Vol 107 Issue 15

W W W.CENTR A LR ECOR DER .COM Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Central Connecticut State University

CCSU Triumphs Against Wagner

Volume 107 No. 15

Ammon’s Legacy and $8 Million Donation Begin to Take Hold at CCSU MAtt ClyburN the recorder

Carol Ammon was just like any other CCSU student when she graduated with a Biology degree in the spring of 1973. A self-described ‘B’ student, she wanted to succeed in her field and make a difference in the world.

Decades later, Ammon has given back to her alma mater in the hopes that she can help the next generation of leaders follow in her footsteps. Her $8 million gift to CCSU in December marks the largest endowment in university history.

“I am deeply grateful to CCSU and to the professors who helped me discover my passion for science and my joy for learning,” said Ammon in the December press release. “My experiences at Central...helped establish the foundation for my

financial and career success. Now I want to do the same thing for others who want an excellent education.”

According to University spokesman Mark McLaughlin, the endowment will be invested in a portfolio of stocks and bonds to fund the scholarship program that will benefit students from all walks of life. Even during economic downturns, McLaughlin said, the fund will grow to assist “good students needing help.” Rather than dividing the funds and dispersing them over a short period of time, the funds will continue to grow so that it can help students over the next several decades.

Ammon received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from CCSU in 1973 and went on to obtain her M.B.A. from Adelphi University. After graduating from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard AMMON | CONt. ON 2

LMFAO, J. Cole to Headline Spring Concert

LMFAO KeNNy bArtO | the reCOrder

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams defeated Wagner Saturday. Stories begin on page 12.

Students React to New Block Scheduling MAtt ClyburN the recorder

The new block scheduling system went into full effect last week to mixed reviews from students, all in the midst of snow cancellations and the extension of the registration add/drop period.

Junior music education major Andy Degan cited some positive effects on his schedule this semester, but also commented on some unforeseen negatives.

“It seems to make my days longer, and I foresee myself not having enough time to complete my homework with all the extracurricular groups I’m in after class,” Degan said.

First-year political science major Joseph Paquette is pleased with the new schedule.

“I am in my second semester

here and don’t notice too much of a difference,” Paquette said. “And, I don’t have any 8 a.m. classes.”

Art student and Anthropology major Samantha Edgerly noticed that, for certain classes, the passing time may not be enough.

“I have a schedule where, when I have classes, I only have 10 minutes in between,” Edgerly said. “It is awful - by the time students were dismissed from today’s art class we were left with only ten minutes to clean up brushes and work spaces, then pack up everything and get to the next class. I like having a more compact schedule, but I need professors to give more time to leave class.”

The policy was voted on by the CCSU Faculty Senate in the Spring 2010 semester in order to address increasing conflicts with classroom and faculty scheduling. The old

method of scheduling left many classes needing specialized rooms, computer labs and smart classrooms when varying class times interfered.

While it added more scheduling options for thrice-per-week classes, it also extended the ending time of late night once-per-week classes to 9:55 p.m. from last year’s 9:25 p.m., making classes go later into the night than they normally had.

The new block scheduling system also brings a new ‘University Hour’ to campus. The time set aside on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:05 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for clubs and other college organizations to conduct business also allows students to be able to attend on-campus events that class might normally take precedence over. Currently, there are a handful of classes scheduled during this time as CCSU begins to adapt the new schedule into its system.

MAx Kyburz the recorder

At CAN’s annual semi-formal shindig SnoBall, held this past Friday, it was announced that electro duo LMFAO and hip hop artist J. Cole will be headlining CCSU’s upcoming Spring Weekend.

In case the name sounds unfamiliar, LMFAO has already feathered a nest for themselves in popular culture. Their debut single, “I’m in Miami Bitch” (or “Trick,” for you clean lyrics pundits), peaked in the Billboard U.S. Hot 100 chart at #51 in July 2009. It became the theme song for Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami. They enjoyed mainstream popularity again when their track “Get Crazy” became the theme song for MTV reality show Jersey Shore. Their debut album, Party Rock, was nominated at the 52nd Grammy Awards for Best Electronic/Dance Album.

Through performances as loud as their pastel jeans, LMFAO has gained a reputation for high energy performances, and are sure to win

over Spring Weekend attendees.

J. Cole is an American rapper currently on Jay-Z’s label Roc Nation.

Originally from North Carolina, Cole began composing songs at the age of 12 and was posting his own songs on the Internet by 17.

He graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. John’s University before embarking on his developing career, starting with his first mixtape, titled The Come Up. In 2010, he was chosen as one of Beyond Race magazine’s “50 Giant Breakout Artists,” as well as one of XXL’s “Top Ten Freshmen.” The year saw Cole’s first single, “Who Dat,” which will be featured on his upcoming debut album. The album is set to feature Pharrell and Kanye West. His most recent mixtape, Friday Night Lights, features guests from Wale, Omen and Drake. As J. Cole continues to create buzz, his visit to CCSU will be a genuine treat.

CCSU’s Spring Weekend has hosted a score of famous recording artists, including Busta Rhymes, New Found Glory, Reel Big Fish, Big D and the Kid’s Table, Streetlight Manifesto and Wale.

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2 THE RECORDER Wednesday, February 2, 2011 AMMON | Cont. from 1

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Editor-in-Chief Michael Walsh Managing Editor Nicholas Proch Art Director Ashley E. Lang News Editors Matt Clyburn Sara M. Berry Entertainment Editor Max Kyburz Sports Editor Brittany Burke Photo Editor Kenny Barto Copy Editor Katherine Bossardet Staff Writers Chris McLaughlin Kat Boushee Rachael Bentley Jason Cunningham Michael Torelli Nick Rosa

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. T he pur pose of T he Recorder is to approach and def ine issues of importance to the students of Central Connecticut State Universit y.

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NEWS

University, she spent 23 years in the pharmaceutical division of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.

After spending time in research and development, finance, manufacturing, sales and marketing, Ammon was appointed president of the generic pharmaceutical business unit of the DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company in 1993. Three years later, she was named president of the U.S. Pharmaceuticals Division of DuPont Merck where she was responsible for a significant portion of DuPont Merck’s corporate financing.

In 1997, Ammon led a buyout team in purchasing several pharmaceutical products from DuPont Merck and formed Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. She served as CEO of the company until 2005 and retired from her position as

chairman in 2007.

Ammon’s many contributions to the fields of chemistry and business earned her several awards throughout her career. In 2005, she received the Paradigm Award, a prestigious award for business people in the Philadelphia region.

According to the December press release, Ammon was also a recipient of the Woman of Spirit Award from the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and was named CEO of the Year by the Eastern Technology Council in 2004.

The donation follows a similar gift that Ammon gave in 2008 to fund a scholarship in memory of former CCSU roommate Frances E. Librera from the class of 1973.

Ammon recently gave a gift to Adelphi University to establish the Ruth S. Ammon Chair in Childhood Education in honor of

her mother. In an interview with Adelphi University Magazine in 2004, Ammon spoke about her life, work and the company she built.

“All of the employees at Endo believe they can make a difference in people’s lives,” Ammon said. “To have a prosperous company where you get to work with talented and fun people and where you can make a difference, it doesn’t get much better than that.”

The Connecticut State University Board of Trustees recognizes alumni and friends for contributions to higher education, and they decided in December to name CCSU’s School of Arts and Sciences after Carol A. Ammon for her generosity and commitment to students.

“Carol Ammon’s passion for learning and success in life serve as an inspiration to all of our students,” President Jack Miller

Ammon. said in December. “Her wonderful generosity will make an important difference in our students’ lives for generations to come.”

Obama’s State of the Union Address Attempts to Rekindle Hope Kat Boushee The Recorder

President Barack Obama delivered his 2011 State of the Union address Tuesday before a joint session of Congress, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and members of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The speech marked his first formal address to a Republicancontrolled House of Representatives since last year’s election, but was directed at the American people in an attempt to restore the feelings of hope upon which the president built his 2008 campaign.

Obama took time to address

the acrimony that has been brewing between both political parties.

“It’s no secret that those of us here tonight have had our differences over the last two years,” Obama said.

“The debates have been contentious, we have fought fiercely for our beliefs, and that’s a good thing; that’s what a robust democracy demands.”

He continued, saying that we must remember we are all a part of the “American family.”

Obama also reminded Congress that they were voted into office by the American people, and that they need to work together, not just sit together.

“That’s what the people who

President Obama spoke last Tuesday night.

Whitehouse Photo

sent us here expect of us,” President Obama said.

President Obama also spoke about the job crisis, saying that innovation and creativity are the key to job creation. He told stories of small business owners, and said that he is sending a budget to Congress that will involve investing in biomedical research, information technology and clean energy technology.

He discussed Race to the Top, the education program implemented to replace No Child Left Behind, and encouraged young people to become teachers. He also spoke about illegal immigration, couched in terms of education and success.

“Today, there are hundreds of thousands of students excelling in our schools who are not American citizens,” Obama said. “Some are the children of undocumented workers, others come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities; but as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us - it makes no sense.”

President Obama also spoke about simplifying federal tax codes, cutting spending and reducing healthcare costs, which includes cutting some funding to Medicare and Medicaid. He mentioned merging governmental offices to end redundancies and talked of a new website that will be launched to show where tax dollars are going.

While this speech excited,

invigorated and encouraged many people, others feel that they’ve been left out in the cold. The National Education Association said in a 2008 letter to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan that the “Race to the Top” proposal “misses the mark” and that “we should not continue to narrowly focus on charter schools as the only model of reform for schools worthy of serious attention.”

The American Civil Liberties Union took umbrage at the joke President Obama made about pat-downs at airports, releasing an article entitled, “Seriously Mr. President, Pat-Downs are No Joke.”

Barry Rand, the CEO of the AARP, said in a written response to the State of the Union, “We are disappointed by the lasting partisan divisions on the Affordable Care Act—a law that is providing important benefits to older Americans, such as making prescription drugs more affordable by closing the Medicare doughnut hole, making preventive care costfree, helping those with pre-existing conditions and allowing adult children to stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26.”

President Obama ended on a strong note, full of the hope and promise that got him elected.

“The idea of America endures,” he concluded, “Our destiny remains our choice. And tonight, more than two centuries later, it’s because of our people that our future is hopeful, our journey goes forward, and the state of our union is strong.”

Republicans Respond to State of the Union Address Matt clyburn The Recorder

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan called for cutting federal spending, diminishing the national debt and reestablishing principles of limited government Tuesday in the Republican response to President Obama’s State of the Union address.

A response is presented each year immediately following the address by a representative of the sitting president’s opposing political party. The parties will often use the airtime as a springboard for up-andcoming political stars; this year was no exception.

Republicans also chose this as an opportune moment to bring Ryan’s forthcoming budget battle to the front of consciousness for the

American people.

“We believe the days of business as usual must come to an end,” Ryan said as he emphasized the president’s missteps with taxpayer funds, the new national health care law and job creation. “[Obama] failed to deliver on [his] promise to create jobs.”

Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, also addressed the recent healthcare law, calling it an “open healthcare entitlement” and a path to rising costs and rising premiums. The taxes, penalties, mandates and fees, Ryan suggested, have stifled job growth and will cause many to lose the coverage they currently have.

The House voted to repeal the Obama healthcare law last week, once the new Republican majority was settled. Many observers believe the attempt at repeal will fail, as

Democrats maintain their majority in the U.S. Senate.

If the repeal passes, Ryan promised to “replace it with fiscally responsible, patient-centered reforms that actually reduce costs and expand coverage.”

The Wisconsin Congressman at times commended Obama’s words and said that Republicans wanted to “work with the president to restrain federal spending,” but stressed that “the president and the Democratic Leadership have shown, by their actions, that they believe government needs its size and its reach, its price tag and its power.”

Ryan seized the platform to emphasize the ideals of the Republican Party, promising “a better choice and a different vision.”

Beginning several statements with

the affirmation “we believe,” Ryan recounted the principles of vital and limited government that the founders put forth nearly 250 years ago, including national defense, individual liberty and upholding both federal law and Constitutional rights.

More modern ideas were brought to light as well, including creating the proper conditions for entrepreneurship and upward mobility, providing a safety net for our country’s least fortunate and securing our national borders.

“America is an exceptional nation,” Ryan said near the conclusion of his address.“In all the chapters of human history, there has never been anything quite like America; the American story has been cherished, advanced and defended over the centuries.”

3

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, February 2, 2011 / NEWS

Governor’s Press Conference Touches on Snow Removal jason cunningham The Recorder

Governor Dannel Malloy asked Connecticut residents to clear up the snow that has fallen and piled up in many areas around the state while temperatures were above freezing last Thursday during his noon press conference at the State Armory in Hartford.

Malloy said that his biggest concerns were snow piling up on buildings with flat roofs, snow or ice covering heating vents and the danger posed by the re-freezing of today’s melted snow on roads, forming black ice during the evening.

Another concern Malloy mentioned was the possibility of flooding. This can become an issue if draining systems are blocked by rapidly melting snow during the daytime when temperatures are above freezing. Since most temperatures at night are below freezing, however, serious rapid snow melting is unlikely.

Malloy commended truck

drivers for cooperating during the temporary ban on semitrailer trucks on highways during plowing. While some noted that trucks were on highways during the ban that lifted at 10:00 a.m., he said that there was little issue in getting many of them off the road.

Some weigh stations were opened across the state to accommodate the trucks.

Malloy also praised the state police who responded to car accidents and calls to assist motorists.

While some questions arose in regards to Karl J. Krapek, who resigned resigned Wednesday as board chairman of the Connecticut State University System, Malloy maintained that he did not ask him to resign.

Krapek was involved in the controversy over the recent removal of former Southern Connecticut State University President Cheryl Norton. In the wake of Krapek’s resignation, a new chairman to the board will be appointed this year.

CSUS Board of Trustees Chairman Resigns michael walsh The Recorder

Karl Krapek, chairman of the Connecticut State University System Board of Trustees, resigned last week through a letter sent to Governor Dannel Malloy.

Krapek, a 16-year member of the board, announces his resignation in the midst of the search for a new CSUS chancellor. David Carter, the current chancellor, announced his future plans for retirement last semester. Discussion of requirements for a new chancellor came up at Monday’s CCSU faculty senate meeting.

Krapek’s letter informs Governor Malloy that his resignation is to allow Malloy the ability to move forward with new appointments which are expected to be announced soon.

The CSUS board of trustees has come under fire as of late.

Accused of spending too much money and giving salary increases some have called unnecessary, the board also was criticized for the firing of Southern Connecticut State University President Cheryl Norton without reason.

Krapek was named chairman of the board in 2009 by Governor M. Jodi Rell.

CCSU Black History Month Lectures Announced Throughout the months of February and March, CCSU will hold a series of lectures to celebrate black history month.

Kicking off the events is the Feb. 3 lecture entitled “Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship: Quakers, African Americans and the Myth of Racial Justice.” Donna McDaniel will present the material at 4:30 p.m. in the Marcus White Living Room.

The highlight of the series takes place Feb. 10 when Reverend Samuel Billy Kyles visits CCSU to talk about his time spent with Martin Luther King Jr. Kyles is the only person to have witnessed the assassination of Dr. King, as he was with him the moment it happened. The program, entitled "The Witness: Dr. King and the Movement and My Friendship," is set for 3 p.m. in Torp Theatre.

The series continues on Feb. 17 with a presentation on "Being Black in America: How Black Americans Learn about Blackness and How It Matters" by Dr. Shayla Nunnally of the University of Connecticut Department of

Political Science. The lecture will begin at 12:15 p.m. in Founder's Hall 105.

On Feb. 24 Vibert White, Associate Professor of History at the University of Central Florida, will come to campus to give a presentation on “Queen Mother Laura Adorkar Kofi: Matriarch of African-American Black Nationalism and Revolutionary Theology” at 4:30 p.m. in Vance Lecture Hall 105.

Dr. Renee T. White of the Department of Sociology and Black Studies at Fairfield University, will give a presentation on a soon-tobe announced subject at 2 p.m. in Founder's Hall 105.

Finally, “From Bishop Richard Allen to Rev. Jeremiah Wright: The Significance of the Black Church in America" will be presented by Dr. Felton O. Best, CSU Professor of Philosophy and Director of African American Studies at 5 p.m. in Marcus White Living Room.

The lectures are co-sponsored by the Department of Philosophy, Department of Political Science and the Peace Studies Programs.

4 THE RECORDER Wednesday, February 2, 2011

EDITORIAL

OPINION

Shuttles to Hartford Would Serve Community Well With all the money spent on lowattendance events on our campus, there is still a greater need to keep the student body safe. A parent's worst nightmare is to receive a phone call on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night about their child being rushed to the hospital. Although they make a valiant effort encouraging our fellow classmates to stay on campus and not go out to drink, they can't control everyone.

The college life, as shown by the media, is that of constant partying in between classes. It's every freshman's expectation that they are going to party hop on their first weekend of school. The CCSU police department has done a remarkable job in limiting this activity and essentially grinding this practice to a halt in the apartments and homes surrounding our campus. While this has certainly cut down on the noise complaints, underage

drinking and droves of drunk party-goers marching back from these houses, it has spawned another issue.

If you take something away from someone at this age, they are going to want to get it back. It's human nature to operate on vengeance. An underage student in search of a party has only a few remaining options. The best one: to get in a car and drive to a Hartford bar or club.

They have no choice but to buy or borrow a fake or real ID and try their best to get past the bouncers at the doors.

Not only is this illegal, but it also puts young adults in a very dangerous predicament.

If they've spent money at the bar, how many of them will actually want to go ahead and spend the money to get a cab ride back to campus? Not many students have the cash to actually do this, causing them to drive home.

Now you have an underage person trying to

Obama Revives Confidence in State of the Union Address Rachael Bentley The Recorder

President Obama’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday night gave me a new feeling of confidence in his ability to steer this country in the right direction. Even though there were a couple things I was unsure about in his speech, I was very impressed with the overall presentation of the second such address by our nation’s 44th president.

Obama’s charisma never seems to fail him, nor does his sense of humor apparently, with a comment about salt water and fresh water salmon. During his speech, he spoke about the need for Republicans and Democrats to work together to get new policies and bills passed to “keep moving forward, and fixing what needs to be fixed.”

We can’t lose sight of the fact that Democrats and Republicans were asked (perhaps forced) to sit next to each other, rather than the traditional seating arrangements where they are on opposite sides of the center aisle. Obama took hold of the unprecedented circumstance with the comment, “we can sit together tonight, but we must work together tomorrow.”

He made it a strong point in his speech to encourage teachers and students alike to “Race to the Top to replace No Child Left Behind.”

His goals for schools across the nation seemed very down-to-earth and I completely agree with the need to invest more funds in education across the country. Obama’s recognition that we need to teach students more mechanical and science-oriented skills so that we can start competing with countries

like China and India was spot on.

One of the most surprising goals he made for 2011 was to freeze annual domestic spending for five years, which would save the country 12 percent of what we annually spend. He went on to say that he would be encouraging cuts all over the country in order to put money back into the country’s savings and get us back on track. “Families sacrifice every day to meet ends meet, governments should do the same,” President Obama said.

He seemed to contradict himself, however, when he talked about upping the ante in American innovation, calling this our “Sputnik moment.” He insisted that our government would help fund Americans who can come up with legitimate ideas for making practical switches to clean energy.

Obama also went on to mention recent discourse around the military’s recently repealed ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy. He asserted that people in the armed services, gay or otherwise, should be given the right to love whomever they want. This seemed to get some sour looks from military officials in the audience. The statement was a bold move for the President in this setting and he may get a lot of heat for it in the future, especially with his goal to move all of the troops out of the Middle East by July.

All in all, it was a very long and respectable speech. President Obama definitely hit all of the major points right on the head and there was no beating around the bush about his opinion on certain matters. But, you know what they say: anyone can talk the talk, but you must walk the walk.

It’s your move now, Washington.

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drive, putting their life and the lives of others at risk.

State and local police are always on the lookout for drunk drivers, but they can't catch everyone. Most people will never get caught when they drive drunk. Unfortunately, the next time anyone drives home intoxicated could be their last time driving at all. It's time for the university to get involved and take this dynamic out of the equation.

There's nothing that our campus can do to keep a student here and prevent them from going to a bar or club, but they can help keep our streets and highways safe for others on the road. It's time that the school provided free shuttles to downtown Hartford. While it might be seen as a promotion of illegal activity, the school can't turn a blind eye for much longer. Our leaders at this institution are naive if they think that no one is doing this or, if they do

acknowledge this, that they can stop it by having C.A.N. host Devil's Den events.

And even though many CCSU students are commuters, there are plenty living off-campus in the area that could take advantage of the service. In fact, the shuttle could help bring more people to downtown Hartford to do more than go to the bars.

Right now, the city can take any boost it can get. Making it easier for students to get downtown is an advantage in and of itself.

With hundreds of thousands of dollars in Student Government's budget, they must be able to find enough funds to provide a small shuttle service to Hartford.

If they are worried about what image this might portray, have the buses drop students off at clubs that are 18+. It might cost the university some money, but no dollar amount can replace the price of a student's life.

EDITOR’S COLUMN

Attend An SGA Meeting, It’ll Do You Good

michael walsh The Recorder

Last semester it became obvious to me that not enough students at CCSU know, or care, about what our Student Government Association actually does, and how important it is for them to take notice of their actions.

The amount of money handled by the 37 eager students on the SGA attendance list is almost hard to believe. When President Matt Vekakis told me that their budget was between $600,000 and $700,000 for two semesters, it dawned on me how important their actions truly were. Vekakis added that roughly $430,000 of that total budget goes back to the students in the form of club disbursements, an area that became a hot topic for the senate in the fall semester.

It seemed like it was a weekly thing for senators to be arguing the merits of club contingency requests. Some thought clubs should be penalized for not submitting a proper budget request on time, while others felt that circumstances such as club membership turnover or the lack of information given to them should allow them to get a second chance from the senate. Either way, there is no discussion in the SGA bylaws about penalizing clubs for submitting late budgets. What was clear was thatm as a whole, the senate had trouble coming to a consensus. Consistency became lost over the

semester as money was disbursed to clubs and minor issues such as refreshments for the Veterans Student Organization and socks for the tennis club were among the items to be possibly chopped from club requests, leading up until the last meeting, where a discussed money request from the hockey club raised temperatures in Bellin Gallery.

Being literally the only outsider student at the SGA meetings who doesn’t have a rooting interest in a club, it seemed that communication between senators and their treasurer could have been improved. At the Nov. 17 meeting it was announced that the senate had spent well more than what they wanted to spend on contingency requests for the semester. They weren’t bankrupt, or anything like that. They had supplement funds, but the news came with the senate looking head-on at even more requests for money that, if they were to deny, wouldn’t make them look too good to the clubs in need of a few thousand dollars. At the time, it seemed to be a surprise to the majority of the senators.

From simply looking at the last few election results, it’s clear that there is some lack of interest from the student body towards the SGA. This disconnect is not good as a whole. There were less than 1,000 total votes made in the race that decided this year’s president. It took some senators in the fall 2010 election 50 votes to win their spots on the senate. It’s evidence of a lack of interest from the student body as a whole when they seemingly are uninterested in what type of people are making the decisions on how to spend their money.

SGA meetings, although sometimes bogged down by lengthy discussion over subjects that don’t deserve to be talked about as much as they can be, are an experience every student should sit through to gain an appreciation of the entire process, the senators themselves and of their university. It’s evident that the majority, but certainly not all of the SGA senators, care mightily about what they’re doing. On one hand, some senators disrespect the process by shouting out of turn and being far too loud when they shouldn’t be.

But the effort some put in to try and actually change things on this campus is great to see, and that effort should be appreciated more greatly by CCSU students by attendance at meetings and a stronger connection to the senators who, in the end, represent their wants and desires.

5

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, February 2, 2011 / OPINION

How We Got Here : Nicholas Proch NiChOlAs prOCh the recorder

Over the next several editions of this stellar publication, we’re going to have our editors profile themselves (not in the discriminationatory sense of the word) to let the reader get to know our staff. We’re going to share with you our path to the positions we’re in. Since everyone in the office already thinks I’m crazy, I’ll take my chances and do the first one. Enjoy getting to know us.

There’s a lot that someone can tell about you from your academic achievements and awards you’ve have won, but unfortunately, I don’t have any of those things to share. My biggest scholarly accomplishment is the fact that I was accepted into a university. I applied to Northeastern, UConn, Emerson, the University of Arizona, UMass and, of course, CCSU. Wouldn’t you know it, I only got accepted at this school. There was nothing I wanted to do more than go to school in a city like Boston, but realistically it was just a pipe dream. No one could get in with a sub-3.0 GPA and I wasn’t about to break the mold.

Luckily for me I was, and still am, a great test taker (I’ll probably jinx myself now that I’ve put that into print). My scores on the SATs were high. They were high enough that I think they might have single-handedly gotten me an acceptance into higher education. I came into school like anyone else who didn’t really care about being here; as a business major (I’m not downing the business world, I just think that too many people settle on it). The time I spent in that program (three semesters) went by about as fast as the Nuremberg trials (too cliché?). Anyways, I was puttering back and forth between finance and management with no real direction. My downfall was, has always been, math. It’s not that I’m not good at math. In fact, I’m a great number cruncher and probably could be an accountant with minimal training; it’s the pain in the ass unneeded levels of calculus and algebra that I couldn’t concentrate for. Who is ever going to need to know half of the things that they teach you in these courses?

My stepdad is a very successful business man. With the success he’s had, you would think that he went to a prestigious school of some caliber, but he didn’t. His parents died when he was very young and he had to make a living for himself from his late teens. The one thing that he said always helped him was the fact that he could talk in front of a group of people. He’s a great communicator. He can

always convey his message to his audience, no matter what the topic. Well, during this period of stalemate in my life between wanting to be creative and just get a degree, I decided to take the public speaking course at this school. It’s a communication course that I recommend to everyone. I was astounded by the fact that I had learned more about how to relate with others in one class than in three semesters of business classes.

This one class set a spark. By the end of that semester, I was already enrolled in the Communication department program. My emphasis was broadcast journalism and I loved it. I particularly excelled in the media classes. Since I was about seven years old; holding a camera has been an easy thing for me to do. I have steady hands and a knack for seeing a beautiful image, a lethal combination. For another 3 semesters I, frankly, kicked ass. Job offers were coming in left and right. Besides many freelance projects, I was working for the Department of Marketing and Communication for the university. Basically, any external or internal video PR that was produced by this campus passed through my desk. It payed well and for a short period of time was very fulfilling.

The problem with short periods of time is that they usually end quickly, otherwise they would be long periods of time.

I stayed working for this department for about two semesters. During this time, I had begun to take journalism courses. Figuring this would be my minor, it never occurred to me that I might fall in love with writing.

It didn’t take too long before I was looking forward to going to anything on my schedule that started with JRN. I also started to write for the Central Recorder. Of course, I started the way that most do...I took a movie review.

It’s embarrassing to admit that my review of Hot Tub Time Machine would be my first published print work of any kind (for those who are keeping track of these types of things, I hated the film). During this time, I became quite friendly with Mike Walsh, the soon-to-be editor-in-chief at the time. Even though my writing was elementary at best, he encouraged me to keep writing for him.

Taking entertainment reviews and writing opinion articles was my strong point (and still is).

When Mike actually took over this past fall, I was a fixed commodity in the office. Not

only did I write, but I really wanted a larger role. After my ‘tryout,’ I became the opinion editor of this paper. Meanwhile, while all of this was going on, I was basically burning every bridge that I could. The freelance work stopped coming in. I walked away from my awesome set up working for the school and pretty much secured the fact that I can’t set foot into a lab on the third floor of Vance Academic ever again (while writing this, I’ve realized how many times I’ve changed my path completely -- If you’ve made it this far into this article you should realize that I’m completely crazy). With all that happened in the past two semesters, I can finally say that I am much happier than I have ever been. I stayed on as a Communication major, but switched to the mass media emphasis. Upon telling Mike that I wanted a bigger role at the paper, he was happy to tell me that I would be his managing editor this semester (we decided this at Cheesecake Factory, in case you were wondering...you should go there some time...it’s great).

With all of the changes I’ve made in my academic path, I basically can’t graduate for another twelve years. While that’s not true, it has extended my stay by at least an extra semester. I was supposed to graduate this spring, but don’t have the credits in the right places to do so. It looks like Mike might graduate (finally) this spring, so there is a possibility that I might be in his position next year. If that happens I would work to continue to keep our paper strong. It’s a challenge that I look forward to. It’s really been a blast (and kind of shocking to look at how undecided about things I’ve been) to write this. Besides being an editor, I am triathlete, musician and I love a good beer. I have the best girlfriend in the world (sorry if you’re reading this and you think you have the best girlfriend, you’re wrong), great parents, really awesome friends and a guinea pig named Pooter. I’d like to thank you if you’ve read this far, it’s someone like you who makes writing worth it. My name is Nicholas Proch and I am the managing editor of this publication.

C.A.N. Winter Week Needs to Bring the Heat MAtt ClyburN the recorder

Follow tHe RecoRdeR on twitteR @therecorder fOr breAKiNg News MultiMediA ANd liVe tweetiNg @recordersports fOr liVe tweetiNg ANd blOg CONteNt

The first week of each winter semester is dubbed the Central Activities Network “Winter Week” in celebration of various events held around campus. I feel that CAN Winter Week needs some work.

Tuesday afternoon, campus ears were treated to the brooding acoustic sounds of Mikal (artsy spelling of ‘Michael’). For two and a half hours, CCSU was blessed by a performance from the Michigan artist whose website boasts is one of the top U.S. performers under $2500. A decent comedian followed later that night and students were treated to some free food.

After a performance by the “College Dating Coaches” Wednesday night, CAN brought in some free ice cream. Did you hear me? FREE ICE CREAM. The penultimate night of Winter Week presented an opportunity to dissuade CCSU students from hitting the kegs extra hard during the first ‘Thirsty Thursday’ back on campus. But alas, CAN served up another winner with the “Dinner and a Movie” presentation of Grease. Attendees were encouraged to dress up like their favorite character and hit the dance floor while the film played on the big screen. Suffice it to say, those folks that would dress up in Grease garb and attend the sing-along are probably not those that we need to save from the dangers of binge drinking. Thank goodness food was provided at no charge for all in attendance.

The culmination of our celebration was the second annual SnoBall on Friday, billed as a semi-formal dance with DJ Joey Franchize, and yes, there was more free food. The event shaped up to be sparsely attended given the sheer size of Alumni Hall and attracted the kinds of folks that, well, I wouldn’t

be hanging out with on an average Friday night. The evening’s planned climax was an announcement for the infamous Spring Weekend performance; per usual: two artists I’ve never heard of. In the words of one of my esteemed colleagues, “way to go, CCSU!” I’m not normally the type to criticize without offering some pretty sweet suggestions, so here I go, free of charge.

Rather than flying in a self-proclaimed cheap performer from halfway across the country, allow Winter Week to be a showcase for local and on-campus artists to play their music. They would certainly benefit from the exposure, and the events would benefit from the buzz brought by fans of the local fare.

Certainly this would be less expensive and would garner a little more street cred.

I believe that a daily sacrifice to the campus event gods in the form of gratuitous greasy cuisine is neither an acceptable nor an effective means of stimulating attendance. If CAN believes that free food adds such value to their events, then perhaps the activities do not have much value to offer students in the first place.

To their credit, the Central Activities Network has invited anyone with something to say about the week’s activities to attend their weekly Wednesday night meetings at 7:30 p.m. I have class during this time slot, but what about you, dear reader?

Surely the Winter Week activities could be improved in the case of higher attendance, quality input, constructive criticism or a student body that cares to get involved in campus happenings. So while I am banished to the opinion pages of our dear old Recorder, you have the voice and attention to make a difference in your campus offerings.

Until then, cheers to the Central Activities Network for trying, but better luck next winter.

6

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, February 2, 2011 / UPGRADE

REVIEWS

Few Surprises As ‘King’s Speech’ Leads in Oscar Nominations max kyburz The Recorder

On the morning the Oscar nominations were announced, The A.V. Club, my blog of preference, posted the full listing with the moniker “The Oscars want you to know they agree with what everybody else said.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

The nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards were announced on Tuesday morning after months of feverish speculation from film buffs across the globe. As the days got closer to the big day, the pieces began to fall into place. Bloggers began to post their predictions for what would be included and what would be ignored. Now the nominations have been unveiled, and if you pay attention to other preceding awards shows, you may find yourself shrugging and saying, “Meh.” In the big daddy category of Best Picture of the Year, it’s basically the same paradigm as last year - a few really good movies, a few very average ones, an overrated Coen Bros. movie and a Pixar movie. Not many surprises here.

As they did last year, the Academy decided to employ the ten Best Picture nominee system, which they unearthed, I suppose, in order to seem less “clique-ish.” They are as follows: Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The Kids Are All Right, The King’s Speech (which has garnered twelve nominations, the most this year), 127 Hours, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True Grit and Winter’s Bone.

Only one surprise made itself available for Best Actor as Javier Bardem (Biutiful) joins Jeff Bridges (True Grit), Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) and James Franco (127 Hours). This has probably been the least controversial nontechnical category, though there has been some outspoken dissent over Ryan Gosling’s name missing for his role in the controversial Blue Valentine. His co-star Michelle Williams, however, was nominated for Best Actress, as were Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right), Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole),

Hercules and Love Affair Blue Songs

Moshi Moshi January 31

max kyburz The Recorder

Hercules and Love Affair are back to remind us that disco’s not dead; it’s just in the closet. Moreover, they’re taking it upon themselves to bring it out.

The house/disco troupe, headed by New York-based DJ Andy Butler, first made a splash in 2008 with their stellar self-titled debut. Its super catchy beats and “Fifth of Beethoven”-esque instrumentals helped revitalize the genre for the hipster crowd without being super lame. The collaborations with transgender goddess Nomi Ruiz and chamber pop-star Antony Hegarty gave the album a superb (and often dark) soulful flair, rendering the album listenable in areas beyond the dance floor.

Now, with Blue Songs, Butler’s brought in a new team of compadres to put the former monarchs of the genre to shame, though it doesn’t quite get there. The highest compliment I can pay is that it doesn’t bastardize the debut. The gleeful,

Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) and main contender Natalie Portman (Black Swan).

The snubs are getting the most attention.

The most backlash has been towards the exclusion of Inception ringleader Christopher Nolan from Best Director, which is disappointing considering the magnitude of the film in question. Nolan’s absence may hurt Inception’s chances of taking Best Picture.

Anyone who’s seen it will argue that, although he is nominated for Best Original Screenplay, Inception does not exist without its compelling vision.

Not much love either for Mila Kunis, whose turn as Natalie Portman’s foil (and possible bedfellow) from Black Swan guaranteed her a spot in the Best Supporting Actress category in every awards show but this one. That’s not to say that it makes the running less interesting; there’s still Amy Adams (The Fighter), Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech), Melissa Leo (The Fighter), Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) and Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom).

The Supporting Actor/Actress categories are almost always unpredictable, ensuring a good deal of excitement and suspense.

I nod approvingly at the Academy for remembering Dogtooth in the Best Foreign Language Film category, a film I hold in higher regard for any of the ten nominated for Best Picture. Considering its stark portrayals of incest and domestic violence (emotional and physical), I am genuinely surprised at its inclusion; its content is so inflammatory that this little Greek film would have been ignored entirely had it been America-made. Whether it has a chance, who knows; it’s up against Biutiful (Alejandro González Iñárritu), In a Better World (Susanne Bier), Incendies (Denis Colin Firth was nominated for the Best Actor award, up against Jeff Bridges of ‘True Grit’ and Javier Velleneuve) and Outside the Law (Rachid Bardem of ‘Biutiful’ .

Bouchared).

The Oscars have always been the most what they are. exciting when the films that are in the I’d give you my predictions for who will The 83rd Academy Awards will be held take home the gold, but that will come at a running keep us loyal viewers in suspense.

Feb. 27th on ABC, and will be hosted by It would be nice to have some surprise later time. Although judging by the results Anne Hathaway and James Franco. Is there upsets to keep us talking - we haven’t had of all the other bajillion awards shows that anything the man won’t do? anything like that since Crash won in 2006. have happened already, you probably know

string-laden pep of the debut isn’t entirely missing, though; the opener “Painted Eyes” re-familiarizes the listener with their trademark sound to good effect. It’s a great lead-in to the rest of the album, as it features the multi-layered, sample happy flair that streams through tracks like “My House” and “Leonora.”

The most interesting moments in the album are when HaLA tuck away the beats for a moment to dabble in soul/folk hybrids.

The trippy-as-hell “Boy Blue” is the album’s strongest point, though a bit troubling considering it’s so out of place. The closing track, a cover of Sterling Void’s “It’s Alright,” is an odd attempt to show how “deep” house music is without the backing beats.

It’s clear-cut evidence of how inconsistent Blue Songs is, aesthetically; each track is diverse to the point where the album almost sounds like a mix-tape. Not to overkill the comparisons to the debut, but that was an album with direction; Blue Songs is a little too experimental for its own good. By the end, it’s easy to forget exactly who’s running the show.

For your money, you’re better off sticking with the first album, but Blue Songs is still worth a shot. It probably won’t convert anyone who hates disco (because, honestly, nothing will), but if the DJ at the next strobeseizure party you go to starts spinning this, you won’t dare to stop and rest. Purpose served.

Cold War Kids Mine Is Yours

DGC Records January 25

Nicholas proch The Recorder

There are very few releases that you can pick up and listen to on repeat over and over again. Mine is Yours by Cold War Kids is one of those albums. For about forty-four minutes you are completely drawn in to the lyrics, musical arrangements and angelic voice of Nathan Willett. This was the first time I had ever listened to the band and, quite frankly, didn’t know what to expect.

After listening to this release six times in a row, I’ve reached the verdict that these guys are f*****g awesome.

The band is from Long Beach, California, but they sound like nothing I’ve heard from that area before. Usually the biggest faults I find with west coast bands is that they either sound like melodramatic versions of Radiohead (I know what you’re thinking -how can that even be possible?) or they are so over publicized that they have no choice but to fit only one mold. Well, Cold War Kids takes my theory and completely takes a dump on it.

I’m writing this right now and I don’t know what track to review first; it’s that

complete of an effort. The album starts off with building vocals, tribal inspired drums and a great piano accompaniment that puts you on a train on a track which you’ll never want to get off. The song ‘Mine is Yours’ deserves to be played so loudly that you end up shattering windows. There are few songs of which one can say that about.

As quickly as the first song ends (it’s usually a good sign when a song that is over four minutes ends too soon), the second track picks it back up. ‘Louder Than Ever’ is the single off of the album and it continues to build on the same vibe that ‘Mine is Yours’ put out. However, as similar as these two songs are, ‘Mine is Yours’ is much more raw. It has crunching guitars and dirtier percussion which make it feel unique.

At this point, you know that the band can sound bigger than just the four members that play on the CD, but you really want to hear the simplistic side of the band. As I stated before, this album is complete so, of course, they did that, too. For a four track stretch, they really sound like they are in the room with you. It’s a very intimate and personal listening experience. At the end of this run, they have some fun.

‘Sensitive Kid’ shows how they can really be diverse. It’s a track which has heavy synthesizers and hard percussion that almost sounds a bit like LCD Soundsystem, but with better vocals. This isn’t the best effort on the album, however it does provide the listener with some reassurance that this band isn’t going to package the same sound over and over again like they are using a ‘Creepy Crawlers’ mold.

The ending to Mine is Yours is a lot of fun.

Emotionally, it is very up and down. It turns into a combination of every thing that the band is good at. It features the big sound and their raw, unfiltered side as well. ‘Bulldozer’, which is one of the last songs, happens to be my favorite. It’s most likely a look in to the future of this band. They are very mature and very well disciplined on this track which makes the explosions of sound feel more drastic. This entire release is worth the price of a download. I suggest starting with ‘Mine is Yours’ and ‘Louder Than Ever’, which are the first two tracks. After you listen to those, keep going, you’ll thank me later.

7

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, February 2, 2011 / UPGRADE

Oscar-Nominated ‘127 Hours’ is a Must See nick rosa

The Recorder

Oscar winning director Danny Boyle has another nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards this year with 127 Hours; his most recent film since 2008 stand-out, Slumdog Millionaire. Both Danny Boyle and James Franco team up to recreate this great story of hope and triumph in a seemingly hopeless situation.

The film is based on the book Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston. 127 Hours recalls the adventurous outdoorsman Ralston’s attempts to free himself after becoming trapped deep within Utah’s Blue John Canyon in 2003.

Ralston falls down a narrow canyon and gets his forearm pinned between a boulder and the canyon wall. He is trapped, and the closest help is miles away. As athletic as he is, he cannot budge the boulder and must use the small amount of resources and limited amount of water he has to survive. After five days of being trapped in the canyon and inching ever closer to death, Ralston must resort to desperate measures.

While down in the canyon, Aron starts to become delusional. As the days go by he starts seeing flashes of his parents, sister, ex-girlfriend, his friend from work and two girls he had met right before he fell into the canyon. He keeps envisioning what life would

have been like if he hadn’t made the mistakes he did and the life he could have had. As despair and fear begin to take over hope and inspiration. He knows the only way to get back to living the fuller life he envisioned over the last 127 hours is to survive his trial.

It is pretty obvious that Aron could have given up at any point, stayed there and done nothing. What the film captures well is the will to fight for life in a great and inspirational survival story. Because it is a true story it really hits you; you are watching exactly what Aron went through while he was in that canyon in Utah. James Franco really gives an emotional and strong performance as Aron Ralston and is nominated for Best Actor at this year’s Academy Awards for his performance.

You may know the outcome of what happens to Ralston; I won’t ruin it for those who don’t. While the scene is gruesome, it’s nothing like what you would see in a Saw movie. The movie will have you locked in to see what happens in the end.

This film, with all of its incredible cinematography and visuals, does deserve to be nominated for Best Picture of the year.

Boyle, with the direction of this film and his last film, Slumdog Millionaire, has proven himself to be a top notch director.

127 Hours is an excellent film that has an ending filled with hope and will have you on the edge of your seat.

Netflix It: Dexter : Season 1 nicholas proch The Recorder

If you’re looking to question your moral integrity and have some fun along the way, look no further than the first season of Showtime’s hit series, Dexter.

The show takes place in crime-laden Miami. While the city is usually known as a get away celebrated for its beaches and the nightlife, there is a different kind of nightlife taking place during this show. The show’s main character, Dexter, is played by Michael C. Hall. He plays the role of a psychopathic serial killer who only kills those who have done something extremely morally wrong.

Dexter works for the Miami Police department as a forensic scientist, giving him access to a plethora of unsolved cases. The first several episodes look into his childhood.

From a young age Dexter had a craving to murder, kill and dismember animals. His adopted father, Harry, was a storied officer for the force in Miami. He taught Dexter how to control his urges and only kill when justice needed to be done.

The season starts off with Dexter killing a man who is a child rapist and killer. Since the show is on Showtime, it is usually very graphic during the dismemberment and murdering scenes. It’s not full of gore like a bad horror film, but it is done in a way that still makes you cringe.

A psycho analyst would have a field day dissecting the brain of Dexter and his audience. He is immediately accepted as the hero of the program even though he is still partaking in the terrible act of murder. He mutilates and makes the victims beg for their forgiveness. It’s this interesting aspect of the show that keeps the viewers coming back for more. We generally view serial killers on the level of scum. They are psychopaths who have no place in society, yet Dexter has a place as long as he is being vigilant and righting a wrong.

The only semi-normal interaction that Dexter has on the show is with his sister, Debra. She’s one of the few people that he actually cares about and frequently tries to help in the series. The only other is his girlfriend, Rita, who he doesn’t have a sexually oriented relationship with at all. She

is a victim of a rape and has completely shut out all promiscuous activity from her life.

This works perfectly for Dexter because he really only needs to be with a woman to keep himself looking as normal as possible.

Michael C. Hall’s acting is phenomenal.

Without his efforts, the show might not have made it through the 60 episodes that it has.

He plays the part of a disconnected serial killer, but it’s his non-resenting nature that really gives the audience the creeps. It’s these creeps that make you want more and more of Dexter.

If you’re looking for something that will really rock your moral compass, than look no further than Dexter, season one. From the very first episode you’ll question what is right and what is wrong. Whatever you decide, you’ll enjoy your time spent contemplating the answer.

Michael C. Hall

James Franco stars as Aron Ralston, a mountain climber, who becomes trapped under a boulder in Utah while canyoneering by himself.

‘Dead Space 2’ Improves on Series Foundation michael torelli The Recorder

Dead Space 2 is the second installment in the horror/survival series focusing on engineer Isaac Clarke on his mission to learn more about the mysterious Marker. Taking place in the Sprawl, a massive space city, Clarke has to battle the monsters called necromorphs, surviving both reality and the hallucinations that now haunt him.

After Clarke made his escape from the USG Ishimura, a mining vessel in space, he thought his run in with the Unitologist Marker, a device created by man with negative effects, was over when he crashed the Ishimura into a neighboring planet.

Developed by EA, Dead Space 2 is a vamped up version of its predecessor.

Waking up in an insanity ward, Clarke had tests run on him for the past three years after the Ishimura was abandoned and Clarke was found in space. Players will instantly realize that Clarke is stronger, faster and knows more about the situation at hand. He takes control of issues, whereas in the original he was the messenger boy for the other characters of the game.

Clarke now has a voice, showing the player what he’s thinking and giving some actual human emotion to Dead Space 2.

Clarke is also unsure of what is real and what is a hallucination due to the close contact with the Marker, and is haunted by his past, which gives the players a new dilemma to face.

The graphics themselves have become smoother than the original, but still contain the eerie feeling that the player cannot really see farther ahead. Items are easier to see on the screen and players will be able to comprehend a lot of the tools on the screen. Players will be able to pick up brooms, poles and anything else at their disposal to throw at the necromorphs.

Clarke has an upgraded kinesis module, allowing him to do more damage with the environment.

The soundtrack to Dead Space 2 is what makes or breaks the deal in regards to the scare factor. Just like the original, players will have music increasing in noise as the player nears a door, readies to turn a corner, and players will not be sure if a necromorph will appear or not. The music

does not always imply that an enemy will appear, but it’s certain to keep players on the edge of their seats.

New necromorphs have also shown up in the game. One is called the pack, which are mutated children that, hence the name, hunt in a pack. One of the pack will confront Clarke, while the others sneak up from behind to attack him where the player cannot see. They are quick, but it takes a couple of shots to kill oe of the pack, which can quickly drain the player’s ammo if they aren’t careful.

New weapons have also made an appearance. One is called the javelin, which is a heavy duty gun that projects javelins that can impale necromorphs to the wall. The secondary fire that the javelin has electrocutes the impaled necromorph with the last javelin shot.

The game consists of fifteen chapters, each having a difficulty increase. Players are still able to upgrade their weapons, armor and stasis module. Stasis allows the player to freeze oncoming necromorphs, giving Clarke the upper hand. Stasis also recharges over time in Dead Space 2, a nice improvement from the first game.

There is also a multiplayer, which pits players against necromorphs. Players can either be humans or necromorphs, which keeps the fighting interesting. As players get better, they will level up and will have new upgrades at their disposal.

This game doesn’t have too much wrong with it, but there are a few things that could be fixed. One is when Clarke is in zero gravity.

The new “zero-g” concept is that players have complete control over Isaac while he is floating in space. However, Clarke is very quick to flip upside down and disorient the player at some points. Players can easily fix this by pressing a button on their controller, but it’s a nuisance when fighting necromorphs.

Trouble understanding some of the players, namely Clarke’s dead ex-girlfriend, Nicole, was another issue. She makes reappearances in the game, and when she does, it’s hard to understand her at some points without subtitles helping out. If her voice was a little clearer, this game would be near flawless.

If someone is interested in horror games, then they should pick up Dead Space 2 on either their Playstation 3 or Xbox 360. It’s very story driven, so it’s recommended to play the original Dead Space first.

8

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, February 2, 2011 / UPGRADE

Calendar 2.2 - 2.9

MUSIC 2.2 Joan of Arc / American Cloud Songs @ Bar New Haven, CT FREE / 21+ / 9pm 2.3

career in the ring was shepherded by his loyal half-brother, Dicky (Christian Bale) -- a hard-living boxer-turned-trainer whose own career in the ring was nearly sent down for the count due to drugs and crime -- perennial underdog Irish Micky rebounded from a disheartening series of defeats to win both the WBU Intercontinental Lightweight title and the WBU Light Welterweight title thanks to a fierce combination of determination and hard work. David O. Russell directs from a script by 8 Mile's Scott Silverand Paul Attanasio (The Bourne Ultimatum). (Allmovie - Jason Buchanan) $5 w/ student ID / 7:30 pm

center the story on the quest of a bright and unflappable 13-year-old girl. It is undeniably fun to see Jeff ‘The Dude’ Bridges back under the Coens’ wing as a has-been gunslinger, but the fierce performance of newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, quoting Scripture and seeking revenge for her murdered father, that steals the show. “...a vastly entertaining Wild West show that is memorable in every particular.”

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone. $5 with student ID / 7:30 p.m.

2.4-2.9 Waste Land @ Real Art Ways Hartford, CT $6.25 with student ID / 7pm Vik Muniz is an artist who literally creates treasure out of trash; using cast-offs he finds at garbage dumps, Muniz fashions recreations of famous paintings, and he made an evocative series of images of children who work in sugar plantations using the leftovers from the refining process. So when filmmaker Lucy Walker asked Muniz if she could make a film about him as he worked on his next project, the two settled on what seemed like the perfect location -- Jardim Gramacho, a Brazilian landfill not far from Rio de Janeiro that's said to be the largest refuse dump in the world. Walker's documentary Waste Land explores Muniz's creative process as he fashions new works from what others have left behind, but it also profiles the people who live near Jardim Gramacho and make their living by sorting what's useful from what is not. Walker lends a dignity to these so-called "trash pickers" as they reveal how much of value can be found in other people's refuse and how they maintain their pride and self-respect despite their sometimes meager circumstances. Waste Land was an official selection at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

(Allmovie - Mark Deming)

Tapes 'n' Tapes @ Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA $16 adv. / 8pm doors 2.4 Best Coast / Wavves @ Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA $18 adv. / 8pm doors 2.5 30 Seconds to Mars @ Oakdale Theatre Wallingford, CT Tickets start at $52 / 7:30pm 2.7 Gang of Four @ Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA $25 adv. / 7pm 2.9 Black Milk @ Wonder Bar Boston, MA $15 adv. / 21+ / 9pm FILM 2.2.-2.5 The Fighter @ Trinity College - Cinestudio Hartford, CT Mark Wahlberg stars in Paramount Pictures' inspirational docudrama exploring the remarkable rise of Massachusetts-born, junior welterweight title winner "Irish" Micky Ward. A determined pugilist whose

2.9 True Grit @ Trinity College - Cinestudio Hartford, CT You might have suspected an overdose of holiday eggnog when you heard that the postmodern, R-rated Coen brothers had released a family-friendly remake of the lovable Western that won John Wayne an Academy Award® in 1969. Eggnog be damned, True Grit is a straight-ahead winner that goes back to its original source (Charles Portis’ novel) to re-

C.A.N. 2.3 Michael Harrison Ventriloquism) @ Devil's Den - Semesters FREE / 10pm

(Comedy/

Jeff Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld : True Grit

Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg : The Fighter

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Jared Leto : 30 Seconds to Mars

9

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, February 2, 2011 / SPORTS SPORTS BEGINS ON BACK PAGE

Blue Devils Top the Mount christopher mclaughlin The Recorder

The CCSU men’s basketball team turned in another dominating performance, rolling through NEC opponent Mount St. Mary’s 71-52.

The Blue Devils (13-7) were led by Ken Horton, who finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds, picking up his third straight doubledouble and sixth of the season. Though the bulk of the scoring came from Horton, Shemik Thompson and Robbie Ptacek, every player for the Blue Devils contributed. All eleven players who entered the game scored for CCSU. “We played forty minutes of complete basketball,” said Head Coach Howie Dickenman. “We have an identity of a defensive team and our guys did a good job of wreaking havoc and though everyone scored you can go back to Ken and Shemik for leading us to victory.”

The game began in typical CCSU fashion with the teams trading baskets until the Blue Devils’ grinding defense took over. The Mount (7-15) went over six minutes without a point in the opening of the first half, allowing CCSU to build a comfortable lead.

Though the Mount was able to get a couple baskets and trim the lead to six, the team was unable to put together the type of run that would get them back in the game.

The Blue Devils defense was as stingy as ever and stifled the Mount’s shooters all game.

Every shot the Mount took was contested, preventing the team from getting into any type of rhythm. CCSU, on the other hand, had no troubles on offense and seemed to score at will. Both Horton and Thompson finished

the first half with 10 points and Ptacek had eight. If nobody else on CCSU scored, the lead at the half would have only been five.

Unfortunately for the Mount, this was not the case, and halftime saw the NEC rivals trailing by a much larger margin.

“We had three goals coming into this game,” said Dickenman. “Defend the ball screen, defend the post and play pressure defense. We did a very good job with all three.”

The second half was more of the same as CCSU continued to dominate. The Blue Devils’ big three of Thompson, Horton and Ptacek continued to put in work and put the last nail in the coffin long before the final buzzer.

The Blue Devils led by as many as 25 points in this one sided affair and it wasn’t long until chants of “Alexander” rained down from the crowd. The fans got their wish, as both Justin Alexander and Mark Laporte, CCSU’s rarely used freshmen, were put into the game.

Despite the blow-out, both the fans and the Blue Devil’s bench erupted when both players were able to score in the final minute.

It was a fitting way to end a game where everything went right for the Blue Devils.

“It was a good win, but we can’t rest on what’s been done,” said Dickenman. “We know that every game we have to improve.”

The win was the third in a row for the Blue Devils, who have now won eight of their last 10. CCSU is currently tied for second place in the NEC at 6-3 and are only one game out of first place, which is held by Long Island University.

The Blue Devils look to gain some ground when the team they’re tied for second with, Wagner, comes in on Saturday the 29th.

Shemik Thompson goes up for a laup during CCSU’s 71-52 victory against Mt. St. Mary’s on kenny barto | the recorder Thursday.

Blue Devil Box Scores Thu. Jan. 27 M. Basketball- 71 Mount St. Mary's- 52 Fri. Jan. 28

Sat. Jan. 29

Hockey-5 Florida Gulf Coast-8

W. Basketball- 65 Wagner- 52

Mon. Jan. 31

W. Swimming- 190 Wagner- 101

Hockey- 1 Florida Gulf Coast- 8

W. Basketball- 57 Mount St. Mary's- 49

BRING ABOUT A

THUNDEROUS ROAR.

BRIGHT LIGHTS. BUMPIN' BEATS.

Shoot and send the JAGTAG below for a chance to win a concert on your campus from music sensation B.o.B. Careers For Everything You Are Put your school in the running for a live performance from B.o.B. Use your phone to take and send a picture of the JAGTAG below.

If you are a Verizon Wireless customer, text the picture to 524824. All other networks text or email the picture to vzwcampus@jagtag.com. And be sure to visit our Wireless Wednesday booth for a chance to win a number of cool devices, and enter your school again. We’ll be at the South Lobby of Memorial Hall on the first Wednesday of select months through April 2011. And we’re eager to tell you how Verizon Wireless has a career for everything you are. See you there.

South Lobby of Memorial Hall Wednesday, February 2nd To learn more, visit vzwcampus.com/ccsu

**LAST MONTH TO VOTE FOR B.O.B CONCERT!!**

kenny barto | the recorder

Evan Mink, above, and Matt Siracusa, not pictured, had the two assists on Kevin Paglinco’s lone third period goal in the devastating loss against the University of Massachusetts on January 25 at home in Simsbury. Story on page 11.

Sponsored by CACE. Verizon Wireless is an equal opportunity employer m/f/d/v.

10

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, February 2, 2011 / SPORTS

COLUMN Where Do Fans Draw the Line?

CCSU Hockey Helps Local Coat Drive in Appreciation for Donation brittANy burKe the recorder

brittANy burKe the recorder

As a sports fan, I understand what it is to live and die by your team. You ache when they lose, celebrate when they win and when you refer to them in conversation it is always “we” because, as a fan, you feel like you are part of the team.

However, where should one draw the line between being a fan and a fanatic, a supporter of the team and an actual nuisance to the game?

This weekend I was working at the Connecticut Whale game when “Pucky the Whale” was tackled and punched by Kevin O’Connell, 28, who was bet by his friend to take out one of the mascots. After being taken out of the XL Center in handcuffs, you have to ask if bail and the humiliation was really worth getting one swing in on a green whale.

If that fan wasn’t bad enough, I was at the Danbury Whalers hockey game and was annoyed and slightly frightened by all of section 102. The section, comprised mostly of middle age, overweight die hards, looked as if they hadn’t strapped on a pair of skates themselves in at least 20 years.

Sadly, that didn’t stop them from being obnoxious.

All game I had to listen to them heckling the other team, being so clever as to yell, “U-G-L-Y, you ain’t got no alibi, you ugly, yea, yea you ugly.” I understand that chastising the other team is a part of the game, especially in hockey, but there is a definite line that can be crossed which takes you from being a smart, critical fan to being an ass.

For instance, if the refs make a poor call on an off sides or blatant slash, it’s okay to get upset. Saying that one of the players whose last name is Dickinson, “sucks dick” during visiting team introductions is not. It’s also annoying for a fan to go as far as to heckle the other fans, not of the opposing team, but of the same exact one they support.

I am all for giving Cowboys fans or Candiens fans a hard time, but I would never sit next to or across from another Giants or Bruins fan and tell them they suck.

It is good for teams, especially teams on a small scale such as the Danbury Whalers, to have die hard fans. How else would any sports market survive?

But, I can’t help but laugh when I see aforementioned middle aged men in hockey sweaters with “Section 102” written on the back name plate instead of a player’s name. Not only do I laugh, but I have to wonder, do they have lives?

I was personally uncomfortable and a tad bit embarrassed by them, because they obviously crossed the line into fanaticism. I was also annoyed

by O’Connell, who decided to ignore the fact that there were small children around when he decided to push a large mascot on top of them.

Sporting events should be family friendly, and the fans who attend these events should keep that in mind. It’s totally acceptable to root for your team, but do it in a classy manner and remember there are other people around who have to deal with you for three hours.

The hockey team came together over break off the ice to hang coats as part of a winter coat drive as a way to repay Dan Siracusa for his generosity toward the club team. During the winter recess Dan Siracusa donated $5,000 to the hockey club to help with team fees.

“The reason why we did this, was our token of appreciation because he donated fivethousand dollars to the team to use toward whatever we needed. The five-thousand will help with that trip to Florida [to play Florida Gulf Coast], it’s gonna help pay ref fees and the coach bus fees but we had a lot of fun doing that,” said club treasurer Kevin Leaver.

However, the most generous of human beings often times do not wish to be recognized. Instead, they let their generosity speak for them. Such is the case with this club team, which as part of the CCSU campus community is still struggling to find ways to pay its substantial budget.

“My uncle, he’s a big contributor to Central,” said Matt Siracusa. “He gives a lot of money back, Dan Siracusa, he owns Siracusa Moving and Storage right in New Britain and our team was in need of some money and he generously gave us a good amount of money and to repay him we helped with his charity.”

The CCSU club hockey team has been given $5,000 in funding from the Student Government Association and is currently waiting to hear whether or not the team’s contingency request will be granted after the request was shelved at the end of the fall

semester.

In the mean time the team has worked to raise money on their own in the form of an Outback Steakhouse luncheon and Applebee’s breakfast. The breakfast found the hockey players casting aside their sticks, gloves and skates for an apron and coffee pot as they transformed from college hockey players to waiters.

“He told me when he was back at school at Central he was the treasurer for Student Government and he knows how all that works and he heard that we didn’t get too much money and he definitely definitely helped us,” said Matt Siracusa of his uncle Dan Siracusa.

Despite the efforts, the team’s projected budget is still upward of $85,000. Over the winter break the team was the product of someone else’s generosity, helping them alleviate a portion of their owed dues.

Dan Siracusa is one of those rare men who would prefer for their generosity to speak for them. As an alumnus of CCSU and uncle to Blue Devil forward Matt Siracusa, Dan Siracusa donated the money to the CCSU hockey team to help with the remainder of the season.

“I can’t say enough about my uncle, he’s quite a guy,” said Matt Siracusa. “I run into people all the time who know my last name because of him and they have nothing but good things to say about him and he doesn’t do it for exposure or anything he does it because he has a big heart.”

Over winter break the hockey players came together to help the Siracusas in an annual coat drive started by Dan Siracusa to help those less fortunate.

When Matt Siracusa approached the team during winter practice looking for a minimum of five players to help him and his uncle, he was surprised to find that not five had gone to help, but 15.

The teammates spent the day in the warehouse hanging jackets by the hundreds.

A job that would have taken Dan Sircusa a few days was done in a couple of hours with the help of the CCSU athletes.

“We went over to the warehouse, went upstairs and he thought there was three or four more days ahead of him but we actually finished everything and like I said before there was upwards of two thousand coats, probably a little but more, it was a great.”

Not only were the athletes able to help those in need, they were also able to come together as a team. The 15 players were able to bond while hanging the jackets, which will transfer to how they play and interact with one another out on the ice.

“It definitely put a smile on a lot of people’s faces. I’ve done it with him before I’ve delivered the coats to the people and the little kids they’re just so excited… the moms usually cry and thank you and everything, it’s great and the nice part about it, all the guys on the team, no one complained I wasn’t expecting them to, but they were high spirited and they really felt nice helping out the community and it’s really nice to do that with your team.”

What Dan Siracusa did and what the hockey players spent their day doing may not seem like a lot, but both actions will make a insurmountable difference in multiple lives.

Hor ton Returns from Injur y with a Vengeance ChristOpher MClAughliN the recorder

After missing all of last season because of an injury, junior forward Ken Horton has returned to form, and has played a major role in the Blue Devils winning season.

“It feels good to win games,” said Horton.

“It was more of a mental thing getting back, but I know what I’m supposed to do and I try to do it every night. After taking the year off, coming back to be a part of the team and winning games is all I could ask for.”

Horton is averaging 18.3 points and 8.5 rebounds leading not only the Blue Devils, but the entire NEC, in both categories. Should he finish the season still on top in both of the categories he will be only the fifth player in NEC history to accomplish that feat.

All season long Horton has been a consistent presence for the Blue Devils and has been a driving factor in the team’s success.

He was an integral part of CCSU’s comeback over Fairleigh Dickinson and led the team to victory in overtime. His play in that game, and the game against Monmouth, saw him awarded the Hotel Choice Player of the week award for the second time this season. During the week, Horton averaged 25.5 points and 12 rebounds.

“The award shows a lot of work, but I don’t take it personal. Coach always said that when a player wins an award it’s a team award because it means the team also did well,” said Horton.

While some players are never the same following a major injury, Horton has shown no adverse affects. He is actually playing the best basketball of his career. In addition to leading the NEC in points and rebounds, he is in the top 10 of six other categories including blocks, steals and field goal percentage. He has scored 30 plus twice this season, which puts him at the top of the active players in the NEC in this category. His six 20 plus games this season have also put him at the head of that list as well.

Horton has been a scoring machine this season and recently joined another elite class of players. On December 22, Horton became the 33rd player in CCSU history to record his 1,000 career point. Horton joins teammate Shemik Thompson, who also scored his 1,000 point this season, and the two of them have been rapidly moving up the list of CCSU’s all time scorers. If Horton keeps up his average, he will be in the top 15 by the end of the season.

Ken Horton is averaging 18 points per game, which leads the Blue Devils.

KeNNy bArtO | the reCOrder

“It feels good to be a part of history,” said Horton. “But more importantly it’s real nice having the pressure off my back, it’s nice to be able to concentrate on my play instead of having everybody talking about one-thousand points.”

Having a player of Horton’s caliber is every coach’s dream. While Coach Dickenman knew Horton would take a little while to get back to from, he is pleased he was able to do so quickly.

“Our staff is very comfortable whenever he has a shot,” said Dickenman. “We feel that he is as good as any player, in the NEC right now.”

While Horton has won awards and made history this season, he knows that it means

little in the grand scheme of things. Horton is a true team player and to him the performance of the team outweighs his individual accomplishments. With March looming, the intensity is picking up and Horton wants his team to be prepared.

“Personally, I would love to win the NEC, but as a team we take it game by game. If we win great and if it’s a loss, we take it and try to build upon it,” said Horton.

With the season entering its final month, Horton and the Blue Devils are in prime position to make some noise in the NEC. The team is currently in second place in the conference and will continue to battle as it fights for home court advantage in the NEC Tournament.

11

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, February 2, 2011 / SPORTS W. BBALL | Cont. from 12

Blue Devil swimmer Lauren O’Kelly on her way to winning the 1000-yard freestyle event. Story on page 12.

kenny barto | the recorder

M. BBALL | Cont. from 12 Thompson was everywhere doing what the coach loves most: creating havoc.

The first half ended with the Blue Devils up 44-27 and the game seemed over. Wagner just didn’t seem to want it as much as CCSU. “We played terrific in the first half,” said Dickenman. “Ptacek opened up on fire, and I’m very pleased with the play from Joe Efese and Chris Baskerville.”

Despite trailing big, Wagner came out of halftime with a new found intensity and appeared determined not to just roll over.

However, the Blue Devils hadn’t gone into coast mode just yet and still made Wagner work. CCSU still brought the pressure on defense and forced turnovers that they were able to convert into points on the other end. Efese had his way down low and Ken Horton started to pick

it up.

Things were still going well for the Blue Devils and its victory seemed assured. Then all of a sudden, as if somebody just flipped a switch, all of the intensity, pressure and focus for CCSU was turned off . The teams reversed roles and CCSU was thrust into an unfamiliar position. Instead of bringing the pressure on defense, the pressure was brought to them and they struggled mightily from the field, going almost 15 minutes without a field goal.

“We felt like we had the game in our hands,” said Ptacek. “We got too comfortable and lost control.

We played to not lose rather than to win.”

The 20 point lead dwindled quickly and Wagner kept attacking.

Led by Tyler Murray, who had 19 second half points, Wagner brought the lead down to as little as four.

Though CCSU was severely limited on offense, the players continued to get fouled and go to the line, making 18 of 21. If it wasn’t for free throws ,the lead would have vanished completely. A game like this adds meaning to the term charity stripe.

Wagner continued to attack down to the final second, but CCSU had done enough to hold on.

“In the second half we lost our offensive aggressiveness,” said Dickenman. “Other teams haven’t pressured us much and we weren’t ready for it. What they did to us is what we do to other teams. We were fortunate to survive their onslaught, but the bottom line is, we still won.”

The Blue Devils have now won four straight, and will look to use that momentum when they go to Pennsylvania to play the next two games before returning home to face Bryant on February 9th.

the game. Though CCSU was able to maintain its lead for much of the half, Monmouth (13-6) chipped away, and eventually overtook CCSU, finishing the first half with the advantage.

In the closing minutes, Monmouth appeared to be going on a run, but timely three-pointers from Alexzandria Dowdy and Leanne Crockett kept the Blue Devils afloat.

Even though CCSU committed more turnovers, the defense the team played kept Monmouth from blowing the game open. The new-look defense was once again effective, as CCSU held Monmouth to under 40 percent from the field.

The defense played by CCSU was a major factor in keeping the game close, since the team struggled on offense. Foul trouble limited the minutes of Dowdy and back up Jessica Babe, causing the Blue Devils to struggle to find a rhythm.

Oglesby and Crockett finished the half with six points a piece, helping keep the Blue Devils in the game.

“With Alex [Dowdy] and Jess [Babe] in foul trouble, we really had to weather the storm in the first half,” said Piper. “Gabby [Oglesby] made some big plays and got some really big baskets, she was a big

Follow Recorder Sports on Twitter @RecorderSports for breaking Game day news

reason why we won.”

When the second half started, the battle resumed. Both teams fought hard, but neither seemed to find an edge. Any time one team looked to go on a run, the other had an answer. Monmouth was able to build up a small lead after hitting consecutive three-pointers, but CCSU responded quickly.

The six point lead Monmouth built was the largest lead of the game, but didn’t last long. After two quick jumpers by Justina Udenze, Monmouth began to turn its attention on her by sending an extra defender. This opened up the lane for Oglesby, who was able to drive in and score at will. Her eight second-half points helped carry the Blue Devils in a game where leading scorer Kerrianne Dugan was held without a field goal.

Though CCSU had a late lead, Monmouth threatened to tie in the closing seconds. Down two with less than 20 seconds, Monmouth’s Alexis Canady drove in for a layup, where she was promptly rejected by Babe. The block sealed the victory for CCSU, as Monmouth was forced to foul and never got another opportunity to tie the game.

“It was really tough,” said Babe. “They have three really good shooters and we were juggling between them. I picked up on one girl and threw my arms up and I guess I got the block.”

Following the win, the Blue Devils are now .500 in conference play. After falling to 1-4 in conference play, CCSU has rebounded with three straight wins.

As the season progresses each game takes on more meaning and the Blue Devils still have the NEC crown in its sight.

“Really big win today but we can‘t be satisfied,” said Piper. “We know that every game we’re going to have to battle. We’re in a tough conference, every game is going to be a war.”

The Blue Devils will resume their home stand on Jan. 29 when Wagner comes to town.

UMass Comes Out Winners Against CCSU Brittany burke The Recorder

The CCSU hockey team took to Olympic Rink in Simsbury looking rejuvenated since its last game there.

However, the team once again came up short in the third, with too little time left and lost 3-1 to the University of Massachusetts.

“We hustled hard and it’s always hard losing a game after you hustle like that,” said Matt Siracusa, who had an assist on CCSU’s lone goal of the night.

“The other team had some bounces that should’ve gone our way and the assist doesn’t really matter to me, I’d rather get the win and I thought we were gonna come back like we did when we were down at Marist but we just have to worry about Florida now.”

In a game attributed greatly to the defense of the two opposing teams, it took 46 minutes and 38 seconds for UMass to get on the board with a one-goal advantage.

In between the pipes for CCSU was Ross Mocko, who shut out the Minutemen for two periods before allowing them to take the lead.

With 13:22 still to play in the game the score on the board remained at zero, but a lucky bounce allowed for the Minutemen to edge out in front with the one goal gain.

However, the swing of momentum was on UMass’ side.

Twenty-five seconds after the initial goal UMass struck again, giving the team the two-goal advantage with 12:57 left to play in the game.

“I thought we were a better team, but it’s just one of those things when you let a weaker team hang around, you never know what’s going to happen and they got lucky off a bounce just throwing a puck to the

net and they got a little momentum and they built off it,” said Head Coach Ben Adams.

CCSU’s defense stepped up after faltering in the game against Marist at home. Going head to head with UMass in a game full of speed and intensity, the scoring was once again stagnant with less than five minutes to play in the period.

A shot taken from the blue line

by Kevin Paglinco from Siracusa and Evan Mink put CCSU back into the game, with only a one goal separation.

“We were looking for anything, just trying to put pucks on net, that’s all and mine ended up going in,” said Paglinco. “I thought we were playing well. The whole game we had a lot of chances. Two pucks in the first period that were on their goal line could’ve went in but just didn’t, I think a couple good bounces for them and the puck ended up going in the net.”

The second semester has seen a variety of CCSU players get on to the score sheet, adding depth to the lines and giving the team the upper hand. However, it is still a facet of the game that the Blue Devils are struggling with.

“We need another scorer, like when Stan [Ryan Stanley] and Knobs [ Jon Knobloch] don’t deliver we need another one and we haven’t found it yet,” said Mink.

With goto scorers and the increase in depth, the offense isn’t something that CCSU generally had trouble with, but rather the defense.

Despite the night’s loss the CCSU defense showed great improvement breaking out of the zone and taking the pucks up the net. Once all the pieces are in place it just comes down to playing a full 60 minute game and finishing strong.

“I think our breakouts were the

best part of the day,” said Adams.

“We were coming up the ice controlled keeping possession and that’s important. They [UMass] really didn’t catch on to what we were doing for the breakout all game because we were breaking out pretty easy all night, just came down to finishing tonight, we couldn’t finish.

“The biggest thing that these guys need to work on is finishing out, d-zone coverage over the last

three games has been very good, staying out of the box which has been very good, a lot easier to get into the flow of the game,” Adams explained. “I think we need to start getting some wingers to stretch wide open up some soft areas and really just working on maintaining possession of the puck and attacking the net.”

With 13 seconds remaining and CCSU playing with six players

and Mocko pulled, the Minutemen struck again, sinking the empty netter for the two-goal advantage and eventual win.

The team travels to Florida Thursday to take on Florida Gulf Coast University, the best team in the nation, for a twogame contest. The Blue Devils return to Simsbury Feb. 5 to take on in-state rivals Western Connecticut.

Ryan Stanley fights against a UMass defender during their 3-1 loss last Tuesday night.

kenny barto | the recorder

12

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, February 2, 2011 / SPORTS

Blue Devils Shoot Down Seahawks NEC Win Keeps T itle in Sight for Women’s Basketball christopher mclaughlin The Recorder

Playing tremendous defense, the CCSU women’s basketball team was able to rally to knock off NEC rival Monmouth 48-45.

Despite shooting significantly better from the field, the Blue Devils (11-7) were forced to battle their way to victory. Led by Gabrielle Oglesby with 14 points, CCSU was able to overcome the ineffectiveness of the rest of its

starters.

“We know they’re a good team but we played great defense,” said Head Coach Beryl Piper. “We pressured them and played a little zone which threw them off balance which was good for us, and in the end we were able to make the plays we needed to.”

The Blue Devils jumped out to a five-point lead and it would be the team’s largest lead of W. BBALL | cont. on 11

Blue Devil guard Robby Ptacek puts a shot up during CCSU’s 75-71 victory against the kenny barto | the recorder Seahawks.

Men’s Basketball Remains in Second Place Af ter Conference Victor y christopher mclaughlin The Recorder

CCSU forward Justina Udenze puts in a hook shot on her way to a 12 point, 6 rebound performance kenny barto | the recorder against Wagner

It was the tale of two halves as the CCSU men’s basketball team withstood Wagner’s furious onslaught to come out on top 75-71.

The Blue Devils (14-7) led by as many as 24 points, but went ice cold from the field in the second half, which spurred Wagner‘s (1011) comeback. Robbie Ptacek led all scores with 25 points, and went 10-10 from the foul line to save the Blue Devils from its second home loss of the year. Before the game, CCSU was tied with Wagner for second place in the NEC. Now the Blue Devils are in sole possession of second place, and are only one game out of first.

“We were fortunate to make our free throws, because we only played 30 minutes of basketball,” said Head Coach Howie Dickenman. “I’m disappointed with how we played, but I’m glad we won. I know that we

will be better from this.”

Though Wagner got off to a 6-0 run, CCSU’s pressure defense soon took over. Even the first few baskets were all heavily contested, as the Blue Devils came out determined to shut down its NEC rival early. Ptacek caught fire on offense and it wasn’t long until CCSU caught up and tied the game.

The Blue Devils continued to harass Wagner’s shooters, causing them to miss everything, and CCSU capitalized, gaining a double digit lead. During the first half, it appeared that Wagner just couldn’t handle the defensive pressure or match the Blue Devils’ intensity. Though Shemik Thompson took a while to get going offensively, there wasn’t a person on the court who played harder.

Thompson was dominate on the boards snatching up everything that came his way, finishing the half with eight rebounds, leading both teams. Even on defense it appeared that M. BBALL | cont. on 11

CCSU Swim Team Sweeps Wagner at Home adam tulloch The Recorder

CCSU’s Madison Vestergaard dives during CCSU’s 190-101 victory against Wagner. Vestergaard won the 1-meter dive event with a combined score of 242.39. kenny barto | the recorder

The CCSU swimming and diving team discovered what home team advantage meant when they swept Wagner University in all 16 events for a 109-101 victory.

Sophomore Taylor Friedman contributed to the victory by winning three events, including the 400 freestyle relay team.

Friedman had finished the events for the 200 and 500 individual freestyles before entering the 400-relay event. The relay team finished with a time of 3:40.43.

Friedman, along with junior Alex Czaplicki, sophomore Katie Lang and new recruit freshman Helene Neuhaus comprised the winning relay team for the Blue Devils.

Both, Neuhaus and Czaplicki, combined for two-event victories before leading up to the 400- freestyle; matching Friedman in events.

“I think we’re doing really well, we’re kind of beat up from the previous events, but the time we gain from the diving event help get the rest we need to keep us going,” Swimming

Coach Bill Ball explained, “we grabbed our second breeze, so were right back in were we need to be in these events.”

The diving competition was much of the same story, with CCSU once again sweeping all of the events. Wagner diver Kelly Edmonds did not finish in the threemeter diving event due to a dangerous dive.

Entering the water awkwardly, Wagner arose uninjured, but was unable to return to the competition.

CCSU junior diver Madison Vestergaard took first in both the one-meter and the three-meter diving events.

“We’re at a good gauge right now. I think we are in the right place that we need to be,” explained Coach Ball. “We just need to rest before the next competition, the team is tired. Preparing for Boston is important.

Getting some rest and improving is what we will be working on.”

The Blue Devils’ next meet will be in Boston at MIT for the NEC Championships, held Feb. 17 through the 19.