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The official student newspaper of the University of New Haven since 1938. Volume 96, Issue 16 | February 11, 2015 | West Haven, Conn.
Gender Neutral Housing Approved By ELISSA SANCI
ASSISTANT EDITOR ESANC2@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
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mber Crow had just laid down for a nap Feb. 5 when her phone went off across the room. Annoyed, she pulled herself out of bed, figuring the email could have been important. That’s when she received the news that gender neutral housing had been approved at the University of New Haven for the 2015-2016 school year. “I jumped out of bed, because one of my residents was really, really interested in it and I ran out, screaming her name, saying ‘We got it! We got gender neutral housing! It’s a thing!’” said Crow, who is the Senior Residential Advisor in Bethel Hall. Crow, who is also president of PRIDE, had been working closely with Caitlin Pereira, the area coordinator of first-year areas in Residential Life, for the past year and half to get gender neutral housing approved at UNH. Gender neutral housing was Caitlin Pereira’s idea; she proposed her idea to PRIDE and asked if it was something they’d be interested in.
“Because it’s something that impacts our demographic, we really jumped on board to help her out,” said Crow, who, in conjunction with PRIDE, helped bring gender neutral bathrooms to campus Spring 2014. Pereira, who is currently out on maternity leave, came to UNH last academic year from another university that has gender neutral housing, and it was something she wanted to implement at UNH. “It’s been a long road,” said Crow. “We’ve been working on this pretty much from the moment Caitlin stepped on campus, about a year and a half ago.” Gender neutral housing is targeted towards the LGBT population and towards people who identify as a different gender or as no gender—people who are atypical in their gender, Crow said. It’s designed to be targeted for them, but it is open to all students at the University. “I think that it will be more utilized by the LGBT portion of our campus, because they really are the ones who want it and are looking for it,” Crow said. Before gender neutral housing was approved, many students, including Crow, felt uncomfortable in their living situations. “I ended up having to live with girls
because I had to, not because I wanted to, and that’s not really a good residential community on campus.” Crow and PRIDE pushed for gender neutral housing so everyone on campus can be comfortable with their living situation. “The application has no selfidentifying part, so you don’t have to disclose why you want it. You can just say you want it, because it’s really no one else’s business,” she explained. “It’s designed to make you feel like you’re not asking for this because you’re different, you’re asking for it because you want it.” Crow has done a lot for UNH PRIDE and the LGBT community in her four years at UNH. “I look at these kids and their needs and to be able to fulfill their needs is absolutely incredible and it fulfills my day. Like when I got to call and tell all those people that I knew were so scared about who they were going to live with next year or what they’re going to do because they have no friends of the same gender—just to see their faces light up was amazing,” she said. “I think that it’s amazing that our campus is moving in this direction. I never thought that I would get to be a part of it, let alone see it happen.”
Application & Room Selection Process To apply for gender neutral housing, students must go to the Residential Life office on the first floor of Bixler Hall to fill out the Gender Neutral Supplemental Housing License Agreement. There are two different forms that have to be filled out; one application with all the roommates names’ and signatures and an oath that states that, because the gender neutral housing option is primarily targeted toward the LGBT community, all roommates must respect each other’s privacy and keep everything that said in the room to themselves. After these applications are signed, Lauren Veronneau, the assistant director for housing and operations, and Mike Hardej, the area coordinator for upperclassman halls, will hold an informal informational meeting about gender neutral housing with everyone who is interested in it. At this meeting, Veronneau and Hardej talk to everyone who has signed up for gender neutral housing and give a rundown of what gender neutral housing means and how it works. Students also have a chance at this meeting to let Res Life know what they can do to make the groups most comfortable when placing them in rooms.
Make it Possible
Thank you signs have been posted around campus to express gratitude to the many donors that support UNH. By SAMANTHA MATHEWSON
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SMATH3@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
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CAMPUS
A new turbine sculpture by UNH’s Joe Smolinkski is located between Celentano and Bixler Hall P. 2
OPINION
Opinion writer Kaitlin Mahar puts a satirical spin on whether or not to vaccinate your children P. 4
MUSIC
Check out Ashley Winward’s exclusive with Hawthorne Heights P. 7
FILM
Have you seen American Sniper? Film Editor Ben Atwater gives it five stars P. 9
With the start of the spring semester, more could be seen around campus than mounds of snow. As a way of expressing thanks to the university’s many donors, the Office of Advancement has posted signs in Bartels and Bartels Student Activity Center. The cards that are posted showcase names of donors, which range from alumni, faculty and staff, to parents, friends and even businesses. “The wall is twofold,” said Marya Neary, director of annual giving. “It is to acknowledge supporters [and] let them know how much their support is appreciated, and to educate current students about philanthropy at UNH and the importance it plays in their education.” Director of Donor Stewardship, Paula Mortali, explained that the names posted in Bartels are those that have donated over the past year, beginning July 1st 2014, and the names posted in the BSAC are donors that made gifts after Jan. 9. Overall the posters “help the campus become more aware of who supports the campus and its students,” said Mortali. Donor thank you cards were first hung at this past homecoming in the alumni tent at North Campus and represented donations that were made since July 1. They were brought inside this semester to welcome students back and will be up until Feb. 12. “Our donors really appreci-
ate when their names are posted and when they hear directly from students,” said Neary. On Feb. 25, a Student Engagement and Philanthropy Day Ice Cream Social & Thank A Donor Night will be held in the Student Dining Room in Bartels Hall from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Students are invited to come and write a thank you note to a supporter while enjoying free ice cream. This event is part of the third worldwide Student Engagement and Philanthropy Day. “The goal of the event is to raise awareness about the impact of Philanthropy in our community. The program provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their gratitude to the individuals who helped shape their educational experience. Students are encouraged to come with their clubs and organizations, roommates and friends or simply stop by in passing after class,” said Neary. “The Student Engagement and Philanthropy Day Ice Cream Social & Thank A Donor Night celebrates the UNH experience, the growth and transformation of the University and today’s students!” Students might not be aware of the role they play in the campus community, but when students become alumni, they are forever family, and at UNH, the number of alumni supporters has increased nearly 50 percent over the last six years. Neary explained that the increase in alumni support has a ripple effect, that when there is an increase in support, UNH’s ranking increases, which in turn increases the value of students’ degrees.
“When many universities are experiencing a decline in alumni participation, UNH alumni support is going up,” said Neary. When donors give gifts to the university they have the opportunity to give back to what matters most to them or things that made a difference in their education. This means that, if they wish, they could give back to a specific athletic team, study abroad program, internships, research, college or major or experiential education. Mortali and Neary explained that many of the donations made come from the university’s Phonathon, which is composed of approximately 30 UNH student callers, who call for ten weeks in the fall and ten weeks in the spring. This semester the Phonathon started Feb. 5 and runs until April 26. Students make calls Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from 1:30 to 9 p.m. “The Phonathon is an important engagement tool to connect with alumni,” said Neary. “Through the Phonathon, we are able to update contact information for our alumni, inform them about important news and events at UNH, let them know about alumni events and benefits and connect alumni with funding opportunities at UNH that are relevant to their UNH experience and life passions.” Through the Phonathon 70 percent of UNH alumni supporters give back. “The conversations our students have with our alumni are an invaluable communication tool,” said Neary. “What better way to connect alumni with UNH than through a conversation with a current student?”
Gender neutral housing room selection is much different from “regular” room selection. Groups going for gender neutral housing will not be able to use the lottery system; instead, Res Life places the groups in rooms themselves. They do this to level the playing field—this way, not one group of people has the upper hand. Although those who are choosing to live in gender neutral rooms are bypassing the lottery system, they don’t get to choose the room they want, something that same-sex groups get to do during their room selection. Rather, it is left up to Veronneau in the Residential Life Office. Veronneau and Hardej place the group based off what they need to make them most comfortable; for instance, if a group composed of three guys and one girl applies for gender neutral housing, Res Life might place the group in a room in Sheffield that has a single and a triple if the girl feels most comfortable with her own room. They also do this to spread the groups out around campus. Both Res Life and PRIDE don’t want to create one part of campus that is known as the gender neutral portion in order to reduce the opportunities for bullying because the housing is primarily designed for See GENDER page 2
ROTC in the media spotlight By SAMANTHA SALVIO AND FRANCESCA FONTANEZ
STAFF WRITERS CHARGERBULLETIN@NEWHAVEN.EDU
–––––––––––––––––––––––––– There are over 1,000,000 Americans who serve as members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and of those, over 200,000 are Officers. The University of New Haven’s ROTC program is proactively serving as a center to train young adults to eventually join the Officer ranks after their graduation. The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a leadership program here at the University of New Haven. Through physical training, field training exercises, leadership labs and more, the cadets are faced with many challenges. Each cadet is expected to learn how to be a leader, encourage and motivate their peers, and eventually organize missions as an Officer within the United States Army. Each Friday, the company is presented with new lessons via labs, which are relevant to their training. On Feb. 6, a presentation was given by Associate Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Dean Golembeski, and Director of Media Relations, Karen Grava, on how to properly carry out an interview with media reporters. After their presentations, the instructors then conducted mock interviews, so the cadets could experience first-hand what they had just learned. In order to gain more experience with being on the “hot seat,” the Charger Bulletin was asked to interview a few select cadets See ROTC page 2
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Five Day Campus Forecast
Thursday
Wednesday
Feb. 11 Mostly Sunny High of 29° Low of 14° CHANCE OF RAIN: 0%
Feb. 12 Snow High of 33° Low of 16° CHANCE OF SNOW: 90%
Friday
Saturday
Feb. 13 Mostly Sunny High of 17° Low of 3° CHANCE OF SNOW: 20%
Feb. 14 PM Snow Showers High of 20° Low of 5° CHANCE OF SNOW: 40%
Tree Turbine sculpture By KAITLIN MAHAR COPY EDITOR KMAHA1@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
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pon their return to the University of New Haven for the 2015 spring semester, some students may have noticed a new addition to the copious amounts of beautiful trees and shrubbery. However, as the saying goes, one of these things is not like the other. The new “tree” and its accompanying rock are actually an art piece by UNH’s own faculty member Joe Smolinski. Aptly named “Tree Turbine,” Smolinski, who works in the University’s Art and Design department, designed the piece back in 2007, and it was last seen at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) back in 2008 in an exhibit called “Badlands: New Horizons in Landscape,” for which the tree was commissioned. In an interview with a representative from Mixed Greens Gallery in New York, NY, which, along with the University, supported Smolinski in his creation of “Tree Turbine,” Smolinski said: “Trees continue to permeate my work not only through their religious, political and personal histories, but also as means to question technology and the future of the natural world.” Back in December, Laura Marsh, the director of the Seton Gallery, UNH’s oncampus art gallery, and an instructor in the Art and Design Department, sent an email out to the campus
community explaining the function of “Tree Turbine” and giving some background to its creation by Smolinski. In her email, Marsh said: “Smolinski’s work stems from an interest in the nowubiquitous fake trees used to camouflage roadside cell phone towers... Tree Turbine... imagines redesigned wind turbines that finally overcome the aesthetic argument against them as a clean energy source.” After reading an article in the New York Times about wind power in New England, Smolinski began to research wind power as an alternative energy resource, thus inspiring his project. After noticing that the primary complaint regarding wind power was that the wind turbines were not aesthetically pleasing, Smolinski decided to create a turbine that was inspired by the design of old cell phone towers that were shaped like trees. With the help of the Tagliatela College of Engineering, Smolinski created an animated concept video detailing the expectations of the project’s outcome and began working on the project in 2007. Various professors and students in both the Tagliatela College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences assisted Smolinski in the design and assembly of “Tree Turbine,” which opened in May 2008. While there are many other works of art featured on campus, this is the University’s first kinetic sculpture. Powered solely by electricity generated from wind power, the tree, which can be found in between Celentano and Botwinik Halls, spins and lights up, with the help of its rock generator. While the “greenness” of
“Tree Turbine” (pun intended) is obvious, it has garnered mixed reviews from students. Many students, while initially confused by the sculpture’s sudden appearance on campus, appreciate its intended statement and aesthetic. “I personally love it,” says junior Sami Higgins, 20. “I think UNH is constantly going above and beyond to stand out and give students and staff the opportunities to showcase their talents and their work and this is a perfect example of that. ‘Tree Turbine’ shows off the talent of one of UNH’s faculty, and it serves a greater purpose by being able to generate enough electricity to light itself.” Some students, like Mary Perucci, 19, have strong opinions on Tree Turbine and its installation at UNH. “I think the school could have used the money for something the school needed more than [installing] a wind turbine that doesn’t even produce enough energy to do much of anything,” says Perucci. Others are less offended by the sculpture. “I don’t think that it’s terrible,” says Celentano Hall resident Michael Quick, 21. “It’s just not very pleasing to look at and I don’t really understand the point of the installation, but it doesn’t make me furious every time I walk past it.” Regardless, “Tree Turbine” is here to stay, at least for the time being. For more information on the sculpture or Smolinski’s process, feel free to visit http://www. treeturbine.blogspot.com/. Joe Smolinski and Laura Marsh were contacted and could not be reached for comment in time for the publication of this article.
Sunday
Feb. 15 AM Clouds/ PM Sun/Wind High of 10° Low of 0° CHANCE OF SNOW: 10%
ROTC in the media spotlight
UNH ROTC students (A UNH Photo) con’t from page 1
(mainly the Sophomore Cadets, MSIIs) about their experience so far being in the ROTC program. When MSIII cadet Andrew Howell was interviewed, he was a little stiff in the beginning but his answers were commendable. It was apparent that he had kept the lessons he had just learned in his head and was using each one during the round of questions. Many of Howell’s answers were short, sweet and to the point, although there was some desire from the interviewer for him to delve more into his personality. Despite his cold tone, when asked how he would persuade a potentially interested student to join the ROTC program, his answer did not lack sincerity. “Although ROTC may be a lot of hard work, the rewards that you reap from this program far surpasses all the difficulties,” he said. The interviewers asked generic questions about the lessons they received in regards to the media and the public view. As one interviewee answered, senior cadets would
observe the simulation, in order to give the interviewee feedback on the quality of their answers. Many praises revolved around being able to take a breather to collect their thoughts and then provide an answer to a question or conveying their answers with genuinely. On the flip side, many cadets were called out for using fillers, such as “like” or “ummmmm,” and conveying their answers to be forced. Through this process, the level of concern from their senior cadets was shown through a balance of praise and constructive criticisms. Multiple cadets expressed during their interviews that the lab had been extremely beneficial to their overall preparation in regards to media presence, and appropriately responded to each question in a professional and meaningful fashion. After a few interviews, some senior members, known as MSIVs, expressed to the group to be aware of the balance between cadet and civilian. They added the importance of being personable, yet professional when being interviewed by the
media. Though the cadre had some critiques, one could infer that the company, as a whole, had grasped many new concepts, and applied them with ease when put to the test. Captain Ritchie challenged the interviewers to “dig deep and get the juicy details” from the cadets, but even through multiple attempts, the cadets kept their composure and deflected any uncomfortable questions well. After some the initial jitters had passed and the cadets became more comfortable with the situation, some MSIVs requested that the interviewers again throw in “curve-ball questions.” When an unsuspecting MSI was asked how she suggested “Congress handle the wealth gap in America,” she took a moment to process the question, and replied that she was not qualified to answer that type of question confidently and respectfully. Through this experience, it was nice to gain more knowledge about the ROTC programs here on campus and moreover, the students that participate in it.
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Gender Neutral Housing Approved con’t from page 1
students in the LGBT community. “This way, no one gets targeted,” Crow said. Gender neutral is not yet designed for freshmen, but if they want to participate in it, they can contact the Res Life office over the summer to express their want for housing. The office would then make the exception to make the student comfortable. “Because that’s really what our job is,” Crow said. “To give students a comfortable living space.” Student reactions Students are supportive
of the change, and few students had requested gender neutral in the past, only to have been turned down. “I had actually asked Res Life if I would be able to room with some of my guy friends if the girls and guys were in separate rooms but in the same suite, and they said no,” said Danielle Sumoski, a senior graphic design major. “Especially in a college lifestyle, it would have been great to have this opportunity to room with some of my friends I am comfortable with on campus.” Sumoski said it would have been nice to have this
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opportunity available to her while she had been selecting rooms in the past. “It is great to have this option to make others comfortable with who they live with,” she added. In the future, Res Life would like to move away from the application process and integrate gender neutral housing options with the rest of room selection. Gender neutral housing forms can be found on the Room Selection Process webpage in a blue sidebar on the right hand side of the screen. Applications are due by Monday, March 2 by 4:30 p.m.
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Valentines To Everyone, Who cares if you’re single? Have fun & love yourself!
You make me forget about my student loans - Anonymous
Nathalie, Happy Valentines Day! I love you so much! Thank you for loving me as much as I love you. I can’t wait to spend many many more with you. - Love, David
Happy V-Day to the best vice president of the Black Student Union! -Love your favorite President
Dear Staff, Thank you for all your hard work! - Your Editor-in-Chief & Assistant Editor It might be cold outside, but it’s warm in my heart. Happy Valentines Day to everyone! - Melissa Scott
To my SCOPE E-Board, Thank you for all your hard work this year, you are all my Valentines. Love, Derek Watson
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Every kiss does not begin with K
By COURTNEY BROOKS
OPINION EDITOR CBROO4@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
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If there is one thing men have been falsely led to believe their entire lives, it’s that every kiss begins with “K.” With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, that little jingle put out by Kay Jewelers is more prevalent than ever, but it’s a lie. No kiss ever begins with K. Matter of fact, if your girlfriend is texting you the one word “K.” you are not about to get a kiss, you are about to get an earful because she IS pissed and she wants you to know it. Despite what these jewelry stores want you to believe,
your girlfriend really doesn’t want that cliché heart necklace that every other girl is going to get. Sure, it’s cute. But it shows you put absolutely no thought into her gift, you just went with the easiest option. Thankfully, fellas, you have me, and I’m about to let you in on the secret of what us girls really do want this Valentine’s Day. If you’re looking for something that is relatively low maintenance and low cost, a cute picture of the two of you in a frame is sure to make your girl melt. Girls don’t really care about how much their gift costs; instead we care about how much effort you put into it. You know your girlfriend is always snapping cute selfies of the two of you, and you know each time she does you give her the annoyed eye roll, because a lovey dovey selfie is SO not masculine. This Valentine’s Day, show her that you’re willing to sacrifice a little bit of your manhood and secretly snap a selfie of her sleeping on your chest, put it in a frame, and she’ll gush over what a sweet,
thoughtful guy you are! Another option that is relatively easy and is gaining popularity is Wicked Good Cupcakes. Every girl, no matter how dedicated to their “fit fam” they are, love a good sweet once in a while, and Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion for that. Wicked Good Cupcakes is a website in which you can create your own flavor of cupcake and then send it to a loved one in a cute jar with a cute little message. They come in packages of two, four, or six and they have Valentine’s Day specials under $15.00. You can’t beat it! For those of you who aren’t ballin’ on a budget and have a little more extra cash to spend, make your girlfriend a build-a-bear. It sounds extremely cheesy because let’s face it, it is, but any girl would LOVE it! Just knowing that you were willing to go to a store and be seen in public making a teddy bear shows how far you would go to make her happy. You can even record your voice and put inside the bear, so no matter how far away you
guys are from each other, she’ll always have a little piece of you near. This is one of those things that your guy friends are sure to make fun of you for, but your girlfriend will love you forever. Finally, if you’re dating someone who just hates Valentine’s Day all together-someone like me--you don’t need to make a big deal about the holiday. But when she says she doesn’t want to do anything, IT IS A LIE. She definitely does want to do something, she is just too stubborn to admit it. For these girls, a perfect Valentine’s gift is something as simple as you cooking them dinner and renting a movie to watch. Just a little something to show you were thinking about her a little more on this day is more than enough. Well, there you have it guys, the key to a perfect Valentine’s Day. Whatever way you decide to go, I’m sure your girlfriend will be appreciative. Just remember that every kiss does not begin with K.
The silver lining of unpaid internships By COURTNEY BROOKS
OPINION EDITOR CBROO4@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
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While in class this week, a guest speaker from a major company came to give a talk about his experiences in his field and advice for graduating students on how to land a first job. At the end of his speech, he kindly added that his company would be looking for summer interns soon and preceded to give us all his personal email, should we be interested. I thought this was a great opportunity and right away I was grateful that this stranger was willing to help all of us. To my surprise, another student in the class raised her hand and said, rather rudely, that if the
internship wasn’t paid, she wasn’t interested because, to graduating students, “the money matters.” My mouth fell open. I was shocked by this blunt, arrogant comment, made by someone with absolutely NO experience. All that was needed was a simple “Thank you for your time,” not such a rude, unappreciative comment. I left that class feeling rather annoyed. She had opened her mouth and said something that made all of us, as a class, look bad. And I began thinking about how many times I have heard students complain about the internship requirement to graduate and how they are usually unpaid. Unpaid internships are not ideal. Let’s be honest—who really wants to spend long hours putting in work for someone else and receive
no monetary encouragement in return? But what many students fail to realize is that these internships are taking a chance on us and instead of complaining about them, we should be grateful. In the world of successful jobs, no one wants to hire someone without experience and no one can get experience without being hired. That’s where internships come in. They give you hands on experience and teach you things about your field that could never be learned in the classroom. They spend their valuable time giving you the experience you need so that when you do go on a job interview, you have more to put on your resume then a list of clubs and athletics from college. Instead of a paycheck, your internship is investing their time into securing you
a successful future and I think it is wrong for so many of us students to take that for granted. When you really put things in perspective, one semester of “free labor” isn’t going to kill you. Money might be a little tight for a few months, but it is ONLY a few months. It will be worth it when receive your first job opportunity because you had more experience than your competitors. Everyone has to start somewhere and everyone has to put his or her time in. So if you are anything like this rude girl that is in my class and you share the same negative outlook on unpaid internships, I suggest you change pretty quickly. Complaining and having an attitude isn’t going to bring you success, but hard work will!
the look of a jerk. The way he walks with his head held high like he doesn’t see anyone beneath him. The way he surrounds himself with a group of friends at all times who never hesitate to laugh at his jokes, no matter how stupid they may be. The one who can get a girl with one measly look. Oh, you know he’s a grade A jerk, and one you’d never want to get to know. You’ve spent your time avoiding him, never making eye contact, ducking your head any time you see him. That is, until one day. One day, he catches your eye, an attempt to pursue you. Your heart drops into your stomach in fear when you realize what’s happening. He’s made you his next victim. He’s ready to break your heart. You fight tirelessly day and night, avoiding think-
ing of him, of his kind words, of those eyes, of that smile. Oh, that smile could break your heart alone. You stop to remind yourself who he is. He’s that stereotypical guy that everyone knows; involved in sports and Greek life and every other social event he can get into. He’s not even remotely close to your type. Although, maybe it’d be nice to try something new… No, no. You know who this guy is. He breaks hearts for a living. If being a jerk were an extracurricular, he’d have 20 plus years of experience for his resume. But you lie in bed at night, staring at your phone, and a single strand of hope pings inside of you, hoping that he will text you or message you or contact you in some way. He does. You’re flooded with relief
and regret. He sure knows how to make a girl feel special. You know you’re in trouble now. You promise yourself not to fall for him. There is no way you could be stupid enough to fall into his trap. He gets pleasure out of breaking girls’ hearts, girls just like you. He continues to pursue you, and let’s be honest; you’re almost flattered that he thinks you’re special enough to pay attention to. So you let him try to win you over. Eventually, that wall you built so high and strong begins to crumble beneath his sweet sentiments and genuine compliments. To your surprise, he might not be as big of a jerk as you’ve pegged him to be. Maybe he’s that misunderstood type; the guy who makes himself
Why you shouldn’t vaccinate your kids In the wake of the current controversy surrounding vaccinating children, Kaitlin Mahar provides a satirical opinion to shed light on misleading information.
By KAITLIN MAHAR COPY EDITOR KMAHA1@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
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accines do nothing but put today’s youth in danger, yet many fail to realize the true threat the immunization process poses. Here are just some of the life-threatening potential side effects of getting vaccinated, which will inevitably change the minds of the selfish and ignorant people who truly believe that vaccination is the way: • Vaccines cause autism. This one’s pretty obvious. Even though the study proving that vaccines cause autism has been disproven, some kids with autism also have been vaccinated. Furthermore, noted scientist and intellectual Jenny McCarthy says autism is caused by vaccines, so it must be true. • Kids deserve to make their own choices. I mean, that’s self-explanatory. Even if you won’t let your kids choose to substitute their vegetables for candy at dinner, they should still be allowed to choose whether or not they want to be immunized from a bunch of “deadly diseases” (more on that later). If they die in
In defense of “The Jerk”
By CAITLIN DUNCAN
STAFF WRITER CDUNC1@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
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You know him; you know exactly who he is. He sits across the room, looking careless and cool. He oozes overconfidence and reeks of arrogance. He looks your way and grins. You look away in annoyance and disgust. He’s not at all your type; he’s a jerk. You don’t even need to know him to tell. He has
seem all tough. Perhaps this whole thing is an act to protect himself. He intrigues you. You want to know more. You’re desperate to see who he really is. You talk to him until the sun nearly rises in the morning sky. Slowly, but surely, he begins opening up to you. He tells you his hopes, his dreams, his fears. You tell him about your past. He teaches you things you’ve never known before, always being patient and kind. You’ve fallen for him, for that heart of gold hidden under the rock hard exterior he hides beneath. He is not a jerk, not at all. He is human. He’s been hurt many of times. He doesn’t mean to hurt anyone else, but in the vicious cycle of lust and love, sometimes it happens. He feels pain, remorse, and
What was your reaction? Let the opinion writers know!
the process, eh, so be it. If it worked out in the Dark Ages, when kids lived until the age of two, then it will work out now. Plus, you can always just get another one. • Vaccines may even turn kids gay. That’s right - studies show that nearly every single person who identifies as homosexual and transsexual has been vaccinated. Coincidence? I think not. And the only thing worse than having a kid who is disabled because of getting vaccinated is having a kid who is gay because of the getting vaccinated. • There is nothing to vaccinate against. You heard me. Nothing. Diseases like the measles and chicken pox were just invented by the government in an effort to keep us under their thumb and explain the “deaths,” AKA disappearances, of people who have been recruited in the government’s underground army of brainwashed assassins. Vaccinations don’t even protect us against anything - they’re actually just microchips that the government has inserted into our skin so it can keep track of our every thought and move. It is pertinent that more people be made aware of these issues and urged not to vaccinate their children. Be sure to share this information with everyone you know, and the effort to take vaccinating off the table for good may just prosper. If we lose a couple of kids along the way, it’s alright the government was going to get them anyway.
most of all, he feels love. You realize how wrong you’ve had it from the start. You’re finally able to see past his act. He is an incredible guy who’s had it tough. You know how lucky you’d be to have him, but he’s scared. Underneath this tough guy act, he is still a scared little boy, afraid of getting his heart broken again. You think back to before you knew who he was, before he knew you even existed. Maybe next time you’ll be more careful before determining if a guy is a jerk. Because who knows? Maybe he could be the best thing that’s happened to you.
February 11, 2015
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Fun, Games, & More
Page 5
www.ChargerBulletin.com | www.Twitter.com/ChargerBulletin | Text us! 270.UNH.NEWS (864.6397) Across: 1. Brother of Raul and Juanita 6. Purple candle scent 11. Poetic time reference 14. Tequila source 15. Month in Madrid 16. Sprinkling on French fries? 17. Uses as a reference 18. Many pets 19. For example 20. Calendar entry 21. Kyrgyzstan city 22. Construction beams 24. Julia’s “Ocean’s Twelve” role 25. Legend of the links 27. Old __, Connecticut 28. “They went __ in a Sieve, they did”: Lear 30. Logan of “60 Minutes” 32. Words in a dish 34. Relinquish 36. Jazz double bassist Charlie
Crossword Clues
40. Web concerns ... and based on six familiar names hidden in rows 1, 4, 12 and 15. of this puzzle grid, what the black squares in those rows symbolize 43. West Texas city 44. Approaching 45. Tiny complaint 46. Uno y dos y tres 48. Migratory birds 50. Oaf 53. Some Staples employees 55. Bear whose bed was too hard 58. Source of much Indian tea 60. Sky light? 61. Pumpkin, e.g. 62. Moo __ pork 63. Graduated series 65. 10th-century Holy Roman emperor 66. Mountain end 67. Increases, with “up”
68. “It Wasn’t All Velvet” memoirist 69. Diddy ditty 70. Arraignment answers 71. “That’s all __, dude”: “Not my fault” Down: 1. Aspect 2. “Just tell me” 3. Librarian’s device 4. Nevertheless 5. Out of concern that 6. Summer quaff 7. Taken 8. More than harmful 9. Works on walls 10. Mozart’s “__ fan tutte” 11. David Sedaris work 12. Lack faith in a truce, maybe 13. “Family Ties” mother 23. Space on a form 25. “I want results!” 26. Lawsuit goal 29. “__ Me While I Kiss This Guy”: book of mis-
heard lyrics 31. Loaded, in Limoges 32. Big club 33. Cyberchuckle 35. Predatory bird 37. Singer and longtime owner of baseball’s Angels 38. Sch. 30 miles south of Providence 39. Bygone boomer 41. Elbows to nibble 42. Royal title 47. Bagel choice 49. Perfect 50. __ tag 51. “Ulysses” actor Milo 52. Take by force 54. Apology ending 56. Teaser 57. Parting mot 59. Dealership amt. 61. Attend 64. Western st.
Last week’s answers!
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300 Boston Post Road | West Haven, CT 06516 ChargerBulletin@newhaven.edu | www.ChargerBulletin.com www.twitter.com/ChargerBulletin | www.facebook.com/ChargerBulletin office: 203.932.7182 | text: 270.864.6397 Our office is located on the thrid floor of Bartels Hall, in the Office of Student Activities Editor-in-Chief Samantha Mathewson Assistant Editor Elissa Sanci Staff Writers Ileana Alvarez-Diaz, Ashley Arminio, Ben Atwater, Courtney Brooks, Katelyn Clark, Caitlin Duncan, Miriam Correia, Jennifer Harrington, Taylor Hauck, Samantha Higgins, Kayla Katt, Shannon Livewell, Alyssa MacKinnon, Kaitlin Mahar, Leah Myers, Steven Mahoney, Gabriella Nowicki, Glenn Rohrbacker, Dylan Rupprecht, Samantha Salvio, Elyse Von Der Fecht, Ashley Winward Copyeditors Alessia Bicknese, Miriam Correia, and Kaitlin Mahar Entertainment-Music Editor Ashley Winward Entertainment-Film Editor Ben Atwater Features Editor Alexandra Halfinger Opinion Editor Courtney Brooks Photo Editors Erica Naugle and Nicholas McDermott Advertising/Marketing Manager Ben Atwater
* The Charger Bulletin staff strives for excellence and accuracy in writing and reporting. We recognize that mistakes may occur and encourage readers to notify the Bulletin if they feel a correction is necessary. Please email the Editor-in-Chief at chargerbulletin@newhaven.edu.
Since 1938, The Charger Bulletin has been the official student newspaper of the University of New Haven. Advertising The Charger Bulletin accepts advertising from outside sources. Ad rate sheets are available upon request or by calling 203.932.7182 or via email at ChargerBulletin@ newhaven.edu. Advertisements must be either submitted on CD by mail, fax, or inperson, 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 advertise human research. The Charger Bulletin reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. Advertisements within The Charger Bulletin are inserted 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. For the most up-to-date information. visit www.ChargerBulletin.com/advertise/. Letters to the Editor The Charger Bulletin welcomes letters to the editor. Letters can be sent via email to ChargerBulletin@newhaven.edu or online at www.ChargerBulletin.com. 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 staff. The Charger Bulletin has the right to refuse to print any letter or submission. Final decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief. 2nd Place - ASPA Annual Contest/Review for Scholastic Yearbooks, Magazines and Newspapers 3rd Place - ACES National Headline Contest, 2012
February 11, 2015
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Campus charge
+Everything you need to know about USGA, campus events and Charger athletics+
Treasurer’s Tip
President’s Corner
Budgeting Basics
Chargers,
RSOs: as we move further into this semester, this means that the Yearly Budget Process is quickly approaching! Here’s a couple of tips that can help when preparing for the Yearly Budget Process.
With the snowfall continuing, I hope you all stay safe and I encourage you all to read your emails about snowfall removal and potential University closures.
First off the easiest thing you can do when looking ahead is to track what you have spent so far this year. I understand of your budgets for the spring semester haven’t been utilized, however, getting an idea of what you have spent or plan to spend will give you a better understanding of what you may want to budget for next year.
I would like to thank Dr. Juline Mills and her Capstone two class for putting on a wonderful benefit dinner for End Hunger Connecticut. Remember USGA meetings are on Fridays at 12:30 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge. I encourage you all to attend as important discussion will be going on this semester.
Next—pay attention to deadlines! There are a number of deadlines associated with the Yearly Budget Process so it very important that your RSO plays close attention to all information that is sent out. The third is to attend the Yearly Budget training session that will be taking place later this semester. As always, if your RSO has any questions at all about USGA Finances, feel free to shoot me an email or come see me during my office hours! John Foti USGA Treasurer
Stay warm, Richard Rotella USGA President Putting you in USGA!
Any USGA related questions? Feel free to contact USGApresident@newhaven.edu or USGATreasurer@newhaven.edu
This Week in Sports
Men’s Track & Field
Women’s Track & Field 2.13.15 | TBA
Women’s Basketball 2.14.15 | 1:30 p.m.
Men’s Basketball 2.14.15 | 3:30 p.m.
Women’s Basketball 2.18.15 | 5:30 p.m.
BU Valentine Invitational Boston, Mass.
BU Valentine Invitational Boston, Mass.
VS. Pace West Haven, Conn.
VS. Pace West Haven, Conn.
American International Springfield, Mass.
Women’s Basketball VS. Saint Rose Win 79-76 (OT)
Men’s Basketball VS. Saint Rose Loss 36-47
2.13.15 | TBA
Last Week’s Stats:
Softball VS. California Baptist Loss 2-7
Softball VS. California Baptist Loss 6-12
Scope it Out! Photo of the Week This Week’s Events: Friday February 13 Edible chocolate Photos will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Bartel’s Programming Space. The Movie “Fury” will be at 8pm in Gehring Hall 301. Popcorn will be served at the showing.
Sunday February 15 Laser Quest trip will be from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Newington, Conn. Sign- ups will be on Charger Connection in the week leading up to the event.
Monday February 16 February Beanhouse will be from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in the Bartels Programming Space. To kick off Film Week we will be showing “The Hunger Games” at 8 p.m. in the Bartels Cafe. There will be free food at this showing.
Tuesday February 17 Make your own Mardi Gras Masks and Photobooth will be from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Bartels Programming Space.
“Calm Before the Storm” By Christina Zheng, Junior Taken at Landfall Park, Long Bay in the Bahamas on Jan. 9, 2015
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February 11, 2015
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New Life for New Haven’s Palace Theater By SHANNON LIVEWELL
By ASHLEY WINWARD
STAFF WRITER SLIVEWELL@ME.COM
MUSIC EDITOR AWINW1@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
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T
he city of New Haven is known for its college towns and eclectic eateries. From the beginning, they have embraced the many cultures that make up their corner of the world – and the music that speaks for each of them. The Palace and Roger Sherman Theater has stood its ground in New Haven for eighty-nine years and has aided in supporting the arts from the first moment the curtain rose. For the past twelve years however, the theater and the history that it holds for the city has been kept in the dark behind closed doors and a letter-less marquee. But with recent announcements made at a press conference held by city officials including Mayor Toni N. Harp and Economic Development Administrator Matthew Nemerson, the community was notified about the rebirth of the classic Palace Theater. Mayor Harp made it clear
Taking 2015 to New Heights
College St. Music Hall is located in New Haven, Conn. (Photo provided by Premier Concerts) that the refurbishing of the theater is not only to fortify the expression of the arts in New Haven, but also to revitalize a piece of history that once held so much promise. The new hall, which will reopen as College Street Music Hall in Spring 2015, is located across the street from the city’s Shubert Theater and will have the capacity to seat between 600 to 2,000 hopeful audience members. The new venue will house balcony seating as well as standing room capabilities for the kind of concerts that keep you on your feet. President of Premier Concerts Keith Mahler will
be providing managerial and financial support to the nonprofit New Haven Center for the Performing Arts, who are leading the efforts to give new life to the old theater. Mahler stated that Premier Concerts will be working to book acts for the new music space. He is also connected to promotion at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, Conn., and is no stranger to the business of booking and its demands. The newly renovated facility is hoped to attract prominent music acts to the New Haven area. Built in 1926 originally known as The Roger Sherman, named after the early
American lawyer, politician, and one of the founding fathers of the United States, the theater was adorned in ornate carvings and luminous lighting. When the year 1984 rolled around (no pun related to the Orwell novel), the name and the bookings changed. Known as the Palace Theater, the newly adapted music venue brought talent to Connecticut such as B.B. King, Lou Reed, Peter Frampton, The Dave Matthews Band and Bob Dylan; in the early 2000s the stage lights were turned off, and the historic site sat dormant until now.
Interview with The Rocketboys
The Rocketboys left for tour Jan. 21 (Photo obtained via Facebook) By ELYSE VON DER FECHT people feel alive. It certainly was a cool one. The Rocketboys: I was STAFF WRITER watching the movie October inspires us! I think for a lot E: How did the name Left EVOND1@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU of musicians, there isn’t Sky. At one point a newspa| Right for your latest EP get _____________________ per came up on screen with really a clear answer as to chosen? the headline “Homer Hickam why you do what you do. It’s TRB: It comes from the just something you have to and his Rocket Boys…” song “Loud and Clear.” The and I thought to myself do. You write songs because lyrics say “keep your head The Rocketboys’ sound that would be a great band you need to write them, not down/I won’t look left/I reflects the Texas landscape name. When we played our because you think anybody won’t look right.” from which they hail: vast, first show, the venue asked needs to hear them. E: What is your overall yet sparse, desolate, yet rich for one, so we said Homer E: From previous shows message of your EP? and abundant. Often eschew- Hiccolm and The Rocketyou played, which was your TRB: We just want to ing familiar lyrical themes of boys. After a while too many ultimate favorite to play? write songs about real life; romance and love for songs people kept asking which TRB: It’s hard to pick whether it be trying to find of brotherhood, family, life, one of us was Homer, so a favorite. We’ve had the your own voice, working and death, The Rocketboys’ we decided to shorten it to opportunity to play a lot of hard or looking past the dark catalog chronicles the band’s simply The Rocketboys. great venues, a lot of great present into a brighter future. journey throughout its oftenE: What made you guys festivals and share the stage E: When you guys have tumultuous existence. want to be in a band? with some of the most tala night off from a show, do Elyse: How did you guys TRB: The great thing ented people I’ve ever met. you get to explore the state come up with the band name about music is that it has the Getting to play the Austin “The Rocketboys”? See ROCKETBOYS page 8 power to inspire and to make City Limits Music Festival
It may been a while since you’ve thought about the band that exclaimed “Ohio is for Lovers” or blasted “Nikki FM” from your stereo. You were probably in middle school going through one of “those phases” our parents wished we would grow out of sooner rather than later. While some simply regard Hawthorne Heights as their “emo guilty pleasure” those who have stuck by the guys know that the evolution this band has made since The Silence in Black and White absolutely shatters any preconceived notions you may have from the last time you heard from them. I got the chance to chat with Matt Ridenour, bassist as well as backing vocals, and learned that Hawthorne Heights has plenty more up its sleeve in the coming year. Probably the craziest thing about this year is simply how much they’re planning on accomplishing, starting with three touring runs now through May. They just finished a run on Motion City Soundtrack’s Commit This to Memory ten year tour, are continuing their own ten year tour for The Silence in Black and White and going on an acoustic Stripped Down to the Bone tour. “Those are going to be two completely different shows,” Ridenour explained. “For the acoustic tour, we’re gonna be playing a lot of songs we don’t generally play, or maybe don’t work very well in electric. We’re going to be playing a lot of things people might not expect. Then The Silence in Black and White tour we’ll obviously be playing the album straight through with some songs people want to hear at the end.” The Silence of Black and White has turned ten, their debut album that has been so iconic in their history. When asked about how these track have evolved for the band over the years, Ridenour says it’s not so much the songs as the road from there to now. “I think the coolest thing for me that has changed over time was when we wrote that, I don’t want to say we had no idea what we were doing, but close to no idea what we were doing. We had like three or four songs when we got a record deal and then obviously they booked us studio time and said ‘Okay you need to have 11 songs done for us by this date’ and we were like okay we’re gonna do that! So we recorded, we wrote songs, in our guitar player’s mom’s basement and we hoped they were good enough….We never thought that ten years later anyone would care at all, we just wanted to go on
tour and see what would happen. From that aspect I think it’s really cool in this stage of my life to play these songs that people connect to and we had no idea any of it was gonna happen. It was all very natural and just writing songs we thought were cool and that was it. Not trying to write the next classic thing, we were just writing songs we thought were cool. It’s fun to play songs like that in 2015 where you can still remember your guitar player’s mom coming down and bringing you cookies when we were writing that. It’s just funny to think about.” Along with that the band is in the early stages of writing an EP, full length, a YouTube cover series and a Valentine’s Day extravaganza! “We have a new practice space, we just got it about a month ago. So we’ve been just going there and shooting ideas off of each other. We did some holiday stuff, like for Christmas we got on skype and played shows for fans. Afterwards we talked about how cool it was; in one day we played in Scotland, Germany, all over the US. We did one after the other, and it was just so cool how the internet allowed us to play so many places, from Scotland to Germany to Oklahoma, in one day. We were talking about how cool it was and how Valentine’s Day was coming up, we don’t have any shows for a little while, not until Early March. And it was just fun, the guy from Scotland had his girlfriend and their kid on with him. So we played a show for him and his girlfriend and this three year old who had no idea what was going on it was funny. So we thought it would be cool and funny to do that again for Valentine’s Day, turn the lights down low in our studio, have a candle burning, and kind of make a joke of Valentines. We wanted to present a gift that’s a lot more special than like, flowers that are going to die in a couple of days anyways that you’re gonna throw in the trash after. We’re gonna do a couple of our own songs and then one song, I want to say it’s funny, but it’s more cool, it’s kind of making fun of Valentine’s Day but I’m not gonna tell you what song it is. But it might be from the movie Top Gun.” If you’re interested in a personal concert for your sweetheart or a personalized Hawthorne Heights message and song, check out http:// hawthorneheightsstore.com/. Also get ready because The Silence in Black and White tour is coming to Hamden in May, tickets will be made available soon. I can’t wait to see these guys again because they are truly genuine people putting out genuinely good music. For more in this interview please check out our website or the Charger Bulletin app for the full story!
February 11, 2015
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Title Fight releases Hyperview
Title Fight’s new album Hyperview is available on iTunes (Photo obtained via Facebook) By ILEANA ALVAREZ-DIAZ
STAFF WRITER IALVA1@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
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I
had mixed feelings for Title Fight. Had. During high school, this
con’t from page 7
genuinely nice guitarist would share these music and or lyric videos—and some of these bands were great! One day, Title Fight’s “Flood of ’72” came up and it didn’t go so well. But hey, back then I was into no-so-great-will-not-benamed bands; and I may or may not have gone through
a few phases. Who hasn’t? Fast forward to a New Year and album, Hyperview, which is stunning. The four piece post-hardcore band from Pennsylvania truly deserves credit. Ten songs. Thirty-one minutes total. It’s definitely different from 2012’s Floral Green. Most of these songs are slow; giving off sleepy
vibes. Heavy distortion is no longer as present. It’s a noticeable, drastic change. However, that should not discourage you from checking out this album. Change is always good. The album opens up with “Murder Your Memory;” one would think this would be a very intense song. A minute in, you’re introduced to new, lush ideas that don’t make sense at first, but lyrically, it’s mesmerizing. It leaves you in a serene state. Following that is “Chlorine,” which was last year’s released single. It’s mellow. The melodies you have here cut through impressively. Old fans will enjoy “Mrahc,” and “Rose of Sharon,” as they pay tribute to past soundscapes. Not going to lie, I thought of Silent Hill for a quick second when I saw the names. Wonder if that was an influence? It’s a weird good movie and an even better song by Title Fight. That aggression from previous albums pays a short visit here. A few songs in particular, “Your Pain Is Mine Now” and “Liar’s Love,” has me stumped. They’ll leave you in haze. These tracks hold solid songwriting and new sounds that recapture your senses. While this is a drastic change the band has ever attempted, you have to give them credit for their confidence in doing so. Some of the songs do sound similar on the album, but these heavenly dreamscapes are what people need these days. Sometimes change is good. Go check out this album—won’t take too long.
Interview with The Rocketboys
you’re in? TRB: Yeah, definitely. A lot of times the neighborhoods where venues tend to be all kind of start to look the same so it’s nice to see what else is around and what makes each city unique, like “Bobby’s Burger Palace” in Pennsylvania or “The Thing” in Arizona.
E: What is it like for you guys to get to travel the world and tour? TRB: There’s nothing better than driving around the country with your four best friends playing music. One of the best parts is getting to meet the people that support your band. We’ve gotten to know a lot of really great people over the years. E: What can we expect
from you guys in 2015? TRB: We just released the Left | Right EP on Black Magnetic Records and can’t wait to start playing these new songs for people. We started the “Left | Right Tour” on Jan. 21 in New Orleans then head up the East Coast for a bunch of dates. We have the SXSW Music Festival in March then more touring. The EP has been do-
ing really great overseas too so we hope to hit Europe and Asia before the end of the year. And we just had a song on Glee which was super exciting. Hopefully we’ll have even more opportunities like that as well. Make sure you keep your ears open for new music from these guys, they have true talent and a great sound.
Local gigs of the week Toad’s Place
Feb. 13: Cosmic Dust Bunnies with Relative Souls, The Mushroom Cloud and The SETI project Feb. 16: 20th Annual Amity Teen Center Benefit Concert
The Space
Feb. 12: The Bunny The Bear with Shane Slaughter, The Shape and Mystic Seahorse Feb. 13: Grawlix Feb. 15: Helen Highwater String Band: Bluegrass Supergroup
The Oakdale
Feb. 13: Breaking Benjamin
Cafe nine (21+)
Feb. 11: Kings & Queens of East Rock Feb. 12: Navi Singh with Rachael Sage Feb. 13: Albert Lee Band with Girls, Guns, and Glory
February 11, 2015 Page 9 www.ChargerBulletin.com | www.Twitter.com/ChargerBulletin | Text us! 270.UNH.NEWS (864.6397)
Pass on this one
By BEN ATWATER
Save for Netflix
SCOPE Movie Night
Five dollar Tuesdays
American Sniper hits its target
Worth full price!
FILM EDITOR BATWA1@.UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
Weekly roundup By BEN ATWATER
FILM EDITOR BATWA1@.UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
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N
o international conflict has shaped the geopolitical spectrum in the past fifteen years as much as the War on Terror. The subject of many films, such as Zero Dark Thirty and The Hurt Locker, Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper puts the Iraq War into beautifully rendered cinema once more. A biopic of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper, plays the titular role as a Texan cowboy who enlists in the military right before 9/11. Sent to Iraq, Kyle is tasked with providing overhead protection for Marines on the ground via sniper, taking out armed insurgents. The narrative has two main focuses. One of the focuses is Kyle’s tours in Iraq, where he is at war with the militant extremists. The other focus is Kyle’s life at home in the United States, where he struggles to decompress from intense battles overseas while trying to raise a family. After seeing the film in a packed IMAX theater, I can honestly say that American Sniper is one of the best films of 2014. Balancing action with real human drama, Eastwood has given cinema
Chris Pratt stars in Jurassic World (AP photo)
Bradley Cooper stars in American Sniper (AP photo) one of the most wholly American films to date. While Kyle is on tour, the weight of his kills are initially hard felt, as he must make the call whether kids on the street are playing or preparing to take out a Marine squad by suicide bombing. At first, Kyle’s kills are weighted heavily with the audience, with the narrative showing his internal dilemma as to whether or not to shoot. The direction is such that the viewer also has to debate whether or not Kyle’s targets are legitimate threats. Yet the more targets he takes out, the more desensitized he becomes to taking another human life, just as the viewer is desensitized to his deci-
sions to take out targets. All of these kills takes a toll on Kyle throughout the film, and in the stateside segments, he has trouble adapting to civilian life. The viewer is on that journey with him, as an engrossing forty five minute segment in Iraq where everyone is trying to kill the protagonists instantly transitions to a Sunday drive to the mall. This tonal shift is disconcerting, just as it is for Kyle. The political subtexts must be addressed as well. While the U.S. military’s cause for occupying Iraq was questionable. What is not questionable is that the country was in shambles long before America got involved. War
lords took what they wanted from people who did not have the power to defend themselves. Yet as proven in Somalia, U.S. intervention cannot always fix a broken system. It is unfortunate that it is so hard to help developing nations, as American aid is not always welcome, and often does more harm than good. Yet casting the Global South aside to their own devices does not fall in line with moral considerations either. This leads to the conclusion that situations where terror rules the land, such as Iraq, are lost causes. While this tangent does stem away from the topic of the article, it’s these complex questions that American
Sniper raises. Yet in the end, whether or not the Navy SEALS had any business in Iraq, Kyle saved countless lives, and the film does an excellent job portraying this. The action scenes felt like something out of Call of Duty, with established human attachments giving the action all the more weight. Like all movies based on true stories, American Sniper has been accused of embellishing the truth. Well, I’m no historian, so I can’t attest to the film’s accuracy, but as a movie lover, American Sniper is incredibly well directed and executed, and is absolutely worth full price and then some.
Birdman bears sharp talons heading into the Oscars By DYLAN RUPPRECHT
STAFF WRITER DRUPP1@.UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
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Since the release of the 2015 Oscar nominations, many film enthusiasts have shared their thoughts about the hottest movies on the list. Birdman, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, ties The Grand Budapest Hotel for securing the highest tally of nominations with nine apiece the likes of which include best directing, best acting (Michael Keaton for best actor and Edward Norton for best supporting actor) and, above all, best picture. And here’s why: Michael Keaton plays
Riggan Thomson, a hasbeen actor hoping to distance himself from the Birdman role that made him famous by directing and acting his own adaptation of a historical Broadway play. From the get go, the vicarious tone of the film is set with the assistance of a jazzy, drum-heavy score and a semi-manic conversation Thomson continues to have with his alter-birdman ego. All the while, the instability of character dynamics is interwoven into impressive seamless transitions that gives the appearance that the entire film is shot in one take; imagine taking the exhilarating spontaneity of a squirrel and subdue it inside a menagerie – that’s precisely what Alejandro González
Birdman has been nominated for multiple Oscars (AP photo)
Iñárritu has achieved in Birdman. As impressive as the smooth transitions are, it’s
the crafty performances that really make Birdman shine. The sparking chemistry between Emma Stone and Ed-
ward Norton, at times, could easily be the premise of a completely different movie; match that with Keaton’s portrayal of psychosis, and what you have is a convoluted sequence of suspense that leaves you guessing up to the final scenes! Still, with all of the savvy ingenuity that goes into the interface of the movie, Birdman feels hollow at times in terms of gripping emotional content. As impressive as the movie is as a whole, it seems to lack a strong emotional core on which other nominated films build their foundation. Ultimately, no other movie can do what Birdman has done, so it’s most definitely worth watching.
With the Super Bowl came a new slew of movie trailers. A new feature for Jurassic World debuted, with a lot of the same footage from the first trailer. Yet new scenes included Chris Pratt’s character training raptors, as well as an air attack by pterodactyls upon park visitors. This trailer further cements Jurassic World as one of the most anticipated movies of 2015. Jurassic World is set to come out June 12, 2015. The upcoming Disney film Tomorrowland also got a new TV spot. Based upon the theme park in Disneyworld, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tomorrowland stars George Clooney as the maker of an alternate universe, where wondrous scientific inventions soar above a futuristic city. Not much is known about the film beyond the basis, and the shroud of mystery around Tomorrowland makes this film all the more intriguing. Finally, while not released for the Super bowl but worth mentioning nonetheless, the first Fantastic Four trailer came out last week. After the previous two films based upon the Fantastic Four did not perform well critically or financially, many have been doubtful of this new project. Yet this trailer put many fears to rest. It seems to be that the characters gain their powers in an experiment gone wrong while trying to go to an alternate dimension. Giving off vibes of both Stargate and Interstellar, Fantastic Four certainly has put out a great first trailer.
February 11, 2015
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The
Positives + While having class on a Monday was inevitable – we can’t have snow forever – at least we’re getting eased into it with a delay instead of just a full day. + UNH had a huge turnout for Accepted Students Day on Sunday, which just goes to prove that not even huge piles of snow can keep (potential) freshmen away.
By Kaitlin Mahar
Negatives
Charger Battery
– In the words of Bill Lumbergh from Office Space, “If UNH could let us know whether or not we have class before 5:30 the morning of, that’d be great.” – What could be better than a delay the Monday after the Grammy’s? A snow day the Monday after the Grammy’s. (Or just a snow day for the third Monday in a row. Is that too much to ask?)
The Battery Charge
Valentine’s Day is this Saturday (just in case you forgot), and whether you’re single or in a relationship, there’s plenty to do on campus. Check out the MIC show with Aaron West & The Roaring Twenties, Call It Arson, Everything Ever and The View From Up Here with your S/O or your friends. Embarrass your best friend in public by sending them a Sweetheart Serenade, courtesy of Fully Charged. Send everyone you know a Condom Gram so that you and your friends don’t end up graduating Magna Cum Children. The possibilities are endless.
Recipe of the Week Spaghetti with Spicy Sausage Tomato Cream Sauce *Serves six generously* Cold winter nights are primed for bowls of hot carbohydrates. Few things are more simply satisfying than pasta with a hearty sauce, which is exactly what this dish is. With everything in hand, this meal costs just under $13.00 for everything you need, which means $2.17 per person if five of your pals come by. Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 25 minutes
Ask Melanie
Email unhaskmelanie@gmail.com, find her on Facebook at UNH Ask Melanie, or follow her Twitter @unhaskmelanie. Identities will always remain confidential! Dear Melanie,
I just started dating a girl here and I want to do something special for Valentine’s Day but I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to get her something too small but I also don’t want to be too over the top since this is still so new. Please help. Smitten Soph Hello Smitten! It’s great that you’ve found someone you like this much! You are more than likely overthinking this. Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a fun day to tell the people you care about, you care. You don’t have to propose marriage to the girl. Ask her out on a fun date, like indoor rock climbing, laser tag or go carting. If you want to be more low-key and have the resources, cook dinner at your place and invite her over for dinner and a movie. You can even go out for drinks with a bunch of both of your friends. Tools: 4 quart pot 2 quart pot Wooden spoon/rubber spatula Ingredients: I box spaghetti (can substitute GF brown rice spaghetti ,which works great with this recipe) 1 package spicy Italian Sausages (6 each), removed from their casings 1 28oz can of peeled and crushed tomatoes 1 onion, diced 1 medium clove garlic, minced ½ cup heavy cream 1 small handful of basic salt and pepper to taste Optional: Freshly grated Parmesan For the pasta: fill the 4 quart pot with water, cover, and set to high heat. Begin by heating the 2 qt pan/pot dry on high heat. Once the pot is hot enough (if you flick water on the bottom it will sizzle and pop) add the sausage. Let the sausage sit in the dry pan until it browns on its side. Use a wooden spoon to break it up and even out the cooking surface. The sausage contains enough fat that extra oil isn’t necessary. Once the sausage is almost cooked through, add the diced onion and stir. Bring the heat down to medium and add the garlic stirring frequently to avoid scorching. Add the whole can of tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cover the pot and let sit over low heat until the pasta is ready. By the time the sausage sauce is ready, the pasta water should be at a boil. At this point, add a good handful of salt to the pasta water (“as salty as the sea” is the old adage), bring back up to the boil, and add the pasta, stirring often to prevent sticking. Cooking time depends on the pasta, but a safe window is usually between 12 and 14 minutes, longer for gluten free. I usually check it after ten minutes of boiling while covered. The pasta is done when it has the tiniest bit of bite left to it. Drain the pasta and drizzle with a little oil to prevent sticking. At the last minute, add the cream and fresh basil to the sauce. The sauce can be ladled over the pasta, or mixed in and cooked for an additional couple of minutes on medium heat. The latter method allows the pasta to absorb a small amount of liquid and really gives it an immense flavor all throughout. Optional, but encouraged: Once plated, heap finely grated Parmesan over the finished pasta.
Present-wise, you can always stick with the usual favorites: chocolate, a teddy bear and a cute balloon. You can also get her something small that she might be interested in, like a book or a coffee tumbler or even a cute Alex & Ani bracelet. Just keep it simple—no need to complicate things for yourself. Xoxo,
Melanie
Poetry Corner Untitled For if I could be like anyone, I would like to be like you. For you are fair, loving and kind, And I’d like to be those too.
-M.M.J
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Postcards from Prato
One of the most beautiful places on Earth
UNH Tweets of the Week
By JESSICA SULLIVAN
STAFF WRITER JSULL4@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
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I
taly is one of the most beautiful places on earth; that’s pretty much all I was thinking as I looking out the plane window. We were greeted at the airport by the staff of the Prato campus. It was such a surreal experience. From the airport we were taken to our dorm rooms; my room is in the building next to the school. The school is in this cute building right next to a church. The building is set up kind of strange through so I know I’m going to get lost a few times. We are right in a square and only a few blocks away is the Duomo, which is the cathedral in Prato and you can get to pretty much anything from that square. The train is only a few blocks from there and then all the restaurants, shops and cafés are all around that square. I’m terrible with directions so I know it’s going to take me a while to get used to where everything is. The first few days the staff took us around Prato and we all had a really amazing fivecourse dinner. The food here is so much better
Jessica also makes a stop in Venice (Photo by Jessica Sullivan / Charger Bulletin Photo)
than I could have even imagined. The tough part though is figuring out what you’re ordering. A lot of the waiters know some English so they can translate it for you but sometimes, it’s a mix of Italian and English as they try to explain it and I usually only catch every other word. The good thing is you can’t ever really go wrong when ordering food though. During the orientation period, I went on a walking tour of some of the most famous places in Prato. It was really cool to learn about the history of the city; for instance, the patron saint
of Prato is Saint Steven and he is depicted in paintings and statues all over Prato. Also, the Duomo is famous for having the Virgin Mary’s belt. I found it all really interesting and the history surrounding Prato is so fascinating. I also got to go inside the castle in Prato. The castle was never finished but Mussolini and Hitler both visited the castle as it was being constructed. It’s so crazy to think they walked through the same halls we are now walking through. We also went to Florence for a day. We walked on the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. The
view of the river from there is so beautiful. The only shops on the bridge are jewelry shops and they sell mostly gold, so it’s known as the Bridge of Gold. We start class soon, which I was looking forward to but now that I’m here I would much rather it just be a vacation. I am really excited for what’s to come from these next few months, though. Tanti saluti da, Jess Sullivan
Simply Sam’s Style Business casual for her By SAMANTHA SALVIO
STAFF WRITER SSALV1@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
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College is the best place to take advantage of all the free resources on campus, including attending mock interviews by the Career Development Center which prepare you to follow any career aspirations after college. Amid RA processing, OL and TeamREC applications, and any other job interviews people may have off campus all going on this semester, here are my tips for the lovely ladies on my interpretation on business casual. The term “business casual” is surprisingly enough one of the most confusing styles I often get asked about. It may be hard to wrap your head around two polar opposite styles to
describe one. Many times I see women try to combine a little bit of both in their outfit: jeans and a blouse, but this is the wrong way to go about it. Another way to interpret business casual is the lazy side of business: you wake up in the morning and halfway through getting dressed you decide you don’t need a blazer and a blouse is more comfortable choice than a button-down. With this way of thinking here are three outfits for a business casual day: 1. Khakis: Khakis are slowly making a comeback in women’s fashion, probably because they look a little more clean-cut than jeans. With these as your bottom, pair a nice blouse that does NOT showcase the girls or a button down, whatever is more comfortable. Throw on a cable knit
sweater, a statement necklace and finish off with a pair of flats—comfortable and professionally presentable. 2. Dress: With this look, choose a more loose-fitting dress, not as rigid as most business dresses tend to be. Choose to highlight your outfit with accessories. Throw on a colored cardigan, a nice pair of earrings and a dainty necklace. Throw on some tights and tall boots and you’re good to go. 3. Long pants: This is the dressiest of the three, with long business pants as a base. I recommend heels if you are short like I am and if you’re tall, I still recommend them. Add a nice button down shirt and a cardigan is optional. My favorite part of this look is the nice long body line it creates, so try not to obstruct it with extra fabric.
Business casual dress with a colorful cardigan (Photo obtained via Pinterest)
Clery Campus Crime Log
*In accordance with the Federal law known as the Clery Act, the UNH Campus Police maintains a Crime Log, which contains information on alleged criminal incidents reported to the UNH Police. The following are matters of public record.
(1) Theft
Date: Feb. 4, 2015 Location: Sheffield Hall Time: 7:09 p.m.
(2) Suspicious Person Date: Feb. 5, 2015 Location: Maxcy Hall Time: 11:45 a.m.
(3) Drug Complaint Date: Feb. 5, 2015 Location: Botwinik Hall Time: 12:21 p.m.
(4) Code Violation
(6) Loud Music/Party
(5) Drug Complain
(7) Drug Complaint
Date: Feb. 6, 2015 Location: Dodds Hall Time: 6:01 p.m.
Date: Feb. 7, 2015 Location: Westside Hall Time: 1:21 a.m.
Date: Feb. 8, 2015 Location: Residence Time: 12:02 a.m. *Location not on map* Date: Feb. 8, 2015 Location: Bethel Hall Time: 2:06 a.m.