UConn's Daily Campus Reporters Come Back Strong From Holiday

In our first week back, The Daily Campus put out some stories that I am proud to share.

Jack Rabbit's shuts down

 I was sad to hear Jack Rabbit's in Storrs Plaza closed its doors. I became a fan of the restaurant a year and a half ago when I first had their chocolate milkshake. A fellow Daily Campus copyeditor, who has since graduated, and I had a few of the shakes during our shifts.

I originally heard the news through Mansfield Patch. Our news editor Kim Wilson then reported that the burger place had been at its Storrs Road location for four years. A Dec. 22 tweet written by the branch announced the closing but did not cite a reason. We still have not been able to find out why it shut down.

(Published Wednesday Jan. 23) 

Delta Gamma sorority ceiling collapses 

Thursday morning sisters of the Delta Gamma sorority had a rude awakening when a frozen pipe burst in their common room. I happened to hear this tip in a class from a fellow journalism student who was on call as a resident assistant that morning.

Our associate news editor reported that they were evacuated, along with their Pi Beta Phi sorority neighbors, at 5 a.m. Later in the morning the common room ceiling collapsed after it was flooded with water. As of now, the Daily Campus reports that the television, furniture and personal belongings of the first floor residents were destroyed. 

(Published Friday Jan. 25)

Spring Weekend returns with alterations

UConn’s Spring Weekend has a reputation that precedes it. Even I, who transferred to the university after the school event was shut down, know details of the wild weekend and have heard many stories about it.

After it was canceled for two years, Daily Campus reporter Megan Merrigan wrote that UConn will revive Spring Weekend this year from April 25-27, with some big changes.

Merrigan reported that organizations may have events as long as they are pre-approved by the university, and buildings and buses will be operating with limited availability. However, guests will be restricted from the events, dining halls and dorms.

The weekend will be themed “UConn Learns, UConn Serves, UConn Cares.” Each activity will speak to the theme.

(Published Friday Jan. 25)

Former men's basketball coach Dee Rowe speaks about the overturned ban on women in combat

New Undergraduate Student Government reporter Jackie Wattles brought the overturned ban on women in combat back to campus. Wattles interviewed former men’s basketball Head Coach and Army veteran Dee Rowe about the decision.

As a father to six daughters, Rowe told Wattles he supports the new rule because he’s “’all for equality.’” Although he never served in combat, he said he knows it takes a certain type of person to be able to do so. He told Wattles he wants to know there is an appropriate vetting process to allow soldiers to go to the front lines, whether they are men or women.

(Published Friday Jan. 25)