November 15, 2022

Charger Bulletin The

Community gathers in ‘Celebration of Life’ for crash victims

BY MIA ADDUCI Campus News Editor

The Beckerman Recreation Center was filled with people from across campus gathered on Wednesday to celebrate the lives of Mr. Sai Narasimha Patamsetti and Ms. Pavani Gullapally, two graduate students who were killed in a motor vehicle accident on Oct. 25.

As mourners gathered, the Indian flag flew over flower-covered pictures of the two students. A table lined with candles lit the space between them.

In her opening remarks, Ophelie Rowe-Allen, dean of students, said that those in attendance “gathered to celebrate the lives of two Chargers: Sai and Pavani. These two individuals were a part of our Charger community. Unfortunately, they are no longer with us physically, but they will always be in our hearts.”

Interim President Sheahon Zenger spoke on behalf of Chancellor Steven H. Kaplan and the Board of Governors, and said, “It is devastating when the lives of young people with so much potential are ended too soon.”

The ceremony began with the Pujari, a Hindu temple priest, Jagadheesh Sharma, leading a reading and a prayer. Later in the afternoon, he chanted Hindu mantras. The first mantra, Om Namah Shivaya, is one of the most important in Shaivism, and is read in Sanskrit. It infuses positive energy and has five syllables, which represent earth, water, fire, air and ether. The second mantra chant, Sthula Panchakshara, indicates the Lord’s dance, which

is responsible for birth.

At the end of the chants, Sharma said, “Let us hope and pray that tragedies such as this do not repeat.”

Of Mr. Patamsetti, Rowe-Allen said the graduate student was a “fun-loving, jovial guy who wore sarcasm on his sleeve always.”

She said, “He was ever-present virtually to all his family and

friends…he shared a loving bond with everyone he touched.”

She told the crowd that Mr. Patamsetti was the first person from his village in India to make it to the United States, and that Mr. Patamsetti “set the path for others to follow” with expectations that his friends would follow in the coming years.

Rowe-Allen described the grad-

uate student’s strong connection to his family. Mr. Patamsetti is survived by his father, sister and mother.

A message from his family was read, which said, “We request all of you to have him in your prayers and always remember his smiling face when his name pops up in your memories.”

Selina O’Toole, executive

director of enrollment operations, spoke about Ms. Gullapally, the first member of her family to leave before marriage, and that she was a “very clever and hardworking woman.”

O’Toole said Ms. Gullapally was a motivating figure and role model in India, and that she had

Football wins Elm City Trophy, beats Southern 14th consecutive time

BY TYLER WELLS Editor-In-Chief

In their regular season finale on Saturday, the New Haven football team traveled across the city to Southern Connecticut State University in this year’s installment of the Elm City Bowl. The matchup, like it has been for over a decade, was largely lopsided, with the Chargers walking away with a 54-14 victory.

After a 31-26 win over Southern Connecticut earlier in the season, there was hope from the Owls that the game may swing in their favor this time around. Receiving the ball first, the Chargers wasted no time. On the third play of the game, running back Christopher Ais broke free for a 59-yard touchdown run to give

New Haven the early 7-0 lead. It would be the start of a career day for Ais, setting a career-high for rushing yards in a game and capping off his conference-leading season.

After a three-and-out from the Southern Connecticut offense and a 36-yard punt return for wide receiver Paul Cooper, quarterback Connor Degenhardt decided to use his own speed.

Degenhardt rattled off a 28-yard run on the first play of the drive, finding the end zone and giving New Haven a 14-0 lead just over three minutes into the game.

While the Chargers seemed poised to run away with the game early, Southern Connecticut was able to find the end zone on their ensuing drive. A break in

The student news source for the University of New Haven

The New Haven football team poses with the Elm City Trophy, New Haven, Nov. 12, 2022.

Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Tyler Wells.

Posters commemorating Ms. Gullapally and Mr. Patamsetti, West Haven, Nov.. 9, 2022. Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Erick Cuatzo

Kappa Gamma Rho hosts ‘Say What?’ Talent Show

BY AMBER CHOLEWA Community Engagement Editor

Perspective

On Friday in the German Club, the brothers of the Kappa Gamma Rho brotherhood fraternity (KGR) held their annual talent show, which filled the crowd with laughter, and a bit of confusion by the interesting talents that were showcased. This event not only had a dedicated host, KGR President Tony Varbaro, but a panel of judges that ultimately declared winners at the end, giving the top 3 finalists exciting gifts. Two brothers Josh Cheatham and Ash Norris of KGR opened up the event with their own rendition of the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ played on the electric guitars. Here is a recap of some of the most memorable and interesting performances from the talent show. Though preceded by an interesting pie-eating contest for a first act, the first real talent was Lindsay Giovannone, a senior history major, and her duck calls. Giovannone made an appearance for sure, falling up the stairs but then gave everyone a show. She showed the crowd her different duck calls, as well as played the national anthem before walking off stage.“Congrats on being the

first talent so far. I didn’t even know there was that many ducks. Period” said KGR Vice President of Education, brother and judge Val Clintron.

The next act that definitely caught everyone by surprise was Kevin Honorio, a business management major and rapper. He came with some inspirational lyrics but overused “my girl,” and “that was bussin” a lot. Besides that he definitely put on a show which ended up winning him second place, and a free meal at Buffalo Wild Wings.

The third place winner Rob Tatto, a sport management major, who impressed everyone with his impressions of Peter Griffin from “Family Guy,” “Scooby Doo” and “Pennywise.” The impressions were accurate, impressive and had the attention of the entire German Club.

Next up was “Tuba” Tony Varbaro, a computer engineering major, with his tuba where he took on the “Veggietales” theme song. It sure was a… performance to say the least. Earning very few points from the judges. “You said you played tuba for 4 years and it doesn’t show,” said Destini Craven, a forensic technology graduate student and panel judge after witnessing the show that Tony had put on for everyone. After this act we had been “fortunate” enough

Self-Care Fair promotes campus wellness

BY PRESLEY DEPUGH Arts & Life Editor

The semester’s first Self-Care Fair, a collaboration between the Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA) and the university’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), was held Wednesday.

When students arrived, they were greeted for check-ins by USGA staff, such as Nox Garner, a freshman forensic science major and USGA senator for students with disabilities and mental health.

Garner said, “We have bags and fidget [toys]... self-care kits, as well as facts and information about self-care and how students can take care of themselves.”

After check-in, students could fill their kits with items such as slime jars, journals, bubbles and more. There were also pamphlets and papers spread about the tables including campus resources such as CAPS and the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC). Other pamphlets covered tips for caring for yourself mentally and physically, and for calming yourself.

Speaking about the items being given away, Albi Beshi, a clinician from CAPS, said, “Little things like that can help people to number one: focus. It is helpful to have something in your hands for some people.

It can be helpful to ground people.”

Beshi said such events are necessary because “it’s important to have open conversations like this about it and share things that work for us that might work for other people. [Because] self-care looks different for every person.”

Students could learn about Community Wellness Advocates, or student employees who lead group sessions from CAPS, along with leading other events.

“Part of their role is, in a way, to advertise CAPS and kind of be that first line of defense for students if they don’t feel comfortable approaching a clinician or a professor,” said Beshi. Instead, students “may feel more comfortable approaching a peer, a fellow student, who can help them get connected with us.”

CAPS will be hosting another self-care event soon, entitled “How to Have a Balanced Lifestyle,” a peer-led support group where they share thoughts on the topic. The talks take place every Thursday, excluding Thanksgiving, from 4-5 p.m. in Westside Hall, room 112. To keep up with USGA and CAPS’s respective events,check their Charger Connection pages. You can also go to their Instagram pages as well, at @ usga_newhaven and @unewhavencaps.

to get a live rendition of “Clash of Clans,” where James Lande, a criminal justice major, rode Matt Santos, a criminal justice major, as a horse and Lucas Bazzano, a criminal justice major, standing on a chair, which earned them many comments, one being “what was that?” from Patricia Crouse, a legal studies and political science professor who was also on the judging panel.

The winner of the talent show was Mike DelGrosso, a chemical

engineering major. He played his 25 favorite rock songs together in one song for everyone. It was amazing and clearly he is incredibly talented. He wowed the judges with his amazing car skills and how incredibly long his guitar strings are, which resulted in a comment from Clintron saying “do you own a pair of pliers.” but Mike soon turned him down by talking about how they are a staple piece of his.

As the talent show came to a close,

it didn’t end just after the three winners were declared. The brothers of KGR put on one last show for everyone. They huddled together with their letters and sang “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers. It was a wholesome moment to watch. All in all, the talent show is definitely something to go to whenever they have their next one. If you’re looking for entertainment and comedy it’s definitely an event to check out.

Midnight Madness: A Charger tradition lives on

BY CHRISTOPHER ELWELL Sports Editor

On Wednesday night, the New Haven men’s and women’s basketball teams hosted their annual Midnight Madness event, which celebrates the kickoff of the new basketball season. Students and faculty came out to support the teams while the clubs put on a show for the audience in the Charger Gymnasium. The 2022-23 season looks to be an excellent season for both teams, as the women’s team kicked off its season on Nov. 12, and the men’s team will start on Saturday.

The festivities were kicked off with each team and their staff introducing themselves. Following loud applause and cheers for both teams, Midnight Madness was in full swing.

Different clubs from all over campus put their mark on the event as well, starting off with a routine from the cheerleading and dance teams. Both routines got a big round of applause from the student section, who came out in full force not to just show support for the basketball teams, but to also support their friends and fellow students who demonstrate the true meaning of Charger Pride.

After the dance team finished their routine, it was once again time for basketball. The men’s team held a blue-and-white scrimmage, putting on a great show of athleticism, creativity and good-hearted fun between teammates. The team looks to be ready for the season, looking to build on their strong 2021-2022 season in which they finished with an 18-9 record, before being knocked out in the regional semifinals.

Following the scrimmage, the Incendio Dance Project took to the court and put on a show with their

salsa dance routine. With only four people front and center, it did not make a difference for them, winning over the crowd with their moves and high spirits.

The student section was shown appreciation in this event as well with a raffle, giving away a mystery bag of items and an Amazon Echo Dot. The first 200 students in attendance also received a complementary shirt after the event, and each player on the basketball teams were given a shirt that they would all throw in the crowd to give back to students.

The Elite Step Team was next, starting off with one member on the court, followed by three other members to put on their routine, which was one of the favorites among the students. The leader of the crew was talking back and forth with a fan in the crowd, much to the amusement of the rest of the students, which then brought on their performance, greeted with a big round of applause at the end for putting together a great

show.

It was time for basketball after this once again with a three-point shootout with four teams, each having a representative from both the men’s and the women’s teams. Each player would take turns shooting five three-pointers, shooting two racks each to decide a winner. After all four teams shot they moved on to a half-court shot competition, which brought on a tie between two teams, decided by a sudden death shootout.

The Miss Majorettes followed them up with a great showing as well, putting an end to a great night filled with laughter, excitement and school pride. As we enter a new basketball season, this event went a long way to show how much the school cares for all of our sports teams and supports them in all that they do. Midnight Madness 2022 was a success all around, and it should be another great season for New Haven basketball.

Kevin Honorio performs during the talent show, Nov. 11, 2022.

Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Krista Smith.

The Incendio Dance Project performs, Nov. 8, West Haven.

Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Krista Smith

Connecticut midterm election results: Democrats win big

BY LILLIAN NEWTON Politics Editor

On Tuesday, Connecticut voters filled a number of political positions. As of Friday, voters chose Democrats for most of the open roles in the state, filling all four of Connecticut’s four constitutional offices – secretary of the state, treasurer, comptroller and attorney general – and reinforced the party’s influence. In the state legislature, Democrats have control of the trifecta: governor, State Senate, and State House.

Incumbent Democrat Ned Lamont won the race for governor, earning 56% of the vote.

Runner-up Republican Bob Stefanowski had 43% of the vote, while Independent Robert Hotaling gained 1%. Of the eight counties in Connecticut, six were led by the Democrats while two, Litchfield and Windham counties, were led by the GOP. This divide was a recurring theme for the elections of Connecticut attorney general and secretary of state.

This is the second time Lamont won against Stefanowski. The two previously faced off in 2018, when Lamont won by roughly 40,000 votes.

Incumbent Democrat William Tong won the attorney general seat with 56.9% of the vote, followed by Republican Jessica Kordas with 41.5%. Independent A.P. Pascarella and Ken Krayeske of the Green Party received 1% and 0.6% of the votes, respectively.

Democrat candidate Stephanie

Thomas will now take on the role of Connecticut’s Secretary of State, gaining 55.1% of votes. For that office, Republican Dominic Rapini received 42.8% while independent Cynthia Jennings received 2.1%.

In the race for a seat in the U.S. Senate, Democrat incumbent

Richard Blumenthal took the lead with 57.5% of the total votes, surpassing Republican Leora Levy’s 42.5%. This win is significant, as Levy had the backing of former President Donald Trump. Trump lost the state to President Biden in the 2020 election by 20 points. Democrats also won all five

of Connecticut’s U.S. House of Representative seats. Incumbent candidates John Larson, Joe Courtney, Rosa L. DeLauro, Jim Himes, and Jahana Hayes will all continue their roles, with all counties voting in favor of the Democratic party.

The GOP hoped candidate George Logan would take the lead in the 5th Congressional District against Hayes. Logan previously had a history of winning elections against incumbent Democrats, making him a strong contender in the race. With this particular Republican loss, Connecticut’s 14-year record of Democratic representation in the U.S. House continues.

Voters also passed Question One on Conn.’s 2022 ballot, which will introduce early voting in future elections. Before the midterms, Connecticut was one of only four states that did not provide access to early voting; the other states were Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire. In total, more than 350,000 individuals voted “Yes” on Question One, resulting in 60% of votes being in favor of the amendment to the state constitution.

Climate change activism: Is all press good press?

BY LILLIAN NEWTON Politics Editor

Perspective

Over the last few months, climate change activist groups have made headlines, though typically not for the right reasons. From throwing tomato soup on Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers to dumping bottles of milk in the middle of supermarkets, these groups have attempted to use a new type of press to bring awareness to the issue of climate change.

Over the summer, activists in the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy glued their hands to an array of artworks. These included J.M.W Turner’s “Thomson’s Aeolian Harp” in the U.K. as well as Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper”. Members of the Italian group Ultima Generazione (Last Generation) also glued themselves to an ancient statue of the priest “Laocoon” at the Vatican Museums.

On Oct. 14, two activists associated with the climate group Just Stop Oil tossed a can of tomato soup at Van Gogh’s universally recognizable painting of a vase of sunflowers. The activists, wearing t-shirts with the group’s name in bold letters, proceeded to super-glue their bare hands to the wall below the painting. The painting, unsurprisingly, was protected by glass and was unharmed.

On Oct. 15, teens conducted ‘milk pours’ across eight locations in the U.K. Participants poured out containers of cow-produced milk at these locations. In videos taken of the event, activists are seen pouring

milk not only on supermarket floors but on or near other store merchandise – such as on a large cheese wheel and in front of a steak station.

On Oct. 23, German activists of the German Letzte Generation (Last Generation) threw mashed potatoes on Claude Monet’s “Grainstacks (Sunset)’’ before, similarly, gluing their hands to the museum wall. “Grainstacks (Sunset)” was left undamaged, having been protected by glass.

On Oct. 31, climate activists in the U.K sprayed neon orange paint, using fire extinguishers, across four governmental buildings. The buildings – including the Home Office, the M15 Building, the Bank of England, and the headquarters of News UK at London Bridge –were reportedly chosen to represent

the four pillars that support and maintain the success of the fossil fuel industry.

More recently Rainn Wilson, who is best known for playing Dwight Schrute in “The Office,” changed his name to “Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Winter Wilson.”

While these protests constitute eye-catching attempts to raise awareness, there have been countless others with one goal in mind: to instill the idea that climate change is an urgent threat. While this sentiment can be felt in many of the aforementioned events, it can be argued that the message behind these events falls flat.

Instead of looking at what citizens can do, news outlets and general discussions talked more about soup and glue and less about global doom. These protests come

off as silly and childlike.

Protests involving artwork –specifically with “Sunflowers” and “Grainstacks” – generate more attention to the nature of the protests, where the focus should be on the goals of the climate change organizations the activists represent. While these paintings were chosen for specific reasons that relate to the climate change conversation, they are overlooked for the more eye-catching details of the specific protests.

If climate activists found better ways to integrate these ideas into sustainable programs and initiatives, the press surrounding their actions would be more successful, helping to develop their missions instead of hindering it. As well, a different approach would help to make these protesters gain better

global traction for action. Currently, many of these protests sound like these groups are only reiterating how harmful some industries are to the planet – a fact that has already been proven.

Climate change is a major threat to humanity. Its effect on temperature, storm development, migration and infrastructure have already been confirmed again and again. This November, at the most recent United Nations (U.N.) annual climate conference, known as COP27, the U.N. chief told global leaders that it was time to “cooperate or perish.” This is not the first, nor last, time a statement of this degree has been made on the subject.

Moreover, a more focused, relatable and actionable protest would send a better message. The activists throughout the spring and fall were largely one-time events that regular citizens could not utilize to make changes in their own lives to aid in fighting climate change. Further, actions such as vandalization and dumping store-owned products may emphasize a sense of urgency, the focus goes to the protests, not the message.

In the end, the press that these climate protests have garnered has not resulted in the change these activists want to see. In fact, in some cases, protests have hindered or negatively affected the international view of the significant need for climate action. By being mindful of public perception and interests, climate activism in the future may be able to achieve better press, resulting in more global action.

Results of the 2022 midterm elections from the New York Times, Nov. 12, 2022.

Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Lillian Newton

Climate change activists glue their hands on a painting, July 22, 2022.

Photo courtesy of Instagram/@letztegeneration.

University announces named chair and professorship recipients

BY ANDREA ROJAS

Videography Editor

A handful of heavily-credentialed university professors were honored for their nationally-recognized work on Wednesday, when the appointees of named chairs and professorships were announced.

The event started with welcoming remarks from Interim President Sheahon Zenger, who took time to recognize the importance of professors within the university, and the fact that the named professorships and chair positions that are being recognized are positions that, according to Zenger, “are incredibly valuable in attracting top talent to the University as well as retaining our very best faculty.”

“The impact our faculty members have in helping to shape our students’ futures and enabling them to discover and pursue their passions cannot be overstated,” said Zenger before handing over the podium to Nancy Savage, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Savage echoed the importance of university faculty in day-to-day operations.

“Our professors are frequently sought after for their expertise, and they are extensively cited in the media regionally, nationally and internationally,” she said. “Their impact extends far beyond the classroom, and they are dedicated educators and gifted scholars.”

Savage and Zenger also thanked donors who fund named chairs and professorships.

The first presentation was the Jacob F. Buckman Endowed Chair and the Jacob F. Buckman Professorship in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Both positions were established in 1981, and the selection of the recipient is determined by a selection committee, which this year included a panel of five professors.

The selection committee unanimously renewed Dequan Xiao as Buckman chair. This will be the

second three-year term for Xiao, who is an associate professor and department chair of chemistry and chemical and biomedical engineering.

Savage listed Xiao’s achievements, including his academic work, work as an author, a university research scholar, his influence in launching the chemistry master’s program and his founding of the university’s laboratory for integrative materials discovery, which has since received external grant support.

For the Buckman endowed professorship, the selection committee renewed Chong Qiu for his second term as Buckman professor. Qiu made history in 2019 when he became the university’s first National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award winner.

According to Savage, Qiu “is using the NSF funding to advance his research on aerosols in the environment that has the potential to shape understanding of the impact of air quality on climate change, weather forecasting and human health.”

Some of the grant funding will also be used to support Qiu’s work in creating a regional summer academy for high school students as well as the development of a K-12 STEM pipeline meant to incorporate local students into his research.

This first professorship to be presented within the Pompea College of Business was the Flanagan Professorship of Business Analytics, one of three recently created named professorships. The Flanagan professorship was established by Lawrence and Stephanie Flanagan in 2022, the former a member of the Board of Governors.

Gazi Murat Duman is the first holder of this professorship. Duman only joined the university in August 2021, but in that time has served as an assistant professor of business analytics and been elected as chair of the economics and business analytics department. In addition,

according to Savage, Duman has been instrumental in coordinating “the recruitment and enrollment of 525 MS business analytics students this fall. In less than three years, MS Business Analytics is now the largest graduate program at the University of New Haven.”

Duman has also been lauded for his scholarship, and Savage said that Duman “has eight high-quality peer-reviewed publications and 16 academic papers in conference proceeding.” Conference proceedings are an opportunity for academics to present their research and receive feedback from their peers.

The second endowment for the business department was the John R. Gehring Endowed Professorship in Business. This professorship was created last year, and the first recipient is Ceyda Mumcu, an associate professor of sport management who has applied her expertise in fan behavior, marketing analytics and diversity marketing in sport, working with the marketing of women’s sports and the media representation of female athletes to educate business students in the field.

Sport has been near and dear to Mumcu, who played professional basketball as a part of the Turkish Women’s Basketball League for eight years prior to her academic career. Since then, as Savage said, “Dr. Mumcu published one of the first sport analytics textbooks, which has been sold in more than 30 countries and across every continent.”

Mumcu has also been a recipient of the Mary Ann Yodelis Smith Award for Feminist Scholarship and Mass Communication’s Commission on the Status of Women for a proposal made by an interdisciplinary research group of which Mumcu is a member. Mumcu also received the Lough Award for her commitment to research and teaching that has been focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in sport marketing, presented by the Sport Marketing Association.

The last professorship to be presented for College of Business was the Smerd Family Professorship in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, established this year and meant to recognize an exceptional educator in relevant studies. The first recipient of this professorship is Vasiliki Kosmidou, who joined the university in 2018 as an assistant professor of

management.

Kosmidou is the faculty advisor of the Entrepreneurship Club, which she helped students create. The club’s signature event is the Smerd Pitch Competition, where students can earn a total of $10,000 in seed funding between first and second place winners for the business endeavors they pitched.

Kosmidou has published in “highly-ranked peer-reviewed journals,” said Savage, and has been the recipient of the Pompea College of Business’ teaching excellence award and is a regular speaker at entrepreneur conferences on topics such as entrepreneurial education and the successful launching of new ventures.

The final two endowments of the ceremony were the Dr. Henry C. Lee Chair in Forensic Science and the Stewart Professorship in Criminal Justice and Community Policing. The former was established in 2000 by an anonymous donor and the latter was established in 2021.

The recipient of the established chair in forensic science was Virginia Maxwell, who has served the University of New Haven as assistant chair of the department of forensic science and as the coordinator of the masters in forensic science program. In addition to her work at the University of New Haven, Maxwell holds an honorary senior lecturer position at the University of Connecticut school of law, and has co-taught a law and forensic science class there since 1994.

Maxwell has worked to make changes to traditional animal cruelty investigations by implementing crime scene investigation and forensic science as routine components of the investigations. Maxwell has also developed animal cruelty investigation trainings for animal control officers and relevant first responders, and has consulted on multiple cases.

Maxwell serves as the scientific advisor for the UCONN Animal Law Clinic as well as the Animal Legal Defense Fund. She has a book due for publication later this year on the subject of animal cruelty crime scene investigation.

Maxwell has rescued nearly a dozen dairy cows, and those cows are now living in new homes and sanctuaries. She has also provided testimony to state legislature on

animal cruelty-related issues and is often asked to speak on issues related to factory farming the need for reform in farm animal welfare standards within the U.S.

The final professorship, the Shelley and Ann Stewart Professorship, was awarded to Lorenzo Boyd.

Boyd, who worked as a sheriff’s deputy in Boston, has served the university for four years.

“Dr. Boyd is passionate about advancing the true meaning of the word ‘justice,’ which is a mainstay of his classroom teaching and out of classroom work,” said Savage.

In the announcement of Boyd’s appointment, then-president Steven Kaplan said, “In seeking the first holder of the Stewart Professorship, it was clear that our University has a leading scholar of police-community relations with an unmatched national reputation in policing policy.”

Boyd has served the university as department chair, acting dean, assistant provost, vice president and–formerly–director of the University of New Haven center for advanced policing. Beyond the university, Boyd served as advisor to the police chief for eight years in Fayetteville, N.C., is a life member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), has built community policing and community wellness plans for multiple cities and is regularly involved in training police officers across the country in areas such as cultural competence, trauma informed policing and community policing strategies.

Boyd “regularly publishes in the area of police/community relations, and has developed several graduate courses on police/community relations and techniques on policing fragile communities,” said Savage. Boyd co-authored an introduction to policing textbook that will be published next year, and he has co-authored grants of $1.5 million for police training since joining the faculty at the university.

In addition to what Boyd does as a part of the campus community, he currently serves on the Connecticut Police Officer Standards & Training (POST) Council Social Justice Advisory Subcommittee and he serves as chair for the subcommittee for Racism, Bias and Cultural Awareness in police training.

Interim President Sheahon Zenger addresses the crowd, West Haven, Nov. 9, 2022.

Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Mia Adduci.

Gaboury (left) watches as Boyd (center) shakes hands with Zenger (right), West Haven, Nov. 9, 2022. Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Mia Adduci.

Smerd Pitch provides opportunities for student entrepreneurs

BY MIA ADDUCI Campus News Editor

Five teams of student entrepreneurs gathered in the Atrium of the university’s Orange Campus this past Thursday after five weeks of preparing for the opportunity to pitch their startup business ideas to a panel of judges.

The event was organized by the university’s Entrepreneurship Club and was sponsored by Peter Smerd, a member of the Pompea College of Business’ Advisory Board and President of Boulevard Building, Inc.

The executive board for the Entrepreneurship Club was introduced, which included President Amaya Guzman, Vice President Matt Cordell, Executive Assistant Jaliyah Monte, Public Relations Chair Krystal Colquhoun and Treasurer Thomas Hart.

The advisor, Vasiliki Kosmidou, was also recognized for her accomplishments at the prior day’s ceremony.

The first team was Zutopa, run by students Rupesh Lankipalli and Harshavardhan Reddy Balla. Their mission surrounds aiding in finding housing for international students before they even reach the United States.

The duo indicated that their priorities honed in on affordability and convenience. They also claimed that they are the first to market end-to-end booking which will occur before reaching the destination.

According to a survey conducted by the founders of Zutopa, approximately 75% of international students indicated a desire to secure housing before reaching the United States.

Zutopa outlined their market-

ing strategy, which implemented a bullseye framework of partnerships, social media and events. They also discussed their business projections, in which they make 10% commission on monthly rental transactions and offer subscriptions to productive services.

They explained their process of creating relationships with campuses in the United States–though their target radius is focusing on the state of Connecticut upon launch–and with students overseas.

They told the judges and those in the audience that their company name was in fact inspired by the animated movie “Zootopia,” and that they wanted to highlight the motifs of being an underdog taking to a global stage.

Next to the podium was Fitbox, founded by Vamshi Krishna Adam and Nilesh Chilka, who was not present.

The proposal surrounded an artificial intelligence wellness trainer that exhibited habit-forming technology. Their presentation said, “We aim to level up the home fitness revolution with the help of our handy gadget to the mainstream audience all around the world.”

The product contained both a physical system and an online app.

They showed a demo of the app, which applied motion sensors and stored history of activity. Adam voiced that he had a gaming background which he applied to the strategic design of the application.

The third business was Party Buff, founded independently by Rishav Kant.

Promoting “party with style,” and saying he sought to ap-

proach the problem of expectation versus reality with products, Kant described a website that had access to a wide supply of party products all in one place.

He promoted an easy-to-use interface and said that “even a seven year old can use the website.”

His site also showcased an AI software that allows users to visualize what decor would look like in their space. In explaining the benefits, Kant said that “looking at decor before buying it is game-changing.”

His value proposition promoted a hassle-free solution and one-stop destination for customer needs.

Kant announced that since the company launched in 2020 in India, Party Buff has over 12,000 active followers on Instagram and a rating of 4.9/5 on Google.

Onthego! was founded by student Adan Dowsett, seeking to resolve problems surrounding students’ struggle to get a job, the nature of their busy sched-

ules and the ways in which they miss out on meals.

Dowsett’s proposition surrounded providing students with the opportunity to work using a mobile app to deliver on-campus food options to other students, so that they “never miss a meal again.”

He said his competitive advantage surrounded the safety of knowing students are trusted from the university, since platforms like Uber Eats and Doordash are external. Additionally, since Onthego! uses meal plan content, no actual money has to be spent by students. Dowsett reinforced the student employment opportunities as well.

Devesh Patel was the founder of Tranzitor, which was the final pitch of the night.

This company focused their content on the manufacturing chain of events, with problems outlining rising fuel prices and shrinking profit margins.

In such a cost-driven industry, Patel proposed a model for

switching oil diesel to electric power trains. He displayed this model to the panel and those in attendance.

He said that the company would use Smerd Pitch funds for pilot testing, then establish a facility, as well as proper certification.

The three judges, all of whom were alumni, took a brief pause to deliberate before the room gathered back to announce the winners. The judges panel for the evening included Gerald Longobardi, an adjunct professor at the Pompea College of Business and CEO of The Longobardi Group, Marybeth Perry, an entrepreneur and Jamison Scott, executive director of ManufactureCT.

The award for the voted-in crowd favorite was Party Buff. Second place, earning $4,000 to apply to the business, was Onthego!

First place, earning $6,000 to fund their endeavors, was Zutopa.

Community Gathers in ‘Celebration of Life’

BY MIA ADDUCI Campus News Editor

Continued from page 1 highlighted that her biggest dream was to make her parents proud.

O’Toole said Ms. Gullapally made a promise to go home to build her parents a house that she would have designed.

A message from the family said, in part: “Pavani was a precious sister, daughter and sister-in-law. We are trying to be strong because we miss Pavani very much. Please pray for us on a daily basis.”

The Indian Student Council President Amna Jalali and Secretary Yashpreet Singh Malhotra also spoke about the students. Jalali said, “Though they were here for a very short time, what we know is that they enriched our lives.”

“We all come together as a community, as a UNH family, to remember them and to gain strength and hope from each other and from the lives that they lived,” said Malhotra.

The president of the Graduate Student Council, Prateek Mansingh, said, “Those who leave never come back, only their memories come back. We are all here to mourn, but at the same time I also implore you to celebrate their life; their dreams, aspirations, expectations, goals and their potential.”

A slideshow was played for Mr. Patamsetti and Ms. Gullapally that highlighted memories of their lives. The room sat silent and attentive as they watched the recap of these two young lives, viewing the numerous images of them with their families back home, and intimate pictures that showcased their personality and values.

Both Mr. Patamsetti and Ms. Gullapally were expected to graduate with master’s degrees in 2023.

In closing, Rowe-Allen said, “Thank you for the knowledge, the love and the care that you have given to Pavani and Sai.” and she said, “Once a Charger, always a Charger.”

Longobardi (left), Perry (center) and Scott (right) look toward Smerd Pitch contestants, West Haven, Nov. 10, 2022.

Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Amber Cholewa.

Pujari Jagadheesh Sharma reads a mantra at the ‘Celebration of Life’ ceremony, West Haven, Nov. 9, 2022.

Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Erick Cuatzo.

Editorials

The Charger Bulletin chargerbulletin.com

Our Staff The communication department: one of UNH’s hidden gems

Editor-in-Chief

Tyler Wells Managing Editor

Samuel Weinmann Politics Editor

Lillian Newton Sports Editor

Christopher Elwell Campus News Editor

Mia Adduci Arts & Life

Presley DePugh Interim Copy Desk Chief Valentina Ortiz Elian Photography Editor

Charlotte Bassett Community Engagement Editor

Amber Cholewa Multimedia Editor

Stephen Gangi Videography Editor

Andrea Rojas 88.7 WNHU Liaison

Carl Giannelli Advisor

Susan L. Campbell

300 Boston Post Road | West Haven, CT 06516 chargerbulletin@newhaven.edu | www.chargerbulletin.com Office: 203.932.7182 Printed by Valley Publishing Co. Derby, CT. Archives can be found at ourschoolnewspaper.com/charger

Since 1928, The Charger Bulletin has been the official student news source of the University of New Haven.

Recipient of 1st Place - ASPA Annual Contest/Review for Scholastic Yearbooks, Magazines and Newspapers, 2020.

The Charger Bulletin staff strives for excellence and accuracy in writing and reporting. We remain committed to providing the University of New Haven community with up-to-date and accurate news. 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.

The Charger Bulletin ad rate sheets are available upon request or by emailing cbads@newhaven.edu. 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.

BY EDITORIAL STAFF

The University of New Haven is home to a variety of programs, all of which provide students with professional experience to prepare students for the real world. We always hear about the nationally recognized programs such as forensic science, criminal justice, national security or eSports, all of which are the university’s most marketed degrees.

An open house is the perfect place to see this, as a majority of prospective students are separated into those programs while others are left more barren. The communication department is one of those that go largely unnoticed.

A communication degree in itself is highly valuable, whether

it is used as a major or minor. It teaches exactly what it advertises: communication. Regardless of the concentration, students are placed in positions where they need to portray either themselves or a message, just as the entirety of the real world is. It is not just teaching professional experience, it is teaching how to create and market an image of professionalism.

But the program goes beyond just the teaching side. While the core of many programs are its classes and curriculum, the strength of the communication department is its student-led organizations. There is something for every student in these organizations, and they are providing tangible experience that can translate to the real world.

Beyond this, the department

is close and tight-knit. Nearly everyone knows everyone else, a notion that highlights one of the program’s biggest strengths. Despite students in the program having differing concentrations between film production, public relations and journalism, there is often some sort of overlap that communication students will find themselves in; this can be in the countless clubs and organizations that the program offers its students. It makes the department focused and student-oriented, offering opportunities that may not exist otherwise.

The department also exists for other majors to benefit from. No matter what major a student is in, there is a high chance that they will encounter some form of media in their professional life. It is nearly inescapable

in an entirely digital world; understanding how to write a blog post in today’s world is something that translates to social media and corporate communications, making it something of a necessity, not to mention talking in a radio station or appearing on television as skills that can translate into day-to-day professional communications.

Students can make something out of any major they take, and there really isn’t a bad one on campus. They all offer something interesting and unique, helping situate students to be successful in the real world. Communication does that too, and at such a high level that makes it one of the university’s most hidden gems.

The importance of voting in elections

BY STEPHEN GANGI Multimedia Editor

Opinion

The significance placed on the citizens’ right to vote within the United States has been a lesson preached to each new generation by their peers, family, professors, and politicians. The importance of voting–often targeted toward youth–can become convoluted when they are repeated time and time again without the necessary context.

The true purpose behind voting begins to mean less and less when people feel forced to participate for the “future of the nation.”

To truly understand how people’s ability to vote impacts the democracy they live within,

one should look back to the first democracy, which was invented in Ancient Greece.

During the beginning of the 5th century B.C.E. (more specifically, during or around the year of 508 B.C.E.), the Greek city of Athens was built.Little knew how the events that took place within this city’s walls would impact the future of humanity. The city was founded on the principles of Athena, the Goddess of war, handicraft and practical reason, and with her guidance, the inhabitants of Athens created the form of government known as demos kratos, which translates directly to “people power.”

In the Athenian democracy, the citizens participated in all processes within their government through a direct democracy. They had the ability to make decisions

by which they lived by and also actively participated and served within the organizations, allowing them to control each aspect of the political process.

This belief that the people have the power to control and influence the politics of their community was picked up by other nations around the world.

When the founding fathers of the United States met to create the U.S. constitution, they utilized these similar beliefs and created the foundation of a modern democracy whereas “we the people” have the ability to control and directly influence our local, state and federal governments.

However, “we the people,” unlike the citizens of Athens, do not directly impact laws and regulations that are put into place; instead we elect those who make those decisions for us.

This indirect or “representative” democracy can be seen in both the presidential and state elections, just like the one that occurred within Connecticut and

the majority of other U.S. states on Nov. 8.

The state of Connecticut elected incumbent Governor Ned Lamont to serve as their representative on the state level, and placed their trust in him to make the correct decisions on behalf of the state.

Electing a representative, whether it is for the House of Representatives or the Senate, can have consequential impacts on decisions that may hold an important spot in the hearts of many.

When those ad campaigns once again make their return and force their way into each American household, every citizen should educate themselves on those running to be their representatives. For these candidates to best serve the majority opinion and the ideals of the state’s population, those citizens must utilize their ability to vote. Remember, when it comes to making a difference, in the words of President Lincoln, “the ballot is stronger than the bullet.”

Introducing our new Arts & Life editor

BY EDITORIAL STAFF ed to Charger Bulletin News, our award winning television broadcast.

After much consideration, we are excited to welcome Presley DePugh as our next Arts & Life editor. She enters the role after being a contributing writer for the section this semester, writing stories on the new campus quad, Family Day, the Miss Majorettes and many others.

DePugh has also contribut-

We are very excited to welcome her to the staff, and are looking forward to all of the great work she will do for the section as its editor.

If you are interested in writing for Arts & Life, reach out to chargerbulletin@newhaven. edu.

Women’s basketball starts season strong; beats Georgian Court 78-71

BY CHRISTOPHER ELWELL Sports Editor

The New Haven women’s basketball team started their season on Saturday night with a convincing 78-71 win over the Georgian Court Lions. It was a back-and-forth affair, but the Chargers were able to come out on top with the help of timely baskets and stout defense.

New Haven’s offense got off to a strong start with baskets from forward Aurora Deshaies and guard Camryn DeBose to give them an early 9-5 lead.

Georgian Court brought themselves back into the game with scores from Tian Addison and Erika Aspajo to tie the game at 13.

However, New Haven answered right back with baskets from forward Leighanna Lister, guard Marigona Bacaliu, DeBose and Deshaies to give them a six-point lead. The first quarter ended in a 21-21 tie after a pair of Georgian Court scores in the final minute.

The second quarter was a slow start for both teams offensively with just one basket each in the

first two minutes. Debose went on a run through the second quarter, scoring eight consecutive points for the Chargers to give them a 33-27 lead with just under three minutes left in the first half. The Lions took advantage of turnovers committed by New Haven to finish the first half with a 38-35 lead.

New Haven came out of the break on the right foot, not allowing Georgian Court to score in the first four minutes of the third quarter. Deshaies, Debose and guard Kameryn King led the way to start the second half to give the Chargers a five-point lead.

Georgian Court once again

responded with six consecutive points, capped off by a jumper from Leah Snisky to give them a 44-43 lead. New Haven quickly put a stop to their run, increasing their lead to eight. A pair of late baskets from the Lions cut the lead down to three, ending the third quarter with a 54-51 lead for New

Haven.

Neither team was able to pull away at the start of the fourth quarter, exchanging baskets to bring the score to an even 57-57. New Haven was able to build up a 66-62 lead with free throws from Deshaies, DeBose and forward Briana Van Cleaf with four minutes remaining.

Georgian Court was unable to bring themselves back into the game, and a huge three-pointer from King to bring New Haven’s lead to seven. DeBose sank four free throws in the final minute, bringing her to a team-high 30 points for the game. The lead stayed at seven, and the buzzer sounded giving New Haven their first win of the season on opening night.

New Haven will stay at home for their next matchup on Wednesday against Adelphi University in their first conference game of the season. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. as the Chargers look to build on their strong start to the season. More information can be found at NewHavenChargers.com.

Top 10 MLB free agency predictions for this offseason

BY CHRISTOPHER ELWELL Sports Editor

The 2022-2023 Major League Baseball free agent period has officially opened, giving players free rein to sign with whatever team they like. This is a historic free agent class, headlined by some of the best players around the league coming off record-breaking, all-time seasons.

In the coming months, teams will be reaching out to players and their agents to hire them, in hopes of cultivating championship-winning teams.

There are franchise cornerstones and major difference-makers without a team right now, wondering where they will bring their talents for the 2023 season and beyond.

Let’s take a look at the top 10 free agents available, according to mlb. com.

1. Aaron Judge, Right Field Judge bet on himself prior to the 2022 season, turning down a seven-year, $213.5 million deal from the New York Yankees. Coming off a season in which he broke the single-season American League home run record, Judge will easily be the most coveted free agent of the of-season. Rumors are that Judge is interested in going home to the Bay Area to play with the San Francisco Giants, a team that is in the market for a power bat, which they have lacked in recent years.

Prediction: 9 years, $340 million to the San Francisco Giants

2. Jacob deGrom, Starting Pitcher

After two injury-plagued seasons, it’s been widely considered whether deGrom will be paid for the caliber pitcher that he has been while on the field. There is no question that deGrom is one of the best starting pitchers in baseball, and as long as he stays healthy, whichever team picks him up this offseason will be getting a front-of-the-line and potential Cy Young winning pitcher. He has expressed interest in signing with

the Texas Rangers, but Mets owner Steve Cohen will give him an offer he can’t refuse.

Prediction: 4 years, $140 million to the New York Mets

3. Trea Turner, Shortstop Turner has turned into one of the most well-rounded players in baseball, with his home run potential, blazing speed, the ability to hit for a high average and quality defense at a premium defensive position at shortstop. Coming off the National League Pennant, the Philadelphia Phillies are one of the top teams in the market for an elite shortstop, and could certainly be willing to bring Turner in for top dollar.

Prediction: 7 years, $250 million to the Philadelphia Phillies

4. Carlos Correa, Shortstop Just a year ago, Correa was the top free agent on the market, and after opting out of his record-breaking

contract with the Minnesota Twins, he is once again in a position to cash in through free agency. Dodgers fans may not be able to come around on Correa playing for their team after his part in the Astros’ World Series run against Los Angeles, but once he steps on the field, fans would like what they see ranging through the middle of their infield.

Prediction: 8 years, $285 million to the Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Xander Bogaerts, Shortstop

It is hard to imagine Bogaerts playing anywhere but Boston after being a franchise cornerstone since he entered the league in 2013, but it seems that a new chapter of his career is starting. Though the Cubs are rebuilding, bringing in a veteran presence such as Bogaerts could do wonders for a young team that is looking to regain their form from their World Series team back in 2016.

Prediction: 4 years, $95 million to the Chicago Cubs

6. Justin Verlander, Starting Pitcher

Coming off what has the looks of being his third Cy Young winning season, Verlander shut down all questions as to whether he would regain the status he found himself in before his Tommy John surgery. The ageless wonder will be entering his 40s with no signs of slowing down, and after another World Series win with Houston, it seems that he will try to run it back in an attempt to win back-to-back titles.

Prediction: 2 years, $65 million to the Houston Astros

7. Dansby Swanson, Shortstop Swanson put himself in the top tier of shortstops in 2022 by posting a career year in which he blasted 25 home runs, a career-high 96 RBIs, and the National League Gold Glove

at shortstop. He has become a fan favorite in Atlanta, and for a team that has built a reputation of keeping their core players on team contracts, the Braves will be able to give Swanson a contract that matches his contributions to the team.

Prediction: 6 years, $175 million to the Atlanta Braves

8. Carlos Rodon, Starting Pitcher Rodon emerged as one of the top starting pitchers in the National League in 2022, and was named as a finalist for the NL Cy Young Award. Posting career highs in starts, innings pitched, and strikeouts, teams will certainly be willing to give Rodon a big contract in hopes that he could potentially lead their rotation and keep up the success he has found over the past two seasons.

Prediction: 6 years, $175 million to the Toronto Blue Jays

9. Chris Bassitt, Starting Pitcher In his first season with New York, Bassitt was perhaps the most consistent pitcher for the Mets in 2022, and after declining his $19.65 million qualifying offer from the team, Bassitt is looking to make bank on a multi-year deal. The Mets front office has quickly become one of the biggest spenders on free agents, and after seeing the lack of depth that the rotation dealt with at the end of the season, it seems logical to want to bring him back.

Prediction: 3 years, $65 million to the New York Mets

10. Brandon Nimmo, Center Field Nimmo posted the best full season of his career in 2022, continuing to get on base often and improving his defense in a big way to become an all-around quality player. For a team like Colorado, which has struggled in the outfield, Nimmo seems like a perfect candidate to solve an organizational problem and become a potential spark plug at the top of a lineup that finished in the middle of the league in runs scored.

Prediction: 4 years, $95 million to the Colorado Rockies.

Aaron Judge takes a swing, 2017.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Keith Allison.

New Haven’s Kameryn King takes a jumpshot against Georgian Court, West Haven, Nov. 12, 2022. Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Tyler Rodriguez.

Field Hockey struggles on senior day, loses 3-0

BY CHRISTOPHER ELWELL Sports Editor

The New Haven field hockey team took the field on Saturday afternoon against Saint Anselm for their Senior Day in the final game of the regular season before the Northeast-10 playoffs begin. Ceremonies were held before the game, honoring seniors Zharria John, Erin Corcoran, Katie Durkee and graduate students Taylor Geaglone, Sophie Schreck and Keira Integlia. After the ceremony concluded, the Chargers looked to end the regular season on a strong note before heading into conference playoffs, starting today.

New Haven was unable to get anything going on offense, finishing the game with just two shots to Saint Anselm’s 22. Saint Anselm dominated the game from the start, needing just three minutes and 45 seconds to take the lead on Maddie Davis’ goal to the bottom corner. They were able to maintain heavy pressure on New Haven due to their stout defense and covering the field with ease,

not allowing the ball deep into their own territory.

The only shot that New Haven would register through the first three quarters came in the first when forward Abby Nixon tried to sneak one past the Hawks’ defense but was quickly shut

down. The rest of the first quarter went by quietly with neither team registering a shot, leaving New Haven in an early hole.

Chargers goalkeeper Keira Integlia was under heavy pressure all throughout the game, as she would finish with 14 saves

on 17 shots on goal. She did all she could to try to keep her team in the game, but the offense was unable to cut into the deficit and bring themselves back into it.

Saint Anselm would add to their lead in the third quarter with the first of two goals from Maggie

Malloy on a scramble in front of the net. Their constant pressure got to New Haven once again, who was able to shut down many scoring chances, but it was too much for the Chargers to handle as they let another shot sneak through their defense.

New Haven’s only other registered shot came in the fourth quarter from defender Kelli Jacobson, but it was blocked before reaching the net. This capped off the Chargers’ offensive struggles as they were unable to hold on to the ball and give themselves another chance to score. Saint Anselm put the nail in the coffin with Malloy’s second goal of the game in the closing minutes to give the Hawks a 3-0 lead, which would stand until the end.

Heading into the playoffs, New Haven will have to wait and see who they match up with after a strong season in conference play with an 8-5 record in the NE-10 and going 8-10 overall. More information on the team can be found at NewHavenChargers. com.

Football wins Elm City Trophy, beats Southern 14th consecutive time

BY TYLER WELLS Editor-In-Chief

Continued from page 1

the coverage gave the Owls their first score of the game, making it 14-7.

On New Haven’s next possession, Degenhardt found WR Dev Holmes cutting across the middle of the field, hitting him with the pass in stride. Holmes did the rest with his legs, outrunning the Southern Connecticut defense and taking the 65-yard reception for a touchdown to give New Haven the 21-7 lead.

The first quarter ended this way, with Southern Connecticut driving deep in the red zone. However, early in the second quarter, a pass from the Owls’ QB Marc Reali was picked off by linebacker Damon Burton Jr., his conference-leading sixth of the season, to give the ball back to New Haven’s offense. The interception also puts Burton Jr. in a tie for third most in the country.

On offense, a pair of passes gained large chunks of yardage, with the first going to WR Zhyaire Fernandes for 16 yards then to Holmes again for 35.

After a number of short gains to get New Haven to the 3-yard line, Degenhardt found a wide open Ais in the flat. With the throw to his left, Ais snagged the ball with one hand and turned to find nobody around him, as he walked into the end zone for the touchdown.

Southern Connecticut would go on to score once more before the

end of the half, making the game 28-14 heading into the break.

While the second half started slowly for New Haven, with Degenhardt throwing an interception, it quickly turned around. With 37 rushing yards from Ais on their following drive, Degenhardt was able to punch in a sneak to extend the lead to 20. This would be the only scoring of the quarter, as New Haven went into the fourth quarter with a commanding lead.

This lead only grew, as RB Hunter Cobb got the ball in their next drive. On the second play, he hit the edge and took off for a 76-yard touchdown as New Haven’s rushing attack couldn’t be stopped.

After the defense forced another punt by Southern Connecticut, Degenhardt found Holmes in one play again, as he carried two defenders into the end zone to give the Chargers a 47-14 lead. They would get one more touchdown in the afternoon, as RB Jake Conlan punched in a 5-yard rush to make it 54-14.

The game would finish there, with the celebration ensuing on the New Haven sideline. “Our City” shirts were handed out, along with others donning the number “14” on them to signify how many years it has been since Southern Connecticut beat New Haven.

Offensively, the team was led by the performance from Ais, who totaled 191 yards on the ground with a touchdown, along with a receiving touchdown as well. Cobb finished with 82 rush-

ing yards and Conlan with 52, while each also added a touchdown of their own. Degenhardt had a solid game in the pocket, throwing for 184 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He also had 45 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground of his own. Holmes led all receivers with 150 yards on just three catches and two touchdowns, extending his conference with nine receiving touchdowns on the season.

On defense, defensive back Khyon Fitzpatrick and LB David Onyemem led the team with

seven tackles each. Onyemem added a sack, forced fumble and an interception on top of that to round out his day. Burton Jr. finished with six tackles and an interception, while DB Devonte Myles also tallied five tackles. LB Joseph Vitale also tallied a sack and forced fumble of his own, on top of his four total tackles.

With the win, New Haven improves to 8-2 (6-1 NE-10) and concludes their regular season. Their fate hung in the balance during the NCAA Selection Show as they waited to see if

they earned an at-large bid into the tournament. There, it was announced that New Haven will be traveling to Shepherdstown, W.V. for a matchup against Shepherd University, the second-ranked team in the region.

It is the second straight year that the Chargers have earned a bid to the NCAA Playoffs, after losing in the second round last season to Kutztown University. More information on the game, along with live stats and a live stream, can be found at NewHavenChargers.com.

Field hockey’s seniors pose for a picture, West Haven, Nov. 12, 2022. Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Charlotte Bassett.

The New Haven defense prepares to go onto the field, New Haven, Nov. 12, 2022. Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Tyler Wells.