Volume 108 Issue 3

AWA R D-W INNING CENTR A LR ECOR DER .COM Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Central Connecticut State University

Ten Years After

Volume 108 No. 03

CCSU’s Memorial Event: Short and Bitter Sweet

Kat boushEE the recorder

The CCSU community came together on Monday to honor those lost due to the horrific events of 9/11. The Student Union Board of Governors (SUBOG) in conjunction with the Student Center hosted a memorial, which took place by the Student Center Peace Pole behind the building .

The event, which was slated to start at 11:00 a.m., ran less than 30 minutes but packed quite a bit into the time slot. The memorial featured a performance by CCSU’s own ACABellas and a speech

by John Campbell, the campus’ Catholic minister. Ryan Ensling, the chair of SUBOG, opened the memorial with a speech.

“The Student Center, as it always has,” said Ensling, “represents the building of community on campus.” He went on to say that although the Student Center was under construction on 9/11, the community was together holding candlelight vigils during that time.

Campbell, shared a story and a passage from the Bible that he thought would be edifying for the campus community. Following Campbell was the Connecticut

National Guard, who placed a commemorative wreath in front of the Peace Pole.

Sergeant Rodriguez of the Connecticut National Guard said that although he and his fellow soldiers at the event were a “quiet bunch,” they were honored to be there for the event.

Following the memorial, attendees were invited to take a small flag, proceed to the peace sign by the powerhouse and place it in the ground under the tree.

Ensling mentioned that CCSU ran programs “to educate the campus community about the diversity of religions and of people in the world who do not promote hate as a way of living.” He said that the memorial was to remember all those we lost due to the attacks, and reminded the audience that hate is not a solution.

“We know today, as we did then, that hate will not bring them back, that it will not bring back that sense of security,” Ensling said.

“Hate is our enemy; love is the only remedy. Today and every day, do something positive for others and we will keep alive the memories of all those we lost and in the process change the world for the better.”

maXinE EichEn | thE rEcordEr

9/11 Remembered

Kat boushEE| thE rEcordEr

Through the Eyes of a Survivorʼs Family At The New Britain Museum of Art maXinE EichEn the recorder

“Blue skies with only a few fluffy clouds, a slight breeze on an otherwise warm day.” That is how my father described the weather to me when I asked him about the day that forever changed our lives.

The weather on September 11, 2001 was near perfect, as was the weather on September 11, 2011 as my family and I stood at Ground Zero for the 10th Anniversary ceremony.

The days shared more than weather. An intensity that cannot

be matched hung heavy in the air on both days. The intensity was created by a group of thousands, bonded together because of a shared traumatic experience.

However, there were differences among the similarities.

There were many tears, but this time they were tears of mourning and remembrance rather than tears of fear and panic. There were many police officers and firefighters, yet these men and women of service were in full dress uniform instead of work uniforms caked with soot and debris. The smell of Ground Zero was overwhelming on both

days, but this time the smell of grass and flowers filled the air, not that of smoldering metal and death.

This ceremony was also different from the other ceremonies I have attended with my family. For one, the city was on an even higher alert than the years before. I’m not sure if it was because George W. Bush and Barack Obama were present, or because of the three unaccounted for U-Haul trucks in New Jersey.

The Secret Service ran the show this time. Heavily armed NYC | CONT. ON 3

justin muszynsKi the recorder

Four planes, nearly 3,000 deaths and a nation that will forever remember the events of that tragic day; this is the catastrophe that artist Graydon Parrish decided to depict in his painting titled “The Cycle of Terror and Tragedy.”

The painting portrays two blindfolded men that symbolize the unsuspecting Twin Towers. The setting is marked by devastation and suffering and shows America’s

vulnerability that day by leaving everyone in the picture mostly unclothed.

Parrish spoke of the painting at the New Britain Museum of American Art on Sunday, September 11. The event was held in the very same room that the painting is displayed in. For the majority of his talk, Parrish reflected on why he chose to make an allegorical painting instead of something that depicts a real life setting.

ART| CONT. ON 3

FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT: www.centralrecorder.com

2

NEWS

THE RECORDER Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The Recorder

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

Editor-in-Chief Nicholas Proch nproch@centralrecorder.com Managing Editor Matt Clyburn mclyburn@centralrecorder. com Art Director Ashley E. Lang News Editors Jonathan Stankiewicz, Assistant Kassondra Granata, Assistant Justin Muszynski, Assistant news@centralrecorder.com Entertainment Editor Danny Contreras entertainment@ centralrecorder.com Upgrade Editor Kat Boushee Sports Editor Brittany Burke sportsed@centralrecorder. com Photo Editor Kenny Barto kbarto@centralrecorder.com Copy Editor Maxine Eichen Sara M. Berry, Assistant Staff Writers Nick Rosa

About

The Recorder is a student-produced publication of Central Connecticut State University and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of CCSU’s administrators, faculty or students.

The Recorder articles, photographs and graphics are property of The Recorder and may not be reproduced or published without the written permission from the Editorin-Chief. T he pur pose of The Recorder is to approach and def ine issues of importance to the students of Central Connecticut State Universit y.

Staff meetings for The Recorder are held on Mondays at 8 p.m. in the Blue and W hite Room in the student center and on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in the Recorder off ice.

Advertising

If interested in placing ads, please contact T he Recorder’s Ad Manager at ads@centralrecorder. com. For more information including our rate card, please v isit w w w. centralrecorder.com.

Busway Project Rolls Along Kassondra Granata The Recorder

The New Britain-Hartford Busway Project has moved from the planning stage and will begin the permitting process.

CCSU held a town hall-style meeting for the busway project on Sept. 7 in Torp Theatre, where representatives from the Connecticut departments of Energy and Environment Protection (DEEP) and Transportation attended to discuss permits.

In August, U.S. Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman announced that nearly $6 million in federal funding became available for land acquisition, site work and professional services for the project.

The busway project will be a new 9.4 mile transit system developed by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, linking downtown New Britain with downtown Hartford. The plan is expected to cost over $500 million and will circulate downtown providing a direct connection to major employers and destinations.

The project has been under consideration since 2003 and has experienced fluctuating public support through three governors and the better part of a decade.

State Democrats have been largely supportive of the plan as

a sustainable approach to public transportation, while opponents in the Republican party have criticized the project as too expensive.

Richard Bachoo, chief administrative officer at CCSU, has a hand in this project with a responsibility for facilities. Bachoo oversees the production on East Campus along with the University Representative to the Department of Transportation.

“This project here is a statewide priority,” Bachoo said. “The goal is to start construction at the end of 2012, beginning of 2013; it’s 95 percent completed when it comes to being designed.”

The developers of this project hope to reduce the congestion on the I-84 corridor and bring people in the New Britain and Hartford area back and forth on a regular basis.

“The University spends well over $60,000 a year on transporting people from the Hartford area to the University,” Bachoo said. “The busway would run through part of property that CCSU owns, it’s a perfect area.”

According to the plan, distributed by Capitol Region Council of Governments, the busway would bring life to downtown New Britain and help to provide opportunities to fill housing on vacant and unused areas.

“The busway will reduce the

The busway would span 9.4 miles with 11 transit stations. amount of commuters driving and also will ultimately reduce pollution,” said Bachoo.

SGA President Eric Bergenn intended to speak on behalf of CCSU students at a public hearing in August, but was delayed due to the rescheduling of the planned SGA retreat. Bergenn shared his thoughts in an interview with the Recorder.

“There are many students who would take advantage of this bus system,” Bergenn said. “This is a unifier of communities.”

In April, Governor Dannel Malloy aggressively made a statement to pursue the busway project to the next step.

“The busway is ‘ready to go’

ctrapidtransit.com

with 80 percent federal funding and a commitment from the Federal Transit Administration to sign a Full Funding Grant Agreement,” Governor Malloy said. “The proposed revitalization of the commuter rail line is in the early stages of study and planning. We are working towards a comprehensive multi-modal system that will not only move people and goods more efficiently but more critically, foster economic growth and an improved quality of life for Connecticut residents.”

According to the Hartford Courant, the DEEP is expected to decide later this summer or in the fall whether to authorize wetlands permits for the busway.

U.S. House Candidate Talks Issues in New Britain nicholas proch The Recorder

The introduction of Chris Donovan at an event in New Britain’s Franklin Square Park Saturday could have gone better.

“I’d like to turn over the floor to our next congressman, Chris Murphy.” This sentence was followed by laughter, as Donovan took the microphone. This informal camaraderie was the general feeling of the day, as it was a very small and intimate gathering of supporters.

Chris Donovan is the current speaker of the house in the Connecticut House of Representatives. He is now running for U.S. Congress, representing Connecticut’s fifth district.

Donovan’s major talking points were about job creation in the state and his track record of doing so. “We’ve raised the minimum wage 12 times, we’ve past-paid sick leave,” he said while listing his accomplishments in the state House.

The Democrat also took the time to address Rick Perry’s recent criticism of the federal social security program. Donovan told the story of his grandfather who came to this country as an immigrant worker and lived to be 93 years old, living off of his earned social security.

Following his quick speech, Donovan took the time to meet and greet the people who took the time on a Saturday morning to come hear him speak.

Donovan also took the time after his speech to talk informally about education and the workforce; both hot plate items for the Democratic Party right now.

“Why are we laying off teachers, when we know people need jobs and we need teachers?” Donovan asked. He continued by saying, “these are not just a job, but a good job with good benefits that people feel good about.”

Nicholas Proch I THE RECORDER

Chris Donovan begins his march on the campaign trail, seeking a congressional seat as a representative from the 5th district of Connecticut.

Supporters of Donovan included Robert ‘Bobby’ Sanchez, state representative from the 25th district. He talked about the most recent budget passed at the state level.

“The good thing about that budget was that it didn’t go into deep, deep cuts which could have affected a lot of other services and education as a whole,” Sanchez

said. He then went on to talk about what he thought was possible for state education in Connecticut, a position he shares with Donovan.

“In regards to CCSU, I strongly believe that Connecticut residents here should be able to go to any [public] college in the state, free of charge,” Sanchez said. He believes this would take a burden off of a number of students in the state.

“No one who is a Connecticut resident should have to pay for an education,” Sanchez continued.

“That’s my belief and, I’ve talked to Chris [Donovan] about it, and he believes that is absolutely right.”

Donovan will continue to campaign for support throughout the state. His policies on education and more can be found on his campaign website.

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, September 14, 2011 / NEWS

Mentoring Program Seeks New Volunteers Jonathan Stankiewicz The Recorder

Alumni from CCSU are looking for undergraduates and other former students to help mentor children at New Britain elementary schools.

The alumni represent CCSU’s Community Central, a student-oriented space aimed at strengthening ties between the University and the New Britain community.

Community Central opened its doors last year to help expand CCSU’s presence in the Hardware City’s downtown area. The mentoring program, which is run in part by CCSU alumni Krista Kingsbury, currently has only two elementary schools involved in the program, Vance Village Elementary School and Jefferson Elementary School.

One day Kingsbury hopes to have all of New Britain’s schools involved in Community Central.

“You can bring an idea there, but you have to do the leg work,” said Kingsbury. “Community Central provide students with the tools they need to do what they want to do, but it’s not handed to you.”

With the motto: “Student Run, Student Done,” students and alumni can try something new while making connections with young kids. Kingsbury said that even as little as a two and half hour time commitment can be the perfect platform for making these connections.

Last year, Community Central ran a pilot program with both schools and ended up having 17 CCSU students see it all the way through. This year Kingsbury is hoping to get at least 60 volunteers after a federal grant through AmeriCorps.

“We work with the behavioral specialists at the schools,” said Kingsbury. “We [also] work with kids that need that extra attention that the teacher can’t provide, and that they know that they aren’t getting at home.”

“We definitely need more males in the program,” Kingsbury said.

Kingsbury said that male parental figures are often absent from the lives of inner city children, and there is an even smaller presence of male teachers working in the city’s schools.

She said it’s all about building a relationship with the kids.

“These kids are like little grown ups in little bodies, but it’s fun and they start off shy, but by the second or third meeting you’ll see who is outgoing and excited to be there,” Kingsbury said. “We definitely know it’s impacting them in the short term and I am excited for the long term.”

Social work professor Dr. Delia González-Sanders worked with Kingsbury last semester in two of her classes and couldn’t have been happier. Her students were already required to do 70 hours of volunteer work in other areas, but added the mentoring into their schedules.

“The feedback I got...they found it very fulfilling and enriching,” González-Sanders said. “It helped them in their academic knowledge and helped them to reach out to others and the pupils that they worked with.”

They found it very rewarding and wanted to do it again, added González-Sanders.

González-Sanders sees this program as a way to show the mentees what they have to look forward to.

“The more we are able to provide students that help prepare pupils in elementary, middle, and high school the better it will be for students when they come up on campus,” said González-Sanders.

“They will have a better view and relationship with the school.”

González-Sanders is planning on trying to make the Community Central mentoring program a staple of the social work program at CCSU as a way for students to fulfill their volunteer requirements.

“This is something that should

be encouraged and supported campus-wide,” said GonzálezSanders.

This semester, sociology professor Fiona Pearson will be using her First Year Experience classes as a good opportunity to connect CCSU with Community Central. Offering the program as an optional final project for the semester, Pearson wants her students to be internally motivated with the substantial time commitment the program requires.

For children at the elementary level to connect with someone from college, even if they had never thought about college previously, can help them begin to embrace college as a goal and get a better sense of what CCSU is in the community, said Pearson.

“This is not just charity work,” Pearson said, “students see themselves as recipients not just donating their time and knowledge.”

Community Central allows students to be as creative as they can be, whether it be an art student that wanted to create an art therapy course or even designing a business that the kids can help with.

“Criminology students can say that they have ties with the community and it’s a good way for them to learn how these kids have grown up and the way things are,” said Kingsbury. “Students get to meet people that they would never work with otherwise.

The experience is great, though challenging and makes you look like a more well-rounded individual.”

“This town hosts our school,” said Kingsbury. “We need to give back.”

Background checks of volunteers are performed by Kingsbury and the elementary schools. The program kicks off in October, but meetings will start in the next couple of weeks.

For more information, interested students, faculty and alumni can e-mail Kingsbury at k.kingsbury@ my.ccsu.edu.

Ground Zero Now A Place Of Reflection For Families

NYC | cont. FROM 1 soldiers policed the roads leading up to the George Washington Bridge, stopping all large vehicles as we went through a radiation checkpoint. I’m sure some people would feel reassured by the soldiers with machine guns checking for threats. Instead, I felt even more vulnerable. The security reminded me of what I experienced during the few months after the initial attack and it brought back the anxiety I felt ten years ago. The anxiety intensified when we realized they had jammed GPS signals starting on FDR Drive.

Strangely, I found comfort in the similarities in the ceremonies.

Things that rocked me during the very first ceremony on September 11, 2002 felt familiar and weirdly calming on Sunday. As with every year the ceremony began with speeches by politicians that fail to comfort the mourners, simply because words can’t bring people back. Then they began the reading of the names of the deceased by family members. Some readers were children, barely old enough to remember the deceased, let alone recall what they felt on that day.

Then, at 8:46 a.m., the same time American Airlines Flight 11 hit World Trade Center Tower 1, the crowd shared its first moment of silence. After a minute, the readers began where they left off. This happened again and again as moments of silence were

held at 9:03 a.m., when United Airlines Flight 175 hit World Trade Center Tower 2, 9:37 a.m., when American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon, at 9:59 a.m., when World Trade Center Tower 2 collapsed, and at 10:28 a.m., when World Trade Center Tower 1 collapsed.

I was 11 years old on September 11, 2001. I remember being in math class with Mrs. Kurtz going over homework when a teacher entered our classroom and whispered in my teacher’s ear.

Mrs. Kurtz’s face paled, and I was told to go to the office. I sat next to my sister in the empty office.

We had no idea what was going on, and we brainstormed back and forth about what we could possibly be in trouble for. Why else would we be in the office?

An hour later we were picked up by our grandmother, who told us what had happened. I wasn’t sure what to think. Dad’s building was hit by a plane, as was the one next to his. The buildings collapsed and we don’t know if he’s ok. Dozens of questions ran through my mind on that day that are still unanswered for me. How could somebody do something like that? Why would you kill innocent people for things they can’t control? My father walked away from Ground Zero, though certainly not unharmed.

My second cousin was working in World Trade Center Tower 2 at the time, but he did not walk away. While I mourn the loss of

my second cousin, I can now take comfort in the memorial at Ground Zero.

Once you’re through the entrance of the memorial, it smells like grass and flowers. You forget you’re in the middle of lower Manhattan for a minute. A brand new park in the middle of construction, thick green grass and two enormous in-ground fountains represent the Twin Towers.

Between the two towers is the beginning construction of the museum, which will open in about a year. Modern glass walls encase the future museum. In it are original and untouched pillars from the buildings surrounding World Trade Center Towers 1 and 2. For a brief moment I forgot that I was standing in Ground Zero as I took in the glass building, 1-acre fountains, and hundreds of flowers spread throughout the memorial.

The paradox of such a beautiful park on top of a grave for thousands is overwhelming and sucks the wind out of your lungs. The war on terrorism isn’t over but Ground Zero is no longer a pit of destruction. I saw children rolling in grass and families tracing the names of their loved ones at the very site their lives were taken.

It’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly what it was I felt while standing in the middle of the memorial grounds, but I know that one of those feelings was closure. For now, that’s enough for me.

3

Business Plan Competition Could Be Profitable Experience for Students justin Muszynski The Recorder

CCSU will soon host its first Business Plan Competition, a profitable opportunity for the team that puts together the best business plan and receives the most votes from potential investors.

The winning team will be awarded a $1000 prize.

Richard Mullins, the executive assistant to the president of community business programs, is the person who came up with the idea. He said he feels this is a good way to help both students and the state by giving a head start to future businesses that will create revenue and jobs.

“We believe that allowing entrepreneurs to get their business up and running right here in Connecticut will help the state in this time of need,” said Mullins.

Dr. Drew Harris, associate professor of management and organization, has been assigned the task of directing the competition and so far has impressed Mullins with what he has planned.

“Dr. Harris has taken this thing to a whole new level, the way our students will be able to network in the business world,” said Mullins.

“No other school in the state is doing anything quite like this, it’s very cutting edge.”

Harris, who says the $1000 prize will appeal to students, said that the money is only half of the potential benefit.

“The real prize is experience you will gain as a result of winning,” said Harris. “The winner will be allowed to spend a rent-free year at the Central Institute for Technology and Business Development’s incubator in downtown New Britain.”

There, Harris says, the winner will be provided with office space and professional consulting while trying to perfect their business model and acquire more funding.

Janice Deveau, a business services specialist in charge of managing the administrative

portions of the competition, says she thinks the ultimate dream is that the winner’s business would be a success enough to help with the jobs crisis in Connecticut.

“What I would love to see would be a student who has an idea to get the guidance and advisors to take that idea on paper to its highest level, and then create a business that’s part of the community and creates jobs,” said Deveau.

The sponsors for the event have already come on board.

“TD Bank, CL&P, and Metro Hartford Alliance have all put up the funding for this project and we are all very excited to see how it turns out,” said Harris.

Each student will be expected to submit an online form that will include approximately 10 sections, each of which will be unique and ask the student to describe their product, identify their target market, and list their competitors.

“I believe that our students have just as much, if not more potential than students of the elite schools that you hear about around the country,” said Mullins. “This is why I feel this competition will be a success.”

Harris says that the hope is, if everything runs smoothly, they can acquire funding for a further three years and keep this event going.

Even students that do not win the competition will still have gained something valuable, he said.

“Hopefully, those participating who do not win the free year at the incubator and the $1000 prize, will have still made contacts and learned how to improve their plans in the future,” said Harris.

Participants will be expected to submit their plan online and present their idea in the spring to anywhere between 20 and 40 judges. Harris, Mullins and Deveau are looking to get all the CSU schools involved, not only Central students.

Registration will begin this fall and the participants will be narrowed down in the spring semester until a winner is decided.

New Britain Museum Of Art Hosts Remembrance Ceremony And Unveiling Of Memorial Painting ART| cont. From 1 “I wanted to take the most potent images I could find from that day and weave them all into one,” said Parrish.

From left to right, the painting shows the age of the people ascending and it ends with one child on the end to represent that “the cycle” that is never ending.

“I wanted to show the innocence of the children who remember the events of that day, and contrast it with the adults who knew exactly what was going on,” said Parish.

“We read into it on so many levels and I wanted my personal feelings towards it to be shown as well.”

Parrish also spoke about art in general and what he gets out of it and why this should be significant for everyone to never forget the events that took place. He says that everyone had their own personal feelings and emotions that day and the best way to not forget them is to remember through something like a painting.

“What painting does for me is it jogs my memory, maybe to a time when I felt uneasy or when I

felt like the world was falling apart around me,” said Parrish. “That’s what art can and should do for you, especially in this case.”

Parrish took some time after his talk to answer some of the audience’s questions. Most pertained to what things in his painting meant and why he chose them.

He also encouraged the audience to approach him about their experiences and what his painting has done for them personally.

“I’m less interested in what I did on this painting and more interested in what you think of it,” said Parrish. “Please, tell me what your experiences are and feel free to come up to me and talk.”

When asked why certain individuals in the painting were handcuffed, Parrish said this represents someone who is in a bad situation but can’t escape it, thus being bound to their fate.

The painting was done between 2002 and 2006, and is over 18 feet in length. It is featured in the Chase Wing of the New Britain Museum of American Art.

4

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, September 14, 2011 / NEWS

SGA Debates Constitution Change to Alter Representation matthew Clyburn The Recorder

Student Government Association Senator Ryan Baldassario submitted a motion last Wednesday to alter the way student constituencies are represented in the voting body.

If the motion is passed, CCSU residents and commuters would each lose two representatives in the SGA Senate and four ‘at-large’ senators would be added in their place.

At-large senators are elected from the student body as a whole and represent both commuters and residents.

The SGA is currently comprised of eight resident representatives, 16 commuter representatives and six at-large senators; the new totals would be six, 14 and ten, respectively. The senate also reserves four representative seats for the freshman class to elect each fall, a number that would not change under this proposal.

“I know that a large percentage of our student body is commuterbased, and I know that there aren’t as many resident students, so our asses always get handed to us, that’s how it is around campus,” Baldassario said.

“It equally reduces the amount of resident and commuter [positions], but by increasing the at-large it still allows both groups to put forth candidates.”

SGA President Eric Bergenn explained the idea during his president’s report at the beginning of last Wednesday’s meeting.

“We came together and we thought it might be a good idea to look into possibly promoting more at-large positions in our senate in order to drive more competition during elections,” Bergenn said.

“When we spoke about it we weren’t sure what to do with the ratio – we know those numbers are put there for a reason – we certainly want to make sure that both groups of students are represented fairly.”

Bergenn and Baldassario both cited the SGA election in spring 2011 as motivation behind the idea. In that election, a relatively large number of candidates ran for resident seats and relatively few ran for commuter seats.

“In years past, we’ve had weaker competitions between commuter spots and more harshly contested competitions with resident spots,” Baldassario said. “Creating more at-large [seats] could even out the elections and even maybe create more competition in the entire election.”

“In a case like this year for example, where we had a really tough election for the resident seats at the end of last year, I know there were at least a few that ran that weren’t able to be on our senate,” Bergenn said.

The results of that election left eight open commuter seats on the senate for the current academic year.

“Now that we have eight open spots it seems unfortunate that we can’t have a full representative body when there are other people out there that want to do it,” Bergenn said.

Bergenn added that the motion would be a constitutional change, meaning it could be brought to referendum before the entire student body in the upcoming October election if passed by the senate.

In the meantime, constitutional changes must remain tabled for at least two weeks before being voted upon.

The motion was seconded

by Vice President Liz Braun and several senators joined in the debate that followed.

Senator Ryan Sheehan expressed concern that the current ratio of

SGA President Eric Bergenn talks with Secretary Sarah Horrax at last week’s meeting in the Bellin Gallery. two commuter representatives for every one resident representative would be altered if the motion passed, thereby slightly decreasing the proportion of commuter representation.

“I think if we’re going to lower them, I say take away four resident spots and put on 12 at-large spots so we keep that [current] ratio,” Sheehan said.

Treasurer Nick Alaimo agreed with Sheehan, noting that removing a higher number of resident positions could preserve the current two-to-one ratio.

One senator pointed out that plans for a new residence hall, scheduled to open in a few years, may require another change in the constitution as more resident students would be added.

Jamie Canny, former interim president of the SGA, suggested that rules be suspended so that students could approve the referendum and elect candidates to the newlycreated at-large positions at the same time. Bergenn speculated that the rules of order would not allow such a process to take place.

Braun and Sheehan tentatively

supported an idea proposed during discussion that would change the system by assigning senate seats to represent certain schools within the university or class years.

In the end, Baldassario believes the motion should be passed from the SGA Senate to a referendum so that students can decide for themselves.

“All students will have the opportunity to vote against this motion in the referendum,” Baldassario said. “If commuters feel it’s not fair, and they actually show up to vote, then it will show that they plan to be involved and they’ll keep their spots.”

Baldassario continued, “If they don’t show up and vote, then residents and people who would vote for at-large anyways will benefit. If you feel it may increase competition of election and benefit the Senate, I say vote for it. If students don’t want it, they can vote it down.”

The motion will amend three parts of Article II, Section V of the SGA constitution. Bergenn said that if the motion passes, it would take effect in time for spring elections in 2012.

Treasurer Nick Alaimo.

kenny barto I THE RECORDER

kenny barto I THE RECORDER

OPINION

5

THE RECORDER Wednesday, September 14, 2011

EDITORIAL

Making Sense of The Media Circus The media circus that has encompassed the first steps of the campaign trail is appalling. It is also somehow appealing as a social study. What is apparent is that the general public has lost sight of the real issues in this upcoming general election.

Televised debates started off as a good idea in 1960, when the Nixon/Kennedy debate was broadcast as the first debate on national television. Since then, the media has taken huge strides away from the validity this once held.

The latest Republican debate was supposed to tackle the tough issues. Who has the best plans for healthcare? Social Security? The war? The economy? A dismal job market? Instead we got the Mitt Romney and Rick Perry show. It was obvious that MSNBC was only interested in what those

EDITOR’S COLUMN

nicholas proch The Recorder

After watching the first Sunday of the NFL season, I can wholeheartedly say that I was disappointed. It may be because I am a New York Giants fan, a team that was made into an embarrassment this week, but it transcends beyond winning and losing. The NFL has become boring. It’s predictable and extremely frustrating to watch as a sports fan.

Most people, who are not baseball fans,

two had to say with of a few sidekicks.

Let’s think of the debate in a different way. Imagine it as a nightly local news broadcast with Rick Perry and Mitt Romney serving as co-anchors.

They are being fed questions from a teleprompter, or in this case Brian Williams and John Harris, who are waiting for responses from their softball-sized inquiries. The topics play right into the hands of Romney and Perry as they help create soundbites for their campaign.

Lets kick it over to Michelle Bachmann for sports. Bachmann, who is one of the candidates that the media has decided to portray as eccentric and losing her mind, now has her chance to speak. She gets less than one minute to make her point before it is brought back to the lead anchors for

Special to The Recorder

Eschewing the academic and professorial style for which he has been lambasted in the past, President Obama’s publicly televised address to Congress to sell the American Jobs Act was a fiery, charismatic creature, more reminiscent of his early primary campaigning days, and possessed of a reserved, passionate eloquence seldom seen in American politics.

Pulling a page from the debt ceiling fiasco over the summer, President Obama’s speech was directed more at the American people, rather than Congress itself, urging constituents to put pressure on their congressmen to pass the bill.

This speech made good use of repetition as a rhetorical device, using some variation of “Pass this bill” or “Pass this plan right away” somewhere in the neighborhood of 17 to 20 times, depending on how you want to count, to implore American citizens to pressure their representatives.

In particular, to specifically convince the debt ceiling super-committee, already charged with cutting $1.5 trillion by Christmas, to cut an additional $450 billion in order to fund the American Jobs Act. From an analytical perspective, though, it’s difficult to ascertain the effects of this $450 billion plan, especially given that the text of the bill won’t go before congress until the 19th of September. The last stimulus package, which weighed in just short of a trillion dollars ($787 billion, to be exact), has been the target of a number of controversial tiffs from both sides of the aisle trying to determine it’s effectiveness,

the rest of his life). He’s allowed to talk, but only when he is positioned to make a wise crack. It’s comparable to the two old men on the Muppet Show, Waldorf and Statler, who continually butt in to conversation just to make a snarky statement. Paul’s cohort in this is Newt Gingrich, who is also playing the ‘old and experienced’ card.

Throughout this whole debacle, the issues were skirted and dodged in a fashion that would make a filibuster look focused.

So what can a young adult take away from all of this? Nothing.

Only you can make an informed decision, don’t let the media do it for you. It’s time to get away from the circus that we’ve helped create by being good citizens and blindly going along with this approach. Let’s get back to the facts and the real issues.

America’s Favorite Pastime

would make a similar argument of the MLB. ‘How can you watch such a slow paced game?’

‘Do you really enjoy suffering through a 4-hour Red Sox - Yankees game?’ These are examples of things people really say to me when I get defensive of the great sport.

The reason that one cannot sit through a baseball game is because they may not really understand what is going on. There is a plethora of statistics and situational strategies that come into play before, during and after every pitch. That is why baseball has had such staying power. It’s also the reason that the

Where Will The Money Go? Gunarso nguyen

their opinions.

Back to Mitt and Rick. How do they feel about Social Security? At this point, the networks are praying that Perry stands by his controversial statement, and he does not fail to disappoint. What should have been a major crack in his foundation has now turned into an opportunity for applause.

Calling something a Ponzi scheme is an easy way to gain attention, and attention always comes out on top. It’s even easier when the thing you are comparing it to happens to be an underfunded and highly criticized government program.

For a quick break, we’ll let our crazy uncle Ron Paul chime in. The producers have now decided that Paul will play this part for the rest of the debate (and perhaps,

arguments that stem in no small part due to the White House’s projected estimates for job creation, which, depending on who you ask, has varied from completely ineffective to being an effective bandage on an economy hemorrhaging jobs. These arguments have made the White House gun shy about making further predictions, this time leaving it entirely to economists.

Republican response has been lukewarm at best, although it can be characterized as mildly conciliatory, compared to the fire and brimstone rhetoric of the past several months. Several parts, including payroll deductions for employers, were included in the bill. He mentioned in the speech, likely as a public olive branch, that at least 50 Republican lawmakers in the House support the concessions and ideas presented in the bill, which is more than enough legislative math to get it passed, barring filibusters or attempts to kill in committee or other legislative shenanigans.

At glance, though, the speech indicated that the bill will target job creation, construction workers, teachers, veterans, the long-term unemployed, and small business owners. A significant portion is also to be allocated to renovating schools.

Vegas money says that that funds are earmarked for high school age and earlier schools. CCSU education majors look to be a significant beneficiary of the upcoming American Jobs Act, as would any business majors foolhardy enough to try their hand at starting a business in the current economic climate. It is anticipated that even with heavy campaigning from President Obama, it will take somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 months to a year before this is passed.

rest of the sporting world takes a backseat to baseball come October every year.

If you actually think back and listen to the broadcasts that some of us can hear in our heads, how many of those are football commentary? I can still remember the Giants last Superbowl victory (over the Patriots several years ago), but I cannot seem to hear the play calls in my head.

In 2004, I was 14 years old. But I can still hear every sound of that World Series clinching victory for the Red Sox in my cerebral cavity. I can hear Joe Buck calling the play as it went ‘back to Foulke.’ It is worth noting that this was announced by the same broadcaster as the Superbowl, in which I do not remember the call.

So why does baseball have such staying power in my mind and the minds of countless people around the world? Statistics. Because of the fact that fans can rattle off player batting averages, on-base percentages, home runs and so on, it keeps fans engaged. There are stats in other sports, that of course has to be said, but nothing is comparable to the amount of stats that you can research in baseball.

There are enough stats that, who before Moneyball was written wasn’t a household

name, Billy Beane’s persona can be the star of an upcoming movie starring Brad Pitt.

This movie is about baseball statistics. We’ve deemed these numbers to be important enough that we need to pay Brad Pitt, who isn’t cheap, to star as a mediocre general manager for a despondent Oakland Athletics team.

The Oakland A’s won 103 games that year on a team budget the size of Alex Rodriguez’s yearly salary. The cause is highly debated. Was it Billy Beane’s mastering of the statistical system or the fact that they had three of the best pitchers in baseball on their staff? While there will be no indisputable reason, as is the nature in sports, the debate alone, and others like this, will keep baseball ahead of the competition.

This all brings me back to my original point. Baseball will remain the major sport in America for a long time as long as we are concerned with what is actually happening beyond tackling and non-stop action for two hours. Until football and basketball, and even hockey, can realize that sports are more than just athleticism and showings of strength, they will never achieve the moniker of ‘America’s Favorite Pastime.’

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, I’d like to respond to the Editorial about ‘Locked Doors’ over the Labor Day weekend on behalf of Student Center Operations and Central Reservations Office. Thank you for the feedback! We try hard to be open when the students need us to be open, balanced between that need and budget of course. Just as wind blows in different directions, so does the opinion and need for us to be open. Several years ago, we were open over Labor Day weekend, and with the exclusion of visitors to the Bookstore (which has always been open during the Labor Day Weekend) we had just 23 visitors over a 40 hour period of operation, and just two in the game room. We are student and data driven, and so for the past two years we were closed based on this lack of users/visitors, and the cost of being open (student labor, custodial, other overhead costs) and students seemed not to miss us.

Staff, together with the Student Union Board of Governors will consider this next spring when we review hours for the next academic year’s hours of operation. If your readers have other suggestions or comments, please direct them to our on-line feedback site…

Listen Up! http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=5090 But I also want to share that we do try hard to be open and not leave students a ‘drift’. We try very hard to be open normal hours, even when the University opens late or closes early due to snowy weather conditions. We try never to cancel an entertaining event during these periods of bad weather, and do run the Breakers game room with all of its games, amusements and sports TV. We also want you to know that lounges are always open, in case you need a break from that kiki roomie, or you would like to watch some television or just study a little in a different atmosphere from your apartment or dorm room. Snack and beverage vending are available all over the building, and income from these particular machines goes back to students via SUBOG. #winning By the way, we TOTALLY agree that engaged students are successful students. All the research suggests this, so tell your readers to check out our on-line calendars of events at http://today.ccsu.edu/ and sign up for e-mail reminders or RSS feeds for student fun and learning events, club meetings, sports, intramurals and more! Follow us on Twitter too! @CCSUToday !

PS Great job on the first two issues. Keep it up!

Wayne 'Otis' Mamed, MS., Director, CCSU Student Center Operations

6

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, September 14, 2011 / UPGRADE

REVIEWS Soderbergh Delivers Thrilling Look at Human Vulnerability nick rosa

The Recorder

Contagion begins with a black screen, a harsh cough, then a transmission sequence of a bartender taking money and punching the amount into the cash register with a close up of his hands. The message is clear from the start: the spread of a virus can be fast and easily passed to anyone.

The film is a realistic look into the spread of an unknown airborne virus that causes a worldwide epidemic. It spreads relentlessly through the human race in a short period of time.

Director Steven Soderbergh does an excellent job, not just in showing the thrilling aspect of the disease’s transmission, but the fear it gave to our society. Like it said on the movie poster, “Nothing spreads like fear.”

In Contagion, a mysterious virus refuses to be isolated, rejecting cures as it continually figures out the human body faster than humans can understand it. The virus is running rampant around the world and scientists are struggling to find a cure.

Soderbergh does an excellent job of telling the story through the lives of several key characters, and of course the interaction with many others, with a ‘connect-the-dot’ story line.

Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet and Marion Cotillard head the cast in brilliant performances, especially from Damon and Law. Damon plays an immune husband who is married to Paltrow, who eventually dies as one of the first victims of the virus.

Law, a popular blogger on conspiracy

Lady Antebellum Own The Night

Capitol September 13

Matt Damon stars in the new sci-fi hit from Warner Bros. theories, exhibited tremendous acting, but his background in the film seemed to be unfocused and confusing at some plot points. It’s hard to follow his character and whether he is trying to add more fear to society through his website and what he truly believes, or if he’s trying to cause his own form of mayhem.

Fishburne is a doctor from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Winslet is from the Epidemic Intelligence Service and Cotillard is an investigator from the World Health Organization

(WHO). These three characters work around the clock to discover where the virus originated, who contracted it first and rush against time to find a vaccine.

The film is broken down in daily increments starting on day two, and moving through all phases of the disease up to day 140 as the virus courses through the human population.

The shot and scene sequences Soderbergh uses really gives Contagion a great plot flow that makes audience members want to find the origin of the

The last track on the album, “Heart of the World,” is a perfect ending. It is an uplifting love song that purports that “love is the heart of the world,” and completes the album on a sweet note.

sets off the bass grooves. On come the harsh vocals of lead vocalist, complimented by the much faster and drop tuned machine gunning guitars. The synths keep the torturesome atmosphere; Daniel Williams consistently thronging click-blasts fast enough to tire even Ginger Baker (Cream).

The following two songs do not let go, however. “Untidaled” and “Mammoth” sound exactly as they read: massive, scary and relentless. They both contain two clean vocal verses that feel out of place. They cannot distract you, however, from what is going in the background. Especially with guitarists Chris Rubey’s and Jeremy Depoyster’s ability to make simple breakdowns sound so very well composed.

“Vengeance”, the following song, starts off with a fast drum fill that paves the way for note-cut-note guitar work. The clean vocal choruses truly work well in this song, however, because they explain the meaning of the album: fear. “Keep running, keep running away,” a cliché line that TDWP make sound powerful and defines the experience of Dead Throne. More amazing is Andy Trick’s ability to keep up with the guitars with some deep, inter-woven bass patterns that truly compliment Williams and Hranica.

The only weak song in the album is “My Question.” It is too formulaic; too much scene-core. “My questions, unanswered” sung in clean vocals is almost unforgivable given the speed the previous songs led to this song.

It doesn’t distract the listener though, because “Kansas,” an instrumental interlude, gives the members the chance to redeem themselves by showing off their technical skill.

Furthering the fact that they’re almost a new band, TDWP follows up with “Born to Lose,” the lead single. A song so heavy it almost needs a precaution warning before it begins.

It begs to be listened over and over at the expense of your ear-drums ability to make sound audible and your brain’s capacity to process the rawness of it. But it remains the pearl of the album; a skintearing, mosh pit making behemoth. This is vintage TDWP. If the album wasn’t loud enough, As I Lay Dying vocalist Tim

The Devil Wears Prada Dead Throne

Ferrett Records September 13

kat boushee The Recorder

Lady Antebellum’s new album, Own the Night, is all about moments in love. Each of the twelve tracks focuses on an aspect of love, from “Dancin’ Away With My Heart,” a song that reflects back on a young love long since lost, to “Love I’ve Found In You,” which describes the contentment and comfort that love can bring.

Lady Antebellum, formed in 2006, is made up of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood. The trio burst on the country music scene in Nashville and they’ve been favorites of pop country fans ever since.

Own The Night is Lady Antebellum’s third album but they clearly aren’t resting on their laurels. This album is full of songs that are sure to be hits. Country radio fans have surely heard “Just A Kiss,” Lady Antebellum’s first released single from this album, and fans of the group won’t be disappointed with this newest effort.

Notable tracks are plentiful on this album, including my personal favorite, “Friday Night,” which opens with music that sounds like an 80’s power ballad, but turns into a song that fans are going to love to sing along with.

“We Owned The Night,” is the title track and the first on the album. It builds to a beautiful song celebrating the joy of a night of love. The song remains upbeat and charming, despite the fact that it is written about a love that has passed by.

Photo I Warner Bros

Danny Contreras The Recorder

The Dayton, Ohio sextet known as The Devil Wears Prada released their fourth studio album, Dead Throne, on September 4 for online streaming before the anticipated release date of September 13.

TDWP solidified themselves as a serious hardcore act with their 2009 release, With Roots Above and Branches Below, an album that while critically acclaimed, showcased the fact that TDWP could not move away from the more pretentious scene-core. In 2010, however, they release an EP titled Zombies, that truly showed they were willing to break away from the typical harsh-vocals to clean vocals formula, and could remain consistent throughout.

Come 2011 and they have broken away from the mold. Taking hints from San Diego compatriots As I Lay Dying, the band produced their heaviest album to date.

The first sign that they broke away from topical hardcore comes in the form of a heavy first track that suddenly begins without any orchestral prelude. The self-titled first track, “Dead Throne”, begins with synths reminiscing the war torn middle ages; the toms marching on as the guitars build up to a heavy drop that

deadly virus all the way to the climax.

Along with an amazing score, which was my favorite attribute of the film, moviegoers are kept on the edge of their seats the entire time. Some scenes just use music to capture the suspense within each shot.

Visuals were also well done to capture the realness of the situations the characters find themselves in. Another neat aspect that Soderbergh gives us is the virus’ point of view, in which we see close-ups of glasses, counter tops, door handles and subway poles to show just how vulnerable to infection we really are.

The way Soderbergh visualizes the spreading epidemic and ensuing fear shadows what people might do in the most frightening of times. Within the film you see trust between one another vanish and desperation within society present itself.

Not knowing what is coming might just be the biggest fear of them all.

At the end of the film you get an explanation of the origin of the virus and how short the separation is between origin, contact and transmission. Whether or not Soderbergh’s version of events would actually happen in this day and age remains to be seen. Still, a virus could travel to multiple continents in a day’s time and that is what the director captured so well with the film.

This is a film that truly makes you think about how there’s really nothing we can do. A thrilling film that will show you how vulnerable we all really are in the face of an unstoppable infectious virus.

Movies like this are supposed to grab your attention and get you thinking.

Contagion does that and more.

Lambesis joins Hranica in “Constance.” The track begins on a breakdownesque structure, delivering demonic vocals from Lambesis to dry, vocal chords stressing Hranica. It seems that Lambesis provided some of his writing talents as this song remains the best written track of the album, with layers of meaning hidden behind simple words. If As I Lay Dying and Prada ever make a contributed album, this song is just a sneak peak of what the leading hardcore bands in American can do.

“Pretenders” and “Holfast,” the last two songs, are fast but a little bit forgettable because “Constance” is so powerful. But if these two songs provide anything to the album, it’s consistency. Tight drumming and machine gunning guitars cannot be kept up for over an hour, that is an honor bestowed upon the darkest Scandinavian blackened death metal bands; but TDWP truly borrowed from their arsenal as they kept the whole album consistent throughout, truly showcasing their finesse and technical ability.

In a genre where formulaic music is produced, the Devil Wears Prada truly stands out.

It is important to point out the evolution of the band to this point. They have gone from hardcore to post-hardcore (yes, there is a huge difference), and are slowly graduating to a more progressive style; As I Lay Dying did it, and so did Massachusetts quintet Converge.

Right now there are at a crossroads: math core or progressive metal. It doesn’t matter, what ever they choose, this album will serve as the missing link between their new genre and their past one.

Photo I myspace/tdwp

7

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, September 14, 2011 / UPGRADE

Playing With Paint Can Still Be Fun Nicholas Proch The Recorder

There have been only a handful of times in my short life that my body has said to me, ‘what the hell are we doing?’ These include my first experiences with whiskey, the first triathlon I ran and this past Saturday in the XL Center at Dayglow.

Let’s back up a bit and talk about what my day was like leading up to getting to Hartford. I spent the morning at Goodwill trying to find white clothing, of any kind. I settled on a white tank top and white soccer shorts.

Then, for the next several hours, I got good and liquored up while blasting Swedish House Mafia and Deadmau5. This also included a brief moment in which I fell asleep to thumping bass. It was methodical enough that it put me right to sleep. That’s not the usual effect it has on me.

Let’s get dressed. The white soccer shorts I bought didn’t have pockets. Where the hell was I going to put my cell phone, identification, money and ticket? The only option I had was to put these things into my compression shorts in a slot normally reserved for an athletic cup. I’ll try and save you the visual of that from this point forward, but needless to say, it was a pleasant spot to keep my items.

From my bedroom, I was stuffed in the trunk of my friend’s car. There were 7 of us packed into a Saab 4-door sedan. In the glass-topped trunk, which was an upgrade

DJs at Dayglow in the XL Center kept crowds happy all night.

Netflix It: Doctor Who gunarso nguyen

Special to The Recorder

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a little weird?”

“They never really stop.”

No other quote in the latest season of Doctor Who fully encapsulates the personality of the latest actor to portray the titular character. The latest season of the immensely popular British television program Doctor Who, the world’s longest running science fiction television program, originating in 1963, is now available on Netflix. The show, cancelled in 1989, a temporary hiatus for fans, was rebooted in 2005 under former head writer Russel T Davies , and is currently in it’s 5th season, which in the continuity of the show is the 30th season. Matt Smith, the 11th person to play the role, is the youngest actor to play the Doctor, the quasi-mysterious 900 year old Time Lord, the last of his kind. The show, under new direction by head writer Steven Moffat, portrays a frenetic, easily distracted old man trapped in a young man’s body gallivanting across all of time and space with a new pair of companions, Amy Pond, portrayed by the effervescent Karen Gillian, and the charmingly insecure Rory Williams, played with lovely earnestness by Arthur Darvill.

This latest season captures a childlike sense of wonder and mystery to the universe, a quality that was considered occasionally lacking by some under Davies’s run. The first episode of the fifth season, titled “The 11th Hour,” shows a new Doctor desperately trying to salvage his severely damaged ship, the TARDIS (which is perpetually trapped in the form of a 1960s police box), before crash landing in the front yard of an 11 year old Amelia Pond, who is praying to Santa for someone to come and fix a mysterious crack in her wall which has been emanating strange voices. It is a positively fairy-tale like story, full of charm and wonder and the kind of mystery that makes you feel like you’re five years old again and still believe in monsters.

Indeed, one of the recurring themes of the latest series is that monsters are real, and frightening, and that courage and intellect and wit and just a little bit of luck will see you through. A large part of the charm of the show, in contrast to many American television programs, is a running theme through the life of the series that intellect and romance (in the classical sense) will triumph over adversity, as opposed to brute force and cynicism. Do yourself a favor and check out the latest season of Doctor Who available on Netflix, and join the rest of your brethren across the pond.

from a closed trunk door in which I couldn’t see the traffic on the highway feeling every bump in the lower section of my vertebrae.

By the time we arrived at the XL Center, after stopping at a friend’s house, we were, well, intoxicated in one form or another.

After the initial shock of seeing the crowds from the top rows of seating, the walk down to the floor, were this party was located was one of anticipation. It was also echoed by the fact that there was a countdown on the screens behind the DJ. The countdown, as is well-documented, is to the initial cannon shot of paint that was to be launched into the crowd. This was choreographed with the first dropping of the bass. With that blast, the night was kicked off.

Over the course of the next four

nicholas proch | the recorder

hours, my legs did all they could to keep their balance and keep jumping. My body expelled every last drop of sweat. My white tank and white shorts were now about 10 pounds heavier and covered in paint.

Looking like I had lost a fight to Sherwin Williams, I emerged from the party a changed man. This is probably an overstatement. It was an incredible time.

The music by DJ R3hab was strong and kept the crowd pumped all night. What is dubbed as, ‘the world’s largest paint party’ was no disappointment and that moniker lived up to its reputation.

It took me about 24 hours to recover from the full body exertion that was Dayglow.

If muscle memory is a real thing, both my brain and my body will remember this for a long time.

Photo I bbc

The countdown to the first paint blast.

nicholas proch | the recorder

8

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, September 14, 2011 / UPGRADE

Living Healthy, One Prize At A Time brittany burke The Recorder

It is never a bad thing to live a healthy lifestyle, but when living in a college dorm staying fit and healthy may not always be the easiest thing to keep up with. Not when pasta and chicken patties are a staple on the cafeteria menu and some weeks you’re too busy to see the inside of a gym; and weekly alcohol consumption may not be the best thing either.

However, despite how hard some may think being healthy is, it really isn’t, and the staff of RECentral is challenging the entire student body this year to try and see just how simple a healthy lifestyle can be.

In late October, RECentral will be launching a new campus-wide program entitled The RECentral Healthy Lifestyle Challenge.

This is a weekly program which teaches students what it means to be healthy.

“Every week we are going to challenge the students, faculty and staff to do something to benefit themselves as part of a healthy lifestyle,” said Ken DeStefanis RECentral’s recreation specialist.

“So for instance, one of our challenges may be eat a healthy breakfast every morning [one] week and we’ll talk about the benefits of a healthy breakfast, your energy levels, we’ll talk about the benefits of things like oatmeal and yogurt, cereal, which cereal to avoid because of a high sugar content, the benefits of some of fruit you put in your yogurt or oatmeal or cereal, the antioxidants you get from your blueberries, the benefits from eating bananas the vitamins and

potassium [things of that nature.]”

The idea is to help jumpstart people into a better way of living. If someone at CCSU does participate in the weekly challenges they will be eligible to win a prize, some sort of giveaway, at the end of each week.

In order to win the prize, the student or CCSU faculty member would have to email RECentral to let the staff know that they did in fact take on the challenge for that week.

“At the end of every week we’ll give out two prizes,” said DeStefanis. “Once people have taken the healthy lifestyle challenge for that week they’ll email us saying that they did participate, and took the challenge, and those names will be put in a hat and well pick a name. The second prize will be if someone went a little bit out of the ordinary and actually sent us a photo of their breakfast every morning with a little blurb saying ‘Oh geez, I never had blueberries before. I didn’t know they were so great for you and the health benefits were so great,’ and so if someone goes above and beyond we’ll choose that second person.”

The lifestyle challenges will be a mix of eating healthy and exercising. Another challenge may be to attend some of the fitness classes offered each week by RECentral, or to visit one of the three fitness centers on campus. If someone already is living a healthy lifestyle, this challenge can only improve what they are already doing, so there is something for everyone.

While there will be weekly prizes given out, the challenge isn’t about giveaways. It is about improving the way you live so you can lead a better, healthier life.

20 Under 20: New Britain Museum of American Art Continuing from last semester, this weekly segment features ideas of fun things to do that are $20 or less and under 20 miles from CCSU. Ashley E. Lang The Recorder

Nestled nine miles away from the CCSU campus sits the New Britain Museum of American Art, a perfect getaway from the craziness of campus life.

Whether you are an artist or an admirer, the museum is a nice place to disappear to for a quiet afternoon.

Open Tuesday through Sunday, it boasts a variety of exhibits with new shows being added monthly. Styles of art ranging from paintings and sculptures to wood carvings are only some of the exhibitions currently on display.

If you’re like me, you will be drawn to the exhibit, “The Tides of Provincetown: Pivotal Years in America’s Oldest Continuous Art Colony 1899-2011” which is on display now until October 16. The art is provided by roughly 100 artists from the Cape Cod School of Art, beginning in 1899 up until 2011. Vibrant colors and whimsical scenes showcase the life and influence of Provincetown throughout our countries

lively history. You certainly do not have to be a history buff or a fellow artist to enjoy the art influenced by Provincetown’s past. The colors alone will entrance you.

If painting isn’t your thing, you might find yourself drawn towards “One Man’s Passion: The Art of Carved Birds” on display until September 25.

Collector J. Kemler Appell is displaying a little over 60 decorative carved birds all produced by various carvers and masters of design at the museum. His collection showcases the use of wood, various metals,and contemporary paints seeking to highlight an art not typically recognized as a form of fine art.

The New Britain Museum of American Art is truly a wonderful getaway and the best part about it is that students only pay eight dollars for admission. Both costly and close, the museum is a not just a cultural experience, but is also an affordable one.

It’s located at 56 Lexington Street in New Britain. For more information about upcoming exhibits and or hours of operation, visit http://www.nbmaa.org.

Want to advertise in The Recorder?

Contact advertising@centralrecorder.com

9

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, September 14, 2011 / UPGRADE

A Cappella Society Impresses In “Welcome Back Concert” danny contreras The Recorder

The Central Connecticut A Cappella Society opened their concert season this past Wednesday night with their biannual Welcome Back Concert.

Consisting of three performances by three different groups, the electrifying show kept a lively crowd of over 100 people at Semesters excited throughout, with great renditions of classic and contemporary songs.

The Acabellas opened the performance with a lively interpretation of three Elvis Presley songs. The Acabellas are one of the founding groups of the CCSU A Cappella Society, which started back in 2005.

The group, coordinated in black and aqua, then sang “Life Could Be A Dream,” a doo-wop classic from the 1950s, written by James Keyes and first performed

by The Chords.

The rhythmic and lively group kept the crowd’s heads bopping and swaying, bringing an atmosphere of the lives of black and white and montages.

Following was “Please Mr. Postman,” which kept a familyoriented feel, never straying away from a happy vibe and reminding us of simpler times.

Their performance concluded with “Somebody to Love,” a classic Queen song from the 1970s that brought warmth to a crowd that had just come inside from dreary, rainy weather.

The Acabellas were the first of two all-female groups in the A Cappella Society.

“The music we choose reflects the personality of the members,” said Darcy Lovell, a member of the Acabellas. Speaking about their track list, Lovell said, “We picked ones we really like, and ones the audience tends to really like. We pick ones that are kind of

fun and upbeat, and that show a little bit of our style. We tend to go old school, more classic rock.”

The Acabellas plan to begin a new project this semester of including more contemporary tracks to add to their collection of classics. “The best of the best,” Lovell said.

Following the Acabellas was Divisi, another founding group of the society and CCSU’s only all-male group. The button-down shirted gentlemen sang very contemporary songs that went from pop to hip-hop. Their songs also included a lot of fast beat boxing and harmonies.

The chemistry among Divisi’s members clearly showed throughout the whole performance.

They opened their performance with a rendition of Maroon 5’s “Misery” that was very wholehearted and aggressive.

Theirs was a good vibe, too, and the crowd enjoyed every second of it. The members interacted with members of the audience by making a lot of eye contact.

Divisi truly set the atmosphere with Jason Mraz’s “Wordplay,” a song that included fast rapping and beat boxing. Their rendition included catchy choruses that never truly felt too contemporary, yet retained a real sense of meaning.

They quickly upped themselves with a cover of Bruno Mars’ “Grenade.” Andy Degan, the assistant director for Divisi, sang every line and hit every note along the way.

Divisi’s simple choreography and hand movements made their performance very interactive and fun.

Divisi closed their set with an amazing interpretation of Katy Perry’s “Firework.” What made this song better than the rest was the presence of a fantastic and natural human voice that

Courtesy of the A Cappella Society

A Cappella Society members at last year’s Welcome Back Concert held in Alumni Hall.

really showcased the lyrics. The arrangement uplifted and inspired the crowd that found themselves swaying and singing along.

Divisi concluded the last chorus by mimicking fireworks with their hands, a funny end to an incredible and engaging performance.

“We try to do a lot of contemporary stuff while trying to run the whole gambit,” said Degan, who is also vice president of the Central A Cappella Society.

“You know, try to do some older stuff some newer stuff, trying to reach out to all the audiences.”

In regards to the interaction between Divisi members and the audience, Degan commented, “It’s all part of the A Cappella atmosphere, it’s all improvised.

The audience interacts with the performer.”

Divisi is planning a highenergy semester with many different shows coming up

including a competition with ECSU’s a cappella society. Degan took a moment to invite incoming freshman to tryout for Divisi, but also tryout for other club and activities the campus has to offer.

Last to perform was the newest group to the society, Too Good For Instruments (TGFI).

The ladies wore black and pink skin-tight dresses and opened up with a powerful, dramatic song: “Mama Who Bore” from the musical Spring Awakening.

They set the atmosphere in the style of a gangster film. One could expect to be in Chicago in the 1920s and Al Capone’s men are coming in and shooting at you.

The rain outside complimented their voices very well, and the crowd was mesmerized with every line.

They followed with a gutwrenching rendition of “Fallin’,” a song that truly tore everyone’s heart out of their chest cavity.

They turned up the heat with the feminist sympathetic song “King of Anything,” energizing the crowd as they led to the finale song, the burlesque classic “Lady Marmalade.”

The performance turned sensual and even more captivating as four lead singers performed the now classic Christina Aguilera, Maya, Missy Elliott, Lil’ Kim song. They swayed around the stage, pointed to the crowd and interacted with lots of eye contact. They drew male audience members in, and also got a few

of them in trouble with their girlfriends. By the end of the song, the whole crowd was left wanting more.

TGFI is the youngest group in the society, joining it just two years ago. They released an album this month called “One Love”, available online, and will also be competing in the aforementioned ECSU competition.

TGFI came in third in the International Collegiate Competition of A Cappella. Teresa Lewis, president of the society and member of TGFI, commented on the release of the album, saying that listeners can expect “exciting music.”

Explaining the versatility of the group, Lewis explained that their song choices “basically are a variety of music across many disciplines.” She described the night’s songs as powerful and exciting, and carefully chosen to excite the audience as well as members of the incoming freshmen class.

The overall performance gave the CCSU student body a quick glimpse of what the A Cappella Society has to offer. All three groups performed extremely well, each one has a unique specialty that truly brings out their talents.

The Central A Cappella Society is definitely one of the more exciting groups on campus at the moment, and I recommend all CCSU students join me in the audience at any of the group’s next performances.

Send us your story: • Do you have a roommate from hell? Tell us your story!

•Do you know a student or professor who is outstanding in some way?

We want to hear about it!

•Do you have an opinion on something that you’ve read in our paper or in the community? We’d like to hear from you! email us at editor@centralrecorder.com

10

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, September 14, 2011 / SPORTS SPORTS BEGINS ON BACK PAGE

COLUMN

Remembering Team Lokomotiv

brittany burKE the recorder

It is safe to say that I am a bit of a hockey fan. You can imagine that when I woke up to a text alert saying the Kontinental Hockey League team, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl’s plane had crashed my heart broke and I couldn’t imagine writing this column on anything else.

The jet carrying the team crashed last Wednesday killing 44 people and leaving one injured. On that plane was Brad McCrimmon, a former NHL Bruin, Whaler and Flame. He was accompanied by ex-NHL athletes such as Pavol Demitra who once played for the LA Kings, while ending his career with the Vancouver Canucks and former Ranger Alexander Karpovtsev.

The tragedy turned the hockey world upside down and the only thing I could think to compare it to would be the Marshall University crash in the 1970s.

All day last Wednesday I read Facebook posts and articles of fans and writers sending their thoughts to the families that had been affected by what had happened, and while I never followed the KHL, it was still heartwrenching.

I personally felt that the crash was the biggest sports story of the day.

Yes, I understand not many people in America truly follow the KHL, but the fact that 40 plus athletes are now dead far before their time is something that should be addressed, even if the sole purpose of the report is to take a moment of silence.

So many different news outlets covered the sport; it even made MSN’s top stories. One place I didn’t see adequate coverage was on ESPN. ESPN is supposed to be the world’s leader in sports and yet something as detrimental as this couldn’t even crack its top five stories for the day. Yes, there was a clip about it, but even as I write this I am only able to find a few blog posts on the matter.

I understand that ESPN doesn’t cover much on hockey to begin with unless the words Stanley Cup and Sidney Crosby are attached to the story, and I understand the next day was the start of the 2011 football season. I even understand that Peyton Manning dominated the headlines because it was unsure if he would be able to play, but that doesn’t stop my disappointment.

This has been the saddest offseason of any sport as far as I can remember, and it is something that should have been addressed better; not that the story wasn’t covered elsewhere.

It seems as if there has been one death a month this entire summer, ending with the deaths of Lokomotiv.

At the beginning of the season Derek Boogard was discovered dead, followed

by Rick Rypien and then most recently Wade Belak.

It is always hard to lose somebody so suddenly, whether it is someone you know personally or even an athlete that you’ve only ever seen on TV. So many people love sports and all these men died because of the sport they loved, so it is best to remember them and keep their memories alive.

RECentral: Their Business is Play brittany burKE the recorder

Have you ever heard the name RECentral and wondered what the heck that is? If anything, as an incoming freshman or transfer student you were at least remotely curious. The better question to ask yourself about RECentral would be, not what it is, but rather what don’t they do for the student body.

RECentral, headed by Recreation Specialist Ken DeStefanis and the Assistant Recreation Director Liz Urcinas along with a slew of graduate assistants, is a fun and active way to get involved on campus.

“When people think of RECentral we want them to think of three components.

It’s recreation, intramurals and fitness. So we offer close to 50 classes a week which is great, then we have the intramurals … and open recreation including our fitness centers,” said DeStefanis.

Intramural sports, fitness classes, the fitness centers and even aspects of the school’s organized club sports are all handled by the RECentral staff.

One of the biggest areas for the RECentral program is intramural sports. With over 600 student participants and games going on Thursday through Sunday from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., there is always something for the staff and students to do.

“We offer over 11 different [intramural] sports, everything from water polo, football, soccer, dodgeball, volleyball, floor hockey [to] softball, kickball and basketball. We added badminton last year as well, so we’re sort of just all over the place as far as trying to get different students who are interested in different sports involved,” said Urcinas.

“Almost every year we’ve tried to add at least

one new intramural club sport and we do have two different leagues that we currently do, A league for more competitive people and B league for people who more just want to have fun and play whatever sport that may be.”

With the intramurals, an online signup process has made it easier for students to remain in contact with RECentral. Once each player signs up individually, team captains can create their squads, have access to their schedules and even team statistics, which is a new feature. The site, imleagues. com/schools/ccsu, also makes notifying the teams of a cancellation easier.

Beyond just intramural and club sports, RECentral is also focused on the fitness aspect, which is a newer component. As part of that, the program offers around 50 fitness classes a week at different times and in multiple locations all around the CCSU campus.

“One thing we say about these classes is, we offer classes all from a-z,” said Urcinas.

“All from African dance to Zumba. So we offer indoor cycling classes, cardio dance, this year we’re offering a lot more beginner classes … intro to spin, intro to zumba. A lot of classes where if you may be hesitant to try one of them you can come in and it’s all beginners and all people who are new to that fitness class in particular. Also on our website we have tips for [a beginner] that are just another addition, which can make you feel comfortable and make you want to try one of our fitness classes.”

Fitness classes are held in Davidson 123, Kaiser 03802, the bubble and the pool. Cycling is only held in the bubble and hydro-tone and aquatics is only in the pool, but you can also take things like yoga and self-defense classes.

If none of the fitness classes fit into your schedule, there is also three fitness centers staffed and run by RECentral. Two of the gyms are found right in the dorms, in the basement of Beecher as well as Sam May, so both up-the-hill and down-the-hill residents have facilities right on hand. The third fitness center is located in Kaiser on top of the hill.

The gym facilities have been given expanded hours this year, with the dorm gym hours varying from one another, but RECentral offers other programs to coincide with the fitness facilities.

“We have expanded hours this year especially on the weekend,” said DeStefanis.

“Also, we want to do workshops in those fitness centers. For instance strength training for beginners, so someone who’s never gone into that fitness center before or needs some assistance, [RECentral will ] have a program and a workshop for [them].

We’re also gonna have some all women’s only nights in the fitness center because we know some women don’t like to go in there when the men are there. They feel a little self conscious, so we’re going to provide some time for women only also.”

Limited personal training is also offered by the exercise science majors looking to fulfill their practicum requirements, and all the services provided by RECentral are free.

Follow RECentral online: Twitter.com/RECentralCCSU Facebook.com/RECentral

Thereʼs Nothing Wrong With The Friday Blues brittany burKE the recorder

Usually blue is associated with the feeling of being sad or down, and usually workers (and students) are faced with the Monday morning blues each week, but not in the Central Connecticut State University athletics department.

In the CCSU athletics department, where the colors are blue and white and the school is represented by Kizer, the Blue Devil, the color is celebrated and embraced, especially on Fridays.

When Paul Schlickmann took over as athletics director last year he made it clear that everything done by the athletics department would be done to promote Blue Devils pride. One of the things he did to heighten the pride around the department was implement something he likes to call “Go Blue Fridays.”

“In the department that’s our rule,” said Schlickmann. “Every Friday is Blue Friday.

So we’re pretty formally dressed during the week, but on Fridays it’s business casual, but you have to wear blue. I think it’s great for a number of reasons. I think it automatically reminds people once a week of who we

are, that we are Central Connecticut. We are the Blue Devils and it’s just a weekly avenue to have a sense of spirit, to have a sense of pride and identity and who we are and who we represent.”

Every Friday throughout the school year, the entire athletics department staff and the CCSU student athletes are required to wear blue as a way of supporting the University. It is a program that began last year and continues in 2011 as a way to incorporate one of the 11 core principles of the department.

“We actually have 11 core operating principles and one of them is spirit, pride and identity and this is one of our core strings of that, to make sure that our student athletes and our staff show that,” said Schlickmann. “Certainly it’s critical for us to show that because we’re the ones and our student athletes in particular representing this … school in competition, but I think it’s great and important for the campus to have [something like this].

“So I see [wearing blue on Fridays] as our opportunity, part of our responsibility, to try and galvanize that, enhance that, and spread that sense of spirit pride and identity not only about Blue Devil athletics, but

about the institution and the campus and what it means to be a student here what it means to have pride in your institution … you don’t have to be a student athlete to be a Blue Devil. Everybody is a Blue Devil here, we’re all Blue Devils. I just hope it’s something that can catch on on campus.

It’s a fun way to show your spirit and your pride for the institution that you work at that you go to that you represent that you play for, all those things.”

“Go Blue Fridays” is something that Schlickmann saw catch on and extend beyond his staff to the faculty around the CCSU campus, and he hopes it is something that could catch on with the entire student body.

After the Blue Devils’ football season opener, Schlickmann was proud when he saw the majority of the student section filled with kids wearing blue t-shirts.

For the past two years the incoming freshmen classes have been given blue t-shirts welcoming them to CCSU and hopefully instilling Blue Devil pride early in their college careers.

In providing students with the t-shirts Schlickmann hopes they will wear them proudly, even if it’s not on a Friday.

FOLLOW THE RECORDER ON TWITTER @therecorder for brEaKinG nEws multimEdia and liVE twEEtinG

@recordersports for liVE twEEtinG and bloG contEnt

11

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, September 14, 2011 / SPORTS

‘Kizer’ Brings Together Multiple Generations Brittany Burke The Recorder

The newest mascot for Central Connecticut State University is no longer known just as Mr. Blue Devil. Victor E’s replacement mascot has officially been named, and can now be called Kizer the Blue Devil.

A contest, announced on Aug. 10, ran for three weeks and resulted in over 300 entries. With the help of a committee including athletics department employees and student athletes, the name Kizer was chosen.

When hearing the name Kaiser, or “Kizer” as is spelt in reference to the CCSU Blue Devil, most students will automatically tell you the name is in reference to the building at the top of the hill that houses the athletics department, ReCentral and Detrick Gymnasium.

However, there is a reason for the building and now symbol of Blue Devils athletics to be named Kaiser, and that reason is Harrison Kaiser, more commonly known as the “father of Central athletics.”

“We wanted [the name] to be emblematic and representative of our core values and what it means to be a Blue Devil … what it means to be a Blue Devil is dedication, commitment, competitiveness, hard work and compassion and I absolutely think Mr. Kaiser was representative of that and I think it’s neat to have this name be emblematic of all these generations,” said Athletics Director Paul Schlickmann.

Harrison J. Kaiser held many different titles in his time spent at CCSU. He was a tri-sport coach, taking the lead position in basketball, track and field and football from the years 19341962. Not only was he a coach, he became the first chairperson of the

physical education department and was inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame while still working at CCSU in 1958.

Fourteen years later, Harrison Kaiser was inducted into the CCSU hall of fame, cementing his legacy with the school forever.

Years after naming the athletics epicenter for him, on Sept. 3, 2011, the day the Blue Devils took on the Southern Connecticut State University Owls it was announced at half time that the representation of the new branding initiative would in fact also be named after Harrison Kaiser.

“He touched so many people and so many student athletes by virtue of all the different hats that he wore as the coach of multiple sports, as the athletics director, the guy was an institution here, which is why his name is on the building and with our current student athletes, and when you say Kaiser it resonates with everybody, said Schlickmann.

The name Kaiser combines CCSU’s history with its present and future. Spelling the mascot name differently gives him a modern twist, and according to Schlickmann, it was the way the name was submitted in the contest.

“Obviously we tweaked the actual spelling to give it a little twist,” said Schlickmann. “That’s how it was submitted, so that’s how it came and I think it’s appropriate.

It gives it a little bit of a different twist but the meaning is still there.”

Schlickmann has already seen a positive reaction to Kizer.

He has been to multiple events around the CCSU campus and many surrounding companies have requested his presence at their events, one being the New Britain

Athletics Director Paul Schlickmann poses with ‘Kizer’ the newest Blue Devil mascot.

Rockcats.

Kizer is just another way to carryout Schlickmann’s goals for the program, including instilling CCSU pride, the new branding initiative and increasing community involvement.

“I’m excited to take the next step with the whole branding initiative and the mascot and I think it’s been incredibly well received in general,” said Schlickmann. “I’ve gotten so many positive emails and notes and calls about people being

kenny barto I THE RECORDER

excited about it and people in our family and alums and so forth and I’m really excited about the Blue Devil itself.”

Kizer can be seen around campus, and especially at home games for the CCSU Blue Devils.

The Blue Devils Won The CCSU Invitational After Nine Sets of Gameplay on Saturday VOLLEYBALL | cont. from 12 CCSU finished the fourth set with its strongest effort of the tournament, dominating the Seawolves 25-11. The Blue Devils had their second best attack percentage of the tournament at .471, the first being the second set against St. Peters on Friday night.

“We knew we would have trouble with Stony Brook, they were just so good in their first two games,” Sagnelli said. “We lost focus a few times, but I’m glad we got through it in four sets.”

The Blue Devils played a lot of volleyball, with the first game starting at 1:00 p.m., and the second game getting over at about 5:30 p.m., but this did not worry Coach Sagnelli.

“Usually with all the tournaments in the beginning of the season, we’re used to playing three games on the weekend,” she said. “Everyone is in tremendous shape, no one looked tired. I even think we could have played another game, although I’m not sure they wanted to.”

With the sweep of the tournament, the Blue Devils improved its record to 5-4. The team will play in one more tournament at Dartmouth this weekend, with Delaware State, Dartmouth, and Providence on the schedule. The next home game will be Sept. 21 against Holy Cross, which will be the last out-of-conference matchup before they begin NEC play at home against Bryant on Sept. 24.

“I’m excited to see how this season goes, it’s just getting started,” Sagnelli said. “We’ve got a young team with a lot of talent, and I know we can compete.”

The Blue Devils improved to 5-4 on the season after winning the CCSU Invitational.

kenny barto I THE RECORDER

12

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, September 14, 2011 / SPORTS

Volleyball Wins CCSU Invitational The Blue Devils Play Nine Sets En Route To Victory Saturday Kenny Barto The Recorder

The Blue Devils played an impressive nine sets in a row in what turned into a volleyball marathon at Detrick Gymnasium on Saturday. CCSU won against a tough Bucknell team in five sets, and beat Stony Brook in two to finish off a 3-0 record in the twoday CCSU Invitational.

“Obviously, it’s really important for us to win our home tournament,” Head Coach Linda Sagnelli said.

“I think our performance was great this weekend, and I’m really impressed overall with how we did.”

CCSU started off the tournament, and home play, on Friday night by beating St. Peter’s College in straight sets 25-8, 2510 and 25-12. The Blue Devils held the Peacocks to a .015 hitting percentage, while CCSU hit .448.

“Going in, we really focused on St. Peter’s, and it really paid off,” Sagnelli said. “We never lost focus in that game, and everyone did everything they were supposed to do.”

After the quick beating of the Peacocks, CCSU rested overnight and returned for a 1:00 p.m. start against Bucknell. The Bison fell to Stony Brook on Friday in straight sets, but they put up a huge fight against the Blue Devils.

Coming out strong, Bucknell took the first set 25-23 with CCSU

The Blue Devils celebrate their victory in the CCSU Invitational this past weekend.

kenny barto I THE RECORDER

bouncing back strong in the second set, taking it 25-21. In the third, the Blue Devils trailed 23-19, just two points away from defeat, when the team scored five straight points to take a 24-23 lead against the Bison.

On the next volley, Bucknell tied it up at 24, but wasted the service advantage when Morgan Mientus hit the net with her serve. CCSU would tack on a point on the next play to take the set, 26-24.

In a crucial fourth set, Bucknell took care of business, beating the Blue Devils easily 25-19, holding the Blue Devils to a .081 attack percentage while scoring .333 on their own. The tie-breaking fifth set was as close as it comes, with neither team getting more than a two point lead. With the score at 19-all, the Blue Devils scored two in a row, both by Blaike King.

“It was just a crazy game,” Sagnelli said. “I thought our setting was outstanding, and everyone fought hard until the end and I’m just glad that we were able to beat them.”

CCSU took just 40 minutes to rest before the team returned to the court to face Stony Brook, who had not lost a set in the tournament, beating both St. Peter’s and Bucknell in straight sets. The Blue Devils took the first two sets rather easily, 25-19, 25-21. In the third set, the Seawolves would battle, and would take the closely contended set, 28-26 to force a fourth set.

VOLLEYBALL | cont. on 11

CCSU Keeps Score Close Against JMU Brittany Burke The Recorder

On Sept. 3 the Blue Devils sat back in the second half and barely won against the Southern Connecticut Owls. This weekend the CCSU football team came alive in the third and fourth quarters against James Madison University, which kept them in the game losing only by five, 149.

Rather than gaining a comfortable lead in the first half, CCSU went into half time down by seven points. The third quarter was uneventful when it came to movement on the scoreboard, but at the beginning of the fourth Juan Duque kicked the first field goal of his career, getting CCSU on the board and cutting the deficit from seven to four.

“We’re a tough team, we’re mentally tough, but I was a little worried because last week…we didn’t play in the second half, we just didn’t compete and I don’t care who you play, if you don’t compete you’re not gonna do well,” Jeff McInerney, head coach for the Blue Devils. “We were up 28-0 and we thought we had the game won and we didn’t and that’s scary.”

JMU’s score could have been much higher if it wasn’t for the big stops made by the Blue Devils defense. Two interceptions made by the Blue Devils stopped JMU drives, which could have potentially turned into points on the board.

“Any time you get turnovers you’re going to slow them down,” said McInerney. “One was in the red zone, Lorenzo Baker tipped it

and made a great play and Tyrell Holmes picked it [and JMU] tried to beat Chris Linares deep and he made a great play and those are huge.”

JMU’s momentum was briefly stunted, but the team still managed to come back and score for the second time in the game with 3:10 left to play in the game.

CCSU had a chance earlier in the fourth to build on its recently kicked field goal but the team couldn’t capitalize. A fumble was forced on the kickoff return and recovered by CCSU, but the failed fake field goal attempt resulted in no points.

“I learned a lot about this team, as a coach we all got to do better,” said McInerney. “I don’t want to just say it’s players. We got some things that when you look back and reflect on decisions, not the field goal fake, I’d do that 100 times over, but there’s certain situations you might reconsider and you just got to learn and keep it in your memory banks.”

Despite the lost opportunity CCSU lived up to its reputation once again by coming back in the fourth quarter. With close to three minutes to play in the game CCSU’s Chris Tolbert rushed in for a 3-yard score, but a failed two-point conversion left just nine points on the board to JMU’s 14.

Gunnar Jespersen was back in the action after being taken out in the game against Southern Connecticut. Against JMU, Jespersen threw for 140-yards, but also had two interceptions.

Of the 146 rushing yards Brian Fowler rushed for 93 of them.

Brian Fowler gets tackled by several SCSU defenders last week in a victory over the Owls.

“If he can keep doing that against a very good team nothing but good can happen,” said McInerney. “I was very pleased with Brian’s effort and the line they blocked there’s no run if you can’t block.”

Even though the team cut the loss to five, McInerney is adamant that a close second best isn’t good enough. The team is faced with yet another road game this weekend against Wagner, which

is also the team’s Northeast Conference opener.

“We got to stop the run and stop the deep ball on defense and on offense we got to continue,” said McInerney. “We’ve got to have a break out game for the whole game, for 60 minutes. A lot of our struggles were because of JMU’s athletic ability. They can run they’re the fastest team we’ll play…way faster than other people we play in our league,

kenny barto I THE RECORDER

but with that said we have to be consistent and score points and if we can get up to 30 points a game like we’ve been, and that’s gonna be tough against a good Wagner defense, we scored 38 against them at home, but we’re gonna have to score points, sure up the run on defense and be sound with the kicking game like we were.”

CCSU makes its way back to Arute Field for a Sept. 24 game at 12 p.m. against Monmouth