April 25

Volume 99, Issue 16

April 25, 2018

THE

CHARGER BULLETIN

West Haven, Conn.

The student news source of the University of New Haven.

The Charger Bulletin

@ChargerBulletin

@ChargerBulletin

@ChargerBulletin

April 25, 2018

www.ChargerBulletin.com

Page 2

BULLETIN BOARD The

Charger Bulletin 300 Boston Post Road | West Haven, CT 06516

ChargerBulletin@newhaven.edu | www.ChargerBulletin.com office: 203.932.7182 | text: 270.864.6397

Our office is located on the second floor of 46 Ruden Street, Room 202.

Since 1938, The Charger Bulletin has been the official student news Editor-in-Chief Glenn Rohrbacker source of the University of New Haven.

Managing Editor Samantha Reposa

Advertising

Staff Writers Angela Tricarico, Lauren Cohen, Sarah Costello, The Charger Bulletin ad rate sheets are available upon request or by callKhaaliq Crowder, Reginald Walden, Everett Bishop, Iyana Jones, ing 203.932.7182 or via email at CBBusiness@newhaven.edu. The Mitsouki Garvey-Sanchez, Kiana Quinonez, Catherine Cinque, Charger Bulletin reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. Advertisements within The Charger Bulletin are inserted by outside sources Nicole Rivera, Chazz Mair, Francesca Fontanez identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the University

Community Engagement Editor Christina Genovese

Entertainment Editor Meghan Mahar

of New Haven. Advertising material printed herein is solely for informational purposes. For the most up-to-date information, visit www.

ChargerBulletin.com/advertise/.

Letters to the Editor

Sports Editor Christopher DiGeronimo

Opinion Editor Alessia Bicknese

Student Life Editor Karina Krul

Multimedia Editor Kayra Clouden

Associate Editor for Photography Shyanna Mohagel

Associate Editor for Videography Caitlin Carney

Associate Editor for Graphic Design Jordan Campbell

Business Manager Kenneth Sorrentino

The submission deadline for letters to the editor is 5 p.m. on Friday for publication in Tuesday’s issue. Letters to the Editor are also published online the same day as the release of print issues. The Charger Bulletin cannot guarantee publication if it is submitted past the deadline.

All submissions by outside writers to The Charger Bulletin, unless otherwise approved by the editor in chief, will be treated as letters to the editor. Letters should not exceed 300 words if they are to be considered for print publication.

Letters to the Editor are published under the discretion of the Editor in Chief, and not every submitted letter will be published. The Charger Bulletin also reserves the right to withhold Letters to the Editor that are excessively vulgar or nonsensical, or do not meet our editorial standards.

Letters can be sent via email to ChargerBulletin@newhaven.edu and must contain the writer’s name and contact information for verification purposes. The opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are of the authors themselves and not The Charger Bulletin.

* The Charger Bulletin staff strives for excellence and accuracy in writ- 2nd Place - ASPA Annual Contest/Review for Scholastic ing and reporting. We recognize that mistakes may occur and encourYearbooks, Magazines and Newspapers, 2017 Honorable Mention, Mobile App of the Year - Pinnacle age readers to notify the Bulletin if they feel a correction is necessary.

Awards by College Media Association, 2017 Please email the Editor-in-Chief at chargerbulletin@newhaven.edu.

The Charger Bulletin

@ChargerBulletin

@ChargerBulletin

@ChargerBulletin

April 25, 2018

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S AV E S T U D E N T N E W S R O O M S

Bulletin Briefs Page 4-5 Students on why student journalism matters

Page 6 Student journalists from all backgrounds

Page 8 President Kaplan on student media

Page 10 Student journalism is community journalism

Page 11 When the Charger Bulletin almost lost independence

Page 3

#SaveStudentNewsrooms Takes the Country by Storm site for media students, but

BY CORINA RODRIGUEZ STAFF WRITER

T

he #SaveStudent-

Gomez and the managing edi-

reporting.

“Universities need to be

stay in the field. She said it is important for journalists to

tors, Jimena Tavel and Caitlin held accountable when it

stick together to make it work

Ostroff, opted for something

comes to letting student

for everyone.

different. They created the

newsroom be editorially

“Plus, no one else keeps

Voices of Student Journalism, independent,” said Gomez.

student governments that

Newsrooms campaign is

and by collaborating with

“If they choose to interfere,

handle million-dollar budgets

calling on student journalists

other student editors, they

what is that teaching their

on their toes like their own

to help raise awareness on the organized the #SaveStudent-

students? What’s the point of

peers who know how to ask

importance of independent

teaching journalism courses

good questions,” said Gomez.

college newsrooms.

When news broke that the

Newsrooms campaign.

Gomez said that a publication cannot be truly free of

and getting a journalism degree from a university that

Gomez said college newsrooms are important because

independent Daily Campus

censorship unless it is editori- censors its own students?”

“they hold higher institutions

will re-affiliate with Southern

ally independent. She added

accountable and keep people

Gomez said that because

Methodist University, Melissa there have been stories about

newsrooms are struggling

Gomez, editor-in-chief of The

university-affiliated publica-

financially, journalists ––

Independent Florida Alliga-

tions losing funding because

particularly journalists of

tor, knew it was time to take

of the content of some of their color –– find it difficult to

action.

“It was hard to think about what it would be like if it happened to The Alligator, the place I have called home since freshman year,” said Gomez.

“I was feeling fear, frustration, and I felt compelled to do something.”

Gomez decided to reach out to the managing editors of The Alligator and come up with a plan to prevent other student newspapers from losing their independence. She posted a message on a web-

Melissa Gomez/Independent Florida Alligator

informed.”

“They have a unique pres-

Read more on pg. 6...

April 25, 2018

www.ChargerBulletin.com

S AV E S T U D E N T N E W S R O O M S

Page 4

We Asked: Why is student journalism important?

“

It allows the students to express their thoughts and views on the school instead of just higher-ups telling you what to believe and think. It also allows creative thoughts and ideas, and I think that’s super important especially because this isn’t really an art school.”

Amanda Santamaria, criminal justice, Class of 2018

“

I think student journalism is important because it gives students on campus a way to share their opinions. So many students on campus come from many different backgrounds and student journalism provides them with a way to share their experience with others, and for others to learn more about their peers.”

Danielle Martzall, forensic science, Class of 2019

“

You can get student’s perspective on student events on campus. It’s not just administration being like ‘this is what’s going on’ it’s straight from the students.”

Rebecca Santos, marine biology, Class of 2019

April 25, 2018

www.ChargerBulletin.com

S AV E S T U D E N T N E W S R O O M S

Page 5

“

I think it’s important for student journalism so that students have a way to understand what’s going on on campus from a student perspective.”

Michael Ireland, forensic science and biology, Class of 2021

“a lotStudent journalism is important because the university has of different issues happening all at once, and it is impos-

sible for the school to know all of those issues, and the best perspective to get on what’s actually going on in the school is to get it from students because they’re the ones living it, and they’re the ones who know what students care about because they can ask their friends.”

Shonna Carlson, criminal justice and legal studies, Class of 2018

“

I think student journalism is an outlet for students here on campus to write and express their opinions. It’s important for the audience to engage and to talk with their peers about issues, concerns, or events that happen on campus. Just like in the world, you have the news, you have magazines…it’s just important to have on campus.”

Mary Mathews, music industry, Class of 2018

“

As a freshman, I didn’t know what campus was like, but articles about the school gave me some perspective.”

Amanda Mejia, business management, Class of 2021

April 10, 2018

www.ChargerBulletin.com

S AV E S T U D E N T N E W S R O O M S

Page 6

Student Journalists Who Aren’t Journalists

BY KARINA KRUL STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

Bulletin, only began writing

majority, we are entering the

hygiene major and staff writer become more involved on

because she wanted a pair of

workforce at a rapid pace and

for the Charger Bulletin.

S

the sun glasses at the campus

we need student journalism

Costello said that she “would

club fair. However, she has

to get our voices heard, so we

not be as evolved or deter-

perience has helped her with

been writing ever since she

could live in a world and a

mined as I am today without

internships because she’ll be

received her first email.

country that we want to be a

student journalism.” Cohen

better equipped to write case

Samantha Higgins, uni-

part of,” said DiGeronimo.

had similar feelings and said

notes, which she said is “often

versity alumni and previous

Some students see stu-

that before journalism she

a huge learning curve due

assistant editor of the Charger dent journalism as a way to

was a “shy little freshman,”

to people not having experi-

Bulletin began writing in el-

be a larger part of the world

but writing helped her to

ementary school and said she

around them while others see

used to want to be an author.

it as a way to improve upon

She began to write less in

themselves.

tudents outside of the

typical journalism and communication fields have found value in student journalism.

Many are involved for the real-world experience, resume building, and their love or writing and desire for the truth. The staff of the Charger Bulletin shares a common interest in journalism but is a team of academically diverse students.

Chris DiGeronimo, a junior sports management major and sports editor for the Charger Bulletin, began writing because he wanted to separate himself from other sports management majors.

“I realized that there are only 123 General Manager jobs in the 4 major sports but there are thousands of opportunities to write about sports,” said DiGeronimo. “I am now so involved in our athletic program that I feel that I am a part of it without stepping on the field.”

Lauren Cohen, a sophomore music industry major and staff writer for the Charger

high school due to an illness

campus.

Higgins said her writing ex-

Read more on pg. 7...

“Journalism has inspired

but sought out the newspaper

me to pay more attention to

as soon as she got to col-

the local news and read more

lege as a way to get back her

about events happening in the

writing skills. Although she

world when before they did

eventually held the position of not intrigue me,” said Sarah assistant editor, she was pur-

Costello, a sophomore dental

suing two degrees in criminal

#SaveStudentNewsrooms

justice and psychology.

Despite diverse support for student journalism, there has

Continued from pg. 3

been an increase in backlash

ence; they live and breathe

to many student media across

the world they cover,” said

the country. According to a

Gomez. “They have the per-

2016 survey from the College

spective of hearing from their

Media Association, over 20

peers about issues of campus

media advisors associated

concern.

with the College Media Association reported administrative pressure to “control, edit, or censor student journalistic contact,” over the course of three years.

“As students, we are the

On April 25, student-run publications involved in the campaign will publish editorials saying why #SaveStudentNewsrooms matters and why editorial independence mat-

Jordan Campbell/The Charger Bulletin

ters. Newsrooms will also cre-

Monte, director of the Brech-

ate threads of their best work.

ner Center for Freedom of

Newsrooms from all over the

Information, and the Student

country are participating,

Press Law Center, but it takes

such as The Charger Bulletin,

many more voices to keep the

The Daily Nebraskan, and

conversation going,” said Go-

The Nevada Sagebrush.

mez. “One person and a staff

Gomez said she hopes the

that is stretched thin cannot

movement leads to the inclu-

be the only one who care.

sion of student journalism in

That’s what we’ve learned

conversations where general

through this movement.”

journalism is discussed.

“One person who has been a huge advocate is Frank Lo-

For updates about the campaign, you can visit savestudentnewsrooms.com.

April 25, 2018

www.ChargerBulletin.com

S AV E S T U D E N T N E W S R O O M S

Page 8

President Kaplan: Student Media is Like No Other

BY STEVEN H. KAPLAN UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

A

this ongoing effort not only with him, but with the entire student body. Student news-

reporter from The

Charger Bulletin recently interviewed me for a story about faculty diversity. This gave me a chance to speak with the reporter about the University’s ongoing efforts to diversify our faculty and administration, giving me an opportunity to share

Student Journalists Continued from pg. 6

ence writing.” She said that student journalism allows students to build their verbal and written communication skills.

papers make these opportu-

media?

My answer is a resounding “no,” and here’s why: Students need a voice.

since they offer ways to connect with people you would never otherwise interact with.

They also teach you to think

nities – and so many others

The pen is mightier than the

critically and to express your-

– possible.

sword. If you learn how to

self convincingly, respectfully,

In this digital age in which

write and voice an opinion,

and regularly.

a dizzying array of communi-

you can change the world.

Newspapers create a sense

cation tools is readily avail-

Journalism will never die.

of community and shared

able, are college newspapers

You learn skills valuable in

purpose.

outdated and irrelevant,

any field you may enter after

simply repeating what has

college.

already been said and shared over and over again in social

Newspapers offer a means of student self-discovery,

Independent student newspapers can cover university news like no other media.

Students are on-the-ground

observers, intimately familiar with the issues, culture, and values. They are experts in ways that no one else – not even faculty members – can be. Students are able to tell stories that no one else can and report them in a voice that will resonate with their peers. In other words, it is a unique and irreplaceable perspective that directly impacts

Read more on pg. 8...

Feeling paranoid?

Seeing or hearing things?

Having trouble focusing?

Losing interest in everything?

You may be experiencing psychosis.

“We hear in the mainstream news that students are not knowledgeable enough to make their own decisions, but if we take away their ability to experience and write on the same events, to learn by experience, to encounter and develop their own opinions, how would a student ever be able to make an educated decision on anything?,” said Higgins. “It’s more important now than ever.”

mindmapct.org 203-589-0388

April 25, 2018

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S AV E S T U D E N T N E W S R O O M S

Preparing for Years to Come

BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD THE CHARGER BULLETIN

D

ozens of students,

President Kaplan Continued from pg. 8

the life we share as a com-

is a wonderful way for all of you to keep abreast of what is

munity. As important as other happening on campus and in

comma. Behind every school

programs and organizations

newspaper is a team of writ-

are on a university campus,

ers who are dying to be jour-

few can provide the broad,

with people of differing

nalists. Who are journalists.

interdisciplinary skill set that

viewpoints and opinions is

To student journalists, the

working on a weekly college

another crucial part of your

school newspaper becomes a

or university newspaper can.

college education. These

approximately 25 articles,

job that they do for the love of

and uncountable hours.

the community.

Learning how to engage

All members of a communi-

discussions open your mind

it. Students involved are with

ty have a duty to be informed,

and expand how you see the

These are the elements of a

the paper because they want

and part of your college

world, proving that indepen-

successful college newspaper.

to be, not because it’s easy,

experience is learning how to

dent student journalism is an

Every week, the Charger

because it’s not, or because

be an informed and engaged

essential component of a well-

Bulletin works as a team to

it doesn’t require much time,

citizen. The Charger Bulletin

functioning student body.

build content, copy edit, and

because it does. The student

consistently fact check. The

newsroom is made of willing

the future of journalism. The

voice. The Charger Bulletin

newspaper is a voluntary

students, who want to work

newspaper isn’t something to

wants to continue to be the

entity that students involved

their way from the bottom,

pass or fail, or to be graded

voice of the University of New

have pride, confidence, and

up. We work together, we cre-

on. We put the time in be-

Haven. #SaveStudentNews-

hopes for.

ate the content, and piece by

cause we want to, not because

rooms.

That’s the thing about our

piece, we create a paper. We

we have to. Students need a

newspaper. We want it to

have student-run meetings,

thrive for years to come.

we communicate with each

Behind every single page is a

other, and we are consistently

team who spent more hours

successful and happy doing it

editing than they did sleep-

in our cluttered newsroom.

ing. A team who investigated

To place a student run orga-

and researched anywhere

nization in the hands of the

from a campus-wide, to a

school is to take the voice of

global issue. Writers who

the student body away. Right

reached out to interview a

now, we have the freedom to

professor and got rejected.

write about what we want, to

Editors who obsessively

have opinions about politics,

checked their AP hand-

to cover worldwide issues, to

books for the correct use of a

inform our peers, and to be

Page 9

Follow the Charger Bulletin on Social Media The Charger Bulletin

@ChargerBulletin

@ChargerBulletin

@ChargerBulletin

April 25, 2018

www.ChargerBulletin.com

S AV E S T U D E N T N E W S R O O M S

Page 10

Student Journalism and Me: A Timeline

BY ALESSIA BICKNESE OPINION EDITOR

ring to it. I could work with

A journalist? But I was an

It was the tiniest, but most

got even more serious. I had

this.

English major.

crucial piece to the puzzle

office hours, which made my

A

And so I did.

I went to the opinions edi-

of my college career that I

work so much more enjoy-

For the next year or so, I copy

tor to submit my first article.

was trying so hard to piece

able. I got to meet one-on-

edited every puny detail of ev- She looked at me confused,

together.

one with my writers, critique

ery week’s paper. With my red wondering why I hadn’t been

August 2016. I became the

them, check in on them,

pen, I underlined, I crossed

writing for the past year.

opinions editor, and God, I

advise them. I became a full-

out, and became the grammar Well, I didn’t know I was

loved it -- so much so that I

on editor.

police. I sat in the office for a

applied for the position again

April 2018. I’m graduating in

couple of hours every Monday Every week, I wrote an opin-

the following year.

less than a month. The thing

evening to cleanse the news-

ion piece, and I was pretty

August 2017. Round two.

I’ll miss most? The student

paper of errors. I was starv-

good at it. In fact, I would

Pronounced the opinions edi-

newsroom where I became a

ing, sometimes drained, but

later become the opinions

tor. This time around, things

journalist.

always happy to be surround-

editor.

ed by writers and editors.

I was given creative freedom.

August 2015. I wrote a paper

I was the youngest one in

for an English class. After my

that cluttered student news-

professor graded it, he pulled

room, but the editors thought

me to the side, “Alessia. You

I was good. I even created a

didn’t meet the requirements

few sections, which I carried

for this essay, but you wrote

through for the rest of my

an incredible article. You’re a

college career. On top of that,

journalist.”

journalism became my minor.

ugust 2014. I was

a freshman surrounded by endless opportunities to be something. We were urged to visit the club fair, the perfect place to begin the next four years of a freshman’s life.

I found myself uninterested, unimpressed, and annoyed there was not one organization that called my name.

Photography? No, thanks.

Yearbook? Been there, done that. Greek life? Not up my alley. School newspaper? Ah, hah…

I made my way to the organization’s table: The Charger Bulletin. It had a charming

capable of journalism.

Student Journalism is Community Journalism on our student newsroom to

BY ALI MCCARTHY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

G

report what is happening on

Staff Writer for the Charger Bulletin Francesca Fontanez speaks with the organizer of the March for Our Lives in Guilford, Conn. last month.

oing to a university

is like living in a tiny town, and the population is your fellow students and faculty members. The same way

ing the newsroom from a college would be the equivalent of taking away a town’s local news, a vital component of any thriving community.

Unfortunately, America is currently facing issues with

that people rely on local news to find out what is going on in their community, we rely

and around campus. Remov-

Glenn RohrbackerThe Charger Bulletin

Read more on pg. 11...

April 25, 2018

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S AV E S T U D E N T N E W S R O O M S

Community Journalism Continued from pg. 10

Currently, there are about

Page 11

When the Charger Bulletin Almost Lost Independence

BY GLENN ROHRBACKER

June 3, 1988, former dean of

nication courses, including

student life, James E. Martin

journalism, news writing, and reporting.

news deserts popping up

six wealthy and extremely

EDITOR IN CHIEF

all over the place, which is

powerful corporations

negatively affecting small

that control the bulk of the

towns across the country.

popular news outlets that we

T

Jr. laid out recommendations

has been the student report-

performance’ by the student

letin would still be subject to

ing machine of the University

directed newspaper, The

participating in DSG activi-

of New Haven since before it

Charger Bulletin, I believe

ties.

The local news is essential to

not nearly as diverse as we

was called the University of

it is prudent to resurrect

have an educated and intel-

assume it is, which is hurtful

New Haven (meaning New

my recommendation” from

memo that “even the lead-

ligent general public.

if we are trying to be a more

Haven College, not when

November 19, 1987, Martin

ership of the Day Student

open-minded, accepting, and

people were allowed to call

wrote.

Government has come to the

well-informed country.

it UNH). In that time, it has

People deserve to be informed read and watch, thanks to about the issues, events, and

pack journalism and media

changes in their communities. consolidation. Our news is

The Rocky Mountain News former editor, publisher, and president John Temple said

Students are the future of

that locals are “deprived of an

America, and if we take away

understanding of and ability

their tools to better them-

to make informed decisions

selves, how can we possibly

about issues of local govern-

expect a positive outcome?

ment...The current world

Imagine living on a campus

does not lend itself to sup-

for four years with no student

porting the economy of local

newsroom informing you

news.”

of the pertinent issues and

The last thing we need is an

important events around you.

uneducated society. If we take No way of learning how other away local news, which in-

students feel about national

cludes student news, then we

and global problems. Nothing

are taking away a huge part

to read every day that might

of what keeps our country

he Charger Bulletin

that would heavily regulate

Funds would be transferred

the operations of the paper.

from DSG to academic affairs.

“Following a year of ‘low

Martin’s initial recom-

The staff of the Charger Bul-

Martin said in his follow up

conclusion that the future

mostly been controlled by

mendation was rejected on

of the Charger Bulletin is in

the student government, first

December 4, 1987 by then-

doubt under the current ad-

the Day Student Government

President Philip Kaplan (no

ministrative structure.”

(DSG), and now the Under-

relation to current president,

graduate Student Govern-

Steve Kaplan).

ment Association (USGA).

In 1987, however, a process

“I have thought about your

Today, the Charger Bulletin will work to be more independent as it grows. It now

recommendations a great deal has a website that produces

was started to remove the

and quite frankly, I have sub-

news almost daily alongside

student-run paper from DSG

stantial difficulty with some

its biweekly print issue. It

and move it to administrative

of them,” Kaplan wrote.

has several podcasts and two

control under the then-called

In his recommendation,

Division of Academic Affairs.

Martin suggested the follow-

read via a mobile app and

In a memorandum dated

ing:

through Amazon Echo.

Administrative and budWe cannot fail this genera-

broadcast shows and can be

The Charger Bulletin ended

getary responsibilities be

up staying in the student

actually challenge your beliefs tion of students. As a coun-

transferred to the Division of

government until fall of 2017,

progressing. We need to be

and change your mind about

try, we have not done our job

Academic Affairs.

when the transition started

constantly aware of national

something. These are the

of informing the public about

and local issues to understand people we are going to send

Production of the Charger

to make it completely inde-

what they need to know, so

Bulletin would be considered

pendent from the university.

an “academic activity” rather

It will take years for the full

than a “student activity.”

effect to take place, but the

what we are voting for, what

out into the real world soon.

let’s not make the same mis-

social movements are hap-

We want them to be the best,

takes with the young minds,

pening and why, and so much

most intelligent and highly

the next generation of Ameri-

more.

qualified people they can be.

can workers.

The editors and reporters of the Charger Bulletin would be required to take commu-

process will continue to go forward.

April 25, 2018

www.ChargerBulletin.com

S AV E S T U D E N T N E W S R O O M S

Page 12

Why is student journalism important?

Student Tweets of the Week

“

I think it’s important for students to voice their concerns and opinions of the school. I’ve learned things that I never would have if I didn’t read what my peers’ shared.”

Cha’Nel Ellis, criminal justice, Class of 2018

Follow @CHARGERBULLETIN to have your tweet featured!

“

I believe there is great value in student journalism as it provides the opportunity for students to give their insight on what’s going on whatever the subject might be, and it also gives a better way to engage on campus to understand from the student’s perspective.”

Nicholas Aubrey, sports management, Class of 2018