LONDON – Millvina Dean, who as a baby was wrapped in a sack and lowered into a lifeboat in the frigid North Atlantic, died Sunday, having been the last survivor of 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic.

She was 97 years old, and she died where she had lived — in Southampton, England, the city her family had tried to leave behind when it took the ship’s ill-fated maiden voyage, bound for America.

She died in her sleep early Sunday, her friend Gunter Babler told the Associated Press. It was the 98th anniversary of the launch of the ship that was billed as “practically unsinkable.”

Babler said Dean’s longtime companion, Bruno Nordmanis, called him in Switzerland to say staff at Woodlands Ridge Nursing Home in Southampton discovered Dean in her room Sunday morning. He said she had been hospitalized with pneumonia last week but she had recovered and returned to the home.

A staff nurse at the nursing home said late Sunday that no one would comment until administrators came on duty Monday morning.

Dean just over 2 months old when the Titanic hit an iceberg on the night of April 14, 1912. The ship sank in less than three hours.

Dean was one of 706 people — mostly women and children — who survived. Her father was among the 1,517 who died.

Babler, who is head of the Switzerland Titanic Society, said Dean was a “very good friend of very many years.”

“I met her through the Titanic society but she became a friend and I went to see very every month or so,” he said.

The pride of the White Star line, the Titanic had a mahogany-paneled smoking room, a swimming pool and a squash court. But it did not have enough lifeboats for all of its 2,200 passengers and crew.

Dean’s family were steerage passengers setting out from the English port of Southampton for a new life in the United States. Her father had sold his pub and hoped to open a tobacconists’ shop in Kansas City, Missouri, where his wife had relatives.

Initially scheduled to travel on another ship, the family was transferred to the Titanic because of a coal strike. Four days out of port and about 600 kilometers (380 miles) southeast of Newfoundland, the ship hit an iceberg. The impact buckled the Titanic’s hull and sent sea water pouring into six of its supposedly watertight compartments.

Dean said her father’s quick actions saved his family. He felt the ship scrape the iceberg and hustled the family out of its third-class quarters and toward the lifeboat that would take them to safety. “That’s partly what saved us — because he was so quick. Some people thought the ship was unsinkable,” Dean told the British Broadcasting Corp. in 1998.

Wrapped in a sack against the Atlantic chill, Dean was lowered into a lifeboat. Her 2-year-old brother Bertram and her mother Georgette also survived.

“She said goodbye to my father and he said he’d be along later,” Dean said in 2002. “I was put into lifeboat 13. It was a bitterly cold night and eventually we were picked up by the Carpathia.”

The family was taken to New York, then returned to England with other survivors aboard the rescue ship Adriatic. Dean did not know she had been aboard the Titanic until she was 8 years old, when her mother, about to remarry, told her about her father’s death. Her mother, always reticent about the tragedy, died in 1975 at age 95.

Born in London on Feb. 2, 1912, Elizabeth Gladys “Millvina” Dean spent most of her life in the English seaside town of Southampton, Titanic’s home port. She never married, and worked as a secretary, retiring in 1972 from an engineering firm.

She moved into a nursing home after breaking her hip about three years ago. She had to sell several Titanic mementoes to raise funds, prompting her friends to set up a fund to subsidize her nursing home fees. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, the stars of the film “Titanic,” pledged their support to the fund last month.

For most of her life Dean had no contact with Titanic enthusiasts and rarely spoke about the disaster. Dean said she had seen the 1958 film “A Night to Remember” with other survivors, but found it so upsetting that she declined to watch any other attempts to put the disaster on celluloid, including the 1997 blockbuster “Titanic.”

She began to take part in Titanic-related activities in the 1980s, after the discovery of the ship’s wreck in 1985 sparked renewed interest in the disaster. At a memorial service in England, Dean met a group of American Titanic enthusiasts who invited her to a meeting in the U.S.

She visited Belfast to see where the ship was built, attended Titanic conventions around the world — where she was mobbed by autograph seekers — and participated in radio and television documentaries about the sinking.

Charles Haas, president of the New-Jersey based Titanic International Society, said Dean was happy to talk to children about the Titanic. “She had a soft spot for children,” he said. “I remember watching was little tiny children came over clutching pieces of paper for her to sign. She was very good with them, very warm.”

In 1997, Dean crossed the Atlantic by boat for the first time, on the QEII luxury liner, and finally visited Kansas City, declaring it “so lovely I could stay here five years.” She was active well into her 90s, but missed the commemoration of the 95th anniversary of the disaster in 2007 after breaking her hip.

Dean had no memories of the sinking and said she preferred it that way. “I wouldn’t want to remember, really,” she told The Associated Press in 1997. She opposed attempts to raise the wreck 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) from the sea bed.

“I don’t want them to raise it, I think the other survivors would say exactly the same,” she said in 1997. “That would be horrible.”

The last survivor with memories of the sinking — and the last American survivor — was Lillian Asplund, who was 5 at the time. She died in May 2006 at the age of 99. The second-last survivor, Barbara Joyce West Dainton of Truro, England, died in October 2007 aged 96.

Dr. George Tiller, whose Kansas women’s clinic was the epicenter of the state’s battles over abortion for nearly two decades, was shot and killed at his church Sunday morning, his family said.

Tiller, 67, was one of the few U.S. physicians who still performed late-term abortions. He survived a 1993 shooting outside his Wichita clinic.

He was fatally shot shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday at Reformation Lutheran Church, Wichita police said.

Sunday afternoon, authorities took a man into custody near Kansas City after stopping a car that matched a description of the killer’s getaway vehicle, according to sheriff’s deputies in Johnson County, Kansas. No charges had been filed.

Wichita police said they were searching for a powder-blue Ford Taurus in connection with the killing. Witnesses provided a license number of the car the killer used to speed away from the church, police spokesman Gordon Bassham said.

Tiller “dedicated his life to providing women with high-quality heath care despite frequent threats and violence,” his family said in a written statement.

“We ask that he be remembered as a good husband, father and grandfather and a dedicated servant on behalf of the rights of women everywhere,” the family said.

Abortion is one of the hottest buttons in U.S. politics, with opponents arguing the practice is tantamount to the murder of an unborn child. Abortion rights supporters argue the decision to terminate a pregnancy is best left to the woman.

The anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, which has led numerous demonstrations at Tiller’s clinic, condemned the shooting as a “cowardly act.”

“Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice,” the group said in a statement. It offered its prayers for Tiller’s family, “that they will find comfort and healing that can only be found in Jesus Christ.”

In March, Tiller was acquitted of 19 counts of performing procedures unlawfully at his clinic. In 2008, a probe initiated by abortion opponents who petitioned state authorities to convene a grand jury ended without charges.

On its Web site, Operation Rescue refers to Tiller as a “monster” who has “been able to get away with murder.” And Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry, who is no longer affiliated with the group, called Tiller “a mass murderer.”

“We grieve for him that he did not have time to properly prepare his soul to face God,” Terry said in a written statement. “I am more concerned that the Obama administration will use Tiller’s killing to intimidate pro-lifers into surrendering our most effective rhetoric and actions. Abortion is still murder, and we still must call abortion by its proper name.”

The 1993 attack on Tiller left him wounded through both arms. An ardent foe of abortion, Shelley Shannon, was convicted of attempted murder and is serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison for the shooting.

If Tiller was slain because of his work, he would be the fourth U.S. physician killed by abortion opponents since 1993. In addition, a nurse at a Birmingham, Alabama, clinic was maimed and an off-duty police officer was killed in a 1998 bombing by Eric Rudolph, who included abortion among his list of anti-government grievances.

Rudolph admitted to that attack and three other bombings — including the 1996 attack on the Olympic games in Atlanta, Georgia — and is serving life in prison.

WEST HAVEN, CONN — June 1, 2009 – On Friday, May 29, the University of New Haven (UNH) launched the first web-based, 360-degree virtual tour in Connecticut, and is the sixth institution in the U.S. to offer a “next generation” virtual-campus tour experience on their website: www.newhaven.edu/virtualtour. The project is the latest in a string of social-media and web-recruitment projects at University of New Haven, including Facebook, YouTube, Zinch and Twitter, and powered by YourCampus360.com, an integrated-media company in Massachusetts.

The UNH YourCampus360 tour includes a virtual walking tour where students can “walk” on a path through campus and view 360-degree panoramic shots of UNH facilities. While viewing sites along the tour, visitors can explore specific areas in detail by linking to additional photos or videos.

According to Gil Rogers, associate director of admissions and enrollment technology and coordinator of undergraduate electronic recruitment at UNH, while many institutions offer web tours with photos and possibly a “video visit” of campus, only a select few now offer a virtual environment for students to get a true feel for the campus and view in detail all of the amenities they are interested in. “The YourCampus360 tour offers an abundance of benefits for all sorts of potential students,” Rogers says. “Now students from across the country and around the globe can experience our campus-24/7, 365 days a week-without the financial burden of a plane ticket.” He adds that any prospective students can take an in-depth look at the campus so they’ll be better prepared for a campus visit, and see things that a typical, on-site tour doesn’t have time to cover, including facilities specific to a student’s major. In addition, students can follow up an in-person visit to campus with a YourCampus360 tour, “revisiting” specific programs.

A leader in experiential education, the University of New Haven is experiencing a historic and nationally recognized surge in enrollment. Founded in 1920, the University provides its students with a unique combination of solid liberal arts and real-world, hands-on professional training. UNH is a private university with an 80-acre main campus. The University has an enrollment of more than 5,200; approximately 1,700 graduate students and more than 3,500 undergraduates, 70 percent of whom reside in University housing.  The University offers more than 80 undergraduate degrees and more than 25 graduate degrees through its five colleges, in fields such as sports management, nutrition, forensic science, music and sound recording, engineering, computer science and criminal justice. University College at UNH develops programs and courses to meet the emerging educational and training needs of educators, businesses and public and social agencies, focusing on academic excellence, convenience and flexibility. University of New Haven students study abroad through a variety of distinctive programs.

SAN FRANCISCO – California’s Supreme Court upheld the state’s gay-marriage ban Tuesday but said the 18,000 same-sex weddings that took place before the prohibition passed are still valid — a ruling decried by gay-rights activists as a hollow victory.

Demonstrators outside the court booed, wept and yelled, “Shame on you!” Activists said they would go back to the voters as early as next year in a bid to repeal the ban.

In a 6-1 decision written by Chief Justice Ron George, the court rejected arguments that the ban approved by the voters last fall was such a fundamental change in the California Constitution that it first needed the Legislature’s approval.

As for the thousands of couples who tied the knot last year in the five months that gay marriage was legal in California, the court said it is well-established principle that an amendment is not retroactive unless it is clear that the voters intended it to be, and that was not the case with Proposition 8.

Moreover, the court said it would be too disruptive to apply Proposition 8 retroactively and dissolve all gay marriages.

Doing that would have the effect of “throwing property rights into disarray, destroying the legal interests and expectations of thousands of couples and their families, and potentially undermining the ability of citizens to plan their lives according to the law as it has been determined by this state’s highest court,” the ruling said.

While gay rights advocates accused the court of failing to protect a minority group from the will of the majority, the justices said that the state’s governing framework gives voters almost unfettered ability to change the California Constitution.

The decision set off an outcry among a sea of demonstrators who had gathered in front of the San Francisco courthouse, holding signs and waving rainbow flags. Many people also held hands in a chain around an intersection in an act of protest.

“We’re relieved our marriage was not invalidated, but this is a hollow victory because there are so many that are not allowed to marry those they love,” said Amber Weiss, 32, who was in the crowd at City Hall, near the courthouse, with her partner, Sharon Papo. They were married on the first day gay marriage was legal last year, June 17.

“I feel very uncomfortable being in a special class of citizens,” Papo said.

Jeanne Rizzo, 62, who was one of the plaintiffs along with her wife, Pali Cooper, said: “It’s not about whether we get to stay married. Our fight is far from over. I have about 20 years left on this earth, and I’m going to continue to fight for equality every day.”

A small group of Proposition 8 supporters also gathered outside the court.

“A lot of people just assume we’re religious nuts. We’re not. But we are Christians and we believe in the Bible,” said George Popko, 22, a student at American River College in Sacramento, where the student government officially endorsed Proposition 8.

In the state capital, Republican state Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo, the incoming minority leader, said the court’s decision “reaffirmed the principle that the people’s votes do matter.”

The state Supreme Court ruled 4-3 last May that it was unconstitutional to deny gay couples the right to wed. For a while, that put California — the nation’s most populous state — back in its familiar position in the vanguard of social change; at the time, Massachusetts was the only other state to allow gay marriage.

In what gay activists called their “Summer of Love,” same-sex couples from around the country rushed to get married in California for fear the voters would take away the right at the ballot box. In November, Proposition 8 passed with 52 percent approval.

Over the past several months, as the fight went on in California, Iowa, Maine, Vermont and Connecticut legalized gay marriage, bringing to five the number of states that allow same-sex couples to wed.

In California, gay rights activists argued that the ban was improperly put to the voters and amounted to a revision — which required legislative approval — not an amendment. But the justices disagreed.

The court said that while the ban denies gay couples use of the term “marriage,” it does not fundamentally disturb their basic right to “establish an officially recognized and protected family relationship with the person of one’s choice and to raise children within the family.” California still allows gay couples to form domestic partnerships.

In their 136-page majority ruling, the justices said it not their job to address whether the ban is wise public policy, but to decide whether it is constitutionally valid, while “setting aside our own personal beliefs and values.”

Justice Carlos Moreno, who had been under consideration as President Barack Obama’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, was the lone dissenter.

He said denying same-sex couples the right to wed “strikes at the core of the promise of equality that underlies our California Constitution.” He said it represents a “drastic and far-reaching change.”

“Promising equal treatment to some is fundamentally different from promising equal treatment for all,” Moreno said. “Promising treatment that is almost equal is fundamentally different from ensuring truly equal treatment.”

San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, whose office fought the ban, said: “Today we are faced with a disappointing decision. But I think we also know it could have been worse.”

Democratic state Sen. Christine Kehoe of San Diego said that California “has lost its lead in the fight for civil rights for all people.” And Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco warned the ruling would create “apartheid” in California.

NEW DELHI – The Congress party headed to a resounding victory Saturday in India’s monthlong national elections, defying expectations of a poor showing to secure a second term in power as the country battles an economic downturn.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared victory, telling reporters that voters had given the Congress party-led coalition a “massive mandate.”

The left-of-center Congress, which has long tried to balance free market reforms with a vow to protect India’s downtrodden, wants a “stable, strong government which is committed to secular values,” he said.

Singh was clearly referring to the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, the country’s other main party, which failed to convince voters to change the national leadership during a time of economic uncertainty and regional instability.

“We accept the people’s verdict,” said Arun Jaitley, a senior BJP official. “Certainly something did go wrong.”

With most votes counted, the Election Commission said the Congress-led alliance had won — or was leading in — races for 254 seats in the 543-seat Parliament. The BJP alliance came up short with 153. The Congress party alone, without the support of its coalition allies, had won or was leading in 204 seats, putting it far ahead of all other parties.

It appeared to be a massive victory for the Congress coalition — but would still leave it slightly short of the 272 seats needed to govern alone and it would require the support of other parties. India has been ruled by coalition governments for most of the last two decades.

Certainly, though, the results appeared far better for Congress than nearly everyone expected. For months, polls and political observers have predicted that neither of the country’s two main parties would emerge a clear winner, forcing an unstable and unwieldy coalition that could have conceivably included dozens of smaller parties.

Things now appear far clearer: Congress “seems to have the upper hand,” said Venkaiah Naidu, a BJP leader.

The “Third Front,” an alliance of communist, regional and caste-based parties that had banded together — and which for a time had been seen as a wild card that could emerge with immense power — appeared to have done poorly. Most news stations predicted they would win less than 70 seats.

As results came in, celebrations erupted outside the Congress party headquarters. Party workers set off fireworks and danced in the streets carrying posters of party leader Sonia Gandhi.

“We have won a thumping majority,” Congress activist Parag Jain said outside the party offices, in a leafy, elegant south New Delhi neighborhood. “Successful rule begins and ends with Congress and the Gandhi family.”

The BJP’s office compound offered a somber contrast, as supporters and party workers held quiet discussions inside the shuttered gates, decorated with the party symbol of a lotus flower.

The Congress party has long said that Singh, 76, would return to power if it won. But the election was also a clear victory for Sonia Gandhi’s son, Rahul, who emerged as a key strategist during the campaign and became the party’s most visible face. While a relative political newcomer, he has been increasingly viewed as a future prime minister.

Rahul, 38, is a scion of India’s most powerful family — the son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, grandson of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and great-grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister. The family was closely allied to the pacifist icon Mohandas Gandhi, though they are not related.

The Congress party has historically stood as a “secular” party popular with Muslims and other minorities in the Hindu-majority country that has seen waves of bloody religious clashes. The party’s base also includes India’s vast population of farmers and rural villagers who have been largely left out of the economic revolution. But more than anything, the Congress party has been linked with the powerful Gandhi family and its tragic legacy.

The results also indicated that the communist parties, a traditional power in Indian politics, had dropped from 60 seats to less than half that number.

Prakash Karat, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said it was cause to re-examine their approach, saying they had “suffered a major setback.”

The communist parties had supported Congress for much of the previous term, but broke ties over the Indian-U.S. civilian nuclear agreement, the cornerstone of warmer relations between New Delhi and Washington.

According to the constitution, a new legislature has to be in place by June 2.

The long, grueling campaign season produced few central issues that resonated across the wildly diverse nation of 1.2 billion people and 714 million eligible voters. Total voter turnout was approximately 60 percent, the national election commission said, up slightly from 58 percent in the last national vote in 2004.

The massive vote, the largest in the democratic world, was held between April 16 and May 13, staggered across five phases for logistical and security reasons.

Recently there has been some talk of students getting together and forming a UNH women’s field hockey club team for next year.  If you have an interest in playing or helping to form a club team next year, please e-mail Jason Riendeau at Jriendeau@newhaven.edu.  

If there is enough interest, an information session will be held in the next few days on how to go about forming a field hockey club team.  If you have any questions or would like more information please call Jason at 203-823-7354.

New Haven, CT – (May 2008) – The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut, Inc. (WSWC) together with Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele; Jeffrey Levy, National Director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD); Lieutenant J. Paul Vance of Connecticut State Police and Dr. Michael H. Pernal, Executive Vice President of Eastern Connecticut State University announced the winners of the WSWC Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest 2009 at an awards ceremony held at Eastern Connecticut State University.

Entrants were called write, film, and produce a thirty-second television public service announcement (PSA) educating parents about Connecticut’s House Party Law and the penalties it carries for adults who provide beverage alcohol to persons under the age of 21. Thirty-three teams consisting of 108 students from Eastern Connecticut State University, Quinnipiac University, Western Connecticut State University, and the University of New Haven submitted original PSAs for the contest.

The first place winner of the PSA Contest 2009 was “Team UNH” from the University of New Haven. Team UNH is comprised of Andy Pop, Chelsea Fowler, Stephanie Balesano, Jonathan Gorton, Katie Morris, Thomas Stanley, and Janic Maysonet.
    
“Diversity” of Western Connecticut State University placed second.  Diversity team members include Daniel Choi, David Duncan, Michael Lukaniec, and Robin Moravsky.    

Third place went to Ian Fisher and Kyle Garrity of team, “Playatech”, from Quinnipiac University.

The top three PSA submissions received prizes of $2,500 for first place, $1,500 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. Team UNH’s winning PSA, “Mugshots”, will air on television stations throughout Connecticut.

“Last year, the goal of the WSWC was to develop a PSA Campaign which encouraged parents to talk to their children about choosing not to drink,” said Peter Berdon, Executive Director of the WSWC. “The response to last year’s winning PSA was extremely positive.  We decided to use this year’s contest as an opportunity to raise awareness about another side of the underage drinking issue – the legal side.  Connecticut’s House Party Law makes it illegal for adults to host parties during which beverage alcohol is supplied to, and consumed by, persons under the age of 21. Period.  The law does not include any exceptions. We, as parents, need to observe this law for the good of our children.”

“Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Connecticut supports the initiatives of the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut to educate parents about the serious consequences of underage drinking and the laws that are in place to prevent it” said Janice Heggie Margolis, Executive Director of MADD in Connecticut. “The winning PSA will make people aware that Connecticut’s House Party Law is real and it is enforced – adults who chose to furnish alcohol to minors under the age of 21 face stiff fines and the very real possibility of jail time.”

“Public Service Announcements are a great way to assist in mobilizing community members to create lasting changes and change community norms,” said Patricia Andriole, Department Head at Branford Counseling Center.

The contestants’ submissions were scored by a panel of judges consisting of: Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele; Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr.; Lieutenant J. Paul Vance of Connecticut State Police; Chief Douglas S. Fuchs of the Redding Police Department; Emma Asante of NBC 30; Patricia Andriole of the Branford Counseling Center; Janice Heggie Margolis of MADD and Jeffrey Dornenburg of Dornenburg Group Advertising & Marketing Communications.

The WSWC is working in collaboration with The Governor’s Prevention Partnership and other community stakeholders to achieve the common goal of reducing underage drinking. The contest was announced in January 2009 and was open to any Connecticut college student.
Photos of WSWC PSA Contest 2009 Awards Ceremony are available upon request.
 

AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine’s governor signed a freshly passed bill Wednesday approving gay marriage, making it the fifth state to approve the practice and moving New England closer to allowing it throughout the region.

New Hampshire legislators were also poised to send a gay marriage bill to their governor, who hasn’t indicated whether he’ll sign it. If he does, Rhode Island would be the region’s sole holdout.

The Maine Senate voted 21-13, with one absent, for a bill that authorizes marriage between any two people rather than between one man and one woman, as state law currently allows. The House had passed the bill Tuesday.

Democratic Gov. John Baldacci, who hadn’t previously indicated how he would handle the bill, signed it shortly afterward. In the past, he said he opposed gay marriage but supported civil unions, which provide many benefits of marriage.

Debate was brief. Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell, D-Vassalboro, turned the gavel over to an openly gay member, Sen. Lawrence Bliss, D-South Portland, to preside over the final vote.

Republican Sen. Debra Plowman of Hampden argued that the bill was being passed “at the expense of the people of faith.”

“You are making a decision that is not well-founded,” warned Plowman.

But Senate Majority Leader Philip Bartlett II said the bill does not compel religious institutions to recognize gay marriage.

“We respect religious liberties. … This is long overdue,” said Bartlett, D-Gorham.

Maine is now the fourth state in New England, to allow same-sex marriages. Connecticut enacted a bill after being ordered to allow gay marriages by the courts, and Vermont passed a bill over the governor’s veto.

New Hampshire’s House was also expected to vote on a bill Wednesday and send it to Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat.

Massachusetts’ high court has ordered the state to recognize gay marriages. In Rhode Island, a bill to legalize same-sex marriage has been introduced but is not expected to pass this year.

Outside New England, Iowa is recognizing gay marriages on court orders. The practice was briefly legal in California before voters banned it.

The Student Committee on Programming Events, fondly known as SCOPE, has once again given the UNH community a wonderful Spring Weekend. Things got started with a bang on Friday night with the concert.

Volunteers started arriving at Charger Gymnasium as early as 7:00 in the morning to start setting up for the big night. A total of four box trucks were unloaded that morning; the contents of the trucks transforming the gym into a concert venue. With everything set up and ready to go it was time to open the doors and let the crowd fill the gym. The show was sold out and it showed in the way the gym filled up.

The concert started with a performance by Blue Jupiter, an a cappella group based in New York City. They performed a variety of songs ranging from Tom Cochrane’s “Life is a Highway” to Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours.” The group has won many awards and did not disappoint last Friday. The group also performed in between acts to keep the audience entertained throughout the night. If you loved them and want to hear more visit www.bluejupiter.com.

The next act was Trey Songz. The hip hop/R&B artist from Petersburg, Virginia sang hits from his first two albums we well as the first one released from his upcoming album. He had everyone in the gym doing the “two step” and of course had most of the ladies swooning. His website is www.treysongz.com if you want more information.

Trapt was up next. The group from Los Gatos, California is best known for its hit “Headstrong”. They performed this hit for the UNH crowd as well as other songs from their three studio albums. This performance got the crowd extremely worked up and ready for the headliner.  If you love Trapt and want more, join their social network at www.onlythroughthepain.com.

Finally it was time for Third Eye Blind. The group performed their old hits as well as some new things off of their upcoming album Ursa Major due out later this year. They performed fan favorites including “Semi-Charmed Life”, “How’s It Going To Be” and “Motorcycle Drive By”. Some members of the audience felt compelled to crowd surf and start mosh pits, but the security provided by SCOPE, campus police and West Haven police quickly diffused all of the situations. These groups did a great job maintaining the safety of the UNH students/guests as well as the bands.

After the show was over some students stuck around to help break down and load out the equipment. Kudos to those students who did tough it out and get everything clean for the next day. It was an extremely long night, but worth it to be a part of the weekend.

The weather cleared on Saturday in time for the carnival. Between the rides, food, free stuff and Bula the 41 year old marshmallow-loving elephant there was no end to the fun.

SCOPE went out of its way to make sure there was something for everyone at this carnival. There was the typical carnival food (popcorn, cotton candy and fried dough) as well as enchiladas and Dipin’ Dots ice cream. Sodexo also provided dinner in the form of a BBQ with chicken, burgers, hotdogs, watermelon and cookies.

For rides there was the tilt-o-rama, super trooper, berry-go-round, dragon coaster, fun house and huge slide. Students could also race each other on adult-size tricycles and bathtubs. They could also test themselves on the mechanical bull and balance-tester. The usual carnival games were also present if students wanted to play.

Students could get just about whatever they wanted made out of balloons, wax molds of their hands, caricatures, photo strips, photo cell phone tags, manicures and massages. Many students left North Campus with their arms full of mementoes to help them remember the weekend.

Then of course there was the much anticipated elephant ride. This aspect of the carnival received mixed reviews from the students. While most couldn’t wait for their chance to ride an elephant, others found keeping the elephant walking in small circles not at all appealing.

Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to ride an elephant as I honestly can’t think of any other time in the future I will have that chance with two of my best friends beside me.
Even though I did not win any of the prizes at the end of the day, there was a great selection that offered something for everyone.

The evening closed with comedian John Heffron in North Campus, attracting about 500 students.

WEST HAVEN — The University of New Haven women’s lacrosse team defeated visiting Southern New Hampshire University, 12-7, at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium on Sunday afternoon to capture its first ever Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) Championship. The Chargers improve to 16-3 overall this season, while the Penmen finish their season at 13-5.

Ashley Ferrandiz gave the Chargers 2-0 lead with a goal in the fifth minute on Sunday. The Penmen answered with two goals in the ninth minute, evening the score at 2-2. Six minutes later, Brianna Kenworthy and Brigid Brady put the Chargers ahead 4-2. SNHU added one in 21st minute, but the Chargers finished strong with three unanswered goals to push their lead to 7-3 at the midway point.

2009 NE-10 Women's Lacrosse Champs

Brady, Sarah Magnone and Kenworthy each scored in the opening four minutes of the second half to put the Chargers up by seven, 10-3. Over the next 14 minutes the Penmen cut New Haven’s lead to four (11-7) by scoring four of the next five goals. Ashley Ferrandiz capped scoring in the 54th minute with her 57th of the season. The Chargers then managed to stall and run out the clock for the remaining six minutes.

Maureen Spellman made nine saves in goal for the Chargers, while allowing only seven goals. She saved five shots in the first half and four in the second half.

The Chargers’ offense was led by four goals from senior Brady. Kenworthy also finished with three goals. Ashley Ferrandiz finished with two goals, while Magnone, Mallory Ferrandiz and Alexis Gabbe each finished with one score.

The Chargers, ranked No. 8 in the latest Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association/Under Armour poll, will find out later tonight if they made the 2009 NCAA Championship field. The Chargers were ranked third in the north region poll last week. Three at-large bids from the north region are selected to the Championship.

NCAA Division I, II and III Women’s Lacrosse and Division II and III Men’s Lacrosse Championships brackets will be announced exclusively on CBS College Sports Network during the NCAA Lacrosse Selection Special. The brackets were revealed Sunday night around 10:30pm (Eastern Time).

CBS College Sports Network is available on local cable systems around the country and also via satellite on Dish Network (channel 152) and DirecTV (channel 613). On Comcast in New Haven and the surrounding area, CBS College Sports Network is channel 274. Immediately following the announcement on CBS College Sports Network, www.NCAA.com will have the complete bracket.