THE NUTMEG N MAGAZINE

UConn On: Graduation

Spring 2018 10 Editor in Chief Business Manager Photographers Elise Sotolongo Jason Jiang Omar Taweh Madison Busick Magazine Managing Editor Yearbook Managing Editor Emily McAndrew Rachel Sarnie Kavita Sinha Aboli Ghatpande Eric Yang Creative Director Copy Editor Rachael Berry Ariel Sussman Writers Christian Velez Photo Editor Katie DePalma Mike Carlson Laura Gelb Nicole Sanclemente Sports Editors Neel Razdan Matthew Zapata Caroline Puma Designers Owen Bonaventura Morgan McKenna Thaia Tzickas Marketing Coordinator Chin Rochester Shira Tall

Editor’s Note Contents Dear readers, What comes to mind when you think of graduation? Is it fear? Excitement? Skepticism? Relief? Maybe a little bit of everything? This spring issue of Nutmeg Magazine is FEATURE STORY a special grad-themed edition, and explores the feelings UConn On: Graduation 4 - 11 surrounding graduation. Read on to hear from various UConn seniors on their advice to freshmen, the best thing YEARBOOK PREVIEW they did at UConn, and more. Plus, be sure to read on for another special sneak peak at the 2018 yearbook. Football 14 - 17 This edition of Nutmeg Magazine is near to my heart as John Mulaney 18 - 19 it is my last issue as Magazine Managing Editor. This is a position I have held since my sophomore year, and Nutmeg Meet Daily Campus 20 - 21 Publishing is an organization that has truly shaped my Meet UCTV 22 - 23 time here at UConn. I hope to see the organization, our Metanoia 24 - 25 staff, the magazine, and the yearbook continue to thrive after I’m gone. Thank you for reading and thank you to our hardworking staff who make this publication possible!

Happy reading, Rachel Sarnie

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It is common to hear the sentiment “enjoy college, it goes by too fast” from college graduates of all ages. College is a time of independence, discovering your passions, and cultivating interests in different clubs and activities. It is where young men and women grow as individuals and discover what their path will be after they graduate from UConn. Below are several interviews from graduating seniors who look back on their time at UConn, discuss their feelings about graduation, and give advice to UConn’s incoming freshman class.

4 | NUTMEG.UCONN.EDU FACEBOOK.COM/UCONNNUTMEGPUBLISHING | 5 Kavita Sinha Senior Emily McAndrew Senior

Majors Minors Major Molecular & Cell Biology & Psych, Computer Science, Digital Media and Design Cognitive Science Bioinformatics, & Neuroscience

What was the best thing you have sophomore when I moved and lived What was the best thing you have major early on.” done during your time at UConn? with different people.” done during your time at UConn? How are you feeling about graduating “Getting involved in research, as How are you feeling about graduating “Studying abroad in London through so soon? it gave me a lot of opportunities so soon? UConn, because I had wanted to to make connections with go to London for so long and I was “Excited, I am ready to leave UConn. I professionals. It also really helped “Excited and sad because I feel like so happy that the program worked have been ready to leave since me narrow down what I want to do a lot of my friends are moving to out. Half the program was an Sophomore year because I am ready after graduation, because I have different places, but I am excited to internship, which was great as I got to start my career and live been exposed to so many different move on and do other things.” an internship with AMC, which is somewhere with more city life.” fields.” something I don’t think I would have What advice do you have for UConn’s gotten otherwise.” What advice do you have for UConn’s Is there anything you wish you could incoming freshman class? incoming freshman class? have done differently? Why? Is there anything you wish you could “Try everything you want to do, take have done differently? Why? “Explore, do a lot of clubs. I loved “I feel like that in my freshman year, classes even if they aren’t in your my freshman year because I tried I wish I had branched out more major. I did that and that is how I “I wish I would have thought about everything and met a lot of people. Go and met other people. I am from ended up with my other major. You will minors earlier. I was going for a out, have fun, don’t study all the time, Connecticut and I knew a lot of find different things that you weren’t WGSS minor, but it ended up being work hard, but don’t make school your UConn students from high school, necessarily exposed to in high school.” too late and I was one class off. So, entire life. Have the college experience so I didn’t branch out much until my I wish I had thought about minors you want to have!” that were more applicable to my 6 | NUTMEG.UCONN.EDU FACEBOOK.COM/UCONNNUTMEGPUBLISHING | 7 Ariel Sussman Senior Sharon Lee Senior

Is there anything you wish you could Is there anything you wish you could have done differently? Why? have done differently? Why? “Be more involved, because I am the “Sometimes I wish I got more involved, type of person who likes to do things. even though I was a part of my College is a small portion of your life, sorority and part of Nutmeg, just but there are activities that I feel are because there are so many authentic to UConn that I don’t think clubs here.” I can get anywhere else because they are so unique to UConn, especially How are you feeling about graduating events like HuskyTHON and sporting so soon? events.”

“I am ready, not to say that I hate it How are you feeling about graduating here because I do not, but I feel like I so soon? have gotten to the place where I am ready to move on. I am twenty-two “It is bitter sweet. For the longest years old and I feel ready to enter time I said ‘I wish I could graduate’, but the adult world. It will be bittersweet now that it is actually happening, I am Major because I won’t be with my friends all much more sad about it, especially Journalism the time, but I also am done with the because I am not sure what I am doing schooling part of my life for the time Majors after graduation.” Minor being.” Communications & Sociology What advice do you have for UConn’s Communication Sciences What advice do you have for UConn’s incoming freshman class? incoming freshman class? What was the best thing you have done during your time at UConn? “Make the most of everything, don’t What was the best thing you have “Put yourself out there, do things that just sit around your dorm room and do done during your time at UConn? aren’t necessarily in your comfort zone “Making the friends that I have now. nothing. Be more out there, you don’t because I feel like you are never going I wouldn’t say that there is anything want to leave college thinking, ‘I wish I “My first year, especially being a part to have the opportunities that such a that particularly stands out to me. had done that.’” of a learning community because big school like UConn offers again. All It is more the experiences I have had that is where I met all of my best my best experiences were with people I were made great by the people I friends, who I am still close with met in the small types of communities was with. It sounds really cheesy but now. All of my best experiences I UConn offers. There are so many ways going abroad was also one of the have had at UConn are due to the to meet people and foster that sense most amazing experiences I have communities I have been a part of of community.” ever had and UConn gave that to here, like my Humanities learning me.” community freshman year, my sorority AEPhi, and Nutmeg.”

8 | NUTMEG.UCONN.EDU FACEBOOK.COM/UCONNNUTMEGPUBLISHING | 9 Simran Kaur Senior Is there anything you wish you could have done differently? Why?

“I wish that I utilized my resources a lot earlier and became more aware of them a lot earlier. I feel like there is more I could have done, but I found those opportunities later, therefore I am more involved now.”

How are you feeling about graduating so soon?

“It flew by really fast. It is bittersweet, I am both happy and sad. I am sad my undergrad is over and I am both scared and excited to enter the real world and find a job.”

What advice do you have for Major UConn’s incoming freshman class? Biomedical Engineering “Get involved. That is how you make your friends, that is how you figure out your place at UConn, and figure out your place in the world. You can What was the best thing you have pursue passions that you have or done during your time at UConn? passions that you think you may have.” “I would say the MedLife trip that I went on. Through UConn I was able to go to a different country and use what I have learned and apply it. I got to know more students at UConn and students from other schools and we were able to build a community together.”

Article by Katie Depalma Photographs by Aboli Ghatpande and Madison Busick Design by Chin Rochester

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YEARBOOKYEARBOOK PREVIEWPREVIEW THE NUTMEG YEARBOOK FEATURES EVERYTHING FROM STUDENT LIFE AND IMPORTANT EVENTS TO INDIVIDUAL PORTRAITS OF THE GRADUATING CLASS.

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ith head coach Randy Edsall expected given the plethora of NFL talent seven respectively. The pride of Ansonia W back at the helm of UConn taken from UConn defenses of recent High, Arkeel Newsome, solidified his Football, the team sought a quick return past, the unit improved significantly on legend in the lore of UConn football by to the gridiron prestige he brought to the the offensive side of the ball by means posting a career high in receiving yards, program nearly two decades ago. Behind of its commitment to classic ground and best for third amongst backs in the entire Edsall, who Husky fans might remember pound football which complemented FBS, finishing his career in the navy and lead the team in their transition from fittingly its up-tempo air-raid style, typical red with 22 total touchdowns. Division-I AA to Division-I A in 2002, the of the modern college football game. The Nevertheless, the season didn’t program became the fastest ever to reach much-renovated passing attack, which in pan out quite as the Husky faithful had a major FBS Bowl Game from the time of 2016 ranked 109th, was good for 33rd hoped as the squad finished with a record their transition with its 2011 Fiesta Bowl in 2017 thanks in large to career highs of 3-9. A five-game skid culminating in appearance against Oklahoma. What in touchdowns, completion percentage, a valiant yet heartbreaking comeback became of the first year in his second passing efficiency, and passing yards per attempt which saw the Huskies fall to tenure was a vastly improved offense game from Senior quarterback Bryant conference foe Cincinnati marked the from that which ranked 125th in total Shirreffs. The blue-collar, hardnosed end of the 2017 season. Nevertheless, a yards per game just a season ago, and a run game bolstered by a formidable pair of Huskies, senior linebacker Junior promise that the return of great football UConn offensive line afforded freshman Joseph and senior defensive lineman to the state of Connecticut loomed in the and redshirt freshman, Kevin Mensah Cole Ornsby, were distinguished with near future. and Nate Hopkins, impressive rookie postseason awards for their efforts on Despite a noticeable decline in campaigns which saw them lead the the field. defensive production, which was to be squad in rushing touchdowns at four and

Article by Mike Carlson Photographs by Owen Bonaventura & Caroline Puma Design by Chin Rochester

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line (can change width but always 1pt) John Mulaney

s the month of November came to his body breaking down. Silvestri spoke the hilarious tips the detective offered A a close, SUBOG hosted comedians about a situation in which his tooth fell when, not if, you were kidnapped. One of Max Silvestri and John Mulaney at the out of his mouth before catching a flight. the tips called for a child to always have a Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. The punchline? He had forgotten it was money clip with a $100 and toss it away Max Silvestri, former host of the Bravo a crown cast from nearly a decade before to distract a criminal. In the middle of the series Recipe for Destruction, has opened and suffered a panic attack. Silvestri left show, Mulaney brought with him a copy for Mulaney, as he did for the length of the crowd in hysterics with the image of of that day’s issue of the Daily Campus his North American Tour. Silvestri has a toothless, woozy man scaring people in newspaper. He read through and joked written for the Netflix animated series an airport. about an article of what were the worst Big Mouth, which offered audiences an With that, out walked “Kid Christmas songs. Since Mulaney was insight into his humor. Silvestri kicked Gorgeous” – John Mulaney. Mulaney performing at a college, it was natural off the show discussing the dynamic of wrote for Saturday Night Live and has he transitioned to tell the crowd about machismo among groups of men and garnered popularity with several stand- how his own university days; “I lived like how he was nowhere near the leader of up specials on Netflix. Mulaney began a ninja turtle.” Mulaney even poked fun a pack. “I close my eyes when I drink discussing the trope of Connecticut at himself for his own English degree: “I water,” said Silvestri. “It’s like kissing a being haunted. He recalled a moment his paid $120,000 to read Jane Austen.” wet ghost.” He joked he would bully childhood how his own mother believed “I’ve never seen a comedian do his own son one day if he was more their house was haunted by a Victorian- material straight out of the newspaper masculine than him. He even compared age girl, and how his father comically before. It was good, but not what I was the stereotypes of “manly” men to the disregarded the thought immediately. expecting,” said fifth-semester civil intimacy of his wife’s group of friends. Digging deeper into his youth, Mulaney engineering major David Duff. “I love Silvestri then addressed the woes of vividly retold a school assembly with an John Mulaney and got my ticket the day growing older and his worst realization – eccentric police detective. Mulaney listed they started selling them.”

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he Daily Campus has been informing the students and staff That concept is reflected through the content they produce. T at UConn since 1896. Since then, thousands of students Schae says they’re even trying to improve their digital footprint, have utilized the publication to express their opinions and inform since that’s where everything is headed to. “We try to weave in their peers of happenings at UConn. The Tier-III organization video packages and live streams whenever we can,” she explains. welcomes students of all majors and strives to deliver fair, The Daily Campus doesn’t shy away from any UConn- accurate and relevant information, while also giving students an related topic, and has produced some hard-hitting pieces, such opportunity to learn new skills. UConn senior and Life section as personal interviews with UConn President Susan Herbst, as editor at the Daily Campus Schae Beaudoin emphasizes how well as a transcribed interview with Lucian Wintrich, who made vital it is to present news with a student perspective. “As students national headlines after his controversial speech at UConn. ourselves, we are...the best people to be reporting on students The Opinion section provides a space for students to offer their and on the campus because we are the closest to it,” she says. feelings on both on-campus and off-campus events and write The paper covers an array of topics including Life, about topics that specifically interest them. Some big Daily Sports, News and Opinion. The paper can be easily spotted Campus stories have even been picked up by national news around campus, too, either at their own building in downtown outlets, Schae says. Storrs or in various buildings that offer free papers for students After she graduates, Schae says she hopes the paper to take. Schae says writing for the newspaper gives people real will continue to utilize new technologies in their reporting: “We world experience that can carry into any job. “I’ve learned so make sure we evolve as the way people consume news evolves.” much...we cover press conferences and get press passes for events When it comes to worrying over whether the print publication around campus just like a professional paper would,” she says. will survive, Schae says she isn’t concerned about the longevity They also get to write some less serious articles, too, like of the paper. The Daily Campus has been a staple at UConn for Article by Laura Gelb one titled “DIY Ugly Sweaters” or “Don’t Call It A Comeback a very long time, and she’s confident “that it will continue to Photographs by Christian Partenio Tour: Finding your peak is hard.” At the Daily Campus, the grow long after I graduate.” Design by Dan Araujo staff strives “to take on student interests as [their] own interests.”

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Article by Katie DePalma Photographs by Emily McAndrew

Design by Dan Araujo

niversity of Connecticut Student Television, more “[UCTV] members acquire experience including U commonly known as UCTV, is a completely student- anchoring, writing, editing, control room/technology use, and run organization that works to educate students in the fields camerawork. Other experience includes project management of production and broadcasting. This is done through the and music composition,” says the UCTV General Manager, implementation of original student-made programming as junior Alexis Alvarez. well as preparing students for future careers or endeavors in UCTV covers a variety of events, whether they the broadcast and entertainment industry. UCTV encourages be cultural, UConn specific,, sports or any other of the students creative freedom and expression and is open to all organization’s specific events. Specific occasions vary year to interested undergraduate students. year, but in the past year UCSPAN has doubled the amount The organization has five main content producing of events they covered since the previous spring semester. Over departments: News, Sports, Entertainment, Advertising, and the course of 2017, UCSPAN covered more than 150 events. UCSPAN. News develops content related to current events and Involvement in UCTV is a great asset to many UConn students’ local news, therefore news members try to seek out stories relating college experience as it allows students to gain knowledge in to current campus events. Sports develops content related to the fields of media and broadcasting by actually taking part in current sports news, including both college and professional creating and producing news. sports. Members of the Sports department film most home “In being a part of UCTV, students gain real life games and some away games for UConn’s major sports teams. experience as well as the opportunity to make their own show, Entertainment is made up of all the other UCTV shows. cover sporting events, be paid for filming on-campus events and Members of Entertainment also design music for all shows within to be a part of a live news broadcast. They will find the culture UCTV. Advertising makes commercials customized to a specific at UCTV to be open and fun and are guaranteed to develop organization or business. The commercial would both be aired friendships with our awesome members,” comments Alvarez. on UCTV and posted online. The University of Connecticut Student Public Access Network (UCSPAN) specializes in filming UCONN events.

22 | NUTMEG.UCONN.EDU FACEBOOK.COM/UCONNNUTMEGPUBLISHING | 23 Metanoia Together: Confronting Racism

very year since 1979, the UConn very educational presentation regarding up the floor for the audience to express E community comes together to racism seen in sports. They talked about their feelings regarding the recent decision talk about racism in the annual the recent “Taking a Knee” protest that to rescind this policy. Current freshman “Metanoia” event. This year’s event, was started by Colin Kaepernick, a Tiffany Sanclemente was very involved “Together: Confronting Racism” was professional football player for the San with the conversation as a member of used to confront and respond to the Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick started the audience as she took notes of the recent events taking place in our country. kneeling for the national anthem in presentation. When asked how she felt as The definition of metanoia is “change in solidarity with the black men and a woman of color on a college campus, one’s way of life resulting from penitence women killed by police officials with no Tiffany said, “Sometimes I feel like or spiritual conversion.” Students, faculty, repercussions. When his contract ended, certain people undermine my capabilities, staff, and members of the community no team out of 32 NFL teams offered and I obviously prove them wrong, but came together throughout separate times him a contract to join their organizations. the fact that I have to do that for them to of the day to discuss very important Due to this he is currently still a free agent actually take me serious is what bothers social problems that result from racism in the NFL, and has decided to file a me.” Tiffany said that she believed the Article by Nicole Sanclemente and discrimination. They met all around lawsuit against the league. The professors Metanoia events, especially the PRLACC Photographs by Christian Partenio campus, from the Student Union to the explained how this peaceful protest had presentation, are “important for the Library. Conferences and presentations nothing to do with disrespecting the UConn community to share experiences, Design by Dan Araujo ranged from racism through the media, veterans or current soldiers in the United stories, and information to try and fix the racism through sports, to even racism States military, nor did it have to do with current issues we are facing.” The entire depicted in art. These individuals united the national anthem or the country’s flag. day was dedicated to not only what is to not only try and educate others in At the Puerto Rican and Latin going on, but also how we are going to respect to these issues, but to help advocate American Cultural Center, Professor fix it. It was great to see so much support for ways in which we as a community can Samuel Martinez led a discussion with from the UConn community, all trying combat these racist attitudes. other faculty and current students to become more educated about very UConn sports management regarding the recent treatment of Puerto controversial topics and trying to find professor Joseph Cooper, history Ricans after Hurricane Maria. They solutions to the problems. professor Oskar Harmon and economic also explained the Deferred Action for professor Jeffrey Ogbar conducted a Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and opened 24 | NUTMEG.UCONN.EDU FACEBOOK.COM/UCONNNUTMEGPUBLISHING | 25