Dec 10 2008

Volume 87, Issue 14

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

SNOW PATROL RETURNS

The student newspaper of the University of New Haven since 1938 RECSPORTS PREPS FOR SEASON THREE The end of the semester means the end of RECSports Season Two. Get the scoop on Season Three inside.

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SAVE THE POLAR BEARS Did you know that polar bears are close to extinction? Find out all the facts in our Animal Awareness Tip of the Week.

– Page 7 FREEZE! Did a dog really get frozen to a sidewalk? Read all about it and more crazy stories in this week’s edition of Zack’s Wacky Stack of News.

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INDEX

By HEATHER BROWN STAFF WRITER

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WEST HAVEN—Considered by some to be the biggest event of the fall semester, Snowball was amazing this year. The fun began last Saturday, Dec. 6 with snow globe pictures. I thought having this event before Snowball was a wonderful idea. Many students forget to set time before getting all bundled up to take a nice, formal picture. This gave everyone the opportunity to get one! Don’t forget to pick your snow globe up if you haven’t yet! I love mine!

Getting on the buses seemed to go more

Community & Advice Page 9 Editorials

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Police Log/ Fun & Games Pages 12 and 13 National/World News Page 3 New Haven News Page 4 Sports

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smoothly then last year. That could be because I was on the first bus instead of the last bus this time, but it felt that everyone arrivedwithin a reasonable time.

I have to admit, OSIPOVITCH PHOTO while I Students are crowned Snowball Princess, Snowball Prince, Snowball King and SnowballA DAN Queen. completely understand playing holi- ally get it when the music nice to be able to hear what day songs while students suddenly turned into easy See SNOWBALL page 4 were arriving, I didn’t re- listening. Though, it was

UNH Band Takes on Toad’s Place

By CELINA NATOLA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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WEST

Luckily

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Students Welcome Winter with Ball

HAVEN—Bal-

Arts & Entertainment ancing school, work, and Pages 8 and 11 a hobby is no small feat.

Bulletin Board

Snow Patrol released its new album last month. But is it any good? See if it’s worth listening to in our Arts & Entertainment section.

for

sophomore

Spencer Haddad, all of this balancing has paved his way to the place “where legends play.” Haddad and his band Perish Hill have managed to obtain a gig at one of the most coveted venues in the New Haven

area: Toad’s Place.

The metal band will join close to 30 acts for the 1Loud Street Music Festival being held at Toad’s Place this Sunday, Dec. 14. Bands from all around the New Haven area will perform all day starting at noon to support Ground Control, a drunk driving awareness organization.

The festival is no doubt a big step for Perish Hill, based out of lead guitarist Haddad’s hometown of Norwich, Conn. “So far, the 1Loud Street Music Festival seems like it’s going to be a really good time,” Haddad said, “It’s also for a good PHOTO COURTESY OF SPENCER HADDAD cause…so that’s

Perish Hill prepares to perform at Toad’s Place on Sunday, Dec. 14.

cool. We are definitely excited to play Toad’s.”

Perish Hill formed in the beginning of 2007 when Haddad and former guitarist Ryan Mara started jamming together at Haddad’s house in Norwich. As the band struggled to find the right sound, they eventually moved Mara to drums, and picked up bassist Jim Kiernan, a Sound Recording major here at UNH, vocalist Karl and guitarist Wes. With Haddad and Kiernan attending school here, Perish Hill took advantage of the opportunity and recorded a four-song demo in the recording studio in Dodd’s Hall. “We have enough material to do a full-length, so we will probably re-record the See PERISH page 4

Campus Events, Etc. The Charger Bulletin | December 10, 2008

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Wednesday, December 8  Relaxation Package!

Bartels, 9am – 1pm

 Gingerbread Cookie Fundraiser Bartels, 10:30am – 4:30pm

 Decorate Christmas Stockings & Ornaments!

Thursday, December 9  Men's Basketball vs.

Southern Connecticut State University

Saturday, December 11  UNH Ice Hockey vs. TBD Northford Ice Pavillion, 9pm – 10pm

Charger Gymnasium, 7pm – 9pm Reading Day

Bartels Programming Area, 11am – 4pm

 ¡Sobremesa!

Jazzman's (Bartels), 1pm – 2pm

Monday, December 13  Munchies on Monday!

ORL, 4:00pm – 5:30pm

Want To Join the Charger Bulletin Staff?

Meetings are on Mondays at 11:00am & Tuesdays at 12:30pm in the Charger Bulletin Office in Bartels.

By Dan Osipovitch A weekly recap of the positives & negatives at UNH

Positives

Negatives

Snowball was a complete blast! I did not expect it to be such a good event. The music was great (thanks to TJ!), the food was amazing (those stuffed mushrooms!), and the place was beautiful (yay for the gazebo!). Better yet—it snowed during Snowball! Who would’ve guessed that in Connecticut it would’ve snowed in December. Okay, maybe that’s exaggeration, although people here don’t seem to handle the snow very well. Either way, the event was done well and I think everyone had a blast. Thanks for a great last Snowball for us seniors!

Have you noticed those new alien life forms around campus? Well they aren’t really aliens-they are just the new cigarette receptacles. They look kind of odd but I guess they are more aestheticly pleasing than the old ones.

In a week this semester will be over. Happy holidays and merry winter to all of you wonderful people who read my column. I wish you the best of luck on finals and hope

It’s completely ridiculous, impractical and downright stupid that we are not allowed back into our dorms until 20 hours before the first classes begin in January. Who ever thought of this policy must obviously have problems with critical thinking. Let’s discuss. We need thousands of students to return to campus, half of which are being driven by their parents. We don’t have enough parking for students as it is, yet we’re going to need a place for students and parents to park. So, if we give people a 24 window to return, everything should work out. Does anyone recall freshman move-in day? Yeah, now add that along with every other resident on campus. Oh, and screw the people who live far away who can’t specify what time they arrive to campus—if their flight gets in at 6 a.m., oh well! They have to wait six hours.

In my opinion the dorms should open Friday morning and be open all weekend to avoid such problems.

Workers at Sandella’s: please stop using your cell phones while people are trying to order food.

you have a great break. See you all again in January!

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National/World News Brains Rally for Change

The Charger Bulletin | December 10, 2008

News

Briefs

weakened connections STAFF WRITER between various parts ––––––––––––––––– of the brain. The varying brain pathways do By Associated Press Writers not cause the person- Progress made in bailout plan for Big 3 auWhen considerality trait; rather, the tomakers ing why millions of trait is an interaction WASHINGTON—A bailout plan for the failing Americans went wild of the wiring and the U.S. auto industry could include a Cabinet-levover Barack Obama’s behavior. el oversight board and a provision to withdraw call for change, most What exactly that the money if the overseers decide the compaindividuals would interaction is has yet nies are failing to take steps to overhaul themclaim the support to be determined. selves. resulted from emoHowever, research has The plan would draw the emergency aid tional connections, revealed that there is a from an existing loan program meant to help patriotism, or simple definite relationship the automakers build fuel-efficient vehicles. dissatisfaction with “between a person’s The size of the package hasn't been finalized, the party in power. personality and their but it is expected to be about $15 billion, sevHowever, new rephysical brain struc- eral congressional aides said. search shows that ture.”

It would create a board composed of Cabinet certain individuals secretaries from the departments of Treasury, may be “wired” for Energy, Labor, Commerce and Transportation plus the Environmental Protection Agency administrator to oversee a broad auto industry restructuring. A congressional aide outlined the Your place to find the oddest stories in mainstream news. emerging measure on condition of anonymity

By Zack Rosen Dog frozen to Wis. neglect, Sheboygan Police said the man the story in an effort because it is not yet completed.

In return for the money, the carmakers would sidewalk; fat helped Police Lt. Tim Eir- swallowed the drugs to get an ex-friend in have to agree to terms similar to those placed on it survive ich said. She told po- after a short car and trouble. Lt. Ted Boyne S H E B O Y G A N , lice she tried to get foot chase Tuesday said a 19-year man banks that receive funds under the $700 billion Wis.—A dog weigh- the dog inside but about 20 miles north- was arrested Thursday Wall Street bailout: to limit their top executives’ ing more than 120 couldn't, and instead east of Detroit. afternoon and booked pay packages, cease paying dividends, give the pounds survived being checked on him every Clinton Township for investigation of government a chunk of future gains and guarfrozen to a sidewalk few hours. police caught and filing a false police re- antee that taxpayers would be reimbursed before any other shareholders, the aide said. overnight, probably The dog is 11 or were questioning the port. because he was insu- 12 years old, Eirich man when he threw up Police got an anon- Wall Street looks for upbeat open lated by layers of fat, said. Shelter workers the crack cocaine and ymous stabbing call NEW YORK—Wall Street was set for an upauthorities said. The poured warm water other contents of his early Thursday and beat start on Monday, with investors enthusiasSheboygan County over Jiffy's back end stomach. The drugs investigators followed tic that President-elect Barack Obama's plan to Humane Society says to unstick him from were picked from the a trail of blood to the launch the largest infrastructure-spending packthe "morbidly obese" the sidewalk, Payne mess. man, who was bleed- age since the 1950s will help boost the crippled dog, an aging bor- said, and it was too The man was ing from his hands economy.

Obama announced over the weekend plans der collie mix named soon to say whether jailed after being ar- and arms. The man Jiffy, froze to the side- he suffered any long- raigned Wednesday told investigators he for the largest U.S. public works spending prowalk when he was left term effects. on a controlled sub- was stabbed by a for- gram since the creation of the interstate highway system a half-century ago. That could out overnight Wednes- Man arrested after stance charge. He has mer friend. day. Shelter manager cops find crack in requested a court-apThe lieutenant said bolster the economy by putting thousands of Carey Payne says few his vomit pointed attorney. it was later determined people to work building schools and other condogs could survive the CLINTON TOWN- Man accused of stab- the man used a shard struction projects. single-digit tempera- SHIP, Mich.—A bing himself to frame of glass to inflict the Burlington school bus driver charged with DUI tures, and it was prob- 25-year-old Detroit- ex-friend wounds on himself. ably the fat that made area man literally SAN CLEMENTE, The nature of the BURLINGTON, Conn.—Burlington's top the difference. spilled his guts to po- Calif.—A young man disagreement with school official says a school bus driver charged Jiffy's 59-year-old lice and was arrested who told San Clem- his friend wasn't dis- with drunken driving will be fired.

Region 10 Superintendent of Schools Alan owner was arrested on a drug charge after ente police he was closed.

Beitnam says the driver, 40-year-old Paula ThiThursday morning on officers found crack jumped and stabbed bault, will receive a letter of termination from suspicion of animal cocaine in his vomit. apparently made up the Sikorski Bus Co. "in the coming days."

School officials say none of the 15 Lake Garda Elementary School students were injured when Thibault's bus struck a utility pole and the driver dropped the students off at home Don’t worry about it! after the collision Friday.

Thibault is charged with driving under the The Charger Bulletin is always looking for more people to join influence and risk of injury to minors. the staff. E-mail chargerbulletin@newhaven.edu to be added to Officials say Thibault has been a substitute bus driver for the Sikorski for the past seven or the mailing list. eight years.

By MELANIE ROVINSKY

change.

People who crave lifestyle changes and those who are open to new experiences have more developed brain connections than individuals who try to avoid the new or unusual. Researcher Dr. Bernd Weber of the Life & Brain Center in Germany claimed that the connection between the hippocampus (an area of the brain where memories are stored) and the ventral striatum (the brain’s reward

system) is greater in change-seekers. When the brain signals that an experience is new, the hippocampus triggers the striatum to release neurotransmitters, which results in positive feelings.

“Brain ‘wiring’ and personality are not really one causing the other,” Weber said about the study.

Surveys and tests revealed that other personality traits, such as the desire to be socially accepted, are linked with strengthened and

Zack’s Wacky StacK

Bummed that you didn’t get a chance to join the Charger Bulletin this semester?

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New Haven News The Charger Bulletin | December 10, 2008

Season Three Just Around the Corner

By KAT WILBERDING RECSPORTS

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Season Two was a success! The participation level was amazing and the games hard-fought.

Congratulations to the following league winners: Team DieNasty for men’s kickball, Jon’s Lunch for co-rec kickball, Choatic Ballers for co-rec basketball, and Bangin’ Bulldogs for flag football, men’s basketball, co-rec team handball, and men’s team handball.

The champions have been crowned, so it is time to turn the spotlight onto Season Three.

As you go home for winter break, keep in mind that Season Three is just around the corner. To help the UNH community start off another successful semester, RECSports is kicking of Season Three right when students return.

Registration starts Monday, Jan. 26, which is the first day we are back, so plan ahead and start organizing your teams.

Season Three sports will be 5v5 basketball, dodge ball, floor hockey, whiffleball, and a racquetball tournament.

There will even be a free throw contest on Feb. 28. For all the league sports, after registration ends on Friday, Jan. 6, play will begin on Sunday, Feb. 15.

To register for a sport, a team needs a manager and assistant

manager to fill out a registration form. The registration form will be posted on the ChargerRec website and will be available at the Equipment Issue Desk next semester. After filling out and submitting the registration to the Equipment Issue Desk, at least one member of the team needs to attend the managers’ meeting.

Following the meeting the teams in attendance will be put on the league schedule and they will be posted on ChargerRec web site and on the RECSports bulletin board.

With the semester finishing up, make sure you are looking ahead to the spring semester and all the great RECSports events to come, so start your planning early and make sure your possible championship team is ready come late January.

Speaking of planning early, don’t forget that it’s never too early to start practicing for the sport in which you plan to play. The Rec Center will be open during winter break for anyone staying on campus. If you are planning to use the Rec Center during the break just keep an eye out for the winter break hours.

Now go get geared up for Season Three and remember to check the newspaper, RECSports’ bulletin board and the web site for the latest news, events, and activities brought to you by RECSports.

Snowball Ends Semester with Fun

The music that the others at my table was played, compliwere saying through- ments of TJ the DJ, out dinner. I just re- was great. There was ally enjoyed singing a good variety that along to the holiday pleased everyone and music and was a little sad when it stopped.

Dinner was fabulous. There were so many options at the buffet that I can’t imagine anyone being unhappy.

It also didn’t seem like anyone had Students dance at Snowball on Saturday, Dec. 6. to wait a long time to kept people dancget called to the buffet ing until the very last table. song. I gave TJ a high As soon as the lights five at the dance and dimmed and the food if you were there you was cleared away, should too! the moment everyone The picture frames was waiting for finally that were given to evcame: DANCING! eryone as gifts was a con’t from page 1

nice change. They are something that everyone can make use of.

It was nice not to get the customary glassware.

Being 21, I have to say that the bartenders were amazing. They were both so nice and accommodating to everyone who wanted a drink. It looked like they m a d e out pretty well in tips judging by the number of times they had to empty their jars.

Overall, I A DAN OSIPOVITCH PHOTO think There didn’t seem that this year’s Snowto be as many out- ball was a great sucwardly intoxicated cess. Congratulations people at Snowball to all of the class offithis year. I did not cers and advisors who come across anyone made the dance poswho “pre-gamed” and sible. I can’t wait for no one seemed too out next year! of control while there.

Perish Hill Gears Up for Big Gig

rary metal groups like are a really serious 1Loud Street Music songs on the demo Through The Eyes Of band but we mainly Festival at Toad’s plus five more songs,” The Dead, As Blood do it because it’s the Place in downtown Runs Black, The Aca- most fun thing we can New Haven on Sunsaid Haddad.

Until then, the band cia Strain, and Cock- do. The real goal is to day, Dec. 14 starting is busy playing shows punch, just to name a be able to support our- at noon. Perish Hill throughout Connecti- few. “We also are def- selves with the band takes the stage at 11 cut and Rhode Island. initely influenced by while still having fun p.m. Admission is “We have played a lot older metal bands to doing it,” said Hadd- only $10 for the entire day. To find out of shows at the Web- such as Iron Maiden, ad.

Check out Perish more about the fesster Theater in Hart- Black Sabbath, AC/ D C ford, but we prefer to play hardcore shows M e t a l l i c a because they are a lot [just their more fun,” said Hadd- old stuff], ad, “We like to mix up P a n t e r a , the kind of shows we S l a y e r , do to keep it interest- Megadeth, too ing.” The band has and especially facing a many more busy couple of weeks, to list,” said performing at a metal Haddad.

No matbar and a house party how last weekend and at ter the Toad’s festival this the show PHOTO COURTESY OF SPENCER HADDAD at Toad’s weekend.

Perish Hill will be playing at the 1Loud Street Music Festival at Toad’s Place on Playing death met- goes, Perish Sunday, Dec. 14. al, the band is cer- Hill is looking ahead. Hill and their demo tival and where it’s tainly not afraid of “Our main goal as a on MySpace. Also be headed next, go to being hardcore. The band is to continue to sure to support the http://musicfestivals. group pulls its influ- play shows and take it band and drunk driv- 1loudstreet.com/. ences from contempo- as far as we can. We ing awareness at the con’t from page 1

USGA President’s Corner

Next semester, USGA meetings will be held every Monday at 1:45 p.m.

All are welcome to attend!

Have a Great Break! See You Next Year

I cannot believe that the semester is almost over. In fact, when this paper gets delivered, it will be the last day of classes. That means a few things. First, you don’t have to go back to that class you didn’t like and second, you don’t have to go back to class for another six weeks.

However, it does mean that you need to rush and finish all of those last minute projects you didn’t do and you need to start to study for your final exams. You also need

to figure out when and how you’re getting home and most importantly how you’re getting all of your stuff home.

Once you figure that all out you have to remember to make sure you check out with your RA and your room doesn’t have any garbage in it. (P.S.–you get fined for that!). Don’t forget to unplug all of those electrical items so the university doesn’t run up a bill for buildings that are not even being used.

Louis Eswood III USGA President But more importantly, unplug those things so the RA’s don’t do it for you because they are stuck here until the very end and are all itching to get out of here just like you are.

But most importantly, good luck on your finals and enjoy your winter break!

Don’t forget your Midnight Breakfast!

When: Wednesday, Dec. 10 From: 10:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Where: Bartels Marketplace Take a break from studying to refuel!

The Charger Bulletin | December 3, 2008

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Editorials

The Charger Bulletin | December 10, 2008

Let’s Get Our Priorities Straight...

Who is more important: students that pay to attend UNH or old men (for the most part) that visit the school about once a semester? Well, if you’re a student you probably chose the former. If you are an administrator, you have clearly chosen the second option.

For four years now, I have seen the school pretty much shut down in preparation for the Board of Governors (let’s call them the BOG). Suddenly, everything is painted, broken things are fixed, and students have limited access to things they need.

I have two problems with this ridiculous system. One is a matter of priorities.

The other is my effort to put myself in the shoes of the Board of Governors.

To begin, I must repeat myself from former editorials. I do not feel like students

are ever considered this university’s first priority. When President Kaplan went to a USGA meeting last year to ask our opinion about what color the

As some of you may know, I work at the Center for Learning Resources at night as a tutor in the computer lab. Which, as a side note (or is it really a side note if I haven't even gotten into the article yet!?), is a fantastic place to get help on Microsoft Office, SPSS, and any other computer-related problems or questions. Additionally, be sure to check out the writing lab for help on essays and papers, and the math lab for help on anything from basic math to physics.

But I digress.

One night, as I ventured out of the CLR on a break for something from the vend-

new turf field should be, the decision was already made- a blue field would get our returning football team more attention. The ideas that we would merely be Boise State copycats, that the uniforms would blend into the field, and that the color would be too bright to handle were pushed aside

and barely heard. And this is only one example of UNH’s goal of glory (the new residence hall is another one, but I won’t get into that).

We as students are often barred from using our own facilities when the BOG rolls into town. But why?

Is it really that dangerous to let us use the Alumni Lounge at night when the BOG isn’t actually there?

Are we really that destructive? Does is really look that bad when organizations have tables in Bartels fundraising or raising awareness about issues? There is no reason why we should not be allowed to have access to facilities just because the BOG is coming.

What is truly sad about the situation is how obvious it is that administration does not care about the condition of our facilities until the BOG is com-

ing. Those blue stairs in Maxcy? Well, they were good enough for us students but they were much too hideous for the BOG. The whole library-end of Maxcy was painted, retiled, and carpeted just because the BOG was going to be in Maxcy looking at the new media center.

Maintenance was also busy all week painting over stains on the ceiling tiles of the Alumni Lounge.

Again, the eyesore of stains is fine for students to look at, but certainly not the BOG. Someone actually said to me, “We should point something out to them [administrators] right before the Board of Governors comes just so it will get fixed.” Not a bad idea since they have cemented their pattern of fixing things for them and not us.

Budget cuts have lead to a prioritization of work orders, leaving

many things consistently broken (like the mirror on the corner of Sheffield that is necessary for cars to see if other cars are coming). Instead, the budget is being spent on painting ceiling tile stains. Great.

Let’s take a look at the other hand. If I was on the BOG, I can’t imagine that I would want to see anything but how the school really is. I wouldn’t want one end of Maxcy to be fixed right before my arrival. I’d want to see what kind of conditions the students go to school in. I’d like to know that when students first arrive, the soles of their shoes become stained from the painted floors. I’d like to know that there are stains on the ceiling tiles (especially when the roof of Bartels still hasn’t been fixed all semester as it was supposed to be). I’d like to be able to read the student

newspaper to get the students’ perspective on the school. If I’m donating my time and money to this school, I want to see it as it is.

I apologize if anyone feels like I am being overly cynical or whiny. However, it is clear to many students (as well as faculty and staff) that here at UNH the BOG is more important than the students. Every time the BOG comes to visit, I feel as though I should hide. Because if all the eyesores are being fixed for their arrival, us useless students might as well be hidden as well. We only go here. We only live here. We only pay to be here. Why should we matter at all? Why should anything be fixed for us? Why should we be able to use programming space? It’s a terrible feeling to know that you are last on the list of someone’s priorities.

ing machines in Maxcy (the ones located near the Communication Department and the stairs to WNHU), I noticed a problem with my plan: the vending machines were gone.

"Well that's good," I thought, "Maybe the university is finally replacing them with newer ones!"

The next evening, the doorway to Maxcy near the Communication Department was blocked off. "Well that's good," I thought.

"Maybe they're putting in some fancy card readers so that students can get in with an extra security precaution!"

At my next venture I noticed those ugly

and, frankly, dangerously constructed blue stairs heading up towards the physics and math department being renovated.

"Wow!" I exclaimed, "They're finally fixing those!" I don't know how many times I have seen people trip on them, myself included.

Other days I started noticing nice tiles being placed in Maxcy, bulletin boards with student activities posted were taken down, and walls and ceilings were repainted. "Jesus! UNH is finally making Maxcy look good, and replacing the bulletin boards with nicer ones!"

Then, it hit me.

The Board of Governors was coming onto campus. And without a doubt, they would be visiting the brand new (and beautiful) Vlock Center.

I have nothing against the Board of Governors. What I do have a problem with is those at UNH who prepare for the Board of Governors. Why does it take their presence to make Maxcy look better? Shouldn't we, as students, deserve a nicer looking building without the presence of the BOG? Why does it take their presence to make those formerly ugly blue stairs actually SAFE to use?

It's disgusting that the

university administration thinks we don't notice, because we do. It's also extremely

those that were stained were even spray painted. I witnessed a student studying in the Upper Student Lounge the night before the Board of Governors was to arrive, who was yelled at to get out immediately because that room was reserved.

The worst part, however, is the kick in the ass the university gave to every single club and organization on campus. No tables were allowed in Bartels Lobby while the Board of Governors was on campus.

As I stated already, I have nothing against the Board of Governors. I actually believe

Celina Natola Editor-in-Chief

...And Put the Students First for Once

Zack Rosen Assistant Editor offensive to both staff and students.

Beyond Maxcy, I noticed some things happening in Bartels.

Light bulbs were replaced, dirty ceiling tiles were cleaned—

See PREVAIL page 7

Anonymity is Animal Awareness Tip: Polar Overrated Bears Near Extinction

During my four years here, I’ve seen many an editorial from the student body published in the Charger Bulletin; the subject matters ranging from campus events, residential life, politics, and reactions to other editorials or articles.

However, something that many of them had in common were the fact that when you reached the end, they were signed “anonymous.”

I’ve always been of the mind that if you have something

to say, feel free to say it out loud. I’ve sent in my own negative responses before and never have I hidden behind anonymity, just like many others, whom I commend.

However, if you have something truly so important or so negative that you feel the need to write such an explicative response and have it published for the entire student body to read, have the nerve to put your name to it as well or keep it to yourself.

-Billy Fogarty

con’t from page 6

said they aren't proud of us, of course, but that's exactly what is being expressed by the university administration. In my eyes, and most of our eyes, the university is not proud of its clubs and organizations.

Next time the BOG is on campus, I ask the university administrators to reconsider the way they have been treating us. It's unfair and offensive.

Why Must the BOG Prevail?

they would love to see students at tables with their clubs while they are present—students running a bake sale to raise money for cancer research, students registering other students to vote, students raising money for the war in the Congo. The university, however, does not want the Board of Governors to see the students in action. They have never

By MAIDELINE SANCHEZ STAFF WRITER

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Polar bears are the world’s largest terrestrial predators that have been threatened by the u n f o rtunate consequences of global warmi n g .

D u e to the accumulation of gases trapped in the earth’s atmosphere, a large portion of the ice, especially from the Hudson Bay area, is thinning and breaking apart.

Polar bears usually settle themselves on packed ice during the winter to become closer to their food source, which includes seals.

However, according to the World Wildlife

mals to travel back to land. Without enough fat reserves stored after hunting, polar bears become thinner, which therefore affect there ability to procreate.

research of the Environmental News Service, for the past 20 years, the population has declined a total of 22% in Hudson Bay. They also claim that a decrease of 30% will

AN AP PHOTO

Fund Organization, the sea ice is melting earlier in the spring, leaving these large carnivorous land ani-

There is currently occur in another 35 to an estimate of 22,000 50 years if this global polar bears living to- pollution continues. day in the Arctic Region. Based on the

Get Your Voice Heard!

Submit editorials to the Charger Bulletin by e-mailing them to chargerbulletin@newhaven.edu

The Charger Bulletin | December 10, 2008

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Arts & Entertainment The Charger Bulletin | December 10, 2008

Snow Patrol Returns with Classic Sound

By SARA MCGUIRE STAFF WRITER

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Towards the end of October, Irish alternative and indie rock group Snow Patrol released their latest album, A Hundred Million Suns. This latest album follows the band’s style of catchy beats and fearless instrumental work, but has a new edge to it. Snow Patrol has found a way to combine tried-and-true sounds with lyrics that range from light and celebratory to angstridden and poignant.

I truly can’t say it enough, but this is a spectacular album.

From the fast-paced (and popularly played

en Floor,” which is a combination of their same soulful and heartbreaking lyrics with an almost tribal beat and acoustic guitar. It’s an auditory experience that is unique, strange, and yet still AN AP/ KEVORK DJANSEZIAN PHOTO p l e a s u r Snow Patrol performs at the American Music Awards in 2006. Their new album was released last month. able. Folon the radio) “Take From acoustic guitar, album is a masterpiece lowing this piece on Back the City” to to synthesizers, to lyr- in and of itself. And the album is a more the slower and more ics that simultaneous- yet, they continue to familiar soundtrack in the form of “Please laid-back, yet equally ly express an intense surprise listeners. amazing “Lifeboats,” joy of life and deep One song that fol- Just Take These PhoSnow Patrol has cov- sadness and emotion, lows their style less tos From My Hands.” ered all of their bases. each song off of the rigidly is “The Gold- This track is like an

old friend in that it contains the same energy and pace that can be found in their previous albums. Yet still this piece is subtly different from their previous work.

As soon as I purchased this album, I couldn’t stop listening to it. It’s unbelievable.

What’s great about the album is that it’s really an album for everyone.

It’s not too obscure in sound and provides lyrics and tones that are invigorating and soothing. I highly recommend this album. If you don’t at least like it upon first listening, then give it a week or two. It will definitely grow on you.

Lurhmann and Kidman Team Up in Australia

By CELINA NATOLA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Oscar season is here, my friends! I have happily kicked off the season with the new Nicole Kidman epic Australia.

Side by side with Hugh Jackman, Kidman shines in Baz Luhrmann’s beautiful love story.

Set in pre-World War II Australia, Australia tells the tale of Lady Sarah Ashley, who ventures to the outback to convince her husband to leave their estate and return to England. When she arrives in Australia,

she finds her husband dead. She decides to take over their estate, which is used to raise cattle, in order to avenge her husband’s death by defeating their competition: Carney Cattle. Lady Ashley enlists the help of The Drover (Jackman) and they begin herding their cattle across the outback.

Riding along with them is Nullah, a half-Aborigine whose mother works for the Ashleys. Nullah is a smart, loud-mouthed kid whose curiosity leads him everywhere.

Lady Ashley and The Drover look after him as they would their

own child.

Besides dealing with the usual trials of a trip across a desert, they are also targets of two specific groups.

One group is that of Carney Cattle, who is determined not to let them reach their destination. Led by the sleazy Neil Fletcher (David Wenham), they do anything they can (including poisoning the limited water supply and causing stampedes) to halt Lady Ashley’s journey. The other group in search of Lady Ashley’s faction is made up of local officials whose goal it is to place all mixed-race Aborigine

children on Mission Island. These offi-

they are bribed by King Carney (Bryan

completes their mission and Lady Ashley

AN AP/20TH CENTURY FOX PHOTO

Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman star in Baz Lurhmann’s epic love story, Australia.

cials are desperate to send Nullah to the island, especially once

Brown).

Without giving a lot away, the Ashley clan

and The Drover are See OUTBACK page 11

Calling all musicians!!!

Want your music to get reviewed in the Charger Bulletin?

E-mail chargerbulletin@newhaven.edu for more info.

Page 9

Community & Advice

The Charger Bulletin | December 10, 2008

Advice Corner

Q: It sucks going home for winter break after I've been living independently at school for months at a time. When I go home, I feel like I'm in high school again. Do you have any tips for how I could make my winter break a little less painful while I'm stuck in the same house as my rents?

A: Give your parents a chance! They probably are not used to living with an independent young adult. Try and compromise with them about what you can and cannot do while being under their roof.

A: Just do whatever you want, they can't stop you.

Page 10

Sports

The Charger Bulletin | December 10, 2008

Burress Situation Creates Questions About Athlete’s Lifestyles

By JOHN OKO

SPORTS WRITER

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The big news around the sports world has been the incident that took place with New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress. Burress was in a New York club when he accidentally shot himself. After the incident, Burress was arrested for not having a license for the gun.

Now, my main question about this whole situation is why did Plaxico find it necessary to bring a loaded gun into a public place? Did he think something might go down and he would need the gun for his safety? Plaxico is not the only athlete that carries a gun. There

gun to protect themselves. But as soon as these guys turn pro things change. If an athlete comes from a questionable background, the first thing that should be done is for that athlete to get away from the street lifestyle.

Going back a couple of summers ago with the whole Michael Vick situation, you can clearly see that he stuck with people who were troublemakers.

He never got away from them and they ended up stabbing him in the back when he needed their support the most.

More recently, Adam Jones has been in trouble off the field.

He committed crimes that have left him in serious trouble with

the league. Jones has a load of talent and he continues to make stupid decisions. Again, Jones is still living a street thug lifestyle even though he can clearly get out of that lifestyle and position himself with better people.

If Plaxico really felt he was going to need to bring a gun to the club that he went to, he should have never been there in the first place. Burress has a wife and a kid at home. He should not have gone to a situation that may have put his life and family in danger.

Athletes who continue to get themselves in trouble should look at someone like Marvin Harrison as a good example on how to

conduct their lives as pro athletes. Marvin Harrison has never been in trouble both on the field and off the field. He is a guy that does his job right and is a class act. Pro athletes have to realize that many people, especially kids, look up to them. If kids look up to Plaxico and know he carries a gun, then a young kid may think it is okay to have one.

Not only are Burress, Jones, Vick and many others hurting themselves by putting themselves in bad positions, they are also hurting their respective teams. Yes, this may seem like a small factor in the big picture, but when you are getting paid millions of dollars by a fran-

gers would keep in close for the next two minutes, but Bentley would mount another run and take a six-point lead at 9:22. Over the next 4:06 the Chargers went on a 14-1 run and took control of the game with a 5952 lead with 5:16 remaining. The Falcons scored a three pointer at 4:57 and then scoring would halt for the next three and a half minutes as the teams exchanged turnovers.

In the final 1:29 the Chargers went 9-for11 from the charity stripe as they sealed their third-straight win of the season.

The Chargers opened the first half with an unthinkable 16-0 run in the first 4:20. In the next four

minutes and 20 seconds the Falcons went on their own 14-0 run to put themselves right back in the game. The teams exchanged the lead in the final 10 minutes and Robert Jamerson connected on a non-traditional three-point play to close the half and tie the score at 29.

The Chargers shot 40% from the floor, 30% from beyond the arc and 100% from the line in the opening half, while Bentley shot 33.3% from the floor, 20% from downtown and 61.5% from the stripe. D.J. Sackmann led the Chargers with nine first-half points and five rebounds. Bentley out-rebounded the Chargers 21-16 in the

first half, including six offensive boards.

Five Chargers scored in double figures in the game; Darryl Greene led UNH with 19 points, Sackman scored 14, Jamerson with a careerhigh 14 points, Kelvin Jackson scored 12 and Cassius Chaney scored 11. Greene added a team-high four assists and three steals, while Jackson led the team with seven boards.

The Chargers shot 47.2% from the floor, holding Bentley to 32.8%. UNH also shot 38.5% from downtown and 88.2% from the foul line. Although the Falcons held a 4-15 edge in offensive rebounds, UNH held a 29-25 edge in defensive boards.

ter dash in a time of 6.91 and one from Alaric Best who won WEST HAVEN –The the 800-meter run in a University of New time of 1:59.90.

OthHaven men's er top finisha n d womers included e n ' s Patrick track a n d Leach w h o field teams finished third in opened the 800 their -meter 2008run (2: 09 season on A CHARGER ATHLETICS PHOTO 00.75), Kevin S a t u r- Distance runner Patric Leach. day afternoon at the Downing who finished Yale Season Opener. fourth in the 200-meTeam results were not ter dash (22.60) and Justin Smith who kept.

The men's team was finished fifth in the led by two first-place 60-meter dash (7.26).

Be sure to support finishes: one from Tyrone Sawyer who the team next semescaptured the 60-me- ter.

Chargers Upset Nationally Ranked Bentley

CHARGER PRESS RLEASE

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WEST HAVEN –The University of New Haven men's basketball team defeated the visiting and nationally ranked #13 Bentley University Falcons 70-61 Saturday afternoon. The Chargers improve to 3-4 overall and 3-3 in the Northeast-10 Conference, while the Falcons fall to 6-3 overall and 2-2 in the NE-10.

With the score tied at the half, UNH came out of the break and fell behind quickly.

The Falcons took a seven-point lead (4033) at the 16:32 mark, but the chargers came back at tied the score at 43 with 12:09 remaining. The Char-

chise that depends on you to perform, you are expected to stay out of trouble. Teams put trust in these guys, and in return they should honor their teams by staying out of trouble.

The bottom line is if pro athletes want to stay out of trouble and protect themselves, they have to start thinking clearly and making better decisions. They have to realize they are setting a bad example for kids, affecting their franchise, and more importantly, hurting themselves and their careers.

have been a number of players that have said (before and after this incident) they carry a gun for protection whereever they go.

Yes, these guys are major stars and there is always the possibility for them to be harmed. But there have to be better ways of handling this type of danger. Instead of bringing a loaded gun everywhere you go, how about these athletes hire bodyguards?

God knows that they have enough money to pay for a bodyguard.

It has also been noted that there are athletes today that have come from questionable backgrounds before they turned pro. They may have had to live a lifestyle where they did need a

Track Opens Season at Yale

CHARGER PRESS RLEASE

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Page 11

A&E Continued

Kidman Returns Home to the Outback

con’t from page 8

free to begin a romantic love affair and take in Nullah as their own.

Everything is happily ever after. Or so we think. Then the war begins.

Part two of the film begins as World War II starts to come to Australia. As the Japanese were destroying as much as they could of the Pacific area, Australia became an obvious stop. The war obviously complicates things, especially for Lady Ashley, The Drover, and Nullah.

The trio struggles to stay together as they are pulled to different places, subjected to warfare, and persuaded to evacuate. As war ensues, their love for each other grows stronger.

This film is epic to say the least. An abun-

dance of themes, storylines, and conflicts saturates the movie at all times. Add to that scenes of war, a trip across a desert, and intrigue and you’ve got yourself one intense movie.

The one downside to all of these elements is that the film is literally about three movies all crammed into one. It’s a love story, it’s a war story, it’s a period piece, it’s a message about race, it’s political, and it’s so much more. The film has false endings numerous times, and at three hours and 15 minutes, those false endings do nothing but trick you into getting ready to leave while so much of the story still remains.

One part of Australia that is undeniably amazing is the pho-

tography. Every scene is beautifully photographed with an airy, heavenly aura. Even when the Ashley clan is in the middle of the desert, the landscape is constantly breathtaking. Lurhmann, a big fan of color (as seen in Moulin Rouge! and Romeo + Juliet), still manages to find a way to spice up the bare Australian scenery with vibrant color.

Overall, the acting and cinematography is top notch in Australia. The story drags a little, but if you’re in the mood for an epic love story, I’d give it a shot. I have a feeling this film will get some Oscar attention, if not for its costumes or writing, then certainly for its beautiful photography.

Madonna Wins Tabloid Lawsuit

By ROBERT BARR

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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LONDON—Madonna, always in fighting shape, has won a round against the British press.

The pop star won a judgment Monday against a British tabloid that she accused of breaching her privacy and copyright by publishing pictures of her 2000 wedding.

Madonna, who says the pictures were stolen by an interior decorator from her home in Beverly Hills, California, is seeking damages in excess of 5 million pounds ($7.5 million) from the publishers of the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

Judge David Eady entered a judgment in her favor but deferred a decision on compen-

Australia Gives Ledger Posthumous Acting Award

ASSOCIATED PRESS

––––––––––––––––– MELBOURNE, Australia—Heath Ledger's family paid a teary tribute to the late actor as they accepted a top Australian film industry award on his behalf.

Ledger was posthumously given the Australian Film Institute's international award for best actor for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight.

His father, Kim; mother, Sally; and sister Kate accepted the award.

"It's been without a doubt the most difficult year, losing such a loved family member," said Kate Ledger,

fighting back tears.

"We are so proud of him and humbly accept this award on behalf of his beautiful daughter, who we will cherish forever," she said, referring to Matilda, his 3-year-old daughter with actress Michelle Williams.

Ledger's performance in the Batman blockbuster is regarded as having a solid

The Charger Bulletin | December 10, 2008

thanked the film institute for the tribute to her son, who died of an accidental prescription drug overdose in New York in January.

He was 28.

"We are immensely proud of him, not only for his professional achievements, but in the way he truly AN AP PHOTO cherished his family, friends and his preactor.

"It was this swag- cious Matilda," she gering, psychopathic said.

"Heath was never clown that turned his career into a legacy one to accept mediand the name Heath ocrity, he put his heart Ledger into an ongo- and soul into achieving inspiration to ac- ing what he believed tors everywhere," the was required and folAustralia Film Insti- lowed his passions tute said at the awards with great enthusiasm ceremony Saturday and an insatiable curinight, Dec. 6 in Mel- osity," she added. bourne.

Sally Ledger chance for a posth u mous Acade m y Award f o r best supporti n g

sation until the new year.

Madonna and film director Guy Ritchie, who recently gained a preliminary divorce decree, were married at a Scottish castle on Dec. 22, 2000.

No pictures of the event had been published until they appeared Oct. 19 in the Mail on Sunday, said Matthew Nicklin, a lawyer representing Madonna. The newspaper published 11 photographs over the front page and a double-page inside spread.

"She was ambushed, for the simple reason that if the Mail on Sunday had told her what they intended to do, the claimant would have sought and obtained an injunction," Nicklin said.

Nicklin said the

newspaper paid 5,000 pounds ($7,500) for the pictures.

Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Mail on Sunday, had no immediate comment on the court's decision.

Nicklin said the only photographs of the wedding were taken by photographer Jean-Baptiste Mondino and presented to Madonna as a gift. He said Madonna put the photographs in an album that she kept in her home.

He said an interior designer, Robert Joseph Wilber, "surreptitiously gained access to the photograph album and copied at least 26 photographs."

Those images, which he said had "essentially been stolen

by Mr. Wilber" were sold Oct. 15.

Like music?

Check out our music magazine PULP online at www.pulp.chargerbulletin.com or on the insert in this week’s issue of the Bulletin!

Page 12

Fun & Games The Charger Bulletin | December 10, 2008

Campus Police Log- Dec. 1 to Dec. 7, 2008

Monday, Dec. 1: Tow–Forest Hills Unwanted person–Student Center/Bartels Parking violation–Simon Place/Isadore Parking violation–Lot 4 Escort–Office Parking violation–Bethel Hall M/V stop–Off campus Tuesday, Dec. 2: Criminal Mischief Tow Truck–Sheffield M/V lockout–Lot 9 Evading Responsibility–North Campus Misc./Other–Regency Injury–Botwinik Ill Person–Winchester Wednesday, Dec. 3: Fire alarm–Rec. center M/V lockout–North Campus Escort–Health Services Assist other agency–New Hall Tow Truck–Forest Hills Domestic–New Hall Misc./Other–Sheffield Hall Tow Truck–Forest Hills

Garfield Minus Garfield Find more at www.garfieldminusgarfield.net

Thursday, Dec. 4: Disturbance–Bethel Hall Escort–Campbell Ave. Escort–Forest Hills Loud Music–Botwinik Hall M/V stop–Lot 1 Parking violation–Lot 5 Escort–New Hall M/V stop–Main Entrance Suspicious person–Rec Center Injured person–Rec Center M/V Accident–New Haven/Orange Friday, Dec. 5: Loud Party–Forest Hills Escort–Forest Hills Escort–Main campus Misc./Other–Construction site Intoxicated person–Maxcy Hall Misc./Other–Maxcy Hall Lost & Found–Maxcy Hall Suspicious Person–Main Campus Assist other agency–North Campus Criminal Mischief–Ruden St. Intoxicated person–Bixler Hall Alarm of Fire–Bixler Hall

License/Registration check–Winchester lot License/registration check–Sheffield Hall Tow/registration check–Bethel Hall Tow/registration check–Bethel Hall Intoxicated person–Off Campus Hazardous Condition–Regency Saturday, Dec. 6: Alarm of Fire–German Club Escort–Winchester Hall M/V lockout–Admissions Misc./other–Forest Hills Unwanted person–New Hall Sunday, Dec. 7: Ill Person/Ambulance needed–Bethel Hall Intoxicated Person/Ambulance needed– Bethel Hall Parking violation/Tow–Forest Hills Intoxicated Person/Ambulance needed– Bethel Hall Vandalism/Criminal Mischief–Lot 5 Fire alarm–Bixler Hall Injured /Ill person–UNHPD Drug complaint–Bethel Hall

Look for solutions to this week’s puzzles online at www.chargerbulletin.com Page 13

The Charger Bulletin | December 10, 2008

The Charger Bulletin | December 10, 2008

Page 14

Page 15

Charger Bulletin Board

The Charger Bulletin | December 10, 2008

The Charger Bulletin The official student newspaper of the University of New Haven 300 Boston Post Road West Haven, CT 06516 Phone (203) 932-7182 Fax (203) 931-6056 ChargerBulletin@newhaven.edu www.ChargerBulletin.com ——————STAFF—————— Editor-in-Chief Celina Natola Assitant Editor Zack Rosen Staff Writers Lauren Aceto, Stephen Acevedo, Mia Becker, Heather Brown, Jonathan Cascio, Kat Cowley, Eric Davis, Brittni DeHart, Molly Dubnoff, Erin Ennis, Matthew Ezzo, Timothy Fasano, Chelsea Fowler, John Kritzman, Sara McGuire, Bonnie Mclaren, Melanie Rovinsky, Janette Schairer, Ankit Sharma, Robert Vine, Michael E. Wilson Jr. Staff Photographer Dan Osipovitch Staff Sports Writer John Oko Staff Gaming Guru Timothy Fasano Staff Copyeditor Kat Wilberding ————ADVERTISING———— The Charger Bulletin accepts advertising from outside sources. Ad rate sheets are available upon request by calling (203) 932-7182 or via email at ChargerBulletin@newhaven.edu. Advertisements must be either submitted on disk by mail, fax or in person, or preferably sent via email.

All advertisements must be received by noon on the Thursday prior to scheduled printing. Due to school sanctions, The Charger Bulletin is unable to accept advertisements from establishments that serve alcoholic beverages. The Charger Bulletin reserves the right to refuse any advertisements.

Advertisements within The Charger Bulletin are insterted by outside sources identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the University of New Haven. Advertising material printed herein is solely for informational purposes.

—LETTERS TO THE EDITOR— The Charger Bulletin welcomes letters to the editor. Letters can be sent via email to ChargerBulletin@newhaven.edu, dropped off at The Charger Bulletin office or left in our USGA box. All letters must include the writer’s full name and phone number for verification and can be withheld upon request. The opinions expressed in letters to the editors, poems, columns or other submissions are not necessarily those of The Charger Bulletin staff. The Charger Bulletin has the right to refuse to print any letter or submission. Final decisions are made by the editors.

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