SCSU’s Overtime Best Buddies symphonic thriller brings people band PAGE 9 together PAGE 8 PAGE 5 WWW.THESOUTHERNNEWS.ORG JANUARY 31, 2018 VOL. 55— ISSUE 15 Theater New Strong School coming 2019 department undergoes renovation By August Pelliccio Changes sparked by a safety violation from several years ago make for an expensive upgrade to the theatre department, according to Mike Skinner. Skinner, assistant professor of theatre, said that the move into a new facility coincided with the update of certain safety regulations for their scene shop. What was once extra storage for the Lyman Center, according to Skinner, is now the facility where sets are built for school productions and Stagecraft and Technical Theatre classes are taught. According to Skinner, the department has been asking for a renovation like this at least since 1987. He said what sparked the fire was when the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) was called over a mold issue in the basement during the 2015 school year. During their inspection, Skinner said they found a total of five OSHA viola- tions: the mold, three outdated tools and a lack of a dust collection system. Skinner said the total penalty was not detrimental—it was somewhere close PHOTO | DAVID TYSON to $400—but creating a dust collection Billboard for the new Strong 21st Century Communications Magnet & Lab School. system was a must. “I’m in here sometimes eight Hegedus. He said the prospect renderings of the architectural present location, according to hours a day cutting wood,” Skinner By August Pelliccio of such a project was one of designs can be found at their Hegedus. said, “and inhaling all of this dust can the many reasons he decided Hartford office, or online at For an environment where be detrimental to the rest of my life.” All Southern students to come to Southern in the first JCJ.com. college students are learning The department had to imple- received word from Patrick place. Hegedus said that because to be educators, Hegedus said, ment their own dust collection Dilger via email that to “If it is done right,” said the university is controlled “the idea of having children on initiative, according to Skinner. commuter students, parking Hegedus, “it will be awesome.” by the state and the magnet a university campus is really “We swept up every day and lot eight would no longer be Any resident of the city of schools by the city, a partner- awesome.” cleaned our tools out,” Skinner said. available. New Haven can apply to a New ship had to be agreed upon to The time frame is not set in “A shop-vac was our dust collection In place of the parking Haven Public School of Choice take on this project. stone, but Hegedus said we are system.” facility, JCJ Architecture and magnet school, and according “The two components of pretty well on the way as far as The move into a new facility New Haven Public Schools to online literature available this partnership,” Hegedus planning goes. When the idea allowed Michael Tucker, university are working toward the from their website, students said, “are the land and the was proposed in 2012, Hegedus architect, to design a state of the art construction of a three-story are placed through a lottery academic opportunity.” said a feasibility report was dust management system. Skinner elementary school. New Haven system. He said an elementary run to determine whether such said this plus the replacement of the Public Schools will be leasing Strong School has been school would serve as quite a feat was possible, and what electric saws that no longer met code the land for a relocation of relocated several times already the resource for a school section of land could be leased. meant the renovation was more than a Strong Magnet School. since its original opening in of education, especially That feasibility study million dollar project. Plans have been in the 1808, and more information considering the opportunities yielded four possible options, “This is such a new and high works for a few years, about the school’s history and for internship. Strong School of which, Hegedus said tech dust collection system that not according to the dean of the the new plans can be found already employs six Southern parking lot eight was the most too many people in the country school of education, Stephen from JCJ. Brochures and artists graduate students at their sustainable. know how to service it,” said Skinner, “which makes me nervous.” SEE MAGNET SCHOOL PAGE 2SEE THEATER RENOVATIONS PAGE 2 Meet the Greeks showcases Greek life at Southern in his freshman year but did not said Soete. “In the past we’ve been By Victoria Bresnahan commit to them. able to help and grant a couple of “Knowing there is someone wishes, so it has been awesome.” Michael Archer, member of out there who really has my back According to a 2014 Gallup Alpha Phi Delta, said the bond and that really cares for me—and Poll, of more than the 30,000 he has with his fraternity is for a I generally know that—there is no college graduates, those who lifetime. greater feeling,” said Archer. were a part of Greek life are more “This is, like, something that I Steph Soete, junior and likely to be ‘thriving in their well- know that 20 years from now, if recruitment chair for Omega being’ and engaged in their job I really need one of these guys,” Zeta Pi, said her sorority is a local than those who did not belong to said Archer, “and I reach out to organization and is only found on a fraternity or sorority. them, I know one of them—no Southern’s campus. It is cool to Sivan Tepper, junior and social matter where I am—will jump on know this sorority is the only one chair for Omega Zeta Pi, said she a plane, get in their car, come to who wears the letters Omega Zeta has met the greatest people in my side if I need it.” Pi, said Soete. the world by being a part of her During the Meet the Greeks “All of our sisters went to sorority. event on Tuesday, Jan. 23 in the Southern at some point,” said “It is interesting, because a lot Adanti Student Center Ballroom Soete. “So, it really makes us of people have their thoughts sororities and fraternities set different from all the other of what [a] sorority is like,” said PHOTO | VICTORIA BRESNAHAN up tables and spoke to students organizations.” Tepper, “but I think we break Omega Zeta Pi table at meet the Greeks event. interested in rushing for their Several of the organizations every stereotype that there is. organization. The event featured discussed their philanthropies, We are not a run of the mill “[Such as] bettering our said for those considering joining video presentations displaying which Soete said is an organi- sorority. We like to be unique and community, shaping individuals Greek life. what each organization offers zation a sorority fundraises for. different. We appreciate everyone in the Southern community to “Look for what matters to and breakout sessions for Make-a-Wish Foundation is for being different.” be the best they can be, honing [you], not necessarily what each students considering Greek life, Omega Zeta Pi’s philanthropy Nina Kestenbaum, senior and leadership skills [and] keeping and every organization is looking according to the event’s schedule. said Soete. member of Delta Phi Epsilon, said academics up is really important,” for,” said Kestenbaum. “So just be Archer, a sophomore and “This past semester we were each sorority is different but they said Kestenbaum. [yourself] and find where [you] biology major, said he had able to write a check for $2,500 are all working towards the same Be yourself and find people feel comfortable being.” rushed a few other fraternities to Make-a-Wish Foundation,” goal. you can click with, Kestenbaum PAGE 2 News JANUARY 31, 2018 Solarize CT talks benefits of a solar-powered home PHOTO | JOSH LABELLA Chamae Mejias presents information on solar powered homes to faculty, staff and members of the community. or even outside of there – there would decade but the trend is going to reverse and it was very successful. She said Josh LaBella be an opportunity to participate in the and prices will rise. She said anyone Southern is also installing a large scale program.” who is thinking about installing solar solar project on campus. On the same week the Trump admin- Mejias said they were looking to panels in their home should do it while “The array will be in three locations,” istration imposed tariffs on imported target faculty, staff and people in the the installers still have the panels they said Huminski. “There will be parking solar panels, Southern Connecticut community who own a home, care bought at the lower price. She said canopy solar in lot nine – you’ll be able State University hosted Solarize about saving money and are interested going solar is an easy and simple way to park underneath those spaces so it New Haven – a community discount in reducing their carbon footprint. to make a positive impact. won’t reduce any parking. Then there’s program for installing solar panels in According to a Feb. 2017 report by “If you look at how many trees you an extension of that parking lot behind homes. CNBC, there are over 1.3 million would have to plant to have the same Brownell Hall and that will be ground Chamae Mejias, a representative solar instillations in the United States environmental impact as putting up mount solar so you won’t be able to from Solarize Connecticut, said she generating 40 gigawatts of electricity solar panels, its like six acres – so park there.