Volume 106 No. 13www.centralrecorder.comWednesday, December 9, 2009

CENTR A L CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY

FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT: www.centralrecorder.com

In The Recorder This Week:

Economist Weighs in on Financial Crisis

Movie and Video Game Review

His and Hers Holiday Shopping Guide

CCSUBlueDevils.com Weekend Coverage

Page 2 Page 4 Pages 6 Page 7 Page 9

Bathroom TraumaDoes need for emergency call

locations extend to public bathrooms?

See Monday’s Meeting Page 3

Edward Gaug | The RecorderSenior Greg Grochowski makes a leaping catch to put the Blue Devils on the Butler one-yard-line.

Blue Devils LoseGridiron Classic

“I am super proud of Central Connecticut State and our football team, our young men, how they competed

all year, and the 12 seniors that we’ve had.”-Coach Je� McInerney

Last Minute Interception Seals CCSU’s Fate - Page 12

Campus to Remember Cavalli with Memorial

KiM SCROGGiNSThE RECoRDER

CCSU plans to hold a memorial service this Wednesday for people to gather in honor of Viviana Cavalli, who was killed last month in a car accident in Shelton, Connecticut.

At 5 p.m. the Connecticut Room in Memorial Hall will be opened up for those who wish to come and pay their respects. As for speakers, university VP of Marketing and Communications Mark McLaughin said that the campus Catholic organization will most likely be present.

“I’m prett y sure that John Campbell of CCSU’s Catholic Ministry will be speaking,” McLaughlin said.

Where other students didn’t feel comfortable enough to discuss their feelings concerning the memorial, Nicole Chuba, Cavalli’s roommate in Vance, had a few things to say

about Viviana as a friend and fellow student.

“I didn’t know her coming into college,” Chuba says, “but as soon as I did, we became good friends and I’m glad we were able to talk about a lot of things and give each other advice. Not to mention some of the fun times we had in the short time that we knew each other.”

Both came to CCSU this year as freshmen. “I wish we could have had more time to become bett er friends. She was such a nice person and the best roommate anyone could ever have!” Chuba states.

Th e memorial was planned by Dr. Laura Tordenti, the interim VP of Student Aff airs.

Alleged Chancellor Bonus Debated at

Faculty SenateMATT KiERNANThE RECoRDER

Th e faculty senate met to discuss future course scheduling, as well as a controversial bonus that was awarded to the CSU Chancellor.

“We were told to do more with less,” said President of the Senate Candace Barrington, who summarized the lett er Chancellor David Carter issued to the CSU universities in December 2008.

Th is opened to the discussion of how the chancellor may have been paid an estimated $50-80,000 to refuse to take early retirement.

”I don’t think this looks very good,” said Barrington.

Barrington said that she found it unfair that she and other members of the faculty were never off ered pay to refuse early retirement and that it could have serious ramifi cations for the university.

Barrington also showed a lett er

that was issued from the state that said a president in the CSU system may be “non-continued,” or dismissed from offi ce, if the chancellor deems it necessary. Th is may be acted out by the chancellor without reason or explanation.

In the lett er issued last December, Carter wrote, “We must do everything we can to save every possible dollar, even while knowing that the sum total of such actions will in all likelihood be insuffi cient to prevent us from being touched by additional budgetary cutbacks.”

Th e estimated bonus Carter is allegedly receiving brought

questions to the ethics of him asking those in the CSU system to try their best, despite cutbacks.

Th e announcement of the chancellor’s alleged payment bonus was received by members of the faculty with gasps and shock.

in Memory of viviana CavalliWednesday, December 9, 2009

5 p.m.Memorial hall, Connecticut Room

Candace Barrington

News2THE RECORDERWednesday, December 9, 2009

Sophomore Nick Delgado looks down upon Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis before the Blue Devils’ game at Butler University.

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Editor-in-ChiefMelissa Traynor

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Opinion EditorChristina LoBello

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Sports EditorChristopher BoulayCarmine Vetrano, Assistant

Web EditorAlex Jarvis

WritersBrittany BurkeKim ScrogginsDon WeberTimothy FarrellChristopher MachnichFaustine ColinKim Gaity

PhotographersKalin Bucholz

AboutThe Recorder is

a student-produced publication of Central Connecticut State University and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of CCSU’s administrators, faculty or students. The Recorder articles, photographs and graphics are property of The Recorder and may not be reproduced or published without the written permission from the Editor-in-Chief. The purpose of The Recorder is to approach and define issues of importance to the students of Central Connecticut State University.

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A Weekly Stand-Alone Photo Captured at CCSUscene @ ccsu

Photo | newzar.files.wordpress.com Balcerowicz advocates for private busines growth to pull the United States out of the recession.

MATT KiERNANThE RECoRDER

An internationally recognized economist visited CCSU last week to explain how the world got into the current economic crisis and the steps to be taken on the way out.

“Many people blame greed for the current financial crisis,” said Polish economist Leszek Balcerowicz in Torp Theatre last Wednesday. He is the former chairman of the National Bank of Poland.

Balcerowicz added that blaming greed is too simplistic an answer to global economic problems.

He says the crisis erupted in the financial sector, which inevitableyaffects the rest of the economy. When the United States suffers from an economic crisis, a crisis spreads wordlwide because of its major influence on foreign markets.

Balcerowicz asked if human behavior has changed at all in recent years and says it is unconvincing to blame greed and capitalism for the crisis. One of the most important factors of an economy is private ownership and markets, and those are what make up capitalism.

He said the major problem of the crisis was public policy errors, which led to too much credit being given to people looking to buy homes. In order to look at the cause of the financial bust, one must look at the cause of the boom, or what led to prosperous times before the crisis.

“Interest rates were lowered to dangerous levels,” said Balcerowicz. He referred to the decision by the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates to one percent in a series of interest rate cuts headed by then chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan.

Political pressures on mortgage security companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac caused them to give away too much credit for people to buy homes. Official regulations were found to be ineffective by excessive risk taking.

Economist Weighs in on Financial Crisis

“Monetary policy has to be more conservative in comparison to the one that’s been carried out,” said Balcerowicz.

He also says that monetary policy may not be enough and that micro-production regulations and technical work is needed.

The country is greatly increasing its public debt and if it continues to do so, it wouldn’t be able to carry the burden at the rate of its gross-domestic-product.

Balcerowicz said people think financial systems are too big to fail, which causes undue trust.

“There are not many financial crises that fit the current model, so

there’s much room for error,” said Balcerowicz, describing the chance for problems to arise while coming up with solutions.

He advised that people should not hinder private businesses and that they’re the keys to improving the economy. People should instead help private investment grow and be profitable.

It would be short-sighted to listen to economist John Maynard Keynes’ belief of not worrying about the long-run because “in the long-run we’re all dead,” said Balcerowicz. The economist Keynes, who heavily influenced British ecnomics in the World War II era and beyond, is known for his interventionalist

policies on controlling recession.Balcerowicz said the

accumulation of large amounts of public debt is leading towards a need for a much more analytical approach to fiscal and monetary policies.

He explained that citizens need to analyze the growth of conglomerates and get rid of current public policies. He said the requirements for forming conglomerates are much too easy and they need to be more difficult.

“If you overspend, you pay the price,” said Balcerowicz, who added there needs to be a reduced role of politics in the economy and that education and technology need to be made more efficient.

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THE RECORDER / Wednesday, December 9, 2009 / NEWS 3

Continued from page 1The letter also stated that the

state will be facing an estimated $2.6 billion deficit in the 2010 fiscal year, and $3.2 billion deficit in the 2011 fiscal year.

It was announced in the meeting there are to be three open forums in the spring semester to discuss changes to class scheduling that is predicted to be ready for the spring 2011 semester.

A version of the spring 2011 time block schedule has been released on the facutly senate website under their December 7 minutes.

Larry Grasso of the University Planning and Budget Committee presented the committee’s proposal for a more outlined process for faculty to make changes to their departments or programs.

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Wellness on Wheels helps AsU extend

heAlth services to phoenix AreA

(WIRE) - Wellness on Wheels, a program of Arizona State University’s College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation, has contracted with Head Start so that health care services can be offered where they are needed, yet otherwise unavailable.

The purpose of Wellness on Wheels, or WoW, is to provide clinical space, personnel and to educate students. Denise Link, the college’s associate Dean for Clinical Practice & Community Partnerships, said “The WoW van provides opportunities for students to obtain valuable hands-on clinical experience in real-life health care situations…and for the university to be of service to the community.”

Wellness on Wheels helps to connect the ASU downtown Phoenix campus with the community and City of Phoenix, said Link, who oversees five nurse-managed health centers and the WoW van.

Debra Vincent, outreach coordinator for the ASU College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation, said that the WoW van is essentially a

ASU’s 'Wellness on Wheels' Van Benefits

Campus and Communitydoctor’s office on wheels, according to Vincent. There are possibilities for expanding services if the WoW receives more funding, which would ensure that the “office” would reach more people.

“Wellness on Wheels is the bridge between the College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation and the community," she said. "We’re all connected.”

Bearing that connection in mind, Emma Ward and Kaylie Thompson, both non-nursing majors at ASU, agreed that the WoW program is beneficial to the campus and community.

“It sounds like [WoW is] good for everyone,” Ward said. “Students gain experience under the supervision of licensed instructors, ASU receives positive publicity and the community is healthier.”

Thompson said it is important for the community to take advantage of what the university has to offer. “I think it’s important for the community to reap the benefits of having a great nursing school in Phoenix,” she said.

“The sky is the limit with more funding,” Vincent said. “Anything that you could do in the doctor's office, I could put on WoW and take it out with the appropriate funding.”

But in order to work on the WoW van, a student must be

enrolled in a course and have course objectives for their time on the van, according to Link. All students, who are supervised by a nursing faculty member, must have completed Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act training and sign a confidentiality statement.

In addition, nursing students must have CPR training, a Hepatitis B immunization, TB skin test, be immune to Rubella and Varicella, complete standard precautions training and meet the immunization requirements for the university.

While it’s nursing students who are generally involved with the WoW van, there are occasionally students who are not health profession majors that are interested in participating as well.

Those students might be interested in observing the process of providing health care, but it’s ultimately the nursing students who perform the services, according to Vincent.

“Nurse practitioners will do physicals, and undergraduate students could do immunizations, blood pressure, height and weight,” she stated.

The College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation’s WoW has a contract with the City of Phoenix to provide certain required healthcare services to children that are enrolled in the Head Start program, Link said.

Monday’s Faculty Senate Meeting

The application process would include an outline of the stages of implementation, what the costs for changes would be and how it would affect other programs positively or negatively, among other things.

“We didn’t want to make another hoop for people to go through,” said Grasso.

Grasso added that the committee is looking to make the proposal a requirement, and that by doing so it would make future proposals have greater visibility sooner rather than later.

The curriculum committee is also looking to clean up their by-laws in the spring semester.

The meeting was called to a close with the deans of the CSU schools announcing their proposals with the names of students listed who are expected to graduate, as long as they meet the graduation requirements.

Editorial/OpinionEditorial

THE RECORDERWednesday, December 9, 2009

Letter to the Editor Bathroom Trauma

RAChAEL BENTLEyThE RECoRDER

As one walks around the campus, it’s not hard to find the tall, silver and blue HELP boxes posted at almost every corner. They add a sense of security that if something did go wrong, or one felt unsafe, then a member of the CCSU police would be there to escort you to your destination. Even in the dorms there are help telephones by every elevator so that if something happened you could call for help.

There is one place however that does not seem to have any way of calling for help should something turn for the worst; the bathrooms.

A few weeks ago, I had my own scary experience in a dorm bathroom. At around 7 a.m. on a Monday, I was in the shower, when I so gracefully fainted; apparently I fell face-first due to the scar on my forehead. After waking up from the fall and being unable to move, I realized that I was all by myself. The bathrooms in Barrows dorm are single; usually you will only find one person in there at a time. And on that Monday morning, I knew that the next person to use the shower wouldn’t be doing so until 9am. Sitting there, in shock, I started to yell for help. After five minutes of no responses, I figured out that I had to go back to my room and call for help there. I’m not sensationalizing the situation when I say I literally

dragged myself, half naked, with a bloody forehead, back to my room.

Shaky and scared, I called my roommate for help. In retrospect, I understand 911 may have been the better option, but I wanted someone familiar to help me. After my roommate came back, and called the RA, who then called health services and the police, I was taken away to New Britain General Hospital.

This very unlucky incident however opened my eyes to what I see as a imperative issue. What if I hadn’t been able to get up? How long would I have been laying there? Who would have found me?

There needs to be a more direct way to signal for help, in areas closer to the rooms. What do you do if you break your leg, and you are unable to walk down the hall and call for help? You could slip or faint and need immediate assistance. In public bathrooms in restaurants and businesses, there is always a “HELP” cord that you can pull if need be. Why do we not have these in college bathrooms? I’ll admit that it wouldn’t have struck me as unsafe before this incident, but that bang on my head opened my eyes to a lot of different things.

I know that I’m not the only woman in the world who has fainting spells from time to time, and I am not the first to have it happen in the shower. It seems only sensible and safe to have a way of calling for help, in a public bathroom.

Does need for emergency call locations extend to public bathrooms?

Dear Ms. Traynor:

Thank you for publishing the article by Faustine Colin on my presentation, “Barack Obama, Race and the American Presidency,” in the November 11, 2009 issue of The Recorder. I would like to compliment you and your staff for the coverage accorded this important topic.

The presentation was accompanied with graphics and text for those who wished to take notes. Understandably, the reporter condensed and paraphrased portions of the presentation. However, the published article contained some statements that I did not say. I would like to ask you to publish this letter to correct inaccurate comments that were perhaps inadvertently attributed to me.

Regarding the case involving Professor Gates and the Cambridge Police, the CCSU article ascribed the following comment to me: “. . . Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. was arrested at his home after a neighbor called police with suspicions that he was trying to break into his house.” I did not make this remark. I did say: “I heard the transcript of the call that was aired on the television. The caller did not mention race. She said that she thought the person trying to get into the house probably lived there. Professor Gates, the director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard, stated that he had trouble unlocking his door after it became jammed.”

On the next topic, healthcare, I did not say “There is a theory that says healthcare reform should be used in order to pay back the African Americans who were slaves or “healthcare as retribution.” This is an error which should not be attributed to me. I stated that a critic of the administration’s health care proposal used the phrase “health care as reparations.” I explained, for those in the audience who may not have been familiar with the subject of reparations, that an initiator of the reparations proposal in the 19th century was Ms. Callie House (1861-1928), a formerly enslaved person. She targeted $68 million in taxes on seized rebel cotton (over $1.2 billion in 2005 dollars) and

demanded it as repayment for centuries of unpaid labor.

I elaborated on the historical background of the issue of a national healthcare policy. It emerged during the 1912 presidential election. Former Republican President Theodore Roosevelt, running as a candidate under the Progressive Party (the Bull Moose Party) campaigned on a platform that incorporated health care as the 11th issue listed under “Social and Industrial Justice.”

I then stated that the topic of a national health care policy was introduced in 1943 during the Roosevelt administration and in 1948-1949 during the Truman administration. Universal health was proposed during the Eisenhower administration in the 1950s, but the President rejected it. Most importantly I stated that the critic of the current healthcare plan connected the healthcare debate to an unrelated item ‘reparations for formerly enslaved African Americans’ instead of placing the healthcare issue within its proper historical context.

The Recorder article attributed another inaccurate comment to me. The author wrote: “She explained that the world is binary, in a world in black and white.” I did not say this. I stated that “race in the United States is conflated into binary opposites - black and white. I explained that African Americans are not a monolith. Black as a category includes African Americans born in the U.S., Caribbean Americans in the French, Spanish, Dutch Caribbean, continental Africans, and South Americans – Afro Brazilians and Guyanese for example.”

I stated furthermore “White Americans are not a monolith. White as a category includes the European descended population from multiple ethnicities born in the U.S., new arrivals from Bosnia, the Russia Federation, and other parts of the European Union.”

I explained that “the United Stated is composed of communities that do not neatly fit into the black-white dichotomy of binary opposites. They include Native Americans – Schantikoke, Pequot, Wampanoag, and Mohican to list a few in New England. Communities not do not fit into the black-white dichotomy include Asian Americans – a term generally applied to Americans of Chinese and Japanese descent, but the Asian continent and its descendants in the U.S. are

from India, Pakistan, South East Asia (Cambodia, Viet Nam, and Laos for example), and Western Asia commonly called the Middle East. Those communities that do not fit into the black-white dichotomy also include Americans of Spanish speaking language heritage (Hispanic) with ancestry from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Colombia, Peru, and the Dominican Republic.” These observations also appeared in the text that was formatted for quick reference and projected onto the viewing screen for the audience.

The presentation connected the topic “Barack Obama, Race and the American Presidency,” to several additional issues. One of those was the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama; one of only three United States presidents to earn that distinction. The other two were Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, however, critics found fault with the Nobel Peace Prize Commission’s decision. The presidential signing of the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Act was another item that elicited criticism was also examined in the presentation. I am not insisting that every facet of the presentation appear in the article because time and space limits what can be covered in the articles The Recorder publishes. My central purpose in writing to you is to provide a true account of my remarks that were perhaps unintentionally incorrectly represented.

May I close with the question that the reporter correctly quoted me as asking: “Can the discussion on the topic become a source of a transformative dialogue on race, trust, reconciliation, and humanity?

Thank you for permitting me the opportunity to correct comments in the article “A World in Black and White?” Thank you also for the coverage of the presentation “Barack Obama, Race and the American Presidency,” a part of the African American Studies Program Lecture Series chaired by Central Connecticut State University Professor, Dr. Felton O. Best.

Sincerely,

Katherine J. Harris, Ph.D.

Department of History

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It is no surprise that some will bemoan the news that students probably have to pay 6.5 percent more for tuition starting next fall. Though any percentage of increase, whether in the single digits or greater, will appear too hefty, it is in the best interest of all to appreciate that increases are always necessary in order to reflect the increases in costs of operating a university.

Last year’s increase was 5.3 percent, breaking the steady 4.5 percent increase trend from 2005 to 2008. With the addition of the 2009-2010 6.5 percent increase, we can take that to mean it is a response to the economic recession.

Yes, students have more financial problems on their plate, but the university does as well. With administrative costs to cover, and planning more more funds to soften the blow of a potentially weak state budget, it should not shock students that a heavier increase was in order.

And for those who would like to make the argument that the tuition increase will be levied on students who will not see the benefit, this is the natural process of operating a university. They might as well criticize the CCSU classes from the last decade for funding our newer buildings, like the student center or some of the recent renovations.

Inevitably, the money coming into the school is not always pooled for general use - some funds have requirements and strings attached to them - but it is safe to say that in some way, the tuition increases of yesterday have boosted our activities today.

And it could be worse. We are lucky that CCSU is a very affordable university, compared to other colleges within the state like the universities of Connecticut or Hartford. UConn suffered a hefty tuition increase last year - an 11 percent of their overall $8,852, which brings them to today’s cost of $9,886 for the non-resident student.

CCSU students would shudder to think about having to foot a $28,980 bill at University of Hartford.

The expected increase to be effective at CCSU in Fall 2010 is also slightly easier to swallow when compared to the average price of student textbooks. According to collegeboard.com, the go-to almanac for colleges across the country, CCSS students pay $1,010 for two semesters in textbooks. The increase, which would tack on an extra $241 to tuition, is less than half the cost of the average student’s semesterly textbook purchases.

In the end, there is not much students can do to alter the fate of

their tuition payments, short of being appointed to the Connecticut State University Board of Trustees to fight down these hikes. Students should instead look to the CCSU administration to spend wisely and safely, but also keep in mind that there is much more than meets the eye to keeping a 12,000-student university running. They should find more comfort in keeping a close eye on the administration and what it does with their money, or what grand plans CCSU has for the future classes. After all, our comforts today are the result of someone else’s tuition increases.

Tuition Increase Shock to be Expected, Overcome

Editorial/Opinion Upgrade THE RECORDERWednesday, December 9, 2009

Top 10 Films of 2009: A Strong Year, Both Here and Abroad

Top 10 Albums of 2009: Reunions, Returns and Rising ArtistsMiChAEL WALShThE RECoRDER

1. OSI – BloodThe progressive collaboration

between Kevin Moore and Jim Matheos has never been better. Bringing Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison into the mix only expanded their experimental sound. Moore, formerly of Dream Theater, features one of the most soothing and chilling vocal styles around, and it’s something that makes OSI and undeniable force. Moore and Matheos are true composers and made nine tracks of atmospheric and powerful music that meets perfectly at the crossroads of progressive rock, industrial rock and experimental rock.

2. Alice in Chains – Black Gives Way to Blue

When you think about the importance of a singer to his or her band, you’d be hard pressed to find one as important as Layne Staley was to Alice in Chains. But even though the legendary voice is not around anymore, it doesn’t

mean Jerry Cantrell and company have to stop making good music. Black Gives Way to Blue is Alice in Chains doing what they do best, combining hooking and heavy riffs with meaningful lyrics. In turn an outstanding achievement is created and a return to form is seen for the grunge giants.

3. Porcupine Tree – The Incident

The Steven Wilson-led progressive rock behemoth Porcupine Tree was back in action this past year and might have created one of their defining masterpieces. Wilson has had the band spanning the sounds over their years, going from spacey psychedelic rock to a true form of heavy metal that might segue into a quieter acoustic song. But no matter what style Wilson aims for, he hits it right on the nose. With Gavin Harrison, one of the best drummers in music today, Wilson takes the band to a whole new level, creating The Incident, a 55-minute concept album that in its truest form is one complete song cycle. There is no shortage of ear-pleasing moments in Porcupine Tree’s The Incident, a culmination of many years in the studio.

4. The Dear Hunter – Act III: Life and Death

The Dear Hunter began as a side project for musician Casey Crescenzo. But things worked out so well that it’s become his full-time project and has proven to become one of the strongest new acts of the decade. Act three in what is supposed to be a six-act story is just as listenable

and desirable as the previous two. A good description of this progressive and experimental band would be a coherent smorgasbord of wholly original and good sounds complete with a soaring Crescenzo, whose vocal style has finally matured and become his own.

5. Nirvana – Live at Reading

Sure, the historic concert happened in 1992, but not until now has the audio been available in such pristine format. Like no Nirvana studio album can, Live at Reading captures the grunge band in its best form, a hardcore, heavy and rough around the edges experience that only Kurt Cobain could produce. If you’re still somehow a Nirvana doubter, give this live album a chance, because it really shows how important and groundbreaking this band truly was.

6. Umphrey’s McGee – Mantis

Outstanding progressive jam band Umphrey’s McGee brought their game to the next level with Mantis, a true in the studio creation. Released in January, Mantis has seen the light of day during the band’s live shows, something they’re better known for. Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger are two talented men when holding guitars in their hands and the rest of the six piece band follows suit one after another.

7. Phish – JoyPhish is back and the 3.0

tour experience has proven to be successful. Part of that return is in

the form of their latest studio album Joy. Sure, studio stuff isn’t what Phish fans love and adore, and why should it be when the live material is what really identifies the jam band? But still, Joy is a great album, and has spawned a few tracks (such as “Light”) that have turned into must-hear jams on their live tour. Say what you want about the band, but there probably isn’t a better live touring group right now, and this album is just the latest result of that greatness.

8. Dusty Rhodes and the River Band – Palace and Stage

One band worth looking directly at is Dusty Rhodes and the River Band. The six-piece indie rock band is bred with folk rock and a progressive rock style of energy. With Palace and Stage the band has certified themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Their original sound of folk rock complete with violin bleeds with an energy that might be likened to the band Yes. They’ve taken their act in the direction of a classic 1970’s group such as Emerson Lake and Palmer and King Crimson, two bands guitarist Kyle Divine has admitted as favorites. Their shout along songs and addictive style of music make them one of the best bands worth keeping an eye on.

9. Tom Waits – Glitter and Doom Live

I love this. The latest live album detailing Tom Waits’ 2008 Glitter and Doom tour is a pure example of how the growling Waits will be great for as long as he lasts. I don’t care how distorted or disfigured

MiChAEL WALShThE RECoRDER

Over the course of a year more films get released than any sane person is able to see. And because of this, any top 10 films of the year list might read more like a top 10 films I’ve been able to see list. High profile films like Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air and Nine have yet to be released. I didn’t even get to see the Coens’ A Serious Man or The Road. Other long-awaited films such as Invictus, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and Crazy Heart also haven’t been released yet.

1. In the LoopIn the Loop is not only the best

film I’ve seen this year, but it’s also the best comedy of the decade. What director and writer Armando Iannucci does with In the Loop is make it the most timely political film of the year, but does so with the crude British government spin

doctor Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) leading the way. Tucker is a character made famous for his ability to strike fear with strings of crude words on Iannucci’s BBC television show The Thick of It. In the Loop is addictive satirical comedy supplanted by its surprising and timely social commentary of government and war.

2. Drag Me to HellA highlight of the year was Sam

Raimi’s successful return to his rightful seat as one of the kings of horror, a much needed venture after his weak Spider-Man films. Drag Me to Hell was a return to form for Raimi, a style of horror that made his Evil Dead trilogy as successful as it has become. A strong combination of campy horror and gross-out splatter fun made this the best horror film in a year categorized by strong efforts in the genre.

3. Inglourious BasterdsPlacing Quentin Tarantino’s

Inglourious Basterds in a high position might seem typical, but it’s also absolutely necessary. His World War II epic is an outstanding study in how words can be tense. It also invigorated a style of filmmaking more common of the past as it toyed with the genres of the spaghetti western and exploitation. Tarantino’s love for a subject matter has never been stronger. The strong storytelling, wonderful acting and detailed dialogue made for one of the best films this year.

4. The Hurt LockerKathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt

Locker follows an American bomb

squad in the 2004 Iraq War and details the troubles and long-lasting effects war can leave on a person. The film is one part suspenseful action and one part psychological war drama. The film’s numerous bomb-defusing scenes remain some of the ferocious and tensest moments in film this year. The lasting result of war on the characters is just as painful to watch, leading The Hurt Locker to be one of the strongest war thrillers in the past few years.

5. AntichristOffensive? Maybe. Disturbing?

Mostly. Beautifully made? Absolutely. Lars von Trier’s troubling Antichrist created quite a stir at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, but for a good reason. While some critics were shouting and yelling over the supposed misogynistic views of von Trier or the graphic sexual violence the Dutch filmmaker showed with no shame or hindrance, others were rightfully applauding the artistic merit von Trier’s film has. Antichrist is one of the most jarring films of the year and a wholly personal film for von Trier

6. MoonMoon’s a little bit of Andrei

Tarkovsky’s Solaris and a little bit of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, but it’s also a whole lot of originality. Science fiction films like Moon aren’t made as often as they once were. Perhaps audiences lost the patience to watch a film as isolated as the three genre titles I’ve mentioned so far. But director Duncan Jones was able to make a vintage science fiction film that impresses with outstanding visuals

and a tense isolated in space screenplay.

7. Samson and DelilahWarwick Thornton’s first feature

film, Samson and Delilah, is a quiet sensation, almost literally. The Australian film tells of indigenous love between two 14-year olds, played by first time actors Rowan McNamara and Marissa Gibson, living in a remote Aboriginal area. The two decide to leave their difficult lives for a more modern community. The couple hardly speaks to one another. The acting is rather sublime and realistic because of this. The film is a survival love story of heartbreaking yet beautiful circumstances, a true portrait of their way of life and the country.

8. PreciousPrecious is most notable for

its strong acting performances by Mo’Nique and Gabourey Sidibe. The film is a total collection of new and surprising talent, whether it is director Lee Daniels or the surprisingly good performance from Mariah Carey. It’s a tough film to watch but so easy to get involved in and dig some hope out of. The story is devastating and made all the more troubling thanks to the genuine performances from the all-around great female-fronted cast.

9. ThirstForget the Starbuck’s vampires

of Twilight, the real vampire film worth seeing this year is Chan-wook Park’s Thirst. Park reached fame with his revenge trilogy, a series of films highlighted by sudden cult classic Oldboy. Park’s now successfully

challenged the vampire genre. Just like in his previous film, Park isn’t afraid to tread the boundary of controversial and graphic. The sexual energy feeds off the classic Bela Lugosi-style vampire all the while bringing an everyday life vibe to package. Park only stretches the limits of vampire mythos in Thirst, a truly graphic, shocking and fulfilling genre film.

10. District 9The biggest hit of late summer

was undoubtedly District 9. Neill Blomkamp went from awesome short film to director of Halo back to being able to make that short film a feature length reality. Peter Jackson believed in him, gave him support, and let the South African filmmaker create his vision. Sharlto Copley emerged as a rising actor who’s destined to garner more acting roles thanks to his performance here.

the sounds coming out of his throat end up being. It was the destined path for this man. You can just hear it in an early recording of his like Nighthawks at the Diner. What’s never changed is the fact that he’s one of music’s greatest storytellers. Glitter and Doom Live does nothing but supplant that statement with more proof.

10. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic

I feel like I enjoyed the latest offering from The Flaming Lips a lot more than some other people did. It was a trip back to the strange and weird for the group who with their recent albums became a more mainstream (if that’s even possible for a band like this) success. This is the 12th album in a very long and bizarre career for Wayne Coyne and the band and it certainly strikes me as one of their most imposing and fun-loving albums yet. Not a great starting point for newcomers, but certainly a welcome addition for hardcore fans.

5

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, December 9, 2009 / UPGR ADE

Precious Full of Pain, Hope and Incredible Performances

More Zombies, New Friends for a Better Apocalypse

MELiSSA TRAyNORThE RECoRDER

If you enjoy a good zombie apocalypse movie every now and then (and who doesn’t?), you’ve probably wondered how long you would survive among hordes of the undead.

Given the circumstances of survival missions, and convenient amounts of both weapons and ammunition, Left 4 Dead 2 allows players to shoot, bludgeon, hack, bomb and batter their way through a pretty interesting trip.

Much like the first game, L4D2 uses the same post-apocalyptic storyline with four survivors, hordes of common zombies, “boss” zombies with abnormal abilities, safe houses check-ins and rendezvous points. This time, maker Valve waves goodbye to the previous characters Bill, Lewis, Zoey and Francis and introduce us to Coach, literally a high school football coach, Nick the gambler, Ellis, a townie mechanic and Rochelle, a low-level TV news producer.

The game’s makers have also relocated the original setting to Savannah, Ga. and provided for five campaigns in the South; the levels are interconnected, with each one beginning where the last ended. Ultimately, the characters have to fight their way west to reach New Orleans where military evacuation is their last chance to escape the infected.

But on to the good stuff. Within minutes of gameplay, it’s obvious that the sequel is far superior to the first. It seems the makers took the approach, “crazier zombies, crazier weapons.”

L4D2 not only employs abilities of the original special or “boss” zombies – the ensnaring and strangling tongue of the Smoker; zombie-attracting bile of the Boomer; pounce action of the Hunter; the Tank’s rabid strength and size; Witch’s shrieks and claws – the game has three new foul creatures to threaten the survivors. The best of these are the Charger, an infected creature with an oversized arm that can run out of nowhere and beat a survivor into the ground repeatedly, and the Jockey, which latches onto a survivor’s back and steers them

into other common infected.More important, however, is the game’s

arsenal of unusual and deadly weapons. L4D2 makes very good use of new melee objects. Take, for example, the frying pan. It makes a “fwing” noise when it collides with the skulls of approaching infected. You can easily knock away two or three infected at a time. Other notable melee weapons for you to check out on your own include chainsaw, electric guitar, axe, sword, cricket paddle (a la Shawn of the Dead), baseball bat and crowbar.

Power weapons are another staple of the game, but L4D2 brings in a few new concepts, such as “fire bullets” – yes, bullets that ignite fires that engulf their targets – and rocket launchers.

The element of the game that really sets it apart from the first is the difficulty of play. That doesn’t just mean adjusting from “easy”

to “expert” level and running through a campaign with only pistols, but the obstacles are much more extreme. In the “Hard Rain” campaign, the survivors must move through two safe houses and the notorious cornfields to retrieve gasoline for the getaway boat, but in the meantime must fend off the common infected, as well as an unusually high amount of roaming Witches. They must also battle through extreme downpour, slowly wade through murky water and creep around something that looks like an abandoned refinery maze.

Valve also included features that make for slightly frustrating, but more enjoyable gameplay once players learn to take advantage of them as training grounds. I remember playing through campaigns from the first game specifically to reach the finale where endless waves of the “boss” and common

infected rush the survivors and the Tank appears three or four times to destroy our chances of escape. The new game has a level that is strictly dedicated to these ultimate “survival scenes” – though without an escape. The level is purely set up just to measure how long it takes for the survivors to perish among the hordes.

The new features make for a significant improvement on and already stellar game, especially with the complete “movie” feel (did I mention that the game is directed by an AI to alter paths, infected populations and create tension with music?).

Replay-ability for Left 4 Dead was high originally, but with more options than players know what to do with, the sequel is destined to provide infinite ways to slaughter masses of zombies. Perfect to put thumb-twiddling to use over winter break.

MiChAEL WALShThE RECoRDER

The unreal reality and disparaging tale of Clareece Precious Jones begins with an affliction of Precious’ diluted view of life. “I want to be on the cover of a magazine,” says the 16-year-old girl. “I wish I had a light-skinned boyfriend with good hair. But first I want to be in one of those BET videos.”

New talent Gabourey Sidibe plays the obese and illiterate Precious in the Oscar-buzzing film directed by Lee Daniels. Saddling up alongside Sidibe to make for one impressive female-led cast are Mo’Nique, Paula Patton and Mariah Carey.

It’s hard to recall a film carried by its acting as much as Precious is. Sure, the story, based on a novel by Sapphire, is dark and unrelenting and that alone makes for an effective drama, but the performances turned in by likes of Sidibe and Mo’Nique carries the film to a whole different quadrant of impactful storytelling. The extreme pain of the characters is felt alongside an unmistakable sense of reality, which is a combination proven time and time again to hit audiences the hardest.

And while Precious might end up as one of the toughest films to watch all year long because of the emotional performances coupled with content such as sexual, physical and mental abuse, there is a somewhat deeply-rooted sense of hope that exudes out of the tale of the struggling 16-year-old girl named Precious. Her admittance to an alternative school and the role that institution plays as a gleaming beam of hope gives the film a slight feel-good vibe you absolutely wouldn’t expect after the film’s opening sequences.

It’s easy to see why Precious has been stunning audiences at the various film festivals it has been shown at. The jarringly painful and intimate performances, especially Sidibe’s

lead performance and the rather surprising and Oscar-deserving turn from Mo’Nique as Precious’ abusive mother, are all jaw droppers. I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t

think Mo’Nique had this kind of performance in her. With a round-up of acting credits that includes Phat Girlz and Soul Plane, you can’t blame me, but I’m glad to be proven wrong.

Even Mariah Carey adds to the dramatic mix with her solid performance as welfare worker Mrs. Weiss, a key character in the discovery of the revelations of Precious’ painful life. Paula Patton, as Ms. Blu Rain, Precious’ new teacher at her alternative school, gives the most inspiring and hopeful performance as Precious’ ticket out of her personal hell.

And as you study these characters a little more deeply, you find that each adds its own purpose to the story and to Precious herself. They’re more than simple characters with a name and a face. Precious herself is a puzzling character, she often sees herself living a different life, perhaps one of a slender white woman, and even though she might want change, shows a fear to engaging it. Her mother is her hindrance, Ms. Rain is her gateway to salvation and Mrs. Weiss is her personal diary. The final two characters are the undeniable sense of hope I make reference to.

Precious won’t win awards for cinematography, as the jerky handheld cam is unbalanced at times, but it should take home something for its acting. A female-led film such as this doesn’t come around that often and the achievements should be recognized.

Precious is a must-see film. While it is a bit of a tear-inducing film typical of the Oscar season, it leaves you feeling an overall sense of optimism and does so remarkably with its realistic grasp on life boosted by a round of great performances.

Photo | iGN.com

Photo | Lionsgate Films

6

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, December 9, 2009 / UPGR ADE

Holiday Gift Guide

Ten Ways to Get Green this Holiday Season

Canadian Club Whisky 750mL $12.99 / Any liquor store

Swobo Folsom Bike $499.99 / swobo.com

Mad Men Season 2 on Blu-ray $21.99 / amazon.com

Columbia Blade Run II Parka $210.00 / columbia.com

For HerFor Him

SAMANThA FOuRNiERThE RECoRDER

There are pieces of crinkled up wrapping paper still strewn across the living room floor, the garbage is overflowing with used paper plates from the day before, and everyone is rubbing their bellies and wondering why they ate so much. Does the day after Christmas look anything like this at your house?

The holidays are less than a month away and before students go out and finish their holiday shopping here are a few ways to think about being sustainable and helping the environment before the holiday season comes to a close.

“It’s not about killing joy. It’s about making better choices,” says Professor of Anthropology and co-chair of a campus sustainability club Abigail E. Adams about creating a more sustainable holiday. Adams thinks of three elements when she thinks of sustainability. The three elements are economical and environmental sustainability, and equitable social relationships.

Think experiences instead of giftsAdams says we should make the holidays

about “more fun [and] less stuff.” Students can think about ways to spend time with their loved ones instead of buying gifts this season. Students can keep it economical by staying in and baking cookies or by taking a day trip to a local hot spot.

Fair trade and green giftsBoth the Green America website and the

Ten Thousand Villages Website support green giving and fair trade (fair trade supports fair wages and equal opportunity). When you think about giving, you should check out both of these websites which offer a variety of environmentally friendly gifts that can fit any budget.

Think about the packagingWho doesn’t love unwrapping gifts? Make

sure you’re getting more of what you’re buying and less packaging. You may end up paying a little bit more, but less unnecessary packaging will end up in a land fill.

Get creative with gift wrapInstead of wrapping gifts with paper that

can’t be recycled get creative and think about other ways to wrap your gifts this season. You could give away gifts in reusable bags that friends and family members can later use while shopping instead of having to use plastic bags or wrap gifts with newspaper.

Buy locallyWhen making up your holiday menu

consider buying locally grown produce to support local farmers.

nix the paper plates“We use regular china for the holidays,”

says CCSU student Brian Jones. Instead of buying lots of paper plates that will just end up in the trash eventually, use glass plates that can be washed and put back on the shelf at the end of the day.

Get a little nature friendlyYou can keep your tree (real or fake), but

Adams also suggests decorating a tree outside

in your yard with popcorn, pinecones covered in birdseed, and home made icicles filled with fruit.

reuse decorationsEach year CCSU sophomore Michael

Pizzoferrato and his family reuse their same fake Christmas tree. Instead of buying new decorations or a new fake tree each year try to reuse what you already have.

recycleAfter the big dinner or family get together

make sure to recycle all of the glass bottles, boxes, and soda bottles so they don’t end up in the garbage can.

Make a donationIf students have a few extra dollars in their

pockets they can give them to local food banks and local organizations that serve the poor, which have a tremendous need for donations at this time of the year. This is one way to give back and put a smile on someone else’s face.

7

Nixon Newton Digital $100 / nixonnow.com

Perforated iPhone 3G snap case. $29.95 / goincase.com

Gary Vaynerchuk’s 101 Wines: Guaranteed to Inspire, Delight, and Bring Thunder to Your World. $13.57 / amazon.com

Chronograph Silver Dial watch. $95 / fossil.com

Wool blend duffle bag. $49.50 / gap.com

Flotsam & JetsamSpanish Galleon ring $160 / catbirdnyc.com

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, December 9, 2009 / UPGR ADE 8

Independent Film Club Seeking to

Serve Community, University

MiChAEL WALShThE RECoRDER

For a club that has yet to seek offi cial recognition, the Independent Film Club at CCSU already has a lot on its mind and schedule.

Th e club was started by CCSU freshmen Conor Lamo and Mike Serignese, who now serve as co-presidents to the club. Both Lamo and Serignese went to Wethersfi eld High School together.

“Th e mission of the club would be to serve the community, the university and the members through independent fi lm. We aim for projects using fi lm that will help whether it be charity or exposing something at the university,” said Lamo, a management information systems major.

Th e group’s latest project involves the creation of a Christmas fi lm in a partnership with Pathways-Senderos, a New Britain teen pregnancy prevention group.

“Th e kids, aged K-12, developed their own storyline, created characters and produced a script last week with the Independent Film Club. Th e fi lm will be shown Dec. 11 during a benefi t involving CCSU,” said Lamo.

Earlier this semester the club assisted on a video project for the fi nance association.

“We fi lmed and now are editing a project for the fi nance association. A FINRA [Financial Industry Regulatory Authority] representative came in and talked about student debt, so we’re going to be putt ing that up on their website once their Web site’s up,” said Lamo.

But for Lamo and Serignese, the aims of their club don’t stop at helping only those outside of the group. Th ey also plan on pointing aspiring fi lmmakers that join the group in the right direction.

“Member wise, what we’re going to do is if people have scripts we’re going to read them over and suggest all that kind of stuff . And then if we could point them in the right direction of equipment we’re going to do that,” said Lamo.

Lamo also stressed the idea of serving members that are thinking of fi lmmaking as a profession.

“We want to have alliances with local fi lm studios because if members are thinking about profession we want to think about gett ing them connected with internships. It’s not an easy industry to break into,” said Lamo.

And while at fi rst glance having two presidents might seem strange,

the two explain it by describing the diff erence in their roles.

“People seem to go towards Conor asking for help,” said Serignese, a communication major. “People go to Conor and they’ll ask him ‘Can you do this for us? Can you fi lm this? Would you be interested in doing this?’ Whereas in the meetings I’ll stress more about individual projects.”

Serignese has fi lmed a couple of shorter fi lms over the past few years and fi lmed a feature length fi lm about the Vietnam War two summers ago.

“I’ve writt en screenplays and have gott en a bunch of scripts done, so I’m more about helping everyone on their own type of stuff ,” said Serignese. “As much as we want everyone to help us out with the big projects for the club, we’re also encouraging everyone to work on their own stuff on the side. I’m working on my stuff but also doing everything with the club.”

Th e two stressed that their end goal is for the group to be able to hold an annual fi lm festival showcasing the projects that members have completed.

“Our ultimate goal, if not this year, at least by maybe the end of fi rst semester next year, is that we want to get together projects we’ve done together as a club and projects that we’ve done individually,” said Serignese. “Th en pool them all together and see if we can get the Torp Th eatre or Welte or a local high school or something to see if we can bring in some money for the club and get our name out there.”

While they hope to hold at least one in the four years they att end CCSU, their ideal plan would be to hold on every year.

“I just don’t think this year is going to be possible just because we have such a limited budget allowed,” said Lamo.

And as the club grows and pushes towards that ultimate goal, they’re also seeking new members. Leadership positions are also open for this upcoming semester. Right now the club has seen increased membership and plays host to a variety of students.

“A lot of people actually have interest in it. Even in our club there are a lot of diff erent people in it that want to do diff erent things,” said Lamo. “We have a director of music now because this kid comes in and plays guitar. People aren’t all saying they want to direct, they want to do the music or do the marketing.”

Th e club is seeking offi cial recognition on Dec. 15.

“i’ve written screenplays and have gotten a bunch of scripts done, so i’m more

about helping everyone on their own type of stuff.”

- Mike Serignese

Photo | iGN.com

Recipes on the Cheap and Easy

First Th ere Was Rock, Th en Th ere Was ‘DJ Hero’

MELiSSA TRAyNORThE RECoRDER

One of the latest cookbooks for college - appropriately named "Th e Healthy College Cookbook" - is a well-rounded guide for the way students should be eating. Th e book, which came out earlier this year, serves up recipes that are quick, easy and cheap - exactly what the tagline says.

It's not completely no-nonsense, as some of the recipes are elaborate and slightly more time-consuming than you'd expect for college cooking, but generally, "Th e Healthy College Cookbook" off ers recipes that are easy to follow and of a wide enough variety to keep students consulting the book for meal ideas. It's also a relief to see that many of the recipes go without expensive foods; many ingredients can be found in the average pantry of canned food and standard household seasonings.

Th e cookbook is divided up by meal categories and special chapters such as appetizers, champion breakfasts and dishes for meat lovers. I was most interested in vegetarian

meals, but these were not exactly limited to this one specifi c chapter. Th e book has lots of tags to indicate types of recipes; for example, litt le clock icons are at the top of recipes pages that require a very short amount of time to prepare. I just followed the litt le cabbage icon to look for vegetarian meals.

Even though the veggie chapter was exactly just that, I could easily see various types of meat added to the recipes to appeal to that crowd. One of the best recipes from this chapter's pages was the red beans and rice plate. Th is Creole dish is ridiculously easy to make and if you have the tolerance for spicy food, it's great for extra splashes of Tobasco sauce.

Th ough it requires a stove-top and an assortment of veggies and kitchen utensils, if you can manage to pull these together somewhere in a dorm, or if you live in an apartment with a full kitchen, the recipe is more than worth trying out; you basically round up the ingredients and throw them in a frying pan together. At the same time, I cooked some brown rice to pour the beans

over for a quick meal. Red beans and rice in general was a fl exible decision because you can easily substitute or take out a vegetable (though, certainly not the beans), depending on your tastes.

Th e cookbook also has a good mix of "comfort food"-type recipes. Even though the ingredients listed are generally good for you, it's a nice way to trick your body into thinking that you just indulged in junk food. For example, peanut butt er oatmeal involves water, quick-cooking oats (high in fi ber), peanut butt er and packed brown sugar, but I could easily see someone sneaking in some chocolate for some Reeses Pieces oatmeal.

I wouldn't go so far as to say "Th e Healthy College Cookbook" is a dorm-room essential, but it's defi nitely a nice cure for lack of good meal ideas on a weekday. It sells for around $10 on most online locations and belongs to a series of cookbooks from Storey Publishing on other college cuisine topics including the original College Cookbook, beer tasting and hangover food. Happy cooking.

1 teaspoon butt er1 small yellow onion, chopped1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 celery stalk2 (15-ounce) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained2 garlic cloves, minced1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 Melt the butt er in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until it becomes translucent, about 3 minutes.

2 Add the green pepper, celery, beans, garlic, oregano, tomato sauce, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

serve these spicy beans over hot cooked rice.

Red Beans and Rice1/2 cup tomato sauce1 tablespoon hot sauce2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauceSalt and freshly ground black pepper

MiChAEL WALShThE RECoRDER

Just when you thought your home was safe from more plastic musical instruments for at least a litt le while, here comes Activision’s DJ Hero, a new spin on the rhythm game genre.

Destined to make you a king of the turntable, something Grandmaster Flash fi rst used as a musical instrument (Flash reminds you constantly throughout the game in case you forget), DJ Hero combines the now old concept of hitt ing notes rolling down a fl oating path with an infectious new way of pretending to be a musical genius.

But just like when Guitar Hero introduced plastic guitars and Rock Band introduced plastic drums, DJ Hero has a learning curve based on precise timing and focus, as well the ability to do a few things at once. While less people might consider them familiar with a turntable than a guitar or a set of drums, DJ Hero is something that at its most basic moments can be learned with a litt le practice.

Th e most brilliant thing DJ Hero has done for me is given me the ability to enjoy music I normally would never want to hear. Th e game includes 94 mixes, most of which are entertaining mashups of two unlikely songs. A bit misleading is the fact that there aren’t 94 songs in the game, as a few tracks are used

multiple times in diff erent mixes. Would I ever want to hear Rihanna mixed with Th e Killers? No. But I did have lots of fun pretending to mix them.

But even if your musical tastes stretch about as far away from the style of music normally spun by a DJ at a house party (and trust me, my taste does, you don’t see many turntable pros spinning Phish, Primus or King Crimson), you’ll be able to fi nd something you enjoy here, if not because of the artist themselves, but because of the absurdity of the mix itself. Beastie Boys and Queen? I can get behind that. Marvin Gaye and Davie Bowie? Well, okay. Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer? Now that’s funny.

My gripes, which are far and few between, mostly touch on the diffi culty and absolute precision of the gameplay. I found the gap between medium and hard to be awkwardly large. One might fi nd themselves fi ve-starring every song on medium before struggling to

even get three on certain songs on hard.

Unlike Guitar Hero, you can’t fail songs in DJ Hero. Because of this, the precision needed to amp up your score and keep streaks alive isn’t that big of a deal, just slightly annoying. I felt the quality of the crossfader switch, which you hit when needed to change tracks, doesn’t match the precise level they ask you to do it at. It’s easy to lose your place with it. But while I’m still early in the learning to become a DJ process, it’s probably something that becomes second nature at some point. I wouldn’t call it a perfect experience, but it certainly is an example of a neat concept turned into something substantially fresh and fun. Th e newest plastic instrument on the streets is enough to make you put aside the typical guitar, bass, drum or microphone for at least a litt le while. I’m just wondering when Flute Hero featuring Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull is going to be released.

9THE RECORDER / Wednesday, December 9, 2009 / SPORTS

SPORTS STARTS ON BACKPAGE

Women’s Track Competes at Jay Carisella Invitational

Men’s Basketball Drops 69-65 Decision at LIU

CCSuBLuEDEviLS.COM

Senior Joe Seymore and junior David Simmons each scored 15 points, but Central Connecticut State University fell to Long Island University by a score of 69-65 on the road on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Devils fall to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the Northeast Conference, while LIU improves to 4-3 on the season and 2-0 in NEC play.

The Blue Devils found themselves down nine points, at 65-56, with 2:49 remaining in the game before going on a 6-0 run to cut it to 65-62 with only 1:05 to play. Seymore and Simmons, along with junior Shemik Thompson each recorded a basket during the late stretch. Free throws by Long Island gave the Blackbirds the 69-65 victory.

The two teams traded baskets to start the game as Long Island held a slight 10-9 advantage with 11:22 left in the first half. Seymore and Simmons were integral at the beginning, tallying five and four points during the stretch, respectively.

The Blackbirds used an 8-0

run late in the first period to take a 28-18 lead with only 2:31 to play before the break. Senior Jaytornah Wisseh scored five straight points during the stretch, connecting on a three-pointer and a layup off of a high ball screen.

Central got back into the game before the half with a 6-0 run of their own. Sophomore Robby Ptacek drove the lane and finished amongst plenty of Blackbirds and then went two for two from the free throw line to pull the Blue Devils within six. Simmons then recorded his third bucket of the first half, finishing a layup on a fastbreak with 57 seconds left.

LIU went into the locker room with the 28-24 lead, recording a 39.3 field goal percentage and knocking down five three-pointers on only 10 attempts. The Blue Devils only shot 28.6 percent from the field, but forced nine Blackbird turnovers in the opening frame.

After Long Island recorded a 5-0 run early in the second period, on five points by Wisseh, CCSU tallied eight points to LIU's two to make it 45-42 with 11:58 to play in the game. Thompson knocked down

two threes during the stretch to get Central back into the game.

The Blackbirds stretched the lead out to 13 points, at 55-42, as they scored 10 straight with only 8:36 remaining in the game. Sophomore Michael Culpo hit two three-pointers in a row to start the run for Long Island.

Seymore connected on three of seven three-pointers for his 15 points, while adding six rebounds in the loss. Simmons had his 15 points on 7-13 shooting and recorded a game high seven rebounds. Thompson finished with nine points and three assists for the Blue Devils.

Long Island was led by Wisseh with 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Freshman Kenny Onyechi recorded seven blocks, while Culpo added 15 points for the Blackbirds. LIU shot 50 percent from the field, including 9-20 from behind the arc.

CCSU will next travel to New Hampshire on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m., while Long Island will next play at Iona on Dec.9 for a 7:30 p.m. tip.

CCSuBLuEDEviLS.COM

Three players scored in double figures and sophomore Gabrielle Oglesby tied a career high 10 rebounds, but Central Connecticut State University fell to Long Island by a score of 67-60 on the road Saturday afternoon.

Junior Kerrianne Dugan led the Blue Devils with 13 points and added nine rebounds in the defeat. CCSU falls to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in the Northeast Conference, while the Blackbirds improve to 5-3 and 1-0 in NEC play.

Central Connecticut used a 14-3 run late in the second half to cut the Long Island lead to 57-56 with 3:41 remainin. Dugan was intergral during the stretch, tallying six points including four from the free throw line. LIU closed out the game with a 10-4 run including six straight points from junior Chelsi Johnson to finish with the 67-60 victory.

With only a one-point deficit after two free throws by sophomore Shontice Simmons made it 16-15 with 9:14 left in the first half, the Blue Devils gave up a 17-6 run by the Blackbirds to make it 33-21 Long Island with only 2:28 remaining in the opening period. Central cut it to 10 at the half as Dugan completed

a traditional three point play and junior Justina Udenze connected on a jump hook in the lane to finish the half at 36-26.

LIU put CCSU into a hole early, scoring the first eight points of the ball game. A three-pointer by junior Heidi Mothershead and a steal and breakaway layup by sophomore Kiara Evans highlighted the early run by the Blackbirds. The Blue Devils were held scoreless before Dugan went to the line and knocked down two free throws just 4:17 into the game.

Simmons finished with 12 points, six assists and four steals for CCSU, while junior Leanne Crockett was the final Blue Devil in double figures, tallying 10 points in the defeat. To go along with her 10 rebounds, Oglesby added seven points and three steals for Central.

The Blackbirds were led by Johnson and sophomore Ashley Palmer who recorded 17 and 16 points, respectively. Senior guard Connie James led LIU with a game high 14 rebounds, but Johnson also finished in double figures for rebounds with 10 in the win.

Central will next play on the road at non-conference foe New Hampshire on December 10 at 7:00 p.m.

Women's Hoops Falls to LIU 67-60

On the Road

CCSuBLuEDEviLS.COM

Sophomore Amanda Kelley placed in the top five in two events, while the Central Connecticut women's track and field team competed at the Jay Carisella Invitational to start the indoor season on Saturday. Freshman Dara Edge also broke the CCSU school record in the 55 meter hurdles.

Kelley placed fourth in the shot put with a distance of 12.20 meters and took fifth in the weight throw, recording a mark of 15.60 meters. Edge's record breaking time of 8.83 seconds was good enough for 10th place. She broke the previous record of 9.21 seconds, set by Amanda Ricchezza in 2000.

Junior Katherine Bossardet

and senior Alyssa Cole placed fifth and sixth in the 5000 meters with times of 18:42.40 and 18:43.49, respectively.

Sophomores Amy Sanjurjo and Kate McGuire were the other two Blue Devils to place in the top 10 on the track Saturday. Sanjurjo was sixth in the 55 meters with a time of 7.44 seconds, while McGuire finished the 500 meters in a time of 1:21.57 to place eighth.

Sophomore Amanda Prescott did her damage in the field. She placed ninth in the triple jump with a mark of 32 feet, 10 inches.

CCSU will return to the track on January 15 for the Sorlein Invitational at the University of Rhode Island.

Photo | CCSuBludevils.com

Photo | CCSuBludevils.comAmanda Kelley placed in both throwing events on Saturday.

Edward Gaug | The Recorder

10 THE RECORDER / Wednesday, December 9, 2009 / SPORTS

Fall Semester Brought Mixed Bag for CCSU Athletics

Full Contact Journalism

ChRiSTOPhER BOuLAyThE RECoRDER

Autumn came and went at CCSU with huge expectations for many sports, and ended with both glory and agony, depending on how you look at it.

Dr. Paul Resetarits became the new Athletic Director at CCSU after C.J. Jones retired. Resetarits inherited an athletic program trying to make a name for itself in many of its' sports, something that went a long way under Jones' tenure.

But his first semester didn't begin without some controversy at the school.

The semester started with some disturbing news connecting former Cross Country coach George Kawiecki to an incident in 2005 with a former runner from Kenya, Charles Ngetich. Ngetich sued CCSU because he claimed that Kawiecki made him drink blood. The case is still pending.

Football won another Northeast Conference Championship in a season that was wild, to say the least.

Early frontrunners, as they were winning every week, the Blue Devils hit the second half of their schedule and had to squeak out nearly every game. After a heartbreaking loss against Wagner, the Blue Devils ran the table, and got the help they needed from Albany and Wagner, as soon as they needed it.

CCSU won their second NEC football title, and their first since 2005. This meant a spot in what may have been the last Gridiron Classic, with a matchup against Butler in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Blue Devils looked like champions, and despite falling, the success of this team will be remembered for a very long time here.

Players like James Mallory and Aubrey Norris led this team to greatness this season, and will be remembered for nothing but positives that they brought to this team, off the field and on.

Women's soccer also were able to call themselves champions, as they wrapped up the NEC regular season title with an undefeated record. Unfortunately, despite the

efforts of Leah Blayney, Caity Casey and Clio Tregear, the women fell short in overtime to Monmouth 1-0 in the NEC Tournament final.

Though there would be no NCAA Tournament appearance for them, they helped solidify their place as a force in the northeast, and Mick D'Arcy's girls should have plenty of success ahead of them.

Men's soccer started off very well, but a disastrous NEC campaign sealed their fate as they finished dead last in the conference at 1-8-1. Despite the spectacular play from the team's midfield, led by captain Robert Cavener, the defense could not keep up with the pace of the conference, and the team fell apart quickly. Also, losing Persis Oware with a leg injury in the spring, Mersad Sahanic leaving the team, freshman defender Xavier Forsberg being suspended by the NCAA for eligibility reasons and Rafa Guimaraes missing a large part of the season with an injury, the team had a hill to climb that they could not manage.

The spring season may be the start of something new for Coach

Shaun Green's team. Despite losing goalkeepers Paul Armstrong and Chris Jones, midfielders Eddie Floyd and Guimaraes and striker Hadji Diop all to graduation, Green's next class of recruits may help solidify a team that already has some great pieces to the puzzle.

Overall, it was a time of many highs and lows for CCSU sports, but everything pointed to the school's continued building of a strong Division I program, and this should be applauded. Interest in CCSU sports has never been higher, and the quality of play has never been better.

Whether or not the school's success in athletics continues through May remains to be seen, but with two successful basketball programs leading the way, there is a decent chance it might.

These are times that cannot be taken for granted, but it could be getting even better sooner than we think.

Edward Gaug | The Recorder

Edward Gaug | The Recorder

EDWARD GAuGThE RECoRDER

In The Recorder newsroom, we use the phrase “In the name of journalism” as an excuse for dealing with just about anything that comes through our daily life.

In the past 365 days, I have taken nearly 50,000 photographs and traveled over 5,000 miles following all things Blue Devils. In the past 365 days, I have also put myself in harm's way more than enough times “in the name of journalism.”

I have dodged Josue Paul fleeing out of bounds to the stop the clock.

I have jumped over a pile of Duquesne defenders tackling James Mallory on the sidelines of Arute Field last season.

I have seen Joe Seymore and David Simmons jump over me on the baselines of Detrick Gym to save a ball about to go out of bounds.

I have ducked out of the way of two pucks off the sticks of two Blue Devil defenders at the Newington Ice Arena. (Unfortunately, one of those pucks ended up hitting Coach Malia in the back of head and sent him to the ER.)

As many hours I have spent on the sidelines, I have spent 10 times as many sitting in the 24 by 10 foot room we call our newsroom. Hundreds of late nights have been spent here sleep-deprived, editing and laying out the upcoming week’s issue. In between the arguments about correct AP style and personal insults at other editors were

thousands of one-liners and quotes that I’ll never be able to forget. I will also never forget that great times that came along with all the stress that is being an editor at a newspaper.

Those memories will follow me to whatever grad school I decide to attend in the fall. For me, it’s another two years to fine-tune my skills working a larger newspaper with a daily print rate and two more years to try to stay ahead of the curve on the future of journalism.

While most of what a journalist learns come from the newsroom, spending a few more hours in the classroom can’t hurt when a passable journalist now needs to know how to write, shoot photos, cut video and code a webpage. The glorified journalism of movies

like “The Paper” and “Absence of Malice” is DEAD. No one can sit behind a keyboard in a newsroom all day anymore. The newsroom is now the front seat of your car with a laptop, smartphone and a camera. I like to believe that I am already there and the future editors of The Recorder will follow suit.

The most important thing I learned in the past three years is that deadlines are EVERYTHING. Being on deadline is the greatest motivation someone can ask for when trying to create a masterpiece. Whether that deadline is Sunday morning for staff writers, Tuesday morning for the getting the issue to print or 7 p.m. in September when the sun is falling fast and we need a new picture of Davidson Hall, they

all drive you to forget all your other problems and focus on the task at hand.

With less than six hours to go in my last production night, I would like to thank all of the editors that have given me a chance to show off my skills and taught me all the things I know today. Whether it is a personal critique of an article or an angry e-mail at 2 in the morning threatening life and limb, both have driven me to improve and bring some of the best photography and writing to this paper.

To the photographer(s) replacing me, keep your head up, eyes open and remember your neck is worth much more than the camera in your hands so don’t be afraid to get out of the way.

Edward Gaug | The Recorder

THE RECORDER / Wednesday, December 9, 2009 / SPORTS

CCSU Blue Devils Lose Heartbreaker at Butler

11

Butler answered in the second quarter, with a nine-play, 64-yard drive that ended with a Scott Gray two-yard run.

Gray finished the day with 88 yards rushing on 15 carries, and the one trip to paydirt.

“Offensively, we hang our hat on running the football. We protected today as well as we have all year,” Voris said. “It was a balanced attack, so it was a great team win, and one we’ll remember for a long time.”

The score was deadlocked at halftime 7-7, with the Blue Devils having played the better football of the half.

On the last play of the half, Norris threw a Hail Mary pass to Rob Fisher in the end zone, which was ruled incomplete, much to the chagrin of the Blue Devils’ faithful.

“It really doesn’t matter what we all think,” McInerney said. “It was called incomplete and I asked, and it was incomplete. We had a great officiating crew. They had nothing to do with this ballgame. I call that football.”

Butler, the Pioneer League champions, was led by quarterback Huck, who threw for 182 yards completing 15-of-21, and also rushed for 41 yards and three touchdowns. The three touchdowns, all the scoring the Bulldogs needed in the second half, with a 10-yard run in the third quarter, and a 19-yard and seven-yard run in the fourth. Huck was named MVP of the game.

“When you get two weeks to prepare, you get a little better idea of what’s going on,” Voris said. “Everything with us starts with our offensive line. They studied hard and understood [CCSU’s] blitz scheme, and what they were trying to do. Coach [Frank] Smith does a great job of calling the run game.”

Neither team registered any sacks, but CCSU had six tackles-for-loss, with a combined 17 yards lost. Butler had five tackles-for-loss, for a combined nine yards.

Wide receiver Josue Paul led CCSU in receiving with three

catches for 57 yards. Paul also led the team in all-purpose yards, with 171.

Norris was able to successfully spread the ball around, as he connected with seven receivers during the game, with no receiver getting more than three catches.

Senior wide receiver Dan Bohrer led Butler in receiving, with seven catches for 69 yards. During the game, he broke the all time receiving yards record for the Bulldogs.

CCSU finishes their season one game short of their first 10-win season ever. This is the first outright NEC title that the football team has ever won. The last win was in 2005. Butler won their second Pioneer League title, their first since 1994. Butler extended the Pioneer League’s all time series lead in the Gridiron Classic, 3-1. The only win by an NEC school came last season when Albany shutout Jacksonville 28-0 in Albany, N.Y.

Continued from page 12 ALL PhOTOS By EDWARD GAuG | ThE RECoRDER

Sports 12.9

InsideThis Issue: Column: Fall Semester was

Mixed Bag for CCSU SportsFull Contact Journalism: Notes From a Seasoned Photographer

THE RECORDERWednesday, December 9, 2009

See Blue Devils Page 11

Edward Gaug | The RecorderSenior Aubrey Norris is rushed out of the pocket by a Butler defender. Norris committ ed the game’s sole turnover, a last-minute interception.

Gridiron Classic Thriller Blue Devils Fall to butler 28-23 on the road

Women’s Basketball Drops Game to URI

ChRiSTOPhER BOuLAyThE RECoRDER

INDIANAPOLIS - Th e Gridiron Classic lived up to its name.

Despite this, CCSU fell aft er Aubrey Norris threw his only interception of the game, and the only turnover of the game, with only 29 seconds left to seal their fate in a 28-23 loss.

Butler corner back Jack McKenna picked off Norris’ pass and returned it 15 yards, sealing the game for Butler (11-1).

BRiTTANy BuRKEThE RECoRDER

Th e CCSU women’s basketball team faced a disappointing loss against the University of Rhode Island Rams, allowing URI, a generally low scoring team, to take the win 64-52.

Th e Blue Devils (2-4) entered Wednesday night’s home game on a high note, aft er winning their fi rst road game versus Colgate 61-43 on Nov. 28, but they could not fi nd the same spark or momentum to carry them through in the match-up against the Rams (4-4) and walked away with their second lowest score of the season.

Much of their loss can be att ributed to their off ensive play, or the lack thereof. Th e Blue Devils took the court in the fi rst half

“It’s been a great two weeks since winning the championship,” Butler head coach Jeff Voris said. “Today’s game was a mirror image of everything we’ve gone through all year.”

Th e Blue Devils (9-3) had a world of trouble in the second half trying to read the Bulldogs’ off ense, and their unsuccessful att empts to stop their late push proved to be fatal for their title chances.

“I thought in the fi rst half we controlled the run prett y good. “Th ey made some good throws on

looking sloppy by missing layups and forcing plays, they managed to improve in the second but not by much. Players still weren’t making shots that would normally be made; with only Brooke Bailey and Kerrianne Dugan in double fi gures with 12 points a piece, but most importantly CCSU could not capitalize on the things that they did do well.

Th e Blue Devils ended the game with 20 off ensive rebounds, but the fi nal score does not refl ect on it, the same goes for their steals. CCSU recorded 14 steals on the night, compared to URI’s four, which helped but wasn’t a great enough shift to facilitate the win.

“We have 20 off ensive rebounds, what do we do with them,” asked Head Coach Beryl Piper. “We got to be able to convert on that…I mean

third down, and you have to give [Butler quarterback] Andrew Huck a lot of credit for that,” Coach Jeff McInerney said. “He ran through some tackles, and he made the play. And that’s how you win championships, you make the play.”

James Mallory led the way on the ground for the Blue Devils, with 21 carries, 109 yards and a touchdown, scored with 6:44 left in the game to cut the lead to four, at 21-17.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be considered one of the best running backs to have ever played at

you get 20 off ensive rebounds, you should win a game, but we’re just not doing anything with the rebounds we’re gett ing. It’s a killer.”

As a whole it was an off night for the Blue Devils, there was no rhythm or fl ow in their game. Th ey had an overall shooting percentage of 30.1% while their three point percentage was an unsatisfactory 11.1%.

“We move the ball well to get open shots, but I felt like today we forced some things that weren’t really there, there was a lot of standing around,” said Leanne Crockett . Crockett accounted for 13 of the team’s 43 total rebounds, but even her shot was off . She was only able to sink one of her six att empted three pointers and was two for nine in att empted fi eld goals.

this school,” Mallory said. “You’ve always got to go away thinking about the positive things. You can’t go away thinking about the negative things. We went out there and we fought today, it just so happens that it didn’t come out in our favor. We fought and we gave it our all.”

McInerney was also happy with his team’s eff ort, despite coming up short on the scoreboard.

“I am super proud of Central Connecticut State and our football team, our young men; how they competed all year, and the 12 seniors

that we’ve had, McInerney said. “I can’t tell you how much I care about them and how much they meant to Central football.”

CCSU opened the game as brilliantly as they could, with a monster 19-play, 99-yard drive that was capped off by an Eric Richardson one-yard run. Th e drive took an incredible 10:18.

“It’s a credit to our players, James [Mallory], our coaches,” McInerney said.

“As far as my shot goes, I don’t know what’s goin’ on. When I’m shooting in warm-ups it’s good, but when I get in the games I don’t know if I’m thinking about it too much or what, but hopefully it will come back because it’s defi nitely struggling right now,” said Crockett .

It is still early in the season and the team still has a lot to work on before the Northeast Conference games really get underway.

Coach Piper is looking forward to the improvement in some of her younger players in practice with hopes to be able to play them more, athletes like Alexzandria Dowdy saw only ten minutes in Wednesday’s loss, but made a notable diff erence in the defense, bringing the spark the team still seems to be searching for.

Coach Piper is also looking for

an improvement on the defensive side of the ball, by minimizing mistakes such as making sure everyone understands what they are supposed, especially when the game calls for a switch up.

Despite the current losing record, CCSU has to get past the rocky start and look ahead to the rest of the season.

“Basketball is a game of momentum, and if you get down on yourself it’s hard to get back up,” said freshman Brooke Bailey.

As of right now CCSU is focusing on their NEC games beginning with LIU, hoping to take what they’ve learned from the Nov. games and have a winning record in the conference.

Th e team won’t see the inside of Detrick Gymnasium again until Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. where they take on NEC rivals St. Francis (N.Y.).

INDY IN PHOTOS