Volume CXVI No. 69
» INSIDE
www.dailycampus.com
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Facebook could cost you a job
Two students nabbed in unrelated child porn cases
By Jessica Dziala Campus Correspondent
REMEMBERING THE ‘THE BEATLE OF BEATLES’ Celebrating John Lennon’s life on the 30th anniversary of his death. FOCUS/ page 7
That was Fairleigh Easy Men’s basketball takes care of Fairleigh Dickinson at Gampel. SPORTS/ page 14 EDITORIAL: IMMIGRANT STUDENTS SHOULD NOT NEED TO PROVE PATRIOTISM Obama’s diplomatic approach is best for situation. COMMENTARY/page 4 INSIDE NEWS: TOWN DEVASTATED BY CRASH THAT KILLED FOUR TEENS Memorial created for Griswald teens. NEWS/ page 2
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» index Classifieds 3 Comics 5 Commentary 4 Crossword/Sudoku 5 Focus 7 InstantDaily 4 Sports 14
The Daily Campus 11 Dog Lane Storrs, CT 06268 Box U-4189
Brandon Dudzinski’s alarm went off at 7 a.m. He had already brushed his teeth, showered and begun getting dressed when he heard the beeping. He walked over to his nightstand, turned off his phone and took a deep breath. He had an interview with the West Hartford Police Department today – an interview he had been waiting his entire life to conquer. Through games of “cops and robbers” as a boy, majoring in criminal justice in college, and early mornings and tough obstacles at the police academy—he had done everything in his power to reach his dream of becoming a police officer. Fast-forward to 30 minutes into the interview. Dudzinski soon realized he had overlooked one simple, yet crucial, component of his journey toward becoming a real officer. “After a few preliminary questions, the man interviewing me said, ‘Okay, I noticed you have a Facebook, and the settings are private. Why don’t you login to your account on my computer right now and we’ll see what you’re actually hiding,’” said Dudzinski. Dudzinski did not have anything too jaw-dropping on his personal profile page, but he was pictured in some images that involved alcohol and college parties. The West Hartford Police Department stopped the interview, told him to clean up his page and re-interview in three months. This is obviously an extreme example. Most employers cannot get around strict Facebook privacy settings. But this story should prove to be a wakeup call to social network users.
AP
An unidentifed University of Missouri student looks through Facebook while in class Wednesday on the Columbia, Mo. campus. Facebook, a popular online social network for students, has drawn the attention of several schools administrators and employers.
Brandon learned his lesson the hard way and ultimately transformed into Officer Dudzinski. But his lax attitude toward social media websites almost cost him a major career opportunity. “I never imagined something as simple as pictures on a Facebook page would have any impact on me getting a job,” said Dudzinski. He is not alone in this oversight. Although popular social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter have created a global community where any constraints of worldwide communication have been shattered for good, a growing majority are noticing the negative impacts such sites might impose on their lives if the correct precautions are not taken. There is no denying the positive changes social media has instilled in society. It has connected users from all over the world. On Facebook, when you wish to view someone’s profile page, you must become “friends” with them by sending them a request.
This means that a wave-loving, thrill-seeking surfer from California can be “friends” with a hip, tech-savvy fashionista in Madrid without ever having met in person. Social networking sites have also proved to be an invaluable resource during times of trouble. People turned to Twitter updates as a means of sending warnings and asking for help during natural disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti or wildfires in California. The United States government even created a special crisis management department specifically designed to read various social media site’s updates in order to be better aware of circumstances in Haiti. With every new innovation comes the societal backlash. Some say that over-use of Facebook and Twitter distracts students and results in diminished productivity. Others also charge such sites with breaching personal privacy and even being potentially harmful. “The age of social media
is here, and obviously here to stay,” said Lisa Savage, an admissions officer for Post University. “The important thing is to find the balance between using sites like Facebook as a useful tool, and letting those tools dictate your life and impose negative implications.” Social media is a doubleedged sword. It has the potential to connect people from all over the world, but also allows people you do not know personally to gain any information you post. The meaning behind the word “friend” has changed over time. Today, anyone that sends you a “friend request” can see any pictures, status updates and “wall-posts” you create. For those less savvy with social media, a status update is a message instantly broadcast to all in your network, and a wall-post is a message you can write on another friend’s profile. Once you are
» PRIVACY, page 6
Active Minds hosts ‘Stress Out Day’ By John Sherman Campus Correspondent On Thursday night, the Student Union’s North Lobby was where number two pencils and blank bubble sheets came to die. The university’s chapter of Active Minds, a student-driven national organization for mental health awareness, held “Stress Out Day” to relax those who need to balance their studying with some elementary stress relievers. There were crunchy vegetables, and people who could tell you the value of vegetables;. There were happy people, and people who could tell you why it’s good to be happy. There was a girl dressed up as a cookie handing out cookies. It was nothing at all like the library - where there are no crunchy vegetables or novelty cookie people, and very few noticeably happy people. “We hold events like this every semester right before finals to just de-stress and relax anyone who comes,” said Amy Holland, a 5thsemester psychology and human development and family studies double major, who coordinated the three-hour event. “The organization is trying to use the student voice to change the conversation about mental health. Even if you don’t have mental health issues, everyone has mental health,” Holland said. The well-attended event had an exhuberant atmosphere. Students popped bubble wrap, made stress relievers and friendship bracelets
JIM ANDERSON/The Daily Campus
Students make their own stress balls in the Student Union during ‘Stress Out Day,’ an event put on by the UConn chapter of Active Minds.
and shredded personalized stressors that they wrote on pieces of paper. They spoke to representatives from the Nutrition Club, Health Department and Students Helping to Achieve Positive Esteem (SHARE) about how to stay healthy in times of heightened tension. “Fifty percent of college students have a medically diagnosable
amount of stress,” said Holland. “We accept that as normal, but no one should be under this much stress. We want to encourage healthier ways to take a deep breath and relax.” Scott Gaudreau, a 3rd-semester communications major, highly recommended the event. “Now is a good time to get your mind off of finals and enjoy a
nutritious snack,” Gaudreau said, “or just...to procrastinate.” Active Minds will make another attempt to de-stress the student body and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues today. Labeled as “Stress Down Day,” the event starts at 11 a.m. in room 104 of the Student Union.
John.D.Sherman@UConn.edu
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — A University of Connecticut football player was arrested Wednesday on child pornography charges and was being held on $75,000 bond. Greg McKee, 18, surrendered to state police a day after the school announced that he had been indefinitely suspended from the team but did not say why. McKee, a 6-foot-6, 290-pound offensive lineman from Chicago, has not played for the Huskies and was sitting out his freshman year in order to have four years of eligibility left. UConn spokesman Mike Enright said the school would have no comment on the arrest. An e-mail message left Wednesday for McKee seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned. McKee made an initial court appearance in Rockville Superior Court on charges of obscenity, importing child pornography and promoting a minor in an obscene performance. A judge set his bond at $75,000. McKee was represented in court by a public defender. She did not immediately return an after-hours phone message seeking comment. Lt. J. Paul Vance, a state police spokesman, said the state’s computer crime’s unit received information that led the seizure of some computer equipment from McKee’s dorm room last month. “We’re part of a national network, if you will,” Vance said. “The information was credible, so we initiated a criminal investigation, identified a target and executed a search warrant.” According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent authorities a tip in September about child pornography being posted on the social network platform ning.com. Police were able to trace the Internet Protocol address to UConn and eventually to McKee. McKee told police he was supposed to be paid by a man named “Feinmann” for uploading several videos of child pornography to a social network platform, but he could not contact the man after he uploaded the videos, according to the affidavit. The affidavit didn’t say who “Feinmann” was or whether authorities believe he exists. McKee also admitted that he had downloaded child pornography from the Internet using links obtained from people he contacted using his MSN messenger account, and that he may have received child pornography using another e-mail address, the affidavit said. He told police he had about 20 videos and 20 images of child porn on his laptop. Police say the children in the pornography appear to be between 8 and 15 years old. Vance said no other members of the football team are believed to be involved. But he said the investigation was ongoing and more arrests are possible. A second UConn student, Seven Lewis, 21, of Plainville, was arrested on Wednesday on federal child pornography charges. Tom Carson, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office said the cases are unrelated. McKee’s arrest comes four days after the Huskies beat South Florida to secure a share of the Big East championship and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl, where they will play Oklahoma on Jan. 1.
What’s on at UConn today... Stress Down Day 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Studen Union, Room 104
The Department of Wellness and Prevention Services will offer students stress management tips to cope with finals.
Catch a Flea in her Ear 7:30 – 10 p.m. Jorgensen
The Connecticut Repretory Theater presents George Feydeau’s “Catch a Flea in her Ear.”
UConn Symphony Orchestra 8 – 10 p.m. Von der Mehden
UConn Symphony Orchestra will perform their final concert of the semester. General admission is $7. UConn students get in free.
Kwanzaa Dinner 6 – 8 p.m. Student Union Ballroom
The African-American Cultural Center sonsors the annual Kwanzaa Dinner.
-JOE ADINOLFI
The Daily Campus, Page 2
DAILY BRIEFING » STATE POLITICS
GOP head will not challenge Steele
HARTFORD (AP) — Chris Healy, the Connecticut Republican party chairman, says he will not join a crowded field of challengers to national GOP chairman Michael Steele. Healy told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he will support Gentry Collins, who headed the powerful political department of the RNC and is a former Iowa GOP chairman. Steele has not said whether he will seek another term. He has polarized Republicans in his two years leading the party, with critics saying he hasn’t raised enough money while he’s spent too much. Healy says he was flattered to be mentioned as a potential candidate, but decided not to pursue the position after talking to some RNC members and seeing “a lot of more qualified people than me.”
Sen.-elect Blumenthal names chief of staff
HARTFORD (AP) — Connecticut Sen.-elect Richard Blumenthal has named Capitol Hill veteran Laurie Rubiner, who has recently led Planned Parenthood’s Washington office, as his chief of staff. Rubiner (ROO’-bih-nur) also worked for the late Republican Sen. John Chafee of Rhode Island, and Hillary Rodham Clinton, when Clinton was the Democratic senator from New York. Blumenthal praised Rubiner’s “passion for public service” and her 15 years of bipartisan experience. She was Chafee’s assistant on health care, poverty, and women’s and children’s issues from 1990-1999, and was Clinton’s legislative director from 20052008, working on issues including health care reform.
» CRIME
Police find car in Glastonbury hit and run
STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Police have obtained an arrest warrant for the alleged driver of a box truck that crashed into more than a dozen vehicles, including a school bus, last month in Stamford. Twenty-two people were injured in the Nov. 16 incident, including the alleged driver, 30-year-old George Simonelli (SIGH-meh-’nellee) of Stamford. Police say he was treated for life-threatening injuries. Police say Simonelli smashed into signs, parking meters and 14 vehicles, including a school bus with 23 students inside.
councilor arrested after following police
WEST HARTFORD (AP) — A West Hartford town councilor has been arrested after he allegedly followed police responding to reports of a domestic disturbance and offered legal help to residents of the home. Police say they arrested Rob Durbin and charged him with interfering with an officer and first-degree criminal trespass just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Police say a man, later identified as the 35-year-old Durbin, tried to open a door to the home even after being asked to stop. He told police he knew the residents and was there to offer legal aid. The residents said they did not know Durbin and did not summon him. The Democrat has a law degree and is a member of the town public safety committee. He says he went to the home as a lawyer, but refused further comment.
Five convicted in multistate check-cashing scheme SOMERVILLE, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey man and three of his children are among five people convicted in a check-cashing scam that targeted banks in several states. A Somerset County jury returned the verdict Wednesday. Prosecutors say 46-year-old Eric Criss of South Orange led the ring. It recruited runners and provided them with forged checks, fake identification and cell phones. Banks in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and Ohio lost more than $600,000 to the scheme. Criss, his two sons and his stepdaughter were convicted on several charges, including racketeering. Tihee Brisbane of Whippany was convicted on computer theft charges for stealing information on hundreds of Verizon Wireless customers. All face dozens of years in prison at sentencing Jan. 28.
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Town devastated by crash that killed 4 teens
Thursday, December 9, 2010
News
GRISWOLD (AP) — Mourners exchanged hugs and tears Wednesday as they created a makeshift memorial by the side of a narrow country road where four teenagers were killed and another critically wounded when their car crashed into two trees. “Steve was my best friend,” 15-year-old Floyd Flint said about victim Steven Szklarz as he cried at the accident site. “It’s never going to be the same. Anything.” Tuesday afternoon’s crash on Route 201 in eastern Connecticut came as the state marked Teen Safe Driving Week, and a day after transportation officials announced that fatal crashes in the state were at a 12-year low among 16- and 17-year-old drivers. State police said the driver was 16-year-old John Clapper, who had a learner’s permit that only allowed him to have a parent, guardian or instructor as a passenger when he drove. Troopers haven’t determined why Clapper lost control of the car. The others who died were identified as 16-year-old Sativa Cornell, 16-year-old Dillon Clifford and Szklarz, who was 15. The surviving passenger, 16-year-old Joel Gallup, was hospitalized in critical condition. Cornell was the front seat passenger, while the other three victims were in the back seat, officials said. All were students at Griswold High School, where grief counselors were made available for students Wednesday. Funeral arrangements weren’t announced, but an early evening vigil was planned. Friends said Clapper and Cornell were dating. Authorities said the 2007 Nissan Altima was registered to Gina Pelletier of Griswold, who the victims’
AP
Flowers are seen at a memorial at the scene of the crash where four teens were killed in a single-vehicle accident Tuesday in Griswold.
friends said was Cornell’s mother. A woman who answered the phone at Pelletier and Cornell’s address declined to comment, and no one answered the door at Clapper’s home Wednesday. A steady flow of traffic passed the accident site Wednesday. Many people got out of their cars to pay their respects. Some cried and hugged. Flowers, balloons and other items were placed at the base of the two trees the car hit. Someone stuck a small snowman ornament on one of the trees. Students who returned to Griswold High School on
Wednesday said the normally noisy hallways were silent, and many left school early because the sadness was too difficult to take. “You could hear a pin drop,” said 16-year-old Jessica Drager, who was friends with Cornell and was a neighbor of Clapper. “To lose five people at once is just so shocking. They were such good people. They would do anything for you.” Drager was among those who left school early. “I couldn’t handle being in school with everybody crying,” she said. “I just felt so depressed.” Friends of the teens also
shared their grief Tuesday night and Wednesday on Facebook, where more than 2,300 people were following a memorial page. Several changed their profile pictures to Griswold High’s green “G’’ or its Wolverines logo, sent condolences to the families or shared memories of being on sports teams with some of the teens. Griswold is a rural working class town of about 12,000 people located about 50 miles southeast of Hartford and 10 miles west of the Rhode Island line. About 750 students attend the town’s high school.
Doctor: Suspected Smart kidnapper not mentally ill SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A forensic psychiatrist testified Wednesday that a former street preacher charged with the abduction of Elizabeth Smart did not suffer from severe mental illness at the time she was taken from her Utah home. New York City-based Dr. Michael Welner was hired by federal prosecutors to evaluate defendant Brian David Mitchell in 2009 to perform what authorities called the most complete evaluation of Mitchell ever done. In making his determination, Welner testified, he reviewed 210 sources of information that included medical, mental health and police reports, along with Mitchell’s religious writings. Welner also interviewed 57 people, including Smart, while forming his opinion. “Elizabeth Smart is really one of only two people who actually interacted with Brian David Mitchell when his guard was down,” Welner said. Welner attempted to interview Mitchell but said the defendant refused by sitting mute with his eyes shut for most of the five hours they spent together. Mitchell broke his silence by singing hymns and once shouted, “Repent, repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand,” the doctor said. Mitchell, 57, is on trial in U.S. District Court on charges of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines for the purposes of illegal sex. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. The case could go to the jury later this week. Defense attorneys don’t dispute that Smart was kidnapped in 2002 and held captive when she was 14, but contend Mitchell is mentally ill and can’t be held responsible. They also contend he believes he has been directed by God and that he is a prophet who will restore the practice of polygamy and defeat the Antichrist at the end of the world. Drawing from a report he drafted in 2009, Welner said Mitchell suffers from an antisocial personality disorder, pedophelia, psychopathy and alcohol abuse. His testimony also mirrored the opinions of other experts who said they believed Mitchell’s religious beliefs were insincere and that he changed them when it suited him. Like other evaluators, Welner said that flexibility was proof that Mitchell was not suffering a delusional disorder.
AP
Shirl Mitchell, 87, father of Brian David Mitchell speaks to the media as he leaves the Frank Moss Federal Building on Wednesday.
Defense attorneys criticized Welner’s methodology for reaching his opinions — for example, getting FBI agents to conduct some 30 interviews on his behalf — and his fees, which to date total more than $748,600. Reports also show Welner, who charges the U.S. attorneys office a $425 hourly fee and
a flat fee of $5,000 per day of court testimony, was contracted to evaluate Mitchell months before he was court-ordered to undergo an evaluation at a U.S. Bureau of Prisons hospital. Welner’s involvement in the case, however, was not made public until after a bureau doctor said Mitchell was incompetent for trial.
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This space is reserved for addressing errors when The Daily Campus prints information that is incorrect. Anyone with a complaint should contact The Daily Campus offices and file a corrections request form. All requests are subject to approval by the Managing Editor or the Editor-in-Chief.
Thursday, December 9, 2010 Copy Editors: Sam Marshall, Alyssa Krueger, Brian Zahn, Grace Vasington News Designer: Joe Adinolfi Focus Designer: Melanie Deziel Sports Designer: Greg Keiser Digital Production: Jim Anderson
Thursday, December 9, 2010
The Daily Campus, Page 3
News
Hackers strike at MasterCard to support WikiLeaks
LONDON (AP) — Hackers rushed to the defense of WikiLeaks on Wednesday, launching attacks on MasterCard, Visa, Swedish prosecutors, a Swiss bank and others who have acted against the site and its jailed founder Julian Assange. Internet “hacktivists” operating under the label “Operation Payback” claimed responsibility in a Twitter message for causing severe technological problems at the website for MasterCard, which pulled the plug on its relationship with WikiLeaks a day ago. MasterCard acknowledged “a service disruption” involving its Secure Code system for verifying online payments, but spokesman James Issokson said consumers could still use their credit cards for secure transactions. Later Wednesday, Visa’s website was inaccessible. The online attacks are part of a wave of support for WikiLeaks that is sweeping the Internet. Twitter was choked with messages of solidarity for the group, while the site’s Facebook page hit 1 million fans. Late Wednesday, Operation Payback itself appeared to run
into problems, as many of its sites went down. It was unclear who was behind the counterattack. MasterCard is the latest in a string of U.S.-based Internet companies — including Visa, Amazon.com, PayPal Inc. and EveryDNS — to cut ties to WikiLeaks in recent days amid intense U.S. government pressure. PayPal was not having problems Wednesday but the company said it faced “a dedicated denial-of-service attack” on Monday. WikiLeaks’ extensive releases of secret U.S. diplomatic cables have embarrassed U.S. allies, angered rivals, and reopened old wounds across the world. U.S. officials in Washington say other countries have curtailed their dealings with the U.S. government because of WikiLeaks’ actions. PayPal Vice President Osama Bedier said the company froze WikiLeaks’ account after seeing a letter from the U.S. State Department to WikiLeaks saying that the group’s activities “were deemed illegal in the United States.” Offline, WikiLeaks was under pressure on many fronts. Assange is in a British prison
fighting extradition to Sweden over a sex crimes case. Recent moves by Swiss Postfinance, MasterCard, PayPal and others that cut the flow of donations to the group have impaired its ability to raise money. Neither WikiLeaks nor Assange has been charged with any offense in the U.S., but the U.S. government is investigating whether Assange can be prosecuted for espionage or other offenses. Assange has not been charged with any offenses in Sweden either, but authorities there want to question him about the allegations of sex crimes. Undeterred, WikiLeaks released more confidential U.S. cables Wednesday. The latest batch showed the British government feared a furious Libyan reaction if the convicted Lockerbie bomber wasn’t set free and expressed relief when they learned he would be released in 2009 on compassionate grounds. Another U.S. memo described German leader Angela Merkel as the “Teflon” chancellor, but she brushed it off as mere chatter at a party. American officials were also shown to be lobby-
ing the Russian government to amend a financial bill they felt would disadvantage U.S. companies Visa and MasterCard. The most surprising cable of the day came from a U.S. diplomat in Saudi Arabia after a night on the town. “The underground nightlife of Jiddah’s elite youth is thriving and throbbing,” the memo said. “The full range of worldly temptations and vices are available — alcohol, drugs, sex — but all behind closed doors.” The pro-WikiLeaks vengeance campaign on Wednesday appeared to be taking the form of denial-of-service attacks in which computers are harnessed — sometimes surreptitiously — to jam target sites with mountains of requests for data, knocking them out of commission. Per Hellqvist, a security specialist with the firm Symantec, said a network of web activists called Anonymous — to which Operation Payback is affiliated — appeared to be behind many of the attacks. The group, which has previously focused on the Church of Scientology and the music industry, is knocking offline websites seen as hostile
to WikiLeaks. “While we don’t have much of an affiliation with WikiLeaks, we fight for the same reasons,” the group said in a statement. “We want transparency and we counter censorship ... we intend to utilize our resources to raise awareness, attack those against and support those who are helping lead our world to freedom and democracy.” The website for Swedish lawyer Claes Borgstrom, who represents the two women at the center of Assange’s sex crimes case, was unreachable Wednesday. The Swiss postal system’s financial arm, Postfinance, which shut down Assange’s bank account on Monday, was also having trouble. Spokesman Alex Josty said the website buckled under a barrage of traffic Tuesday. “Yesterday it was very, very difficult, then things improved overnight,” he told the AP. “But it’s still not entirely back to normal.” Ironically, the microblogging site Twitter — home of much WikiLeaks support — could become the next target. Operation Payback posted a
statement claiming “Twitter you’re next for censoring Wikileaks discussion.” Some WikiLeaks supporters accuse Twitter of preventing the term “WikiLeaks” from appearing as one of its popular “trending topics.” Twitter denies censorship, saying the topics are determined by an algorithm. Twitter’s top trending topics are not the ones people are discussing the most overall, but those they are talking about more right now than they did previously, Twitter explained in an e-mail Wednesday. If tweets were ranked by volume alone, the weather or other mundane topics would dominate the trends. WikiLeaks angered the U.S. government earlier this year when it posted a video showing U.S. troops on a helicopter gunning down two Reuters journalists in Iraq. Since then, the organization has leaked some 400,000 classified U.S. war files from Iraq and 76,000 from Afghanistan, which U.S. military officials say could put people’s lives at risk. In the last few weeks, the group has begun leaking a massive trove of secret U.S. diplomatic cables.
House Democrats’ bill freezes most agency budgets
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats controlling the House moved ahead Wednesday on legislation that would freeze the budgets of most Cabinet departments and fund the war in Afghanistan for another year. The bill would cap the agencies’ operating budgets at $1.2 trillion, including $159 billion to prosecute the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. That’s the level of the recently finished budget year but a $46 billion cut of more than 3 percent from President Barack Obama’s request. The 423-page measure, opposed by Republicans, conservative Democrats and some anti-war lawmakers, only narrowly survived a 207-206 procedural vote. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., came to the floor to cast a rare tie-breaking vote. The budget-freeze bill wraps a dozen unfinished spending bills into a single measure. There are many exceptions to the freeze. Health care programs for veterans and the military would get a boost, as would the Pell Grant program for lowincome college students. People serving in the military would get a 1.4 percent pay raise, but civilian federal workers would have their salaries frozen, as requested by Obama last week. The bill also would provide $159 billion to fund the wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq. A widely backed food safety bill is hitching a ride on the legislation. The measure passed the Senate by a 73-25 vote last week but got caught in a snag because it contained revenue provisions that, under the Constitution, must originate in the House. Senate Democrats are working on a different approach that would provide slightly more money and would include thousands of pet projects sought by lawmakers. It’s unclear whether that measure can get enough support from Republicans to pass. The House bill is free of such “earmarks.” The House was on track to pass its measure as early as Wednesday — over Republican protests that it still spends too much money and that they won’t have had enough time to review it. House Republicans want a short-term measure to punt the unfinished budget business into next year, when they will assume the majority. The bill combines the annual operating budgets for every federal department or agency. In an unprecedented collapse of the federal budget process, not a single one of the 12 annual spending bills has yet passed Congress. The bill, combined with a massive measure to extend the Bush-era tax cuts, extend
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unemployment benefits and cut the payroll tax, represents the bulk of Congress’ unfinished work as the lame-duck session approaches its close. House appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., said the legislation would “salvage some investments which over the long haul just might create more jobs than a tax break for millionaires.” Obey was able to find money for some Democratic priorities because accounts for the census and military bases closing are $11 billion below fiscal 2010 levels. That allowed Obey to maintain increased federal air marshal presence on international flights, add money for the Indian health Service, and provide $550 million for Obama’s signature “Race to the Top” program that provides grants to better-performing schools. The budget for high-speed rail would take a cut as would Obama’s budget for construction of new federal buildings. But housing subsidies for the poor would get an increase, as would grants to localities to shelter the homeless. The underlying bill would provide the Pentagon $513 billion for core operations, which is a 1 percent increase to cover pay and health care, but $17 billion less than requested by Obama in February.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., center, walks to the House democratic caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday.
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Thursday, December 9, 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
Immigrant students should not need to prove patriotism
L
ast week, illegal immigrant college students came together to donate blood at Harvard University and other colleges. As Congress inches closer to deciding the fate of the DREAM Act—a law that would make illegal immigrants eligible for citizenship in exchange for going to college or military service—these immigrant students are taking measures into their own hands by attempting to prove their commitment to their country. While this effort in community service is appreciated, illegal immigrants should not feel compelled to do this to demonstrate their patriotism. According to The Huffington Post, these DREAM-ers “wanted to show the rest of the country that they are ready to perform community service and are good citizens, even if they don’t have U.S. citizenship.” Because there are no rules that prevent illegal immigrants from donating blood, college students in particular are taking advantage of this as a lastditch effort before Congress votes. Blood donations are always in demand and are a selfless act, be it by an American citizen or an illegal immigrant. What is bothersome about illegal immigrants donating blood is that they should not feel like they have to in order to prove themselves worthy of American status. Many immigrants who are in college now were brought to the United States with their parents as young children, but are still considered not to be American even when this is the only place they know as home. As a result, even college students who have lived in the U.S. the majority of their lives will not be able to get a job after graduation because of their immigration status. While illegal immigration is a controversial issue in the U.S., a middle ground needs to be achieved, particularly in regards to those who entered the U.S. at a young age with parents who wanted a better life for their children. The students who are donating blood are not doing so in exchange for citizenship. They are doing it to show that they care about this country just as much as someone who was born here. Just as blood from an illegal immigrant is as valuable as blood from an American citizen, so is a talented undocumented student compared to a talented American student. Passing the DREAM act would not pay for their college tuition or give them an advantage over other students, but rather give them a chance to be recognized as a citizen of the country that they love. 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.
You know Putnam dining hall is having budget issues when they make their theme “Nightmare before Christmas” and just reuse all the halloween decorations. You had your chance to turn down the music. Now it’s time to show my wrath by belting Whitney Houston into the vent. What lies on its back 100 feet in the air? A centipede! ...I know it’s not the best material, but my popsicle stick reeeeally wanted to get into the InstantDaily. I just started paying attention in class...Did I miss anything? Dear stomach: sorry to put you through all that, but i just couldn’t stop eating at South last night. Just saw a UConn cop drive ONTO the sidewalk, put his hazards on, and go inside to buy tickets for the game – I think I should get reimbursed for my “rolling stop” ticket. Dear Jonathan the Husky, I am so sorry for the guy groping you in the student section last night. Love, a fan. My roommate has on his resume that he was Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year” in 2006. He was. How long does a car alarm take to drain the car’s battery? If the car in D-Lot is any indication, about six days. While walking to class, I heard one person ask their friend if it’s ok to mix Adderall and DayQuil. Hello, finals.
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.
Extreme Makeover: UConn mascot edition
T
he slogan is plastered everywhere around campus: “Students today, Huskies forever.” That statement would be much more meaningful to UConn if there weren’t seven other colleges that have a Husky mascot. That’s right, I’m looking at you, Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania, Washington University, Michigan Tech, Northeastern University, University of Southern Maine, Northern Illinois University and St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. A quick image search of these schools’ logos reveals someBy Jesse Rifkin thing interesting: Weekly Columnist they all have a husky mascot that strikes fear in your heart the way Sarah Palin strikes fear in a moose. Bloomsburg has a menacing animal staring directly into your eyes. Michigan Tech has a growling beast cloaked in dark shadow. St. Cloud has a white dog with streaks of red, showing not only the school’s colors, but also implying the husky is splattered with blood after going in for the kill. And the Northeastern mascot, a ferocious leaper with its canine teeth bared, that actually is going in for the kill. Yet the UConn husky is smiling with its tongue out. Most other schools look like their mascot came out of such recent films as
“Unstoppable” or “The Warrior’s Way.” Ours look like it came out of “Tangled.” Now, I am not suggesting that UConn stop being the Huskies. After all, the name is steeped in history. In 1933, the school changed its name from Connecticut Agricultural College to Connecticut State College, and as such had to rename its sports teams. (The school would not be called University of Connecticut until six years later, in 1939.) In 1934, the school newspaper, then called the Connecticut Campus, conducted a survey among the student body to select a mascot, and a husky won.
“I believe that UConn should change its husky mascot to reflect an image more intimidating, more powerful, more commanding...” The Husky identity had withstood the test of time for the last 76 years, and I would not dream of changing it. But we can change the way it looks – because, unlike Dick Clark, most things actually do not look the same for 76 years. Connecticut College discovered this recently. Since 1969, they had been known as the Connecticut Camels. Last April, while retaining the camel as its mascot, the school gave the logo a visual makeover, making the camel look more fierce.
“The new design really captures the spirit of those descriptors,” Vice President for College Relations at Connecticut College Patricia Carey explained. Which descriptors is she referring to? “The terms our students, alumni and community members most commonly associated with the camel were ‘proud,’ ‘strong’ and ‘dignified.’” You can’t make these quotes up. Our men’s basketball team is ranked No. 6 in the country. Our football team is headed to a BCS bowl game. Our women’s basketball team has not lost a game since April 2008. I believe that UConn should change its husky mascot to reflect an image more intimidating, more powerful, more that is commanding, more impressive and more dominant. Just like the students and players it represents.
huskies in the ncaa
Northeastern
Northern Illinois
Bloomsburg University
Connecticut
Weekly Columnist Jesse Rifkin is a 1st-semester political science and communications double major. He can be reached at Jesse.Rifkin@UConn.edu.
‘Reduce’ is forgotten part of eco motto
I
f I asked you to recall the most prominent thing you’ve done today to shrink your ecological footprint, or in other words, “go green,” you’d probably tell me you recycled. It might have been the orange juice container you tossed in the green bin on your way to class or the coffee cup sleeve you slipped off your morning pickme-up and placed in the blue bin. If you’re r e a d By Tim Brogan ing this Staff Columnist before you’ve had the opportunity to recycle anything, you might foresee yourself discarding today’s The Daily Campus in its rightful place. We dwell on recycling as the ultimate act of environmental stewardship and, in turn, use it to justify consumption. I’ll offer an alternative, something you can do that’s infinitely better than recycling. Reduce. It’s not a buzzword yet, but it’s the heart and soul of the mantra, “reduce, reuse, recycle.” This simplistic alliterative phrase lists the three terms in order of importance, but the magnitude of their effects is not fully captured. A more accurate, but less glamorous, version would read, “Reduce first and foremost, reuse what you have and, if you must, recycle.” A great American feat is the institutionalization of recycling. Most citizens carry out this civic
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duty and, to many, it’s morally reprehensible to not recycle. It has profound effects, reducing waste that goes into landfills and ultimately salvaging raw materials, which reduces mining for ores (like bauxite to make aluminum cans) and oil (to make petroleum based plastics). But reducing the things you consume is always the most ecological option. Here, I’ll use the clichéd environmental no-no, the consumption of bottled water. If you’re guilty, and I’ve thus far persuaded you to reduce, you can start by replacing the plastic water bottles (which are packaged in more plastic) you consume each month with one reusable container, such as a Klean Kanteen or a Nalgene. If you’re not guilty, encourage your friends to make the switch. If you’re skeptical about the impact of personal decisions, I urge you to think about collectivity. Imagine if every student bought one less plastic bottle a week. We’d single handedly reduce demand for plastic bottles by 23,000 and, in a month, 92,000 bottles. If the student lowers demand for beverages housed in plastic bottles, next month the university would order less of them. If every college campus in the U.S. followed suit, manufacturing of plastic bottles would surely decrease. We can continue to copiously consume or we can impede pro-
“Iran
duction of chemicals and materials like plastic by limiting consumption. We can continue to devote tremendous resources to food production or we can follow Michael Pollan’s manifesto: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” We can go further by shopping with reusable cloth bags and avoiding heavily packaged foods. We can buy everything new, or buy a portion of our things from tag sales and second-hand stores. Effective ways to reduce are innumerable and they will have negligible effects on lifestyles.
“We dwell on recycling as the ultimate act of environmental stewardship and...use it to justify consumption.” Take shorter showers, use conservative amounts of shampoo and double-side your notes. Search around your attic and you may not need to buy that new backpack. Search through Mom’s drawer of school supplies and you may not need any new pens or notebooks. Before you leave your room for an extended period, like over winter break, turn your power strip off and, if you can, lower the temperature in your room. Soon these
nuances will become ritual and, if enough people join the movement, they will be become virtues embedded in our culture. In his book “Hot, Flat, and Crowded,” Thomas Friedman says that a “green revolution” is not underway, it’s simply a “green party.” We are superficially becoming environmentally friendly and this is reflected in our obsession with recycling as opposed to reducing. So long as we treat the symptom by recycling products that have already been made, we facilitate the root problem – wanton consumerism that leads to unsustainable resource use and excessive production of goods. The party turns to a revolution when we start considering the environment in our cost-benefit analysis that governs our consumer decisions. Once we make something, the materials used in production can never be reverted back to their original state. It’s time to reduce consumption, re-use instead of buying new and, if we must, recycle. It’s incumbent upon each individual person to make such a lifestyle adjustment while it’s still a choice, not an ultimatum.
Staff Columnist Tim Brogan is a 5thsemester natural resources major. He can be reached at Timothy.Brogan@ UConn.edu.
began holding talks with the six world powers. Participants were the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France, and Oprah.” – Conan O’Brien
The Daily Campus, Page 5
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Comics
Classic I hate Everything by Carin Powell
30 Boil over? 34 __ Jordan: Nike brand 35 Vane dir. 36 Part of TGIF 38 AOL et al. 39 Culture medium 40 Lover of Yum-Yum in “The Mikado” 41 Little butt? 42 Gold meas. 45 Second-century date 46 Barrel worker 47 Thing 48 Hercule’s creator 50 Uniformed campus gp. 52 Little rascal 53 Chance to see what you missed the first time 54 Early mode of transportation 58 Powerful 1966 hurricane 60 Yak
61 Word on a biblical wall 63 Cock’s mate 64 Jr. and sr. 65 Type
Super Glitch by John Lawson
4 Poetic tribute 5 Common crossword clue letters 6 “The Art of Loving” author 7 Cartridge filler 8 Coolers, briefly 9 One may be choked back 10 Stylish 11 They may be liquid or frozen 12 Original “Star Trek” studio 17 Wise one 18 Driller’s deg. 22 Bank acct. entry 24 Morrow and Damone 26 One who lifts a lot? 27 ‘50s-’60s chief justice Warren 28 Microwave 29 Cologne cry
JELLY! by Elise Domyan
Down 1 Goya subject 2 Yemen neighbor 3 Crackerjack
www.happydancecomics.wordpress.com
Horoscopes
Aries - The girls in the group have a plan and are taking the lead. Even though it may cramp someone’s style, the ideas are solid with productive results.
Poop by Michael Badulak
Taurus - If you find yourself in the spotlight today, you don’t need a script. You’ve given the subject plenty of thought already. Speak from the heart. Gemini - The girls are champing at the bit to gain independence in their work. Practical considerations require teamwork before solo projects can move forward.
By Michael Mepham
Stickcat by Karl, Jason, Fritz & Chan
Cancer - The desire for independence leads an associate in a stubborn direction. Before despairing (or resisting), suggest creative ways to share an intention. Leo - Get back in gear early to complete work on schedule. A female associate has identified a critical problem. More than one solution presents itself as you work through it. Virgo - You want to take off, but you’re stuck working out practical matters. Research reveals hidden solutions. Then creative efforts yield results.
by Andrew Prestwich
Libra - Although you want to pursue your own interests alone today, you face the need to handle another person’s problems as well. Clarify logic before beginning.
Jason and the Rhedosaurus
Across 1 Magic 5 Time in a classified ad 8 Syrian president 13 Surrounded by 14 Bud 15 Little wood 16 M 19 So-so connection? 20 __ forces 21 Senate majority leader Harry 23 Baseball stat. 25 Ma 28 More clownish 31 Doesn’t try to reach the green, in golf 32 Current letters 33 Less taxing 37 Max 43 Most tender 44 Pace 45 Low-quality 49 Sumatran swingers 51 Maxi 55 Site of a 1981 sitcom honeymoon 56 Minute amount 57 __ badge 59 “Big Blue” 62 Maxim 66 Old number? 67 Instrument on which Jake Shimabukuro can play “Bohemian Rhapsody” 68 Kind of officer or shark 69 Meg and Robert 70 __ Perce tribe 71 Asian beef source
Happy Dance by Sarah Parsons
The Daily Crossword
Scorpio - A favorite person stays close by to help with a household challenge. Delegate responsibilities early, and keep an eye on progress to maintain momentum. www.jasonandtherhedosaurus.blogspot.com
Victory Lap by Zach Wussow
Sagittarius - Independent thoughts guide every action today. Less is more, where force is concerned. Relax and finesse it for quicker results. Evaluate progress later. Capricorn - You think you want more independence. Actually, practical effort in a team gets you further. Once today’s work is done, you can take off on your own. Aquarius - Someone tests your public image by asking you to pull off the impossible. You find a way to get it done with flair, on time and polished. Anything’s possible.
Interested in drawing comics for the
Daily Campus?
Pisces - Research creates a solid platform for group discussion. You want to get out early, so keep the conversation concise. Something entirely new could result.
Froot Bütch by Brendan Albetski and Brendan Nicholas
Email your contact information and comic samples to dailycampuscomics@gmail.com
The Daily Campus, Page 6
Thursday, December 9, 2010
News
HIV-positive LA porn actor calls for condom use
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A clinic frequented by porn stars stood by findings that an adult film actor contracted HIV through personal sexual activity, contradicting his claims that he was infected through work. Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation spokeswoman Jennifer Miller said Wednesday that the San Fernando Valley clinic stands by its testing, which resulted in the quarantine of an unknown number of actors and found no other cases of the disease. “It’s going to come down to ‘he said, she said,’” said Miller. At a news conference Wednesday, Derrick Burts came forward for the first time since news of his illness rattled the multibillion dollar adult film industry and shut down a handful of productions for several weeks earlier this year. Burts, previously known as Patient Zeta, said he was identifying himself after reading last month that Miller said his
illness was contracted outside the porn industry “through private, personal activity.” Productions resumed after Miller’s announcement. Burts said that he was faithful to his HIV-negative girlfriend except for his work, and that he believes he was infected during a shoot in Florida. He said he used condoms for intercourse, but they aren’t foolproof and he may have contracted the disease through other on-camera sexual contact. The boyishly handsome 24-year-old, who performed in straight films as Cameron Reid and gay films as Derek Chambers, broke down in tears while recalling the frustration he felt after his diagnosis. The clinic failed to return calls, e-mails and text messages for weeks, Burts said, adding: “I felt neglected. AIM wasn’t there to protect me.” Burts said instead of providing the follow-up he needed, Miller, who is also the clinic’s
HIV/STD counselor, advised him to avoid media, change his phone number and leave town. In a statement, lawyers for AIM said Patient Zeta was offered counseling, test results and information on how to get treatment. “Any statements made by Patient Zeta which portray AIM as not providing appropriate and proper services are not truthful and are self-serving,” the clinic’s statement said. When he first began working in the industry in June, Burts said agents “loved my look and said I had money written all over me.” He said he began to have doubts about the business after contracting chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes in his first month of work, but was convinced to keep working. “I wasn’t stupid or oblivious, I knew what was out there. But it’s not something you think about when they fill your head” with lucrative offers and promises that the work is safe, he said.
AP
Adult film actor Derrick Burts, 24, who tested positive for HIV, reacts during a news conference, Wednesday in Los Angeles. Burts said he wished he had known more about the risks of contracting sexually transmitted diseases in the industry.
» SOCIAL NETWORKING
Privacy settings can help protect your reputation on the internet
from FACEBOOK, page 1 friends with a person, all of your mutual friends can view your recent activity as well. This translates into any information you choose to post about yourself being available to people you might not actually consider friends in real life. Not only does this pose a potential threat in regards to stalkers and criminals using such information for their personal gain, but it could also put you in situations you would rather avoid – recall Officer Dudzinski’s dilemma during his interview. During a workshop on social media tips by Altria Co., a speaker said, “A picture of you shotgunning a beer during Spring Weekend is priceless to your friends, but you’ll be paying the price if a future employer checks your profile to see the person behind the resume.” They suggest always putting up the most stringent privacy settings, as well as deleting anything you do not want to be
seen in the professional world. “If your mom would not approve, neither would an employer—so use that as a rule of thumb,” said a speaker at the social media workshop. Many students are taking this message to heart. Keri Bradshaw, a junior at the University of Connecticut said that she deleted any questionable pictures that were posted on her Facebook page before she applied for her finance internship at Sikorsky last summer. “It’s just a necessary precaution these days,” said Bradshaw. “You never know who is looking, and it might be the difference between getting hired or being passed over.” She also mentioned how she felt social media sites were a real problem when dealing with issues of privacy. “Sure, it’s a fun site for college students, but I want to be a professional when I get out of here, and I don’t want Facebook pictures of me surfacing years down the road – you never know with the internet,” she said. Krista Pupillo,
a UConn student in the fall, and a camp-counselor in the summer, said, “I work around kids. I never would have gotten hired if my Facebook page wasn’t appropriate. And my bosses warn me my job isn’t secure if questionable stuff does appear on it, too.” Besides its intrusion of privacy and potential career-killing capabilities, social media sites are also blamed for a serious decline in college students’ ability to focus. Studies show that where “tweeting” (the name for status updates on Twitter) and “wall-posting” run rampant, declines in productivity do as well. “I actually freeze my account during finals week because I know I won’t get anything done if I can go on Facebook while I’m trying to study,” said Pupillo. “It’s addicting.” Some universities are banning sites like Facebook and Twitter altogether in a social experiment to see the effects such media websites have on students and teachers. In September of this
year, Harrisburg University in Pennsylvania issued a week long ban on all social networks. The ban proved to be revealing. Students had no idea what to do in class without Facebook. It took them a while to adjust, but the majority of students admitted they paid more attention in lectures and took better notes without multitasking on social websites during class. They also admitted to being more productive outside of the classroom and while they studied. One student involved in the study even admitted to going through “Facebook withdrawals.” He tried to sign on to the website repeatedly even though he knew it was blocked, and even tried to find a way around the university’s block by channeling outside servers. Society has gotten to a point where websites like Facebook and Twitter play a huge role in the day to day lives of everyone. Not only can people access these websites when they are near a desktop, but now they can instantly update their statuses on the go with smart-phone applications, or use their laptops and
iPads to browse people’s profiles from virtually any location at any time of day. “I get Facebook notifications sent straight to my Blackberry in the form of text messages, so I don’t even have to look at the website to be updated,” said Pupillo. With the public so engaged in every aspect of social media and technology, will old forms of communications become obsolete? Gone will be the days of romantic love letters written by hand or personalized invitations to special events– yes, couples have even sent out e-wedding invitations by using the Facebook “events” application. Besides the decrease in the use of traditional forms of communication, having these “addicting” social media sites at your fingertips has proven to be deadly. Texting-while-driving has become a national issue among young adults. Severe accidents and fatalities are occurring on an alarming basis because drivers are paying attention to operating a mobile phone instead of focusing on safe
driving. Under this umbrella of “texting” while driving lies “tweeting” while driving and “facebooking” while driving as well. With an increasing popularity of smartphones with web capabilities, comes an increasing amount of cases of accessing social media websites while driving. Social media sites certainly have earned their spot in the world of technology. They provide instantaneous and efficient means of communicating. However, as Savage mentioned, it is important to strike a healthy balance between never participating in social-networking and allowing yourself to be swept away in an addicting craze. If social media is indeed here to stay, people need to learn how to use it as a benefit to them while avoiding being victimized by the lapse in privacy and other negative repercussions such sites could potentially cause. So I say “tweet” on everyone, just put the laptop or cell phone down long enough to make real “friends.”
Jessica.Dziala@UConn.edu
THIS DATE IN HISTORY
BORN ON THIS DATE
YEAR
The British Prime Minister, John Major, announces the amicable separation of Charles, Prince of Wales and his wife Princess Diana.
www.dailycampus.com
John Milton – 1608 Dick Butkus – 1942 Donny Osmond– 1957 Tre Cool –1972
The Daily Campus, Page 7
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Remembering the ‘Beatle of Beatles’ Last minute holiday savings tips
AP
(Above) A picture of John Lennon outside the Lennon Bar in Mathew Street, Liverpool, England. (Top Left) Fans mark the 30th anniversary of John Lennon’s death with a candlelit vigil at the European Peace Monument, dedicated to John, in Liverpool, England. (Top Right) The statue of John Lennon outside the Cavern Pub in Mathew Street, Liverpool, England. (Bottom Right) Gary Dos Santos, left, arranges flowers on the Imagine mosaic in the Strawberry Fields section of New York’s Central Park.
Celebrating John Lennon’s life on the 30th anniversary of his death
By Caitlin Mazzola Focus Editor Yesterday marked 30 years since John Lennon was gunned down outside of the Dakota by a deranged fan. Three decades have passed, but Lennon remains one of the world’s leading inspirations for music, peace and love. Many people remember where they were and what they were doing that cold afternoon when Mark David Chapman shot Lennon four times, just hours after Lennon had signed an autograph for him. But for this generation of students, yesterday’s many tributes to Lennon don’t apply. Instead of remembering the day, let’s remember the man. Just days before his death, Lennon sat down with Rolling Stone for an interview that the magazine never actually released because of the murder. According to the Associated
Press, which released snippets of the interview yesterday, Lennon was not interested in being a “dead hero,” comparing himself to critics’ favorites, like Sid Vicious and James Dean. When he was murdered three days later, he became, in effect, a dead hero, leading Rolling Stone to shelve the story. Tomorrow, it will hit stands as Rolling Stone’s cover story. The grave irony of the situation only highlights the fact that, in death as in life, Lennon is, was and will forever be an enigma. Forever the center of tumult, Lennon was born in the middle of a German air raid in Liverpool, England on Oct. 9, 1940, according to his biography on Biography.com. Lennon’s parents separated when he was young and he lived most of his childhood with his Aunt Mimi, though his mother, Julia, visited often.
It was Julia who first infused Lennon with an appreciation for music; she taught him to play the banjo and piano and bought his first guitar. According to Biography.com, she was struck by a car and killed in 1958, one of the most traumatic events in Lennon’s life. Lennon goofed around a lot in his youth. His schoolmaster felt Lennon should study the arts, as he did not get good grades but was clearly a gifted artist. A few years later, at 16, Lennon was inspired by Elvis Presley’s debut in music and formed the band the Quarry Men. The group included George Harrison, college buddy Stuart Sutcliffe, drummer Pete Best and Paul McCartney. Lennon and McCartney would later become the most popular and powerful songwriting duo in music history. The band, inspired by Buddy Holly’s band the Crickets, changed its name to the Beatles. Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe
were dropped; Ringo Starr was in. They were discovered by manager Brian Epstein in 1961, and landed the gig on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in the United States in 1964. We all know what happened next. As a duo, Lennon and McCartney created such songs as “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.” Lennon is credited with cryptic songs like “I am the Walrus” and “Tomorrow Never Knows.” When he left the Beatles in 1969, Lennon moved onto his own songs, deeply rooted in the pursuit of world peace, like “Give Peace a Chance,” “Happy Xmas, War is Over” and, of course, the anthem of peace and world harmony, “Imagine.” Yoko Ono, Lennon’s widow and former collaborator in all things musical, remembered yesterday for The New York Times opinion section the times she and Lennon would make tea in the wee hours of the morning. Lennon would always insist
it was the tea bags that went first into the mug, and then the boiling water, until one night he remembered Aunt Mimi had actually taught him to put the water in first, and then the tea. They would stay up all night, laughing about things like that, Ono said in her article. That was the Lennon she knew and loved. It was the Lennon that generations before us knew and loved. Though we did not get to know him as they did, we still have his songs, hear about his concerts with the Beatles and listen to stories of the day the big plane landed at JFK Airport and the Beatles first set foot on American soil, igniting the British Invasion. Most of all, we have his thoughts, forever penned down in his lyrics: “I hope some day you’ll join us, and the world will live as one.”
Caitlin.Mazzola@UConn.edu
During the holidays, New York City is transformed to resemble a scene out of a storybook classic. Storefronts are decorated with elaborate trinkets and toys, lampposts with garlands and bows while hotel lobbies bustle with Christmas carols and starryeyed tourists. Still, no matter how festive the visitor, one can only spend so much time shopping or iceskating below the famous tree in Rockefeller Center. It’s time for everyone to get out of the cold and experience what NYC’s Broadway has to offer this time of year. 2010, in particular, has a slew of shows to please even the most finicky theatergoer. The theater district is still home to fan favorites like “Wicked,” “Chicago” and “Mamma Mia!” For the young, hip demographic, though, Broadway is turning out some modern plays with trendy music. “American Idiot,” a play centered on three friends trying to find themselves in a post-9/11 society, is infused with the music from the famed
band Green Day. The show is a rock opera that has already earned credit from The New York Times and Time Out as a “thrilling and emotionally charged” experience. For the perpetual Broadway buff of the family, “Promises” can draw in huge crowds with its title characters, played by Sean Hayes of “Will and Grace” and Kristen Chenoweth of “Wicked”. The play is set in 1960’s Manhattan and documents the romantic trials and tribulations of the leads. It features choreography and direction from Tony and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford, but will only be around until Jan. 2, so be sure to order tickets quickly. If none of these sound particularly interesting for the “anti-theatre” member of your inner circle, there is still a show you can enjoy together this holiday. Blockbuster hit “Spiderman: the Musical” is making a Broadway debut at the Foxwoods Theater in NYC. Based on 40 years of storylines from Marvel Comics, the show is topped off with intense choreography and even features music developed by U2’s Bono and The Edge. “Spiderman” is complete with comic strip back-
AP
In this theater publicity image released by The O and M Co., Reeve Carney, center, portrays Peter Parker in a scene from the musical “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” in New York.
drops and plenty of harnessedleaps across the stage to hold everybody’s interest. When all else fails, some shows are suitable for every demographic. “Elf,” the film that outfitted Will Ferrell in bright yellow tights and a Kelly green felt jacket, has been adapted to fit the stage at the Al
Hirchfeld Theatre. The storyline follows Buddy, a human who mistakenly went through life at the North Pole believing he was one of Santa’s elves. Buddy travels to New York City to find his real father and learns about as well as teaches the world he never knew. This show also closes
Jan. 2, but is a must-see for the holiday season. Broadway often earns a reputation for attracting a certain kind of audience. Yet with new scores, scripts and adaptations, there is a show to tickle anybody’s fancy in NYC this holiday.
Stephanie.Ratty@UConn.edu
» GROUP , page 9
Have a happy ecoholiday
By Becky Radolf Staff Writer
Head to Broadway for the holiday
By Steph Ratty Staff Writer
For the past few weeks, Husky Finance has been aimed at helping Huskies get the maximum savings this holiday season. I’ve talked about staying organized during holiday shopping, maximizing your black Friday savings and crafting your way to savings. Now, as the semester comes to a close and the holiday we’ve all been splurging for is almost upon us, I’ve got some final words of wisdom for your wallet. Last week, I discussed saving money on gift-wrapping by covering gifts with atypical coverings like brown paper, newspaper and more. This week, I’m also suggesting that shoppers take advantage of the in-store wrapping that many stores offer. Often times the store giftwrap booths only ask for a small donation or a small pergift price that works out to be less than you’d pay to get all the supplies yourself. Not only that, but the gifts will undoubtedly look nicer than if you did it yourself, and it saves you the time – and paper-cuts too. Another saving-tip for this season is to agree on a gift budget for those people high on your shopping list. While it may be initially awkward conversation, both you and your significant other will appreciate knowing that your gifts will be of roughly equal worth come gift-opening time. Not only that, but having an agreed upon limit helps guide your shopping trips
When the holidays roll around, there are a million other things on your mind besides staying green. Your relatives are coming, your Christmas ham is burning in the oven or your dog swallowed your dreidel and now you’re spending Hannukah at the veterinarian’s office. That’s why a sustainable holiday needs to be quick, easy and relatively painless. Start off with the part that causes the most stress: buying gifts. You could go from store to store looking for that one special something that you know your mom and dad will want, or you could just do them a favor and get them something they’d shell out the dough for on their own. How about a massage? Or booking them a trip to a local vineyard? Either way, sending them on an excursion together not only saves the hassle and waste of buying a gift and wrapping it. It shows you know that they work hard and that they deserve a day of luxury together. Next come your friends. As cool as you are, you probably have a substantial number of people you want to give a small gift to, but you don’t want to spend your life savings. Instead of relying on the labor and fancy packaging of
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Album Of The Week
FOCUS ON:
MUSIC Billboard Top 10
BASSHUNTER – Now You’re Gone
“I’m sewing up the game, destroying like they hate me for it, eventually see they can’t beat, then with me they join.” Rappers love to talk smack about their critics. T.I. shows that he’s no different on his most recent album, “No Mercy.” In the song “That’s All She Wrote,” T.I. speaks about how he sits above those who try to sabotage him. “Sorry bro, this road we end it won’t give you the satisfaction of me giving you the business,” he says, as he boasts about his unsurpassable prestige and talent.
No Mercy T.I
12/7/10 14 tracks
5
/10
Upcoming Shows Toad's Place, New Haven 12/19 Alter Bridge $24, 6:30 p.m.
Webster Theater, Hartford 12/10 Cute Is What We Aim For $14, 6:30 p.m. 12/30 Hatebreed $21, 5 p.m. Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, R.I. 12/17 Bell Biv DeVoe $25, 8 p.m. 12/26 Baffish (sublime tribute) $20, 7 p.m.
Mondays at 8 p.m. at the Daily Campus Building
‘No Mercy’ for T.I.’s new album
Week of Dec. 11, 2010
12/26 Wu-Tang Clan $40, 8 p.m.
Want to join the Focus review crew? Meetings will be the same time next semester!
By Purbita Saha Staff Writer
1. “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” Kanye West 2. “Pink Friday,” Nicki Minaj 3. “The Gift,” Susan Boyle 4. “Speak Now,” Taylor Swift 5. “O Holy Night,” Jackie Evnacho 6. “Loud,” Rihanna 7. “My Worlds Acoustic,” Justin Bieber 8. “Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys,” My Chemical Romance 9. “Libra Scale,” Ne-Yo 10. “Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album,” Soundtrack
“No Mercy” is T.I.’s first album since he spent a year in jail for weapons possession charges. Consequently, the record reads like a never-ending apology. The track “Get Back Up” is closely related to the rapper’s “road to redemption” as he apologizes to his fans and friends and promises to never let them down again. But this admission of guilt strikes a false note due to the fact that T.I. raps about his excuses more than he raps his regrets. He constantly reminds his listeners that he’s only human. Furthermore, he tells them to that “no mistake’s too great to recover and bounce back.” Finally, T.I. says, “never again, my partner, you can put my life on that.” Other songs on “No Mercy” include the title track, which features The Dream, and “Poppin’ Bottles,” which has a guest spot by Drake. Both of these songs are mediocre at best. “That’s All She Wrote,” with its catchy beats and verses by Slim Shady, is easily the strongest track on “No Mercy.” “Welcome to the World” also has some enjoyable rap elements, thanks to contributions by Kanye West and Kid Cudi, and “Castle Walls” has the potential to be a hit single as Christina Aguilera sounds beautiful on it. On the other hand, “Strip,” featuring Trey Songz and Young Dro, is a waste of space
By Julie Bartoli Campus Correspondent Welsh neo-soul singer Duffy has made it abundantly clear that she’s sick of comparisons. She claims that she’s too modern for Dusty Springfield, far grittier than Amy Winehouse and positively more soulful than Aretha Franklin. In “Rockferry,” these statements are viable. With Duffy’s latest album, “Endlessly,” released Dec. 7, the singer should consider herself lucky to be likened amongst the ranks of Ke$ha.
Released in 2008, “Rockferry” encompassed a heartfelt series of songs in Duffy’s natural sexkitten rasp. The debut went multi-platinum and became the fourth best-selling album of 2008 worldwide. Masterminds behind the record included Bernard Butler and Jeannette Lee (Ex-Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten’s side project, anyone?). Obviously, with that kind of success, fans expected a similar, if not exceeding, album two years later. Instead of working with the formula that was churning out brilliant music, Duffy
1969
- Julie Bartoli
Beyond Jingle bells
AP
Rapper T.I. appears onstage during MTV’s “Total Request Live” at the MTV Times Square Studios in New York.
on the album. It has an awkward rhythm that doesn’t match up with Songz’s chorus. Plus, the lyrics are a slow documentary of a girl taking off her clothes piece by piece. The song is transparent and lacks any musical value. False promises, excuses and apologies: that is what “No Mercy” is about. All 14 tracks on the album are defensive tactics that T.I. has created to rebuild his maimed reputation. The artist makes it apparent that he is
trying to get back on top of the rap world. To do that, he needs to produce good music. “No Mercy” doesn’t prove that T.I. has what it takes to be a kingpin like Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and West. After violating his probation, T.I. was sentenced to go back to jail for another 11 months in October. Hopefully this time he will spend his time in a cell writing some adequate rhymes and respectable music.
Purbita.Saha@UConn.edu
Duffy misses the mark with ‘Endlessly’
This Day in Music The first copy of the periodical Rolling Stone was released in San Francisco, California. The cover depicted an image of John Lennon from his soon to be released movie, “How I Won The War.” Named after the same Muddy Waters song that Keith Richards chose to title his band, Rolling Stone was created by Jann Wenner and Ralph G. Gleason. The boys took out a $7,500 loan to get the publication off the ground, and it soon exploded into a bi-weekly music and news source. Though the magazine has faced unparalleled amounts of criticism over the years, ranging between its preferential treatment toward music of the 60’s and 70’s to its hypocritical habit of praising popular bands after disregarding them when they were lesser known, it is still an incredibly helpful tool. Rolling Stone can also be credited with giving authors like Rob Sheffield and Lester Bangs their first chance at publication, along with giving a variety of artists their first shot at acknowledgement. It’s a blessing when you’re in it, and an adversary when you’re not.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Focus
AP
British singer Duffy poses for photographs in West London.
Endlessly Duffy
12/7/10 10 tracks
4
/10
instead chose to fix what wasn’t broken. She dropped Lee and Butler, joining forces with Celine Dion and Whitney Houston’s hit machine, Albert Hammond, Sr. What the two produced is 11-tracks of fast-moving synth with the lyrical depth of “Your Love is My Drug.” Verses such as, “I’m looking for you everywhere that I go/In all of the things I do/Still I’ll be looking, ‘til I find you” leave listeners groaning with an overly accessible, uninspired aftertaste. At some point it was also decided that Duffy’s crooning vibrato was her only catch, and through each song it is further enhanced to the brink of nonhuman. It’s like Hammond was trying to make Duffy’s voice more unique to cover up for the lazy lyrics and Brit-pop beats.
The album’s first single, “Well, Well, Well” provides some relief with its layered percussion and space-filling drum cycle. “My Boy” also features a well-placed high hat throughout the song’s textbook 4/4 time signature. Regardless of these two key pieces, the album misses. Duffy made the common mistake artists face when genre swapping. She dipped into the mainstream pool of teenage dreams, blown-up speakers, and G6s. Sometimes tapping into radio-friendly pop is successful, but for Duffy it is a death sentence. She went from retro-soul superstar to cliché. I wonder how long it’ll take before she’s brushing her teeth with a bottle of Jack.
Joseph.O’Leary@UConn.edu
Deadmau5 album, ‘4x4=12,’ is worth your time By Jenny Hurwitz Campus Correspondent After discovering a dead mouse in his computer, Joel Zimmerman, the Canadian DJ sensation quickly became known as Deadmau5. In his staple costume of an oversized mouse head, he flirts with Lady GaGa’s aesthetically unique and unusual performance head-wear. Deadmau5’s first full-length artist album, “4x4=12” debuted on Dec. 7 and landed him the No. 4 spot on DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJ Poll. It’s no surprise that the 11-track set of progressive house and minimal trance techno music keeps mouse fans trapped and wanting more. For those of you unfamiliar with this techno producer and DJ, or his performances, I’ll do my best to do him justice through descriptive imagery and
colorful adjectives. However, in the simplest of terms, I was straight-up sore for a week after I saw Deadmau5 this past summer in New Jersey. After pushing through the crowd of half-dressed college students rolling on ecstasy and sucking on Blow Pops, my friends and I made it to the front gate, directly below his DJ Booth, infectious light show and of course, his staple mouse head. Never in my life have I danced so hard and for so long. Yet I was left craving more of the undeniably insane and outrageous atmosphere. Although not a traditional house and techno fan myself, experiencing Deadmau5 in all of his mousey glory shed new light on this genre of music. Simply stated, I definitely shed pounds during Deadmau5’s intensely powerful, unique and downright fabu-
4x4=12
Deadmau5 12/7/10 11 tracks
7.5
/10
lous performance. His single “Soffi Needs a Ladder” debuted on Oct. 31 and gave a sneak preview for the 10 other tracks. Similar to all of his songs, Zimmerman incorporates multiple beats into this one track and gives fans what they’re looking for. “Animal Rights ft. Wolfgang Gartner” and “Cthulhu Sleeps” are two traditional Deadmau5 tracks as well. Although I would
not necessarily listen to them on my way to class, I would pay stupid amounts of money to hear him perform them again. Even if dead mice, mousetraps and cheese aren’t your thing, still take the time to listen to this DJ sensation and realize Deadmau5 may just be UConn’s newest party addiction.
Jennifer.Hurwitz@UConn.edu
Christmas carols are classics, but they get old quickly. Still, the limited pool of Christmasrelated music is constantly being replenished as artists create new covers every holiday season. While watching the Mariah Carey music video for “Oh, Santa!” with my friends the other day, I thought about how there are so many caroling faux pas out there. When December rolls around, the iTunes and Amazon top lists are filled to the brim with Christmas albums. But truthfully, most of them are just marketing schemes for singers who want some easy money. Take Glee for example. It’s easy for the franchise to have its singers harmonize over prewritten music and bell-ridden instrumentals. So instead of picking up a copycat record like Glee’s newest release or Jessica Simpson’s “Happy Christmas,” try a holiday CD in which the musicians actually remold old classics into new treasures. “Songs for Christmas” Sufjan Stevens Sufjan Steven’s four-disc Christmas spectacular will fulfill all of your carol cravings. Stevens mixes better-known songs, such as “Hark! The Herald Angels Sings!” and “Joy to the World,” with more obscure pieces. I’d never heard of “Once in Royal David’s City” or “The Friendly Beasts” until I got this collection of CDs. You will constantly replay Stevens’s quaint renditions when Christmastime comes around. “A Christmas Album” Bright Eyes Conor Oberst sounds as mournful as ever on Bright Eyes’ 11 Christmas covers. His hollow voice adds an emotive element to songs like “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas” and “The First Noel.” “The Night Before Christmas” is another great track off of this album, as it has a distinct Southern feel to it. “The Christmas Collection” Il Divo Josh Groban is a great singer, and his carols are widely popular. But the group Il Divo is akin to having four Grobans singing together. The Il Divo singers come from Spain, Switzerland, France and America and have an operatic sound that is both sonorous and flexible. The harmony on “Oh Holy Night” is extraordinary, and the singers’ multinational accents blend together beautifully on “When a Child is Born.” “The Christmas Album” Various There are 20 great performances by 20 classic musicians on this record. Johnny Cash’s gravelly voice fits like a glove around “The Little Drummer Boy.” Frank Sinatra’s “White Christmas” is amazing, as is Marty Robbins’s “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” and Mahalia Jackson’s “Silent Night, Holy Night.” For something just a little more contemporary, try “The Hotel Café Presents…Winter Songs,” which features a heartbreaking duet by Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles. Lenka, Fiona Apple, Katy Perry and Colbie Caillat also perform on this hip holiday collection. Additionally, Coldplay recently released a single called “Christmas Lights.” The accompanying music video is the perfect snapshot of everything that makes Christmas beautiful: winter, love and nostalgia.
Purbita.Saha@UConn.edu
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Group gifts boost savings from LAST, page 7 and prevent last minute add-ons that can really add up. If you aren’t big on the budget idea, try a group gift. Get a group of people to throw in equal amounts so you can get a larger gift for a common factor in your lives. If you and your siblings can put the competitive spirit away this holiday, your dad can have that $80 power-tool he’s been wanting instead of two ties, a baseball hat and another coffee mug. It’s not just Dad who wins here – group gifts work for any family member, neighbor, club president, boss, RA or just about anyone else. Another option for groups is a Secret Santa or Yankee Swap. This winds up cheaper than group gifts, because everyone only has to get one item. Put everyone’s name in a hat, bowl or similar receptacle and let everyone whose name is in the bowl pick one slip of paper. Each person buys a gift for the person they picked at a predetermined price point. Everyone ends up with a semi-decent gift and nobody feels guilty about leaving anyone out. If you’ve got your heart set on a holiday party this year, plan to throw it the weekend after Christmas. All the festive food, paper goods and decorations will be on serious sale and you can have a great party for less. And, because everyone will be running around shopping and visiting family the week of the holiday, I doubt anyone will be upset that you’re extending the joy and merriment for another otherwise stress-free week. That’s is the extent of my holiday savings wisdom this week, Huskies. If you missed any of the past weeks’ tips, head to www.dailycampus.com and search “Husky Finance.” And with that, I would like to wish you all a happy, safe and savings-filled holiday season and a Happy New Year.
Melanie.Deziel@UConn.edu
The Daily Campus, Page 9
Focus
Holiday gifts and decor can be earth friendly too from HAVE, page 7 Munson’s Chocolates or another specialty food store, consider making your own mini-treats that your friends will appreciate. One of the easiest ideas is to gather some jars and layer the ingredients of a favorite cookie recipe inside. Then, attach the recipe on a piece of parchment and line the top of the jar with a festive ribbon. All your friends will have to do is dump the contents into a bowl and mix them and they’ll get the warm, fuzzy feeling of having a homemade treat that you provided. Finally, one of the best contributions to the environment is to buy a fake Christmas tree. This seems counter-intuitive, but buying a plastic tree means you’ll have it for several years, and you don’t have to go through the maintenance and process of throwing it out every year. Sweeping the fallen bristles creates waste, and throwing the tree into the dumpster each year is not easy on the environment. My family swears by a fake tree, because it’s little to no mess and has saved my parents thousands of dollars on Christmas decorations. Once you’ve got your new fake tree or you’re about to start lighting your Menorah, consider new and clever ways to wrap your gifts. Paper bag actually looks cool with a festive ribbon, and there are also tons of options for recycled wrapping paper (www.greenfieldpaper. com is a good place to start). The holidays are meant to be a time for family, friends and festivities, and there’s nothing better to celebrate than the environment itself. Remember that, through all the extravagance, a simple gesture of love is just as greatly appreciated. So kick back next to an open fire and roast some organic chestnuts if that’s what floats your boat. Happy holidays!
Rebecca.Radolf@UConn.edu
» CRIME
Police say ex-con acted alone in slaying of Hollywood publicist
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — A transient ex-convict riding around Beverly Hills on a bicycle killed a Hollywood publicist as she drove home from a movie premiere in what police said Wednesday was a robbery gone bad. The disclosure marked a major break in the investigation that has baffled detectives for nearly a month and stunned Hollywood after Ronni Chasen was gunned down in November. It came a week after suspected gunman Harold Martin Smith killed himself in the lobby of a seedy apartment building as investigators acting on a tip closed in on him. Beverly Hills Police Chief David Snowden said the gun used by Smith to commit suicide appears to have been used to kill Chasen. “We believe that Mr. Smith acted alone. We don’t believe it was a professional hit,” he said. Chasen was shot multiple times in the chest Nov. 20 as she drove through Beverly Hills while heading home after the premiere of the movie “Burlesque.” Sgt. Mike Publicker said investigators believe Smith, riding a bicycle, tried to rob Chasen as she waited to turn left from Sunset Boulevard. “This was a random act of violence, with Mr. Smith’s background, we believe that it was most likely a robbery gone bad at this time,” he said. “Through the interviews and the information we received,
that leads us to believe that he was at a desperate point in his life, and was reaching out and doing desperate measures,” Publicker added. Police stressed their investigation was continuing. Chasen, 64, was an influential behind-the-scenes player in Hollywood with a long track record in promoting films such as “Driving Miss Daisy,” ‘’On Golden Pond” and the sequel to “Wall Street” and their stars for Oscars. Detectives were led to Smith by an anonymous tip to “America’s Most Wanted” by a person who might be eligible for a $125,000 reward. Steve Katz, a co-executive producer of the TV show, said staff members notified the tipster about the latest developments. “When he heard that his tip helped resolve this case, he was very emotional,” Katz said. “This is really a perfect example of how an average person can make a difference.” Police said it didn’t appear that Chasen knew Smith or that any of her property had been taken. No shell casings were found at the scene, and investigators did not reveal if there was any video evidence of the attack. Smith, 43, had a rap sheet dating back at least 25 years and had been described by police as a “person of interest” after bragging to acquaintances that he killed Chasen. Documents obtained by The Associated Press revealed
AP
This image provided by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office shows Harold Martin Smith, who killed himself just as police approached him for questioning him on Wed., Dec. 1, in connection with the slaying of Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen. In a news conference scheduled for Wednesday Dec. 8 Beverly Hills Police announced they have significant news concerning ballistic tests conducted on the gun Smith used to shoot himself.
Smith was a two-strike felon who had been convicted twice of burglary and most recently had been released from prison in 2007 after serving time for robbery. Speculation about the motive for the killing of Chasen initially included road rage, a professional hit or gang-initiation killing. Citing preliminary results of
an autopsy first reported by KTTV, The Associated Press reported Monday that Smith’s gun likely did not match the one used to kill Chasen. The TV station reported Chasen appeared to have been killed by 9 mm hollow-point bullets. Snowden later said the preliminary autopsy records were erroneous.
» HOLLYWOOD
Composer Hans Zimmer gets star on the Walk of Fame
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer was honored Wednesday with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and he used the unveiling to remember his publicist, Ronni Chasen, who was slain in November. Zimmer told the crowd, which included “Inception” director Christopher Nolan, that he had
known Chasen since he worked on the music for the 1989 movie “Driving Miss Daisy.” “She approached me about a star and I was against it until she convinced me that I deserved it and that my mother, who passed away a year ago, would have loved it,” he said. “I wish to dedicate my star to my mother and to my great friend Ronni.”
Chasen, 64, was fatally shot early Nov. 16 as she drove through Beverly Hills after attending the premiere of the movie “Burlesque” and a party. Zimmer’s many credits include “The Lion King,” ‘’Batman Begins,” ‘’Inception” and “How Do You Know,” a romantic comedy being released this month.
Zimmer also thanked his family for putting up with his work. “I know it is no picnic,” he said. He also saluted his Hollywood collaborators. “I get to work with filmmakers and craftsmen. This star is a great honor not just for me but for all composers,” he said.
The Daily Campus, Page 10
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Focus
Whitney Winter Feast brings holiday spirit and treats to UConn!
DANA LAVALLO/The Daily Campus
(Left) Danielle Wojtaszek, a Pharmacy graduate student and Derek Hargrove, a 9th-semester chemical engineering major, were among the many students who took a break from studying to enjoy Whitney's Winter Feast. (Right) Students filled Whitney Dining Hall to take in the holiday decor and atmosphere and enjoy some of the delicious holiday food.
» CELEBRITY
Winfrey has heard the rumors, but denies she's gay
NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Winfrey says she's not a lesbian, not even a little bit. Her long personal and professional connection with Gayle King has sparked rumors that they are gay, but Winfrey denies it in an upcoming interview with ABC's Barbara Walters. "I'm not even kind of a lesbian," Winfrey says. Persistent gossip to the contrary annoys her, she says,
explaining that, if it were true, "Why would you want to hide it? That is not the way I run my life." Asked to describe her relationship with King, Winfrey calls her "the mother I never had, the sister everybody would want. She is the friend that everybody deserves." Winfrey's eyes moisten and her voice chokes as she adds, "I don't know a better person." Winfrey will end her day-
time talk show next spring and, on Jan. 1, is launching a cable channel, the Oprah Winfrey Network. That new venture has given her moments of panic. "I would wake up in the middle of the night literally like clutching my chest, like, 'What have I done?'" she tells Walters. "A Barbara Walters Special: Oprah, The Next Chapter" will air Thursday at 9 p.m. Eastern.
» ONGOING TRIALS
Michael Jackson Syringes still not tested
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Attorneys for the doctor charged in Michael Jackson's death asked a judge on Wednesday to order testing on two syringes and an IV bag found in the pop singer's home that they say are rapidly deteriorating. The request comes after more than a month of private meetings between defense attorneys, prosecutors and the judge to try to reach an agreement about the testing. Dr. Conrad Murray's defense team has expressed urgency, saying fluids in the items are deteriorating rapidly and have become "salt" in one of the syringes. The tests they are seeking may determine the quantities of drugs in the items, which the cardiologist's lawyers say could be crucial information during trial. It is also expected to destroy the substances and not enough remains for multiple attempts, according to transcripts of the meetings obtained by The Associated Press. Attorney J. Michael Flanagan told the AP that he submitted a motion Wednesday asking a judge to order the testing after being unable to reach an agreement with prosecutors about the testing. No hearing date has been set, he said. Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death in June 2009 at age 50. Authorities say he
gave the singer a lethal dose of sedatives, including the anesthetic propofol and painkiller lidocaine. "We are running out of time," Flanagan said. An e-mail message left for district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons was not immediately returned Wednesday. Prosecutors have refused to agree to a testing plan. "We don't think it is relevant," prosecutor David Walgren said during a Dec. 16 meeting, according to a transcript. Court transcripts obtained by the AP show that Murray's defense attorneys, prosecutors and Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor have spoken in chambers three times about the syringes and testing. Transcripts from the meetings show Murray's defense team is willing to have the items tested by the Los Angeles coroner's office. The fluids have degraded and it remained unknown whether the proposed testing will yield useful information, according to the transcripts. Murray's attorneys contend testing, which would establish the quantities of the drugs, should have been done along with other tests after the singer's death. Flanagan said he had been trying to get the testing done
for more than five months to no avail. The results of the tests are not expected to be used during Murray's preliminary hearing, which is scheduled to begin Jan. 4. At that hearing, Pastor will determine whether there is enough evidence for Murray to stand trial on an involuntary manslaughter charge. Walgren said during a meeting with the judge last week the hearing may be delayed a few days because of scheduling problems with witnesses. The prosecutor said he could call as many as 35 witnesses during the hearing, which is expected to last two to three weeks, according to a transcript of the in-chambers meeting. The judge said he wanted the hearing to begin on time due to his busy trial schedule. In a separate case, Murray retained his license to practice medicine in Nevada after reaching an agreement Friday with the state medical board in which he admitted making inaccurate and incomplete statements to the board about being current on child support. Murray received a reprimand and agreed to pay at least $3,700 in investigation costs, Deputy Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners chief Edward Cousineau said Wednesday.
Nelly Furtado is a fighter for creativity
NEW YORK (AP) — When Nelly Furtado released her first album in 2000, she had to fight. A lot. "I had to fight with many, many editors of magazines and art directors and stylists," Furtado said in a recent interview. She recalled taking a stand to showcase her visual creativity when filming the music video for her debut song, the pop tune "I'm Like a Bird." "I fought to wear those shelltoe Adidas runners and (to wear) my hair back and those hoop (earrings) and the big jeans — I had to fight for all those things," she said. Fast forward 10 years and Furtado is fully in control of her career, and celebrating with the greatest hits compilation "The Best of Nelly Furtado," released last month. Furtado said the key to her success was finding a manager who wouldn't hinder her artistic freedom. "When we were going for a record deal, we went out to all these meetings and my photos were like photo strip photos from this photo booth at the strip mall that I had taken on my own time with clothes I wanted to wear," she said. "You have to brand your image and wear what you want to wear and feel how you want to feel because people are seeing you for the first time." The 32-year-old singer, who's released three successful English albums, dropped the all-Spanish CD "Mi Plan" last year; it earned her the best pop vocal album Latin Grammy this year. Furtado also won the best pop female vocal performance Grammy in 2001 for "I'm Like a Bird." Today too many aspiring musicians want to be famous without doing the work behind the scenes, she said. "I think nowadays everybody feels like they can become a
AP
Nelly Furtado accepts the award for best female pop vocal album for "Mi Plan" at the 11th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas in November.
star just because they're on YouTube, but that's not the only part of the equation," she said. "There's a lot of hard work that goes with it and if you don't have the chops to back it up, it's gonna to be more challenging later on." Her advice to singing hopefuls: Write your own songs. "Even if you don't end up using it, it shows you what you want to say and you get in touch with what you want to say and who you are as an artist," she said. The Canadian-born singer is also working on a new album titled "Lifestyle." It will mainly be produced by Salaam Remi, who is known for his work with Nas, Amy Winehouse and
Jasmine Sullivan; Remi also produced the lead single from Furtado's "Best of" set, the dance tune "Night Is Young." While Furtado is known for collaborating with dozens of artists from Timbaland to Michael Buble, she said she's hoping to work with her fellow Canadian, rapper-singer Drake. "I really like Drake (and) he really represents for urban music in Canada," she said of the platinum-selling newcomer. "He still works with a lot of the same Canadian producers he's always worked with and so I respect that a lot, 'cause I'm all about homegrown and just kind of trying to keep things organic and all that."
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Sports
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Thursday, December 9, 2010
Sports
» FIELD HOCKEY
Gonzalez’s decorated college career comes to an end
By Danielle Ennis and Ryan Tepperman Staff Writers Melissa Gonzalez picked up a field hockey stick in 7th grade. Nine years later, her collegiate career, garnished with innumerable awards, honors and accomplishments, has come to an end. But the two–time all–American doesn’t think about those things. “Her play was selfless, she just wanted to win and she would do whatever it took. If that meant setting up a play for us to score or making a great tackle, she did it all. And she was modest in that sense, but every accolade she has received is definitely well–deserved,” says teammate Ali Blankmeyer. When your career highlights list looks about as long as your mom’s thanksgiving grocery list, one would think it would be hard to stay grounded. That’s not the case for Gonzalez. “There are so many great players out there,” Gonzalez said. "There is still so much for me to learn, to improve on.” Her athleticism is not restricted to the field hockey turf. Ranked as one of the top–40 soccer recruits, Gonzalez was forced to choose between the two sports when making her college decision. “I was back and forth, but by junior year I knew it was field hockey I wanted to play,” she said. Growing up in Lakeland, NY, she played for her high school squad and for the Futures team. Traveling to tournaments and to the Empire State games, she began to acquire experience and skill that would prove unparalleled. With three older sisters and supportive parents, Gonzalez says she can thank her family for her success. “My sisters were a big part of my upbringing. They played field hockey, so they got me into it. They pushed me around and in turn made me stronger. My dad
was a huge driving force and even when my mom didn’t know what was going on, she was always there cheering and supporting. It was all inspiring.” Being family oriented, Gonzalez wanted to attend a school that was close to her home. “I wanted my family to be able to attend all the games.” She also chose UConn for the coaching staff and the pride she sensed all around her on campus. That pride followed her throughout her four years here. “I will miss the pride we had, day in and day out. We wanted to play at our highest level so we worked our hardest. And through it all we created a bond. I came here and found a second family.” There is no doubt the passion and the camaraderie on the team was due largely to Gonzalez. “She really doesn’t have to say much to motivate us because the amount of heart that she plays with each and every game is inspiration enough,” says teammate Jestine Angellini. "She makes you want to work just as hard as her. She was the heart of our team and will be hard to replace.” In 2008, as a sophomore, Gonzalez was named All– Big East and was featured in Sports Illustrated “Faces in the Crowd” section. As a junior, she completed with the US Junior World Cup team and was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year. As the final season came to a close, she was once again met with a handful of honors. Gonzalez was named All–American for the second consecutive year, Mideast Region Player of the Year for the fourth consecutive year, and is a finalist for the Field Hockey Honda Sports Award. Over the course of her four years at UConn, she won over 85 percent of her games. “You can’t be complacent,” says Gonzalez. That work ethic and drive got her where she is today. As a member of the U–21
ROCHELLE BAROSS/The Daily Campus
Senior midfielder Melissa Gonzalez runs with the ball during UConn's 2-1 win over Penn State at home on Sept. 3.
national team, Gonzalez will continue to play the sport that she loves, and hopes to one day coach. Her role on the UConn field hockey team, however, will not be easily replaced. “Playing with her was like playing with three players. If you messed up or made a mistake she was there to pick up the slack,” says Blankmeyer. “When she plays, she has a presence on the field. I have never seen some one with such a big heart for the game.” When coach Nancy Stevens first saw Gonzalez play at a recruiting event during her junior year of high school, she knew right away that she wanted her at UConn. “She was clearly the best player in the tournament, and we really felt she was one of the top play-
» MEN'S BASKETBALL
Huskies pay tribute to past
By Mac Cerullo Sports Editor The Huskies wrapped up their fall semester last night by running Fairleigh-Dickinson off the court 78-54, breaking for finals with an undefeated 8-0 record. “We’ve played eight games, and you can’t be better than 8-0,” said coach Jim Calhoun. “We’re playing a good schedule and we’ve got some quality wins, three quality wins.” Calhoun said that he has looked at the beginning of the season as an eight-game evaluation, and said that the team has improved, but that there are still improvements to be made on the consistency front. “When we started the exhibition season, where are we now compared to then?” Calhoun said. “We’re a better basketball team, we’re just not as consistent in the sense of 40 minutes. I’ve seen them give 40 minutes against Kentucky and against Michigan State. They still had bumps in the road in those games.” Shabazz Napier said that he would grade his and the other freshmen’s early season performances as a B-minus or a C-plus. “We’ve been working hard through the season so far,” Napier said. One negative moment, howev-
er, came late in the first half, when an argument broke out between Calhoun and Charles Okwandu on the sidelines after Okwandu was taken out of the game. Okwandu sat out the rest of the half, but wound up coming back in midway through the second half. He played a total of 10 minutes in the game. “If I was upset with him, he wouldn’t have played in the second half,” Calhoun said after being asked if he was upset with Okwandu. Calhoun said that he wasn’t taking offense with Okwandu, but that Okwandu was upset that the opposing player fouled him, resulting in Calhoun telling Okwandu to dunk the other kid with the ball if he had to. Honor roll at Gampel Prior to tipoff at last night’s game at Gampel, the Huskies paid tribute to stars, past and present. The team honored former Husky Art Quimby with a moment of silence before the National Anthem. Quimby died this past Tuesday at the age of 77. He played for UConn from 1951-55 and remains the school’s all-time leading rebounder to this day with 1,716. In 1954, he led the nation in rebounding with nearly 23
rebounds per game. Quimby’s name and number have been included in the UConn Huskies of Honor, and he was named to the school’s all-century team in 2001. Following the National Anthem, the Huskies honored their current star, Kemba Walker, who scored his 1,000th career point last Friday against UMBC. He was presented with a game ball by coach Calhoun and received a rousing ovation from the fans in attendance. But the biggest ovation of the evening didn’t come until halftime, when the Big East champion UConn football team took the court. Senior captain Zach Hurd led the team out, hoisting the Big East championship trophy while the student section chanted “BCS! BCS! BCS!” Wolf to join team after finals The Huskies will get a boost after finals week when 7-foot1 Enosch Wolf officially joins the team for their Dec. 20 game against Coppin State. Wolf, a center from Germany, enrolled at UConn too late to register for fall classes, and as a result has been forced to sit out the semester before being eligible to play.
Michael.Cerullo@UConn.edu
Smith takes advantage of start with double–double from THAT, page 14 “We got open shots and I think we really turned the defense up and ran and got going,” Calhoun said. UConn led FDU 35-21 at the half. Walker led all scorers with 13 points. He also led in assists, with three. Lamb, a few days after Calhoun said he’d like the freshman to contribute more early in the game, had eight points at the break. “I think I did okay,” Lamb said. “I still didn’t hit as many shots as I should have, but I did better making plays.” Svrdlik led the Knights with 10 points and four rebounds in the half. The Huskies jumped to a 4-0 lead after baskets from Oriakhi and Walker to start the game. It wasn’t until Nate Gibbs, who finished with a team-high eight rebounds,
sank two free throws at the 15:36 mark that Fairleigh Dickinson got on the scoreboard. Gabbs was hit with an intentional foul after not going for the ball on a Walker fast break eight minutes in the game. Walker hit both free throws to make it 15-8. On the next possession, Lamb made a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 10. With less than 10 minutes to play in the first half, Napier inbounded the ball off a Knights’ back, caught it and finished with a layup off the glass. Walker hit back-to-back buckets, one a 3-pointer, to make the score 25-8. “I was like, ‘this is a great opportunity to get a bucket and head back on defense,’” Napier said. Calhoun was somewhat critical of some of the general showmanship that Napier and the rest of the
Huskies showed. “We’ve got to eliminate some of the showmanship,” Calhoun said. “I don’t mind some of it. I really don’t.” Napier said that he is an emotional player, but will do whatever is best for the team. Smith, who had five rebounds in the first half, got the nod in the starting lineup, along with two other freshmen, Olander and Lamb. UConn is now 2-0 vs. FDU. The only other meeting between the two schools came in the 1998 NCAA Tournament. The No. 2 seed Huskies defeated the No. 15 seed Knights 93-85 to advance to the second round. Richard Hamilton scored 30 points and Khalid El-Amin notched 28.
Matthew.McDonough@UConn.edu
ers in the country in her class,” Stevens said. “And that certainly turned out to be true.” Gonzalez, a two–time All– American in high school, went 82–5–2 during her four years at Lakeland High, including a state championship and a 24–0 record in her senior season. Over her next four years at UConn, she would experience a similar level of success – although the personal accolades did not flow in right away. “When she came to UConn, she played with players who were better than her,” Stevens said. “We’re not going to bring freshmen in who are the best players on the team. You need someone better than you to get better… She played with All–Americans on all sides of her, and I think that
helped her develop.” Gonzalez was named a 2007 All–Big East Second Team performer after starting every game as a freshman. She then took her play up a level in the postseason, leading the Huskies to a Big East tournament championship and an NCAA Final Four, earning a spot on the All–Final Four Team in the process. “What’s interesting to me is how she improved during the three months of her freshman season,” Stevens said. “She wasn’t one of the best players at the beginning, but clearly was by the end of the season.” Over the next three years, Gonzalez won 52 out of her 65 games, adding two Big East championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances to her
Whether you're eating Bites or Scoops, avoid contact with lips from WHICH, page 14 get where you want to be in life. Scoops are kind of like going for it on fourth down at your own 19-yard line up 2 points in the fourth quarter of a Big East title elimination game. That worked out well for the Huskies. Bites can’t even handle salsa. You’re talking about a risky operation? How about trying to pour peppers and tomatoes on a Bite. That’ll fall faster than a Jordan Todman scamper into the end zone. Matt: Bites are surprisingly sturdy. They can support a thick, rich creamy queso dip, a hearty salsa or a dip of beef and bean chili. Scoops, on the other hand, are unreliable. They are the opposite of kicker Dave Teggart. Scoops are eye candy, looking like they can handle the weight of a UConn offensive lineman, but when put to the test, they choke like West Virginia fumbling in overtime. Taking the first bite of a Scoop leaves you scrambling like Frazer on a broken bootleg - the pocket crumbles. The chip splits with both halves going in opposite directions, and the Scoop’s contents falling on your lap. Colin: Scoops don’t pretend to be something they’re not. Bites try to hold salsa and queso, but fail because they are
out of their element. UConn isn’t going to pretend they are a pass-first team (although depending how many Sooners stuff the box, we’ll have to see how the Huskies respond to the Oklahoma defense). Coach Randy Edsall knows that his team is hard-working. And that’s how a fan must be while eating a scoop. Matt: That may be true, but it is important for the Huskies to take a bite out of Oklahoma. As an underdog, UConn needs to ambush the Sooners. Oklahoma has lost to West Virginia and Boise State before at University of Phoenix Stadium. With a little round Bite and a kick of hot sauce, UConn can make the Sooners lick the salt of Scoops off their fingers and lick their wounds after a corn-tortillafilled beatdown. Colin: No matter if you eat Scoops or Bites, try not to get it on your lips - salty chapped lips are as painful as the biggest BCS upset ever, which may be bestowed upon Oklahoma by the Huskies. If you want chunks of salsa on a Scoop or some hot cheese on your Bite, both Tositos treats go well with dip. Any type of Tostitos product goes great with watching the UConn football team run out of the tunnel in a BCS bowl for the first time in school history.
UConn women look for 87th straight win against Boston College from HUSKIES, page 14 that have been there a long time, that’s just incomprehensible. It really is, that something like that can happen.” Auriemma said he admires what Randy Edsall has done to build a big-time college football program in Storrs, much like Auriemma did with the women’s basketball program. “You had to have been there to really appreciate what’s happening here,” Auriemma said. “You had to be on top of the hill,
watching us try to figure out how to beat Rhode Island. It’s just unbelievable. It is so unbelievable, I just can’t stop saying that, I just can’t stop laughing about it and smiling about it.” Hayes and Moore also expressed their enthusiasm for the team’s run to the Fiesta Bowl and said that they screamed in their apartment after Dave Teggart made the game-winning field goal with 17 seconds left.
Colin.McDonough@UConn.edu
tally. But despite her impressive record and statistics, it was not all fun and games for the All–American, according to her head coach. “I would say to the teams I’ve coached, ‘It’s not like it doesn’t hurt. It’s not like it’s easy to put in the effort that she does,’” Stevens said. “But she’s just willing as an athlete to pay the price. I have a belief that her heart is twice the size or normal person. The level of exertion, that she can just put it all out there for 70 minutes, not a whole lot of players that do that… she obviously has tremendous talent, but really what separates her is her motor.”
Danielle.Ennis@UConn.edu Ryan.Tepperman@UConn.edu
McDonough: Football deserving from UCONN, page 14
blowing a fourth-quarter lead at Rutgers and getting shut out by Louisville. Aside from on-field problems, former UConn quarterback Cody Endres returned from a preseason suspension in September, only to be dropped from the program in October, prior to the Louisville game. Coach Randy Edsall said that once the team got rid of distractions they turned the season around. They won their last five games to win the conference. The Huskies controlled their own destiny. Dave Teggart kicked the game-winner versus West Virginia, Edsall went for it on fourth down on his own 19 to beat Pitt, the defense stepped up to win their first road game at Syracuse and Todman ran all over Cincinnati. With everything riding on Saturday’s game at USF, Teggart kicked four field goals, including a 52-yard BCS-buster with 17 seconds left to give UConn a 19-16 win over the Bulls and send the Huskies to Arizona. 8-4 is not an impressive record, especially with two conference losses. The offense looks anemic at times and the secondary is prone to giving up the big play. A lot of fans don’t think a team of this caliber should be in the fifth best bowl out of the 34. But these guys are worthy of this accomplishment. They have been through so much. To see players like D.J. Shoemate and Dwayne Difton on the sideline during the fourth quarter of the tense USF win was magnificent. Two of the most hyped players in UConn history, who haven’t played as much as they would’ve like this year, were praying, their knees shaking. Zach Frazer, a quarterback who has just five touchdown passes, was relieved on the bench after the Bulls’ last gasp fell to the torn-up Raymond James grass. And a team who will never forget Howard’s death were celebrating with fans after clinching the biggest win in school history in the late cornerback’s home state. It was a sight to behold. Some may think this is the leastdeserving team in history to make the BCS. But if you think about it, it is quite possibly the most.
Colin.McDonough@UConn.edu
TWO Thursday, December 9, 2010
The Daily Question Q: “Willl the Patriots get the No. 1 seed in the AFC?” A: “Yes. December is Tom Brady’s month.”
PAGE 2
Tomorrow’s Question:
“What do you think? Tostitos Bites or Scoops?”
Hardik Vyas, 3rd-semester biology major.
What's Next
Home game
The Daily Campus, Page 13
Sports
» That’s what he said
Away game Gampel Pavilion, XL Center
The Daily Roundup
“At the end of the day, I’m very convinced that you’re going to be judged on how you are as a husband and as a father and not on how many bowl games we won.”
Football (8-4)
–Florida coach Urban Meyer, who announced he will step down at the end of this season.
Jan. 1, 2011 vs. Oklahoma Tostitos Fiesta Bowl 8:30 p.m.
» NFL NFL concussion committee hears from helmet makers
Urban Meyer
» Pic of the day
Tell me how my pits taste
Men’s Basketball (8-0) Dec. 22 Dec. 27 Dec. 20 Jan. 4 Dec. 31 Harvard Pittsburgh Coppin St. Notre Dame USF 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
Women’s Basketball (8-0) Today Dec. 28 Dec. 30 Dec. 19 Dec. 21 Marquette Ohio St. Florida St. Pacific Stanford 7:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.
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. 9 Jan. 8 Robert Robert Morris Morris 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.
Jan. 14 Vermont 7:00 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
Connecticut’s Roscoe Smith, right, is fouled by Fairleigh Dickinson’s Kamil Svrdlik during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Storrs, Conn., on Wednesday. Smith scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the 78-54 win.
By Matt McDonough Associate Sports Editor
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
Women’s Swimming and Diving Jan. 22 Seton Hall 1:00 p.m.
blocks per contest.
Robinson spent the first half of his junior season away from Stanley Robinson had an UConn, working at a sheet up–and–down career on the metal factory in Willimantic UConn men’s basketball team. and joining the team as a walkRobinson came to Storrs as on for their Final Four run. a freshman from Birmingham Robinson played a vital role in and had trouble adjusting to spreading the floor, especially life away from Alabama. after guard Jerome Dyson went He reached the down with a season1,000 point mileending ACL injury. stone on Jan. 13 In 28 games, he vs. Pittsburgh at averaged 8.5 points the XL Center. and 5.9 rebounds. Robinson finished As a senior leader, his career in Storrs Robinson had a with 1,231 points, subpar season. The good for 30th in Huskies missed the team history. NCAA tournament Robinson came and lost in the secfrom Birmingham, ond round of the NIT. A.L. to Storrs as Although he averA multi-part series a highly touted aged 14.5 ppg. and recruit, but never 7.6 rpg., Robinson seemed to fit in did not provide the leadership with the team off the court. UConn needed. Thus, his draft He struggled with the transition stock took a hit. from Alabama to Connecticut In 126 career contests, 103 and even considered a trans- of them starts, he averaged fer. As a freshman, he aver- 9.8 points per game and gave aged 5.4 points per game and Husky fans plenty of memories 4.1 rebounds per game as the with his athleticism on alley– Huskies missed the postsea- oops, rim-rocking dunks and tip son. Robinson rebounded as a slams. Robinson was arguably sophomore and so did the team, one of the best dunkers of the making an NCAA tournament decade in college basketball. appearance and winning 24 Robinson fell on the draft games. He averaged 10.4 ppg., board all the way to the sec6.5 boards and a career-high 1.3 ond-to-last selection. He was
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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
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
NFL: Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans, Thursday, 8:20 p.m., NFL Network Peyton Manning’s struggling 6-6 Colts head to Nashville, Tenn. to face their divisional rival 6-6 Tennessee Titans tonight. Manning has thrown 11 interceptions in his last three games, all losses. Former UConn Husky and current Colts running back Donald Brown has started the last five games for the Colts with Joseph Addai out with a shoulder injury. Titans running back Chris Johnson is sixth in the league in rushing yards with 1026.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP)—How hungry are the New York Yankees to sign Cliff Lee? Brian Cashman couldn’t have been more vivid in his description after finally making an offer Wednesday to the prized free-agent pitcher. Every other possible big move by New York must wait until the 32-year-old left-hander decides. “Hannibal Lecter in a straitjacket right now, waiting on this Cliff Lee thing,” the Yankees general manager said. “It’s kind of restricting my movements a little bit.” Lee’s agent, Darek Braunecker, left the winter meetings and headed to Arkansas to meet with his client after receiving an offer the Yankees. New York manager Joe Girardi even called Lee “the prize of this winter.” Cashman wouldn’t discuss his dinner meeting with Carl Crawford on Tuesday night— other than to say he had steak—and wouldn’t say whether the Yankees could sign both Lee and the All-Star outfielder. Admitting he was tired, Cashman playfully discussed his job as GM of baseball’s highestrevenue franchise and thanked his bosses for giving permission to make the publicly unspecified offer to Lee.
Stanley Robinson drafted by Magic, now in Israel
Men’s Swimming and Diving Jan. 22 Seton Hall 1:00 p.m.
NEW YORK (AP)—Commissioner Roger Goodell was planning to briefly stop by the hotel where the NFL’s head, neck and spine medical committee met Wednesday to hear from equipment makers, researchers, the military and NASCAR about how to improve helmet safety and cut down on concussions. Goodell wound up listening in for a few hours. “There was a general view that the helmets have improved, but we all have to work harder to find how we’re going to take it to the next evolution of those helmets—gathering all the data, gathering all the technology that’s being developed,” Goodell said. “There are some very positive developments, but there are different approaches, and that was clear.” He also spoke about the link between player safety and the league’s push for an 18-game regular season during labor negotiations with the union, referring to possible changes to offseason workouts, training camp and even inseason practices, as well as the recent “focus on rules and taking those techniques we think are dangerous out of the game.”
» MLB Cliff-hanger: Yankees finally make offer to Lee
Jan. 7 Jan. 8 Mercyhurst Mercyhurst 7:05 p.m. 7:05 p.m.
Women’s Hockey (6-10-1) Jan. 2 Jan. 1 Dartmouth Dartmouth 4:00 p.m. 2:00 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.
AP
picked by the Orlando Magic in the second round, 59th overall, of NBA’s June Draft. He signed a non-guaranteed deal. Vince Carter spoke highly of Robinson to lostlettermen.com. “He’s just a laid-back country boy that enjoys where he is and enjoys playing and is willing to learn,” Carter said. “That’s what’s so great about him.” Robinson averaged 5.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game in five Summer League contests, but was ultimately waived by the Magic on Oct. 21 following the end of training camp. Robinson was in the state for a few days and took in the Huskies’ win over Stony Brook on opening night. The Daily Campus recently had a chance to catch up with Robinson for an interview: DC: With this being the team’s first game since your last college contest, what is it like watching your Huskies as a former player? SR: It’s different, just differ-
ent. They’re a young team and are just starting out together. I think back to how I started out and it’s just different.
DC: Have you talked to the team yet? SR: No, I will in practice.
DC: What did your experience in Orlando teach you?
SR: That I still have a lot of learning to do. I’ll get through it.
DC: After getting cut, what are you future career options? Stanley Robinson
SR: It will probably be overseas or in the D-League. I don’t know yet, I still have to talk to my agent.
Last month Robinson headed across the Atlantic to play in Israel. He reportedly signed with the Israeli team, Ironi Ashkelon, on Nov. 7. Former Celtics point guard and Southern California standout
Matthew.McDonough@UConn.edu
» INSIDE SPORTS TODAY
P.13: Former Husky Robinson speaks with the DC. / P.12 Field hockey’s Gonzalez calls it a career. / P.12: Men’s basketball honors past in Wednesday’s game.
Page 14
Thursday, December 9, 2010
UConn deserves Fiesta Bowl berth
www.dailycampus.com
THAT WAS FAIRLEIGH EASY Men’s basketball takes care of Fairleigh Dickinson at Gampel
By Matt McDonough Associate Sports Editor
Colin McDonough From Storrs to Stamford, the Nutmeg State is celebrating UConn’s first BCS berth. From West Virginia to Wisconsin to California, some college football fans are probably grimacing at the fact that an 8-4 Big East champion UConn team is going to the Fiesta Bowl. Some websites, college football analysts and members of the media aren’t giving UConn a chance. They say they don’t belong in the Fiesta Bowl. The Huskies will have an opportunity to prove them wrong on Jan. 1. The most famous three-letter sequence in college sports is the most corrupt, inefficient and quite frankly sickening way to determine a national champion. The BCS angers more people than the Electoral College does determining our president. UConn is ranked 25th in the AP poll this week, its first appearance in the rankings all season. Teams like LSU, Michigan State, Boise State and Nebraska have been in the rankings all season long and have only one or two losses. None of them are in a BCS bowl. The Big East is the worst AQ-conference in the BCS system and UConn would be underdogs to most of the teams I just listed. But that doesn’t make this team less-deserving of playing in the Fiesta Bowl. Every coach in the country calls his team “resilient.” Gene Chizik and Chip Kelly will praise their team for never giving up when things got tough. But a tough game against Oregon State is not as character-building as what the Huskies have fought through. Last season, the team had to move forward after starting cornerback Jasper Howard was stabbed to death in the heart of the UConn campus. Three close losses followed the loss of their teammate and friend, but the Huskies ended the season with four straight wins and a victory in the Papajohns.com Bowl. What the Huskies did last year was beyond resilient. UConn entered this season with expectations of winning the conference and making the BCS. They met these expectations, but the road to get there was as treacherous as a winter in Storrs. The Huskies went 3-2 in nonconference play, getting blown out at Michigan and losing at Temple. UConn then started Big East play 0-2,
» MCDONOUGH, page 12
The No. 6 UConn men’s basketball team made it eight wins in a row to start the season, trouncing Fairleigh Dickinson 78-54 before 8,241 at Gampel Pavilion Wednesday night. Junior captain Kemba Walker led the Huskies with 21 points; freshman guard Shabazz Napier had 10 points and five rebounds; Jeremy Lamb scored 12 and Roscoe Smith had a doubledouble, with 10 points and 10 rebounds. “One of the things I was happy about is it wasn’t just the Kemba show,” said UConn coach Jim Calhoun. “There were other people who got involved.” Junior Kamil Svrdlik led the Knights with 21 points, three shy of his career high. Senior point guard Mike Scott had 14 points and five assists. FDU dropped to 3-4 with the loss. “I guess we realized why they’re the No. 6 in the country,” said Knights coach Gregory Vetrone. “We had one goal, to play as hard as we could and keep Kemba under 30. We did that.” UConn opened the second half on a 13-6 run. Lamb stole the ball four-and-a-half minutes into the second half at half court and finished the fast break with a thunderous one-handed slam that made the score 48-27 and brought his scoring total to double-digits. The Huskies would keep the lead well above 20 points for the majority of the half.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
78
54
JIM ANDERSON/The Daily Campus
» SMITH, page 12
Freshman guard Jeremy Lamb goes underneath the hoop for a layup during UConn’s 78-54 win over Fairleigh Dickinson at Gampel on Wednesday.
Huskies face Golden Eagles at Gampel tonight By Colin McDonough Semior Staff Writer The No. 1 UConn women’s basketball team will look to improve 9-0 and 2-0 in Big East play, while also stretching its historic winning streak to 87 games. The Huskies take on Marquette, who is coming to Gampel Pavilion with a 7-1 record. The Golden Eagles have blown out opponents regularly this season. Their only loss came at the hands of Creighton, 63-61. But Marquette has been dominant in its seven wins and is coming off a 68-19 win versus Vermont. The Golden Eagle defense will try to give Maya Moore problems shooting the ball. “I’ve played against them since my freshman season,” Moore told John Altavilla of The Hartford Courant. “I like the challenge of seeing what another team wants to throw at me, for no other reason than
it opens the floor for the rest of my teammates. You have to pick your poison.” Moore is coming off a 17-point effort against Sacred Heart on Sunday where she broke Tina Charles’ all-time UConn scoring record in the first half. But in the Huskies’ only other Big East game of the season, the Bulls held her to 14 points in the UConn win. “I know I could have done a better issue forcing things, but there’s always the decision to make: make the game happen or just let the game happen,” Moore told The Hartford Courant. Tiffany Hayes had 18 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds against Sacred Heart. Hayes said she is getting her confidence back. “I had a better game today than I had my past couple of games,” Hayes said on Sunday. “All of that during practice and getting lots of shots after practice is helping. I can defi-
nitely do more in every aspect of my game. I can get more rebounds. I can find open players out there. You can always get better. I’m never satisfied with where I’m at.” Hayes and Moore know that they will need to score more and be leaders during conference play this year because of the amount of inexperience on the Huskies’ bench. But tonight Marquette will try for its first victory against UConn since moving to the Big East from Conference USA, and they will have to go through Moore and Hayes to get it. Although the Huskies are focused on their tasks at hand, the women’s team is excited about the football team’s achievement of a Big East championship and berth in the BCS. “I think it’s going to take some time to sink in,” Auriemma said. “For people
» UCONN, page 12
ASHLEY POSPISIL/The Daily Campus
Senior guard Maya Moore drives to the hoop during UConn’s 86-32 win over Sacred Heart Sunday.
Which Tostitos chip is better: Bites or Scoops? Tostitos Bites
By Matt McDonough Associate Sports Editor With the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl approaching, it is time to settle the matter once and for all. The good people at Tostitos have been making a variety of chips since 1979, but one stands out more than the other – the Bite Size Rounds. A common misconception is that Scoops are the better chip. A common misconception is also that 8-4 teams shouldn’t play in a BCS bowl game. Out of all the chips, Bites are the best. When watching UConn take on Oklahoma on New Year’s Day, choose the Bites. They are round, still good for dips and salsa and won’t leave your lips salty.
Tostitos Bites.
Photo courtesy of Tostitos website
Matthew.McDonough@UConn.
» POINT/COUNTERPOINT
Matt: Scoops are like Oklahoma – overrated. Just because Scoops are the people’s choice and the popular pick when having a viewing party or tailgate, they are crowned Tostitos champions. This shouldn’t be the case. Scoops are the best way for someone to hog the spinach or ranch dip. No one wants someone hogging the dip during the Fiesta Bowl. Hogs belong in the Sugar Bowl against Ohio State. Colin: I won’t say that Bites are UConn because that would be criticizing the Huskies. Speaking of viewing parties, when the Huskies watched the announcement of the Fiesta Bowl in the Burton Family Football Complex, guess what they were eating. Scoops. With a hint of jalapeno, might I add.
Matt: It’s funny you refer to Tostitos’ innovation of chips, because the company also have many different salsas. Some salsas are not mild, rather medium or hot. When using a Scoop, one must be careful not take too big of a scoop. An innocent novice may not think to ask what exact salsa is in the bowl. The surplus of spiciness may send someone looking for water. Using Scoops around college kids in a dorm is dangerous. It’s a risky operation, like Zach Frazer throwing into double coverage down the sideline. Colin: I did suffer from a hot scoop of salsa Saturday night, but UConn’s win over the Bulls quickly cooled my taste buds. I will add, however, you have to take some risks if you want to
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Tostitos Scoops
By Colin McDonough Senior Staff Writer
Scoops are a revolutionary product from Tostitos. The scoop provides a safe place for salsa, queso or guacamole to nestle into the four walls of the white corn tortilla chip while it travels to your mouth during an exciting UConn football game. Although the Huskies run a traditional old-fashioned ground attack, comparable to Restaurant Style chips, scoops are like a trick-play, which UConn should probably run a couple of if they want to beat the Sooners.
Colin.McDonough@UConn.edu
Tostitos Scoops.
Photo courtesy of Tostitos website