AWA R D-W INNING CENTR A LR ECOR DER .COM Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Consolidation May Be Coming For Academic Programs
Central Connecticut State University
Is War With Iran Inevitable?
JuSTin MuSzynSki The recorder
Various low enrollment programs at CCSU show concern that consolidation will occur amongst the four CSU schools. Smaller programs at public universities in general tend to have anxiety about their number of majors. Jason Jones, President of the CCSU chapter of the American Association of University Professors, says these fears tend to escalate when a re-organization is in process, as it is now within the state. “[The Board of Regents] has consistently said one of the benefits of consolidation would be identifying efficiencies within the system,” said Jones. “They usually seem to mean that those are administrative efficiencies, but sometimes it sounds as though they mean we should not have lots of small programs.” Carl Lovitt, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, says CCSU isn’t considering eliminating any programs despite some graduating from very few majors per year. “It’s a time of change and a time of uncertainty and I think small programs feel vulnerable. Everybody kind of fears that this new board is going to change everything,” said Lovitt. Lovitt also says that no one from the board has hinted to him that some programs need to be cut. Barry Wescott, Chair of the Chemisty Department, says that physics as well as his department have both been concerned about this issue because of words that were exchanged with the administration. “We’ve had administrators, the Dean of Arts and Sciences and the Provost, express concern about our enrollment and questioned if these are programs that should be at CCSU because of the low enrollments that we had,” said Wescott. “I think that there were some conversations between department chairs in small programs with their dean that were misinterpreted,” said Lovitt. “They were afraid programs were going to be eliminated.” Lovitt added that since those conversations, he has been working to reassure faculty that a miscommunication may have occurred and that there is no cause for concern. “I know what was said to me,” said Wescott when told about Lovitt’s explanation. But he also said that the level of his uneasiness about the subject has somewhat declined due to assurances by the administration. One department that will experience some reorganization is Modern Languages. Lovitt says that CCSU will be teaming with SCSU to offer some classes through a new video conferencing format. Some courses at SCSU will offer German in a virtual classroom by a faculty member here and some CCSU French courses will be under the instruction of a SCSU professor. “It’s like being in a big large classroom that stretches from here down to New Haven,” said Lovitt. Wescott says this example worried some faculty because, from his understanding, the administration told the department that something needed to be done regarding the lack of students taking modern language classes. This led some to believe that the BOR may have had some influence. In response, Lovitt says it was initiated by various provosts from around the state and will ultimately assist CCSU in a time of economic woes. “It will allow us to keep the program but we won’t have to pay a faculty member to teach three students,” said Lovitt. He added that this will allow the university to reorganize its emergency hires to programs that may have greater needs. He also says that CCSU has managed budgetary cuts without eliminating any faculty positions or programs , and that there’s no reason to believe that it cannot continue to make do. “There are other programs that are low enrolled that we have no intention of getting rid of,” said Lovitt. “We’re trying to find ways to increase enrollments. I’m fairly optimistic about the future.”
Volume 108 No. 25
kenny barTO | THe reCOrDer
Stephen Kinzer speaks to his audience in the Marcus White Living Room. aManDa webSTer The recorder
Award-winning journalist Stephen Kinzer came to campus on Wednesday to discuss the growing animosity between the United States and Iran that seems to be leading towards the path of war. A crowd of about 45 people, made up of students and faculty, arrived to hear Kinzer’s answer to the question: “Is war with Iran inevitable?” “If there’s a decision made by the White House we can get there,” Kinzer said to the audience. “The key is to try to see the world from the Iranian perspective.” Kinzer has spent a great deal of time in Iran conducting research and has written books based on the history between Iran and the
United States. His most recent is titled Reset: Iran, Turkey, and America’s Future, in which he offers an idea for America to ally itself with Iran. He explained that Iran is America’s most logical partner but in order to come to an agreement politically, we as a country need to get there emotionally and psychologically. “The Iranian people are unbelievably proAmerican,” Kinzer said. “But we’re ready to go to war based on our ignorance.” Kinzer explained how the people of Iran are an incredibly proud group and view everything that happens with America from a historical viewpoint. The tension between the two countries has been an ongoing dilemma since the 1950s when America played a part in overthrowing Iran’s democracy and since then the country tends to see action by larger powerhouse nations as an attempt to keep the
country of Iran down. The belief that Kinzer says he holds is that it is imperative for Iran to get out of isolation with its surrounding countries in order to work towards a solution. Without the participation of other countries in the region, there is little hope for a resolution. Kinzer deems that the lack of willingness to compromise from both parties is what is keeping the two countries apart. He explained that America needs to take on a different perspective and needs to try to take a step back, something our nation is not exactly known for. He shared a story with the crowd about a woman who overheard him speaking English one day while he was in Iran. When the woman found out he was from America she cried out, “We know they say terrible things about us over there but we love America!” Kinzer believes the negative images Americans cling to of Iran and how the Iranian people need to change in order for there to be a drive in Congress for a more peaceful way to come to an agreement, he said. Until that happens Kinzer says he fears the conflict will increase. “Having an enemy unifies an enemy,” explained Kinzer in regards to why it seems to be so difficult for the United States to be compliant with Iran. “It’s hard to say who you are as a nation, it’s easy to say who you are not.” The issue of potential war with Iran is going to dominate the presidential campaign, and according to Kinzer, the time period between now and November is going to be a very scary time. He emphasized the importance of universities such as CCSU that have classes and lectures based on peace talks and how young adults can become aware of what is going on in the world and get politically involved. “Our ignorance is careening us towards conflict in the area,” said Kinzer. “Make your own judgments to see what’s important and what’s not.”
Bloggers Panel Taped On Campus For WNPR
kenny barTO | THe reCOrDer
Panelists discuss blogging and how the medium has influenced the political landscape this election cycle. JareD TODD The recorder
John Dankosky, News Director at WNPR Hartford, hosted a panel discussion Wednesday titled “Funny, But True: Blogging the 2012 Election” The discussion, which covered an array of topics, from US relations with China to the pros and cons of political humor, examined why satire and wisecracks seem to be the core of the US political discourse in recent elections.
The panel took place in Vance Academic Center and was taped for a future WNPR broadcast. Blogger for WNYC’s It’s a Free Country and online columnist for the Wall Street Journal Jeff Yang said that political humor going viral is “brilliant” and that it “humanizes and democratizes” government. “The humor in politics and the political aspect of humor are really kind of converging,” said Yang, who also said he doesn’t see a lack of interest in politics
Follow Us On Twitter: @TheRecorder
among young people. Dankosky, the Vance Endowed Chair of Journalism and Mass Communication, raised the question of the media reporting on humorous material that has gone viral—does it have news value? “For me, as a political journalist, I’m like, ‘OK. What’s the news value of me doing another piece about…this thing a lot of people are watching?’” said Anna Sale of It’s a Free Country.
see PANEL - page 2
2
NEWS
THE RECORDER Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Students Ask For Longer Hours From Campus Facilities JareD TODD The recorder
The Inter-Residence Council held a forum Tuesday with Vice President of Student Affairs Laura Tordenti to discuss ways to improve resident life at CCSU. Several students suggested that the library, cafeteria and gym should have longer weekend and night hours so that campus amenities are more conveniently accessible throughout the week. Tordenti explained that while the requests are noted by the administration, there are a number of details to be worked out, such as contract negotiations and budgetary changes. In dining, there is the complexity of catering to a wide range of tastes and preferences. “We just have to keep in mind that if you want to live at a five-star hotel, you’re going to have to pay for a five-star hotel and we don’t have that,” said Student Center and Central Reservations Director Otis Mamed. “But we can certainly make adjustments.” Monday to Thursday, students can opt for a “late dinner” in the South Side of Memorial Hall from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00
p.m. On Saturday, dinner is from 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., but for those with busy work schedules, these hours may be insufficient. The cafeteria staff ’s contract stipulates that they clean up at 6:30 p.m.—the end of dinner—but some say they’ve seen staff closing an hour earlier. “I would really like you to yell when you’re seeing things close at six o’clock and it says 6:30 p.m.,” said Mamed. “Contractually, there is no reason why they can’t be open until 6:30 p.m. and then clean up. That’s what they’re paid to do.” Regarding the quality of the food, Tordenti asked IRC to rate it on a scale from one to ten with ten being the Olive Garden. Most of the responses were either a six or a seven, which Tordenti said isn’t too poor of a rating. However, one student attending the forum did not hold back her complaint about the food quality, saying she has seen chicken with feathers still on it. Mamed stated that he has met with Sodexo General Manager Don DeGrutolla and the management staff is working on the grievances. Another concern brought up was the availability that the
fitness centers on camus offer. An RA suggested later hours because he often gets residents who complain about not being able to go to the gym at night or at a convenient time on the weekends. Director of Student Activities Scott Hazan said that longer weekend hours would be possible if the fitness facilities were shut down for blocks of time during the weekdays. “We need feedback from [students] about what time you’d like to see things open,” said Hazan. Another issue regarded the library’s availability. However, adding library hours, especially during finals week, might require it to be shut down at certain times throughout the week to allow enough room in the school’s budget. When the request was raised to make bookstore hours longer as well, Mamed said it is an issue of sales. He said that if there are campus events that drive up sales, the bookstore will be open for longer, but it is otherwise counterproductive for it to stay open during times when sales are low. “You’re entitled to good service,” said Tordenti. “You don’t have to wait for a forum like this to express your concerns. If you don’t know where to send them…send them to me.”
Panel Discusses Importance Of Political Blogs During Elections
A program of the YWCA, New Britain
Continued from page 1
2 1 0 2 , RIL 22
P A , y da
Sun
TRAL at CEN
ITY
NIVERS
ATE U ICUT ST
T
CONNEC
am 0 0 : 8 ins at
gt 7:00am e b e c a 5K raion time is
ny o m e r e rds c 10:00am a w a an k-out at y b d e llow and spea o f e c a R
rat regist
Some of our sponsors include: Sexual Assault Crisis Services of the YWCA New Britain, the Hartford Marathon Foundation, and Central Connecticut State University
Rooms for Rent 2 blocks from Diloreto Hall Wireless internet, Washer/ Dryer, off the street parking, cleaning service, Heat/ Hot water included One room is about 10 x 10 and one is 10 x 18. They are $500 & $550 a month respectively, plus 1/4 of the utilities. Common kitchen with all appliances, living room with large TV, grill, and storage space in basement. Available June 2012 Contact Dave milehighdemos@gmail.com
WHY PAY MORE? New & Used Restring and Restorations...
TOM BAXER Guitar Repair 16 Washington St. New Britain, CT
860-827-1313
Follow us on Twitter!
many of her students are not engaged in politics at all and agreed that humor gets more young people involved, but it also runs the risk of belittling the election process. Another audience member, 22-year-old Amy Roy, a communications student, said most of her friends are not registered to vote. “I try to follow things just because I feel like I should,” said Roy. “But I kind of do a crappy job of it. I watch The Daily Show, and I think that counts.” Roy also said that she was excited to vote in 2008 with her friends because of the campaign slogans of hope and belief in America, but apathy soon took over. “Now I feel like all my friends are like ‘I don’t even care. It doesn’t count,’” said Roy. “That’s all I hear—it doesn’t count.”
DO
YOU GRADUATE
WANT
Scan this QR Code with your smartphone to find more information www.hartfordmarathon.com, click on ENOUGH! under the events tab to register or contact Krystal Rich at krich@ywcanewbritain.org
Sale pointed out that it also depends on who the audience is and that reporters should be aware of what’s happening in the social media realm. Mary Phillips-Sandy, Editorial Producer for Comedy Central’s Indecision, noted that covering political issues comically shows the strength of our country. “To ask if comedy is bad for democracy is like asking if human beings are bad for democracy,” said Phillips-Sandy. She went on to say that comedy gives our society a way to see “how we’re all ridiculous” and lets people discover the weaknesses of powerful politicians. “In a way we’re strengthening [the democratic process], as the more we talk about it the stronger it gets,” said Phillips-Sandy. A CCSU communications professor in the audience said
TO
register make sure to
email advisor check your university
@TheRecorder @RecorderSGA @RecorderSports
visit your
3
THE RECORDER / Wednesday, April 18, 2012 / NEWS
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 Nicholas Proch nproch@centralrecorder.com Managing Editor Kassondra Granata kgranata@centralrecorder.com
Art Director Ashley E. Lang News Editor Justin Muszynski news@centralrecorder.com Sports Editor Brittany Burke sportsed@centralrecorder.com Photo Editor Daniel Saunders dsaunders@centralrecorder.com
Upgrade Editor Rachael Bentley upgrade@centralrecorder.com Copy Editors Sara M. Berry Maxine Eichen Staff Writers Matt Aveni Acadia Otlowski Joe Suszczynski Jared Todd Derek Turner Eric M. Valad Dan Wanat Amanda Webster Irene W. Yukash
About The Recorder is a student-produced publication of Central Connecticut State University and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of CCSU’s administrators, faculty or students. The Recorder articles, photographs and graphics are property of The Recorder and may not be reproduced or published without the written permission from the Editorin-Chief. T he pur pose of T he Recorder is to approach and def ine issues of impor tance to the students of Central Connecticut State Universit y. Staf f meetings for T he Recorder are held on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in the Blue and W hite Room in the student center and on T hursday at 4:30 p.m. in the Recorder off ice.
Advertising I f interested in placing ads, please contact T he Recorder’s Ad Manager at adver tising@centralrecorder.com. For more information including our rate card, please v isit w w w.centralrecorder.com.
Students and local-area residents came together in the Student Center Circle to show their intolerance for hate crimes.
Daniel Saunders | THE RECORDER
CCSU Community Honors Trayvon Martin Justin Muszynski The Recorder
The CCSU community came together last Tuesday at the Student Center Circle to attend a vigil for Trayvon Martin, who many say was unjustly killed under a controversial law. Andrew Nave, President of the CCSU Chapter of the NAACP, who hosted the event, said he put the event on to bring awareness to the injustice that was done to Martin. “This obviously struck a chord with some because our own brothers and sisters are being killed right in our own backyard in Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury and Bridgeport and it doesn’t make the national news,” said Nave. Martin’s death has been in the public eye due to a law that has kept the man who shot him, George Zimmerman, out of jail. The reason he was not charged initially was
Daniel Saunders | THE RECORDER
Chris Hutchinson from Youth for Socialist Action speaks against the crime.
due to “stand your ground” laws; however, many believe that if Martin was not AfricanAmerican, Zimmerman would have been arrested on the spot the night he shot Martin. Various speakers addressed the audience, encouraging rallies like this one to continue. Some students wore a sweatshirt with the hood over their head in honor of Martin. “To stand here and believe that racism and inequality in this country is inexistent is complete nonsense,” said Abdul Raheem, Vice President of Connecticut’s Muslim Student Association. “We need to all realize that it’s a huge issue and what happened to Trayvon Martin is a representative of that.” Attendees were encouraged to sign a banner for Martin, which Nave says will hopefully be placed somewhere in the Student Center if he gets permission. “We need to blame the oppressive system, the racist system for this murder,” said Chris Hutchinson of Youth for Socialist Action. “It’s the same system that murdered Troy Davis.” Hutchinson briefly engaged the crowd in a chant in which he called for justice. “What do we want?” said Hutchinson. “Justice!” replied the crowd. “When do we want it?” said Hutchinson. “Now!” answered the crowd. Mary Sanders, Director of the Spanish Speaking Center in New Britain, also attended the event and spoke about her own struggle with laws that aid in racist acts. “Trayvon Martin was brutally murdered as a result of racial profiling,” said Sanders. “He and his family deserve justice but his murderer still walks free.” Sanders also said she has been trying to eliminate laws in Connecticut [for the past two years] that encourage racial profiling. “I submitted legislation to the legislators and they let it die in committee last year and there’s a chance it’ll die in committee this year,” said Sanders. “When law enforcement gets away with racial profiling, that pollution trickles to the minds of the general public who feel they can also get away with racial profiling.” Skittles were also handed out because Martin was said to have been eating them and drinking an iced tea when he was killed. Otis Mamed, Student Center and Central Reservations Director; Scott Hazan, Director of Student Activities and Leadership
Daniel Saunders | THE RECORDER
Andrew Nave (left), President of the CCSU Chapter of the NAACP, speaks with a student supporter. Development; and Richard Bachoo, Chief Administrative Officer, all attended the vigil. “Just to support the students in their efforts, certainly it’s a good cause,” said Hazan when asked why he chose to attend. “We try to come out to events when we can to support the students.” “Of course I’d like to see more people out here, but I’m happy with the turnout,” said Mamed. People in attendace were asked to hold a moment of silence for Martin where they held their fists in the air. Phrases like “End
Racism” and “End Hate” were written with chalk all over the Student Center Circle accompanied by candles that surrounded the inside of the brick wall. A day after the vigil, it was learned that Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder. Nave says he believes that rallies and protests around the nation contributed to this and that he is glad CCSUwas a part of it. “Our voices were heard and the national NAACP has been there every step of the way.This is a great moment!” said Nave in an email.
OPINION
4 THE RECORDER Wednesday, April 18, 2012
The CSU System Is Missing A Key Component The CSU education system is delicate. On each side, balancing the weight are each of the State Universities. These include Eastern, Southern, Western and our own Central Connecticut State University. Filling out the remaining space are the community colleges and Charter Oak, our neighbor directly across from Barrows and Diloreto. It keeps moving, with students coming and going, graduating and going into the working world in their desired fields of expertise. None of these schools boast that they are an easy path to a degree, and rightly so, as it shouldn’t be trivial to obtain a degree from any school in this state. We need a stimulus to function and to take the system further. We need the University of Connecticut to be that stimulus. UConn, aided by its athletic prowess, doesn’t need any attention at the national level. We do. CCSU is only steps away from being the
school that UConn was only a few years ago. Our programs are growing in strength each year. The quality of education is now high. We’re no longer just a commuter school. This image cannot be shaken until we are truly grouped with Storrs and the other satellite campuses around the state. It can no longer be a casual relationship, it should be a financial and public union. Decisions made for the UConn campuses should have an influence from other CSU schools. In turn, they should also have a right to input into our matters. The recent exemption from House Bill 5030 is just another example of the long distant relationship that we hold with UConn. Gov. Malloy expressed his concerns with graduation rates statewide. He wants improvement. The education reform all stemmed from his initiative. One of Malloy’s main concerns is graduation rates. There are currently multiple bills designed to improve them. The Board of
Regents has passed a transfer and articulation policy hoping to do the same. But the fact that UConn is skirting by all the proposals coming from the state only furthers the feeling that it is of its own breed. UConn’s graduation rate has improved for eight years in a row hitting 81 percent. CCSU’s is only 47 percent. It is clear that UConn has better retention rates but the original language in the bill designed to improve them state-wide included UConn. Then suddenly it was as if the state temporarily had a lapse in judgement and realized that UConn is better than the rest of us therefore, must be excluded from something that will cause it to have to cooperate with the other inferior state schools. It is clear that in some ways it is superior to CCSU and is the best institution the state has to offer but we don’t need to be reminded of it every time a new regulation sees it noticeably absent. UConn is like a student athlete that is
allowed to ignore their academics as long as they continue to perform on the field. If there is anything we should have learned over the last couple years it is that UConn is not perfect. It has been involved in several violations of NCAA rues and regulations. But somehow it still gets treated as if it is the older brother that has been caught by your parents but whose squeaky clean image will never diminish. We cannot forget that UConn is publicly funded. No matter how much its basketball program succeeds it shouldn’t be above the other four state universities. If UConn is going to continue to be treated at the top of the hierarchy then there is no point in it being included in the system. That doesn’t work for us and it will inevitably be a waste of time for them in the end. Either we’re together or we’re not. Make the choice now and stick with it.
Reforming Your Own Education Rachael bentley The Recorder
As I sat in my intercultural sensitivity class last week, the topic of education came into the class discussion, but more specifically the question of why countries like China, France, India and England have such higher testing rates, reading levels and a general knowledge of worldly events. A fourth grade French student has the same reading level as a US high school graduate. The main question, that no one seemed to be able to answer, was why does this happen? None of the information my professor was presenting was a shock to me. I already knew that many other countries were leaps and bounds ahead of the US, from an educational standpoint. But what did come as a shock to me was the fact that my professor, a man who has spent pretty much all of his lifetime either being educated or educating others, was basically making excuses for the middle class American
students. He used Central as a prime example, explaining that the greater percentage of CCSU students also work part-time or fulltime, and therefore professors have to dial down their class requirements to fit into our lifestyles. He also teaches at another University in Connecticut, one that he believes requires a much more rigorous course load, and he explained that his students at that school would have no problem balancing the amount of work that we have here at Central. It felt like a back-handed complement. In one breath he was saying that Central students could never handle the amount of work that his other students are given, while on the other hand we was basically saying it wasn’t our fault and there was nothing we could really do about it. I say bull-shit. I agree, that many central students have to work,commute and keep up with personal endeavors outside of school. But does that really separate us from any other college student?
It’s not as if the students at The University of Hartford or Trinity college don’t also have to balance jobs and social lives. I know plenty that do, and yet I have never seen or heard one of them turn their nose up at the fact that they have to read two books for a class in a whole semester. It finally dawned on me, after an hour and a half lecture, that many of the classes here at Central do not challenge us enough and that we as paying students don’t challenge ourselves. We are paying thousands of dollars for higher education, and yet I have witnessed people saying they didn’t learn a damn thing the whole semester after a class has its final lecture. The responsibility of making the most out of your own education falls directly on your own shoulders. Despite what many people will think, it doesn’t matter where you go to school or who your professor is; that isn’t what makes a great education (although I’m sure it helps). Rather than turning your nose up at the idea of having to read three or four books
a semester, perhaps students should try to see it as an opportunity to advance themselves intellectually. And, to be perfectly frank, I am completely guilty of doing this myself. It wasn’t until my junior year of college that I finally realized I should not be wasting my parents hard-earned money on showing up to class, taking notes and just trying to get by. The scary notion that probably hasn’t dawned on many students is that we aren’t just competing for jobs with people in our state, or even our country, but we are competing with millions of people around the world. While I consider myself lucky that I got my much needed wake-up call early enough to change my ways, I worry that other students will wait until it’s too late. The brutal truth of the matter is that we as students are in complete control of our own education, and with an unlimited amount of resources, we really have no excuse other than we are holding ourselves back.
WANTED: OPINION WRITERS Have something to say? Come to The Recorder meetings on Monday nights at 7:30 p.m. in the Blue and White room or email: editor@centralrecorder.com
THE RECORDER / Wednesday, April 18, 2012 / UPGRADE
5
MOVIE REVIEW
‘Stooges’ Not A Funny Slap In The Face joe suszczynski The Recorder
If there was a list of the greatest comedy troupes, I’m sure The Three Stooges would definitely crack the top five. Moses “Moe” Horwitz, his younger brother Jerome “Curley” Horwitz and Larry Fineberg make up the classic trio. The brunt of their comedy sketch was hitting each other upside the head, slapping themselves across the face and hitting each other with random objects. They had their big break in Hollywood in the mid-1930s and even made a comeback in their later years. Like many other timeless classics, Hollywood decided to give the Stooges another go and introduced the characters to the 21st century. Sadly this idea does not work out so well. The movie fails to be funny in all respects. The only thing I will give this movie is that the actors, Chris Diamantopoulos, Sean Hayes and Will Sasso, at least look like the original trio and replicate their mannerisms to a competent level. That being said, every other character was simply awful. Larry David, (you may know him from Curb Your Enthusiasm,) appears as a nun. Yes, a nun. Watching David in drag was painful to say the least. The other actor and actresses just seemed mediocre and
uninteresting. When it comes to the jokes in the movie, they were just as humorless as having a sixtyfour year old man cross-dressing as a nun. Though to say I didn’t laugh at all at this movie would be a lie. The only part of the movie where a smile appeared on my face was when Moe was on the TV show Jersey Shore and would terrorize the cast with slapstick antics. Despite it scraping at the bottom of the comedy barrel for a cheap laugh, it is funny to see “The Situation” being smacked around. But overall, the humor in the movie was so bad to the point where I wished I was the one taking a sledgehammer to the head. The writing was another thing that was not particularly interesting. I understand that not all plots have to be in-depth and complex and having a simple idea can be good enough to pull a movie through, but the simplicity of the plot wasn’t even done properly. It was written in three parts, but the story remained connected overall. It revolved around the Stooges trying to raise $830,000 to save the orphanage they grew up in. They went out into the real world, only to bungle whatever opportunities they had to save it while they stumbled into a murder plot and Moe starred in a reality show. The story seemed too predictable at times, which can be fine if it’s funny, but being that
Photo I 20th century fox
this movie barely scratches the surface of “funny,” the predictability was really too obvious. Despite the commitment the main three actors had to playing their parts, this movie falls flat on its face. The humor is pitiful and
the script is horrible. This movie is borderline insulting to the classic Stooges themselves. I paid six dollars to see this and it still wasn’t worth it. If anything, watch the old classics. You’ll laugh more watching those instead of this movie.
Comic Con Episode IV: CARTOON A Dismal Failure Rachael Bentley The Recorder
Morgan Spurlock, director of Super Size Me and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, hosted a question and answer workshop after premiering his newest documentary Comic Con Episode IV: A Fans Hope in Boston, this past weekend. The Calvin CoolidgeTheatre was packed full of people who were eager to pick the brain of one of the greatest documentary directors of our generation. Some came in superhero costumes and some came in regular attire, but all who attended were on their feet applauding when the curtain finally dropped. Comic Con Episode IV revolves itself around the San Diego comic convention that thousands fly from all over the country to be a part of. The event now hosts almost 12,000 people in a span of four days and brings almost 120,000 to San Diego during the month of July. With guest speakers like Stan Lee, Ryan Reynolds and Sylvester Stallone, it’s no wonder why tickets sell out within the
first two days of going on sale. This documentary, as cinematically appealing and interesting as it was, barely scratched the surface of what could have been an in-depth look into what really gets these thousands of human beings to stand in line for hours on end, just to be a part of what is known as “the world’s nerd mecca.” The plot envelops the lives of five people who spend their entire year and most of their savings, to go to this comic convention for a multitude of different reasons. One woman is trying to make a career out of creating and building animatronic costumes. Two of the characters are going to the convention to submit their own comic drawings and see if they have a chance of breaking into the tightly-knit industry. The viewers also get to meet a couple who travel to the convention every year as a way to celebrate their anniversary, a comic dealer who is trying to sell a $500,000 comic book and, one guy just trying to buy a specific action doll for himself. The film covers quite a bit of storytelling
in only a 90 minute span, but there were evident flaws in its plot and everything in the movie seemed too cookie-cutter and cutesy, especially coming from the director of movies like Supersize Me and Where in the World is Osama bin Laden? I walked into this film premiere hoping to see some real journalistic digging and story telling. No one asked the young woman who makes the costumes how much time or energy she put into creating her six-foot mechanical fish-man. No one asked the toy collector how much money he had spent on unopened boxes of actions figures during his entire life. No one questioned the comic dealer as to how he can afford to live by selling comics.
These were the questions on my mind, and I left that movie theater with no answers. This completely defeats the purpose of making a documentrary, and it saddened me greatly to see some of my favorite directors of all time, including Joss Whedon and Harry Knowles, as well as other prominent regulars like Seth Rogan and Kevin Smith, supporting such a half-assed attempt at making a documentary. And during the Q & A, when Spurlock was asked what he was hoping to do his next film on, he stated that he wants to focus on the education system. But after watching this movie, I am not confident that he could do such a tender topic justice.
6
THE RECORDER / Wednesday, April 18, 2012 / UPGRADE
COLUMN
From The Outside Looking In: Culture Shock
Bookmark It!
Pandora’s Helix by Ken McClure
Irene w. Yukash
acadia otlowski The Recorder
By now, I am hoping that you have a better idea of who I am and the purpose of my column. Perhaps I haven’t gained your interest or trust entirely yet, but like all things new, you need some time to get used to me. When you encounter this phenomenon in a new environment, it’s called culture shock. It comes in all forms and tends to sneak up on you, hence the shock part. But before delving into its complexity, let’s quickly define each word. A culture, according to dictionary.com, is the behaviors, beliefs, and characteristics of a particular social, ethnic or age group. CCSU anthropology major Kaylah Smith is currently indulging in the Spanish culture at the University of Salamanca. Spain, where our apple pie is their churros con chocolate and our Woody Allen is their Pedro Almodóvar, also has many other traditions and customs. “Although Spain is a westernized society and in many ways very similar to the United States, there are still things that take some getting used to!” said Smith. That is where the “shock” part comes in. Smith, a firm believer in personal space, had to adjust to people being up close and personal and occasionally bumping into her unapologetically. She was also taken by surprise by little to no tipping in restaurants and not saying “thank you” nearly as much as back home. Everyone reacts differently to culture shock; some better and some worse. CCSU’s Center for International Education Coordinator Erin Beecher even admitted to crying her eyes out during her first trip to Paris at age 31. “All the stuff you’re dealing with, it’s 10 times worse because you’re in a different environment,” said Beecher. She warns that culture shock can happen to you, even if you have experience as a traveler. Beecher believes that culture shock kicks in after about 3 weeks. “The first two weeks are the honeymoon period,” said Beecher. Just because you have experience as a traveler, doesn’t mean that it won’t sneak up on you. She recalls becoming overwhelmed with
When I first downloaded this book from the free section of The Kindle Store, I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical. The book’s title, Pandora’s Helix, was unique, but I was afraid that it would go the same way as many free books do. I’ll admit it, I judged a book by its cover. The small blurb on the front read: “The terrifying medical thriller.” The book was not altogether terrifying, but it was indeed thrilling; I had trouble putting it down for certain parts. Pandora’s Helix centers around a children’s hospital where its occupants are dying of terminal cancer. There is very little that can be done for these patients, but they are usually kept comfortable and relatively pain free until it is their time to go. Micheal Neef, a doctor at this hospital, struggles with the grief of the families of the children. When a company named Menogen proposes a solution, he jumps on it and injects five patients with it. This solution is very experimental and the hospital is hesitant to make it public until it is a success or failure. But soon after these patients are injected with these genes that are supposed to cure their cancer, Menogen then comes under scrutiny for causing a lung cancer epidemic. This seemed odd since one of the patients was doing very well while the others showed little improvement. Neef makes a rash decision against the direct orders from the hospital, and injects the kids with another dose of the gene therapy. The intensity continued to increase as the story continued. Thriller is indeed the best description for this book, it kept me hooked throughout the novel. And in case pure action is too overwhelming for some readers, there is also an unlikely romance between Neef and the ambitious young reporter who sought to bring him down. Though the romance could be somewhat cliché at times, it served as a light counterbalance to the serious nature of the novel. This same reporter, Eve Sayers, was at
The Recorder
culture shock all at once after missing her bus one dark night. At the time, she was also struggling with the language barrier. Since it is “shocking,” you’re probably wondering how you can prepare yourself for it. The Center for International Education holds an hour and a half orientation to educate travelers on the matter. My advice to you would be to check out a few books or movies on that particular country. Don’t be afraid to familiarize yourself with the culture before you arrive. For information that can’t be found in a book, you should talk to people that have been abroad before. It is especially important above all, to keep an open mind. Although she initially struggled that night in Paris, Beecher pulled it together and got some help when she least expected. A kind stranger guided her in the direction of the bus station and she eventually got over her culture shock. In her experience, the culture shock usually wears off and a student rarely returns home disappointed. “Culture shock is what you make it,” said Smith, “If you have an open mind and are willing to accept things as they are, you’ll learn more about the country and even more about yourself!” If you haven’t been feeling quite like yourself lately, know that it is likely to be culture shock, and you are not going through it alone.
Netflix It:
2001: A Space Odyssey
Nicholas Proch
Classical music, which is ironic because of the future setting after the opening scenes, sets the backdrop for the viewer. While everything is working in unison, the orchestras exemplify that. It’s genius and had never been done in such a way. Now we see that quite often, but at the time it was revolutionary. 2001: A Space Odyssey was, and still is, a film that raised the bar in the film industry. The level of detail, while sometimes overwhelming, is so calculated that it can only be called brilliant. Many have tried to copy the enormity of this film and many have failed. Kubrick again stands alone.
The Recorder
There’s no description for what a film that covers literally everything is. It has no genre, no counterpart and, since 1968, no real attempt at a follow-up or answer. Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, being extremely detailed as it is, shows us that the Baroque period in artistic mediums never went out of style. Film directors have a habit of trying to represent an idea or discourse broadly through a central theme in their work. Take, for example, Taxi Driver. Is that a reflection on an individual’s psychological problems? No. It’s a microcosmic idea showing the imperfections in a broken political system. It’s impressionistic and Monet would be proud. The way that Kubrick tackles his projects is more like Rembrandt. It appears as if both say to themselves, “Let’s try and put as much information up here for the public to inhale as possible and see what they think.” However, their tactics are more carefully crafted than that. Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” is arguably his masterpiece. Some call it cluttered or daunting for the eye to interpret, but he chose his subject matter delicately. He knows where to put dark space. Rembrandt understood how to use highlights and facial expressions to convey moods. The level of detail was enormous; all on a 12 by 15-foot canvas. Hardly a small endeavor. Kubrick wanted to tell the story of mankind. That’s not an easy undertaking to say the least. However, he manages to
first attempting to spin a story to portray the hospital as a heartless business that sought only profit, for they wouldn’t treat a little girl because a procedure was too expensive. Neef then introduced her to the children in the hospital, opening her eyes to what little can be done. She takes to one of the children specifically, an orphaned little boy named Neil. Her relationship with Neil becomes the bond that Neil hangs on to when his cancer threatens to kill him. By the end, an unexpected character becomes the antagonist, sabotaging a company and then brutally covering his own tracks. Ken McClure is not a well known author, but his writing reflects that of a seasoned professional. He is on the same level as James Patterson in his ability to build suspense and engage the reader. The only issue I had was that there were some very obvious errors in the text. I understand that in all likelihood the author edited his novel on his own, but these errors were glaring and distracts the reader from the plot. With a bit of success and the help of a publishing company, McClure will be able to deliver a finished project that is worthy of his writing.
PHOTO I Warner brothers
do so very convincingly. His attention to detail allows him to tell the story of a preevolved ape society straight through to a distant future with space travel and advanced computer systems. While the film doesn’t have a strong plot line, it can be argued that this is the director’s intention. The more detail he would have given, the less room for conversation and individual interpretation. Is this film a reflection on morality? Violence? Humannature? The beauty is that 2001 covers all of these subjects. Where a lesser director would have gotten lost, or not even made the attempt, Kubrick shines. The highest point of success in the film is the audio editing. The silence of space, which
is completely eerie, contrasts against noise inside the cabins and on the ship. There’s a scene toward the end of the film where the main character Dave Bowman, played by Keir Dullea, is walking through the ship with his space suit on. While the audience perspective had, up until that point, been from a third person, you are thrusted into his head hearing what he can hear and seeing his direction. The heavy breathing inside the helmet is nothing short of brilliant and makes you squirm in your seat. The entire second half of the film makes you uncomfortable. That’s the goal and it’s done masterfully. The sound track to the film at the beginning sequences is also very interesting.
PHOTO I Warner brothers
7
THE RECORDER / Wednesday, April 18, 2012 / SPORTS SPORTS BEGINS ON BACK PAGE
Softball Sweeps NEC Opponents Derek Turner The Recorder
At the beginning of last week, Head Coach Jeff Franquet said that this past weekend’s four conference games were all must-wins. The CCSU softball team did just that, sweeping both Sacred Heart University and Wagner College on consecutive days and adding four wins to their resume. This weekend saw some great offensive performances from the heart of the Blue Devil batting order, helping CCSU outscore their opponents 22-2 in the four games in two days. “On Saturday, the top four hitters in our lineup were lights out, they were absolutely smashing the ball all over the place,” said Franquet. CCSU traveled to Fairfield University to play Sacred Heart University in a NEC matchup. The offense got started right out of the gate with Arielle Bruno leading off the game with a double to right center, but the score would remain blank until the top of the third. Two runs is all that would be scored in game one, but it’s all CCSU would need as pitcher Laura Messina threw her sixth shutout of the year going all seven innings while striking out six and allowing only one hit which came with two outs in the seventh inning. Game two featured an offensive explosion from the top of the order. The one through four hitters went a combined 9-for-16 while driving in six. The two other RBI’s came from Alyssa McCourt in the sixth spot in the order. Bruno, for the second game in a row, led off with a double and scored when Nicole Springer would double herself to right field with two outs. Bruno scored the second run of the game on a Rebecca Mussatti single to left after she walked with one out and stole second base. Then with
kenny barto | THE RECORDER
Tessa Brown led a five-run third inning for the Blue Devils. two down, Springer would knock in Mussatti for her second RBI of the game. McCourt followed a Macy Stefanski walk with an RBI single of her own scoring Emily Pogemiller, who pinch ran for Springer. McCourt drove in her second run of the game in the fifth when she singled up the middle scoring Tessa Brown after she led off the inning with a walk. The sixth inning saw another seven batters dig in, but CCSU would score only once on a Brown 2-out single up the middle; Bruno scored from second. Four runs came in the top of the seventh starting with McCourt. Ashley Black singled in the two base runners and then scored herself when Mussatti grounded out to the shortstop. Brown followed with another single up the middle allowing Bruno to touch home for CCSU’s tenth and final run of the day. Jordan Tingley
came into pitch the seventh giving up two hits, but no runs en route to a 10-1 CCSU victory. “Jordan is throwing well now, she seems to be getting better and stronger, so that’s going to help us down the stretch,” said Franquet. Sunday CCSU played at home in front of a crowd made up of family, fellow classmates and other CCSU coaches and athletes. The Blue Devil bats kept going in the third where they put a five-spot on the board highlighted by Brown. Black started the inning with a perfectly placed bunt and Bruno followed with a single to right field. Mussatti loaded the bases when she singled to third; bases were loaded for Brown with none out. She took the best pitch she saw and sent it over the centerfield fence for a grand slam, but CCSU wasn’t done. Springer hit a home run of her own over the left field fence, bringing
the entire team back out of the dugout to form their traditional high-five tunnel just past home plate. That quickly CCSU had a 5-0 lead. “With Ashley being in the nine hole, she comes up so many times leading the inning off and then we have Arielle and Becca and Tessa and Nicole behind her, so when she gets on it totally sparks everything,” said Franquet. “Our offense is so explosive, we score five runs an inning, and I don’t know how many times we’ve done that this year … We’re going to score.” The very next inning Central would score two more. Sarah Vlahos led off the fifth with a single through the left side and advanced to second on a Stephanie Chotkevys sacrifice bunt. Black dropped down a bunt of her own and reached safely, moving Vlahos to third. Bruno singled up the middle and Vlahos trotted home for the eighth and final run as the game reached the eight run rule after five innings and CCSU took game one by a score of 8-0. Messina threw her seventh shutout of the season allowing only two hits while striking out six. After a half hour break between games, Wagner and CCSU were ready to start the second game of the scheduled double header. Wagner scored first in the top of the third inning, only the second run allowed by CCSU on the weekend when a couple of infield hits were strung together and one run scored, but that would be all. The defensive play of the year came in the top of the second when the Wagner catcher hit a deep fly ball to left center. Bruno tracked it and made the catch completely stretched out landing on the warning track. “Catch the ball no matter what, try to catch it. I thought it was going over, but then Becca was talking to me, ‘back, back, you got it’ and I just
had to lay out for it,” said Bruno. CCSU would answer in the bottom of the fourth when Springer hit her second home run of the day. Vlahos kept it going with two outs by singling through the left side of the infield. A Chotkevys triple to right center would score Vlahos for the second run of the inning. “The one home run she hit almost hit the cars and that wasn’t the hardest ball she hit, the hardest ball she hit was the one that went past the pitcher’s face,” said Franquet on Springer’s big day. “When she’s right, she’s scary.” Some controversy was stirred up in the bottom of the sixth when Sarah Emery was sent in to pinch hit for McCourt. Emery lined a home run to dead center, pumped her fists in the air as she rounded first base. This was only Emery’s seventh at-bat of the season. She ran through the congratulatory tunnel at home plate, the umpire watching her foot, as she entered the dugout she was called out for not touching home plate. The crowd and coaching staff erupted in disgust giving the home plate umpire an earful the rest of the game. Messina struck out the final two batters of the game adding to her record-setting single season total now at 150. She also improved her win-loss record to 18-6. Kat Malcolm is slated to come back this weekend and Kelsey Barlow got her cast off Monday. Franquet said if Barlow was cleared to play right now, “she would be in there.” “We’re in the home stretch now and we just need to stay mentally tough…We’re all sore, we’re all stiff, it just comes down to who’s going to be mentally tougher,” said Franquet. “In the 10 remaining conference games I think we should go 9-1 and the team believes that as well. Friday can’t come soon enough,” said Franquet.
DeLancey In Net Key To Lacrosse Success This Season Brittany Burke The Recorder
Goalies don’t need to just be physically capable; they also need to prepare themselves mentally. The net minder’s position isn’t for everybody. It takes a certain kind of athlete to be able to handle the pressure that comes with being a goalie. In most cases the goalie starts and ends the game on the field, getting no rests. They play the most minutes and have the most on the line. It’s their job to protect their net and keep the opponents off the scoreboard. Mentally the goalie has to know that if they make one wrong move the other team will score, giving them the chance to win. A misstep could cost their team the game, but on the other hand, goalie can also be the most rewarding position. Their opponents are constantly trying to outsmart them, but if they can shut them down then they’ve helped their team to a victory. At CCSU there is one woman on the lacrosse team who is excelling in net and showing that she thrives on the pressure that comes with her position, and that’s senior Erin DeLancey. “I think she stepped up big time this year, as a unit the defense has,” said Head Coach Kelly Nangle. “The defense is really playing better, they’re working off each other. DeLancey is coming up huge, she’s making big saves and it’s giving the defense confidence.” The Blue Devil goalkeeper has
been named the NEC Defensive Player of the Week three times this season, but it’s taken her a long time to get here. “The hardest thing about my position is definitely the mental aspect. If I let one goal in, then it’s really hard to be like ‘Okay, that doesn’t count, forget about it on to the next one.’ If you let one goal in and that’s the winning goal for the team, that kind of sucks, but you just have to get over and deal with it,” said DeLancey. “I like having the pressure. I’d rather have it be on me because it’s great to have it, but it’s something you have to learn to like. If you don’t learn to like it then it’s just a horrible position to play, but I’ve learned to enjoy it.” Despite being a First Team All Selection in her senior year, she was still at risk of being cut from her high school team in Saratoga Springs. The New York native came to CCSU with the hopes of proving all of her doubters wrong, something that she’s been able to do as her final regular season as a Blue Devil comes to a close. DeLancey wasn’t given much playing time in her early days as a Blue Devil. In 2009 she was only able to make four game appearances, recording 73 minutes of play, but that all changed in 2010. “I think I’ve grown a lot since I was a freshman. I only played like one game maybe in total minutes but then I kept going and I kept working at it. And still people said, ‘Oh she’s not going to be that good,’ but I knew if I worked hard enough I
could be this good. And I definitely think I’ve proved everyone at home that I was a good goalie,” she said. In her second year she was given all 14 game starts and played 840 minutes. In her first full season as a starter, she helped her team to a 5-9 record and set the lacrosse program’s record in wins. Jump forward to her senior season and her name sits atop two goalkeeping records, one for the most career wins and the other for single-season minutes. While in 2010 DeLancey was on the field for 840 minutes, she improved on that time the following season logging close to 1,000 minutes of play. Her 965 minutes put her past the former record holder, Amanda Zabel by 20 minutes, which she held since 2005. Zabel’s name appears on nine of the 11 goalkeeping records, but again DeLancey managed to surpass her, this time for the most career wins. With 12 career wins DeLancey’s name made it first into the record books, but she’s already added on to her total. “I remember I talked to [Assistant Coach Jane Karger] in the beginning and I said ‘I want to be NEC goalie of the year, I want it,’ so she said ‘Okay, we’ll work on it,’ and I’ve worked hard every year, but this is my last shot for everything,” DeLancey said. This year’s women’s lacrosse team has already tied the program’s total for record wins at seven, but the regular season isn’t over yet. With an undefeated home record, and 49 percent save
Daniel Saunders | THE RECORDER
Erin DeLancey has set the tone for Blue Devils with her consistency. percentage, DeLancey and her fellow seniors will get the chance to play on Arute one more time Wednesday at 7 p.m. for senior day. Even with her records it is still DeLancey’s goal to help her team to an NEC championship before
graduation. The new defensive minded strategy has put the Blue Devils in a tie for third in the NEC with Sacred Heart but she remains confident that her team has what it takes to bring a championship to CCSU.
8
THE RECORDER / Wednesday, April 18, 2012 / SPORTS
Sunday Loss Leads to Series Split matt aveni The Recorder
CCSU Baseball suffered a tough 11-3 home loss to Monmouth University splitting the four game weekend series to 2-2. The team had high hopes to pull together one more win verses Monmouth to put them in a good position for the next few weeks leading into the NEC tournament. “Coming off last weekend when we had our confidence tested, it was important for us to come back against a perennial powerhouse in the league and scrap to find two wins,” said Head Coach Charlie Hickey. Monmouth is yet to lose a series all season and still has not after this weekend. Monmouth jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after the first inning and then strung together five more runs in the fourth. Starting pitcher Casey Brown went three and twothirds innings, giving up nine earned runs. “We didn’t get the starting pitching you need to play on a Sunday,” said Hickey. Monmouth had just the opposite. Junior Dan Smith threw a complete game giving up just three runs. “They got quality pitching from their kid. He threw all nine which is huge on a Sunday after three games in two days,” explained Hickey. CCSU could not respond to the large number of runs that Monmouth was putting on the scoreboard. “We had to try and cut their lead but before we could do anything, they put up five more runs and by
kenny barto | THE RECORDER
Anthony Turgeon (right) slides into home plate. The sophomore went 2-4 with two doubles in Sunday’s game. then we knew it was out of reach,” said the CCSU coach. Brown came out in the middle of the fourth. However, freshman Dominic Severino finished the game only giving up one earned run. “Dom came out and saved some of our bullpen. It’s real nice to know you have a guy that can come out and throw strikes,” said Hickey. Besides Severino’s 5 1/3 quality innings there were a few bright spots taken out
of Sunday’s loss. Sophomore Anthony Turgeon went 2-4 with two doubles and senior AJ Lowers went 3-4 and drove in two runs. “We had eleven hits but we couldn’t string them together. We left runners on and we grounded into a few double plays,” said Hickey. Next week CCSU has five road games, four of which are against division rival Fairleigh Dickinson. Fairleigh Dickinson is in third place in the division, one spot
ahead of the Blue Devils. “We have to rely on some pitching to get ourselves in contention for next week’s games,” said Hickey. “We know how big of a series it is and we will see if our team is ready to make the next step. Hopefully we are.” After the series split, CCSU is still in great contention to make the NEC tournament and make a deep run to possibly make it to regionals. “All and all we are still in good position,” said Hickey.
Women’s Lacrosse Remains Undefeated At Home Tom Liljedahl
When Talia Waskowicz scored Robert Morris’ first goal of the period with about 10 minutes to play, the Blue Devils swiftly responded with another goal from Ryan. When midfielder Mossop scored as part of a late Robert Morris push, the score was 13-9, and CCSU called for another time out. “I wanted to take momentum away here,” said Nangle. “I reminded them that they were still in the lead, and as long as we stayed calm and played our game we would be fine.” They turned out to be fine, as midfielder Healy scored with 1:43 to play, securing a 14-9 CCSU victory. The victory elevated the Blue Devils to 6-6 overall, and put them just one game baehind Sacred Heart and Mount St. Mary’s for second place in the NEC, at 4-2. The loss dropped Robert Morris to 4-10 overall and 2-4 in the NEC, where they sit alone in seventh place. CCSU continued home play Sunday hosting Saint Francis in a 16-10 victory over their NEC opponents. The Red Flash remain winless in NEC play, while the Blue Devils continued their dominance at home, remaining undefeated. The Blue Devils’ seven wins hits a milestone of its own, tying the lacrosse program’s record wins. The Blue Devils will play home one more time on Wednesday in their final home game of the regular season. The 7 p.m. start against Holy Cross will also serve as the Blue Devils senior day.
The Recorder
The second-half play of the CCSU Women’s lacrosse team was flawless as the Blue Devils pulled away to defeat the Robert Morris Colonials 14-9. The Blue Devils started strong, winning the faceoff and moving the ball throughout the Colonials’ territory. The team was unable to capitalize until nearly ten minutes into the first period, when midfielder Ashley Mara scored the game’s first goal, assisted by midfielder Claire Healy. They struck again a mere twenty seconds later when midfielder Betsy Vendel scored, putting them up 2-0 over their opponents. Once the Blue Devils went up 3-1, Robert Morris midfielder Erin Mossop scored a free position goal and Courtney Sicinski assisted Jessica Rutherford’s goal, tying the game at three with 12 minutes to play in the period. This prompted a CCSU time out. It did not stop the reeling, however, as the Blue Devils committed several fouls and turnovers, and Lauren Roberts scored for Robert Morris, giving them their first lead of the game at 4-3. The lead did not last long, as attacker Meaghan McCurry and midfielder Mackenzy Ryan scored consecutive goals for CCSU to regain the lead. The Colonials quickly responded, as midfielder Talia Waskowicz scored her first of three goals, to tie the game at five. This was the score after going back and forth during the first period, in which CCSU turned the ball over 11 times, and Robert Morris seven times. A more efficient, urgent and effective Blue Devil team came out for the second period, scoring six consecutive goals, and outscoring the Colonials 9-4. “We didn’t really make huge adjustments at halftime,” said CCSU Head Coach Kelly Nangle. “We just played determined, confident and smart. We wanted it more.” The scoring began less than 30 seconds into the second period, when CCSU’s MCcurry scored her third goal, assisted by attacker Ashley Perkoski. This was one of three assists in the game for Perkoski, who also scored five goals in a dominant second half. This included an eight minute stretch where she scored four consecutive goals, giving CCSU an 11-5 lead. “My problem has been thinking too much,” explained Perkoski after her most effective game of the season. “Today I was focused, relaxed and unafraid to make a mistake.”
Daniel Saunders | THE RECORDER
Daniel Saunders | THE RECORDER
Ashley Perkoski had eight goals and three assists in the Blue Devil victory last week. Betsy Vendel set the pace early for CCSU.