October 5, 2011 Volume 81 Issue 6
Sports
Opinion
Rugby makes more history, page 12
Wake up, Palestine is under fire, page 7
Security restricts juniors’ parking
Arts & Life
Blink-182 review, page 7
Students question basketball players’ punishment
SPB’s Fall concert
By Phil Nobile News Editor
Quinnipiac juniors are not allowed to park on Mount Carmel campus during weekday peak hours and are subjected to ticketing, Chief of Security & Safety David Barger said in a presentation to Hamden’s Planning and Zoning Commission Sept. 27. However, the university’s student handbook details no such rule. According to the handbook, “students with York Hill parking decals are allowed to use the North Lot and park in the commuter area. York Hill parking decals also are valid on the North Haven campus.” There are no specifics listed distinguishing juniors and seniors, or certain hours limiting juniors’ parking privileges. In a memorandum written by Hamden Assistant Town Planner Daniel Kops Jr., he states “contrary to the statement made to the Commission during the Public Hearing that students living at York Hill campus would not have passes allowing them to park in commuter parking lots during the day, it seems that they have been given passes. A large number of them are now driving to school, increasing traffic congestion at the West Woods/Whitney Avenue intersection, and reducing the number of prime parking spaces available for true commuters.” Also in the memorandum, numbers given to the town commission stated that the statistics Quinnipiac provided needed to be clarified by the next meeting. According to the numbers provided by the university, only 110 less students are living off campus this year than three years ago, despite the addition of Eastview and other on-campus accommodations for seniors. Barger was unable to comment by press time. The Chronicle will continue to monitor happenings with this story at the Oct. 11 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
By Marissa Himbele & Jenn Lepore
Full story, more photos, quchronicle.com
Matt Eisenberg/Chronicle
Sean Forman of 3OH!3 sings to students pulled on stage Saturday at TD Bank Sports Center.
Penalties from the state for men’s basketball players Ike Azotam and James Johnson likely won’t be severe. While the university continues its investigation of the Sept. 26 altercation, students are speaking out about their desire for transparency in how Quinnipiac’s administration is dealing with the basketball players’ punishment. Scott Ostrander, a sophomore athletic training major, is one of the many students on campus who finds no justice in Quinnipiac’s secrecy. “They basically jumped the kid, got arrested, but the school doesn’t do a goddamn thing about it,” Ostrander said. The university cannot comment on ongoing investigations per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, which states that a student must give consent to the university prior to the disclosure of educational records. Azotam and Johnson were arrested following a fight with students 3 a.m. Sept. 26. Both players were charged with third-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace. Hamden police made no other arrests. Attorney and Quinnipiac professor Eroll Skyers predicts the harshest punishment the basketball players could face is probation and paying the price of court and an attorney. “As long as they have never had any prior criminal history, I don’t expect they will spend a day in jail,” Skyers said. The players’ defense attorney Thomas Lynch told the Chronicle that Azotam and Johnson had clean records prior to said alterSee basketball Page 3
Bobcat Den 2.0 delayed 2-3 weeks By Marcus Harun Web Developer
Past the the time when Chartwells officials said the Bobcat Den would reopen by the end of September, officials now say it could be up to three more weeks until students can enjoy their late-night snacks at the Den. In late August, Associate Director of Dining Services Leean Spalding told the Chronicle that construction delays pushed the reopen date
back to the end of September. Monday, Joseph Tobin, director of Chartwells dining service, said the Bobcat Den would reopen in two to three weeks after more construction delays. “It’s not one thing [that delayed the project]—it is everything. It’s how construction is,” Tobin said. “Right now all the different trades are doing their final work. We’re just in the final stages.” Matt Eisenberg/Chronicle
See Ratt Page 3
The Bobcat Den renovation nears completion and will reopen in two to three weeks.
POLL: What did you think of SPB’s fall concert?
MULTIMEDIA: Check out a video of an amazing frisbee catch at Alpha Chi Omega’s Frisbee Fest.