THE
Volume 101, Issue 6
October 28, 2019
West Haven, Conn.
CHARGER BULLETIN
The student news source of the University of New Haven.
REPORTING FROM THE UPSIDE DOWN Photo by Anna Downs/The Charger Bulletin
The Charger Bulletin
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October 28, 2019
B U L L E T I N B OA R D
Bulletin Briefs
The
Charger Bulletin
Page 4 Halloween Story Contest Winner “Today Is Halloween”
Page 5 Halloween Safety Tips
Page 6 Celebrity Costume Ideas
Page 7
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Editor-in-Chief Anna Downs Since 1938, The Charger Bulletin has been the official student news Managing Editor Corina Rodriguez source of the University of New Haven. Student Life Editor Jennifer Korn Sports Editor Zack Pincince Advertising The Charger Bulletin ad rate sheets are available upon request or by Entertainment Editor Kayla Mutchler calling 203.932.7182 or via email at CBBusiness@newhaven.edu. The Opinion Editor Erin Cuomo Charger Bulletin reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. Advertisements within The Charger Bulletin are inserted by outside sources Multimedia Editor Kailey Feshler identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the University Associate Editor for Photography Nicole Rivera of New Haven. Advertising material printed herein is solely for inforAssociate Editor for Graphic Design Seth Harringtonmational purposes. For the most up-to-date information, visit www. ChargerBulletin.com/advertise. Staff Graphic Designers Victoria L. Page, Serena Piervincenzi Letters to the Editor The submission deadline for letters to the editor is 5 p.m. on Friday Associate Editor for Videography Nathan Gagne for publication in Tuesday’s issue. Letters to the Editor are also pubCommunity Engagement Editor Victoria Cagley lished online the same day as the release of print issues. Letters should not exceed 300 words if they are to be considered for print publication. All submissions by outside writers to The Charger Bulletin, unless otherwise approved by the Editor-in-Chief, will be treated as letters to the editor. Letters to the Editor are published under the discretion of the Editor in Chief, and not every submitted letter will be published. The Charger Bulletin also reserves the right to withhold Letters to the Editor that are excessively vulgar or nonsensical, or do not meet our editorial standards. Letters can be sent via email to chargerBulletin@newhaven.edu and must contain the writer’s name and contact information for verification purposes. The opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are of the authors themselves and not The Charger Bulletin.
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Opinion: Halloween Costumes to Avoid
Page 8 Facts of Maxcy Hall
Page 2
* The Charger Bulletin staff strives for excellence and accuracy in writing and reporting. We recognize that mistakes may occur and encourage readers to notify the Bulletin if they feel a correction is necessary. Please email the Editor-in-Chief at chargerbulletin@newhaven.edu.
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October 28, 2019
HALLOWEEN EDITION
Page 3
PIRO Sponsors Psychic Event on Campus BY THOMAS ALMEIDA CONTRIBUTING WRITER
E
arlier this month, psychic medium Angelina Diana performed psychic readings at the university’s German Club. The event was co-sponsored by SCOPE and the Paranormal Investigation and Research Organization (PIRO), and more than 160 students attended. Diana explained how popular culture often blurs the line of paranormal work. As a psychic, Diana taps into a person’s inner-
most self to make future readings based on their personality and other metaphysical aspects. Diana is also a medium, which is a different profession that she defines as “someone who talks to, represents, channels, and gives evidence of those who have crossed over.” While some psychics do work as mediums, the two are not the same, according to Diana. During her presentation, Diana mentioned that many people are more attuned to spirits as children, and some of the attendees agreed. Kevin Bernardon, a sophomore, said, when he was younger, he was more spiritual.
PIRO’s Logo. Graphic Courtesy of University of New Haven PIRO Club
Bernardon said that he could “sense… spirits around me,
though not so much anymore.” This was Diana’s second visit
to the school.
Graphic Courtesy of University of New Haven Office of Residential Life
October 28, 2019
Page 4
HALLOWEEN EDITION
Halloween Story Contest Winner “Today Is Halloween” BY LEAH SANDERSON CONTEST WINNER
J
im Peterson woke
up to the incessant buzzing of his doorbell. Today was Halloween, the one night of the year that he dreaded the most. He tried to avoid it by leaving the lights off outside of his house so it looked like he wasn’t home. That didn’t stop this year’s trick-or-treaters. After attempting to ignore the doorbell, he gave in and answered. A young boy stood there dressed in a bloodyfaced Ghostface costume and shouted out, “Trick or treat!” “Listen, I don’t have any candy ok?” Jim told him curtly and started closing the door.
“But it’s Halloween,” the kid
face, said, smiling. Jim stared
time, he was going to stay up
were at his door when he left
said, disappointed.
at them blankly, trying to
all night and make sure that
had all stayed, waiting for
“No. It’s not,” Jim respond-
process what he was seeing.
it became November 1st.
him to return.
ed, “It’s October 31.”
He could have sworn he had
But again, the doorbell. He
He gave them all of the
gone to sleep, and he didn’t
must’ve fallen asleep. Jim
candy and once they were
he wanted to make sure
sleepwalk, so what hap-
started trying everything he
gone, Jim sprinted to bed
that Ghostface actually left
pened?
could to change his fate as
and threw himself into bed,
the nights went on. He tried
hoping that this was the last
After he closed the door,
and had walked back to his
“I don’t have candy,” Jim
mother, who was dressed as
said, and they all groaned
scaring the kids off, leaving
time.
a witch. He gestured towards
and walked away. He started
the house entirely, and even
Jim woke up in bed and a
Jim’s house until she ushered
to panic, so he told himself
going to the police. But he
sense of relief washed over
him away.
he hadn’t actually fallen
always fell asleep, whether
him. Halloween was finally
asleep at all; this was just
he meant to, and he always
over.
thought to himself and went
déjà vu. He was just going to
woke up on the same Hallow-
to bed so he could avoid
go to bed and fall asleep for
een night.
more trick-or-treaters.
real this time.
“Good riddance,” Jim
The buzzing doorbell woke
And then came the door-
And every night he would
Later that morning, as Jim made small talk with his barista at a local coffee shop,
see Ghostface in the crowd.
he told her, “I can’t believe
him up, but hadn’t he gone
bell. His heart started to
But he realized that he never
Halloween is over. Time for
to sleep in his bed, not here,
race; this wasn’t possible. He
had candy. If he gave them
Christmas shopping, huh?”
on the couch? He stood up,
definitely went to bed last
what they wanted, maybe he
The barista furrowed her
feeling groggy. How did he
night but here he was for the
would get released.
brow and chuckled lightly,
get here? Jim went to answer
third time. When this group
his door, confused.
of trick-or-treaters left, he
CVS and bought the cheap-
“Trick or treat!”
rushed upstairs and locked
est bag of candy. When he
himself in his bedroom. This
arrived home, the kids who
Five kids, including Ghost-
So, Jim sped to the nearest
“What do you mean? Today is Halloween.”
Photos Courtesy of Creative Commons
October 28, 2019
HALLOWEEN EDITION
Page 5
Halloween Safety Tips Spooky Playlist University of New Haven Campus Police Squad Car. Photo Courtesy of University of New Haven Website BY KEN FABIAN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Follow the Charger Bulletin on Spotify!
T
his time of year take the chance to listen to some of these Halloween favorites, old and new. “Monster” (feat. Jay Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver) – Kanye West
A monumental moment in hip-hop history, “Monster” holds a special place. Every verse has iconic lyricism that is perfect for getting into spooky season. “This is Halloween” (From The Nightmare Before Christmas) - Danny Elfman
From the iconic Halloween (and kind of Christmas) movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas, this song is the perfect addition to any Halloween playlist. “Bennington (2007)” – John Maus Originally released in a compilation of unreleased work, “Bennington (2007)” has one of those basslines that will never leave your head. While it’s not exactly a Halloween song, it still keeps the spooky spirit. “bury a friend” - Billie Eilish This may not be a traditional Halloween song, but Billie Eilish’s lyrics and musical undertones make for a spooky hit.
BY JENNIFER KORN STUDENT LIFE EDITOR
H
alloween-themed parties are meant to celebrate the holiday, but there are precautions that students should look out for. The University of New Haven’s public safety department offers resources to ensure students’ safety. The university police department can connect with students through the LiveSafe app. Students can report emergencies with GPS tracking, as well as incidents, suspicious activity, and more, according to the university website.
Stephanie Pasqualini, a senior majoring in history, said she heard about the LiveSafe app in a class. “I don’t have the app, but I do see how it could be useful,” she said. “It can be a direct line with university police should someone need it.” Pasqualini, a commuter who takes the bus, said, “I still think calling 911 is a valid option too,” she said. “We are inspired to provide consistent and contemporary law enforcement and public safety services,” said Ronald Quagliani, associate vice president of public safety and administration services, in a statement on the university’s website.
According to an article by College Express, “It’s important to be cautious all year round of course, but it’s especially important during Halloween and the days leading up to the holiday.” The Department of Public Safety advises students to carry an ID in case of an emergency, set limits, travel in groups, and keep a charged cell phone on hand. Pasqualini said “don’t go out drunk” on Halloween, especially in unfamiliar neighborhoods. “Make sure that you have a line of communication where someone knows where you are,” said Pasqualini.
“Turn Off The Light “(feat. Elvira, Mistress of the Dark) – Kim Petras
From Kim Petras’ Halloween album is pop perfection. With a feature from Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, it’s an instant Halloween classic. “Disturbia” – Rihanna From her 2008 record “Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded,” this club banger will make everybody within a hearing range dance. This melody will be cemented in pop history as one of the catchiest of all time. “Thriller” – Michael Jackson Speaking of songs that will get you moving, “Thriller” features some of the most memorable choreo of all time. It’ll have you howling “Thrillerrrrr” all night long! “Monster Mash” – Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers Everyone’s favorite line dance, “Monster Mash” captures the fun spirit of Halloween and promotes nothing but lighthearted fun. It’s a graveyard smash! “Bloody Mary” - Lady Gaga Though this song isn’t about the holiday, the background music and lyrics make it seem like any other Halloween hit.
October 28, 2019
HALLOWEEN EDITION
Page 6
Stumped for Halloween? Get Some Ideas from the Stars! BY EMMA JANOFSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I
f you’re looking for a last-minute costume, look no further than celebrity Halloween costumes. Halloween has been celebrated in America for hundreds of years, but the idea of dressing up has been popularized in media through movies, TV shows, and celebrities. Costumes range from pop culture icons to sexy versions of modern-day careers and are available for all ages and all sizes. The Kardashians have gone all-out for Halloween in past years, especially Kourtney Kardashian. She’s decided to dress as pop-star, Ariana Grande. She posted a photo to her Instagram
page on Oct. 16 dressed as the singer. According to Billboard, the post racked up a total of 2.5 million likes as of Oct. 24. So if you’re stumped for Halloween, why not dress as the pop diva with the iconic ponytail? Next, former “Saved By The Bell” star, Mario Lopez, dressed up as the famous breakfast cereal mascot Cap’n Crunch in order to take his children to a Halloween party. This costume mixes both comedy and pop culture to create a masterpiece of Halloween artistry. Halloween isn’t just about being scary or suggestive, so feel free to let your freak flag fly high and dress up like a mascot. Following the success of Lil Nas X’s country/hip-hop fusion hit, “Old Town Road,” as well as its multiple remixes, TV personalities Ryan Seacrest and
Kourtney Kardashian as Ariana Grande. Screenshot from Kourtney’s Instagram.
Kelly Ripa rocked full cowboy and cowgirl gear as they galloped through the streets of New York City on horseback. These two laughed it up while filming
a sketch titled “Welcome to the Wild, Wild Upper West.” Though most people can’t just bring a horse with them to a party, a cowboy costume is cheap
and easy to execute. Plus, when “Old Town Road” plays during the annual Halloween party, it will be your time to shine. With the release of “It: Chapter 2” and “Joker” this year, many people are going to be donning white face paint to either channel Pennywise or the Joker, just like Joel Madden. The former “The Voice” coach posed with a chilling Pennywise mask for Instagram and gave us all quite a fright. It’s time to bring back the spooky atmosphere of Halloween. Halloween is the time to be whatever you want to be. It’s the time to be creative and enjoy yourself, whether it be trick or treating, going to a party, or simply just giving out candy to friends and neighbors. No one is too old to dress up. Happy Halloween!
Opinion: Halloween Costume Bans In Schools BY SERENA PIERVINCENZI
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
M
y school had kids as young as two and as old as seniors in high school. I attended that school from age 14 until I graduated in 2018. The school was pretty standard, rule-wise. In fact, it was progressive compared to other schools in the surrounding area. For example, we did not have a dress code, other than “all students must wear clothing,” and “no students may wear clothing with offensive words, and/or slurs.” The rules, although sometimes irritating, made sense. So I was surprised when in October of
my senior year it was announced at a weekly assembly that Halloween would not be celebrated. This meant no costumes, decorations, and or Halloween parade. I was 18. I had not worn costumes to school in years and I quickly moved on. But a couple months ago, I came across an article that said other schools are doing the same thing. Simply put, the argument is that not all children celebrate Halloween, so it is not inclusive, and since some costumes could be offensive to other students, some school administrators feel that it is just too difficult to regulate costumes. Instead, it would be easier to eliminate the celebration altogether. I am not a fan of censorship,
Photos Courtesy of Creative Commons
c it is arguably one of the things that holds us back the most. Not talking about certain things or hiding things simply causes more problems. I also don’t think this is censorship. I think this is a lazy coverup. If a school wants to ban Halloween out of fear of exclusion, then there should be no Christmas trees, no menorahs,
no winter concerts with songs about holiday traditions. Valentine’s Day would have to go too since it’s about St. Valentine, a Christian saint. You see what I’m getting at. Caring about inclusivity in schools would be making a legitimate effort to diversify your curriculum, staff, and educate your students on other cultures.
This is not about the kids and as adults in the education field, administrators should be honest. Be honest that they don’t want to deal with creating new and extensive policies that are inclusive of all students, and be honest about what their intentions are. I mean is that not what you want to teach children?
October 28. 2019
HALLOWEEN EDITION
Page 7
Opinion: Halloween Costumes to Avoid BY LAUREN FLIGG CONTRIBUTING WRITER
H
alloween is one of the best times of the year, and people are excited to find the perfect costume . Along with the fun and excitement, it’s important to remember that cultural appropriation runs rampant during Halloween. We must take it upon ourselves to avoid controversial costumes and remember that culture is not a costume. In addition to monitoring our own choices, we need to teach values to the children who rely on us to help pick their
costumes for them. Halloween costume suppliers such as Party City have come under fire in the past for advertising outfits that promoted cultural appropriation. The hot topic of last Halloween was Moana, and whether children should be allowed to wear outfits from the film if they were not of the same racial background as characters such as Moana and Maui. “Moana, Elsa, and Halloween: Raising Race Conscious Children,” a People’s Magazine article by Sachi Feris, discussed the ethical dilemma she faced when her 5-year old daughter, who is white, wished to dress as Moana for Halloween that year. Feris tried to explain to her daughter that “Moana is based
on real history and a real group of people… If we are going to dress up as a real person, we have to make sure we are doing it in a way that is respectful. Otherwise, it is like we are making fun of someone else’s culture.” Feris’ explanation to her daughter encapsulates the thoughts we should all have when choosing costumes for ourselves and children. Feris suggested to her daughter different methods of dressing up to embrace and celebrate their own culture (Argentinian) for the holiday, while trying to steer her away from a costume in which she did not belong. Halloween, as Feris acknowledged, can be fun without offending people of other races
and cultures. Unfortunately, not everyone follows these ideals. Celebrities are held to a higher standard because of their life in the public eye, yet each year some make the mistake of wearing a controversial costume. In 2008, Heidi Klum caused significant uproar among Hindu and Indian-American leaders for dressing up as the goddess Kali. Klum wore large golden jewelry, a curly black wig, a blue bodysuit and blue body paint, and several fake blue arms. Klum herself claims that her assistant was the one who came up with the idea after a trip to India, and called the costume a “scary Indian goddess.” Hindu cleric Rajan Zed was outraged
by the costume, and said, “Goddess Kali is highly revered in Hinduism and she is meant to be worshipped in temples and not to be used in clubs for publicity stunts or thrown around loosely for dramatic effect.” Other celebrities who’ve angered fans with their costumes include Prince Harry in a Nazi uniform, Chrissy Tiegen as a stereotypical Native American woman, and Julianne Hough donning blackface for her costume as “Crazy Eyes” from “Orange is the New Black”. This Halloween, remember to have fun, but also be sure to think twice before picking this year’s costume so you don’t hurt anyone else’s holiday.
Graphic Courtesy of University of New Haven Office of Residential Life
FACTS OF MAXCY HALLL
O
pened in 1909 as the third location of the New Haven County Temporary Home for Dependent and Neglected Children. It housed up to 300 children and also provided them with classrooms, recreation, an infirmary, and a chapel. (Northeast Paranormal Investigations Society)
T
ed Wolfe, who lived in Maxcy for eight years and whose parents worked in the orphanage, said Maxcy was never an insane asylum, no one was ever beaten to death and he did not witness any fires. (What Lies Beyond)
A
ccording to the Middletown Press, the legend of Maxcy Hall says that the building burned down with all the children inside.
T
he home closed in 1955 and was bought in 1960 by Marvin K. Peterson for New Haven College.
PHOTO BY HUNTER LANG/THE CHARGER BULLETIN