Volume CXVIII No. 119
» INSIDE
Money dries up for USG Funding Board
By Nicholas Rondinone Senior Staff Writter
greek gods and godess among us Greek Week continues with God and Godesses pageant. FOCUS/ page 7
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Thursday, March 24, 2011
The funding for Tier II two student organizations has run out for the semester, prompting USG to cancel two remaining funding sessions. The demand for funding from Tier II organizations has surpassed the amount of money allocated in the USG Funding Board’s budget, according to a statement released Tuesday. “The first session of the spring semester totaled a requested amount of over $220
thousand, more than half of the Board’s budget for the semester,” said Yoana Yakova, chairperson of the Funding Board, in the statement. The board anticipated the funding requests to decrease as the semester continued, but found that to not be the case, according to the statement. USG President Tom Haggerty links the increased demand for funding to a growth of student organizations on campus. “When I was a freshman there were something like 438 student organization, and now we have over 500 organizations,”
“It is unfortunate, but it makes sense with more clubs and less funding going to USG [Funding Board].”
– Andrew Earle Outing Club Pres.
Haggerty said. UConn currently has 547 student organizations, some of which are eligible for funding from USG. Due to the lack of funds, no funding applications from Tier II organizations will be accepted for the rest of the semester. “It is unfortunate, but it makes sense with more clubs and with less funding going to USG [Funding Board],” said Andrew Earle, president of the Outing Club, a Tier II organization. “We already asked for stuff in earlier sessions, so we didn’t miss out at all. But I think there are many clubs that
Students remember David Plamondon By Joseph Adinolfi News Editor
make a san diego statement Huskies face No.2 San Diego State in Sweet Sixteen. SPORTS/ page 14
EDITORIAL: STUDENT ORGS. SHOULD BRING IDEAS TO DC ED. BOARD
Groups can help The Daily Campus contribute to the discussion.
COMMENTARY/page 4
INSIDE NEWS: QUESTIONS OF GENDER IN ATHLETICS Yale Professor lectures on genetically unique female athletes. NEWS/ page 6
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After they had finished eating dinner together at Putnam Dining Hall Tuesday afternoon, David Plamondon told Sohil Khurana, his roommate and one of his many close friends, that he was going to the library. An aspiring doctor and a fixture on the dean’s list, Plamondon was likely preparing for the MCATS or studying for an upcoming physics exam. “We had a normal conversation,” Khurana said about the last time he saw his friend. “We were talking about sports and what not, and I just said bye, and that was really it.” Four hours later, Plamondon, a 6th-semester physiology and neurobiology major, was struck and killed by a UConn shuttle bus near the corner of Alumni Drive and North Hillside Road. Plamondon’s loss left a hole in the lives of many, students and non-students alike. A driven young man with a remarkable range of talents, Plamondon was active on campus. He was a member of the a cappella group A Minor and UC Silverwings, a community service organization. A native of Westminster, Mass., he graduated from Oakmont Regional High School in 2008 and until recently was an outfielder on the Lunenburg Phillies, a semi-pro baseball team based in central Massachusetts. “He was a student, he was a singer, he was an athlete – but most importantly, he was one of my best friends,” Khurana said. A cadre of friends, many of them members of a tight-knit social group of about 25 that formed last year on the second floor of Tolland Hall where Plamondon
» FUNDING, page 2
USG candidate disqualified, placed back on ballot By Nicholas Rondinone Senior Staff Writter
ED RYAN/The Daily Campus
Benjamin Stueck, a 6th-Semester political science and history double major and one of David Plamondon’s roommates, repaints the rock next to Staff Lot 9 in memory of David Plamondon, who died after being struck by a UConn bus on Tuesday night.
lived, gathered to paint the fraternity rock next to Staff Lot 9 in his memory – less than 30 yards from the spot where he died. “There are about 40 of us out here right now,” said Ben Stueck, another one of Plamondon’s roommates, while painting the rock Wednesday afternoon. “He was a great kid. He was well loved by many, not just us.”
Messages in big black letters now adorn two of the rock’s sides with “And the bear goes to sleep” facing out toward North Hillside Road, and “Rest in Peace Dave” back toward Alumni Drive. The words are partially obscured by a mess of green paint and flecks of pink and yellow that, at a distance, make the rock appear to be covered with confetti.
About 15 feet from the rock near the sidewalk along Alumni Drive, lies a line of bouquets and the words “We Love You DP” spelled out with candles. Jasmine Kehrhahn, an 11thsemester English and political science double major and presi-
» VIGIL, page 3
» TUITION
Board of Trustees passes 2.5 percent tuition hike, student trustee casts lone dissenting vote
By Joseph Adinolfi News Editor
During a mid-morning meeting, the UConn Board of Trustee voted to raise tuition by 2.5 percent for the next academic year, with Undergraduate Student Trustee Corey Schmitt casting the lone dissenting vote after his motion for a 5 percent increase went unseconded. Vice Provost Peter Nicholls affirmed UConn’s ability to cover a potential $45 million budget shortfall through budget cuts and new revenue sources, saying that the university had already found ways to compensate for 90 percent of lost revenue. But the board did not rule
will miss out on things for the fall because of it.” USG has been attempting to remedy the funding issues by reallocating funds from other committees. “We actually have reallocated a bunch of funding from other committees,” Haggerty said. “We have been taking money away from these committees and dumping it into the Funding Board.” “Although policies were passed to further restrict funding in order to allow a larger diversity of groups to apply and receive funds,
JIM ANDERSON/The Daily Campus
Provost Peter Nicholls discusses the effect of tuition increase on students Wednesday.
out a future increase should circumstances change. “The board will review the university budget at its June
meeting, and, if necessary consider a higher increase for the second half of next academic year,” said board mem-
ber Peter Drotch. Schmitt and Graduate Student Senate President Rich Colon, who spoke during the public comment section of the meeting, favored a larger increase, arguing that budget cuts would weaken academics and erode UConn’s appeal to prospective students. USG President Tom Haggerty spoke in favor of the passed increase, saying that he had reconsidered his support for a higher increase after Friday’s town hall meeting. “After talking to Rich Gray after the forum the other day, I do feel very confident in Rich and the administration’s
» UNIVERSITY, page 3
The Undergraduate Student Government judiciary decided to rescind their motion to disqualify Vijay Sekhara and Lauren Reinmann, candidates for president and vice president, respectively, from the elections to be held Monday. The decision was made after Sekhara was found to have only had 199 signatures on the petition, according to Brian Ingmanson, who currently serves on the USG executive board and is also running for USG president with Ali Albini as his vice president. An individual running for the position is required to receive 200 signatures in order to participate in the election, according to the election packet provided by USG. Chief Justice Jared Ashmore found the discrepancy, which prompted a meeting with the entire judiciary, according to Ingmanson. Following the meeting, the judiciary decided, as a whole, to disqualify Sekhara for failing to meet the requirements. “The elections packet was questioned by judiciary, either there was an error or missing documentation,” Sekhara said. “Although it’s been quite the ordeal, both the USG, the judiciary and Lauren and I have been working together to come to a conclusion on the issue.” “We want to do what’s the best for the organization, what is fair for all the candidates and ultimately what’s best for the student body here,” Sekhara added. Prior to the judiciary’s decision to rescind their decision Tracy, a USG CLAS senator and staff columnist for The Daily Campus, wrote an email to all concerned parties supporting Sekhara’s ability to run. According to Sekhara, the candidates were allowed to fix any discrepancies in their election packet, but the one signature issue was not brought up until afterwards. “Lauren and I had initially received confirmation, and the next day it was rescinded,” Sekhara said. “Lauren and I are very excited that we have been reconfirmed as candidates and we’re gong to start campaigning again in full force over the next couple of days.” “I believe this will be taken care of by reopening the packet submission deadline,” USG president Tom Haggerty said in an email. “Thus, it will allow the Sekhara-Reinmann ticket to hand in the correct number of signatures that are required to run for President and Vice President.” Elections for vacant USG positions begin Monday, March 28. Sekhara and Reinmann, Sam Tracy and Lindsay Chiappa and Ingmanson and Ali Albini are the three tickets for president and vice president.
Nicholas.Rondinone@UConn.edu
What’s on at UConn today... Book Drive All Day SU, Cultural Center Pass by the Cultural Center and drop used books in the box. You will help women from the York Correctional Institute to educate themselves.
Draper Graduate Conference 3 to 8 p.m. American Studies builbing Graduate students from the nation congregate for a two-day conference on “Popular Culture in Early America”
Women in Academia 1 to 3 p.m. Dodd Center The University Libraries hold a lecture about women in the academic community. Scholars will address concerns about the future for womens’ leadership and work/ life balance.
PRLACC Health Awareness 6 to 7:30 p.m. SU, PRLACC This lecture, part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, (SNAP) aims at providing competent nutrition information.
- LILIAN DUREY
The Daily Campus, Page 2
DAILY BRIEFING » STATE
Question of gender in athletics
Yale professor UConn to review pay, lectures on raises of top officials genetically unique female athletes
STORRS (AP) — University of Connecticut trustees are launching a review of top officials’ salaries after criticism over the paychecks of its top police brass. The board voted unanimously Wednesday to create a committee to compare UConn non-faculty employees’ compensation against similar jobs elsewhere. It will also recommend ways to make the process of granting raises more transparent. The decision followed criticism that salaries for UConn Police Chief Robert Hudd and Maj. Ronald Blicher were higher than those of many big-city chiefs. Hudd received $247,000 last year and Blicher received $193,600. UConn officials have said both received large raises last year when their responsibilities increased after the UConn Health Center chief’s job was eliminated.
Reputed mob associate charged with loan
STAMFORD (AP) — A 78-year-old man who was once convicted of collecting debts for the mob in Connecticut has been arrested on a loan sharking charge. Nicola Melia, a reputed associate of the Gambino crime family, was arrested Wednesday in Stamford. Federal prosecutors say Melia made high-interest “street loans” in Fairfield County and threatened violence if the debts were not paid. He is charged with collection of an extension of credit by extortion and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Melia, nicknamed “The Greaseball,” was sentenced to 33 months in prison in 2005 for his role in a Fairfield County loan shark operation. He was a relatively minor player charged in a sweeping indictment last year that accused 18 reputed mob members and associates of racketeering, extortion and illegal gambling.
Gun owners oppose ammunition ban proposal
HARTFORD (AP) — Connecticut gun owners are at the state Capitol, urging lawmakers to oppose legislation banning largecapacity ammunition magazines. Opponents of the bill, debated at a public hearing Wednesday before the Judiciary Committee, say the proposal is a knee-jerk reaction to the Jan. 8 shootings in Arizona that killed six and left U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords recovering from a gunshot wound to the head. A high-capacity clip was linked to the crimes. The bill defines high-capacity magazines as holding more than 10 rounds. Several gun owners said they own weapons that came with magazines holding 13 or more bullets and it’s unfair to treat them as criminals should the bill pass.
» NATIONAL
RI man pleads guilty to child porn charges
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Rhode Island man arrested twice in the past two years after allegedly downloading and distributing child pornography has pleaded guilty to the charges in federal court. The U.S. attorney’s office in Rhode Island says Michael Hodge, of Newport, entered his plea on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Providence. Hodge was first arrested in May 2009 after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigators said he had downloaded images and videos depicting child pornography. He was released on bail by a state judge. In June 2010, the 55-year-old was arrested again on federal charges when state and federal officials said he was downloading and distributing child pornography.
US soldier gets 24 years for murders of 3 Afghans
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AP) — A military judge has sentenced a U.S. soldier to 24 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy with fellow soldiers that led to the murders of three unarmed Afghan civilians. The decision by Lt. Col. Kwasi Hawks on Wednesday comes after Spc. Jeremy Morlock pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, and one count each of conspiracy, obstructing justice and illegal drug use at his court martial at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The judge said he intended to sentence Morlock to life in prison with possibility of parole but he was bound the plea deal that called for a maximum sentence of 24 years. The 22-year-old Morlock is one of five soldiers from the 5th Stryker Brigade charged in the 2010 killings of three Afghans in Kandahar province. He was the first to be court-martialed.
The Daily Campus is the largest college daily newspaper in Connecticut with a press run of 8,000 copies each day during the academic year. The newspaper is delivered free to central locations around the Storrs campus. The editorial and business offices are located at 11 Dog Lane, Storrs, CT, 06268. To reach us through university mail, send to U-4189. Business hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. The Daily Campus is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. All advertising is subject to acceptance by The Daily Campus, which reserves the right to reject any ad copy at its sole discretion. The Daily Campus does not assume financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertising unless an error materially affects the meaning of an ad, as determined by the Business Manager. Liability of The Daily Campus shall not exceed the cost of the advertisement in which the error occurred, and the refund or credit will be given for the first incorrect insertion only.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
News
By John Sherman Staff Writer Dr. Myron Genel, Professor Emeritus of Yale University School of Medicine and Senior Research Scientist at Yale Child Health Research Center, spoke at the Rainbow Center Wednesday afternoon about recent controversies regarding female athletes with sexual development disorders. His star examination was Caster Semenya, the muscular female sprinter who won the gold at the 2009 World Championships. Semenya’s true sex has been very publically questioned since her victory. Semenya set the fastest time of
the year, 1:55.45, in the women’s 800-meter in 2009. Genel said that while Semenya does not dominate her sport, her physical traits have garnered her great notoriety. “She has not set the world on fire [but] because of her somewhat masculine appearance, questions were raised publically about her gender.” Genel believes Semenya personifies the bizarre history of genetically unique female athletes. “She is a poster child for the issues,” Genel said. During his one-and-a-halfhour long lecture, Genel examined the stories of other female athletes whose athletic excellence convinced the world that they, in fact, were not female at all. There were the Press sisters (the dominant Russian duo that won five gold medals combined), the Polish sprinter Ewa Klobukowska who was the first Olympian to fail a gender test (she had “one chromosome too many”) and Heinrich Ratjen, the German high jumper who cleverly concealed his genitalia so he could out-jump the
women (he finished fourth). Genel noted that dominance in female sports is almost always followed by suspicion. Gender verification is the result of that suspicion. “Gender verification is the term used by athletic associations. Athletic authorities have used this to determine whether or not an athlete in eligible, mostly in women’s sports. It is based on the notion of trying to create a reasonably level playing field,” Genel said. Genel, who works on the Medical Commission that advises the International Olympic Committee on gender verification, explained the evolution of the system. “Athletes were once asked to parade nude in front of panels to deteremine their sex and whether or not they could compete. It was invasive, intrusive, and embarrassing.” Other, more scientific, methods came later, but they still contained flaws. Genetic sex testing “was used to determine eligibility for a number of years. It was a test that could determine the number of chromosomes. But there are
women for whom this test does not work. They were not allowed to compete, though they had no unfair advantage,” Genel said. Currently, the IOC uses a combination of genetic and biological testing. If there is any suspicion or uncertainty about the gender of an athlete, additional examinations may be approved. Genel said his panel has “recommended some changes that are now under consideration.” However, Genel suggested that regardless of how precise the gender verification process becomes, the ideal and highly-sought after ‘level playing field’ will never exist in athletic competition. Genel said, “the mystical level playing field does not exist. There are a number of genetic disorder that will give athletes some advantage.” “Individuals with a longer big toe will have a longer time to accelerate off the starting blocks in any race,” Genel said. “There are birth defects, plain and simple.”
John.D.Sherman@UConn.edu
‘Tuition Runs Out Day’ thanks donors
By Matt McDonough Associate Sports Editor UConn celebrated the first “Tuition Runs Out Day” on Wednesday at the Student Union by giving thanks to donors. The event was put on by the UConn Student Philanthropy Committee, a student organization, and the UConn Foundation. It raised awareness as to where a UConn education actually comes from. “Our purpose and their purpose is to try and educate students and help them understand how much or what constitutes their education and what funding goes into it,” said Mike Nelson, a 2010 UConn graduate who works for the UConn Foundation. According to a pie chart provided by the UConn Foundation, 32 percent of tuition and 32 percent of state funds help make up a UConn education. The other 36 percent comes from other sources, including private donations. “March 23 is the arbitrary day where the state funding and tuition dries up and other sources kick into effect,” Nelson said. To show donors appreciation, students were asked by “Husky Drive” to change their Facebook status to let friends know about “TROD,” or write out a donor thank you card. At booths set up throughout the day at four loca-
tions, the Student Union, UConn Co-op and Northwest and South Dining Halls, students were asked to make a donation, either via credit card, Husky Bucks or cash. Students were also able to make a pledge to make a donation by June 30. Up to $25,000 will be matched by a generous alumni, David Bartion from the Class of 1961. So, if a student gave $5, then Barton matched it as part of his challenge to students. To promote the event, the foundation advertised through Facebook and Twitter on their Husky Drive page. The event was also listed on the UConn home page. By 2 p.m., at least 200 students filled out donor cards, and a number of donations and pledges were received. Donation totals were unavailable. “A lot of people don’t know what the UConn Foundation is or about things like this,” Nelson said. “If you’re asking me if it was a successful day, I think it was. Even if it was one of two people giving gifts, or knowing about this, it was successful.” Students who gave donations or filled out cards received a T-shirt, decals and sunglasses with “Husky Drive” written on it. Also given to them was an organization pamphlet to let students know what money comprised their education. “I knew Mike and I saw the Facebook group so I kind of knew what was going on but I didn’t
JESS CONDON/The Daily Campus
UConn Student Philantropy Committee members at the tuition runs out day table trying to get students to donate money and giving them free stuff
really understand it,” said Olaleye Aina, a 10th-semester mechanical engineering major who filled out a donor card. “I knew there was government funding but I didn’t know so much, like one third of it, came from outside donations,” Aina added. “I think students are completely unaware of it actually,” said Wesley Nichols, a 4th-semester resource economics major and a member of the UConn Student Philanthropy Committee. Nichols referenced students’
concerns on tuition rising, and the need for supporting UConn. “We need to establish a culture of giving back to UConn,” Nichols said. “When we get the phone call from the phoneathon saying do you want to give back? That’ll be an automatic thing. Nichols noted that students take buildings like Arjona and Gampel Pavilion for granted, and that those were names of people who donated to the university.
Matthew.McDonough@UConn.edu
Funding Board budget of $429K not enough to cover increased demand from Tier II organizations from MONEY, page 1 these efforts were not enough,” Yakova said. According to Haggerty, the problem due, in part, to cuts in other areas, including academics. “As academic funding gets cut, a lot of academic groups are being asked to hold events, and they come to USG for funding,” Haggerty said. Academic student organizations represent nearly onethird of the total student organizations on campus. USG, which is a Tier III
organization, receives funds from student fees directly, $80 from each undergraduate student, and their funds are determined by recommendations the Student Fee Committee submits to the Board of Trustees. The Funding Board intends to enact stricter funding policies for next year in order to prevent what happened, according to the statement. Tier II organizations can receive other assistance from the USG in the form of mailboxes, storage bins and sidewalk chalk, among other things.
The Funding Board’s proposed budget for this semester is $428,995.47, which represents nearly 56 percent of the total USG budget of $765,345.47. The Funding Board budget is down this year 13.86 percent, but Yakova and Haggerty agree that this year saw an increase in demand for funding. Under section 4.02 in the USG Funding Policy, “all denials of funding based on insufficient funds cannot be appealed.” The Funding Board traditionally holds six funding sessions during the semester, with the first
five pertaining to funds for organizations’ operations during the current semester, and the sixth for funding for the next semester. An organization’s funds decision are made after the Board considers aspects including cost, impact on the university community, past programming success and the mission of the organization among other criteria. According to their policy, the Board reserves the right to prioritize funding based on the interests of the university as a whole.
Nicholas.Rondinone@UConn.edu
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In Monday’s edition, John Tyczkowski’s article on Rock the U! incorrectly stated that the concert was being held to raise money for multiple sclerosis. The concert was put on by Lambda Lambda Lambda to showcase local talent, though the fraternity is participating in an MS Walk on April 10.
Thursday, March 24, 2011 Copy Editors: Grace Vasington, Alisen Downey, Brian Zahn, Lauren Szalkiewicz News Designer: Lilian Durey Focus Designer: Caitlin Mazzola Sports Designer: Mac Cerullo Digital Production: Jim Anderson
Thursday, March 24, 2011
The Daily Campus, Page 3
News
Report: 27.5 million uprooted by violence
NEW YORK (AP) — The number of people around the world uprooted by conflict or violence and displaced within their country has increased to 27.5 million, the highest figure in the last decade, according to a new report released Wednesday. The report by the Genevabased Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, established by the Norwegian Refugee Council in 1998 at the U.N.’s request, said close to three million people in 20 countries were newly displaced by conflict or violence in 2010 including 1.2 million in Africa. Elisabeth Rasmusson, the
Norwegian council’s secretary general, said “the number in the last 10 years is steadily rising” and large-scale displacements are continuing this year. In Ivory Coast, “civilians are paying a very high price for political deadlock” caused by Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to hand power to Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognized winner of the Nov. 28 presidential election, she said. “More than 500,000 people have been internally displaced and more are fleeing as we speak,” she told a news conference at the International Peace
Institute to launch the report. Although the number of internally displaced people, known as IDPs, has increased from around 17 million in 1997 to 27.5 million last year, the report said the number of refugees — who flee to another country — has fluctuated between 13 million and 16 million during the same period. According to the report, more than half the world’s IDPs in 2010 were in five countries — Columbia with between 3.5 million and 5.2 million, Sudan with between 4.5 million and 5.2 million, Iraq with about 2.8 million, Congo with about 1.7 million,
and Somalia with about 1.5 million. Pakistan was close behind with 980,000. Rasmusson said in the last 10 years significant progress has been made in understanding and responding to IDPs whose protection and humanitarian needs are supposed to be met by their governments. But she said in many cases there is only help from relief organizations or no help at all. She cited the “appalling situation” for IDPs in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, which she recently visited, who “find themselves literally in the line of fire between the warring
parties” with the international community unable to provide any protection. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the U.N. special representative for children in armed conflict, said 12.2 million of the displaced in 2010 were children. In at least 11 countries, she said, children were being recruited by armed groups, with internally displaced youngsters especially at risk. And in at least 18 countries, displaced children faced the risk of physical violence and attack which going to school, she said, singling out Afghanistan. Increasingly, Rasmusson said,
new displacement is also triggered by violence related to drugs and gangs, such as in Colombia and Mexico. “It’s worth noting that in Mexico, the number of displacements in 2010 is higher than the number of newly displaced in Afghanistan for the same period,” she said. Africa was the only continent in 2010 that saw a decline in IDP figures, continuing a trend since 2004, but Rasmusson said that “despite this progress the African continent still holds 40 percent of the IDPs in the world,” nearly half in Sudan.
Board member says proposal is ‘solidarity with legislature’ Vigil, concert will be held to remember student killed from BOARD, page 1 ability to continue and move forward,” Haggerty said. “I do believe that we can sustain ourselves with a 2.5 percent tuition increase this year. But I worry about the future.” Board Member Thomas Ritter said that approving the proposal would be an act of solidarity with the legislature and governor’s office. “Partly in recognition for all they’ve [the state] done for us, it is so important that we get the trend going in the right direction for them,” Ritter said. Colon said that he feared class sizes, which have swelled in
recent years, would dramatically increase, a concern that board member Peter Drotch asked Nicholls to address. “I T.A. for a class that used to be 150 students,” Colon said. “Now it’s 300.” Nicholls acknowledged that the student-faculty ratio has increased during the last several years, but added that another increase would be “very limited.” To lessen the impact, Nicholls said the university will open new sections of in-demand classes, but class times may not be as convenient for students. Alvin R Wilson Jr., a representative from the governor’s
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office, thanked the board and administration on behalf of the governor. “He appreciates your effort...to do more with less,” Wilson said. The board will review the proposed operating budget at their June meeting. Before concluding the meeting, the board voted to establish a committee to monitor the salaries of all non-faculty employees and doctors at the medical center. “I want to assure the public that we are responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,” said Chairman Larry McHugh.
Joseph.Adinolfi@UConn.edu
from STUDENTS, page 1 dent of A Minor, Plamondon had a beautiful voice that touched every audience. A crowd of about 200 cheered wildly as he finished the solo to Coldplay’s “Fix You” during his final performance with the group, Kehrhahn said. Tom McGee, a 6th-semester communication disorders major, roomed with Plamondon last year in Tolland Hall. They had met freshman year as neighbors In Ellsworth Hall. Last spring break, they traveled to Philadelphia together as part of a community service trip.
“The first think that struck me about him was his good nature, his kind heart and his willingness to help others,” McGee said. USG President Tom Haggerty offered his condolences to Plamondon’s family and the family of the male student who was driving the bus. The driver has not yet been identified. “On behalf of the student government, our hearts go out to the families of not only the victim, but the student bus driver as well, because I know they’re both going through a tumultuous time right now,” Haggerty said. “David’s death is a very pain-
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ful tragedy,” said Vice President for Student Affairs John Saddlemire. “Not only for his family and friends, but for the entire university community.” The Department of Transportation Services could not be reached for comment. Plamondon’s parents also could not be reached for comment, although his mother visited the rock while it was being painted. A vigil will be held at the rock tonight at 8 p.m., followed by a memorial concert Friday at 7 p.m. in Room 304 of the Student Union.
Classifieds are non-refundable. Credit will be given if an error materially affects the meaning of the ad and only for the first incorrect insertion. Ads will only be printed if they are accompanied by both first and last name as well as telephone number. Names and numbers may be subject to verification. All advertising is subject to acceptance by The Daily Campus, which reserves the right to reject any ad copy at its sole discretion. The Daily Campus does not knowingly accept ads of a fraudulent nature.
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www.dailycampus.com
Thursday, March 24, 2011
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
» EDITORIAL
Student orgs. should bring ideas to DC Ed. Board
T
he Daily Campus Editorial Board is made up of two weekly columnists, the associate commentary editor, the commentary editor and the editor-in-chief. Each week, these five students with diverse backgrounds, ideals and experiences sit down and discuss the ideas that have been brought to the table. These ideas are focused, as much as possible, on issues that are pertinent to UConn students, faculty and alumni, as they make up the majority, if not all, of this newspaper’s readership. After the entire board has agreed on an opinion, an editorial is born, and it becomes the official opinion of The Daily Campus. While we’d like to think that we’re on top of every important issue affecting UConn students, we can’t, in truth, know everything. That’s why we’re inviting you, the student groups, to bring us the issues that concern you. We hope that in extending this invitation, the important issues that have, so far, flown under our radar, can be addressed. By addressing what is important to you, we hope to better serve the UConn community as a whole. After all, we’re only five people. Although we’re a diverse group, there’s only so much that we can cover each week. On a campus of more than 15,000 students, there’s no way that we can know every issue. That’s why, as your student newspaper, we believe that you should be able to contribute to us in as many was as possible. This invitation extends from the student fee-funded Tier III groups with high visibility on campus to low-visibility Tier I groups, as the level of exposure each group gets on campus has no relation to the validity of its ideas. A highly-visible organization may have terrible ideas, while a group of seven people meeting in a dorm room every week may have great ideas – the reverse is also true. So, if you’re interested in sharing your ideas with us, don’t hesitate to bring them to our attention. All you have to do is email the details of your position to the editor-inchief at eic@dailycampus.com. From there, we’ll review your idea, and if we’re interested in discussing it with you, we’ll invite a representative from your group to one of our meetings, where we’ll discuss it in depth. If all goes well, we’ll be able to come to a consensus and take a stance on your issue, running it as the official opinion of UConn’s independent news source. 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.
Rest peacefully, Dino Dave. You made the sun shine a little brighter. UConn students worship the holy trinity that is Kemba Walker, Jay Hickey, and the Instant Daily. I think Mother Nature is having a fling with Father Christmas. Snow day???!?!? Who would win a fight between Kemba Walker and a hurricane? What if the name of the hurricane was hurricane Walker? Think about that one. What is better than flying out to Anaheim to watch UConn play? The layover in Vegas! It’s not the UConn Huskies anymore, it’s the UConn Charlie Sheen’s because they’re “winning.” Sorry it’ll be a day late once this gets in, but... HAPPY BIRTHDAY GENO! Purdue’s Moses failed to cross the Red Sea into the Sweet Sixteen because the Almighty Maya stopped her short. Did we beat SDSU yet? I feel bad that tuition ran out, so I’m going to bring back all the silverware I took from the dining hall. My calculator broke. I am a sad math major. From the girl that wore the UGGs while playing basketball: I just won the inturmural championship. Thank you. I’ve decided if I refuse to look outside, I can pretend we’re not still getting snow in March.
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.
Soviet propaganda similiar to American imagery
H
erman Goering was one of the most notorious and dangerous Nazi leaders. In 1946, facing trial for war crimes, he spoke words that remain as chillingly relevant today as they were back then: “Naturally, the common people don’t want war – neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine By Jesse Rifkin the policy, and it Staff Columnist is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.” The William Benton Museum of Art recently finished presenting an exhibit of communist propaganda posters from the Soviet Union. While attending the exhibit this week, I observed something shocking: most of the images were not that different from images seen in America. One poster shows a Soviet military officer pointing directly outward, as if to recruit the viewer to the communist cause. It’s not that different from the famous 1916 poster of Uncle Sam pointing directly outward saying, “I WANT YOU FOR U.S. ARMY” to enlist soldiers during World War I – an image that has been referred to as “the most famous poster in the world.” Another image portrays a strong young
man triumphantly raising a red flag up toward the sky. It’s not that different from the 1945 photograph of six American soldiers raising the Stars and Stripes on Mount Suribachi after victory in the Battle of Iwo Jima in Japan – believed to be the most reproduced photograph in history.
“...one must be careful to love one’s country because of what the country does, not because a poster told you to.” Yet another picture features Joseph Stalin, the brutal general secretary of the Communist Party and one of the worst mass murderers in history, looking heroically off into the distance, as if to communicate leadership for the future and a forward-thinking mindset. Not that different in imagery from the “Hope” poster used in the 2008 presidential campaign of Barack Obama, which featured a red, white and blue-tinted Obama staring off to the side. Is the United States even nearly as suppressive, authoritarian and controlling as was the Soviet Union? Of course not. Still, human psychology works pretty much the same way, regardless of where on the planet you live, and Americans buy into the concept of “American exceptionalism” almost as easily as the peasants of the Soviet Union bought into Soviet propaganda. America may have a more just system of governmental and economic freedom, but that does not mean our nation is perfect.
Surely, though, the United States does not employ propaganda or brainwashing as the Soviet Union did? In his book “To The Flag: The Unlikely History of the Pledge of Allegiance,” Richard J. Ellis discusses how the daily recitation of the pledge in public schools is similar to nearly-identical practices that communist and Nazi regimes forced on youth. Sung before every sports game or public event, the national anthem, “The StarSpangled Banner,” is essentially a hymn to war in the name of America. The Soviet Union also had a national anthem, called “The Internationale,” whose lyrics advocate a mass rebellion against those in power, presumably by violence and force. Herman Goering finished his aforementioned speech with a passage that should always be remembered as a disturbing reminder of the susceptibility of the masses: “Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” I am proud to be an American, where citizens are allowed to vote, make their own life choices and rise to their greatest potential. Still, pro-American imagery and practices are present nearly everywhere you look, and one must be careful to love one’s country because of what the country does, not because a poster told you to.
Staff columnist Jesse Rifkin is a 2nd-semester political science and communications double. He can be reached at Jesse.Rifkin@UConn.edu.
Bullied student fighting back shouldn’t be praised
S
ix weeks ago, a column I wrote about bullying appeared in this very spot. In that column, I condemned the overly punitive, impractical and ultimately ineffectual zero-tolerance policies and anti-bullying laws being proposed for and considered by schools across the country. I criticized the decent yet haughty “It Gets Better” videos and our shared tendency to too hastily label bulBy Ryan Gilbert lies as evil ne’er-doStaff Columnist wells and those being bullied as helpless wussies. I urged those provoked or imperiled by situations of bullying to keep cool heads about them and reach out to advocates and counseling. I was revived by the responses I heard after the column was published. I received several emails from students who agreed with what I wrote and thanked me for my honesty and insistence. By chance, a month later, President Obama, the First Lady and the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services welcomed students, parents and teachers to the White House for a conference on bullying prevention, which supported many of the same sentiments I made in my column. I felt vindicated, yet humbled. Then there was the
QW uick
it
YouTube bully who struck back. In case you aren’t among the millions of people who have watched the video I’m referring to, or haven’t heard of Casey “The Punisher” Heynes, let me give you a short recap. Last week, a video of Heynes, a 16-year-old high school student in Australia, standing up to his bully, 13-year-old student Ritchard Gale, began circulating the web. In the 40-second video, we see Gale punch Heynes once in his face and a few times in his stomach before Heynes picks up the smaller, skinnier Gale and throws him down onto the concrete. A fellow classmate is obviously recording the altercation, and several more peers can be heard in the background watching the “bully gets owned” saga unfold. In no time, the video of Heynes turning the tables on his tormentor went viral and, almost as quickly, Gale was labeled a sadistic and remorseless little prick who got what he deserved, while Heynes was declared a hero to bullying victims everywhere. Naturally, a Facebook page was created in support of Heynes (almost 200,000 “Likes” and counting). Both boys were booked for interviews on competing news shows in Australia and we here in America broke out into “rah, rah, rah” chants and practically built the stake to burn Gale and the throne to seat Heynes. So, Heynes is our newly minted
hero. But what exactly did he do that was so heroic? Is trying out your favorite WWE move on a scrawny punk after not deciding to take any more of his crap heroic? Really? We’ve clearly let the meaning of the term “hero” disintegrate just as rapidly and regrettably as Charlie Sheen.
“...but how many of us would like to have ourselves and our lives categorized by a random 40-second clip.’” To be clear: I am, by no means, defending Gale or his actions. However, I am also just as unwilling to celebrate Heynes and his actions. I was never the biggest fan of “Gladiator” either, so maybe I’m missing some deeper or more metaphysical reason for turning a schoolyard into the Colosseum. Do I feel badly for Heynes? Of course. Do I also feel badly for Gale? You bet. Gale comes from a home of divorce, claims to have been bullied by Heynes and others in the past, and is now the victim of persecution and terrorizations from us. Has justice truly been served? Or have we merely projected our own foolish, morbid
and unsolved issues toward legitimate bullying or violence-begetsviolence mumbo jumbo onto a 13-year-old kid with anger issues? We’re too eager to indulge in real or manufactured demonstrations of brutality and vengeance while feigning sympathy and pretending to be understanding and responsive. The social punishment we’ve delivered to Gale is not only misplaced, but also ruthless. The truth is, we got a lot of peculiar satisfaction out of watching the tormentor become the tormentee, but how many of us would like to have ourselves and our lives categorized by a random 40-second clip? Let’s not demonize Gale, a kid who’s clearly messed up. But let’s also not celebrate Heynes, a kid who’s also clearly messed up. If we want a real bully whom we can focus our unremitting laser beam on, let me present one to you: Victoria Jackson. A part-time comedienne and full-time nut job whose vitriolic views toward Muslims and gays will sooner, rather than later, be once upon a time. Google her interview with “Showbiz Tonight” and you’ll witness someone who’s worthy of a good, hard Spartan kick.
Staff Columnist Ryan Gilbert is a 6thsemester journalism major. He can be reached at Ryan.Gilbert@UConn.edu
“We’re at war? Again? Don’t we already have two? Wars aren’t like kids, where you don’t have to worry about the youngest one because the other two will take care of it.” – Jon Stewart
Thursday, March 24, 2011
The Daily Campus, Page 5
Comics
JELLY! by Elise Domyan 26 British weapon designed in Czechoslovakia 27 Three-time Masters champ Mickelson 31 Ruffles features 32 Had 33 Challenged 34 Campfire base 35 __ buco 37 Snatch 38 __-Rooter 39 “A Clockwork Orange” narrator 43 New Jersey’s state tree 44 Top server 45 Burrowing marsupial 47 Puts in the can? 48 Radii neighbors 49 Homeland of 23-Down’s father 50 Volleyball great Gabrielle
51 More elusive 55 Dr.’s study 56 Were now? 57 Cassis apéritif 58 Seventh Greek letter 59 Mandela’s org. 60 Mary __ Ash, cosmetics company founder
Monkey Business by Jack Boyd
Down 1 Certain eBay click 2 Darth, at one time 3 Large cask 4 Gandhi, for one 5 Directs 6 Attaches to the house 7 SeaWorld performer 8 Did nothing 9 Symbol of honesty 10 Bad-mouth 11 Sweetie pie 12 Whirlpool brand 13 Like some slippery floors 18 Sally in space 21 Anglers’ baskets 22 “So I was wrong” 23 2009 Peace Nobelist 24 Leslie Caron title role 25 Sub
Stickcat by Karl, Jason, Fritz & Chan
Across 1 Soaking spots 6 Mideast ruling family name 11 Field call 14 Language that gives us “kayak” 15 Abu __ 16 She played Beatrix in “Kill Bill” 17 Romantic evening components, perhaps 19 Strain 20 Reason-based faith 21 Film in Cannes 22 California Gold Rush staple 27 Watering hole 28 23-Down was one: Abbr. 29 “Able was __ ...”: palindrome start 30 Try in court 32 Came around regarding 36 Alien statutes 40 It can make a star shine 41 4-Down titles 42 Stadium take 43 Like sashimi 46 Cause of star wars? 47 Wurlitzer whirlers 52 27-Across offerings 53 Plant moisture buildup 54 Quaint stopover 55 Decide once and for all, and what one can do to the ends of 17-, 22-, 36and 47-Across 61 Hens do it 62 Novelist Jong 63 Blue Cross competitor 64 Yellow __ 65 He passed Lou in 2009 to become the Yankees’ all-time hit leader 66 Pulitzer writer Kidder
I hate Everything by Carin Powell
The Daily Crossword
Horoscopes
Irregardless Lindsey Dunlap
Aries - If you gaze out farther into the distance, you’ll see not only the bend in the road, but also the signs, obstacles and stoplights ahead. Keep your hands on the wheel. Taurus - Your adaptability has allowed for a regeneration of purpose that ultimately moves you up a rung on the career ladder. Travel to spread words of bright outlook. Gemini - You’re in the zone. You know just what to say. Your career moves to a new level, boosted by patience, thorough attention to detail and harmony at home.
By Michael Mepham
Cancer - You’re good at what you do, and others are recognizing that. Your optimism and friendly nature add to the project. Use diplomacy and attention to detail for best results. Leo - New ideas thrive with creativity. The basic support is there, the groundwork already laid. Plant seeds and water them lovingly and patiently. Tend them well. Virgo - Your confidence rewards you with increased professional stature and increasingly interesting projects (and travel). Use diplomacy via the written word. Libra - Clear communication between siblings and peers allows for harmony at home and work. This shows up in greater productivity, happiness and increased income.
Froot Bütch by Brendan Albetski and Brendan Nicholas
Scorpio - Confident, adaptable and plugged in, you’re set up to move things forward powerfully. The written word figures prominently. Give a thorough edit, and release it. Sagittarius - Others respect your ability to adapt to the situation, to connect easily with needed resources and to handle tasks without breaking a sweat. There’s power in your communication. Capricorn - Be mindful of selfimposed limitations. Use today to re-juice, even while taking care of business. There’s no place like home. Indulge curiosity. Learn something new. Aquarius - When a good friend is around to reassure you, nothing can stop you. Let them boost your ego, but also listen openly when they point out things that don’t work. Pisces - Your patience pays off in matters of work. Enjoy when everything flows with ease, instead of worrying that it’s too good to be true. Be receptive.
Pundles by Brian Ingmanson
Side of Rice by Laura Rice
The Daily Campus, Page 6
Thursday, March 24, 2011
News
» REGION
13-year-old Conn. runaway found in farm stand
ORANGE (AP) — A 13-year-old Connecticut girl was found safe in an abandoned farm stand Wednesday, three days after her disappearance sparked a massive, frantic search. She told police she had run away from home. Police Chief Robert Gagne said at a news conference Wednesday that Isabella Oleschuk was discovered after police got a call around 10:45 a.m. from a woman who was driving by the farm stand and noticed someone’s head pop out of a hole about three miles from the girl’s home in the New Haven suburb of Orange. “She has been reunited with her family,” Gagne said. “Isabella indicated that she had run away.” A medical check found her in good health, Gagne said, adding that authorities felt “complete elation” when she was found. Gagne said police do not know why the girl ran away and said he could not corroborate reports that she may have been bullied by other children. He said the girl’s
food was starting to run out. Officer Jude Fedorchuck responded to the scene and found Isabella alone. He said she brought a backpack filled with Pop Tarts, granola bars, juice and other items to the farm stand and had a coat and a blanket. He said the girl was not aware of the search and told him she was OK. “She was very quiet,” Fedorchuck said. “I’m very relieved. I am a father.” Isabella’s father, Roman Oleschuk, a firefighter, gave a brief statement, thanking everyone who helped search for his daughter. “While at my home helping investigators find leads, all I had to do was look outside my window and look at the hundreds of people searching the wooded areas, my own backyard, aircraft up above, knowing that you took time away from your family to help ours,” he said. The girl’s father said “she comes from a loving, supporting family that raised her with Christian core values.” John Brady, superintendent of the girl’s school district,
said school officials received no reports she was bullied. He noted that the district has placed a strong emphasis on preventing bullying and described Isabella as a honor roll student. “This was not a kid who was shunned,” Brady said, noting that students had decorated her locker with flowers and wore yellow ribbons after she disappeared. Beth Rafferty, youth director at the girl’s church, also said she was not aware of any bullying. Rafferty said Isabella was an eager participant in youth activities and showed no signs she was unhappy. “I was very surprised,” Rafferty said. “I never would have flagged her as a troubled kid that was going to run away.” Gagne’s announcement that Isabella had been found came just as police and her parents planned to hold a news conference. His announcement sparked cheers and tears. The seventh-grader was reported missing Sunday morning.
AP Photo/The Connecticut Post, Brian A. Pounds
Orange Police Chief Robert Gagne, right, announces that the missing girl, Isabella Oleschuk, has been found unharmed during a news conference at the Orange Congregational Church in Orange on Wednesday. Isabella, a seventh grader, was reported missing Sunday morning.
New NAACP seeing more gay, diverse leaders WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — The NAACP’s newly revived Worcester chapter elected a 28-year-old openly gay black man as its president this month. In New Jersey, a branch of the organization outside Atlantic City chose a Honduran immigrant to lead it last year. And in Mississippi, the Jackson State University chapter recently turned to a 30-something white man. Founded more than a century ago to promote black equality, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is seeing remarkable diversity in its leadership ranks — the result of an aggressive effort over the past four or five years to boost NAACP membership and broaden the civil rights organization’s agenda to confront prejudice in its many forms. “This is the new NAACP,” said Clark University political science professor Ravi Perry, the new chapter president in Worcester. “This is a human rights organization, and we have an obligation to fight discrimination at all levels.” NAACP branches have been recruiting gays, immigrants and young people who grew up in a world far removed from the landmark 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education ruling that outlawed school segregation. Now, leadership positions that were once held only by blacks are being filled by members of other racial or ethnic groups. The group does not keep track of numbers, but in recent years NAACP chapters in New Jersey, Connecticut and Georgia have elected Hispanics as president. A white man was picked to lead the chapter in Aiken, S.C. And two years ago, NAACP members in Hamtramck, Mich., a Detroit suburb, selected a Bangladeshi American to revive their longdormant chapter. “Some people mentioned that it wouldn’t be possible for me to be president,” said Victor Diaz, 32, a Dominican American who ran against an incumbent and was elected president of the Waterbury, Conn., branch in November. “But when I ran, I won 3 to 1.” The push for diversity troubles some members of the NAACP’s old guard, who worry that problems in the black community may get short shrift. But some social scientists say the new diversity is merely a return to the group’s roots as a biracial organization. In 1964, the NAACP’s membership peaked at 625,000 paid members. By the middle of the past decade, that had dropped to just under 300,000. Now it has reversed course and climbed to more than 525,000, in large part because of an increase in
young members, group officials say. The NAACP said it does not keep track of the organization’s racial and ethnic breakdown. Stefanie Brown, the NAACP’s 30-year-old national field director, said the under-25 crowd is the organization’s fastest-growing age group. In fact, the NAACP has slots on its 60-plus member board of directors reserved for people under 25. In addition, Brown said, young professionals under 40 are taking leadership roles — something that hadn’t happened until recently. Some in the group say the diversity push weakens the NAACP’s identity. Jamarhl Crawford, editor of the Blackstonian, a Boston website that covers the city’s black population, said he fears it could “water down” the focus on problems in the black community. “I think there’s going to be some loss there in terms of actual activism, actual protest” on behalf of blacks, said Crawford, a 40-yearold member of the NAACP’s Boston branch. The diversity push was started a few years ago under then-NAACP chairman Julian Bond. Later, Benjamin Todd Jealous, who in 2008 became the group’s youngest leader at age 35, ramped up the effort and also urged the organization to take up gay rights. “At our core, we want to end discrimination and have equality for all people,” Brown said. In a reflection of how it has broadened its agenda, the NAACP came out against California’s Proposition 8, the ballot measure banning
AP
Top: In this Nov. 17, 2010 photo, Jackson State University senior Michael Teasley walks the campus in Jackson, Miss. Teasley was recently elected president of the JSU chapter of the NAACP. Above: This Jan. 14 photo shows Victor Diaz, president of the greater Waterbury chapter of the NAACP, as he poses at a book store in Waterbury. Diaz, a Dominican American, is among the new leadership diversity at chapters of what was historically a largely black and aging organization.
gay marriage. Last year, it spoke out against Arizona’s anti-immigration law. It also strongly supported the federal DREAM Act, a proposal to give illegal immigrant students a pathway to citizenship through college or military service. Perry, the openly gay chapter president, said: “I’m just one example of younger individuals who find a home in the NAACP for issues that they might represent.” Patricia Sullivan, a history professor at the University of South Carolina and author of “Lift Every Voice: The NAACP and the Making of the Civil Rights Movement,”
called the new push for diversity thrilling and said: “It’s really reflecting what the NAACP has represented historically and what its vision has been.” Founded in 1909 partly in response to race riots in Springfield, Ill., NAACP begin as a coalition of black and Jewish activists with whites serving in leadership position in many chapters, and it was only later that it became a predominantly black organization. Sullivan also noted that the NAACP spoke out against the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Tatcho Mindiola, director
of the Center for Mexican American Studies at the University of Houston, said that while some Hispanics were NAACP members during the civil right years, their election to leadership roles is a new phenomenon. Mindiola said the NAACP has won over some Hispanics because of recent positions it has taken on issues important to Latinos. “The group has shown it is fighting for civil rights for all minorities,” said David Alcantara, 52, president of the Pleasantville-Mainland chapter in New Jersey. “And it’s time that all minorities support the NAACP.”
Census: Latinos are 12 percent of RI population
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island’s Latino community surged over the past decade, according to new census numbers, even as the state ranked second-to-last in the U.S. for overall population growth. The number of Rhode Islanders of Latino origin shot up 43.9 percent since 2000. Latinos now make up 12.4 percent of the state’s population. Overall, Rhode Island’s population rose by 4,200 people to 1,052,567 in 2010, an increase of only 0.4 percent since 2000. That makes the state 49th for population growth in the U.S., ahead of last-place Michigan, the only state to lose population over the decade. The percentage of Rhode Islanders of non-Hispanic white background dropped 3.9 percent. Whites now compose 81 percent of the state. The Census Bureau released the figures Wednesday. “The white population is graying,” said John Logan, a sociology professor at Brown University. “The Hispanic population is younger, they’re having more children and they’re moving into the state in large numbers. The future of the state’s population — and the labor force — is now clearly dependent on our attractiveness to Hispanics.” Of the state’s larger cities, Providence saw the biggest gains with a population increase of 2.5 percent. Newport’s population declined 6.8 percent. Providence’s growth can be attributed to Latinos, who follow much earlier waves of Irish and Italian immigrants. Residents of Latino origin now make up more than one third of the city’s residents. Last fall, Providence elected Angel Taveras as its first Latino mayor. “We need these people,” said Juan Garcia, a member of the group Immigrants in Action. “These are hardworking people who run small businesses. They spend money, pay their taxes. They help our economy.” The shifting demographics bring other changes as well. State lawmakers are debating proposals designed to crack down on illegal immigration. One would direct local and state police to enforce federal immigration law. Another would require businesses to check the immigration status of any new hire against a federal citizenship database. Supporters say they welcome the state’s new residents — so long as they’re here legally. “I don’t care if we have 100 or 100,000 illegal immigrants,” said state Sen. Beth Moura, R-Cumberland. “They’re taking jobs. They’re breaking the law. It’s unfair to those who came here legally.”
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BORN ON THIS DATE
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After 44 years of rule, Queen Elizabeth I of England dies.
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Gloria Steinem – 1934 Aretha Franklin – 1942 Elton John – 1947 Sarah Jessica Parker – 1965
The Daily Campus, Page 7
Thursday, March 24, 2011
» OBITUARY
Taylor lived glorious spectacle on-screen and off
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Elizabeth Taylor went from dazzling beauty in her glory years to self-described ruin in old age. She spent almost her entire life in the public eye, from tiny dancer performing at age 3 before the future queen of England, to child screen star to scandalous home-wrecker to three-time Academy Award winner for both acting and humanitarian work. A diva, she made a spectacle of her private life – eight marriages, ravenous appetites for drugs, booze and food, ill health that sparked headlines constantly proclaiming her at death’s door. All of it often overshadowed the fireworks she created on screen. Yet for all her infamy and indulgences, Taylor died Wednesday a beloved idol, a woman who somehow held onto her status as one of old Hollywood’s last larger-thanlife legends, adored even as she waned to a tabloid figure. Taylor, 79, died of congestive heart failure at CedarsSinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized for about six weeks. “We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts,” her son,
Michael Wilding, said in a prepared statement. A star from her teen years in such films as “National Velvet,” ‘’Little Women” and “Father of the Bride,” Taylor won best-actress Oscars as a high-end hooker in 1960s “BUtterfield 8” and an alcoholic shrew in a savage marriage in 1966’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” In the latter, she starred with husband Richard Burton, their on-screen emotional tempest considered a glimpse of their stormy real lives (they divorced in 1974, remarried in 1975 and divorced again a year later). For all the ferocity of her screen roles and the turmoil of her life, Taylor was remembered for her gentler, lifeaffirming side. “The shock of Elizabeth was not only her beauty,” said “Virginia Woolf” director Mike Nichols. “It was her generosity, her giant laugh, her vitality, whether tackling a complex scene on film or where we would all have dinner until dawn.” “She is singular and indelible on film and in our hearts,” he said. Though Taylor continued acting in film, television and theater in the 1980s and 1990s, she called it quits on the big screen with 1994’s “The Flintstones,” playing caveman Fred’s nagging mother-in-law.
Taylor bid farewell to the small screen with 2001’s “These Old Broads,” a geriatric diva romp co-starring Shirley MacLaine, Joan Collins and one-time romantic rival Debbie Reynolds, whose husband, Eddie Fisher, left her for Taylor in the late 1950s. She was remembered for her friendship, standing by Michael Jackson, Rock Hudson and other troubled friends. “I don’t know what was more impressive, her magnitude as a star or her magnitude as a friend,” MacLaine said. “Her talent for friendship was unmatched. I will miss her for the rest of my life and beyond.” Collins called Taylor one of the last of the true Hollywood icons. “There will never be another star who will come close to her luminosity and generosity, particularly in her fight against AIDS,” she said. AIDS activism had become Taylor’s real work long before she gave up acting. Her passion in raising money and AIDS awareness brought her an honorary Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, in 1993. “Acting is, to me now, artificial,” Taylor told The Associated Press at the 2005 dedication of a UCLA AIDS research center. “Seeing people suffer is real. It couldn’t be more real. Some people don’t like to look at it in the face because it’s painful. “But if nobody does, then
AP
Elizabeth Taylor shops in Las Vegas. Publicist Sally Morrison says Taylor died Wednesday in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure at age 79.
nothing gets done,” she said. One of the groups that benefited, the American Foundation for AIDS Research, praised Taylor for being “among the first to speak out on behalf of
people living with HIV when others reacted with fear and often outright hostility.” Taylor’s work “improved and extended millions of lives and will enrich countless more
for generations to come,” the group said. Taylor received the Legion of Honor, France’s most pres-
» THE LIFE, page 10
Greek gods and goddesses among us By Stephanie Ratty Staff Writer Even though the snow has returned to Storrs, no weather woes extinguished the Greek spirit during last night’s Greek Week God and Goddess Pageant at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. The competition is one of several events held this week that help campus fraternities and sororities earn points toward becoming the 2011 Greek Week winners. The evening started with a moment of silence to remember students who have recently passed away, before welcoming contestants to the stage to show off customized togas that represented different teams. Each female and male competitor of the seven teams decorated their togas with Greek letters, student interests and accessories to symbolize this year’s theme of reality TV shows. The contestants embodied shows such as “Cake Boss,” “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” “The Bachelor” and “The Amazing Race” as they strutted across the Jorgensen stage, earning roars of applause from their respective organizations. Continuing with the reality show theme, a contest between audience members was held between rounds to see who could shoot ping pong balls into glass jars faster. The prize? None other than a “GTL” quotebook from MTV’s famous show, “Jersey Shore.” The talent round came next, bringing along singers, dancers, and even a trick shot tennis video to wow the audience. Mike Risbridger of Team One held back nothing with spirited choreography to “Ice, Ice, Baby,” complete with a neon
The truth about plastic water bottles By Becky Radolf Staff Writer
genre as a serious medium for recognized artists. More recently, Drake’s “So Far Gone” (2009) and Wiz Khalifa’s “Kush & OJ” (2010) were two releases that showed the mixtape’s ability to bring overnight stardom, a record deal and millions of Twitter followers and Facebook fans to previously underground artists. In the modern world of social networking and instant music
Lately, it seems as though I can’t go near a water fountain with my empty Poland Spring bottle without somebody shouting at me, “Did you know you’re not supposed to reuse plastic bottles?” Here I was, thinking I was doing the earth a favor by using one plastic bottle for as long as I could, when suddenly I was potentially doing damage to myself. I had never heard of the dangers of reusing water bottles until recently, although I knew that certain types of rigid water bottles, like Nalgene for example, contained BPA. So, I decided to investigate the matter myself to finally put the matter to rest. According to “National Geographic’s” “The Green Guide,” most plastic water and soda bottles are made from plastic No. 1, also known as polyethylene terephthalate, or PET. Apparently, these bottles are only safe for use one time, and then should be recycled. Due to the wear-andtear these bottles receive as we use them, they may leach DEHP, which is another carcinogen toxic to humans. Okay, they may leach DEHP, but that wasn’t enough for me. I prowled the Internet for more reliable sources, and came across an interview with Johns Hopkins researcher Dr. Rolf Halden who dismissed the claim as an urban legend, even saying that freezing bottles works against the release of chemicals. While the jury may be out on this topic, there are still certain types of plastics you definitely should avoid. Any types of rigid plastic containers made with BPA should be avoided at all costs, especially if you plan to buy one as a gift for a little sister or brother, as BPA is particularly dangerous to children who ingest it. If plastic’s so dangerous, then what in the world can we use? There are plenty of BPA-free alternatives out there, the most popular one being aluminum water
» NEW, page 10
» DON’T, page 9
KEVIN SCHELLER/The Daily Campus
Angelica Francescucci, above, an 8th-semester allied health major, and Arthur Aina, an 8th-semester mechanical engineering major, were designated the Greek Goddess and God, respectively, at Wednesday’s God and Goddess Pageant in the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts.
tank top, backup dancers and of course, a fanny pack. While Risbridger earned the crowd’s laughter, Janeice Boyd tried her hand at rapping with original lyrics spit to the beat of the theme from “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” The contestants continued with Broadway numbers and modern ballet pieces, but only one tapped
into nostalgia to earn votes. Team Seven’s Calen Weiss channeled the audience with an acoustic mashup of songs from the ‘90s. Mixing Smash Mouth, Sir Mix-alot and the Backstreet Boys, Weiss had nearly everyone in Jorgensen singing along with him. “The guys really impressed me,” said 6th-semester psychology major and Delta Zeta sister
Katelin Roche, who cited Arthur Aina and Matt Lovendusky’s songs as her favorites.. Before the votes were tallied, participants had to endure a question-and-answer round with Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Todd Sullivan. Sullivan, who approached the stage a sleek business suit, tossed aside the director within to show his skills as a danc-
er. He threw on some sunglasses and proceeded to “Dougie” for the hundreds of brothers and sisters that made up the audience. Alongside Sullivan, each contestant answered a single question pertaining to Greek Life, before diligently awaiting the judges’ verdict.
» AINA, page 9
‘Tis the season to listen to mix tapes, anticipate summer’s music By Tom Teixeira Campus Correspondent For the hip-hop world, spring is mixtape season. Artists on the rise, as well as rap’s most established stars, often look to the spring to make content just in time for summer. New artists begin the year with fresh material, seeking to finally make a name for themselves. More established emcees commonly drop mixtapes in spring to
build anticipation for the release of full albums to be released later in the year. Mixtapes have become one of hip-hop’s most popular mediums, bridging gaps between musicians and fans, allowing artists to explore their creativity in a risk-free environment and becoming an incredibly profitable promotional tools for record companies. The mixtape’s origin is deeply rooted in hip-hop, common in the ‘90s street-rap scene in the form of a cassette tape (hence
its name). Though they had been around for years, most agree that 50 Cent was the first to introduce the genre to the mainstream hiphop community with his mixtapes “Guess Who’s Back?” and “50 Cent Is the Future” in the early 2000s. These two critically acclaimed mixtapes, available for free and produced by independent labels, were extremely popular, and were directly responsible for 50 Cent’s stardom. After he paved the way, an increasing number of artists
have utilized the mixtape to build hype and share music. Despite 50’s early contribution to modern mixtapes, the genre didn’t gain widespread popularity among artists and fans until the later half of the decade, when music became available for Internet download. Tapes like Lil Wayne’s “Dedication 2” (2006) and “Da Drought 3” (2007), along with popular mid-decade mixtapes by artists such as T.I. and Young Jeezy, helped to establish the
The Daily Campus, Page 8
Album Of The Week
FOCUS ON:
MUSIC Billboard Top 10 Albums
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Focus
Want to join the Focus review crew? Come to a Focus meeting, Mondays at 8 p.m. Your name could be on next week’s Music page!
Black Holes & Revelations - Muse
Awesome as f***?
1. “Lasers,” Lupe Fiasco 2. “21,” Adele 3. “Glee: the Music, Vol. 5,” Glee Cast 4. “Goodbye Lullaby,” Avril Lavigne 5. “Collapse Into Now,” R.E.M. 6. “Stronger,” Sara Evans 7. “Sigh No More,” Mumford & Sons 8. “Late Nights & Early Mornings,” Marsha Ambrosius 9. “Never Say Never: The Remixes,” Justin Bieber 10. “NOW 37,” Various Artists
YouTube, you choose
intriguing, it sounds sharp on the ears and is inconsistent with the vocal part. The band also ends the album with a track that is just downright boring. Overall, “Angles” is a pleasant album to listen to. But it is by no means satisfying for Strokes fans, nor is it a testament to the band’s preexisting artistry and talent. Whether it’s a lack of chemistry or a lack of motivation, the group needs to get its act together if it ever wants to release another good record again.
Antoine Dodson, Justin Bieber and Keenan Cahill are a few examples of singers and, errr, lipsyncers, who have reached international stardom thanks to YouTube. Oftentimes a video will go viral because its subject acts pathetic and ridiculous in front of a camera. For example, Cahill’s voiceless rendition of “Teenage Dream” has captured nearly 40 million views. There is no doubt that his expressive eyebrows and melodramatic eye rolls have something to do with the popularity of his video. Yet, Cahill remains unashamed of his loser-celebrity status as he has followed up the “Dream” clip with covers of Jeremiah’s “Down on Me” and DJ Pauly D’s “Beat Dat Beat.” YouTube is an open stage for everyone to showcase their artistic talents. And though viewers often pick the most untalented submissions to become the next biggest Internet sensations, there are many expert musicians who have found their claim to fame on the web site. For example, 25-year old Kina Grannis floated around on a few labels and released a couple of albums after she graduated from USC. But since she made a YouTube channel in 2007, her songwriting talents and robust voice have been shared with millions. At first, Grannis only covered hit songs, such as “Love Story” and “Disturbia,” and always accompanied herself on an acoustic guitar. After she gained a solid following, she started to share her originals. One of her videos won her a deal with a record company and her music was played during a Superbowl commercial. Grannis eventually eradicated the contract to become an independent artist. David Sides is another upand-coming artist who is worth checking out on YouTube. Sides is a self-taught pianist from California. He is popular for his unconventional instrumental covers, as they are piano versions of hip-hop and dance numbers. His most celebrated videos include performances of Beyonce’s “Halo” and Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop.” Sides has put out two albums, which both contain covers and original pieces. Currently, he is also marketing an instrument-education program called “Playground Sessions,” which will teach users how to cover their favorite songs on the piano. When it comes to young talent, uke3453, whose real name has not yet been revealed, has little competition. Uke3453 is a 5-year-old from Japan who learned to play ukulele by watching a TV program from three months old. His choppy, but sweet cover of “I’m Yours,” and more skillful cover of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” have netted him 43 million views and 84,000 subscribers on YouTube. Of course, he has a slight advantage considering he is an adorable child with hilarious facial expressions. But in the future, this musician may be a serious threat to other YouTube musicians and their followings. As the Internet grows, so does opportunity. The grassroots music movement has taken root in recent years and the talent has been pouring in from people of all different places. Online artistry is headed in a great direction, but here’s to hoping that this new obsession with Rebecca Black ends very, very quickly.
Purbita.Saha@UConn.edu
Purbita.Saha@UConn.edu
Week of March 26, 2011
Upcoming Shows Toad's Place, New Haven 3/25 Lotus 9:30 p.m., $20 3/31 Stephen Marley & the Ghetto Youth Crews 9:30 p.m., $25 Webster Theater, Hartford 3/25 Cold 7 p.m., $18 4/1 Fair to Midland 6 p.m., $12 Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, R.I.
Photo courtesy of Myspace.com
Depending on how much you like Green Day, you may find the band’s latest release to be ‘Awesome as F***’ or not awesome at all, as it’s a revamp of already released songs.
Green Day’s new album more like a compilation of greatest hits By Stephanie Ratty Staff Writer Green Day’s “Awesome as F***” tracklist reads as a collection of greatest hits, all performed live. The album kicks off with “21st Century Breakdown,” a medium-tempo song from the band’s CD of the same name that relies heavily on lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong’s signature vocals.
Awesome as F***
3/26 Grace Potter & the Nocturnals 7 p.m., $30
Green Day 3/18/11 17 tracks
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4/2 Sara Bareilles 7 p.m., $25
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This Day in Music 1958 Elvis Presley reported to the Memphis Local Draft Board 86. He said goodbye to his parents and friend Lamar Fike, then climbed onto the bus to the Kennedy Veterans Memorial Hospital. At the hospital, Presley became a Private with serial number 53 310 761. Elvis handled his military position with grace, making it well known that despite his fame, he had no interest in receiving favors. He received basic training at Fort Hood, and used the army as an incentive to get in shape. Meanwhile, at the home front, RCA was well prepared and steadily put out Presley’s previously unreleased material, most of which topped the charts. After the tragedy of losing his mother to hepatitis while in the army, Presley met his future wife Priscilla Beaulieu. Elvis served in the army for two years, and received $78 per month. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant. – Julie Bartoli
The band transitions quickly into the fast-paced “Know Your Enemy,” and continues to play with the tempo throughout the rest of the track list. Some renditions, like “Holiday,” “American Idiot” and “Cigarettes and Valentines,” are all reinvented with moments of screaming vocals and guitar solos. While these are some of the more recognizable Green Day hits, the band departs from the original recordings by
changing the pace and integrity of the lyrics. However, versions of some of the earliest Green Day songs were given new life with slightly more of a rock edge. “When I Come Around” and “Good Riddance (The Time of Your Life)” hadn’t seen the stage for years before “Awesome as F***” re-released them. Audiences can be heard on the tracks singing along to the nostalgic Green Day from former albums “Dookie” and “Nimrod.” Rock anthem “21 Guns” sounds much better in this live performance than on original recording, thanks to the crowd’s involvement and the strength Armstrong puts behind the chorus. He isn’t trying to hit falsetto notes, so the track is comfortable and genuine. While the album is released in either a 17 or 20-track ver-
sion, the latter is worth the extra few dollars for the last three songs. “Letterbomb” and “Paper Lanterns/2000 Light Years Away” both highlight drummer Tre Cool’s skills and have uptempo beats. “Christie Road” is slightly slower, but really gives listeners the chance to hear Mike Dirnt’s bass abilities and rounds out the quality of the album. The album benefits from being recorded live, as the cheering crowds in the background amp up the energy and give each song a more authentic feel. There are points where Armstrong should have calmed his screaming vocals, but the songs still retain the band’s sound because his voice is so distinctive. This album also helps to promote the band’s Broadway stint. “American Idiot” is still playing in Manhattan.
Stephanie.Ratty@UConn.edu
Strokes miss all the right ‘angles’ with new album By Purbita Saha Staff Writer The Strokes are back. But are they back to true form? Survey says no. The critically acclaimed alternative-rock band has been missing in action since 2006, when it released the brilliant record “First Impressions of Earth.” After a series of conflicts with production and between members, The
Angles
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Strokes went on a hiatus until 2009. Subsequently, they headlined a series of festivals across the country, and then hit the studio to create some music. The band’s most recent album, “Angles,” is an elaborate effort by the band to help regain its previous celebrity status in the music world. Unfortunately, “Angles” isn’t as glorious of a comeback as it was projected to be. The Strokes churned out 10 newlyminted songs, but the majority of them are disappointments. The first single off the record, “Under Cover of Darkness,” is a classic Strokes design. The perky, falling chords are reminiscent of some of the group’s older hits, such as “12:51” and “You Only Live Once.” But the opening track for “Angles” is easily the strongest song on the entire album. The choruses are passionate; the lyrics are defiant. “Life in the shade/ A violent cloud/ And that’s on us/ Born on the rise/ Circles in the skies,” sings Julian Casablancas in “Machu Picchu.” “Ever since I’m in the skies/ I’m just tryin’ to find/ A space for you and I.” “Taken for a Fool” is a decent track and has an enjoyable instrumental intermission that breaks up Casablancas’ verses. Meanwhile, “Games” is a clever sampling of the new ideas that the band is trying to incorporate into its music,
Photo courtesy of Myspace.com
The band the Strokes has entered a downward spiral to B-list celebrity status in the music world.
and “Gratisfaction” is very rhythmic and effective in catching the listener’s interest. Still, only 50 percent of “Angles” seems to be refined and original. The song “Red Light” is similar to some of the pieces by the band Phoenix, as it has a clap track and an electronicbased backdrop. But the heavy bass on the track is poorly distributed, and at times it drowns out Casablancas’ punk-style falsetto. “Metabolism” is even more of a mess. Casablancas is monotonous and uninspiring as he rants about finding the perfect life. And while the guitar part in the song is
Thursday, March 24, 2011
The Daily Campus, Page 9
Focus
M-1: Modern hip-hop sends wrong message
» REVIEWS
Duran Duran proves ‘All You Need is Now’ By Julie Bartoli Campus Correspondent It’s impossible to understand the allure of Duran Duran. Renowned rock critic Rob Sheffield wrote an entire book on the phenomenon, and even he came to an empty conclusion. Regardless, the fact remains that these peculiarly dressed, sexually charged, England-bred New Romantics have sold over 100 million records. And counting. “All You Need is Now,” officially offered as a complete album since midnight on Tuesday is following suit.
Already named Duran Duran’s greatest record in 20 years, there is no doubt that stores are flooded with nostalgic 40-yearold women hoping to relive their Simon Le Bon via his 1981 white jumpsuit and sweat band memories. The album’s 14 songs will offer that, and more. Opening with a flashback, the title track is vintage Duran Duran and could have easily slipped into “Rio” or “Liberty” as a bonus number. “Blame the Machines” follows close behind, with synth cuts and squeals that a 20-year-old Rhodes would have enjoyed playing just as much as he does at 48-year-old.
All You Need is Now Duran Duran 3/22/11 14 tracks
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KEVIN SCHELLER/The Daily Campus
Track 4, “Leave a Light On,” slows things down significantly. Le Bon sounds dangerously like Morrissey, and the song moves like a Smiths piece. “Safe” is the band’s chance to shamelessly flirt with contemporary pop, the result being four minutes that don’t fit right on the album. “A Diamond in the Mind” is a hazy Sergeant Pepper-like midrecord break with swelling synth that carries into the next piece. “Other People’s Lives” is a bit too theatrical for Duran squared, but it’s immediately redeemed by the album’s crowning single, “Runway Runaway,” which is just generic enough to score a smile. It lacks innovation, but is worth a relisten. “All You Need is Now” isn’t anything new. Every part of it has been done before, half of it by Duran Duran themselves. The fact of the matter is, as a critic I’m rolling my eyes, but as a female I can’t help pressing the repeat button.
Julie.Bartoli@UConn.edu
M-1, a.k.a Mutula Olugabala of the hip-hop duo Dead Prez, spoke to students at a seminar called “How Hip-Hop has Failed Young People” held in the African American Cultural Center about his life and the world that hip-hop music projects.
Just when you think they’re Dead Prez member inspires students with his story through, Yellowcard strikes back
By Loumarie Rodriguez Campus Correspondent
The African American Cultural Center held a seminar last night called “How Hip-Hop has Failed Young People,” featuring guest speaker M-1, a.k.a. Mutulu Olugabala of Dead Prez. The seminar was presented by Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. and the Latino Student Association. The event was put on by Jason Ortiz, who is on the National Board of Directors for SSDP, along with Sam Tracy, the president of SSDP and Aaron Aguirre, the chapter president of the fraternity. M-1 started off by introducing himself. He explained a little about his background and about how he became involved his work today, which seeks change in hopes of a better government system. He stated that he considers his work to be revolutionary. Starting off in Brooklyn, N.Y., M-1 began rapping at age 15 and later learned how to DJ. His first inspiration was Michael Jackson’s song, “Pretty Young Thing.” Soon after finishing high school, M-1 started college in Florida, but could not finish due to financial issues. Even though he was in school for some time, he claimed he “could not understand the dynamics of school.” Despite the setback, M-1
“It wasn’t just about hip hop, and I like how he talked about how we can change it.” Shannon Ferguson, a 2nd-semester nursing major, on M-1 moved onto bigger things, creating an organization that formed a partnership with the “Black Survival Movement.” That soon led him in 1992 to Chicago, which at the time was filled with gang violence. There, he was seen as a revolutionary figure. Over time, he helped many people understand the importance of standing strong in order to create change. Today, M-1 travels all over, telling his story and stressing the importance of celebrating culture, as well as of learning about the system in place around you. The focus of his lecture then shifted to the origins of hiphop, which started off with a man named Kevin Donovan. Donovan started off in gangs,
taking over territories in his neighborhood. But after writing an essay in school that took him to South Africa, he no longer wanted to be involved in gang activity. He soon started DJing and learned the techniques that gave records that special sound. Combining hiphop with African Bambaataa, Donovan’s initial message was about love, peace and unity. At the end of the lecture, M-1 stated his belief that much of our modern hip-hop sends the wrong message to young people. He also believes that much of hip-hop today has lost the culture that it once had; now is the time to change that. M-1 is currently working on three albums. “I thought it was very inspiring,” said Stephanie Williams, a 2nd-semester human development and family studies major. “I learned a lot.” “I like how he talked about his revolutionary ideas,” Shannon Ferguson, a 2nd-semester nursing major, said. “It wasn’t just about hip-hop. And I like how he talked about how we can change it.” Kenneth Dortche, a 6thsemester business management major and the director of communications for La Unidad Latina and Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc., said, “I thought it was very inspiring and motivating.”
Loumarie.Rodriguez@UConn.edu
By Nicole Green Campus Correspondent Pop-punk alternative band Yellowcard released their seventh studio album yesterday after a two-year hiatus. “When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes” features the band’s famous background violin chords. Several songs aren’t too unique, but some others that shine beyond those from Yellowcard’s start.
The album’s first single, “For You, and Your Denial,” stuns with a powerful ensemble, including a killer violin. The song is catchy and is certainly reminiscent of the band’s “Ocean Avenue” days, with a more mature twist. Yellowcard’s sound has grown along with them and their adoring fans. While it’s difficult for any band to follow the popularity of a song like “Ocean Avenue,” which made Yellowcard a household name to anyone growing
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Associate Focus Editor Melanie Deziel spoke with comedian Bo Burnham in October, prior to the release of his Comedy Central hour, titled “Words, Words, Words.” Deziel recently caught up with Burnham on his nationwide tour of the same name in an exclusive interview after his March 19 performance at The Webster Theater in Hartford. Bo Burnham, the YouTube sensation who gained notoriety singing pun-filled songs and performing musical skits for an Internet audience, has traded in the comfort of his bedroom for unfamiliar stages across the country. Mixing older fan favorites with material from his recent Comedy Central hour and new material from his upcoming album, Burnham has created a dynamic show all his own. He continues to combine his talent on the keyboard with his impressive mastery of words entertaining audiences with songs like “Men and Women,” “Love Is,” “Art is Dead,” “New Math,” and “Oh,
Bo.” He has also incorporated intentional lighting, physical comedy, use of props, updated pop culture references and more into his show. The result is unbelievable. The Bo we see on stage is an amplified version of the Bo we saw on our laptop screens. He is the same comedian we know and love, but bigger and better than ever. His fame has brought increased access to resources, allowing Burnham to do the kinds of things he couldn’t do before, and the new touches only make the show more enjoyable. One of the highlights of the Hartford show – and any show with Bo, I assume – was his ability to connect with his audience and alter his show to fit their style. After noting which jokes caused the most laughter, Burnham got up from his keyboard between songs to address the audience with an impromptu bit. “I’d like to congratulate you on your populace,” he said. “Welcome to Hartford, where we shout about shootings and cheer for rape.” He referred back to the sick jokes that the audience seemed to love, and joked about incorporating a giant mirror into the show
so the audience could examine themselves. As the insults flowed, the laughter and cheering got louder. “Calm down, Hartford,” he joked, mimicking the girlish screams that filled the theater. Burnham often complimented the audience on their energy, maintaining that it was genuine. “This was an insane show,” Burnham said in an exclusive interview after the show. Hartford was one of the original stops on the tour, but was added after the fact. “It’s the right market,” said Kyle Casey, Burnham’s tour manager, who has been with him since October and has known him for several years. Adding a date in Hartford had nothing to do with requests, Casey said. It was determined that Burnham had a large fan base in the area, making Hartford an “excellent target market.” Official tour date or not, fans flocked to The Webster to see Burnham perform. They waited in the frigid temperature outside the theatre, hours before the doors opened at 7 p.m., in a line that stretched more than a block when the doors opened. Though the show was not
Nicole.Green@UConn.edu
Aina, Francescucci become deities among Greek life from GREEK, page 7 It wasn’t long before the participants returned to the stage, where Team Four’s Arthur Aina and Team Three’s Angelica Francescucci were named the 2011 Greek God and Goddess. “The UConn Greek community has given me so much,” Francescucci said. “It’s sad to
leave, but it’s a great way to end my college experience. Pi Beta Phi sister and 6th-semester economics major Amanda Parisi commented on the greater involvement of the Greek community on campus this year. “We’re finally turning Greek Week into what it should be,” she said. The evening closed with erup-
YouTube hit Bo Burnham visits the Webster
By Melanie Deziel Associate Focus Editor
up in the early 2000s, “When You’re Through Thinking” stays true to Yellowcard’s eternal summer songs and perfect melodies that made us love them in the first place. Songs like “See Me Smiling” and the beautiful ballad “Sing for Me” are two of the best we’ve heard from Yellowcard, even with a discography as long as theirs. Overall, the album has been met with positive reviews; very few critics have anything bad to say about Yellowcard’s spectacular re-entry into the music world after fans speculated that they were gone for good in 2008. The 10 tracks (plus a bonus acoustic version of “Sing for Me” found on iTunes) have definitely put the band back on the map, and they’re certainly strong enough to stay on top for years to come.
sold out, fans were left with standing room only more than 20 minutes before show time. The Webster normally operates with standing room only, but rows of chairs lined the floor for Burnham’s performance. “You need people to sit [in order] to sit and listen,” he said. Because Burnham’s conversational style can sometimes lead to a little too much conversing on the audience’s end, especially in a small space, the seating tends to help calm things down. Hartford had a great crowd, he said, but it also had a particularly boisterous crowd. “This venue especially makes it feel like a concert,” he said, referring to the Webster’s Main Stage room. The Webster does not generally host comedy shows, making it a new experience for the comedian and his hosts. Several times during the show, Burnham acknowledged the problem of audience interruption. “You f***** me up with your ‘Woo,’ man!” he shouted during one song, when an abrupt scream from a fan interrupted him mid-lyric. He ad-libbed the next line – something about fans ruining
his rhymes – and continued playing through the laughter that followed. “It can throw me off,” he said later in the interview. “I can make it funny for only so long. It is something I don’t want to happen.” But it comes with the territory, he said. He loves performing and it’s something that just happens. “The truth is, I have nothing to complain about.” With bigger venues, which Burnham prefers, this doesn’t happen as often, and Burnham will see plenty of bigger venues in the coming weeks as he finishes up his tour. He is off to Australia on April 19 to perform at Forum Theater in Melbourne and The Metro in Sydney, and he’ll spend June 6 through 18 in the UK, performing in a different theater each night. When asked about the possibility of adding UConn’s Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts to his list of tour stops, Burnham was not opposed. “Go Huskies, or whatever,” he said. And as you requested, Bo, I included the “whatever.”
Melanie.Deziel@UConn.edu
tions of applause from all organizations. Any conception of competition between fraternities and sororities was disproven with the brothers and sisters of all groups congratulating each other and embracing for “family” photos. Greek Week continues today with Spirit Day and the Scholarship Reception.
Stephanie.Ratty@UConn.edu
Don’t reuse water bottles past their prime from THE TRUTH, page 7
bottles. However, there are some other options that, while pricey, are completely worth the dough. Katadyn bottles ($40) are made of polyethylene and even contain a carbon filter to purify the water inside. On the cheap side, Rubbermaid makes several BPA-free soft rubber water bottles at only $5 a pop. They’re less extravagant than the Katadyn bottles, but they get the job done and you can ensure that no toxins are entering your body. Choosing to reuse a plastic water bottle is a personal choice, but either way, the important thing is that the bottle is recycled when it’s reached the end of its life. Keeping your body clean of dangerous chemicals is just as important as keeping the earth clean, so dispose plastic bottles properly to ensure that everybody wins.
Rebecca.Radolf@UConn.edu
The Daily Campus, Page 10
Give it up for porn Author presents students with in-depth look at porn industry
By Holly Battaglia Campus Correspondent
Wednesday night, Shira Tarrant, Ph.D., author of “Pornography 101: Why College Kids Need Porn Literacy Training,” came to the Student Union to give a lecture that could be construed as racier than most. In the presentation, “Pornfed: SexySmart Choices in a XXX World,” Tarrant began by surveying how many members of the audience were porn virgins. Very few hands were raised. This comes with little surprise, given that “sex” is currently the most commonly-searched internet query, not to mention the medley of free porn sites available at the click of a button. According to Tarrant, college women are the most rapidlygrowing population of porn-viewers in today’s American society. When asked her opinion about this statistic, 8th-semester biology major Khushboo Shah stated that college females might appreciate watching pornography because, “They want to know what’s hot, and how they can please their boyfriends.” Tarrant agreed, but also noted that, “They like it, they’re curious, it’s sexy.” She said that there is a double standard. A girl may admit she likes porn, but as soon as she does so, she is subject to being considered a slut by her peers. During her lecture, Tarrant gave the audience a history of the changing porn industry and its effects on its viewers. The first Playboy was launched in 1953 with Marilyn Monroe as the centerfold. The theme of
New artists, veterans make mixtapes to crefrom 'TIS, page 7 downloads, many aspiring rappers and singers are following the path of 50 Cent and testing the waters of hiphop via the mixtape. Though a popular outlet for newcomers, hip-hop veterans have begun producing mixtapes to promote their studio albums. Rick Ross and Kanye West are two artists to do so in 2010. Ross released “The Albert Anastasia EP” last spring to promote his summer smash hit “Teflon Don.” West developed “G.O.O.D. Friday” in the fall, releasing one song for free on his website every Friday at midnight leading up to the release of his album, “My Dark Twisted Fantasy.” At the project’s conclusion, West had created a complete mixtape and had introduced fans to the type of music they would later hear on his album. In the process, he created an exemplary model for the successful promotional release. With social media and Internet downloads becoming increasingly popular, the mixtape genre should continue to grow in 2011. Fans will no doubt continue to take advantage of free music, labels will continue to utilize the tape’s marketing power and artists will certainly continue creating new music. Best bets for this spring include Big K.R.I.T.’s “The Return of 4Eva,” Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg’s collaborative tape “High School” and a rumored 2011 release by Kid Cudi. If you’re looking for warmups for UConn’s Spring Concert, B.o.B. has released four mixtapes to date, to complement his studio album. Mixtapes can be found and legally downloaded for free at www.datpiff.com.
Thomas.Teixeira@UConn.edu
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Focus
LAURELIN MATULIS/The Daily Campus
Shira Tarrant, author of ‘Pornography 101: Why College KIds Need Porn Literacy Training.,’ spoke at the Student Union Theater Wednesday.
pornography at that point in history was busty models with a little extra fat around the middle. Photographers avoided showing genitalia, leaving it more of a mystery to the viewer. Books such as “The Joy of Sex,” published in 1972, were immediately seen as part of the sexual revolution. In 1974, Hustler magazine entered the scene, featuring fetishes and sex toys; naturally, it was a source of feminist controversy. In the 70’s it also became hipster chic and somewhat risqué to see porn films at the theater. However, these theaters were no place for a woman to go. During the 80’s, people could finally rent their racy videos at a porn shop. At this point, half of porn viewers were women. Tarrant argues that the porn industry impacts how people think they should behave sexually, right down to how they move, act and sound during sex. For some people, porn can dictate what is sexy. Some people
have also argued that the porn industry degrades women, while others say that it empowers them through “employment options and autonomous power.” Tarrant said that, as a society, we need to decode the messages sent to us by the porn industry and to learn what we are comfortable with and what our boundaries are. Tarrant stressed the point that because porn is explicitly focused on sex, nonconsensual fantasy can seem very sexy. However, non-consent in real life is exactly the opposite. “She pointed out how girls tend to come out and explicitly say ‘no’ when they feel uncomfortable during a hookup, and guys don’t feel as comfortable doing so,” Brian Coughlin, a 6th-semester history major, said. Tarrent spoke about the importance of consent. A main point that students took away from the lecture is that “Consent is sexy.”
Holly.Battaglia@UConn.edu
The life and times of Liz Taylor from TAYLOR, page 7 tigious award, in 1987 for AIDS efforts. In 2000, Queen Elizabeth II made Taylor a dame – the female equivalent of a knight – for her services to charity and the entertainment industry. Taylor herself, however, suffered through the decades. She fell from a horse while shooting 1944’s “National Velvet,” causing a back injury that plagued her for the rest of her life. Her third husband, producer Michael Todd, died in a plane crash after only a year of marriage. Taylor had life-threatening bouts with pneumonia, a brain tumor and congestive heart failure in her 60s and 70s, and from drug and alcohol abuse, including a 35-year addiction to sleeping pills and painkillers, which prompted her to check in to the Betty Ford Center. She had at least 20 major operations, including replacements of both hip joints and surgery to remove the benign brain tumor. Taylor also dealt with obesity, packing on as much as 60 pounds and writing, “It’s a wonder I didn’t explode” in her 1988 book “Elizabeth Takes Off,” about how she gained the weight and then shed it. “Eating became one of the most pleasant activities I could find to fill the lonely hours and I ate and drank with abandon,” she said. After a lifetime of ailments and self-abuse, Taylor said in a 2004 interview with W magazine that “my body’s a real mess. ... Just completely convex and concave.” Her trials made her a butt of jokes, but even when people made fun, she preserved a hint of the divine aura of her youth. When cartoonist Garry Trudeau mocked Taylor and then-husband John Warner, newly installed as a U.S. senator, in a 1979 “Doonesbury” comic strip, he memorably described her as a “tad overweight, but with violet eyes to die for.”
AP
Liza Minelli, left, hugs actress Elizabeth Taylor, who holds her Cecil B. DeMille award in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Her eyes were only part of the charms that took her to the top in Hollywood and kept her there for decades. Born in London on Feb. 27, 1932, to art dealer Francis Taylor and American stage actress Sara Sothern, Taylor seemed born for the spotlight. A seasoned ballerina at age 3, Taylor danced before Princess Elizabeth, the future queen. Her family moved to Hollywood at the outset of World War II. She then made
her screen debut with a tiny part in the 1942 comedy “There’s One Born Every Minute.” Her big break came a year later in “Lassie Come Home.” Taylor’s screen test for the film won her both the part and a long-term contract. She grew up quickly after that. “I have the emotions of a child in the body of a woman,” she once said. “I was rushed into womanhood for the movies. It caused me long moments of unhappiness and doubt.”
Thursday, March 24, 2011
The Daily Campus, Page 11
Sports
Cerullo: The baseball team » MLB can't afford to keep coming Braves’ Salazar returns to camp after losing eye up short when it matters from DON'T, page 14 The point Penders wanted to make to his players was that they couldn’t afford to assume they were great just because the media said so. Last year, Ohio State was the hot pick to break out on the national stage, starting the year ranked as high as No. 14. But for whatever reason, the team did not live up to expectations, and ultimately they finished the year with a mediocre 28-23 record, including a 11-13 mark in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes didn’t make the postseason, and Penders wanted to try and keep his team from falling into the same trap. But despite his warning, it appears that the team may be headed in that direction. At this point, the baseball team currently stands at 8-9-1 on the year. They’ve been incredibly inconsistent in the early going of the year and, despite the team’s immense talent, have often struggled to make the big plays necessary to win a game when it matters the most. Clutch hitting has been especially sparse, and when you’re in a close game and you have men on, the bottom line is you need to bring them home. It’s not like the team has been inept, either. UConn did beat No. 14 California on the road over Spring Break 3-1, but since then they’ve also lost to Sacred Heart 5-4, and then followed that up with a shocking 18-3 loss to Rhode Island. Tuesday’s home opener, however, was the most puzzling of all. UConn hosted Holy Cross at J.O. Christian Field, and the game had to be called after 16 innings due to darkness. The final score was 2-2, despite the fact that the Huskies stranded nine men on
base, and even had the bases loaded with one out in the ninth inning. The game could have easily been won at any point. But, as has been the case in many other games, the Huskies couldn’t get the big hit they needed. “We’re getting players on base, but we are not getting the hits when we need them,” Penders said after the game yesterday. “We just aren’t hitting in big spots so far.” Penders also complained that the team was hitting too many pop ups and weak grounders, and that Tuesday's game was pretty much a microcosm of the entire season. I’d like to hope that complacency isn’t an issue with this team, but it’s disheartening to see a team that has so much talent and potential flounder against inferior opponents. But it’s important to remember that despite the early season’s struggles, it’s not too late for the Huskies to turn things around. UConn opens its Big East schedule this weekend when Pittsburgh comes to town. Regardless of how the season has gone so far, a Big East championship will get the Huskies back into the tournament, no matter how wretched the team’s RPI winds up being. None of the team’s goals are out of reach yet. But the Huskies need to get their act together now, because starting this weekend, the games count for real. They have the talent, and they have the experience. All they need to do is buckle down and start playing for keeps. And if they don’t, then they may wind up becoming somebody elses cautionary tale. Follow Mac Cerullo on Twitter at @MacCerullo.
Michael.Cerullo@UConn.edu
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) Atlanta Braves minor-league manager Luis Salazar returned to camp Wednesday, two weeks after being struck in the face by a foul ball and losing his left eye. “I’m very fortunate to be alive,” Salazar said. “God gave me a second chance in this life, and I’m going to take advantage of it.” He hopes to join his Class A Lynchburg team in April near the start of the Carolina League season. Salazar was standing on the top step of the dugout when he was struck by Brian McCann’s line drive during the first inning of the game against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 9. He was knocked unconscious and airlifted to the hospital. Doctors could not save Salazar’s eye and it was removed on March 15. After a week in an Orlando hospital, he spent a week at his home in Boca Raton, Fla.
“I feel really good and this is a big day for me,” Salazar said after meeting with Braves players and staff. “I shook hands with all my friends.” McCann visited Salazar several times after the injury. “Brian McCann is a very sensitive kid and he was worried about my health,” Salazar said. “We talked for about three hours. I told him what happened could happen to anybody. I told him move on and forget the incident.” The 54-year-old Salazar said he’s probably two to three weeks away from resume his minorleague duties. “I’ll take it day by day,” he said. “But I’ll be fine.” Salazar, who played 13 years in the majors, is in his first year in the Braves organization. He was invited to camp early to familiarize himself with how the Braves run their major league camp and was helping out during exhibition games. Salazar doesn’t remember
AP
Braves minor league manager Luis Salazar, who had his left eye removed, answers questions.
much of what happened. At first, it was feared that he had stopped breathing. “Nothing is wrong with my brain,” Salazar said. “That is the greatest news that I heard.” The native of Venezuela said he appreciated the prayers and
well wishes of those in baseball and beyond. “I appreciate everyone who prayed for me,” Salazar said. “A lot of people care about me. In difficult times, that is when good friends show up. And that is what happened to me.”
Stypulkoski: The Western Conference is a complete mess, and it's anyone's guess how it will turn out in the playoffs
from THE NHL'S, page 14 spots. But if you think that’s bad, flip on over to the Western Conference and look at the shambles that half of the hockey world is in. Seven teams currently sit within seven points of the number four seed in the West, with six teams totaling somewhere between 88 and 85 points in the standings, and a three-way tie for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference. Yeah, the West is a mess. And as of right now, it’s anyone’s guess who might end up playing on into the middle and later stages of April as the postseason progresses. In fact, three teams in the entire league have mathematically clinched a playoff spot so far, and only Vancouver – the league’s best team this season – has clinched a division title. Also, only two teams, Colorado and Edmonton, have been mathematically eliminated from contention so far, although Ottawa will join that list with either a loss or a point picked up by Buffalo very shortly. Beyond that, several divisional races are still up for grabs. The Atlantic, Northeast and Pacific
are the most closely contested, as the leaders are no more than five points ahead of the remainder of the field. Outside of the races for the final playoff spots and the division titles, the battle for playoff seeding and home-ice advantage for at least the first round remains incredibly tight, especially in the Wild West, where the difference between the three and the eight spot in the standings currently sits at just seven points. Chicago, Anaheim and Dallas – the current seven through nine teams – have at least one game at hand on the remainder of the field in the conference. With all that said, the next few weeks – as entertaining as they should be – will likely pale in comparison with what all this chaos is setting up in the opening rounds of the playoffs. Like we see in every sport, teams that are forced to play their way into the postseason often enter the playoffs hot and already adjusted to the do-or-die mentality of late-season hockey, which can give them a leg up on teams that finish toward the top of the standings. Last year was a perfect example of this scenario, as the two teams from the
Eastern Conference who barely made the playoffs to begin with, Philadelphia and Montreal, both went on to successful postseason runs. The Canadiens, who weaseled their way into the eight seed just a year ago, managed to upset the leaguebest Washington Capitals in an exciting Game 7 after scrapping just to make the playoffs. Likewise, the eventual Eastern Conference champions from Philadelphia needed a final game shootout victory over the Rangers to beat them out for a playoff berth, and eventually made a George Mason-like run through the gauntlet all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. So this year, look for Cinderella – or Cinderellas – to emerge out of the playoff races and carry their momentum into the playoffs to pull off some upsets, and maybe even another deep run into April à la last season's Flyers, or the Richmonds and VCUs of this year’s NCAA tournament. March Madness is back, and this year in particular, it’s not discriminating by sport – it's everywhere.
Matthew.Stypulkoski@UConn.edu
The Daily Campus, Page 12
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Sports
» CLUB SPORTS
» THE MATCHUP vs.
3 2
UConn Huskies 28-9 overall, 9-9 Big East
San Diego St. Aztecs 34-2 overall, 14-2 MWC
RPI: 14, SOS: 7*
RPI: 3, SOS: 23*
* courtesy of realtimerpi.com
JIM ANDERSON/The Daily Campus
Alex Oriakhi takes a shot against Providence on Feb. 13.
Aztec frontcourt poses challenge for Huskies Courtesy of Meg Rondeau
The UConn women's club hockey team poses for a team picture this past season.
Women's club hockey team finishes year with impressive 10-2-1 mark
By Aaron Kasmanoff-Dick Campus Correspondent
One of the best opportunities for female UConn students seeking to get involved with a sport is the women’s ice hockey team. This club sport on campus is designed to provide students at UConn with the opportunity to compete at a very competitive, yet still subvarsity, level. The team played 13 games this year, finishing with a 10-2-1 record. One of the team’s only two losses this season was a 2-5 defeat by Rainy River Community College in the second round of the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s National Championship tournament in Kalamazoo, Mich. The team had tied West Chester University in the first round. The team went on to win its consolation game by a score of 2-0. This represented the team’s first appearance at the ACHA tournament, which only included six teams (three from the West Division and three from the East). Rainy River Community College, the opponent who bested UConn in the second round, went on to win the national championship game 8-1, their third national title in four years. UConn forward Anna Easty was named Second Team All-Tournament. The women’s club ice hockey team plays in the East Division of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. The team is a Division II team in the organization. The team finished third for points on the season with 21, behind
West Chester University and the University of Delaware, which tied for second with the California University of Pennsylvania. The team plays in a tough division, which includes such foes as the Vermont, Maine, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Miami, Virginia, Villanova, Fairfield and the U.S. Naval Academy. In the last ratings period, UConn was able to jump from fifth to third in order to secure an ACHA Tournament berth. The Team had four Academic All-Americans this season: Anna Easty, Courtney Northrop, Lisa Ruohoniemi and Claire Weiss. In addition, UConn was also honored with this year’s “Off-Ice Most Valuable Player Award,” which went to Jennifer Danowitz. Statistically, the team led the league in goals against average, with 1.30 by Dessi McEntee and 1.32 by Christina Kim. Erika Back led all UConn scorers with 11 goals on the season in 13 games played. Most of the players who finished above her played in 20 or more games. Additionally, the team was able to draw together and produce the school’s best season so far. The 2009-2010 season ended 6-6-1 for the Huskies. The team's success has helped build the club's reputation. With an ACHA tournament appearance in just the second season for head coach Virginia Maxwell, it appears that the club is headed in the right direction.
Aaron.Dick@UConn.edu
Blain: The way Pitt lost was almost incomprehensible from WHICH, page 14 to Butler back in December. ND was also the first Big East team to hand Pitt a loss, in late January. Pitt fell apart at the end of the game, but they weren’t a complete bust. Looking at how the games were played, ND played much further below expectations than Pitt did. Darryl: I think if a team is in position to win a game and blows it, that constitutes a bigger disappointment than when a team is down practically the whole time and loses. At least we know the team that was being outplayed in their game deserves to lose. Pitt quite literally handed Butler the game at the end, because two foul shots in a tied game with a second left is nothing short of that. As for the teams themselves, Pitt was the best team in the strongest conference, and a No. 1 seed, where ND was a lower seed both in the tournament and in the Big East. More experts, and even more of the
entire nation, had Pitt going further in the bracket, hence the larger disappointment. Pitt also returned Ashton Gibbs, Gary McGhee and Gilbert Brown, who are key players with tournament experience. The returning Notre Dame players were part of a team who dropped in the first round last year. Jimmy: I agree that the expectations were higher for Pitt than for Notre Dame, but they still lost to a better team. If Pitt had instead lost to Wisconsin, a No. 4 seed that beat Ohio State in the Sweet Sixteen last year, would they still have been a bust because many people had them going to the championship game? Neither team played at the caliber they did during the regular season, but the Irish were much farther off pace and out of rhythm than Pitt was. Pitt played a good game against Butler and lost. Looking at seeding, schedules and players, Pitt should have controlled the game against Butler. But, both teams came to play, and
with both teams making stupid mistakes fouling in the last five seconds, Butler ended up on top at the end. At no point in the Florida State game did ND look like a team that earned a doublebye in the Big East tournament. Darryl: ND may have never looked like the team they were later in their season in the matchup against Florida State, but that is my point. Their play was consistently poor throughout the game, while Pitt blew the game with stupid mistakes at the end. That just makes their second round exit that much more of a disappointment. Since ND just plain old got beat, you could maybe say that Florida State was just a good match for them. In Pitt’s case, you can’t even say that. All you have left to say is that all these experienced players, this coach of the year, this No. 1 seed, and this Big East powerhouse team all rolled into one lost to a team they were clearly better than and probably won’t make it much further. Now that’s disappointing.
from MAKE, page 14 Leonard is averaging a double-double on the year, with 15.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. In their marathon game against Temple, Leonard was the one to seal the game with a late steal and dunk. He had 16 points and 13 rebounds in that game. Beyond Leonard, the Huskies will have to contend with the Aztecs’ stable of forwards who are 6-foot-7 or taller. Needless to say, the play of Alex Oriakhi and the UConn frontcourt will be critical for the Huskies’ success. “Yeah, Alex is very important for this team. He’s been playing well as of late and when he’s enforcing his presence in the paint, it makes it hard for teams to beat us,” said Kemba Walker. “San Diego State rebounds the basketball very well. They are extremely athletic, and if Alex and the other bigs do a great job containing those guys on the rebounding I think we’ll be fine.” All in all, the Aztecs have four players averaging double-figures, along with two more who are averaging more than seven points per game. “I’ve seen them play three times, when they were on at 10 p.m. or something of that nature and watched them,” Calhoun said. “I guess the thing I’ve learned the most is just how good they are. They would be good wherever they are, Big East, Big 12, they’re just a really good basketball team.” A criticism of this San Diego State team has been that they’ve beat up on a weaker schedule, but the bottom line is that they have taken care of business against every team they’ve faced, except for one. The Aztecs have played BYU three times, and the first two times they could not overcome the excellence of Jimmer Fredette, who helped deal the Aztecs their only two losses of the season. But during their last meeting in the Mountain West Championship game, the Aztecs were able to take advantage of the void in the paint left by suspended BYU forward Brandon Davies, winning the Mountain West and earning the automatic berth. What we can learn from those games is that with great outside scoring and a steady presence in the paint, the San Diego State frontcourt can be beat. UConn’s formula for success in the postseason more-or-less aligns with that strategy, with Walker facilitating the offense, Oriakhi battling inside, and Jeremy Lamb, Shabazz Napier and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel providing support to keep the pressure off of Walker. And if nothing else, Fredette’s domination of San Diego State showed that one great player can beat them, something that Walker has proven he is more than capable of doing. “I definitely at times feel it,” Walker said. “For example, the Cincinnati game, we were slow in the first half and the second half. But I was able to bring a spark to the team and they just fed off me, and we were able to come out with the big win.” Tipoff in Anaheim is set for 7:15 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on CBS.
Michael.Cerullo@UConn.edu
When: March 24, 7:15 p.m. Where: Anaheim, Calif. TV: CBS The Lead: Having now won their last seven games, the Huskies take to the road to face an intimidating San Diego State team only an hour from the Aztec campus. The Aztecs have also only lost two games all year.
» HUSKY TRACK Team Stats
UConn
SDST
Avg. off. PPG
73.5
72.0
Avg. def. PPG
65.8
58.8
Field goal %
.434
.464
3-pt. FG %
.334
.350
Free throw %
.760
.702
Rebounds/gm
39.7
37.8
Opp. Reb./gm
34.9
30.9
Steals/gm
6.5
6.2
Blocks/gm
5.6
4.7
Assist/TO rate
1.1
1.2
UConn Kemba Walker Jeremy Lamb Alex Oriakhi Shabazz Napier Roscoe Smith J. Coombs-McDaniel Charles Okwandu Niels Giffey
GP PPG 37 23.6 37 10.5 37 9.8 37 8.1 37 6.6 37 6.2 37 3.0 37 2.3
RPG 5.4 4.4 8.7 2.3 5.1 2.7 2.8 1.3
APG 4.5 1.6 0.3 3.0 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.5
SDST Kawhi Leonard Malcolm Thomas D.J. Gay Billy White Chase Tapley James Rahon Brian Carlwell Jamaal Franklin
GP PPG 35 15.6 36 11.4 36 11.0 35 10.1 33 8.7 36 7.1 36 3.8 21 3.0
RPG 10.6 8.1 2.1 4.4 2.4 1.6 2.7 1.9
APG 2.5 2.3 3.2 1.6 1.9 0.8 0.2 0.4
UCONN RECENT RESULTS 3/19 vs. Cincinnati W 68-59 NCAA Third Round 3/17 vs. Bucknell W 81-51 NCAA Second Round
SDST RECENT RESULTS 3/19 vs. Temple W 71-64 (2OT) NCAA Third Round 3/17 vs. No. Colorado W 68-50 NCAA Second Round
TWO Thursday, March 24, 2011
PAGE 2
What's Next
Home game
Away game Gampel Pavilion, XL Center
Men’s Basketball (28-9) (9-9)
The Daily Campus, Page 13
Sports
The Daily Question is winning more, the UConn basketball teams or Charlie Q : “Who Sheen?” A : “They’re bi-winning.” —Drew Bligh, 6th–semester biomedical engineering major
» That’s what he said
Today San Diego St., NCAA Tournament 7:15 p.m.
Jim Calhoun.
AP
» Pic of the day
Sunday Georgetown, NCAA Tournament TBA
Baseball (8-9) (0-0) Tomorrow Pittsburgh 3 p.m.
March 26 Pittsburgh 1 p.m.
March 27 Pittsburgh 12 p.m.
March 29 Hartford 3 p.m.
April 1 St. John’s 3 p.m.
Softball (10-11) (0-0)
April 8 Syracuse 4 p.m.
April 16 Notre Dame Noon
Men’s Track and Field April 2 LSU Invitational All Day
April 6 Texas Relays All Day
Women’s Track and Field AP
Tomorrow Yellow Jacket Invitational All Day
March 26 Dick Shea Open All Day
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Golf April 9 New England’s All Day
April 10 New England’s All Day
Men’s Tennis March 26 March 31 Georgetown Marist 11 a.m. 3:30 p.m.
April 3 St. John’s 12 p.m.
April 10 April 12 St. Francis Boston Coll. 10 a.m. 3 p.m.
Women’s Tennis March 26 March 30 April 6 Georgetown Providence St. John’s 11 a.m. 3 p.m. 2:30 p.m.
April 8 Marquette 12 p.m.
Kyle Bailey balances one basketball on another during practice before the team’s Sweet Sixteen matchup.
April 10 West Virginia 10 a.m.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—A key government witness in the Barry Bonds perjury trial testified Wednesday that he saw the home run king’s personal trainer leave Bonds’ bedroom at spring training with a syringe in 2000. Steve Hoskins said that when he saw Bonds and his personal trainer, Greg Anderson, coming out of the master bedroom he assumed Anderson had injected the star player with steroids. He testified that he saw the two disappear into that room “once or twice” at each spring training over three consecutive years beginning in 2000. He also told the jury of eight women and four men that, a year earlier, Bonds had ordered him to research the benefits and side effects of a steroid after the slugger had undergone elbow surgery. Hoskins was a childhood friend of Bonds’ and traveled with him as an assistant until 2003. Hoskins testified that Bonds’ significant weight gain concerned him so much that he secretly recorded a conversation with Anderson about steroids so he could convince Bonds’ father, Bobby Bonds, that his son was using the drugs. Bobby Bonds, a former baseball star himself, was suffering from cancer in 2003. Hoskins said he made the recording in front of Barry Bonds’ locker in March of that year “to show Bobby actually what really was going on.”
» WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
The DC chats with Donyell Marshall
By Matt McDonough Associate Sports Editor
Today NCAA Championships All Day
March 27 FAU Spring Break All Day
Auriemma asks Hathaway not to bid on tournament games
Witness: I saw Bonds and trainer with a syringe
Lacrosse (5-2) (0-1)
Tomorrow March 26 FAU Spring FAU Spring Break Break All Day All Day
» UCONN
» MLB
Tomorrow March 26 March 26 March 27 March 30 Quinnipiac Georgetown Georgetown Georgetown Boston U. 3:30 p.m. Noon 2 p.m. 11 a.m. 4 p.m.
March 27 April 1 Tomorrow St. Georgetown Canisius Bonaventure 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 12 p.m.
Email your answers, along with your name, semester standing and major, to sports@dailycampus.com. The best answer will appear in the next paper.
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut fans may have seen their last NCAA tournament game in Storrs for a while. Coach Geno Auriemma, disappointed that fewer than 6,000 fans showed up at the 10,000seat Gampel Pavilion for UConn’s second-round win over Purdue on Tuesday, said he will ask athletic director Jeff Hathaway not to bid on hosting the tournament for the next five years. Auriemma said asking fans to attend a regular season, Big East tournament and first two rounds of the NCAA tournament in Connecticut is a lot. He joked that it might help if UConn won more games. The team has lost one game in the last three seasons. “I think we have a real spoiled group of fans,” Auriemma said. Pat McKenna, a spokesman for the team, said Wednesday that Auriemma was serious about asking not to host the tournament, but has not yet spoken to Hathaway.
Bailey the ball handler
Women’s Basketball (34-1) (16-0)
“Who’s on first?”
The Daily Roundup
“To state the obvious, we’re very happy to be here.” – UConn men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun on the team’s Sweet Sixteen matchup against San Diego State.
Next Paper’s Question:
Donyell Marshall was one of the more important players in the UConn men’s basketball team’s history. Arriving in Storrs in 1991, with mostly banner-barren walls at the new Gampel Pavilion, Marshall helped pave the way for the championship and NBA-caliber teams of the late 1990s. Marshall played three seasons for the Huskies, from 1991-1994, and was the first UConn player in history to declare for the draft early. In his final season, he was the unanimous Big East Player of the Year, guiding the Huskies to a Sweet 16 berth. In his freshman season, UConn made the second round of the NCAA tournament. Marshall was drafted fourth overall by Minnesota in 1994. He was sent to the AllRookie second team for his efforts with the Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors that season. Marshall also played for the Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Seattle Supersonics and Philadelphia 76ers in his 15-year professional career. Notable teammates from his college days included Kevin Ollie and Ray Allen. He is on the wall at Gampel Pavilion as a member of “Huskies of Honor.” Marshall earned his degree from UConn in 2010, and after a brief television career with Comcast Sportsnet, joined Karl Hobbs’ staff at George Washington. DC: How was your first year as an assistant coach at George Washington? Marshall: “It was good, it was good. I learned a lot. Obviously, with coach [Karl]
Hobbs being an ex-Connecticut player as well as a Connecticut coach, it was good to be on his staff and learn the Calhoun ways and stuff. We had a lot of fun.” DC: With Kevin Ollie coaching his first year, did you guys talk at all and give each other advice? Marshall: “We talk pretty often. We played together at UConn, obviously, retiring at the same time, so we talk and give each other a little bit of insight and make sure we’re there for each other when we need somebody to talk to.” DC: What’s the transition like, going from playing in the NBA for over a decade to coming back to college and coaching? Marshall: “Well, you’ve got to realize, towards the end of your career, the way my career ended and Kevin Ollie’s career ended, we weren’t playing a lot towards the end of our career, so you start getting in the coaching mode, because you start coaching the younger players. And that’s what we were able to do, and you start transforming it over to that permanent position.” DC: The UConn basketball program wasn’t well-accomplished when you played here. What’s it like for you and the other guys coming back and seeing coach Jim Calhoun and the Huskies now with three Final Four berths and two national championships? Marshall: “It’s great, because we’re always going to be a Husky no matter what. We helped build this program. We’re always going to root for them. And when the Huskies go to the Final Four, whether we’re on the team or not, we still feel like we’re part of the team and that’s the way Coach has brought us all together. If
AP
Donyell Marshall at UConn during the 1994 season.
you look when he has his charity games in the summertime, how many players come back, and that’s because we’re a family.” DC: You were the first to leave UConn early. Talk about seeing all the other UConn players going to the NBA after you were the first to have that opportunity. And if Kemba Walker leaves, what type of NBA player is he going to be? Marshall: He’s going to be a very good NBA player. He has the talent. A lot of people question his size, but he has the heart. He can finish over big guys. And as far as guys leaving early, it’s always good to know that you started something. So, it’s always a good feeling.”
Matthew.McDonough@UConn.edu
» INSIDE SPORTS TODAY P.13: The DC chats with Donyell Marshall. / P.12: Women’s club hockey has strong year. / P.11: Salazar returns to the diamond after losing eye.
Page 14
Thursday, March 24, 2011
www.dailycampus.com
MAKE A SAN DIEGO STATEMENT
Don’t buy into the hype
Huskies face No. 2 San Diego State in Sweet Sixteen By Mac Cerullo Sports Editor
Mac Cerullo Before the season began, coach Jim Penders sat down with his players on the baseball team and read them a newspaper article. The article predicted that the team would explode onto the national scene after last season’s breakout year, saying that the Huskies looked like a team that could potentially reach the College World Series. With a returning roster loaded with talent and MLB prospects, along with a Top10 Preseason ranking in the Baseball America polls, nothing in the article seemed exaggerated or unreasonable. Except for one detail: the article wasn’t actually about UConn. It was an article written about Ohio State before last season, and Penders went through it and replaced every reference to Ohio State with a reference to UConn, and every reference to one of Ohio State’s star players with a reference to George Springer or Matt Barnes.
The Huskies appear to be peaking at the right time. But as the team heads out to Anaheim, they will be tested in a whole new way as they face a great San Diego State team in their own backyard. No. 2 San Diego State (34-2, 14-2) has taken care of business against nearly everyone they’ve faced so far, but in the last round they were pushed to the limit by No. 7 Temple. The Aztecs outlasted the Owls in doubleovertime by a score of 28-9, 9-9 71-64, however, and now will have the luxury of facing UConn in their own backyard. The game will be played in Anaheim, Calif., only an hour from the San Diego State campus. 34-2, 14-2 “The first time we got Tonight, 7:15 to the Final Four was in ‘99, against Gonzaga p.m., CBS in Phoenix, and I swear Anaheim, Calif. to God if there were 18,000 in the building, 17,500 were rooting for Gonzaga, so we’ve been exposed to that before,” said coach Jim Calhoun at his press conference yesterday. “I don’t know that it hurts you. I always think it helps the other team, though, if they get down a little bit, it helps the other team.” A potentially hostile crowd won’t be the only obstacle the No. 3 seeded Huskies will have to overcome. San Diego State has a huge and deep frontcourt, led by Kawhi Leonard, who is considered by many to be one of the most underrated great players in the nation.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
VS.
» CERULLO, page 11
The NHL’s March Madness JIM ANDERSON/The Daily Campus
By Matt Stypulkoski NHL Columnist
Kemba Walker drives to the basket during UConn’s Feb. 24 game against Marquette. The Huskies went on to lose the game 74-67 in overtime.
» AZTEC, page 12
Todman, Wilson shine at Pro Day
Though the phrase “March Madness” is most commonly used to describe college basketball during this particular time of the year, the term seems to transcend the sport and permeate many other aspects of life in this country. From recent political standoffs to ridiculous weather patterns to NFL lockouts, March Madness has spread like wildfire in 2011, blazing through the American landscape and seemingly leaving no aspect of life untouched. The NHL’s frantic playoff races this month are certainly no exception to this rule, as the mad dash for the post-season has been raging on for several weeks now and will continue over the final 12 days remaining in the 2011 campaign. As of Wednesday afternoon, the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff picture remains in question, with four teams desperately fighting it out for the final two playoff
By Willy Penfield Staff Writer Twenty-five NFL scouts and coaches were on hand at UConn football’s Pro Day yesterday to watch the workouts of UConn’s 10 NFL prospects. Teams represented at Pro Day included the New England Patriots, New York Jets, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints, to name a few. The day began with measurements and weigh-ins in the training room at the Shenkman Training Center on campus before shifting to the weight room. Four of the 10 prospects participated in the bench press portion of the workout, with fullback Brett Manning being the most impressive, putting up 225 pounds 35 times, with offensive lineman Zach Hurd in second
» STYPULKOSKI, page 11
with 25 reps. Then came the ver- ple that I talked to and from my tical jump, where Manning also agent that I did well enough at the came out on top with a 34.5- Combine, so I didn’t have to do my inch vertical jump, followed by numbers again,” Sherman said. linebacker Greg Robinson with a Sherman and Todman are the 33-inch vertical. two likely UConn prospect’s The focus then shifted to the to go highest in the NFL Draft field for running and position come April, with the buzz around drills. Linebacker Lawrence Pro Day among NFL scouts that Wilson posted the Sherman is the best of fastest 40-time with the bunch. 4.5 seconds, fol“I haven’t heard too lowed by quartermuch, just that I have back Zach Frazer and had good workouts Robinson, each with and impressed some times of 4.7 seconds. people,” Sherman said. Top prospects Jordan Notebook “I’ve heard different Todman, who was rounds, but it doesn’t followed around by really mean anything NFL filmmakers the whole day because the guys making those for a player profile, and Anthony assessments don’t know much Sherman didn’t participate in about what the teams want to do.” weight lifting or running, as they Todman, who impressed at the were happy with the times posted NFL Combine with a 4.4-second at the NFL Combine a couple 40-time and 38-inch vertical, used weeks ago. Pro Day to show off his route run“It was on advice from peo- ning and catching abilities.
FOOTBALL
“At the Combine you run the 40 and do some drills, but here I can show scouts what I can do in the passing game,” Todman said. “It is another opportunity to show scouts what I can do.” Todman was able to get some advice from former Husky-turnedIndianapolis Colt, Donald Brown, a couple of days ago in California before a golf tournament. “Me and Donald went out to breakfast the other day,” Todman said. “We talked football, talked about memories. He told me to continue to work hard, the business part, to make the right decisions and to stay humble. It was good to learn some stuff from him.” Despite having many critics in the past, Frazer was particularly happy with his workout, participating in the vertical and broad jump as well as the timed running and throwing drills. “I think I did well,” Frazer said.
“I felt good throwing the ball. I felt like my releases were going well. It’s tough when you don’t have any wide outs to throw to here but spot throwing is just as great.” “I know I proved myself and I know I am capable of playing at the next level,” he added. Linebacker Scott Lutrus was able to fully participate in the bench press and linebacker drills, despite having nine screws and a metal plate in his hand. “It went well,” Lutrus said. “I wanted to do a little better on the bench, but I’m still overcoming my hand injury. I just went out there and did the best I could, gave it all I had. No complaints. No excuses. Just did the best I could.” These 10 Huskies will look on anxiously April 28 through 30 in hopes of their names being called so they can live out their dream of playing in the NFL.
William.Penfield@UConn.edu
Which Big East team was the bigger disappointment? Pittsburgh
By Darryl Blain Campus Correspondent The Pittsburgh Panthers were an easy choice for the Final Four for a lot of people filling out their brackets this year, especially with such a resume that boasts a 15-3 Big East record (conference best) and tons of experience. All of that means nothing now that they lost on an inexplicable play against a Butler team that they were, quite frankly, better than in the second round last weekend. The costly error will not soon be forgotten by the Pitt faithful, or the amateur bracketologists out there whose predictions were absolutely ruined by it. The Pitt Panthers choked epically ...
AP
Darryl.Blain@UConn.edu
» POINT/COUNTERPOINT
Jimmy Onofrio: Take a look at the teams ND and Pitt lost to. Butler went all the way to the championship game last year and returned its star Matt Howard. Brad Stevens has experience coaching a Cinderella at this point and Butler is a veteran of all the drama of March Madness. Florida State hasn’t made it past the first round since 1998. They have no star player to compete with a Ben Hansbrough. Notre Dame should have been able to handle this team easily. Darryl Blain: If you want to talk about Butler being a formidable opponent for Pitt, you can’t talk about Butler like they are the same team from last year. They have lost their best player from the championship run of last year: Gordon Hayward. Also, you have to not only look at who they lost to, but how they lost.
Pitt committed a foul with Butler in the bonus on the other side of the court with practically no time left, and right after Butler just made the same mistake, which is beyond inexcusable. ND lost to a Florida State team that handed Duke their first loss of the season earlier in the year and beat nationally ranked Texas A&M in the first round. What they have done in previous years means nothing for this year. Jimmy: I think how they lost makes an even stronger argument for the Irish being a bust. Florida State dominated that game from early on, leading by 11 at the half. Butler did lead for much of their game too, but Pitt came back and only lost to a classic tournament buzzer shot. Yes, they beat Duke in Tallahassee, but they also lost
» BLAIN, page 12
Notre Dame
By Jimmy Onofrio Campus Correspondent
This year’s Big East Conference was supposedly the most dominant in years, sending 11 teams to the Big Dance. With at least eight teams in the top 25 most of the season, many were expecting the NCAA Tournament to be a show of Big East prowess. Yet only two teams survived to the Sweet 16. Notre Dame was by far the biggest conference bust this year, getting completely dominated by the inexperienced and less talented Florida State.
James.Onofrio@UConn.edu
... but Notre Dame wasn’t even close.
AP