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