Campus Lantern The
Spring 2018 Issue 4
March 8, 2018
Eastern Students Enjoy ‘Coffee With A Cop’ Johana Vazquez Staff Writer I don’t think I have ever sat down and had a full conversation with a police officer before. It feels almost taboo in our society to place cops off a podium of authority and see them as ordinary people. We sometimes have bad encounters with policemen but we tend to forget that they are not all the same. When I walked into the Student Center Cafe, I was immediately welcomed by the Chief of the Police Department, Jeff Garewski, and
The Student Newspaper of Eastern Connecticut State University
A$AP Ferg to Perform at Eastern
Lieutenant Tom Madera to grab a cup of coffee and sit down. They went around the small circle of students and staff that was beginning to assemble, and they asked us a few questions to get to know us a little bit before delving into deeper conversation. As an out-of-state student, they asked me how I liked Eastern so far and what improvements I thought it needed. I was pleasantly surprised with how easily the conversation flowed within the small group. Continued on Page 7
A$AP Ferg / BET.com
A$AP Ferg announced as headliner for spring concert on Sunday April 29 Doors open 6:30pm Concert 7-10pm
Tickets on sale Monday March 26 Students $15 Guests $20 Door $25
Eastern students greet Officer DeNunzio/ Eastern Connecticut State University
Look Inside:
News: March For Our Lives
Opener to be announced Find out more on page 13
Opinion: School Spirit Established 1945 lantern@my.easternct.edu
A&E: Windham Poets
Sports: Warrior’s Run Ends
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News Editor
Rebekah Brancato news.campuslantern@gmail.com
Thursday, March 8, 2018
The
Addressing Opioids on a Local Level
Campus Lantern Editor-in-Chief CHRISTY ALLYN Managing Editor ELENA SORRENTINO News Editor REBEKAH BRANCATO Opinion Editor BROOKE COCHRANE A&E Editor VINCENT KNOX Sports Editor MARQUIST PARKER Advertising Manager JACKIE PIHONAK Advisors EDMOND CHIBEAU KEN DELISA Eastern Connecticut State University Student Center Room 108B 83 Windham Street Willimantic, CT 06226 #: 860-465-4445 Opinions expressed in The Campus Lantern do not reflect those of Eastern Connecticut State University, its administration, or its faculty. All published content is copyrighted, and reproduction requires the express written permission from the editorial board.
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Jordan Corey University Relations Eastern Connecticut State University held a seminar on Feb. 28 to encourage dialogue about what can be done to combat the American opioid crisis on a local level. Hosted by the Health Sciences Department, the event featured a panel of professionals who are working to address the issue. The first speaker, Thomas St. Louis, is an epidemiologist with the Connecticut Department of Public Health. He discussed beneficial workplace approaches to the opioid epidemic. “I think the time of researching or trying to figure out whether or not this is a real problem is over.” St. Louis called attention to the relationship between workplace injuries and opioid abuse, citing a number of factors that can enable addiction-different levels of access to healthcare, the severity of an injury and socioeconomic status. He listed five principles for employers to utilize when handling opioids: identifying the problem early, giving instant support, being flexible, regularly reviewing the situation, and enlisting success in the employee. St. Louis stressed that the prevailing judgmental attitude toward addiction and the dynamics of workplace policies need to change. “We’re talking
about a person with a disease.” The next presenters were Willimantic police officers Matthew Solak and Matthew Nixon, who covered some of the legal aspects of opioid use. Solak noted that the recent increase in synthetic opioids, in combination with changing drug trafficking Willimantic police officer Matthew Solak methods, makes it discussing the opioid crisis / Eastern difficult to confront this issue on a large scale. with programs such as Mothers Despite such Against Drunk Driving expansion, he expressed that (MADD), a nonprofit that simply arresting substance strives to tighten policies on users is not the solution. “Quite impaired driving, including frankly,” he said, “we can’t arrest being under the influence of our way out of the problem … opioids. “A DUI is a preventable we can’t just keep locking people problem,” Nixon said. up.” Solak argued that a strategy Dr. Tiwalola Kolawole, focused on incarceration a psychiatrist at Backus results in people stuck in Hospital, focused on the perils the criminal justice system of opioid addiction during her rather than receiving help. lecture, presenting statistics Nixon, a certified drug- and hypothetical scenarios. An recognition expert, described opioid that is of current concern the Drug Influence Evaluation is Fentanyl, which is 5,200 times test, a voluntary post-arrest more potent than heroin, said test that determines what drug Kolawole. She then explained people are under the influence of. how opioids work--by making He added that the pain disappear. Frequent use Willimantic Police Department then becomes addiction, as is taking initiatives to combat “the release of dopamine in the driving under the influence brain now becomes dependent
on the use of the drug.” She proposed that a better term for addiction is “substance use disorder,” to reinforce the idea that addiction is a medical condition. Negative effects that come from being dependent on opioids include a feeling of hopelessness, lack of appetite and poor sleep schedule. Kolawole also touched on the barriers that come with getting assistance, from the public, the medical industry and family. “Stigma, stigma, stigma,” she said. “We all need to talk about this. The bottom line for today is that everybody needs to do something. It’s everybody’s problem.” Having experienced addiction herself, Tracie Compositor, a case manager in Willimantic, serves as a support system for users, from a peer perspective as well as a professional one. She discussed the importance of building genuine connections and understanding that users come from different backgrounds. “There’s no quick fix for treatment of addiction,” said Compositor, noting that individualized treatment is necessary to effective recovery. “It can be hard to maintain hope,” she continued, but her goal is to “hold that hope for someone until they’re strong enough to take it and run with it.”
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News Editor
Rebekah Brancato news.campuslantern@gmail.com
Man Dies After Crashing Car into Hospital
Middlesex Hospital entrance / Hartford Courant was charged with assaulting his Rebekah Brancato father. Additionally, in 2013, News Editor Ellam was sentenced to 33 The Emergency months in prison after attacking Department lobby at a woman in Middletown. Middlesex Hospital re- He plead guilty to charges of opened Tuesday, March first-degree strangulation, 6, after a man crashed his interfering with police officers, car into the building. The and violating probation, man, identified as 27-year- according to Connecticut’s old Steven Ellam, recorded criminal convictions database. himself live on Facebook as After the crash, he drove into the entrance of Hartford Healthcare increased the emergency department at security at its emergency 10 a.m. on Feb. 22, and then departments. The state ignited himself on fire. He Department of Public Health later died after being flown to also deployed a mobile hospital the burn unit at Bridgeport while Middlesex emergency Hospital over a week later on department was closed to ease Friday, March 2, according the burden. According to the to the Hartford Courant. Middletown Press, water and In his video smoke damaged the walls of recording, Ellam could be the department, and over an heard speaking about the inch of liquid covered the floors Illuminati as he drove to the after sprinklers were set off. hospital. “The one percent Workers treated the area with have been trying to brainwash chemicals to prevent the growth me to attack the police for I of mold, and the HVAC systems don’t know how long,” Ellam were extensively cleaned. “We said. “I know that you are, had an army of cleaning crews: you are their protector and double shifts for multiple days I am going to attack one averaging about 40 workers of your headquarters right per shift just for the cleaning now – Middlesex Hospital. effort,” David Giuffrida, vice Death to the Illuminati, president of operations, stated. death to the world order, the “Other than having to world order is Jesus Christ.” go on diversion with ambulances, According to I don’t think we missed a Middletown police Capt. beat, which is amazing,” said Gary Wallace, Ellam had an President and CEO Vincent G. extensive criminal history. Capece Jr. “The way staff pulled Ellam’s history included a hit- together in the aftermath of the and-run accident, assault, and crash — in a way that words can’t drunk driving. In 2010, Ellam describe — is the silver lining.”
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News
Thursday, March 8, 2018
March For Our Lives
Robin Blassberg Staff Writer Feb. 14, 2018, a day that should be filled with love and happiness, was identified as the opposite in Parkland, Florida, this year. On that day, 17 innocent people were murdered by 19 year-old Nikolas Cruz with an AR-15 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Now, the survivors of the tragedy are taking action and seeking change in the form of stricter gun control. According to marchforourlives.com, those who have organized the March For Our Lives, which was “created by, inspired by and led by students across the country who will no longer risk their lives” have demanded “that their lives
and safety become a priority” and that gun violence and mass shootings in the schools of America finally come to an end. It is clear this is something they are adamant and determined about, considering that they have claimed “our schools are unsafe” and it is time to stop “waiting for someone else to take action to stop the epidemic of mass school shootings that has become all too familiar.” On March 24th, 2018, the streets of Washington, D.C. will hear the voices of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students and March For Our Lives organizers Cameron Kasky, Emma Gonzalez, David Hogg, and many more. According to The Washington Post, they “want to have a conversation with President Donald Trump,”
and give him a chance to no longer “ignore the issues of gun control that this tragedy raises.” Civilians across the nation who feel strongly about what has been classified as “not a political issue, but a safety issue,” can partake in walkouts and marches themselves. Marches planned around the globe, including Denver, Miami, Chicago, New York City and England. One will also take place at Eastern Connecticut State University on March 21st. The Women’s March has also organized a walkout for students on March 14th, to signify a month since the shooting occurred, and a walkout on April 14th, the 19th anniversary since Columbine.
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News Editor
Rebekah Brancato news.campuslantern@gmail.com
News
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Eastern Student Research Lends Insight into Dual Language Learning Anne Pappalardo University Relations Eastern Connecticut State University student Stefanie Dominguez ‘18, an Early Childhood Education and Communication major, recently had her research thesis published in the Early Childhood Education Journal. The highly ranked, refereed journal analyzes trends, policies, and practices in early childhood education for children ranging from birth to age eight. The publication serves the needs of early childhood practitioners including classroom teachers, childcare providers and teacher educators. A Glastonbury resident, Dominguez is a research assistant at Eastern’s Center for Early Childhood Education (CECE) and an Honors Program student. Her thesis, titled “A Qualitative Study of the Play and Dual Language Learners in Preschool,” is one of the first to document social interactions of low English-proficient preschoolers, referred to as Dual Language Learners (DLLs), in classrooms. The paper addresses distinct verbal and nonverbal social behaviors utilized by DLLs with low English proficiency when playing with peers in English-speaking preschool classrooms. Dominguez’s research investigated how DLL social behaviors differ from those of Englishspeaking children during play interaction. She also observed social interactions among DLLs compared
to formal assessments of their involvement with peers and teachers during play. “As an Eastern Honors Program student I was required to write a thesis,” said Dominguez. “I’d always wanted to write an education-based thesis. I worked with Early Childhood Education Professor Jeffrey Trawick-Smith on my project. I feel it is a very important field and that my work could be helpful to teachers and students.” Last year Dominguez was asked to work on research projects with TrawickSmith and Professor Sudha Swaminathan, as well as CECE Director Julia DeLapp. “Part of the research required assessing the math knowledge of preschool students. Because I speak Spanish, I was assigned to test the children who spoke Spanish at home so that we could accurately test their math knowledge not the understanding of the English questions. Through that research, and after talking with the professors, I devised my thesis topic - the social and emotional development of children who speak languages other than English at home,” said Dominguez. “I found it interesting to see just how different the experiences were for DLLs and their English-speaking peers. I was surprised to see how often DLLs experienced ‘teacherassisted interactions’ compared to their peers. Seeing how seldom DLLs were able to successfully interact with peers without a teacher’s help was surprising and made me really want to educate teachers. The DLLs were perfectly capable of playing with
Stefanie Dominguez (right) presenting her research / Eastern each other and having sustained play behaviors, but they often needed a teacher to help them get the interaction started. Knowing this can change how teachers interact with our classes and our students on individual levels.” According to Professor Trawick-Smith, “There are not many undergraduate students who can say they have produced a work that will have an international impact on the thinking in a whole field of study. Yet Stefanie has done just that by addressing a research question which has simply not been asked or answered in previous work. Hers is the only investigation I know of that describes and analyzes the naturalistic interactions of DLLs in preschool. Perhaps Stefanie’s most important finding is that DLLs can interact with peers in positive ways in preschool classrooms if they receive a certain kind of support from their teachers. Her work indicates yet another way in which the preschool teachers lantern@my.easternct.edu
play a vital role in promoting the well-being of young children.” In November Dominguez also presented her thesis research at the National Association for the Educators of Young Children (NAEYC) conference in Atlanta. NAEYC is a professional membership organization that promotes high quality early learning for young children through age eight by connecting early childhood practice, policy and research. She also presented her research to the staff at Eastern’s Child and Family Development Resource Center as part of professional development. Professor TrawickSmith is using her research in his Families and Cultures course. “I think undergraduate research is beneficial for students because they have the opportunity to explore a field that most undergraduates are not usually able to access while still pursuing a bachelor’s degree,” said Dominguez. “The ability for students to perform undergraduate research tasks
at Eastern also helps them to form stronger relationships with professors outside of a typical classroom setting and provides them with opportunities to travel and share their knowledge with others in their field,” added Dominguez. Dominguez has presented previous research projects at Eastern’s annual Celebrating Research Excellence and Artistic Talent at Eastern conference held each April and plans to present research there again this year. “Stefanie is already receiving national attention from this project - an invitation to present at a national research forum on children’s play in Atlanta and requests and inquiries from around the country for information about her work,” added Trawick-Smith. Dominguez is interested in pursuing a master’s degree in special education, and possibly a second master’s degree in deaf education. She wants to become a teacher in a hospital for children who are unable to attend traditional school due to medical problems that keep them in a hospital setting. Her favorite thing about Eastern? “The size - I was walking in the Student Center one day and the assistant dean came up to me and congratulated me on my publication. He knew me, my name and my accomplishments. That doesn’t happen at large schools. I have formed amazing relationships here at Eastern that I will keep with me once I leave this May.”
Opinion Editor Brooke Cochrane opinion.campuslantern@gmail.com
Roger Williams Zoo: A Chilling Experience Ruth Gowitzke Staff Writer Cheetahs and Leopards and Moon Bears… oh my! The trip to the Roger Williams Park Zoo on Sat. March 3 was full of chills and thrills. I could not contain my excitement as the coach bus finally stopped at the destination. Then I remembered it was freezing outside. A solid 40 degrees and a wind that almost made me want to run back to the bus. However, seeing the animals soon there after made it worth it. One of the first animals that I saw was the cheetah. There were a few of them sitting on a big rock and looking at the habitat next to them, which held the cattle. I’m pretty sure they wanted to eat them. However, I could not help but squeal at how cute they were. They’re just cute little cats to me, even though they could probably kill me. Did you know that the second fastest land animal is called the Pronghorn? I was surprised when I saw this animal, because unlike the cheetah, it did not look like it had the physique to be so fast. It just goes to show how appearances can fool you. Another animal that I thought was adorable were the red pandas. They looked so cute with their fluffy tails and small faces. One of them was curled up sleeping on a high structure and the other was walking around. Did you know that red pandas are not pandas or raccoons? The Roger Williams Zoo classified them as their own family. That just makes them even more special! Another special animal was an elephant named Alice. She was accompanied by two other elephants who were not as expressive as she was. Alice
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would do what looked like a dance where she would sway back and forth. I learned that she would do this to show that she was either nervous or excited. I hoped that she was the latter. The Roger Williams Zoo also hosted another animal that is a little more on the slow side. Well, a lot more. This animal was the two-toed sloth. Surprisingly, this is where the thrill came in. As I entered the building with my two friends, my glasses fogged up from the heat in the room. I hastily wiped them off to try to look for the elusive sloth. When we had first come into the building, which was near the entrance, we did not see them, sleeping in the back. We also neglected to look at the sign that told us what was in that section. We patiently waited, me more so than my friend, to see if the sloth would move. After a minute or two, I noticed a small movement from the sloth. I stared at the sloth and got my friend’s attention. We watched as the sloth slowly turned around and unhurriedly made its way to another hanging tube. I took a picture of the sloth’s face as it turned to look at the tube. That sloth was very cute. It was a thrilling experience, albeit a slow one. When we came back later to see if the sloth had moved any more, we were disappointed to see that it hadn’t. My friend then informed me that sloths usually sleep 18 hours a day, so we probably would not see it move again. I wish I had that luxury. I spoke to Allison Brown, an Eastern student who also came onto the trip. “I had a really good time seeing all of the animals and nature there. While it was cold, I had an awesome time with friends and a much needed stress break from school. CAB should do things like this more often.” I couldn’t agree more.
Opinion Thursday, March 8, 2018
Fun Things to do Over Spring Break on a Budget Jennifer Zuniga Staff Writer Midterms are coming to an end, which means spring break is quickly approaching. Don’t worry; there is still plenty of time to think of things to do over this well deserved break, even when you’re on a budget. Trust me, I understand the struggle. As college students, we always seem to be on a budget when it comes to spending money for clothes, food, accessories, class textbooks, and many more things since we are always trying to find ways to save money. Let’s face it, most of things that we would like to do cost money. If money weren’t an issue, there wouldn’t be a problem with traveling to New York and renting a luxurious hotel with some friends. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have the time of your life during your spring break while being on a budget. I am going to take you on a tour of fun things you can do that will cost little to no money over your spring break. One option for you could be to explore a nearby
“There are museums, malls, fun restaurants, and so much more you can do.” city, such as New York, Boston, Providence, etc. You’ll be surprised at what exciting places you’ll find. There are museums, malls, fun restaurants, and so much more you can do. You’ll also have the opportunity to take pictures. Hidden parks, coffee shops, restaurants, and boutiques surround the areas as well. Another option will be lantern@my.easternct.edu
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk/ sciway.net to go on a road trip. You can stay at a family member or friend’s house. If that doesn’t work out for you, you can always drive a car and full it up with gas. You can drive around the area and explore the environment. You’ll have opportunities to stop your car at a certain destination to explore the great outdoors. You’ll be amazed at how great the sky scenery can be. Just imagine going stargazing, or watching the sunset or sunrise. You can even make it your mission to explore what else your home state or surrounding states have to offer. If you don’t mind getting sweaty, then going hiking or on a long bike ride will be an option for you. That is, of course, if it isn’t freezing cold outside. This will allow you to explore nature and get your daily exercise. This is an activity that you can do by yourself or with friends. Let’s say that you are the type of person who would like a more relaxing activity; you can always go down south. A great destination is Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. You,
your friends in the open road can travel down and find a hotel nearby for approximately $100 a night. Split it between four people, that’s only $25 per person a night! If you want to help around your community, you could volunteer in your local animal rescue shelter, national parks, food pantries, Habitat for Humanity, local libraries, art museums, YMCA, retirement homes, Red Cross, or many other places. Besides doing some good for your community, you’ll be able to get community service hours as well. It always feels good to give back. Spring break is also a good time to finish that book you’ve been meaning to read or to watch the movie you’ve wanted to see. After giving you some ideas for activities, I hope that you found some inspiration for what you would like to do for your spring break on a budget. Whatever you decide to do, make it memorable and enjoy every second of it.
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Opinion Editor Brooke Cochrane opinion.campuslantern@gmail.com
Opinion Thursday, March 8, 2018
School Spirit is Prominent at Eastern Elena Sorrentino Managing Editor On Sat. March 3, Eastern’s Basketball team fought against Middlebury College for an NCAA title, and a spot in the Divison III Sweet 16. In the end, they lost 58-83, but the game displayed a lot about the pride and spirit here at Eastern. Personally, I don’t often go to sporting events here at Eastern. If you’re looking for a Campus Lantern Editor at a basketball game, keep your eyes open for Marquist Parker, our Sports Editor. However, I had seen fliers for the game all over school and thought it would be awesome to see them move on in the tournament, so I decided to go. The atmosphere at the game was amazing; I’ve been to a few regular season games, which were usually sparsely attended with mostly parents in the stand, but that night the bleachers were packed. It was a blackout game, and it was easy to spot the student section in the sea of darkness. We ended up sitting a little bit further down the bleachers surrounded by parents with a few students mixed in. Eastern often gets a bad wrap for spirit and has problems with retention. However, in this case, you wouldn’t know it. People were cheering the team on and frequently picking up chants. It was one of the most upbeat events I’ve ever attended here, and it made me proud to be part of this community. Behind me in the bleachers were two men in their late thirties, who were alums. Throughout the game
they were enthusiastic and holding out hope for a victory. They revealed that when they attended Eastern in the past, they had enjoyed coming to games and had continued to follow the team after graduation. It was heartwarming to see support of the school that spanned years. When it was clear that Eastern was likely going to lose and a few people started to walk out, they started shouting things like “Go back to Southern where you belong. Have some school pride.” Over the chaos of the stands people wouldn’t have been able to hear them, but it showed their own kind of emotions and thoughts on Eastern: it is worth
“It was heartwarming to see support of the school that spanned years.” staying for and supporting. Overall, sports games still probably aren’t going to become my thing, but through them I learned a lot about our school community. When the chance allows, students are willing to come together and support each other enthusiastically. Some people left when it was obvious that we were going to lose. Nevertheless, many more people stayed to be there for the final buzzer. It wasn’t an exciting end, but it was a unified one.
Learning to Find Motivation
Christy Allyn Editor-in-Chief Finding motivation can often be difficult, especially during my last semester of senior year. I have found myself in an awkward position where I’m ready to be done spending late nights working on homework assignments, but I’m also not fully convinced I’m prepared to be thrown out into the real world either. Because of this, I have spent way too long avoiding my job search. I have taken all my required classes and have completed an internship, but I still feel unprepared for an entry-level job. Perhaps issues of motivation fall on something much less serious. It could be an email you are avoiding responding to or an assignment you can’t bring yourself to start. Motivation comes down to short-term and long term pleasure. Putting off something you know needs to be done offers temporary relief. Because of this it’s all too easy to push something out of sight and out of mind. However, in the long term, you are going to feel much better if you start what you need to do early and get it done. Short term pleasure often becomes shrouded in guilt. The longer you put something off the more you dread beginning it. Whether or not you’re suffering from senioritis, here are the best tips for finding motivation. 1. Make lists – I love a good list. Oftentimes my favorite part of the day is waking up, making a cup of coffee, and planning out my day. If I write down what I need to accomplish, I am much more likely to do it because I have a visual reminder. Then once I’ve completed the task there is great satisfaction in crossing that item off my list. lantern@my.easternct.edu
fundesem.es 2. Be confident in yourself – motivation is mental, so if you’re repeatedly telling yourself you can’t accomplish something, you won’t be able to. This was the especially the case with my job search. I didn’t feel like I could do something so I put it off. Motivation is a lesson in self confidence. Building yourself up will put you in the right mindset to accomplish anything. 3. Think about the future – this helped me find my motivation because my long-term goal is to find a job in New York City and move there. I’m terrified of being unemployed and stuck at home after graduation. The only way for me to avoid this was man up and apply for jobs. Whether or not I achieve my longterm goal, I will be satisfied knowing I tried. Ultimately think about where you want to be and what you have to do in the present to get there. 4. Take care of yourself – if you’re not listening and
taking care of your body, you’re never going to feel well enough to accomplish a big task. For me this means cooking myself healthy meals and going to the gym frequently to ensure positive moods and lots of energy. When my body feels great my mind feels great and I am much more productive. Though these tips may seem relatively obvious, it’s easy to miss a few, especially when you’re busy in college. It comes down to figuring out what works best for your and being able to recognize when you’re taking a needed break from work and when you’re straight up avoiding it. Some days it’s harder to motivate yourself than others, but designating at least one task and accomplishing it will make you feel a thousand times better. I have since started my job search, and it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders now that I am no longer putting off something so important.
Opinion Editor Brooke Cochrane opinion.campuslantern@gmail.com
Eastern Students Enjoy ‘Coffee With A Cop’ Continued from Cover Page Many interesting topics were touched upon. The policemen described the tedious process of selecting law enforcement applicants. They warned us about the influence social media had in determining if one could get a law enforcement or any other government job. I did not know they could even look at deleted posts from your account. Towards the end, we got to discuss school shootings in light of the recent national tragedy in Parkland, Florida. Is there a way to truly control the gun issue? It was really interesting having a Chief of the Police Department ask us, students with no profession in criminology, for our opinion on the matter. He is confident that we will be the generation to resolve the issue. I did not feel uncomfortable at any point in the conversation, not even when they started to speak on law enforcement on campus. They sought to point out that their goal was not to stain our personal records. They understood what it was like to be young, and they wanted to help us learn rather than suffer in the future from our mistakes. Of course, there are certain arrests and detentions that are inevitable to avoid. Lieutenant Tom Madera was the one to approach Chief Garewski about hosting this event on campus after being inspired by National Coffee with a Cop Day. He thought it would be a good way to reach student body concerns and to cultivate personal interactions. “The purpose of Coffee with a Cop is to spread awareness about what the police department does on campus and to talk openly about ongoing issues, or
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the things people are otherwise afraid to talk about,” says Lieutenant Madera. “This event is able to take place thanks to coffee provided by Chartwells.” Both cops genuinely appeared open-minded and cared about what everyone had to say.
“They sought to point out their goal was not to stain our personal records.They understood what it was like to be young, and they wanted to help us learn rather than suffer in the future from our mistakes.” Chief Garewski emphasized the importance of communication between the student community and the police department. Complaints have surfaced surrounding the shuttle service system from students through staff members. The police department provides the services, and these complaints could have been resolved faster if they had been directed to the police department first. “It’s important to us that you [the students] share things on your mind. You can always call the department and ask to speak with a dispatcher,” addressed Chief Garewski. The Coffee with a Cop events are set to occur once a semester with alternating times, therefore be on the lookout! Your opinion is valid here. Get to know those who are sworn to protect you and ensure your safety.
Opinion Thursday, March 8, 2018
The Center For Community Engagement Needs You!
Sarah Oshima CCE Intern The Center for Community Engagement’s program leaders really do a terrific job with assisting young students at their afterschool program. It’s fun and easy volunteer work for just a few hours a week. There are several schools that they are able to choose from to attend: Windham Center School, Windham Middle School, Sweeney, Natchaug, and the Barrows Stem Academy. What the volunteers normally do for the students at the after-school program is create fun activities, participate in a mentoring program, and help with their homework and reading. Then of course, recess! The faculty, staff, and parents of the students really appreciate the time and effort that the volunteers spend with the children.
The purpose of these after school programs is to serve the school and the community population by providing quality educational, recreational and social programs for students to interact with and practice with each other. It really makes learning more fun by working together. In order to participate, a required training will be provided for the student
“From attending these [programs], I have gained confidence, patience, and improved my social skills.” leaders. If you love children and plan on working with them in the future, or if you may just have some extra free time, I really recommend this fun opportunity. It also looks great on your resume. If working with
children is not your thing, there are plenty of other options to help volunteer with. Such as, St. Joseph Living Center, Vanderman Rehabilitation Center, Special Olympics, the Mobile Food Pantry, a clean-up around town, and even more. All you have to do, is sign up through e-web. It’s that easy! The Center for Community Engagement is very welcoming to new students. In my past experiences, I have volunteered with the Mobile Food Pantry, Special Olympics, and the “I Love Me” special event at Windham Middle School. From attending these, I have gained confidence, patience and improved my social skills. I have been living in the Windham area my whole life, and I finally feel like I am starting to get to know the place and people. I highly recommend signing up, what’re you waiting for?
Volunteers working with students/ Eastern Connecticut State University lantern@my.easternct.edu
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Expressions Thursday, March 8, 2018
Threads Kaitlyn Rasmussen There are certain things that we as humans tend to adamantly trust in until suddenly, in the blink of an eye, that fragile thread of belief snaps and we are thrust into a world straight out of our worst nightmares.
only the foggiest idea of how you got there.
The biggest offender is that stupid insistence that terrible things happen to other people – never you. Despite the fact that deep down, or maybe right under the surface, we all know it’s not true. At any moment, life as we know it can end. The sad news story that we watched about the tragic house fire, or the car accident, or the unexplained disappearance that we shook our head at and then turned off to continue on with our merry lives could just as quickly become our lives. Any one of us could be the subject of the next tragic 6:00 news headline. But until that damn thread breaks, we all go about pretending that we are immune to the terrible curve balls that life throws at us.
Except the “you” in this situation isn’t you. It’s me. I became that damn news story that you probably watched on the 6:00 news.
My thread broke a year ago. Imagine this for me: one moment, you’re walking home from school, the only concerns plaguing your mind the fact that you have ten tons of homework in your backpack and a solid 100% chance of failing your upcoming history test. The next, you’re waking up in a tiny room you don’t recognize with a killer headache and
There was the pain, the rough arms grabbing you – a jostling car ride. And now, just this room.
You probably shook your head at your television, maybe made some remark about how awful it was. Maybe you shed a tear. Maybe you hugged your kids a little tighter that night. But I can guarantee that you shut that TV off when it ended. You finished whatever it was you had to do that night, brushed your teeth, changed out of your clothes and went to bed, just like you’ve probably done every night for your entire life. Maybe I was in your thoughts as you drifted off. But I bet that today, you can’t even remember my name. Because it didn’t happen to you. Your thread of belief, however thin, is still intact. And I may sound bitter, but believe me. As I sit here inside these foreign walls, staring at a door that won’t open, I pray that your thread never breaks.
lantern@my.easternct.edu
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lantern@my.easternct.edu
Expressions Thursday, March 8, 2018
Admiration Jennifer Zuniga Following your body outline, I set trace I acknowledged the glamor trace marks of grace A location for your holy place Depths of times tempo increasing my heart’s pace Admiring you amongst your perfections has made me haste To this admiration my pupils start to race This is what makes the glimmer of heart’s base
Upper West Side Christy Allyn
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10 Advertising Manager Jackie Pihonak advertising.lantern@gmail.com
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Arts & Entertainment Thursday, March 8, 2018
Windham Poets Gather for an Intimate Poetry Reading Samantha Carman Staff Writer On Tuesday Feb. 27, the English Department hosted a poetry reading called “Here in Windham: A Gathering of Local Poets.” At this reading 15 different poets from the Windham area gathered to read their work to the Eastern community. Some of the poets reading were Eastern’s own professors, including Dr. Raouf Mama, Dr. Edmond Chibeau, and Dr. Daniel Donaghy. Many came to listen to these poets read, there were so many people in the audience that some listeners sat on the floor. It was incredible to see just how many people came to support and listen. The topics of the poems varied, but they all had one thing in common. Anyone who was reading was telling a story that held some importance to them. If the subject of the poem didn’t give that away the way they spoke did. People read their work
with such passion. Hearing poetry is such a different experience from reading it. It allows you to feel and experience the moments being spoken about along with the poet. Some of my favorites included a poem about WWE wrestling and an awkward encounter on public transportation with a “hot dude.” Both of these poems were read with such high energy and every single person in the crowd was able to feel exactly what the speaker wanted us to, which was happiness. In case you missed the poetry reading, there is another opportunity to hear a passionate group of poets read their work on April 10 at 5 pm in the student center theater. For this event many of Connecticut’s Poet Laureates will come to read their work to Eastern’s community. A video of the “Here in Windham: A Local Gathering of Poets” event will be posted on Eastern Connecticut State University’s YouTube channel.
Performers singing / Eastern Connecticut State University
Judy Dworin Performance Project Presents “Brave in a New World”
Performer acting out prison metaphor / Eastern Connecticut State University Jordan Corey University Relations Representatives of the Judy Dworin Performance Project (JDPP) visited Eastern Connecticut State University on Feb. 21 to present “Brave in a New World,” a performance that examines the different experiences of incarcerated women. The nonprofit arts organization, which was established in 1989, has worked closely with Niantic’s York Correctional Facility for the past 13 years to welcome former prisoners into the realm of professional artistry. Bringing together music, choreography and real-life stories, “Brave in a New World” causes audience members to reflect on the complexity of the judicial system in relation to human existence. JDPP’s performance put issues of agency, conviction and redemption on display, depicting prison as a “permanent lantern@my.easternct.edu
home.” While interpretive dancers utilized props - carefully constructed cubes that allowed for exit and reentry - others shared different metamorphic narratives on stage via song or spoken word, from recollections of drunken car crashes, to domestic abuse situations, to drug use. Performers highlighted the intricacy behind individual choices, particularly the ones that lead to unforeseen consequences. “We forget that our actions can change who we are in an instant,” one person noted. Not only did the performance spotlight how people become part of the prison system, but also the ongoing setbacks that come with it. In addition to the bleak life inside prison walls, loss of identity, mistreatment from guards, and lack of resources, women return to a society that is inherently working against them. “Brave in a New World” called attention to how hindering the
rehabilitation process can be. “I need somebody to touch me in a healing way,” one cast member sang. Despite having served their time, many of these women find that they are still outcasts following incarceration, strapped with stigmas and scrounging for assistance. Facing obstacles like rejection from family, biased employers, disconnection from children, and social withdrawal, it’s easy for ex-prisoners to feel that they have made no progress, that they no longer have value to those around them. The rehabilitation process is dehumanizing in that manner, in the same way prison is. Though JDPP’s production reiterated that there are flaws in the current prison system, it also stressed the importance of understanding and unity, executed by a cast that showed unwavering resilience. “I’ll be brave in a new world,” a concluding line confirmed.
12 A&E Editor Vincent Knox ae.campuslantern@gmail.com
Campus Lantern
Arts & Entertainment Thursday, March 8, 2018
‘Swell’ Appeals to More of a Wider Audience than Previous Works
‘Queer Eye’ Reboot Tackles Issues of Acceptance
Jake Insinna Staff Writer
Christy Allyn Editor-in-Chief
On Jan. 26, 2018, the alternative math rock band, Tiny Moving Parts, released their fourth full length release titled Swell. The album is 10 songs long, all of which are around the 3-minute mark. This album builds off of the sound of their last album, Celebrate, with less emphasis on guitar riffing and more on song writing and production. Having said that, this album has the best song writing and production out of all of their work. There aren’t many weak song on the album, however, there are some standout songs such as “Caution,” “Feel Alive,” and “Wishbone.” The vocal melodies are much more palatable and easier to sing along to. While this is a welcome change, the guitar is a little less in the spotlight, resulting in the album missing some of those incredible riffs that the guitarist is able to conjure up. That isn’t all bad, though. It leaves room for the vocals to shine through a little more, something they’ve needed to do in order to reach a larger audience this time around. The sound balance of the album is also well done. There isn’t too much of an emphasis on any one instrument and the guitar stands out when needed. “Caution”, the first single from the album is very much a stand-out track. It starts off slow and relatively quiet with some calming guitar chords and the start of
Over 10 years later, “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” is getting a Netflix reboot called “Queer Eye”. The original is based on a group of gay men giving advice on fashion, grooming, interior design, food, and wine culture to straight men. The reboot is much the same, though it is based on the premise of acceptance, where the original aired for tolerance. The five hosts of the show, termed the Fab 5, are Tan, Bobby, Karamo, Antonio and Jonathan. Tan is in charge of introducing a sense of fashion to the guest, Bobby design, Karamo culture, Antonio healthier food and drink, and Jonathon grooming (though most of the time he’s just stressing the importance of using a moisturizer). The show works well because they are such unique and confident personalities that all bring the show to life. Though I must admit I have never seen the original, I am so glad I decided to watch the Netflix series. The show entertains with light humor while also tugging at your emotions in the most heartwarming way.
“Swell” album cover / tinymovingparts.bandcamp.com
“Swell [...] is more accessible to wider audiences [and] is full of varied, well written songs and stellar production.” the first verse, but then quickly starts to pick up. Just before the first chorus, the song completely opens up with an amazing math rock riff and thumping kick drums that will hype up anyone. The song is full of energy and would be an awesome one to see live. “Feel Alive” is another energetic song. Right from the start the guitar is lively and the drums are bouncy, paving the way for some aggressive vocals. This song is an example of their improved songwriting. It is very easy to sing along to and follows a more standard song structure than a lot of their older
songs. “Wishbone” is a song that’s different from the rest of the songs. It’s a little slower, but showcases their improvements from the last album. Swell, while moving away from the roots of the band’s sound, is a little more ‘mainstream’ sounding and is more accessible to wider audiences. This is good for the band, because of course, they want to grow, but maybe not so for the hardcore fans. That’s not to say, however, that the hardcore fans of Tiny Moving Parts or the math rock genre can’t enjoy it. It is full of varied, well written songs with stellar production. Tiny Moving Parts just finished up their US tour for this album and is starting their European tour in a few weeks. They are gaining a lot of traction and it is worth giving this album a listen if alternative rock is something you enjoy. lantern@my.easternct.edu
“[...] I think there’s at least one lesson (if not more) the audience can learn by watching the series.” I was apprehensive when first beginning the show. I expected some sort of a clash from bringing together
polar opposite men on the sexuality spectrum (especially considering the show is based in the south). This, however, could not be further from the truth. Unlike the original the reboot doesn’t focus solely on remaking straight men. In addition, every single personality on the show is so compatible it makes the show a joy to watch.
“The show works well because they are unique and confident personalities that bring the show to life.” The Fab 5 are so empowering and positive, it’s amazing to watch them build up a man who is struggling to find self confidence in a society that has enforced toxic masculinity. The show also offers a sense of heavy reality, one episode forcing conversation about tension between cops and black people. Though this dialogue did in fact feel very forced, I appreciate the effort the show is making for social change. Many of the scenes get very emotional, especially towards the end of the episode, and I think there’s at least one lesson (if not more) the audience can learn by watching the series. Overall, the show is classic reality TV – it’s not going to be the greatest thing you’ve ever watched, but if you’re bored one afternoon or looking for something to make you feel good, this show is going to do it. It’s far from Netflix’s best original, but it’s definitely up there on the top charts.
A&E Editor Vincent Knox ae.campuslantern@gmail.com
Arts & Entertainment
Eastern Will Host A$AP Ferg for Spring Concert Vincent Knox A&E Editor Hailing from Harlem, New York, 29 year old Darold D. Brown Ferguson, Jr., known primarily by his stage name, A$AP Ferg, will be coming to Eastern Connecticut State University for the spring concert. A$AP Ferg began as a member of the collective group, A$AP Mob, along with high school friend, A$AP Rocky, and has now been rapping for over a decade. He has over 10 million listeners on Spotify and his popularity is still growing. In a video on his website, Ferg discusses his life and inspiration. When he was young, he didn’t enjoy school, but he did his best to earn money. His hustle has earned him the title of “Trap Lord” amongst his friends. A selfproclaimed artist of all media, Ferg claims to be inspired by both love and hate, stating, “That’s what inspires me the most.” He also reveres his now deceased father, who printed shirts and logos for record labels for many artists. Ferg himself began in the fashion industry, establishing his own clothing and jewelry line, even launching “Devoni Clothes”, a store for high-end belts. He then went on to win Rookie of the Year in the BET Hip Hop awards in 2013, solidifying his place in the rap world. Ferg’s first single, “Work”, was remixed to feature other rappers including A$AP Rocky, French Montana, and Shoolboy Q. Some of his other
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A$AP Ferg / wikipedia popular songs include “Shabba”, “New Level”, and “Plain Jane”. I have heard many of these songs before and never known who they were by (I’m somewhat ignorant when it comes to rap), but many people play them when they want to listen to something fast and energetic. They all feature quick hooks and beats that make you want to bounce your head to the rhythm. I’m sure all of the songs he plays live are able to get the crowd moving and having a good time. When he comes to Eastern, the entire room will be enjoying themselves. With his popularity soaring and many years ahead of him, Ferg wants to be the man who bridges the gap between mainstream and underground rap, and he may be on the right path to doing so. The A$AP he and others share means “Always Strive and Prosper”, and it looks like that is what he is doing. The only way to know for sure is to buy a ticket to the Spring concert, and see what all the hype is about.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
5 Seconds of Summer Meet and Greet Brooke Cochrane Opinion Editor On March 5, 2018, the popular Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS) came to Hartford, Connecticut and performed a short acoustic set at the Dunkin Donuts Music Lounge (DDML). Thursday, Feb. 22, 5SOS released new music after almost two and a half years. Their new single “Want You Back” has risen in the charts to number one in many countries. Shortly after the single was released, they announced a small, intimate tour in 26 cities. The tour is now completely sold out. The hit radio stations KISS 95.7 and KC101.3 hosted the show. This event was private and the only people who could attend were website or on-air radio contest winners. I was lucky enough to call into KC101’s radio show and win tickets. I had to spell the name of their song “Amnesia” backwards and luckily, I spelled it correctly. Of course, I was crying with happiness and excitement because I have loved 5SOS for just about six years; it’s always been a dream of mine to meet them. I have a tattoo on my arm dedicated to my favorite song by them called “Outer Space/Carry On.” The day of the show, I arrived at the DDML early so I could get a good view. I stood in the cold for three hours until they let us inside, only to have us wait another hour. Once they let us in, they informed us of the strict “no cellphone” rule, meaning I was not allowed to take pictures or videos of the performance. lantern@my.easternct.edu
Brooke meeting 5 Seconds of Summer / KC101 I was a little annoyed at first, but it quickly vanished when the band came out and started to perform.
“Once it was our turn to take a photo with them, it all suddenly hit me that it was real. I was actually about to meet this band that I’ve admired for years.” It was a short concert; they only sang two songs: “Jet Black Heart” and their new song “Want You Back.” They answered some of the fans’ questions and then went into their dressing room to freshen up before the meet and greet. Since they were rushing to get to another performance in Rhode Island, the meet and greet photos were limited to four people per picture, so my photo has two people I had never met before. I honestly didn’t care, I was just happy I was going to
meet my favorite people. Once it was our turn to take a photo with them, it all suddenly hit me that it was real. I was actually about to meet this band that I’ve admired for years. Michael Clifford, the guitarist, was the first in line to greet us with a smile and a wave. Since the radio station employees were rushing us, I didn’t get much time to say anything to him. Next in line was Ashton Irwin, the drummer, whom I stood next to for the photo. Only then did I notice he and I were matching; we were both wearing a white shirt and a leather jacket. He noticed and laughed. After the picture was snapped, the workers were rushing us out to get the next group in. I said hello to the next two members in line: Luke Hemmings, lead singer, and Calum Hood, the bassist. They both smiled and told me to have a great day, and I did. Once we left, I couldn’t actually believe that it happened. I am very blessed and thankful that I was given this once in a lifetime chance. It was, hands down, the best day in my life.
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Sports Editor Marquist Parker sports.campuslantern@gmail.com
Sports
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Boston Redsox Preview
New Boston Star J.D. Martinez/MLB.com Michael Pellegrino Staff Writer Baseball season is well and truly underway, as the Boston Red Sox have begun their spring training for 2018. After a disappointing exit to the playoffs at the hand of the Houston Astros last year, the Sox are looking to bounce back and have a great season. The biggest question mark surrounding Boston this offseason was where they were going to get the help they needed in their lineup, since they were 27th in the league last year in homeruns. Most around the league believed the answer to be J.D. Martinez, and after a tumultuous start to the offseason where their rival the Yankees secured Giancarlo Stanton, the Sox finally signed Martinez. The contract is a 5-year, 110-million-dollar deal, with opt-out options after the 2019 and 2020 seasons. This acquisition, combined with resigning Eduardo Nuñez, add much needed power to the lineup. Many were critical
after the 2017 season of former Red Sox manager John Farrell, citing poor in-game decision making as a big factor to the early playoff exit. Boston fired Farrell and hired former World Series champion Alex Cora. Overall, Cora’s management experience in Houston as a world champion last year and as a world champion with Boston, should lead him in the right direction for 2018, and give the locker room a muchneeded uplift. Younger players such as Benintendi and Devers can benefit from his experience, and veterans such as Pedroia can respect his on-field expertise. While there were issues addressed by the Red Sox this offseason, every year new problems arise. Players not hitting well needing to be adjusted in the lineup, pitcher’s rotation spots changing, and possible injuries. How Alex Cora deals with various problems throughout the season is going to be heavily scrutinized and looked at by fans, media, and the front office. With Chris Sale being poised to have another Cy Young contender year, more consistency
after him in the rotation is desperately needed. Rick Porcello has shown that he can be a great starter, winning the Cy Young in the 2016 season, reaching 20 wins in the process. David Price can be worth every penny of his contract if he stays healthy, gets more reps on the mound and wins in the playoffs. The pressure of being the number one starter should be gone for him, as many fans and teammates only want consistency within the third or second rotation spot. If Price and Porcello can be consistent, with the possible dominance of Chris Sale, Boston could finally have a solid rotation they have been needing for years. In the American League, Boston is now a possible playoff contender with these offseason moves. Other teams such as Houston, Cleveland, New York, Minnesota and L.A are all also ready to contend for the pennant, so the Red Sox have much competition if they want to advance to another World Series. Looking at the A.L. east, the contenders are now the Red Sox and Yankees. Toronto can be competitive, but with only one true great starter in Marcus Stroman, they will not be able to hold off the rest of the division. New York’s lineup looks threatening with the duo of Stanton and Judge, and if Gary Sanchez has another great season they will be a handful to deal with. On paper the Red Sox have the better rotation, but it is up to whether or not they perform on the field to see who will walk away with the division crown in the 2018 season. lantern@my.easternct.edu
Eastern Scoreboard Upcoming
Final
Mar 08 Women’s Lacrosse 4:00 PM Wellesley at Eastern Conn. St.
Mar 06 Men’s Lacrosse Final 8 Johnson & Wales (RI) 13 at Eastern Conn. St.
Mar 11 Baseball 1:00 PM Eastern Conn. St. vs. Becker @ Auburndale, Fla. (Lake Myrtle Park) Mar 11 Softball 3:45 PM Eastern Conn. St. vs. Marietta @ Kissimmee, FL Osceola Softball Complex
Mar 03 Men’s Basketball Final 83 Middlebury 58 at Eastern Conn. St. NCAA Tournament Second Round
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Sports Editor Marquist Parker sports.campuslantern@gmail.com
Sports
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Warrior’s Basketball Season Review Marquist Parker Sports Editor The No. 18-ranked Middlebury College men’s basketball team shook off a two-week layoff to capture two victories by an average of more than 22 points in 24 hours and advance to the sectional round of the NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament. Middlebury (21-6) followed an 83-63 victory over Lebanon Valley College by stopping No. 10 Eastern Connecticut State University’s 12-game home winning streak, shooting 53 percent from the floor in building an 18-point halftime lead and cruising to an 83-58 victory at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium. Middlebury had brought a three-game losing streak into the NCAAs after being eliminated in the first round of its conference tournament Feb. 17. The Panthers were an at-large selection to their ninth NCAA tournament and proceeded to win their NCAA opener Friday night against Lebanon Valley for the seventh straight time. Eastern (26-4) had won 13 of 14 home games this year, having chalked up its 12th straight the day before in a 75-59 victory over Johnson & Wales University. Against Eastern, Middlebury’s inside rotation of starters 6-foot-8 inch Matt Folger, and 6-7 Nick Tarantino and 6-7 Eric McCord dominated inside, limiting Eastern to just two points off second chances, sparking their team to a 5426 advantage on the boards and combined for 26 points, 22 rebounds and five assists.
Eastern started only one player standing as tall as 6-foot-6. While the Panthers were shooting 52.5 percent from the floor, their defense held Eastern to a season-low point total, season-low three-point field goal percentage (19.4) and secondlowest three-point field goal total (6) this year. The Warriors had collected 14 three-pointers in Friday’s night’s victory. After shutting down Lebanon Valley’s top scorer Friday night, Middlebury freshman guard Jack Farrell was primarily responsible for negating the three-point field goal marksmanship of Eastern senior guard Kendall Marquez (Willimantic). Averaging 3.0 three-point field goals per game this year with a 40.4 percentage from distance, Marquez got off only five attempts against Farrell’s defense, hitting his only one with three minutes left and the Warriors trailing by 20 before fouling out with 1:29 left. Jack Daly led Middlebury again with an all-around game. Coming of a triple-double Friday night, the 6-foot-3 inch senior guard had 11 points and game-highs of 12 rebounds and seven assists in a team-high 33 minutes. Farrell, who managed only five points on 2-of-14 shooting in his first-ever NCAA game Friday, responded with a game-high 19 points and added six rebounds and four assists. Hilal Dahleh added 16 points (6-of-9 from the floor) and McCord came off the bench for 12 points and ten rebounds. Eastern, which won a programrecord total of games this year, had four players in double figures. Freshman guard Cory Muckle (Westbrook) topped the team with 13 points (3-of-4 from distance), senior forward
Eastern’s Award Winning Duo, Tarchee Brown and Carlos Gonzalez/gowarriorathletics.com Tarchee Brown (Rockville) adding 12 points and teamhighs of seven rebounds and five assists, sophomore guard Jake Collagan (Wetherfield) 12 points and sophomore point guard Carlos Gonzalez (Springfield, MA) ten points before fouling out with 4:16 remaining. Collagan accounted for all but four of Eastern’s bench points, while Middlebury got 23 bench points from four players. Middlebury featured outstanding balance in its two NCAA wins, with five players averaging between 11 and 12 points, and five averaging between 4.5 and 7.5 rebounds (with Daly averaging 11.5). The Panthers shot 47.4 percent from the floor and 71.4 percent from the foul line and limited their two opponents to 34.2 shooting (27.1 from three-point range). In two games, Eastern was held to 36.0 percent shooting (30.8 from three-point range). The season is over, so lantern@my.easternct.edu
it is the perfect time to reflect on what has been a dream season of sorts. The result may not have been what the players wanted, but they still deserve to be commended with one of the greatest seasons in recent memory here at Eastern. Not only did the fans appreciate this historic team, but the LEC rewarded the Warriors. Eastern Connecticut University nearly swept the major awards, with senior Tarchee Brown (Rockville) named Player of the Year, sophomore Carlos Gonzalez (Springfield, MA) Defensive Player of the Year and head coach Bill Geitner named Coach of the Year. UMass Boston freshman Michael Boyd was named Rookie of the Year. Last year, the Warriors swept the four major awards, with All-America Hugh Lindo being named Player and Defensive Player-of-the-Year, Gonzalez Rookie-of-the-Year, and Geitner Coach-of-the-Year.
Gonzalez is the third individual from Eastern Connecticut to be named the LEC Defensive Player of the Year after starting in 27 of his 28 games played this season. He leads the conference in steals (89) and assists (151) and is second in assist to turnover ratio (2.9) while averaging 11.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest. The Warriors own the No. 1 scoring defense in the league (68.5 points per game), and lead the conference as a team in steals per contest. Brown became the third Eastern student-athlete to be named LEC Player of the Year after leading the Warriors to their fifth straight conference regular season title and second consecutive tournament championship. He has started in all 28 games so far this season, averaging 19.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game to go with 97 assists and 27 steals. Brown was elected a FirstTeam All-Conference selection in each of his four collegiate seasons, and was named the 2015 LEC Rookie of the Year. The program’s alltime leading scorer, Brown closed his 112-game career with 1,959 points, with his career average of 17.5 ranking sixth all-time. With 583 points this year, he fell seven points shy of setting a season record for points and equaled the second-most field goals made (215) in a season. Ranked second nationally in steals (98) and third in steals per game (3.27), Gonazlez set program season records in both of those categories, and his final total of 159 assists equals the third-most in program history.
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Sports Editor Marquist Parker sports.campuslantern@gmail.com
Warrior Spotlight Megan Silver Droesch Sports Information Office
On March 11, Merlyn Herrera will take the field with the rest of the Eastern Connecticut State University baseball team for the 2018 season-opener in Auburndale, FL. The 5-10 senior catcher, who was born in the Dominican Republic home, will look to maintain his position behind the plate for the 2018 season. Head Coach Matt LaBranche calls the 21-year-old Herrera “a coach’s dream who is committed to excellence in everything he does on and off the field.” LaBranche continues that “As a catcher, Merlyn plays a critical role in leadership.” As Herrera looks ahead to his fourth and final spring season as an Eastern Warrior, he is also mindful of his future. This past January, Herrera represented Eastern at the NCAA National Convention in Indianapolis, IN as a member of the Division III Student Immersion Program. This program, founded in 2015, brings together 40 ethnic minority students with an interest in Division III coaching and/or administration. “The goal is to build a pipeline of talented ethnic minority candidates in an effort to ultimately diversify the division,” states the NCAA. Held annually, selected students are fully funded to attend this convention. In addition to the traditional convention schedule, Herrera and his fellow grant recipients received DiSC personality training and
were provided with mentors to guide them through the process. Selected by an interview committee made up of six administrators, professors, and coaches, Herrera is looking to put his time at the convention to good use. “I always wanted athletics to be part of my future, but I’ve never had a serious opportunity present itself like this one,” says Herrera, a Hartford resident and Cheney Tech of Manchester graduate majoring in Business with a minor in Business Information Systems. Herrera was kept busy attending sessions on fundraising and the challenges of Division III athletics. Herrera was particularly interested in discussions relating to diversity inclusion in college athletics. Herrera states, “It really opened my eyes about the lack of opportunities that are given to minorities to be put into administration roles.” Herrera credits his mentors, Miriam Merrill, Associate Athletic Director from Hamilton College, and Miracle Pierre, a lawyer with experience in compliance and eligibility, as particularly beneficial. “These are the people with whom I spent the most time,” states Herrera. “They are the ones who I will be in contact with if I ever have any questions or need help.” Herrera also used the opportunity to network with current college administrators, NCAA officials, and “other student athletes who have similar backgrounds and share similar interests.” Of the experience as a whole, Herrera states, “My time at the convention provided me with the resources necessary in order for me to meet my career goals.
Sports
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Eastern Lacrosse Results
Eastern Conn State Athletics GoWarriorAthletics.com Three days after keeping Gordon College off the scoreboard for the final 40 minutes of a five-goal win, the Eastern Connecticut State University men’s lacrosse team blanked Johnson & Wales University for 26 consecutive minutes to turn a one-goal deficit into a six-goal lead en route to a 13-8 non-conference win in the 2018 home-opener at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex. Eastern (2-1) scored twice less than a minute apart to
lantern@my.easternct.edu
tie the match and after Johnson & Wales (1-3) took its final lead (6-5), Eastern’s defense did not allow a goal for the next 26 minutes, getting two goals and an assist from senior attack Matthew Rougeot (Cheshire) and a pair from senior attack Connor Wyllie (Somers). Freshman midfielder Connor Hillemeir (Farmington) also chipped in with his first career goal in that stretch, opening the fourth quarter with his first strike, Eastern continued to dominate this season at the faceoff “X”, with three first-year midfielders: Matt Robidoux (Cheshire) won 13 of 17,
Hillemeir 6 of 6 and Tyler Stein (Milford) capturing the final faceoff with 1:29 left in the match. By taking 20 of 24 against two Wildcat opponents, Eastern’s faceoff trio improved their season percentage to .667 (48-of-72). Eastern doubled the Wildcats’ shot total, unloading 64 shots – 25 in a five-goal second period – and forcing Wildcat sophomore goalie Bradley Morris to make 29 saves – 20 in the first half. In his first appearance of the season, junior Chris Gorman (Shrewsbury, MA) stopped 11 shots.