February 12, 2014

Page 1

the

ChargerBulletin

@ChargerBulletin

www.ChargerBulletin.com

Charger Bulletin The official student newspaper of the University of New Haven since 1938. Volume 95, Issue 16 | February 12, 2014 | West Haven, CT

Chinese New Year Takes to the Stage

Amanda Knox: What Comes Next?

By KARDELEN AKKUS

CAMPUS

STAFF WRITER KAKKU1@NEWHAVEN.EDU

––––––––––––––––––––––––––

UNH’s Mock Trial had their best season yet, while bringing home an Outstanding Attorney Award after competing in the 2014 New Haven Regional last weekend.

SEE PAGE 2 LGBT community has received harsh treatment in Russia where this year’s Olympic Games are being held. Read about the discussion guest speakers and UNH students had on the topic.

SEE PAGE 5

OPINION With all the hype about Disney’s latest Frozen, do you think that it is all it is cracked up to be? Read contributing writer Katilin Mahar’s opinion on the movie’s new-found popularity.

SEE PAGE 6

SPORTS UNH held a welcoming press conference for their new head football coach, Chris Pincine, a true Charger at heart.

SEE PAGE 11

ENTERTAINMENT

By PATRICIA OPREA

STAFF WRITER POPRE1@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU

–––––––––––––––––––––––––– In the U.S., the New Year is always celebrated on Jan. 1, but this is not the case in other countries. In China, the new year began Jan. 31, and it marks the start of the year 4712. The Chinese New Year is a fifteen-day celebration, changing yearly based on the lunar calendar. Suitably for the UNH Chargers, it is also the year of the horse. It is said that Buddha asked all animals to meet on the Chinese New Year. He then named a year after all twelve that arrived. People born in the year of the horse are clever, popular, and love a crowd, according to legend. On Feb. 7, in Dodd’s Theater, students, alumni, faculty, staff, and

guests gathered to celebrate the New Year with a Chinese Spring Festival Gala. “This is the equivalent of July 4, Thanksgiving and Christmas,” said Dr. Henry C. Lee, “a day with fireworks, family, and presents.” This event is actually sixteen years in the running, and is just as enchanting every time. Last year the festival fell on Valentine’s Day, giving people “two reasons to celebrate,” mentioned Karima Jackson, Director of the International Services Office. The show commenced with a video introduction by various people including Dr. Lee, Dean Alvarez of Arts and Sciences, Joseph Spellman, the Senior Director of International Admissions, Dean Harichandran of Tagliatella College, Jackson, Chris Moise, the International Student Advisor, along with many students and sponsors of the show. A count-

PHOTO BY PATRICIA OPREA

down in Chinese followed suit, from ten to one, and then fireworks flashed on-screen. Two colorful and ornate dragons appeared from the double doors, bounding down each set of stairs on the right and left. Both dragons had huge masks with smiling mouths that contrasted their deep-set eyebrows. Laden in colors of green, gold, orange and red, these dragons made their way over to the stage, where a dual began with a young boy. The boy, who is Henry Lee’s grandson, had a sword in each hand, and fought off the dragons. A group of young kids from the Wu Dang Kung Fu Academy then took the stage in a fast-paced performance with swords, staffs, chains, and vigor. Their performance was lengthy, albeit fascinatSee CHINESE page 2

The Lego Movie recently released is already a favorite and being compared to the iconic Toy Story. Read Film Editor Scott Iwaniec’s review of the movie based on the toys children love.

SEE PAGE 13

Check out Livewell’s Latest for a review of Justin Levinson who played alongside Teddy Geiger at The Space.

SEE PAGE 15 PHOTO BY ERICA NAUGLE

WNHU Celebrates Music History with Beatlemania

By ASHLEY WINWARD

MUSIC EDITOR AWINW1@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU

–––––––––––––––––––––––––– February 9, 1964 marked a day in history nobody could have ever anticipated; a night that would leave its imprint on music for years and years to come. It was that night, at 8 p.m., The Beatles would make their first of three appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show and bring “Beatlemania” across the pond here to the U.S. WNHU came together the night before this anniversary to com-

memorate the occasion with both history and entertainment, much to the enjoyment of the nearly packed house in Dodd’s Theater. The evening began with a history lesson, taught by UNH professor Wes Davis. Davis, who previously taught a course solely on the Beatles, was able to dictate the history of John, Paul, George and Ringo from inception sprinkling in known and little known facts alike. The crowd enjoyed testing their knowledge, making it more of a trivia game than a lecture. After learning more about The Beatles, the very clips of the first performances on the Ed

Sullivan show were shown. Of the three consecutive Sunday shows they performed, it was actually the third week’s performance which was taped first rather than the first performance, which was shown. The Fab Four played hits such as “All My Loving,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” and “She Loves You.” Davis pointed out interesting facts about the performance beforehand such as Ringo’s terrible head cold and the fact John Lennon wasn’t planning on letting the public know about his relationship to wife Cynthia when they decided See WNHU page 3

Alleged femme fatale Amanda Knox is the key to a controversy that has sparked the interest of a global community. First guilty, then not, and now guilty again: the sorrows of “Foxy Knoxy.” Knox is at home in Seattle, WA, since 2011 having been found not guilty for murdering Meredith Kercher in 2009, after being found guilty before, in addition of having spent four years in Italian jail. Prosecutors have appealed the verdict resulting in a sentence of 28 and a half years in prison. If it is upheld, Italy could have Knox extradited from the U.S. In order to shed light on the recent activity, two professors at the University of New Haven have been asked questions regarding the case. Dr. Tracy Tamborra, assistant professor working in the Criminal Justice department for nine years, holds a Ph.D. and uses her knowledge that is specialized in violence against women, race and class in the legal system as teaching material. Additionally she has written a manuscript titled, “Cultural Offenses and Italian Criminal Law: A Complicated Relationship.” She was a former apprentice of Dr. Joshua Sandman’s who taught her political science classes, while she attended UNH. Dr. Sandman has been a professor of political science and pre-law advisor at UNH for more than 40 years. 1. Which legal system is fairer (Italy or U.S.)? Would Knox’s legal process have been different in the U.S.? Tracy Tamborra: Yes it is, and no it isn’t; both criminal justice systems have some really good safe cards to protect the rights of the accused. However those who have power often abuse the systems. In the U.S. prosecutors abuse power, and in Italy judges abuse power. Both abuse the systems, so neither is better. The U.S. has much harsher punishments than Italy. Italy doesn’t have the death penalty and rarely puts someone to prison for life. The longest sentence should generally be to 20 to 30 years. So when talking about fairness from punitive standpoint, then yes, the Italian system is fairer. Some think the U.S. is fairer with the use of a jury, however; only five percent of cases in the U.S. ever see a jury. The other 95 of cases will be plea- bargained with a prosecutor. So in essence it’s the same exact thing: one person making a decision. Joshua Sandman: The U.S. system is fairer. The legal process would have been different and See AMANDA page 3

Text message your news tips and comments to The Charger Bulletin! 1 (270) UNH-NEWS


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
February 12, 2014 by The Charger Bulletin - Issuu