vol105issue07

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Demonstrating Peace at Central Amanda Ciccatelli News Editor

Central students rallied Thursday for immediate withdrawal from Iraq in a crowd of 250 students.

Several student and community groups, such as the Progressive Student Alliance, Students for a Democratic Society, Youth for Socialist Action and Food Not Bombs-New Britain, participated in the rally by waving banners and speaking out against the war.

“We got a lot of people involved in this rally,” said Central student Nick Menapace. “We were trying to get Ned Lamont to come down here, but we could not find him,” said Menapace, who was pleased with the amount of students who participated and came to observe the rally. “It was much better than I expected.”

“Our main goal is to get students to sign a petition to get recruiting off campus, and then we will bring the petition to the President,” explained Menapace. Students had the opportunity to sign a petition in support of removing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and all military recruiters from Central’s campus. The students would then march to the President Miller’s office with the petition.

“Initially it was just PSA that was doing this, but then YSA got involved,” continued Menapace, who See Peace Rally Page 3

http://clubs.ccsu.edu/recorder/

College Democrats vs. Republicans All Points Lead to Rejuvenating Economy

Democrat Jim Phillips and Republican RJ Simeone represented their sides on the economy.

Melissa Traynor Editor-in-Chief

Between foreign policy, immigration, healthcare and the war in Iraq, every issue bounced back to the economy at Monday’s debate where College Democrats and Republicans spoke their cases.

The Black Student Unionsponsored event began with a breeze over immigration and how each side’s

Speakers at ‘Coming Out’ Day Express Hope for Future GLBT Support Marissa Blaszko Opinion Editor

CCSU Pride hosted its official Coming Out Day last Wednesday, as part of a unified, national attempt to put what Vice President Erin McAuliffe called a “positive spin” on the choice of becoming openly gay.

“Coming out is a positive thing,” said McAuliffe, “and not something you should be ashamed about.”

According to the members, Pride started as a secretive group in the 1980’s, holding word-of-mouth meetings in Marcus White so as not to attract attention. Coming Out Day was the club’s first outdoor event, giving them a visible presence on campus.

The more practical importance of the event lies in the difference between the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.

The event began by hosting several Connecticut speakers, including sociology professor Dr. Betsy Kaminski and founder of the True Colors conference, Robin McHaelen.

Unlike most marginalized communities, “it’s the only minority where you just have to come out and admit it,” McHaelen said. Because of this, the event aimed to show students that no matter what their sexual orientation, there is a support structure on campus.

“When I was in high school, my meetings with gay adults and role models were few and far in between,” said McHaelen as she explained the need for events similar to Coming Out Day. “This is a way of breaking through that isolation.”

She spoke to a crowd of about three dozen GLBT students, as well as straight “allies,” about her long struggle to come out to friends and

Volume 105 No. 7

family, as well as herself. After a first, early high school attempt at coming out to her father – accompanied by several suicide attempts – McHaelen was in her thirties and living with her partner before finally inching out of the closet.

The talk illustrated what seemed to be Coming Out Day’s central point.

“Even though the laws have changed 44 years ago,” said McHaelen to the crowd, “the minds and hearts still need a lot of work.”

Several students took advantage of the open microphone session that followed to share their own coming out stories. Student Tucker Le went first, opening up with what her life was like before she came out to her family. “I woke up every morning feeling heartbroken,” she said.

English major Mark Tomasino went next, speaking about the day he came out to the mix of CCSU, University of Hartford and high school students. A high school student himself at the time, he confided in a close friend who took the news without an ounce of shock. “I was really lucky,” said Tomasino into the microphone. “I’ve heard horror stories.”

In addition, Pride hopes that by becoming a visible presence on campus, they can continue building a community for GLBT students. The club has recently begun working with Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Laura Tordenti, in building the center – a project that will probably take several years to complete.

Those who are involved with building it hope that the center will be a resource for not only students, but for family and allies as well.

Through counseling, programming and event coordinating, the center would continue Pride’s work in helping students.

panelists would propose the federal government address immigration.

Republican representative and CCSU student RJ Simeone agreed with GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain’s plan to secure the borders and grant more funding to border patrol.

In terms of existing immigrants, especially illegal aliens, he said McCain’s plan would involve a documentation process in which immi-

Edward Gaug / The Recorder

grants could establish their presence with the country and they’d have to pay back taxes, if applicable and learn English.

The Democrats responded with their representative Joshua Gibbons, whose answer centered more on economy than the other side’s suggestions.

“We have to work with the Mexican government, build our economy and theirs, to keep immi-

grants in their own country. We need to make the government better,” he said. Gibbons said that illegal immigrants shouldn’t necessarily want to leave their country on account of the United States having a more stable economy.

CCSU student Jim Phillips followed up by stating Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama’s plans to rejuvenate the economy.

As a senior, Phillips said he’s looking forward to graduation in Spring 2009, but is slightly worried about the strength of the job market and how he will be able to provide for himself.

He said that tax cuts were in order and he supports Obama’s proposal to give them out to 90 percent of Americans.

“Reagan believed in granting tax cuts at the top to trickle down –top to bottom – but Obama believes in bottom to top.”

Student surrogates debating for Obama also suggested that the economy needs regulation by the government targeting fraudulent lenders and installing a “credit bill of rights” the companies that outsource jobs.

Doug Harding, speaking on behalf of the College Republicans, said that McCain would lower corporate taxes and focus on the stock market.

See Rejuvinating Economy Page 3

Surrogates Debate Economy, Foreign Policy Amanda Ciccatelli News Editor

Presidential candidate surrogates, Ned Lamont and J.R. Romano posed as the 2008 Presidential candidates Senators Barack Obama and John McCain in an election debate on Wednesday. Lamont and Romano argued the policies of the democratic and republican candidates and took questions from Central students in the audience.

Republican surrogate for John McCain, J.R. Romano was a former Connecticut Republican Party political director and now holds a career in financial advising. Lamont, who debated for Obama, was a 2006 Democratic candidate for the Senate and now teaches as an adjunct professor for the CCSU School of Arts and Sciences. Paul Petterson, chair of the political science department, served as the moderator.

“Obama is a man ready to be president and a leader,” said Lamont.

Recalling the Tuesday night debate, Lamont believed the outcome was productive and substantial, but was apprehensive that a negative tone coming from McCain’s campaign would have dragged the debate down.

He did say that McCain stating Obama’s alleged plans to attack Pakistan was a bad move.

Romano rebutted Lamont’s statement when he argued that Obama clearly said he would attack Pakistan. Romano highlighted that Obama also commented about the Middle East, claiming that they “cling to guns and religion.”

Romano emphasized that Obama said these statements, whether they are true or not. “What kind of president will he be? What if I said CCSU clings to beer and drugs?” he asked.

The global financial crisis was also a timely issue that the debaters were eager to discuss.

“There aren’t many young Republicans because Bush’s policies have driven Republicans into a ditch,” said Lamont. When he referred to the crisis, Lamont said that a worldwide effort is the only way to fix the economic problem.

“Now is the time we need a president who works with banks and allies to get us out of the mess,” said Lamont.

According to Romano, Bush and Clinton both agreed on the Ownership Society that was created to help Americans to get opportunities who are not eligible otherwise.

However, a domino effect occurred where there were bad brokers in the

process causing mortgages to collapse. “It exploded into this point where we are all being affected,” said Romano.

The result of Freddy Mac and Fannie Mae’s negative balance should make Americans change their way of thinking, said Romano.

“We should not buy things we don’t need and stop giving money to countries that hate us,” he said.

Health Care access and cost was another issue raised by Petterson.

“We have to find a way to make drugs cheaper,” answered Romano without hesitation. Citizens who need medical care should receive tax credits and patients should not have See Surrogates Debate Page 3

Edward Gaug / The Recorder

J.R. Romano represented Sen. John McCain at the surrogates debate.

2

News

THE RECORDER Wednesday, October 15, 2008

The Recorder

Student Center 1615 Stanley Street New Britain, CT 06050 T 860.832.3744 F 860.832.3747 ccsurecorder@gmail.com http://clubs.ccsu.edu/ recorder

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

Staff

Brad Cooper Caroline Dearborn Lindsay LeFort Steve Packnick Jeanne Bujalski Misbah Akbar P.J. Decoteau Sean Fenwick Michael Walsh Shauna Simeone Gabrielle Pierce Mike D’Avino Doug Duhaime Colette Gallacher Ryan Robinson Joe Zajac

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 Editor-in-Chief.

The purpose of The Recorder is to approach and define issues of importance to the students of Central Connecticut State University.

Voter Registration Information up to Nov. 4 Deadlines: Oct. 21 (Tuesday): This is the last day for mail-in voter registration. All mailin voter registration applications must be received or post-marked by this date in order to be accepted for the November 4, 2008 election.

Oct. 28 (Friday): This is the last-day for walk-in registrations.

Nov. 4 (Tuesday): All absentee ballots must be received by the time the polls close on this day.

Voter Registration Forms: Students can obtain registration forms from the Information Desk in the student center or online at the Connecticut Secretary of State’s Web site: www.sots.ct.gov (Absentee ballots can also be downloaded from here).

New Britain, Conn. Polling Stations by District: 1. Vance School 183 Vance St New Britain, CT 06052 2. New Britain High School 110 Mill St New Britain, CT 06051 3. Roosevelt School 40 Goodwin St New Britain, CT 06051

Voter Registration Requirements: - U.S. Citizen, 18 years of age and a bona-fide resident - Pre-registration of 17 years of age become eligible to vote on 18th birthday - Register in Registrar’s office from 8:15AM to 3:45PM Monday through Friday. Some form of identification must be presented.

Absentee Ballot Requirements: Students who are ill; physically disabled; serving in the military; those who will be out of town on election day; those providing service as poll worker in polling places other than their own; or those whose religion forbids secular activity on election day.

Students can obtain an application at any Town Clerk’s Office. To cast the ballot, mark the ballot card and return it to the Town Clerk’s Office in the town of residence.

5. Senior Center 55 Pearl St New Britain, CT 06051

7. Generale Ameglio Society 13 Beaver St New Britain, CT 06051

5A. School Apartments 50 Bassett St. New Britain, CT

8. Smalley School 175 West St New Britain, CT 06051

12. Church of the Transfiguration 8 Concord St. New Britain, CT 06053

5B. Graham Apartments New Britain, CT 06051

9. Welte Hall, CCSU 1615 Stanley Street New Britain, CT 06050

13. Pulaski Middle School 757 Farmington, Ave. New Britain, CT 06053

10. First Church of Christ 830 Corbin Ave New Britain, CT 06052

14. Holmes School 2150 Stanley St New Britain, CT 06053

6. State Armory New Britain, CT

11. Franklin School New Britain, CT

14. Gaffney School 322 Slater Rd. New Britain, CT 15. DiLoreto Magnet School 732 Slater Rd New Britain, CT 06053

Central Author Reflects on Liberal Education Amanda Ciccatelli News Editor

Professor Daniel Mulcahy of the Education Department spoke Wednesday about his recently released book, “The Educated Person: Toward a New Paradigm of Liberal Education.” Mulcahy talked about what a liberal education consists of and the outcome it can bring to students.

“Being an educated person is a cultural and social appeal,” Mulcahy said. A successful educator often takes the route of liberal arts to become successful in many aspects of education.

According to Mulcahy hundreds and thousands of colleges and universities commit to a liberal arts curriculum, but many individuals don’t deeply understand the definition of a liberal education.

Mulcahy has been researching contemporary liberal educators and writers and through his studies he chose three specific writers that intrigued him most.

“This is a topic I have been interested for years,” he said. Mulcahy chose writers John Henry Cardinal Newman, Mortimer Adler and Jane

Roland Martin as the concentration for his book.

After thoroughly researching these historical people, Mulcahy learned a great deal that shaped his views on education.

“You begin to develop a decision of your own about the best concept of a liberal education,” he said.

In his book, Mulcahy wrote in a dialogue form between his chosen characters and the voice of himself as a writer and an educator. “I tried to examine the writers and look at them in a contemporary context,” he explained.

Mulcahy looked closely at the different perspectives that each writer had on education overall as well as liberal education. He found that each writer was committed to the idea that an educated person must have a strong social formation.

Both an educated individual and a liberal education share a vast knowledge, according to Mulcahy.

They also both include the core disciplines such as mathematics, literature, philosophy and theology.

Mulcahy made reference to an idea of Newman’s that critical and analytical thinking is needed to make judgments. According to Mulcahy, in

the 19th and 20th centuries, people admired Newman for his view on the formation of a strong liberal education. They looked to Newman for knowledge of how to shape universities.

Emotional, moral, spiritual and religious formation was critical for Newman’s idea of a well-rounded liberal education, said Mulcahy.

“Newman’s idea of university education is broader than liberal education,” he said.

Adler, on the other hand, focused on public school liberal education. Her view, according to Mulcahy, was that education must be redefined to provide liberal education. Adler was in support of preparation for a career and making decisions based on observations of jobs and callings in life.

“Austin had a uniquely feminist prospective,” said Mulcahy. Like Newman and Adler, she recognized the need for intellectual formation in liberal education, but she also wanted to expand on that idea.

“She believed a liberal education must begin to reflect the social circumstances in which we live today,” he explained. Austin’s view was motivated by her fight for equality of

men and women in education and the work force and she thought about the effect an educated woman would have on her traditional family.

Austin’s main focus was to redefine education by weaving the person into a liberal education with the opportunity to use care and concern in the learning process.

“She felt it was just as important to know how to vote, run an operation, promote equality, engage in social service acts and community engagements,” said Mulcahy.

Mulcahy reflected on the past by comparing it to contemporary liberal education. He believes that Adler’s idea of preparation is important because it educates people with practical knowledge. “Practical knowledge and engaging in activities can give us understanding as legitimate as intellectual knowledge skills,” said Mulcahy.

However, liberal education may not work as a universal form of education because individual students should be recognized. “You’ve got to build on the interest of the students,” said Mulcahy.

War Memorabilia on Display at Elihu Burritt Caroline Dearborn Staff Writer

CCSU’s Elihu Burrit Library is currently showcasing possessions that belong to U.S. veterans who fought in foreign wars. Running from Oct. 1 to Oct. 23.

The exhibit is described as “eye-catching,” according to Daniel Gregoire, a communication major and marketing minor who was on his way into the library when he noticed the display. He, like other library goers, stopped to look at all of the memorabilia collected from veterans who were interviewed by the Veterans’ History Project at CCSU. “It’s nice that the Veterans’ History Project put this together for the students at CCSU. It’s a great way to remind us of all the sacrifice the generations before us have made for us to be in the positions we are today, [to] be the society we are today,” commented Gregoire.

The Veterans’ History Project is sponsored by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., established in 2000 by the U.S. Congress in order to preserve the oral histories of veterans from all foreign wars.

The entire collection of stories and related documents from veterans around the country is housed at the Library of Congress. CCSU became officially involved in the project in 2005, becoming a partner, and now conducts interviews and houses the recorded oral histories of Connecticut veterans in Elihu Burrit Library. The histories are available to the public and can be found in the Special Collections section of the library.

Tim Jones, a political science major and student worker in The Center of Public Policy and Social Research, which works with the VHP, said he was very excited about the unveiling of everything.

The display holds possessions that belonged to Louis H. Cohen, Sarando Giftos, Morton N. Katz, Donald Moss, and Linda Schwartz.

Eileen Hurst, Associate Director for The Center of Public Policy and Social Research, has been involved with the VHP since 2003, and explained that the veterans represented in the display had responded to a mass mailing.

A few items stuck out in particular in the display. For example, one interesting item was New Britian resident Cohen’s Abridged Prayer See Veterans Page 3

Edward Gaug / The Recorder

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, October 15, 2008 / NEWS

Rejuvinating Economy Continued from page 1

Another strategy would be to grant permanent tax credit for all citizens in order to make Americans competitive with other countries.

College Republicans reasoned that Americans live in a global economy and businesses, therefore, should be looking to reach out to the 90 percent of customers who reside outside the United States.

When the conversation shifted to energy and the search for alternatives, it was quickly brought back to the central debate over whether the American economy is strong enough to.

Simeone argued that drilling is a temporary answer, especially when the United States must export oil from countries that aren’t necessarily allies.

“We don’t exactly need to drill our way out of this problem, but it will hold us over for now,” he said. “We shouldn’t be sending money to countries who don’t like us.”

Simeone supports McCain’s plans to create nuclear power plants, modeling his ideas after France – a country that can supply 80 percent of its energy with power plants.

McCain’s proposal for these plants hopes to strengthen the job market, and therefore, the economy.

College Democrat Sarah Horrax said the markets need to be controlled and cited speculation as the cause of fuel cost hikes. She said that Obama is planning on installing measures to keep up with changing fuel economy regulations and the technology to create hybrid vehicles.

Veterans

Continued from page 2

Brittany Kilburn marches to the University President’s office.

Peace Rally

Continued from page 1 explained that originally the plan was to have more of a party with bands and speakers, but the groups decided a rally would be more beneficial to their cause.

According to YSA President Sean Howard, YSA is a nation-wide network of young activists that fights for an alternative to a world drowned in poverty, racism, sexism, homophobia, war and environmental destruction. YSA also supports Socialism.

“We fight for a world where people get a say in all of the decisions that affect their lives, and where the economy is collectively, instead of privately owned,” said Howard. YSA stands

Surrogates Debate Continued from page 1

to go through the government first when a doctor can save a life, said Romano.

“We want this major universal reform, but is it going to solve the problem?” Romano asked.

As far as all the long-term national commitments America has made, Lamont said that both Democratic and Republican parties rushed into Iraq, while Obama said no. Lamont said Obama knew that it would cost a great deal of money, such as the billion dollars a month spent in Iraq.

“It is time to start investing in our own country again,” said Lamont.

Romano praised McCain’s gamble on his presidency.

“McCain risked his entire presidency on the surge,” he said. The Republican candidate made a controversial decision after waiting so long to have a real chance at becoming president. The United States went into Iraq to understand terrorist networks in an attempt to win a military battle.

“Its not just about today, it’s about tomorrow,” said Romano.

“The invasion of Iraq has not worked and the surge has not worked,” argued Lamont.

An audience member asked Lamont and Romano what their views are on the $700 billion bailout bill. Lamont said that both McCain and Obama had a difficult choice, but both men made the correct one.

“I agree,” said Romano. “These bailouts are not going into the pockets of executives, but I advise you all to check your bank’s insurance.”

Marissa Blaszko / The Recorder

by the phrase “for the people, by the people” and use it as a motto and a goal.

Farid Farahmand, a professor in the School of Engineering and Technology, shared his appreciation for having a rally like this on campus for college students to experience.

“At the end of the day, this is the generation that will have to pay for all of the bailouts that they are doing and pay for all of the war, the consequences of the all the billions of dollars being poured into these military companies,” said Farahmand. “It is up to the next generation to get involved and voice out against these types of policies and the bad policies around the economic situation.”

The four-hour rally was followed by a social held in Marcus White Living Room.

Book for Jews in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

One can easily see that the book opened on the left, which is backwards from English.

Hurst explained that this was because it was written in Hebrew.

Another intriguing item on display is that under Giftos’ section: a piece of propeller. Hurst said Giftos was stationed on the U.S.S. Tarawa, “one of the most dangerous flight decks.” She further delved into the story of the propeller, describing a collision between two planes during which one plane clipped the other’s wing.

The piece of propeller flew off of one of the planes and landed in front of Giftos, which he saved as a souvenir.

Schwartz, the Connecticut Commissioner of Veteran Affairs, also lent an interesting item to the display: her original flight nurse bag, which holds its own next to the other veterans’ items.

Each of these artifacts, as well as several others, has brief summaries explaining their purposes, something that Gregoire appreciated.

3 “I agree with his plan to raise fuel economy standards up four percent per year,” Horrax said.

Urban community concerns were also brought onto the table, with Democrats and the Republicans drawing attention to the 37 million citizens who live under the poverty line.

The Obama camp stressed the need for revitalization of downtowns across America and an economy in urban areas to attract jobs.

Both party’s representatives agreed that community involvement and volunteer efforts are greatly needed, but differed in how they’d grant funding to the impoverished areas.

“McCain wants funding for local law enforcement, which will be based on merit and need,” Harding said.

Democrats proposed job training for the homeless and unemployed.

Focusing on financial security for young Americans, the College Democrats asked how it’s expected that young people be financially responsible if the government is not.

“Obama wants to usher in new responsibility – he has a ‘pay as you go’ system where every dollar is accounted for,” Gibbons said, adding that Obama is against relying on credit.

The Youth for Socialist Action club had intervened at the last minute before a Q&A session began and stated their views on the situation of the United States.

Representative Dan Piper had outlined his views against capitalism and its neglect for human need-driven accomplishments.

Hale Yalincak contributed to this story.

“The personal stories are a nice way of incorporating stories with faces,” he said. “It adds more of a personal touch to the exhibit, rather than seeing uniforms and medals.”

The VHP brochure announces that veterans make up 12 percent of Connecticut’s population - more than 410,000 people. The library’s exhibit showcases stories from only five veterans. Hurst, along with her student workers and community volunteers, has interviewed many more than these five veterans since CCSU became a partner in the project; however, there are still many unheard and undocumented stories.

A major concern is that many of the veterans from WWII are passing away before their stories are preserved, which is one of the reasons why there is always a call for volunteers to get involved with the project. There is an educational benefit to volunteering as well. “You get to hear stories you don’t hear about in the classroom,” said Hurst.

Hurst made it clear that without the help of both students and veterans, this project would not be possible. Furthermore, she appreciates the library’s help.

And most important, everyone is invited to take a look at the exhibit in the library. “I recommend this exhibit to any other CCSU student,” said Gregoire.

4 THE RECORDER Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Editorial

Editorial/Opinion

Last week, when the Connecticut Supreme Court overturned our state’s ban on gay marriage in a 4-3 ruling, we became residents of the third state to grant equal rights to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender citizens. Just as impressive is that less than 48-hours earlier, CCSU Pride held their first Coming Out day, at one point following the True Colors director in a chant proclaiming: “We’re here, we’re queer, get over it.”

The slogan and ruling seem to bring to light the same idea. We have finally begun entering an era where gay individuals have begun seeing the positive consequences of coming out out weigh the negative ones.

Younger students are, on a whole, more accepting than their parents or

Letter from the Editor grandparents; legislature has finally begun taking actions to legally protect GLBT citizens.

All of this is because the GLBT community has not only made their presence known on campus, but around the state. The individuals that have been involved with the fight are incredibly dedicated with their cause, and they are finally getting the results that they need. The couples that sued the state have won basic rights to hospital visitation, healthcare, and the dignity to be treated like heterosexual couples. The fight on the Central campus, in contrast, has been less legal than social. Pride members have tried to help both questioning and open students through events; at the events, they’ve extended a hand in solidarity to high

school Gay Straight Alliances, as well as to students at the University of Hartford.

Unfortunately, the struggle is far from over. A potential re-write of the Connecticut Constitution jeopardize the gains of the couples involved in the class-action suite; on the Californian ballot, voters are being asked whether that state’s ruling should be overturned, or at least reviewed. States across the country have been given the responsibility of deciding what marriage means to them--keeping American citizens from having the same rights in different parts of the country.

It’s now, more than ever, other Connecticut colleges need to follow CCSU’s lead in giving GLBT students a visible presence on campus.

Our generation has been reshaping the election since our 18th birthdays, and equality activists that make up part of that demographic need to make sure their voices are being heard through our collective power.

By putting themselves into the public eye, they can press the importance of this issue at a time in our country’s history where voters need to make sure we continue the fight for everyone’s equality.

There Will Always Be Student Debt JACoB sChutz

daily Pennsylvanian university of Pennsylvania

(U-WIRE) - In May, I was dumped by e-mail.

I received an notice from Student Financial Services telling me I would need to select a new lender for my Federal Stafford Loan. My original lender - along with 136 other institutions had stopped offering the loans. A couple months later, a friend at another school updated her Facebook status to say she “thinks student loan companies can suck it.”

And the bad news followed me back to Penn, with a Daily Pennsylvanian article that read, “Loans a problem for students.”

Indeed, as I watched the “Bailout Bill” wind its way through Congress - failing in the House before the Senate could resuscitate it with pork - I felt only one connection to those dreaded financial markets: “What does this mean for student loan rates?”

That’s because, like many Penn students, my education depends on federal and private

loans. For the average student, this means a tumultuous relationship with a hidden trouble in the American economy.

And although Penn has recently done an admirable job expanding its financial aid, the “no-loan” aspect of its program is somewhat deceiving. Penn’s efforts, which affect families making under $100,000 this year and will cover all students starting next fall, eliminates loans from financial-aid packages. The fact is, however, that many students will continue to use loans.

When you apply for financial aid, you receive a statement that takes total education expense and subtracts what they think your family can pay (based on acronym-heavy forms like FAFSA and the CSS Profile). The remaining sum is your financial-aid eligibility, which used to consist of Penn grants, other scholarships, work-study jobs and loans. Now, however, Penn won’t expect you to take out loans as part of your financial aid.

But there’s still that expected family contribution. And often, this number is larger than

Taking the Low Road Joe zAJAC staff Writer

This past week, the Central campus was beset with the burning passions of the anti-war movement, which saw a meager number of aspiring revolutionaries collectively bleating for change.

What these crusaders fail to realize, however, is that their protests are ultimately futile and detrimental to actual progress. In this forum, where passion has trounced logic, and repetition of convenient buzzwords and slogans has taken the place of seasoned and fruitful debate, is the assurance that such activities will end in either zealotry or irrelevance.

Passion as a replacement for logic has invited too black and white a version of the issues at stake. Outrage over issues not fully understood by those protesting is energy misdirected and ultimately wasted.

Of course, understanding of the issues, nuanced as they tend to be, will not arrive via protesting. It instead serves only to cheapen the debate in general through the propagation of and reliance on easily digestible slogans.

Usually protests involve quantity over quality, but with the lacking numbers of last week’s protest, they truly skirted irrelevancy. I would make a quip here about the arrogance of college students in thinking that they have a sturdier grip on the issues than those actually involved, but the reality is ludicrous and comical enough as it is. No, only debate between educated parties with a keen understanding of the issues would do any amount of justice to such issues.

Also, it is through protests that the worst aspects of humanity arise. With the breakdown of logic comes the retreat into infantile notions and expectations, immediacy over compromise, “us vs. them” and reckless demands with no consideration of the consequences.

For example, the prospect of ending the war within a reasonable timeframe, taking into

account the safety of the Iraqis did not grace many posters at the rally last week.

No, only an immediate solution would suffice. For all their bluster about equality and selflessness, there is a disturbing trend of selfishness and cruelty in promoting such an idea, because only their desires are fulfilled, not those of the Iraqis who depend on the American military as the bulwark against Islamic terrorism. Foresight has never underpinned the mob mentality of protests, it seems.

But the most disturbing consequence of the “protest mindset” is the closing of other avenues of protest. For these campus radicals who shamelessly espouse the notion of class war, not enough credit is given for working within the system. Legislative protest, protesting with your vote, has always proved more successful.

Petitioning one’s Congressman with a simple correspondence stating your feelings toward an issue is more likely to get attention than slavishly posturing yourself and screaming something about imperialism, racism, or “Amerikkka.”

Ask yourself, which of the two would you be more receptive to on the street, a person with a clear list of demands who explains their opinion in a calm and rational manner, or someone who gets in your face, screaming and stringing together buzzwords to form a hardly coherent thought?

Even more, why would any lawmaker pay attention to such protests? They could be part of his or her constituency, but then again, maybe not. Failure to properly make one’s presence known in a manner that works within the system, rather than needlessly flaunting it, will only end in failure and silence from those lawmakers…as it has.

Simply put, protests are merely another method for self-gratification and aggrandizement with no real purpose other than self-promotion and often do more harm than good.

Judging from the numbers of last week’s protest, the rest of the campus subscribes to that notion as well.

what parents feel they can afford on a yearly basis, so they turn to student loans as an answer.

“What they use to calculate family contributions is vastly unrealistic,” one College junior told me, who wished to remain anonymous. She told me that although she now qualifies for the “no-loan” program, this was the first year she had to take out private loans on top of her federal ones, because her family couldn’t cover their expected contribution.

As a student interested in nonprofit work, she’s especially frustrated with the thought of having to pay back loans after graduation.

Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of finaid.org, told me that Penn’s “no-loan” financial-aid package is “much more generous” than your average university program. Kantrowitz explained that “no-loan” programs help insulate our student body from the current turmoil in the financial markets.

But he also pointed out that some students “borrow to cover their family contributions,” exposing them to either the federal or private student-loan markets. Federal loan programs are okay, he says, because Congress has acted to

Dear Readers, We have just recently put out surveys to the students of CCSU via email and with a notification on Pipeline. We are asking you to complete two one- or two-minute surveys; we are interested in knowing how you are going to vote in the upcoming election and in the other survey, we ask you to name the most important issues of the elections. You are strongly encouraged to leave comments.

We ask you to respond so that we may collect the data in preparation for in-depth election coverage and how the presidential election will affect you, the students.

Thank you, Melissa Traynor Editor-in-Chief

ensure their stability. As for private loans - “It’s very hard to predict what will happen.”

For an already sensitive matter, a false belief that all Penn students graduate debt-free holds the danger of suppressing an important dialogue on campus. Especially in an economy that continues to negatively affect family wealth and leave interest rates volatile, it’s important to continue to ask whether Penn is affordable for every talented mind lucky enough to be accepted.

I absolutely commend the University for its efforts. I know President Gutmann has placed a great deal of importance on financial aid, and her work is reflected in how far Penn’s programs have gone in these last few years. But many students still feel some significant financial pain.

Fostering an open discussion about the real burdens of paying for a world-class education will help University leaders know exactly how far we have made it and how far we have yet to go.

5

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, October 15, 2008 / OPINION

Second Presidential Debate Provides Nothing New Shauna Simeone Staff Writer

The presidential debate that took place on Tuesday, Oct. 7 was basically a waste of an hour and a half that could have been better spent watching coverage of Andrea Mitchell being covered in balloons at the Republican Convention. Both of the candidates seemed knowledgeable, but neither of them presented any exciting ideas on how they would improve America if they were elected.

The first half of the debate focused on the economy and consisted of a bland review of Democratic Sen.Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain’s talking points and a nagging reminder from Tom Brokaw that the candidates had agreed to respond to questions for only one minute.

Obama had the edge in this section because he focused on how his ideas would actually help the American people, instead of giving broad policy discussions like McCain did. For example, when conversing about taxes, Obama emphasized that he would be cutting taxes for 95 percent of Americans and he gave specific income brackets that would receive tax breaks.

This had to have appealed to middle class

Americans that were watching the debate since those who make under $250,000 a year and would be the beneficiaries of said tax cuts.

McCain brought up one of the few new ideas that were introduced during the debate, yet unfortunately it was not exciting at all. He proposed that the federal government should buy up bad mortgages directly from homeowners and replace them with fixed-rate loans.

McCain answered the question that was lingering on the mind of many viewers when he said, “Is it expensive? Yes.” Expensive is a bit of an understatement. McCain’s proposal would cost taxpayers $300 billion. Considering that the government just passed the over $700 billion bailout bill, Americans currently don’t have the stomach for drastic new spending propositions.

When it came to healthcare, Obama was a stronger orator. Even though the idea of massive government involvement in health insurance is frightening, Obama announced his point much smoother than McCain. He probably appealed to the majority of Americans by saying that if Americans like their existing insurance plan, then it doesn’t have to change, but if Americans can’t get insured, he will make insurance a reality as president.

McCain’s main idea was to give a $5,000 tax credit to American families so that they could shop around for a suitable insurance plan.

This idea does a much better job in preserving consumer choice, which is fundamental in America.

The debate then shifted to questions on foreign policy. McCain had a stronger presence in this arena, with the highlight being his criticism of Obama’s views on Pakistan.

“If we have Osama bin Laden in our sights and the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to take them out, then I think that we have to act and we will take them out,” said Obama as he stressed the importance of becoming an ally with Pakistan.

McCain pointed out the weakness of this idea by saying that if a president is trying to improve relations with a country, he should not be announcing that America is going to invade if the government doesn’t act how the president wants them to.

Eventually, an appealing question arose when an audience member asked the senators how they would respond if Iran attacked Israel.

Instead of answering the question directly it turned into both McCain and Obama stating

that they would put pressure on Iran so that they wouldn’t acquire nuclear weapons. This question provided McCain with an opportunity to distinguish himself from Obama on foreign policy, but he lost the chance. Everyone understands that both candidates think it would be dangerous for Iran to get nuclear weapons.

McCain could have gained some ground by demonstrating his vast foreign policy knowledge and directly responded to how he would deal with the attack of Israel.

The rest of the foreign policy discussion was essentially a history lesson of the past eight years with limited ideas for the future.

Overall, both candidates performed somewhat decently. McCain had large expectations for this debate and needed to be exceptional to minimize Obama’s lead in the polls.

He failed to do this and both candidates turned the debate into a ninety-minute stump speech of repetitive information that contained no fresh or exciting elements.

If someone had warned me beforehand that the debate would be that unexciting, I would have used the time to catch up on some homework; at least I would have learned something.

Den Needs Stronger Pull to Keep Students Away from Drinking Sean Fenwick Staff Writer

When it comes to thinking about Thursday night, a lot of thoughts can rush through students’ minds: the drinking, the partying, bumming around the dorms, but what about the event CCSU offers as an alternative?

According to the CCSU Web site, “Devil’s Den at 10pm” is a Thursday night social organized by Residence Life that aims “to create fun, alternative, late night activities for Central Connecticut State University students on a consistent basis.”

On the first night, CCSU set up a mini golf course in the Devil’s Den and offered free chicken wings and nachos. What’s not to love about free food and mini golf? The school also

set up a photo booth where the pictures are put on a pillowcase.

It is easy to see what CCSU, like most college campuses, is trying to do. The student organization that runs these distractions must be pretty naive to think that the events will stop students from drinking on Thursdays. In the rare cases where students ditch a night of partying to play on a mediocre golf course, they find themselves self-tripping over a cramped set up and asking, “What the hell was I thinking?”

“Devil’s Den at 10pm” tries to be a positive alternative, yet fails miserably.

This isn’t just because it is a dumb idea.

Little is done to tell students about the Devil’s Den diversion. For the most part, the news gets around by word of mouth and is never accurate.

There are some nights where students hear that

Illustration: Stefano Delli Carpini

there is a hypnotist at the Den with free food and other nights when there are movies and game shows set up. But because information gets spread around by stories, “facts” always change and end up being so ridiculous students don’t believe them.

The few students that do go just end up pre-gaming, get drunk before looking around the Den for food. If the organization really wants a great turn out, they need to step up their game. They should guarantee concerts every

Thursday with local bands and students will check it out, drunk or sober.

The other aspect that needs to be taken into account is that on the weekends this campus is dead, there is nothing to do. So of course students end up drinking out of boredom and doing what ever else to pass the time. CCSU should be setting up events on the weekends, not just on Thursday nights. If the events were thought out and better planned, more students would stay on campus on the weekends to attend.

Got something to say?

Write us a 200-300-word signed letter to the editor at

ccsurecorder@gmail.com.

6 THE RECORDER Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Sports

Wanket Leads Blue Devil Rally at Albany, CCSU Falls Short in 24-22 Loss CCSUBlueDevils.com

Central Connecticut (4-2, 1-1) fell a twopoint conversion short of completing a second half comeback and forcing overtime in a 24-22 loss at Albany (3-3, 2-0) in Northeast Conference play.

Junior quarterback Hunter Wanket looked for classmate Nick Colagiovanni in the back of the end zone on the two-point try following a 14-yard touchdown pass to junior Tyler Rossnagle, but his attempt fell short.

Wanket finished the game 16-of-24 for a career-high 198 yards and a touchdown, while junior James Mallory rushed for 109 yards on 26 carries. It was the fifth 100-yard rushing performance for the nation’s fifth leading ball carrier. Colagiovanni led CCSU with five catches for 71 yards.

On the other side of the ball, senior captain Mike Cooke had 11 tackles, including one sack and 3.5 for loss. He also posted a pass break-up.

Trailing 17-9 at halftime, Central Connecticut senior Lamont Tillery recovered a fumble by Albany junior Colin Simmons on the second half ’s opening kickoff. However, the Blue Devils were stopped on a fourth and one at the Albany 19 yard line.

The Great Danes marched 77 yards in 13 plays, taking 6:35 off the clock on the ensuing drive, but CCSU junior Danny Rodriguez blocked a Chris Lynch field goal to get the ball back to the Blue Devil offense.

CCSU was forced to punt, and Albany took a 15-point lead on its next possession. On third and 18 following a sack by Blue Devil junior Ray Saunders, Albany junior David McCarty broke a 72-yard screen play for a touchdown, and Lynch’s point after made it 24-9 with 2:06 left in the third quarter.

The Blue Devils ended the period with the ball but had to punt it away 11 seconds into the fourth. Two plays later, sophomore Dominique Rose intercepted a pass by junior Vinny Esposito, and the Blue Devils capitalized.

Mallory capped a six-play, 43-yard drive with a six yard rushing touchdown, his fifth of the season. A Joe Izzo point after made it 24-16.

The teams traded punts on the next three possessions, with CCSU taking over at the Albany 20 with 4:45 to play after Cooke broke up a Great Dane screen on third down.

Wanket went 4-of-6 for 38 yards and rushed twice for 18 yards to lead CCSU down the field. He hit Colagiovanni for 15 yards on a third down and nine and then scrambled for 14 yards on a first down.

His final completion, the 14-yarder to Rossnagle, gave the Blue Devils a chance for the tie. An onside kick following the Blue Devil score was recovered by Albany.

The CCSU defense stopped the Great Danes again, but the offense had just 30 seconds for a potential game-winning drive. And,

The Geat Dane defense stopped an Aubrey Morris run last season.

the Blue Devils had to start at their own fouryard line. Wanket sandwiched a 16-yard strike to Colagiovanni between completions of 10 yards and 13 yards to sophomore Josue Paul to get Central Connecticut out to their own 43yard line.

A last gasp play, which included three laterals, moved the Blue Devils into Albany territory, but the clock expired with the scoreboard reading 24-22.

Izzo, a sophomore, made the first three field goals of his career in the first half, connecting from 24, 36 and 26 yards, to account for the only Blue Devil points in the first 20 minutes. It was the first time a Blue Devil made three field goals in a game since Oct. 29, 2005.

Derek Pearson had three against Monmouth on that day.

Paul returned the opening kickoff 35 yards out to the 50, giving the Blue Devils good field position for their first drive. A few plays into the drive, Mallory broke a 33-yard run to put CCSU at the Albany 10-yard line.

But the Great Dane defense stiffened, forcing the first of three Izzo field goals. Albany responded on its ensuing possession.

The Great Danes converted on two fourth down plays, including a fourth and goal from the Blue Devil one-yard line, to go up 7-3.

CCSU went 47 yards in 12 plays to set up Izzo’s second field goal.

It cut the lead to 7-6 with 6:24 left in the first quarter.

Albany added a field goal after CCSU made a key red zone stop inside the 10-yard line, but CCSU managed just three more points on the following possession. Wanket’s pass intended for Rossnagle in the end zone on third down went incomplete, but Izzo was good from 26 yards to draw CCSU within one, 10-9.

Albany marched back down the field, but sophomore Alondre Rush intercepted an Esposito pass with 43 seconds left in the half.

Wanket hit junior Colagiovanni for a 20-yard completion on the first play after the turnover.

The next play gave it back to the Great Danes, however. Wanket rolled left after collecting a low snap but could not get rid of the ball before senior Tom Pandolf caught him for a sack, forced fumble and recovery at the CCSU 43-yard line.

Photo: Conrad Akier, 11/17/2007

Albany put seven on the board with three seconds remaining, as Esposito found sophomore Jason Poore for an 11-yard score. Lynch, who took over kicking duties this week, made the point after to give Albany a 17-9 lead at the break.

Mallory carried the ball 14 times for 80 yards to lead the Blue Devil offense in the first half. Junior David McCarty had 73 yards on 15 carries for Albany.

Esposito was 11-of-16 for 124 yards, a touchdown and the interception. Both teams were 3-of-3 in the red zone, but the Albany touchdowns accounted for the difference.

Neither team punted in the first 30 minutes.

The Blue Devils finished the game with 160 yards on the ground and 209 through the air. Paul and Mallory added four catches apiece for the offense.

Rush and sophomore Jeff Marino, like Cooke, each had 11 tackles. As a team, the Blue Devils had 10 tackles for a loss.

Central Connecticut will be back in action next weekend. The Blue Devils host Duquesne as part of homecoming festivities at 1 p.m. on Arute Field.

7

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, October 15, 2008 / SPORTS

Pick Your Poison

NFL Predictions for Week 6

It was a crazy week in the NFL and not to many of competitors saw it coming. Marc Chouinard dominated the field with 11 picks but few others were able to pick even half the games.

Everyone except Alex Waters thought the Giants would stay undefeated (Nice work) and only our lowly Entertainment Editor Nick Viccione was willing to bet on the Lions (What were you thinking?).

It’s getting pretty messy a top the leaderboard as a mere five points are all that separate our top eight competitors for this year’s crown. Speaking of which we have finally deteremined our prize for this year’s Pick Your Poison championship: a DVD three-pack of sports movies. Exciting, eh?

Keep those picks coming and if you have any comments or questions email us at ccsurecorder@gmail.com.

Peter Collin

Kyle Dorau Sports Editor

Associate Layout Editor

Entertainment Editor

San Diego

San Diego

San Diego

San Diego

Managing Editor

San Diego at Buffalo Minnesota at Chicago

Edward Gaug

Nick Viccione

Chicago

Chicago

Chicago

Chicago

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

Tennessee at Kansas City

Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee

Dallas

St. Louis

Dallas

Dallas

Dallas at St. Louis Baltimore at Miami San Francisco at N.Y. Giants New Orleans at Carolina Detroit at Houston N.Y. Jets at Oakland

Miami

Miami

Miami

Baltimore

N.Y. Giants

N.Y. Giants

N.Y. Giants

N.Y. Giants

New Orleans

Carolina

Carolina

Carolina

Houston

Houston

Detroit

Houston

Oakland

N.Y. Jets

N.Y. Jets

N.Y. Jets

Indianapolis at Green Bay

Indianapolis

Green Bay

Indianapolis

Indianapolis

Cleveland at Washington

Washington

Washington

Cleveland

Washington

Seattle at Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay

Seattle

Denver

New England

Denver

Denver

Denver at New England

Pick of the Week

Indianapolis def. Green Bay

Yes, I am picking against the Packers again and yes, I know that I was horribly wrong last week. This time I will put my faith in someone a little more reliable. Peyton looked like his vintage self last week in the Colts domination of the Ravens. I say he picks up where he left off.

This Week’s NFL Prediction Leader Board

Total Points

St. Louis def. Dallas

Dallas’ implosion will continue at the hands of St. Louis. This is a team with a high-maintenance diva for a wideout, an injured star quarterback,and a cornerback who fights his own bodyguard. They will hit rock bottom after losing to the hapless Rams.

Tennessee def. Kansas City

The Titans are going to do what the Giants were unable to do last week: remain undefeated. Despite Vince Young not being on the field, the Titans will continue to be one on the NFL’s best teams.

Dallas def. St. Louis

This team is still good despite getting hit by the injury bug. Look for T.O. to step it up in the absence of Romo because I have a feeling he’ll be the most reliable target for Brad Johnson. Cowboys should bounce back.

Current Week

Rank

Name

1

Kevin Petruzielo

53

7

2

Kyle Dorau

52

7

3

Marc Chouinard

51

11

4

Carey Brimmer

50

7

5

Ed Gaug

49

5

6

Anthony Gonsalves

48

5

6

Gary Berman

48

6

6

Nick Viccione

48

5

9

Edward Homick

42

6

10

Ryan Kennedy

40

5

11

Jason Beaumier

38

0

12

Peter Collin

37

8

13

Alex Waters

32

7

14

Melissa Traynor

30

9

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 necessary.

8

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, October 15, 2008 / SPORTS

Blackbirds Claw Past Blue Devils Peter Collin Managing Editor

The CCSU women’s volleyball team fell 3-1 to the Long Island University Blackbirds Saturday at Detrick Gymnasium.

Junior Jamie Baumert led the Blue Devils tallying 16 kills and a hitting percentage of .382. Sophomore Amanda Bayer added 41 assists to the Blue Devil attack to go along with 13 digs.

The Blue Devils (4-11, 0-1) started out strong by taking the first game 25-23, but they could not capitalize on their momentum. The Blackbirds (9-9, 1-0) jumped out to an early lead in the second game.

Central fought their way back into the game, repeatedly tying the score against the Blackbirds until they eventually broke for a 6-1 run that put them on top 18-13. LIU fought back and countered with a 6-1 run of their own to even the score at 19.

From there the Blue Devils and the Blackbirds exchanged leads until LIU went on a 3-0 run to steal the game from Central.

“LIU is the defending NEC champion,” Coach Linda Sagnelli said. “They have won it for the last four years. We were definitely very well prepared for this match and we just let mistakes creep into us.”

Blackbirds 3 Blue Devils 1 Both teams picked up where they left off in the second game, and began the third by trading blows with no team gaining more than a onepoint advantage. There were 12 ties during the game but with both teams deadlocked at 12 the Blackbirds went on a 7-1 run to jump in front 19-13.

The Blue Devils fought on but could not narrow the gap, losing the set 25-20. The Blackbirds were led by junior outside hitter Svetlana Simic who consistently gave the Blue Devils trouble. Simic tallied a match-high 26 kills as Central could not find a way to counter her attacks.

“Their outside hitter, Svetlana Simic, she did a great job for them,” said Sagnelli. “She did a great job for them and she was one of the reasons they were able to win that game.”

LIU was never able to build a large lead against Central but they capitalized on Blue Devil errors using them to build small leads and to maintain those leads.

“When it got point for point we let a bunch of mistakes creep in,” said Sagnelli. “Two to four mistakes creep in and then all of the sudden they’re up by three points.”

As Central battled through the fourth game they ran into a brick wall at the net. LIU senior Agatha Baliddawa and freshman Quinn Williams seemed to be ready for every Central attack combining for eight blocks in the match.

Coach Sagnelli and the Blue Devils will be looking to improve on their service game going into their match up against Wagner next Sunday. The Blue Devils commited five service errors in the first game of the match but still managed to pull out the win.

Sagnelli believes that if they can cut down on their errors and be more secure with the ball then they will be able to outwork teams in transitional play.

The Blue Devils’ next home game will be on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. against the Wagner Seahawks.

Photo: Conrad Akier

Top: Senior Amanda Olmstead recorded a team-high three aces.

Left: Lauren Snyder tallied 15 kills against the Blackbirds.

Right: Sophomore Maite Mandizabal fires a spike over the net.

Blue Devils Sweep Homestand; Run Winning Streak to Three

Freshman Brittany Jackson scored her first career goal against the Hawks.

Peter Collin Managing Editor

The CCSU women’s soccer team only has a handful of home games this season, but so far they have made them all count. After losing their first Northeast Conference game at St. Francis (PA), the Blue Devils have rebounded to win their next three including two straight at home.

After steamrolling Mount St. Mary’s 4-0 on Friday, the Blue Devils held on for a 3-2 victory over Monmouth University in New Britain on Sunday. It was a crucial victory for Central as they jumped out to an early 3-0 lead over the reigning NEC champion Hawks.

“We started off strong from the beginning of the game. To score three goals in the first hour was tremendous for us,” said Head Coach Mick D’Arcy.

The Blue Devils are now 3-0 at home this season with two games remaining in New Britain.

Now D’Arcy has the task of reading his girls for their next road trip. This time the Blue Devils will be taking on the Wagner Seahawks before they go down to meet the conference leading LIU Blackbirds.

Photo: Conrad Akier

On this upcoming road trip the Blue Devils will look for junior Rachel Caneen to keep up her recent hot streak. On the homestand Caneen tallied four goals in two games, including her first career hat trick against the Mount St. Mary’s on Friday.

Caneen’s performance earned her NEC Player of the Week honors.

“We know what Rachel is capable of. She has had a bit of misfortune in the early part of the season just as far as the goals not going in for her,” said D’Arcy. “We knew it was just a matter of time, if kept doing the things she was doing, until the goals would eventually come.

But Caneen wasn’t the only Blue Devil to earn some hardware for their efforts over the weekend. Freshman forward Brittany Jackson took home the NEC Rookie of the Week award after she notched two assists and her first career goal.

Traveling to Wagner and LIU will pose an interesting problem for the Blue Devil squad.

Both universities play their soccer matches on field turf, which is something the Blue Devils do not encounter on a regular basis.

D’Arcy plans on using some early morning practices on the football field to ready his squad for the road trip.

Junior Leah Blayney dribbles through the Monmouth defense.

Photo: Conrad Akier

Blue Devils Slip to 0-2 in NEC With Loss to Long Island CCSUBlueDevils.com

The Central Connecticut men’s soccer team slipped to 0-2 in NEC play, losing to Long Island 2-1 in overtime.

Senior captain Yan Klukowski tied the game at one late in the first half, but the Blackbirds’ Mohammad Mashriqi scored the game winner on Sunday afternoon in New Britain, Conn.

LIU got on the board first, when Mashriqi fed Jukka Lehto up the right sideline. Lehto carried the ball to the baseline and finished it past Blue Devil goalkeeper Paul Armstrong.

Klukowski countered eight minutes later when a shot rebounded off the hands of Long Island goalkeeper Adam Janssen.

Klukowski finished the loose ball to tally his team-leading seventh goal of the season.

The forward also leads CCSU with 19 total points.

The second half went scoreless, with only eight shots between the two squads in the period. In the seventh minute of overtime Mashriqi scored the game-winner when he received a back-heeled pass from teammate Frank Alesci.

The goal marked the senior’s fourth of the season.

Armstrong finished with six saves in the match, while Janssen tallied seven. The Blackbirds out-shot Central 18-9 and recorded 12 corner kicks to the Blue Devils’ two.

CCSU falls to 6-4-2 on the season and 0-2 in Northeast Conference play. The Blue Devils will next be hosting Sacred Heart on Friday Oct. 17 at 1 p.m.

Long Island improves to 6-5-0 and 1-1 in the NEC. The Blackbirds will be traveling to Pennsylvania to take on St. Francis on Friday October 17th at 3:00 p.m.

RECentral News: October 18: 5K Fun Run, 8:30 a.m. registration, 9:30 a.m. start time in Stanley Quarter Park October 22: Ultimate Frisbee Tournament, 6:30 PM registration, 7:15 p.m. start, Arute Football Field October 28: Krazy Costume Cardboard Canoe Race, 6:30 p.m. start, in Kaiser Pool Intramural dodgeball and volleyball. Rosters for those teams are due on 10/27/08.

Junior Joe Dabkowski scored the game’s equalizer.

Edward Gaug / The Recorder 10/4/2008

Blue Devils Tie with Huskies at 4 Kyle Dorau Sports Editor

It may not have been a game-winning goal, but to junior co-captain Joe Dabkowski, it sure felt like one. Dabkowski scored the game-tying goal in the second period as Central Connecticut State University Hockey overcame a 4-2 deficit to tie the University of Connecticut on Saturday at the Bolton Ice Palace.

Following an offensive opportunity, Dabkowski was steamrolled in the corner by UConn defenseman Dan Roche. Roche was given a major penalty for charging as well as a game misconduct. On the ensuing five-minute power play, senior winger Mike Diclemente sent a pass from one face-off circle to the other, where a waiting Dabkowski one-timed into the back of the net.

“That play is one we work on in practice over and over,” said Dabkowski. “It just happened perfectly. Those are the opportunities you dream for, the game-tying goal top corner.” Dabkowski and the Diclemente brothers were all plus 3 on the score sheet for the night.

Central Coach Jim Mallia is aware that guys are going to take a run at his star players.

“They’re going to put their grinding line against them,” said Mallia. “That’s what all three of them are going to get all year. That’s the thing about them. They get hit, they get whacked, but they don’t take stupid retaliatory penalties. The way they get back is they put the puck in the net.”

UConn jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first period. A pair of late goals just 58 seconds apart put the Blue Devils in a tough spot early on. Dabkowski had one of his two goals on the night in the first period to get Central on the scoreboard.

CCSU fell behind 4-2 at one point, but managed to get within a goal on a Dave Windish tally in the second period. After Dabkowski’s second goal of the game on the extended power play, the contest became a defensive struggle.

A physical third period with a number of penalties resulted in some four-on-four hockey with both teams trading offensive chances, but neither team could get a quality scoring opportunity and it went to overtime.

The best offensive opportunity for either team in overtime was a loose puck rebound by Mike Diclemente that was denied on a post-topost sliding save by UConn goalie Jon Anderson.

While CCSU kept the puck in the offensive zone most of the extra period, the Huskies were able to hold off the Blue Devils and ate the puck along the boards as time expired.

Coach Mallia looked at the draw as a learning experience for the young guys as opposed to a setback, especially with a tough schedule coming up. “We’re getting into the tough part,” said Mallia. “We’ve got UConn, Boston College twice, and Siena.”

He looks at these next couple weeks as a proving ground to see where this team is at in terms of veterans meshing with the rookies and transfer players.

During the third period, a UConn player took off one of his gloves and made an obscene gesture at a group of Central fans. He was spoken to by the referee, but not penalized.

CCSU’s Kevin McConnell was ineligible for the game after receiving a disqualification for fighting in Friday’s game at Montclair State.

It was the first DQ in Mallia’s tenure.

“We’re going to see if there’s more disciplinary action we’re going to take,” said Mallia.

Central remains undefeated at 2-0-1, and will host the bottom end of a home-and-home against Boston College this Friday at Newington Arena. Game time is 8 p.m.

10 THE RECORDER Wednesday, October 15, 2008

myspace.com/anberlin

Political to the heart best describes what Rise Against accomplished on their new album Appeal to Reason. Rise Against managed to keep their hardcore punk sound with out turning off their radio pop appeal.

These Chicago natives showed the world that making the music you want with the message you want is possible with their 2006 surprise success The Suffer and The Witness. Much is the same with Rise Against’s new album Appeal To Reason except this time around they don’t put stress on George Bush’s idiocy just idiocy in general.

Rise Against has always shown that they disapprove of how the country is running itself, their past album was riddled with songs and ballads bashing Bush and his administration.

Appeal stresses that the damage of war will never be forgotten. With songs like “Hero of War” and “The Strength to Go On” the band uses real-life stories they have heard about soldiers from Iraq to show the type of injustice that they deal with for just loving their country and after the track fades you’ll find it hard to disagree. Rise Against shouts a heartfelt message all throughout Appeal. It shouldn’t be a sin to love your country.

Black Flag, Minor Threat and Fugazi are bands that Rise Against looked up to and these bands are where they draw on their relentless energy. With all their political messages Rise Against has not lost their sound. Rise Against uses their punk background to give fans a great album that is filled with all the type of tracks that make them famous.

Rise Against Appeal to Reason Geffen Records September 7, 2008

Through tracks like “Entertainment” they use a bizarre but great melodies that shows off the type of talent they hold as well as sending their message that they feel like they are being lost in the shuffle with all the other punk bands that have nothing to say.

Sean Fenwick / Staff Writer

Misery Index Traitors Relapse Records September 30, 2008

Grind is a tough genre to give a damn about. There are a slew of garbage bands that saturate this genre and it really is an insult to decent bands like Misery Index. Traitors is the new full-length from these American babes of brutality.

On the whole, this is a good album, and it is full of what one would come to expect from Misery Index: consistency. That can be seen as a good thing, or a bad thing. I am on the fence with this topic. I personally enjoy when bands, as they release album after album, progress and start to try new things and try and take their music in a unique direction. And on the other hand, I am a

Entertainment Anberlin No Surrender Universal Republic September 30, 2008

At a time like this, willingly exposing myself to whatever musical flavor of the month there is because of my sincere love for this newspaper, I continue to thank the Lord Jesus Christ that my detour into popular music began and ended with Ace of Base fifteen years ago.

Truth be told, I have seen from afar but not immersed myself in the trends that took the musical world by storm in recent years – be it emo, metalcore or religious rock. That said, my “bad music detector” is finely tuned because of that, and with Anberlin’s newest album, No Surrender, it’s pinned.

Since I’m trying to conjure up a more positive atmosphere in my reviews, I’ll admit that No Surrender defies genres, but on the same token, is a poor representation of whatever genre one confines it to. A quick jaunt over to Allmusic.

com informs me that Anberlin arose from the ashes (partially) of the Christian rock scene, which rouses my anxieties, because finding decent Christian rock is about as likely as a virgin birth. But confining it to the Christian rock genre doesn’t quite hit the nail on the head. It explores musical territory beyond that, and is at times remorselessly poppy and cheery, spacey yet preachy.

It can’t quite escape being woefully pedestrian overall, though.

Quite a number of these tracks, however, almost veer into Creed territory, complete with pseudo-religious lyrical undertones and a sense of musical righteousness littering their work.

Singer Steven Christian (a coincidence, I’m sure) earnestly belts out that he “wants to die for something” before “racing to the heavens” so abortion clinics, watch out.

No Surrender is a poppy and catchy enough album with enough spunk and polish to satisfy fans of the genre, but for those left to languish in the musical purgatory outside the

Christian rock scene, then Anberlin won’t resurrect one’s interest.

sucker for bands that continue to release great albums without compromising their heaviness.

When Misery Index was touring for Discordia, their previous full-length, I was able to catch them in Wallingford and I was thoroughly impressed. They were able to capture their sound completely live, which very few bands are able to do, especially a technical grind band. Their live show solidified me as a faithful fan.

Ultimately what I am trying to say is that Misery Index should be considered as one of the top tier death metal, or grind, or whatever genre you want to classify them as. They have consistent albums, and even better, a solid live show.

Twilight of the Thunder God plods along at what seems like a slower pace than any of their previous albums and frankly, the riffs feel like they are lacking. They need more pizzazz.

Twilight of the Thunder God is not a bad album by any means, and there are still some spots that I find myself furiously enjoying.

However, with bands like Amon Amarth, that have consistently gotten better with each release, they end up putting a lot of pressure on themselves as a band to continue to improve. And personally, like many other listeners of this genre, I find myself comparing and contrasting all new material to older material, maybe it is not fair, but it is a habit.

Twilight of the Thunder God is nothing special, but it is an album that feels like a continuation of Oden, so if that is what you are looking for, you will not be disappointed.

Abigail Williams has potential to become a very talented and influential band. In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns was not a bad debut full-length, but we’ll see where they go from here.

Mike D’Avino / Staff Writer

Nick viccione / Entertainment Editor

Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head Glistening Pleasure July 15, 2008

Pumped with high school hormones and backed by a catchy synthpop sound, Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head are bursting with hip-hop rhymes that will get anyone’s foot tapping. Their album Glistening Pleasure, which dropped in July, has everything that you’d want in a semi-serious, adolescent pop band.

They proudly dance the line between juvenile and adult with songs such as “Me + Yr Daughter”, which proclaims, “brothers like me know to be squeaky clean, play it cool for the parents.”

Their sound is reminiscent of 1980s electro-pop while throwing in a bit of B-52’s style absurdity. One thing is for certain: they know how to keep their music fun. During songs such as “Hush, Hush” and “Beard Lust” you’re unsure if you want to dance wildly to the pop-supreme guitars or laugh hysterically at the silly lyrics.

Their well-constructed dance sound make you want to listen to them on repeat while their call-and-response, falsetto lyrics are something of a joke you wish you had told your friends.

If you have any room for fun on your mp3 player then this album is absolutely something that you should pick up. Before you know it you’ll be mimicking Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head’s absurdity in conversations with your friends.

Gabrielle Pierce / Staff Writer

Amon Amarth Twilight of the Thunder God Metal Blade Records September 17, 2008

For fans of metal, Amon Amarth have been a solid staple of play lists for the better part of 15 years. What is even more remarkable is that they have been around that long and have yet to release a record that was below the standards that they have set for themselves and for their fans. Now I consider myself a fan, but as far as my standards go, Twilight of the Thunder God does not quite live up.

This may sound ridiculous, but I think it is time for a change for Amon Amarth. Considering the amount of time they have been engineering Swedish metal, I just have not found myself listening to this album nearly as much as their previous album, With Oden on Our Side.

Nick viccione / Entertainment Editor

Abigail Williams In the Shadows of a Thousand Suns Candlelight Records October 28, 2008

Coming from a place whose only notable accomplishments are a World Series championship and Stevie Nicks...well, a World Series championship…Arizona now has a symphonic black metal band to fly its flag.

Abigail Williams is a band that has faced many lineup problems over the years. After releasing the highly acclaimed EP Legend they broke up. Soon later, the public was notified of a reformation and new album. This album ended up being In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns.

The album opens up with an eerie piece comprised of drums and keyboards. This really is a foreshadowing of what’s to come as keys play a very prominent role in the sound.

Just in case you were wondering if this was a black metal band, the start of the second song titled, “The World Beyond” gives you a quick reminder with a furious introduction to blast beats and fast riffing.

Right off the bat you can tell that the keys hold these songs together. There is a constant prescience, whether it is backing rhythms or lead melodies.

In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns loses a great deal of steam as the album continues.

Songs end up meshing together as they have no real variety. The previously praised keys even lose their luster the more you hear them. My biggest problem is the production. The vocals are lifted high above the guitar work and drums to become a centerpiece despite being very one-dimensional. However, there is one real gem in the bunch.

The absolute highlight on this album is the closer, “The Departed”. The mixture of clean and harsh vocals really illuminates that wall of sound production. Departing further from that tired black metal formula, acoustic passages flow intertwined with those heavy hard-hitting sections to really grab the listener.

Joe Zajac / Staff Writer

T.I. Paper Trail Atlantic Records September 30, 2008

The album is easily “album of the year” material in my opinion.

Unlike recently released albums, T.I. raps about various topics, and seems to have an array of different beats that work well for him.

His lyrics are on point and there are many songs on the album that could have easily been used as singles for other rappers.

Currently there not too many albums that can compete with Paper Trail – maybe just Tha Carter III and The Recession. Production could have been better, but T.I. compliments every song perfectly. The features he uses work well with the flow and consistency throughout the album. There are not too many rappers that can compete with this album.

Maybe it was the time spent in jail, but I like this album much better than King or T.I. vs.

T.I.P. He reaches numerous audiences, where most fans will enjoy and love at least a few songs on the album. For everyone who listens to rap constantly, don’t miss out on this album and you will enjoy the entire album. I found myself replaying almost every song. This album should be looked at as a heavy favorite for album of the year. bradley cooper / Staff Writer

Los Campesinos!

We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed Wichita Records October 27, 2008

Just a short five months after their debut release Hold On Now, Youngster... comes a raw power-pop album with half the bubble-gum effect and twice the bitter cynicism.

We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed has the same clever lyrics that are belted, howled and half spoken by the band’s front man.

However, in place of the up-beat xylophone solos are raw, ragged and raging guitars, heavy drums and an anthem to which you can break things.

Still, the album is far from lacking in dance appeal. The title track gets you moving and dancing in no time then leaves you begging for more. Other tracks such as “Ways To Make It Through The Wall” invite you to bang and thrash until your arms are sore.

Los Campesinos! offer up a wonderfully bitter alternative to the pop appeal of their first album. They come hard with a message and it’s clear: they’re pissed and they want you to feel it.

They go out of their way to prove that this album’s quick release by no means is indicative of its quality.

Gabrielle Pierce / Staff Writer

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, October 15, 2008 / ENTERTAINMENT

11

Quarantine Simply a Solid Copycat

Michael Walsh Staff Writer

allmoviephoto.com

Religulous Ridicules, But with Smart Points Along the Way Gabrielle Pierce Staff Writer

Imagine that George Carlin and Michael Moore wanted to make a movie together and you’ll get Bill Maher’s Religulous. Armed with jokes and quick wit that strike at the heart of religious fundamentalism, Maher begs the question “how do you know for sure?”

Throughout the film you’re greeted with the sense that his quest is for the truth and his message is “I don’t know.” In spite of the serious topics covered in his documentary you are sure to get quite a few laughs out of his presentation.

While Maher’s targets may be asinine at best, he does ask questions and poke fun at the basic ideology behind the three major religions that dominate the United States today and he couldn’t have better timing. The message which he is trying to get across comes during a presidential period in which reevaluating religion and its place in government is critical.

His interviewees include Christian theme park employees, an off-kilter Vatican priest who agrees that the Catholic ideology is a little bunk, a Jewish Rabbi who is argumentative enough to force Maher to call the interview off and a Muslim rapper from England whose extremist lyrics have gotten him banned from the United States. He adds clips and interviews of his own family to enhance his humility and illustrate his own religious background. Maher himself is half Jewish and half Roman Catholic.

Raised as a Roman Catholic, he invites his mother and sister to explain why they went to church when they were young and why they left Catholicism behind after so many years.

Stirring up trouble wherever he goes, Maher succeeds at making religious fundamentalists look ill-informed while never quite reaching the answer that he’s set out to find.

Whether you laugh, are offended, or both, one thing is for sure: there isn’t a single learned theologian to raise a decent argument throughout the film. While his message is hard-hitting and legitimate, his jokes and attitude are more or less hokey and arrogant. Taking digs at truck stop Christians rather than dedicated theologians makes anyone with any sort of faith look foolish and doesn’t give the opposite viewpoint a good chance to defend itself.

In the end, Maher begs the viewers who are agnostic and religion-less like him to cast away their timidity and take a stance against those who force religion into the lives of those who don’t want it. He asks for a real separation of church and state in which those who have religion can keep it and those who don’t are not forced to endure it. He calls the situation unfortunate, stating that we are simply a world who learned how to kill millions before we learned how to get along.

All in all, the message is great and the delivery is weak. If you’re up for a low-brow laugh at the expense of the extremely religious, this movie is most definitely for you.

If you walk into Quarantine and have no clue that it’s a remake of the 2007 Spanish horror film Rec I would excuse your shortcomings just this once. [Rec] has never officially been released in America theatrically or on DVD. It’s a shame, too, since it’s one of the best and scariest horror films of the last 20 years.

When I first heard that Rec was already being remade (the film was released on Nov. 23 of 2007 in Spain) I almost couldn’t believe it.

Do these quick buck-making film producers really think Americans are that stupid? Are we that stupid? Are we unable to coherently watch a film and read subtitles at the same time? I’ll speak only for myself in saying that I have no trouble doing two things with my brain at once.

Instead of simply bringing the masterpiece that Rec is overseas to American audiences, director John Erick Dowdle decided to Americanize the film by shifting location to Los Angeles and wiping the subtitles clean off the bottom of the screen.

Quarantine follows news reporter Angela Vidal and her cameraman Scott on their overnight coverage of the local fire department. A routine medical call finds them trapped inside an apartment building where a deadly and vicious infection is spreading.

As a whole, Quarantine is largely identical to Rec. Many scenes and lines of dialogue were indeed lifted straight from the Spanish film.

Nonetheless, Dowdle adds enough of his own moments to give the film his own touch and its own identity. The question is, is it a good identity?

The first immediate comparison between the movies is in the acting. Jennifer Carpenter’s performance as reporter Angela Vidal pales in comparison to Manuela Velasco’s convincing performance in the original. Instead of coming off as a true reporter, Carpenter’s giggly character just reminds me that I’m watching a film with a few bad actors. It doesn’t help that the

movies.com

viewer gets captured in the intended realism of the film. This holds steady when the terror and intensity get turned up a few notches.

Carpenter’s overacting is among the worst I’ve seen in a long time. I understand she is supposed to be freaked out, a damsel in distress of sorts, but she’s so incredibly bad at it. She singlehandedly tries to kill all the suspense the film has.

Luckily for Dowdle, he is able to overcome Carpenter’s plague of bad acting. Much like the original, Quarantine is intense, frantic, claustrophobic and filled with creepy atmospheric tone.

In particular, the film’s final act is an all-out visceral assault of non-stop action. One problem for Dowdle that spawns from said intensity is his poor handling of shaky cam. As with any first person film, when things get crazy things get shaky. The duo of directors behind Rec was able to absolutely perfect the technique. Dowdle on the other hand seemed to be all over the place with unstable camerawork.

With these complaints and my “remakes are bad” sentiments you might think I’m saying Quarantine is a poor film. It’s not. As a piece of art, it lacks some creativity due to its carbon copy style. As entertainment, it’s a very enjoyable ride of terror. If your thing is gore, they’ve got it. If your thing is jumpy scares, they’ve got it. What they don’t have is an improvement over the masterful Rec. That said, I highly recommend to anyone looking to see a horror film in theaters this Halloween that isn’t the fifth installment of Saw to see Quarantine as you would be hard pressed to find something better. Fans of Rec should still be able to enjoy the remake but won’t find it as great as they’ll be able to foresee almost every shock moment and will easily be able to nitpick the film to death. Dowdle avoids reaching the level of complete American stupidity like most directors of horror remakes do and is able to craft a tense and satisfying copycat of a brilliant foreign masterpiece that is better than most modern American horror films.

Director Profile: Ingmar Bergman Michael Walsh Staff Writer

Take the following statement only as the humble opinion of this writer – Ingmar Bergman is the greatest director in the history of film.

Bergman, who directed a total of 62 films, primarily focused his efforts on exploring the human condition. In other words his films are simply about human nature. Bergman often delved deep into the sensitive themes of mortality, loneliness, love, faith and other humanity driven subjects.

While many of Bergman’s films depicted dark subject matter in bleak fashion, Bergman was never afraid of adding a little comedy to the mix. My personal favorite film from the Swedish-born director, his 1957 masterpiece The Seventh Seal, is a perfect example of this technique. Seal is set during medieval times and follows Knight Antonius Block on a journey home from the Crusades across plagueridden land. Block comes face to face with

death, who takes on a form of its own as a ghastly man in a black-hooded robe. Block, going head on with his fate, challenges Death to a game of chess that spans the entire film and puts his life up as the stake of the game.

Depressing, no? While the film is a look at the existential fear of death and how humans confront it, you’ll find yourself laughing at it far more than you might expect. Bergman’s intentionally well-placed light humor alternates brilliantly with his darkest and soberest of scenes. The film, which is brought to life by realistic imagery and setting, leans away from the humor as it reaches its legendary conclusion.

Nonetheless, it’s a perfect example of Bergman’s unique and distinctive style that places him amongst the greatest of auteurs.

Ingmar Bergman was once quoted saying that it is far more important to him that viewers feel his films rather than understand them.

While Bergman’s films are packed full of meaning that can be discussed and theorized about endlessly, it’s the emotion that he packs into his films that hooks me. Bergman’s 1972 film Cries

and Whispers, a film about two sisters watching over their other sister on her deathbed, is still to this day one of the most intense and startling films I’ve ever seen. As much as I love horror films I’d be hard pressed to find more than a handful that have startled me the way Bergman’s impactful films do.

The influence of Ingmar Bergman is relatively endless. Whether it’s the direct inspiration for Wes Craven’s famous exploitation film The Last House on the Left or Woody Allen deeming him as one of the greatest artists ever, Bergman is seen worldwide as one of the most important figures in the development of the medium of film. Those patient enough to watch one of his films will find gold at the end of Bergman’s very bleak rainbows.

Essential viewings: The Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries, The Virgin Spring, Hour of the Wolf, Cries and Whispers, Fanny & Alexander, Through a Glass Darkly

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, October 8, 2008 / ENTERTAINMENT

12

Bringing Back Vigilantism in Style

Sean Fenwick Staff Writer

What is it about westerns that grab our attention? Is it the Old West? Maybe it is just guys with six shooters strapped to their sides who gunned down any one who looked at them wrong. Whatever the appeal is, Appaloosa has it in full force.

Ed Harris is known as one of the best actors out there, for the most part Harris never disappoints. Who could forget Harris’ debut as a director with Pollock? Appaloosa is Harris’ second film and it is clear that he still can direct.

Harris plays hired gunman Virgil Cole alongside Viggo Mortensen’s character Everett Hitch.

These two make a living going from town to town playing vigilantes in search of those who break the law, for a price of course.

Mortensen and Harris, who have been on screen together before in A History of Violence, show themselves as heterosexual companions willing to die for each other. The two become Marshall and Deputy to a small town in New Mexico called Appaloosa. After a few minutes they come across the bad guy, and he is played by none other than Jeremy Irons, of course.

Irons’ character has made a career by playing

the standard villain/landowner Randal Bragg who operates on mysterious motives. After their first encounter Cole and Bragg lock horns and mentally vow to take the other’s life.

Hitch says very little but intimidates just about everyone with his enormous double-barreled 8-gauge shotgun. It is safe to say Mortensen under-acts in this film. For the little acting he does, he more than makes up for in his eyes.

Harris developed Mortensens’s character as a soft-spoken man with an observing gaze. Harris focuses more on the characters then the action of the film, with that said don’t think there isn’t enough shoot-outs and gore.

One of the main reasons why Cole and Hitch ride around killing criminals is because they’re allowed to act without the law heavy on their heels. As the film progresses Hitch grows fond of Renee Zellweger’s character – a not-sogrief-stricken widow who flaunts herself at the local saloon. This gets in the way of the two gunmen’s plans to bring justice to the town.

Bottom line - this is a great western similar to the 3:10 to Yuma, but far more classic.

Appaloosa embodies all the things we love about the classic westerns. If you love men in ten-gallon hats like I do you’ll love this film.

Dorm Room Rental Essentials Steve Packnick

Old School - 2003 - Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn

Fight Club - 1999 - Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter

Today there are so many movies to choose from that when it comes time finally go out and buy movies to get for your room it can be a little overwhelming. Here are the top 10 movies that you should have in your room whether you live in a dorm or an apartment. These movies are here not only for terrific acting and awesome storylines but also for their repeated watchability, hilarity and some other various reasons listed below. I hope that as soon as you read this you will make it a point to buy each and everyone of these films because I don’t know about you but I’m sick of going to people’s rooms and looking through their boring collection of movies.

When these three combine comedy genius is created, from beginning to end this movie has you laughing your ass off. This movie makes every person watching it wish that there was a frat on campus even mildly close to the one in the movie. By far Will Ferrell’s best role is “Frank The Tank!”

It’s a cult classic; Fight Club is one of those movies that you expect to be about something and it turns out to be about something completely more badass; not to mention that every time you see this film you notice new parts along the way.

Staff Writer

Memento - 2001 - Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano

The Boondock Saints - 2000 - Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, David Della Rocco

Grandma’s Boy - 2006 - Allen Covert, Linda Cardellini, Nick Swardson

If you haven’t seen this movie you must have been living under a rock. This is the quintessential badass movie. It really doesn’t get much better than this if you want crime, action, comedy and suspense. Look no further than here. I don’t really need to put this on this list because it is probably already in every dorm room anyway.

This movie accomplishes something that is quite unique, too. it makes you wish you were Irish.

Trainspotting - 1996 - Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner

Beerfest - 2006 Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, Kevin Heffernan, Jay Chandrasekhar

The movie has very intense scenes and an unparalleled balance of humor mixed with serious drama and not to mention this movie is a strong reminder to anyone who watches exactly why not to do heroin.

Saving Private Ryan - 1998 - Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns This is one of the movies that every time you watch it you are moved in some way, whether it’s the graphic battle scenes or the intense drama of war, Saving Private Ryan is by far the best war movie of all time.

Just in case you didn’t realize the first twenty times you watched this movie to try and figure it out, the movie is backwards. Memento offers the most original screenplay I’ve ever seen in modern day cinema. I’ve seen it put together in order, but come on, you have to watch it at least 10 times to fully understand how amazing this movie truly is.

Green Street Hooligans - 2005 - Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam I didn’t think that it was possible but somehow GSH makes Elijah Wood seem badass. This movie is on this list because it contains the three things that all guys like: sports, drinking and kicking the crap out of each other. This is also an incentive to anyone who is looking to study abroad in England, I know you’ll be thinking, “If only I could do that.”

Hilarious from beginning to end with such cheesy jokes that make our inner video game nerd laugh like hell. This movie must be in your dorm because every time that you watch, it makes you think, “Hey, if I can’t make it here I can always test video games for a living and still get really hot women.”

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy 2004 - Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd From start to finish this movie is one of the funniest I’ve ever seen. Anchorman is also the most quotable movie I have ever seen and should never be taken seriously.

The guys from Super Troopers go at it in this hilarious movie that has more drinking than humanly possible, hence the warning at the beginning of the movie. The truth is this is the closest anyone on campus can get to being drunk without actually drinking.

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14 THE RECORDER Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Lifestyles

Losing 24 Words

(Or at Least in the Pages of Collins’ Dictionary)

Briana McGuckin

Special to The Recorder

Doug Duhaime Staff Writer

Logophiles beware! This coming February, the Collins English Dictionary may execute 24 words currently sweating on lexical death row in order to save space for newly incorporated cultural gems such as: “bada bing” and “beer goggles”.

Ian Brookes, managing editor of Collins, told Time magazine, “We want the dictionary to be a reflection of English as it is currently spoken, rather than a fossilized version of the language.” One worried party admonishes, “Newspapers are often accused of setting their reading level for twelve-year-olds. Spare us dictionaries that do the same.”

Collins’ Senior Editor Cormac McKown claims that the oust was prompted by the influx of over 2000 new words to the dictionary and said that the dictionary has been playing with typeface in order to cram more words in.

Ultimately, it’s a trade-off between more information and legibility.

Some observe the possible removal as a result of natural linguistic evolution. Writer Kate Burridge documents this revolving door of the English language in her book Weeds in the Garden of Words.

“Robert Burchfield, as editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, described English as ‘a fleet of juggernaut trucks that goes on regardless’. As he pointed out, no amount of linguistic intervention can prevent the cycle of changes that lay ahead,” she wrote. Fortunately, Burridge may be wrong.

Scholars have responded with a crusade to save the words. By “sponsoring” a selection from the list, prominent figures hope to literally spread their word enough to preserve it. Time reported that Britain’s poet laureate Andrew Motion has chosen to champion skirr.

“It’s an appealing word with an onomatopoeic value and resonance.... My cunning plan to get the word out is to get birders to use it. I feel reasonably optimistic,” he wrote.

British Labour MP Stephen Pound has chosen to save caliginosity through his speeches in Parliament.

“I shall be drawing the Prime Minister’s attention in a fairly obscure and abstruse way to the word,” he told Time. For example, “Amid the global fiscal turmoil, we sought illumination but found only caliginosity.” The magazine reported that Pound further expressed his dedication to the word by using it 15 times in a 12minute interview.

Collins has made it possible for wordnerds to play traffic control for this fleet of trucks by agreeing to ‘save’ any of these endangered words from extinction if they appear in the dictionary’s database of published materials six of more times by February 2009.

Words facing extinction (from Collins): Abstergent: Cleansing Agrestic: Rural Apodeictic: Unquestionably true by virtue of demonstration Caducity: Perishableness Caliginosity: Dimness Compossible: Possible in coexistence with something else Embrangle: To confuse Exuviate: To shed Fatidical: Prophetic Fubsy: Squat Griseous: Somewhat grey Malison: A curse Mansuetude: Gentleness Muliebrity: The condition of being a woman Niddering: Cowardly Nitid: Bright Olid: Foul-smelling Oppugnant: Combative Periapt: An amulet Recrement: Refuse Roborant: Tending to fortify Skirr: A whirring sound, as of the wings of birds in flight Vaticinate: Prophesy Vilipend: To treat with contempt

If you’re looking for something interesting to do this Halloween, remember these words: “Don’t dream it, be it.” When all is said and done, it may be that very line of dialogue that turned The Rocky Horror Picture Show - a box office flop when the musical film was released in 1975 - into the enduring phenomenon it is today.

The story centers on Brad Majors and Janet Weiss (played by Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon), a straight-laced, wholesome couple. Newly engaged, they attempt to pay a visit to the professor who encouraged their relationship in high school. However, they get a flat tire on the way and seek help in a nearby castle, hoping to use the inhabitants’ telephone.

The owner of the spooky-looking place happens to be a transvestite named Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry), who shares his abode with his henchmen. These include a maid, a hunchback butler, a biker with half a brain and a tap-dancing groupie with an unbelievably high voice.

It becomes apparent very quickly that Frank and his subordinates are different people – in lifestyle, attitude and sexuality. Sensing that Brad and Janet are “squares,” they set about creating sexually charged situations that are interesting to say the least. The couple is shocked to begin with, but in the end they are liberated in a way that they never would have been otherwise.

A very embarrassed Twentieth Century Fox buried the movie, as the film studio understandably saw it as a failure. Eventually, it was rediscovered by someone and released as a midnight movie.

Late-night moviegoers began to notice that there were rather large gaps of silence between lines of dialogue, and also that the actors tended to look straight at the camera frequently.

Thus audience participation was born. People began to yell things at the screen and suddenly the movie was much more a comedy than it was ever meant to be.

Here are some lines from the film, followed by lines of possible audience participation in parentheses. First the original: “It’s true… There were dark storm clouds… heavy, black, and pendulous… towards which they were driving.” Now with audience participation, “(Is it true you have a sexual fixation with llamas?) It’s true…” Or, “I

really love the… (Starts with an ‘s’! S-uh, S-uh, S-uh…) skillful way… (What a genius!) you beat the other girls… (With whips and chains!) to the bride’s bouquet.”

They actually get quite racier and raunchier than that. Fans are always coming up with new things to yell, sometimes adding pop culture references rather than the more typical, sexual ones. Take this one: “And sensual daydreams to treasure forever… (What do you say to make Stevie Wonder angry?) can’t you just see it?”

Of course, it is all meant in fun. The callbacks have much less to do with mean-spiritedness than they do with playful self-mockery, as fans tend to see a lot of themselves in the film.

That’s where “Don’t dream it, be it” comes in. It’s a line Furter utters whilst floating absently in his pool (sitting in a “Titanic” lifesaver), a line that the other characters take up as a kind of chorus. It reaches out to the audience, encourages them to be different if they please, and urges them not to be ashamed of that difference.

So, beyond the crude humor and affectionate mockery of the film’s corny-yet-raunchiness (and B-movie budget) is a group of fans who feel acceptance and freedom at Rocky Horror showings: homosexuals, fetishists, punks, goths, the curious, the worried, the unaccepted and the uncomfortable. But it’s not just for them. It’s especially for those Brad or Janet types who can only truly be themselves and let go on those certain midnights.

With the introduction of callbacks came the throwing of props (like rice in a wedding scene) and dancing in the aisles. People also started dressing up as the characters, dressing in a way that was either sexually ambiguous, gender “abnormal,” or just plain sexual. The Rocky Horror Picture Show plays at midnight in many movie theaters to this day, offering a place to glorify and free one’s inner freak.

And here’s your chance. The Phoenix Theater in Middletown, Conn., is hosting performances of The Rocky Horror Show” on Oct. 24, 25 and 31 at 8 p.m. and midnight.

Tickets are $20 for students, $22 for general admission and $26 for VIP - these tickets usually include a free prop bag to help the Rocky Horror veteran or virgin alike to participate.

Remember: “Don’t dream it, be it.”

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, October 15, 2008 / LIFESTYLES

Abusing Drugs to Be Better Students The Effects of Adderall Culture Ian Tran

Special to The Recorder

It’s Sunday night at CCSU, the typical last-minute homework rush is minutes from midnight, and many are feeling the pinch. In one common room a small group of students huddle around a table deep in concentration; textbooks lie open, loose pages of notes litter the surrounding area, the TV is on, but muted.

After an hour of uninterrupted concentration a student gets up from his studies and makes his way over to another table upon which several lines of a whitish powder are arrayed in roughly symmetrical lines.

He takes a five dollar bill out of his pocket, rolling it into a tube as he leans over the table, head bowed and ingests the line through his nasal cavity. As he comes up from his hit, his pupils dilated and nostrils aflame, he performs the iconic sniffle and wipes his nose clean of any loose powder before returning to his studies where he will remain working; only to interrupt the intense studying when the situation calls for another line.

The contrasting images of illicit drug abuse and diligent studying described in the scene above seem like they should belong in parallel universes, yet this disquieting example of student life is one that is commonplace among many of today’s college students.

The drug in question is Adderall; or one of its many other substitutes (Ritalin, Stratera, ect...) that students all over America are selling for profit and/or using to self medicate with. As many know, Adderall is a pharmaceutical psycho-stimulant that is used mainly to treat people suffering from Attention Deficient Disorder.

It is given mainly to students to help them concentrate better in classes and for studying at

5 Ways To Make The Election Season Much More Interesting Marissa Blaszko Opinion editor

Be A Maverick, Play A Drinking Game During the Vice Presidential debate, the idea seemed more popular than anyone expected – Tina Fey even referenced it in her latest SNL Gov. Sarah Palin skit. Every time Palin said the word “maverick” viewers took a drink. For even more electoral fun, some added “Main Street” and “Wall Street”. For the last debate, try something more abstract – like whenever McCain tries to distance himself from the Bush administration, or whenever Obama tries to assimilate with voters half his age. At the very worst, students should expect to get completely plastered.

Follow FakeSarahPalin On Twitter Sick of the Recorder fawning over Twitter yet?

Trust us--this one’s worth it. Here’s a few samples of what faux-Palin tweeted during her own debate: what the heck is a Bosnia? 08:07 PM October 02, 2008 from mobile web I want to hunt predator lenders from helicopters 08:10 PM October 02, 2008 from mobile web I am the governor of Alaska. I want climate change. Hullo beachfront Alaska.08:32 PM October 02, 2008 from mobile web

Early withdrawal Levi, ever hear of it? 08:41 PM October 02, 2008 from mobile web THE GOVERNMENT OF ALASKA WILL SINGLEHANDEDLY SAVE THE PPL OF DARFUR take that, @FakeHairPlugs!

SHAZAM! 09:05 PM October 02, 2008 from mobile web I heard about the maverisks “drinking game” tonight. Showin y’all some love.09:10 PM October 02, 2008 from mobile web I am basically drunk right now 09:30 PM October 02, 2008 from mobile web

Learn Some Political One-Liners Seem witty and well-informed, even if you’re only using them to end serious political conversations. Here’s a couple for the next time a friend decides to bring up politics outside of DiLoreto Hall: For non-voters: “Of course I can complain - I never voted for any of the people that got us into this mess, did I?” For conservatives: “I’ve tried to see from a liberal’s point of view, but I can’t get my head that far up my ass.”

For liberals: “At least the war on the middle class is going well.”

For third parties: “The bad news is that the Democrats want to tax the working class. The good news is that thanks to Republicans, soon there won’t be a working class.”

(For everyone) “The problem with political jokes is that they get elected.”

BINGO: Technically Not A “Drinking Game” Here’s another game for more PG-rated debate parties. Draw out nine squares onto a piece of paper with a tiny picture of the moderator pointing out neither candidates answered the question for a free space. Photocopy it a few times, hand out the blank cards at a party, and give let players fill in whatever catch phrases they’d like. Some suggestions are “What (Candidate X) doesn’t understand is...”; “deregulation”; “Reagan”; “Joe Six-Pack”; “workers”; “support the troops”; “my opponent”; “reform”; “maverick”; “change”. If this gets boring, The Recorder trusts its readers to somehow incorporate alcohol into this game as well.

Support Your Candidate in Style DemocraticStuff.com has come out with some of the most fun election products this year, including pins that proclaim “Steam Punks for Obama,” “Oil Tycoons for Obama,” and “Postal Workers for Obama.” RightWingStuff. com has an entire closet full of what they call “liberal baiting merchandise,” like “Give War A Chance”, “I’m voting for the wrinkly, white haired dude” and “What Would Ann Coulter Do?” t-shirts.

home. However, due to the increasingly unrigid qualifying status that one requires to receive Adderall pills, students (many of whom not suffering from the restraints of ADD) are finding themselves with abundant amounts of amphetamines at their fingertips.

I’ve been a student at CCSU for three years; during my time here I have seen firsthand the effects Adderall is having on the student body, partook in its usage and in fact have knowingly contributed to its increasingly widespread abuse.

I was first diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder in fourth grade, and have been taking some form of ADD-curbing medicine ever since. Needless to say I was quite familiar with Adderall’s intended purpose and uses upon my arrival to college, but freshman year introduced me to a new side of an old friend. Until that point I was vaguely aware of Adderall’s use as a “smart pill” on college campuses but had never seen its full demand before firsthand.

It was also here that I was shown if you break up the pill and snort it instead of orally consuming it, it will hit you faster, giving you a quick euphoric high before fading into a lowlevel speed trip that was “great for studying.” I wasn’t really interested in speed-trips or “smart pills” at the time but it was still good information to know nonetheless.

I had grown dispassionate about taking Adderall due to my prolonged exposure to it and only took it when I needed a lot of work done real fast; this left me with a massive surplus due to my doctor’s generous prescription.

Once my funds dried up, which didn’t take long as a typical college student, I quickly connected the dots to a scheme that would be

15

easy, financially successful, and only slightly unethical: I would become a Capitalist.

I needed money and kids needed drugs to help them in school. I had the goods, and I wasn’t using them, so I might as well turn a profit. How was I any different from the doctors prescribing the stuff to me (aside from the several diplomas they had earned adorning their wall)?

A kid would approach me, sometimes they would even make an appointment, same as the doctor, and they would say, “Listen I’m having trouble concentrating in school. I just can’t seem to get all my work done in time. Do you have anything to help me out?”

And I did, so I would “prescribe” him however much I thought he needed. And that’s how it went - I was the best doc’ on campus. I couldn’t refill my prescriptions fast enough.

Following a good friend’s incarceration for cocaine trafficking, I wisely decided to not pursue drug dealing as my career path when I returned for my sophomore year and I haven’t sold an Adderall since. However, the experience has stayed with me and offered me a unique insight into the irony of kids abusing drugs to be better students.

I think Adderall abuse in college, while perhaps visually shocking to some, is a natural progression in the way our society is headed.

The emphasis we place on higher education as a way to a better life, while in no way a bad thing, has helped cultivate an environment where students feel unbelievable pressure to succeed and are more likely to turn to performance enhancing drugs like Adderall. After all if Barry Bonds can inject his way into the hall of fame, why wouldn’t students be tempted to enhance their chance at success?

Battle of the Burgers

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, October 15, 2008 / LIFESTYLES

Photos: Kyle Dorau and Edward Gaug

The Best Burgers in Connecticut

When you are in the mood for a hamburger, there are choices across Connecticut that can fill your stomachs with better quality, more choices and a happier experience all-together. We’ve compiled an eclectic list of restaurants where you can find hamburgers across that state – some are better than others, some are way more expensive, but in the end, these are way better than the fast food conglomerates.

Johnny Rockets South Windsor, Conn.

It’s time to remember what hamburgers and service used to be all about. So, when you are looking to step out of a 21st century shopping plaza and into a 1950s burger joint, Jonny Rockets is the restaurant of choice. With locations across the country and four in Connecticut, Johnny Rockets is always just a car ride away from a great, old-fashioned burger, delectable milkshakes and friendly service.

The tables and the counter (where you can watch the servers make your burger) are adorned with juke boxes and whenever I stop by the location across from the Buckland Hills Mall, I always take a couple of nickels to play a few songs. The burgers, wrapped in paper to keep them together, never disappoint, but are a happy mess. By the time the meal is over, your table will be stacked high with crumpled oldfashioned one-ply napkins.

The milkshakes are the best part – the peanut butter shake is made with real peanut butter and scooped out of real vanilla or chocolate ice cream buckets right in front of you. The in-house glasses the shakes are served in are not big enough to house the thick goodness, but don’t worry – you always receive the metal shaker it was made in. The take out cups can hold the whole shake with room for some whipped cream on top.

What really sets this burger joint apart: it doesn’t break the bank when you stop in for a quick bite. That’s not something we can say about the stores that surround it in the Promenade Shops of Evergreen Walk, however, so you’ll need that extra jingle to splurge on anything else you’re interested in buying from the area.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries Farmington, Conn.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries is easily one of the best little known burger joints in Connecticut, and even though there are only six location in the state, there is one right across from Tunxis Community College, which is only a meager eight miles from campus. I urge anyone who has extra time, and a ride, around lunchtime, to take a gander in that neck of the woods and eat at Five Guys Burgers and Fries. If you are a fan of fresh burgers, with copious amounts of topping choices and heaping mounds of delicious thick-cut French fries; you will not be disappointed.

There are many reasons why Five Guys Burgers and Fries should be considered as one of the best burger chains in Connecticut. The concept is simple and it works perfectly. As you walk in and gaze at the menu you will see your burger choices are much like any other chain.

Patrons can choose from a regular hamburger, cheeseburger, bacon burger or a “little” version of those choices. The regular burgers consist of two freshly cooked patties on buns that are slightly toasted. And the “little” burgers contain just one patty. But where Five Guys differs from many other chains, is their choice of toppings that are all free of charge. Choose from a list filled with tantalizing options ranging from the normal lettuce, tomato and onions to the exciting sautéed mushrooms and jalape-

no peppers. Five Guys offers ketchup, mustard, bar-b-que sauce, A-1 sauce and hot sauce.

Customize your burger anyway you want it.

Even though my favorite aspect of Five Guys is the burgers, the French fries make a strong case as the star attraction. Order a regular size or a large, and you are guaranteed a heaping pile of fries poured into your bag. Five Guys advertises that their French fries taste better than others because they are fried in peanut oil, and I would not disagree with this. The fries always taste fresh-cut and are the perfect complement to their burgers.

The prices at Five Guys Burgers and Fries may seem a little steep, but they are not that much more expensive than the garbage you will spend your money on at Burger King or McDonald’s. Not to mention Five Guys is leaps and bounds cleaner than the aforementioned chains. The atmosphere is much more welcoming as well. All of the employees really make you feel like you are welcome and they know you are ready to have a delicious meal. You will not worry about price when you get hooked on this place. It is highly addicting, and after writing this review, I may need another fix soon.

Big Frank’s BBQ & Grill Waterbury, Conn.

Big Frank’s BBQ Grill on Watertown Avenue in Waterbury has a large selection of food to choose from and is a nice low-key environment for some damn good eating.

As a regular patron of the restaurant, I’ve sampled many of the different items that Big Frank has to offer. From the BBQ pulled pork sandwich to the half bird chicken to the quarter pound char grilled cheeseburger every item on the menu is sure to satisfy your taste buds.

One of the main reasons that everything tastes so good at Big Frank’s is because they offer their own special BBQ sauce that is on almost every thing that they cook up, not to mention it’s at every table to add to any and everything you eat. Everything is also cooked right before you eat it and is hot and fresh with that genuine right-off-the-grill taste.

Big Frank’s sets itself apart from the rest with the number of different sides choices available. You can choose from regular, curly, sweet potato or tater fries, onion rings, potato skins, potato salad, corn, corndogs or even twice baked potatoes, all of which go perfectly with any entrée you order.

The prices at Big Frank’s are fairly reasonable as well; ranging anywhere from $2.50 to $4.00 for a sandwich or burger. Also, for an additional $2.50 you can add any type of fries, coleslaw and a corn muffin to make you meal truly filling. Even the drinks are well priced from $1.29 to $1.69 they go the distance (just make sure to ask to go light on the ice).

Big Frank’s is unlike a lot of restaurants in the local area since it can be a fast-food restaurant and a sit down restaurant at the same time.

All of the food is made when ordered and comes out almost as quickly as a fast-food restaurant so if you were in a hurry you could wait at the counter and grab and go as it were; but if you were going there to enjoy your food you order than just take a seat and within 5 minutes your entire tables order would be brought right out to you still steaming hot from the grill.

The "hominess” of Big Frank’s is what keeps my friends and I coming back. When you are there you don’t feel like you are being rushed out as you would be in a fast-food restaurant but at the same time you don’t feel like you have to be so quiet and clean as if you were in a nicer sit-down restaurant; I mean there are no napkins at any of the tables – just rolls of paper towels ready to clean all of the BBQ sauce off your hands and face.

All in all Big Frank’s BBQ Grill is a terrific place for a group of friends to just “come in, pig out.” The food is terrific, the prices are very reasonable and the environment is very down-toearth. And you are guaranteed to never leave hungry.

The Counter West Hartford, Conn.

The Counter is the place to go if you don’t mind waiting an hour for a table and paying over $40 for hamburgers and fries for two.

Located in the newly renovated and hip place to be, Blue Back Square in West Hartford, The Counter was jam packed last Friday night right after dinner time with people all types and ages; teenagers, young couples and families out for a meal. The slogan is “custom built burger” and the name does the menu justice, but also offers turkey, veggie or chicken burgers.

At first, we vowed to stick with a “classic” hamburger, but during the long wait for a table, finally settled on a non-traditional option: the BYOB or Build Your Own Burger. We opted for 2/3 pounds of beef, horseradish cheddar cheese, lettuce blend, red onion, roasted red peppers, roasted chiles, honey cured bacon on a hamburger bun with spicy sour cream on the side, all for $11.75 – no fries included.

We were starving, so when the waitress brought out appetizer merely minutes after we ordered it, we were ecstatic. We scarfed down our appetizer of French-fries smothered in cheddar cheese, chili and sour cream, which came close to $5.50. When our burgers arrived we barely had room on the table or in our stomachs for the amount of food.

My BYOB order was equally adventurous, featuring 1/3 pounds of beef, herb goat cheese spread, tomato, mixed baby greens, scallions, grilled pineapple, honey cured bacon on a honey wheat bun with Russian dressing on the side, rang up a mere $9.50. A plate of half fries and half onion rings added $4.95 to our bill. While the out-of-this-world burgers can almost justify the hefty price tag, ordinary French fries cannot, even though they did come with two different dipping sauces.

The bottom line remains: the price is hard to swallow but you simply cannot build a burger like you can at The Counter. And I assume the name comes from the bar in the rear of the restaurant, stocked with beer, wine and drinks and offering the full menu. An added benefit of The Counter is the hip culture it boasts, and a fun atmosphere.

One last note is that this is probably not a good first date restaurant since eating these burgers is a huge mess, unless you get your burger bunless and in a bowl over lettuce blend or mixed baby greens and eat them with a fork and knife, but that takes the fun out of it.

Harry’s Place Colchester, Conn.

It looks like many a roadside restaurant that can be found across America, but Harry’s Place in Colchester has perfected the art of burgers and hot dogs for those who make the trip out to the middle of nowhere. Serving its assortment of the usual roadside fare, Harry’s is middle-of-the-road in terms of price, costing seven dollars and change for a burger, onion rings, and a soda.

Since it is a roadside stand, you wait in a line reminiscent of the Soup Nazi, except that the staff is far more friendly and accommodating. Orders are placed at the front of the line, starting presumably with their specialty of a burger and accessorizing it with various addons such as lettuce, tomato, bacon, chili, and onions to name a few. Once your order is placed, you sidle over to the window where you can watch your burger on the grill, cooking in its own juices. After a few minutes, the staff ask “would you like salt and pepper on your burger?” Under the assumption that they know what they’re doing, the logical answer is yes.

Going very basic with the meal, I ordered a cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato. No ketchup or mustard, because the burger is the primary attraction. Without any pink on the inside, but far from charred on the outside, it was somewhere in the range of medium to medium well. Very juicy, every bite resulted in spatters of grease on the heavy-duty paper plate.

This is not the place to go for dieter’s fare. The iceberg lettuce on the cheeseburger left a little to be desired, as it was a piece cut close to the stem, but that was as far as the complaints went.

The burger was taller than it was wide.

More like a hockey puck than a flat patty, the staff begins with meatballs and only flattens them slightly as they go onto the grill. They are cooked thoroughly, and to see it right there in front of your eyes as you wait with the grease from the grill sizzling and inch or two up in the air just makes it all the more tantalizing.

The onion rings were good as well, as they were crispy on the outside and smooth and melted in your mouth on the inside. Ketchup is provided around the corner of the restaurant’s face, as are other condiments. Picnic tables are scattered around the property, allowing diners to sit and view the busy street alongside or a picturesque lawn in the back.

Harry’s Place is located at 104 Broadway St. in Colchester, CT. Easily accessible from routes 2 and 85, it’s a great place to stop for a quick lunch before heading down to the Casinos. In addition to burgers and dogs, they have a wide array of seafood available, including calamari and fried clam strips. Ice cream is also available, to top off the meal. All of the peripherals are fine, but the burgers are what makes Harry’s Place special.

Contributing Writers: Jane Natoli, Nick Viccione, Steven Packnick, Caroline Dearborn, Kyle Dorau For more information, check out our interactive map at therecorder.tumblr.com