Today: Mar 28, 2024

Looking back: Spring of 2002

Compiled from the Southern News archives by Michael Riccio, Managing Editor

On April 20, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake was felt at Southern at 6:50 a.m. The center of the earthquake was at Plattsburgh, New York. No injuries or fatalities were reported. Marie Hart, a sociology major, said she thought it was thunder when she heard the rumbling. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said people in Connecticut are at risk because buildings are not built with reinforced materials. With Southern under construction at the time, students and workers were concerned with the safety of campus if another earthquake hit.

February
• Former football player Joe Andruzzi helped the New England Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.
• A new broadcasting booth was being built for the campus radio station, WSIN, on the first floor of the Student Center. The station was previously located on the second floor. Handicap access was built for the station after a student complained to administrators that he did not have access.
• A fire caused by a contractor error in the mechanical room of Engleman Hall’s basement closed the building for a day. No one was injured.

March
• After Joe Bandiera retired after 26 years, the baseball team began their first season with Tim Shea as head coach of the team. The team also began playing at a new on-campus field named Bandiera Field, which was right behind Seabury Hall on Crescent Street. The team previously played home games at a field about 15 minutes away.
• A new system, called Banner, was implemented to make registration easier for students. Previously, students would wait in line to register at the Wintergreen Building or register over the phone.
• LaShante Kelley was crowned Southern’s first Ms. SCSU after winning a pageant on campus. Kelley teamed up with Chris Crampton, Mr. SCSU, to promote Southern.
• Ben Michaelson, a junior, was named the Oustanding Male Swimmer of the Year after winning the 100-yard freestyle, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard butterfly. He broke the NCAA record in the 100 and 200- yard butterfly.

April
• A student broke into the campus radio station and stole 170 CDs.

May
• Softball broke the program record for wins in a season with 25 and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

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