My first document

UConn debuts new dorms and dining hall

by Jenna Outcalt

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

SHE/HER/HERS

jenna.outcalt@uconn.edu

The University of Connecticut has opened a new residence hall and dining hall this year at 626 Gilbert Road.

The new facility, Connecticut Hall, is a part of South Campus. Like other South Campus halls, it will consist of suite-style rooms. Full suites include two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Connecticut Hall will also have smaller suites with fewer bedrooms, beds and bathrooms. There are seven residential floors in Connecticut Hall, each with a lounge space. The first floor also includes a mail room, game room, community room and multiple group workspaces, according to the Residential Life website.

According to Residential Life, the new hall will primarily house continuing students rather than first-year students. However, it will also house the Nursing Learning Community and Wellness Community, both of which can include first-year students. Connecticut Hall will also be home to the upper-division Honors community.

The new complex was a part of the 2015 UConn Master Plan and was approved by the Board of Trustees in 2022, according to a UConn Today article. According to another UConn Today article, the new building will be heated and cooled using geothermal power. The article said that due to supply chain issues, “the geothermal system is not anticipated to come online

until 2025.”

The facility includes the brand-new Connecticut Dining Hall, as well. According to Executive Director of Dining Services Michael White, the new dining hall will have “more of a food court feel to it,” as opposed to a traditional dining hall. White said in an email that Connecticut Dining Hall would include different stations with

their specialties, such as the Revive and Thrive station, which features yogurts, fresh fruits, overnight oats and juice blends. The Feast station will include pizzas, rotisseries, smoked items and barbeque.

According to White, this dining hall will also have two smokers featured at the Feast station.

“The pellets for the smoker

come from a local farm in Manchester, Connecticut and once they have burned off we are planning on incorporating the burnt pellets into the soil at the student farm,” White wrote.

Connecticut Dining Hall will be open from 7 to 10:45 a.m. for breakfast, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 4 to 7:15 p.m. for dinner. It will not have Late Night, which will be held at the South and Northwest dining halls this year.

Connecticut Dining Hall is replacing Buckley Dining Hall, which is now permanently closed. According to White, the Honors community will use the space for programmatic purposes. However, he said that the school “will be looking to renovate the location and are considering a small banquet facility.”

White said it is likely that lines will be long, and the facility will be crowded at the beginning of the year, as students come to see the new space. “I just ask everyone to be patient and understanding. As the semester settles in, and everyone adjusts to their schedules, the counts and lines in the location will normalize,” White said.

Introducing the Class of 2028

by Aiza Shaikh NEWS EDITOR

About 4,500 first-year students begin classes on the Storrs campus today, a record number for the University of Connecticut. The university’s regional campuses in Stamford, Hartford, Waterbury and Avery Point welcome an additional 2,000 students this week.

Along with continuing and transfer students, a total of about 24,900 students are expected to make up the undergraduate student body, with 19,800 on just the Storrs campus. These totals are preliminary, and final numbers will be confirmed on the 10tenth day of classes.

The Class of 2028 is composed of talented young scholars chosen from a highly competitive applicant pool, according to University Spokesperson Stephanie Reitz.

Vice President for Student Life and Enrollment Nathan Fuerst noted the diverse skills and back-

grounds of the student body, as well as a great sense of Husky pride.

“Our new and returning students throughout UConn come from all backgrounds and have an incredible range of skills and ambitions, but they have at least one thing in common: They all bring us immense pride as Huskies,” Fuerst said.

UConn received nearly 58,000 applications this cycle, another record for the university. Thousands of applications came in even after the February deadline for Storrs, Reitz said.

One reason for the recordbreaking UConn Class of 2028 is that a record number of accepted

students chose to enroll in the university, “reflecting [UConn’s] national reputation for providing strong academics at a good value,” according to Reitz. Additionally, 600 highly accomplished and talented firstyear students have been offered a spot in UConn’s highly competitive Honors Program.

Printing since 1896, The Daily Campus is the oldest and largest independent student publication at the University of Connecticut. The Daily Campus circulates 5,000 newspapers daily and strives to serve the student body by delivering accurate, relevant and timely news and content, both in print and online at Daily Campus. com. Our staff is comprised entirely of students, with roughly 200 undergraduates gaining professional development while contributing to the daily production of the paper, with positions including writers, photographers, copy editors, page layout designers, graphic designers, advertisement representatives, receptionists, delivery drivers and digital producers. Thanks for reading.

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Close to 27 percent of first-year Storrs students come from races or ethnicities that are traditionally underrepresented in higher education, which includes Hispanic/Latino, Black, Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native students. More than 46 percent of the incoming class are students of color. A slight increase since last year, 35 percent of the incoming class are the first generation in their families to attend college. 148 students graduated from their high schools as valedictorians or salutatorians.

The in-state first-year students represent 157 of the 169 Connecticut towns and cities, making up 70% of the student body. Out-ofstate students come from 37 states and 77 countries. The first-year undergraduate students are joined by thousands of new students enrolled in the UConn schools of law, medicine and dental medicine, as well as in graduate, postgraduate and professional programs.

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A guide to live music at UConn

the bustling live music scene and frequent concerts held in Storrs. Going to see live music is one of the best ways to meet people at UConn. These shows feature welcoming environments where anybody — regardless of background — is welcome to come and enjoy a night of music. Having music as a common interest is a great conversation starter at shows to many freshmen have is where they can see live music. The answer? Live music can be found both on and off campus. The best way to see live music on campus is at the various shows hosted by WHUS Radio, UConn’s studentrun radio station. The station hosts concerts throughout the year that feature both local acts and notable indie artists, often

bringing their talents to the Stu-

dent Union Ballroom. Annual shows the station hosts include the Halloween-themed Mischief After Dark, the Spring Fling show and the annual Battle of The Bands competition. Not only are these shows right on campus, but they’re also free for students.

In addition to these shows, the station is also hosting the Sounds of Summer concert on Wednesday, Sept. 18 on the Student Union Terrace, which is a great opportunity to check out local bands for the first time.

The other main way to see live music in Storrs is at house shows.

These off-campus venues are exactly what they sound like: going to a show at somebody’s house, usually a basement. For a small cover charge, usually $5 to $10, you can see both local bands and bands from across Connecticut in an intimate, high-energy setting surrounded by fellow music lovers. While going to these shows for the first time can be intimidating, especially if you get caught up in a mosh pit, these shows can create lifetime memories and are a great way to do something different on the weekends. The best part about UConn’s music scene is that there’s truly

something for everybody. If you’re into hardcore punk, be sure to check out Dash Cam, one of the top bands to come from Storrs in recent years. If you’re into alternative rock, go see Ruby Leftstep, whose music features an energetic indie vibe. And for something totally new and fresh, keep an eye out for Tweed Sugar, an up-and-coming group whose sound defies categorization with their unique originals. Overall, be sure to catch a show this fall to see some of the great bands that call UConn home and meet some great people along the way. See you in the pit!

Expressing gratitude and seizing opportunities at UConn and beyond

Let’s rewind to the ancient time of late September 2023.

The University of Connecticut’s Women’s Center hosted a poetry reading by Chrysanthemum, an Asian transgender poetess. As a fellow Asian transgender poetess, I felt inclined to stop by and support her work after seeing a flyer in my residence hall. I wrote a diary entry about the event to preserve the experience.

There was a Q&A session at the end of the poetry reading. One of the most poignant pieces of advice was to handwrite a letter to someone you care about.

After sharing many letters with professors, teacher’s assistants, co-workers, friends and a girlfriend since the event, the letter became one of the most impactful modes of personal expression. One professor was brought to tears because she never expected someone to write a letter expressing deep gratitude to her. One letter led to a professor keeping in touch through email with monthly updates of what has been going on in our lives. Another professor gave away a free copy of a book because of the letter. A coworker wrote a letter back and other recipients brought gifts. Expressing gratitude in the moment when you can still personally feel it can make people’s days and even leave a permanent impact on them. It can strengthen your relationships and make them even more meaningful. Sometimes, people want or need to be reminded of why you love them, and the letter can be a great medium for that.

by Bonnibel Lilith Rampertab | CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT

Some people may be thinking something along the lines of: “Letters are so old-fashioned!” Even if writing letters is old-fashioned, there is an inherent rawness and power to writing vulnerably, inspired by prior experiences with someone you care about and their effect on you. It’s because letters are so oldfashioned that people rarely expect them. They would nonetheless appreciate them. That is what makes writing a letter and sharing it with someone else so beautiful, es pecially for a young person. And I wouldn’t have real ized how fundamentally ther apeutic and beautiful some thing like writing a heartfelt letter of gratitude was if it wasn’t for Chrysanthemum. If I never went to that poetry reading, my relationships with others wouldn’t have been as strong as they are to day. Gratitude wouldn’t have taken such a huge role in who I am. College is a time of self-dis covery and personal growth. It’s impossible to sugarcoat the fact that it can be genuinely scary, but you can get acclimated to it. You can put yourself out there and prove that anxiety wrong. You can form relationships of various kinds and connect with others, including those with similar interests. You can find purpose and ways to better yourself. Many opportunities offered in the college experience can change your life in many different forms; you just have to find them and cherish them when you do.

The best places to eat with family in Storrs

by Desirae Sin | STAFF WRITER | SHE/HER/HERS | desirae.sin@uconn.edu

Storrs, Connecticut can seem like a foreign place for newcomers. With many families accompanying students as they move onto campus, the parents of incoming freshmen might get nervous about their young ones leaving the nest. To start their first year on a good note, students should have a farewell lunch or dinner with their families. Here are some recommendations for locations you should choose.

As a safe option, Dog Lane Cafe can satisfy any family’s appetite. Their menu consists of traditional-style dishes ranging from breakfast omelets to grilled items like The Dog House Burger. Students with younger siblings may appreciate the kids’ menu with simple items, especially if you’re hearing the never-ending: “I don’t know what I want to eat.” In that case, a grilled cheese sandwich with a bag of chips and fruit should suffice. Additionally, Dog Lane Cafe serves coffee and other beverages. For coffee drinkers, the wait in line is worth it, and for those with a sensitive stomach, hot or iced beverages can be a good alternative.

SQUARE PEG PIZZERIA & BAR

Pizza lovers are bound to appreciate Square Peg. The establishment became a hotspot for UConn students and those living in the Mansfield area. Despite being a pizzeria, the main attraction of Square Peg is its bar. College students old enough to drink can relax with dinner and a glass of their favorite beverage. To top it all off, Square Peg is a recent addition to Downtown Storrs. Due to its popularity, the wait time can be excessive, especially if you have a large party.

KATHAMANDU KITCHEN & BAR

Another restaurant with a bar is Kathmandu. The Indian cuisine provides a bit of flavor to the lacking downtown area, but whether the food is spicy enough is up for debate. Unfortunately, there aren’t many Indian restaurants in Storrs itself. Students suffering from cravings might order the popular chicken tikka or any of their biryani options. As a note to students, Kathmandu is frequently rented out by UConn clubs for parties. If you’re looking to dance and have fun with your friends, keep an eye out for any news on the weekends.

WHALE TEA

Sometimes you’re not in the mood to eat, and that’s alright. After moving your luggage and furniture, students might want to spoil themselves with a sweet treat. Once you settle into Storrs, you’ll find that almost everybody loves boba tea. Many restaurants in Downtown Storrs offer boba tea, but the consensus is that Whale Tea has the best options. Other restaurants like Tea More Cafe or Eatjoy offer boba tea and food, but their drink options are limited. Whale Tea is so popular that our friends on last year’s food-column “Food Fight” duked it out over what the best boba tea combination is.

WoW 2024:

Making a home for the new huskies

by Benjamin Lassy LIFE EDITOR HE/HIM/HIS benjamin.lassy@uconn.edu

There’s no denying that move-in weekend at the University of Connecticut is nerve-wracking, no matter if you’re a first-year student or a returning Husky. Between meeting new roommates for the first time and settling into an unfamiliar and empty room, the next few days may seem like a non-stop series of challenges. But, setting those concerns aside, you may have noticed the colorful signs reading “WOW” outside the Student Union or perhaps encountered one of the many “WOW Leaders” darting around the campus — both hinting that this weekend has something special in store to support Huskies: The Week of Welcome.

As a four-day-long program put together through the efforts of many student leaders and mentors within the Department of Student Activities, WOW is sure to make the next few days some of your fondest memories at UConn. Running from Thurs-

day, Aug. 22 to Sunday, Aug. 25 — and continuing with follow-up events throughout the first half of the semester — there’s a lot in store for both first-year and returning students. Let’s get into the itinerary for the fun ahead!

A quick note: there’s way too much happening to cover everything in detail, so check out the full schedule on the Department of Student Activities’ website. WOW kicked off on Thursday with a breakfast and general move-in for first-year students.

To help boost spirits, Jonathan the Mascot was available to take photos with anyone who stopped to see him at Fairfield Way, and WOW leaders introduced themselves to those living on campus for the first time.

After lounging by the firepits on the Founders Green, the night wrapped up, hopefully making the first night a restful one.

Friday’s events begin bright and early with breakfast at 7 a.m., but don’t worry! All dining halls run breakfast until 10:45 a.m. in case the previous night of activities requires some extra sleep. Between 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m., anyone interested in vol-

unteering at their choice of location (options including a shelter for women and children, a soup kitchen, the blazing trails or the community garden, among others), is invited to do so. Transportation is provided, and you can fill out an interest form on the WOW website. Closer to lunchtime at 11 a.m., the UConn Recreation Sports Challenge gives students a chance to win some rewards and compete in their favorite sports, and from 12 to 2 p.m. you can meet the Dean of Students at the Student Union Terrace and get a free bag! Friday evening is just as jam-packed, featuring an open house at Homer Babbidge Library and the Benton Museum. There are prizes to be won from attending both, including shirts from the Benton and a “special prize” for the first 100 guests at Homer Babbidge. Friday night wraps up at 7:45 p.m. with the Torch Lighting Convocation Ceremony in the Student Union Mall. Firstyear students won’t want to miss this, as it’s the only time that all of the incoming un-

dergraduate class will come together as one. Don’t forget to check out Late Night, which immediately follows the Convocation. Food, music and more will be in store!

Another great event to check out begins at 9:30 p.m., when the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts will be hosting a comedy show featuring Tina Friml, Lucas Zelnick and Gianmarco Soresi.

Even after all that, Saturday doesn’t slow down. There will be an open house at the Benton, a meet and greet for the UConn Muslim Union, an individual group-based meeting with the Dean at 2:30 p.m. At 6:15 p.m., Playfair, a high-energy outdoor activity will take place at Sherman Field (located between the Hugh S. Geer Field house and Garrigus Suites) will finish right as the SUBOG Block Party begins at 7:30 p.m. It will feature a DJ and food trucks — as well as a special foam theme.

Finally, after several days of great activities, WOW kicks off strong on Sunday, Aug. 25 with the Road Dogs Campus Run starting at 9 a.m. at the Recreational

Center’s north steps. Be sure to arrive early and fill out the pre-registration form for this two-mile run around campus! Also, at 9 a.m. (however, they recommend arriving by 8:45) at the Recreational Center is a morning hike, offering a beginner-level 2.5-mile hike through campus. Plus, UConn’s therapy dogs will join in! Later at 10 a.m. is an introduction to UConn’s Honors program in the Student Union, and following at 11 a.m., WOW Leaders will provide a campus tour, just in case Storrs still feels tricky to navigate. At 12 p.m. in Student Union room 416, Student Health and Wellness’s Let’s Talk event gives students a chance to connect with on-campus therapists. Wrapping up Sunday are several cultural center kickoffs. As I mentioned, the move-in weekend is nerve-wracking, but hopefully some of the events lined up for the days ahead stand out and can give you a break from the chaos. WOW provides a great opportunity to get comfortable on campus before classes begin, and the itinerary certainly has a lot of unique options to pick from. So, welcome back Huskies, let’s start strong!

The Department of Student Activities’ Week of Welcome events span from Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 to Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024. The itinerary for events are listed on the department’s website.

editorial board:

Sara Bedigian editor-in-chief

Tomas Hinckley opinion editor

Evelyn Pazan associate opinion editor

other staff members. Only articles labeled “Editorial” are the official opinions of The Daily Campus.

Dear Freshmen:

It is no secret that this year’s freshmen class enters the academic sphere during an especially controversial season in nationwide politics. As unrest swept across college campuses all over the world this past semester, there is an air of apprehension over what is going to happen once the school year starts again. As students have identified ways in which their universities are not serving them and are falling behind politically, they have begun to demand more and make their voices heard.

Students at the University of Connecticut have been no strangers to this new surge in energy towards campus activism, calling out their administration over institutional failures on multiple fronts. The Daily Campus Editorial Board urges the incoming freshmen class to not only educate themselves on the various issues that currently make up the campus’ political climate but to also participate and help push forward efforts to transform UConn into a more equitable community.

It is important for freshmen to inform themselves about what is happening around them. Among the issues most relevant to the direct future of the current freshmen class is the budget crisis facing their university. Last semester, 15% of budget cuts to all academic budgets were announced to take place starting this fall semester as a result of a 70 million dollar deficit after the expiration of past COVID-19 funding. Students should understand these changes to the budget and how they will impact their education and time at UConn. To be clear, this is a devastating blow to the quality of education and resources provided to UConn students. This will only make it harder to complete a normal degree, given the decreased course offerings, increased class sizes and disappearing graduate assistant support that professors claim will come about as a result. These budgetary issues come about while the university continues to rapidly expand its campus with several construction projects like the new South Campus Residence Hall and Toscano Family Ice Forum, which continue to raise costs of attendance to the tune of 23.3% since 2019. Students should begin to understand where their tuition money is going and how new buildings and rising attendance will affect their experiences at UConn. There are budget cuts and rising tuition costs, but the university is continuing to spend money on new construction projects leading to valid questions about what

the financial priorities of this university are and the consequences that they have for students. Students should involve themselves in campus politics and ask important questions. This past year, students called out the university for failing in its promises to fully decarbonize by 2040 without a substantive plan currently in place. Student activists from groups such as Fossil Fuel Free UConn have called out the administration for its immense greenwashing, and we urge students to get involved in calling out the university for failing to uphold its promises and commitment to this goal. This comes to the heart of the issue currently plaguing the UConn community: a lack of accountability and communication. Whether it be from faculty or students, this university needs to spend more time to hear what its people have to say. While it would like to claim to be a space for grievances to be heard through its numerous town halls, office hours and board of trustee meetings, the reality is that dialogue on prominent issues like budget cuts, sustainability, food insecurity, investments and especially the increasing militarization of UConn need to be addressed further. Students need to hold UConn accountable and speak out about decisions that affect our university and global community.

There is much more to each of these individual issues than can be covered in one article, and the Editorial Board has written in depth about each several times throughout the past few years. Ultimately, as much as we may write and attempt to expose the deep hypocrisy at the center of this university, the ability to make change is not going to be found between the lines of an editorial. It is only collective action from students and faculty alike that will change this university.

For the freshmen entering this school, these issues are your future. This community is your future. There is an incredible opportunity for students to impact the values and outcomes of the future of this university and decide what kind of place UConn should be, and how it should interact with the outside world. The Editorial Board will continue to care and make noise in the coming school year, and we urge all students, incoming freshmen and returning upperclassmen alike to take up a stance and join us in working to make this university a better place.

Letter to the freshmen

by Sara Bedigian EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SHE/HER/HERS sara.bedigian@uconn.edu

Hello everyone, and welcome to UConn! My name is Sara, and I am the editor-inchief of The Daily Campus.

While I feel like it was just yesterday I was walking into my freshman dorm in Towers for the first time, I am now in my third year at UConn and I can’t believe I am considered an upperclassman. After living in the middle of nowhere in Connecticut for the past two years, I know more about basketball than I ever thought I would, have eaten a lot Dairy Bar ice cream and have found a place and home in Storrs.

As you embark on your new journey, it is okay not to know exactly what you want to do. Many people switch majors and career paths — that is why you are in college; to learn about what excites you and prepare yourself for the real world. Some people find a further passion in their major, like me. I have been a journalism major since freshman year, but it was not until my involvement in The Daily Campus and my classes that I found a true passion to become a journalist.

As you embark on your new journey, it is okay not to know exactly what you want to do.

It is normal to be overwhelmed, but take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Go to the involvement fair and sign up for every club that seems remotely interesting, you will find yourself in a group of people who have similar interests and passions. For me, that was The Daily Campus. It feels like I was just walking into my first news meeting as a freshman, and now I have my own office on the second floor and can give advice to all of you. Live in the moment, because it goes by fast.

It is normal yo be overwhelmed, but take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.

As you all try to find your place and explore your interests, consider joining The Daily Campus! We have a place for writers, photographers, artists and more — no experience required. The DC is the entirely student-run, independent voice of the undergraduate student body, and we are waiting to hear from you. Come out and join us at the small building behind Moe’s!

-Sara Bedigian, The Daily Campus Editor-in-Chief 20242025

by Tomas Hinckley OPINION EDITOR

In 2016, Shonda Rhimes released a book and a TED Talk about her “Year of Yes” when she decided to say “yes” to everything, even if it scared her. She talks about how the “Year of Yes” helped her regain her joy and passion for life’s simplest and most complicated moments. While Rhimes’ “Year of Yes” is an important reminder to conquer your fears and move forward with courage, it is missing one key point. What exactly should we be saying “yes” to? And when should we truly take a step back and say “no”?

As I think back on my high school experience, I realize that the four years I spent there were unintentionally what Rhimes might call “Years of Yes.” I agreed to participate in everything offered to me, even if I was not that passionate about it. I spent hours on end organizing my responsibilities into endless lists that added three new jobs for every one that I completed. I worked so hard and for so long with the idea that when high school was over, it would feel like the greatest accomplishment of my life. And it did. When I walked on the stage at graduation, it felt fantastic to look back at all the groups I had an impact on. Then, I sat back down in my chair on our football field and as fast as that feeling came, it disappeared. That was it. Years of frustration and hard work were summed up with a graduation cord and a pat on the back from my advisor. Everything that was my everything suddenly became nothing.

I realized at that moment that most of my high school activities were not things that I really had a desire to do. I did them because I thought that they would make my applications better or because I felt like I owed something to the organization. From then on, I vowed never to let myself do that again.

That brings us to the first few weeks of my first year at UConn. Walking onto campus, the opportunities were endless. The Involvement Fair was filled with clubs hoping to recruit new members via QR code applications and bowls of free candy. As I walked through the rows of displays, I felt the pull to join everything once

again. I came home with around 20 applications and information forms that day.

As I laid out all my opportunities on the floor of my Buckley dorm, I remembered the vow that I made to myself on graduation day. I picked out a few sheets and threw the rest away. This was my “Year of Yes-ish.” I decided to say “yes” to everything, but with one condition: I would only do the things that I genuinely cared about. Gone were the days of joining something just because my friends were doing it, or because it fit in with my college application. For the first time in my life, I joined something simply because I felt like it.

One of those things was The Daily Campus Opinion Section.

The Daily Campus offers a community where writers, photographers, artists and students from every major can find a position that makes them excited to say “yes.” In the Opinion Section especially, contributors can write about anything that they are enthusiastic about.

The Daily Campus is full of people who love what they do. The passion is evident when you see the behind-the-scenes of how a new paper shows up in your dorm every morning. People are working on all stages of newspaper production. From writers at pitch meetings to the delivery drivers who wake up early every morning, every person at The Daily Campus puts their all into the organization, and most importantly, they love it.

Starting at The Daily Campus as a contributor and becoming the Associate Opinion Editor is the “yes” that I am most excited about this year.

It is time to start a new chapter of your life. UConn is a new place with new people and endless opportunities to explore your niche. There is no one here to tell you who you should be or what you should do. Find and prioritize your passions and leave behind things that do not bring you genuine joy.

So, new Huskies, my real message is this: make this your “Year of Yes-ish.” Say “yes” to dinner with your friends. Say “yes” to a walk around Horsebarn Hill. Maybe even say “yes” to The Daily Campus. But, only if you want to.

There’s a strange sense of irony staring me in the face as I sit down to write this article. The freshman edition which you’re currently reading is the exact thing that led me to the doorstep of The Daily Campus. It was my second Sunday at Storrs, and a long path would follow towards eventually becoming the editor of this section.

Now, on the other side of the glass, in the spirit of this edition, I pull from my past year as a freshman to offer you a story hopefully helpful to truly understanding the “point” of this time in your life that often people don’t seem to realize: We are here to find ourselves, review, reflect and reassert time after time who we are in a completely new way.

The best metaphor I could use to describe the first year at college is that it’s kind of like playing darts. Now, I’m quite bad at darts, so my goal when playing is to just let it fly and see what sticks. This is also the mentality I had going into last year. UConn is a very large place with opportunities in every direction: social, athletic, artistic, professional and more.

So, go out and try a million things, do a club sport you’ve never played, join the skydiving club, take a class on something random, be in a play, write your thoughts in a newspaper (seriously though, join The Daily Campus) or literally anything else that’s out there. When an opportunity is in front of you, do it. Let it fly, see what sticks to you, what gets you fired up, feeling passionate or losing sleep. If you try and lose interest in 99 different things, but find one that you truly love, you’ll have gained infinitely more than if you never did anything in the first place.

The reason is that a college education happens equally, if not more, outside of the classroom than within it. The point of a college degree is not just to get good grades, complete your major and leave. We are here to grow through experience, and I don’t mean the stereotypical “college experience” that usually comes through in movies and TV. Instead, college is about growing through the relationships we build, the communities we join, and the ways we give back to the campus. All these different experiences and attempts at something new teach

us something about ourselves, our values, our interests and most importantly, our future. This is important, because during this time, we are gradually deciding what we want to be, and I’m not just referring to what job we want to get post-graduation. What kind of person do we want to be? What kind of friend? What do we believe in? What do we care about? Every decision and every experience, the things we follow and the things we don’t, are decisions about the person we want to become, and all the different aspects that make them up.

For most of our childhood, we are constrained by ideas of who we are and specific cultural values that inform us about who we should become in the future. Whether that is because we’ve only lived in one place our entire lives, had specific relationships that defined our socialization for long periods of time, never experienced much cultural diversity or any other number of reasons, the point stands that now these ties that have bound us to the person that we are no longer hold their weight. There is an entirely new world standing in front of the incoming class, and nothing is holding them back. The direction that they go from there is up to them, but consciously or unconsciously, they will decide on one.

So, my point is not to urge people to change, to completely switch up their personalities and become unrecognizable when they eventually return home, but rather to be cognizant of this process. Maybe this university will only help uphold some of the beliefs you already have; it probably won’t, but either way, it would be a shame to not even be thinking about that at all.

To go through all four years here, and especially this first year, without at all thinking about what’s in front of you and critically analyzing how the things you’ve seen have shaped you and challenged you, would be a great disservice to yourself as a person and a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose of your time here. It’s okay to wander, to not know exactly the destination that this time in your life will lead you to, so long as you engage yourself with this new world of ideas meaningfully all along the way.

by Evelyn Pazan

FRESHMAN INTRODUCTION:

Ahmad Nowell

by Connor Sargeant

After winning their fifth national championship in program history, the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team lost three starters: Andre Jackson Jr., Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins, to the NBA. As a result, many across college basketball viewed the Huskies as underdog contenders, with them slated to finish third in the Big East conference preseason poll. Despite that, the program reloaded with new talent in a big way, running through March Madness in back-to-back seasons like no one before them.

The narrative for this sea son has not changed at all in Storrs, Connecticut. De spite Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer, Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan all leaving to pursue their NBA dreams, head coach Dan Hurley be lieves, “Top to bottom, this could be our most talented roster.” The Huskies will now look to the next class of talent to meet that statement and fulfill their goals of the elusive three-peat, which has only been done by John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins. One of the players that the program will be passing off the torch to this season is freshman guard Ahmad Nowell, who has the potential to be the next UConn star. The 18-yearold hails from Germantown, Tennessee, and he has competed in numerous leagues. Nowell played high school for Imhotep Institute Charter School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and he also

suited up for the Team Final in the Nike AAU circuit. In high school, Nowell garnered much success for himself and his team, winning three state titles along with numerous individual awards. The incoming freshman has also got it done on the AAU circuit, consistently racking up 20-point nights against elite competition. In these contests, Nowell also showcased his diverse skillset. On offense, the combo guard can execute from just about anywhere, sinking the three-ball and midrange at a high level. He can make tough shots both on and off the dribble. However, Nowell shines the most inside

necticut guard has a polished layup package and isn’t afraid to shed off contact for the and-1 bucket. Even if Nowell finds himself doubleteamed or with a low percentage look, he has shown that he can often find a teammate in a good position to score. Last season, the Huskies’ five starters had their highs and lows, yet it was how they played through the lows that made them so lethal. When in an offensive slump, each of these athletes made it up in other ways. Whether it was finding their teammates who had the hot hand or playing Dan Hurley’s hardnosed de -

fense, that championship team’s selflessness and teamfirst attitude put them in an echelon of their own. Nowell’s aptitude for setting up his teammates with good offensive looks should excite UConn fans; his impact will be immediate and positive. Another reason for fans to believe that Nowell will make an immediate impact is his attitude on the defensive end, which plays a significant part in his game and throughout the UConn system. “I feel like I’m gonna be able to help everywhere, just embracing what the coaches are asking for,” Nowell told media personnel. “Just doing whatever they’re asking for to the best of my ability. If that’s playing defense and

guarding people full court, then that’s what it will be.”

The scariest part of Nowell’s game is that he is only 18 years old. He possesses immense talent already and he has the potential to only go up from here. After all, his ability to grow was a big reason why he committed to UConn in the first place, with Nowell noting, “It was obviously amazing to see that they could develop all these NBA players and AllAmericans and NBA champions. That’s something I want to be in the future.”

As the season begins, it will be interesting to see what role Nowell takes on. With Hassan Diarra and Solo Ball returning for another year and junior guard transfer Aidan Mahaney coming to Storrs, whether Nowell immediately takes on the reigns in the starting five is unclear. Even if he’s not running with the first unit, Nowell has a solid opportunity to carve out significant minutes off the bench as he polishes his game even further.

Nowell is an immediate fit for UConn’s complex system. While there may be some growing pains early on as the 18-year-old gets himself acclimated to the faster and more physical environment of Division I basketball, this is common among freshmen.

From Kemba Walker to Tristen Newton, UConn has a long and proven history of developing All-American point guards. There is no reason to believe Nowell doesn’t have the potential to be the next great playmaker at Storrs.

Men’s soccer vs. NJIT & No. 16 Georgetown (Thursday, Aug. 29, 7 p.m. & Oct. 12, 7 p.m.)

While Storrs is known to be the Basketball Capital of the World, the men’s soccer team is one of UConn’s most successful, winning three national championships and seven conference tournament titles. Student Traditions Night is the perfect way to begin your UConn Huskies fandom as it gets you prepared, not only for soccer matches, but any UConn sporting event. That will be on Thursday against NJIT. The team’s toughest home game will be against Big East rival Georgetown, currently ranked No. 16 per the United Soccer Coaches Poll. Every home soccer game, men’s or women’s, will be held at Morrone Stadium.

Volleyball vs. LIU & St. John’s (Aug. 30, Friday, 7 p.m. & Oct. 19, 4 p.m.)

One of the most unique features of the UConn athletics complex is the UConn Volleyball Center. When I started school here in Storrs, that building was home to ice hockey, which now resides in the brand-new Toscano Family Ice Forum. It was a dismal season last year for the Huskies, but the team was strong at home two seasons ago with only two losses. Connecticut will open the season against LIU on Friday, while their toughest conference matchup comes later in the fall against St. John’s.

Women’s soccer vs. Cal State Fullerton & No. 24 Texas A&M (Sept. 5, 7 p.m. & Sept. 15, 1 p.m.)

2023 saw a Big East Championship appearance for the Huskies, with forward Chioma Okafor and midfielder Jessica Mazo being named to the All-Big East First Team. Their first home game with everyone back on campus won’t be until September, as Connecticut hosts Cal State Fullerton. Later that month, a big home game against No. 24 Texas A&M will be their toughest test of the season.

Field hockey vs. Saint Joseph’s & Liberty (Aug. 30, Friday, 4 p.m. & Oct. 25, 1 p.m.)

It wasn’t a great year for one of the most successful programs in college field hockey history. During legendary head coach Nancy Stevens’s tenure, the Huskies won three national championships and currently have five overall. UConn will begin its season at home against Saint Joseph’s. Their toughest test in conference play will be when they host Big East runner-up Liberty at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex (the turf behind Gampel Pavilion). There’s also an exhibition game against Fairfield on Saturday, Aug. 24.

UConn athletics events that every first-year student must attend

by Sam Calhoun

Let’s begin this article by welcoming the class of 2028 to the University of Connecticut! If you are a big sports fan, you came to the right school to watch college sports. UConn has everything from being the Basketball Capital of the World to a historic season for the women’s ice hockey team. This article will highlight that along with the more impressive athletic teams that UConn has to offer. Here are some of the most notable UConn athletic events:

Football vs. Merrimack & Wake Forest (Sept. 7, Noon & Oct. 19, Noon)

My first year at UConn saw first-year head coach Jim Mora lead the Huskies to a bowl game, the program’s first since 2015, including impressive wins over Liberty and Boston College. Fans will love the running back duo of Cam Edwards and Victor Rosa, among some of the best players on the team. While there were a lot of departures, there are a lot of newcomers who are looking to make an immediate impact this season. Quarterback Nick Evers headlines the newcomers this year. He transferred to UConn after years at Oklahoma and Wisconsin. Merrimack is the team’s home opener at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, but the toughest home opponent is Wake Forest. If you do not have a way of getting there, get to the Student Union, as they will hand out bus passes that will take you to the stadium and back to campus for every home game.

Women’s ice hockey vs. Minnesota (Sept. 27 & 28)

UConn’s women’s ice hockey team is coming off a historical season with their first Hockey East Championship in program history. While it will be difficult to have the same type of season this year, head coach Chris MacKenzie hopes to bring the team to even higher levels of success. Connecticut will begin their season by hosting Minnesota, a team that finished fifth nationally. Men’s and women’s ice hockey home games will be on campus at the Toscano Family Ice Forum.

Men’s ice hockey vs. Colgate & Boston College (Oct. 5 & Nov. 15)

In a difficult Hockey East conference, every game becomes a must-watch as there are multiple NHL prospects on every team. The Ice Bus, their nickname, begins their season with two games against Colgate on the first Saturday and Sunday of October. Boston College, one of the best teams last season, will also face the Huskies in Storrs in mid-November. My favorite part about home games is when UConn scores, their goal song is “Brass Bonanza,” which used to be the Hartford Whalers’ goal song. UConn’s hockey games, men’s or women’s, should 100% be on your bucket list for your first year of college.

Men’s & women’s basketball First Night (TBD, sometime in October)

The men’s basketball team just won back-to-back national championships, a rare feat in college basketball. While four of last year’s five starters have left Storrs for the NBA, head coach Dan Hurley is back for another season after being in talks with the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason. One of his key returners is Alex Karaban, who finished last regular season with a 5040-90 season (meaning that his shooting percentages, including from 3-point range and the free throw line, were excellent). One of the most anticipated newcomers is fivestar freshman Liam McNeeley, who committed to UConn after previously being committed to Indiana. The women’s basketball team is coming off a Final Four appearance with Paige Bueckers finally healthy for the first time since her national player of the year season in 2021. She will return alongside Hall of Fame head coach Geno Auriemma for her final season before starting her WNBA career.

CALLING FRESHMEN: ALL

sports scene

by Bridget Bronsdon | SHE/HER/HERS | SPORTS EDITOR | BRIDGET.BRONSDON@UCONN.EDU

While most people know the University of Connecticut as the “Basketball Capital of the World,” there’s one corner of the UConn athletics scene that can be a valuable resource to incoming freshmen: soccer games.

The games, mostly on weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons, are perfect for new students to socialize while enjoying the UConn spirit. Whether it’s spending time with a new roommate, neighbors from down the hall or meeting up with a new friend, soccer games are the perfect way to build new bonds and get to know new friends.

Although the start of the school year can be intimidating for newcomers, there’s no better way to unwind and begin a new friendship than with UConn athletics.

The low-stress environment and entertaining matches are some of the best ways to break the ice with peers, find a common interest and get to know the Storrs campus a bit better. The icing on the cake?

The gorgeous sunsets over the field that typically accompany the contests.

While the soccer games are a fantastic opportunity for students to chat and enjoy each other’s company, they’re also a great way to build UConn spirit, as both the men’s and women’s teams have been largely successful.

Last fall, the women (10-45) and men (9-8-1) enjoyed a season of highs.

The women’s team finished third in the Big East with a 6-13 conference record and even tied a program record for six All-Big East athletes. Among the athletes was Chioma Okafor, who earned first-team AllBig East as a sophomore. The forward spent her 1,438 minutes on the field earning six goals and three assists proving herself to be an attacking team leader. There was never a dull moment with Okafor on the field, and she will most likely continue an upward climb during her junior season.

Kaitlyn Mahoney, the 2023 Big East Goalkeeper of the Year, will be returning for her fifth year. Mahoney will be one to watch as she tied for 13th in the nation with a remarkable 10 shutouts last

season. UConn newcomers will quickly learn Mahoney’s name, as she has proven herself to be an undeniable powerhouse in goal throughout her collegiate career.

As for the future of the team, the squad has added seven freshmen to the roster this year.

The men have been equally as successful with Kieran Chandler being named Big East CoFreshman of the Year. Chandler was an unbeatable force for the Huskies’ defensive line and he made waves in the defensive arena. The men’s squad will also be joined by a handful of newcomers with six freshmen added to the group, occupying every position from forward to goal.

As the academic year creeps closer and the campus prepares to welcome the UConn Nation back, the soccer scene isn’t one to miss. Luckily, the men’s squad will be hosting matches the first week back on campus.

As for the freshmen, don’t be a stranger. Grab your new roommate, residence hall neighbor or new friend from class, and head over to Morrone Stadium for a warm welcome to UConn Nation.

An Introduction to the Hook C

by Avery Becker CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT

SHE/HER/HERS avery.becker@uconn.edu

Nestled beyond the Rizza Performance Center and the UConn Volleyball Center is Elliot Ballpark, where the UConn baseball team, fondly nicknamed the Hook C — after the decal on their caps — resides.

Jim Penders, a 1966 graduate of UConn, leads this squad and has been a key component in building the program from the ground up.

Penders has even made a little bit of history throughout his 20year career in Storrs. In May of 2019, a game against Tulane secured the skipper his 577th win, making him the winningest coach in UConn baseball history. Throughout his tenure, he had 72 players become major leaguers. Some notable names include Matt Barnes, George Springer and Mike Olt.

The UConn baseball team has always been known around Connecticut to deliver red-hot results throughout the season, but they did especially well last spring in the postseason.

Even though they failed to clinch the Big East tournament title after losses to Xavier and Georgetown in extra innings, the team earned a record-setting sixth-straight bid to the Norman Regional in the NCAA Tournament. In the tournament opener on May 12, the Huskies bested the No. 12 ranked Duke Blue Devils 4-1, courtesy of junior Braden Quinn’s work on the bump. He recorded three shutout innings, five strikeouts and zero walks. Freshman Tyler Minick sealed the deal for the Huskies with a solo home run, pushing his team to the winner’s bracket game against No. 9 ranked Oklahoma.

The star of the show for the Huskies against Oklahoma was

Luke Broadhurst with a threerun homer in the seventh inning, extending the score to 4-0. Win ning the game for the Huskies, starting pitcher Stephen Quigley had a gem of a game for Connecti cut, pitching eight straight in nings, allowing only one run, two strikeouts and a walk. The Hook C finished off the Sooners with a 4-1 win, putting the Huskies up in the series 1-0.

Even though the Huskies suf fered a loss the next day, they did not stop there. In the series’ third game, they scored seven runs, with multiple players going yard including Minick, Maddix Dale na and Luke Broadhurst, finish ing the game 7-1. Quigley finished the game with five outs, sending the Hook C to the Super Region als to face Florida State.

Even though the Huskies’ sea son was cut short after losing 10-8 to Florida State in the Super Re gionals, they closed their season in the top-25 rankings for Divi sion I college baseball.

There is no doubt among UCo nn fans that the players of the Hook C will continue to etch their names in the history books for the program and the professionals, making their games a must-see whenever you step foot on cam pus.

Whether it be for a fall-ball game, a regular season game, under the lights or a nice sunny afternoon, it is always the perfect day for a game at Elliot Ballpark.