sub new 
{
    # get necessary config info
    my $dbuser = conf::SiteConfig::get_conf ( 'dbuser' );
    my $dbpass = conf::SiteConfig::get_conf ( 'dbpass' );
    my $dbname = conf::SiteConfig::get_conf ( 'dbname' );
    my $dbserv = conf::SiteConfig::get_conf ( 'dbserv' );
    
    # Build up DBI connection string.
    my $datasource = 'dbi:mysql:'.$dbname;
    $datasource .= "\;host=$dbserv" if ( $dbserv );

    # Connect
    return DBI->connect_cached( $datasource, $dbuser, $dbpass );
}