Volume 91, Issue 3 | February 9, 2011
the
Charger Bulletin The official student newspaper of the University of New Haven since 1938.
www.ChargerBulletin.com
Egyptians Protests Country Free From Mubarak
By LIZ DE LA TORRE STAFF WRITER
–––––––––––––––––––––––––– Imagine no internet access, no television news channels, no cell phone service, and the launch of a national curfew. Although this may seem a bit daunting, this is just a fragment of what Egypt is facing right now. Motivated by Tunisian protesters who called for more freedom by successfully driving out President Zine al-Abidine Ben-Ali, Egypt is looking to fix their country plagued by poverty, government corruption, police brutality, inequality, and human rights issues. Number one on their agenda is to oust President Hosni Mubarak who has served thirty years as dictator. Prior to media outlets being cut off, people had taken to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to express unity in expelling Mubarak from presidency. With communication of a revolution rampant, Mubarak ordered the obstruction of media in order to blindside rebels and civilians alike. Eight million protesters later in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, this mass anarchy became a pledge for freedom. But even with armed forces being sent to quell the uprisings, protesters insist on more than just Mubarak’s removal to meet their needs. They want democracy, a new legislative body, and an entire resurgence for a
nation that has been deprived of its liberties. University of California-Davis Professor Nora Radwan elaborates: “The Egyptians understand that there is no guarantee that Mubarak and his government can deliver any constitutional reform or any meaningful change in Egypt.” Since 1967 and following
former President Anwar Sadat’s death, Egypt has been in a “state of emergency” which has been aided by billions of dollars from the United States. However, according to the people of Egypt, the issue of jobs, healthcare, and food goes overlooked while Mubarak has lived luxuriously and operating on abuse of power. Criticized for manipulating elections, prohibiting political parties, swindling money, controlling the content and quantity of media coverage and information in Egypt, and imprisoning individuals without trials under the Emergency Law, it is no wonder Hosni Mubarak is the most hated man in Egypt. As of yet, Mubarak has refused to step down, even amid pleas from U.S. President Barack Obama, out of fear that
“Drive to 25” Campaign Challenges House Republicans
plan that will cost jobs and make America less competitive.” –––––––––––––––––––––––––– Dubbed the “Drive to 25” by DCCC chairman Rep. Steve The congressional battle has Isreal (N.Y.), the week-long begun again with House Demo- campaign will start on Monday crats launching their campaign and include web ads, automated against House Republicans for and live phone calls, as well as By LIANA TEIXEIRA STAFF WRITER
the upcoming 2012 elections. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is already airing advertisements which target the 19 House Republicans up for reelection in left-wing districts. In order to regain the House majority, Democrats require most of these seats. The ads which, according to PoliticsDaily.com, consist of 17 radio ads and two print ads, criticize the GOP’s “partisan
AN AP PHOTO
emails to voters residing in these competitive districts. This new slogan refers to the 25 seats Democrats need to gain in 2012 in order to recapture a majority in the House. “My central job is to help us make it back to the majority,” said Isreal at a press conference, “because when we make it back to the majority we can help the middle class make See HOUSE page 5
Egypt will lose any foothold in stability: “You don’t understand the Egyptian culture and what would happen if I step down now.” Although he has expressed no desire to continue his presidency, the probability that Mubarak’s son, Gamal, will succeed him is another matter of dissent within Egypt, because
AN AP PHOTO
people fear he will maintain his father’s policies and lead the nation into further desolation. The Egyptian protests that sparked off national frenzy beginning Jan. 25 led to recent international support in the form of protests in Chicago and New York City’s Times Square, calling for Mubarak to resign. One of the U.S. protesters, Nader Elrashidy, understands that the risks and potential danger involved with protesters in Egypt is a sacrifice for freedom: “The immediate desire is to regain stability, but there’s an understanding that they need to endure this hopefully short-term suffering to achieve a greater benefit that generations will enjoy.”
Declarative Material: Mundane Art
By ISAAK KIFLE STAFF WRITER
–––––––––––––––––––––––––– You’ve likely heard about or seen art that seems a bit out there. Artists can create art from any kind of material, image, or theme. More importantly, they’re willing to do so, resulting in exhibits and pieces that seem to have no relation or connection to reality. However, what happens when artists try the exact opposite? For its first exhibit of the semester, the Seton Art Gallery in Dodds brought the works of four artists together for “Declarative Material.” This exhibit portrayed the use of mundane and common items to create art, or alternatively the portrayal of the mundane. The gallery included pieces incorporating stickers, toy army men, box tops, credit cards, and pennies, among other things. The four artists are M. Ho, Amy Pryor, Margaret Roleke, and Rita Valley. The gallery had planned to host a reception on Thursday, January 27, but because of the repetitive snowstorms, had to reschedule it to Wednesday, February 2, and then once more to the next day, Thursday the February 3. The reception was held at the gallery
from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., and Amy Pryor, Margaret Roleke, and Rita Valley came to talk about their work. M. Ho lives and works in the Washington D.C. area. Her works have been exhibited in galleries, museums, and institutes in St. Louis, Missouri, Athens, Georgia, New York, Greensboro, North Carolina, and several places in Philadelphia, among others. She has been
awarded grants by the Philadelphia Council of the Arts and a PEW Fellowship in the Arts. For Declarative Material, M. Ho has on display several colleges of newspaper, depicting a mix of abstract concepts and images as well as pieces of contemporary relevance, such as soldiers in wartime. Amy Pryor lives and works in New York City. She holds Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Art History and Sculpture from Ohio University and is currently com-
See MUNDANE page 7
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The Winter Wonderland that Never Ends
may want it to at this point. This winter has proven to be –––––––––––––––––––––––––– one of the harshest in years and the near future doesn’t appear Last Wednesday, February like it will bring any relief. Snow 2, the Northeast region was hit showers are predicted for the by a snowstorm causing school rest of the week, with a change and work cancelations, traffic delays, parking emergencies, roughly a foot of snow, and a general inconvenience to anyone who had to walk or drive under those conditions. However, this is not the first time this has happened. A similar snowstorm befell the region the day before. Another snow storm had hit the Wednesday and Thursday before that, January 26 and 27 respectively. to heavy snow and possibly the In fact, snow has fallen every next big snow storm following single week since the semester that. Temperatures will hover in began, as well as a few occa- the high 20’s and low 30’s, with sions before. No one has seen a 50% chance of snow on Thursgrass since move-in day, snow day the February 10. banks have popped up all over, Precautions have been taken and the trees all have ice where to prepare for the snow storms, their leaves used to be. It’s like such as with Mayor John Picard a winter wonderland that won’t of West Haven declaring a snow end, no matter how much we emergency from February 1 to By ISAAK KIFLE STAFF WRITER
February 3 in preparation for the latest storm. Keep your eyes peeled for more developments. President Kaplan has noted that Connecticut has faced some of the most snowfall in its history this winter. And although,
AP Photo
there’s still more to come, don’t lose hope! The university staff has done a great job so far of keeping the walkways clear of snow and ice. And on top of that, this year on Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring!