Live music Owls Democrats at Conn. win fifth on Campus Hall striaght PAGE 4 PAGE 8 PAGE 9 WWW.THESOUTHERNNEWS.ORG FEBRUARY 7, 2018 VOL. 55— ISSUE 16 Overdoses in New Yesterday and today in America Haven cause public health concerns By August Pelliccio The university warned all students Jan. 25 that the use of any street drug can and may cause death. Several students have strong opinions about overdoses in the city of New Haven. The public health alert warned of a string of drug overdoses in the community surrounding campus. There were six in total that day, four of which occurred within an hour of one another. This goal of this message, on behalf of Patrick Dilger, was to share widely the concern from university officials and the New Haven Police Department. Jazmynn Jakubczyk, a graduate intern for the Wellness Center,said she was taken back by the email alert. “It was definitely scary,” said Jakubczyk. “Thank God, I don’t think any Southern students were affected.” On the contrary, while student Rene Rivera shared concern for those who are endangered by drug abuse, he said the alert was not as alarming for him. PHOTO | AUGUST PELLICCIO “I don’t do drugs,” said Rivera, “so it Yan Searcy speaking to the audience at My March With Dr. King. doesn’t affect me.” NHPD Officer David Hartman brought hope and healing to The students performed the Bertolino said this community told The Patch on Jan. 25 that of the By August Pelliccio America,” Brown-Albert began. “Negro National Anthem” and is effective in its ability to four closely linked cases that day, Chief among King’s virtues the “Star Spangled Banner,” listen to the voices of students, one victim died and two went into Today, most recognize was that he dedicated his respectively. faculty and staff. cardiac arrest. Hartman also said the and respect the mark Martin life to equality for all people, President of the Univer- “I hope that our community overdoses were likely linked to a “bad Luther King Jr. left; but only according to Brown-Albert. sity Joe Bertolino followed, will continue to lead in the batch” of a synthetic marijuana, “K2.” as far back as 1986, Yan Searcy “Without Dr. King and thanking the students for their efforts of social justice,” said The idea of a “bad batch” is what remembers seeing a thrown the civil rights movement,” contributions. Bertolino briefly Bertolino. “Where we fall raises concerns for Rivera, who said brick resting in the shards of a Brown-Albert said, “I don’t spoke about his first ever visit short, I hope we will acknowl- one critical danger of illegal drugs is broken front window. know if I’d be standing here in to Southern in July of 2016. edge our shortcomings and the lack of consistency. Rivera said Searcy is now the associate front of you.” “The day that I came was the decide where to go next.” substances that are controlled by the dean of Southern’s School of Brown-Albert continued to day this community had come When Yan Searcy took the FDA, like alcohol, can be used much Health and Social Services, say that African-American and together to have a discussion stage, he painted a very clear more responsibly. and gave the keynote speech Hispanic, Native American, on race,” said Bertolino. “It was picture of what life was like as “Everything is strictly regulated,” at the Jan. 31 event My March Asian American and Caucasian a powerful moment, and I got an African American before Rivera said, “so you know exactly with Dr. King. Coordinator alike, each person in the to be there as a participant and this acceptance and equality what you’re putting into your body.” of multicultural affairs Dian room that day is part of the a spectator.” existed in his community. But for synthetic K2, this is not Brown-Albert first took great dream that King had for The president said this is “Black people are the only the case. Public health organizations the stage, offering a warm America. one thing he has respected group of people in the United will not endorse the safety of these welcome. Next, Brown-Albert about the community since States,” Searcy said, “who have substances, so the user cannot control “Today we celebrate the welcomed Kristele Louis, then before he was a part of it: had it’s humanity legislated their intake easily. life and legacy of a man who Jonathan Meyers to the stage. acceptance and equality. into existence.” Still, Rivera said, “It’s definitely a substance abuse issue.” SEE MLK TRIBUTE PAGE 2SEE OVERDOSES PAGE 2 Three years later: Brock Turner and sexual assault was accused in 2015 of sexually student studying clinical mental By Victoria Bresnahan assaulting a woman, known only counseling, said she attended as Emily, behind a dumpster the discussion because the case Violence Prevention, Victim while she was intoxicated and is important to talk about on Advocacy, and Support Center unconscious. college campuses. Carney said the (VPAS) Graduate Intern Mary The flyer stated Turner was laws need to match up with the Xatse said with new sexual found guilty of three felony criminal justice system; if they do assault allegations emerging, counts—one being intent to not, then the highest justice can Brock Turner’s case has resur- commit rape. He served three of not be provided to survivors. faced. his six-month sentence and is a “Because the survivor was “There is news about his registered sex offender. He was penetrated with a foreign object, appeal and it can be a whirlwind,” not officially convicted of rape, there was a loophole in the law,” said Xatse. “A lot of people aren’t according to the flyer. said Carney. “I do believe with sure how they feel about it or not During the discussion, Xatse a different judge things would sure who they can talk to about said California state law did not have turned out differently. But PHOTO | AUGUST PELLICCIO it. With the kind of environment consider Turner’s actions, such as unfortunately loopholes like Students sitting in on the Brock Turner Discussion. we want to create in our center, using a foreign object to penetrate that make it so even if you have we want people to talk to us, be the survivor, to definitionally be someone who is really fighting before and with the Connecticut of sexual misconduct. She said encouraged and know they are rape at the time of his case. for justice, there is still a chance Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline, so I even if it does not affect someone supported.” Ultimately, Xatse said VPAS justice won’t be seen.” really understand where [Emily] personally, people should Xatse led the conversation at wants students feeling empow- Amanda Moreau, a graduate is coming from,” said Moreau. continue to talk about these the Brock Turner panel discus- ered and able to help others student and participant of the “Knowing that out of every 100, issues because they are affecting sion last week which focused on through bystander intervention. discussion, said her initial reac- only one gets a conviction — even somebody else. topics such as the verdict Turner “We want them to process tion to Turner’s case was delayed just getting a conviction was a “I wouldn’t say that [Southern] received, how students feel things and we don’t want to stuff until she read Emily’s statement huge move. I feel like this started is not doing enough, or that we towards the handling of the case emotions away,” said Xatse. “At to the court. Moreau said she was to spark the conversations that are doing enough,” said Carney. “I and affirmative consent. the same time, if they leave [the infuriated with the case and with we are already starting.” think it just means the conversa- According to a flyer handed discussion] empowered, then the possibility Turner may now Having conversations such as tion just really has to continue.” out at the discussion, Turner, an that’s fantastic.” appeal his case. this discussion, said Carney, is the ex-Stanford University student, Olivia Carney, a graduate “I’ve worked with survivors best way to address issues PAGE 2 News FEBRUARY 7, 2018 STEM fair helps students take steps towards career PHOTO | JOSH LABELLA Students in the science building visiting tables at the job fair. sessions in classrooms. Yu said the looking for engineering students and everyone else and STEM majors Josh LaBella companies came from a variety of tons and tons of STEM students. So this don’t have the same opportunity to STEM disciplines. really works on both fronts.” find things like it. She said the larger The science, technology, engineering “We have biosciences, we have Patrick Tobin said he is graduating in school career fair targets business and and mathematics, or STEM, career fair software development,” said Yu. “Yale May and is starting to search for jobs. marketing people, so having something was hosted so that science and math University is here. They are looking A senior computer science major, he specifically for her is really great. students could pursue internship and for new science graduates they could said he was talking to mostly computer Muhammad Naeem, a senior job leads in their fields. hire as research assistants. And can you science based companies but had talked computer science major, said he was Winnie Yu, the interim director of imagine what it means for someone to other businesses as well. at the career fair so that when he STEM Innovation and Leadership, said going through a baccalaureate program “I’ve talked with Core Informatics, graduates he could have a job, or at students look forward to finding these [saying], ‘Wow, when I graduate I can Owl Security, and Jackson Labs and least an internship, lined up.