November 1, 2022

Charger Bulletin Th

PIRO investigates possible paranormal activity on campus

BY TYLER WELLS AND SAIGE BATZA

The University of New Haven is home to a number of unique, student-led organizations that offer opportunities that students may not have otherwise. One of these clubs is the Paranormal Investigation Research Organization (PIRO), which was established in 2014 and has quickly developed into one of the most popular recognized student organizations (RSO) at the university.

PIRO President Myles Allan, a junior English major, said that their meetings routinely pack the Peterson Auditorium and average about 70 participants.

“I think our club is inherently unique because our purpose is to talk about the unusual,” he said. “From ghosts and cryptids, to occult beliefs and odd conspiracy theories, we cover just about everything that doesn’t fit into what we expect from everyday life.”

In the weeks just before and after Halloween, there is a heightened interest in the supernatural things around us. As such, the club has a variety of events to give students the full experience during the annual celebration.

Last Friday, they welcomed professional ghost investigator Brian J. Cano, known for roles in a number of paranormal investigation shows, for a guest lecture. Over the weekend, the club also

hosted a few Halloween parties for their members.

PIRO also has a special Divination Fair planned for Thursday, where students and members will be able to receive readings from tarot cards and other similar tools.

The club also monitors strange occurrences happening on and

around campus. With the university’s known past of paranormal activity, especially in the converted orphanage Maxcy Hall which Allan said was the most haunted building on campus, the club has the opportunity to investigate real instances of possible paranormal activity on campus. Because of this, the club also

takes an educational approach for their members.

“[We] are currently in the process of training our new investigators about our equipment, techniques, and theories of the paranormal,” Allan said.

New evidence of possible activity is constantly becoming available. Allan said that students

have recently begun noticing some interesting occurrences in the fourth floor of the Westside dorm building, including scratching in the walls and abnormal doorknob rattling.

For Allan, it doesn’t necessarily mean that ghosts are there, but instead gives the chance for more investigation.

“Despite being the President, I’m pretty skeptical of ghosts, but that’s what makes being a part of this RSO so fun,” Allan said. “If the paranormal is real, I get the opportunity to find out first-hand.”

This curiosity is something that has driven the club so far, helping them garner such popularity on campus. It not only serves as an outlet to get answers on the unknown, but it also allows members to experience things that may only be seen on television.

Allan said that prospective students interested in joining the club and learning more about PIRO can attend one of their weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. in the Bergami Center room 307.

“I think staying aware and curious about these sorts of things just makes life more fun,” Allan said. “What makes ghosts any weirder than atoms or gravity, which we also can’t see? There’s a lot of enjoyment to be found in the strange and supernatural.”

Diwali event brings feeling of home to students celebrating

BY ANDREA ROJAS Videography Editor

On Friday, the Indian Student Council (ISC) hosted an event celebrating Diwali in conjunction with the Office of Graduate & International Student Life (OGISL) and SCOPE.

Diwali is one of the biggest festivals celebrated by Hindus and takes place during late October and early November.

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, directly translates to “row of lights” in Sanskrit, and celebrates the triumph of light over dark, good over evil and blessings such as victory, freedom and enlightenment.

One of the most important aspects of Diwali is the gathering of friends and family to celebrate together, which is why it is considered a festival of family gatherings and

celebrations. Diwali celebrations are not complete without good food, dancing, singing, exchanging gifts, burning firecrackers and lighting diya lamps, which are small candles used for decorative and worship purposes.

Real diya lamps could not be used, but battery-powered electric candles served the same purpose on the tables lining the David A. Beckerman Recreation Center. The purpose of the diya lamps are in no small part related to the religious story of the god Rama freeing the goddess Sita from the demon Ravana. They were then greeted with diyas upon their return, and the lamps took on the symbolic meaning of the triumph of light over dark. It is now common to not leave a single area of a house unlit

The spooky news source for the University of New Haven

The Indian Student Council’s e-board poses for a picture, West Haven, Oct. 28, 2022.

Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Andrea Rojas.

Members of PIRO during their meeting, West Haven, Oct. 26, 2022. Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Charlotte Bassett.

Arts & Life

Horror movies in theaters to tickle that thriller itch

BY TYLER WELLS Editor-In-Chief

With Halloween now behind us, you may still be looking for something to give you a little scare. Luckily, theaters are filled with a number of movies airing right now to do exactly that.

“Smile”

If you are a sports fan, you may have seen the promos for this movie in the crowds of various games as actors were paid to stand and smile. Doesn’t sound too bad, right? Well, a smile can become very sinister, very quickly. Dr. Rose Cotter, played by actress Susie Bacon, experiences this after a harrowing incident involving a patient causes her to start going through frightening situations of her own.

Cotter is forced to confront her past and understand why she is going through these things. It is a race against time though, as every other victim of the “Smile” curse has only survived for a week. It is a shocking story, and one that will even make you squirm through just the two minute long trailer.

In “Don’t Worry Darling,” Alice, played by Florence Pugh, starts to get the feeling that the utopian society in which she lives is off. Filmed in the

Halloween playlist

BY MIA ADDUCI Campus News Editor

Halloweekend may be over, but it’s never too soon to start preparing for next spooky season. The following are a list of songs that will shake the ground so hard that even the undead will crawl to the surface to hit up a frat basement. Warning: this is the bimbofied version of Halloween, because we’re all sick and tired of the same ten tacky songs blasting from a random guy’s speaker in the corner of the room.

Monster: Lady Gaga

The queen of camp is necessary in kicking off Halloweekend, especially with this classic.

Bloody Mary: Lady Gaga

And, of course, only one song by the queen herself is not enough. Bloody Mary is a spooky staple figure, just don’t sing this song three times into a mirror.

Let’s Kill Tonight: Panic! at the Disco

Every bimbo has an emo side, and what better than everyone’s favorite middle school era band to kick off the spirit of the season.

Devil: Slayyyter

Nothing is hotter than the bimbofication of the dark side.

Slayyyter is arguably the most underrated in the hot girl world, so it’s time to shove her into the spotlight.

Serial Killer: Slayyyter

She also gets a part two with this hit that channels that spooky energy while also packing a punch of vengeance.

Season of the Witch: Lana Del Ray

Lana Del Ray is perfect for when it comes time to wind down for the night, so this one goes out to all of you sad, hot witches out there.

Hotter Than Hell: Dua Lipa

The spooky bimbos are hotter than Hell, so it’s time to blast this one while you pour fake blood down your arms and tie your hair into a messy knot.

Take You To Hell: Ava Max

Ava Max gives you yet another chance to drag the vibes down to Hell while also being hot and confident: what more could you need?

Frankenstein: Rina Sawayama

Frankenstein meets the bimbo world in this underrated song. With a name like that, how could you not include this in a Halloween playlist?

desert oasis of Palm Springs, Calif., the pompous lifestyle of the rich 1950s setting breeds mystery as Alice begins to peel away the seemingly perfect fibers of their society. Harry Styles also stars in the movie as Alice’s significant other, Jack.

If you like a psychological thriller, this might be the perfect movie for you.

“Halloween Ends”

Michael Myers returns. Set four years after the movie series’ most recent installment, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee

Curtis) returns for a final faceoff against Myers. The classic rivalry culminates in this finale, bringing back the feeling of the classic movies and giving horror fans a bit of nostalgia for one of the most iconic movie characters of all time.

Case study reveals life-threatening dangers of Sodexo food

BY MIA ADDUCI Campus News Editor

Satire

In recent weeks, long-awaited results from a year-long case study have unveiled a correlation between the consumption of food produced by the company Sodexo, and rapid organ failure in individuals aged 18-45.

A pool of over 11,000 current University of New Haven students and recent graduates (classes of 2018-2026) participated in a series of tests alongside approximately 15,000 inmates from prisons across the New England area who consumed Sodexo products for a minimum of 10 meals a week.

Results displayed trends in intestine, liver and heart failure, primarily, caused largely in part by high levels of sodium detected in the food. The study also concluded that the consumption of meats not approved by the FDA have, in a rare set of cases, lead to early-onset dementia. Blood samples revealed that both the

student and prisoner data sets had consumed meat sourced from skunk, possum, pigeon, badger and in some cases even human in the last 12 months.

Experts are even saying that the low retention rates at this university in particular can be partly attributed to the hospitalization of many firstyear students, whose bodies were unable to adjust quickly enough to the unsafe diet provided to them upon arrival.

In a series of correlated events, 19 students in September were reported having symptoms of what was presumably food poisoning, with one even saying that they “saw God standing in my doorway” that night. All 19 students had consumed the same “chicken nuggets” from the grill station at Marketplace. Upon lab analysis, it was found that these tenders were actually made from the innumerable dead birds scattered across campus around the dining hall throughout the first half of the current semester. Sodexo workers alluded to budgetary concerns which left them no choice but

to limit the ingredients purchased from their wholesaler.

One student, who will remain unnamed by request of the family, was carried out on a gurney after consuming the same dish. They are currently in critical condition, and have just been informed that they will likely never be able to walk again on account of the virulent infection which has been coursing through their veins.

However, there have also been rumors of some affected students gaining superhuman strength, and an appetite for human flesh.

In a more positive light, crime rates in the New England area have decreased by 58% following civilians’ fear of being placed on a strict Sodexo diet in prison.

On Sunday, Dec. 4, the university will gather in a vigil hosted by USGA to honor the lives lost at the hands of Sodexo. Candles will line the Maxcy quad with the names of each of the 134 students who fell victim to organ failure since 2018.

“Don’t Worry Darling”

Sometimes, something about paradise just doesn’t seem right.

A Instagram post for the Smile movie, Oct. 12, 2022. Photo courtesy of Instagram/@smilemovie.

Continue spooky season with these books

BY PRESLEY DEPUGH Contributing Writer

Halloween was just yesterday, meaning all the festivities like watching scary movies and dressing up as ghouls and goblins is over. However, that does not mean the spooky season is done with. Keep the dark spirits up with these books.

accidentally summons the ghost of Julian, his school’s bad boy, who is not too happy about being dead. It is up to our protagonist to resolve Julian’s death in this captivating and unique novel. The book has a paranormal romance, a well-thought-out magic system and loveable heroes.

“Within these Wicked Walls” by Lauren Blackwood

“Summer Sons” by Lee Mandelo

“Blood

Countess” by Lana Popovic

For those who love historical horror, you will enjoy this one.

Set in 1600’s Hungary, Anna gets the opportunity to serve Countess Elizabeth Bathory as her maiden.

The more Anna grows close to the Countess, the more danger she and her coworkers are put into.

Lana Popovic’s prose is captivating and easy to get through, especially with the dread and urgency making the reader want more.

“Cemetery Boys” by Aiden Thomas

On the lighter side of spooky reads, this young adult fantasy novel offers a lot to the reader. This debut follows Yadriel, a transgender teenage boy, trying to prove himself as a brujo to his traditional Latinx family. Yadriel

Another paranormal debut with a captivating and angsty romance to make readers swoon while looking over their shoulders. This “Jane Eyre” retelling follows Andromeda who cleanses households of the Evil Eye and is hired by the young and mysterious Magnus Rochester to cleanse the evil from his house when others could not. The plot unfolds slowly with a dark and ominous atmosphere haunting the protagonist and reader.

“The Year of the Witching” by Alexis Henderson Reminiscent of the real puritanical societies of early colonized America, the fictional world of Bethel is a nightmare for many.

Bethel is run by the Prophet, who enforces the Holy Protocol and despises the existence of our protagonist, Immanuel, who does her best to keep her head down

despite being the daughter of an Outsider. Her already miserable life gets worse as she gets drawn to the Darkwood, the place of

witchcraft. The dreary atmosphere and thrilling mystery keep the story going toward a shocking end.

This queer horror follows Andrew who inherits a graduate program at Vanderbilt, a roommate and a gruesome phantom from his late best friend, Eddie. Despite being close, Eddie left secrets behind for Andrew to decipher on this gruesome journey of self-discovery and the mystery behind Eddie’s death. You will love this novel if you enjoy detailed prose and messy main characters.

“Queen of the Tiles” by Hanna Alkaf

Lacking the dreary tone but making up for it with a compelling mystery. After the death of Scrabble competition champion Trina Low, AKA the Queen of the Tiles, her best friend Najwa must pick up the tiles. One year after Trina’s death, Najwa and others attend the Scrabble competition only to be met with cryptic messages from Trina’s Instagram account. Read this if you want a plot being unfolded slowly to reveal a shocking ending.

There is no wrong time to get into an atmospheric and twisty novel. With the leaves still falling and the weather getting cold, it is nice to curl up with a chilling novel.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband survives attack in home invasion

BY LILLIAN NEWTON Politics Editor

On Friday morning, Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was “violently assaulted” by an individual who broke into the couple’s San Francisco home. The attack, determined to be intentional, occurred in the early hours of the morning.

Officers responded to a priority well-being check at 2:27 a.m. local time, where they found both the suspect and Paul Pelosi struggling with one hand each on a hammer. According to San Francisco Police Chief William Scott, both men were instructed to drop the weapon. At this time, the suspect took the hammer from Pelosi and violently attacked him. In turn, officers tackled the suspect before disarming him. Both Paul Pelosi and the suspect were hospitalized after the incident.

82-year-old Pelosi was confirmed to be struck at least once, although the total number of times is unclear at this time. He underwent surgery to repair a skull fracture and incurred “serious injuries” to his right arm and hands. While his injuries are noted as being “significant,” he is currently expected to make a full recovery.

During the home invasion, the intruder reportedly shouted “Where is Nancy?” and said that he was going to wait for her to

return home. During the incident, Pelosi called 911, leaving the line open while he confronted the suspect. Reportedly talking in code, he was successful in indirectly alerting dispatchers that something was wrong without tipping off the intruder, leading to the well-being check.

During a press conference on Friday, Scott said “This was not a random act. This was intentional. And it is wrong…Our elected officials are here to do the business of their cities, their counties, their

states and this nation. Their families don’t sign up for this, to be harmed…. And everybody should be disgusted about what happened this morning.”

The suspect, 42-year-old David DePape, allegedly entered the Pelosi household through a sliding glass door. On Twitter, DePape is described as “a far-right extremist and a nudist who sold handmade jewelry.” According to California State Senator Scott Wiener, the suspect also has ties to a Berkeley woman named Gypsy Taub, a

nudist activist. Weiner said that Taub was “the ringleader and … extremely aggressive and creepy,” and noted “... I think he was one of the people in her work.”

Facebook disabled DePape’s profile soon after the attack occurred on Friday. At least two online blogs, with posts between 2007 and 2022, discussed topics such as “censorship,” “Big Brother,” and pedophiles. At this time, at least one link to what is thought to be an online blog under DePape’s name on WordPress.com

has been suspended or archived in accordance with the website’s Terms of Service. A secondary blog on a different website, which includes antisemitic posts and calls for violence, was not taken down as of early Sunday morning.

DePape currently faces multiple felony charges, including attempted homicide and assault with a deadly weapon. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins tweeted Friday evening that the suspect is expected to be arraigned Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons/ciaokatelinn.

Nancy and Paul Pelosi sit together at an event, March. 7, 2018.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Politics

campus news

Diwali event brings feeling of home to students celebrating

BY ANDREA ROJAS Videography Editor

during this celebration because of this, in addition to protecting the home against negative energies and evil spirits. This background about the holiday celebration was covered in a brief presentation at the beginning of the event, meant to educate those who were unfamiliar with the holiday, its significance and traditions. ISC President Amna Jalali, a finance graduate student, emphasized that the event also served as an opportunity to share the culture with the campus community and those who are unfamiliar with the customs surrounding Diwali and Indian culture, which is extremely diverse in heritage, religion and tradition.

Before the event started, however, Jalali took a moment to acknowledge the heartbreaking news of multiple University of New Haven graduate students being injured in a car accident which resulted in two fatalities. Jalali, on behalf of the ISC, extended condolences to the families, friends and classmates of the students involved, and asked for two minutes of silence in their honor.

“Be safe, and take the necessary precautions for your

safety because you are new to this country and are far away from your families,” Jalali said, addressing a crowd of predominantly international students.

After the somber acknowledgement, the event got underway, starting with a traditional singing performance that also served as a blessing. Music, dancing, photo opportunities and food followed.

Jalali made note of the work it took to put together such a big event, and commended the efforts of volunteers and

co-sponsoring organizations to make it happen, being the first major Diwali celebration of its kind to happen on campus following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aishwarya Nyasargi, an environmental science graduate student, commented on how this kind of event was important to her. “I’ve been here for one and a half years, and this feels like being near home,” she said. “Having campus celebrate Diwali makes me feel very welcome.”

Fire science blazes path to new educational opportunities

BY ANDREA ROJAS Videography Editor

On Friday, the Fire Science department, in an educational program, set fire to three rooms, something they haven’t done in over a decade. This event was pioneered by Bruce Varga, the head of the Fire Investigation and Arson Program within the Fire Science and Emergency Management Department of the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences.

The rooms that were set ablaze are called “burn cells,” and are mock-ups of different kinds of rooms, being a living room, a bedroom and a kitchen area, respectively. After the rooms are burned, students are able to get hands-on experience investigating the fire scenes.

However, the scenes that have been previously used have grown tired, and after 14 years the university replaced them with three new burn cells. Not only do the

new burn cells provide an opportunity for fresh scenes for students to investigate, but they are also updated to better reflect real world situations.

According to Robert Healey, a senior lecturer in the fire science department, “Research has shown us that fires used to be what we call fuel-limited, and now they’re

called vent-limited, and they burn different because of the fuel patterns, because of the materials in the furniture in our homes. It’s now synthetics versus naturals.” Fuel-limited and vent-limited are terms that refer to what factors influence the growth of a fire.

Because of the change in the types of fibers that are more com-

mon in homes, there are differences in how fire affects the synthetic materials compared to the natural materials. With the new rooms reflecting this real-world change, students will be better prepared to investigate these situations when they enter the working world.

When it comes to synthetic materials, Healey said, “the research

has told us that fires burn a little bit different. They burn a little bit faster...so we’re going to be able to recreate that today where we did not necessarily have that before.”

The burning of the new cells took place early Friday morning behind North Campus Hall after extensive preparations. On-site were fire science department faculty, students, facilities staff and volunteer firefighters, many of whom are currently students.

Associate Professor of Chemistry Chong Qiuwas was present with chemistry students Friday morning as well. The unique opportunity not only provided educational opportunities for fire science students, but also provided an opportunity for chemistry students to acquire and study air quality measurements from the rooms both before and after the fires, something that would not have been possible without these new rooms being set up for fire science students.

Students celebrate Diwali at the Indian Student Council’s event, West Haven, Oct 28, 2022. Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Andrea Rojas.

Students speak at the Diwali celebration, Oct. 28, 2022. Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Andrea Rojas.

Fire science students put out a fire in one of their burn cells, West Haven, Oct. 28, 2022.

Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Andrea Rojas.

Myatt Center welcomes Jillian Celentano as keynote speaker

BY MIA ADDUCI Campus News Editor

This past Wednesday, the Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion started the final week of LGBTQ+ history month with their first annual keynote speaker. Jillian Celentano was welcomed to the university by members including Ian Shick, assistant director for LGBTQ+ resources, Interim President Sheahon Zenger, and the newest addition to the Myatt Center’s staff, director Khristian Kemp-Delisser.

Celentano stood confidently and spoke openly before the group of university community members. She said that “my vulnerability is my strength, because if you can be vulnerable, it’s so powerful” before leading into her speech, which placed emphasis on the idea that everyone undergoes different journeys, but all individuals are ultimately seeking to be their true selves.

She said “everything that I have achieved has basically happened in the last five years. This is when I began my transition and became my true self. Before that I was just existing.”

She took the audience through a timeline of the different stages of her life, speaking openly about her internal struggles surrounding the mental health tolls of conformity and a fear of living authentically. At one point in the mental health focus of her discussion, Celentano said that “one of the things that kept me alive was that I wanted him to die, I didn’t want her to die.”

Celentano began with a reflection on her childhood, where she told the audience about how she, growing up in the 1960s, was often dismissed when she asked about being a girl. “That’s when I realized I had to start pretending. Now I have to be a boy,” she said. “ I have to be what everyone is going to expect me to be.”

She could not be herself, but living up to others’ expectations was not easy.

She dove into vulnerable topics including the struggles of carrying shame in being told she was wrong in who she felt she was, and how she felt like there was something “wrong” with her.

“It is the most terrifying thing to go through the wrong puberty, but there was nothing I could do about it,” she said, as she compared growing up male as living in a science fiction movie, turning into someone she did not want to be.

Celentano also discussed her struggles with mental health, and said that she asked herself “How was I going to live the rest of my life pretending and making everyone happy?”

In her early 20s, Celentano got married for the first time, saying that she thought that it would act as a cure, because “that’s what makes you a man.” She said, however, that it was horrible for her mental health to realize “now I had to pretend to be a husband,” and divorce occurred a year down the line.

Her second marriage lasted five years. In this one, she tried to be more open, telling her wife she liked to “cross-dress,” which they agreed she could do once a month. She described the feeling of this experience as “magical” but taking it off and returning to her life as a man as “devastating.”

Both marriages ended in Celentano saying that she “fell out of love,” which she explained because she felt too ashamed of the real reason. Between these relationships, she spoke on how she dated a lot of women in an attempt to, again, “cure” herself.

She also said that she felt that she “was incapable of true love because I hated myself.”

At age 55, Jillian Celentano said the words “I’m transgender” out loud for the first time in her life.

When she came out to her therapist, in what she thought would be her last session, Celentano stood in Gehring Hall and told those in attendance, most of whom she had never met, that she wanted someone to know who she really was before she took her life.

In that moment, she was told by her therapist that she deserved to be happy. In opening up about how she had never given herself any value, Celentano said that “to hear someone else say that was so powerful.”

Celentano’s therapist con-

vinced her to join a support group, which she said made her realize she’s not alone, and helped save her. She saw transgender people being happy, and said “those are two words I never thought could be put together” and realized “that’s what I wanted. It was like an awakening.”

At that point, at age 55, she began her gender journey. “I wasn’t going to let anyone anymore tell me who I had to be,” Celentano said. “I’m going to let the world really see me.”

Reflecting on the challenges of her transition, Celentano placed emphasis on the losses of friendships, which she felt was the hardest part of her transition, though she also said “the only regret I have is that they didn’t get a chance to know Jill” and see how happy she was.

Other challenges that she described included gender noise, body dysmorphia and gendered

privilege shifts.

“I lost male privilege, and I never realized I had male privilege until it was gone,” Celentano said. She spoke on how people spoke to her differently as a woman than she had been as a man prior to her transition, discussing her feelings surrounding items like that where she felt her IQ had lowered following her transition, based on her treatment in society.

On the subject of body dysmorphia, she explained how the experiences that surround it are different for transgender people, who wish for different body parts and not just a different body image.

Celentano also reflected on what she saw as the victories of her transition, and said that “doors closed, and that allowed doors to open.”

Beyond this, she described what she saw as her “superpow-

ers” that came out of transitioning, which included newfound confidence in public speaking and the ability to live in the moment. Also on this list fell the benefits of experiencing portions of her life as a man and portions as a woman, which she said gave her a perspective that held an advantage in her life.

She also commented and looked back upon the timeline of her transition, since she did begin that journey later in life. The motif in this discussion presented the damages of regret and the intentional timing in an individual’s journey.

Celentano said that “regret keeps you in prison” and that “the past made me who I am today,” confident that she transitioned when she did for a reason. She said that you should “let regret go, don’t let it consume you, you can’t do anything about it.”

Reflecting further, Celentano said “I lived more life in the past six years” than in all of the ones prior to her coming out as transgender. With that in mind, she emphasized that being transgender is “probably the least interesting thing about me.”

Jillian Celentano is an author, whose book is entitled “Transitioning Later in Life” which she quoted during her keynote speech. She is also a therapist who focuses her work on transgender youth.

Her ability to connect with these kids and gain their trust is one item that she voiced has high value in her life.

“My life journey had a purpose. I didn’t see what it was until now,” Celentano said near closing.

In her final remarks, she also said that “success is learning to love and accept yourself,” and that to achieve this makes you the most successful person in the world.

The Myatt Center’s Ian Shick and Jillian Celentano speak during the keynote speaker event, West Haven, Oct. 26, 2022. Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Erick Cuatzo

A picture of Jillian Celentano’s book, “transitioning later in life,” West Haven, Oct. 26, 2022. Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Erick Cuatzo.

Our Staff

Editor-in-Chief

Tyler Wells Managing Editor Samuel Weinmann Arts & Life Editor Saige Batza Politics Editor Lillian Newton Sports Editor Christopher Elwell Campus News Editor Mia Adduci Copy Desk Chief Lindsay Giovannone Photography Editor Charlotte Bassett Community Engagement Editor

Editorials

Calling all the orphan zombies

BY AMBER CHOLEWA Community Engagement Editor

Many people make zombies the bane of their existence, even here at the University of New Haven.

Recently, a new quad was built on campus, and many of us are wondering why that is. Is it due to the fact that our school wants to cover up the zombie graveyard that has been brewing under Winchester lot for the last 102 years, and was it showing signs of the zombies breaking through the cracks?

Cholewa Multimedia Editor

Amber

Stephen Gangi Videography Editor

Andrea Rojas

88.7 WNHU Liasion

Carl Giannelli Advisor

Susan L. Campbell

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These creatures aren’t any normal zombies; they are the orphans that lived here many years before us. This has been an underground scheme carried out by nuns living in Bethel, continued by the long line of Kaplans who served as presidents throughout the years.

Due to the backlash of having no fall week concert this year, SCOPE announced a last minute plan to win over the student body, with the help of USGA as a co-sponsor. The announcement stated that free exclusive merch will be available to all students, warning that it will run out before anyone comes due

to the greedy SCOPE staff stealing all of the merch before the concert even starts. The zombies will make their debut in a big way by performing “Thriller” by Michael Jackson as a way to distract the students while they escape temporary confinement and take back their campus once and for all. But while the zombies are emerging, China Anne McClain will be opening the concert with “Calling All The Monsters” as they tear their way through our newest quad. While this plan carries out the zombies will be taking back Winchester. You unfortunate souls should probably pack a bag or two and leave before they get antsy and start using your brain as a long awaited snack that they have been waiting over a century for. But if you’re living in Sheffield, Dunham or Westside do not assume you are safe; there are no boundaries for these orphan zombies. You have been warned, take this as one last grain of hope that maybe these zombies will hold off another century. You may think sleep deprived teens look like zombies, but you have never seen anything as scary as a teething toddler from the roaring 20s trying to feed on your brain.

Best YikYaks of Halloweekend

BY LINDSAY GIOVANNONE Copy Desk Chief Perspective

For Halloween, students in and around the University of New Haven took to the anonymous social media app YikYak to talk about anything and everything they want. Some people’s Halloweekend’s went really well, with nights of costume parties and fun. For others, it felt like a long weekend. At the end of it all, it was a wild few days, well worthy of its own collection of highlights.

Here is a glimpse of some of the best ones.

YikYak Highlights

I am down to pay for a girl boobs piercing taking one for the team

To the girl in the kung fu panda costume last night at SAE. I love you and I’m ready to marry you

Shoutout Anthony at sae, u were a real one and I’m ready to marry you

Everyone hypes up the parties here so much and then comes back talking about how ass they are

how many people busted their ass leaving kappa last

night bc i know i wasn’t the only one

I put my dab pen up my p***** now it won’t come out help

Wtw tn ( I’m a girl with big boobs)

Where the darty at tomrorow ?where.

i have have a sore throat lets play is it a cold, strep, or covid

Holy **** there’s human feces on the bixler quad someone went too hard last night

You know a relationship is in shambles when they drop the fall photoshoot halloweekend was way too much

Tommy’s Tanning has sorority girls looking like the Annoying Orange **** parties im gonna pump iron and eat raw meat all weekend

Just dissociated so badly in the shower that i washed my hair 3 times and only shaved my left armpit :( i was so hot and mysterious last night but no one yakked about the cute girl at the party. life is so hard.

Someone post video proof of the darty.

Slut shaming: the only overrated look this Halloween

BY MIA ADDUCI Campus News Editor

Halloween is a holiday for expression and lighthearted fun. It is the one night of the year when people can be whoever they want, however they want, shamelessly (with exceptions such as cultural appropriation, of course).

The greatest plague that taints Halloweekend is not the one which eats away at zombies’ brains or plagues the haunted faces that crowd sweaty basements and random side streets.

The worst thing a person can do this time of year is slut shame other people.

Slut shaming is not only anti-feminist, but it is anti-human and anti-free expression.

People will drone on and on about the most overplayed and overdone looks of each Halloween season, and for whatever

reason, sexual items always make the top of the list.

Why is it that people have such a large problem with other peoples’ confidence? It likely is a product of jealousy, and if not, then people need to stop being so bitter and uptight.

Personal interpretations of figures ranging from those in authority to fictional deities like devils deserve to be shamelessly shifted into the modern mindset surrounding body positivity and free expression.

This Halloweekend, it can only be hoped that everyone proudly wore as little clothing as possible, in as many public places as possible. To be provocative is to be free, and to hold any malice or negative outlook to this form of expression is condescending and, quite frankly, the only embarrassing look to sport this time of year.

Stay spooky, but more importantly, stay slutty.

Graphic courtesy of Andrea Rojas.

The downfall of New York baseball

BY CHRISTOPHER ELWELL Sports Editor

A season that started off with massive expectations for both New York baseball teams took a drastic turn in the end with heartbreaking playoff eliminations. The New York Yankees and the New York Mets entered the season as some of the favorites to win the World Series after making significant changes to their teams. Throughout the season, both teams showed flashes of dominance where it looked like they would go on a run and make it to the Fall Classic but fell short following the recent trend of New York’s success in the playoffs.

The start of the season was one for the record books for the Yankees, who at one point were on pace to break the 21-year-old record for wins in a single season with 116 by the Seattle Mariners in 2001. From April to June, the Yankees held the best record in the league by far with a record of 56-21 through the first 77 games played. Everything was going right for the Yankees, who were well on their way to breaking their 13-year titleless streak.

Once July came around, the entire season flipped upside down for the Yankees, who were plagued with injuries and a lack of production from key contributors. After a 22-6 stretch in the month of June, their record pace fell off with their 13-13 record in July. Things would get worse in August with their worst record of any month of the season by far, finishing with a record of 10-18.

Key injuries such as losing ace relief pitcher Michael King and late addition utilityman Matt Carpenter, were the start of the downfall for the team, causing the lack

of depth and decreased production that caused the team to spiral.

The bullpen was a main piece of concern, with the sudden dropoff in production from closer Clay Holmes, who was one of, if not the best closer in Major League Baseball in the first half. His loss of command as well as other injuries and questionable front-office decisions (such as the decision to demote relief pitchers Ron Marinaccio and Clarke Schmidt), warranted backlash from fans and created speculation as to whether the team was doing everything they could to win on a daily basis.

Due to their dominance in the early stretch of the season, no team in the American League East was able to catch up with them, which gave the Yankees their first division title since 2019.

They entered the playoffs as the number two seed in the American League, giving them a bye past the Wild Card round. In the Divisional Series, they matched up with the Cleveland Guardians, a young, up-and-coming team who rolled through the Wild Card on the backs of their elite pitching staff. The Yankees beat them in a decisive game five, setting up their third matchup in six years with the Houston Astros in the Championship Series.

It was a miserable series for New York, who was swept in four games and were simply no match for the mighty Astros, whom they have never beaten in a playoff series. The offense seemingly disappeared against the Astros’ pitching staff, finishing the series with a batting average of .162 as a team.

Now heading into the offseason, the team will have some major questions, especially regarding

their star outfielder Aaron Judge and whether they will be able to re-sign him fresh off his record-breaking season. The front office and team management will be faced with a great deal of pressure to put a winning team on the field in 2023 as their streak without a World Series appearance continues.

As for the other side of town, the Mets also faced great expectations, set by none other than team owner Steve Cohen. Cohen is one of the newest MLB team owners, who has quickly made a name for himself with his willingness to go out and spend money on free agents.

The Mets had quite the offseason, signing the likes of future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer and all-star Chris Bassitt to bolster the rotation, as well as all-star outfielders Starling Marte and Mark Canha

to fill the team’s empty spots in the outfield. Expectations were skyhigh for the Mets, who were one of the frontrunners to make it out of the National League and play in the World Series.

For almost all of the season, the team held a comfortable lead over the defending champion Atlanta Braves in the division, at one point stretching to as many as 10.5 games. New York held at least a share of first place for 157 of the 162 regular season games played, but Atlanta stayed with them all season and swept them in a matchup in the last week of the season to take sole possession of first place.

Injuries were a common theme for the Mets as well, losing Starling Marte in early September when he was hit by a pitch on his hand against Pittsburgh, resulting in a partial non-displaced fracture

in his right middle finger. Losing Marte was huge for the team, and his presence was largely missed at the top of the lineup.

Following Marte’s injury, the Mets saw their division lead dwindling, and despite winning 101 games in the regular season, it was only good enough to set them up for a matchup in the Wild Card round at home against the San Diego Padres.

San Diego would take game one of the three-game series by a score of 7-1, carried by an early offensive explosion against Scherzer with four home runs. The Mets were unable to answer against ace Yu Darvish with their only run coming on an Eduardo Escobar home run.

With their backs against the wall, the Mets sent former Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom to send the series to a decisive game three. They would live another day and then end up losing game three, eliminating them from the playoffs. A season that was once filled with great promise came up short in the end, leaving all New York baseball fans in the same state that they’ve been in years past; wondering when their team will make that jump and become World Series champions again.

New York has not seen a World Series appearance since 2015 when the Mets were defeated in five games by the Kansas City Royals and have been held without a title since 2009 when the Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies in six games. Both teams will enter the 2023 season with the same expectations as the 2022 season, but both have some major decisions to make to put together a championship-level team.

Women’s soccer ends on high note, wins 5-0 over Queens

BY CHRISTOPHER ELWELL Sports Editor

The New Haven women’s soccer team finished their season on a high note on Wednesday night at Kathy Zolad Stadium, defeating Queens College in a dominant 5-0 win. The Chargers struck early and often in this one, setting the tone with four first-half goals to coast to an easy win. New Haven will finish the 2022 campaign with a record of 5-10-3 (2-9-1 NE10).

New Haven was able to set the tone in the opening minute with midfielder Mackenzie Myers’ goal just 37 seconds into the game. She was not done, however, as she tallied her second goal of the game in the ninth minute with an assist from defender Riley Drosopoulos to take an early two-goal lead.

The Chargers were able to keep up the heavy pressure on offense the entire first half with 17 shots to Queens’ two. Forwards Madison Blonde and Vickie Fleming made their presence up front felt with their shots, and were able to break through again with Fleming’s first

of two goals in the 23rd minute to give New Haven a 3-0 lead. Just a minute later, Fleming was able to connect on her second goal of the game with an assist from Blonde to bring their lead to four.

New Haven came out for the second half generating more scoring chances and putting even more pressure on Queens. Forward Macy Litalien also got on the board in the 55th minute with an assist from forward Dakota Cimetta to put the Chargers ahead by five.

It was an all-around dominant performance for the Chargers, controlling the pace and not letting Queens get anything going all game. Eleven Chargers registered a shot to bring the total to 23 for the game compared to Queens’ six.

Blonde would finish the game with six shots to lead the team, while Fleming, Myers, and Cimetta all tallied three.

New Haven will now look ahead to the 2023 season, looking to build on their successes from this season.

More information about the program can be found at NewHavenChargers.com.

New Haven’s Mackenzie Myers dribbles the ball against Queens College, West Haven, Oct. 26, 2022.

Photo courtesy of Charger Bulletin/Neva Bostic.

A view of Yankee Stadium, Dec. 13, 2013. Photo courtesy of Pixabay/krisr1.