Curry travels the country with father to watch UConn men By Matt McDonough Associate Sports Editor Ryan Curry is not just another face in the crowd. According to YouTube videos, Curry is known as the “UConn shirtless kid.” Curry, who just turned 11-years-old last week, is a 5th grader at Saint Joseph Elementary School in Meriden. When he’s not going to school, he is with his father Kevin at UConn games anywhere from Storrs to Detroit. Kevin, who is a gas station owner and distributor for Danby’s Gasoline Marketers, has owned men’s basketball season tickets for around 15 years and has been a season ticket holder at Rentschler Field since its opening in 2003. The father-andson combination goes to one road football game and one away basketball weekend every season. The duo’s bond started the day on Nov. 1999 that Ryan was born, when,
according to Curry’s wife, Patti, Kevin went to the UConn-UMass basketball game with his friends hours after becoming a father. Although Ryan missed out on that game, along with the two men’s basketball championships and the Motor City Bowl, Kevin has taken his son everywhere. Ryan has traveled to Notre Dame Stadium, gone to UConn’s last three bowl games, smashed oranges on the Carrier Dome concourse and in 2009 went with his father and Big Red, a family friend to the Final Four. “Red said he never saw an 8-year-old who understood basketball so well and you could have a 15-hour conversation with,” Kevin said. But Ryan is known to the UConn student section as the kid who dances with his shirt off during timeouts. Ryan is a staple of the second half dance cam. He tosses his shirt to his father and walks into the aisle. There is no real name or inspiration for his dance moves, according to Ryan. But the student section erupts when Ryan busts a move. Most start to cheer, then point towards Ryan, so the cameras catch him. So far this season, they haven’t.
» CURRY, page 12