vol105issue02

NEWS

Spontaneous Car Fire - Page 2

SPORTS

Sports Blogs

Fall TV Preview

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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

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Volume 105 No. 2

First Faculty Senate Meeting: Calls for More Communication and Evaluation

Journalism Major to Capitalize on CCSU’s Multi-Media and Print Strengths Amanda Ciccatelli News Editor

Edward Gaug / The Recorder

Melissa Traynor Editor -In-Chief At the first faculty senate meeting of the 2008-09 academic year, new president Candace Barrington of the English department addressed communication between faculty and the administration as well as guided the conversation on professor evaluations.

Barrington said she’s looking forward to a stronger dialogue between the faculty and administration and ensure that it happens on a regular basis. Conversations between President Jack Miller, who attended the senate’s meeting on Monday, and the faculty would be recorded and transcribed to the Web for a further reach.

Barrington said that the dialogue will be established regularly for the following reasons: faculty will be granted an opportunity to simply learn more about the administration and stay up-to-date, any questions and concerns can be immediately ad-

dressed or for faculty to hear out the concerns of their colleagues.

In continuing her report, the new senate president emphasized the need for more faculty involvement in the overall decision-making process at CCSU. “Decision-making from the ground up,” Barrington pointed out, as mentioned by the Chronicle of Higher Education as a characteristic of a good college to work for, “that’s another way of saying shared governance.”

Committees in which faculty have seats, Barrington stressed, should be taken seriously and listened to lest their involvement decline.

“Faculty must accept the responsibilities which they demand,” she said and added that there should be some incentive for participation in shared governance.

Some events Barrington discussed in her report regarding the upcoming year included the arrival of the New England Association of

Schools and Colleges team and the move towards accreditation.

Barrington said they will visit in midOctober to make recommendations.

Closing the meeting with a topic that was discussed at length, the faculty senate debated how to approach new guidelines for professor evaluations by peers which would ultimately be passed up the chain come the time for promotion and tenure decisions.

“There needs to be

a desire to cultivate and develop...”

Though revisions were made prior to the meeting by Dr. Stephen Cohen of the English department, senators found it difficult to agree with the overall procedure that would require rigidity in terms of oversight and completion by the department evaluation committees.

Discussion quickly accused not the process itself, but the spirit in

Men’s Soccer Blanks Bonnies

which the evaluations were approached.

“There needs to be a desire to cultivate and develop rather than a paranoia to be evaluated,” said VP Guy Crundwell of chemistry/biochemistry. He added that he’d like to see more options for teacher evaluations including a higher frequency of them and also a variety of evaluators and expressed the need for more developmental feedback.

Crundwell suggested, depending on the course, that many different opinions as evaluations should be an option for faculty and so that they have a handful of them to choose from.

The faculty somewhat favored need for the individual academic departments themselves to alter the details of the evaluations over a standardized procedure.

Discussion surrounding evaluations will resume at the next meeting of the faculty senate on Monday, Sept. 22.

A team of faculty and staff at CCSU have recently designed a Journalism major that will satisfy students who are interested in integrating writing, multi-media and liberal arts into one major.

The Dean of Arts and Sciences, Student Pease, designed a committee to get this project accomplished. The committee includes Pease herself, Dr. Karen Ritzenhoff, Dr. Serafin Mendez-Mendez, Professor Anthony Cannella and Dr. Vivian Martin along with a great deal of support from President Jack Miller and Provost Carl Lovitt. The committee worked together during the Spring 2008 semester and is still working to make the journalism major at Central official by fall of 2009. Once the major is approved it will be requested to have its department in Diloretto Hall.

“Vivian was the leader, but she could not have done it without the other three,” Pease said.

Journalism professor Dr. Martin explained that last spring eight students had special studies major to satisfy a degree in journalism and ever since the number has been growing over semesters. Other than a major, 50 to 60 students take journalism as a minor, while some students are not even aware that CCSU offers journalism minor.

“Students showed an indication of interest,” she said. “We see students who want to know, ‘Where’s the journalism major?’” Now, journalism professors point students to the new major.

According to Martin, the major is in the liberal arts and sciences and is designed to be flexible for students and each student must choose a minor. “Although students can take any liberal arts minor they want, we’re looking at highlighting a few interdisciplinary minors around campus that give room for electives.”

“It really brings together what is liberal arts,” said Pease. “You need to have a background. You need training in technology. We would encourage it and find ways to help facilitate it.”

See New Journalism Major Page 3

New Interim VP of Student Affairs Named Amanda Ciccatelli News Editor

Sophomore Connor Smith fights through Bonnie Defense.

Conrad Akier / Special to The Recorder

See Men’s Soccer Blanks Bonnies Page 8

After an unsuccessful search for new Vice President of Student Affairs, President Jack Miller appointed Laura Tordenti as the interim starting fall semester and will stay as long as needed.

Along with several goals she hopes to reach, Tordenti says her role along with her entire staff of professionals in Student Affairs is to answer the question, “How do we best serve students, meet their needs and continue to help them develop intellectually and socially?”

Tordenti has a list of goals that she is already working towards while she holds the position of Vice President of Student Affairs.

“I am responding to some of the needs expressed by students on campus,” she said. Some of these issues she wants to address include improv-

Photo: Bob Wessman

See Meet Laura Tordenti Page 3

News

2 THE RECORDER Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008

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Police Arrest Hundreds of Protesters, Media on Last Night of RNC

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Staff Editor-in-Chief Melissa Traynor Managing Editor Peter Collin Art Director Steven Spencer Associate Layout Editor Edward Gaug Copy Editor Aril Grain Entertainment Editor Nick Viccione Lifestyles Editor Jane Natoli News Amanda Ciccatelli Sports Editor Kyle Dorau Opinion Editor Marissa Blaszko Editor-at-Large Karyn Danforth Web Editor John Vignali Illustrator Stefano Delli Carpini

Staff Writers Brad Cooper Ryan Yeomans Sarah Bogues Mallory Costa Caroline Dearborn Lindsay LeFort

About The Recorder is a studentproduced publication of Central Connecticut State University and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of CCSU’s administrators, faculty, or students. The Recorder articles, photographs, and graphics are property of The Recorder and may not be reproduced or published without the written permission from the Editorin-Chief.

T he pur pose of T he Recorder is to approach and def ine issues of impor tance to the st udents of Centra l Connecticut State Universit y.

Matt Rourke / AP

Andy Kroll Youth Vote ‘08 correspondent U-WIRE – ST. PAUL, Minn. – On the fourth and final night of the Republican National Convention police arrested hundreds of protesters, media and legal observers who had staged an impromptu march through the streets near the state capitol building.

After several hours of marching, police used flash grenades to force the marchers onto a bridge over I-94 where the crowd was blocked in by riot police on both sides. The marchers ended their demonstration by sitting down on the Marion Avenue bridge.

Before forcing the marchers onto the bridge, police used pepper spray to subdue numerous protesters and media, eyewitnesses say.

St. Paul Police Department spokesman Tom Walsh said that as the march continued police deemed it unlawful, meaning that freedom of

assembly no longer applied to those participating in the demonstration.

Among those arrested were UWIRE Youth Vote ‘08 correspondent Dean Treftz from the University of Iowa and Badger Herald photographer Jeff Schorfheide from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Treftz and Schorfheide were not taken to a detention center but cited for unlawful assembly, a misdemeanor.

They were told to call authorities next week after the city determines how it will handle the charges against the media.

Treftz said the march started at the state capitol building and quickly moved into the streets surrounding the building.

Several protesters were then arrested, which caused the march to subside, but then protesters continued on Marion Avenue until police confronted the demonstration. But after a single protester set off a firework in front of a line of police officers, Treftz said then that “everyone

Spontaneous Car Fire in Welte Amanda Ciccatelli News Editor A CCSU student’s 2001 pickup truck burst into flames on the 4th floor of Welte Garage on Tuesday afternoon around 4:00 p.m.

CCSU Police and the New Britain Police and Fire Departments arrived to assess the scene. No one was injured during the car fire and one car aside from the pick up truck was damaged.

The heat of the fire damaged one vehicle parked on one side of the burning vehicle. It melted the back bumper, taillight and some of the car’s molding.

Lt. Edward Dercole of the CCSU Police said that someone had called him from the department’s dispatch and explained that a smoking car was sitting in Welte Garage.

“By the time we got there, it was engulfed,” said Dercole, who was working traffic before he responded to the call.

According to Lt. Dercole, the car fire is the result of problems with the vehicle that warranted a recall.

The owner of the pickup truck stated he had received a recall from

the car dealership claiming there were fires in the same truck models from due to sparks than can ignite in the cruise control when the ignition is off. “Something like this was not careless,” said Lt. Dercole.

After the car fire was extinguished and the area was cleaned up, the lower levels of Welte Garage were open for students, but the two top floors of Welte were restricted to students who could retrieve their cars by 5:00 p.m. that day. One lane of Ella Grasso Boulevard was closed down during the incident, but traffic remained moving.

Lt. Dercole advises students to take action when they receive a letter giving a warning about a possible problem with a car, especially if it can cause a fatal accident for the driver.

“Take the time to try and fix the problem,” he said.

According to the CCSU Police Department, the car fire incident is under investigation by the State of Connecticut and the Fire Marshall.

Dercole explained that this does not mean the incident was suspicious.

ran and the police used flash bangs and smoke to corral everyone onto the bridge.”

Minnesota Daily photographer Stephen Maturen was hit in the face with pepper spray, blinding him temporarily, he said. He was not contained on the bridge and was released by police without a citation.

Maturen said it was a single protester that provoked the police surrounding the demonstration, and that after police chased the protester and knocked him to the ground the remaining police officers began forcing the demonstration in a certain direction.

As of 9 p.m., most who participated in the demonstration were being held on the Marion Avenue bridge by police. A small group were sitting on the curb with their hands bound with plastic handcuffs on the corner of Marion Avenue and St. Anthony Avenue to the north of the bridge.

Several empty city buses idled at the intersection of Marion and St.

Anthony into which handcuffed demonstrators were held. Ramsey County sheriff Bob Fletcher told reporters around 10 p.m. that demonstrators who identified themselves as journalists or lawyers would be given citations for unlawful assembly but would be released after receiving their citation.

In a brief exchange with journalists watching the arrests, St. Paul police spokesman Walsh admonished members of the media, blurting out angrily, “You people behaved badly.”

The arrests marked the end of week-long succession of numerous planned and impromptu protests coinciding with the Republican National Convention taking place at the Xcel Energy Arena in downtown St. Paul. Hundreds of arrests of protesters and journalists had already occurred since before the convention began.

Edward Gaug / The Recorder

3

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008 / NEWS

Corporate Perks Draw GU Students to Campus Rep Positions Julia Cai The Hoya Georgetown University U-WIRE – Corporations have started to capitalize on the buying power of the college student by using none other than college students themselves.

Playboy, Microsoft, American Airlines and Apple have all hired students at Georgetown as their campus representatives in order to enhance their marketing power on the Hilltop.

According to a recent study by Alloy Media + Marketing, college students will account for $237 billion in consumer spending this year. Companies across the nation have increasingly indicated that they are looking to get a share of the lucrative demographic, many by creating or expanding campus representative programs.

Jason Rocco (GRD ’10), a campus representative for Playboy, said he is a part of the company’s grassroots program to extend the company’s brand to college campuses.

“The [Playboy] college program bridges that gap and lets college students know that they can feel included in the hip, sophisticated lifestyle that [Playboy] promotes,” he said.

Because it is a grassroots program, Rocco said he is given a small budget with which he develops marketing plans and schedules Playboy bar and club events, charitable and social events, fan meet-and-greets with Playmates and media interviews.

“Since it is a grassroots program, it is a very organic program in the fact that it is up to

each [representative] to make the most of their efforts,” he said.

Rocco said working as a campus representative for Playboy also yields a number of perks, including a free trip to the Playboy Mardi Gras events in New Orleans as well as the 50th anniversary tour event in New York and Las Vegas.

Additionally, he also received a private tour of the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles and has met celebrities including Britney Spears, Snoop Dogg and the Playboy Playmates.

Last spring, Kendra Peters (MSB ’10), an Apple campus representative, was involved in an initiative to promote Apple as an environmentally friendly company. Peters worked with Eco-Action, a student organization focused on environmental awareness, to inform students of Apple’s product recycling program as well as the company’s efforts to reduce usage of hazardous items.

Peters recently worked on a back-toschool initiative for Apple by hosting a Guitar Hero station for new students as well as collaborating with University Information Services to help answer students’ Mac-related questions. “[Apple] give[s] you a ton of freedom.

They give you guidelines, basic concepts or ideas that they want you to apply,” she said. “It is also just a lot of replying to e-mails from students that have questions. I handed out business cards to tons and tons of freshmen who were concerned about having computer problems and things like that.”

Peters said she had been interested in being an Apple campus representative because

she always liked Apple products and hoped to intern there in the future.

“It seemed like a great combination of being on campus, being able to have a great job here and also being involved with one of my favorite companies,” Peters said.

According to Peters, Apple recently revamped its campus representative program and now employs 400 college students in campuses across the country. Peters also received an expenses-paid training session at Apple’s Cupertino, Calif. headquarters to prepare for the job.

“The training was awesome. We got to have a three-day training session; they put us up in the Marriot and everything. It was just really fun,” she said.

Peters said that the greatest challenge for campus representatives is that students often consider them to essentially be salespeople. She said she disputes that characterization.

“A lot of [challenges] have to do with being seen as a vendor on campus because you can’t join SAC, you can’t be involved in a lot of things, as in you are not [considered] a student group [but] you are seen as a separate vendor or company,” Peters said. “I’m really just a support system who is giving information to students about our products, but it is not like I’m a salesman.”

Kat Freeman (MSB ’10), a former campus representative for Microsoft’s Windows Live Messenger, was assigned to recruit students to download the live messenger and participate in the “IM for a Cause” program. Freeman posted flyers in Red Square and went door to door try-

Meet Laura Tordenti, Interim VP of Student Affairs Continued from page 1

ing respect of one another, the overall campus environment and diversity.

Tordenti has observed Central’s unique campus with something to offer from the students. “CCSU is a very sophisticated campus,” she said. “The energy from students is very positive.” She said she is impressed with how engaged the students are and how much passion there is from all different student groups.

A typical day for Tordenti involves meeting with various members of Central’s staff to see what support they need and meeting with Miller’s staff. Tordenti also works collaboratively with her staff in Student Affairs and the Counseling Center to meet the needs of students.

The most important part of her job, according to Tordenti, is being engaged with the

students. “Like tonight,” she said. “I am going to the Devil’s Den and walking around different Resident Halls.”

The interim vice president of Student Affairs is confident in saying her job is completely centered on students and specifically meeting their needs. “This is an office of advocacy. Every student should feel that they have an ally or an advocate in this office.”

A Connecticut native, Tordenti grew up in Waterford. She earned a B.A. in economics from Eastern Connecticut State University in1981 and went on to earn her M.A. at the University of Connecticut specializing in Student Affairs because her goal was to work in higher education.

In between her education, she has interned at the Hartford Courant, at a radio sta-

tion, and even as an area coordinator at ECSU while working on her master’s degree.

Until 1988, Tordenti was the director of career development at ECSU, but eventually moved to Seattle, Washington to work at a comprehensive community college for 10 years.

“I helped the college integrate academic advising and career development,” she said.

From there, Tordenti started a doctoral program in Seattle.

“I cam alive professionally,” Tordenti said about her 10-year rising success in her career between the age of 28 to 38 years old. “I have been blessed with terrific career opportunities,” she said.

With Few Precedents, Outcome of FOIC Case Uncertain Aaron Bray Yale Daily News Yale University An appeal filed last week against the Freedom of Information Commission — challenging its conclusion that the identities of New Haven ID cardholders should remain private — presents the Connecticut State Superior Court with a highly unusual and heated monthslong case that could end up making its way to the state Supreme Court.

The limited scope of the appeal — journalist Chris Powell and anti-illegal-immigrant activist Dustin Gold will question the commission’s understanding of the Freedom of Information Act, as well as bring up what they see as procedural deficiencies — could make it harder for the plaintiffs to prevail. And, to make things more complicated for the plaintiffs, state courts have generally been less receptive to requests for information than the FOIC. But the unusual nature of the case has added a degree of uncertainty: In most freedom-of-information cases the appellants are the municipal or state departments, seeking to overturn a FOIC decision to release documents, rather than outside parties seeking the release of information, according to former Freedom of Information Commissioner Mitchell Pearlman.

In July, the FOIC commission voted 3-1 in favor of a proposed decision issued a month earlier by Sherman London, the officer who presided over the months-long hearing. In essence, that decision reached the same conclusion as city and state officials with the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security: Releasing the identities of card holders would put the individuals in danger and would pose an unacceptable publicsafety risk because of the possibility of reprisals from angry opponents of city’s policies on illegal immigration.

The decision was reached after lengthy testimony from, among others, New Haven po-

lice and municipal administrators, as well as consideration of a mountain of submissions by the city’s lawyers that included documentation of anonymous death threats directed at both city officials and immigrants themselves.

The legal findings were based in large part on Section 1-210(b)(19) of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, which states, in part, that nothing in the FOIA law “shall be construed to require disclosure” when such disclosure may lead to “the risk of harm to any person” or government institution.

But Gold and Powell’s appeal argues that the commission misinterpreted the relevant portions of the public-safety exemption to disclosure, and that the hearings themselves were rife with procedural problems, including improper admission of City Hall documents into evidence.

“The commission handled this case terribly,” Powell said. “It relies entirely on hearsay and on material that was never formerly entered into evidence. The submission from the city was a big packet of documents, and these documents were never tested, never subject to crossexamination.”

As an example of improperly admitted hearsay evidence, Powell pointed to the remarks of talk-show host Hal Turner, which he said should not have been considered by hearing officer Sherman London in the ruling because he did not have an opportunity to refute it.

“I would laugh if a slew of patriots got in their cars, drove up to the New Haven Municipal building and opened fire on the lines of illegal aliens standing there,” Turner said, on live radio, not long after the ID-card program went into effect, according to the citation in London’s decision. “The illegal aliens deserve to be killed and so does the mayor and … the City Council.”

Moreover, Gold said, the public-safety exemption should never have been considered in the first place, because the ID does not qualify

as, nor is it akin to, one of nine specified records to which the exemption applies.

Those nine records include “security manuals,” “engineering and architectural drawings” and “security audits,” among other items.

But London, and ultimately the majority of the commission, agreed with the city’s argument, and found that the security exemptions included the specified nine — but were “not limited to [them].”

Still, Gold and Powell had a chance to contest the relevance of some of the supposed hearsay during the proceedings.

In one example, James Johnston, a former Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officer, was called by them as an expert witness.

“I don’t consider those as really credible threats,” Johnston said, the New Haven Independent reported after the hearing in early April.

Andrew O’Keefe , the FOIC chairman, voted against the commission’s final decision, aligning himself with Powell and Gold’s view that the anonymous threats were not substantial enough to warrant restricting the information — a fact both Powell and Gold said indicated that their appeal had merit.

Be that as it may, Pearlman said, it is unlikely to help Powell and Gold in their appeal, as FOIC rulings can only be reversed if a higher court rules the Commission understood the law improperly.

“One of the things,” Pearlman noted, “is that the appeal process is a limited one. There’s a limited basis for reversing a decision: that the FOIC erred in its interpretation of the law,” rather than in its judgment on the facts.

Meanwhile, there is still no word from the city on what the extent of its involvement in the appeal will be.

Since the suit names the FOIC as the defendant, the commission’s in-house lawyers will be responsible for defending the decision.

However, the city can choose to seek standing to participate in the appeals process.

ing to enlist new Windows Live Messenger users.

Freeman said she took the Microsoft gig because it was one of the most flexible student jobs available.

“I actually saw an ad on Facebook. I needed a job but I didn’t want shifts, [and so I thought] it [was] a good opportunity to make money without doing a certain shift every week,” she said.

Freeman was actually first hired by RepNation, a company that hires campus representatives for a number of corporations including Microsoft, JetBlue, MTV, General Motors and Victoria’s Secret.

Marian Haji-Mohamed (MSB ’08) served as a campus sales representative for American Airlines last school year. She said by connecting to college students and co-sponsoring events with other student organizations, the airline company is able to better reach a valuable new market.

“Placing representatives on university campuses is a strategically beneficial move for any firm because students are a large and profitable consumer segment,” she said.

Haji-Mohamed cited discount travel on American Airlines as a perk of the position.

And, as a marketing major, Haji-Mohamed said working as a campus representative was the perfect job for her.

“I gained experience in both networking and event-planning, which are critical tools for any marketing major,” she said.

New Journalism Major at CCSU Continued from page 1

The major will be made of 40 credits in both print and broadcast journalism. After 22 credits of general journalism requirements for the major, a student will move into 18 credits of print of broadcast.

“Everybody has to be educated in a multimedia environment,” said Dr. Martin. For example, every student in print must take Web journalism as a class along with a visual class such as photography.

A few courses that will be offered in the major will be JRN 384 Journalism History, JRN 410 Public Opinion, JRN 370 Today’s News in Context and JRN 416 Magazine Writing along with many other options.

According to Dr. Martin, the Vance endowed chair is a strength of this new journalism program. It was a gift from Robert Vance, the former publisher of the New Britain Herald, who gave CCSU $1.4 million in 2000. The gift will help to hire prominent practitioners to come teach their specialty at CCSU for a semester to a year.

“No more than 200 or so journalism programs have endowed chairs,” said Dr. Martin.

Journalism programs often times do not have endowed chair and opt for money from journalistic foundations. Larger ones like these are similar to the size of the CCSU journalism program. According to Martin, the program is at the point where the chair has earned enough interest to hire a new full time journalism faculty member that will help expand the program and add to the opportunity for successful advisement to students.

Martin explained that strong advising to students is a really important part of the journalism major. “There are 38 credits beyond the major and general education classes that we want to help students do something with.” She wants to make sure that students organize those classes to count for something that goes towards specific areas such as business, history or political science classes.

“I think advising is really exciting to help young people find their way in,” Martin said. “I think that if you are advising right, you should be able to get them out in four years.”

A study abroad experience built in to the curriculum is another important aspect to understanding journalism, said Martin and Pease.

“Internationalizing the journalism program is really important,” said Martin. The committee of journalism faculty is interested in finding different ways for students to interact with international students as a part of their major.

“The major will be unlike any that is offered in the state,” Martin said. The journalism major will be flexible, diverse and exciting, but over the years it will have to be changed slightly to keep up with the technology and journalistic needs in the future.

4 THE RECORDER Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008

Editorial

Editorial/Opinion

In a contest for best chant ever heard at a protest, “you’re hot, you’re cute, take off the riot suit” might just take first. A journalist for the Huffington Post reported hearing activists serenade riot police with the chant during the Republican National Convention anti-war demonstrations last week, right before hundreds of citizens – trapped on a bridge by two flanks of riot police – were forced on their knees and arrested two at a time.

According to most news sources, more than 800 arrests were made over the four-day span of the convention. What may be most alarming, however, is that at least 19 of the arrests were journalists, many of whom were not only wearing their identification but had certified access to the RNC. One of the most prominent journalists arrested was Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman, who was handcuffed after asking police to talk to their supervisor about the unlawful detainment of two DN producers. The entire episode was captured by a nearby videographer, and uploaded onto YouTube.com within hours. (To view the video, as well as others of the same event, search ‘Democracy Now’ on the video hosting site.)

Soon, the Ramsey County Attorney’s office will decide whether to press probable cause riot charges against the two producers, which would effectively nail the two reporters with a felony; meanwhile, Goodman has been served a “misdemeanor obstruction of a legal process and interference with a peace officer” according to her organization’s Web site. All three reporters,

Goodman claimed on Free Speech TV, were simply doing their job—a right protected under the Constitution.

Although the trio was eventually released, the incident may serve as a case study for what has happened to handfuls of the independent media over the course of the RNC. I-Witness Video, a blog that monitors police activity, had the door to their office broken in by a police battering ram in the middle of an afternoon of work. In an imprompto press release, the National Lawyer’s Guild (who were located in the same building as I-Witness) said that the police claimed that they had gotten an undercover tip that “the anarchists were holding people hostage in [the] building.” Even after it was evident that no such thing had taken place, it was only after a brief occupation of the office that the police cleared out.

The largest question that seems to arrise while examining these events, is that of intent—not of the supposively rioting journalists, but of the police arresting them. Clearly, photojournalists getting tear gassed while running with a herd of aggressive protestors is understandable; at the end of the day, individual police must protect themselves, as well as the state they serve.

It is, however, when Goodman’s arrest is taken to account, that things start to get a little hazier. What threat could an unarmed, middle aged woman possibly pose to nearly-armored riot police? If an Internet user watching the low-res. footage on a 2-inch screen on YouTube could see her RNC press pass, could the arresting officers?

But it is the bogus “anarchist kidnapping” that completely erases the line between public good and police harassment.

Although Goodman refused to give her opinion on wether or not the astonishing number of media-related arrests were an effort by the state to frighten independent news sources, those who have looked into the incidents may draw their own conclusions.

Unfortunately, the only protest-related event that any of the major networks have covered was the RNC Welcoming Committee—which was an act of vandalism at best, probably about as distructive as the Boston Tea Party. Because of the media blackout, voters are not only forced to draw their own conclusions, but to find the information themselves. Without tools like Digg, Twitter, or even Facebook Notes, it would be impossible for the majority of Americans to even find out about these events!

Still, in a world where the press may be criticized more than any other profession (with the possible exception of politicians), voters must remember that the reason they know about any of this—the reason they are even reading this article, is because the Constitutional Rights granted to the media by the State. Intelectual and political discourse in a globalized society is only possible because of all media outlets, from the blogosphere to the Rupert Murdoch empire. As the staff of the college newspaper, we have chosen to write this piece to remind readers of this, and to hope they are reminded of it again when they cast their ballot this November.

Kucinich Pushes On, Breaks Through Corporate Press Marissa Blaszko Opinion Editor

It’s a tough time to be a politician. Stick to your guns, and you’re “out of touch”. Adapt to the times, and you’re a “flip-flopper”. Half of your media coverage will be undoubtedly unflattering – but without it, you’ll never win. If you’re old you’re going to die in office; if you’re young you’re inexperienced.

At points, it seems as if the only thing that politicians have convinced any voters of is switching the channel. And the networks do a pretty good job of that, too.

Conscious viewers are left with choices like NPR, PBS, and C-Span – all of which can be notorious for drawing out a point until the viewer is left unconscious. At this season’s DNC, however, C-Span covered something finally worth noting: Sen. Dennis Kucinich. Like dozens of other Democrats, the Ohio Representative got his turn at the podium; and, like most Democrats whose last names aren’t Obama, Clinton or Kennedy, he was virtually ignored by the mainstream media. Like him or hate him, the man who brought voters the official petition to impeach President Bush is certainly a man worth noting.

“Wake up America,” he began his brief DNC speech, in front of an only partially filled convention hall. “In 2001 the oil companies, the war contractors, and the neo-con artists seized the economy and added four trillion dollars of unproductive spending to the national debt. We now pay four times more for defense, three times more for gasoline and home heating oil, and twice as much what we paid for health care.”

It’s a wonder a politician so blatantly honest got into Washington at all. With an unfortunately short-lived campaign to become the Democratic Nominee, Kucinich may very well have been the only major player in the primary that is genuinely against war. (Voters who believe Obama is the “anti-war ticket” may be somewhat startled to discover that his Web site claims plans to “safely redeploy combat brigades” from Iraq. In this, the US would maintain bases in the country, but move the actual combat troops to continue fighting in other parts of the Middle East.)

The fact that the media ignored Kucinich entirely is further proof that the corporate press purposely blocks out anyone outside of the twoparty safe zone. During libertarian Ron Paul’s race to be the Republican nominee, not only was he hugely underrepresented in both broadcast and print journalism, but even excluded

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Illustration by Stefano Delli Carpini

from several major debates. (Paul believed in immediate withdrawal from Iraq, as well as huge cutbacks within the Washington bureaucracy.) Kucinich’s campaign was treated much in the same way.

But, ignoring the size of his DNC audience, Kucinich continued his speech with mounting vigor – and within minutes had announced a truth that most Americans know, though still find comforting to hear a politician announce: “We went to Iraq for oil!”

Although virtually every American differs with Kucinich’s personal platform in some Now What by Tim Kudrle

way, the very fact of how honest he is – not only for a politician – is something that, most likely, the same majority of Americans wish they could see in more of their elected officials. Now wouldn’t that be a nice change?

On top of fairly thunderous clapping and hollering, Kucinich finished up his 5-minute speech, his fist pumping through the air with a mix of solidarity and defiance.

“This is not a call for you to take a new direction, from right to left – this is a call for you to go from down to up. Up with the rights of workers! Up with wages! Up with fair trade! Up

with creating millions of good paying new jobs rebuilding our bridges, our water systems, our sewer systems, our ports. Up with creating millions of sustainable energy jobs to lower the cost of energy, lower carbon emissions, and protect the environment. Up with healthcare for all! Up with education for all! Up with home ownership! Up with guaranteed retirement benefits! Up with peace! Up with prosperity!”

And John McCain thought he was the “Straight Talk Express.”

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008 / OPINION

5

We’d Leave Sarah Palin Alone – If McCain Wanted Marissa Blaszko Opinion Editor Since McCain nominated Alaskan governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, the young politician has replaced opponent Barack Obama as the darling of the media – at least, for now. In this bold campaign move, McCain used not only blatant strategy in picking his candidate, but in picking his timing as well; just as quickly as the media began raving about Barak’s historic speech at the closing of the DNC, they instantly turned their attention toward Palin.

Just as obvious is the fact that, over the past week, the nation has heard about the vice presidential hopeful ad nauseum. First there was her biography; then, there was her controversial lack of experience; next, the baby scandal; next, the other baby scandal. The newest and least noticed headlines, however, are probably the ones that Republicans are the most desperate to have read.

Small bits of the press have begun covering the fact that both McCain and Obama campaigns have told reporters to stay away from the most sensationalistic political story since Clinton’s happy ending.

“It used to be that a lot of those smears and the crap on the Internet stayed out of the newsrooms of serious journalists,’’ said Steve Schmidt, McCain’s campaign manager, at the RNC. The Bloomberg article which featured the quote went on to bring up something that the McCain camp will have to deal with over the next couple of months: many of them, like Schmidt, feel the media’s coverage of Palin’s personal life has been “offensive’’ and “demeaning’’.

Telling the press—in any form—to shut their mouths, however, is a double-edged sword.

On one hand, a presidential candidate may seem anti-Access-Hollywood-styled media coverage. But on the other, they may be setting himself against good ole’ freedom of speech.

What voters may want to begin investigating, however, is the link between E! TV and Fox News – as well as the growing similarities between our politicians and entertainment figures (be it celebs or sports teams). There may not be a morally sound or perfectly ethical way to address the media’s treatment of Sarah Palin, but there are sure more than enough questions for voters to be asking themselves this election season.

Photo: washingtontimes.com

Was it not McCain’s ad that compared Obama to Britney Spears, who has been a target of “offensive” and “demeaning” media for nearly half a decade? Why complain that Obama is being treated as a celebrity, and then turn to complain that one of your own is as well? What about the striking sensationalism that continues to leak through cable news 24 hours a day?

What job could Bill O’Reilly or Lou Dobbs possibly have, except to add shock value to news?

Americans’ Fear Stalls Nuclear Progress Jesse Hathaway Source: The Post, Ohio U

Check the price of gas lately? According to price-tracking Web site www.OhioGasPrices. com, the average gas price in Ohio is $3.97. Lots of people are feeling their wallets get lighter because of this and are searching for less expensive alternatives to fuel their lifestyles. Some people are converting their cars to run on ethanol fuel or buying electric or electric-hybrid cars. On the supply side, American farmers are diverting their corn crops from food production to ethanol production, which some critics claim has caused an increase in food prices.

No one will dispute the fact that America is facing an energy crisis. In the last year alone, we have faced a 22 percent increase in unleaded gasoline prices. Natural gas, which millions of Americans rely on to heat their homes and water, has increased in price by 54 percent over the last year. Crude oil, which is refined to become everything from jet fuel to road asphalt, has experienced a 76 percent price increase.

Environmentalists decry what some call the American “addiction to oil,” but what many fail to realize is that the alternatives to oil are either unpopular or unfeasible.

For example, take nuclear power. One of the banes of environmentalists’ existence, nuclear power has been turned into a sort of atomic-powered boogeyman that is to be feared and shunned. Many people fear having a nuclear power plant melt down in their backyards, regardless of the fact that safety and security are among the foremost concerns of nuclear power plant designers. Also, nuclear power is one of the closest-to-carbon-neutral ways to massproduce energy. However, there’s a certain irony when France — by no means a conservative-dominated country — produces 79 percent of its electricity through the power of the atom, but American liberals oppose nuclear power at every turn. France’s progressive energy policy actually allows the country to be the world’s largest exporter of electricity.

America, on the other hand, is stuck on mostly

burning coal and oil for energy. As long as we’re not using scary atoms for power, we’re OK, right?

A prominent environmentalist who was recently blind-sided by the truth is James Lovelock, creator of the deep ecological “Gaia hypothesis,” which states that the ecosystem operates as a sort of pseudo-sentient super organism. One German news magazine describes Lovelock’s view in this way: “‘Fanatical Greens,’ who confuse nuclear power with nuclear bombs, have discredited” nuclear energy. Lovelock says, “Show me the mass graves of Chernobyl,” and the article explains his reasoning: “No more than a few thousand people died after the 1986 meltdown — a small price to pay, he says, compared to the millions who could fall victim to [carbon dioxide].”

Biofuel, on the other hand, is popular but unfeasible. According to the National Association of Fleet Administrators, it takes 1.4 gallons of E-85 grade ethanol to equal the energy output of one gallon of unleaded gasoline.

In other words, an ethanol-powered world would require 40 percent more energy resources to maintain the level of energy consumption that we have in today’s petroleum-fueled world.

It’s funny, because most conservationists are for ethanol, yet switching to ethanol would hardly conserve resources.

What does this all mean? It means that Americans need to stop listening to extremist environmentalists when it comes to our national energy policy. Suffering a blinding flash of the obvious, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change identified the advancement of nuclear power production as a “key mitigation […] practice” that would help reduce carbon emissions. Lest you think the IPCC is a conservative mouthpiece, the IPCC is the same group that said there’s a 90 percent chance that Kevin Costner will grow gills and fight pirates in the waterlogged year of 2050. In a rational analysis of the choices, nuclear power is a great option.

Unfortunately, American energy policy these days is anything but rational.

Now, the more relevant question: why would McCain, who claims that he knew of Palin’s grandchild-to-be, pick such a controversial figure if he didn’t want to attract all of the media’s attention? Clearly, in a consumer culture where candidates’ primary interest is having their name appear as many times as possible in headlines, it was a smart move.

Although it’s still a point of debate whether capitalist economy has an “invisible hand” or not, the modern election certainly has one. The

technology that has made it possible for Alexander Bell to first broadcast his voice into another room has grown to the point where a politician can broadcast his or her message across not only a nation, but the entire world.

This primary season has been historic not only because of the candidates, but because of how, more than ever, the candidates need more than money to win over the American public—they need to know how to steal a 24/7 spotlight.

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008 / SPORTS

Sports 9.10.2008

Klukowski Clobbers

Bonnies

7

Sports

8 THE RECORDER Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008

Men’s Soccer Blanks Bonnies Peter Collin Managing Editor The CCSU men’s soccer team trounced the St. Bonaventure Bonnies (1-1-0) in their home opener 4-0. The Blue Devils (2-0-0) were led by senior captain Yan Klukowski’s hat trick and the solid defense of fellow captain David Tyrie.

Klukowski, who led the Blue Devils in goals and assists last season, scored the first of his three goals after a St. Bonaventure foul set up a free kick just outside of the 18 yard line.

Klukowski rifled a ball off of the inside of the far post. The ball then ricocheted to the near post and then into the goal.

“As soon as I hit it I knew it was going to hit the post but it was just whether it was going to go in or not. I struck it nicely. I’ve been taking free kicks in training and blazing them over the bar so it was nice to score two today,” said Klukowski.

That second goal chance came just over seven minutes later.

Klukowski was again awarded an indirect kick this time inside the Bonnie 18 yard line. In spite of it being an indirect kick, Klukowski fired the ball towards the net and in a lapse of concentration the St. Bonaventure goalie made an attempt at the ball, deflecting it into the net for a goal.

Even though the Blue Devils found the net four times, they struggled early on to finish on their many opportunities. During the first half CCSU managed eight shots against the Bonnies’ one, but they only managed to get one of those eight on net.

In spite of the Blue Devils’ inability to score in the first half, the defense held strong behind Tyrie.

“You can have the best back four in the world, but if you don’t have any kind support from the other players on the team you’re going to strug-

gle to keep clean sheets,” said Tyrie.

“That’s the thing we’ve been working on a lot this week, was not just the back four. It’s a big thing with the midfield in front of us and the forwards defending as well.”

For the first 20 minutes of the second half the Blue Devils found themselves in a similar situation as the first half and the stalemate remained until Klukowski finally connected on his free kick in the 67th minute.

Klukowski’s final goal came in the 79th minute. Junior Mersad Sahanic played a ball through to Klukowski down the sideline. He made a move in towards the goal and then slipped the ball past the Bonnie goalkeeper toward the far post.

Sophomore Chris Brown made it 4-0 in the 85th minute. Brown capitalized on a loose ball in front of the net that was the aftermath of a Tyrie shot that was saved by St. Bonaventure goalie Ben Nilda.

Head Coach Shaun Green has been very pleased with the performance of the Blue Devils so far this season.

“Offensively we’ve been a lot more creative this season, we’ve got a lot more talent, and defensively – two clean sheets. And that’s in three hours of soccer, competitive soccer, against two very good teams,” said Green.

It was the second shut out for the Blue Devils in as many games this season as junior goalkeeper Paul Armstrong has racked up six saves in those two games.

Both Klukowski and Tyrie have been named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list, the Hermann Trophy being the most prestigious award in collegiate soccer.

The Blue Devils will be home again on Friday, Sept. 12 when they take on the Vermont Catamounts.

Freshman Eduardo Ortiz gets tackled in the open field.

Sophomore Robert Cavener moves to block a Bonnie attack.

Conrad Akier / Special to The Recorder

‘Red Storm’ Washes Away Blue Devils Kyle Dorau Sports Editor

Edward Gaug / The Recorder

The CCSU Women’s Volleyball team fell at the hands of St. John’s University in front of 113 at Detrick Gymnasium on Wednesday, 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 27-25).

The team fittingly nicknamed the “Red Storm” was led in scoring by Russian native Valeria Kovaleva, who had twelve kills to pace St. John’s.

Sporting a starting lineup that looked more like a United Nations attendance sheet, they had a total of five international players representing China, Trinidad and Tobago, Russia and Poland.

The Red Storm began the first set with a 3-0 run. Chen Chen of St. John’s dominated the first set, asserting her will in the middle of the court.

CCSU tried to fight back from a large deficit, as junior Jamie Baumert’s emphatic block made it 20-13, resulting in a St. John’s timeout. The Storm quickly responded by scoring five straight points to close out the first set , 25-17.

St. John’s started the second set with another run, taking a 4-0 lead over the Blue Devils. Lauren Snyder had some timely kills to bring CCSU within 2 points at 12-10, but that’s as close as the second frame would get.

The Red Storm quickly regained control to put the CCSU Blue Devils away, 25-17.

Central finally got its first lead all night in the third set, taking a 2-1

advantage early on. This set was far and away the best volleyball that CCSU played all night. In a back and forth affair with the defending Big East champs, the Blue Devils had an opportunity to take a set and get back into the match. Up 24-23, CCSU served game point, but was unable to convert. St. John’s won four of the next five points to take the set 27-25, and the match 3-0. “We hung in there,” said CCSU head coach Linda Sagnelli. “If we played the rest of the season like we played game three, I’d be very happy.”

Four the fourth straight contest, Lauren Snyder led the Blue Devils in kills. CCSU also outblocked the Red Storm, 7-6. The Blue Devils fell to 2-2 on the season, while St. John’s improved to 2-2 on the year.

“The flow of the game got better,” said Sagnelli. “Game one, not so much. Game two started, court movement started getting a little better, we started swinging at the ball and started being aggressive. Game three, we had the opportunity to win.”

CCSU is now on the road for a month. Their next home contest isn’t until Oct. 7 against Rhode Island. In the meantime, they head to Holy Cross on Sept. 10. That match is followed by one of two upcoming tournaments they will be participating in, the Harvard Invitational on Sept.

12-13.

9

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008 / SPORTS

Blue Devils Fall to North Dakota State in 50 - 14 Game

Courtesy: Central Connecticut State University

CCSUBlueDevils.com Playing the FCS Coaches’ Poll’s top-ranked team in front of a sellout crowd of 18,868 people, Central Connecticut (1-1) lost 50-14 at North Dakota State (2-0).

Junior James Mallory had carries of 21 and 36 yards and totaled 116 yards on 17 attempts to lead the Central Connecticut rushing attack.

Blue Devils North Dakota State

14 50

Junior Hunter Wanket threw his first touchdown as a Blue Devil, hitting sophomore Josue Paul for CCSU’s first score. Senior captain Josh Vargas added a three-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils totaled 304 yards of total offense.

Wanket went 8-of-17 for 56 yards and the touchdown toss to Paul, while junior Aubrey Norris had 45 yards on 7-of-9 passing. Norris also carried the ball eight times for 40 yards. Junior Nick Colagiovanni

caught five balls for 31 yards.

Sophomore Jeff Marino led CCSU with 10 tackles. Senior captain Michael Bailey added nine, including a sack. Classmate Ralph McKenley also had nine stops.

The Bison, who are ranked second in The Sports Network FCS Poll, accumulated 246 yards of total offense and blocked a CCSU punt to help build a 27-0 lead in the first quarter. Junior quarterback Nick Mertens connected with classmate Jordan Schultenover for the first score. The five-yard pass play ended a six-play, 67-yard drive. Senior Tyler Roehl carried the ball three times for 52 yards on the 2:54 drive.

Following a Blue Devil punt, North Dakota State went 87 yards in five plays and 2:09 to extend its lead to 14-0. Freshman D.J. McNorton’s 13-yard touchdown run capped the drive. The Bison defense stopped CCSU on its next possession and blocked a Chris Scifo punt. Freshman Daniel Eaves recovered it in the end zone, and junior Shawn Bibeau’s third extra point made it 21-0 with 6:24 remaining in the quarter.

A 17-yard touchdown run by junior Pat Paschall at the 1:00 mark ended the quarter’s scoring. Bibeau missed the extra point, making it 27-0 after the first 15 minutes.

Mallory carried the ball eight times for 47 yards, breaking a 21-yard run on the first CCSU drive. Roehl and Mertens led the Bison offense.

Roehl had 100 yards on four carries, while Mertens completed 8-of-9 passes for 92 yards and a score.

The Bison extended their lead to 34-0 with a 10-play, 92-yard drive midway through the second quarter.

McNorton got into the end zone on a seven-yard run. NDSU added to its lead with Mertens finding senior Jerimiah Wurzbacher on a seven-yard pass play. Junior Roberto Rodriguez blocked the point after to make it a 40-0 game.

Wanket and Paul connected for an 18-yard touchdown to get the Blue Devils on the board. The eight-play, 60-yard drive took 2:38, and sophomore Joe Izzo’s point after cut CCSU’s deficit to 40-7. Senior Shamen Washington returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards to get North

Blogs:

Satisfy Your Sports News Hunger with a Side of Humor Kyle Dorau Sports Editor A good friend of mine said last night that ESPN was quickly becoming the downfall of sports society as we knew it. With ever-growing antiWorldwide Leader sentiment on the rise, it is our civic duty here at The Recorder’s Sports department to give you a couple blogs worth checking out for those who are looking for somewhere else to turn for your sports news.

Deadspin - www.deadspin. com - This is the premier sports blog.

Deadspin, run under an outlet called Gawker Media as part of a number of trendy blogs, is a politically incorrect and irreverent look at sports with brutal honesty. Formerly run by author of “God Save The Fan”, Will Leitch, the site may be most famous for its less-than-sympathetic views

on the struggles of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.

Awful Announcing - www.awfulannouncing.com - It’s the place to go if sports commentators make you want to jam a fork in your ears; the perfect place to go to direct your Jay Mariotti, Skip Bayless, and Stephen A. Smith venom. Usually chock full of video clips of announcers saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, Awful Announcing is always good for a laugh.

Fire Joe Morgan - www.firejoemorgan.com - Fire Joe Morgan is an amazing mix of in-depth baseball statistic knowledge, curse-laden humor and food metaphors. Fans of NBC’s “The Office” will be surprised to find out that one of this blog’s writers, under the Pseudonym Ken Tremendous, is also one of the show’s writers, Michael Schur. Schur is probably better known as playing Dwight

Schrute’s cousin Mose. If you’re a fan of the Dodgers’ Juan Pierre, you might want to skip this blog.

The Dugout - http://dugout. progressiveboink.com - More entertainment-oriented than informational, it’s a humor site modeled around MLB and AOL Instant Messenger.

Conversations are created involving your favorite major league stars and their inventive screen names. Several players have their own distinct personalities. Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez are in a relationship, David Wright is a suck-up and Jon Papelbon is the mental equivalent of a six-year-old child.

Dakota State inside the Blue Devil 20. A Rodriguez sack forced a fourth down, but Bibeau hit a 37-yard field goal to give the Bison a 43-7 lead with under a minute left in the half.

Mallory ended the half with 68 yards on 11 carries. Wanket completed 5 of 11 passes for 40 yards and his first touchdown as a Blue Devil.

Bailey and McKenley each had six tackles for the CCSU defense.

Rodriguez added five stops, including the sack.

Paschall (107) and Roehl (100) hit the 100-yard mark on the ground for the Bison. Mertens, meanwhile, was 11-of-16 for 133 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Senior Ramon Humber had a team-best seven tackles at the half.

Neither team posted a score in the third quarter. The Bison stopped the CCSU offense on the first drive of the second half, but McNorton fumbled the Scifo punt. Junior Greg Grochowski recovered at the NDSU 27 yardline. Humber forced a Wanket fumble, setting up a fourth and 10 after a Blue Devil recovery.

The Bison took over on downs but were stalled by the Blue Devil defense. A roughing the kicker penalty extended the drive, but CCSU forced another punt and took over at their own 20.

Mertens hit Wurzbacher from 11 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter, and Bibeau’s extra point gave the Bison a 50-7 lead. The Blue Devils went 67 yards in eight plays on its next drive.

Vargas’s touchdown, his second in as many weeks, and an Izzo point after cut the NDSU advantage to 50-14. Central’s defense stopped the Bison inside the Blue Devil five and took over on downs with 4:08 left.

CCSU ran out the clock behind freshman running back Danny Williams, who carried the ball five times for 27 yards.

North Dakota State posted 524 yards of total offense, with Paschall and Roehl each rushing for 100 yards and Mertens connecting on 15-of-23 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Humber led the Bison defense with 10 stops, a sack, a forced fumble and a pass break-up.

10

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008 / SPORTS

Pick Your Poison

NFL Predictions for Week 2 Each week the following four editors will put their pick prowess on display against fellow CCSU students. Think you can do better? Send us YOUR picks before the start of the games each week and we’ll print the results. A top-10 leader board will be published and the leader at the end of the semester goes off to Christmas break with all the bragging rights and a prize to be announced.

Send comments or questions regarding this weekly feature to ccsurecorder@gmail.com

Tennessee at Cincinnati Green Bay at Detroit

Pete Collin Managing Editor

Kyle Dorau Sports Editor

Edward Gaug Assoicate Layout Editor

Nick Viccione Entertainment Editor

Cincinnati

Tennessee

Tennessee

Cincinnati

Green Bay

Green Bay

Green Bay

Green Bay

Oakland at Kansas City

Kansas City

Oakland

Kansas City

Kansas City

New York Giants at St. Louis

N.Y. Giants

N.Y. Giants

N.Y. Giants

N.Y. Giants

Indianapolis at Minnesota

Minnesota

Minnesota

Indianapolis

Minnesota

New Orleans

New Orleans

New Orleans

New Orleans

New Orleans at Washington Chicago at Carolina Buffalo at Jacksonville San Francisco at Seattle

Carolina

Carolina

Carolina

Carolina

Jacksonville

Jacksonville

Buffalo

Jacksonville

Seattle

San Francisco

Seattle

Seattle

Atlanta at Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay

Atlanta

Tampa Bay

Baltimore at Houston

Baltimore

Houston

Houston

Houston

New England at New York Jets

N.Y. Jets

N.Y. Jets

N.Y. Jets

N.Y. Jets

Miami at Arizona San Diego at Denver Pittsburgh at Cleveland Philadelphia at Dallas Pick of the Week Why

Arizona

Arizona

Arizona

Arizona

San Diego

San Diego

Denver

Denver

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

Philadelphia

Dallas

Dallas

Dallas

Jets over Patriots

Saints over Redskins

Chiefs over Raider

Giants over Rams

With Brady out Jets smell blood of a wounded division rival.

Plus Brett Favre is a big improvement over Chad Pennington and the Pats secondary isn’t what it used to be.

The Redskins’ two-minute drill was the football equivalent of the Bush Administration. Expect FireJimZorn.com to be up and running soon.

After knocking the “golden boy” Tom Brady out for the year, the Chiefs defense will bring raw emotion into Sunday’s game and try to do the same to Jamarcus Russell.

St. Louis looked atrocious this past week and the Giants looked in top form. Sensible pick I assume.

This Week’s NFL Not All Fans Are Created Equal Prediction Leader Board Current Week (of 16)

Rank

Name

Total Points

1

Anthony Gonsalves

12

1

2

Carey Brimmer

10

1

3

Gary Berman

9

1

3

Marc Chouinard

9

1

3

Kevin Petruzielo

9

1

3

Melissa Traynor

9

1

7

Jason Beaumier

7

1

7

Kyle Dorau

7

1

7

Ed Gaug

7

1

7

Nick Viccione

7

1

11

Edward Homick

2

1

Peter Collin Managing Editor

Here in America nothing comes between us and our favorite sport.

Well, nothing except maybe a cold beer. Most countries and cultures are the same way and though they may not follow the same sports we do, they definitely follow our second passion for a cold brew.

One of those sports that the world loves but we refuse to embrace is soccer. Oh, there are many reasons for it. Soccer games can end in ties and nobody likes a sister-kissing tie.

Ask the NHL about how fond the US fans were of ties. They abolished the tie game starting in the 2005-06 season in an effort to increase the games popularity in America. But every four years Americans can usually grab a beer and choke down the World Cup along with the rest of the world.

There are the dives that the players take and in American sports we worship the wounded warrior or the guy that plays through the pain.

That’s the guy we could buy a beer for, not the guy who falls to the ground while clutching a limb and screaming for a medic only to rise a moment later after a referee calls a foul.

It is generally accepted in America that none of our sports really transcend the globe like soccer does, though basketball is starting to garner attention in Europe, South America and Asia, but if it is one thing that both sets of fans can agree on, it’s that no game is the same without a beer in hand.

Unfortunately, for fans of soccer in Europe, their immaturity has resulted in their inability to drink and watch soccer at the same time.

On a recent trip across the pond to Portugal, I encountered this phenomenon at a soccer game. I was staying just outside of the national capital of Lisbon. Within Lisbon there are two major soccer teams that participate at the national level.

The two teams are Benfica (or the equivalent of our Yankees)and Sporting (Red Sox). The game I happened to be attending was that of Benfica and Porto (Mets).

Porto, which is of course based out of the city of Porto, is the second largest city in the country and they are to Benfica what the Mets are to the Yankees.

This being so, security within the stadium was especially tight to prevent any brawling within the Stadium. Porto fans had to be contained by two rows of police on either side and were only allowed to enter and exit the stadium after the Benfica fans had been cleared out.

At first I found this all very entertaining and I chalked up the ridiculousness that Europeans cannot watch a soccer match in a civilized manner with the opposing teams fans. Sure we have all seen the soccer riots on TV and we all know that soccer fans have died at some games.

I guess I just assumed that most of these isolated incidents, until I finally witnessed one in person.

First of all the stadium beer sales are limited to one area of the stadium known as the Cathedral of

Beer. Outside of this area the sale of alcoholic beer is forbidden.

In spite of this many fans, of course, find a way to show up drunk to the games. And unlike American fans, European soccer fans cannot hold their liquor. Fans screamed through police lines towards opposing fans whenever the stadium sound system switched from one team anthem to another.

Each call that went against the home team was met with a shower of debris that cluttered the field by the end of the game and worst of all the lack of beer sales didn’t prevent fans from rushing the field to attack referees.

This was not just some random local team that plays in a small stadium. This was an 80,000 seat arena and a team that spends millions on its players. Everyone enjoys drinking a beer and watching a game but it seems that European fans lack the accountability to be big boys and drink while watching a soccer game.

It’s a little sad because all the fans are very passionate about the game and unlike some American sports fans, they watch every second of every game. Why they have to try to make themselves part of the game, I’m not sure but I do know that when I go to a sporting event I go to see the players and not some drunken idiot rushing the ref.

11

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, September 10, 2008 / ENTERTAINMENT

THE RECORDER Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Entertainment Young Widows Old Wounds Temporary Resistance Limited September 5, 2008

Photo: myspace.com/youngwidows

I have never quite figured out what Gym Class Heroes’ gimmick really is. They seem to attract all the pop-punk high school kids, but their music toes the line between pop and hip hop with displaying almost no punk.

No matter how you dice it up, Gym Class Heroes sound downright awful. At first listen, they bring familiar sounds that I would normally expect from an Atmosphere record, but as the tracks continue, they stray further and further from anything good. The main reason GHC fails so hard is that they have too many drastic style changes throughout one album. The album starts off with some strong trumpet lines and female R&B vocals, but quickly transitions into Travis McCoy’s weak rhymes and even weaker drumming behind him.

As I got ready for 58 minutes of terrible hip-pop-hop, they throw a curveball at track number four. “Like Father, Like Son (Papa’s Song)” brings out early 90s story-telling rap that shows off McCoy’s appreciation for his father while raising him. Where this has all the makings of a decent heartfelt track, McCoy ruins with one of the worst choruses. “Papa was a rolling stone, but I want to be the cover of Rolling Stone.” God. Did you really have to rhyme rolling stone with rolling stone? That is so far past corny.

To wrap things up, Gym Class Heroes have to do what every hip-hop album in the past 18 months has had to do: feature Lil Wayne on a track. Considering the Milli Milli Millionaire charges a quarter mil for an appearance, I feel like the New York-based four piece just got robbed and I am completely ok with that. As the album reaches its end, I can wholeheartedly say this is the worst thing I’ve listened to this summer. Sadly, that’s out of the 18 GB of music I’ve obtained since late in May. Way to settle, Gym Class Heroes.

Edward Gaug / Associate Layout Editor

Gym Class Heroes The Quilt Decaydance Records September 9, 2008

All Shall Perish Awaken the Dreamers Nuclear Blast Records September 16, 2008

All Shall Perish is now officially “deathcore”, assemingly pointless description of a genre that has blossomed over the past year into its own small niche. I tend to gravitate towards more old school - I would just call All Shall Perish metalcore. And if you honestly care, you are a loser.

With the release of their third studio full length, Awaken the Dreamers, All Shall Perish continues down their road of progressing brutality without losing a step on the way. Their previous full-length album, The

This year has seen it fair share of half-assed, forgettable albums.

Young Widows sophomore studio album, Old Wounds, not only bucks the trend. It makes the trend.

Rising from the ashes of hardcore standouts Breather Resist, Young Widows released their first full length back in 2006. Fast forward to the here and now, and Young Widows is primed to make a name for themselves. Old Wounds is a perfect blend of driving bass lines, awkward, but catchy vocal lines, interesting drumming, and eclectic guitar riffs.

The diverse structure of the album does not act as a downfall, rather, with every new song, and part, I found my attention being grabbed. There is nothing better than an album that you can tell will be great, by only listening to the first three tracks. Old Wounds is that type of album.

Price of Existence has been a daily listen on my play list since its release, and it looks as if Awaken the Dreamers will pull the same weight.

For fans of All Shall Perish, Awaken the Dreamers is a step in the right direction, as they seem to have taken a more technical approach to song writing. That is, compared to their previous efforts. The guitar work features much more sweeping and soloing, while the bass and drum work stay impressive. The vocals are, once again, solid and there is even moments of, dare I say, passable clean vocals.

Track ten entitled “From So Far Away” is my favorite track on the album. It is an instrumental, featuring a very fluent and cohesive solo that should please fans and then some. I have always liked the way All Shall Perish has been able to write songs that stay interesting, and flow well at the same time.

I would not consider throwing Awaken the Dreamers on any of my lists of favorites for 2008 just yet, but they really upped the bar in a genre that will forever be plagued with underachievers. As far as “deathcore” goes, this album aims to please, and accomplishes.

Nick Viccione / Entertainment Editor

Jessica Simpson Do You Know Columbia Records September 9, 2008

It comes as no surprise that after her famous divorce, the fallout over her ex’s new girlfriend, trouble with her own exboyfriend at her sister’s wedding and the continuous chronicle of her love life in the tabloids that Jessica Simpson recorded a country album.

Her song currently gracing the radio stations, and the single before the album, “Come on Over” sounds just as much borderline pop as it does country with only a few more references to blue jeans and pick-up trucks to allow listeners to tell the difference. Despite the trouble with the cross over of genres, it is a catchy song and one that I’ve had stuck in my head since it came out on the radio.

Other songs on the album, titled Do You Know are more country, detailing the struggles of leaving abusive relationships, telling us: “don’t be afraid to pray out loud,” and describing how it feels to know that your ex is sleeping with another woman.

Simpson includes all of the obligatory string instrument entries, long held notes with twangs at the end and repetitive lines that go on longer than necessary. She actually maintains a nice balance between the above-mentioned desperation and her optimism for better, “sunny days, and the hope of making love.” Maybe she would pass as a country singer more easily if the pages of every tabloid, if they were true, weren’t already super-saturated with the details of her love life. You almost want to like the album after the initial shock wears off, but the songs begin to run into each other by the end, like a droning conversation. You can tune out and when you get back, you really haven’t missed much.

The last song, and the title track, is uncomfortably intimate, revealing details of the lovemaking going on in the song, which just

I would not dare and try and file Young Widows under one specific genre of music, for it would do them no justice whatsoever.

But I can say that fans of rock, punk, crust, and progressive post-rock can find aspects of this album that they enjoy.

One of the most impressive aspects of Old Wounds is the production. I have said this a million times before, and I will say it again.

The production of an album is a criminally underrated aspect, and it often acts like icing on the proverbial cake when it is done masterfully. In the case of Old Wounds, the production is perfect. The bass tone is beyond phenomenal.

All in all, Young Widows are mature, and it breaks through their song writing and composure. They are a band that will fly under the radar. I urge all fans of noise rock, and rock in general to give them a shot. Old Wounds shines brighter than most of the releases this year.

If you want to check out young Widows live, the Louisville, KY-based band will be

touring through the Northeast at the end of October with stops in Boston and Brooklyn.

happens to feature Dolly Parton. By the end of at least that song, you don’t care if it’s country or pop – you’re just glad it’s over.

Jane Natoli / Lifestyles Editor

album reviewers from college newspapers can’t leak the information.

United Nations features Geoff Rickly and Daryl Palumbo from Thursday and Glassjaw fame respectively. While the other members are Ben Koller of Converge notoriety and Chris Conger from The Number 12 Looks Like You. There is a lot of talent on board here for United Nations, which is confusing, because the album is forgettable.

As I said before, this band has no reason to exist, and as I listened to this album over and over, my thoughts continued to be confirmed, the world does not need another “grindcore” band. Especially one that plays uninteresting music in a genre they should have stayed away from. Stick with your old bands gentlemen. Nasum and Pig Destroyer are plenty good enough.

Nick Viccione / Entertainment Editor

New Kids on the Block The Block Interscope Records September 2, 2008

Don’t call this a comeback, they’ve been preparing for this for years. The glory days of middle school dances at the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club are back in full force. New Kids on the Block released a new studio album on September 2.

Yeah, you read that right. New Kids on the Block.

Out of sheer curiosity, I was happy to review this album. The last time I remember listening to New Kids on the Block, I was having my friend pass a “will you go out with me: circle yes or no” note to a girl that I was too shy to talk to. Are you getting the point yet? It has been almost 15 years. Not to mention, it has been 22 years since New Kids on the Block released their debut studio album. Have they lost their step?

I do not have much to compare it to, but The Block is 60 minutes of generic dance hiphop jams. This is not a drawback. Did you expect an album that was going to be nominated for multiple Grammys? I sure didn’t.

New Kids on the Block is now a group of five grown men singing about sexy grown women, their lovely moves, and how they plan on “sexifying” them until the break of dawn. I would be lying if I said I didn’t find myself smiling at some of the songs. Sometimes it is just the thought that I was actually listening to New Kids on the Block and I couldn’t get back that fact. This album really is not all that bad. There are even guest appearances from Ne-Yo, The Pussycat Dolls and most notably Akon.

With The Block, New Kids on the Block made another standard, generic boy band R&B, hip-hop album. Do your self a favor, and at the very least, find them on Myspace and listen to a couple tracks off this album, and flashback to when times were better, and you were still worrying about wearing Nike shoes with JNCO jeans cause you thought you’d get called a poser.

Nick Viccione / Entertainment Editor

What a completely unnecessary band. United Nations is so unnecessary, that I could not even tell you who the band members are. Here is the scoop.

United Nations was formed sometime in 2005 with members from various different bands, but since all of the members are under contract with their other bands, they are not allowed to promote themselves with United Nations. Does that make any sense? Absolutely not.

Let’s be frank here, if you are a fan of United Nations, or the existing bands that the members are from, you probably already know who they are. With that being said, there is no clause in their recording contract that says that

United Nations United Nations Eyeball Records September 9, 2008

Nick Viccione / Entertainment Editor

Mass. has a pretty solid track record when it comes to heavy music. Converge, Unearth, Killswitch Engage all come to mind. With the release of their new album, entitled Overcome, All That Remains looks to make their claim to have their name mentioned just as much as the aforementioned bands.

All That Remains features ex-Shadows Fall vocalist Phil Labonte as the lead vocalist, and even though he flexes his vocal range more than previous recordings with every track featuring catchy, clean vocals, it is still arguably the strongest aspect of the album. Guitar nerds would probably beg to differ. I am sure they would argue that the guitar work of Mike Martin and Oli Herbert shines through as the backbone of All That Remains. I would not put up too much of an argument with that. The guitars solo away and when they are not slowing the tempo down too much, the guitar riffs stay interesting and thick. The drumming on Overcome is standard. Jason Costa knows his way around his kit.

In relation to previous material, Overcome is cleaner, and has a substantial amount of clean vocals. This, however, does not detract from what All That Remains is trying to do as a band. They are trying to become more accessible to a wider audience while staying as metal as they possibly can be. When it comes down to it, All That Remains does a great job at accomplishing this with Overcome. It is catchy and heavy at the same time. They will gain fans, and possible lose fans at the same time. As for me, I’ll continue to listen to them. I found myself liking this album for what it was worth.

All That Remains Overcome Prosthetic Records September 16, 2008

Nick Viccione / Entertainment Editor

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, September 10, 2008 / ENTERTAINMENT

12

Death Race Makes For Usual “Guy Movie”

Photo: slashfilm.com

Mirrors Offers Illusion of Horror Flick at Best Lindsay LeFort Staff Writer

Photo: celebritywonder.com

Steve Packnick Staff Writer If you take the all out ridiculousness of Shoot ‘Em Up, the basic story from The Condemned, and the driving and bad acting from The Fast and the Furious, and throw it in a blender, you would end up with Death Race.

From the beginning to the end of this movie – about how inmates are forced to compete in a literal death race for entertainment – nothing can be taken seriously.

This is just another nicely budgeted “guy movie” featuring fast cars, hot women, guns, big explosions and Jason Statham. But within each of these parts lies the heart and soul of almost all guy movies – terrible acting.

Over all, the casting for this movie isn’t that bad considering the type of action movie that it is, but there are a few flaws. Right off the bat, Joan Allen playing the “bad ass” warden doesn’t really make any sense. I don’t understand how a prison full of stone-cold killers is supposed to be afraid of a woman whose face never changes no matter what expression she is trying to portray and whose tone of voice never changes even when she’s yelling. Also there was some rather weak acting from Jason Statham, but in his defense it may be blamed on the horrible back-story the writers came up with for his character

“Jensen Ames.” I mean come on, how does Ames know how to defend himself against hulking killers when all he did in his life is work in a steel mill and drive for NASCAR? Many parts of this movie could have been greatly improved upon to make this a much better movie. Sections of Death Race dominated by illogical storyline drag the movie down. For example, all of the other “veteran” inmate drivers die in the first race when Statham’s character enters the scene.

Also I never could quite understand how in so many movies huge trucks have the speed and handling to keep up with and even outdrive smaller sport cars with huge engines. It just doesn’t add up. Not to mention the movie features a “secret car” that ended up being taken down within about four minutes of its introduction to the movie. Of course, the ending probably could have deserved something better than the usual cheesy last line.

Even though this entire review has bashed Death Race, it’s one of those movies that will live on in jokes; it goes up with one of those movies that guys watch that are so ridiculous and terrible that they love it. It’s a movie filled with really dumb lines, terrible acting, big explosions, and a subpar plot line; but as a whole I enjoyed watching this movie and more so because we laughed about it later.

Be prepared for another horror letdown. The remake Mirrors has a not so make-you-want-to-scream horror level that matches that of The Exorcist and Final Destination proved to be a mild disappointment, with only hints of startlingly and over-anticipated parts of a horror plot.

Employing slightly better than usual visual effects and a gore level that just meets par, Mirrors is just as scary as The Brave Little Toaster.

Though, brownie points must be given to the two toe curling gore-ific scenes that make the movie partially decent. Yet, other than those two scenes of reflected self-mutilation this movie is a snoozer as yours truly found out the hard way.

Kiefer Sutherland, taking a step beyond “24”, does a commendable job in this slightly interesting film. Sutherland’s character, “Ben Carson” is a dishonored detective for the NYPD and after taking a job as a security guard for a once fire-plagued department store called the Mayflower, finds himself haunted by the world on the other side of the looking glass. Roaming the charred halls of the store, Carson is forced to fight, not only for his life but also the lives of his family and malicious spirits watch behind the glossy surface of the mirrors. The

well-cooked husk of the Mayflower sets most of the scene for the movie. Director Alexandre Aja puts to use the worn-out dark and dank creepiness that most expect from a horror thriller. Adding to this sinister atmosphere was the use of left over crispy mannequins dispersed throughout the rooms to give an amplified feeling of being watched.

Aja didn’t put forth much creativity or thought with his overly used theme and visual effect of reflections. Anyone with half a mind could catch the obvious and purposeful positioning of the camera to catch every reflection that could possibly be offered, making you painfully aware of every insignificant detail throughout the movie.

Whether it be on a lamp, door knob, window, table top, edge of a vase, or on an actual mirror you’re more focused on playing “hidden reflections” from scene to scene then on the actual characters in the movie.

It is a surprise that Mirrors is still in theatres when it is anything but scary, but trust that it won’t last for much longer on the big screen and will more than likely find its way to your local Blockbuster by early November. So if it’s during one of those dreary nights in November and you find yourself ready to enjoy the simplicity of the horror film Mirrors, make sure you have a pillow ready – you’re going to need it.

Summer Festivals Wrapped-Up: Some Great Shows You Might Have Missed U-WIRE – It was a cruel, cruel summer for music fans around the globe who were forced to attend mammoth outdoor festivals packed with wildly disparate lineups (Girl Talk, Duffy and Jack Johnson at All Points West?). If you missed out on heat stroke, long lines to the bathroom and Kanye West tantrums, the WSN music staff will try to paint a word picture for you.

Bonnaroo June 12 to 15 Manchester, Tenn.

Looking down from atop the Bonnaroo Ferris Wheel over 700 scorched acres of Tennessee farmland, there were a few more neon dots moving about than usual. As this year’s festival added acts like MGMT, Sigur Rós and !!! to its lineup, the hipster count certainly burgeoned. Though Kanye West’s glow-in-the dark show was hindered by the rising sun after set construction pushed the start time back to well after 4 a.m., attendees had ample opportunity to break out their latest dance moves at Chromeo and MSTRKRFT. Meanwhile, crowds rushed the stage during M.I.A.’s performance after she announced it was her last show ever, adding, “I’m glad I’m spending it with all my hippies!” Though some of those hippies and their jam-rocking friends complained about the skinny-jeaned invaders, they were appeased by traditional guitar acts like Pearl Jam, Metallica and Willie Nelson. And, come concert close, the sparring groups made peace at Shakedown Alley, where the rolls, doses and ’shrooms put everyone in high enough spirits to strip down and enjoy the Bonnaroo-sanctioned activities in harmony. After all, body paint has no labels.

— Laura Kuhn

Pitchfork Music Festival July 18 to 20 Chicago, Ill. Most summer music festivals are zoos, but Pitchfork stands out as a mellow oasis. The event was marked by rows of local artists’ booths, Whole Foods produce, stoners sitting in weed circles, impromptu hula-hoop gatherings and sweatbands reading “loser” as far as the eye could see. During Vampire Weekend’s set, two men who had rolled themselves in mud threatened to get fellow audience members dirty if they were not allowed to pass. Large debates ensued over whether The Hold Steady is great or crappy, but everyone agreed that Animal Collective was going to kick ass, and they did.

-Annie Lesser Siren Festival July 19 Coney Island, N.Y. The blistering sun couldn’t wilt the eighth annual Siren Festival. Like the event’s curator, The Village Voice, Siren was a colorful intersection of culture, obscurity and a hint of rebellion.

Unfortunately, the concert’s location, Coney Island, is being threatened. Real estate interests seek to replace the ramshackle amusement park with high-priced condos, a fact lamented by headliner Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene.

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks shared the top bill, although by most estimates, they commanded only a fraction of the audience. BSS’s loose, collective mentality was mirrored on a smaller scale by Islands and Ra Ra Riot but not all was peaceful. Times New Viking seared with feedback and punkish vocals, while These Are Powers took an avant garde route to their rock.

If nothing else, Siren was electric.

— Roland Li

13

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008 / ENTERTAINMENT

CALENDAR WEEKOFSEPTEMBER10

MUSIC 9.10

The Bittersweets

@ The Space 7 p.m. / $10 The Bittersweets are Chris Meyers (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Hannah Prater (vocals, guitar) and Steve Bowman (drums). And – to put it simply – they live up to their name. They join together yellows and blues, sunniness and melancholy with evocative song lyrics and lush arrangements, and lift it all to epic heights with transcendent melodies and Prater’s gilded voice. On every track of their new album, Goodnight San Francisco, their recent live set, Long Way From Home, and their 2006 fulllength debut, The Life You Always Wanted, the Bittersweets weave a captivating tension between hope and poignancy that rings true.

niche on the Irish/American scene, invigorating traditional music with fresh ideas and pioneering new directions for Celtic music. “As long as there are groups such as Solas,” wrote Don Heckman in the Los Angeles Times, “Celtic music will continue to draw new, young audiences.”

9.15-9.18 Chris & Don: A Love Story

@ Real Art Ways 5:30, 7:30 p.m. /$20 The 20-year love affair between writer Christopher Isherwood and artist Don Bachardy is celebrated in this sweet and graceful documentary. It is narrated by Michael York, who played Isherwood’s character in Cabaret.

9.14-9.16 WALL-E

FILM 9.10-9.13

@ Cinestudio 7:30 p.m.

If you’ve been putting off going to see Wall-E for the lack of an under-12 companion, wait no more! Like Fantasia and Iron Man, Pixar’s Wall-E is a big screen visual stunner that appeals to older kids and adults. Left alone on an Earth abandoned by humans when it was overrun by trash, a heroic little robot sifts through the eclectic detritus of our lives. Wall-E’s cosmic isolation ends with the arrival of Eve, a high-tech probe from the space station which is home to what is left of humanity. Falling in love, Wall-E chases Eve across a universe full of adventure and delight.

@ The Space 7 p.m. / $10

9.12 Hatebreed

@ The Webster Theater 7 p.m.

9.13 Bomb the Music Industry

@ The Space 7 p.m. / $10 Bomb the Music Industry is a musical collective originally from Baldwin, Nassau County, New York. They write, produce, record (sometimes using only a PowerBook’s built-in microphone), and distribute all of their music under the leadership of their lead songwriter and producer Jeff Rosenstock. Rosenstock and several other contributors who were members of The Arrogant Sons Of Bitches. They are known for their DIY punk ethic, embodied in such actions such as distributing five albums worth of material for free on their website, and offering free stencils and paint for fans to create their own t-shirts.

They also offer their fans a chance to perform on stage if they learn a song and bring their instrument to the show.

@ Cinestudio 7:30 p.m.

Perhaps Charlie Chaplin should have known that making a satiric comedy based on an idea by rabble rouser Orson Welles would cause trouble during the anti-Communist witch hunts. It’s doubtful he guessed that its subversive anti-capitalist message would lead to vicious condemnation and the pulling of its release after just a month. Chaplin (in a speaking role) plays a Parisian clerk laid off during the Great Depression, who bankrolls his lifestyle by marrying - and then killing - a series of wealthy women. His inflammatory defense?

“Wars, conflict – it’s all business. One murder makes a villain. Millions, a hero.” “It is a masterpiece. See it.”

@ The Space 7 p.m. / $10 The group has shown a willingness to experiment while still maintaining its roots in traditional Irish music. The band’s instrumental dexterity plus its mixture of male and female vocalists have given the group a broad range and flexibility. SOLAS has carved out a special

Jon Reep (The “Hemi” Guy) @ Hartford Funny Bone Comedy Club 7 p.m. / $20

Grand Scale: Monumental Prints in the Age of Dürer and Titian

@ Yale University 10 a.m.

This exhibition showcases mural-size prints from the late fifteenth century to 1630 when ambitions – to rival painted images, to assert and justify political rule or simply to adorn walls – prompted printed imagery to expand.

@ Cinestudio Hartford, Conn.

7:30 p.m.

A twilight romance between two unlikely lovers in their 70s. Arturo’s physical frailty and control are a delightful counterpoint to Elsa’s excessive exuberance; the pair weave a delicate magic.

9.15 Solas

COMEDY 9.12-9.14

ART 9.9-11.30

9.12-9.14 Elsa y Fred

9.13 Angles on Art, Evolution of Sculpture through the Twentieth Century. Elyse Nelson, MC ‘09 @ Yale University 3 p.m.

Monsieur Verdoux 9.10 Renae

works, hint at imaged worlds of endless possibilities.

9.11 Lecture Series, Screencasts: Cinema as Medium in Contemporary Art.

@ Yale Iniversity 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. / $5 Artist Laurel Nakadate, M.F.A. 2001, presents her work in photography and video. Followed by the lecture “Telepresence, Raunch Culture, and the Legacy of Sixties Video Art”, presented

by William Kaizen, Assistant Professor of Aesthetics and Critical Studies, University of Massachusetts, Lowell.

9.11-10.9 Selected works by Artists of Color from Connecticut State University Faculty

@ Maloney Hall 4 p.m.

New Britain, Conn.

The creative work by artists of color is as varied as the artists who create it. There are artists of color who employ recognizably African, Native American, Latino, or Asian icons and symbols in works that speak to our shared and individual histories. For other artists, process is the subject and driving concern in creating their work.

These, frequently abstract or semi-abstract

14 THE RECORDER Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Lifestyles

Spacing Out: Dorm Room Zen

Caroline Dearborn Staff Writer Anyone who has lived in a college dorm room, or has ever shared a room for that matter, knows all too well about the constant struggle for more space.

Those who live here on campus know that sharing a room in college – at least at Central - is nothing like sharing a room in a household.

At school, many students are faced with a major problem in their dorm rooms: where to keep all of their stuff? Books, notebooks, school supplies, bathing necessities, cleaning supplies, clothes for all types of weather and occasions, all with shoes to match, must find a home within the shared confines of a small room.

Don’t forget that the above-listed items are the possessions of only one roommate.

Multiply that mess of belongings by two and in

some cases by three and you can see what kind of storage problems arise.

There are appliances, refrigerators, TV’s, computers, cell phones and alarms clocks to consider. How to organize all of this stuff never fails to make irritating situations for college students everywhere.

But perhaps there is a dim light at the end of this cluttered tunnel. CCSU James Hall residents Amanda Carpentino and Samantha D’Amato have mastered the concept of squeezing many belongings harmoniously into their room, eliminating not only the chaos of clutter, but also the feeling of overcrowding in one’s personal space.

“It’s good to have your own space, especially work space, because you are with each other all the time,” said Carpentino.

Carpentino and D’Amato’s room is set up so their respective desks are facing opposite walls. This creates personal space to help ease

concentration on homework and other tasks.

On each desk, the girls keep their computers and plastic containers that hold miscellaneous items. On another wall in their room, the beds are side by side, but spread as far apart as possible. Each head of the bed is facing the alternate wall of the room.

Keeping the beds and desks like this creates more floor space, which the girls have decorated with a rug. D’Amato added, “It’s nice to have a little rug because the floor gets cold and [the rug] absorbs sound, because the rooms tend to echo.”

Another way to maximize space is to store shoes, or other shoe-sized objects, in a plastic organizer that can hang on a door, as the girls have done.

The most important part of piecing together a room, however, is the decorations.

According to Carpentino, it is important to have a warm glow that is welcoming. The

girls created this glow by posting pictures on the walls of a variety of movies, from classics like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, to the modern thriller, Blow, as well as other celebrity pictures and their own personal photographs.

No matter the decorating style, everyone is on the same wavelength when it comes to achieving optimal accessibility in a college dorm. Keeping in mind that living with a roommate is more pleasant when each has his or her own personal space, whether for school work, gaming on the net or for just spacing out to daydream.

Strategic planning and organization are the keys to eliminating stress brought on by clutter and sharing such a small space.

Jane Natoli Lifestyles Editor

teaching right now is really intense so any outside experience you can get is more the better.”

The Education Club is one way to get a ton of experience with kids and to get professional development outside or before the education program.

It also puts students in contact with teachers already in the field, giving them a better perspective of what to expect when it comes time for you to step into your own classroom.

Interestingly, these are not all things that students fully receive from CCSU’s education program and the club works at trying to bridge these gaps in training for aspiring teachers.

Kenniston explained that classroom management is covered for one day only during the CCSU education program but has an entire class devoted to it at other universities such as Quinnipiac.

The Education club plans to hold their own seminars dependent on special funding from the SGA this semester since last year’s seminars were met with huge success.

The education club will hold three welcome meetings next week and interested students are asked to gather in Vance Academic Center room 105 at 7:00 p.m. on either September 15, 16 or 17 for an introduction to the club and all it has to offer. For more information, you can also e-mail ccsuedclub@yahoo.com or check out their Facebook group.

IN THE CLUB NEWS

Caroline Dearborn Staff Writer You can find a diverse group of people sitting around the Student Center’s 1849 meeting room every Thursday night at 9 pm for CCSU’s Car Club weekly meeting. As described by clubs member Chris Demorro, the club was formed a decade ago to be a cohesive group of “street racers and reckless gearheads.” Members range from freshmen to senior CCSU students, grad students, alumni, and even one student who transferred to Capitol College but still returns to CCSU for Car Club, or C3, meetings.

What they have in common is an interest in automobiles of all years, makes and models.

The C3 Web site, ccsucarclub.com, boasts, “C3 is the largest collegiate automotive club in the Northeast, with over 50 active members, and a strong alumni following.” Among these participants are several female students who also share similar interests, something the website makes sure to point out as well. “There are plenty of girls in the club, so if you’re a girl and contemplating joining, you won’t be alone!” reads a post from last April.

President Nick Ripa, Vice-President Dave Perry, Treasurer Matt Iaccarino, and Secretary Andrew Paul, along with other members of the organization, have planned a year packed with events that are worth attending: entertaining and charitable. All proceeds from C3 car shows are donated to Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (FSMA).

FSMA is an organization that supports families affected by spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and funds research for treatment and finding a cure for people affected by SMA. According to fsma.org The club is also attending the Specialty Equipment Manufactuerers Association show in Las Vegas for the third time.

C3 makes annual appearances at the New York Auto Show and visits Lebanon Valley, N.Y. for legal racing. The Car Club’s next car show is Oct. 19, during CCSU’s Homecoming weekend, so if you are interested in cars, having a good time, or helping a good cause, make sure to stop by.

For more information, visit the club’s Web site or stop by the 1849 Room on Thursday night.

The Education club may very well be one of the most practical student organizations at CCSU. Since Central began as a teaching school and still has a high percentage of its students going through the education program, the Education club holds a comfortable spot on campus.

But you may not know that you don’t have to be on your way to becoming a teacher to join the club. While it is geared towards students going into elementary or secondary education, members don’t have to be in the education program to be in the club. Anyone with an interest in teaching or working with kids is welcome to participate.

Sharon Kenniston, the president of the club, is always excited to talk about the many events already planned for this semester, including this week’s in the Devil’s Den at 10 p.m., when the club will sponsor an “Are you Smarter than a CCSU Student?” contest.

There is also an upcoming new teacher’s panel to give students an inside look at what the first couple of years of teaching may be like.

Other events scheduled for October include a classroom set-up contest, Big Brothers, Big Sisters day on campus and several literacy nights at New Britain elementary schools.

Kenniston knows how difficult things can be for a new teacher saying, “Competition for

15

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, September 10, 2008 / LIFESTYLES

Politicians Do Students No Favors By Ignoring Reality Monique Cunin The Daily Gamecock University of South Carolina U-WIRE – Election 2008 has finally cast all of the actors. For the role of U.S. president, John McCain and Barack Obama are set to duel for the next two months, convincing their audiences they are both worthy of the title. In supporting roles, McCain’s campaign chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Obama chose Delaware Sen. Joe Biden.

Both sides have their strengths. McCain served during the Vietnam War and has experience fighting in a foreign nation. Obama is young and, by virtue of his youth, has a different outlook on life than any of his predecessors.

Biden commuted over 200 miles a day to work on Capitol Hill so that his sons would have a parent with them at night. Gov. Palin is working hard to support a family that includes an infant with Down syndrome and a pregnant 17-yearold daughter.

Like most elections, there is at least one politician who has a skeleton in his or her closet, and a stance that seems contradictory to his or her personal life experience.

The Republican Party stands for family values. They stand for everything that is religious and moral about the fabric of the melting pot we call United States. They stand for oil drilling and abstinence-only education.

Yet, the Republican fighting to become the next vice president of this country has a pregnant 17-year-old.

Obviously her stance on sex education hasn’t worked out too well.

In a utopian society, everyone would go to church on Sunday, wouldn’t drink excessively and no one would have sex until they were married.

Unfortunately, we live in the real world.

Because of this, we have to take stances on issues that foster what we have to deal with, not what we wish we were left. The stance of abstinence-only education in schools deals with the utopian society Palin wishes we lived in.

If she expects to help lead this country, she will have to take her head out of the sand and realize that not educating kids on what their options are - should they choose to have sex - is asking for more teenagers to end up pregnant or with a disease.

That said, teenagers should not be having sex. Then again, students should always go to class and not drink until they are 21. In schools, they teach underage drinking is illegal and dangerous. But they stress that if you do drink, then don’t drive. Why then, wouldn’t they educate teenagers on the dangers of sex and tell them

that if they do choose to have sex, condoms and birth control are their best friends?

Whatever platform wins the election will have to find the answer to this question. They

will have to present it to the public in a way that shows that they are in touch with what happens in world outside of Washington D.C.

Welcome Week Puts Freshman Minds At Ease Sarah Bogues Staff Writer

Freshmen gather outside of Vance Hall for orientation.

Photo: CCSU

As I prepared myself for August 31, 2008, a day I was dreading, I automatically expected the worst. Sleep wouldn’t come to relieve my anxiety, tears or any of those normal freshmen emotions.

Not only was August 31, or CCSU movein day, the day that I left my family and the only home that I ever knew, but it also was the day that I entered an unfamiliar, foreign environment that was to be my home for the most of the next four years.

Yes, I viewed opening weekend and welcome week at CCSU as challenging and difficult. I did not know what to expect and I think everyone has some fear of the unknown?

But I was surprised and thankful to find that the entire opening weekend crew, made up of faculty and students, were helpful, comforting and understanding.

The reasons behind my exciting discovery that campus isn’t so scary after all include the well thought out agenda filled with orientations and fun entertainment on move-in day and to my surprise, the entire week.

Planned for all the nervous freshmen were different social orientations and “icebreakers.” I found each icebreaker and orientation helpful, in relaxing me and allowing me to be more social.

The “Traffic Jam and Detour” session had us mingling with each other in our orientation groups; we explored the campus, watched a theatre group perform interactive skits about typical college tribulations, and enjoyed an evening of entertainment with music, a mentalist, a game room and lots of food.

I do not know about anyone else, but opening weekend had me thinking, “What could be better than this?” I had just made two new friends at the orientation session and interactive skit, something I would not have done otherwise, and I no longer felt uncomfortable or remotely sad that I was still in a foreign environment.

I am happy to say that the planned activities on my first day at CCSU and the days following during welcome week made it easier for me to feel comfortable at CCSU so that we can begin to refer to our dorm rooms as home.

A Freshman Expierence: The First Week Mallory Costa Staff Writer Week one has come to an end, and I’ve discovered that college life as a commuter isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Although it would be cool to live on campus, commuting isn’t as dreadful as I had been told.

A few upperclassmen warned me that it would be extremely hard to make friends and be a part of the college life but I didn’t find that to be the case at all. I have met many new people and although the majority are fellow commuters, I have met a good number of dormers as well.

As far as being a freshman, it’s going pretty well. It’s definitely nothing like high school. So far college life has had a few interesting moments.

A few days ago my friend Sabrina, also a freshman, was talking to an older student and he asked her out of the blue if she was a freshman.

Sabrina, taken back a bit, asked him how he came to that conclusion, and he claimed that freshmen are “easy to spot” because they are so friendly whereas upperclassmen tend to be more reserved. I don’t really know if that was

meant to be a compliment, but it’s definitely something to think about.

College life in general is shaping up to be better than high school in more ways than one.

Classes are pretty straightforward and all students are treated the same, although it is still a little bit odd having classmates that are old enough to be my grandparents. But hey, more power to them.

Thankfully the campus is not that big, so most of my classes are within a reasonable walking distance. The exercise should be good for us freshmen; maybe it will help keep off those dreaded 15 pounds.

At the end of my school day I usually get the opportunity to hang out on campus for a while. I definitely thought that was going to be a huge obstacle as a commuter, but again I was wrong. I live not more than a half hour away from campus, so I can still make time to come back to campus on weeknights to hang out if I want.

I guess the neat thing about commuting is that I can come and go whenever I please and I get to experience the on and off campus life. I hope everyone is having just as much fun as I am at CCSU and continues to enjoy this new and exciting adventure.

We are seeking staff photographers.

All people interested must be able to provide their own equipment.

Staff Photographer’s position would include taking photos both on and off campus along with preparing photos for print and the Web. A basic knowledge of Photoshop CS3 and/ or Aperture is neccessary.

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, September 10, 2008 / ENTERTAINMENT

Nick Viccione Entertainment Editor

CBS Criminal Minds (Airs Wed. 9 p.m. -Starts Sept. 24) Last Season: Many fans are eager to find out who was in that car that exploded. For a thriller, “Criminal Minds” gets the job done.

CSI (Airs Thurs. 9 p.m. -Starts Oct. 9) Last Season: Warrick was shot, a lot of changes loomed on the horizon for Sara. “CSI” is one of the most popular shows on television, and do not get “CSI” confused with the New York City and Miami versions. Those two are also good.

How I Met Your Mother (Airs Mon. 8:30 p.m. -Starts Sept. 22) Last Season: Ted proposed to Stella and Barney got blindsided by a bus. “How I Met Your Mother” is often funny and Neil Patrick Harris proves that he is more than a one trick pony.

Numb3rs (Airs Fri. 10 p.m. - Starts Oct. 3) Last Season: Charlie was banned from working on FBI cases, causing a lot of tension. “Numb3rs” should be a favorite of all math majors. It gives me a headache, but it really is a great show. Check it out.

Seasons change, and while we usher in another year of crisp weather and changing colors, television stations gear up to bring us hours of primetime boob tube entertainment. So when you are procrastinating on that paper, keep this piece handy.

Here is a rundown of the returning shows that you should be looking forward too this fall on the four main television stations. And if the season has already premiered, it is not too late to catch along.

Heroes (Airs Mon. 9 p.m. - Starts Sept. 22 at 8pm) Last Season: Nathan was killed off before he was able to explain himself to the world and Bennett was killed and then saved by Claire’s plasma. The new season of Heroes is greatly anticipated by many. You have probably seen one of the hype commercials. Fans are eager and ready.

Life (Airs Fri. 10 p.m. - Starts Sept. 29) Last Season: Crews was framed, will he find out by whom?

I personally am anticipation “Life” more than many other shows. I feel like I may be the only one on this boat, but it is one of my favorite shows.

Lipstick Jungle (Airs Wed. 10 p.m. - Starts Sept. 24) Last Season: Nico’s husband had a heart attack while she was smitten with her new little man. “Lipstick Jungle” seems to be hit or miss. I have heard opinions on opposite sides of the spectrum.

My Name is Earl (Airs Thurs. 8 p.m. – Starts Sept. 25) Last Season: Earl recovered from his coma, got married, and promptly divorced. Jason Lee and the writers make this show great. Without him, it would simply be another run of the mill sitcom.

Survivor: Gabon (Airs Thurs. 8 p.m. – Starts Sept. 25) Last Season: They were in the Pacific. “Survivor” sees its location move from Micronesia to a major continent. Africa.

Watch out for gorillas you silly bastards.

The Office (Airs Thurs. 9 p.m. - Starts Sept. 25) Last Season: Jim was about to propose to Pam when Andy pulled the abrupt trigger with Angela. The season ended with Angela and Dwight bumping uglies. Gross. “The Office” is my favorite show, hands down. I think I speak for many when I say: Start the season already!

Two and a Half Men (Airs Mon. 9 p.m. - Starts Sept. 22.)

Last Season: Charlie loved women. This Season: Charlie will love women.

ABC

NBC 30 Rock (Airs Thur. 9:30 p.m. – Starts Oct. 30) Last season: Adoption was on Liz’s mind, and Jack scored a job with homeland security. Keep an eye out for this show. I can see it getting popular very soon.

Desperate Housewives (Airs Sun. 9 p.m. - Starts Sept. 28) Last Season: The show traveled into the future and now there are kids in the picture. If a female is watching television and it is not “Dancing With the Stars” or “America’s Next Top Model”, it is probably “Desperate Housewives”.

Grey’s Anatomy (Airs Thurs. 9 p.m. – Starts Sept. 25) Last Season: Everyone seemed to be playing tonsil hockey with each other. Will this season see more of the same?

“Grey’s Anatomy”, much like “Desperate Housewives” has a rabid fan base with good reason. It is a very good show.

2008 Fall TV FALL Preview

Pushing Daisies (Airs Wed. 8 p.m. – Starts Oct. 1) Last Season: Ned broke the news to Chuck that he was the one responsible for her father’s death. And Aunt Lily is really Chuck’s mother. “Pushing Daises” is one of the more aesthetically pleasing shows on television. It also has some fantastic writing. If you have a chance, give Pushing Daisies one of your Wednesday nights.

Wife Swap (Airs Fri. 8 p.m. - Starts Oct. 3) Last Season: Way too many men were put through some rough times. I can imagine this season will be more of the same.

“Wife Swap” is another example of how ridiculous reality shows have gotten. But for some reason, people still like this show.

FOX American Dad (Airs Sun. 9:30 p.m. – Starts Sept. 28) Last Season: Roger loved spring break madness while Stan wondered what his marriage really meant to him, in relation to alcohol. “American Dad” may forever be dubbed the poor man’s “Family Guy”.

Bones (Airs Wed. 8 p.m. – Started Sept. 3) Last Season: Bones and Booth kissed while Zack fraternized with a serial killer. “Bones” is a smart show that knows how to keep fans happy. If you get a chance, check it out.

Family Guy (Airs Sun. 9 p.m. – Starts Sept. 28) Last Season: Stewie finally mustered up the gumption and accomplished something he has been planning for the last six seasons: killing Lois. Some may say “Family Guy” has lost the steam it used to have in the first couple of seasons. I assure you it is alive and well.

House (Airs Tues. 8 p.m. - Starts Sept. 16) Last Season: Can Wilson forgive his friend and forget about his love? This season will tell. “House” is more of a cult classic television show with a faithful fan base. My mother likes this show. Easy to get into and even easier to follow.

King of the Hill (Airs Sun. 8:30 p.m. - Starts Sept. 28) Last Season: “Dangit Bobby!” “King of the Hill” will forever be one of the most underrated cartoons ever. It has been airing for ages and often goes unnoticed. So many subtle, great moments.

The Simpsons (Airs Sun 8 p.m. – Starts Sept. 28) Last Season: Sideshow Bob and Lurleen Lumpkin made appearances while the rest of the gang kept doing their thing as normal. For God’s sake it is the “Simpsons”. Just watch it.

TV PREVIEW