Vol. 107 Issue 19

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

Central Connecticut State University

Volume 107 No. 19

Looming Budget Cuts Bring CSUS Students, Faculty to State Capitol maTT ClyBUrn

of money. It’s the quality of the education that I don’t want to suffer - if I have to pay more for a better education, that’s understandable.

But if I have to pay more for an education that’s worse than the one I’ve previously received, or that goes down in standards, I think that’s unacceptable.”

Amanda Beaulieu, a CCSU student and info desk employee, is getting into the education field upon graduation.

“Why not get involved now?

It’s my education, it’s my money, so I want to know what’s happening,” said Beaulieu.

“I feel like the CSU system is the system that needs [funding] the most, so they need to work something out for us,” Beaulieu said.

“I think that people care more if they have to pay for their education like us; tuition increases add up. Our classes are going to be affected if the universities are unable to hire new professors or replace professors that have retired, classes will get bigger.”

CCSU student Kaylah Smith said “I think it’s our responsibility as students to come out and support the cause. It may not affect us right away, but it will affect other people who make the same

The recorder

Students, faculty and members of the public descended on the Legislative Office Building in Hartford Monday to organize against Governor Dannel Malloy’s proposal that would cut funding to the state’s higher education system by more than 10 percent.

The American Association of University Professors transported students and professors to the Joint Appropriations Committee public hearing where people were invited to speak or listen to the proceedings.

Free t-shirts and dinner were also provided for students who registered in advance.

Amanda West, CCSU student and a student center manager, was there to learn about the options facing the committee.

“I really don’t want to see money taken away from my school, but if there’s no other way then I want to know where we’re going to get the money,” West said. “I’d rather find out why I’m being hurt than just being told ‘We’re taking this away from you.’”

“They’ve raised tuition nearly every year since I’ve come to CCSU,” West said. “In that four years, a small increase has become a large amount Albertus Magnus student Larry Toast holds a provocative sign with SCSU student Cassandra Cuddy in the main conference room of Monday’s budget hearing.

Police: Pedestrian Struck by Drunk Driver on Paul Manafort Drive

maTT ClyBUrn | ThE rECorDEr

BUDGET | ConT. on 3

Canny Elected Interim SGA President miChaEl walsh The recorder

Jessica Parr, an Elmer’s employee, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol last Thursday after she struck a pedestrian. maTT ClyBUrn The recorder

The driver that struck a pedestrian near the CCSU campus early Thursday morning has been charged with driving under the influence, according to a press release from the New Britain Police Department.

Jessica Parr, 23, of Canton, was driving her Volkswagen Jetta westbound on Paul J. Manafort Drive at 1:05 a.m. Thursday when she hit 23 year old Kimberly Tyrseck of Portland, who was crossing the street.

Tyrseck was taken to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center with critical injuries.

Sergeant Jeanette Saccente said this is Parr’s second drunk driving arrest and that the NBPD Traffic Division is continuing to investigate. More charges against the driver could be filed once the investigation has reached a conclusion, but are pending at this time.

Ken Cook, owner of Elmer’s Place and

nEw BriTain poliCE DEpT.

Great Oaks Restaurant, told The Recorder in two interviews that Parr was an employee of Elmer’s at the time of the collision. Cook said that Parr was a bartender but had not been drinking at the bar before the incident. Cook also told The Recorder that Parr was let go from her position this weekend.

Cook said that Parr wanted to present a mugshot that conveyed normalcy because she isn’t a “drug addict” or “creepy.”

“It’s hard to see it. For days they kept on putting her mugshot up there and it made it look even worse with her smiling,” Cook said.

Neither Parr nor Tyrseck are registered CCSU students, according to university spokesman Mark McLaughlin.

“The report did indicate that the student who was injured was a CCSU commuter student, but she is not registered and never has taken a class here,” said McLaughlin. “They’re very cautious because they don’t want to compromise an investigation in process.”

Receiving 12 of the 24 total votes, Senator Jamie Canny was elected interim student government association president Wednesday.

It was the second special election in three weeks for the student government that voted in Elizabeth Braun as interim vice president on Feb. 9.

Canny, who will remain the chair of the scholarship committee, defeated Senator Eric Bergenn and Senator Justin Blain in the election. Bergenn received 9 votes while Blain received 3.

“I wasn’t planning on running at all,” Canny said. “This is something that I wouldn’t want to do unless my peers fully supported me.”

Canny, a secondary history education major, said she likely won’t have the time for student government next semester because she’ll be in the teacher education program.

“I’m not interested in actually running next year on senate at all...I would just love to help out to finish the year,” said Canny.

The election follows Sunday’s resignation of Matt Vekakis, who cited personal circumstances as his motive for stepping down. Interim Vice President Braun was unable to step up to the presidential role because she was not elected by the public.

“I’m totally surprised and humbled by it,” said Canny after being elected. “I’m really just looking at maintaining the same goals that Matt [Vekakis] set in the beginning of the year for us and just helping us get through until the next president.”

“I’m definitely excited about Jamie being interim president,” said Braun. “I know that

kEnny BarTo | ThE rECorDEr

Jamie Canny was elected interim SGA president last Wednesday. she goes above and beyond everything she does, especially with her work on [the scholarship committee].”

Braun’s excitement is particularly focused on working with Canny on the upcoming Connecticut State University System student government summit on April 1, where CCSU’s SGA will host representatives from the three other CSUS schools’ student governments.

“I’m good friends with her so we get along just fine,” said Braun. “I’m just excited to see what we do together.”

The first full meeting with both Canny and Braun in their new positions will be March 2 at 3:30 p.m. in Bellin Gallery.

Turn to page 3 for student government association reaction to the resignation of Matt Vekakis and the election of Jamie Canny.

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2

NEWS

THE RECORDER Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The Recorder

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

Editor-in-Chief Michael Walsh mwalsh@centralrecorder.com Managing Editor Nicholas Proch nproch@centralrecorder.com

Bond Commission Approves $5.2 Million for CCSU Police Station michael walsh The Recorder

The State Bond Commission approved $5.2 million Thursday for the construction of a new public safety building on the CCSU campus. The building would replace the current campus police station.

Design of the building has already been completed and the approval of the funds will allow the construction to begin.

The commission also approved $1 million to allow CCSU complete necessary fire code improvements at Davidson Hall.

In the request made by CCSU it is stated that the project will be 12,500 square feet. The building will house the public safety administration, patrol operations, special services and support service divisions of the campus police.

The project is also supposed to create 90 construction related jobs.

ccsu.edu

Art Director Ashley E. Lang News Editors Matt Clyburn Sara M. Berry news@centralrecorder.com Entertainment Editor Max Kyburz entertainment@ centralrecorder.com Sports Editor Brittany Burke sportsed@centralrecorder.com Photo Editor Kenny Barto kbarto@centralrecorder.com Copy Editor Maxine Eichen Katherine Bossardet Staff Writers Chris McLaughlin Marisa Volo Justin Muszynski Brian Jennings Terence Stewart

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.

Staff meetings for The Recorder are held on Mondays at 8 p.m. in the Blue and W hite Room in the student center and on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Recorder off ice.

Top: Artist rendering of the proposed public safety building. Bottom: The current police station, located off Paul Manafort Drive.

kenny barto | the recorder

New Britain Mayor Loses Bid for State Senate to CCSU Alumna Matt Clyburn The Recorder

New Britain Mayor Tim Stewart lost his State Senate bid last week after a hard-fought campaign against former Rep. Theresa Gerratana.

Gerratana is a CCSU alumna and was sworn in on Friday evening.

While Stewart handily beat Gerratana in Berlin and Farmington, he was unsuccessful in securing his home city by more than 600 votes.

Gerratana won by 321 votes; 4,611 to 4,290.

“I’m ready to get to work.

Tomorrow is a new beginning,” Gerratana told a crowd at her victory event in New Britain once the results came in.

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newbritaindemocrat.org

CCSU alumna Theresa Gerratana.

Gerratana promised the crowd that she would be focusing on the budget Governor Dannel Malloy proposed last week and creating jobs.

Following a November when Connecticut conservatives were unable to ride the coattails of a right-leaning national trend, the sixth state senate district was one seat that Republicans hoped to pick up during the Feb. 22 special election. Stewart has largely been viewed as a rising star in a state that has voted for Democrats in the last five presidential elections.

“Unfortunately, the message to the people in the sixth district is, ‘You can run a negative campaign, don’t talk about issues, and you can win,’” Stewart said to a crowd of supporters last week. “If people wanted another ‘yes’ vote in the state legislature, that’s what they got.

They weren’t going to get that from me, it’s unfortunate my message didn’t resonate with the people.”

Stewart also spoke at length about the hard work he has put in over the years to improve New Britain’s economic circumstances and cited an open-door policy as the foundation for some of his accomplishments.

The mayor’s next step?

“I still have a job,” Stewart said.

“People will see a different kind of mayor, that’s all I’ll say for now.

But some people will be surprised unpleasantly.”

Connecticut Republicans were banking on voter distaste with the Malloy budget proposal that will seek $1.5 billion in spending cuts, $2 billion in state employee concessions and $1.5 in tax increases. Ultimately,

Mayor Timothy Stewart lost by 321 votes. the GOP picked up two seats of the nine special elections.

Among them, Republican Len Suzio defeated Democrat Thomas Bruenn for a state Senate seat in Meriden that has been held by Democrats for more than three decades.

Many state Democrats accepted new roles in the Malloy administration and one submitted resignation, prompting the special elections that took place last week.

stewart for senate | facebook

Senator Thomas Gaffey resigned in January amid accusations of, and arrest for, a case in which he doublebilled the state of Connecticut.

Gaffey held the seat for more than fifteen years and was a staple at the state capitol on education policy.

Gerratana’s new seat was vacated after the former State Senator Donald DeFronzo was selected to head the Department of Administrative Services for the Malloy administration.

3

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, March 2, 2011 / NEWS

SGA Senators React to President’s Resignation Matt clyburn The Recorder

After the sudden resignation of former Student Government Association President Matt Vekakis last week, SGA senators took time to reflect on Vekakis’ decision and his tenure.

Freshman Senator Matt Hubbard said that Vekakis was a “great president.”

“I really enjoyed my first semester as an SGA senator with him as president. I’ll miss him,” Hubbard said in an interview with The Recorder last week.

“Matt stepping down was a shock to me,” said Senator Erika Dawson-Head. “When I received the email I thought it was a joke, until I saw the article on the Recorder’s online [edition].”

“Matt was fair as an SGA

president and did not let his personal relationships with other senators interfere with his job as president,” Dawson-Head said.

“Matt committed to the SGA 100 percent during his time on SGA and will be missed. I wish him all the best in the future and know he will do great things.”

“This entire school year, there has been a lot of ups and downs in the senate,” said Senator Ryan Baldassario. “There’s been a lot of infighting, sometimes there’s been a lack of cohesion. But I feel that even though sometimes there were low points, President Vekakis did help us get out of them.”

“He did his best to get us into the shape we’re in now – even though we’re a little rocky – because of him I think we’ll be doing pretty solid in the future,” Baldassario said.

kenny barto | the recorder

Senator Justin Blain was one of the candidates that lost to Jamie Canny.

BUDGET | Cont. from 1 decision we did to come to college.

I think it’s important for us to take a stand. It’s not just about us, it’s about the future of education in Connecticut.”

Smith’s classmate, Theresa Degan, agreed.

“With less professors comes less students, eventually, so I think it’s important for students to oppose the budget cuts,” said Degan. “Our generation has been known as the ‘lazy generation,’ so I think it is important for professors to impart on us the necessity to get out and actually make our voices heard, otherwise we’re going to lose so much.”

“I chose Central above any other state university because of its individuality,” said CCSU student Giselle Ziegler. “I couldn’t picture myself at any other university because of the special things Central has to offer me through the music education department, through the education department itself. I think that if things were to become too centralized...every single university would lose the things that make it special to some degree.”

Students were also on hand from other Connecticut State Universities.

Marissa Fazzino of SCSU said, “I thought coming here was a good idea because the issues affect us directly. Southern has a possible 25 percent deduction in funding, so we thought that’s a good incentive to show up and show that we care.”

“Quite frankly, I’m against the merging of the CSU system in with the community colleges and the Charter Oak system,” said Zach Kunicki of WCSU. “While we do need to make budget cuts, I don’t think this is the proper way to do it and I feel that we could be more creative with our solutions.”

“It’s not that I don’t like the CCSU students or the community college students, or the charter oak students. I feel that each university has its own perks,” Kunicki said.

kenny barto | the recorder

Interim Vice President Elizabeth Braun (left) and interim President Jamie Canny at last week’s SGA meeting after Canny won the special election.

Some Senators took the opportunity to criticize Vekakis’ decision.

“You have a contract between you and the students who voted for you. So, in my opinion, it would have been better if he fulfilled that contract he had with the people who elected him,” said Senator Albi Sako.

Still, others expressed gratitude for the decision so that the governing body could move forward with the work ahead of them. “[Vekakis] did the honorable thing by stepping down when he decided he couldn’t follow through on his commitment” said Senator Tyler Zajac.

“It’s unfortunate that it’s all happening at once, but I think [Vekakis] did what he should have given the circumstances,”

said Hubbard. “The Senate’s been going through a lot this year with the resignation of two-thirds of our e-board. Now more than ever, it’s crunch time.”

“We need to assess where we’re at, deal with what gets thrown at us, and just keep on moving,” Hubbard added. “[The next step] is to move forward, group ourselves behind a new leader, reassess our values and really crack down these last couple weeks to get everything back where they should be. Get our constitution and bylaws in order, make sure the clubs get their funding and make sure that the upcoming spring elections go as smoothly as possible so that next year’s senators can experience a quality time together rather than the chaos we’ve kind of gone through this year,” Baldassario

said.

The senate elected Senator Jamie Canny to the post of SGA interim president in a special election last Wednesday. Canny defeated Eric Bergenn and Justin Blain.

“Jamie is an excellent choice for an interim president; she is a candidate that will be fair, honest and really listen to both sides of the story. Jamie will create balance on the SGA now that Matt is gone,” Dawson-Head said.

“I think it’s time for somebody else to step up and I will gladly do my part as a senator to support [Canny],” Hubbard said.

Canny began her term during last week’s meeting and will serve until the end of the Spring 2011 semester. Elections for next year’s officers and senators will be held in April.

kenny barto | the recorder

Senator Eric Bergenn lost by 3 votes.

“For example, Western has a really good jazz program and a great history program. Each one of these universities is known for something that makes it unique and makes it special and I feel that if we merge them all together, you kind of lose that.”

Melissa Hood, also a student at Western, said that she attended the hearing to “get a feel for what this really is all about and hear it directly from the people and the legislators.”

“On paper, [the proposals] sound good, but then where are the negatives?” Hood said. “What are the negatives?”

Elsa Nunez, president of ECSU, was on hand to watch the proceedings and discuss Malloy’s proposal.

“I want to support the governor in looking at all the ways we can save money and be more efficient because I think the governor has a strong case,” Nunez told The Recorder. “The state is in debt $4 billion dollars and how do we help him make that budget balanced?”

“The basic question is, if you matt clyburn | the recorder do the restructuring, what are the CCSU students and faculty hold a banner expressing solidarity in their rally against budget cuts on Monday night. savings?” Nunez asked. “Where will those savings go? Will they go back to the colleges, will they go Nunez said. budgetary uncertainties around any of which makes it difficult to to the general fund? We need to CCSU faculty members and the reorganization; third, through engage in the university the way we know.” members of the CSU Chapter concessions being exacted from know can change their lives for the Nunez took the occasion to of the AAUP spoke before the state workers; and fourth through a better and help them develop into point out that there are differences committee hearing that filled the tax hike on most of the faculty and engaged and productive citizens of Connecticut. in identity among the CSU schools. main conference room and pushed staff in such a system.”

“What I fear is that when our “Even though you might observers into three overflow English professor Gil Giglotti want to save money, you really rooms. spoke about CCSU students and tenacious students are hit not only do sometimes compromise the Jason Jones, president of the the affect the budget cuts could with higher gas taxes and sales taxes and income taxes,” Giglotti said, mission by having everybody mixed CCSU chapter, said “It is important have on their livelihood. in together,” Nunez said. “I’m not to understand...that the proposed “If I had to summarize the “but also with cuts at CCSU that against his proposal but I want budget cut at its magnitude will CCSU student population in one will result in larger classes, fewer to know what are the real savings make it impossible to meet the word I would call them ‘tenacious,’ course offerings, fewer student and what is it going to mean to the governor’s stated goal of putting for their ability to adapt to services and a longer road to students. When students choose a more dollars into instruction and circumstances often beyond their graduation, their tenacity may turn to frustration, their frustration to school, it’s because they’re attracted will do long-term harm to our control,” said Giglotti. to the core values of an institution, graduation rates and other measures “These tenacious students do resignation and their resignation the mission, the kind of major they of student success.” not quit,” Giglotti said. “They, not to incompletion. The incompletion can get there. So I would be worried “The proposed budget and infrequently, may switch from full- of their degree, the incompletion that in a merger like this we might reorganization thus cuts higher time status to part-time status, take of their growth and their potential lose that focus.” education in four different ways,” classes at a community college closer and the incompletion of their “I’m very optimistic that the Jones said. “First, through a direct to home or leave the residence halls full participation in the future of right people around the table can cut to the block grant; second, and return home to save money, or Connecticut.” do what’s best for Connecticut,” through applied cuts caused by some other fairly extreme solution,

4

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, March 2, 2011 / NEWS

Students Get Vocal About General Education Program justin muszynski The Recorder

Governor Dannel Malloy has emphasized the need for students in the Connecticut State University System to be able to graduate in a timely manner. A recent survey conducted at CCSU showed that the majority of professors believe that general education should be redesigned.

But how exactly do the students at CCSU feel about this?

Freshman Nathaniel Rice, 19, says the system should work more towards fulfilling students’ general education and major needs at the same time.

“Gen. ed should be more based towards your major,” said Rice. “If you’re a mechanical engineer, why do you need to take gym?”

However, Scott Randall, a 22 year-old senior, said he has had no problems with the general education system.

“I finished the requirements in two years like it’s intended,” said Randall. “They offer a bunch of different courses so it works.”

The current system requires a minimum of 44 to 46 credits and also at least three years of a foreign language, which can be taken in high school.

Colleen Wetmore, a 22 yearold junior, said she didn’t take a foreign language in high school and now is required to fulfill that need in college.

“You’re going to college for something specific, why do you

need to take something random like a foreign language?” said Wetmore.

Wetmore, who also had a problem transferring her credits from Manchester Community College, said CCSU needs to be more transfer friendly.

“I wanted to major in music,” Wetmore said. “When I decided not to I transferred to Central and half of my credits didn’t get carried over.”

Freshman Michael Hubbard, 18, said that despite this being his first year at CCSU, he doesn’t think he’ll have any problems with the current system.

“I’m only a freshman but I think the system works pretty efficiently,” said Hubbard.

Candace O’Sullivan, a 27 yearold graduate student, says she likes some things about the current system but would change some aspects.

“I like the fact that people with more credits get priority,” said O’Sullivan.

Her only complaint is that

some courses are restricted to only students who have been accepted into a certain academic program.

“A 200 or 300-level class shouldn’t be blocked to certain students,” said O’Sullivan.

“When I wanted to major in education I couldn’t take any classes that were related to it until I was accepted into the program.”

Junior Michael Tinnirella, 21, explained that the goal of the system is in the right place but it’s too extensive.

“I’d keep a minimum general education system,” said Tinnirella. “You should know how to read and write when you leave college, but 44 credits is a lot.”

The ad hoc committee will be holding two campus-wide meetings for faculty, staff and students next week to discuss revising general education. The meetings will take place March 9 at 2 p.m. and March 10 at 3:05 p.m. in Founder’s Hall.

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PSYCHED OUT Decreased Internship Availability Continues to Be a Problem for Psychology Department sara m. berry The Recorder

With the number of budget cuts and financial problems faced by the state, shortages are no surprise in education.

Internships, a process that many feel is key to the development of a student, have been partially compromised in the psychology department, according to department chair Laura Bowman.

Recently, the department has been very outspoken about the limited availability of internships and independent studies for psychology majors.

According to Joanne Diplacido of the psychology department, each department in the School of Arts and Sciences is given a certain number of credit hours for internships and independent studies, a number that is determined by Dean Susan Pease.

Faculty members receive a certain number of load credits for each internship or independent study that they supervise.

Traditionally, each internship or independent study has been worth 0.3 credits. Over the past several semesters, psychology faculty members have agreed to take 0.2 credits per internship to allow all students desiring internships to be able to have them. This semester the department has been given 12 credits, giving them the ability to offer nine internships.

The reasons behind the limiting of internships is not completely clear, but two main arguments that have been addressed are budget concerns and the issue of quality internships in the School of Arts and Sciences.

“We measure quality in part by looking at the output that students have as a result of internships and independent studies,” said Bowman.

This includes presentations at professional conferences as well as successful job placements, feedback from agencies where interns were placed and student evaluation of their experiences.

“Other departments run their internships differently.

Sociology, for example, has a class format as does criminal justice.

But communications runs their internships in a similar way to the way that we do, where there’s a partnership between the student and the faculty member,” said Bowman.

When asked about the possibility of restructuring the internship program in the psychology department, Bowman said “That’s something that the faculty decides and this is something that we have been considering for over a year.

We’re to the point where we feel that it really doesn’t work for us and we’re not willing to be in a position where that is forced upon us…this situation is one that we feel is a challenge in respect to our academic

freedom.”

Bowman said that there are between 640-680 psychology majors and that psychology is one of the largest majors on campus along with history, communication and criminology. Because of the large number of psychology majors and their wide variety of interests, using the class format would not work as well for the psychology department as it might for other departments whose students have interests that are more narrowly focused.

“We’re currently working on a macro level trying to garner support for our position. We’re not the only department that has concerns about the way this is being handled, so we have had some support and interest from other departments, even those who have not necessarily been directly affected,” said Bowman.

At a Faculty Senate meeting earlier this semester, communication professor Cindy White thanked the psychology department for bringing up the issue.

Faculty and students in the psychology department alike are stressing the importance of internships as learning experiences and as a means of helping students get into graduate school, as well as providing experience that potential employers look for. Bowman, who serves on the committee that reviews applications to CCSU’s graduate psychology program, said that while internships are not required, they add to the strength of an application.

“We put together 100 pages of student testimonials, examples of posters that we’ve presented at different conferences that are all student driven, and we’ve given them to the Provost and the Dean,” said faculty member Marianne Fallon.

Earlier in the semester, Jason Sikorski and Rebecca Wood brought to the Faculty Senate documentation of the impact that internships have on student experiences and attitudes toward their education and readiness for graduate study.

This semester, the psychology department had 17 students apply for internships and independent studies, but were only able to accept nine of those applications due to the department’s 12 credit maximum.

Some of the students that applied for internships rearranged their schedules to accommodate their internship but ended up not being able to do an internship and having to add an extra class.

This issue is ongoing, with no clear solution in sight.

“It’s not going to be resolved this semester. This is something that will likely take a while longer. We’re trying to get it done with as quickly as possible, but the fact is that it’s not going to be resolved this semester and may not even be resolved next semester, “ said Bowman.

THE RECORDER Wednesday, March 2, 2011

EDITORIAL

OPINION

5

Police Station Bond Request Shouldn’t Take Priority

With the news coming out that President Obama will infuse another $100 billion to try and save the country’s educational system and that Connecticut’s Governor Malloy is pushing to have the Connecticut State University System scaled down and streamlined to help shrink the budget, it hardly seems to make any sense that CCSU’s police department will be provided with a new $5 million building.

The CCSU police are currently housed in a small building on campus adjoined by several mobile trailers. While no one will argue that these are luxurious accommodations, it’s spending like this that will prevent the university from doing other projects which will further the quality of education. With proposed dorm buildings, classroom updates and enhancements and other new facilities on the long-term plan, they should seemingly take precedent over a new police building.

Their current location hasn’t prevented

any of the officers from doing their jobs. They are a fully capable staff and are actually very strong for a campus police department. Some schools only have a campus security squads and public safety teams, but the CCSUPD is a fully functional branch of the state’s police department. However, it seems untimely for the university to be asking the state bond commission for such a nice building when we have dorms and academic buildings which dreadfully need renovations or to be replaced entirely.

Take, for example, the ongoing library project. Part of the 10 year plan for this university was to expand the library to nearly double the size and provide the student body with a state of the art reading and research facility. Before the funding for that was approved, the university decided to request the money for this station.

At a university, the learning experience and

EDITOR’S COLUMN

SGA Reacted Wisely to Departed President

michael walsh The Recorder

The Student Government Association was met with a tough task last week when its student-elected president decided to resign two meetings into his second semester as SGA president.

Last week I rationalized Matt Vekakis’ decision to step down. This week I applaud the SGA for its quick reaction to handling not just one, but two resignations of leaders.

Last Wednesday SGA elected Jamie Canny as its interim president. Narrowly defeating the prepared and qualified Eric Bergenn, Canny’s victory was a shocker - even to herself. Canny wasn’t prepared to run, but once she realized her peers respected and valued her role on the senate, she warmed to the idea and accepted her nomination. She even admitted to giving her nomination speech on the fly.

SGA’s decision was a good one. Canny is the chair of the scholarship committee, a detailed and dense program that gives CCSU students the opportunity to receive extra dollars to put towards their education. Canny was even able to increase the funds of the program this year along with the creation of brand new scholarships opening the program to more students than before.

Canny is an interim president in the truest sense of the word. She doesn’t plan to run for either president or vice president later this spring and told me that she likely won’t even be a member of SGA next semester because of scheduling and time conflicts with the teaching program she will be entering.

This is why her unlikely arrival in the seat of SGA president makes perfect sense. Canny will allow SGA to finish out an adversity-filled year with a leader who has no political lean and no need to work

for personal intentions. Canny won’t be using her couple of months at the helm as a tryout for next fall. Spring elections will run a lot smoother and with a clean slate thanks to this.

Unfortunately, blemishes weren’t unseen last week. My column last week received comments - a sort of rarity for The Recorder. Online comments are a sticky subject in newsrooms across the profession. Previously, The Recorder allowed what were nearly considered to be anonymous comments on its website.

One particular comment anonymously calling out a former SGA senator forced us to change our standards. Now, users must register for Wordpress or Intense Debate.

While one can certainly register under a false name, a legitimate e-mail is required and it at least makes the person think before deciding to write a potentially damaging and faceless comment on our website.

The insider details of the comment make it obvious that it likely came from another senator or someone close to the situation. I must explain how frustrating it is to have to deal with such a thing. As someone who puts his name on every positive and negative thing he writes, I hate to see a person resort to making claims behind a wall of anonymity. There’s a very strange parallel worth looking at here.

The public, rightfully so, demands that journalists have well-sourced stories.

At the same time, the public typically has no problem leaving their name out of a potentially hateful, privacy-breaking or libelous comment on that same news organization’s website that has little to no wiggle room when it comes to moderating some of these comments. Should the news industry not desperately need the direct involvement of its consumers, I wouldn’t be against seeing these kinds of nameless comments better monitored.

No more criticizing or judging the most recently arrested person without leaving your name for all to see.

Despite this one negative, SGA handled its second special election in three weeks well. The process was quick, fluid and tactful. Credit should be given to the entire senate, as well as Interim Vice President Elizabeth Braun. In only her second full meeting as interim vice president, Braun began the meeting alone at the executive table until Treasurer Asia Smith arrived. Thrown into the political fire, Braun ran through the official process well and was not the least bit reluctant in making room for Canny, creating a formidable tandem to ride out the rest of the spring semester.

quality should priority over most other things.

While campus safety is a paramount issue at an college, ours is a generally safe one. Our staff isn’t criticizing the police department, but instead those who are lobbying to the state bond commission from this campus.

Those in charge at Southern Connecticut State University put in their request to build a new academic building, parking garage and to renovate the student center, all for less than the bid CCSU made for a new public safety building.

We certainly are happy that not all of the funding being pursued by Central is for the police station. They did put in a request to renovate Davidson Hall to be up to date in regards to the state fire code. However, the majority of those allocations were previously approved at past meetings.

Eastern Connecticut State University asked for funds to move an entire softball field

and build new surrounding facilities for nearly $3 million less than our requested building will cost. The question remains, are we putting our funds to good use? The specifics of the request are baffling. $42,648 is intended to be spent on the vague item line of art. $250,170 of the funds will be given to the construction administrator.

There is a lot of pressure coming from the leaders of this state to get our budgets in check, but simultaneously increase the graduation rate and the quality of education. With the small and uncommon opportunities that we receive to update, build and strengthen our university in this economy, building a facility for a group that already functions very well may not be the wisest choice. That amount of money should have been used to renovate one or even several academic buildings, which is more important to student success than a new police station will ever be.

How We Got Here: Matt Clyburn

matt clyburn The Recorder

I can remember fragmented memories quite vividly in fact - exactly the way things were. When I arrived for my first day of college nearly six years ago as a young lad, the world was ahead of me, possibilities were abound. I knew exactly what I wanted and what it would take to get there. Little did this philosophy of religion and religious studies major know, he would soon embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

I was born not too far from here at the UConn Health Center on October 5, 1987.

The son of two proud parents, I grew to love theater, music and history in the Hartford suburb of South Windsor. In fifth grade, I read a short novel entitled “The Kid Who Ran For President” and I was instantly hooked. The first male teacher I’d ever had, Mr. Creme, encouraged my dream of becoming president of the United States. I remember wondering whether I’d be able to choose between Democrat or Republican when I was deciding on my party affiliation.

My “September 11th moment” came years before the tragedy, during the Clinton administration. American cruise missiles found their way to Baghdad with great ease - a way to scare the bejesus out of our enemies without making any tangible commitments for the intervention that was so desperately needed there. I sat in my living room and asked my parents if our enemies would ever bring the battle to our shores.

Worry became reality during the rest of the world’s September 11th moment.

Freshman Spanish class in high school and everyone was terrified. Some teachers begged to discuss what was going on, show news coverage to students. Administration refused their requests, but some teachers would sneak televisions into the room so that we could see what was going on in the world. I did not have one of those teachers.

My group of friends found solace and comfort in faith during those uncertain

times. I was fascinated by existentialism and other areas of philosophy - so I chose to pursue those endeavors when I was accepted to CCSU. Ideas, religions and belief systems were tremendously important to me back then. Before leaving for an internship in Walt Disney World, I would write opinion pieces in the student newspaper that simplified political ideas for the average student.

I soon discovered that my chosen course of study would lead to waiting tables for the remainder of my years, so I jumped ship. I decided to pursue music education. Then communication. Then business. Then, finally, Mr. Creme’s star student chose political science. Why not study something that I enjoy and that I can apply to a practical job in either the public or private sector? Duh. The trick was that, with my new major, I needed to select a minor. My dabble in communication led me to the Intro to Journalism class and I found myself excelling. My solid writing skills and eagerness to cover politics earned me an A in the course, so I decided to come back to The Recorder once more. I figured the campus newspaper critique in the Fall of 2010 would be an easy A. One credit, just for writing at least five news stories? No brainer!

Needless to say, I wrote a lot more than five stories last semester. And I loved every minute of it. And I got a B. There’s something to be said for simplifying big ideas, digging for facts and information, presenting an objective portrait of an interesting topic. They say that journalism is the first draft of history.

If that’s the case, then I take tremendous pride in the work I do here, in the things I’ve done thus far and in the things I plan to do.

Wherever I end up, I will look back at the fragmented memories I’ve brought with me. I used to think that the memories were scattered, random and even fractured, but they’re not - the things I remember are moments where I started a new draft of who I’ve become. If the work I do here is nothing more than a first draft of history, then I’ll be happy to have impacted a small part of the world we’re constantly on the verge of creating.

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THE RECORDER / Wednesday, March 2, 2011 / UPGRADE

‘King’s Speech’ Triumphs at Most Awkward Oscars Yet max kyburz The Recorder

To the surprise of almost nobody, The King’s Speech was the big winner at the 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday, tying with Inception with four wins. As predicted, it scooped up Best Picture, Best Actor (Colin Firth), Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.

Also in not-so-news: Natalie Portman won Best Actress for Black Swan, Christian Bale won Best Supporting Actor for The Fighter (but didn’t accept it in his Batman voice, which was kind of disappointing), and Aaron Sorkin won Best Adapted Screenplay for The Social Network. In terms of winners, the Oscars can barely find a way to keep the show the least bit interesting.

In terms of pure entertainment value, however, this was the most exciting Oscars I have seen in years. It was all thanks to the dastardly awkward humor (intentional and unintentional) rampant throughout the evening. Many missteps were made along the way, including making the Oscars’ stage the most elaborate screen-saver ever, recruiting Kirk Douglas to present an award, and awarding Melissa Leo with Best Supporting Actress. It was a much needed improvement over last year’s abysmal ceremony starring a disappointingly unfunny duo of Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin.

Beginning with an epically epic montage of films nominated for Best Picture, and following up with a gut-busting sequence of Hathaway and Franco crashing every nominee that wasn’t Toy Story 3, the show was already off to a great start. Alas, it was one of the few moments that they worked well as a duo, considering how Ms. Hathaway was heavy lifting and remaining

Helena Bonham Carter, Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush were all nominated for their acting in ‘The King’s Speech.’ adorable most of the show while James Franco was busy being a stoned, aloof Twitter celeb (just look how many Tweets he made mid-show!). Yep, between Franco, Leo, Jeff Bridges, and Best Animated Short winner Andrew Ruhemann, it was a good night to be wasted in Hollywood.

Back, of course, to that moment everybody’s talking about: Melissa Leo. Considering Kirk Douglas’ bizarrely adorable, often awkward presentation (which, in turn, became a metaphor for the ceremony itself ), I doubt anyone could’ve topped it. Enter Ms. Leo, who was in full Diane Ladd in Wild at Heart mode. Her

appallingly put-on “shocked” performance, followed by her emphatic f-bomb, and her overly dramatic speech most likely had all Academy voters scratching their heads, regretting that they ever considered her in the first place. Of course, I can hardly complain - it was one of the more entertaining (if not painful) moments of the evening. I’m sure she still has Kirk Douglas’ cane.

Things I learned this year: Wrap-it-up music is polite as long as its epic as hell.

Memorial montages are good reminders to smile when you’re dead. Also, if you are a key game changer in the world of cinema,

The Weinstein Company

you’re only worth enough time to stand up on stage to smile and receive welldeserved applause. Wanna say something, Francis Ford Coppola? How about you, Eli Wallach? Well, too bad. Just remember that the Academy only pretends to care about you.

The biggest disappointment of the whole evening? Oprah Winfrey not pointing to random members of the audience and yelling, “You get an Oscar! And you get an Oscar! Everybody gets an Oscaaaaaar!,” making America the real loser of the evening. I guess there’s always next year.

REVIEWS Forever the Sickest Kids Forever the Sickest Kids

Universal Motown March 1

Marisa Volo The Recorder

In 2007, Alternative Press named Forever the Sickest Kids in the list of 22 Best Underground Bands (That Likely Won’t Stay Underground for Long). Well, it’s been over three years since then and with albums like their latest, it’s obvious why they have

yet to become a big deal.

I usually don’t mind the fun dancey poppunk boy bands that remind me of high school days and listening to similar bands like the Take This to Your Grave years of Fall Out Boy. But in terms of this album, I think it’s too late in the game for a band to sound the way bands sounded years ago, unless these guys are trying to attract 14-year-olds.

Songs like “Life of the Party” are corny both lyrically and musically. These kinds of songs are filled with tidbits of techno nonsense and annoying lyrics that you’d hope would be a bit more mature as these “kids” are probably going on 30.

Not to say it isn’t catchy, but there are only a few songs on the 11-track album that catch my interest even remotely. One of them is “Keep On Bringing Me Down,” which is the first track. To me, it’s the best song on the album and forces the following tracks to lack the same sense of appeal. Another song that I’ve quickly come to realize would be my new guilty pleasure is “Bipolar Baby.” I really can’t explain what it is about it that I like, but I know that it is one of those songs that have the ability to get stuck in your head.

If you’re not really listening and the album is just on in the background, it may prove to be some interesting material. But once you get involved in the actual context of the songs, you will be questioning your judgments.

forever the sickest kids | facebook

Beady Eye

Different Gear, Still Speeding

Dangerbird March 1

reminds you of his brother’s work. There is a chance that the song writing skills of his brother may have somehow rubbed off on him, perhaps.

The listener thinks that for about three or four tracks before it gets old. The first group of songs are uniquely different from each other, but their style gets repeated over and over again throughout the album to the point where one needn’t keep an open ear for the last 25 minutes.

Even for its repetitiveness, this is a strong debut from a highly criticized sibling of an accomplished song writer. It’s not easy to live up to previous works, but this band will make its own path moving forward, hopefully they can stay in the same gear.

nicholas proch The Recorder

With hoards of followers, sold out world tours and numerous hits, no fan of Oasis could have ever pictured the band coming to an end. When the feuding between Liam and Noel Gallagher, the band’s frontmen, boiled over to a point that they could not repair, the brothers decided to part ways.

Noel has since moved on to do solo projects and since he was hailed as their primary songwriter, this seemed like a natural transition. In the meantime, Liam has formed his newest project with former members of Oasis and added some new faces to form Beady Eye. Their first release, Different Gear, Still Speeding acknowledges that they are a new band, but will still perform to the standards that they have set for themselves over the last decade.

The album kicks off with ‘Four Letter Word’ which is, needless to say, a slap in the face of Noel. Musically, it’s very similar to efforts on Oasis’ last album which were written by Liam. Hard rocking guitars and driving percussion accompanied by the whiney voice of Gallagher is basically what everyone was expecting to hear. However, it actually builds and flows in a way that

beadyeyemusic.com

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THE RECORDER / Wednesday, March 2, 2011 / UPGRADE

Flashy ‘Unknown’ Provides Little New to Genre matt clyburn The Recorder

Dr. Martin Harris (Liam Neeson) arrives for a bio-tech convention in Berlin with his wife ( January Jones), only to find himself waking up in a hospital with a severe case of ‘I-don’t-remember-who-I-am-osis.’

Turns out Harris was taken on the cab ride of his life, barely escaping the reaper after his taxi driver Gina (Diane Kruger) breaches a bridge

and drives the vehicle straight into a river.

When Harris leaves the hospital and goes out to find his lost wife, he discovers that someone has completely stolen his identity and no one will venture to say that something has gone terribly wrong. There is another Martin Harris (Aidan Quinn) that has seemingly taken his place and even his wife confirms that Harris II is the real Martin Harris.

Director Jaume Collet-Serra creates a

pretty smooth action piece in Unknown, but the plot and screenplay could use some work. The twists and turns would have been shocking in any other film, but for this one we just don’t seem to buy in. The car chases and fist fights are great segments, but don’t serve to lead the audience to the movie’s ultimate conclusion.

For how invested I should’ve been in the January Jones/Liam Neeson love connection, I strangely found myself wanting Neeson and

warner bros. pictures

Liam Neeson stars as Dr. Martin Harris in Jaume Collet-Serra’s ‘Unknown.’

Netflix It:

The Carter

Max kyburz The Recorder

With Predator-style dreads and ink all over his body, Dewayne Michael Carter, Jr., formally known as Lil’ Wayne, stands like a weather-beaten, graffiti-strewn bronze statue. If a statue could chant and smoke pot, of course.

I barely knew anything about Lil’ Wayne before seeing The Carter, the 2009 documentary that documents his life at the peak of his success. The weird thing is, though, even after seeing it and learning more about him, there’s still a lot to discover. For such a public figure, he’s quite an enigma. Seeing this film ignited a fascination in him, a first for any rapper.

Why this obsession with Weezy all of a sudden? For one thing, The Carter reveals him as a true artist (some would say genius) in every sense of the word, and he’s barely thirty. He made it past Hendrix, Morrison and Joplin. Is he the same level of “genius” as those two? Only time will tell. As seen in The Carter, his craft is as essential as the food he eats and the weed he smokes; wherever he goes, the mic goes with him. No writing involved, as all the lyrics nest in his head. He spends most of his time churning the thoughts in his head into lyrics, but some of it comes spontaneously. One powerful moment is when he rewinds a song mid-recording to utter the word “pain” right before a guitar solo.

At Lil’ Wayne’s request, filmmaker Adam Bhala Logue couldn’t secure any face time with him for interviews. Strange considering there’s plenty of footage of Weezy with other journalists. Was he afraid of

lil wayne | facebook

Logue asking him pressing, serious “documentary-style” questions?

The answers Weezy gives to the simpler questions produce far more shocking results. Exhibit A: What would you do if you were President? Along with slightly more obvious answers (lower gas prices, legalize weed), he calls for an end to prenuptial agreements and child support. Not surprising considering The Carter reveals him to be, amongst other things, a terrible father. Exhibit B: How does your music fit into the New Orleans tradition of brass, jazz, and poetry?

Kind of a dumb question, but that hardly gives Wayne the right to obnoxiously end the interview and send the guy packing. The Carter shows how artistry and success, when combined, often end up with another rock star butt-hole.

The film begins in Amsterdam (for obvious reasons) and we see Weezy walking around his ridiculously lavish hotel suite, mumbling and cracking. The only way we know what he’s saying is

through subtitles. The man isn’t even thirty and he’s already Ozzy Osbourne. Must have something to do with the fact that he’s smoking blunts and sipping on ‘sizzurp’ (that’s a prescriptionstrength cough syrup cocktail, Mr. and Mrs. Head in the Sand) nearly every second of the film.

Considering how Weezy acts when he’s baked, the Partnership for a Drug Free America ought to be drooling over this film. It’s a finer anti-drug PSA than they’ve ever made.

What it comes down to is that The Carter offers no questions or solutions, just depictions of Lil’ Wayne both exercising his creative muscles while on the brink of total self-destruction.

There’s a countless number of memorable moments: Weezy miming along with his freestyle, sharing the story of how he was “raped at 11,” his daughter rapping her own version of “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy,” and a crucial shot of the “misunderstood” tattoo that adorns his face. His Spinal Tap moment comes when he gets an important sports network logo inked on his arm. Very few documentaries have left me wanting much, much more.

Adam Logue recognizes Lil’ Wayne for the fascinating figure that he is, despite how achieving a lifetime’s worth of success in such a short period makes him somewhat of a jerk. You need know nothing about Lil’ Wayne before watching The Carter. If you love the man, watch it. If you hate him, watch it. It’s a film that is neither fair nor unfair to his persona. It’s downright honest. So much so, in fact, that he withdrew his blessing for the film after it hit the festival circuit. You know that when your subject presses charges in order to withhold a film’s release, it’s got to be nothing short of awesome.

Kruger to get together in her apartment. I don’t think this evidences a straying audience member but a straying director that couldn’t weave subtlety into the work.

I’m growing concerned that Neeson is becoming the Harrison Ford of our generation – great actor, great movies, but losing some traction as he gets older. Neeson plays an angry and confused American so well that discovering his real past is not believable.

Luckily, Gina provides a nice female counterpart during Harris’ adventures in Berlin; the audience needed someone to step up in January Jones’ absence. Jones’ interpretation of the character is bland and boring, but she is quite beautiful and has a lot of potential outside of this genre.

A mysterious former East German secret police officer (Bruno Ganz) aides Martin in his quest for identity and helps to move the plot along by bringing mysterious subtext into the mix. Some of his scenes are quite funny and his character is an interesting addition to the ensemble.

The dark tint of the cinematography was too dramatic for the final product. Some plot holes surfaced throughout the film, and often we are left asking “Seriously?”

Despite its shortcomings, Unknown is a nice refresh of the European thriller/Bourne Identity concept from a different perspective.

Though I felt like I had seen most of the movie before or in the multitude of trailers that preceded the film, I was entertained for the most part.

Provocative One-Woman ‘Snapshot’ Captivates Audience

speakoutnow.org

Carmen Mitzi Sinnott performed ‘Snapshot’ at CCSU last week. terence stewart The Recorder

Award-winning writer and actress Carmen Mitzi Sinnott performed Snapshot, a thoughtprovoking, autobiographical play that explores issues of race, war, self-identity and healing at Alumni Hall last Thursday.

The one-woman show begins in present-day New York City where Sinnott is asked to perform in an upcoming anti-war rally. After agreeing to perform, Sinnott asks herself, “What do I know about war?” As she flips through the pages of a family photo album, the answer to her question becomes painfully clear: her entire life was impacted by war in a literal and figurative sense.

Through the use of music, dance, sound effects and a projector, Sinnott brings to life the snapshots in her album. The audience is taken on an hour-long rollercoaster ride through Sinnott’s past as she searches for her estranged father who abandoned her after serving in the Vietnam War. Sinnott makes many emotional stops before reaching her final destination. She travels to Kentucky in the 1960’s where her white mother and black father fall in love at a time where interracial love was forbidden.

She reenacts a moment in the Vietnam War where her father must decide if he should kill a Vietnamese soldier. She relives the 1970’s where she grew up as

mixed-raced girl who was never fully accepted by her white or black classmates.

The beautiful storyline and Sinnott’s superb acting makes Snapshot a must-see play. Sinnott seamlessly plays different characters with raw emotion. The audience is never confused as Sinnott transitions from various characters from scene to scene.

Sinnott’s use of props is also noteworthy. Sinnott cleverly uses a projector, music and sound effects to place the audience in Vietnam and Kentucky in the 60’s and 70’s.

For instance, when Sinnott reenacts being taunted by her black classmates for acting “white” when she gets off the school bus, a picture of a bus is projected on the large screen hanging in the backdrop and the sound of an engine blasts from the speakers. In an instant the audience is taken back in time to that tense and painful moment.

Above all, Snapshot succeeds because it’s provocative. It encourages viewers to examine snapshots of their personal history and heal any wounds preventing them from experiencing love and evolving as a person.

Snapshot also awakens the social consciousness of the viewer. When Sinnott travels to Hawaii to find her missing father, she discovers that many war veterans are homeless.

This scene, like many others, makes the viewer wonder about the treatment soldier’s receive after risking their life to protect our freedoms and interests.

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THE RECORDER / Wednesday, March 2, 2011 / UPGRADE

Nicolas Cage Shows How to ‘Drive Angry’ and Get Away With It nicholas Proch The Recorder

If you’ve seen the countless efforts from Nicholas Cage to take his roles to the extreme, then his latest character, Milton, won’t take you by surprise. Combine escaping from hell, driving fast cars and gratuitous sex into a nice 90 minute package and you’re left with Drive Angry.

Directed by Patrick Lussier (Scream), the story surrounds the deranged and hostile Milton who escapes from the satanic underworld to kill the captor of his baby granddaughter and murderer of his daughter.

Accompanied by a great performance from William Fichtner, playing the role of the ‘Accountant’ of Hell, this film is packed with a great balance of extreme action and timely comedy.

With all of the explosions, gun fights, fist fights and well-choreographed blood splatters, it’s best to see this movie in its intended form...in 3D. The cinematography was done completely with the 3D viewing in mind.

This has become a gimmick as of late from the motion picture studios, but given the genre, it seems to fit perfectly (much better than with Jackass 3D).

Surprisingly, there is a good deal of moral values and cultural questions that are called into question throughout Drive Angry. Amber Heard, who plays Piper in the film, has to toil with the decision of whether or not to help a murderer and a convict (although she later figures out that he served his time in another world).

The main antagonist is played by Billy Burke, who acts as the fictional cult leader, Jonah King, and the man whom Milton is after. The close examination of cult groups has a staying point throughout the movie.

It’s very interesting to note the feelings that the ‘Accountant’ has of Jonah King, who feels that he is a chosen one by Satan, which the Accountant knows to not be true.

Strong points of the film are its sound editing and cinematography. With all the redlining engines from 60’s muscles cars, gun

fire and gasoline-induced eruptions, it could have been a major detractor had they not been done correctly and crisply. The audience can feel the difference between a rumbling and screaming motor while Cage is racing after his granddaughter. These differences make you feel as if you are witnessing this event take place, no matter how ridiculous it is.

The camera and editing leaves very little to be desired. Slow motion works to perfection when Cage is having sex with a hooker, while simultaneously shooting and killing several enemies. The actual fight may have actually taken several seconds in real time, but in the scene it is stretched out to about five minutes.

Rolling around the bed and then on the floor, every decision by Lussier is made to precise perfection as you follow each bullet to its target. Beyond the groundless and excessive intercourse in the first 30 minutes of the film, there are some fantastic driving scenes.

Many chase scenes from the industry seem impossible and almost laughable, but these seem to have an element of realism. There are no defied physics or impractical maneuvers, but these scenes rely completely on speed. The beauty of it is, due to the great camera work, you can actually feel that speed, especially behind a pair of cheap plastic 3D glasses.

With all these high points there are certainly some negatives. There is an element which can almost certainly ruin a scene for any moviegoer, bad CGI. There are two or three scenes which fall victim to this and for several seconds you feel as if you are watching a local access television channel being overrun by the devil. There is also a moment where the story seems to stall, right before it is saved by an intense fight scene in a church between Cage and the opposing cult. Luckily, these low points don’t take away from the overall experience.

Prepare for an eventful 90 minutes, as the pros will certainly outweigh the cons. With fun and believable performances from Cage and his co-stars, this film leaves the audience not wanting to drive home angry, but instead satisfied. If you’re a fan of action and mindless Nicolas Cage stars in ‘Drive Angry.’ violence you’ll fall in love with Drive Angry.

drive angry | facebook

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

Veteran Quartet Proves Key to Blue Devils’ Success Christopher mclaughlin The Recorder

The veteran leadership of Alexzandria Dowdy, Kerrianne Dugan, Leanne Crockett and Justina Udenze has been a major factor in leading the Blue Devils back to the NEC tournament.

Clutch shots have been made, huge defensive stands have been put up and large deficits have been erased as the four women playing out their last year of eligibility clearly have shown they understand what it takes to win close games.

“We all have a lot of experience,” said Dugan. “We all got to play in a lot of games our freshmen, sophomore and junior years so we do have the experience to bring to the table. We have played in a lot of close games; we’ve been there so we know what it takes.”

Dugan, Crockett and Udenze will graduate in May while Dowdy is only in her junior year at CCSU, but will be ineligible to play on the team next season.

More than just leadership, the four Blue Devils have developed a bond after playing together as long as they have. In a sport as fast paced as basketball, where decisions need to be made in an instant, chemistry between the players plays a large role.

“We know all of each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” said Crockett. “I can tell you Justina’s game, I can tell you Alex’s game, I can tell you Kerrianne’s game. I think that definitely helps out on the court.”

In the NEC, all of the top teams are comprised of mostly seniors and juniors. While the teams at the bottom, such as 2-25 St. Francis New York, are made up of sophomores and freshmen. Having upperclassmen on a team in the NEC will make a big impact. It wasn’t too long ago that CCSU was at the bottom of the conference with Coach Piper waiting on Dowdy,

Dugan and Udenze to develop and Crockett to be eligible.

“I think its special how they’ve come together as a group and what they’ve done as seniors just for the entire team and the entire program, with how they’ve worked with the younger kids and making them feel a part of the program.

This year we played old and young and next year we’re going to play very young.” said Piper.

All four of them are among the league leaders of the NEC. Udenze leads the team in scoring averaging 10.9 per game and is in the top 20 for the NEC. She is also top in rebounding, blocked shots and field goal percentage.

Dugan is among the leaders in points scored averaging over 10 a game and in the top ten for assists.

Dowdy is fourth in steals and in the top 15 in assists. Crockett, who leads the team in rebounding with nine a game, is also in second place in the NEC. She is also fourth in blocked shots and sixth in threepointers made.

“Alex has gone above and beyond this year and is playing really well. Kerrianne has been consistent every night, she‘s been that way since her freshman year.

Justina has grown so much and has been able to score and better understand the things she has to do and Leanne has made her rebounding an important part of her game and it is really hard to take her out of the game because of how many rebounds she can get,” said Piper.

They have not only had an impact on this season, but have left their mark on history as well. On Feb. 5, Crockett broke the CCSU career three-pointer record of 143; a record held for over a decade.

Udenze is the all-time leader in blocks for CCSU with 112 and Dugan has played more minutes than any other player in Blue Devil history.

“It’s nice to know what you did

Leanne Crockett (left), Kerianne Dugan (center), Justina Udenze (top right) and Alexzandria Dowdy (bottom right) have all made an impact for the lady Blue Devils in their run to the NEC tournament this year. kenny barto | the recorder make an impact and to know what we did will be remembered,” said Dugan.

Having four veterans on the floor every night provides comfort for Piper. In addition to knowing the value of novice experience, Piper has a confidence in her players that comes from years of watching them play.

Piper has seen them rise from unsure freshmen eager for the playing time to confident seniors leading the team to victory. After years of coaching and helping them develop into the players they are now, Piper knows what to expect from them every night, and often finds it difficult to take them out of the game.

“For myself , I’ve had the opportunity to know these players coming out of high school and had the opportunity to watch them grow and see how they improved from freshmen year to senior year.”

With the four veterans leaving, the Blue Devils will be very youthful next season. Though they don’t have the experience yet, the four girls leaving see the potential the younger players have and are making sure that their replacements are ready come next season.

“I always tell Kirsten [Daamen] to be more assertive when she has the ball. She has the talent, so I tell her to have confidence in her abilities,” said Udenze.

“Jess [Babe] and I always go hard at each other in practice and I think that really helps us both out,” said Dowdy. “She is always frantic so I tell her to calm down and let the game come to her.”

As the season winds down, the quartet knows their games are running out, but they have no desire to think about life after basketball. After last year’s bump from the NEC tournament, the girls are hungry for another chance to prove themselves.

Everything they do is aimed at success in the tournament, so life after isn’t one of their concerns.

“Were going to focus on our last games before we focus on real life,” said Dowdy.

NEC-Favorite Blue Devils Eager For Spring Golf Season Brian jennings The Recorder

Break out the irons and polish your balls. You can feel that winter has lifted and spring is here. Pinch blades of grass and let them float away from your fingers to get a sense of direction. A decision has to be made: lay up? Or go for it all? That time is upon us. Golf is coming and the Blue Devils are ready.

The men’s golf team comes into the second half of the 2010-2011 season with a lot of baggage: the 2011 NEC men’s golf preseason favorite, according to the league’s head coaches poll. CCSU snagged five first-place votes, beating out Sacred Heart with two votes in second and defending champions Saint Francis (PA), also with two votes.

Head Coach Kevin Giancola comes into his second season coaching the Blue Devils after a very successful first half. Giancola helped move the Blue Devils 160 spots in the rankings, from 237 to 122 in the nation, making it the largest jump in Division I Men’s Golf history.

Having a good finish in the Adam’s Cup was key and gave the Blue

Devils a lot of respect through the fall season. When asked about how it feels to be the NEC Preseason Favorite, Giancola simply loves it.

“Having a target on your back is the whole point of sports and competition,” said Giancola.

“Getting votes from five other coaches was kind of cool. Being number one is what you want to be...polls don’t mean anything. Just because you’re number one doesn’t mean your number one.”

Things weren’t as successful for Giancola when he took over as head coach in 2009. He came to CCSU as a “bothered coach” and felt that the team was “divided.”

“I had to get rid of six players,” said Giancola. “Having team camaraderie is huge to success. I don’t take the best players, I take the right players.”

CCSU didn’t lose any key players. Remember the golfer who finished 2010 with four top10 finishes, finishing first in the Macdonald Cup and CCSU Fall Invitational with an average 73.3 in 15 rounds? Returning as a key piece for the Blue Devils is junior Kevin Josephson.

Leading the Blue Devils to a first place finish at the CCSU Fall

Invitational and earning three NEC Golfer of the Week Awards in 2010, Josephson will have all NEC eyes on him heading into the spring of 2011.

He almost had the perfect end to 2010, finishing second individually at the 76th Annual New England Intercollegiate Golf Association Championship, finishing with a 71 (-1) tied for first, but later lost on the second playoff hole.

However, Josephson was still able to lead the Blue Devils to a third place finish eight strokes behind Rhode Island, who took the title. He was also named an All-New England selection for his fight for second. Keep in mind he is not alone. He’s teamed with Daniel Morgan, Justin Hughes and Eric Hawerchuk.

Morgan, the freshman Blue Devil from Mullumbimby, Australia, finished 2010 with an average of 74.8 and two top 10 finishes in 15 rounds with a third place finish at the CCSU Fall Invitational. On the other hand, Hughes, the senior from Simsbury, Conn., contributed with a single top 10 finish, averaging 75.8 in 15 rounds. His best finish was second at the CCSU Fall Invitational.

The Blue Devils as a team

finished 2010 with an overall average of 76.0 and eight top 10 finishes.

Giancola believes in beating the best to be the best and has set up a competitive schedule for his Blue Devils this season. “The only way

to get better is play better teams,” said Giancola. “Our first goal is to be the best in the NEC,” he added, “all we need are three things: hard work, consistency, and team camaraderie.”

steve mclaughlin | ccsubluedevils

Kevin Josephson will be the centerpiece of the 2011 golf team.

10

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, March 2, 2011 / SPORTS

COLUMN

For a Good Fan, Timeliness is Key

Hockey Preps for Sole Postseason Appearance BriTTany BUrkE The recorder

BriTTany BUrkE The recorder

While I would normally spend my time and space in this column droning on and on about the nonsense I see from some of the most outrageous female fans roaming the stands at sports games, this week I’ve decided to be a bit more productive and give advice rather than a catty one liner.

It is true that most fan girls break a lot of the common sense game rules. There are other fans that happen to be just as oblivious to their surroundings. A day at a hockey rink, football stadium or baseball park isn’t just a match, it’s a total experience.

Now let’s be honest, we’ve all been to a game and have had to deal with a person that makes you wonder why they would even bother to buy tickets.

This is because they either show up late, leave early or come to their seats multiple beers in and already slurring their words. Whatever the case may be, they are annoying and distracting to everyone in a 20-foot radius.

So instead of complaining about them, which makes me seem as if I hate everyone (mind you I don’t, I just don’t deal well with senselessness), it is a better use of space to offer ways of how to be a proper fan, fanaticism 101 if you will.

First things first, show up on time.

No, I do not mean tailgating time. I mean it is best to be in your seat prior to the tip off, coin toss, puck drop or first pitch. There is nothing worse than trying to watch the start of the game from your chair and being blocked by a random fan’s backside as they shuffle in front of you.

Granted, that is a pain at any point in time, and albeit sometimes unavoidable but it should be kept to a minimum, which brings me to suggestion number two. Fans should stay in their seats. Is it really necessary to get up every five minutes? Is stadium food and beer really worth missing the majority of the game? So try to keep the food and bathroom breaks to half time and intermissions.

When I was thinking about what to write for this week the first thing that came to mind was the Bruins playoff commercials featuring a giant bear and fan who was breaking a common rule. One of the funnier ones happened to be instructing the fans not to leave the game early to beat the traffic.

Staying for the game’s entirety is just as important as getting to your seat on time. The most exciting time of the game is the end, unless it’s a blowout, so why would you want to leave early? Suck it up and prepare yourself for the hour and a half of traffic that lay ahead of you.

All in all buy a watch, show up on time and remember you are not the only one in the stands. Enjoy the game and try to be considerate of everyone else around you, even the opposing drunk fan to your left.

The Central Connecticut State University club hockey team may currently be ranked second in the nation in Division II American Collegiate Hockey Association hockey, but that title will not hold ground for much longer after failing to make ACHA Regionals this season.

After the forfeiture of six games, the hockey team was unable to recover in time to get back within the ranking bracket for the regionals in Danbury, cutting their season short and dashing the hopes of making the tournament in San Jose, CA. “We’re just going in and we absolutely know that these are the only playoffs we have this year and we want to show that we should’ve been the regionals contender this year,” said CCSU hockey player Evan Mink.

While the Blue Devils’ ACHA expectations for a run at the national title may have expired, their season continues for one more weekend at the Super East Collegiate Hockey League’s tournament held March 4 through 6, in Albany, at the Albany County Hockey Facility.

This year’s playoffs are set to be hosted

by Siena College, long time rival of the Blue Devils, and the third seed going into the playoffs. Siena and CCSU have a long, lopsided history, which was snapped this year in CCSU’s 2-1 defeat on Siena’s home ice.

Having been successful in the recent trip to New York, the Blue Devils are looking to make a statement in this year’s playoffs.

“The tension of playing in that rink, I think, went out with the graduating class last year because we’re all new guys on the team,” said Mink. “I was only a freshman last year, I didn’t have the same kind of, ‘We can’t win in this rink’ so now that we beat them down there it’s just another hockey game.”

The Blue Devils will take on the fourth ranked University of New Hampshire Wild Cats in the first round. This season the Blue Devils and Wild Cats have met twice in each school’s rinks, respectively.

First time around, the two teams drew at five, while the Blue Devils took the second game at home, routing the Wild Cats 7-3.

UNH may be ranked a spot above CCSU, but the players remain confident in their abilities to read the Wild Cats’ game plan and oust the team in the first round, much like the way they were able to in the first round of last season’s SECHL playoffs.

If CCSU does in fact make it to the next round, the Blue Devils will have to play the first seed, William Patterson.

“Just play the same kind of in your face style; throw the body around because they don’t like that. We beat them last game because they kept putting themselves in the box. The goalie got that penalty for five minutes and we were able to score two goals on them; so just put the pucks on net,” said Mink of the team’s

BasEBall | ConT. from 12 member.

“At the end of the day, we’re going to be staring at Monmouth, we’re going to be staring at Wagner and Sacred Heart has always been consistent,” Hickey said. “Also, there’s no way Quinnipiac isn’t going to contend, they have too many good players and have had too many down years.”

New to the 2011 NCAA Division 1 season is the new Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution standard for baseball bats. This new standard controls the “bounciness” of when the bat hits the ball to the point of where the new composite metal bats will perform similar to wooden bats.

In 2010, CCSU hit 70 home runs as a team, which more than doubled their total from 2009. Even though Coach Hickey blames this on the warm breezy days, he seems to have a feeling that the production will be down from last year.

“We got our hands on one of the new bats in the fall, but we really didn’t have a chance to hit it outside much and still haven’t had that chance,” said Hickey. “I don’t know if it’s the talk that it hasn’t been that good, but I tend to believe that we won’t rely on the homerun

plan for the Pioneers.

CCSU was knocked from last year’s tournament by William Patterson, but was able to split games with the team this season. After a 9-5 loss to the Pioneers at the beginning of the season, the Blue Devils managed to scrape out a 6-5 win on home ice.

CCSU will have to take it one game at

a time if the team plans on making it to the championship round and work on the issues that have been plaguing the players all season, such as defensive zone coverage. However, the players know that this is the only chance they have to make a statement in the league, and the last chance they have to play hockey until next season.

kEnny BarTo | ThE rECorDEr

Ryan Stanley leads the ACHA in points for the 2010-2011 season.

as much as we did last year, even though I haven’t heard anything that bad from games being played this week.”

It’s vital for CCSU to take things one game at a time, which is very familiar to Coach Hickey since the only two pitchers who had set spots in the rotation last year were Meade and Dave Krasnowiecki.

“What we are going to try to do is piecemealing some things and doing some platooning,” said Hickey. “We’ll also be looking at other options later in the game that we shied away from last year, whether it be pinch runners or defensive replacements.”

Krasnowiecki will lead the pitching rotation in his last year of eligibility after going 7-3 last season with a 4.84 ERA . The southpaw joined the Blue Devils last season from Community College of Rhode Island and immediately made an impact.

“Dave is someone who pitched on the weekend for us last year and also got a start for us against Florida State in the regional, so there’s a lot of experience there that’s going to be relied on,” Hickey said. “We’re hoping to stabilize the pitching a lot better than last year. I don’t know if we got better last year on the mound, but I just like to say that we kept reshuffling the deck, which we want to avoid

this year.”

The lineup for CCSU has a lot of question marks, but there is one solid part, and that’s the clutch bat of Pat Epps. Epps was second on the team in batting average last season hitting .418, and led the team with 18 home runs, a total that broke Jamie Palmese’s record of 16 in 1997.

“A lot of what we do with the lineup will be surrounding Pat Epps,” Hickey said. “He’s someone who’s batted in the middle of the lineup his whole life, so I’m not worried about him. But a lot of the lineups that had success in past years had a lot to do with who hit in front or in back of a guy, so it’s going to be something we’re going to pay a lot of attention to.”

It’s going to be an interesting season for CCSU baseball. Being picked first in the NEC is a tough spot to be put in, but the Blue Devils have the talent to put up a decent record this year.

As long as the Blue Devils aren’t bitten by injury and stay consistent, CCSU should compete for another NEC title in 2011. The Blue Devils open up this weekend at Navy for the second consecutive year.

CCSU will not make an appearance at home until March 15th against in-state opponent Yale.

11

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

kenny barto | the recorder

Robby Ptacek goes for a layup on Saturday at Long Island. Ptacek scored 11 in the 86-72 loss.

M. BBALL | Cont. from 12 we need him.”

The Blue Devil’s seemed determined to match the offensive output from LIU, but the points began to add up. LIU had a clear size advantage and made full use of it, constantly feeding the ball down in the paint.

CCSU did its best to stop them, but its best often resulted in whistles as LIU drew fouls. LIU was sent to the line 15 times in the second half. Fifteen free throws isn’t a lot, but considering CCSU was only sent once, it sure seemed like it. Despite everything, the game was still manageable for CCSU, until David Hicks hit three straight three-pointers, all in the exact same spot.

“One player who will remain nameless didn’t get out to Hicks and he made us pay,”

said Dickenman.

The third was the dagger and though CCSU never gave up, the game was essentially over. The loss is the third straight for CCSU and its fourth in the last five games.

Though the team is limping into the NEC Tournament, Dickenman did take away some positive signs.

“I saw the intensity which has been lacking of late,” said Dickenman. “I saw positive sparks of intensity, focus and ball pressure and I want to build on that. We do have a home game and I know the crowd will be there to support us.”

Now in fourth place, CCSU will take on fifth place St. Francis (NY) Thursday night to kick off the tournament.

player. They do a lot of things inside on her and her only committing one turnover this game was a big factor for us.”

After getting killed by Udenze in the first, LIU tried to counter her dominance by sending extra defenders. The double teams did slow her down, but in doing so, LIU picked its poison. Though Piper has been utilizing the inside-out offense the past several games, this was the most effective it’s been. Udenze did a great job picking up the double team and kicked the ball back out to a wide open shooter. Both Crockett and Dowdy knocked down multiple threes during the half, making LIU pay for doubling Udenze.

“In the Sacred Heart game, Justina had a good game, but we weren’t getting anything from our perimeter kids, and that hurts us,” said Piper. “This time our perimeter kids made the shots, and that was huge for us. Having that floor balance makes a big difference.”

CCSU led by 10 in the second half, but LIU wasn’t going down quietly. Ashley Palmer and Kiara Evans did everything they could to will LIU back in the game. Palmer had 13 in the second half and Evans had seven to keep LIU alive.

The lead was trimmed to three before Dowdy hit a three-pointer to keep LIU at bay. However, after a lay-up by Crockett, consecutive three-pointers from Evans and Krystal Wells cut CCSU’s lead to one and swung the momentum in LIU‘s favor.

While the Blackbird faithful were excited and the players were pumped up, CCSU had seniors who have been there before. Unfazed by the turn of events, Crockett drained a three to silence the crowd. Slightly deflated, LIU followed up by missing a lay-up, which led to Dowdy knocking down another three, taking the life out of LIU. “Usually when we start doing bad and they start coming back we get down on ourselves,” said Dowdy. “I knew we just had to calm down. We had the lead and I knew we

could keep the lead.”

A road win against a top team is important this time of the year, especially since the Blue Devils won’t get any home games in the tournament, unless the team plays the eight seed in the finals.

“It’s always good to win but we know it’s one game at a time,” said Piper. “We can’t overlook that, we still have to go out and play a great game.”

kenny barto | the recorder

Alexzandria Dowdy shoots one of her seven attempts from three-point range.

2011 NEC Men’s Basketball Tournament Games held at campus sites. Higher seed hosts all games. Teams will be reseeded after quarterfinals.

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Championship

#1 Long Island Thursday, March 3 7:00 pm

#8 Saint Francis (PA) #2 Quinnipiac Thursday, March 3 7:00 pm

TBA at Highest Remaining Seed Sunday, March 6 12:00 pm or 2:00 pm (MSG or Fox College Sports)

TBA

Lowest Remaining Seed

TBA

#7 Mount St. Mary’s

Wednesday, March 9 7:00 pm ESPN2

#3 Robert Morris Thursday, March 3 7:00 pm

#6 Wagner #4 Central Connecticut State Thursday, March 3 7:00 pm kenny barto | the recorder

TBA NEC Champion

TBA 2nd Highest Remaining Seed Sunday, March 6 12:00 pm or 2:00 pm (MSG or Fox College Sports)

TBA

3rd Highest Remaining Seed

TBA

#5 St. Francis (NY)

2011 NEC Women’s Basketball Tournament Games held at campus sites. Higher seed hosts all games. Teams will be reseeded after quarterfinals.

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Championship

#1 Saint Francis (PA) Saturday, March 5 Time TBA

TBA at Highest Remaining Seed

#8 Fairleigh Dickinson

Tuesday, March 8 Time TBA

#4 Robert MorrisA Saturday, March 5 Time TBA

TBA

Lowest Remaining Seed

TBA

#5 Long Island

Sunday, March 13 3:00 pm ESPNU

#2 Monmouth Saturday, March 5 Time TBA

2nd Highest Remaining Seed Tuesday, March 8 Time TBA

#3 Sacred Heart kenny barto | the recorder

Saturday, March 5 Time TBA

#6 Central Connecticut State

NEC Champion

TBA

#7 Quinnipiac

Ken Horton (top) and Kerrianne Dugan (bottom) will lead their respective teams into the NEC tournament this week.

TBA

TBA

3rd Highest Remaining Seed

TBA Credit: nec

12

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, March 2, 2011 / SPORTS

BL ACK AND BLUE CCSU Women Upset Long Island On the Road

christopher mclaughlin The Recorder

Bloodied and battered, but not broken, the CCSU women’s basketball team upset Long Island University 68-61 on the road Saturday.

It was a very physical game, as both teams battled throughout. In the final minute, Leanne Crockett took an elbow off her nose and was forced to leave the game as blood came pouring out. Despite the elbow, Crockett left her mark on the game in another way.

Crockett finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds while Justina Udenze finished with 19 and 12 to give the Blue Devils (1710) something it hasn’t gotten all season: two double-doubles in one game.

Though Crockett and Udenze were huge for the Blue Devils, the play of Alexzandria Dowdy allowed CCSU to pick up the tough road win. Her three second-half threepointers all came at crucial moments and helped keep the lead despite LIU’s (19-9) surge in momentum.

“We had two keys to victory today: taking care of the ball and our transition defense,” said Head Coach Beryl Piper. “We did a great job, we only had 14 turnovers and 17 assists; so a positive ratio. Alex and Justina had 19 points and Leanne had 13 and we really needed that balance.”

Following a senior day loss, the Blue Devils came out with much more energy than they showed on the night they saluted the graduating seniors. Every player showed improvement right from the start and the Blue Devils led for much of the game.

Led by Udenze, who has been on a tear of late averaging 20 points per game over the last five games, the Blue Devils slowly built up its lead. Udenze finished the half atop all scorers with 12 points and helped open up the floor for the perimeter players.

“It’s always important for Justina to get going,” said Piper. “She’s kind of our go-to W. BBALL | cont. on 11

kenny barto | the recorder

Justina Udenze recorded another double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds against the Blackbirds on Saturday.

Men’s Basketball Can’t Handle First Place LIU christopher mclaughlin The Recorder

Though the CCSU men’s basketball team had one of its better offensive performances of the season, it could not withstand a secondhalf onslaught by Long Island University.

The Blue Devils (18-11) held on to a twopoint lead at the half and even matched its first half totals in the second, but were ultimately defeated 86-72 to finish the regular season.

There was no stopping LIU (24-5). After shooting 36 percent in the first, LIU nearly doubled it shooting percentage, shooting 64 percent in the second half. Despite having four players in double figures, the Blue Devils just couldn’t match LIU’s efficiency.

“They attacked in the second,” said Head Coach Howie Dickenman “Some was a result of us missing shots, but it got to the point where you knew it was going in regardless of who took the shots. When they shot the ball, I started raising my hands to signal it was good before it even went it.”

Neither team scored a point until the 17:30 mark, when LIU got on the board with a lay-up. Ken Horton tied it on a three-pointer the next possession for the Blue Devils, with the teams going back and forth for a few minutes. An LIU three-pointer opened a 10-2 run, but the Blue Devils got a big spark from Chris Baskerville, who scored six straight to cut into the lead.

“Chris is a real lift guy for us,” said Dickenman. “He’s still trying to learn the nuisances of the game, but he gave us a nice lift today.”

With the lead erased, the teams began trading baskets again, this time for the rest of the half. The Blue Devils got another big boost from Horton, whose 14 first-half points helped counter LIU’s balanced scoring.

Horton finished the game with his twelfth double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds. He finishes the regular season first in the NEC in points averaging 20 per game and second in rebounding with nine per game, only .1 behind the leader. He is also first in blocks and in the top ten of every other category except assists and three-point percentage, a feat no one else in the NEC is close to.

“Kenny was Kenny today,” said Dickenman LIU finished the season in first place with a commanding lead on the rest of the pack.

It has won 10 straight games and appears to be the favorite to win the NEC Tournament.

While the team didn’t live up to its standards

kenny barto | the recorder

Ken Horton pulling up for a jumper during CCSU’s loss to first place LIU. in the first half, LIU more than made up for it in the second.

A 9-0 run for LIU started the half and the Blackbirds didn’t look back. With the improved play from Shemik Thompson and Robby Ptacek, the Blue Devils kept it close as long as possible. Both players had been struggling recently, but seemed to break out of their slumps in the second half.

Despite the recent shooting woes, Ptacek finishes the season seventh overall in scoring averaging 14.9 per game and Thompson rounds out the top 20 at 12.3. Ptacek also finished first in free throw percentage while Thompson was third in assists and second in steals.

“Shemik showed he is a quality player today,” said Dickenman. “He hadn’t been shooting well, but finished 6-11 today. He played with a spark and I’m pleased to see it.

Robby’s game was better, he’s been in a funk and he came out of it. He should be proud, M. BBALL | cont. on 11

New Faces, Same Expectations for CCSU Baseball Kenny barto The Recorder

After eight long months and a harsh northeast winter that yielded some five feet of snow around the central Connecticut area, the beginning of March means one thing to some: the start of baseball season.

“It’s been a long offseason,” said CCSU Head Coach Charlie Hickey. “But, it’s nice to get started and get things going again.”

CCSU’s season ended in June after two losses in the NCAA regional tournament in Norwich, Conn. The Blue Devils were beaten

by Florida State 11-3 followed by a 25-5 shellacking by UConn.

The Blue Devils lost nine players to graduation, including major contributors Sean Allaire, Tommy Meade, Richie Tri and Kyle Zarotney. However, Coach Hickey has replaced the nine departures with twelve new freshmen and two transfers.

“One of the redshirt freshmen, Anthony Turgeon, will come in right away and he will be asked to play shortstop and bat early in the lineup,” Hickey said. “He was capable of playing last year but since we had such a dominant group in the infield, we redshirted him. I’d like to compare him to Sean Allaire, so he’s going to be asked to be a major

kenny barto | the recorder

Dave Krasnowiecki pitching against Florida State during the NCAA Regionals in June.

contributor right away.”

Allaire, an all-region and third team AllAmerican selection, led the team by batting .426 with 73 RBI and 65 runs scored. With Turgeon being compared to Allaire, his next four years of eligibility will be key to making the Blue Devils a team to be reckoned with.

In the preseason coaches’ poll, CCSU was picked to finish first in the Northeast Conference, setting the bar high for the upcoming year.

“If you look at every other conference, most are an exact replica of how teams finished last year,” said Hickey. “It’s something that over the course of the last 10 years we have been there, so it’s not anything that scares me and I know it doesn’t mean anything. But, it’s also where our expectations are and that we’re going to be able to compete at the top of the conference.”

CCSU only received two first-place votes in the coaches’ poll, but received the most overall points out of every other team.

Monmouth received four first-place votes, but finished second, followed by third-place Bryant, who received three first-place votes.

Bryant won the regular season title last year but was unable to compete in the NEC tournament because it was not a full-fledged BASEBALL | cont. on 10