www.dailycampus.com
Monday, December 9, 2013
Volume CXX No. 62
NEWS: A snapshot of the semester.........................................2 COMMENTARY: Biggest stories of 2013...............................................4 FOCUS: Fuel-up food for finals...........................................................6 SPORTS: Husky highlights of the fall .................. 16
» ALSO INSIDE THE FINALS EDITION:
» BONUS
» GAMES AND COMICS A whole two pages of sudoku puzzles, crosswords and comics to keep you entertained while you’re not studying this week. see pages
6&7
» INDEX
InstantDaily goes extralong for all your finals gripes. Were you witty enough to make it in? see page
4
Focus Commentary Sports Comics Games
3 4 5 6 7
Tips on how to maximize learning The Daily Campus, Page 2
By Kathleen McWilliams Senior Staff Writer
The best way to study for finals isn’t by cramming or constantly reviewing notes studies show but by deeply processing the information, according to a University of Connecticut professor. According to UConn psychology professor and associate department head, Etan Markus, the method called depth of processing works best for studying. “You remembered information better if you process something. If you read something over and over it doesn’t do much good,” Markus said. Depth of processing can be achieved by processing the information in more thorough ways, such as discussing it with others, writing it down in a different manner, writing a summary of the information or doing questions at the end of the chapter. “That’s why so many professors use discussion in class, it gets you to think in different ways,” Markus said. This strategy however, doesn’t necessarily mean students will have to spend more time learning. “People think the amount of time they spend is correlated to how much they learn,” Markus said. “You really just need to process it deeply.”
According to Markus, compared to attempting in-depth processing of information, cramming is the worst possible option for optimal performance. “Studies show cramming doesn’t help long term learning,” Markus said. Markus also discussed how students should have spent the entire semester taking in information and learning it throughout the time before finals. He called this method “space learning.” Its opposite, cramming or “mass learning,” is not nearly as effective. Markus also said that other strategies might come as a surprise to students, particularly the influence of sleep. “After you study information gets processed while you sleep,” Markus said. “It doesn’t even have to be a full night, it can be just a nap.” While a nap might be good enough to process some information, Markus advised to go to sleep relatively quickly after studying, saying that studying and then watching a movie before bed would nullify the effect of sleep. Additionally, Markus advised that a nap might help short term with studying, but that a full night’s sleep prior to the exam and eating breakfast, even if it is small, is essential to exam per-
Natalia Pylypyszyn/The Daily Campus
Books for cloasses are piled high. Learning how to study effectively is the key to doing well on final exams.
formance. “You want to go fresh and full of energy to the exam. Studies show that low blood sugar decreases exam performance,” Markus said. As for the studying environment most productive for learn-
ing, Markus advises to avoid social settings and other distractions. “My recommendation is if you are studying for an exam go somewhere you can’t be found. Turn your cell phone off and disconnect your wireless if you have
ing them: throughout finals week, UConn offices are dealing with minute but important details, such as making sure there are scantron sheets available at every final exam where they are needed. According to university officials, planning starts very early on. The Center for Students with Disabilities treats final exam planning as a “year-round, complex process,” said Bryanna Anderson, CSD’s program coordinator. She noted that CSD “work[s] with Central Stores, Student Affairs… and registrars,” among others, and emphasized the value of “teamwork and communication” in CSD’s preparation for finals. CSD’s main responsibility in the context of final exams is to administer exams to students who require special accommodations in order to perform their best. However, “for each student that sets up an exam,” Anderson says,
“there is a multi-step process that involves communications with the student and faculty member.” Students who require accommodations for final exams are encouraged to be proactive and communicate their needs to CSD as early as possible. Another player in the final exam process is UConn’s Office for Student Services and Advocacy, or OSSA. OSSA’s main role in the finals process is overseeing student requests to alleviate scheduling conflicts, including bunched finals. OSSA attempts to ensure that the university community is aware of rescheduling policy, including making faculty aware of the policy and encouraging its inclusion in class syllabi. Other mechanisms for making students aware of finals scheduling policies include “the Daily Digest, banners in
Seventy percent of college students have admitted to procrastinating within the academic year and 50 percent do so routinely, according to Katrin B. Klingsiek, psychology professor at the University of Paderborn in Germany. However, the consequences are not always favorable for those who wait. Klingsiek’s overview of psychological studies published in 2012, “Procrastination: Good Things Don’t Come to Those Who Wait,” said that procrastination has a negative correlation to health, financial status, academic performance and overall well-being. Lindsay Darcy, an academic advisor to student-athletes at the University of Connecticut, said
» REGISTRAR, page 4
» PROCRASTINATION page 3
to use a laptop,” Markus said. Markus added that groups of a few individuals can promote good study habits because the small group will help everyone keep focus and stay on track.
Kathleen McWilliams@UConn.edu
Pieces of the puzzle: Campus Studying offices work together for finals week under pressure
By Eleanor Hudd Campus Correspondent
MIC JOHNSON/The Daily Campus
Monday, December 9, 2013
Finals Edition
Finals week, and the weeks leading up to it, can be a stressful time for students. Between organizing notes, finding places to study and pulling longer hours to maximize success, students often find themselves with more factors to balance in a shorter time frame. The university, however, must also balance a large variety of factors in administering finals to over 20,000 students in a myriad of class formats and subject matters. Administering final exams is a complex and collaborative effort that requires extensive communication and cooperation both within and between UConn’s offices. The details necessary to administer any one final exam are coordinated by UConn’s administrative offices. The process doesn’t stop at scheduling the finals and administer-
By Abby Mace Staff Writer
Kim L. Wilson, Editor-in-Chief Tyler R. Morrissey, Managing Editor Sarah Kennedy, Business Manager/Advertising Director Nancy Depathy, Financial Manager Front Desk/Business: Fax: Editor-In-Chief/Commentary: Managing Editor/Photo: News/Sports: Focus/Online:
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Monday, December 9, 2013 Designers: Daily Campus Editors Copy Editors: Daily Campus Staff
James Onofrio, Associate Managing Editor Katherine Tibedo, News Editor Jackie Wattles, Associate News Editor Kayvon Ghoreshi, Commentary Editor Jesse Rifkin, Associate Commentary Editor Kim Halpin, Focus Editor Jason Wong, Associate Focus Editor Matt Silber, Comics Editor
Tim Fontenault, Sports Editor Matt Stypulkoski, Associate Sports Editor Jessica Aurore Condon, Photo Editor Jon Kulakofsky, Associate Photo Editor Danielle Bachar, Marketing Manager Lindsay Garant, Graphics Manager Matthew Velasquez, Circulation Manager Brian Kavanagh, Online Marketing Manager
Services combating stress during finals
Monday, December 9, 2013
Several offices on campus offer ways for students to reduce stress during this busy time of year Final Week Resources Academic Achievement Center: Rowe Center for Undergraduate Education Second Floor (860)486-3378
Free service to help student achieve academic success. Provides help with: study sills, note taking techniques, time management, goal setting, stress management, procrastination and exam preparations. Offers stress management workshops twice a week.
Provides prevention, harm reduction and public Health Education Center health promotion services to UConn community South Campus, Wilson Hall, 125 Free relaxation center
Counseling & Mental Health Services Top floor of Arjona (860)486-4705
Recreation Center
The Daily Campus, Page 3
Finals Edition
Mental health professions are available to students in multiple settings Works to help students identify and address concerns before they developed into the more serious problems
Exercise has been shown to help with stress and concentration, the gym offers everything from treadmills to swimming to racket ball to indoor rock climbing.
By Julia Werth Campus Correspondent Feeling stressed and anxious during finals week is inevitable for most students, but many, with the help of several UConn services, have developed reliable methods to calm down before the big exams. The Academic Achievement Center (AAC), located on the second floor of the Rowe Center for Undergraduate Education, offers stress management workshops twice during the semester in order to equip students with the information they need in order to stay calm during finals. Christen Orticari, 2013 UConn Graduate in speech, language and hearing sciences who works in the AAC, said that they advise students to become “very conscious of things that increase their stress level that they may not be aware of.” Coffee, for instance, actually increases a person’s stress level and can be detrimental to success on exams. Orticari suggested that students “don’t drink coffee during exams” because the stress and anxiety that may result can prevent essential recall of studied material. Mike Atamanuk, a 5th-semester accounting major who also works in the AAC, recommends “breaking things down to more manageable chunks.” When students come to the AAC for help with stress management they are given a Finals Planning Grid. The grid provides a place for students to list the daily goals they need to achieve in order to prepare for their finals. Atamanuk said instead of simply knowing that you need
to study for four hours for an exam - which may sound daunting - writing specific tasks out can help students focus their studying and feel more accomplished when tasks are completed. Atamanuk also emphasized the importance of relaxation, snacks, and exercise. He said that it is important to “exercise or take a break in between hours of studying.” In the long run, taking one hour off to go for a jog or do yoga will make the time you do spend more productive as well as alleviate built up stress. The Health Education Center on campus is another resource available for students who are feeling overwhelmed by their coming exams. Students can utilize the many massaging chairs and back rests in the Health Education Center’s relaxation station as a way of calming down or taking a break during the week. The Health Education Center also provides MP3 files on their website that will take students through breathing exercises that can significantly increase focus or help calm your nerves. Other students find that just a few minutes of distraction is the key to a stress free week. “Honestly, I cope with stress by having a dance party in my dorm room,” said 1st- semester ACES student Alyssa Jones. Overall, the keys to minimizing your stress during finals week are realistic planning, limiting caffeine consumption, and taking mental and physical breaks to calm down during those long hours with the books.
Julia.Werth@UConn.edu
Procrastination does more harm than good
from WORKING, page 2
that procrastination often compromises the academic efforts of student-athletes. “(Procrastination) often causes more stress, and this stress itself can impact academic performance,” Darcy said. “Procrastination culminates in work that is not the student’s best.” Another effect of procrastination is plagiarism, Darcy said, as students are more likely to seek ideas from their peers to get a jumpstart on assignments such as essays. Though they may not realize it, these students often use some of their peers’ ideas in their essays, and borrowing other’s ideas without citing the source of the information is a form of plagiarism. Although the source of procrastination is not as clear-cut as its effects, Klingsiek said the source of students’ procrastination can range from a lack of motivation to self-regulation and self-control to poor time management and time orientation skills. However, procrastination has no correlation with intelligence, Klingsiek said, and it is also immune to all personality types - even those that embody perfectionism. Julie Fenster, Ph.D., assistant director of UConn’s psychological services clinic and a licensed clinical psychologist, said that those with Type A personalities are also more likely to procrastinate. The perfectionist nature of
Type A students creates anxiety which can cause them to be overwhelmed by the amount of work they have to do to reach their lofty goals, she said. “Type A students want to be perfect, they want to get that A+,” Fenster said. “But they put so much pressure on themselves that (the workload) becomes scary.” Stressed out students tend to have negative moods, which means they are more likely to resent completing a particular task. While Type B students are still susceptible to procrastination, they are less likely to do so because they are overwhelmed by their workloads, Fenster said. Yet some question whether pressure can enhance students’ performance. According to Klingstiek, in certain instances waiting until the last minute may not compromise performance. This technique, known as strategic delay, is different from procrastination in that the positive consequences outweigh the negative ones in the long term. Procrastination, on the other hand, is an unnecessary and harmful act with only negative consequences, Klingsiek said. Klingsiek said the procrastinator is able to acknowledge these negative consequences but still makes the conscious decision to procrastinate in order to enjoy activities that offer immediate pleasure but lack the long-term benefits of more arduous activities such as studying. However, Fenster said most
Mic Johnson/The Daily Campus
A stressed student studies in the library. Procrastination has been shown to more harm than good, incluuding raising stress levels.
students benefit from utilizing time-management strategies. She said she advises clients to break down their assignments by setting goals to accomplish small amounts of work at a time. One method Fenster uses is the 15 minute rule: she sets a timer for 15 minutes and works until the timer runs out. If she is focused, she’ll set the timer for another 15 minutes, but if she’s having trouble concentrating, she’ll take a break. The purpose of the timed increments, she said, is to break the task down into
smaller portions to make it seem less daunting. “I also like to use breaks as a reward for getting work done,” Fenster said. “I’ll tell myself that if I write for half an hour, I’ll get a ten minute break.” She said the promise of the break serves as an incentive to focus on her work. In advising student athletes, Darcy recommends the use of planners or online calendars with alert systems. She tells studentathletes to have a specific day to review upcoming assignments and exams, as well as athletic
practices and competitions, and schedule adequate time to plan for these events. Perhaps procrastination is best combated by a healthy lifestyle. Fenster said that adequate sleep, nutrition and exercise are all vital to performing at one’s best when it comes time for finals week. “If you don’t feel good about yourself,” Fenster said, “how are you going to feel good about your work?”
Abigail.Mace@UConn.edu
A snapshot of the semester Monday, December 9, 2013
Finals Edition
The Daily Campus, Page 4
Registrar leads finals from PIECES, page 2
the Student Union, bus posters in the campus busses, social media, announcements on HuskyCT, and plasma screens around campus,” said Karen Bresciano, the associate director of OSSA. The Office of the Registrar has the largest role in administering finals. The office is responsible for scheduling all student final exams and is in charge of making faculty aware of details regarding planning and administering the finals. In a letter to the faculty, university registrar Lauren DiGrazia emphasized
the importance of submitting their grades by the registrar’s deadline, as “grades submitted after the deadline cause problems” that include “delay of graduation, incorrect dismissal, and loss of financial aid.” While final exams can be a stressful time, the UConn community holds events aimed at alleviating that stress. CSD holds an event called Snacks on the Table, which provides students with a quiet study space where a different snack is provided every hour. This event will be held on Sunday, December 8, from 2 to 10p.m.
Eleanor.Hudd@UConn.edu
» RESEARCH
Prison nurses’ mental health researched By Marissa Piccolo Campus Correspondent Patrick Gosselin/The Daily Campus
Students hold a rally on Fairfield Way in support of the Title IX complainants.
Alex Sferrazza/The Daily Campus
Jonathan carves a UConn ice sculpture on Fairfield for the university’s holiday greeting.
Marissa.Piccol@UConn.edu
What’s on at UConn this week...
Jon Kulakofsky/The Daily Campus
Shabazz during a men’s basketball game at Gampel.
Just over two weeks ago, twenty teams of UConn students and professors were announced as Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts Research Experience – or SHARE - award recipients for the Spring 2014 semester. The grant supports undergraduate research and apprenticeships. Alyssa Zabin, a 3rd-semester psychology and sociology major, is one of the grant recipients. She said she is excited to pursue an interdisciplinary project with Denise Panosky of the School of Nursing and study in the arena of public health. The project, titled “Social Challenges for Correctional Nurses Delivering Healthcare,” will look at stress levels of nurses who work in correctional facilities, commonly known as prisons. This is an area that is associated with the mental health field and likewise carries a very heavy stigma. Zabin and Panosky will administer a stress index tool to measure nurses’ stress levels before and after they participate in a focus group. Socialization of nurses, through focus groups, has been promising as a way to reduce stress. Yet Zabin said this research will take a step further, by also looking at external factors and asking social questions in relation to stress of correctional nurses. With Zabin’s background
in sociology, she will facilitate the focus groups, study how they interact, include questions on the stress index test that address sociological issues and analyze and evaluate this secondary data. Zabin plans to spend time over the winter recess to review research literature in the area in preparation for the spring. Zabin became involved in this project after hearing that UConn’s Correctional Managed Health Care Division was looking for researchers, and said she was immediately was interested due to the public health component. The center, established in 1997, works with Connecticut’s Department of Corrections, which provides health services to inmates directly throughout 16 correctional facilities statewide and at 42 halfway houses. With the SHARE grant coming up, Zabin believed it would be a great opportunity to get started with the project. Teaming with Panosky, who is researching a similar topic, would allow both to contribute substantial research in the area while also pursuing their own academic interests. The research will provide realworld solutions for nurses in the challenging field of correctional healthcare. If we do not take a step back and address the toll this takes on nurses, Zabin believes “we are going to end up with a much problem.”
Jess Condon/The Daily Campus
Seth Meyers preforms at Jorgenson.
UConn Empower hosts USplash, the largest water balloon fight in New England.
Therapy Dogs Visit the UConn Rainbow Center Monday, 12 to 2 p.m., Student Union 403 Game Night Tuesday, 6 to 8 p.m., McMahon, International Center Jazz at Lu’s Cafe Thursday, 7 to 11 p.m., Family Studies, Lu’s Cafe
Sabrina Herrera/The Daily Campus
The Graduate School Holiday Social Friday, 3 to 5 p.m. Whettten Graduate Center, 2nd floor lobby CSA All School Studio Recital: Group Suzuki Saturday, 4:30 to 6 p.m. von der Mehden Winter Break Monday, Dec. 16 to Monday, Jan. 20
Page 5
The Daily Campus
Monday, December 9, 2013
Finals Edition
Editorial Board Kimberly Wilson, Editor in Chief Kayvon Ghoreshi, Commentary Editor Jesse Rifkin, Associate Commentary Editor Kristi Allen, Weekly Columnist Omar Allam, Weekly Columnist Victoria Kallsen, Weekly Columnist
Julian calender gives UConn students five weeks off
I
t’s a rare day that a college newspaper thanks a Pope for doing much of anything, but today, we recognize the great Pope Gregory XIII in his efforts to reform the previous Julian calendar. This resulted in the wonderful and properly named Gregorian calendar that provided the generous five weeks off for UConn students this coming winter break. For this glorious, more than one-month-long time of rest and relaxation, UConn students will now be granted the opportunity to shirk responsibilities and grades in the pursuit of frolicking snow times, cookies and sleep. Instead of hours staring at textbooks with eyes glazed over, the wandering attention span of many a Husky will be spent binge watching Netflix, spending time with friends and trying to be a human being again. While research says that the Gregorian calendar replaced the Julian calendar in 1582 due to move up the Easter holiday, everyone knows that the true reason for this reform was the eventual perfect alignment of a winter break at UConn so glorious that students would weep when they heard of the news. Besides, because it took a resounding five centuries for the majority of churches to accept the modification in such a way that they all could celebrate Easter at the same time, it’s obvious that was a cover story. Imagine if the calendar worked in such a way that only four weeks existed from the time finals ended to Martin Luther King Day? Studies have shown that this meager offering only allows for one viewing of four and a half seasons of “Breaking Bad,” when multiple viewings would improve the experience. Indeed, five weeks of break would foster better sleeping patterns (to later be destroyed at the beginning of next semester) and encourage students to take on new hobbies and activities (to later be abandoned due to time constraints at the beginning of next semester). Pope Greg clearly knew this had to be a thing, because his reform was to change the civil calendar, which was quite out of his jurisdiction. Additionally, the temperamental Protestants who had already left the Catholics in the dust refused to accept the changes in the calendar for quite some time, meaning Jesus rose from the dead twice a year. Catholic countries, like the dedicated Spain and Portugal, were besides themselves to accept the change, even if Protestant countries wouldn’t follow suit for at least another 100 years. However, here at UConn, the Gregorian calendar has proven to be superior, and UConn students are most thankful for its efforts in assuring their winter break happiness.
Insert Instant Daily complaining about Finals Week here. How much do you want to bet there will be snow on the ground when we come back to campus in January? I have an appetite for Natty Light. It will be a Christmas miracle if I pass this math exam. #UConnSeniorProblems Take five classes they said, it won’t be that bad come finals week they said. From all of us here at The Daily Campus, have a safe and wonderful holiday.
This is the InstantDaily! Submit your thoughts, jokes and comments on Twitter @InstantDaily
Biggest stories of 2013
F
rom the U.S. government shutting down to a birth in the royal family to a myriad of tragedies, 2013 was undoubtedly a busy year. Here, I’ve tried to put together a list of the stories that made for the biggest headlines in 2013 – those that set off the most buzz: 10) Paula Deen scandal The “Queen of Southern Cuisine,” who was the host of three shows on the Food Network, and the author of 14 cookbooks, was fired from the Food Network in epic fashion in June after admitting to using racial epithets at various points in her life. Though her fan base came emphatically to her defense and she gave a tearful, televised apology, it was insufficient to overcome the tidal wave of attacks being waged against her. 9) Birth of George Alexander Louis to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge The first royal birth By Paul DaSilva in the digiStaff Columnist tal era came on July 22 when Prince George Alexander Louis was born to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The eightpound, six-ounce baby boy is third in the line of succession to the British throne, after his grandfather and father. 8) Website problems for Obamacare The enormous technology failures of Healthcare.gov has driven the news cycle for much of the past two months, and has put a lot of pressure on the White House to continue to defend a law that is now more unpopular than ever. It is safe to say that step one of the implementation stage of the Affordable Care Act has largely failed. 7) Oklahoma City area tornado kills 19 The EF5 tornado that struck areas surrounding Oklahoma City on May 20 resulted in the deaths
of 23 people, and hundreds more injured. The principal affected area, Moore, had been previously devastated by in 1999, by the single strongest tornado winds ever recorded by a D.O.W. radar. The lack of proper storm shelters became the center of concern, and state politicians promised to ensure that people’s homes are better equipped to sustain such high winds. 6) Papal transition in the Roman Catholic Church The unforeseen resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February not only stunned the world, but the Catholic Church establishment as well. One month later, as per historic tradition, the conclave of cardinals met to select the new pope, and the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was chosen to head the papacy. He became the first non-European Pope in nearly 1,300 years, and the first Latin American to be elected as pontiff. 5) Usage of chemical weapons in Syria President Bashar al-Assad’s employing of sarin gas on Syria’s civilian population sparked international outrage, and the need for President Obama to act on his commitment to take action. The attack, which resulted in the death of more than 300 innocent Syrians, led to bilateral negotiations between the United States and Russia, where it was agreed that the Syrian chemical weapons arsenal would be destroyed. 4) Trials of George Zimmerman and Jodi Arias Two years after the most publicized court trial in American history – that of Casey Anthony – the trials of Jodi Arias and George Zimmerman were the subjects of enormous buzz and national attention. The media’s sensational coverage of these trials has been deemed a “circus,” with media stations, such as HLN, devoting around-the-clock live footage and
analysis. 3) The NSA Scandal The leaking of sensitive, and classified material by a former contractor with the National Security Agency, Edward Snowden, confirmed, for many Americans, long-held fears that the intelligence apparatus of the United States has gotten a bit out hand. It was revealed that the NSA collects massive amounts of metadata on telephone calls, and has the ability to read the emails of both foreigners and Americans in communication with people outside of the U.S. The leaking has inspired a national conversation regarding the amount of information that the government should be permitted to collect, and led President Obama to announce some reforms to the NSA’s data collection process. 2) Bombing in Boston, Mass. The pressure cooker bombs that exploded during the Boston Marathon in April confirmed the fact that Americans are still not safe from domestic terror attacks. Three people were killed, and dozens more were critically injured, many losing limbs. After an unprecedented police manhunt, one perpetrator was killed, and the other, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was apprehended. 1) Government shutdown After Congress’ failure to agree on a budget resolution, the U.S. government was shut down for the first time since the Clinton administration in the late 1990s. Federal services, including national parks and various executive agencies were shuttered for two weeks, until leaders in Congress finally agreed on a short-term resolution to the impasse. The American public was heartily opposed to the shutdown, and both parties’ favorability ratings suffered as a result.
Paul.DaSilva@UConn.edu 1st-semester political sci-
ence and economics major
Finals Edition
Monday, December 9, 2013
The Daily Campus, Page 6
No more ‘no shave’ Shedding light on UConn’s blinds By Devin Keehner Staff Columnist
F
or those of you who didn’t know, last month was “No Shave November.” The dreaded yearly tradition where men who can’t really grow facial hair try to grow facial hair. In their defense, it’s to raise awareness about prostate cancer, but nobody knows that so I’m not sure how much that really helps. Really though, I can’t stand “No Shave November.” Almost any one who can grow a beard already has one, or doesn’t want one. So what are we left with? Horrific looking franken-beards. I just can’t stand it. In the past I have gone out of my way to shave extra during November if for no other reason than to spite my younger brother and his proto-beards. Although it’s worth noting that after years of trial and error he’s just about there. You can’t even turn on the TV without running into someone failing to grow a beard. For example, Willie Geist, a young contributor on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” my favorite morning show, decided he was going to participate in this unruly tradition. It was utterly painful turning on the TV in the morning and watching a patchwork of hair fall ever so slowly into place, and the worst part was after a full month the thing still wasn’t ready. If we really wanted to raise awareness about men’s issues couldn’t we all just wear blue for a month? We do that anyway, don’t we? Well I’m sure we can think of something, because honestly we have unkempt facial hair most of the time too. Hold on a second. Is that what this is about? Are we just to lazy to shave? Is this just an excuse so we don’t have to bother
something. Girls, please fix this. It’s up to you. I know some of you like beards, and if you’re dating a guy who can really grow one great! If not, please take retaliatory action. How? I think the best option is that women stop shaving too. I mean women care about men’s health, right? If this tactic was enacted I think we could wipe out the scourge that is “No Shave November” in a couple of years, maybe in even less time. If that doesn’t work, I think we are going to have to take more extreme measures. It’s been a joke throughout history that women should withhold sex in order to control men, and normally I wouldn’t approve of such an extreme act of protest. That being said, it could be just what the doctor ordered. My third idea is even more outside of my comfort zone, but I’m desperate at this point. If women can some how convince President Obama that men growing facial hair is discriminatory than I think we can get the whole thing banned. If that doesn’t work, the faux outrage could still be enough to convince college officials. Perhaps a petition to Susan Herbst is in order. She could probably use a way to pander to UConn women after recent events. I jest of course, and normally I wouldn’t say that, but I think I’m in grave danger of falling victim to Poe’s law. Really though, I am so happy no shave November is over. I actually can’t stand it, but to those of you who failed to grow a full beard, better luck next year. I’m sure my rant will encourage you more than anything. Good luck on exams everyone, and have a great vacation!
Devin.Keehner@UConn.edu
5th-semester communications major
By Gregory Koch Staff Columnist
P
icture this: it’s midnight on a weeknight and you are trying to sleep in your small room which is costing you over $6,000 a year to live in for nine months. Unfortunately, the blinds are not the right size for the window, so all the light from the streetlights outside is coming into the room. It’s too bright to sleep. You try closing the blinds more, but that only makes them move, so now it is brighter. You then pull down on the blinds to get them to close further, but like a cannon firing, the blinds fly open, and now all the light from outside is coming in. Five minutes later, you finally close them all the way, but now you’re sweating and wide awake. The light is coming in as much as it was before, so you have accomplished nothing. Unfortunately, this is a reality we as UConn students face every day with the faulty blinds in the dormitories. By the admission of several people from Residential Life, the blinds are the wrong size for the windows. Additionally, they are very difficult to open and close. Students are paying between $6,000 and $10,000 a year for housing. We deserve better. Every night, bright light from outside shines into my dorm room because the blinds do not fit the window properly. Several people from Residential Life, including residential assis-
tants and Front Desk employees, have openly admitted to me that they are the wrong size, but nobody has bothered to fix it, or, better yet, not have ordered the wrongsize blinds in the first place. My sophomore and junior years, I lived on the ground floor of my building and it was even worse. On more than one occasion, an ambulance or other emergency vehicle parked right outside my building with its lights on, keeping me up until it left. This reached a crowning moment of stupidity when several police cars parked outside my dorm with their lights on late at night. When I asked why, the officers told me people were making loud noise outside and disturbing the residents. Apparently several people had complained, saying the troublemakers were keeping them up. So the police came to keep things under control. However, the bright red flashing lights from the police cars got in through my window, making it impossible for me to sleep. They were the ones disturbing me. In fact, when they first arrived, I was about to call the police and report people flashing bright red lights outside late at night, but decided to get a description of them first to give to the police. Imagine my surprise upon realizing that the police were the ones causing the disturbance! Aside from being the wrong size, there are many other problems with the blinds. For instance, to open the blinds
in most dorms, you have to pull down hard at just the right angle. If you pull down at the wrong angle, or not hard enough, they will close even further. As you run out of blind to pull down on, it gets progressively harder to open. Occasionally, you will pull the blinds completely off the holder by pulling down too many times. This has happened to me on more than one occasion. When I lived on the ground floor, the blinds broke more than once, and everyone could see into my room just by walking past. It was a blatant invasion of my privacy, but until ResLife fixed the blinds, I was stuck with it. How does it make sense to open blinds by closing them? To paraphrase Homer Simpson, “I see. So closing the blinds makes them open. Well isn’t ResLife the king of crazy land? Everything is the opposite of everything!” During finals week, getting enough sleep is of paramount importance. It is critical that we not lose sleep because light is coming in through the blinds. We deserve blinds that fit the windows in our dorms, especially during finals week. It is time to demand this from the University. Maybe then ResLife will listen.
Gregory.Koch 7th-semester actuarial science major @gregoryakoch
THIS DATE IN HISTORY
1992 1,800 United States Marines arrive in Mogadishu, Somalia, to restore order in the conflictridden country.
BORN ON THIS DATE
Fuel-up food for finals www.dailycampus.com
Monday, December 9, 2013
1934 - Judi Dench 1957 - Donny Osmond 1980 - Simon Helberg 1995 - Mckayla Maroney
The Daily Campus, Page 7
» SPECIAL EDITION
By Katie McWilliams Senior Staff Writer
Finals week feels like the best time to order a large pie from Sergeant Pep’s one night and Wings over Storrs the next night, but it’s important to eat healthy during the week to promote overall health as well as give yourself the energy to succeed. Here are a few nutrition tips and easy foods to substitute for your cravings during the most stressful week of the semester. If you are craving sugar, according to Shape Magazine, your body needs chromium, carbon phosphorous, sulfur or tryptophan. Tryptophan can be easily secured by eating a turkey sandwich or having some spinach salad. For seafood fans who can access it, crab meat is another excellent way to stock up on this nutrient. Chromium can be attained by eating onions, tomatoes, potatoes or anything whole grain. Eating any of these foods will reduce your craving and steer you clear of those empty sugar calories. Another common craving is for carbohydrates. To settle this craving, munch on almonds or a black bean burrito. The nitrogen in these foods is what is likely lacking in your diet, so be sure to eat some nitrogen filled foods such as any nuts or beans. Furthermore, if you tried cutting carbs out of your diet completely, indulge in a few servings a day such as a piece of toast or a bowl of bran cereal. If you’re craving stereotypical junk food like pizza, soda, French fries or a burger, take your mind off the greasy food and reach for some snacks high in calcium. Yogurt, leafy greens, low fat cheese and humus are excellent sources of calcium, but you also can’t beat a tall glass of milk. These snacks will help you focus on your studies and not on how much you want a Mooyah burger with those heavenly sweet potato fries. We all need a little jolt during finals
BY LUKE BELVAL
Remember: it’s all relative
ALEX SFERRAZZA/The Daily Campus
First semester Physics major Brian Roy chows down on a hot cup of instant ramen. A quick, easy and feel-good meal, but not the kind of food your body needs to be at its best for finals.
week, but if you’re excessively craving caffeine, your body is asking for some salt, iodine and iron. Eat some salted nuts, pretzels or saltines to supply the salt and iodine. As for Iron, if you can make it to a dining hall, try some steak and have a side of spinach to boost your iron levels. I often find that when I crave a coffee that a cup of strong tea works wonders to subtly caffeinate and satisfy my caffeine craving. Try brewing a mug of Bengal Spice or Early Grey if you’ve already had a cup of coffee. While these common cravings can be easily remedied, it’s still hard not to think about grabbing a post-exam Dairy Bar
sundae. Instead of eating ice cream, have some no sugar added applesauce spiced liberally with cinnamon. You’ll be surprised how naturally sweet and satisfying it is. Similarly, if you really need those French fries to get through that last Shakespeare play, make some mashed potatoes instead. At nearly half the calories, the mashed potatoes deliver a comforting reminder of home and a satisfying snack. I always find myself justifying getting a donut during finals with my coffee. Instead, I try to eat a big pancake breakfast, avoiding the chocolate chip ones of
enjoyable activity that many on-break students could motivate themselves to do. What is doable is reading books on your field, but written for commercial value. For example, as an economics major, I could read the “Freakanomics” line of books to keep that whole thought process running. Alternatively, I could take the time to read the articles and things that pop up on r/economics on Reddit. Frankly, I don’t think it matters what you’re studying in this regard – it’s likely there will be some form of media related to it that you can consume with minimal discomfort. There are a lot of less specific things to do to keep the mind sharp as well, and probably things that you do already. For one thing, calculating the tip without the use of your phone or how the bill is going to be split between you and your friends is a good way to keep the left side of your brain well-oiled. Doing Sudoku or other puzzles can also be very beneficial in that regard. For the other side of your brain, consider taking up
a creative hobby like starting a blog, writing, drawing or even cooking. If your family speaks a language other than English, make the effort to speak to them in that language. I know my Chinese definitely gets rusty while I’m in school. And although it’s planning a bit ahead, studies show that knowing more than one language can help stave off dementia. Mental acrobatics aside, I also think it’s important to keep physically active during the break. Being in healthy physical shape is very important in keeping the brain at its most efficient. It can be hard to motivate oneself to go outside (especially in the extreme heat or cold), but there are plenty of active things one can do inside as well. All that being said, break is also for fun and relaxation, so also definitely take the time to treat yourself.
» GOOD, page 8
How to stay sharp during break By Jason Wong Associate Focus Editor
I don’t know about you, but I find that long breaks like winter and summer vacation tend to be detrimental to the whole “retaining knowledge learned in the previous semester” thing. There’s just something about month-long marathons on Netflix that pushes everything academic to the back of my brain. I’d say its as addictive as coffee, but frankly, I can go without drinking coffee. Anyway, if any the classes you took this semester were in your major, the information you learned in them is bound to come up again in future classes. So how to keep the old gray cells from losing all that was so badly fought for? There’re a few things you can do that won’t be too taxing. First off, I am not going to suggest holding onto textbooks or doing practice problems or any crazy nonsense like that. Granted, that approach might work for some, but frankly I don’t see it as being a particularly
Jason.Wong@UConn.edu
Let’s face it – finals mean stress. What comes with stress can vary from person to person, but generally no one willingly takes it on. All the therapy dogs and free midnight breakfasts in the world will not change the anxiety that comes with the culmination of a semester. While I cannot provide you with a way to prevent this stress from occurring, I can provide tips on how you manage it. No, these will not be your average tips like sleep the night before the exam or drink water. These tips are actually applicable to college life and hopefully some of you can implement them to make finals survivable. Put everything into perspective. While you may have some great cascade of events that puts the responsibility for your future squarely on whatever final you have next, the truth is there are very few extreme situations where this is true. Certain classes are designed to be hard and certain professors are more difficult than others. Unfortunately, it is a fact of life, but one that is soon forgotten. Many find it helpful to take stock of their life when they are stressed. This means to take some time and reflect on the good things in your life and put what is currently stressing you out into perspective. When put up against family, friends and health, a chemistry test can seem truly inconsequential. Another thing to remember about stress is that it is natural. Stress is simply the body’s reaction to an outside force. Why do most individuals wait until the last minute for an assignment? It’s simply because that’s when we feel most compelled to do something. By identifying how you respond to different situations you can begin to understand your stress and use it to your advantage. If you know that cramming the night before causes you too much anxiety, plan out your studying time and save that last night for some light review and some relaxation. If on the other hand you can’t seem to find the motivation to do something until the last minute, identify how that will affect your stress and plan accordingly. Stress is a highly individual response and what works for one individual will not work for another. If you can de-stress by petting dogs, then plan some time for that. If, on the other hand, you need to go out and do something to relieve some anxiety, that can be equally beneficial. Find something that you enjoy doing and make time for it, especially in periods of high stress. If your stress is too hard for you to manage, you should never hesitate to seek help. Whether it’s reaching out to a parent or friend, simply talking about it can sometimes help as well. If you ever feel completely overwhelmed, Mental Health Services is always available to help you and is a great non-judgmental resource. Stress is a part of college life and part of the education you receive is how to handle it.
Luke.Belval@UConn.edu
Monday, December 9, 2013
The Daily Campus, Page 8
Happy Holidays from the Daily Campus!
How to study when you’re desperate By Alex Sferrazza Staff Writer
CORYN WASSIK/The Daily Campus
Nathan Mathews, a 5th-semester chemistry major, studying hard for an upcoming exam.
It’s always the same old song and dance. Semester after semester you tell yourself you’re going to study regularly and be prepared for your exams well in advance. Well it’s finals time and you’ve once again put everything off until the last minute. At this point you are well aware your GPA is going to take a hit and your only goal is at least getting a passing grade. Good news is, if you show some real “dedication” and “commitment” at the very last minute that’s a very real possibility. The following are study tips for those truly out of time and with no other options. No one should ever plan on using them, they are intended as last resorts. Super Kindle Speed Reading: Have to write a big paper or have some major required reading you need to have done for your final? If you download an ebook for your Kindle or Kindle app enabled device, you can magnify the font exponentially. With only a few sentences per page, you can get through a lot of material much faster than if reading a traditional paper book. The Audible Chipmunk: Alternatively, if your required text is available as an audiobook, you can download it at audible.com and play it back at 3x normal speed. That 15 hour audiobook will now only take 5 hours of your precious time.
Last Minute Resort for Reviewing Notes: So you took good notes in class all semester but didn’t really pay much attention to the lecture huh? Well you’re in trouble but if pressed for time skim through your notes and highlight anything that looks like a key term that you might get tested on. If your notes are vague, look up your highlighted key terms online for general descriptions. This won’t get you an ‘A’ mind you but it’s better than not doing anything at all. Tips for all nighters: Let’s be honest, if you’ve already read this far you’re probably the type of person who might find themselves in the midst of an all night cramming session. All nighters can help, but take caution. First of all, don’t literally stay up all night. Get a minimum of 3-4 hours of sleep, any less and you’ll be too distracted to focus. On that note: Sleep deprivation and consumption of energy drinks and/or coffee make for a dangerous combination that can be harmful for your health. If you really can’t stay awake, try a cup of tea. It doesn’t have the caffeine content of coffee of energy drinks (that’s a good thing) but it also has a variety of other stimulants that will keep you going through the night. Green tea is also a source of natural antioxidants making it a far healthier alternative to energy drinks.
Alex.Sferrazza@UConn.edu
Focus finals playlist Take a break with a ‘roguelike’ By Ellie Hudd Campus Correspondent
Studying is hard. There’s no better way to say this. It requires hours of concentrated effort at organizing, reading and assuring comprehension of what is often a semester’s worth of information. All of this effort, combined with an awareness of the consequences of one’s performance on finals on grades and GPAs, adds up to a very stressful process. If the number of students I see wearing headphones around campus is any indication, I’m not alone in my enjoyment of a personal soundtrack as an integral part of my day. Between setting the scene for parties and events and providing a source of comfort amidst the stresses of everyday life, music can be an incredibly important factor in the way a college student contextualizes their personal experiences. However, selecting music to accompany a study session is a different matter entirely. While the stress of studying might lure you toward the highlights of your personal music collection, particularly the lyrics and melodies you’ve come to love, this is probably not the most effective method for assembling a study session soundtrack. The most effective music for studying is one that is upbeat enough to inspire a continued, steady pace, but does not prove too distracting from the material you’re trying to focus on. Usually, the goal of studying to music is to get yourself into the “zone” and to tune out distractions (no pun intended). To me, this means a largely instrumental track with a steady but muted percussive beat and few lyrics to interfere with my train of thought. Luckily, the recent trend toward dubstep and electronic tracks has provided many new study jams for my
playlist. While I realize that this is not everyone’s preference, I’ve compiled below a list of songs that have provided an effective soundtrack to some of my previous study sessions, as well as new songs I’ll be listening to this finals week. Many of these artists give away their songs for free on their SoundCloud pages or on Bandcamp, so you can look for some great free and legal downloads on your next study break. The Cancel: “Sunshine” Moods: “Love is Real” Pretty Lights: “Almost Familiar” Fear Club: “Escape” SBTRKT: “Gloss” Sweater Beats: “Make a Move” Work Drugs: “Boogie Lights” The Doves: “Firesuite” The Floozies: “Ice Cold” Röyksopp: “Poor Leno (Silicone Soul’s Hypno House remix)” Poolside: “Slow Down” Chiiiiing: “Sing Another Song” Silence Groove: “Air Up There” The Crystal Method: “Keep Hope Alive” Emily Wells ft. Jeremy Sole : “Joan of Arc” Kaskade: “Lax to JFK” Blazer: “Cocaine Affair” Green Tea: “Cruise Control” Holmes: “Daydream No. 57” Kero One: “Space Cadets” Millionyoung: “Cynthia” Box of Wolves: “Flux” Anoraak: “Cloud Rain Love” Beats Antique: “Beauty Beats” The Radio Dept.: “On Your Side” Trashlagoon: “Daily Winter” Teen Daze: “Listen” Invention: “Autumn of Kyoto” Rey Salinero: “Get It Together”
Elanor.Hudd@UConn.edu
By Darragh McNicholl Campus Correspondent While you are studying this week, it is important to remember to take short breaks every now and then to let your brain cool down, and if you’re looking for a quick activity for those breaks there are actually a few video games you can look towards. Now playing long matches or entire levels of games may not be the most efficient way to spend a short break, but there are games out there designed to be played in short periods of time. A specific example for an entire genre of games like this is “roguelike.” A roguelike is a sub-genre of role playing games with the key characteristics of level randomization and permanent death. Respectively this means that every level you play is designed in a completely random way, and when your video game character dies you have to start the game right back from level one. These types of games are stereotypically difficult because one wrong move could cause you to start the game over and since every level is randomized it is nearly impossible to predict what you will run into. Roguelikes are great games to play for a study break because they can be short, a game over is a clear stopping point, and it is a different experience every time you start a new game. For some games, a single life in a roguelike you are unfamiliar with will only last on average one to five minutes, though it could be shorter. Set limits for yourself while you study; every thirty minutes of cramming play a roguelike till you get a game over. You won’t accomplish anything more in-game if you continue right after that. Plus you will never get bored or waste minutes of valuable studying time playing something you have done a hundred times because no level will ever be the same. There are a few examples of great roguelikes that fit the study break scenario rather well. “Spelunky” is a platformer that has you play as an explorer in a cave with the sole goal of delving deeper down. The most random things will kill you in this game and you won’t realize till it’s too late.
Image courtesy of store.steampowered.com
Above: The titular Isaac, surrounded by the assorted monstrosities that infest his basement.
“Rogue Legacy” has you play as several generations of a family, every time you die you play as the next in line. What’s interesting about this game is that each ‘next in line’ has a genetic trait that changes the game slightly, from dwarfism to color-blindness and anything in between. There are plenty of others like the disturbing “The Binding of Isaac,” “Risk of Rain,” which is designed to become more difficult the longer you play, or “Desktop Dungeon,” which lasts specifically no more than ten minutes. When you need that short break from studying consider one of these games. Roguelikes will keep your mind active while still giving it a chance to process all that’s been crammed into it.
Darragh.Mc_Nicholl@UConn.edu
Good foods to combat stress from FUEL, page 7
course. A blueberry, apple, strawberry or banana pancake is slightly sweet and infinitely healthier than a donut. Buckley Dining Hall has some of the best pancakes on Saturday and Sunday mornings so stop by before your weekend study sessions.
Grab and Go is always packed during finals week and realistically the buffalo chicken wrap you are likely to get isn’t going to get you through the day or deliver enough nutritional content. Try a humus wrap filled with veggies and garnished with olive oil – it’s delicious and healthy. Furthermore, stock up
on fruit so that you can bypass those brownies. If you eat well, sleep frequently and study hard, finals week won’t be as bad as you anticipated.
Kathleen.McWilliams@UConn.edu
The Daily Campus, Page 9
Monday, December 9, 2013
Finals Edition
Coping with renewed parental supervision By Zach Lederman Campus Correspondent
Vacation is here! Finally, you’re back home and can take that awesome college experience and combine it with those cool guys and gals from home. What are you going to do first? Stay out partying all night? Order wings at 2 a.m.? Play video games until your eyes bleed? Wait, ‘parents’? I haven’t heard that word in a while. I don’t quite understand, whom are these people giving me specific tasks and expecting things of me? Is it coming back to you yet? Yep, all that fun freedom you’ve been experiencing over the past four months is officially dead. As it turns out, parents don’t stop being your parents when you go to college. The moment they’re
back in the picture, they’re right back on top of you, barking out orders, chores and telling you not to stay up until 4 a.m. I was there once, and I completely understand how frustrating it can be to go from literally unlimited freedom, to high school senior status again. Here are some of the tips I use to survive it. First, remember that it’s not going to last forever. This is absolutely key. This is just a winter break and it literally lasts until the beginning of January, at which point you can consider yourself a young adult once more. If nothing else in this guide works, just try and deal with it. Second, keep in mind that your parents just aren’t used to seeing you the same way you see yourself. They don’t know what you’ve been up to in college, and chances are they don’t want to know.
Demonstrate your maturity to them in ways that don’t include getting drunk on a Tuesday and hitting on that semiattractive guy or girl you once thought about hooking up with. Help around the house without being asked or bring your kid brother or sister to soccer practice. Take on some of the responsibilities that your parents wouldn’t normally consider you responsible for, and their view of you will start to change. Third, and this is probably what helped me the most, keep your expectations low. Even if you act the perfect picture of adulthood, your parents aren’t going to change overnight, or even over this break. It took a good two years before my mother and father started giving me the same degree of freedom I had come to expect. Remember, these are the peo-
ple who raised you since you were a wee thing. Chances are they’ve been worrying about you and missing you for the past four months and are just glad that you’re home and with them. They’re not thinking to themselves that you’re now (somewhat) an adult. Just try and give them a little wiggle room and things will be easier for you too. So remember kids, things will get better. Just give it a little bit of time, and soon the amount of freedom you have at home will surpass that of college. Just let your parents get used to it. It won’t be that long.
Zachary.Lederman@UConn.edu
Memorable movies of this ending semester By Maurilio Amorim Staff Writer “Prisoners:” Hugh Jackman gives an Oscar worthy performance in one of the year’s best films as a father who will stop at nothing to find his daughter when she goes missing. Jake Gyllenhaal plays a detective who also finds himself deeply affected by the case. Intelligent, thought provoking and intense throughout, “Prisoners” is one of the best mystery films since Mystic River. 10/10 “Don Jon:” Joseph Gordon Levitt’s writing and directing debut may not be as deep or Oscar worthy as he hoped it to be, but it’s an impressive first film. Dramedy “Don Jon” tells the story of a young womanizer addicted to internet porn who struggles to find a real relationship due to his addiction and the constant media pressure which has led him to misunderstand human connection. It may lack the courage to really go into its subject matter, but it certainly is an accurate look at how both men and women are led to see the world and people around them due to the media. 8.5/10 “Gravity:” I don’t understand the hype. Running under 90 minutes, “Gravity” manages to drag on an hour too long. Sandra Bullock breathes over silence at one point for at least twenty minutes straight. It was somewhat exciting and the effects were outstanding I suppose, but the story of two lone astronauts lost in space was really not as amazing as I hoped it’d be. 6.5/10 “Captain Philips:” Director Paul Greengrass and Tom Hanks both make an impressive comeback in the heroic true story of an American captain taken hostage when Somali pirates hijack his ship. Hanks gives an Oscar worthy performance and Greengrass as usual creates a film so tense that you forget to breathe throughout. “Captain Philips” is truly amazing and one of the year’s best. 10/10 “12 Years a Slave:” Next to “Captain Philips,” this is my other pick for best picture thus far. The disturbing and tear jerking true story of a free man kidnapped and forced into slavery for 12 years may not be the tell all tale of slavery and its cruelty its been made out to be, but it at least aspires to be. “12 Years a Slave” is a powerful film and an unforgettable experience filled with great performances. 10/10 “Carrie:” This is not a reimagining, but a remake, scene for scene. It’s practically falsely advertised as a reimagining. There’s really no reason to see this movie as it isn’t as good as the original and the film seems to misunderstand the “Carrie” character and the entire point of the novel. The story
AP
This publicity photo released by Lionsgate shows Jennifer Lawrence, left, as Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark in a scene from the film, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”
still carries itself, no pun intended, but nothing else really works. What a shame. A modern day reimagining could have worked well. 5/10 “The Counselor:” This is easily one of the worst movies of the year and one of the biggest cinematic disappointments in recent memory. Although it is written by an undisputed great writer, directed by the legendary Ridley Scott and has such a talented A-list cast, the film does nothing right. It does not entertain, make sense, provide any sort of explanation or meaning to what it depicts. And in the end, it is just a compilation of scenes that don’t go together adding up to an ending that means absolutely nothing. 2/10 “Thor 2:” I didn’t like “Iron Man 3,” but “Thor: The Dark World” certainly provided enough action and Marvel fun to make me feel better about the next round of Avengers movies. “Thor: The Dark World” is good blockbuster action fun. 8.5/10 “Dallas Buyers Club:” It’s too crowded of a year for this touching biopic to even be nominated for best picture, but Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto will certainly earn
and very possibly win best actor and best supporting actor respectively. The film depicts the unbelievably inspirational true story of Ron Woodroof, a homophobic Texas man diagnosed with HIV and 30 days to live. He partners up with a cross dressing gay man to sell medicine to AIDS patients who are dying with no treatment. 9/10 “Last Vegas:” It’s predictable and your standard feel good comedy, but it all comes down to casting. It has actors we like, doing things we like, and while the AARP club Hangover could benefit from being less tame, there’s enough laughs and chemistry between the cast to make it more than funny enough to get through. 7.5/10 “Catching Fire:” Picking up where the first one left off, “Catching Fire” outshines its predecessor by not only expanding on and developing the world and social commentary from the first film, but by upping the intensity and adding more action. Jennifer Lawrence is still great and reminds us why she skyrocketed after the first film’s success. 9/10 “Oldboy:” The fanboys and the internet have already told you this is garbage, but they’re wrong. It’s not as good as the original and while it may lack a strong soul or feeling of purpose (which is unusual for a Spike Lee film), the story and Josh Brolin’s performance really carry the film along and provide enough thrills and excitement to satisfy newcomers and fans of the original. I’m certainly entertained. Word on the street is that the original cut ran three hours and both Lee and Brolin preferred that version and are unhappy with the studio’s edits. I guess if you don’t like the final product, there’s at least that to redeem the filmmaker. 8/10
Wraps are back!
Now get any of your favorite subs and toppings rolled into delicious wraps.
Maurilio.Amorim@UConn.edu
Monday, December 9, 2013
Finals Edition
Great study locations around campus By Ashley Maher Campus Correspondent
Room: This back room in the Wilbur Cross Building, located on the side closer to the Philip E. Austen building, formerly known as CLAS, is a spot that is often overlooked by passersby. Large windows allow for boundless amounts of natural light and large tables with comfortable seating makes it easy to get relaxed and spread out. Floor outlets are available for easy laptop use as well. Best of all, this part of Wilbur Cross is quiet. Not many people wander into the room and the large doors block out sound coming from the outside, making it easy to get lost for a while. Pharmacy Building: a little more popular during the finals season than during the regular portion of the semester but always a solid start. To get a good spot in the pharmacy building it’s always a plus to get a slight head start and get here earlier on in the day. Again, it is quiet and many outlets are available. I specifically like the fourth floor because of the couch seating and quiet setting. Lou’s Café: Another great
You know the feeling: the sense of urgent exasperation and all consuming panic as you hunt the battleground also known as Homer Babbidge during finals week in search of that one, glorious open outlet. Everyone has been there. If studying for exams in your dorm room always lands you in the same cycle: ten minutes of studying, one hour of social media, “study” snack… or meal…, repeat. Then finding a secret safe haven away from all the distractions may be what will save you. But where do you go when Homer Babbidge lands you in an endless rat race that only leads to dead ends and sad, isolated cubicles? The search for secret study spots that maybe no one else, or, not as many people know about can be difficult but also exciting, and may lead you to parts of campus you may have never before experienced! Here are a few of my best finds: Wilbur Cross South Reading
‘Tis The Season Of Giving
UConn secret, Lou’s café is part of the UC cafés group and is located in the basement of the family studies building by Mirror Lake. Although small, the café is quaint and comfortable. The booth seating is great for friends to sit together and sip coffee while they study. Music and Dramatic Arts Library: For those down in the south part of campus, I’ve found the music and dramatic arts library to always be a solid study space. It is best to go here during the day because their hours do not extend that late into the night. This library is great for those who need absolutely no distractions. Set on the edges campus, one feels away from it all but when in need of a meal, or human interaction, the Storrs Center is only a quick dash across 195. Classroom building and Oak Hall: The classroom building and Oak Hall are great resources for a quick pinch. If you are in a bind for a place to study both these buildings have a multitude of large couches, randomly placed seating areas and benches to sit and get in a quick study session. Study Lounges: Dorm areas are the place to go for a late night study session. The last thing anyone wants when they
are tired and burnt out from a seven-hour late night study grind is to have to face walking across campus back to their dorms. Many residence areas have lounges in the basements of their halls or communal lounges for the entire residency area. Some areas, like North Campus, leave the dining hall seating open for extended hours so that people can take advantage of the area for quiet study. Empty Classrooms: Empty classrooms could ultimately be your best resource when on the hunt for a place to study. The best part about finals week is that no classes are in session, therefore most of the classrooms are not in use throughout the day. This makes it easy to find a building, almost any building, and use the empty rooms to your advantage. This is also good for people who like to study in groups and need the space! I hope these ideas have given you new hope when in search of that special place to study for your finals. The struggle can be a long, tough road during the finals season but with some of these hints maybe the perfect place isn’t that far away.
Ashley.Maher@UConn.edu
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Happy Holidays Thanks For Another Great Semester! from all your friends at:
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Open 7 days a week during break!
The Daily Campus, Page 10
How to fight ‘senioritis’ By Emily Herbst Staff Writer
As fall semester comes to a close, and our college student brains are put to rest for a solid, two-month period of laze and gluttony – a time otherwise known as “Winter Break” – I realize that my ability to absorb information or care about it is steadily dwindling. Although I think this affliction started in… let’s see…September. I know that it’s something more serious than usual. It is more than laziness, and it’s not simply “boredom.” No, it is a deeply rooted, raging monster of contempt and aversion to anything “school.” This monster manifests itself in my behavior, thinking and academic performance. It is uncontrollable and it stomps any remaining motivation I have. I realize that this advanced, rapid decline in brain capacity and motivation is not simply “demotivated old me,” but none other than “senioritis.” This is a very real disease that has both mental and psychological effects and occurs in the bodies of 90-95 percent of graduating seniors. It doesn’t matter which college or university, what kind of GPA or academic background; we all feel it. Let me tell you: it’s agonizing. The onset of symptoms is quick. The mind gets hazy, your focus transforms into that of a 5-year-old’s, and trips to campus bars become more frequent. Textbooks get dusty (if they weren’t already), Wikipedia becomes the first stop for research papers, and exams become a matter of convenience…(i.e. How many more episodes of ______ on Netflix can I watch before the task of studying becomes inescapable?). As for a solution…well, there is no real solution, only steps we can take to warp our academic psyche. All we can do in this final year is maintain some fun, keep a stiff drink by our sides, and stay positive – constantly keeping the end in sight…(that sparkling diploma). Music while studying may help or hurt, depending on your methods, but it’s proven that we NEED to take breaks. Buy some new pens and pencils, flashcards or other little office supplies to make cramming a little more exciting. Between study sessions, DO watch a movie on Netflix. (Just don’t start a seven-season TV show). Buy a Keurig if you don’t have one already; and if coffee makes you gag, they make chai K-Cups that are the absolute bomb. If in search of a good lounge spot, hit Starbucks. Stay social, but keep tests, assignments and office hours in check. Discovering little ways to make yourself happy is KEY in dealing with mid-year bouts of graduation-lusting.
Emily.Herbst@UConn.edu
Monday, December 9, 2012
Finals Edition
The Daily Campus, Page 11
Questions? Comments? Other Stuff? <dailycampuscomics@gmail.com>
by Brian Ingmanson
Classic Side of Rice by Laura Rice
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The Daily Campus, Page 12
Finals Edition
Monday, December 9, 2013
Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 6 -- Apply what you’ve learned, and imagine a fresh approach. Cut the fluff. The action is behind the scenes. Tell friends you’ll play later. Travel is appealing, but not without risk. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 5 -- Taking criticism and continuing to increase your effort could increase the risks, but also the successes. Try a new tactic. Keep the faith, and remember your bottom Classic comics line commitment. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Looks like you’ve attracted someone hot. Enjoy it! It’s not a good time to travel, though. Stay put and find illumination over the next few days. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 5 -- Welcome a big job. Make sure your credit card information is secure. Double-check your bank statement. Controversies increase and costs are higher than expected. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Your loved ones encourage you to take on a new challenge. Carefully consider the options, and then go for it. The thrill is in the calculated risk. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- The next few days are good for household renovations. You find it easier to get distracted. Ask others to help you stay on track. A little motivation goes a long way. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Get ready for another great learning experience. If you don’t try, you won’t know whether or not you can. Go for it! You can always get back on the horse. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 5 -- Postpone family time. Now is a good period for making money. If you’re not quite sure what you want next, look into your heart. Improve the areas that need it. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- It’s easy to get complacent when you’re the king. Use your power to improve your world now and in the future. Changes may upset the balance at home. Reconfigure. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 5 -- Clean out your closet, with the help of a friend. If you don’t love it, let go of it. Your trash is somebody else’s treasure. Persuasion is magic. Don’t waste your money. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- You can always include another in your circle of friends. Disagreement results in growth. Self-esteem gets a boost, even as false hopes get shattered. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 5 -- Check out something you’re worried about, and stay active as needed. It’s easy to get sidetracked. You’re full of brilliant ideas, so organize them according to priority.
Procrastination Animation by Michael McKiernan
Monday, December 9, 2012
Finals Edition
by Brian Ingmanson
The Daily Campus, Page 13
Finals Issue
The Daily Campus, Page 14
Monday, December 9, 2013
‘Tis the season for gold and goals
By Tyler R. Morrissey Managing Editor
It’s that special time of year again, and no I’m not talking about Christmas and New Year’s. It’s almost time for the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi Russia. Last year around this time, hockey fans like myself were pining over the National Hockey League lockout and lack of hockey on our TV sets. This year, things are a lot different as the NHL is in full swing with no work stoppages in sight, god willing. In February, athletes will gather from around the world to compete for more than a professional team or a trophy, they will be competing for national pride and a gold medal. In 2010, hockey fans in North America were treated to one of the most exciting gold medal games in recent memory between the United States and Canada. It was none other than Sidney Crosby who stuck a dagger through the hearts of U.S. hockey fans with a golden goal in his home country in overtime. Can Team Canada repeat as the greatest hockey team in the world this year? I say yes, but it won’t be an easy task. With the leg injury to Steven Stamkos, the Canadians will be missing one of their biggest up and coming superstars and goal scorers. Team USA will pose a threat to Canada as they are a much deeper team than the last time the two North American teams faced each other in Vancouver. Goaltending will be the biggest weakness for the Americans, as Jonathan Quick will likely not play due to injury. However, Team USA is backed by a strong defensive front that will include Ryan Suter and Ryan McDonagh. Russia, the host country, has not medaled in the Olympics since 2002 when they took home
the bronze in Salt Lake City. Gone are the days of the mighty Russian hockey team most of us are familiar with from films like “Miracle.” While the Russians do have the red hot Alexander Ovechkin, it takes a team to take home the gold and Russia does not have a deep squad. Perhaps the biggest threat to another Canadian team bringing home a gold medal is Sweden. Don’t expect to see a high scoring game when Sweden takes the ice with a defensive corps that includes Niklas Kronwall, Erik Karlsson and Victor Hedman. On offense, Sweden will have no problem lighting the lamp with veterans players like Henrik Zetterberg and the Sedin twins. When all is said and done, one of these teams will be guaranteed to hear their national anthem as a flag lifts high to the rafters. This is one of the best traditions in the Olympics. While most athletes on the national teams come from the NHL, it’s still special to be playing for your country. Over the winter break, the official team rosters will be released and a lot can change between now and then with injuries or if a player falls into a slump. Some things won’t change: Doc Emrick will have the call on NBC, dreams of reaching the final podium in the gold medal game will not fade and more memories in hockey’s collective memory will be made. Before we know it, February will be here and it will be time to drop the puck. While the countdown to Christmas is in full swing, Christmas for hockey fans is not for another two months.
BUSINESS AT RENSSELAER
Follow Tyler on Twitter @ TylerRMorrissey
Tyler.Morrissey@UConn.edu
Which Huskies stood out during the fall? Cyle Larin, Men’s Soccer Andre Blake and the UConn defense will capture the headlines for the way they have played this season, but good defenses need to be supported by offense. After a slow start, Larin, a freshman from Canada has stepped up in a big way, scoring eight goals in the regular season and three in the conference tournament, Larin was named the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year. Sarah Mansfield, Field Hockey Men’s soccer has Andre Blake, men’s basketball has Amida Brimah and field hockey has shot-stopping sensation Sarah Mansfield. Mansfield became the all-time wins leader on Sept. 15 with her 59th win for UConn, and was named an All-American this season, allowing only 29 goals in 25 games en route to the national championship. Mansfield became a UConn sensation when she came out of her net and jumped to block a penalty shot during a shootout against Duke in the Final Four.
AP
Chicago Blackhawks stars Jonathan Toews, left, of Canada and Patrick Kane of the United States may be one of the best duos in the National Hockey League, but they will be up against each other if the two finalists of the 2010 Winter Olympics meet again in Sochi.
Rachel Hill, Women’s Soccer Hill scored over 150 goals as a high school star in New Hampshire, and she picked up where she left off when she got to UConn. Hill was invited to the U.S. Under-20 National Team’s training camp after scoring 13 goals and registering five assists in 20 games. Yawin Smallwood, Football Smallwood may not know whether he will be here or not next year, but if he is bound for the NFL, going out with the game-winning pick-six in UConn’s first win of the season, a 28-21 victory over Temple after being down 21-0 at half is a nice way to go out. Shabazz Napier, Men’s Basketball Shabazz has been quite Kemba-esque so far this season. With his teammates struggling, Napier scored 27 points at Madison Square Garden to help UConn top Indiana. His biggest moment so far was making the game-winning shot at the buzzer to top No. 15 Florida 65-64.
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Finals Issue
Monday, December 9, 2013
The Daily Campus, Page 15
Huskies deal with layoff before Duke matchup
JON KULAKOFSKY/The Daily Campus
Moriah Jefferson goes up for a layup against Hartford on Nov. 9 at the XL Center.
By Matt Stypulkoski Associate Sports Editor Right about now, we could all use a break. Whether it be a 20-minute break from studying or the upcoming month-long semester break, just about every student in Storrs that’s feeling the pressure of finals is looking forward to their next pause. Though they may not get a full
month between semesters like the rest of us, the UConn women’s basketball team is in the midst of a break of their own. Following their win over UC-Davis Thursday, the Huskies began a 12-day hiatus from their regular season schedule, in large part to focus on finals. Unlike most of us, however, breaks aren’t necessarily a good thing for Geno Auriemma’s crew. “I think if players had their dru-
thers, they’d rather play games than practice,” Auriemma said during a four-games-in-five-days stretch last month. Now, it’s completely opposite. “It’s just too many days of practice,” Auriemma said. “And you know, you have to be careful because it’s just training, training, training without no outlet. They’ll practice really hard if they know at the end there’s a game…Then to say, ‘Hey, we’ve got 12 days and we’re going to practice our (butts) off. Well when do we play? Twelve days from now.’ That’s a little bit harder, and then you throw in exams. It’s a grind.” Staying focused during that time, a period of the year in which the Huskies often begin to implement new schemes and strategies to utilize later on in the season and come tournament time, is crucial. Especially with a trip to Cameron Indoor and No. 2 Duke – perhaps UConn’s toughest test of the season – up next on the docket. Perhaps, though, having such a
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daunting matchup on the horizon can be an incentive to stay sharp during the layover? “I’ve always said, during that stretch during finals, you either want the best team in the country waiting for you at the end of finals, or you want the worst team in the country,” Auriemma said. “You don’t want somebody in between, that’s just a terrible game to play unless it’s somebody that’s going to get your attention. And certainly, that game (against Duke) is going to get everybody’s attention, no question about that.” The trip to Tobacco Road is just the third of five games on UConn’s December schedule – a major change of pace from the season’s opening month, when the Huskies
crammed in 10 games. The final two contests of 2013 come in the form of a Dec. 22 trip to Madison Square Garden, where they will take on No. 21 California in the Maggie Dixon Classic. UConn will wrap up the month by opening American Athletic Conference play against Cincinnati at Gampel Pavilion on Dec. 29. The Huskies play five games in 2014 before the beginning of the spring semester, including one at Webster Bank Arena, UConn’s newest “home” arena. The January slate is highlighted by a Jan. 13 trip to Waco, Texas for a matchup with No. 9 Baylor.
from SELFISHLY, page 16
the hockey program. Next year, Cavanaugh and his team move into a conference that will see them leave New England only to play Notre Dame in Indiana. Six programs are in Massachusetts with the rest in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Play 10 big-time teams in New England and one in Indiana or play six in Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania? Tough one. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that being a roadblock, because the rest of the programs would thrive in the Big Ten. Basketball is obviously UConn’s forte, and we have already seen exciting games against Indiana and Maryland this season. The Big Ten is usually a basketball power, and UConn would benefit greatly from playing Michigan State and Wisconsin as opposed to SMU and East Carolina. Football would probably struggle for a while, but being able to recruit Big Ten-caliber players would go a long way. With the right coach, that could be a big boost for the program. Soccer and baseball would also see success in the Big Ten. Right now, both play miserable schedules. Big East soccer was the best around until realignment. Getting the chance to move back into a power conference will help Ray Reid’s squad, though he has shown this year that they can compete with the best even with a weaker schedule and less attention. Baseball currently plays Big Ten schools in February during the early tournaments. Getting the chance to go toe-to-toe all season long would be great for Jim Penders and his program, which is likely going to roll over AAC teams this spring. Lastly, think of the rivalries. I spoke to someone who works for Indiana at Madison Square Garden who believes UConn-Indiana in all sports would be a dream of a rivalry. Add in Rutgers and Maryland and it could be amazing. Overall, I hope the dream that was suggested to me becomes a reality. The American Athletic Conference is awful. I don’t want to see UConn stay and help build this conference. It is not worth it for an athletic powerhouse to be back at square one 30 years after the Big East was born. Help us, James Delaney. You’re our only hope.
Matthew.Stypulkoski@UConn.edu
Fontenault: Big Ten move could be feasible Luckily, I am feeling optimistic, thanks to a reporter I was speaking to at the Rutgers game, so I am going to try and put a happy thought in your head. I will graduate in May 2015, and by that time, the reporter I was speaking to thinks that UConn will be nearing a move to the Big Ten, if it has not happened already. That is optimism at its finest, yes. But there is reason to believe, if only because the American Athletic Conference is where hopes and dreams go to die. No one grows up dreaming of scoring the winning touchdown against Temple. No one even knows what the heck Tulane is. So in order to get itself in position to play Michigan and Indiana instead, UConn likely needs to join the Association of American Universities. I have no idea what has to be done to make that happen, but my shortsighted philosophy has always been that if Rutgers can do it, so can we. Renovations may also need to be made to Rentschler Field to accommodate the change to a major conference. One person I spoke to about the idea of joining the Big Ten said that would be insane, as Rentschler would need another 40,000 seats on top of the current 40,000. I disagree; Ryan Field, the home of Northwestern, holds just under 48,000. Byrd Stadium, the home of future Big Ten member Maryland, holds about 52,000. Rentschler is designed to be ready for renovation, so I think that is doable. UConn may also be a desirable add for the Big Ten if it can convince the school to leave Hockey East. Conferences in hockey are different than other sports because there are fewer teams – less than 60 in Division I – and the Big Ten shook up the landscape when it decided to sponsor hockey itself, helping lead to the end of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, almost like the Big East. There are a couple down sides for UConn there. First, the Big Ten currently only has six hockey members: Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State and Minnesota. There are a couple power teams in there, but that would not make up for leaving a conference with Boston College, Notre Dame, Boston University, UMass-Lowell, New Hampshire and Providence, just to name a few. That leads to the other issue for
Follow Tim on Twitter @Tim_ Fontenault
Timothy.Fontenault@UConn.edu
» INSIDE SPORTS TODAY P.14: Huskies deal with layoff before Duke matchup / P.15: For hockey fans, Christmas is still two months away
Page 16
Selfishly, helplessly dreaming B1G
www.dailycampus.com
Monday, December 9, 2013
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FALL
Tim Fontenault Sitting in the press box for the football game against Rutgers on Nov. 30, I found it difficult to handle what I was watching. There was nothing wrong with what UConn was doing. We all have to give a lot of credit to that team for working as hard as they have to right the ship since an awful start to the 2013 season, and they ended the year playing their best football in a long time. It was Rutgers that baffled me. That is not a good program. They have had decent seasons and Ray Rice, but nothing that sticks out, and it is not like that is different than any of the school’s other athletics. This Rutgers football team is typical Rutgers. But apparently that is worthy of a spot in the Big Ten Conference. Next time the Scarlet Knights take the field during the regular season, there will be a giant Big Ten logo where an American Athletic Conference one is supposed to be. Gotta love that Rutgers domination in the New York market, right? I apologize to anyone that may have heard me try to convince someone that the American was going to be a decent conference. It is not a good conference, and it never will be a good conference. At least UConn is still part of the Big East, kind of, thanks to field hockey head coach Nancy Stevens and the 2013 national champions, as well as lacrosse. At least ice hockey is in Hockey East. I cannot wait for next season, when Mike Cavanaugh and his team begin this exciting new chapter in UConn hockey history against the team he coached with for 18 years, Boston College. But when I am watching other sports – football, soccer, basketball – I can’t help but feel like a child in the back seat. Are we there yet? Are we there yet? The destination is a power conference. The answer is no, we’re not even on the highway yet, you idiot. Mom and Dad have tried to get us on the road, but there have been too many roadblocks. I hope Susan Herbst and Warde Manuel have not given up after the shortcomings with the ACC and the earliest Big Ten pushes.
» FONTENAULT, page 15
AP
UConn guards Shabazz Napier (13) and Ryan Boatright celebrate after Napier hit a buzzer beater to give the No. 12 Huskies a 65-64 win over No. 15 Florida at Gampel Pavilion.
Recaping the semester that was in UConn sports By Mike Peng Senior Staff Writer
Part of the luxury of being a UConn student is the great sports programs this school has to offer, and the fall semester has given us numerous occasions to feel proud to be Husky. So let us take a look back at some of the best moments in UConn athletics this semester. No. 5 – Women’s basketball raises championship banner Back in April, the UConn women’s basketball team won its eighth national championship in program history down in New Orleans. Fastforward to a month ago, the top-ranked Huskies were set to host No. 3 Stanford at home, but a piece of black cloth needed to be removed on the wall of Gampel Pavilion first. With a simple tug on a rope, the 2012-13 National Champions banner was revealed before the Gampel crowd and Geno Auriemma and his team looked on to admire what they had accomplished last season. The Huskies are currently on a mission to bring title No. 9 back to Storrs, but some rearrangements may
need to be done at Gampel first. They are running out of room up there. No. 4 – Football team wins consecutive games after starting season 0-9 For the better half of the semester, UConn football was the laughing stock not only in Storrs, but perhaps in the nation as well. After firing Paul Pasqualoni following a 0-4 start, T.J. Weist was installed as the interim head coach, but he proved to be just as bad, if not worse than what his predecessor by dropping five straight games and making three quarterback changes along the way. Then the unthinkable happened. Trailing Temple 21-0 at halftime, UConn looked to be well on its way to an 0-10 record, but the Huskies managed to score 28 unanswered points to come back and claim their first victory of the season. They followed up that performance with a 28-17 win over rival Rutgers last Sunday as their send-off gift to the Scarlet Knights before they head on over to the Big Ten next season. As Ryan Boatright might say, they are leaving the conference with “a bad taste of
UConn in their mouths.” No. 3 – Field hockey captures third national championship Duke and North Carolina are considered national powerhouses in field hockey, but UConn took out both of them en route to its third national championship in program history. Postseason accolades followed for the Huskies as well. Senior goalkeeper Sarah Mansfield, senior forwards Marie Elena Bolles and Anne Jeute, sophomore midfielder Roisin Upton and junior forward Chloe Hunnable were all named as NFHCA All-Americans for their performances this season. Additionally, Bolles took home the National Player of the Year honor with 17 goals and 14 assists–a total of 48 points on the season. She finished her UConn career with 129 total points, good for sixth place on the alltime points list. No. 2 – Men’s soccer conquers penalty shootout demon, upsets top-seeded UCLA If you have paid attention to UConn men’s soccer in the past, you know penalty shootouts are dreadful
to watch. Heading into this year’s NCAA Tournament, the Huskies were 0-6 in shootouts under head coach Ray Reid (including a conference championship loss to South Florida just a few weeks earlier), but they managed to get that monkey off their backs with back-to-back shootout wins over UMBC and the top-seeded UCLA in the past two weeks to advance to the Elite Eight. 1. Shabazz Napier’s buzzer-beater over Florida Down by one with 17.7 seconds to go, UConn turned to Shabazz Napier to save the day. Ask and you shall receive. Napier missed his first attempt with about three seconds to go, but a tip by DeAndre Daniels gave him a second chance, and Napier wouldn’t let it slip by this time. The senior guard drilled a foul-line jumper as the time expired to send Gampel Pavilion into a frenzy last Monday, as the No. 12 Huskies topped the No. 15 Florida Gators to remain undefeated this season at 8-0.
Michael.Peng@UConn.edu