Volume110issuee011

Page 1

LOCKDOWN AFTERMATH

NEWS BLANKET DRIVE, PAGE 4 UPGRADE EMINEM REVIEW, PAGE 6

Post-Lockdown Counseling, page 2

SPORTS K YLE VINALES, PAGE 10

AWA R D-W INNING CENTR A LR ECOR DER .COM Central Connecticut State University

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Erin Stewart: The New Mayor of New Britain

Notification System Needs Improvement acadia otlowSki and kiley kRzyzek the Recorder

A series of alarm systems were put to the test as sirens blared across campus, alerting students of the lockdown that occurred just before noon on Central Connecticut State University Nov. 4. The alert process began with the Whelen System, which first broadcasted a set of tones, using a Klaxon horn. A police message then instructed students to go to the nearest building and stay away from doors and windows. Students on the edges of campus struggled to hear the sound, according to President Jack Miller. "We probably need to locate, install, some more of the voice system speakers,” said Miller, who said that there will be improvements to the system following the lockdown. The emergency alert system was in the spring, but students were not involved. The administration is planning another test, involving students. Mark McLaughlin, university spokesman and associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications, called an "irony of the universe," administration met a few weeks ago to plan out a campuswide stress test. He explained that the administration had wanted to hold a test of the system at the beginning of the academic year, but new speakers for the Whelen system had to be mounted and tuned. The administration had scheduled a test for the week before Thanksgiving, but the system was given a much more thorough test. The emergency alert system also sent out voice, text and email messages to students. The first message was sent out at 12:09 p.m., according to McLaughlin. Some students didn't receive an email message until half an hour later. McLaughlin said it was "one of the limitations of the system." "We could see it was taking time to roll out," said McLaughlin, adding that the system used for emergency alerts allows the office to track when the message was sent out. Miller admitted that the delay could have made it to some students arrived in the middle of the N�����������| PAGE 3

Volume 110 No. 11

SkyleR magnoli | the RecoRdeR

Newly-elected Mayor Erin Stewart. SkyleR magnoli the Recorder

Erin Stewart, alongside her mother and father, former mayor Timothy Stewart, took the stage amid hundreds of her friends, family and supporters as the new mayor of New Britain. Stewart’s victory against incumbent Tim O’Brien will easily make records since at just 26-yearsold she will be the second woman to be the mayor of New Britain. She also continues on the legacy for her father, who served for four terms as mayor of New Britain before deciding to step down. “I am so overwhelmed with all the support that has come from the New Britain community, from my family and from my friends,” said Stewart. “I am one happy girl.” The race was hardly close, but it was Stewart that surprisingly came out on top. Stewart won with 5,258 to O’Brien’s 4,147 votes. Along with her age, the fact that Stewart is a Republican casted doubt. However, she did not worry it would affect her in a mainly Democratic district. She has voiced that she is willing to work

with all political backgrounds to get the job done. She has said that she is a different kind of Republican, which along with her out-of-the-box running ticket, helped her win the election. Stewart ran on a fusion slate, which indorses Democrats, Independents and unaffiliated parties. “I think that speaks leaps and bounds to the methods that we brought to the public, and that was that it is about-people not politics, it’s about getting the job done, it’s about putting all the other stuff aside for a better New Britain,” said Stewart. In the campaign, it was her age that was used against her. However, now it is her age that she will use as her advantage. Stewart, who is an alumna of Central Connecticut State University, was able to tap into young voters. According to Celeste Roche, who not only ran on Stewart’s ticket for Alderperson At-Large but also attends Central, said that she thought Stewart’s age was an asset. Roche also said that for the students who payed attention to the elections will be happy that Stewart won.

Considering both the Democratic and Republican groups at Central backed her in the campaign. “She’s young, energetic and she’s full of ideas,” said Suzanne Parlow, Stewart’s aunt. “She knows New Britain like nobody else, we are all from here.” Stewart’s goal approaching the campaign was to begin turning New Britain around. Now she will have the chance, and she has different programs she wants to see implemented. She would like to see New Britain become a place for Central students to go. During the applause and cheers from the crowd, Stewart said the doors of town hall were back open for the people of New Britain. Stewart will reinstate the mayor’s open office hours, which once a month are open for any citizen to come in and talk about concerns they might have. This goes along with Stewart's plan to restore back trust into government. “I am most proud to say that the voters of New Britain truly did make an independent minded decision this election,” said Stewart. “It proves that they are the best, and

that they are educated in their vote, and that they are not afraid to vote for the person and not the party.” Especially for Central students, who just last year protested against O’Brien after he tried to put fees on 911 calls and landlords, which would raise costs on Central students who live in houses around the university. Hunter Mathena, who ran on Stewart's ticket for Alderman described her as small wonder. According to Mathena, “She’s going to do two times better than the current mayor, based on her education.” Under O’Brien, New Britain had the second highest tax rate in the state. Stewart would now like to make it affordable to live in New Britain again. As well as bring hope to a younger generation. That their voices are heard, and that voting makes a big difference since this generation is a big untapped block that doesn’t participate. “I can promise you that I will do my absolute best not to let you down,” said Stewart. “I am looking forward to the next two years because we are moving New Britain back in the right direction.”

Veterans Were Honored In Alumni Hall This Past Monday As Part Of CCSU's Veterans Day Celebrations Veterams Day was celebrated in CCSU's Alumni Hall.

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