Volume 90, Issue 13 | December 8, 2010
the
Charger Bulletin The official student newspaper of the University of New Haven since 1938.
www.ChargerBulletin.com
WikiLeaks Releases Confidential U.S. Diplomacy Cables
By ISAAK KIFLE STAFF WRITER
–––––––––––––––––––––––––– Vary rarely does something happen that creates an international buzz overnight. But around the end of November, WikiLeaks did just that. Starting on Sunday, November 28, the web-based media organization began releasing U.S. diplomatic cables on their website for the public to see. Diplomatic cables are confidential telegrams sent between government officials and agencies concerning diplomatic missions with foreign governments. WikiLeaks has amassed a total of over 250,000 cables dating from the ‘60s to last February and has been releasing them in increments since Sunday, at a rate the website has claimed would leave them releasing new information for months to come. While not all of the information has warranted notice or discussion, some of the cables have received more notice than others. One of the most famous cables reveal that many Middle Eastern leaders are more concerned with Iran’s nuclear program than previously thought or admitted. Another reveals that U.S. and South Korean officials have discussed the possibility of uniting the two Koreas in the event that North Korea collapses due to its various economic and political problems. The Obama administration, states another, has offered incentives and various bribes to other countries to take prisoners out of Guantanamo and into their
own prisoners, for the purpose of closing the prison. Among the other big revelations include Afghan Vice President Ahmed Zia Massoud taking $52 million from the United Arab Emirates, the U.S. working to remove enriched uranium from Pakistani nuclear reactors that could be used to build nuclear devices, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton ordering U.S. diplomats to obtain more information on their countries, the state department labeling Qatar the worst country in its region in terms of counterterrorism efforts, a closer and more friendly relationship between Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi than previously known, and Syria continuing to provide extremist organization Hezbollah with arms, despite Syrian President Bashar Assad promising to cease from doing so. Various other cables reveal embarrassing comments made by U.S. officials about foreign leaders, such as President Hamid Karzai being “driven by paranoia” and French President Nicolas Sarkozy as, among other things, “thin-skinned and authoritarian”. WikiLeaks, whose slogan is “We Open Governments”, has a history of releasing docu-
Mama Pajama Rolled Out of Bed: The Art of Memories a single work, creating a scene when shown on a projector. –––––––––––––––––––––––––– In size, Paper’s creations range from eight square inch The Seton Art Gallery in pieces, which she makes entirely Dodds, for its final event of the over the course of one day, to semester, brought artist Marcie poster-sized works, the largest of Paper to the gallery to give a which she spent two years perlecture on her work, followed by a reception on December 2. Since November 18, the gallery has displayed several pieces of Paper’s art in an exhibit called “Mama Pajama Rolled Out of Bed.” The gallery will remain open until December 10. Upon watching her father become ill and losing his short-term memory as a result, A MARCIE PAPER PAINTING Marcie Paper began to wonder whether she would meet the same fate. That worry, combined fecting. Some of her works are with the appreciation she gained untitled, identified only by numfor the mundane events in her ber, while others are titled after life, led her to create paintings the dates they were made. For a and animations based on her few others, Paper would watch a memories. movie, such as Citizen Kane and Whether an event is signifi- Frozen River, and draw whatevcant or not, Paper would record er comes to mind as the movie it on paper, panel, or canvas, plays, which would often require usually with acrylic paint. She replaying the movie to finish the has also incorporated digital im- piece. ages, collages, and painting aniFor “Mama Pajama Rolled mations into her repertoire, the Out of Bed,” Paper spent two latter of which would consist of years listening exclusively to her making frame after frame of See MEMORIES page 5 By ISAAK KIFLE STAFF WRITER
Remembering Chief Starkel
A CHARGER BULLETIN FEATURE 1997 to present time he was emments and revealing information –––––––––––––––––––––––––– ployed as the Chief of Police at considered classified by many the University of New Haven. governments, including docuHe had served as police chief for Last week, the University of 13 years. His fellow co-workments on both the Afghan and Iraq Wars just earlier this year. New Haven was stricken with ers stated that he had had some sadness to hear of the loss of health issues recently. However, one of their own. Chief Henry despite that fact, he put in a full Starkel, 62, passed away at his day’s work on Monday as usual. home on Tuesday, November 30, 2010. The news of Starkel’s death came from Ronald Quagliani, UNH’s executive director of safety and transportation. A message was sent via email to the UNH community. In the email, Quagliani noted Starkel will be remembered as “a student advocate, an effective administrator and a true friend.” Starkel was born in Hartford, on September 2, 1948. Being a lifelong resident of Connecticut, he attended AN AP PHOTO Chief Starkel will be rememThe organization is staffed by Hall High School and graduated bered for his sense of humor, political dissidents, journalists, from Tunxis Community Col- generosity, kindness, and love of mathematicians, and technology lege with an Associate’s Degree animals. Many colleagues will experts from several countries. in Police Science. Starkel went attest to his superior work ethic. Australian journalist, Julian As- on to graduate Summa Cum Those who worked with Starkel sange, is the founder, editor-in- Laude from the University of recalled he initiated a police bichief, and spokesman for the New Haven with a Bachelors in cycle patrol on campus, as well organization. Assange has be- Criminal Justice Administration. as other improvements. come an extremely divisive fig- He later received a Master’s DeStudents on campus will alure, with some hailing him as a gree in Criminal Justice from ways remember how his main hero for exposing a great deal of Westfield State College. focus was always student safety. Starkel began his 40-year- However, Quagliani remarked the government’s secret actions while others regard him as an career in law enforcement with Tuesday night, “His main focus international traitor for possibly the West Hartford Police Depart- was not only on student safety, putting officials’ lives in danger. ment in 1969. From 1988 until but on mentoring students. He One thing is certain, with Starkel arrived at UNH, he was could talk to them and solve multiple governments concerned police chief at Eastern Con- their conflicts with other stuSee STARKEL page 4 or outraged at the leaks, WikiLe- necticut State University. From aks has succeeded in opening a Text message your news tips and comments to conversation the entire world has become a part of. The Charger Bulletin!
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President Obama to Freeze Federal Worker Pay in real time, can be found at usdebtclock.org. –––––––––––––––––––––––––– What may be the real reason behind the pay freeze would be Whenever a political decision the midterm election results. The is made, whether it is to help Democrats lost seats in both the people through social security or House and the Senate, which is to increase taxes, the bottom line is always money. The question: how much will it cost versus how much can be saved? This is the recent debate since Obama announced a two year pay freeze that would apply to all civilian federal employees, including those who work at the Department of Defense. According to White House officials, this is the first of many difficult decisions that will be made to reducing the nation’s exponentially growing deficit. Jeffrey Zients, a deputy director at the Office of Management and Budget, projects that the never a good sign for the Presifreeze will save more than $5 dent in office. US citizens were billion dollars over the course clear in their votes that they of two years, but helping cut the were not happy with Washingdeficit is only a small portion of ton’s spending, and even somethis decision. Yes, $5 billion dol- thing as symbolic as this pay lars seems like a large amount freeze, just shows voters that he of money to the average citizen, was listening. but what many people do not reAt the same time, however, alize is that our budget deficit is the president realizes the impact currently exceeding $1 trillion that it will have on those who are dollars. An exact breakdown of being affected by the pay freeze. our deficit, as well as how the Zients said according to the Ascountries money is being spent sociated Press, “The president By SARA J . DUFORT STAFF WRITER
is clearly asking them to make a sacrifice. We believe it is the first of many difficult steps.” As it is now, federal workers only receive a 1.9% increase every year, so over the course of two years they will lose out on a 4%
AN AP PHOTO
increase. This may not seem like much, but for families having trouble making enough money to support their family, every cent can help. Yet these federal works are not the first to have their wages frozen. After taking office, Obama also froze salaries of top White House aides, in hopes of doing the same thing. Of course, not everyone has been happy See FREEZE page 6