Volume 108 Issue 27

AWA R D-W INNING CENTR A LR ECOR DER .COM Wednesday, May 2, 2012

In this issue...

NEWS: Sexual Assault Awareness Month Page 4

Central Connecticut State University

Volume 108 No. 27

Not Just Another Night

Upgrade: I.R.C. Week Rocks Campus Page 7

Sports: Artist Mac Miller performs to the audience in Kaiser gym. Story on page 8.

CCSU Spring Students Voice Their Concerns To Student Advisory Game Committee At Open Forum Page 11 “I came here to Central through the I will not have a job because the job market DAnieL sAunDeRs | THe RecoRDeR

kAssonDRA GRAnATA The Recorder

Student representatives to the Student Advisory Committee to the Board of Regents, Michael Fraser and Alex Tettey, continued their Listening Tour with an open forum Friday.

Fraser and Tettey have been touring campuses across the state to discuss any concerns that students have with higher education. After CCSU, they will be touring six more campuses, concluding on May 18th.

Student Konrad Korzeniowski spoke of his issues with taking out loans, saying that CCSU is not explaining students’ options in terms of taking out grants or loans.

“Our university is not doing anything about it, “ said Korzeniowski. “They just sell us these loans and then the loans accumulate after we graduate to $50,000 to $70,000.

No one sits down with us and explains the options to students.”

According to Korzeniowski, this issue is a big problem because he is an international student from Poland. He said he has problems understanding the whole process, and it would be easier to understand with proper guidance. Korzeniowski also said that he has bounced back and forth talking to different administrators such as the Provost and President Miller.

“I know how hard the process is, but I feel like the university doesn’t care about us,” said Korzeniowski. “When I graduate, I will not be able to pay back these loans because

is so tough now. International students like myself do not know anything about financial aid in this country.”

Fraser said that financial literacy is a problem everywhere stretching across all campuses. He said that there has been a big movement in higher education to help bring out more information about financial aid so students coming in can understand what they are doing. Fraser also said that it takes two to understand financial aid processes, and students should take initiative to learn it themselves too.

“We need to make the effort as students to educate ourselves and make an effort,” said Fraser. “We can’t just sit in front of a financial aid officer and expect for them to tell us everything. We need to be advocates for ourselves as college students, they need to tell us a little bit more, but we need to make ourselves more informative.”

Dr. Laura Tordenti, Vice Presdident of Student Affairs, also attended the forum.

She said that she agrees with Korzeniowski that colleges need to do a better job with financial literacy.

“It behooves all of us,” Tordenti said. “I think if we had more focused workshops for parents and students, understanding it would be a lot easier for us, because it is a difficult thing to grasp.”

Michaela Fissel, a graduate student at CCSU said she agreed with Korzeniowski that taking out loans can be intimidating and that financial aid should put forth more effort to ease the process for students.

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guaranteed transfer program, and I currently have $80,000 in loans,” Fissel said. “I am terrified to face my loans. Essentially we are paying financial aid staff through our tuition, so they are responsible for providing us with this information.”

Fissel said that she attended the forum to voice her concern about the HVAC system in the residence halls. She asked if there would be a way to move around the dates for turning on and off the heat in order to reduce waste and make students and professors more comfortable.

“The entire winter time you walk by all the dorms, every window is open, the fans are on, and the heat is blasting,” Fissel said.

“I have loans to pay off and part of that chunk is going towards paying for heat in the dorms and it is going out the windows. I know as a student that it is a huge waste of resources, and it’s not green.”

Tettey suggested that Fissel bring up the issue to the administration and the Student Government.

Tordenti also suggested Fissel contact Chief Administration Officer, Richard Bachoo.

“The academic hall and residence halls have been a big concern. Once the new residence hall goes up, breaking ground in the fall, they are taking the halls offline and revamping the HVAC,” said Tordenti.

Student Annmarie Anderson brought up the issue of advising and asked the representatives if there was a way to have

see CONCERNS- page 4

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NEWS

THE RECORDER Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Bachoo Presents Master Plan To Student Government joe suszczynski The Recorder

The Student Government Association discussed the new master plan and swore in 11 new elected senators at its last meeting.

Richard R. Bachoo, Chief Administration Officer at CCSU, presented the recent master plan to replace the 1999 plan to the senate.

According to Bachoo, one aspect of the plan is consolidating and concentrating programs to stop the “ping-ponging� of students. “One of the overall goals of the master plan is to stop what we call the ‘ping-ponging’ of students. A student goes to Barnard and then to Memorial Hall and then you go to Davidson Hall; you go back and forth,� said Bachoo. “I think that there are certain programs you can consolidate and bring together ... so that you’re not going back and forth all over the place.�

Another part of the master plan is to renovate Willard and DiLoreto Halls. “The Committee thinks it is critical that we renovate and infill Willard and DiLoretto; it is the home for the largest sections of most of our campus,� said Bachoo. “It is the home of the Dean of Arts and Sciences.�

According to the plan, the English Department will remain and modern languages will move from Davidson Hall into Willard and DiLoreto. Counseling Services will move from Marcus White

to DiLoreto. The Bursars Office will move to the newly renovated building as well as Financial Aid, Admissions and Registrar. “By moving these units there, you will be able to go to Willard and DiLoreto, get admitted, find out your financial aid, get a deferment, and if that shocks you, get counseling,� Bachoo said.

After presenting the Master Plan, Bachoo opened up to questions.

Bachoo said that in the plan, there will be a new residence hall built for students. Senator Heidy Sanchez asked why they were building a new facility despite the lack of students living on campus. “If you’re only going to make a decision to build based on something at the immediate, you’ll never do anything,� said Bachoo. “The plan is over a 10-15 year period and the University’s plan is to increase the number of student headcount and FTEs over that period of time. The plan can’t only look at a snapshot as of today; it has to project over the future of the things we need to do.

After Bachoo presented the Master Plan, Treasurer Nick Alaimo recommended to pass the base budget.

The Finance Committee had gone through 97 clubs who had requested funds from the SGA. The total $394,563.61 was the total funds that were allocated to the clubs.

Senator Kim Towler said that she opposed this recommendation

Richard Bachoo had a busy week, presenting the University’s master plan to NICHOLAS PROCH | THE RECORDER SGA and Faculty Senate (seen above) and hearing concerns or complaints. because she said the College our reserves, so we can fund all “It is doing a disservice to the Democrats did not have the same of these clubs,� said Aliamo. “We new senators who have been a amount of funds allocated than the didn’t expect to have this many senator for fifteen minutes,� said College Republicans. clubs. Last year we had around 60 Berriault. “It would be a disservice According to Towler, she said some odd clubs for proposals, this to the rest of the senate; it would that the College Republicans year we had 97, we had to make be a disservice to the entire received more. tough decisions. It had to be as student population and the 97 Treasurer Nick Alaimo had fair as possible. We did the best clubs if we tried to vote on this defended the Finance Committee’s job we possibly could by being fair now. We should have a week to actions by saying it and consistent and I feel that this talk about it to discuss it, and I was “very fair.� budget is a very good budget.� will be more than glad to vote next “We had 97 clubs; 97 club Newly elected Senator Robert week.� budgets, we had $825,000 of Berriault motioned that the After some debate, the motion requests so cuts had to be made. recommendations be postponed was then passed and the base We are now pulling money from for one week. budget is to be voted on May 2.

Faculty Senate Debates Master Plan Goals

justin muszynski The Recorder

The University’s 2020 Master Plan was heavily debated at Monday’s Faculty Senate meeting.

Richard Bachoo, Chief Administrative Officer, presented a report outlining the plan.

However, before he could finish it, Cindy White, Professor of Communication, questioned one of the goals of the Master Planning Committee which is to allow more accessibility. “Not [Americans with Disabilities Act], the ability to get in and out of the campus,� said Bachoo. “The committee is calling for a concentration of programs, bring together administrative offices.� “What’s so bad about having students walk around the campus and not just come to CCSU, have everything that is important to them in, for lack of a better word, one small concentrated spot on campus?� said White. “If we’re trying to promote a campus community, why break us out in terms of interest?�

“The overall theme of the plan is to stop the ‘ping-ponging’ of the students, which is an issue,� said Bachoo. “We need to have students and visitors be able to come to the campus, deal with the key things they have to do and not park and trudge all the way to the middle and have trouble trudging all the way back.�

White also questioned the committee’s eagerness to fix the parking situation when she believes there is no problem. People are too concerned about parking close to the building that they are going to rather than experiencing things on campus, she said. “You’re preaching to the choir because you’re saying what I’ve said all along,� said Bachoo. “I agree with you in part.�

However, Bachoo did say that a student shouldn’t have to go from one side of the campus to the other multiple times between services like the Registrar’s and the Bursar’s. He also says that the admissions office has said visitors need a place to park, especially because that’s the first impression many get when coming to CCSU. Modern Languages, Counseling and

Wellness, the Bursar’s Office, Financial Aid, Admissions and the Registrar’s will all be moved into the new building that is a combination of the current Willard and DiLoretto Hall. The structure will be connected with a building in the middle and the existing parts will be completely renovated to current standards.

The parking lot across the street from the building, currently devoted to Charter Oak Community College, will serve as parking for CCSU. “You’ll be able to be admitted, check your financial aid, argue over your bill, and if that bothers you get counseling all in one building,� said Bachoo. He also says of the approximate 90 acres of undeveloped land the University owns, over 60 of it is usable for future expansion.

Also in Bachoo’s report, he said funds that were previously devoted to the Elihu Burritt Library will be reallocated to pay for the 2020 plan. President Miller will need to sign off on the allocation and will need to be approved by the Board of Regents. “There’s no need to build a $107 million

library,� said Bachoo.

The plan to invest that much into a library was made nearly a decade ago when libraries served a different purpose. Now Bachoo says, they serve as more of a study area and many things are being utilized digitally, which eliminates the amount of square feet designated for books to be stored.

A much needed residence hall will also be built in the undeveloped part of the eastern side of campus across Ella Grasso boulevard.

The area, which is currently known as “East Campus�, “We’re the only institution that did not build a residence hall in the past decade probably in the state,� said Bachoo.

CORRECTION: Last week, Richard Bachoo was inaccurately referred to as Rene Karas in the article, “Future Renovations Deatiled At Forum.�

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THE RECORDER / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / NEWS

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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

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Foreign Language Muslim Association Discusses Islamic Civil Liberties Requirement Amendment Passed Justin Muszyski The Recorder

The Faculty Senate approved an amendment stating that incoming students will be mandated to pass a proficiency test in order to fulfill the new foreign language requirement.

The requirement was an amendment put forward by the English department, and was added to the recently passed general education proposal. While the new gen ed system made it easily through senate, the foreign language aspect was passed by a narrow margin of 23 to 22.

Mary Anne Nunn, formerly of the Ad Hoc Committee, says the divided views by the campus community was the major reason why the committee left the current foreign language requirement as is in its proposal.

“As we talked to constituencies all across campus, we discovered that this was a very polarizing issue,” said Nunn also an associate professor of English. “The people who wanted it, really wanted it and the people who didn’t want it really didn’t want it.”

One of the major concerns about this policy, should the gen ed system make it through the implementation process, is that students taking a program with a heavy course load won’t have any room for it without delaying his or her graduation.

Clifford Anderson, Associate Professor of Engineering, argued against this amendment at the senate’s meeting last month saying it would cause his students to take an additional semester or two in a program that already takes many of them more than four years. This issue is further complicated by accredited programs, like engineering, that have more demanding curriculums.

Robert Wolff, former chair of the ad hoc committee, says this concern is another reason why the committee opted to omit a more rigorous language requirement.

“They have what’s called encumbered courses,” said Wolff, also a professor of History. “They don’t have a lot of flexibility. It’s not clear they have the room.”

He did say however, that SCSU uses a system that mandates a foreign language be taken by students wishing to achieve a degree in the arts but exempts those in the sciences, which may or may not occur at CCSU in the implementation process.

Stephen Cohen, Chair of the English department, says his department recommended this format for multiple reasons, one of which being globalization.

“In an increasingly multicultural country and globalized economy, knowing a second language is becoming not just a desirable but an essential skill,” said Cohen.

He also points out that if

students are acquiring adequate competence at a second language in high school, they should have no problem demonstrating that in the form of an exam.

Thomas Burkholder, former member of the ad hoc committee, says one of the things that may help alleviate concerns is the reduction of gen ed credits the committee suggested. It’s still unclear what the actual number is but some interpret the state minimum to be 40. If this is the case, Burkholder says that will allow the necessary room a student needs.

Lillian Uribe, Chair of Modern Languages, says this new requirement will coincide with one of CCSU’s four areas of distinctiveness, International Education.

“This requirement is very much aligned with that vision,” said Uribe.

She also added that there’s a fallacy that students who take a foreign language at the collegiate level struggle immensely and tend to fail.

“More than 90 percent of students taking foreign languages in our department pass the courses,” said Uribe.

Another issue that may arise is the financial implications this new requirement would have. If a large portion of students do not pass the proficiency test, this will create a greater need for foreign language faculty members.

Considering the amount of students who fulfill their requirements in their first three years of high school, the student will not have taken a language for a year when they take the test.

Carl Lovitt, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, says he has not yet spoken to President Jack Miller about this.

“If this requirement has significant economic implications, we will need to decide how much more we can afford to invest to support it and from where the funds will be reallocated,” said Lovitt. “At this point, we have not yet had a chance to price out the implications of this new requirement.”

Lovitt also says he doesn’t foresee finances being a problem, therefore doubts the president will veto this amendment. He says a “budget neutral” agreement was made when the ad hoc committee was assembled.

“Yes, the foreign language amendment may require the allocation of additional resources, but we assume that other changes in the gen ed curriculum will free up resources to offset these costs,” said Lovitt. “It will be the task of the Implementation Committee to recommend how the new gen ed curriculum can be implemented without requiring the university to invest new money in general education.”

Speakers discussed the newly-passed law enacted by Obama this January.

Amanda Webster The Recorder

In respect of Islam awareness week, the Muslim Studies Association held a discussion about the undermining of civil liberties in the Islamic community by the National Defense Authorization.

The discussion was held in the Constitution Room in Memorial Hall and drew a crowd of about 40 people.

The National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law by President Obama on January 1, 2012. Underneath this law, military officials are able detain anyone suspected of terrorism or suspected of aiding a possible terrorist without being formally charged and without a trial.

“These are our basic human rights,” said Mongi Dhaouadi, the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Dhaouadi was one of four speakers who said that the NDAA is unconstitutional and aids in the negative stereotyping of Muslim American citizens. He said that the United States military portrays the religion of Islam as something to be feared and then uses that fear in order to get laws like the NDAA passed.

“Islam is the boogeyman,” Dhaouadi said about how

Americans tend to view the Islamic culture. “They use this fear and ignorance to push these kinds of laws.”

Captain James Yee, a former Chaplain and military captain that served in Guantanamo Bay also spoke at the discussion. He gave the audience his own account of how indefinite detention affected his life.

“The prison guards understood the core belief of Islam,” Yee said, “They used that for interrogation.”

Yee said that soldiers desecrated the Koran in front of Muslim prisoners in an attempt to get information out of them. The soldiers, according to Yee, would also try to force these chained prisoners to bow towards a satanic symbol in a way to upset the prisoners and force them to talk.

Yee said that when he brought up his concerns with the methods of interrogations, he was arrested in secret and held for 76 days.

“No one knew where I was, I was being subjected to sensory deprivation,” said Yee, a method used by soldiers to induce fear.

After Yee’s charges were dropped he left the military with an honorable discharge. Yee said he was subjected to indefinite detention for simply raising concerns over the treatment of prisoners.

“That’s not a crime, that’s what I was supposed to do as a U.S.

Daniel Saunders | THE RECORDER

soldier, as a Chaplain, as a U.S. citizen,” Yee said.

Denisa Jashari of the CT Coalition to Stop Indefinite Detention, also voiced her concerns over the NDAA. Jashari said that the hope for Obama during the debate over the bill was that as an African American, he would have understood the perspective of a minority. After signing the bill into law Obama did express his unhappiness over the bill and promised to never use it while he is in office.

“Hurry up and vote Obama for life or we all face Guantanamo indefinitely,” said Jashari.

Jashari addressed the audience and said that in order for the NDAA to be repealed everyone needs to come together and work towards that goal.

“Whether you are Muslim or not you have invested interests in these democratic rights,” said Jashari.

Jashari addressed the importance of repealing a law that encourages racial profiling, and said that Arizona has just recently passed a law against indefinite detention and that it was her wish to see Connecticut to follow suit.

“Let us appeal this law where even the man who signed it into law thinks it’s bad,” said Dhaouadi.

“Be part of a positive change, be bold, let’s do this together.”

4

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / NEWS

Women’s Center Takes Back The Month From Sexual Assault irene w. yukash The Recorder

Women and men alike suited up in six-inch leather boots, mini skirts, V-neck tank tops and other scandalous articles to celebrate their bodies and rights. This was only one of the many events that recognized Sexual Assault Awareness Month at CCSU. The clothing, or lack there of was worn to prove a point at CCSU’s first ever Walk of No Shame, aka Slut Walk held on April 25.

“It doesn’t matter what you wear; no one deserves to be raped or assaulted,” said CCSU senior Sarah Dionne.

While many students were dawning their risqué attire, Dionne collaborated with another CCSU student, Brenda Marousek to create a vagina costume. Both students are art majors.

“When you see a big vagina walking around, how can you not pay attention,” said Dionne, in regards to wearing the costume.

The event took place in the Student Center Circle, where chants and applause roared off of buildings.

“Nothing gets done if you’re quiet,” said a CCSU alumna and survivor of sexual assault. “You have to be loud and obnoxious.”

Between the chanting and marching, the crowd exchanged words and experiences.

“We should turn around and say ‘educate yourself’,” said Jacqueline Cobbina-Boivin, Director of CCSU Women’s Center.

Earlier in the month, students,

alumni, and faculty showed support at CCSU’s annual Take Back the Night.

Semesters in the Student Center overflowed with emotion with nearly twice as many attendees as there were chairs set up for the event.

“Tonight we join together our voices, our strengths, and our outrage at the violence on our campuses and in our communities to demand an end to sexual violence here at CCSU and across the globe,” said Laura Tordenti, Vice President of Student Affairs.

Speakers took to the podium to share stories, poems, advice, and even a song at CCSU’s Take Back the Night event held April 6. While each individual had a different way of addressing the issues of rape, sexual assault/harassment, domestic violence and anything in between, they all offered one piece of advice.

“The number one message is, it’s not their fault, they’re brave for coming forward,” said Jennifer Wenderot, CCSU alumna and campus advocate.

An open microphone session prompted nearly an hour and a half session of people speaking out on sexual and domestic violence. Some shared their stories for the first time.

“I thought it was really empowering and cathartic, said CCSU senior Sam Peters. Peters was attending the event for the first time to support her friends and relatives who have been victimized.

Concluding the event, attendees formed a world without violence circle.

“I look forward to raising hell some more with you,” were Cobina-

Students marched through campus to raise sexual assualt awareness.

Boivin’s closing words.

In addition to the Walk of No Shame and Take Back the Night, the Ruthe Boyea Women’s Center collaborated with other organizations to host several other events throughout the month.

A lecture was held in Vance 101 mid April on online sexual predators.

Detective Daryll Christensen from the State Crime Laboratory in Meriden explained the processes of identifying and locating predators. His lecture was a combination of personal

Should You Fail For Skipping Class?

Special To The Recorder

“You are allowed two absences. More than two will result in a lowered grade.”

This is seen on some professors’ syllabi and several students say they wonder why they are penalized for not showing up to class more than the limit.

“The decisions to take attendance seriously varies by professor,” said Dr. Laura Tordenti, Vice President of Student Affairs. “It varies widely.” Tordenti said that attendance policies benefit students because they further a student’s chance of succeeding in the course.

“If you attend class regularly, there’s a higher likelihood that a student will do better in the class,” Tordenti said.

Senior Erik Emanuelson said that it should be a student’s choice to go to class or not.

“The students pay for their own education.

If a student is doing fine in a class and they have out-of-class priorities, then they should not be penalized academically,” said Emanuelson.

He said that he feels no matter the class size, students’ grades should not be affected if they miss one class more than they’re permitted.

Some professors take half a letter grade for more than those two absences and others take a whole letter grade.

“It’s confusing when professors don’t have attendance policies,” said senior Katie Burnett.

“The classes that I never miss, because I’m afraid I’m going to miss information, are also the ones with no attendance policies,” Burnett said.

For Burnett, she said it comes down to responsibility.

“We are all old enough to make our own decisions about attending class. We shouldn’t need sick notes from doctors or anything like that. If we take our education seriously we will go,” Burnett said.

According to Tordenti, there could be a possible university wide policy that would have a set number of permitted absences per class.

“In order for there to be a university policy on that, the Faculty Senate would need to develop and approve such a policy,” said Tordenti.

Carl Lovitt, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, is also the co-chair the Retention and Graduation Council. Along with Tordenti, the council tries to improve students’ time at CCSU. Lovitt, Tordenti and the Council are proposing a university-wide policy. If such a policy were to pass, it would take effect as early as the spring 2013 semester.

Like Tordenti, Lovitt said he believes that a policy would benefit not only the students’ participation grades, but their education overall.

“There was a study done, a meta analysis, that looks at the effect of attendance on students,” said Lovitt. “Attending class is the single most powerful predictor of students’ success.”

While nothing is finalized nor has been actually proposed to the Faculty Senate, there are still varied policies based on the professors’ choices.

The Recorder

Students and faculty met with Steven Weinberger, Vice President of Human Resources from the Board of Regents, in Founders Hall on April 24, to discuss campus climate.

Seven students attended the forum, as well as advisors and professors.

Weinberger’s visit was triggered by two hateful incidents that occurred in rapid succession at two of CSU schools, Western and Central.

Weinberger also said that the forum would be left open for any other issues concerning the University.

Joanne DiPlacido, Association Professor of Psychology, said that the Board of Regents needed to figure out how to reach faculty and realize what an integral role they play in students’ lives.

DiPlacido said that faculty are not trained to handle the diversity of Central’s student population and often negative things would be said to students unintentionally.

“We need to make sure this is a welcoming and embracing university and I see training, or lack of training, as a significant problem,” DiPlacido said.

Another issue addressed in the forum was the lack of resources available for students with a problem or a disability. One student who did not wish to be named spoke of her experience with sexual violence, and how she was referred to the right place by a professor.

Elizabeth Hicks, Associate Director of

Concerns Expressed Over Financial Aid Options And Lack Of Guidance in the wrong way or not even directed at all.

Fraser said that higher education needs to get faculty more intimate with their programs. He also urged Anderson to bring the issue up with the Student Government Association and Faculty Senate.

“The advisors in that field should know that program inside and out,” said Fraser. “I think there is a lot of faculty who know the sheet and just rush through it

(SACS), the Hartford Marathon Foundation, and several others. SACS mission is to eliminate sexual violence through intervention, prevention, education and public policy.

According to the Ruthe Boyea Women’s Center website, any victim or survivor of sexual assault is urged to call their toll-free confidential hotline. The center is located in the Student Center room 216, and is open Monday through Friday from 9-5 and open to all members of the CCSU community.

Open Forum: CCSU’s Climate Acadia Otlowski

Rob Arendt

Continued from page 1 non teacher advisors.

“I know that a lot of students feel intimidated to complain about their advisors because they would have to face them in class,” said Anderson. “I go in to see my advisor and he only has five minutes to see me and runs out the door.”

According to Anderson, the fact that they give such little effort and time to students makes finishing college a slow process.

She said that students are directed

experiences and the intricacies of criminal investigations.

Moving away from technical and into physical was the ENOUGH! A 5K Race to End Domestic Violence held in the early hours of April 22.

Proceeds from the event were used to provide counseling and other services to those affected by sexual abuse and assault in 46 different towns.

The events were hosted by The CCSU Women’s Center in collaboration with the YWCA New Britain’s Sexual Assault Crisis Services

Daniel Saunders | THE RECORDER

and then you go to the Registrar and miss out because the advisor didn’t spend time with you. The faculty needs to be informed that this is a big issue and they need to change.”

Tordenti said that she agreed with Fraser and mentioned that the Retention and Graduation Council is working toward improving advising.

“It is unacceptable to get poor service or lousy advising,” said Tordenti.

CACE and Freshman Student Advisor, said that students with disabilities often have a difficult time getting accommodations for their disabilities.

“Even though legally they (professors) are supposed to give accommodations, I hear from students that they don’t, they refuse,” Hicks said.“ They refuse to give more time on a test.”

Dr. Carol Shaw Austad, Professor of Psychology, defended many professors, and said that they don’t have the resources to give allowances for students with disabilities.

According to Austad, when she first arrived at the university, there used to be time for professors between classes.

“Now it seems that the professors are running from one class to another,” Austad said. “How do you give them extra time?”

Students also brought up issues about the Learning Center, saying that students teaching students is not the best method of teaching.

Erika Dawson-Head, a senior and a teacher’s assistant for mathematics said that she failed Math 099 and 101 multiple times.

Now, as a senior, she is a mentor and a tutor for students like her.

“We’ve been advocating through the math department and the Dean of Arts and Sciences to advocate to get a special needs statistics class for students to finish their math requirement,” said Dawson-Head.

Dawson-Head said she pushed for accommodations for students who struggle with mathematics, so multiple courses will not need to be taken to complete the math requirements.

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OPINION

5 THE RECORDER Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Activities Are Not Enough To Promote Campus Growth Over the past several months, we’ve been lobbying for increased involvement from students on campus. In fact, this is a steady theme that’s been going on in our editorials for the last few years.

We’re tired of being called a commuter school.

By making resident and non-resident campus activity stronger, we’re getting closer. This past month has been immeasurable in terms of what it can do for campus growth.

As Richard Bachoo, CCSU’s Chief Administrative Officer, gave his report to the Faculty Senate this week on the future of the University, it was apparent that the administration wants to make our campus more inviting. This will transform our school into something that we’ve been striving for: a united group of students living in a community together. We’re here to learn, experience new things and have fun along the way, not worry about where we’re going to park. This is one-time opportunity. We want to make the most

of it.

Various organizations here have put on events and programs during this past month. From having Mac Miller perform to the slut walk, each are extremely important in getting our name on the map as a school that people will come to for a complete college experience.

As we close the door on this fiscal year, and we need to make plans for next year, let’s continue the current trend. We need to bring more performances to campus, interesting speakers need to be brought in and we need to embrace student-run events. This will only make our campus stronger. We can’t take any steps backwards and forget what makes college inviting to people. It’s not just about getting a degree, it’s more than that.

There will be voting for budgets and discussions about what programs should be cut in order to make ends meet in the coming year. We, as the student body, are begging to not have our

programs cut.

It’s finally the goal of the administration to create a welcoming environment and every student is on board with that. Go and ask any student what they want out of CCSU and most will tell you that they want a better campus experience.

However, the fact that we’re getting more programming and entertainment is helping, but might not be enough. Take notes as to what other successful schools are doing to gain residents. Are we welcoming enough? Do we appear to be a commuter school? Are the dorms up to date? Are we responsive and helping when a student has a problem?

These questions, and more, need to be discussed. They haven’t been for too long. Take a look at what is a problem and fix it. Also, it’s not just about the students who are here currently, it’s about the image we create for the next batch of individuals. A stronger and more concisely-run

administration will only help to carry a complete campus message. Do we want to be known a ‘suitcase college’ or a residential university?

We’re happy to see that the University has taken steps to draw more people in to campus, now we have to keep them here. Find out what programs we’d like to attend. Go ahead and ask us. Most of us have something we want to do. It’s not that hard to get it out of us. Find out what problems we have when we’re registering or paying our bills. Do we have a problem every time we need to deal with financial aid? This will only help the entire student experience and give us the praise the University deserves from alumni and current students alike.

For those who are in activity planning and other similar committees, keep doing what you’re doing into the coming year. You’ve only made our campus stronger. Hopefully now, the other parts of administration and university relations will step up just as you have.

Letter To The Editor Dear Editor,

Editor’s Column: This Is The End nicHoLAs PRocH The Recorder

My college life has come to a close. Are you excited? No more babbling on about toothbrushes and urinals. You won’t have to suffer through what was a column I wrote about throw rugs, either. I ran out of time. If you were a regular at the meetings and have grown tired of me rambling on about that week’s issue, you’re time has come!

These last few weeks have become a blur of insanity. There are finals to be studied for, papers to be written and classes to attend, but my weeks still revolve around Monday night production sessions.

The end is in sight and the pressure that’s going to be let off my shoulders in a few weeks is going to feel unbelievable. I’m not going to miss getting in my car, parking and putting my head down and going to class.

What I’m going to quickly miss is the Recorder office, the weekly cycle and those who come in and out of existence on staff.

I’m going to miss the excuses of why a story wasn’t in on time, why it wasn’t in AP style and the hour of complaining associated with covering SGA. There’s a part of me that will start to analyze our budget for next fall and then remember that I don’t need to worry about whether we should buy a camera or a laptop for the staff.

At some point in the middle of August, it will hit me. While my mind will tell me that I should be getting ready for a semester to begin, I’ll be mentally prepping for nothing of the sort. I have no idea what I’ll be doing in a year from now. How could I? I don’t know what I’ll be doing after May 18, either.

What I do know is where I’ve been with the fantastic individuals on my staff.

They’ve allowed me to enjoy what was a tremendously successful year. If it weren’t for them, you wouldn’t have gotten to read what was an exceptional newspaper each week.

Their hard work and dedication is commendable. For little to no pay, they churn out stories like clockwork and fill the pages so that you, the reader, can enjoy them, disagree with them or learn something about this campus you might have not known before.

If University administrators are looking for people to acknowledge next year, search no further. Come down to our office in the Student Center and see what this publication’s staff members are doing.

They’re reporting real news. Without them, would you know what was going on in our SGA? They’ve given light to the changes our campus will make for years to come. This is journalism, but it comes from all departments and all majors.

It’s now time for me to hand the reins over to someone else. They’re ready to operate without me and I’m ready to graduate and put what I’ve learned to use.

Everyone on this staff is capable of doing a better job than I did, so please trust them to do so.

Please trust that they’ll make mistakes but always run corrections for them. Trust that they’ll handle tough decisions with care each time. Trust they’ll do their best to be fair and balanced. Let them continue to do what they’re doing; they’ve proven worthy.

Naming whom I need to remember one by one would take up an entire page, so I’d like to thank everyone I’ve worked with through these years. I’m honored to have served you. I enjoyed every moment of it.

Thank you.

I wanted to quickly address the concerns raised in the most recent editorial arguing that SGA should no longer be allocating money to clubs. There were quite a few incorrectly assumed facts in the article, but they were mostly harmless. The most significant oversight was against the empirical argument for democracy, and the absolute fact that people working in SA/LD are, much like students, human beings.

There have been a couple times this semester when the staff from The Recorded has questioned the SGA Senates professionalism for arguing over requirements for Senators to be at meetings (these are By-Laws being argued). It is not the fault of the Senate, however, if The Recorder’s staff fails to recognize the possible effects of not having membership at meetings for years to come and the impact that may have on the clubs receiving a budget. As far as this group being “allowed to single handedly deflate a club”, it’s hard to refer to a group of some 30 people as doing anything single-handedly, mostly because 30 people roughly equates to 60 hands, depending on personal circumstances.

Our practices are a bit drawn out, but they are not unorganized. The Senate follows a strict set of rules that are laid out in a 669 page manual on parliamentary procedure, which is common practice at almost every public or private meeting of comparable size.

To address the idea that “the SA/ LD office should be the ones deciding what type of funds clubs get”, that’s an interesting proposition. Going back to my original allegation that SA/LD also consists of human beings, I think there’s a point to be made that all people can have biases. I don’t want to discredit any of the individuals in the SA/LD office, but they will also end up giving budgets that are thought to be unfair by some clubs. I don’t think that it would alleviate any biases in the system; it would actually make them more impactful.

If a Senator voting on the budget next week has a bias, they are affecting 1/32nd of the vote. If the same thing were to happen within SA/LD, and let’s say everyone in the office who works with clubs gets a vote, it would affect 1/6th of the vote. So, based on the suggestion in the editorial, the influence of bias would grow by approximately 533%.

If we were to assume that the Senate is so corrupt (it isn’t) that this is somehow still an even playing field, we would have to analyze what would happen if there were a problem with funding. Say the students have a problem with the SA/LD office’s budget; they can’t put up a candidate

and elect Scott Hazan or Sue Sweeney out of office. Having SA/LD take care of budgets could actually institutionalize biases, should they arise.

Comparing the Media Board to the SGA Senate is not in any way a valid comparison to make. First, it is still students making the budget; it’s just a smaller group. If we were to have a similar setup, it would be a 130 person board of students from the clubs making budgets.

It does bring up an interesting point though: The Recorder has a much bigger and more protected budget than other groups on campus. Unfortunately, there is no other group on campus that can afford annual trips to places like Disney World and San Francisco with the budget that the student activity fee provides. I don’t have an issue with the lavish trips and events The Recorder staff attends. As the Outstanding Student Organization of the Year, Editor In Chief Nicholas Proch and the rest of the staff are a talented group, who deserve recognition they have received. The rest of the campus clubs and organizations, however, don’t have the available resources to attain the kind of benefits The Recorder receives, no matter who decides how to divide the funds.

The purpose if the SGA Senate is to represent the students. Who better to dole out the student activity fee than the people they elect for the purpose of doing so? When we’re upset with congress, not a lot of people jump to the idea of having the fed come up with the US budget. Are there problems with our budgeting process? Probably; are there biases on our Senate? Of course, we’re human. Is the Senate out of control and destroying club budgets? I don’t think so.

I’ve heard complaints from two of ninety seven clubs regarding this year’s budget proposal questioning fairness thus far, making them outliers. After doing the statistics, however, both of those clubs fall within the standard deviation of amount received as a percentage of amount requested.

Our two other officers, the 30 currently serving Senators and I are all here to listen to student concerns. That includes the club budgeting process, and all other concerns. If there is a group on campus more fit to make these decisions I’ll hear those suggestions, but it will be a student group if students want the opportunity to have the freedom to learn this process on their own. From what I’ve read in the most recent editorial, nothing suggests that the Senate has done wrong.

Respectfully, Eric Bergenn SGA President

6

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / OPINION

Academic Success Will Take Multiple Stripped Of Graduating With Honors Committee Efforts Jared Todd The Recorder

Academic success is both the responsibility of students and professors.

More importantly, it is about the openness of communication and the quality of guidance between teachers and students.

Perhaps bettering CCSU’s student learning outcomes has more to do with student-teacher relationships, campuswide interaction and a higher standard of intellectual rigor than we might think. Why has the focus been primarily on revising policy such as the recent revisions proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee for General Education?

If there are issues with student performance, they cannot be solved through amending current general education requirements alone. Yes, higher standards and improved policy are a must, but thinking that we can stimulate student performance by revising policy alone would be foolish.

According to the 2008-2009 CCSU Learning Outcomes Report, the lowest levels of student performance were in critical thinking and reading and scientific understanding—73 percent and 68 percent “respectively performing at acceptable levels or higher.”

The report, prepared by Director of Institutional Research and Assessment Braden Hosch in 2010, said that, “local measurements made by faculty appear to indicate highest levels of student performance in the areas of written communication and personal health, with 90 percent and 89 percent of students respectively performing at acceptable levels or higher.”

The University can mandate, change and preach general education requirements all it wants, but if there is a general apathy among students or professors, then it is all for naught.

Referring to the statistics above, there is room for improvement, but are we improving learning outcomes from every possible angle?

In the 2010 report of the College Employee Satisfaction Survey, only nine percent of CCSU faculty surveyed completely agreed that communication

between different academic departments is effective. What’s more is that only 12 percent strongly believe that there is good communication between faculty and the administration.

Trying to boost the school’s general education policy seems extraneous next to the fact that there is little intertwining of departmental goals and communication.

The description of core area two of general education states the following: “Self, Community and Society, to examine the relationship between individuals, their communities, and the wider societies in which they live.”

While this goal is reasonable and purposeful, how do students examine that relationship both inside and outside of the classroom and how much is that examination really making an impact?

According to the National Survey of Student Engagement report in 2009, of the first-year CCSU students surveyed, 28 percent said the quality of academic advising from their assigned advisor was excellent.

Among senior students, 27 percent said the quality was either fair or poor.

Is it at all possible that our University should be focusing on increasing the quality of advising and providing a better environment for building teacher-student relationships?

I won’t pretend to have the answers to these questions, but I would suggest that students, faculty and administrators sit down together to set up a more efficacious plan of action when it comes to student learning outcomes. Everyone, campus-wide, should have a say in the general education requirements and how those requirements are to be met.

Fostering a healthy, advantageous academic community is more than what can be written on paper by committees.

General education success goes beyond simple requirements and core areas, as these are at best guidelines for students and faculty. It might be time for a reminder that every part of campus life, every class that is taught and every decision that is made by the administration affects the quality of CCSU’s academic standards.

Sara M. Berry The Recorder

Two years ago, I transferred to CCSU after graduating with honors from Manchester Community College. I felt very fortunate to be here, and I felt as though many of the people I had encountered here cared about me, welcomed me and wanted me to succeed. Partly due to the support of a number of my professors and others that I have worked with, I have succeeded. I have made many friends and had many valuable experiences. I found a home with the Recorder staff and in the Psychology Club.

I’ve been a part of the Executive Boards of both organizations. Despite many personal obstacles, I will graduate in May with a 3.59 GPA. I have become a peer tutor and this week will be inducted into Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology.

Having come in as a non-traditional student, I felt that people here truly had my best interests at heart. Over the last few months of my time at Central, I have started to wonder about that. I encountered a policy which states that, regardless of GPA, fulltime students at CCSU are required to have taken 62 credits in residence. A student here could feasibly have a 4.0 average and be valedictorian of their class, but be denied honors upon graduation solely on the basis that they transferred here and only earned 61 credits in residence.

Upon discovering this policy, and after having received conflicting information, I did some thinking, and some research. A transfer student coming to Central with the equivalent of an associate’s degree, expecting to graduate in two years, would have to take at least one 18-credit semester, unless they were able to find enough one or two credit classes to divide three credits across multiple semesters, or be able to afford a summer class.

Psychology majors are required to take two four-credit classes, which cannot be taken together. Because we are not allowed to take more than 18 credits in a single semester, these two required classes make it nearly impossible to take 18 credits in at least two of the four semesters that a transfer

student would be here. I do not know if other majors have requirements such as this, which would restrict the students’ ability to take 18-credit semesters, but it seems highly probable. The odds of being able to find 18 credits worth of open classes that fulfill requirements the first semester at Central are also very small due to most transfer students not being accepted before the rest of the student body registers. This policy severely limits the likelihood of transfer students being able to graduate with honors, regardless of their GPA. This, to me, is ironic at an institution that has 800 new transfer students this year.

Prior to my time at CCSU, I spent time at two other colleges in Connecticut, at both of which the only requirement for graduating with honors was based on GPA. Never having heard of such a policy, and not knowing that I needed to look for one, I wondered if other schools had such a thing. Southern has a policy requiring 60 credits in residence, which can reasonably be accomplished in two years by taking 15 credits a semester.

Western requires 45 credits in residence, which is also reasonable. Eastern requires 45 credits in residence, but also has a separate recognition for students with GPAs of 3.5 or above who have not completed 45 credits in residence, rather than not recognizing these students at all. UCONN’s policy requires 54 credits in residence, and the GPA requirements depend on the program.

This is also reasonable. For transfer students looking to graduate with honors, CCSU is clearly the place that makes this harder than any of the other public four-year schools in the state.

Had I known about this policy two years ago, I would have made sure to arrange my class schedule so that I could have had 62 credits in residence. It is very frustrating to me to not have been given all of the information that I needed to make an informed decision regarding the number of credits I would need in order to graduate from CCSU with honors. I know that nothing is going to change for me, but I hope that other students in the future have the information they need to not find themselves in the same situation.

Have an opinion?

We are looking for writers who wish to share their views with CCSU! Email editor@centralrecorder.com

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / UPGRADE

I.R.C. Week

7

Mr. CCSU Makes A Lasting Impression Amanda Webster The Recorder

As part of CCSU’s spring week, IRC hosted a series of events for students to enjoy including a comedian performance and Mr. CCSU. Mr. CCSU was held in Alumni Hall in the Student Center on Thursday night and drew enough attention to fill the room.

The show reflected a Hunger Games type theme that immediately had the crowd’s interest. Due to a rebellious James Hall defying the dry campus policy, five tributes from surrounding dorms were needed to compete for the lone spot of Mr. CCSU in order to set an example for the entire campus.

Ian Mangione, Marquise Holbrook, Kieran Duffy, Rob McGrath and James Lombay valiantly volunteered themselves to be tributes and quickly took to the stage to display their courage and their boxer briefs.

IRC’s director of programming Ryan Sheehan wished the tributes best of luck and gave them the familiar blessing of “may the odds be ever in your favor.”

The show began with the

tributes dancing around and strutting their stuff on stage. Each contestant had a moment in the spot light to impress the judges with their moves. From the get go it was clear that Marquise was a crowd favorite as he danced down the aisles of the audience everyone cheered loudly to show their approval.

The hilarity of the night was only beginning. The contestants were entered into three different components of the show: a swimsuit portion, performing a talent and finally the formal wear segment.

The talent portion had the most dynamic and interesting aspects of the show. Mangione performed a stand-up comedy routine, Duffy played some popular radio hits on a keyboard, which had the crowd singing along, Lombay rapped to a few different Kanye and Jay-Z songs while Holbrook transformed into Beyonce and booty popped his way across the stage after performing an original song of his own.

There was also a somewhat confusing appearance made by super hero Mr. Clean (McGrath) and his side-kick/lover Tonto the

Contestants finishing their first dance to earn the crown of “Mr. CCSU.”

Rachael Bentley| THE RECORDER

broom. No questions were asked about their relationship, this is college after all.

The final chapter of the event was formal-wear and contestants alongside their lovely escorts dazzled the audience in their finest

Mangione came in second place, followed by Duffy in third.

Of course the night could not end without one last performance of the guys dancing on stage to songs by the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears.

as they waited to hear who would be announced as Mr. CCSU. It came as no surprise that Holbrook was crowned Mr. CCSU by the judges. His confidence and personality radiated from across the room during the entire event.

Hypnotized

Daniel Saunders The Recorder

A night full of laugh out loud entertainment was brought by comedian and hypnotist Jim Spinnato April 24 in Semesters in the Student Center.

Spinnato was able to make people do things they would never have imagined doing, getting the crowed to participate at times and making them feel part of the action. The students stayed from start to finish and the atmosphere was that of enjoyment and positive response.

With a combination of comedy and hypnotism with the audience, Spinnato possesses the ability to control the stage in a way where the audience feels that they are part of the show, and on stage.

Getting positive response wherever he performs, Spinnato has entertained at venues such as Foxwoods Resort and Casino, The Mohegan Sun Casino, University of Connecticut, Post University, Providence College, Becker College and now Central.

The participants were hypnotized to feel like they were

Jim Spinnato (right) made students laugh and cry, as seen on the left.

Daniel Saunders | THE RECORDER

riding a motorcycle through their neighborhood. Spinnato made the person next to the participants smell like “sex,” resulting in participants sniffing the other’s neck and trying to get really close to one another. Participants were able to see the crowd with no clothes on and then on a count of two were made so they felt like they had no clothes on, leading the students in the crowd and participating feel awkward at times.

College humor was a huge part of his performance, ranging everywhere from the common “penis joke” to making a girl feel like she has the male anatomy that a male on stage has lost. Female participants were told there was a dance competition where they had to shake their breasts and dance for a male judge with a $10,000 award given to the winner. The men had to shake their “junk” for a female and they also would be given an award of $10,000.

I thought that bringing Spinnato to CCSU for IRC week was the best thing that was on campus this semester. I have not laughed harder than I did, and it was nice to see such a great turn out for an event on campus on a Tuesday night.

Kaplan Keeps Audience Entertained With Risqué Jokes Bryan Morales

Special To The Recorder

Myq (pronounced Mike) Kaplan, a comedian who has performed on The Late Show and Conan, came to CCSU for IRC week keeping students laughing the entire time.

Kaplan used jokes that were about women, religion and social experiences. Kaplan was very relaxed and picked on people from the audience.

“Come in come in, don’t worry I don’t want every seat filled up, just every other row,” Kaplan said. He kept everyone awake.

This is my second standup comedy show. Last year I went to go see Michael Blackson who also came to Central. Comedians use life experiences and situations to make others laugh. If a comedian can make me laugh in a matter of minutes and I can relate to their jokes, I will pay attention-that’s exactly what Kaplan did.

Kaplan mentioned how well he was with women. As he looked into the audience full of students he said, “I recently asked a woman if I could buy her a drink, and she said yes, I then said, ‘you are wrong, I am broke, can you buy me a drink?’”

As he paused, everyone laughed.

I enjoyed his entire performance. I didn’t really know much about him until I saw his flyer around campus.

I decided to go figure out how funny Myq Kaplan was for myself.

“Women are rough...because that’s how I give it to them,” said Kaplan.

I laughed yet again and so did the entire crowd. He went on to talk about man holes and how women use the term to describe filthy men.

Kaplan said, “Did you know a man hole, a person of either gender can go through one of those-we should call them street vaginas.”

I thought to myself maybe this guy isn’t so bad after all. Some of my favorite comedians are Katt Williams, Kevin Hart and Gabriel Iglesias.

What I enjoy the most about comedians is the fact that they don’t care about their embarrassing moments in life. They love sharing with their audience to make others laugh. That’s their job. Kaplan went as far as picking on his own culture.

He made fun of Judaism and their history.

“We Jewish people tend to be very conscious when people ask us if we are Jewish or not, I mean since the last time we told people

we were, it didn’t turn out so good,” said Kaplan referring to the Holcaust.

I respect comedians that can actually make fun of their own culture or nationality without taking offense to it. Instead they use it as ammunition to fire at people and make them laugh. As Kaplan continued on with his jokes, there wasn’t a time in which no one laughed. It was perfect timing because as the stress piled up from school and finals around the corner, Myq Kaplan used his time efficiently. As his act came to a close, I wondered to myself, was he really that funny? I say yes.

8

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / UPGRADE

CONCERT REVIEW

Mac Miller Delivers Energy-Filled Perfomance Amanda Webster The Recorder

As part of the Macadelic Tour, rapper Mac Miller performed for CCSU’s spring concert on Saturday night.

The concert, which was held in Kaiser Gym, was open to the public and sold around 2,500 tickets. A line began forming outside of Kaiser around 5:30p.m and doors opened at 7 p.m.

Once inside, the anticipation of the audience was palpable. After the opening acts the crowd began to chant, “We want Mac!” When he finally took to the stage, Miller had only one question for the audience, “My name is Mac Miller, who the fuck are you?”

Immediately the crowd went wild.

Mac Miller played some of the crowd favorites including “Kool Aid and Frozen Pizza,” “Knock Knock” and “Best Day Ever.”

Crowd members were constantly on their feet, jumping, dancing and crowd surfing. Glow sticks were thrown into the crowd and everyone scrambled to grab one in order to hold them in the air to show Mac their support.

At one point, Mac told the crowd that he wanted everyone jumping up and down during his performance and the crowd eagerly complied.

Other hits like “Lucky Ass Bitch” and “Loud” were also performed. The audience sang along with every song and seemed to keep the energy of the night high by, well, getting high.

Although the audience could not show more excitement for the show, Mac Miller seemed to be there for himself. He rarely addressed the crowd, but when he did the energy in the room surged. He played from one track right into the next without much introduction or audience interaction.

Mac Miller did not seem bored, in fact he seemed completely in his element. He jumped up and down along the stage during most of the show, jumped off of the side of the stage and always had his hands in the air, making the audience follow suit.

He ended the show with his hit “Donald Trump” leaving the audience wanting more. The overall feel of the night can only be described as energetic and the crowd seemed to love every second of Miller. More noticeable was that Mac Miller enjoyed every second of Mac Miller.

MOVIE REVIEWS

Mac Miller was not afraid to show CCSU how to have a good time during his performance.

‘Five Year Engagement’ Hayley Smith

While it’s definitely not the funniest work by producer Judd Apatow (can anything beat Bridesmaids?) The Five-Year Engagement still has quite a few laugh-out-loud moments.

Penned by writing team Jason Segel and Nick Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall and The Muppets), this romantic comedy is pretty much as funny as you would expect it to be.

After exactly one year of dating, Tom (Segel) asks Violet (Emily Blunt) to marry him in a hilarious gone-wrong-but-still-sweet proposal. Over the next few years, obstacles continue to arise, effectively putting off the wedding mainly Violet’s acceptance into a Michigan University psychology program, forcing the couple to temporarily move away from San Francisco.

It’s the small moments that make this film different than other romantic comedies.

The chemistry between Segel and Blunt is undeniable. They make a realistic couple with witty yet authentic conversations, which is atypical to rom-coms.

In an interview with The View, Segel said: “That’s why I think our movie is different in terms of romantic comedies. You can tell Emily and I enjoy each other’s company. A lot of romantic comedies it’s like they’ve plunked together two viable Hollywood actors ‘cause they had successful movies the year before, and you can tell they don’t know each other.”

While Blunt’s and Segel’s characters are humorous and lovable, the real stand-out is Alex, Tom’s best friend and fellow chef, played

by Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation). There is an evident and hilarious believability about his character that meshes perfectly with the other actors, such as Violet’s sister Suzie, played by Alison Brie (Mad Men, Community). Pratt and

‘Pirates’ Is Swashbuckling Fun joe suszczynski The Recorder

Special To The Recorder

PHOTO | UNIVerSAL Pictures

Brie give impressive performances that steal the show. Mindy Kaling and Chris Parnell also add some extra laughter into the mix.

Unlike many romantic comedies, the relationships between the leads and the secondary characters are very realistic in this film. So realistic, in fact, that many of the moments were likely unplanned and improvised.

“I think breaking on screen is important,” said Segel in the same interview. “When your friend says something hilarious, you laugh. So, I like when our actors break and think people are funny.”

Despite a few lame jokes and slight predictability, The Five-Year Engagement casts aside the cheesy rom-com typicality of a destiny-based relationship. Instead, it illustrates a realistic sequence of events, focusing more on choices and determination and less on the idea of fate.

If you are looking for a few laughs, you like sweet stories, or you’re a Jason Segel fan (who isn’t?), The Five-Year Engagement shouldn’t disappoint.

Daniel Saunders | THE RECORDER

Aardman Animations has put out some legitimate movies over the past years. Films such as Chicken Run and Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit have not only been very popular, but highly rated.

Recently they made a new film, The Pirates!

Band of Misfits. It’s a tale of bumbling pirates led by their fearless leader, Pirate Captain, who is voiced

by Hugh Grant. The Captain enters the Pirate of the Year award in hopes of winning. With his trusty crew he is off to plunder all the treasure he could possibly get.

Despite this being a ‘kid flick’, adults and children alike will really enjoy this movie. The voice acting was great. The animations were crisp and lively. The jokes were good for the most part and the movie had a decently written storyline.

In terms of acting I would say Hugh Grant did an excellent job playing the protagonist in the movie. Pirate Captain is a fearless pirate who wants to achieve greatness among the pirate community.

The only problem is that his buffoonery prevents him achieving such status. Grant does a good job balancing both funny and serious scenes during the film.

Another noteworthy performance was from Imelda Staunton, who voiced Queen Victoria.

Victoria was the Queen of England who has an absolute loathing of pirates and wishes to be rid of them all. Pirate Captain and Her Highness eventually clash at the climax of the movie.

Staunton has the voice of an antagonist, which helps the believability of her character.

For those who are familiar with Aardman productions, movies like Chicken Run and any of the Wallace and Gromitt series always have a multitude of witty jokes and silly humor to keep the viewers happy. Thankfully, their latest endeavor did not miss the mark.

Granted, not all of the jokes hit their mark, but

the majority did. One joke in particular is when Pirate Captain is going to a science show with Charles Darwin (David Tennant), while disguising him and the crew as girl scouts and scientists to not draw attention from the Queen.

Another is when Pirate Captain is drunk on grog he notices Darwin and his monkey-butler, Mr. Bobo, making the same gestures and mannerisms asking Darwin if he and Mr. Bobo are related, giving a nod to Darwin’s theory of evolution.

The plot is simple enough to follow; Pirate Captain wants to win ‘Pirate of the Year’ so he and his crew go off to plunder, but keeps failing in many humourous and entertaining ways. Eventually they high-jack the H.M.S. Beagle, the famous ship of Charles Darwin, and force him to walk the plank when he reveals he has no money. However, he is spared a watery death when he discovers the Captain’s parrot, Polly, is actually a dodo bird, a previously extinct animal. When told he could get great riches, the Captain agrees to travel with Darwin to a science contest in London, home of the antagonist Queen Victoria; hilarity then ensues.

The writers really captured the emotions of the characters putting their relationships at odds when opportunity arises for a certain character.

The aspect that makes Aardman stand out from other animation studios is the animation itself. The film’s animation is very reminiscent of their previous films, which is good because it gives the audience a sense of relief because they have stuck to their roots as an animation studio. The characters are very well designed, along with the surrounding elements. So I say bravo to Aardman for sticking to their roots with this film.

Overall, I give this movie a high mark. The acting is wonderful. The story and jokes are good and provide laughter. The price of the ticket is worth it.

A recommendation I have is that one should go with someone rather than by themselves. As funny as I found this movie by myself, I feel that if I was with someone I would have laughed even harder.

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THE RECORDER / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / UPGRADE

Between The Sheets: Makeup Sex RAcHAeL benTLey The Recorder

After living in my apartment building for a little over two weeks, I came to realize that I have a very argumentative couple living below me. One night, as I was getting my weekly dose of ABC shows, I could hear the two of them bickering, throwing some pretty nasty names and a few inanimate objects around.

Secretly hoping that they would stop (sooner rather than later), I got just what I asked for as the bickering suddenly ended.

Then the squeaking and the banging of their bed chimed in, and I realized what was going on only a few feet below me.

Many couples have sex after intense arguments for many different reasons,

but there is a fine line between anger and sexual excitement, and couples should be careful to not push the boundries of what their partners are comfortable with.

For some people, pent-up aggression needs to be released every so often, just like sexual excitement. Our bodies often react similarly to both, with quickened heart rates and heavy breathing after yelling.

To use my neighbors as an example (yet again), despite the fact that they “made-up” that one night, the fights do tend to happen quite regularly, and more often than not, I can hear the door slam as someone leaves. This proves the point that, although makeup sex can help relieve stress for couples once in a blue moon, it should not be used as the only way to settle

the issue at hand.

Using sex as the only solution to fighting is like putting a Band-Aid on a gun-shot wound; it won’t help or heal, and will only hold off the problem for a short period of time before it resurfaces again.

Try to keep in mind that sex is not the solution, and that it is only a means to an end, not the end itself. Quite often after makeup sex couples will feel more open and comfortable to talk about the real issue. However, if you notice that after you’re done doing the deed that your other half is less than willing to talk about the real issue, I’d say it’s pretty safe to assume that they were just using the sex as a way to distract from what caused the fight, and don’t really want to work out the kinks.

Don’t start a fight with your woman

just for the hot makeup sex. She will catch on eventually. From what I’ve gathered from friends’ experiences, and a little internet research, as long as the makeup sex is unequivocally mutual, couples can greatly benefit from it.

To quote Men’s Health Magazine, “You yell, you scream, you break some dishes.

Then you make up and head right to the bedroom, where there’s more screaming.

But this time, the only thing you’re both breaking is the sound barrier (and maybe the headboard).”

Most people can attest that after a big fight, or an extended period of seperation, there seems to be a void that needs filling.

Although sex shouldn’t be the only thing that fills the void, it could be seen as the glue that holds the other pieces together.

Walk Of No Shame: Slut Walk 2012

ciARA Hooks The Recorder

The tables and pamphlets were set and the tent and microphone were ready to go. Refreshments were available, t-shirts that read, “Consent is Sexy” were given out. Signs were made for people to hold.

Slut Walk 2012, a march against rape and victim blaming, was ready to begin.

Initially, the free t-shirts, pamphlets and cookies (even the event itself) didn’t seem to be the star of the show; rather a girl holding a sign dressed as a giant pink vagina was.

People surrounded and crowded her asking her questions and taking pictures with her. She was a CCSU celebrity in her own right, taking a stand in a bold way.

“I am fearless. I have no shame, no shame at all,” said 21-year-old senior, Sarah Dionne.

“Believe it or not, I have a few events that I’m using this costume in… But I felt it was very appropriate and it’s just like people should be allowed to dress however they want.

I don’t think I should be harassed for being a BIG vagina,” she laughed.

Arranged in a line full of scattered signs and willing participants, we began to march and chant around the Student Center Circle as the sky turned gloomy and grey and the raindrops pierced our faces.

It seemed eyes were glued to us (partially in confusion) mostly in amazement and curiosity. More people seemed to be present after our once around the pond than there was when we started (for one reason

or another.)

The wind and rain almost put a damper on the day by ending the march earlier than planned but, despite Mother Nature trying to bring us down, we prevailed in our mission and the speakers continued.

“The rain was a damper, but it (walk) was good. It’s really nice to see everyone come out here,” said Mike Lerardi, a freshman at Central and one of the few men in attendance.

CCSU Student Jackie Hennessey was the one who came up with the idea to have the march.

“I want to explain to you why it was so important for me to bring the name of this movement to Central.

I’ve heard slut shaming and victim blaming first hand”, she explained at the rally.

“For me it was the hardest aspect of my own assault. I’ve been known to wear these boots to class and the word ‘slut’ does nothing to me on those days. It’s interesting, though to witness the stares, to hear the comments and the priceless look on my poor professor’s face. But those days I wear the boots for me, it’s my choice,” Hennessey stated.

“Today is a new day at CCSU. I want women to walk around this campus and feel comfortable, as those men feel comfortable to walk around without a shirt”, explained Jacqueline Cobbina-Boivin, Director of the Woman’s Center.

“I want us to feel comfortable, like the men who walk around campus with their underwear showing. None of us women are going around and grabbing them, are we? Should we say that they’re asking us to grab them when they’re showing their

Students marched and made signs (left and above) to show their support of sexual assualt awareness month.

DAnieL sAunDeRs | THe RecoRDeR

underwear to us? So why should they say that when we dress a certain way, we are asking for their attention?”

Cobbina-Boivin asked the crowd.

The open mic portion opened up a whole new world. The M.C’s encouraged everyone with a sign to come up and read and gave anyone the chance to express him or herself.

A lot of people made personal speeches, sharing real experiences about being called a slut or being harassed. A girl skipped the beginning of her class to speak on how she felt.

One gentlemen decided to step up and say a word or two. He spoke about how much he respects women and supports the cause because he

wouldn’t want someone he cared about being treated that way.

Each time a different person finished speaking my heart raced and my nerves kept kicking in. I wanted to go up there and say something, but my fear of public speaking kept kicking in.

After a lot of internal debate, I made my legs move to that microphone stand and shared my kind words of wisdom. This is something that’s a problem all over America, especially on Central’s campus. I know young women that get called sluts and whores because of what they’re wearing, including myself on a few occasions.

This was Central’s first ever “Walk

DAnieL sAunDeRs | THe RecoRDeR

of No Shame.” The atmosphere was extremely positive, uplifting, fun, open and free spirited.

The protests and marches that inspired this specific protest originated in Canada, fueled by a specific suggestion from Constable Michael Sanguinetti, a Toronto Police officer. “Women should avoid dressing like sluts to remain safe,” he said.

A movement of rallies protesting against explaining or excusing rape by referring to any aspect of a woman’s appearance spread across the world and finally made it’s way to CCSU. It is just one small tactic in changing our rape culture, and it doesn’t stop there.

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THE RECORDER / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / UPGRADE

Second Hand Bookmark It! Shopping Experience Two for the Dough Sara m. berry The Recorder

Janet Evanovich’s second installment in the Stephanie Plum series, Two for the Dough, was as entertaining as the first. The second time around, the main characters are just as memorable, and perhaps even more loveable, than they were when I met them in One for the Money.

Stephanie Plum is still working as a bounty hunter for her cousin Vinny. This time, she has taken on the task of trying to apprehend Kenny Mancuso, a distant cousin of none other than Joe Morelli. Plum’s high school nemesis, as well as her first bounty, Morelli has been sent by the family to look for Mancuso, who is accused of killing his best friend. Much to her dismay, Plum quickly realizes that the quickest way to Mancuso is probably through Morelli.

Having been dragged to the local mortuary by her wake-obsessed Grandma Mazur, Plum thinks she’s picking up an easy thousand dollars when she agrees to locate 24 missing caskets for the local undertaker’s stepson. She doesn’t suspect that those caskets will be related to her search for Mancuso. She also doesn’t know that Morelli has more reasons to look for his cousin than making his family happy.

Plum’s two seemingly unrelated jobs quickly begin to fit together all too well with Morelli’s top-secret case involving missing military munitions. Also interested in the reward for the capture of Mancuso is Ranger, who begins to compete with Morelli not only for the capture, but also for Plum’s attention.

Meanwhile, Lula has retired from prostitution and has landed a job as a file clerk working for Vinnie. However, Lula has no interest in filing, but lots of interest in tagging along with Plum on her bounty hunting adventures. Not really needing yet

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another “partner,” Plum begrudgingly allows Lula to play sidekick, creating some of the funnier moments of the book.

Where Plum tries to avoid breaking the law as much as possible, Lula makes loose interpretations of it in order to get information they need. Chaos ensues, as Lula may actually be worse suited for the bounty hunting business than Plum.

Like One for the Money, Two for the Dough is not exceptionally deep, thoughtprovoking fiction, but it is a fun read. Full of laugh-out-loud moments, it is a perfect way to decompress from the stress of impending final exams, well worth the few hours it takes to read. It’s too bad I have to wait until after exams to return to the action-packed world of Trenton’s most amusing bounty hunter.

Rachael bentley The Recorder

After spending an entire Saturday afternoon traipsing around West Hartford, Avon, Canton and Torrington, I looked in the back seat of my friend’s car and saw two bags full-to-bursting with clothing purchases.

But unlike any other large-scale shopping experience, I was not filled with an immense sense of dread that my bank account would never be able to recover from such an ordeal.

A friend recently encouraged me to try shopping at second hand thrift stores, such as Second Time Around, Goodwill and Plato’s Closet. Although I don’t have anything against shopping at second hand stores, I had never gotten myself to take a risk and try something new.

But as I walked into the different stores, I found myself falling in love with the gently worn items on the racks. Perhaps it was the fact that I knew I was getting an amazing deal, or maybe it was the thought that I was recycling and doing some good for our planet. Either way, I was hooked.

Chain stores like Second Time Around tend to charge on the higher end of the price spectrum because they sell some legitimate brands like Gucci, Prada and Vera Wang. Since I am not a huge name brand person myself, this really didn’t have an effect on me. However, my shopping partner did get very excited when he found a Gucci Tie for under $40.

Just as it is when shopping at a mall or a retail outlet, I instantly developed a couple favorite stores. On the top of my list is Favrah, located in Canton, which is a small establishment, but had a lot to offer. My apologies to anyone who is a size 4 or 6 who plans on going there sometime soon.

There may not be much left.

I found name brand shirts like J. Crew and New York and Company for $2.50, and before you jump the gun, they were not in bad condition.

In fact, they were in near perfect condition. I could not tell the difference between this shirt and one that would be found on the rack at the mall.

Next on my list would be the Goodwill Super Store in Torrington, which is well worth the 20-minute drive from campus. As soon as I

walked indoors I was taken by surprise; the place was teeming with people.

Somehow, I had gotten it into my mind that places like this must have a hard time getting customers and that the selection of merchandise must be slim pickings. I couldn’t be happier to admit that I was wrong.

I was also shocked at who was shopping at Goodwill. I assumed that the people that shopped at “that kind of place” must not have a lot of income, and to be fairly honest, I was worried about who I might bump into. I found myself staring at the customers walking in, because a large majority of them were young men and women, some with their families.

I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of a mother and her seven or eight year-old daughter picking out outfits and getting giggly with each other. They were not ashamed or embarrassed to be seen shopping at a Goodwill store, and that is a great lesson to teach today’s generation of kids.

Hell, I was getting a lesson at 20 years old, but better late than never, right?

After returning home and looking at my large pile of purchases, I couldn’t help but feel silly and immature. How could I let such a petty societal stigma get in the way of such great deals? It made me wonder what could be done to help get rid of such a stigma, and what I could do to change people’s minds.

The answer to the first question was not so easy. People tend to get stuck in their habits and ways, and I personally know some people that would turn their nose up even at the sight of hand-me-downs. Personally, I am not that bothered with where I get my clothes from as long as they are clean and they look awesome, but society somehow has implied that buying second-hand clothes makes them lesser than clothes bought from a designer store. There is no quick-fix solution to this problem, but I’m hoping we can become more open-minded in time.

As for changing people’s minds about shopping at thrift stores, my own quick solution will be to wear as many rocking outfits as I possibly can with my new purchases, and when someone asks “Hey, where did you get that,” I’ll let them in on my little secret. Thrift stores are next best thing. Go crazy for them. You won’t regret it.

From the Outside Looking In: Registration Irene w. Yukash The Recorder

Warm weather, relaxation and long summer days are just weeks away for many students at CCSU. If you’re going to have a lot of down time, be sure to keep in mind your deadlines and set some goals. While the deadline for fall and spring study abroad applications are due April 1, the year prior to your trip, there’s actually not much time to spare.

You certainly don’t want to be scrambling last minute to get all of your paperwork done.

The sick feeling in your gut full of stress and uncertainty is something that can be avoided in this situation. Like we’ve already talked about, there will be plenty of unpredictability to this trip.

For anyone who hasn’t applied to study abroad, do yourself a favor and allow some time to look into different universities. After glancing through the catalog of university and program options, pick a handful that really jump out at you. Google will come in handy to you as a traveler several times; this is one of them. Look up the different universities and make a list of qualities you liked about each of them. Figure out exactly where you would be, whether you’ll be living in a city, tucked away town, or near the water.

Erin Beecher, Coordinator of the Center for International Education, said that knowing where you stand graduation-wise is one of the most important factors in selecting a university abroad.

Beecher advises to select a school based on personal preference in addition to credit transfer.

Chatting with professors and academic advisors as well as advisors at the Center for International Education should help narrow down your choices. This step is important because it will help keep you on the right track academically. Once you’ve applied to the study abroad program, you will need to fill out a registration application for your new university. As far as registration goes, the CIE will take care of the rest. It’s that easy to sign up to study abroad.

Maybe you already have your university selected. It’s a step in the right direction, but you’re not quite ready to sit back and relax yet. Whether you’re in the selection process or have already applied to your university, it is wise to research document requirements of that country. Some countries only require a passport, which is only a brief questionnaire, a trip to a CVS photo center and a hundred bucks away. More complicated than a passport, some countries require a visa upon entry.

A visa is a travel document that some

www.centralrecorder.com

countries require of visitors. It is a page that is pasted into your passport, issued by the embassy of the desired country. In order to obtain one, you must provide information on health, finances, and future travel plans.

A health physical must be completed within the year you’re applying for your visa. Proof of financial stability is a large part of the visa. You will likely need to provide bank statements, financial aid and tuition information. For the most part, these are the major requirements of most visas, however, they change all the time.

To find exact requirements, check out the visa website travel.state.gov/visa. Right on the home page is a tab for study or exchange program options.

If you have gone above and beyond and have already applied to your university and for your visa (you are wiser than I was), keep researching. Pick up a few tourism books to peruse at the beach. It will not only get you amped up for your journey, but also get you thinking about where you’d like to travel while you are there.

The key to making the right choices is to be timely. Apply to your universities early.

Don’t let deadlines hold you back from getting exactly what you want out of your study abroad experiences.

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / SPORTS

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SPORTS BEGINS ON BACK PAGE

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Looking Back, Looking Forward

CCSU Men’s Soccer Banned From 2012 Post-Season bRiTTAny buRke The Recorder

bRiTTAny buRke The Recorder

I’ve known this was going to have to come sooner or later, and after close to 30 columns this year, here it is, my final one.

I was heavily persuaded into writing a weekly column by our paper’s advisor and at the beginning of the year I wasn’t sure if it was going to be revived. Now I can honestly say that the thought of this being my last one is a bit daunting.

The Recorder has been a part of my life for the past three years and a lot of the college experiences I’ve had can be summed up in my time spent in our office or reporting from a game.

The paper gave me something to be proud of each week and the editors and writers that put their time and energy into putting out a quality product have become my family. It’s hard not to get close to people when you spend countless hours with them in a tiny office, in class or in some cases with the people on this staff a week overseas.

You learn a lot about the people around you and what we have at The Recorder goes beyond just your average club, we share a bond that only other members of the staff can understand.

I transferred into CCSU my second year and spent my sophomore year splitting my time between DanCentral and The Recorder, but even after 13 years of dance classes, it was obvious that my true passion was held within the pages of the sports section.

After two years as section editor I am proud to say that I was the first female sports editor this paper has ever seen (and the only female sports writer for at least three years).

The paper is as much a learning tool as it is a club and I can’t thank some of the staff members enough for what they’ve taught me. Without a sports journalism class until my senior year (thanks Puleo), a lot of what I learned came from my old editor Chris Boulay. He gave me the ground work for my jump into sports before I was even a journalism major and gave me my first story (a women’s volleyball preview). So I can’t thank him enough, believe it or not.

He trusted me as his assistant editor and eventually pinned me as the person to take over once he graduated.

Boulay also let me cover hockey as much as I wanted, so everyone can thank him for that.

Aside from Boulay and the awesome people I work with now, one person I really can’t forget is my old Editor-in-Chief, Mike Walsh. He dealt with me in my first year as an editor and stood by me when I was given backlash for my columns. He let me have complete run of my section, which allowed me to hone my vision and is something I couldn’t be more grateful for.

After putting so much time and energy into the section and the paper as a whole it’s scary to leave it behind, but I’m confident that the people who will be here next year to write will keep up the standards and reputation for which the graduating seniors and the alumni before them have worked so hard to build up.

After three years there’s so much to say and so little column space to say it. When I refer to The Recorder being a learning tool I mean it. I’ve learned about libel, how to write a good game story and even how to deal with breaking sports news. Everything that I read about while sitting in Willard 214 was put in front of me, and not just in a life or death assignment, in real life.

I’ve prided myself on the relationships I’ve built with people in the athletics department, especially the Sports Information Director, Tom Pincince (who I know will miss my press box tweeting). And I’ve already written a column on just how important the club hockey team has been to me these past couple of years, so no need to bore the readers with that again.

It’s definitely not the easiest being the only girl in a mostly male field, but it can be fun.

So whether or not I head into the journalism grind or get into grad school for public relations, I know if anything The Recorder has given me the confidence and skills that I’ll need to get a job once I have my CCSU diploma.

It’s hard to imagine that it was three years ago that I emailed Melissa Traynor to apply for a sports writing position. The paper has grown so much since then and I’m excited to see how it continues to grow in the future.

It’s been recently decided that the Central Connecticut State University men’s soccer team will not be eligible to participate in the 2012 post-season due to a low academic progress rating (APR).

The Blue Devils soccer team has a combined APR score of 899 at the end of the 2010-2011 season, but to qualify the team must pass with a 900 at the end of four years, putting CCSU just one point shy of the required mark. Appeals have been made, but the NCAA on Academic Performance has denied the appeal requests.

“We accept the decision and will continue to make it a priority to meet all of the APR requirements as set forth by the NCAA,” said Paul Schlickmann, CCSU’s Athletic Director, in the athletic department’s press release.

The APR rating, done by the NCAA each term is used as an indicator for student athlete graduation rates amongst

the Division I schools.

According to the press release, the soccer team’s score wouldn’t have kept them from the post season, but last year the NCAA took a vote and decided to ban schools from the post season that didn’t make the qualifying scores.

Prior to 2011 the Blue Devils would have been given what the NCAA calls a historical penalty, which results in a simple warning, as well as an Academic Performance Plan for the team.

“We have implemented a specific plan of improvement for the men’s soccer program which has initially proven to be successful,” Schlickmann said. “We have informed the team of the NCAA’s decision and laid out a course of action for their continued academic and competitive success.”

Though an academic plan has been put into effect, the soccer team’s overall GPA isn’t necessarily low. For the last two semesters the team has averaged a strong 3.0 GPA, while over the four-year qualifying period the team average has

been slightly higher at a 3.10.

“Our recent performance in the classroom has been very strong, as our team grade point average continues to show,” Schlickmann said in the press release. “The academic success of our student athletes and adherence to NCAA APR standards is, and always has been, an institutional and departmental priority for Central. Our primary strategic objective is the educational experience of our student athletes. That is paramount to everything we do.”

While the team GPA remains high enough, CCSU’s soccer team is known for having multiple student athletes from overseas, which adds to the program’s high transfer rate. The high number of transfers from the team tallies up points against CCSU and adds to the loss of eligibility points in the NCAA. Even though the Blue Devils will be forced to sit out post-season play including any run at the Northeast Conference Championship, they will still start regular season play next fall.

Blue Team Outplays White In Spring Game

Vinny cADeLLA | THe RecoRDeR

mATT AVeni The Recorder

Central Connecticut State University played their annual Blue and White Football game Friday, where the Blue beat the White 42-21. One of the main controversies to start the beginning of the season is who is going to be the starting quarterback for the Blue Devils this fall.

Head Coach Jeff McInerney said he does not want to name his captains or starting quarterback for the upcoming season quite yet, but if the spring game is to lead to anything during the season, junior quarterback Andrew Clements might be just the player he is looking for.

Last season Clements played on the defensive side of the ball until starting quarterback Gunnar Jespersen went down with an injury.

“My feel for the game has always been at quarterback. I told Coach Mac that I had talent on that side of the ball when Gunnar got hurt and they gave me a chance to show what I can do,” said Clements.

The game started off with the Blue team, lead by Clements behind center, marching down the field to top off the drive with a nine-yard rushing touchdown by transfer runningback Rob Holloman. The White team tied it up on a punt block that made it 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was all Blue team; Holloman tackled on another rushing touchdown and Clements also rushed for a ten-yard touchdown.

The second half was similar to the second quarter, and again it was all Blue team. Clements led the way rushing for another touchdown and throwing a 77-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Denzell Jones.

“We have great playmakers and they did a great job of getting the ball in their hands and doing something with it,” said Clements. Jones finished the game with 155 receiving yards.

The yearly spring game is to see what the Blue Devil team needs to work on during their summer workouts and the overall vibe going into this

CCSU’s ‘Blue Team’ scored 42 points in Vinny cADeLLA | THe RecoRDeR their victory over the ‘White Team’. summer is positive.

“We got better this spring. We worked hard all spring long and became a better football team,” said McInerney.

McInerney was also pleased with his defense.

“Our first group of guys only let up one score, and we put them in some very difficult positions. We didn’t have that too much last season,” he said.

The defensive side of the ball was not the only question mark for next season’s team. The offensive line is made up of some under-classmen and transfers and had something to prove during the game.

“Our line is very young, they did a great job today protecting Andrew but they can do better,” said McInerney.

The protection from the offensive line was also noticed by Clements.

“Our line has made significant

improvements. It’s nice to have time back there and make smart decisions with the football,” he said.

The game ended with Clements being named the MVP of the game, accounting for three of the Blue team’s touchdowns.

“Anytime you win the MVP it’s a good feeling. I just try to do what I do best and try and get everyone involved,” said Clements.

“The confidence between everyone has grown. Andrew did a great job at quarterback and I thought our offensive line played very well. It’s good to know where we are at now and what we can build on later,” said McInerney about the game.

The Blue Devils have a lot to look forward to next fall when they open their season against Stony Brook on Sept 1.

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THE RECORDER / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / SPORTS

Series Win Brings CCSU Closer To NEC Tournament matt aveni The Recorder

The Central Connecticut State University baseball team (23-21) defeated division rivals the Wagner Seahawks (19-27) Sunday afternoon 6-2. This win put the Blue Devils in great position to make the NEC tournament and potentially go further on to the regionals.

The Seahawks scored two quick runs in the first two innings off of CCSU’s starter Jack Greenhouse, but that’s all they managed to get.

“Jack Greenhouse got himself into a little trouble early but we turned the double play to get out of the inning. He settled in and threw four more innings and that’s what we needed from him,” said Head Coach Charlie Hickey.

The pitching for the Blue Devils was one of the main keys to success for them on Sunday. Reliever Nick Boyd came in with men on first and second and only one out in the seventh inning.

“Nick came in a big spot with first and second and got the groundball we needed to get out of the inning and keep the game close,” explained Hickey.

The pitchers duel that had been taking place came to a quick end in the seventh when the Blue Devils strung multiple hits together.

Senior third baseman Mitch Wells delivered just what CCSU needed, a two RBI triple to the right centerfield gap.

“Mitch came in and got the big hit when we needed it,” said Hickey.

The next batter, sophomore right fielder

JP Sportman, drove in the insurance run with a base hit up the middle.

“JP followed Mitch’s hit with a single to pad onto the lead. That’s important in a game of this magnitude to push that extra run across the plate,” siad Hickey.

The hits kept coming in the eighth inning.

Singles by Dylan DelaCruz, Anthony Turgeon and a bunt base hit by Danny Hickey set the stage for senior centerfielder Jake Matuszack to hit a bases clearing double to push the lead to 6-2.

Sophomore Josh Ingham, who started the game at second base came in to pitch in the eighth inning, which helped shut the door on the Wagner Seahawks.

“Josh Ingham is a special individual. He went out and threw strikes and got the outs

The Blue Devils are close to being postseason-bound as they finish the regular season. They are currently 23-21.

we needed,” said Hickey. Ingham not only closed the game out for CCSU but he went one-for-four with an RBI. With the win the Blue Devils took three of four from the Seahawks, but more importantly it puts them in great contention for the NEC tournament.

Coming into Sunday’s action, Wagner was fifth in the division as CCSU sat in sixth.

With the win, the Blue Devils hold their own destiny to make the NEC tournament.

“It’s a better than good win. It is probably the biggest win of the year. We have a chance in two weeks to control our own destiny. This game was a true test,” said Hickey.

With only one division series left starting on May 10 versus Mount St. Mary’s , the Blue Devils hope to make the NEC Tournament.

PHOTOS BY Daniel Saunders | THE RECORDER

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THE RECORDER / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / SPORTS

Baseball Splits Saturday Doubleheader Kenny Barto The Recorder

Going into the double header on Saturday, the CCSU baseball team needed to win one out of two to help their chances at making the Northeast Conference tournament with just two weekends of baseball remaining.

The Blue Devils (22-21, 14-13 NEC) did just that as they split the games with Wagner (19-26, 12-11 NEC).

Game one saw a very unusual starting pitcher, with Brendyn Karinchak getting the start for the Blue Devils. Head Coach Charlie Hickey made the change, going with Cody Brown in game two, and pushing Jack Greenhouse to start Sunday’s game, and putting Casey Brown back in the bullpen.

“It was certainly different,” Hickey said. “We had put Brendyn in some situations where we didn’t get the full benefit of his pitching. So, we thought we’d put him in a big situation and that didn’t pay off.”

Karinchak let up one run in each of the first three innings on seven hits. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out two before he gave the ball to Tom Coughlin in the top of the fourth with the Seahawks leading 3-0.

CCSU was able to come within one, as J.P. Sportman drove in Josh Ingham and Anthony Turgeon on a base hit.

Although Coughlin threw the ball well, striking out five over four innings, he let up two runs that helped Wagner increase their lead to 5-2. The Blue Devils didn’t put up much of a fight in their half of the seventh, going down 1-2-3, which gave the Seahawks’ Ryan Casey a complete gamel two run performance.

He let up six hits, walked only one and struck out three.

“Everyone has seen us play this year and know that was another case of not doing the little things,” Hickey said. “They knew game two was big and they needed to come out and do a lot better than that.”

Although they didn’t score in the first inning, the Blue Devils’ offense came back, scoring seven runs on eleven hits.

Cody Brown shut out Wagner for the first four innings while CCSU jumped out to an early lead.

The offense started in the second inning when Bobby Migliazza walked to lead off the inning. Dylan Delacruz promptly tripled to deep right center field, which scored Migliazza easily. Two batters later, Ingham singled home Delacruz to make the score 2-0.

CCSU added another in the fourth on a Jake Matuszak sacrifice fly. Wagner answered in the top of the fifth after a one out double was followed by an RBI single.

In their half of the fifth, the Blue Devils were able to put some distance between them and the Seahawks. Sportman led off with a triple, which energized the entire CCSU bench. After Tyler McIntyre struck out, A.J. Lowers hit a hard line drive back up the middle to make it 4-1.

Migliazza followed with a perfect bunt down the third base line, which advanced Lowers to third. Delacruz continued his big day, as he stretched what looked like a single into a double, making the score 5-1. The final two runs came when Turgeon singled home both Delacruz and Migliazza to make the score 7-1.

Wagner made it 7-2 in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly

that followed a one-out triple. CCSU wasn’t able to add on any insurance in the bottom half, as the Seahawks worked a 1-2-3 inning.

Still in the game in the seventh inning, Brown led off the seventh and final inning with a walk, putting CCSU in a tough spot. It didn’t get any easier, as Brown let up back-to-back-toback singles to make the score 7-3 with the bases loaded and nobody out.

Hickey decided to bring in Dominick Severino in favor of their normal closer, Ingham. Severino immediately got the ground ball they needed for the 4-6-3 double play, which also scored a run to make it 7-4. He got the last out on a fly ball to center field, earning the first save of his college career.

“Again, it was the little things that almost cost us,” Hickey said. “You can’t walk the lead-off batter in the seventh. But, I was happy with the outcome.”

Brown pitched better than some of his previous starts, going six innings, letting up four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three. The freshman’s final record for the regular season stands at 5-3 with a 4.77 ERA. “I think he might’ve gone through a ‘tired’ phase there after his good start, but as a freshman that’s good for him and it’ll help him when he has to fight through that next year,” said Hickey.

The Blue Devils will go on their bye-week next week, as Wagner faces Sacred Heart, who is one place ahead of them in the standings. After that, the Seahawks finish the season at Bryant, as CCSU will go to Emmitsburg, Maryland, to face the second-to-last place Mount St. Mary’s.

SPORTS OPINION

Robert Griffin III Will Not Pan Out For ‘Skins Fans Dan Wanat The Recorder

The NFL draft is a delicious snack for football fans across the country. Being in the last week of March, we as football fans have begun to yearn for the crunching hits and the one-handed catches. We pine for the days of watching our favorite NFL teams play while eating enough wings to make PETA want to throw flour in our general direction.

While our stomach’s growling in anticipation for a season that is still months away, the NFL comes back into our lives with a humungous, uninhibited wave of excitement. Roger Goodell made the brilliant decision of transforming the NFL Draft from a one day, 13-hour snooze fest into a three day, primetime Bonnaroo-like festival for NFL fans.

Not only does the draft feed our insatiable appetite by giving us a glimpse into the upcoming season, but it gives fans the ability to do exactly what we all love to do the most; cheer for our team for making the correct decision or lambast our teams with venomous hatred and a string of curses that would make Howard Stern feel uncomfortable.

Personally, I’m not a Washington Redskins fan, but I can’t help but think that they made a mistake worse than when Derrick Rose decided to get his “Poohdini” tattoo. At this rate, I may just be the only human in the world that feels this way, but I fully plan on sending out a million or so “I told you so” cards when all is said and done.

Plain and simple: I don’t think Robert Griffith III will be an amazing NFL QB. I think he may be above average at best, but truly I think his career path will be similar to that of a Vince Young rather than Steve Young.

During these weeks leading up to the draft, it’s as if major sports networks have forgotten that highly drafted quarterbacks can fail even if all the scouts say otherwise.

Mel Kiper, Todd McShay and anyone else discussing RG3 have drooled over him more than Michael Cera watching the Kate Upton MLB 2K12 commercials.

Have all the NFL analysts had Will Smith knock at their door and erase their minds?

Have we already forgotten all the “can’t miss” quarterbacks like Joey Harrington, Tim Couch, Vince Young, Matt Leinart,

Akili Smith and Ryan Leaf that missed?

Playing quarterback is arguably the toughest position in all of sports and quarterbacks do fail. The following shows reasons as to why RG3 will not live up to these unworldly expectations.

1) QBs coming out of run and gun college systems almost never translate to the NFL. Unfortunately for RG3, in college, Baylor ran an up-tempo run and gun style offense with a plethora of screens and designed running plays. Think about it,how many different Texas Tech quarterbacks have broken records at the collegiate level? It feels like every year they have a new QB that puts up monstrous passing numbers. Now how many of those QBs are in the NFL? I’ll give you a clue. The answer is the same as the chance that you or I are the father of Megan Fox’s baby. Zero. How about the University of Hawaii’s quarterbacks? Timmy Chang broke the NCAA all-time record for yards in a career and Colt Brennan broke the single season touchdown record.

Chang retired from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2009 and was last seen being arrested for fighting a woman and destroying her camera as she was taping a fight. Brennan, on the other hand, had a stint with the Hartford Colonials in 2011 and now plays for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Now let’s take a peek at more recently drafted QBs that came from these similar styles of offenses. In 2010, Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford were drafted out of college systems…I’m not impressed.

2009 saw Pat White of West Virginia go in the second round and well that didn’t work out very well at all as they changed Pat White to a WR. Finally, in 2007 Kevin Kolb was drafted out of Houston and the only thing of significance he has done in the NFL was decimate people’s fantasy dreams as many fell into the trap of drafting him. This list could go on and on like a monotone, emotionless professor’s lecture but I will end it here to keep you from making up a doctor’s appointment to leave class early.

2) Not only did RG3 play in a college system that as we see doesn’t translate to the NFL, he put up these amazing collegiate numbers against a schedule that played less defense then Steve Nash. Throughout the entire season, Baylor only played two teams that had defenses in the top 60, TCU32 and Texas -14. Baylor played TCU the

first week of the season as TCU’s defense was getting accustomed to six new starters.

Another stat to point the lack of defensive talent RG3 played last year is that through the first three rounds of the NFL Draft, only one defensive player was drafted from the Big 12. That means last year, RG3 played one potential NFL starter through an entire 13 game schedule.

3) Running quarterbacks don’t win Super Bowls! Quarterbacks with escapability are dangerous but if you are going to sit here and tell me that RG3 is going to stand in the pocket and only run when he has to then I’m going to say that you are crazier than Gary Busey after he watched “Requiem for a Dream”. Having never seen the speed of NFL defenses, he will panic, tuck the ball and run for his life. That is not the equation for success. Speed-wise the only quarterback comparable would be Mike Vick. How many Super Bowls has he won? Zero. In fact, Vick has a 2-3 record in the playoffs and in his six years in Atlanta they only made the playoffs twice. Also Vick is only eight pounds lighter then RG3 and is constantly battered and bruised by the NFL. Vick has a stronger, more accurate arm then RG3 and is yet has only completed 56 percent of his passes in his career which is the same career completion percentage as Joey Harrington. Yes, two years ago Mike Vick had nine rushing TDs, but once defenses readjusted to him, he only had one. NFL defenses are incredibly smart and adaptable and eventually they adapt a game plan to limit your strengths. If defenses can adjust to dismantle Vick, they absolutely can and will do the same to RG3.

4) Commentators around the sporting world are fixated on comparing Cam Newton’s success last year to RG3’s potential success this year. Either this is an example of racial bigotry where they see two black running quarterbacks and declare them the same or commentators are more blind then Jennifer Lopez when she was with Marc Anthony. (I’m convinced JLo had to be blind or drugged up all the time to stay with such an ugly man) Cam and RG3 are not the same quarterback. Cam is 6’5 248 LBs of all muscle. He is a running quarterback that escapes when he has to but can also handle the punishment because of his massive stature. RG3 is tiny in comparison and will most likely receive his multitude of injuries.

Lest we not forget, RG3 missed an entire college year with a torn ACL. Just pointing out that a running, smallish quarterback with a bad knee isn’t exactly sturdy. Another thing about Cam is that he played in the SEC. He played NFL-style, smash mouth football that prepared him for what he would see once with the Panthers. Rather than playing just two marginal defenses all year, Cam faced six teams ranked in the top 60 in defense. Cam knew what it would take to fit a ball into closing linebacker window because he faced it weekly in college. On the other hand, RG3 will have a tough time adjusting to the speed of the NFL because of his lack of experience.

5) Since when do people think that the Washington Redskins are on the cusp of becoming a playoff team? Since when do we, as sports fans, think that the Redskins are one player away from winning the NFC East? Ok, let’s test this out. Quick name the starting Redskins running back. You can’t do it can you? It’s right on the tip of your tongue isn’t it? It’s like naming the man who killed JFK. Ok, now time for question two, name another Redskins WR other than Santana Moss. Finally, name two starting defensive players for the Redskins. I know it’s tough right? So why is it that everyone is knighting the Redskins as such a contender when their defense was 21 in the league in points allowed and 26 in the NFL in points scored? I just don’t get it. Oh, the Redskins also have to play the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys twice each.

6) The final reason this RG3 thing is destined for failure is based on what the Redskins gave up for him. As reason five points out, the Redskins are a team with a lot of holes in their roster. Yet in order to get RG3 the Skins gave up their second round pick this year and their first round picks from the next two years. How exactly do you expect to build around RG3 when you don’t have a first round pick for three years?

A long winded version to why drafting RG3 is a combustible situation waiting to implode the hearts of Skins fans across the country. I’m hoping this has opened some of your eyes to the possibility that perhaps RG3 won’t be the “can’t miss” prospect everyone is proclaiming. If it has failed to persuade you at all then you are now on the mailing list for the “I told you so” cards I’ll be sending out.

www.centralrecorder.com

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THE RECORDER / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / SPORTS

Softball Looks Forward To Next Season’s Impro

vements

derek turner The Recorder

Central Connecticut traveled to western Pennsylvania this past weekend to take on two more Northeast Conference opponents as the regular season winds down.

CCSU boarded the coach bus on Friday for the eight-hour drive to Robert Morris University for a doubleheader against the top team in the conference on Sunday.

Laura Messina, making her 28th start of the year, took to the circle Sunday afternoon looking to help her team continue the season-long goal of qualifying for the NEC tournament.

Messina kept the Colonials hitless for the first two innings, but they finally broke through in the bottom of the third when an RBI single up the middle scored Katrina Gallagher from second.

In the fifth, Messina gave up a leadoff home run to Allie Patton over the right centerfield fence. That would be all the scoring needed for Robert Morris as they took game one by a score of 4-0.

The closest CCSU came to scoring was in the top of the sixth when Ashley Black singled with one out through the right side.

CCSU had the bases loaded with one out, but couldn’t come up with that big hit.

“Robert Morris is playing for the regular season conference title, they are playing to host the conference tournament, their kids came out ready to play,” said head coach Jeff Franquet.

CCSU came out in game two swinging, but it wouldn’t last the entire game. Bruno led off the game with a single up the middle, advanced to second on a Tessa Brown groundout and scored on a Nicole Springer single to center field. The first RMU batter in the bottom of the first, Cassie Show, homered to left center and that quickly the game was tied at one.

The bottom of the third saw an unearned run scored when a throwing error by Brown trying to catch Timko stealing second went array and Jessica Calderone came in from third. RMU would score four runs for the second straight game and sweep the series, taking game two 4-1. CCSU didn’t advance a base runner past second base after the first inning.

“Robert Morris came out to win, they played well and we didn’t have timely hitting, we came out on the short end of it,” said Franquet.

Monday morning, the CCSU softball team made their way two hours east to St. Francis University for another doubleheader in what would be their penultimate NEC series of the season, leaving on Bryant University on the schedule.

St. Francis struck first, on what seems to be a reoccurring theme late in the season, unearned runs. Davina Kachnovitz singled with one out, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a Taylor Darneille single to right field.

CCSU did most of their damage in the top of the third, beginning with Sarah Vlahos, who led off the inning with a double to right center and advanced to third on a throwing error. After three innings CCSU led 4-1 and would only add insurance later.

Messina would go all seven innings, striking out seven without walking a single batter and allowing only one earned run. She recorded 12 of her outs on fly balls for her 20th win of the year.

Game two versus St. Francis would give junior Jordan Tingley her fifth start of the year and the offense helped her out. Right away in the top of the first Black bunted for a base hit with one out, and after Brown fouled out, Springer tied the school’s single season home run record with her tenth of the season giving CCSU an early 2-0 lead.

The Red Flash followed suit in the bottom of the second when Karlie Miller singled and Kaitlin Andler tied the game with a 2-run homer down the left field line.

Bruno led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to right center chasing the St. Francis starter from the game. Vlahos led off the fifth with a single, advanced to second on a Stefanski sacrifice bunt and moved to third when Bruno singled through the right side.

Vlahos scored the seventh Blue Devil run when Black singled to the pitcher.

CCSU had a scare in the bottom of the sixth when the Red Flash scored three runs on three hits off Tingley. Andler doubled with one out and scored when Brianna Garcia

The Blue Devils are looking to break last year’s record of 29 wins and hit the 30 mark for the first time.

reached on an error by Brown at third base.

Two more unearned runs on the inning, but St. Francis would stop there and after a scoreless seventh, CCSU had swept the doubleheader with a game two final of 7-5.

Tingley recorded her fourth win of the year and Vlahos went 3-for-3 in the second game.

“We played well today, we hit the ball well, we had timely hitting, we played good defense and we got good pitching from Laura and Jordan,” said Franquet.

Even after the two wins on Monday, CCSU has been mathematically eliminated from their season-long goal of qualifying for the Northeast Conference tournament. The team travels to Holy Cross on Wednesday and finishes the season in Rhode Island on Sunday against Bryant University.

“We’re playing for pride, finishing as high as we can in the conference; we have a shot to win 30 games and break the school record from last year of 29 wins, that’s what we’re shooting for,” said Franquet.

While the goal of reaching the NEC tournament didn’t happen for the Blue Devils this year, it was record-breaking for a number of individuals. Messina set the single season win record with 20 and counting, the single season strikeout record which currently stands at 186, good for third on the school’s career strikeout list, most innings pitched in a single season with 205.2.

Senior outfielder Becca Mussatti set the career record for runs scored with 109 and moved into fourth place all-time with 39 stolen bases and Springer tied the single

Daniel Saunders | THE RECORDER

Daniel Saunders | THE RECORDER

season home run record.

“Anything we can do positive is a good thing at this point in the year. As many wins as we can get, as many records as we can

break, that’s what we’re looking for. We want to keep banging away, keep plugging along.

Carry the momentum into the summer and then next fall.”

15

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / SPORTS

What Does It Mean To Be A Collegiate Level Coach? justin muszynski The Recorder

Being the head coach of a sports team can have varying degrees of responsibility. Much of it depends on what level of competition at which it is conducted.

For example, a coach in charge of 9-year olds has the daunting task of making everyone feel like a winner in spite of his or her skill level. But on the flip side, for professionals, winning seems to be the only task at hand.

Nothing else appears to matter.

A college coach however, may have more responsibilities than any other type. They have to balance the desire of winning while trying to positively influence the players.

Kelly Nangle, head coach for the women’s lacrosse team at CCSU, says there are a number of obligations a collegiate coach must tackle that aren’t expected of someone at the high school or professional rank.

According to Nangle, one of the most challenging tasks is having to recruit future prospects.

“You’re out recruiting and doing stuff and for us a work day involves us out in the field for two hours,” said Nangle who was recently honored as the NEC coach of the year. “It’s fun it’s part of the job.”

Nangle says her summer will

consist of traveling to various parts of the state to lacrosse tournaments scouting out possible players. Her only help comes in the form of her assistant coach, who is only part-time, but Nangle says realistically works full-time hours to compensate for the lack of staff the team possesses.

Professional teams have multiple people devoted to recruiting around the country, whereas high school coaches are limited to the talent pool in their district. With the exception of private universities, many college coaches are expected to be able to fulfill this obligation and many other expectations that go along with managing an athletic team.

Nangle also points out another challenge that occurs at the collegiatelevel. Bringing in players isn’t limited to just finding the most skilled athletes. If an athlete can’t succeed as a student he or she is not allowed to compete because of NCAA regulations.

“You want to bring in kids that are talented but also that are good kids,” said Nangle. “If you bring in a bunch of kids that are failing their classes or getting in trouble that reflects back on you because you recruited this kid.”

A college coach must also teach their team to win without implementing a “win at all costs” attitude into their players, most of

which, are in delicate transition going from a teenager into adulthood. Most college athletes don’t go on to the pros and coaches are so vital in the mentoring process that will influence the level of success their players achieve as adults.

“You have them at such an important time in their life,” said Nangle. “High school is important because they’re at a weird age too, but you’re not around them as much.

At the college-level, parents want to feel comfortable with you because essentially you are taking over that role.”

She also says though, one of the benefits is that once an athlete makes the team, provided they work hard, they will remain so without the worry of getting cut. It’s not as business oriented as the professional level where the expectation to perform well is never ending.

“Once you get to the pro-level it’s way more cut throat,” said Nangle.

Nangle also says there is still a certain level of expectations that gets placed on college coaches.

“There is pressure,” said Nangle.

“For the most part [athletic directors] hire you because they want you to win and they want the program to be successful. You see it all the time, if you’re not winning you’re not keeping your job.”

CCSU Women’s Lacross Coach Kelly Nangle.

Kenny Barto | THE RECORDER

SPORTS OPINION

Don’t Blame Coaching, Look At The Players

Daniel saunders The Recorder

Bobby Valentine, the current manager for the Boston Red Sox has had 16 years in the big leagues as a manager, 1,127 wins and 1083 loses. As a fan of the game of baseball I hear all the time after a poor start by big market teams that the manager is in trouble and that he better be looking over his shoulder if he knew what is good for him.

1,127 wins and 1083 loses is a .510 career win percentage for Bobby V which isn’t too far off of what he is doing thus far for the Sox this year ( 10-11 .476 ); so why all the sudden panic?

If you are one of those fans that I have

been hearing throughout campus saying you want Terry Francona back after being fired after last years melt down, I suggest you take a look at his career by the numbers 1029 wins and 915 losses for a .529 win percentage. Fancona has a .019 better win percentage then Bobby V. The team this year has lost the closer from last year which has been a huge loss and they are missing their All-Star left-fielder, Carl Crawford.

Look at the numbers; the Sox have a .280 batting percentage, good enough for second place in the majors along with 116 runs. Why is their record 10-11? Well that’s an easy enough question to answer, just take a look at the other side of the game which would be their pitching. With a 5.52 era.

(Earned Run Average) a 1.49 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched), and a .276 batting averages putting them at 29th , 29th and 27th in the majors for those categories.

The pitching needs to improve for them to be contenders in the American League East. Look at the Yankees with pitchers who are capable to pitch shutouts and have an average ERA making their team a two way team playing offense and and pitching.

To win games you need to have a balance of both pitching and hitting. The manager can only do so much before it is put into the players hands. Is it Bobby V’s fault the team is 10-11? I think it is partially his fault, but in the end the players going out to play are the ones losing games. Don’t “boo” the manager

when he comes out to take a starting pitcher out of a Texas Ranger game on the 17th of April, who gave up 7 runs, walked 4 batters and gave up 8 hits in a dismal 2 IP (innings pitched). Boo the starting pitcher who couldn’t play to his ability. Later in the same game pitcher Mark Melancon allowed 6 more runs, walked 2 more batters, gave up 4 hits and didn’t get himself an out.

Players win games, end of story. When a team is losing and the manager has only been part of the team 21 games out of a 162 game season, I would say there is a lot more baseball to be played. Im sure the Red Sox will finish the year strong. Look at the 2002 Oakland A’s, they won 20 consecutive win’s and went from last to first in their division.

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16

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, May 2, 2012 / SPORTS

Back In Action The Blue Devils Showed Midseason Form In Spring Game

Story on page 11

Daniel Saunders | THE RECORDER