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Charger Bulletin The official student newspaper of the University of New Haven since 1938. Volume 95, Issue 6 | October 9, 2013 | West Haven, CT
Students Fall Into Fall Fest
The Lowdown on IDs
By JORDAN SCHONBERGER STAFF WRITER JSCHO2@NEWHAVEN.EDU
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CAMPUS
production courses with Professor Paul Falcone, in which she was able to experience first-hand how to direct and produce a film. “It’s a story of friendship,” said Morris when discussing plot lines, “You get a really good sense of Irish culture.” The movie will grow from the stage, adding in several new characters while expanding the story in a slightly different direction, giving a behind-closeddoors look at characters. Most of the original cast will be starring on screen with new characters bringing in fresh faces. Rose O’Grady has gained a brother
This year the University of New Haven is embracing many changes. Buildings are being renamed and new ones are being erected from the ground up. The new Banner system used to register for classes has also been implemented in an effort to graduate from the Matrix Self-Service previously used. With these changes comes the introduction of the new Student ID cards. Alan MacDougall, the Director of Information Technology at the University, sees these new cards as a positive step in the right direction, “The decision to change this technology was a decision made in an effort to move forward rather than as a reaction to issue that needed to be solved,” MacDougall said. As the Director of IT, MacDougall works closely with Blackboard Learn and its product, a system called Transact. This system is involved with many of the services that students use on campus, including meal plan swipes, and the use of laundry and vending machines. “As a student, your ID card is essential,” he explained. While there will still be a magnetic strip and a bar code printed on the back of the card, the biggest change to come for these new cards is that student’s ID numbers will no longer be printed on the front in an effort to increase security amongst students. “Last year we had about a thousand students lose their card, and as a student, it’s almost like losing your drivers license. You’re losing a lot of important information. It’s not to say that we’ve had issues in the past with students and security breaches, but we’d just like to change the cards as a precaution.” In an email sent out to the student body from Vincent Mangiacapra, Associate Vice President for Information Technology & CIO at UNH, he explained that “When UNH first switched to the current Student ID number format, a decision was made to print the ID numbers on the front of the card because the students needed the ID number to access services and they were not familiar with this new number. This is no longer the case as those services are accessible via InsideUNH. All of the systems that students, faculty and staff use which have access to the student ID number or other sensitive student information are password protected and access is strictly controlled. However, having the name of the student and the student ID printed on the card exposes that information to anyone who sees the card. In cases where the card is lost or stolen, the person coming into possession of the card could potentially compromise student information. Hundreds of cards are lost each year by students, creating a significant security issue. Most of these cards are never recovered. The cards themselves can easily be deactivated, but there is no way to remove the student ID number.” Katelyn Clark, a junior Communications major, is embracing the change, “It stinks that everyone has to get new cards, but at the same time it totally makes sense to not have our ID numbers on them because it so easy for someone to steal it. This will encourage
See DIRECTOR page 3
See LOWDOWN page 5
The EmergenSee App offers a “Virtual Escort” to keep students safe as they walk across camous. SEE PAGE 2 Midnight Run partners with Sodexo to donate meals to the homeless. Students can donate meals using their meal plans! By BRENDA BUSUULWA
SEE PAGE 5
SPORTS Sports Editor Chris Schnabel sits down with this week’s Athletes of the Week, Alain Laurent and Alexandra Sharshakov. SEE PAGE 11
OPINION The Nickelodeon show: Spongebob Squarepants, seems like a harmless children’s television program, but are there harmful messages being promoted to young children?
SEE PAGE 6
President Kaplan addresses student concerns over the renaming of several campus buildings this academic year. SEE PAGE 7
STAFF WRITER BBUSU1@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU
–––––––––––––––––––––––––– There’s no better way to welcome a new change in season, like fall, than by appreciating the things that change with it. Music and the arts are things that vary per person and change a lot over the years, but in the end there are always people to appreciate it in all of its forms. The first Fall Fest was held Saturday, Oct. 5, in the Bixler/ Botwinik Quad at 12 p.m., and the concert started at 5 p.m. The event was hosted by the Music Industry Club and took a lot of effort from a variety of different clubs, but in the end it all came together as people started wandering into the Quad finding themselves encircled by activities; they could make donations, get food, purchase items, and have a chance to win free items. All of the donations will go to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. During the event, students were being serenaded by their fellow
classmates who were show casing their talents for a good cause, keeping people entertained as they moved about. Their voices were heard ringing through the Quad, in and out of the freshman halls, and most people couldn’t help but stop and listen. Toward the end of the event, the stage was prepared for three performances that were going to be made by Far From Proper, Patent Pending, and OCD and Moosh Twist. The lights were flashing, the music was blaring, and the crowd was small, but engaged, as the bands played their songs along with covers. Covers that were sung varied from “Every Time We Touch” by Cascada, “This is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan, and even the Soft Kitty song from the Big Bang Theory. Like any form of art, the music had mixed reactions. A freshman student, Stephen Kando, enjoyed the performances and said, “they have some good creativity, some good rhythm, and a nice sound.” However, there were those who were less excited, “It is not my
type of music, but it is enjoyable to listen to as I get ready to go out,” said freshman Veronica Bitz. People were simply excited that something was going on around them; they had the opportunity to listen to some of their favorite music and bands, they got to jump up and down, and pump their fists in the air, and they even were able to donate money while they were having fun trying to win a guitar, gift cards or even headphones. Freshman Navjot Singh pointed out he enjoyed the event because “It makes the campus really lively.” As the sky got darker, it seemed like the crowd grew bigger. Even as students started leaving for the their usual Saturday night activities, there were those who stuck around until the very last song sang by the very last band; people were jumping into the air and running through the crowds just trying to have some fun while they could. Overall it was a much-appreciated event and many thanks go out to those who helped make Fall Fest possible.
Grad Assistant Becomes CoDirector of Local Movie
ENTERTAINMENT Want to win score two tickets to the midnight premiere of Thor: The Dark World? Check the back page of this issue for more details. SEE PAGE 16
Text message your news tips and comments to The Charger Bulletin! 1 (270) UNH-NEWS
By JENN HARRINGTON
JHARR6@UNH.NEWHAVEN.EDU COPY EDITOR
–––––––––––––––––––––––––– Katie Morris, Graduate Assistant in the Office of Graduate Admissions (pictured above) is the codirector of a theater play-turnedfilm, Charlie Gorman’s Wake. Morris starred in the stage play, which premiered at The Old Dublin Pub in Wallingford, Conn. in June 2012. Her character is Rosie O’Grady, the American girlfriend of the owner and bartender at the pub in which she works. She also found herself co-directing with
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHARLIEGORMANSWAKE.COM
Paul Pender, playwright who stars in the role of regular customer, Gerry O’Donald. She has acted with several theater groups, including the Gaelic Players; who recommended her for the part of O’Grady. “I sat down with [Paul] and it went from there,” said Morris. Morris is the perfect example of the University of New Haven’s experiential education being put to work. A graduate of UNH, with degrees in Communication and Theater, Morris has been preparing for these moments her entire education. “I’m transposing a lot of what I learned into Charlie Gorman’s Wake.” She took several