Volume106issue12

CENTR A L CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSIT Y Wednesday, December 2 , 2009

Following Freshman’s Death, Memorial To Be Announced

www.centralrecorder.com

Volume 106 No. 12

Under Construction

A Tour of 50 Years of American Stereotypes - Page 6

MELiSSA TRAyNOR ThE RECoRDER

LAuREN STARBALA SpECIAL To ThE RECoRDER

Following the death of Viviana R. Cavalli, CCSU'13, who died in a car crash in Shelton on Nov. 20, plans will be announced soon to hold a memorial at CCSU. According to an email by Interim VP of Student Affairs Dr. Laura Tordenti, the university would like to include Cavalli's parents if possible in a memorial ceremony.

Cavalli, CCSU ‘13, was a student in the School of Business and a Vance Hall resident.

The Hartford Courant reported that the crash, which claimed the lives of Cavalli and her boyfriend Lawrence J. Morra, 19, was the first of two deadly car accidents that weekend on Rte. 8 in Connecticut.

Another passenger, Kassandra Dimas, 18, survived the crash.

One of her friends since high school and Vance Hall neighbor Marissa Brighindi, CCSU '13, speculated that the driver was speeding and lost control of the car, which caused a series of collisions.

"They were coming off the highway exit and they were bringing my other friend home. They were See Memorial page 2

Administration Expects 6.5% Increase in Tuition

Edward Gaug | The Recorder

Annie Capobianco and Jake Frey act out a scene from “Under Construction” in a recent dress rehearsal.

Dr. Laura Tordenti announced to the Student Government Association that tuition is expected to increase 6.5 percent, effective in the Fall 2010 semester.

Though she announced on Nov. 18 that nothing is set in stone, she believes that the increase is roughly another $228 tacked onto tuition. Tuition for the Spring 2010 semester is $3,707, and adding a 6.5 percent increase would bring it to $3,947.95.

Though there were mumbles of dismay from several senators, Dr. Tordenti continued to tell them the number is “likely” 6.5 and remarked that if not that exact number, the increase will be between 6 and 7 percent. Last year's increase was a jump of 5.8 percent.

She stated that each Connecticut university is increasing their tuition, due to the lackluster national and state-wide economy. The increase is due to the lack of money in the state - a cut in funds that the state of Connecticut would usually pay for students at public schools. Tuition is adjusted accordingly to compensate for the rest of the costs.

LA Times Journalist Visits CCSU Campus Expects to Talk About Afghanistan Coverage Another H1N1 Wave

ANDREW RAGALi SpECIAL To ThE RECoRDER

An American journalist living and working in Russia came to CCSU Monday to speak about her experiences covering Russia, the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, the Middle East, and the war on terror.

Los Angeles Times Moscow Bureau Chief Megan Stack spoke to students and faculty in Vance 105 Stack, who has reported from 23 countries, began her stillyoung career after leaving George Washington University with a journalism degree. She was also educated in Spanish, which led her to her first job with the El Paso Times covering border traffic.

“I didn’t leave the country for the first time until I was 20 years old,” said Stack, who worked at the

LA Times in 2001 as the Houston Bureau Chief.

Stack was out of the country during the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, vacationing with her older sister in Paris. She said that what resulted was eight years of learning how foreign policy reacted to that single event.

Without a chance to even return back to the U.S., Stack was sent to Afghanistan to cover the aftermath of 9/11.

“How do I communicate these events back to the people of the United States?” said Stack on her experience in Afghanistan. “I was left with a deep sense of how little we understand these places.”

Stack was asked how she gained See Megan Stack page 3

MATT KiERNAN ThE RECoRDER

Edward Gaug | The Recorder

Health services is fighting off the waves of H1N1 that have been predicted to occur from summer until spring, providing vaccination clinics to students.

“It’s really been an incredible collaboration of resources,” said Dr. Christopher Diamond of Health Services.

Residential assistants and students in the nursing program have contributed in the clinics to help give the vaccinations. So far Health Services has given out 500 vaccinations, and it’s looking to order 200 more in the coming weeks.

“There’s been a really good turn out,” said Diamond. “All the clinics

In The Recorder This Week:

This Week’s Scene at CCSU

Page 2

Preacher Angers Students at Student Center Circle

Page 3

Upcoming Music and Film Reviews

Pages 8 & 9

Podcast and Comedy Reviews

Page 7

have been very well attended and people have been very good about it.”

Although the last clinic went through most of the vaccinations available, Diamond says Health Services can check to see if a student has a risk of contracting H1N1 and determine if they should receive the vaccine.

“It’s a great vaccine and we know the strand of flu that we’re looking to protect against,” said Diamond.

Diamond says that every year is a guess and at the end of the year, doctors determine if their guess was correct as to what they needed to protect against. This time though, doctors know the specific virus they’re fighting off.

See Campus Expects page 3

H1N1 is No Joke

(That is, if you have swine flu) Page 5

FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT: www.centralrecorder.com

News

2 THE RECORDER Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The Recorder

Student Center 1615 Stanley Street New Britain, CT 06050 T 860.832.3744 editor@centralrecorder.com centralrecorder.com twitter.com/therecorder

Editor-in-Chief Melissa Traynor Managing Editor Edward Gaug Art Director Geoffrey Lewis Copy Editor Elizabeth Mitchell News Editor Matt Kiernan Opinion Editor Christina LoBello Entertainment Editor Michael Walsh Lifestyles Editor Samantha Fournier Sports Editor Christopher Boulay Carmine Vetrano, Assistant Web Editor Alex Jarvis Writers Brittany Burke Kim Scroggins Don Weber Timothy Farrell Christopher Machnich Faustine Colin Kim Gaity Photographers Kalin Bucholz About The Recorder is a student-produced 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.

Meetings for The Recorder are held on Mondays at 8 p.m. in the Blue and White Room in the student center.

No Kid Left Cold

Donations to be Presented to Needy Hartford Families Matt Kiernan The Recorder

The No Kid Left Cold program is designed to give kids under the age of 13 the opportunity to receive free coats and toys that will get them through the winter.

The program, which is organized by the Hartford First Born Church, is focused on helping families within the city of Hartford. In comparison to last year, where children received coats and other winter articles of clothing, donations in the form of

coats and toys are requested.

“It’s somewhat emotional, but no one’s cried or anything like that,” said CCSU senior and volunteer for No Kid Left Cold Latoya Hales about recipients from last year.

There are 10 people volunteering to help in the program, with an estimated 100 kids being given clothing for the winter. Recipients of the clothing are different from years past, with the families that are chosen being made sure not to be the same twice in a row.

“We’re giving our time to

event isn’t going to be publicized, however, to keep the participation limited to those that will definitely attend and closely associated with the program.

Hales says that the problem with publicizing the location of the event would be if too many people showed, there wouldn’t be enough people that could manage the number in attendance.

The event will be a one-day event to distribute the clothing to those who were nominated to receive them.

Following Freshman’s Death, Memorial to Be Announced Continued from page 1 going really fast - they say it was probably about 95 [miles per hour]," she said.

According to the Connecticut Post, Shelton police said they are investigating the speed as a factor in the accident and that toxicology reports aren't expected back for another five weeks.

Brighindi said Cavalli would have been a marketing major at CCSU. "She was a really nice person and really friendly. Everyone always refers to her as the sweetheart just because she was so nice and she was just very warm to everybody," Brighindi said.

She also said that many people gathered to mourn Cavalli and Morra the day following the accident

on Nov. 21, and that the hours of Cavalli's wake on Nov. 24 at the Riverview Funeral Home in Shelton were extended to accommodate more visitors than expected.

The last time Brighindi saw Cavalli was at breakfast a few weekends ago in Memorial Hall, but she hasn't had many opportunities to spend time with Cavalli this first semester at CCSU. Brighindi said that Cavalli visited home on the weekends often to see her parents and for work at the Sunset Beach Tanning Resort in Fairfield.

Cavalli and Morra were also very close and had been dating for close to a year.

"Her boyfriend was very outgoing. He had so many friends," Brighindi said, and added that many of Cavalli's friends from CCSU were well acquainted with Morra,

scene @ ccsu A Weekly Stand-Alone Photo Captured at CCSU

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publicize the event and collect the clothing,” said Hales about volunteers for the program.

Those who live in Hartford and are looking to enter into the program need to apply by filling out forms to determine who needs the clothing the most.

People are being asked to donate coats and toys for children at the CCSU radio station located in the Student Center.

The event, where families will be given the clothing, will be on December 19. The location of the

Edward Gaug | The Recorder

A student uses his cell phone to record Jesse Morrell during last week’s demonstration in the Student Center circle.

who was a student at the University of Hartford.

In her email, Tordenti wrote that the university wishes to hold a memorial service for Cavalli soon, but no date has been scheduled as of Monday night.

"Last week must have been heart wrenching for Viviana’s family so we decided to wait until this week to work out specifics with them as we would like for them to be a part of the process and event," Tordenti wrote in an email to The Recorder.

"I hope that we will be able to have a service early next week."

As of Monday three Facebook groups were formed in memoriam.

Cavalli’s funeral was held on Nov. 25 at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church.

Photo: Facebook.com

Cavalli would have continued as a marketing major at CCSU.

Professor Discusses Eastern European Family Life Matt Kiernan The Recorder

A family studies professor from Queens College, City University of New York discussed the past and present home life struggle countries in Eastern Europe face.

Dr. Mihaela Robila spoke about roles within eastern European families at a lecture sponsored by the CCSU international studies program.

“The gender roles are pretty traditional, with women working in the home and with the children,” said Robila.

Incorporating social services has been a resource that many government officials and scholars believe would help ease the strain of family life. Instituting family life education into universities, high schools and communities in eastern Europe would provide therapy and counseling.

“There is some stigma on using counseling, so they need to work on that,” said Robila.

High rates of unwanted pregnancy have been an issue in eastern European countries, with a lack of family planning education and contraceptives to prevent them from happening. According to Osmo Kontula in the book People, Population Change and Policies, teenage pregnancies are four times higher in Romania and three times higher in Estonia, Lithuania and Hungary than in Western Europe.

“Child abandonment is still very

high in this region,” said Robila.

The prospect of finding jobs is something that draws parents away from their homes to go to other countries, leaving their children in the care of one parent or other relatives. According to Robila’s book, Eastern European Immigrant Families, 20 percent of 10- to 15-year-olds in Romania have one or more parents working in another country.

Parents working in other countries can cause strain and psychological damage to children because of their need for parents in their lives. Many parents don’t realize the psychological implications from being away from their children for long periods of times and think sending home money is enough for them.

Robila said problems that arise from parents going to other countries, other than family issues, include language barriers for migrant workers, and that can lead to having more difficulty in finding jobs. They are attracted to other countries by the idea of working in stronger economies, higher wages and learning new skills.

An improvement Eastern European countries have made is allowing parents to go on parental leave, which was given to help improve relationships with the parents and their children. A major factor involved in pushing paternity leave was to improve father and child relationships, which is often a problem with mothers usually opting for maternity leave.

3

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, December 2, 2009 / NEWS

Megan Stack Lectures on Being a Journalist Abroad Continued from page 1

Edward Gaug | The Recorder

Megan Stack of the LA Times spoke about being a foreign correspondant.

the “fortitude” to work such a dangerous job, and replied, “If you think you can’t report something because you’re in danger, it’s time to go home.”

“I wanted to have adventures, travel, see the world,” said Stack when asked why she was drawn to covering foreign affairs. “I wanted to see everything I could possibly see.”

The reason why she loves covering foreign affairs became less about adventure and more about educating America and changing the world as Stack matured as a journalist “Any way I could shed some light on foreign affairs, I would like to,” said Stack.

Stack was covering Libya the same year the US invaded Iraq. Her goal was to understand Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader.

“Gaddafi had a wild reputation,” said Stack. “He changed the name of

the months on a whim. He changed April to ‘flowers.’”

In Iraq shortly after the fall of Baghdad, Stack saw a “great sense of chaos and fear, but also a lot of hope.”

“People were finally talking, announcing deaths that happened 15 years earlier.”

Stack spoke about the first person in Iraq she became close to, a man named Rahim. Rahim was vehemently against Saddam Hussein, and had to leave his family to work in Yemen because he was unable to get a job without being a member of the Baathe party. When he was finally able to return after the fall of Baghdad, his son was mistaken as the enemy after a road side bomb attack and killed by US troops.

“Reality often eludes storylines,” said Stack.

Now in Russia serving as the Moscow Bureau Chief for the LA Times, Stack described the current

situation facing the fallen empire.

“It’s a place I believe is still looking for its identity,” said Stack.

“It lost the idea of itself after the collapse of communism. It lost an empire, and it lost a war.”

Stack talked about the corruption and fear in Russia, how people she interviewed would turn up dead, and how people are scared to testify in court out of fear.

“Many people in Russia are still in poverty,” said Stack. “There are failing hospitals, schools. It’s a place where things simply do not work.”

Not feeling like she did enough to change the world, Stack has written a book that will be released in the spring.

“I felt like I worked very hard, but after all of that nothing had changed.”

The Robert C. Vance Foundation endowed chair in journalism and mass communication sponsored the lecture, held in the Vance Academic Center.

Preacher Angers Students Campus Expects Another H1N1 Wave at Student Center Circle Melissa Traynor The recorder

Whether they were fascinated, genuinely interested or angered by his arguments, a large crowd of students assembled around a Christian preacher who spoke today for the greater part of the afternoon.

Jesse Morrell, a speaker from evangelist ministry Open Air Outreach, came to CCSU before Thanksgiving Break to share his interpretations of Christianity, gripping a Bible and the attention of dozens of students. His speech today focused on his beliefs, including his view that homosexuality and premarital sex are immoral.

Among other arguments, Morrell also believes that homosexuals "have the right to get AIDS." "Morality is living a life of intelligence.

Immorality is living a life of unintelligence, when you're governed by your feelings instead of being governed by your conscience," Morrell said.

When a student asked if he had feelings, he responded, "I have feelings, but I don't live to gratify my flesh... I live to please God." Morrell said there were three strikes against CCSU as he pulled out a copy of this week's The Recorder, which features a frontpage article about Ron Jeremy's visit to campus.

"Strike number one," Morrell said, "you love Ron Jeremy... but you mock the gospel." He later accused students of focusing on sexual stimulation instead of the gospel, watching too much Music Television, and being "Jesusrejectors."

"The fact that there are atheists on this campus shows that there are truth-neglectors," Morrell continued.

In open defiance of Morrell's condemnation of homosexuality, two female students kissed. One of them, a student named Tori

Davidson, said that he provoked her by saying she was tainted by BET, or Black Entertainment Television, and that she was frustrated when he claimed that homosexuals were mentally ill.

During his speech and accusations, CCSU students were provoked to yell taunts back at him and many of them openly questioned his logic and right to preach on campus. CCSU graduate

out.

"So far it's one of the more entertaining things I've seen and heard," said CCSU student Jonathan Pare. "Apparently he's read the Bible because he knows a little bit of it, but he's twisting it in ways that it was never meant to be twisted."

"Apparently he's saying that homosexuals have three rights one of them, which is the right to gets AIDS... He has the right to say so because he has the First Amendment right, but it's just not good."

While many expressed outrage at Morrell's preaching, CCSU student Marlon Virtue agreed with his message.

"I think we should all be embracing Jesse, but we are very disrespectful, as on most college campuses that will be disrespectful," said Virtue.

CCSU's Associate VP of Marketing and Communications Mark McLaughlin stood by to monitor the situation.

"Think of it as he's trying to scam the school," McLaughlin said. "He's trying to test the limits of freedom of speech."

This is not the first college visit for Morrell, who has made a career of preaching at public campuses over the last five years.

Less than two weeks ago he was thrown out of the campus at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, a Edward Gaug | The Recorder private college, for preaching. and former Student Government According to the area news station Association president Alexander WAFF48 News, Morrell said his Estrom joined in the verbal fray. First Amendment rights were Estrom, who is also a youth minister, violated and that campus police sought to argue against Morrell's arrested him for ministering to opinions. students. AAMU originally wished "It's nice to give my seminary to file charges, but let him off with a studies a little bit of a work out," he trespassing violation. said. "... Even the devil can quote In 2005, Morrell preached in scripture to serve his purpose, and front of bars on Temple Street in that's what we're looking at here."

New Haven, Conn. According to When Morrell accused CCSU the New Haven Register, he filed students of committing the "sin" of a lawsuit and won a $25,000 outpremarital sex, Estrom yelled out, of-court settlement from the city, "But where in the Bible does it say alleging that police violated his that premarital sex is a sin?" right to free speech. The settlement, Morrell persisted, even though issued in August, 2009, also many of the students who formed a stipulates that the City of New circle around him yelled out insults Haven cannot enforce disorderly and enraged questions. Some even conduct laws against Morrell for tried to begin a chant to drown him preaching on public streets.

Before Next Break

Continued from page 1 Summer was seen as the first wave of the virus and the second recently ended. It is expected that CCSU will have a third wave and the campus is seeing three times the level of normal flu symptoms for October.

Students should also stay alert.

Basic cleanliness and courtesy towards others is needed to keep the virus from spreading.

Most students who contract H1N1 will be asked to go home, but those who live further away will be given temporary housing in the trailer on campus designated for students to isolate themselves voluntarily from others.

Most students will have the virus for two to five days and it is seen as a moderate illness, but doctors are still unsure as to what makes the illness so aggressive.

When students go to Health

Services describing flu-like symptoms such as body aches and sore throats, Diamond says four out of five times they have the flu. When tests come back negative, Diamond says the test is usually wrong and still believes the students has the flu.

Eighteen percent of cases in Health Services three weeks ago were involved with flu and 12 percent of cases last week involved flu.

If time slots for appointments are completely booked at Health Services and a student can’t be seen, nurses are preparing to call patients and give advice on how to take care of themselves.

“If we can’t see you, we will try to guide you in what you need,” said Diamond.

There will be more clinics held in the coming weeks, although the dates are uncertain.

Editorial/Opinion

5 THE RECORDER Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Editorial

Booklets Would Have Been Useful Weeks Ago In order to register for classes for the soon-approaching spring 2010 semester, CCSU decided that students should independently register class online, if not in the presence of Registrar's staff, which made the entire process unduly difficult. And after the close of registration period, printed course registration booklets for evening and Saturday courses could be found on campus. These books are a combined listing of graduate and undergraduate winter and spring courses.

Initially paperless, there was no book to browse through as in

Letter to the Editor

past semesters - no descriptions of classes, just CRN numbers and lists of shortened names of classes.

The majority of students do not like the fact that classes can only be found online. Having used a booklet in the past while browsing and checking off courses during registration it was a lot easier to flip through pages than it was to coordinate classes and submit course worksheets online. The printed books now available have all of the full name of the classes and a small description of it, which could have allowed for ease in double checking classes against the

(That is, if you have swine flu) Kim Scroggins The Recorder

The issue of swine flu has been met with different reactions all across campus. There were those who were worried about it, and those who thought it was nothing to worry about. The issue then turned into a running joke. I must say that I was one of those people. Sure the flu is a serious thing, but the outbreak

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there seems to be a dearth. Smaller majors, such as anthropology, have an even smaller variety to choose from. This also speaks to a larger problem in that there are simply less courses offered across the board.

If online is the only way to register next semester, there are some things that CCSU could do in order for it to run smoother the second time around. If not going ahead with printing the course registration booklets on time and in full, CCSU should primarily look into grouping Web content and course listings similar to the way in the book. At the very least,

H1N1 Is No Joke

of H1N1 wasn’t something I was going to invest time in concerning myself with.

Like many other students, I was one to make jokes about it. With every cough or sneeze it’d state , “watch out! Swine!” it was that way.

Until I got the swine flu. Then it was no laughing matter.

Looking back at it, it wasn’t that much worse than a regular flu.

I had a fever of over one hundred for three straight days and basically spent the whole time laying in bed with the normal aches and pains of the average flu. The only thing I was

really worried about was catching up in all of my classes, since I was told to not come back until 24 hours after my last fever. I was just about completely wiped out for a least an entire week.

Now that I am a “swine survivor” as my friends like to put it, I can say it really wasn’t that big of a deal.

Don’t get me wrong, being sick to the point where you’re too tired to get out of bed is no fun. Those who have ever had something similar to the normal flu and are relatively healthy otherwise really have nothing to worry about.

a portable display file will provide an easier transition to the Web. Course names should be in full and should have a small one to two line descriptions along with it, if not the full paragraphs. It will lessen the frustration.

Registering for spring classes was more stressful than it should have been. Now that it's over, hopefully the administration can walk away with a list of areas to improve and see that the same headaches are not repeated for next semester. And make sure that the print booklets are out before registration starts.

I must say, though, that those who suffer from anything like asthma or any other pre-existing health risk should try to avoid it as best as they can. It’s been over a week and I still have a terrible cough and occasionally have a hard time breathing.

Overall, I still make my own little jokes about it, but I don’t find swine to be any funnier than a terrible cold.

Be good about keeping up with flu prevention and – as I was advised – eat some bacon in revenge.

CCSU’s Less Dramatic, Thoughtful Approach to H1N1 Christopher machnich The Recorder

Swine is a word rarely used since the death of Hunter S. Thompson in 2005. However, since April of this year, the word has become increasingly popular as the Swine Flu pandemic rises. Every week there is new information about swine flu, and in the past few months it has come to light that the swine flu isn’t as dangerous as it was originally thought to be.

The initial outbreak in this country created upset. There were so many unanswered questions regarding the virus that people began to panic. The popular media saw it as a way to sell more stories and the conspiracy theorists instantly decided the government was behind it. Indeed, everybody found a way to blow this virus way out of proportion.

xkcd.com

university and major requirements.

Even if these booklets--providing information on just a fraction of the courses at CCSU--were available earlier, students who take primarily night or weekend classes would have enjoyed a less stressful registration.

With the registration web pages on CCSU Blue Net, only the CRN numbers, shortened names of the classes, and scheduling information were available.

Also, the number of classes has seemed to have been reduced significantly. Last semester, there was an abundance of classes, it was almost overwhelming. Now,

The outbreak of H1N1 shed the light on a disturbing trend in this country. We have quickly become a country that forms its beliefs on speculation and loose facts. The initial limited information on swine flu left the ill-informed and the story tellers to fill in the blanks, and what ensued can easily be describe as a huge over-reaction.

Having said that, it is more likely people will get some form of the flu this year, more than any other year, and traditionally there is a spike in flu cases following Thanksgiving.

All over the country people are scrambling to prevent the flu and to stay healthy. Public institutions are trying to find any edge to keep its inhabitants healthy, and what are they doing?

Central Connecticut State University gave a relatively promising suggestion for fighting the spread of swine flu.

When asked the question, “What are they doing to prevent swine flu?” Many would answer with, "hand sanitizers" like it was the most reliable way to prevent flu. Now, I’m no doctor, but I know that there has to be more ways to prevent the flu than just hand sanitizers. “Hand sanitizers” have seem to become safe words for public officials. It makes everybody think that they are doing their part to stop swine flu.

Jean Alicandro, Director of Residence Life, was able to offer a few other ways CCSU is trying to curb the swine flu, and not once were hand sanitizers mentioned.

Alicandro mentioned the extra cleaning that was being done by the custodial staff of CCSU. Extra cleaning goes a long way, as the H1N1 virus can last on hard surfaces for up to eight hours. Typically the

dorms are cleaned every 24 hours on weekdays, and there is no way to tell how many people would come in contact with a surface that has been contaminated in those eight hours.

CCSU has also offered a number of resources for its students, including its second vaccination clinic, further trying to prevent the on-campus cases of the flu.

Now that we’ve come to realize that swine flu isn’t the mass killer we were all lead to believe it was and everybody has calmed down, we’ve come to a different realization.

The flu is no fun, and even though it might not be deadly, it is still not pleasant to come down with.

In a world where hand santizer is the answer to everything, it is very refreshing to see CCSU truly thinking about its students and staff, and doing more than just posting sanitizers in every hall way.

6 THE RECORDER Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Upgrade

Under Construction Play Ready to ‘Hit You Hard and Fast’ Adam Tulloch Special to The Recorder

After a little over a month of preparation, the theater show Under Construction is ready to take the stage. Under Construction is an experimental theater piece that shows how the American culture has been created over the last 50 years from stereotypes.

"This show will break down America for you. Let’s just say you are coming from a foreign country living under a rock and you never had a television, watching this show you will understand what America is and what it is going to be,” said cast member Earle Nelson, who will be playing many roles such as a butler and a dance teacher in the play.

Under Construction is broken up into different segments that will explain how each stereotype came about and how it is related to the time period it was created in.

Cast members Kyle Mencel and Rebecca Salituro will be playing a majority of the roles in the play.

While their parts may be the most interesting throughout the whole play, there are no main actors in Under Construction, just many cast members playing multiple parts.

"Kimberly Regan will steal the show in her own way with her monologue segment and have the

audience’s eyes pop wide open, grasping their attention instantly," said Nelson.

Nelson also revealed that there would be a reenactment of a biblical classic on how to live your life. Nelson gave one hint about the segment, which will be performed

by Eve Galanis, saying "11? Come on, get out of here.”

At one point in the play, all the male actors will perform a controversial song number. After the last verse of the song, actress Kimberly Carvalho will put all the male characters in their place. There is also going to be a groundbreaking scene following that song number featuring Carvalho and Kyle Shortell that will take hold of the audience’s attention.

Under Construction is a play that will teach the audience the good, the bad and the ugly of America.

“It’s raw and it’s going to hit you hard and fast," said Nelson.

While the first performance of Under Construction was Tuesday, the production will continue to be performed nightly at 7:30 from Wednesday, Dec. 2 through Saturday, Dec. 5 in the Black Box Theatre in Maloney Hall. The first two shows will be free of charge to the public and students. After the first two shows the admission price will be $10 for the public and $5 for students and seniors.

Annie Capobianco

Rebecca Salituro

Photos by Edward Gaug | The Recorder

Kyle Shortell

Get Your Move On Campus or Off Andrew Ragali Special to The Recorder

What do students prefer using, campus exercise facilities, or other off campus gyms in and around the New Britain area? Two CCSU students weigh in on the pros and cons of both.

Joseph Chaves, a senior, likes that the facilities on campus are free.

“If you don’t have enough money,” said Chaves, “the school gym is free, so you can’t go wrong with that."

Brian Nicholas, also a senior, likes the fact that there is no driving involved if you live on campus and use the campus facilities. “It’s a lot easier to get to the school gym then any of the other gyms in the area,” said Nicholas.

On the other hand, he thinks that off campus gyms offer better equipment. “The weights go higher at gyms like Big Sky or Cardio Express,” said Nicholas, “at the school gym the free weights only go up to 75 pounds.” Chaves agrees

that the school facilities equipment is “not up to par” with any gym in the area.

One-reason students may prefer off campus facilities are the other services that CCSU gyms cannot provide, including special classes, trainers, and tanning. “Other services other than working out definitely makes area gyms a little more attractive,” said Nicholas.

Students may also factor in the size of the gym when deciding whether to stay on campus to

workout or not. “Off campus gyms are bigger, so it’s faster to get on equipment,” said Chaves.

Students who might not be willing to spend money on a gym membership to get a better workout don’t have to suffer. CCSU has recently opened up brand new facilities on the bottom levels of the Sam May and Beecher dormitories to go along with the original gym on the bottom floor of Kaiser Hall.

7

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, December 2, 2009 / UPGRADE

Comedian Weng Entertains CCSU Audience Adam Tulloch The Recorder

Central Connecticut State University received a visit and performance from Sheng Weng, a stand-up comedian recently featured on the Comedy Central network.

Weng performed a very original and unique set. While a few of Weng’s jokes needed to be thought about, the majority of his jokes were basic and understandable and often tapped into his life experiences. He used one of his experiences in Los Angeles as the basis for a joke which ended up receiving a couple of extra laughs as he managed to surprise the audience with witty punch lines.

Weng was able to focus his jokes around insightful observations on society all the while maintaining a strong variety in style, a nice change of pace that helped keep the

audience hooked on the majority of his routine.

Proving his veteran stand-up status, Weng’s comedy was a brand that allowed everyone to be able to relate to something, making him universally hilarious to the audience. His stage presence was one of a solid veteran confident in his jokes.

One of Weng’s most impressive jokes of the night was a commentary on automatic paper towel dispensers.

Weng said, “I’m drunk at the club and I’m in the bathroom. I finished washing my hands but it seems you can’t just get a paper towel anymore you got to work for it nowadays with these motion sensors [waving his hand]. You know, got to bust a little dance getting jiggy with the machine, bust a move to get one paper towel. I’m like man I know I’m not that drunk. By the end of my dance I’ve got a party behind me in the men’s room. Then the night gets

weird.” These types of humorous and real life situations are what kept the audience laughing all night.

Weng closed his act with another type of relatable joke. “Life to me is like a big box of condoms,” Weng said. “It’s full of hopes and dreams but in reality, I think I just bought entirely too much condoms.

I don’t know what I was thinking. I got excited but I have no business in buying bulk because I don’t do it in bulk. At Costco they label the box as ‘Family Pack’. Well I don’t want that, this is why I’m buying condoms. I want the ‘No Family Pack’.”

“I liked the way things went.

The audience was great and very welcoming. They were into my jokes,” Weng said of his performance.

“It’s good to network with places like this, I had a great time.”

With intense honesty and logic, comedian Weng provided CCSU a night of great fun and stand-up comedy.

Photo: myspace.com

Celebrate 40 Years and Kwanzaa Week with BSU Samantha Fournier The Recorder

“We started at a time with civil unrest,” former Black Student Union President Larry Hall said of the organization's formation.

“Over 40 years it’s good to know that things have changed. There’s still diversity issues on campus, but I’m proud to say that we’ve made progress."

As CCSU and society changed, so did BSU, which was formerly known as the African American Society. “BSU has been through transition in all the years I’ve seen it [and] grown in leadership and responsibility,” BSU advisor

Christopher Dukes said. Over the years BSU has had different aspirations and has been more political at times.

One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is the sense of community that is gained through being a BSU member.

“I’ve been here for two and a half years. To me in this campus it’s just an opportunity for community.

It’s nice to have that place to go,” President Patrick Williams says of BSU’s place in his life as a student.

Family, friends, faculty and students are welcome to join BSU this week as they celebrate 40 years and Kwanzaa Week with activities each day leading up to “Kwanzaa

Ball '09 - The final day of celebration at CCSU as a Tribute to 40 Years.”

On Monday BSU and PRIDE hosted an event in Alumni Hall called "Mind, Body, Soul." There were panel discussions about the culture of sex on campus and a health awareness fair in Alumni Hall from 9 to 2 p.m.

A Christmas tree decoration contest will take place on Tuesday when clubs on campus will be decorating trees, which will be displayed at the Kwanzaa Ball on Saturday. The trees will later be donated to less fortunate families.

The Annual Taste of Soul dinner is scheduled to take place today,

Wednesday in Memorial Hall. Taste of Soul is a program we do every year with Ebony. Ebony sings at 6 p.m.

Williams said of the longstanding program where "soul food" is served for dinner in the cafeteria.

“Our main focus right now is mentorship,” Williams says of BSU’s aim. On Wednesday BSU is scheduled to take part in “High School Initiative Day.” At this event members will speak to students about the attainability of college education at the YMCA or Young Men's Christian Association.

BSU planned a "Community Cleanup Day" for students to help the local community and promote

a safe environment on Friday. They will also be donating coats, toiletries and non perishable items that they have been collecting throughout the semester on that day.

On Saturday the much awaited Kwanzaa Ball '09 takes place at 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.Earlier in the evening dinner will be served and attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the history of Kwanzaa. The formal dance features Hot 93.7's DJ Bigg Mann. Join BSU in celebrating their 40 year anniversary and their annual Kwanzaa Ball. Tickets are $12 and are purchasable through CCSU’s ticket office in the Student Center.

P dcast of the Week:THIS AMERICAN LIFE Melissa Traynor The Recorder

Admittedly, This American Life with Ira Glass is a very well known program. It's educational, for the most part, and has enough quirk to inspire most college listeners to tune in every Monday. It's a show that has the liberty to explore many different topics, sometimes with a weak thread to tie them all together, but easily one of the most memorable programs in story-telling for and by the average American.

But TAL has also been around for quite some time and is brought to us by Chicago Public Radio, so it's got some serious backing that the average podcast on iTunes doesn't have. The program has the resources to reach out to radio correspondents all over the country to bring in stories from their part of the woods.

This includes networking to bring listeners stories like "Giant Pool of Money" by Planet Money's Alex Blumberg and Adam Davidson and many other reporters with National Public Radio.

One of the most notable features of the program is that TAL, with its host Glass, has pretty much reinvented the way that traditional stories are told on the radio (or Internet) and has created a hybrid, or what they like to call "movies for

radio." As Glass announces at the top of every TAL podcast, "for each show we pick a theme and bring you stories on that theme," and these stories are presented in three or four acts throughout the show.

Some themes of interest they've dug up lately are "Bait and Switch" or stories of cons and pranksters and "The Fix is In," which is a full hour of interviews with the FBI, informant Mark Whitacre and the journalist covering the giant pricefixing scandal that he unveiled in 1992 (or the plotline of recentlyreleased The Informant).

Glass himself is a pretty remarkable host; he's got a voice with comedic lean like Michael Showalter and often peppers the show with sort-of relevant personal anecdotes. He usually hosts or moderates one act of the program himself, depending on the subject, where he interviews a a character with a tale of importance to the theme.

In early September, the TAL crew of nine radio producers spent two days in a rest stop in New York state, where Glass was able to get behind the scenes with the employees who worked there. Some of them were international students who were all but tricked into spending their summer in America working at some McDonald's store at the rest stop, and some were average Americans just shuffling to jobs they accidentally found.

Photo: NPR.com

It doesn't sound like the most appealing package of stories, especially because "Rest Stop" is about a place that many people don't like to visit, but the power of the microphone transforms

stories into living, breathing human beings. Glass spoke to dozens of visitors of the rest-stop, such as the bachelorette party who blind-folded and drove the bride-to-be into the state, and their stories might have

even been dry and lifeless without the thoughtful narration and long periods of compelling chatter by the subjects themselves.

Podcasts are streamed free every week on www.thisamericanlife.org.

8

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, December 2, 2009 / UPGRADE

REVIEWS Unfortunately, it lacks that much consistency. So if you like one track, you might not like the next. Instead of stepping up, Rihanna takes a couple steps back.

Rihanna Rated R Def Jam November 20, 2009 Mike Theodore The Recorder

I knew this album was going to be dark and gritty, but I didn’t realize it was going to be boring. You can’t help but to be captivated by the Rated R title of Rihanna’s most recent studio project. However, after the first few songs, the album becomes very annoying and varies without an actual plot for the so called “Rated R movie.”

At the opening of the album we’re being welcomed to the “Mad House”, Rihanna’s intro to the album. Very interesting, but no singing, just adlibs in the background. Continuing on, we get songs like “Go Hard” and “Wait Your Turn”, which have a hip hop and R&B vibe to them which helps make them very interesting.

You also get “Stupid in Love” and “Photographs”, featuring pop producer Will.I.Am and obvious dedications to ex-boyfriend Chris Brown.

While the rest of the album is fairly decent, it doesn’t meet the expectations you probably will have for it. I mean, if I’m being told something is rated R, I’m expecting that’s because what I’m experiencing is supposed to go into certain extremes that would not be suitable for children. Rated R is almost a kiddie friendly heartbroken record with a few dirty words here and there. Maybe they should have called it Rated PG. Rated R contains good songs here and there, but it's almost impossible to like the entire album.

little sensual for the ladies with the hot single “Baby By Me” and the album's sophomore single “Do You Think About Me”, which addresses relevant situations with Curtis and some of his past affairs. Before I Self Destruct is one of the hottest hip hop albums this year, competing with Fabolous’s Loso’s Way and new found rival and old time rapper JayZ’s The Blueprint 3.

If you're wondering if 50 still has what it takes to make good music after what people think is “too much success”, then go check it out for yourself.

50 Cent Before I Self Destruct Interscope November 9, 2009

Boyle is the type of singer that could consistently maintain sales on her soft singing style. I would imagine that she will become one of those singers that releases holiday albums and does some covers that are picked up for various soundtracks.

If you like soft-toned holiday albums or hearing takes on previous hits, I Dreamed a Dream is a must find. Even though there is some awkwardness in the fact that the entire album is just covered songs, Boyle’s voice makes each one very unique. To put it best, Susan Boyle’s voice is genuinely nice.

I Dreamed a Dream is a good album with songs that have already been tested as successes. Her debut album is a relaxing work, which will go very well with the eggnog and pine smells that come about this time of year. Boyle’s voice is truly perfect for the holiday season.

Definitely check it out if you’re in a music store, and pick it up if you could use a soft album to relax to.

Mike Theodore The Recorder

Anger, aggression, passion, reminiscent love, war and ludicrous.

All of these words can be used to describe 50 Cent’s most recent studio project, Before I Self Destruct.

As far as comparing the album to any of his past works such as Get Rich or Die Tryin’, or The Massacre, this project stands out as an actual improvement in creativity in a world that is so stereotyped by drugs, misogyny and violence.

With production by major super producers Dr.Dre, Eminem and Polow da Don, 50 Cent couldn’t go wrong with this album. At first listen, you will hear tracks with your usual “bad guy” content, however if you give the music a chance and listen close enough, you can hear the improvements in 50’s lyrics and vocal creativity.

Some of these tracks include songs like “So Disrespectful” and “Psycho”, featuring Interscope buddy and mentor Eminem. Other tracks can include “Hold Me Down” and “Stretch”, another song that 50 Cent decided to leak via his community Web site.

But 50 Cent doesn’t play a bad guy the whole album. He gets a

Susan Boyle I Dreamed a Dream Columbia Records November 23, 2009 Don Weber The Recorder

Susan Boyle is unique in her modest physique and perhaps normative demeanor. Along with wowing the “Britain’s Got Talent“ viewers, she has now also made a solid recording with her debut album I Dreamed a Dream. Her voice is powerful and well-directed so each song sounds like an instant classic. The only problem is that each song was already a classic to begin with, as this entire album is song covers.

Boyle’s album has twelve tracks, including well-known songs like "Wild Horses," "Daydream Believer" and "Silent Night." The album title also refers to her cover of the Les Miserables’ famous "I Dreamed a Dream."

Them Crooked Vultures Them Crooked Vultures DGC/Interscope November 17, 2009 Don Weber The Recorder

Them Crooked Vultures is the new self-titled debut album of a 2005 project band of the same name. The super group was formed by well-known drummer Dave Grohl (of Nirvana, Foo Fighters, and Probot), experienced guitarist and vocalist Josh Homme (of Queens of the Stone Age) and the

renowned bassist John Paul Jones (of Led Zeppelin).

Their first album entitled Them Crooked Vultures has 13 tracks which run anywhere from three minutes to eight minutes a piece.

The album, which contains artwork from Renaissance man Liam Lynch, pushes towards the rock of old.

Many of the songs bring back vibes of classic rock, and the collaborative effort is amazing. Very rarely do you get so much talent together for a band without its problems, but the fact that Grohl and Homme are familiar with each other, and the fact that John Paul Jones is an icon is encouraging.

The three really work well with each other, and listeners can appreciate the lack of solo parts by any member. Each member gets their own opportunities to sing, which is always rewarded by the distinct vocals of lead singer Josh Homme.

However, the instrumentals are the key focus.

The instrumentals and bass compete with the vocals and at times exceed them. In this sense, you get that sensation of a 70’s band roaring their instrument of choice.

The album is produced, but has a live feel to it. To better explain the balance of vocals and instrumentals, Them Crooked Vultures sounds like you’re sitting in the middle row of a rock and roll concert.

This might push some listeners away, especially those looking to recognize the sounds of Grohl's or Homme's voices, but some will certainly love it. The band will probably gain some popularity for sometime as the music is similar to Queens of the Stone Age or Wolfmother.

In fact, there’s a pretty good chance that you may have already heard a song or two on the radio because the early released track "New Fang" has already received some chart buzz.

If you like hard rock, alternative or classic rock definitely check Them Crooked Vultures out. Even if you’re just interested in one of the members' previous bands, it is well worth it. This isn’t your typical superband of desperate income, it’s something different. Them Crooked Vultures is going to wow some people, lose others and notch its way into the modern rock genre.

Calendar 12.2 - 12.9 MUSIC 12.3 LMFAO & Shwayze w/ Far East Movement, Paradiso Girls, Space Cowboy @ Toad's Place New Haven, Conn. $20 / 9 p.m.

12.5 Marco Benevento Trio w/ The McLovins @ Downright Music and Art Collinsville, Conn. $15 / 8 p.m.

Future Rock w/ Scroll, DJ Emoh & Eric Philcrantz @ The Webster Hartford, Conn. $10 / 7 p.m.

CCSU 12. 1 - 12.5 Under Construction directed by Josh Perlstein @ Maloney Hall, Black Box Theatre $5 students, $10 general / 7:30 PM

12.3 Devils Den at 10 p.m.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show @ Semesters 12.8, 9 Exhibit of Calendars, Photos and Books by George Ostertag @ Lobby Student Center 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Introducing 2010 calendars by nature photographer George Ostertag from Oregon and Washington, the exhibit is available for two days only in the student center. Discounted prices on merhcandise available for student.s

FILM 12.2 - 12.5 The Informant! @ Cinestudio Hartford, Conn. $7.00 / 7:30 With the help of a mustache and

an extra 30 pounds, Matt Damon gives an award-worthy comic performance as Mark Whitacre, the vice president of Archer Daniels Midland, who called the FBI back in the '90s to report on his company's illegal price-fixing in the global market. It's when the eager Feds show up in Decatur to ask the increasingly bizarre Whitacre to wear a wire that this true story takes a turn very different from Steven Soderbergh's last film on corporate corruption, Erin Brockovich. But while it's harder to separate the good guys from the villains, the trashing of ethics in the name of cash remains the same. "It's a vertiginous experience that grows increasingly hilarious, and the joke is on us." - David Denby, The New Yorker. 105 min.

12.4 - 12.10 The Yes Men Fix The World @ Real Art Ways Hartford, Conn. $6.25 / 7 p.m.

“This movie is glorious testimony to the moral power of satire.” -David Edelstein, New York

“The anti-globalist performance guys who call themselves the Yes Men are masters of forging corporate rhetoric and media protocols.” -J. Hoberman, Village Voice

World War II that took the life of his own father. Shot with devastating clarity and a palpable thirst to tell the truth, Katyn tells the story long covered up in Communist Poland, of over 20,000 officers and intellectuals killed by the Soviet Army - an act then blamed on the equally murderous Nazis. "This tenacious artist has now given his father a proper memorial and has reasserted, with power and grace, the history and identity of his nearly effaced country." David Denby, The New Yorker. 121 min.

12.6 - 12.8 Katyn @ Cinestudio Hartford, Conn. $7.00 / 7:30 p.m.

12.7 My Life As A Dog @ Real Art Ways Hartford, Conn. $6.25 / 1:30 p.m.

Polish director Andrzej Wajda, who made Ashes and Diamonds, Man of Iron, and Danton, won his reputation as of one the world's most celebrated filmmakers because of his fierce connection to the individual struggle that illuminates vital moments of history. Now 82, Wajda returns with a powerful film about a seminal event during

12-year-old Ingemar is sent to live with his childless aunt and uncle in a country village when his mother falls ill. Refreshments at 1 p.m. and a discussion afterward.

Magazine “It takes some nerve, not to mention diabolical intelligence and financial resources, to pull off the elaborate pranks devised by [the Yes Men]… But it is great fun to watch them do their dirty work.” -Stephen Holden, The New York Times

9

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, December 2, 2009 / UPGRADE

A Cussin’ Good Time: Fantastic Mr. Fox Delivers On Its Name

Netflix It: Hard Eight MAX KyBuRZ SpECIAL To ThE RECoRDER

A man in black suit, well beyond his years but with a strong voice, offers to give you a cigarette and buy you a cup of coffee. He then offers you a bit of money and tells you that he can make you rich.

The old man's name is Sydney.

He never gives his last name, but it is learned that there are more mysterious facts to be discovered about this peculiar character. His motives are unclear, but he seems trustworthy. The question is, what do you do?

This question, among numerous others, are the basis for Hard Eight, the debut feature film of Paul Thomas Anderson.

This is a rare film; it's not very often that a young director's first feature length film

excels as well as the rest of his filmography. Anderson has been hitting home runs ever since this film was first released in 1996, which makes it difficult to determine which of his films is best. I rank Hard Eight pretty high up there, and not just because it was Anderson's first time out.

It's a gripping crime drama that is unique in its ability to thrill without overstating itself. It's rich in character and storytelling, and it doesn't take the easy way out by inserting implausible chase scenes and shootouts. Hard Eight is filmmaking of a high caliber and patience, and while it may not be for everyone, it's definitely directed toward those who are sick of Righteous Kill-brand crap that's plaguing multiplexes everywhere.

Most crime films contain a protagonist whose desires and prejudices are known from the start, but Hard Eight is not such a film. What thrills us about it is our quest for such knowledge about the mysterious Sydney, even though we may not get exactly what we were expecting by the end. Hard Eight establishes Anderson as a director who does not always cater to the mainstream audience, and if you don't believe me, watch Punch Drunk Love and There Will Be Blood.

Sydney is played by Philip Baker Hall, who may not be a

recognizable name, but surely you've seen his face before.

Seinfeld fans remember him as the library cop named Bookman (like an ice cream man named Cone), and others may remember him in films like Rush Hour, The Insider, The Truman Show and Zodiac.

Those already familiar with Anderson's catalog will remember his memorable cameo in Boogie Nights and his powerhouse portrayal of an ailing game show host in Magnolia. Like Sydney, Hall is a man of experience and precision, but is often overlooked.

If Hard Eight doesn't make you a fan of Philip Baker Hall, I don't know what will.

The talent doesn't stop there as Anderson employs a cast that would be a dream for any first time director. John C. Reilly, Samuel L. Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, and hey look, there's Melora Walters and Philip Seymour Hoffman making cameos! Damn. What a stroke of luck for Anderson, who was afforded the rare opportunity of working with actors who would later become some of the biggest names in

Hol ly wood.

Since Hard Eight, ensemble casts have been a trademark for Anderson, making him the heir to the throne of Robert Altman.

The element that brings Hard Eight together is the chemistry between Hall and Reilly.

Beginning with their chance (but is it really chance?) encounter at a coffee shop in fabulous Las Vegas, the two spark a long lasting relationship akin to that of a father and his son. Familial relationships are a driving theme for most of Anderson's films, and this one is no different.

Sydney is a man with money but no family, and he goes through the entire movie doing whatever is in his power to retain that strength. As flawed as many of the characters in the film can be, it must be remembered that these are human beings looking for some kind of companionship, whether they are looking for a quick fix or an everlasting bond.

It's hard to make a person with unlikable qualities seem likable, but Anderson undertakes that task successfully, which is why he is one of the most admired directors working today.

MAX KyBuRZ SpECIAL To ThE RECoRDER

I don’t think I’ve ever seen, or will ever see, another animated film quite like Fantastic Mr. Fox. Sure, there are animated films it can easily be compared to but Fox makes no effort to imitate. It’s in a class all of its own, and deserves a special place in the world of animated cinema.

Praise indeed to Wes Anderson, who, while stepping out of his element, produces another fine piece of work. Though it is not his finest film, it is probably his most ambitious work, and further proof that he is one of the most original cinematic artists working today.

Animation aside, Fox is your typical Anderson fare: the dark, witty humor, out-of-the-element acting, the Anderson regulars who lend their voices and an overall separation from realism.

The story follows the leader of the skulk, the eponymous Mr. Fox, voiced by George Clooney. In short, Mr. Fox is the Danny Ocean of animated anthropomorphic animals. Without falter, he zips through off-limits territory in a sequence that will remind many viewers of a Super Nintendo game circa 1990 (this is one movie whose spin-off game I probably would buy, and I HATE video games). At his side is the sweet but distraught Mrs. Fox, voiced by Meryl Streep (no adjective needed). Their relationship is one of the more genuine points of the film, and the emotions felt and

words uttered between the two are without sugar-coating.

Other standouts are Bill Murray as a badger/lawyer and Willem Dafoe as the brawling and shotcalling Rat. Between Fox and the equally cheery Antichrist, Dafoe seems to have well met his quota for movies with foxes in it for the next 20 years.

Allow me for a moment to address the animation itself. In a time where computer animation and CGI rule the world, it’s remarkably refreshing to see stop-motion animation still being employed. The thing about the animation in the case of Fantastic Mr. Fox, however, is that it’s not slick. The bristles on Mr. Fox’s hair move as if there were a fan constantly blowing every which way.

For a film whose sets and characters are entirely hand-made, it’s pretty impressive.

The little details did not get in the way as I was having way too much fun watching Mr. Fox poison a dog via blueberry. Animal poisoning has never been this much fun. Even more impressive are the individual shots – the film looks like a Wes Anderson film. It’s like he shrunk himself and a Steadicam down to figurine height before shooting.

Quick cutting is key for effective animated comedy, certainly, but this film is more like a documentary of a diorama come to a life. And a good one, at that.

No Anderson film is complete without a solid soundtrack, and this one certainly delivers in that

department. With tunes by The Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Nancy Adams and stop-motion superstar Burl Ives, Anderson once again creates an aural experience that works perfectly with the visuals.

The original score made the film whole, and it made me want to rush out and immediately buy the soundtrack as soon as I left the theatre. And of course, what’s a great animated movie without a musical sequence? Jarvis Cocker (portraying “Petey” in the film) has a terrific scene that is interrupted by a disturbance that almost deconstructs the idea of impromptu singing in film.

If you haven’t noticed by now, Fox is not your typical animated feature. It is definitely not strictly kids’ fare: some of them may be frightened by some of the imagery and dialogue, but animation has been scaring kids since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Hopefully kids will see it at a young age and enjoy it, then they’ll watch it in a few years and appreciate more of the jokes. If you’ve got stuff that will keep kids and adults smiling throughout, you’ve got a hit. Kids will enjoy the animals and whacky situations, and adults will dig the sly-as-a-fox humor and vocal performances.

Fox is an incredibly well-rounded adventure that will keep your heart smiling. In an era that is pessimistic about the progression of cinematic creativity, Fantastic Mr. Fox keeps you believing.

Photo: Summit Entertainment, LLC

Twilight Craze Continues With New Moon SAMANThA FOuRNiER ThE RECoRDER

In a post-Buffy era the cinematic adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s novel Twilight has created a cultural phenomenon of teeth-sinking entertainment for young adult viewers both on the big screen and on TV. As The Twilight Saga: New Moon breaks box office records it raises the stakes for the vampire focused entertainment industry.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon picks up where the first movie left off with Edward and Bella’s dramatic romantic struggle coming to a close early on, which leaves Bella heartbroken. Family friend Jacob is there to help Bella through the angst that Edward’s departure has caused her.

New Moon hasn’t changed the cast from the first movie in the series. The teen sensation and heartthrob Robert Pattinson plays

the pale skinned vampire Edward Cullen. Pattinson doesn’t have as much screen time in this movie and when he does have screen time, his performance as Edward isn’t authentic. Despite Pattinson’s lackluster performance, female viewers will still leave the theater with a crush on this British actor.

Kristen Stewart plays Bella and carries the movie with her acting skills making Bella’s heartbroken loneliness believable.

Taylor Lautner plays Jacob Black who runs around shirtless most of the movie and brings the added element of adventure to the previously vampire-saturated plot as he takes on the werewolf form with a few others from his clan.

The New Moon soundtrack is a collection of songs that captures the sadness of the end of this intense teen romance with a mix of rock songs and a few calmer songs that sometimes have an eerie feel. Even

if you aren’t a Twilight fan, you may take interest in the soundtrack which features artists such as Death Cab for Cutie, The Killers, and Grizzly Bear.

Each song on the soundtrack has a point and Twilight fanatics can even find out which song corresponds with which main character to further emphasize that character’s feelings in a particular scene.

If you haven’t already succumbed to the pressure of watching Twilight and you can accept that New Moon is clearly an unrealistic fantasy at best, it may still be able to capture your heart and attention bringing you into a dark world filled with all things fanciful.

Until the next movie in the series premiers, all of those involved in the making of New Moon can cheer as the movie continues to pull a huge number of fans into this vortex of blood sucking entertainment.

10

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, December 2, 2009 / SPORTS

SPORTS STARTS ON BACKPAGE

Blue Devils Earn Major Northeast Conference Football Awards CCSUBLUEDEVILS.COM

Central Connecticut State University came away from the Northeast Conference football awards program as the big winner.

Fresh off capturing their first-ever outright NEC title, the Blue Devils claimed three major honors and a league-high 10 all-conference selections. CCSU senior running back James Mallory garnered NEC Offensive Player of the Year accolades, Central’s freshman linebacker Lawton Arnold secured the NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year honor, and the Blue Devils’ Jeff McInerney took the NEC Coach of the Year award.

The Northeast Conference announced the honorees, which were chosen through a vote of the league’s nine head coaches, on Monday to kick off Gridiron Classic week. Central Connecticut State prepares to visit Pioneer League champion Butler in the fourth annual postseason Gridiron Classic on December 5.

Mallory was the offensive catalyst for a team that enjoyed its best season in nearly four full decades. He’ll have the opportunity to carry the Blue Devils to a 10th win, while also solidifying his place as CCSU’s all-time leading rusher in the upcoming Gridiron Classic. His 3,136 career rushing yards and 33 career touchdowns (200 pts.) both rank second in CCSU’s program history. After amassing 1,520 yards on the ground as a junior, Mallory has rushed for 1,243 yards to rank second amongst NEC ball carriers in 2009. After totaling 539 rushing yards over the final four games of CCSU’s title chase, Mallory is averaging 113.0 yards per game and

4.8 yards per carry on the season.

Mallory, who has 15 rushing touchdowns in each of the past two seasons, has eclipsed the 100yard mark on 15 occasions during his career. He is one of 20 national finalists for the 2009 Walter Payton Award.

Arnold became a defensive leader during his first season in New Britain. His 48 tackles, of which 6.5 were for a loss, came over an eight-game sample. Showing a knack for key plays, he added two sacks, two forced fumbles, and two quarterback hurries.

After playing sparingly in the NEC opener against cross-state rival Sacred Heart, he more than made his presence felt the following week against Robert Morris. Arnold broke through by making five solo tackles and forced a fumble in a 21-21 win over the Colonials.

McInerney has guided the Blue Devils to a winning season in each of his four years at helm, but none have proven more fruitful than the current campaign. Coaching CCSU’s version of the “Cardiac Kids” to second-half comebacks in seven of their nine victories, McInerney has his team one step away from setting the single-season program record for wins. The fourth-year head coach earned his first-ever triumphs over perennial NEC title contenders Albany and Monmouth in 2009 on the way to securing CCSU’s first NEC title since it shared the league crown in 2004 & 2005. The Blue Devils have won 30 games over a four-year span, which began with McInerney’s hiring in 2006, in achieving yet

THE WINNER IS:

MARC CHOUINARD

This Year’s Final NFL Pick’Em Leaderboard Rank

Name

Total Points

Current Weeks

1

Carmine Vetrano*

109

22

2

Brittany Burke*

109

22

3

Marc Chouinard

108

19

3

Anthony Gonsalves

107

20

3

Matthew Kitson

105

19

6

Nicholas Menapace

105

17

7

Joshua Davenport

105

22

7

Edward Gaug*

104

19

9

Michael Walsh*

104

19

10

Christopher Boulay*

91

10

11

Kevin Dennis

86

22

12

Timothy Farrell*

84

10

* indicates the person is an editor at The Recorder **Only people included in this list will continued to be counted.

another program first.

All five first team offensive linemen are veterans, and four of the five were members of the 2009 All-NEC Preseason Team. CCSU senior Anthony Pineiro was the selection who did not receive the preseason billing. His seamless transition from guard, where he earned second team honors in 2007,

team defensive line. The elusive defensive end registered team-high 10.0 tackles for loss, including four sacks that cost the opponent a total of 48 yards.

Junior Alondre Rush returns to the first team defensive backfield for the second consecutive season.

Rush, a strong safety, also led his club in solo tackles (36). The 6-foot, 190-pound Connecticut native totaled 71 stops, including 4.5 for a loss. Wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks, Rush made two sacks, secured two interceptions, and broke up three passes.

Senior cornerback Marcus Dorsey gives the Blue Devils two first team defensive backs.

The Maryland native tied for first amongst NEC leaders in interceptions (5) and ranks third in passes defended (13).

He returned the five picks for 172 returns yards, 100 of which came on the one play in a NECTV Game of the Week (Oct. 3). With intrastate rival Sacred Heart five yards away from the go-ahead score with fewer than 3:00 remaining in regulation, Dorsey intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it a NEC-record 100 yards for a game-sealing touchdown.

Central’s five selections Edward Gaug | The Recorder top the All-NEC Second Team, James Mallory starting with senior quarterback Aubrey Norris and his favorite to center helped strengthened an target junior Josue Paul. offense that went on to average 25.2 Norris came off the bench during points and 388.0 yards per contest. the second quarter of CCSU’s Senior Ray Saunders, who comeback win over Columbia recorded 44 total tackles and two (Sept. 26), the NEC’s first-ever over pass break-ups, stands as the lone a Ivy League member, and never two-time selection to the first looked back. Engineering the Blue

Devils’ offense to a program-record seven NEC wins, Norris posted a 67.0 completion percentage (77for-115) and totaled 1,042 yards through the air. Having always been a threat to tuck it and run, Norris accounted for 264 rush yards and two touchdowns over 74 attempts.

Paul, who burst onto the scene as an electrifying kick returner in 2007, proved to be both a reliable and explosive pass-catcher this season. His 14.8 yards per catch average was tops amongst NEC receiving leaders while his 782 yards were third. The 6-foot-1 Floridian made 53 receptions, none bigger than the 69-yard touchdown sprint that lifted CCSU past Monmouth in the waning minutes of Week 11.

Junior tackle Mike Allison, a true bookend at 6’6” and 300 pounds, started all 11 games during CCSU’s title run. He helped anchor the line that led the league in rushing and allowed the fewest sacks during the season.

Junior Jeff Marino’s selection gives CCSU a second team linebacker for the second consecutive season after graduate Mike Cooke claimed the honor in 2008. The 6-foot-1 Marino was the leading tackler (85) for a defense that allowed 298.1 yard per game.

CCSU junior Dominique Rose is a second teamer for the second straight season after accounting for 30 tackles and seven passes defended (6 PBU + 1 INT).

The Blue Devils will finish the 2009 season at 12 noon on Saturday in the Gridiron Classic at Butler.

Central has a chance to win 10 games for the first time in school history. Their nine wins so far this season matched a school-record set in 1973 (9-1).

11

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, December 2, 2009 / SPORTS

CCSU Fan Support Starts With Apparel Christopher Boulay The Recorder

Everyone who follows sports and goes to CCSU, knows that we have had problems with support for our own teams in the past. It is nothing new, and something that CCSU fans have come to expect.

We don't do enough to support our teams, and it could be because we are a mid-major school at best.

There is a solution, though it doesn't come from the fans themselves. Look at any school that has big support from their fans, and you will see that it all starts with apparel. In walking around a campus that really gives their all for their school sports, the support

is tangible. There are not only hoodies, t-shirts and caps with the school name or emblem, there are also jerseys everywhere.

At CCSU? None.

This is a big problem, that could be alleviated if the school decided that each individual sport was important by itself. Yes, we go to CCSU, yes we have all been to the bookstore when school begins and our parents have bought us countless t-shirts and hoodies, and CCSU clothing probably takes up a decent part of our wardrobe, even if we don't wear it all the time. But no jerseys is a huge problem. There may be school spirit in the sense that we all have clothing that tells people where we go to school, but

Can’t Make it to Indianapolis?

Follow Chris Boulay’s live-tweets throughout CCSU’s Gridiron Classic game against Butler University.

that is seemingly where it ends.

Let's start with football. We usually get some good crowds, and the crowd for the Albany game was impressive. But why does it have to be that the game is on a Saturday and until then, no one knows about it? Where are the James Mallory #2 jerseys? Aubrey Norris #10? Josue Paul #5? This is a common practice for most Division I schools, and it should be commonplace here in New Britain.

Even with basketball, Robby Ptacek, Joe Seymore and Shemik Thompson should all have their jerseys on the backs of fans around campus. It wouldn't be too bad to have these players go to class and know that they have the support of

their peers. It might just give them that little extra boost on the court, especially in a year that has started off slowly and not without injury.

Even with soccer, the men's and women's teams could have their own designed scarves for fans. Possibly a blue and white-striped scarf with CCSU or the school's name spelled out on it. It is very common for soccer teams to have scarves to hold up during matches, and with the increasing attendance for men's and women's soccer, why not? Coach Shaun Green has begun creating a very inclusive atmosphere with the fans of the men's team, so fans should have a better opportunity to show support.

The CCSU campus bookstore

does have some good ideas, but they are only a start. Currently, they sell football t-shirts designed by Coach Jeff McInerney, which are great, but they also sell t-shirts with the number 88 on them. Too bad there is no one with the number 88 on the roster.

We have had some great successes in Division I over the past few years, and people from all over the country are beginning to realize that we are building some good programs, but without the fans getting the right ammunition to support the teams, we end up looking like more of a glorified high school than anything else.

Men’s Basketball Tops Savannah State 51-44 on Saturday Night in Charleston

Updates will start at 11:30 a.m. Saturday

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Edward Gaug | The Recorder

CCSUBlueDevils.com

CCSU men’s basketball team improved to 1-2 overall on the season with a 51-44 victory against Savannah State on Saturday night.

The Blue Devils, who shot 46 percent from the floor in the win, were led by sophomore Robby Ptacek who had a game-high 16 points to go along with seven boards.

The Blue Devils trailed only once in the game, 6-3, and shot a seasonbest 46.3 percent from the field (19of-41) in the victory. Central’s zone defense held the Tigers to 16-of-47 shooting from the field in the game, including 4-of-17 from three-point land.

Down 8-6 in the first half, the Blue Devils rattled off 12 straight

points to take an 18-8 lead with 9:59 on the clock. Both offenses struggled in the final 10 minutes before the break, combining to score only 15 points as the Blue Devils led 22-19 at halftime.

It marked the first time this season that Central has led at the half. In the second half the Tigers tied the game quickly at 23-23 with 17:18 on the clock. Central responded with an 8-2 run, fueled by a pair of three-point baskets by junior guard Ross Pentland.

Pentland scored a careerhigh eight points in the game, including the two threes. The Tigers responded to tie the game at 42-42 with 3:46 on the clock in the second half.

With a two-point lead, Ptacek converted a three-point play to give

Central the 47-42 lead with under three minutes on the clock. Ptacek finished the game 5-of-12 from the field and 5-of-7 from the line to lead the Blue Devils in scoring for the third straight game.

In the final 2:45 of the game junior guard Shemik Thompson was 4-of-4 from the line and Ptacek his only free-throw attempt. Central shot 10-of-13 from the line in the game.

Ptacek led the way offensively for the Blue Devils with a seasonhigh 16 points and a career-high seven rebounds. Thompson added 15 points, three rebounds and three steals. The two combined to score the final 13 points of the game for the Blue Devils, including 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.

Weekend Tournament Brings Split for CCSU Hockey Continued from page 12 not comfortable with, allowing them to take advantage and come away with points.

“Defensemen were stepping up, taking ice away on the blue lines, enforcing the dump, which they’re not a dump and chase-type team so it’s good to see,” said Coach Adams. “And you know, [Ross] Mocko is our best defenseman back there. He made some big saves and really controlled the rebounds well tonight, as opposed to last night.”

CCSU finished off their win

with a goal in the final seconds of the game scored by Eric Blewett, his second for the night, and assisted by Carroll.

CCSU came out in their rematch game against UNH looking for the win that they had let go in the first round against the UConn Huskies.

The Blue Devils began the game against UConn strong with two back-to-back unassisted goals made

by Dabkowski. The first goal came just two minutes and 10 seconds into the game and the second breakaway goal was scored just 19 seconds later.

“We were kind of starting a

little slow, for whatever reason I had two good opportunities, and found a variable on a breakaway, which is good,” Dabkowski said.

“We just had trouble carrying that momentum throughout the game, and we started to pick it up later on, but it was a little too late.”

The Blue Devils are a team who scores in spurts, and that was evident in their game against UConn. After the initial two goals were made by Dabkowski they had trouble connecting, and couldn’t score again until there was 14:49 left in the second. Freshman, Jonathan Knobloch scored their

only goal in the second with help from sophomore Jeff Pease and senior Erich Stoneman.

With 9:07 left to play in the second Co-Captain Mike DiClemente was taken out of the game for a major game misconduct, leaving a major hole in the team’s overall play.

“Obviously he’s one of our top guys - one of those players we have great chemistry with on our line, but whenever you lose a guy who’s playing a good number of minutes it’s gonna be tough on the team, and guys got to step up,” said Dabkowski.

DiClemente was out for the rest of the first game but came back on Saturday with two goals and an assist.

Despite the loss of DiClemente, CCSU scored a late fourth goal in the third made by Ryan Paglinco from Blewett and Carroll, but the spark wasn’t enough for the win.

The Blue Devils ended the mini tournament 1-1 with the loss against UConn and win versus UNH. They are on a one week break and then are back on their home ice on Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. versus Endicott College.

THE RECORDER Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Sports 12.2

Blue Devils Exact Revenge on Rams

Sophomore Shontice Simmons collected eight rebounds on top of her 10 points against Fordham.

Brittany Burke The Recorder

It has been a year since the Blue Devils lost to the Fordham Rams, 66-64, but the memory is still prominent in women’s basketball Head Coach Beryl Piper’s mind.

The Blue Devils got their wanted revenge, beating the Fordham Rams, at home in Detrick Gymnasium, 6457 on Wednesday Nov. 18.

“I think we had a little revenge, you know? Last year we were up on them by 10 with 11 minutes to go, and then with like seven minutes to go there was like 11 lead changes in the game, and they end up beating us down at their place,” recalled Coach Piper. “... So there was some revenge going on here.”

Not only did they win, but CCSU (1-2) kept Fordham (1-1) to less than 60 points, a goal in which Coach Piper seemed pleased to

accomplish.

Much of the Blue Devil win could be attributed to the defense.

The team was able to limit the Rams to a mere 17 points in the first half.

The Rams missed their first nine attempted field goals, making six of twenty-four attempts in the first half, and allowed the Blue Devils 29 defensive rebounds, while CCSU gave up only 11 offensive rebounds.

“Even though our offense might’ve had some niches in them, we came back on D and we stopped ‘em, and that gave us more chances on the offense,” said guard Shontice Simmons, who had eight rebounds and 10 points for the night.

A major advantage for the Blue Devils was the ability to contain 6’1” forward, Tiffany Stokes. Stokes

Edward Gaug | The Recorder

was shut out by CCSU, while in the first game of her season she was Fordham’s leading point scorer. This forced the Rams to switch up their strategy, allowing the Blue Devils to maintain the tempo of the game.

There was a notable change in the energy that the Blue Devils

64

said Coach Piper.

While the Blue Devils seemed to find the spark they were lacking they could not maintain a sizeable lead. Whenever it looked like the team would be able to lengthen their point cushion, the Rams were right there to bring the pressure.

With under five minutes to play in the second half the Rams were able to score six points to the Blue Devils’ three, made by Simmons and Kerrianne Dugan, shortening the Blue Devils’ lead from (53-49) to just three points at (58-55).

The game was down to the wire with the Blue Devils getting four free throw attempts, and the Rams one. Dugan made all four of her free throws, while Kirsten Daamen went one for two. Dugan sealed the win with her two free throw points with 6.8 seconds left.

“In any game that’s gonna

57

possessed in this game’s first half.

Where the Blue Devils started slow against the Holy Cross Crusaders they began strong against the Rams and maintained the lead for the full forty minutes.

“Before the game we talked about coming out with that same kind of intensity we had in the second half [versus Holy Cross],”

happen, so we got to be ready for it. It can happen at any time, but it’s nice to know that when a team does start to come back we have the composure to keep the lead and win,” said Dugan on the times throughout the game in which the Rams had a chance to take the lead.

Dugan was the Blue Devils point leader against the Rams with seventeen total points. The junior forward went 6-11 in field goals, 1-1 in three pointers and 4-6 in free throws.

“I feel like finally I was able to contribute. It started out on defense, like I felt like I was being active on defense, and the defense leads to our offense,” said Dugan.

The Blue Devils may have been able to capture their first win, but the season is long from over. They are back in action at home on Wednesday Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. versus Rhode Island.

Weekend Tournament Brings Split for CCSU Hockey Brittany Burke The Recorder

In a third period effort to gain control of the puck and lengthen their lead over the University of New Haven in the second round of the Connecticut Governor’s Cup, Senior Captain Joe Dabkowski endured a collision with the boards.

The rink became silent as the sound of a loud crash filled the air.

Dabkowski laid still face down on the ice for several minutes behind UNH’s net, lifting his head every few moments as a sign that the crash had not resulted in a head or neck injury.

After being checked out by the team trainer, Dabkowski was able to skate off the ice on his own, but was taken out of the game.

“The trainers are saying it’s a

Inside This Issue:

dislocation in his hand, two bones.

He splinted it, and went to the hospital, so we’ll see,” said Head Coach Ben Adams. “Depending on how severe it is, I know Joe and he’s probably going to do everything in his power to rehab it real quick or just play through it.”

The loss of Dabkowski was seemingly the only glitch in the 9-1 win against the UNH club hockey team Saturday night.

CCSU maintained a 6-0 lead over UNH throughout the first two periods, not letting the team score their one and only goal until early in the third. The Blue Devils maintained more shots on goal and kept control of the puck.

“We just had to throw a lot of pucks on net to see what happens,” said Thomas Carroll. He pulled off a hat trick and two assists for the

night.

CCSU was able to cut down on their penalties, a problem that caused them to lose the first round of the mini tournament against University of Connecticut 5-4.

“They minimized mistakes, they weren’t in the penalty box much. We capitalized on our opportunity on the power play, and overall we got more pucks on the net,” said Coach Adams of his team’s performance against UNH. UNH came out skating hard playing good defense, looking for a comeback win after their Friday night blowout loss against Western Connecticut State University. The lost 13-3. Despite their tough play, the Blue Devils defense was able to force them into situations they were See Weekend Tournament Page 11

Edward Gaug | The Recorder

Joe Dabkowski is out with a hand injury after the Governor’s Cup.

NFL PICK ‘EMS Blue Devils Basketball Beats Savannah State 51-44

See Men’s Basketball Page 11

Did you win this year’s prize?

See Pick Your Poison Page 10

CCSU Football Brings Home Multiple NEC Awards

See Blue Devils Page 10