3/24/2010

FREE | Take one Week of Mar. 24, 2010 | Vol. 35, Iss. 21

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Mirror

The Independent Student Newspaper of Fairfield University

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The Reflection of Fairfield

Historic Health Care Legislation Passed

By Christopher Haliskoe Business Managing Director Many students went to bed Sunday night worried about their Final Four brackets or their 9:30 quiz the next morning. But over 300 miles away, their legislators were working late to change the society they will be graduating into.

This week’s health care reform bill, signed into law by President Barack Obama on Tuesday after an arduous and slim win in the House of Representatives, guarantees that more than 30 million currently uninsured Americans will receive health care. The bill aims to reduce cost over time, thus lowering the national debt and improving health care for those who already have insurance, according to lawmakers.

Children who are under their parents coverage are now covered until they are 26 years old, when the bill takes effect.

In an interview with The Mirror, U.S. Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT), who represents Fairfield and surrounding towns, highlighted that college students will particularly benefit from the plan.

“I would say people in their early twenties, in an unsure job market, could get some peace of mind,” said Himes. “Many of the Contributed Photo

Will | page 4

What the Health Care Bill Means For You:

President Obama signed the health care legislation Tuesday morning, marking a significant moment for all Americans. The bill is the largest expansion of government health care since Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960.

—$61 billion will be cut in fi-

—Children under their parents

—The overall $940 billion plan is

nancial aid for college students.

coverage may stay on until

projected to extend insurance to

they turn 26 years old.

roughly 32 million Americans.

Academic Calendar to Get a Makeover

By Dan Leitao Staff Writer

Peter Caty/The Mirror

For consecutive days in the past week, students have protested in solidarity for 15 minutes a day over the University’s decision to cut down forestland. Zach Gross ‘12 wears a sign saying, “I am one tree of 60. I will not stand for more destruction.”

meeting on Thursday and FUSA and Malone are scheduled to meet next week.

The issues under discussion will affect the academic calendar for at least the next two years.

In the past the academic calendar has caused many inconveniences from students having more than two exams on one day to grades not having enough time to be processed.

The Academic Council appointed Malone, along with two more faculty members, to look into the best ways to address the many concerns.

The faculty’s main concern was that students need three days before the exam period, and, because exam period was shortened, some students are scheduled for three exams one day, along with the consideration of meeting the needs of professional schools.

In the next two weeks, discussions will take place centering around the reassessment of and possible changes to the University academic calendar.

The issue was brought to students’ attention at the FUSA Senate meeting this past Sunday night.

According to Mary Frances Malone, the University associate academic vice president as well as the FUSA faculty advisor for commencement, discussion is focusing on three major issues of concern. The issues are three reading days for students, enough time between fall and spring semesters for professors research and student immersion trips, along with a way to help students who have three exams at once.

The Academic Council will be

Do Students Think They’re Safe?

By Meagan Flynn Staff Writer Walkie-talkies are beeping and conference rooms are buzzing as John Ritchie, assistant director of the Department of Public Safety, intently scans through statistics on his computer screen. The results are in for the

department’s recent online safety survey, and Ritchie knows that every detail of the report could hold clues to how he and his fellow officers can better serve the Fairfield community.

“It gives us a benchmark of how we’re serving the community. We have our perspective of things, but sometimes our perspective isn’t the important one,” Ritchie says of the

Index Opinion• Page 7 Features • Page 9 Arts & Entertainment • Page 13 Coffee Break • Page 17 Sports • Page 24

DPS Survey that students, faculty and staff were recently encouraged to participate in.

The DPS Survey is the first one of its kind in the past 10 years, its aim being to evaluate the performance of the department and to better understand Public Safety’s role on campus.

The demographics of the survey are reflective enough of the campus community to

provide an accurate depiction of community opinion, according to Ritchie. The survey was generally broken into two sections: one survey for students, and another for faculty and staff.

Appropriately, the majority of respondents (61 percent) were full-time undergraduate

Inside This Week Hungry for a

Women Poets

Cleaning?

Countdown to

See page 3.

See page 3.

Timeline

Students | page 5

Log onto fairfieldmirror. com for more!

Next week’s issue will come out on March 30 instead of March 31.

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

News

In The News

»The Forgotten Childhood Lesson

PAGE 2

Page 2

»Lacrosse

»Monk’ing Around

Wins First ECAC Game

| page 13

| page 8

|page 22

The Stag Sched St. Patrick’s Week around campus ... in five easy steps

By News Staff

Volunteer: Hunger Cleanup The Mirror has a team for Hunger Cleanup and you should too! Hunger Cleanup is the University’s biggest and longest running event and you should find out why! Get in touch with Campus Ministry or show up at the BCC on Saturday morning, March 27, at 9 a.m. with the rest of the volunteers!

See: A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and a Prayer What: A play Where: Walsh Gallery in the Quick Center When: Thursday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

How much: $5 for students Veronica Florentino/The Mirror

Talk about Stag Pride! Strong winds from last weekend’s huge storm knocked down the Sacred Heart sign on the south side of the I-95 highway. This make’s one think that Mother Nature is a Stag fan!

Attend: Palm Sunday Mass Palm Sunday at Fairfield is one mass you should make sure you attend. A choir from town is brought in to sing and mass is at 7 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. Make sure you get there early for a seat!

Stag, Lucas

Campus crime beat

Watch: Up in the Air

By Dan Leitao

fied and issued a citation.

Tuesday, March 16

Wednesday, March 17

9:20 a.m. There was a parking complaint about cars parked on College Park. They were reported to Student Conduct.

9:21 a.m. A student was operating a car recklessly in a construction zone. The student was issued a citation.

9:26 p.m. A student recklessly operated a vehicle. At high risk speed, the student blew through a stop sign and sped off campus.

The individual was identi-

7:19 p.m. Prep students received a disorderly conduct after they complained to Public Safety about a car being towed because they used obscene language.

11:28 p.m. Students received an alcohol violation at the townhouses. They were reported to the dean of students’ office.

Saturday, March 20 10:17 p.m. A firework

was discharged over a Public Safety officer’s head.

The individual was identified and referred to student conduct after other house violations, such as birds, were discovered.

Sunday, March 21 12:35 a.m. A student entered the Levee and found in possession of 12 beer cans.

2:13 a.m. An intoxicated student in Jogues hall accidentally dialed 911 three times while the phone was in her pocket. The student was found intoxicated.

Better Know a Stag Name: Elizabeth DeSiena ‘11 Major/Minor: Music and Psychology Hometown: Yorktown Heights, NY

By Mikaela Tierney

What change would you like to see happen on campus? Bring back the on campus StagBus for the winter!

If you could design a new statue for campus, what would it be and why? A statue of all the saints that the dorms are named after, each placed in front of their respective buildings.

If you could create your own holiday, what would it be and why? A day where singing and dancing in the quad would be a mandatory campus-wide activity because everyone needs to let loose sometimes, and most people are too nervous to just let go and sing and dance their heart out!

What’s your favorite food from the Stag? The Crispy Chicken Sandwich.

George Clooney and his cast mates were nominated for numerous Oscars for this movie, so why not go see why? Stop by the Gonzaga auditorium on Friday night at 9 p.m. to check it out!

Bid Farewell To: The Monks Have you noticed the Tibetan monks who have occupied the lower level of the BCC this week? As a part of a FUSA event, the monks have shown off their cultural talents all week. Show your support since their last day at Fairfield is Thursday.

By the Numbers: Health Care Bill 143

Billions of dollars which are estimated to be saved in the next 10 years due to the new health care legislation.

2014

The year when most Americans will be required to have health insurance.

219

The amount of House votes favoring the bill on Sunday.

20

Pens President Obama used to sign the health care bill Tuesday morning.

Page 3

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

News

FUSA Judicial Branch to be No More Mirror Staff It’s official: The FUSA Judicial branch has been dissolved, as of this past Sunday night.

According to Senator Darryl Brackeen Jr. ‘10, the decision to dissolve the judicial branch was made because of the responsibilities appointed to the branches.

“This process has been talked about going back to the time when the Student Code of Conduct Board was given the assignment that had essentially been under the FUSA Judicial Branch and that was the primary job of the judicial,” said Brackeen, who co-wrote the changes with fellow Senator Matthew Morrissey ‘13.

This year, then, the only job of the judicial branch was to run the FUSA elections, with one member of the branch, appointed by the FUSA president, acting as commissioner, according to Brackeen.

The new clause states that with the dissolution of the judicial branch, three members of the legislative branch will make up the new FUSA Election Com-

mittee. The clause includes the involvement of the class councils in order to include the executive branch as well.

“I personally believe, looking at the history of the judicial branch there was no accountability to anyone and for the most part the branch set themselves part from FUSA,” said Brackeen.

“So I believe that these changes are ultimately for the best considering each branch has rules of conduct and accountability amongst the branches,” he continued.

A separate clause was also created in addition to the others to establish how the new Election Committee will be nominated with the establishment of an Election Committee Nomination Board.

According to the clause, the board “will be composed of four Senators selected by Chair of Senate (one from each class) and four Class Council members selected by their respective class presidents (one from each class).”

Brackeen and Morrissey teamed up with the rest of the Senate to create the new clauses.

Women Poets Countdown to Timeline Bridgford

By Renee Borghesi Staff Writer The women poets will be marching on Washington this weekend.

The Mezzo Cammin Women Poets Timeline Project, the largest database of women poets, will be launched in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, March 27 at 6:00 p.m. at the National Museum in the Arts.

It is an outgrowth of Mezzo Cammin, a web journal devoted to poetry by women. English Professor Kim Bridgford founded the journal four years ago.

“I thought, what would happen if we had a resource available for women poetry that could tap into women writers and women issues?” said Bridgford.

The web journal and timeline consists of the well-known women authors like Sylvia Plath and Emily Dickinson, as well as local poets.

Each poet in the database has an accompanying photograph, an essay written about her, and sample poems. The contributing poems

and essays are by a series of people invested in women’s poetic history.

“It will transgress time, making it possible to connect poets from century to century,” said Stefania Cambanis ‘11.

At the launch, there will be readings of poems, a performance by jazz artist Somi, and what Bridgford described as a women poets roll call. This is a reading of the names of all self-identified poets who will stand up together, giving everyone a chance to see the women whose work is published in the database.

As Brittany Hill ‘10 said, “Many of the poets in today’s society are women, but a lot of their work is not known or published.”

According to the University press release, the web journal Mezzo Cammin is intended to promote the work of contemporary women poets and expose readers to formal poetry. There are sonnets, essays, book reviews and more. The poems on the Web site and time line are peer reviewed.

With this database, people can see in a global way what people are writing about, said Bridgford.

“This is a global project,” she continued.

“In five years, I think it will be a resource where we can see Chi-

nese, South African, French women poets.”

Bridgford plans to travel to London, Rome and a series of other stops to literary art communities to encourage local poets to join.

“The project will bring women poets together from all over the world and connect poets by genre, form, and topic,” said Cambanis.

The online database is a wonderful opportunity because it is available overseas where people can find poets and their poetry and apply this knowledge to any work they may be completing, said Hill.

Cambanis and Hill only a few of the University community attending the event in Washington. Other members of Fairfield’s academic community have also been involved in the launching of the Timeline Project, said Bridgford. English professor Pete Duval designed the database and Studio Art professor Jo Yarrington designed the logo.

In addition, two Dolan School of Business classes are helping with registration and the operation of the launch.

“This is project is something everyone can use, men and women, and we all benefit,” Bridgford said.

“The more we all read and understand each other, the more celebratory the world is.”

Hungry for a Cleaning?

By Rory Bernier Staff Writer

poverty that is affecting their neighboring community.

Bridgeport students will have the continuous pleasure of our assistance in helping them fight for better living condiHundreds of Fairfield students will wake up early on tions. the morning of this Saturday, March 27. Not to get a good The Hunger Cleanup Board is comprised of: two spot in the library or rush to Barone. Instead, they will be advisors, Wylie Smith Blake, the Campus Ministry Comparticipating in the Fairfield tradition of Hunger Cleanup. munity Outreach coordinator, and Rusiackas, the associate The 22nd annual Hunger Cleanup helps combat University chaplain, an executive board of 11 students in poverty and homelessness in Bridgeport, Conn. Last year five separate committees and a general board of approxiFairfield’s 650 participants raised $10,000. The goal is to mately 20 people. clean up the inner city, make a difference every year, and Athletes, teachers, FUSA, Jesuits, alumni, residential keep it going. assistants, Bridgeport High School students and families According to Carolyn Rusiackas, an advisor for the within the community are joining their efforts together for Hunger Cleanup board and Campus Ministry’s associate this amazing experience to meet and talk to others over University chaplain, the event is “evolving into the longestbreakfast before and lunch afterwards. running, largest one day outreach project the University “I went to a beach in Bridgeport and did a beach does.” cleanup,” said Meghann Sweeney ‘11. Sweeney is in her The opportunity to serve in this event is open to all second year on the Hunger Cleanup board as recruiting students in the graduate and professional programs at co-chair. the University. Students will become more aware of the Blake hopes that all students will reach out and join a team for the event. In fact, she said they are hoping for around 500 students.

“Join the tradition at F.U.!” she encouraged.

“It’s a great way to step out of the Fairfield bubble and get involved and make a difference in the larger community.”

Co-chair of Hunger Cleanup Antoinette Basso ‘11 reiterated Blake’s enthusiasm. “The Mirror File Photo board’s biggest Students help clean up Bridgeport in a previous Hunger Cleanup event. goal is to raise

Mirror File Photo

$10,000 and have 500 volunteers. My personal goal for this year is to have 600 volunteers and raise $11,000,” she said.

“I want this year’s Hunger Cleanup to get even more people involved then last year,” continued Basso.

According to co-chair Stephanie Iannuzzo ‘11, already half of the board’s goal in do-

nations has been made.

“Personally my goal is to bring as many students out on Saturday morning and make an impact on the areas surrounding our campus,” she said.

Iannuzzo also stressed how hard the board has been working in the organization of the event and how many people have been involved to make Hunger Cleanup such an “awesome experience.”

“It’s an opportunity for community service in the larger community,” said Eric Clayton ‘10.

An integral component of a Jesuit education is serving the local and national communities by putting social justice into action. The 22nd annual Hunger Cleanup will help students get involved on issues in the local community that are worthy of awareness.

“It’s a fun way to give back to the community. I cleaned up an abandoned lot in Bridgeport,” said Maura Noone ‘11.

Students, faculty, alumni and the whole community all have fun together working towards building friendships, cleaning the streets and reflecting on their experiences.

“Hunger Cleanup gets everyone involved and joins all groups of people to a common good,” said Nicole Sweeney ‘10.

“It shows that so many students care about the community,” she added.

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

News

Let’s Get Moving!

By Janelle Cecco Staff Writer For the first time in our country’s history, there is a chance that American children may face a shorter expected lifespan than their parents. Why? Because obesity rates have tripled in the last three decades and we must put a stop to this growing trend, before it becomes too late.

One in three American children are overweight or obese. Because of this statistic and related numbers, First Lady Michelle Obama launched the “Let’s Move” national campaign to raise a healthier generation of American kids, in early February.

There are four key components of this national campaign including: providing the tools and support parents need to make food changes within their families; improving the quality of food in schools; making healthy, affordable food accessible in every part of the U.S.; and helping our kids to be more physically active.

Sharon Vadovic, physical education teacher in Northern New Jersey stated, “Currently …[at the school she teaches at] students attend physical education class twice a week for 45 minutes each. This is not nearly enough. Physical education has never been increased, only decreased with the ever increasing budget constraints.”

With this being said, this issue seems to be in the hands of the right people.

In fact, our nations’ leading

children’s health foundations have collaborated to form a new independent foundation — the Partnership for a healthier America — that will address these issues with hopes of achieving the national goal of solving childhood obesity within a generation.

Let’s Move Campaign Facts Obesity rates have tripled within the past 30 years.

Nearly 1 out of every 3 American children are overweight or obese.

One-third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives. $147 billion dollars are spent on obesityrelated diseases per year

The First Lady spoke about her experience as a mother, and said that when her schedule was hectic, she would rely on ordering a pizza or getting fast food for her family as a meal. This needs to be changed, and the “Let’s Move” initiative will help.

“Many young parents use food as a way of placating babies. So, the pattern begins in infancy! ... Add this to plunking a child in front of a TV and you’ve got the perfect condition for obesity,” said Lynn Winslow, Professor of Education Courses at the University.

Because this issue starts in the home and at such a young age, onethird of American children will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives. As a result, health care costs of obesity related diseases are at $147 billion per year.

It will be interesting to see how this will be (or will not be) integrated within the new health care plan signed by the President this week in the near future.

So, if you hope that your future children will exceed your life expectancy, you should consider the steps you take in raising your children, when it comes to the food they eat and the activities they are involved in.

And if you are not expecting to have children in the near future, help the younger generations now, by volunteering your time to promoting healthy lifestyles through being active!

Page 4

How Students will be Affected by the Health Care Bill Continued from page 1 graduating students will have health care while looking for a job or can go start their own business and not have to worry about health care.”

The bill is set to go into effect as early as September of this year. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill will look to slice as much as $1.3 billion out of our national debt, but the office also admits that those numbers are estimates that may fluctuate.

Many opponents of the bill said they are worried about a clause that states $61 billion will be cut from the financial-aid budget to fund the legislation. But Himes said that the reform will actually help many of those going to college.

“There is no (negative) affect on financial aid. The bill includes a section that creates student lending by the government and not the banks,” said Himes.

“This bill greatly increases the amount of financial aid through the Pell Grant. College will now be more affordable

than ever,” he added.

The bill also states that insurers will not be allowed to be turn down children with preexisting conditions, based on those conditions. Adults will have the same provision applied to them in 2014.

Phillip Greiner, the associate dean of the School of Nursing, said the reform includes a substantial increase in funding for community health centers.

“Community health centers (federally qualified health centers) are primary care centers designed to serve lowincome and undeserved populations. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have traditionally supported CHC’s,” said Greiner.

According to Greiner, “The bill strengthens funding for the public health workforce, increases access to primary care for those currently uninsured, and increases funding for preventive health services current not funded.”

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

News

Page 5

Students Wear the Safety Glasses Continued from page 1 students, although part-time and grad students also participated in the survey. Full-time staff represented the second-largest group of respondents.

Parking

to park,” said Richie.

Crime Sections of the report dealing with crime follow the opinion of respondents that the campus is generally safe. Out of the 1,080 respondents, only 55 (or 7 percent) claimed to have been a victim of a crime during their time at Fairfield.

However, Ritchie finds it disappointing that 22 percent of these crimes went unreport-

and hopes that Public Safety can improve upon this point.

“Administratively, we’re not pleased to hear that there was any delay in response … but when you look at the time line, we average our response on campus to just a couple minutes in most cases,” said Ritchie, noting that most delays stem from the fact that patrols are out on another call, or from prioritizing cases.

One of the biggest issues that came up for faculty, staff and students is parking on campus.

The largest percentage of interaction with DPS was for vehicle registration, at 37 percent. However, only 35 percent of those surveyed felt that parking rules and regulations are clearly defined. There has always —Fifty percent of students surveyed said they feel campus is “very safe” and 47 been disputes over parking, but the recent percent said they feel it is “safe.” changes in parking rules for this school year makes this area of the survey particularly —Only four percent said they have utilized Public Safety’s escort service. important, according to Ritchie.

Some students surveyed suggested —Thirty-five percent of students surveyed said they are unclear about parking that the amount of ticketing is nothing more regulations. than a money scheme.

Ritchie disputes such statements: —According to the survey, 22 percent of crimes went unreported by students.

“Ticketing is not a money-making scheme.

Ticketing is really geared toward compliance at this point,” he said. “At some point we have to say that it’s not possible to make everybody happy.” ed, according to the survey. This is a trend that Alcohol and Sanctions Student and faculty opinions on the park- he says is not limited to Fairfield’s campus.

Many of the anonymous comments ing issue were drastically different. According Ritchie claims that the majority of camthat students wrote dealt with Public Safety’s to Ritchie, faculty and staff largely commented pus crimes are crimes of opportunity — such handling of issues involving alcohol, and the that they are disappointed by reckless driving as theft resulting from unlocked rooms — possible judicial sanctions that follow. and non-compliance with parking rules on be- rather than violent crimes.

“I always joke and say, you know what, half of students. Students, on the other hand, if students didn’t drink on this campus, I generally feel that parking rules and regulaTimeliness wouldn’t have a job,” said Ritchie. His tone tions are unfair and that students should be According to the survey, 33 percent of returns serious when he explains the implicagiven more privileges, according to comments spondents felt that the department’s response tions of underage drinking on campus. made in the survey. to calls is merely satisfactory. Although Ritchie “We have to look at the behavior and say, “The bottom line is, we really need the attributes this low rating to many factors, he you’re wrong for getting behind the wheel of a community to park where we’re asking them still finds a long-response time unacceptable, car if you’ve been drinking, and you’re wrong

What Students Said About Campus Safety

See fairfieldmirror.com for more on this story!

if you’re drinking so much that you’re putting yourself at risk of permanent damage or death,” he says.

Many students don’t think it’s right that they feel the need to choose between having an intoxicated classmate taken to the health center and facing possible judicial sanctions themselves. The University has been struggling with this issue for years, according to Ritchie.

According to Ritchie, the department’s hands are tied. For now, he can only hope that students will choose to do the right thing and take time to reflect on their decisions regarding alcohol.

Customer Satisfaction Although the survey indicates that respondents are generally very pleased with Public Safety’s overall attitude, accessibility, quality of service and professional conduct, Ritchie cannot help but nit-pick on the comments that suggest otherwise.

According to Ritchie, people used some “choice words” in their comments: “It’s an anonymous survey, but sometimes I want to know who said that, and are they responding this way because they got in trouble. Or are they responding that way because they honestly believe that? I wish they had wrote why. I can’t respond to the comments without knowing why,” he says.

“We want to make sure our officers are polite to the students. I can dump your alcohol, but I’ll do it politely. You might call me every name in the book, and I’ve heard it all.

It’s frustrating,” he said.

It seems that Ritchie and the other officers have their work cut out for them.

One Time In College ...

I ran a small business that grossed $100,000 a year in revenue.

I managed a Web site that received as many as 10,000 hits a day.

I had a job in which I made my own hours and answered to my peers.

I helped produce a product that is the talk of the campus.

I provided myself with an experience to talk about during a job interview.

I landed a respectable paid internship just paces from my dorm room.

Attention: Class of 2012 The Mirror is currently looking to hire two sophomores for paid positions. One available positions is Business Manager, who will be responsible for our advertising sales, managing The Mirror’s budget, and maintaining the overall business operations. The other position of Webmasterwill be responsible maintaining and updating “www.fairfieldmirror.com,� as well as managing other various technology-based tasks.

To request an application for either position or if you have any questions, please e-mail christopher.haliskoe@fairfieldmirror.com.

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

Opinion | 7

Online

Do you use Wikipedia for research?

Send your thoughts to opinion@fairfieldmirror.com.

editorial

Tom Cleary | Editor in Chief Lily Norton | Executive Editor Chris Simmons | Managing Editor Veronica Florentino | Opinion Editor

Editor Veronica Florentino »opinion@fairfieldmirror.com

fairfieldmirror.com

Stags in Contemplation

Our Commencement Speaker Picks Every year, Fairfield chooses a commencement speaker from those receiving honorary degrees. The typical criteria for the speaker is that they exemplify Jesuit values and have a connection to Fairfield. While this is all good in theory and makes the administration and faculty look like every move follows the strategic plan; it's not their graduation.

It's ours. And since they have yet to announce a speaker, we thought we would narrow down some candidates for the job (some may be more realistic than others; we just don't want to fall asleep on Bellarmine lawn): No. 1 — Ed Cooley He came in with our class and gave a speech to our orientation groups before he ever coached a game.

He's a great speaker, entertaining and funny, and as a bonus for the administration, is all about the Fairfield community and family.

No. 2 — Bill Murray His son graduated from Fairfield in 2007, so there's the Fairfield connection. Plus, on his deathbed, he's going to

receive total consciousness. So he's got that going for him, which is nice.

No. 3 — David Axelrod No, not that Dave Axelrod. The one who works with President Obama.

No. 4 — Paul Farmer He gave our convocation address our freshmen year. And while a repeat speaker may not seem to be exciting, we're interested in what he thinks about the whole Doug Perlitz scandal.

No. 5 — Justin Long Son of professor James Long, philosophy extraordinaire, he can finally settle the debate over Macs vs. PCs. And warn us of the perils of starting your own college or becoming a waiter.

No. 6 — Paul Marcarelli You may know him better as the "Can you hear me now?" guy for Verizon Wireless. He would be a great fit for our speaker since the students and faculty seem to be asking the administration, "Can you hear me now?" a lot in recent weeks. Remember when we were supposed to be a green campus?

The Mirror welcomes the opinions and contributions of its readers:

This past week, Tibetan Monks have been creating a mandala in the Barone Campus Center. Have an opinion?

Send it to opinion@fairfieldmirror.com.

Catchy Music vs. You: The Battle For Your Brain

By Rosemary O'Connor Staff Writer

It’s happened to all of us.

That song you have a love/hate relationship with lodges itself in your brain and refuses to go anywhere no matter how much you bombard it with distractions.

It stays put, bothering you — and your roommates.

Isn’t it just the worst when the song you despise dominates your brain? It refuses to allow you to do anything else with your life other than sing or hum it to yourself. All you want to do is be free, but its ironclad grip on you holds fast. Then you wind up doing stupid things like writing, “I want your love and I want your revenge” in the middle of your newspaper article while you’re not paying attention. Whoops! I mean, I’ve never done anything like that …

When it annoys you, it’s one thing. When it annoys everyone around you, it’s quite another. I can’t tell you how many times people have told me to “Just shut up already,” after I return from Glee Club rehearsal and have some obscure song like “Wolcum Yole” on the brain.

I prefer when no one else knows the song. Then no one can holler, “At least get the lyrics right!” while I’m singing the radio’s most popular song of the week — apparently incorrectly — in the shower.

Wikipedia has some helpful tips as to how to vanquish that evil song for your sake and for your friends’.

No. 1: this first one kills me: Speak the lyrics to “I’m a Little Teapot.” I’d rather sing the other song I don’t want in my head.

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No. 2: Write a list of songs that get stuck in your head. And this helps me how? Besides, when do I have time to do something so trivial?

No. 3: Pick the “stickiest” song on that list and sing it whenever you want a different song out. But then won’t that leave me with a second song stuck?

No. 4: Do something active or noisy. Now this is not a problem. Active = gym which kills two birds with one stone by forcing me to use my iPod and listen to more desirable songs and also making me actually work out.

No. 5: Concentrate on something else. I could have told you that one on my own.

No. 6: Shout in your head. No comment on that.

No. 7: Go someplace no one will hear and shout out loud. Good luck finding that place on campus.

If you’re having this much trouble, just sing the song out loud wherever you are and pretend not to notice people staring at you peculiarly.

No. 8: Think of other songs that annoy you and sing them out loud. For commentary, refer to number three.

No. 9: Watch a movie. This I’m cool with if I have enough time to spare. It totally gets the mind concentrating on something other than the undesirable song.

And No. 10, which is really the only foolproof system: Listen to the hated song over and over and over.

This method has been tried and true. You naturally get tired of the song and your brain shakes it off, leaving you in peace.

Your roommate probably won’t mind either.

Arts & Entertainment

Melissa Mann, Editor Gabriella Tutino, Asst. Editor

Tom Cleary, Keith Connors, Chris Simmons, Editors

Peter Caty, Executive Editor Ali Foreman, Asst. Editor

Contact Information Mail Fairfield University 1073 North Benson Road, Box AA, Fairfield, CT 06824 Phone Newsroom: 203-256-6600 | Advertising: 203-256-6594 | Editor in Chief: 203-256-6529

Email fairfield.mirror@gmail.com Fax 203-256-6529

Keith Connors, General Manager Christopher Haliskoe, Managing Director Kristian Petric, Distribution Manager

Dr. James Simon

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

Opinion

Texas conservatives attempting to brainwash students

By Casey Donohue Staff Writer

When most people think of academic excellence and complete freedom from political bias, they probably think of Texas. But the Lone Star State, which is ranked last in adults with a high school diploma as well as among the bottom rankings in SAT scores, is shaking up the curriculum by emphasizing conservative ideologies and cracking down on the so-called “liberal bias” in education.

Last week the Texas Board of Education voted to approve changes to its textbooks that would put a more conservative spin on history and economics. This could have wide-ranging implications, as Texas is one of the largest buyers of textbooks in the country.

The vote was split 10 to 5 along party lines, with Republicans claiming that they wanted to balance the liberal viewpoint that is already prevalent in academia. They are attempting to accomplish this by emphasizing the Christian ideologies of the Founding Fathers, limiting references to Latino figures, and removing Thomas Jefferson as a writer influencing America’s origins.

One of the most startling things about this that there were no historians, sociologists, or economists consulted when the proposals were being drawn up. This means that instead of asking experts about the reality of a liberal bias and correcting misconceptions and mistakes, conservative board members simply trusted their own expertise and decided to make changes as they saw fit.

These changes are really nothing more than an attempt to indoctrinate children into a Republican mind set from a young age. Many of the revisions are focused on establishing America’s origins as a country founded on Christian principles. This is comparable to the school systems that decide to teach Creationism over evolution. Just because some people think that everyone is a Christian and believes everything written in the Bible does not make it true.

The truth is that the United States is a diverse nation made up of many different backgrounds and peoples.

Minority populations are on the rise, and many experts feel that in 30 years, white people will no longer make up the majority. Texas has one of the highest Hispanic populations in the country, and by reducing its focus on Hispanic history, the Texas Board of Education is ignoring the cultural and heritage of 35 percent of the state’s population. These changes are a step backward in properly educating students about the history of the United States and its people.

The conservative members of the Texas Board of Education claim that “academia is skewed too far to the left” and that they are simply trying to provide balance. If they really feel that this is the case, they should not work to counteract the bias in textbooks with bias of their own, but instead to root it out and make the books as unbiased as possible.

Children’s textbooks are not the place for politicians to fight their ideological wars. Educators should strive to provide students with unbiased facts that educate students on important events, not just what politicians feel students should learn in order to form political opinions.

Texas Approved

Page 8

Wikipedia is the greatest source of information ever [citation needed]

on and edit the pages that they want makes Wikipedia even more legitimate, as it’s sort of like a classroom where people I was sitting in the library can come together to share infreshman year writing a poliformation and ideas. And like tics paper, when I looked up a classroom, it is completely the McCain Detainee Act on ridiculous to suggest that Wikipedia. What greeted me some people wouldn’t have when the page loaded was a any idea what the hell they’re shockingly talking about. large photo "The online So if Bob of male in Topeka encyclopedia is genitalia, says that the supposed to be placed there first Prime surprisingly accurate. by some ranMinister of I know this because I dom person the United read it on Wikipedia." who had Kingdom decided to was Charedit the page. lie Sheen, According to a recent suryou can trust it, because why vey in First Monday, more than would anybody post somehalf of all college students are thing on the Internet that using this impeccable source wasn’t true? of information when doing Some say that they just use schoolwork-related research.

Wikipedia as a jumping off And why wouldn’t they? point, and that it leads them Why would anybody waste to other, more viable sources. their time looking for answers Some articles link to more in books written by experts, “respected” resources of inforwhen they have easy access to mation, such as journals and uncited information that could articles. Others link to personal have been written by literally Web sites, blogs and pages that anybody in the world? Wikiperead “Page Not Found.” I’ve dia is fast, free and easy. And even seen Wikipedia articles besides, everybody knows that that list Twitter feeds as their books are for nerds. sources, because we all know The fact that anyone can go that information isn’t worth

By Casey Donohue Staff Writer

anything if it can’t be boiled down to 140 characters.

According to the same study in First Monday, 22 percent of all college students report that they never use Wikipedia for school-related work. These students are clearly missing out. The online encyclopedia is supposed to be surprisingly accurate. I know this because I read it on Wikipedia.

I think that college students should be allowed to use Wikipedia as a source on their papers, because doing a whole bunch of research and actually verifying information is just a schlep. In fact, I think that students should just be allowed to turn in printed-out Wikipedia pages as assignments, because who’s to say that they didn’t go on and write that page themselves?

Wikipedia is the greatest thing to happen since sliced bread, which according to its Wikipedia page, was invented in 1928, and was banned for a short time in 1943. After all, it’s hard not to trust a resource whose longest pages are “List of Touched by an Angel episodes” and “List of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition monsters.”

The Forgotten Childhood Lesson

By Marissa DePalma Staff Writer

On May 5, 2008, a 14-year-old boy went for an after school bike ride by the beach in West Haven with his friend. This boy was crossing the street on his bike when an oncoming car crashed into him; he was pronounced dead before even making it to the hospital.

This young man was not wearing a helmet when he went out on his bike ride that day. Had he been wearing a helmet, it could have saved his life; at the very least, it would have gotten him to the hospital.

Obviously having this 14-year-old boy die so suddenly was a tragedy for his community. So, aside from that fact, what does this story have to do with us? In the past year, Fairfield has installed several new bicycle racks and encouraged students to ride their bikes around campus as part of the campus’ green initiative.

Many students have embraced the idea of biking on campus, making trips to and from class much easier, while also avoiding the pollution of cars or a campus shuttle. With the recent return of warmer weather, more and more students are making this choice, but most are not wearing helmets, putting their lives in danger.

I’m sure that in reading this, many students will think, “I’m not even riding on the street; this doesn’t

affect me,” or, “I’m careful; I don’t need a helmet.” Unfortunately, this is just the attitude anyone who’s ever been in a bicycle accident has had.

We, at Fairfield, are finishing off our teen years or just beginning our twenties and are still just as vulnerable to accidents as anyone else.

On our campus, cars roll or speed through stop signs multiple times per day, take little notice of pedestrians, and are unlikely to notice bicycles shooting down the hill between the townhouses and the Kelley Center. Taking these facts into consideration, you can see that bike riders on campus constantly risk collisions with two-ton vehicles. If you are going to ride a bike, there is no excuse not to suck up your pride, risk tousling your hair a bit, and put on a Photo illustration by Peter Caty/The Mirror helmet.

I know that wearing a helmet doesn’t seem like the coolest fashion statement, but sometimes matters of safety are a bit more important than fashion. I grew up wearing a helmet when riding my bike, as did all of my friends. I continue to wear a helmet when I ride my bike, but I’m not sure what happened to the safety rules everyone else learned as children.

All I know is that a fourteen-year-old boy’s life could have been saved had he been wearing a helmet.

Hopefully this is enough to make the rest of the Fairfield community recognize the importance of bike safety.

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

Features | 9

Online Check for updated blogs and new content.

Editor Mikaela Tierney » features@fairfieldmirror.com

fairfieldmirror.com

Celebrating the Chinese New Year

By Mirror Staff

This past Saturday evening, Fairfield students and community members gathered to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Tiger. The event, produced by the Asian Student Association (ASA), was focused on promoting diversity and demonstrating some of the interesting and unique aspects of Chinese New Year celebrations. One of the ASA’s biggest events of the year, the Chinese New Year celebration has been a tradition for the past twenty years. Although the actual Chinese New Year fell on Feb. 14, ASA pushed the event back in order to avoid its coinciding with other campus events and the long President’s Day weekend.

Rene Concepcion ‘10, the president of ASA, was happy with the event overall and felt that attendees enjoyed the celebration. Although the event was a success, Concepcion noted a few shortfalls.

“Sodexo, which provided the food prep and warming equipment arrived late,” Concepcion noted, which delayed the beginning of the event. Additionally, “turnout was lower than expected — there were more attendees during previous years,” Concepcion added. “Unfortunately, it seems that some people are apathetic toward learning about other countries and cultures.”

Attendees had the opportunity to play games such as pingpong and Chinese checkers, and to learn how to make their own lanterns. Food was provided by Hunan Pavilion, a local Chinese restaurant in Fairfield. The Fairfield Chinese Academy helped to provide materials and assisted in producing workshops to teach attendees how to create their own eggrolls and dumplings. The live performances were definitely the highlight of the event, and helped to illustrate the richness of Chinese culture. Performers from the Shaloin Wushu Center and the Fairfield Chinese Academy demonstrated Chinese martial arts and taekwondo in addition Live performances added excitement to the Chinese New Year event.

to singing Chinese choral pieces and playing a Chinese gourd flute.

The ASA Chinese New Year celebration brought a new element of diversity and culture to campus, helping to demonstrate unique elements of New Year celebrations to students and community members. Happy Chinese New Year!

Staff Writer

Martial arts demonstrations illustrated impressive elements of Chinese culture.

Ali Foreman/The Mirror

A local Chinese restaurant provided a buffet of authentic food for the celebration.

We all have been in this situation before: You heard a song on the radio and since then it has been stuck in your head.

You keep repeating it over and over again in your head until you are sick of it. Even

worse, you only know one or two lines from the song and those are the only ones that are constantly repeated in your head.

“I prefer songs that I know all the lyrics to instead of the ones that I only know one line of. Those get boring,” said Philip Barry ‘10.

This is commonly called an earworm. The question now is why is that song stuck in your head and, more importantly, how can you get rid of it?

As to the why, it is not really clear.

According to a New York Times article, musical perception is connected with the primitive

Photo Illustration by Mikaela Tierney/The Mirror

Suitable Friends Jack McNamara

When Public Singing is Acceptable

By Ana Ziegler Staff Writer

Jackstaposition:

part of your brain and it can influence your emotions. James J. Kellaris of the University of Cincinnati did a study in 2001 and found that “music characterized by simplicity, repetitiveness and incongruity with listeners’ expectations” is the one that will most likely become stuck in your head. His study also suggested that women, musicians and people that worry a lot are more easily affected. As a cure, he suggested to sing the song out loud.

Other Web sites suggest listening to another song, playing an instrument or listening to the whole song that is stuck in your head. Trying to distract yourself with other activities, or imagining the earworm crawling out of your head and you stomping it are also suitable suggestions.

“I think that songs that get stuck in your head can motivate you to do active things during the day, like [the song] ‘I Believe I Can Fly’, ” said Katerina Sanchez.

In reality, there unfortunately isn’t a proven cure for how to get rid of an annoying earworm, but if you do have any other ideas, feel free to pass them along.

Every music listener would be appreciative.

Lately, I’ve been griping a lot about how I’ve been having to do all sorts of adult stuff (“It’s about time you got out of the crib,” my loving father said recently) and today’s not going to be any exception. Recently, I bought a suit for an upcoming job interview and was approved for a credit card on the same day.

Even though the credit card story is the more interesting of the two on account of the sheer number of profanities uttered, I’m going to do my editors a favor here and go with the slightly-less offensive suit story.

It all began at La Salsa, which I shall forever refuse to call ‘Senor Salsa’. My old roommate Jayson was visiting from Denver for the end of his spring break and was just trying to satisfy what I can only call a ‘hankering’ for some taquitos. A couple mutual friends of ours were there as well, so I felt no real shame when I announced I had to split off to be measured by a tailor.

“Well, how about if I come with you?” asked Jayson.

“Sure, that’d be great,” I replied.

We had our friends drop us off at where we were going. It was mid-afternoon, so when we entered the store, the place was more or less empty save for two salesmen and a bunch of extremely well-dressed, legless, headless mannequins. The man who helped me out was a real professional, but was acting fairly reserved. Being that two men had just walked into his store for the purpose of buying one suit, I had an idea on why the man might have felt as if he were in unfamiliar territory. He was still extremely polite and shook both our hands on the way out, but Jayson couldn’t put his finger on why the tailor seemed so out of his depth. He commented on it immediately after we left the store.

“Man, that guy was awkward.”

“He thought we were gay, Jayson.”

“He did?”

Jayson stopped to ponder this for exactly one second, but then said, “You’re right, he definitely did. That might be partially my fault.”

“How so?”

“Well, when you stepped outside to go get some cash, he was all like, ‘So, how do you two know each other,’ and I just said, ‘Well, we live together, we’re really good friends and we just really like each other.’”

According to his own account, Jayson then proceeded to let out a deep sigh, put both hands in his pockets, look skyward and say the words, “Ah, Jack,” as if he were summoning to mind the time we both were both having a picnic on Bellarmine lawn watching the sunset and ... Oh no, I’m typing my private thoughts again!

What I meant to say was that Jayson was remembering the time we both went to the EXPLOSION STORE and ATE STICKS OF DYNAMITE FOR FUN and then topped it all off by DRINKING SOME COLT 45 because BUDWEISER ISN’T AMERICAN ANYMORE. YEAH!!

This wasn’t even the strangest thing to happen that day. No lie, three minutes later we saw a guy just walk out of a coffee shop wielding a full-size samurai sword. However, that’s a story for another time.

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

Features

Page 11

We Are Women, Hear Us Roar ‘A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and a Prayer’ Raises Awareness during ‘V-Season’

By Amber Nowak Staff Writer Fairfield University takes action to stop violence against women and girls this week by participating in the global movement known as V-Day. Members of the University community honor this year’s V-Season (Feb. 1April 30) with a production of A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer.

Performed by a diverse cast of students and staff both male and female, this collection of various writings by esteemed authors, poets, and playwrights seeks to raise awareness of cruelty towards women through the art of dramatic dialogue. The proceeds from each performance will benefit the Center for Women and Families in Bridgeport.

Don’t let the word “rant” intimidate you. A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and A Prayer does not refer to an accusatory tirade, but instead alludes to frustration for wanting to be understood. While addressed issues such as rape, battery and

sexual slavery are jarring, the jolt is a necessary one that literally rouses the listener to action rather than depressing him into languid sorrow.

“I appreciate the tension,” said performer Sarah Gatti ’10, “I think it’s really relevant to students here where we have so much privilege.” She said the piece was chosen specifically as this year’s V-Day performance in part because it casts both men and women. The diversity of the performers and the writers whose words were given voice allowed for a dialogue between genders to take place.

Co-producer Bradley Fay ’12 said that because the perpetrators of violence against women are generally men, “it is important to bring the male voice in. It provides an opportunity for men to be defenders, not always oppressors.” He said that the brutal honesty of the monologues allows people to come together and discover what they can do for the community.

Less of a show that one observes than an experience one partakes in, A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and A Prayer exemplifies that call for community involvement and discourse is integral to the theme of the University’s

Photos courtesy of Jack McNamara

2009-2010 “Communities in Action: A Year of Activism.”

The performance seeks to draw its audience into the dialogue.

Several departments within the College of Arts and Sciences sponsored the project, which is funded by the Humanities Institute Grant awarded to assistant professor of politics and director of peace and justice studies, Dr. Jocelyn Boryczka.

This independently run production is acted beautifully under the direction of Fairfield alumnus Gary Lee Pelletier ’09, who directed last year’s V-Day production of The Vagina Monologues as a senior.

Student cast members are Sarah Gatti ’10, Mary McGrath ’10, Joy White ’11, Zachary Tesoriero ’11, and Jennifer Martin ’10. University staff members of the cast are associate director of campus ministry Conor O’Kane and publicist Joan Grant. Jennifer Martin ’10 and Bradley Fay ’12 are producers.

Performances will take place in the Walsh Gallery at the Quick Center on Thursday, March 25 at 8 pm, Saturday, March 27 at 8 pm, and Sunday, March 28 at 2 pm.

Tickets are $5 for students and seniors, and $8 for adults.

Marching to Support the Silenced

By Gabriella Tutino Asst. Entertainment Editor Peek out your dorm window between the hours of 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on March 29, and you will see a procession of students walking around campus with lit candles, in a fashion similar to that of the Stations of the Cross.

Take Back the Night, organized and led by members and associates of Project Peg, is an upcoming vigil walk in remembrance of those who have been affected by domestic violence. Participants will walk around campus with lit candles, stop at key places, such as the chapel, and perform student, or professionally, written monologues.

The walk will act as a way to educate Fairfield University students about the issues of domestic violence.

“We want to spread awareness about domestic violence against women and to get people thinking, Gabrielle Arens ‘12 explained. “We want to shock and frighten

Contributed Photo

people while simultaneously invoking activism and fighting ignorance: the goal is to make sure domestic violence is not an ignored, back of the burner subject.”

Take Back the Night is just one of the many activities on campus that have caused Fairfield to name this ‘The Year of Activism.’ It follows The Dirty Laundry demonstration of last week and the upcoming play “A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant, A Prayer”: All demonstrations bring to light contemporary issues that young adults of today’s society must deal with.

Instead of protesting, Take Back the Night is meant to serve as a wake-up call to the students of Fairfield University. Domestic violence is an issue that may hit close to home for some, and the walk is a way of showing support for the survivors and victims.

“Most people pick causes that are far from home,” Arens continued. “Well, here’s a message: this one is right here, right where you live. Your neighbor, your cousin, your mother.

“There are untold secrets, there are things unsaid and although Fairfield doesn’t have much involvement or activism on this subject, this is one way to start it,” she said.

“How can you deny helping first what is around surrounding your imminent surroundings?”

Alicia Bissonette’12, one of the leaders for Take Back the Night, hopes that the walk will be a positive experience.

The walk, above all, is meant to show that there are people who care about this issue.

“We’re just trying to help people understand that this isn’t just a women’s issue,” Bissonnette noted. “Domestic violence affects more than just the woman or the man - it affects the children, it affects the families. It’s a cyclical thing that really needs to be talked about.”

Those organizing Take Back the Night are currently working with Public Safety to provide a safe space towards the end of the walk as a way to discuss reactions and support each other.

“I want this to be a celebratory thing,” she said. “It’s more than just the victims. It’s also about the survivors. We want to point out that people have gone through this and survived. It’s a wonderful, beautiful thing.”

Mikaela Tierney/The Mirror

Women’s History Month Fairfield is celebrating Women’s History Month with a series of events, including a special exhibit from the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame. Located in the Oak Room, “We Fight for Roses, Too: Connecticut Women and the Quest for Equality” showcases panels with photographs, stories, and facts recounting the history and achievements of the women inducted into the Hall of Fame, according to a University press release.

The exhibit will be on display until Friday, March 26.

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

Online Check our website for more Arts & Entertainment news.

Arts & Entertainment| 13 Editor Melissa Mann » entertainment@fairfieldmirror.com

fairfieldmirror.com

Bands You Should Know Holiday Parade

By Andrew Bromstedt Staff Writer If you were to go to YouTube and search the phrase “Slam Crunk,” you’d probably expect to find a ridiculous song by Lil’ Jon & The Eastside Boyz, repeatedly yelling “What?!” and “Yeah!” for three minutes. Luckily, the actual results would lead you to the absolute musical opposite of Lil’ Jon. Enter Holiday Parade.

‘Monk’ing Around

Why You Should Listen

Peter Caty/The Mirror

Tibetan monks from the Deprung Loseling Monastery in India working on a mandala in the lower level BCC.

By Gabriella Tutino Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor The lower level of the Barone Campus Center looks slightly different this week, due to the arrival of the Tibetan Monks this past Monday.

Hailing from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in India, six monks are in the process of creating a giant sand mandala, approximately five feet by five feet. Mandala is a Sanskrit word, which translated into English means “the center and the surroundings,” and refers to the symbolic harmony of the universe.

The creation of the mandala is a fascinating thing to observe. The monks gather up colored sand into metal cones and pour the sand onto the design in a delicate and precise manner.

“Each color has their own meaning, and each design has their own meaning,” said Lobsang Paljor, one of the monks. For any student that wants to try their hand at this exquisite art, there is a mandala of the Fairfield University seal set up on one side of the lower level of the BCC. According to Paljor, the mandala is the enlightened cosmos, where the monks recite to the gods — it is essentially a residence of the gods. The mandala has three levels and three meanings: the outer level represents the world in its divine form; the inner level represents a map of the human mind’s journey from ordinary to enlightenment; the secret level depicts the perfect balance of the mind.

There are six steps in creating a mandala.

The opening ceremony, which involves bless-

ing a site; drawing the lines, which constructs an ancient mandala from scripture; coloring the mandala, using traditional tools like a chakpur and colored sand; a consecration ceremony for more blessings; a closing ceremony, where the monks sweep away the sand; and finally, the dispersing of the sand into a body of water, which is meant to spread the healing powers of the mandala. The destruction of the mandala at the very end represents the impermanence of all existing things.

Besides having a spiritual meaning, the mandala itself is a beautiful work of art. It’s simply breathtaking, even in its unfinished state. The colors are bright and rich and bring out the complex pattern of the map. The

Mandala | page 15

The Right Bite

a review of restaurants in and around Fairfield

Tavern on Main - 146 Main Street, Westport someone, the food certainly lives up to its fame and glory.

As your eyes wander while you wait for your meal to arrive, you begin to develop mouthwatering sensations. I strongly recommend ordering something while you wait and bringing plenty of stories to keep you entertained.

For lunch, I would encourage you Mabel Del Castillo/The Mirror to try the grilled sirloin steak sandThe grilled vegetable and roasted tomato sandwich, made with sautéed onions, swiss wich, with swiss cheese and chicken instead of cheese, sandwiched between garlic goat cheese. tuscan bread and served with a side of onion fries.

By Mabel Del Castillo Don’t want meat? Try the grilled Staff Writer vegetable, goat cheese and roasted tomato sandwich served on toasted whole wheat Now that the weather has started to bread. The portions are generous enough for warm up, this is the perfect time to start look- two people. ing for places with outside dining. If you are If you are in the mood for a salad, I ever exploring the town of Westport, I would recommend the Tavern’s curried chicken encourage you to try Tavern on Main, located salad, consisting of raisins, apples, carrots, at 146 Main Street. red onions, spicy pecans and mango curried Tavern on Main has won numerous chutney served over field greens. awards, from Best Romantic Restaurant to Another great option is the Tavern’s Best American Continental. This restaurant is chopped salad of grilled salmon or grilled unique in every regard. chicken and brown rice, tossed with a conWhether you want to have lunch with a fetti of vegetables, olives, capers, herbs and bunch of friends or dinner with that special lemon vinaigrette.

Dinner tends to be more expensive, so if you are working with a tight budget, you might want to limit dining here to lunch. If money is not a problem, there are some delicious entrees I would recommend. One such option is the grilled Atlantic salmon filet, served over lobster sweet potato puree, sautéed spinach and jalapeno cranberry puree.

The grilled baby lamb chops are also phenomenal. These are served with a rosemary parmesan crust, vegetables ratatouille and Tuscan Kale.

I would not leave this place without trying one of their exceptional desserts. Tavern on Main offers an array of choices to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. Warm pecan pie with chocolate sauce, French apple tart with caramel sauce a la mode and a vanilla bean crème brulee are some.

The wait staff is knowledgeable, efficient and rather experienced. Customers for the most part seem to be an older crowd.

Tavern on Main operates from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m to 11p.m., Friday and Saturday.

This restaurant may leave your pockets a little emptier after your dinner bill and a day of shopping in Westport, but I would definitely say it is worth a try.

Starting a few years ago, pop-punk bands began to come out with rap covers, most notably Framing Hanley’s, “Lollipop,” and The Maine’s, “I Wanna Love You.” Holiday Parade followed the trend in 2008, when they released “Slam Crunk” on their PureVolume page. If you want to know what makes its song unique in comparison to their contemporaries, it’s this: it covers three hip-hop songs in one track.

Slam Crunk” takes the lyrics from Akon’s “Sweetest Girl,” Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” and Soulja Boy’s “Crank Dat,” and mashes them all into one phenomenal punk-rock song. You might get a few laughs out of it as well, considering it’s basically a white guy with blonde hair saying stuff like “Dolla dolla bill, yall,” and “Super-soak that ho.” Nevertheless, it’s relentlessly catchy and if you like it the first time, you’ll like it the hundredth time you listen to it.

Needless to say, not everyone is into the type of music Holiday Parade puts out there, something I define as a slightly more upbeat Dashboard Confessional. If you find yourself enjoying their music, don’t just settle for a song or two in your iTunes library.

Holiday Parade came out with a full-length album in 2009 called “Tickets and Passports,” and are releasing a new EP on March 30. They will also be touring the country right around the time of its release. Tour dates are up on Myspace, but unfortunately the band won’t be near the Northeast anytime soon.

The Bad News “Slam Crunk” is the only song by Holiday Parade that isn’t on iTunes, and since their upcoming EP is entitled “Tickets and Passports” (acoustic sessions), it looks like it won’t be getting a spot on there either.

The Good News If you search “Slam Crunk” on PureVolume, you can get it for free, along with “Getaway” and a few other tracks.

Contributed Photo

Advertisement

Project Pierre Toussaint must reopen…now.

Sadly, the Fairfield University community has been sending a disrespectful message to the people of Haiti: “If your children report that they are being sexually abused by one of us, we will abandon you.”

The Jesuits taught me that the service of my faith must include the promotion of justice.

Project Pierre Toussaint’s school and drop-in center served the basic needs of hungry, homeless, street kids. We must go to Haiti now to show that we are in communion with the pain and suffering of the victims.

We must go to Haiti now to work in “konbit” with our Haitian brothers and sisters to reopen the school. In Haitian Creole, a konbit is a traditional Haitian method of working together to till your friends’ fields as well as your own - a cooperative effort.”

Paul Kendrick, ‘72

Arts & Entertainment

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

Romeo and Juliet: Costumes as Art

Page 15

Trendspotting Jumpsuits and Playsuits

By Olivia Clark Staff Writer

By Gabriella Tutino Arts & Entertainment Editor Walk down the hallway of the Loyola basement. Turn right and enter the Lukacs gallery. The low-lit rectangular space Gabriella Tutino/The Mirror draws attention to two extravagant dresses in opposite corAn image of the Berlovitz Costume Designs & Paintings exners. One is a rich, sophisticated red; the other a gauzy and hibit inside the Lukacs Gallery. springy white. Both dresses are framed by the wall, lined in paintings of costumes.

Yesterday, March 23, marked the opening of the Sonya Berlocommented senior Ally Fiorenza. “They’re weird and different. vitz Costume Designs & Paintings: 1993-2010 exhibit. In conjuncFor my class I’m working on something similar — the initial retion with the Fairfield University Arts & Minds Program and The action to an artwork and deciding its value. It is up to the viewer R & J Project (Romeo and Juliet), the exhibit is meant to display to decide whether it is beautiful or not.” the artwork of the first artist in residence here at Fairfield, Sonya One of the pieces displayed in Berlovitz’s exhibit is the Berlovitz. Berlovitz is also Theatre Fairfield’s costume designer for costume for Mercutio from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. the upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet.

He is dressed in various shades of green, and his dress is rather A costume designer for 30 years, Berlovitz’s credentials can contemporary. When asked about her approach to the costume attest to her talent: She graduated with her BFA from the School designs, Berlovitz responded “[I’m] really working off a more of the Art Institute of Chicago, attended La Chambre Syndicale contemporary silhouette. I wanted to make it something more de la Couture Parisienne in Paris, has worked as the textile relevant to today ... I’ve never done a strictly period piece; I’ve designer for international Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto, often combined historical pieces with contemporary elements.” and has partnered with Theatre de la Jeune Lune for more than Berlovitz is also really happy to be working with Theatre 50 productions.

Fairfield, alongside her sister, director Barbra Berlovitz. “Its Berlovitz has a flair for the colorful and extravagant in her exciting and its incredible that they decided to let me have a costumes, as is evidenced in her painting. Using mixed media show here.”

— such as acrylic paint, ink and fabric — her costume designs Sonya Berlovitz’s exhibit will be on display in the Lukacs border on the whimsical and sophisticated.

Gallery in the basement of Loyola until March 30th.

“I like the way [the designs] play with the ideas of beauty,”

Looking fabulous this spring should be easy as pie. It’s just a few weeks after New York’s celebrated fashion week subsided, and many of us are left wondering when and where on Earth we can incorporate the lavish frocks from the runway into our daily lives.

The answer is: right here on campus.

Over two years ago, jumpsuits were featured as the new “in thing” during the Fall 2008 shows; however, few have been daring enough to wear them. They may seem like a fashion risk, but I assure you that anyone can look great in one and you will be sure to shine.

This trend became my personal favorite two years ago when I made my first purchase of a silk Diane von Furstenberg jumper. In 100 degree New York weather, I paired it with metallic gladiator sandals and a clutch. It kept me cool in the hot weather, and most importantly, stylish.

Whether you’re wearing DKNY’s hot colored floral sequin playsuit or Stella McCartney’s glitter jumpsuit, they can be worn anywhere from class to a night out on the town. Pair with statement heels and a clutch and be prepared to stand out of the crowd.

This summer, playsuits are your pass to looking effortlessly chic.

‘Bounty Hunter’ Should Have Found More Sense

By Rosemary O’Connor Staff Writer

warehouse. The people in the next theatre over probably could have heard them, never mind the villain (and how exactly was he connected again For weeks, females across America have …?). waited impatiently for the premier of “The Bounty Certain scenes dragged on. Any movie, be it a Hunter” starring the Scottish heartthrob Gerard rom-com, thriller, or tearjerker, should not leave Butler and Jennifer Aniston. Their characters, Milo the audience bored at any point in time. Whenand Nicole, are a formerly married couple with ever a movie feels like it is plodding through with plenty of issues. Their number one problem? He, absolutely nothing conducive to the plot, it slides as a bounty hunter, must collect her and deliver down a notch in my book. her to the nearest prison for skipping bail over a Another fail from this movie: two Ke$ha songs. fender bender.

I mean please, there are so many quality sound I would have suggested marriage counseling. tracks from which to choose. One song I could I would have handled, but also suggest two? waiting to I don’t mean see this to come across as movie whiny. The film until it hits does have some two-dollar good qualities.

Tuesdays.

Aniston and Writer Butler have a great Sarah dynamic; it is very Thorpe obvious that they sure came “hate” each other up with a after the divorce, creative with clear leftover and original emotions. Both story, but Contributed Photo talented comethe publicity Butler and Aniston work well together, but they’re the only good dic actors, they department thing in a slow-moving, predictable movie. portray convincing needs to characters, which understand that revealing all of its funniest jokes provides the comedy. Her workaholic and neatin the previews consequently makes the rest of the freak nature is classically pitted against his. He is movie a let-down. Not to devalue those jokes — “a bit rough around the edges,” which works well they were hysterical — but anyone who watched against her perfection. Without Gerard, it would the preview expected them. have been a total flop.

Some of the subplots seemed a bit outlandish The final verdict: it provides an entertaining and their connection to the major story line retwo hours. But if you haven’t seen the previews, mained uncertain or outlandish throughout, and don’t. You’ll like it better, I promise. was never fully or sensibly resolved.

Common sense was not used much either. A woman as intelligent as Nicole’s character should have had enough intuition to take off her five-inch stilettos when sneaking through an abandoned

Gabriella Tutino/The Mirror

The monks continue to work on the mandala in religious adoration.

Mandala Art Impressive Display Continued from page 13 completed result is bound to be a masterpiece, full of eye-catching details that will appeal to anyone The monks’ presence at Fairfield was a decision made by FUSA Director of Cultural Celebrations, Katerina Sanchez ’12. She knew that the Tibetan monks had visited Fairfield in years past, and after seeing them at a conference, she wanted to bring them back.

“Just having them here, the BCC has a completely different feel,” Sanchez says. “It’s so relaxed and so mellow. Just having them there with their spirit and whole attitude of things, it’s already making change on campus. People will become culturally aware because they’ll see the Tibetan monks and want to learn about it, versus seeing it in a book.”

The mandala is already halfway finished, and tomorrow will mark its completion. The closing ceremony will be at 4 p.m., when the monks call for a final blessing and then dump the artwork in a flowing body of water, most likely the Fairfield Beach. The reason?

“We think it’s the best way to share this blessing and sand with other beings by throwing in the water,” says Paljor. “It is easier to separate the sand through the precipitation or evaporation. It comes down as rain, so the blessing can be shared with others.”

Photo by Peter Caty/The Mirror

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Online

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

Check online every week for answers to our games.

Dear Dee,

Coffee Break | 17

fairfieldmirror.com

When I was applying to colleges, Fairfield seemed like a great place for so many reasons. First, it has great academics, but more importantly it was a great campus that offered different options for each year. Everyone wants a suite sophomore year, and a townhouse junior year, and most importantly, the option of living at the beach as a senior. Also, since the campus isn’t that big, but there are a lot of things to do in town, it was really important that as a sophomore I could have a car. So, these were all the things I asked during my interview at campus and with all the right answers I decided to come to Fairfield. Well, I should have known better. I am now a sophomore and I have NO CAR. Even when I get one next year, chances are good I won’t be able to park near where I live if I end up in the suites or the “new” dorms they are building down by Kostka. THEN, by the time I am a senior there’s the possibility I may not even be allowed off campus, or with my luck, they’ll take senior housing away. So Dee, please tell me, WHY did I come here again?

— It Was a Scam

Dear It Was a Scam, You pose a really great question. I think recently we are all asking ourselves that same question. What happened to the Fairfield University that I applied to? I am not saying it isn’t still a great school, but the things that made Fairfield above the rest is the ability to live with your friends in suites, apartments, and yes, at the beach. Many alumni of Fairfield that I know are my friends’ parents and they STILL talk about how great it was to live on the beach.

They loved Fairfield, but most importantly they loved the opportunity to live at the beach and have a special experience as a senior. I’m not exactly sure why not all seniors aren’t let off campus, but I do know a lot of people who applied to Fairfield applied not only because it is a great academically challenging school, but because it one of the only campuses where seniors get to live not only off campus, but on the beach!!

I would hope that they wouldn’t take that away (for your sake, and theirs). Our relationship with the townspeople may not be the greatest, but that doesn’t seem like a reason to take away one of the best things about this school (as well as revenue the town gets from seniors renting houses …).

As for your other points, I understand the need for

Editor Tom Cleary » mirrorcoffeebreak@gmail.com

Send YOUR questions to deardee@ fairfieldmirror. com

additional housing (as long as they are going to keep accepting more students than they can fit) but then perhaps they need a parking garage so students can have cars. The shuttle on campus has been cancelled, and you are right, there are so many places in town you need to go and without a car, it is almost impossible.

Even for nursing students, or people who volunteer with Hunger Cleanup or other organizations; these activities require cars. Now, juniors that don’t live at the townhouses have to park at Regis with the new construction. They do say, however, that you can call security at any time and they will drive you to your dorm if you don’t feel safe. I don’t think Public Safety really signed up to be a taxi service, but they might soon be in that business.

Unfortunately, we don’t have much control over any of this.

In fact, we have almost no control over all of this. So, the best advice I can give you is to make the best of it. We only get four years here (even if it doesn’t seem like the same school we applied to), and we may as well accept what we can’t change. So let’s continue the drunken walks from Regis to the suites and the adventures at the beach with a grain of salt, a lime and a shot of tequila.

Disclaimer: This column is for entertainment only. The author is a student, not a licensed therapist, and this column is not intended to take the place of professional advice. The views expressed are the author’s and are not necessarily shared by The Mirror or its staff.

Coffee Break

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

Page 18

Sports

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

Mirror Sports 3x5

Tom Cleary Editor-in-Chief

Keith Connors General Manager

Chris Simmons Managing Editor

Page 19

Follow us at mirror3x5 now on Twitter! For even more inside jokes that no one really gets ... We mainly just need to fill space.

How busted is Tom's bracket?

Ohio State or THE Ohio State?

Gunga galunga?

I think I'm addicted to ...

What superhero would you want to save you?

Completely done. I had a chance if Syracuse lost to Gonzaga, but really, Vandy?

Ohio State. After losing to Fairfield lax, time to drop the THE. Wins over ND and Ohio State, men's lax is ready to go big.

I don't know what this means ... I guess I'm not inside enough for the inside jokes this week.

Nothing. I would never get addicted to something, especially not a certain sports related something.

Chris Simmons. To quote the great Enrique, kind of, "You can be my hero baby. Would you dance, if I asked you to dance?"

My favorite Ohio State alums? Nick Swish, George Steinbrenner and RL Stine of Goosebumps fame.

Reader, beware ...

Big hitter, the Lama. Ball was at the bottom of a 10,000 foot glacier. So he's got that going for him. Which is nice ...

Busted is such a crude term. I prefer ... egg in his pocket.

As Bill Rafferty would say: "He stroked it admirably!"

Unfortunately, Tom did not. His bracket that is.

Twenty four collegiate championships in synchronized swimming? There's nothing like bodies performing in perfect harmony, gliding through the water.

Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know?

My addictions are thrice: 1) The lite at night, 2) "The Pacific" on HBO, and 3) our handyman, Bob the House Doctor, cause ain't no party like a home ec party.

Gravy. I'll eat anything if it has gravy on it. Anything...

Does Gary Sinise count?

No? That's a darn shame.

He should. He should ...

Not really a superhero, but definitely Wendy Peffercorn.

Who wouldn't want to get mouth to mouth from her?

Want to cover sports next year? Practically all of Mirror Sports is graduating. Stop our office in the lower level of the BCC on Thursday night at 6:30. We have free pizza ...

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

Sports

Page 20

Seniors Lead 'Mary Surette's' To Win Intramural Basketball Championship

By John Tessitore Staff Writer

Being crowned the Men’s “A” League intramural basketball champion at Fairfield is one of the most prestigious honors for an intramural athlete. Although no one on the court in the championship game is a Division I college basketball player, the intensity level is just as high if not higher than a Division I basketball game.

Intramural Supervisor Nick Venuti said, “This is the most anticipated game of the season.” Fellow supervisor Justin Casenta added with a smile, “Kid’s care more about intramurals than they do their grades.”

This year the Men's "A" League Championship went to the "Mary Surette's" who defeated "Buckets Magee" 64-58.

The Fairfield RecPlex was the sight of the “A” league championship game Wednesday night that featured the number one seeded “Mary Surette’s” talking on the number two seed “Buckets Magee”. The “Mary Surette’s” are a team of seniors lead by crafty point guard Brendan McKenna, and big man Bob Kelly. Their counterparts “Buckets Magee” are a team of all juniors lead by their own big man Kristian Petric, and sharpshooter Mike Valovcin. The previous two years Petric’s teams had gone undefeated in the regular season. However, both seasons they failed to win a playoff game.

Before the game Petric said, “We thought we could win it our freshman and sophomore year, this year we want it more, we are more mature.”

The 2010 championship game started off with a bang as the “Mary Surette’s” came out firing off the tip. They started the game on a 9-2 run in the first 4 minutes capped off by an easy layup by Bob Kelly. However, “Buckets Ma-

gee” climbed back into the game with the help of Valovcin’s shooting and the aggressive play of Mike Spinelli and Justin Bomba. At the end of the first half the “Mary Surette’s” were clinging to a 31-26 lead.

McKenna said, “I felt our offense was a little slow right before the half so I wanted to push the pace a little bit.”

McKenna not only pushed the pace, he was the catalyst of an 11-2 run to start the half to extend “Mary Surette’s” lead to 43-28. McKenna himself scored the first five points of the half including a critical three-point play to put his team up ten.

McKenna said, “My teammates found me for shots and I just hit them.”

“Buckets Magee” would not let up as they cut the lead to nine with just over four minutes left. However it seemed whenever “Buckets Magee” went on a run the “Mary Surette’s” always had a response, this time it was a 9-2 run capped off by a huge three-point basket by Joe Lucchesi to extend the lead to 59-45 with 2:20 remaining in the game Lucchesi said, “My shot had been feeling pretty good all night. I knew that if I got an open look I was gonna knock it down.”

“Buckets Magee” had one last gasp of air going on a 6-1 run to cut the lead to 60-53 with 50 seconds remaining. However, the “Mary Surette’s” were able to hold on to win the championship, and earn the coveted “Fairfield Intramural Champions” T-shirts that are given to every intramural champion regardless of sport at Fairfield.

Senior Bob Kelly was a vital part of the victory, finishing with 10 points and racking up numerous rebounds. He said, “Everyone did their part, it takes five to make a team.”

McKenna said, “We are going out the right way, I have

the best teammates.”

McKenna played one of the best games of his intramural career, scoring 19 points with a slew of assists that had the crowd in awe of his athleticism.

Although the loss stings for “Buckets Magee,” they showed a great deal of respect for the opposition, and with just about their whole roster expected to return next year, they are the early favorite to win the championship in 2011.

Petric, who finished with nine points said, “I thought we played well, they were the better team tonight.” Petric also issued a challenge to all “A” league squads next year stating, “Nobody’s gonna be able to touch us.”

With the intramural basketball season now finished, many intramural athletes will set their sights on bringing home a T-shirt in softball, arena football, or any of the numerous spring sports that the intramural department has to offer.

Venuti stated, “I feel bad for the kids that don’t play intramurals here, they don’t know what their missing.”

For McKenna, Kelly, Lucchesi and the rest of the “Mary Surette’s” they will remember this win for the rest of their lives and will always be able to look back at their senior year and know they left a legacy as “A” league champions.

It will be hard to find someone who cherishes the victory more than McKenna. McKenna spends countess hours in the gym working on his game and has been waiting four years to be crowned the Men’s “A” League champion.

McKenna called Intramural basketball, “the best thing about being at Fairfield.”

Mirror Sports will be live blogging the men's lacrossse game on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Hobart. Check www.fairfieldmirror.com to follow the action.

Sports

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

Page 21

Men's Basketball

Stags Run out of Steam in CIT

By Tom Cleary Editor in Chief After a 27 point comeback over George Mason in the opening round of the College Insider.com Tournament (CIT), the Fairfield men's basketball team seemed poised for a remarkable post-season run. But a matchup with Creighton, who have 12 consecutive winning seasons and six NCAA tournament trips in the past 10 years, proved to be too much for Fairfield.

The Stags lost to their fellow Jesuit school 73-55 at Creighton, ending the season for Fairfield.

The Stags had already taken Siena to the wire and battled back against George Mason, on the round in Vienna, Virginia.

Combine that with a trip to Omaha, Nebraska to take on Creighton in an arena where the Bluejays have a 13-3 record, was a recipe for a season-ending loss.

Fairfield had the lead, 38-37, with 13:55 to play after Derek Needham buried his second three-pointer of the game. But Creighton quickly went on an 8-0 run, led by three-pointers from Antoine Young and Justin Carter to take a lead that the Bluejays would not relinquish again.

“That was game over,’’ Head coach Ed Cooley said to Bluejays Today, part of Omaha.com. “I thought we showed some great emotion coming out of halftime, and we made some adjustments that changed the game but we couldn’t sustain it because of the energy level. It was a different game the first five minutes of the second half.

“But they made shots. That’s what they do. Our whole concept coming into today was to make them make tough 2s, but when you get uncontested shots from a team that shoots the 3 as well as they do, guys get comfortable. And that’s what happened," Cooley added.

Needham finished the game with 15 points on 6-for-18 shooting. Senior Anthony Johnson finished his career with a 19 point, 17 rebound effort. Fellow senior Mike Evanovich, who scored a career-high 31 points and a school record nine three-

pointers in the victory over George Mason, was held to only three points as Creighton played tight defense on him all game long.

Junior Lyndon Jordan scored eight points and pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds, including five on the offensive boards and freshman Colin Nickerson finished his first season and strong run down the stretch with six points.

Creighton outrebounded Fairfield 41-35 for the night.

Fairfield shot 20-for-60 (33.3 percent) from the field, 3-for-14 (21.4 percent) from three-point range and 12-of-15 (80 percent) at the free throw line.

The Stags will now look towards next season, as Cooley will return all but Johnson and Evanovich. He expects to have forwards Warren Edney, who did not play this season, and Yorel Hawkins, who spent two stints out of action with an injury, including both the MAAC Tournament and the CIT. Needham will return for his sophomore year after becoming just the fourth player in school history to score 500 points in a season.

In addition, Cooley is bringing in another talented recruiting class, led by Florida natives Keith Matthews and Adam Jones, who is being raised by Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers and his family. Both Matthews and Jones should contribute immediately. Joining the two from the Sunshine State is guard Jamel Fields, from Albany, who will be able to backup Needham.

Fairfield finished the season with a 23-11 record, one less than the school record of 24, set by the 1985-86 Stags, who were coached by Mitch Buonaguro and led by captains Tony George and former head coach Tim O'Toole.

The Stags will look forward also to hosting the MAAC Tournament at the Arena at Harbor Yard, providing a home court advantage held by the Siena Chris Simmons/The Mirror Saints the past three seasons.

Sean Crawford (12) drives against Siena's Edwin Ubiles during the MAAC Championship game. Crawford returns next year along with a talented Stags squad.

Women's Basketball

One Win, One Loss, Invaluable Experience

By Chris Simmons Managing Editor

and the loss dropped the team to 20-14 to finish the season.

This was the first postseason play for the Stags since 2001 when Fairfield received an at-large bid to the NCAA The women's basketball team fell 59-36 in the quarterfi- Tournament. The win over Towson was Fairfield's first postnals of the inaugural Women's Basketball Invitational Tourseason win in program history. nament to No. 1 Appalachian State. The No. 5 Stags defeated "We looked at it as just another game, but the win No. 4 Towson 69-55 in the opening round to advance. The meant a lot to us as a program and as individuals," said victory over Towson gave Fairfield it's 20th win of the year senior Stephanie Geehan.

The WBI appearance was also the first postseason experience at Fairfield for head coach Joe Frager in his third season at the helm of the Stags.

"They responded really well," said Frager after the win against Towson. "I think what we experienced during the MAAC Tournament really helped us. I'd give this win a nine out of 10 for us."

Geehan scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked five shots in the win. She ended her career with her 21st double-double of the season in the loss to the Mountaineers. She also blocked four shots on the day, finishing her career with 287, a MAAC and school record. She finished with 1,112 points and 1,052 rebounds, the fourth player in program history to eclipse 1,000 in both categories.

Geehan also grabbed 390 rebounds, the singleseason school record in that category.

But the Stags were unable to get much going against Appalachian State. They scored only 18 points each half and shot only 26 percent from the field for the game. Fairfield was also out-rebounded by 29.

"I think our team was struggling all around," said sophomore Desiree Pina. "It was a tough day for us."

The loss ended the Stags season that seemed dead in the water only several weeks ago. In early February, Fairfield sat a 4-7 in the MAAC and 10-12 overall before reeling off nine straight wins, earning the No. 3 seed in the MAAC and advancing the MAAC Championship game before falling to Marist.

The Stags have finish the regular season in third place three straight times under Frager and this season was the second time that Fairfield has won 20 Peter Caty/The Mirror games. This was the first time since 2001 the team Sophomore Desiree Pina and the Stags won their first-ever postseahas qualified for postseason play though. son game against Towson on Thursday night in the inaugural WBI. "I think it's definitely a motivation," said Pina.

"It's a good starting point, returning to postseason play. It's good for the University and it's another motivation for us to get back."

Fairfield will hopefully have a longer rotation next year after injuries limited the Stags to playing mainly six women for the majority of the second half of the year. Against Appalachian State, the Mountaineers were able to wear down the Stags by pressing Fairfield for a full 40 minutes, said Frager.

"We turned it over uncharacteristically a few times," said Frager. "Our kids tried. It wasn't a lack of want, but I think we finally wore down physically. All the minutes and travel finally added up. They played a lot of different zone pressures and took our legs away by the end."

Next year, Fairfield will lose Geehan and fellow seniors Tara Flaherty, Lauren Tucker and Kendra Hussey to graduation. But the Stags will return three starters in Pina, sophomore Taryn Johnson and freshman Katelyn Linney along with their first player off the bench in Joelle Nawrocki.

Sophomore Sarah Paulus will also hopefully recover from a torn ACL to give the Stags more guard depth.

"I think everyone is going to have to step up next year," said Pina. "I think me, Taryn Johnson and Sarah Paulus, they're also in my class and the freshmen from this year, we're all going to have to make a really good effort to take the next step."

Frager agreed saying that it would be hard to replace Geehan especially, but in the past two years he has also lost Sabra Wrice '08 and Baend Lowenthal '09.

"We're going to be a different team next year and I think we're going to have to change," said Frager. "This year we went inside a lot to our post players, but next year we might have to rely more on our guards.

"But to be honest, I'm just trying to rest right now. I haven't thought about it too much," he continued with a chuckle.

With a young roster, especially in the backcourt, the experience of learning how to play in the postseason will hopefully provide experience that will lead to success next year.

"The experience in the MAAC Tournament, playing three games in three days and getting to the championship game, then waiting to see if we get a bid, then beating Towson; it's all been a great learning experience," said Frager.

"We have a better idea of what it takes to get there; it's the teams that knuckle down at the end of the season."

Sports

The Mirror | Week of March 24, 2010

Page 22

Men's Lacrosse

He said it...

"We're just as hard on them after a win than we are after a loss.

Thursday will be no different."

-Head coach Andy Copelan on the Stags' preparation for this weekend's game against Hobart, the Stags' second ECAC game.

Game of the week

Hobart

March 27, 1 p.m.

Fairfield will continue its ECAC schedule hosting the Statesmen at home on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ECAC TV.

ECAC standings Team

Overall Conf.

Loyola 4-2 3-0 Fairfield 4-2 1-0 Quinnipiac 4-1 1-1 Denver 4-4 0-0 Bellarmine 5-3 0-1 Ohio St. 4-4 0-1 Hobart 2-3 0-1 Air Force 1-5 0-1

Men's Lacrosse Wins First ECAC Game Over Ohio State

By Keith Connors General Manager They jogged on the field briskly with an added sense of urgency, flanked by a man donning a black raincoat and boasting a whistle and a clipboard. The group paused for a moment, huddled by the moist wet turf and then, for the next four minutes, proceeded to attempt faceoffs.

Again, and again, and again, as an assistant men’s lacrosse coach for Ohio State watched, critiqued and gazed upward looking for answers.

Faceoff success — Fairfield faceoff specialist Steve Golmont won 16 of the 22 faceoffs he attempted — and the dominant time of possession was crucial, but it was far from the only thing that went right for Fairfield in the Stags’ 10-8 win over Ohio State this past Tuesday at Alumni Field.

“We had a lot of contributions from a lot of different people,” head coach Andy Copelan said. “We just kept grinding. We played as a unit. We slid. We recovered.

We cut off angles.

“We’re just one of those teams that, the more guys play, the better we perform,” he added.

Aside from the Golmont’s strong game, the Stags’ young offense continued to showed signs of development and was yet again the impetus behind a team victory.

Senior midfielder Kevin Peters scored the first goal of the game to give the Stags an early lead and finished the game with a pair of goals. Freshman attackman Sam Snow, who already boasts two Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rookie of the Week awards so far this season, scored yet again, extending his streak of scoring a goal every game this season.

Nonetheless, the biggest goal of the

Peter Caty/The Mirror

The Stags used a 16-6 face-off advantage by FOGO Steve Golmont to defeat Ohio State. game belonged to freshman Marshall Johnson, who scored the third goal of his collegiate career at a most opportune time. The game-securing goal came with 3:49 remaining in regulation to stretch the Stags’ lead to two to end Ohio State’s comeback attempt in the game’s waning minutes.

Despite a late flurry of goals from the Buckeyes, goalkeeper Joe Marra stopped 10 shots, his third consecutive double-digit save effort, continuing his renaissance season. Of all of his saves that night, none was bigger than a second period save on a pointblank shot from Ohio State attackman Zach Rodgers’ just feet from the net.

Marra, the reigning NEILA Player of the Week, has recorded 43 goals in a twoweek span.

“We knew it was our first ECAC game of the season and, as far as we were concerned, it was the most important game of the year to date,” Marra said of the win.

“But we’re really just trying to stay the course right now, (and) really take it one game at a time.”

Marra, though, was quick to deflect praise, and pointed out that the win was just as much a by-product of the team’s defense as its 10-goal effort.

“The defense has really been helping me out,” Marra said. “Tonight, they were sliding, they were cutting angles. They really gave me great looks.”

The victory marks the team’s first win over Ohio State since 2005. It is also the team’s third consecutive win and its first conference victory of the season.

The Stags return to action this Saturday against Hobart, another conference home game against a daunting opponent.

The Statesmen, despite a 2-4 record, boast wins over Colgate and Binghamton and, in its most recent game, took Syracuse to overtime before falling, 8-9.

Women's Lacrosse

California Dreaming Game of the Week

@ New Hampshire

March 21, 2010 — Noon UNH started the season with four straight wins, rising to No. 15 in the nation before losing three straight games to Harvard, No. 2 Maryland and Florida. The Wildcats are currently one spot ahead of the Stags in Lax Power's computer poll, ranking 33rd.

MAAC standings Team

Fairfield

Siena Canisius Marist Iona Manhattan Niagara

Overall Conf.

5-2 0-0 4-3 0-0 4-4 0-0 2-4 0-0 2-5 0-0 1-5 0-0 0-4 0-0

Stags defeat Golden Bears to get back on winning track

By Tom Cleary Editor in Chief With a victory over California on March 21, the Stags improved to 5-2 this season and returned to their winning ways after a loss to Lehigh.

Leading scorer Kristen Coleman scored six goals and earned the Metro Alantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Player of the Week Award for her effort. Coleman has 25 goals this season, and her goals per game average is 10th best in the NCAA North Carolina transfer Caitlin Young scored five goals and has 11 overall.

Freshman Chloe Magnan scored five goals during the two weeks last game and also has 16 this season. She was named the MAAC Rookie of the Week.

Fairfield and California traded the first four goals of the game, but the Stags took over from there, scoring six of the next eight goals. Coleman recorded four of those six goals. She had six shots on goal and recorded goals on all six shots.

The Stags also went on a six goal run in the second half from the 17:36 mark to the 11:26 mark to take a 17-9 lead and secure the victory.

Goalie Katie Keenan, a freshman from Wantagh, New York, had 13 saves,

including seven in the first half. Keenan has started all seven games for Fairfield this season and has allowed 78 goals with 59 saves. Keenan replaced Lauren Chatnik, who graduated last season and was the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year. Keenan was an All-County goalie at Wantagh High School her senior season, and was the team's Most Valuable Player.

With a rookie goalie, the Stags have leaned on a defense led by senior Renee L'Heureux, who has 16 groundballs and has forced three turnovers this season and

midfielder Amy Kelleher, also a senior, who has 15 groundballs. Junior midfielder Brittany Bare has 20 groundballs and 16 forced turnovers. The Stags are 18th in the nation in turnovers forced (10.86 per game) and have 18.71 ground balls per game.

While the defense has stepped up in front of its rookie goalie, the offense has been the staple of head coach Mike Waldvogel's team. The "run and gun" style he has perfected has provided the 12th best scoring offense in the nation, averaging 14.71 goals per game. Albany leads the NCAA with 17.4 goals per game.

Coleman ranks 12th in the nation in goals (25 goals), while senior Erin Rigby (22 goals) is 27th. Rigby scored seven goals in one game against Quinnipiac on March 11 and against Monmotuh on Feb. 21, which is tied for the third most in a single game.

The Stags, the defending MAAC champions, were picked to finish first in the conference, but do not begin conference play until April 9 at Canisius.

Fairfield returns to action on March 28 with a trip to New Hampshire and then plays St. Mary's on April 1 at home. The Fairfield Sports Information Stags also play Holy Cross on the road Chloe Magnan was the MAAC Rookie of the Week. before the MAAC play begins.

Sports | 24

Online New and improved sports blog.

Online only coverage.

Week of March 24, 2010

fairfieldmirror.com

Sports editors Keith Connors, Tom Cleary, Chris Simmons Âť sports@fairfieldmirror.com

Bye, Bye Buckeyes

Hello Hobart

Men's Lacrosse wins third straight in thriller over Ohio State InsideSPORTS:

Women's Lacrosse back on track with Victory against California; UNH Showdown Beckons

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