1 25 2017

Trump’s Rough Start

Theater Fairfield

Opinion

Vine

The new presidential administration is having a rocky start.

Theater Fairfield returned to campus early to perform Doubt: A Parable.

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Super Bowl LI Sports Read our Super Bowl preview as Brady faces off against Ryan.

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THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper

Week of January 25, 2017

Vol. 42 Iss. 13

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Construction Changes the Face of the Campus Contributed by Julian Focareta

Rev. von Arx Leaves Amid Mixed Opinions

By Juliana Sansonetti News Editor

Andrew DaRosa/The Mirror The Barone Campus Center is currently undergoing heavy construction.

Contributed by Goody Clancy Architects A design rendering of the finished expanded Barone Campus Center.

By Samantha Moore Contributing Writer After stepping foot onto campus for the spring semester, the usual mix of turkeys, students, faculty and staff were met with a new presence: construction.

According to Associate Vice President of Facilities Management David Frassinelli, three new construction projects are in the

works. These projects include an expansion to the Barone Campus Center dining facility, the creation of a new sophomore dorm between Regis and Gonzaga and a parking garage in the current parking lot of the Kelley Center.

In regards to the dining expansion, Frassinelli cites overcrowding and congestion as reasons for construction. He claims that entering and exiting the serv-

ing area has been problematic and the cause of delays, an observation corroborated by some students.

“Sometimes if you go around 6:00-6:30 p.m., it’s too crowded and you can’t find a seat,” Emma Gamble ‘20 said.

To combat this issue, Frassinelli says that the new Daniel and Grace Tully Dining Commons, or “The Tully” for short, will replace and reconfigure the structure of the current dining hall. Instead of traditional seating, Frassinelli claims that The Tully will integrate seating around serving stations.

“What we’re looking to do is not only increase the seating but totally transform the whole dining experience,” Frassinelli said.

According to Frassinelli, food is currently prepared on location, brought to serving stations and

then taken by students. He claims that the new setup will “blur those lines” and improve efficiency, for now students can eat near the stations they favor, as opposed to searching for a seat in a separate location.

New additions on the floor include a bakery and a freestanding pizza oven which features a window for diners to view the cooking process, according to Frassinelli.

He suggests that such integration will bring unity between the cooking and dining experience. Not only will students have the opportunity to eat in traditional booths, other additions include new tables and chairs, as well as side seating near food stations.

Read Major on Page 

Students Walk for Rights in D.C.

By Catherine Veschi Managing Editor

The day after President Donald J. Trump’s Inauguration marked the single largest protest in U.S. history with nearly half a million people marching in Washington, D.C., and many more across the country as a part of the Women’s March, according to The Washington Post. Fairfield students were not exempt from this movement, as a group of students were bussed down to Washington, D.C. on the day of the Women’s March to join in with the protests.

The trip to Washington, D.C. was organized by Carrie Robinson, assistant director of the Office of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.

“There were some faculty, staff and students that were really passionate about going to D.C. for the march so we Read Fairfield on Page 

Contributed by Fiona Morrison Fairfield University students posed for a photo after marching for women’s rights in Washington D.C.

To the mixed emotions of the Class of 2017 as well as the student body in general, Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. has left the position of president of Fairfield University.

Fr. von Arx did not have a formal farewell address before he left the University.

“Rather than doing one big formal farewell, [Fr. von Arx] went around and addressed specific audiences,” said Vice President of Marketing and Communications Jennifer Anderson.

Some of these addresses include his speech

“He sent out an email which I thought was nice, but I feel like he should have given a last address...”

- Ro-Anna Thomas ‘17 at the Fairfield University Student Association State of the University Address, a farewell faculty/staff Christmas party during which he spoke to over 600 people and written communications that he sent out to the student body.

“He wanted to do [his farewell] in a very personal way and he wanted to take a very personal approach to the different audiences that he wanted to address,” said Anderson.

According to Anderson, Fr. von Arx’s schedule was full of farewell activities throughout the semester.

However, some students were not happy with the lack of a formal goodbye.

Senior Ro-Anna Thomas commented, “I think he probably felt like he said all that was needed to say. He sent out an email, which I thought was nice, but I feel like he should have given a last address and said goodbye … especially to the Class of 2017 since he has been our president for our four years.”

Senior Catherine Pezzella echoed these sentiments.

Read Students on Page 

THE MIRROR | Week of January 25, 2016

News

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Fairfield Celebrates Seventy-Fifth Anniversary

By Deanna Carbone Assistant News Editor

partment along with other departments on campus have coordinated events to celebrate the history of Fairfield and look forward to our future.

On the actual anniversary on March 17, there will be a faculty and staff reception as well as a Mass in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola. Since the students will be off campus for spring break, they will be celebrating the anniversary the following Friday, March 24 with a student dinner, including a special menu of steak and lobster in the Main Dining Room in the

Barone Campus Center. In addition to the events, an offer to join the 2017 graduation ceremony has Fairfield University had its been extended to the first graduathumble beginnings as a small, alling class. male student body of 303 in 1942.

According to Associate Vice As the University approaches its President for Marketing and Com75th anniversary in 2017, it has munications, Jennifer Anderson, undergone an immense amount most of them are World War II of change, which is reflected by an veterans from Bridgeport. undergraduate population of 3,970 The 75th anniversary is bewith a 3:2 ratio of women to men, ing woven into academics as well. according to Dean of Enrollment There will be an essay contest reKaren Pellegrino. garding the Jesuit tradition of FairTo commemorate the 75th field University and its trajectories. anniversary, the marketing deThe winner will be announced in March. In addition, the Service for Justice Residential College is offering a 200 level Religious Studies course this semester called “Tradition and the Spirit of Place: Memory, Identity and Community,” also known as “A 75th Anniversary Seminar.” The course focuses on tracing Fairfield University’s progress and growth as a Jesuit university.

“We are going to talk a lot about major moments in the history of Fairfield. For example, the first female students and student activism on campus throughout the years. It’s going to be really interesting to see how far the University has come,” said James O’Day Information Compiled from U.S. News and World Report ’19, who is enrolled in the course

this semester.

The calendar of events can be found on the Fairfield website, including a three-month long 75th Anniversary Exhibit at the Fairfield Museum and History Center.

The website walks users through important moments throughout the history of Fairfield, beginning with the permission to establish the University in 1941 to the announcement of Dr. Lynn Babington’s interim presidency in Dec. 2016.

“Fairfield University has much to be proud of and celebrating 75 years as a University provides us with the opportunity to look back on our past and celebrate the milestones we have achieved,” said Babington.

Anderson discussed the history of the “young but strong” University.

As the anniversary approached, the University received their largest group of applicants (11,141) with the class of 2021, superseding the class of 2020 applicant pool of 11,055.

“For a variety of reasons we will continue to receive applications through the semester, so that number will continue to grow. The applicant pool is already the largest in Fairfield’s history,” said Vice

President for Enrollment Management, Karen Pellegrino.

“It shows that Fairfield continues to rise,” said Anderson.

The construction on campus is further evidence that Fairfield hasn’t stopped improving.

Fairfield University Student Association President Zoë Ferranti ‘17 shared sentiments on witnessing the changes around campus.

“Getting to be a part of the changes I see on campus and helping present the student point of view and desires on behalf of my fellow Stags is an opportunity and responsibility I feel blessed and humbled to have,” Ferranti said.

From the classes of the original College of Arts and Sciences being held in both McAuliffe Hall and Park Place in Bridgeport to multiple schools on campus with the addition of the Marion Peckham School of Nursing and Health Studies, the growth of Fairfield in 75 years is evident.

“It’s exciting to be on campus for the anniversary. This is a great milestone and something that should be celebrated within the Fairfield community by recognizing the accomplishments and successes Fairfield has reached,” said Kristin Garofalo ’18.

Major Changes Are on the Way for the Campus Continued from page  “There will be more opportunities for students to not only watch the food be prepared but also sit there and eat it,” Frassinelli said. “Between the new venue and the new offerings, I think it’s going to raise the bar for us on a competitive basis.”

Frassinelli estimates that The Tully will be completed by the Fall of 2017. As a result of construction, during the final weeks of the semester students will dine in a tent between the BCC and Alumni Hall, according to Frassinelli.

“I don’t mind that much but it’s kind of annoying. I guess it will all be worth it because the dining hall will look really nice,” Rosie Richetelli ‘20 Other observable construction on campus is the new sophomore dorm located in the Quad. Frassinelli says the current construction is the result of utility relocation in preparation for the project. Come March, construction of the new sophomore dorm’s structure will begin.

“I think it’s a good idea with the incoming class so there’s more living area,” Kelly Drew ‘20 said.

The new dorm will feature approximately 200 beds and consist of a series of double rooms sharing a common area and a bathroom, “almost like separate apartments” according to Frassinelli. He claims that the setup of this dorm will most closely resemble those of Kostka Hall and Claver Hall.

Located between Regis Hall and Gonzaga Hall, Frassinelli said the new structure will rise three stories above ground, but stand no higher than nearby buildings. In addition to common areas on each floor, the building will also house a large classroom.

Frassinelli estimates that the dorm will be completed by August of 2018.

Although progress is currently visible on both The Tully as well as the new dorm, Frassinelli says construction on the foundation for the new parking garage will begin on March

13. The intended use of the facility is for admissions and staff at the Kelley Center Frassinelli acknowledges such a structure may not be the most exciting addition to campus but he cited a major benefit to its creation.

“One of the nice things is if you build a structured parking garage, then there’s less pressure to make surface parking. If you concentrate them all together, there’s less asphalt on campus,” Frassinelli said.

According to Frassinelli, the garage will create a total of 380 parking spaces. These spaces will be available on grade as well as on the middle level and roof of the structure. Although the garage will occupy vertical space, Frassinelli explains careful planning will prevent the structure from commanding attention.

“We purposely made it look like the Kelley Center, particularly in terms of style. It’s not going to be substantially larger,” Frassinelli said.

In addition to styling the building similar to its surroundings, Frassinelli says windows on the structure’s east side will feature foliage to soften the presence of the new addition.

He notes that the building will be standing

by August of 2017 but not reach completion until January of 2018. While efforts have been made to make the structure blend in, some are unsure about the future parking lot’s location.

“When I think of parking garage I think of cold, cement and ugly. I’d prefer it to be built in a different spot, that’s very in the center of campus,” Kelsi Farren ‘20 said.

While these projects are not yet completed, Frassinelli cited his hopes for their overall contribution to the University. He suggests that members of the community may face varying difficulties while on campus, but these new additions may alleviate some tension, especially for first-year students.

As for upperclassmen, these new construction projects produce mixed feelings.

“It bothers me that I wouldn’t be able to use it but I’m happy for future Stags,” Brenna Mulhall ‘18 said.

Juliana Sansonetti/The Mirror Students eat their dinners in the old floor plan of the Barone Dining Hall before it is renovated.

Contributed by Goody Clancy Architects The design rendering of the expanded dining hall, which, after expansion, will be known as The Tully.

THE MIRROR | Week of January 25, 2016

News

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The Mirror Reflects on this week in Social Media

Compiled by Elizabeth O’Hara Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.

Wednesday 1/18 1:31 a.m.- A group of individuals were caught consuming alcohol in the Walsh Athletic Center locker rooms. The six students were referred to the Dean of Students Office.

Friday 1/20 7:32 p.m.- A student reported their Macbook Pro laptop was taken from inside the Barone Campus Center sometime between 9:30-10:45 a.m. earlier in the day. The computer was pinged/located in Norwalk through the use of the find my iPhone app. The theft is currently under investigation.

Saturday 1/21 1:01 a.m.- Public Safety was called to Regis Hall for the smell of marijuana. Two students were referred to student conduct for alcohol and drugs.

Public Safety confiscated the suspected marijuana paraphernalia.

2:49 p.m.- Public Safety documented a student for alcohol violations near the Townhouse 11 block. The student had 13 cans of beer in their possession, which were confiscated.

Sunday 1/22 12:31 a.m.- Public Safety issued a criminal trespass warning to a Sacred Heart University student. The student was in some verbal altercation with others in a Townhouse. Three other students involved are also being referred to student conduct.

9:45 a.m.- An individual vandalized the fencing near Townhouse 13 block near the dumpsters.

Monday 1/23 12:58 a.m.- Public Safety investigated a hit and run accident. DPS identified the striking vehicle.

CAU TTIO N O I N U CA THE MIRROR Incorporated 1977

Jesse Erickson, Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa, Executive Editor Catherine Veschi, Managing Editor Editors Juliana Sansonetti, News Deanna Carbone, Assistant News Lexi Thimble Opinion Brendan Zimmerman, Opinion Alicia Phaneuf, Vine Cara Lee, Assistant Vine Editorial Staff, Coffee Break Alfredo Torres, Sports Daniel Montgomery, Assistant Sports Allison White, Chief Copy Editor Gianna Saladino, Social Media Editor Online Bradley Nordstrom, Web Master Ariana Puzzo, Online Editor-in-Chief Nicole Funaro, Online News Editor Shana Lynch, Online Vine Editor Kelley Eckert, Online Coffee Break Editor Business Department Email: advertising@fairfieldmirror.com Stephanie Van Fleet, Director of Finance Marcus DeSouto, Circulation Adviser Dr. Tommy Xie Contact Information Fairfield University 1073 North Benson Road, BCC 104 Box AA, Fairfield, CT 06824 General email: info@fairfieldmirror.com

Students React to Fr. von Arx Departure Continued from page  “I think it’s just professionalism and decency [to give a farewell address],” she said.

Many students feel concerned that Fr. von Arx did not remain at the University until the end of the academic year and are worried that he will not return for the graduation of the senior class.

“I think he should speak at the graduation just to at least finish his time out for us [seniors],” said Pezzella. “Because to have someone else who hasn’t really been with us all four years won’t be as special.”

However, according to Anderson, Fr. von Arx may return for the graduation. His plans will be finalized within the next month or so.

“He is planning on coming back throughout the semester for key events,” said Anderson. “Nothing has been solidified yet, but his intention is to have a presence at big events throughout the rest of the semester.”

In place of Fr. von Arx, Interim President Lynn Babington will take on the responsibilities of president at the graduation, including giving diplomas to graduates and making the president’s remarks. Babington referred to participating in the graduation as “an honor.”

Anderson addressed the disappointment felt by many students, particularly seniors.

“It’s a hard thing when you’re a senior and the president leaves mid-year, especially somebody like Fr. von Arx who was, I would say, well-entrenched with the student body, very visible at athletic games and student activities and events that went on,” said Anderson.

“It was probably the best agreement that could be made between the provincial, Mr. [Frank] Carroll [Chairman of the Board of Trustees] and Father in terms of timing to meet the needs of both the province and what needed to happen with Father’s new role,” added Anderson.

Fr. von Arx’s new role in Cambridge, Mass. at the House of

Studies demanded that he be there by the beginning of the new calendar year, Anderson explained.

“The Master Plan [the facilities aspect of the Strategic Plan] was done, the Strategic Plan [the plan for a sustainable future of Fairfield] was done and building was going to be starting. It seemed like an OK time for him to leave,” said Anderson.

Under the new president, a large amount of immediate changes will not be noticeable. According to Anderson, the new president will follow through in the Strategic Plan and the Master Plan for the University.

Students shared their hopes for the new president.

“I hope that [the next president] will be much more inclusive, much more open to students, much more involved in getting to know them and not afraid to tackle issues head on and call a spade a spade,” said Thomas.

Thomas expressed her dissatisfaction with Fr. von Arx in these areas.

“Other than [Fr. von Arx] showing up to take pictures at Pres Ball and working with FUSA, I didn’t really see him taking the initiative to get involved with students on a personal level or trying to get to know them, from my experience,” she said.

Sophomore Clarensky Benoit added, “I hope that the next president is more involved, has more programs for the students and that [he/she] will reinforce FUSA.” Senior Carlos Mesquita offered a different opinion.

“I would definitely say he was involved with students,” said Mesquita. “It depends on what activities you are involved with, but I feel like he definitely made himself a big presence on campus, especially with campus ministry, presenting masses and going on Eucharistic Minister retreats. I definitely think he tried to make himself known to students so that he was a familiar face.”

On the topic of the new president, Anderson commented, “The hope is that whoever comes in is a visionary and someone who is going to look not two years into the future but 20, 30 or 49 years into the future.”

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THE MIRROR | Week of January 25, 2016

News

Fairfield Joins in Women’s March

Contributed by Taylor Lauren Barker Seventy-five students and 10 faculty and staff members from Fairfield joined in the peaceful protests in Washington D.C. They gathered in front of the U.S. Capitol Building for a group photo.

Continued from page  came together to make it happen,” Robinson said.

Robinson added that while she organized the buses and got students to sign up, Sonya Alexander, the area coordinator for Students for Justice, also did a lot of the behind-the-scenes work in preparation for the trip.

Sophomore Alyssa Vigorito was excited for this opportunity to participate in the Women’s March in Washington, as she “wanted to be a part of this imperative revolution.”

“I also recognize that it’s my duty to stand in solidarity in order to achieve the rights I believe in,” Vigorito continued. “It’s not enough to teach through words — I want to teach through action.”

Senior Luke Fain, who also attended the march with other Fairfield students, added that he “decided to go because I’m passionate about social justice and firmly believe that gender equality isn’t even an option but rather a necessity in our country.”

“No person should be treated as subhuman because of their race, gender or sexuality, and I wanted to be

part of and supportive of a movement that embodies those values,” Fain continued.

Furthermore, Vigorito appreciated that the University gave her and other Fairfield students the chance to take part in the march, as few of the students interested had the means of transportation necessary to make it to Washington for the day.

According to Robinson, 75 students and 10 faculty and staff members went on the trip to D.C. Vigorito and other students in attendance at the march felt that they did their part to contribute to

this movement. “I felt my voice was heard, and now I can continue teaching through action rather than only saying I want change,” Vigorito said.

Robinson agreed that the trip to D.C. was an overall success, adding that “it was amazing to see a group of passionate students come together for something they believe in.”

Not only did students feel that their voices had been heard, but that as a result, their message had been effectively displayed for not only the nation, but President Donald Trump’s administration to see.

“The goal of the march was to

send a message that we need to be pro-women and I think that goal was achieved,” Vigorito said. “What I have seen is profoundly moving, so much so that I see a future in which sustained and direct public action is more attainable and encouraged as ever.”

While Robinson also felt that the march achieved its primary goal, she added that “the work is not over. Our voices still need to be heard and it is important that the activism doesn’t stop now that the march is over.”

Students March to Make a Difference for MLK Day

By Elizabeth O’Hara Contributing Writer

Every year, citizens across the country partake in commemorations to celebrate the efforts and legacy of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Fairfield University community is no stranger to living out their Jesuit ideals, coming together and taking virtuous strides against injustices.

On Tuesday Jan. 24, approximately 50 students, faculty and members of the Fairfield public joined together in a Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial March around campus to help raise awareness about the history of social justice and activism at Fairfield.

The march is a traditional staple of the MLK week activities on campus and has happened every Tuesday of the MLK week since it was implemented at Fairfield over six years ago.

There is a committee for the entire MLK week that the march is part of, but the organizers of the march this year were Dr. David McFadden, professor of history, and Dr. Ellen Umansky, professor of religious studies.

Professor McFadden explained that the march was started several years ago to pay homage to different instances in which the Fairfield University community has taken action for civil rights in the past.

Each of the stops on the march represented different strides the community had made.

“Each stop represented a racial incident that has occurred on campus at these areas.

Each featured a speaker that was a part of these events to speak on the history of what happened and the significance of the stops on campus,” said Carrie Robinson, assistant director of the Office of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.

The notable movements included the deed of liberating restricted books from a

locked cage in the library in 1965, which was celebrated at Canisius Hall during the march. Also, a women’s protest at Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola, as well as a black student protest in 1969 commemorated at Xavier Hall.

Other stops on the march included recognizing the action taken to stand in solidarity with Muslim students in North Carolina at the Stag statue, a faculty lockout at Bellarmine Hall, and the final stop in which the students and faculty on the march deliberated about the Black Lives Matter movement in the Lower Level of the Barone Campus Center.

The march began at the Egan Chapel and the group marched to the six notable spots around campus, while the leaders and those in the crowd sang songs to the likes of “Blowin in the Wind” by Bob Dylan, the South African hymn “Siyahamba/We are Marching,” popular civil rights folk songs, “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn me Around,” “O Freedom,” “We shall not be moved,” and ended the march with the powerful tune “Lift Every Voice.”

At each stop there were different speakers that included Professors Mcfadden, Professor Umansky, Professor of History Elizabeth Hohl, Larri Mazon, Director of Institutional Diversity Initiatives, along with Anmol Tabassum ‘18 and Zavon Billups ‘18.

Each speaker gave introductions, spoke about the significance of each stop and started the group off with the different civil rights songs.

“We had a great student turnout for this relatively new, yet important, tradition, echoing the sentiments of Dr. King that injustice anywhere (including at Fairfield University) is a threat to justice everywhere,” said Umansky.

Despite the wintry display of cold weather, many students and esteemed faculty members chose to take part in this special

Elizabeth O’Hara/The Mirror Students and faculty walked in solidarity for civil rights for the Martin Luther King, Jr. March.

observance.

Senior Joseph Harding was very pleased with the outcome of the event.

“The MLK Memorial March is a great tradition because it represents the Jesuit values our community cherishes,” stated Harding.

“It brings people from all backgrounds and walks of life together in the spirit of unity and compassion. I was happy to see so many people come even though the weather wasn’t all that great today,” he continued.

Interim President Dr. Lynn Babington, who was also in attendance at the memorial march, commented on the importance in maintaining Dr. King’s legacy.

“The MLK memorial march is one of the many events planned this week to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Dr. King’s commitment to courage, justice,

compassion and dignity for all women and men are critically important for our University community to honor,” said Babington.

This march provided a moment of reflection and unity for students, faculty and the University as a whole.

The purpose of this march and of all other dedicated MLK events are to help the community remember these significant and historic instances of the past “Part of the Jesuit education is men and women for others. These moments of activism and sometimes moments of tension have allowed our students to live out their Jesuit ideals and act against,” explained Robinson.

“It is a moment of reflection for the community on where we have been, the progress we have made, and the progress we still need to make,” she continued.

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THE MIRROR | Week of January 25, 2017

Opinion Editor Lexi Thimble » opinion@fairfieldmirror.com

Creative Commons/Wikimedia Commons

Getting Opinionated with The Mirror Respect in Rivalry Goes Both Ways

By Jesse Erickson Editor-in-Chief

By Allison White Chief Copy Editor The long-lasting rivalry between Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University has served as a means of some healthy competition in the town of Fairfield, Conn. We’ve gone head-to-head in athletics, location, education and even down to who has better parties. Each school offers something different that appeals to the student.

After coming across an Odyssey article by a SHU student entitled “11 Reasons Sacred Heart University Is Better Than Fairfield U,” we were offended by some of the items on the list. Not only did the article stoop to the level of bringing up the “ghetto party” that was unfortunately held at Fairfield U, but it failed to fact check its accusations. While the ghetto party was a shameful event, college students can fail to make the right and most correct decisions at this age. Since this learning experience, Fairfield has grown together to expand and educate about racial diversity. A series of programs have been implemented to combat an issue that is happening beyond Fairfield U, including our Martin Luther King, Jr. Week activities, open discussions and a course specializing in the Black Lives Matter Movement.

According to U.S News and World Report, Fairfield ranks No. 2 in Regional Universities North. Our nursing school might have only been rated ninth in 2015 in the northeast, but it’s currently rated as the 10th best nursing school in the entire nation according to College Factual.

Tenth best can only get better as the progression for the Marion Peckham

Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies continues on campus. Not only will our nursing students have a brand new facility, it will feature a $2.5 million Palliative Care Center.

Beyond nursing, Fairfield offers a wide variety of educational routes for all students in which they can find success. The Dolan School of Business has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. According to AACSB, “AACSB Accreditation is known, worldwide, as the longest standing, most recognized form of specialized/professional accreditation an institution and its business programs can earn.”

In regards to location, Fairfield students have the opportunity to explore downtown Fairfield with a quick ride on our campus shuttle, the Stag Bus, and have a closer proximity to Fairfield Beach, which seniors can reside on. Post Road can entertain someone for an entire week, offering restaurants from Mexican to Italian to Chinese and then dessert.

Although our campus is undergoing construction that impedes upon the beauty, it will provide a more beautiful and updated university in the end. Our gym just underwent a $17.4 million renovation, which only begins to describe the updates being made. In addition, a new residential dorm will be created and a new dining hall, including additions to the existing one.

In terms of transportation, the bigger, the better, am I right? The

StagBus can seat up to 50 students bringing them to key locations in Fairfield like Stop & Shop, the train station, Post Road, Marshall’s and on the weekends, to the mall. Plus, we’ve got the friendliest and most punctual bus drivers around. But even if they are running a little late, we can track our Stag Bus on Google Maps, on the app TransLoc Rider or keep yourself updated with text alerts.

Though we might lack in our offerings of Greek life and a president on Twitter (however, you can find Lucas the Stag on Twitter) we make up for it in lots of different areas.

When it comes to our education, Fairfield has a 78 percent fouryear graduation rate while SHU’s is only 58 percent, according to U.S. News and World Report, and we owe it all to the dedicated staff at Fairfield. They’re constantly available and they are always looking to better their students. We’ve had students partner with their professors to perform innovative research projects as well as professors who have singlehandedly been responsible for helping their students land their dream jobs.

Though we understand the differences between the two universities, there is no need to write belittling articles to make inaccurate comparisons about the other. Here we stand in defense against the Odyssey article, hoping to bridge together a rift that has been unnecessarily formed. Lucas, our scary Stag, doesn’t like the tension.

Trump's Presidency is Off to a Rough Start

By Lexi Thimble Co-Opinion Editor

instead of talking about reports that concern everyone else in this country, he instead continued to condemn the unfounded rumors released by Buzzfeed. He then went on to blame the DNC for being hacked into, saying “the Democratic National Committee was totally open to be hacked. They did a very poor job. They could’ve had hacking defense, which we had”, adding that Russia would be an asset in fighting ISIS. From this response, it’s clear that journalists are not the only community Trump has no respect for. In this and in any other such case, vulnerability of an institution, a company, a nation, or even a person, does not warrant violation.

An unarmed person being mugged on the street doesn’t deserve that fate because they were unarmed, and if it’s true that the DNC was as vulnerable as Trump claims, it does not, under any circumstances, excuse what Russia did. Trump claims he has no personal ties to Russia or Putin, yet he is willing to excuse a likely case of espionage against his own country because it did not hinder him in any way. How is that responsible leadership? How is decision making like that supposed to be trusted?

Trump’s public distrust in the intelligence community reveals his distaste for news that doesn’t benefit him, and that he should have the final say in what is real and what isn’t. If anything was made clear by this press conference, it is the lack of respect Donald Trump has for information that doesn’t center around his positive achievements.

With his distrust in our intelligence agencies and his flagrant disrespect for legitimate journalists trying to pin down the real answers, Trump has signaled an uphill battle with the truth going forward. All signs point to a near dictatorship if the media allows Trump to be the one with the final say on the truth, especially if this repression covers up any future Russian interference. For those who trust Donald Trump completely, the next four years should be no trouble going by what he’s espousing. But for those looking for a second opinion, and looking for honest sources who won’t try and warp the story, it won’t happen unless we demand it.

Trump’s distrust of intelligence briefings from communities like the CIA and FBI has been the controversy of note over the past few weeks, becoming more pointed in the days leading to the inauguration. In creating doubt and openly criticizing the credulity of the intelligence communities, and in trusting foreign governments over our own, Trump is starting his administration out on the foundation of deceit.

Trump doesn’t trust the intelligence community of his own country for some reason, and through his tweets and the public statements made during a recent press conference, he has begun putting that doubt on display. For a reason unbeknownst to most, he places more faith in Russia’s willingness to tell the truth, saying that if they had found something negative in their cyber espionage, “they would’ve been glad to release it.”

Yet if he’s telling the truth and really has had no personal dealings with Vladimir Putin and no interest in Russia, then how could he make this assertion with confidence? If he really doesn’t know Putin well, how can he be one hundred percent sure that our national security is completely safe with a country, notorious for its distaste in America.

Trump puts our country in danger by putting blind faith in Russia. In slandering the capabilities of a federal community meant to keep us safe, he’s instead sowing doubt in the minds of people who hang on his every word, and delegitimizing the work this community does.

Trump displayed much of this disrespect in one of his most recent press conferences. The majority of questions asked by the journalists were in connection with Russian interference with the 2016 Presidential Election, which Trump chose to ignore to instead address the leaks he believed happened from our own intelligence community, blaming them for the further spread of fake Creative Commons/President of Russia news. He was asked if he received false intelligence reports, and Creative Commons/Flikr

Editorial Board "Hope Sparks Rebellion"

Jesse Erickson Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor Catherine Veschi Managing Editor

In a nation marred with division over the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, civil rights activism was the answer for 3.2 million (and counting) men and women this past Saturday, Jan. 21.

Across the nation, these individuals partook in the Women’s March in Washington, which occurred in various major suburbs around the country. Not only did these marches make a statement against the actions of Trump, but they also left the nation inspired to continue along this path of activism.

Though news seems to have been nationally-focused, numerous other women’s protests emerged across the globe including New Zealand, France and Ghana, showing that the issue of women’s rights is not only one that is national,

but also global. This global initiative is further enforced with the dissatisfaction many Eurocentric and socialist countries feel toward Trump’s presidency and the threat it has toward U.S. international policy.

Perhaps the most important message that can be gained from these marches is not only the message of women’s rights, but the idea that activism in the form of protests is still an effective way to broadcast political and social messages and make sure they are reverberated throughout the world. According to the New York Times, crowd scientists estimated that approximately 160,000 individuals were present at the National Mall in Washington D.C. for Trump’s inauguration, while an estimated 470,000 individuals were at the same location

for the Women’s March on Washington. Comparatively, Politico, a political news source that reports about campaigns, Congress, lobbyists and issues, reported that Obama’s 2009 inauguration received an attendance of more than 1.8 million.

Talking Points Memo, a news source which provides commentary on political events, took this a step further and looked into the number of metro rides on the days of Trump’s inauguration, Obama’s 2009 inauguration and the Women’s March. Obama’s inauguration garnered the most rides with 1,100,00, while the Women’s March followed closely behind with 1,001,616 rides, and Trump’s inauguration lagged behind with 570,557 rides. All this shows that more individuals made an effort to support the rights of

women at the National Mall than to support Trump’s presidency, making this one of the biggest political statements against a president in U.S. history. In this way, protesters nationwide were able to communicate their powerful message to Trump and his administration by sheer force of numbers, overwhelming the White House and the nation as a whole.

Stemming from this comes the ideology of bringing the power back to the people and allowing individuals to find strength in numbers. In this strength, a unity is formed that builds upon the rigid spirit of the American people and the ability to find determination in opposition. The Women’s March on Washington might have passed but the message still lingers; all rebellions are built on hope.

Opinion

THE MIRROR | Week of January 25, 2017

Page 6

Annoyances of Construction Will Pay Off in the End

By Grace Bowman Contributing Writer As a student at Fairfield University, when I headed back to campus after a long winter break, I was greeted with two parts of the campus to be unaccessible.

Construction trucks scattered the walkways and the once bright, green grass was replaced by mounds of dirt. I was shocked to see my once beautiful campus being torn up, but I knew I was excited for the big changes that were coming.

As the 75th year of Fairfield University kicks off, new plans to expand our dining hall are in session. The Barone Campus Center is under construction, expanding the Oak Room and the dining hall, and some existing facilities are being improved as well. This expansion is going to give the faculty, students and staff more options, including a station preparation where students can watch the chefs making their food, an allergen-free zone with access to an isolated allergy-free area, new seating options that have access to electrical outlets and movable tables and more space to hold campus events. I believe this will be a great new aspect to the dining hall, giving students more options for food and seating.

Although the addition that is underway will create a great new dining space, there are cons in the meantime.

I am woken by construction trucks at 8 a.m. during the week and the campus is harder to navigate around. I can constantly hear trucks driving around and as construction is drawn out, it will just get more annoying. Also, our once spacious dining hall has been downsized to fewer tables, making the Oak Room an overflow space for when there are no more open tables.

Although I have my reasons for disliking the construction, overall I am happy that we have the opportunity to expand our campus.

That being said, although students may be complaining now about the construction, we all know it is worth it for the end result. In the fall of 2017, the new BCC, which will now be named “The Tully,” will open its doors to the students. I am excitedly awaiting the grand opening of the new BCC. The construction can be annoying to wake up to, but I do not believe that the campus should have waited to start when students were not on campus. Students still have access to the BCC during the beginning of construction and it would be hard for the college to do construction during a period where no one was

What Would You Like to See in Fairfield's Next President?

Natalia Nawrocka '20:

"I think our president should be more present online, specifically on Twitter.

We should prove that we're more tech-savvy than Sacred Heart."

Mariana Brandao '20:

"We need a president that's more active in the community. We never saw the president. I saw him once at Prez Ball and that was it."

Moses Olimpio '19: "I want a president who, if they see a problem, will move ahead and resolve it swiftly and in a way that satisfies everyone."

Photos by Lexi Thimble/The Mirror

Photo by Andrew DaRosa/The Mirror Construction is underway outside Barone Campus Center in order to expand the dining hall for the upcoming year.

on campus. I excitedly wait to come back to school in the fall to see the new BCC, and until then I will have to respect the cons that the construction brings. While the construction can be annoying at times, the final product will be well worth the wait.

The Mirror welcomes the opinions and contributions of its readers: Letters to the editor must be timely and submitted by email to info@fairfieldmirror.com or Box AA. All letters to the editor that are appropriate will be published either in print or online. The Mirror reserves the right to edit letters and articles for content, length and grammatical errors. Letters should be free of obscenities and personal attacks and should contain correct and factual information.

Obama's Legacy Leaves Much to Be Desired

By Johnny Hirschauer Contributing Writer Barack Obama leaves office to a chorus of tears from Saturday Night Live hosts, Starbucks baristas and self-important celebrities. A man trapped in unending self-adulation, President Obama spent eight years in a searing cult of personality. He fashioned himself as a celebrity president, with his routine appearances on late night television culminating without exception in a voluptuous hollering of applause from an audience who, except for their cold-hearted daddies against whom they were in perpetual rebellion, had never met a Republican in their lives. He became the darling of the press, whose “hard-hitting” policy questions to him were merely compliments followed by obligatory question marks.

With a chance to take a real step in finally closing the racial wounds of America, President Obama chose to enshrine Malcolm X’s tribalism as the default American racial position, tacitly scoffing at Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of an America where character and individual morality, not race, would be the bar of collective judgment.

All the while, he usurped authority and extended the power of the executive branch more than any president in modern history. In a bold act of overreach, in his 2014 State of the Union address, President Obama brazenly declared to the American people that he was going to pursue gun control legislation, “with or without Congress.” Popular consensus, due process and constitutionalism it seems, were hurdles for President Obama to overcome. It was a meritorious venture, he felt, as he believed he knew better than America’s elected representatives. In 2012, he made it clear how he felt about those Americans that voiced opposition: “it's not surprising then [that small town voters] get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or antitrade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

As an orator, President Obama was undoubtedly gifted and moving. He captivated critics and fans alike with his lofty rhetoric, with enough moral posturing on the bigotry of his political opponents to satisfy a teething peanut gallery of liberal polemicists. His speeches were hopeful and dismissive, with immutable moral clarity — America ought to agree with his policy prescriptions or they’d end up on the wrong side of history.

Barack Obama was an anthropomorphic Jon Stewart, capturing the fandom of millennials with his contemptuous treatment of the dissent of “bitter clingers” and his suave and genteel charm. For millennials, Obama was a president who gave a legitimizing voice to the theologies of group identity found in the annals of half-baked college classes on race and gender. No longer were the bra-burners and race baiters seen by their peers as extremists or radicals; America had a president who not only gave them credence, he readily used their language. Orwellian notions of “unconscious bias” and the doctrine of “intersectionality” littered decrees and speeches of the Obama administration, proving, to the chagrin of BuzzFeed, that President Obama was “woke.”

He plainly succeeded in remaking the office of the presidency in the image of a community organizer, his former profession. As famous progressive agitator Saul Alinsky coined in his seminal work Rules for Radicals, community organizers were to be “an abrasive agent to rub raw the resentments of the people of the community; to fan latent hostilities of many of the people to the point of overt expressions.” He succeeded in massaging anger out of the populous, as a Rasmussen survey of Americans decidedly found that the perception of race relations since Obama’s tenure has become dramatically worse, as Obama’s constant berating of systematic racism from the police and white America fueled the flames of racial polarization. President Obama fancied himself as a voice of truth to power, railing against the unnecessary compromise of the American republic, ostentatiously lecturing Americans on Islamophobia in the wake of violent Islamism in the world and constantly apologizing for the United States on the world stage with a tone fetid with moralizing.

President Obama is beloved by many in the United States. He appears a decent, kind man, who is charismatic and witty on camera. His legacy, however, will be determined by his innumerable supporters throughout the ranks of the media syndicate. Critics of the man are routinely implicated in accusations of racism, assuring such voices will be excommunicated from adjudicating President Obama’s legacy. Most of his critics and all of his supporters realize Obama is and was a decent man.

Often, one wished the former president held similar views about the “bitter clingers” who don’t share his politics.

The Vine

arts, entertainment, features Editor Alicia Phaneuf vine@fairfieldmirror.com

Two Worlds Collide in a Unifying Performance

Photo Compilation by Alicia Phaneuf Creative Commons/Clontarf Creative Commons/flickr Creative Commons/flickr Creative Commons/HCRealms Creative Commons/Wikimedia Contributed Photo

THE MIRROR | Week of January 25, 2016

The Vine

Page 8

No Man's Land: Comedy or Tragedy

By Cara Lee Assistant Vine Editor

Dozens of theater enthusiasts gathered at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Wednesday, Jan. 18 to witness a live broadcast of Harold Pinter’s “No Man’s Land,” which was being performed at the Wyndham Theater in London.

Starring Patrick Stewart (known for his roles as Charles Xavier and Captain Jean Luc Picard from “X-Men” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” respectively) as Hirst and Ian McKellen (Gandalf from “Lord of the Rings” and Sherlock Holmes in “Mr. Holmes”) as Spooner, the play thoroughly confused the audience.

The consensus was best worded by psychology Professor Susan Rakowitz, “The acting was amazing, but the play as a whole was very confusing and very powerful.” Even director Sean Mathias, when he first saw the play years before he directed it, “had no idea what the play was about, I didn’t have a clue.”

Discussion among the audience members showed that part of this confusion came from both the seemingly stagnant plot of the play and from the labeling of the play as a comedy when many believed it would be better categorized as a tragedy. They were constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop after Hirst, in his drunken state, allows his temper to control him as he grows more and more aggravated at Spooner’s comments against Hirst’s wife — who may or may not have ever existed — and Hirst’s status as a man. This leads to Hirst throwing his glass. This discussion is never again broached and the rest of the play contains dialogue that better explains the characteristics of the leading men, but provides no change in their status.

There were many notable scenes that left the audience roaring with laughter — including one where Hirst reveals the details of his torrid affair with a woman to Spooner, her supposed husband. Spooner then encourages the embellishment of Hirst’s tale by revealing an affair he had with

a past love interest of Hirst’s. This results in an amusing exchange between the two men as their stories spiral past the point of realism and realizing this, they pause before abruptly changing the subject. All of these scenes had a layer of tragedy to them and with the knowledge that the conversation was a result of pure dementia as the two men had never had any previous interaction, they can be best described as darkly humorous.

“This play,” McKellen notes, “is about dementia, something that in this time people are trying to understand and back then was… [almost] avant garde to discuss.” Hirst has dementia, and this play provides a very realistic portrayal of one afflicted with it in that it is not immediately obvious that Hirst has dementia. The play opens with the two drunken men arriving at Hirst’s home to continue their drinking and after some intelligent banter where no sign of Hirst’s dementia show, Hirst retreats for a time — only to not recognize Spooner upon his return.

This at first is attributed to the amount of alcohol Hirst had imbibed, until Hirst also misnamed his housekeeper, has several lapses where he believes he is at a restaurant he has not attended for decades and even before this comedic exchange about the men’s affairs, believes that Spooner is a man from a more recent past. When the latter discussion begins, Spooner is at first reluctant to participate; when he does join it seems like he is doing so to become friends with the successful Hirst so that he, a poor and failed poet, can gain a job.

This play does not seem to have a resolution. At its conclusion, the four actors remain in the same room where all of the plot has occurred, each nursing a glass of alcohol before noon and seemingly, nothing has changed since the beginning of the play.

Despite this, the play itself is beautifully done. The dialogue is almost rhythmic and actor Damien Molony,

Cara's Cuisine

By Cara Lee Assistant Vine Editor Everyone loves cinnamon, especially during the winter months. Kids and, let’s be honest, college students too, love to enjoy a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch for breakfast.

Cinnamon buns, drizzled in creamy vanilla icing, is a delectable dessert, and an apple cinnamon pie is bound to please when presented at any event.

Due to this love of cinnamon, when we needed another dish at a family event this past year, I played around with some recipes until I had it — a perfect recipe for cinnamon bread.

Sweet, with a cinnamon swirl inside and a second cinnamon-sugar layer forming a golden brown layer on top, this is a crowd favorite and highly requested afterwards by family and friends alike. So go out, buy some ingredients and get ready to enjoy!

Preheat Oven: 350 degrees Makes: 8 servings Ingredients: 2 cups of all-purpose flour 1 and 1/2 cups of sugar, divided 1 teaspoon of baking soda 1 cup of milk and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar 1 large egg 1/4 cup of olive oil 3 teaspoons of ground cinnamon Combine the flour, one cup of sugar and baking soda.

In a separate bowl, combine milk and white vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes before adding egg and oil. Beat together.

Combine bowls.

In a third, small bowl, combine cinnamon and the remaining ½ cup of sugar.

Grease the pan with butter. Pour half of the batter in, then form a layer with half of the cinnamon-sugar. Pour in second half of the batter, then cut through it with a knife to make the cinnamon swirl in the middle. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar mix on top.

Bake 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan.

Creative Commons/Flicker

who played the role of Foster, Hirst’s secretary, remarked that “if one word is missed or misspoken, it is immediately noticeable because of the break in the rhythm.” Playing off of this, the set designers created a circular set, which, along with the rhythm of the dialogue and the actors’ movements from chair to chair and to the bar and back, seemed to turn the dramatic performance into a dance.

The beauty of the play is also present in the incredible amount of detail put into each and every item that appears on stage — from the costumes to the smallest set piece — to ensure that it would be an item congruent with the 1970s.

For example, the costume department added both copper bracelets — believed in the 70s to fend off arthritis — and a Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament badge to Spooner’s costume, since they were common accessories during the time period.

This performance was confusing, heartbreaking, stagnant and comedic all at once. It was incredibly wellperformed, laced with hundreds of intricate details, and beautiful — not because of the plot — but because of the reality it showed. The reality of old age — of dementia, of the realization of the benefits of failure and the downsides of success and how at every stage of life it can be a constant battle of trying to get ahead.

The show is so realistic that when the late Oliver Sacks, a famed British neurologist, saw the play, his response was that he saw these people every week in his clinic. These characters are real. One is ambitious and feeling young, one has dementia and has all but given up. One has failed in his work but succeeded in his familial life, while the other has succeeded in his work but never had the family he wanted. In these characters, a viewer can see their brothers and sisters, grandparents, and parents — even though the characters are meant to be four men who lived nearly half a century ago.

Contributed Photo

THE MIRROR | Week of January 25, 2016

The Vine

Page 9

Patriot's Day: The Unconquerable spirit of Boston

By Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor

For Bostonians and Americans alike, the events surrounding the day of April 15, 2013 will forever be ingrained in our memories as one of the most gripping terrorist attacks to occur on American soil. The Boston Marathon bombing was carried out by brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev and killed three individuals while injuring 264 others.

It commenced a four-day manhunt that shut down one of the largest metropolises in the United States in search of two young men who were considered armed, dangerous and plotting another terrorist attack in New York City.

“Patriots Day,” directed by Peter Berg (“Deepwater Horizon,” “Battleship”), chronicles the days surrounding the bombing and the subsequent manhunt, centered around Boston Police Officer Tommy Saunders, portrayed by hometown hero Mark Wahlberg. While the character of Officer Saunders was never an actual figure throughout the events which the film is based on, Wahlberg’s character represents the undying spirit of the Boston law enforcement and, in turn, the people of Boston, who banded together to rebuild after tragedy through love and resilience. Wahlberg truly shines in this role as his emotionality peaks, representing the “Boston Strong” mentality, which becomes increasingly evident when the film approaches the finale of its two hour and 13-minute run time.

Outside the fictionality of Wahlberg’s character, the film remains generally accurate to the individuals and details surrounding the Boston bombing. Specifically, J.K. Simmons as Watertown Police Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese and Kevin Bacon as FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers, who portray their roles with enough Bostonian flair and emphasis that it becomes hard not to believe that Wahlberg is the only Bostonian of the bunch. Impressive as well is the fact that the whole movie was filmed in Massachusetts, with filming based mostly in Malden and Boston, Mass.

Berg expertly weaves story arcs within the central plot to allow the audience to grow attached to certain characters, whether it be MIT officer Sean Collier (Jake Picking) attempting to ask a girl on a date to a Zac Brown Band Concert, who was subsequently shot by Tamerlan Tsarnaev, or Dun Meng, humorously portrayed

by Jimmy O. Yang, who also attempts to find love yet is taken hostage by the Tsarnaev brothers before running away to become the unsung hero of the manhunt.

While the protagonists are portrayed in a light that has you rooting for them the whole way through, Berg is able to set up an opposing shade toward the Tsarnaev brothers, portrayed by Themo Melikidze (Tamerlan Tsarnaev) and Alex Wolff (Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.)

The tension felt amongst the audience during the Watertown firefight or the manhunt for Dzhokhar after his brother is killed could be cut with a knife. Though we are conditioned to sympathize with Dzhokhar as he is twisted by his brother’s radical ideologies, we become testament later on to the depravity of his human nature and the ability that all men have to become twisted. wwDespite the acting, Berg does a great job with both camera work and production value, which Wahlberg also contributed to. Though some scenes leave many disoriented between the grisly images and shaky camera work, the mood tenses in a way that leaves viewers on the literal edge of their seats.

Whether you consider yourself a Bostonian or an AllAmerican, “Patriot’s Day” signifies the motif of a resilient spirit that has brought us through 9/11, the Boston Marathon bombing and any future event that challenges the aura of the United States of America.

Rating: 4.25/5 Stars

Heard It Through The GrapeVINE

By Cara Lee Assistant Vine Editor

Danielle Agate is a sophomore English literature major aiming for the education program. She also has a taste for the oldies that she directly attributes to her parents’ influence. “I’ll always remember dancing to the Beatles with my mom and if I could choose to meet any musical group, it would be them. Sadly, that’s not possible,” Agate said. As she grew older, her music taste grew on her own. She owns a record player and has bought numerous records from her favorite musical era, the 1970s, and she now shares her new finds from this era with her parents. “I feel that [the 1970s] has the best of every genre. Easy listening, disco and my favorite — rock ‘n’ roll.”

Agate’s love of music does not stop with her evergrowing collection of records; in middle school she played the Viola for her school’s orchestra while also developing her love for musicals and acting. Her favorite musicals continue to be “My Fair Lady” and “Les Miserables.” Agate also has ventured out to see Paul McCartney and the Eagles in concert. “I saw Paul McCartney as a sophomore in high school. He’s a legend in the music industry and I never thought I would have a chance to see him perform! Then I saw the Eagles as a junior, before Glenn Frey died — they were absolutely incredible and played phenomenally.”

“Come on Eileen” — Dexys Midnight Runners (1982) “I just love the tune.”

“For Crying Out Loud” — Meat Loaf (1977) “The lyrics to this song are meaningful, deep and tell of heartbreak.”

“That’s Life” — Frank Sinatra (1966) “’That’s Life’ is inspiring. It talks about dealing with hardship and overcoming it. I also love Sinatra and listen to him very often. ” “Best of My Love” — Eagles (1974) “Here, the Eagles created a song that deals with relationships and their dissolution in a way that is relatable to everyone.”

“Layla” — Eric Clapton (1970) “I love this one - it’s played in a scene from one of my favorite movies, ‘Goodfellas.’”

“What’s Going On” — Marvin Gaye (1971) “The content, the impact it had on understanding the Vietnam war and racial equality and the brilliance of the score itself.”

Contributed by Danielle Agate Do you want to be featured in the GrapeVINE? Please email a list of 5-7 of your favorite songs and also a picture of yourself that we can use to vine@ fairfieldmirror.com.

Page 10

THE MIRROR | Week of January 25, 2016

The Vine

ashionably airfield

by Nicole Funaro

Think Bold for the New Year A new year is upon us and with New Year’s resolutions and a new semester also comes new spring fashion trends to look forward to.

Although 2016’s trends will surely linger for a while longer, there are a host of new styles, prints and colors to test out that will have you looking fresh well into 2017.

Khaki – When most people think of khaki, they think of a dull, taupe-colored pair of pants. However, 2017 ushers in a new era of khaki, according to ELLE magazine. From dresses for women to jackets for both guys and girls, khaki is getting a modern revamp that puts the industrial fabric to work in a much more fashionable way than ever before. What’s interesting to note is that the magazine pinpoints trenchcoats as another major trend of 2017, a double-breasted style of coat that is often made in khaki. The trench coat will be experiencing a modernization of its own that coincides with that of khaki, transforming into a jacket with exaggerated lapels, detailed belts and even long coats that invoke a duster jacket style. So it’s safe to say that khaki — and a khaki trench coat at that — will be a must-have for men and women in 2017.

Bold Prints – Prints are always in style, but this year, bolder is better. Vogue Paris forecasts that thick stripes, eye-catching florals and even graphic prints reminiscent of modern art are all expected to be major trends for 2017. The best part about this trend is that it is versatile enough for anyone to incorporate it into their existing wardrobes. To test out the trend, start slow by pairing your printed piece with something simple; for example, pair a graphic printed shirt with solid items (like jeans) or neutral items (clothing in navy, black or brown).

Once you start getting comfortable wearing bold patterns, you can start to mix patterns and prints. Just make sure that only one print is the star of the outfit, that the prints you are mixing share a similar color and that the remaining prints are small enough to not compete with your trendy bold print.

Sport Sandals – The athleisure trend is proving its staying power in spring 2017, with sport sandals making their official debut as a fashion statement, according to Vogue. But make no mistake: these aren’t your average Adidas slide sandals that we all wore to our sports practices in high school. These sport sandals can be brightly colored, heavily embellished or even have a huge platform that make them for anything but going to a sports game. Perhaps the best features of this trend are the accessibility and the comfort; a trend open to all, sport sandals provide a stylish yet comfortable alternative to include in your footwear collection.

Creative Commons/Flickr

If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to improve your style, these trends for spring 2017 may be just what you need to mark that resolution as complete.

Creative Commons/Wikimedia

An Un'doubt'ful Success

By James DellaRocca Contributing Writer

Religion is one of those controversial topics that tends to render doubt from many skeptics. Fairfield students took this idea to a new level in Theatre Fairfield’s latest production, John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt: A Parable.”

The cast and crew arrived on campus to begin rehearsing for the show during winter break. This was part of The Independent Project where the show is completely student-run and produced. The Jamie A. Hulley Arts Foundation helped fund the show.

Although the production only had four cast members, the performers were able to fill the space with their character’s personalities.

The story tells the events that occur at St. Nicholas Church and School, broken up into nine “episodes,” during the late fall and early winter of 1964. The school is currently being run by the strict Sister Aloysius, played by Shannon Kelley ‘19. She rules the school with an iron fist, holding her teachers, students and even Fr. Flynn, played by Liam Cahill ‘18, to a high moral standard.

The main conflict of the performance is between Sr. Aloysius and Fr. Flynn. Fr. Flynn wants the school to be more progressive and have the church seen as a member of the congregation’s family instead of “emissaries of Rome.” The conflict escalates when Sr. Aloysius believes Fr. Flynn to have made sexual advances on Donald Muller, a student in Sr. James’ class. Sr. James, the innocent and trusting eighth grade teacher was played by Maddie Craig ‘19. The situation heightens to the point where Sr. Aloysius has to meet with Donald’s mother, played by Elliot Harrell ‘20.

Doubt, as the namesake of the play, is a central theme throughout the play. Characters such as Fr. Flynn, Sr. Aloysius and Sr. James start to doubt their faith. However, the characters are not the only ones who doubt in the show. The audience is meant to doubt as well. Sr. Aloysius and Fr. Flynn both

try and sway the audience to believe their own side of the story. By the end of the show it is not fully revealed whether Fr. Flynn is guilty or not. After the show, cast members asked the audience if they thought that Fr. Flynn harmed the boy in some way. Members of the audience were split on whether Fr. Flynn was guilty or not. “I don’t think that he did anything to this specific kid in the story, but I do think that he did it in the past. He was scared enough of his past to leave. He left before his reputation could be ruined,” said Alyson DeRosa ‘19 The small cast size was made up for in the talent all four brought to the production.

Cahill did an excellent job as Fr. Flynn, swaying the audience back to thinking he was innocent of any wrongdoing after Sr. Aloysius tries to get him to confess. The episodes that were the most ingenuitive were of Fr. Flynn’s sermons. His sermons take up two of the nine “episodes” and are relatively short compared to the others. But in these short monologues, Cahill excelled as Fr. Flynn. Cahill speaks as if he’s been giving sermons for years, delivering them to the audience as if they were his congregation.This was a good was of interacting with the audience.

Kelley was able to instill a fear for her character into the audience. She was able to uphold her character’s sternness throughout the performance. Her holding of such a Contributed Photo rigid demeanor through the show is exemplary of her excellent acting.

A unique quality about the play as compared to Theatre Fairfield’s other performances was that all ticket proceeds from “Doubt: A Parable” were donated directly to the Catholic Charities of Fairfield County.

Despite lackluster advertising in the weeks before the show, many of the Pepsico Theatre’s seats were full during the performances. Most advertising for the show was done through the cast and crew members’ social media accounts. This lack in initial advertising for the show did not have a negative impact on the final outcome of the performance.

Theater Fairfield did an excellent job on the production and all the actors were superb in their performances.

THE MIRROR | Week of January 25, 2016

The Vine

Wine and Dine with The Vine: The Levee Pizza Kitchen

Creative Commons/Wikipedia

Inkwell Spotlight 'I'll Find Them Singing'

By John McGovern Treasurer at The Inkwell I’ve seen my fair share of sadness And of happiness on the way I’ve heard the call of the silent Growing louder every day

By Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor

To the lament of many students, last November marked the end of Old School Pizzeria’s tenure on campus. Occupying a small, cobblestone corner of the Levee, the on-campus bar, the Old School Pizzeria was a popular hangout spot due to its wide array of sandwiches and pizzas that appealed to a variety of tastes and palates. On Nov. 16, The Mirror reported that the Old School Pizzeria would be closed due to a mutual agreement between The Nauti Dolphin, who took ownership of the Old School Pizzeria in 2014 and the University.

However, on Jan. 18, Fairfield University formally announced the implementation of The Levee Pizza Kitchen, a Sodexo-operated restaurant that has taken the place of the once renowned Old School Pizzeria.

I took it upon myself, along with two staff members, to trek back to the Levee to try out The Levee Pizza Kitchen. When I entered, I had noticed no differences between the current restaurant and its former, except the fact that the menu was significantly smaller, offering a fraction of the options available last semester in terms of pizzas and grinders, which was mildly disappointing. To add insult to injury, I noticed that the meals coming out were exactly like the fare at Rob & Iggy’s at The Stag Snack Bar. Nonetheless, I played it safe and ordered a chicken parmesan grinder, after realizing I was unable to purchase individual slices of pizza, which is only available as personal pizzas and whole pies. This caused an immediate rift for me as I became aware that this would cause many students to resort to purchasing pizza from off campus vendors.

After the 15-minute wait period, which seemed a little long considering that it often only takes approximately seven minutes to order the same meal at Rob & Iggy’s, I chomped down on my grinder only to notice that it was exactly the same texture and taste of a grinder I could purchase at Rob & Iggy’s, burnt and dry.

Regardless, I knew I wouldn't be getting my mother’s hearty chicken parmesan, so I passed this sandwich off as normal fare and silently enjoyed my grinder.

As for my compatriots, they ordered a cheese pizza and mozzarella sticks, and a buffalo chicken grinder.

Unfortunately for my co-worker who ordered the buffalo chicken grinder, it was delivered as a BBQ chicken grinder and had to be returned, but effort can be noted on the staff as they gave her orders of mozzarella sticks and curly fries while she waited for her grinder, which was a genuine gesture.

However, when it came to the food, I could walk less of a distance to The Stag to receive the same food for the same price, with the only difference being the superior quality of service received at The Levee Pizza Kitchen. Also note that the Levee will stop deliveries, with only takeout and catering as options. If you’re looking for a break from the norm, The Levee Pizza Kitchen is a great spot to hang out to grab a beer and a personal pizza, but if you find yourself quick for time or just want the simplicity of the food, go to The Stag.

Stars: 2.75 out of 5

By Alicia Phaneuf Vine Editor With the New Year in full swing, English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran brought his 2016 resolution to a close. At the conclusion of his hectic and successful 2015 music career, Sheeran hoped to become less involved with social media and technology. Throughout 2015, Sheeran received numerous awards and nominations, some of which include: two Brit awards for Best Male Solo Artist and Album of the Year for “X”, three Grammy nominations, two iHeart Music Award nominations, two People’s Choice Awards for Favorite Album “X” and Favorite Male Artist.

Because Sheeran’s 2015 year was filled with hit singles, a tour for his album “X” and appearances at numerous award shows, the artist wanted to take a break from the chaos. After remaining under the radar for a year, Sheeran re-entered the social media world on Dec. 13, 2016. He posted on Instagram and Twitter an electric blue picture, hinting toward the release of a new album.

The hype continued on Jan. 1, when Sheeran uploaded a video of him with a piece of paper that read "New Music Coming Friday."

The next day, Sheeran posted a short video showing the cover design of his upcoming album entitled “” (pronounced "divide") which will be released on March 3.

Jan. 6 was an exciting and long anticipated moment for Sheeran’s fans, as the artist released two singles, "Shape of You" and "Castle on the Hill." The first, originally written for pop artist Rihanna, tells an upbeat story of the singer meeting an attractive woman at a bar, who he eventually falls in love with. The first lines read, “The club isn’t the best place to find a lover / So the bar is where I go.” Sheeran alludes to the idea that he’s not interested in the “hookup” culture found in clubs, so he and his friends go to a bar where the atmosphere allows for actual conversation to take place.

The singer then sees a woman who he hopes will talk to him.

After bonding over music at the jukebox, the two hit it off. It becomes apparent that they have a strong physical connection when the woman says, “Say, boy, let’s not talk too much / Grab on my waist and put that body on me.”

Sheeran continues to describe a night when they had sex and how “in love” he is with her body. The relationship is bumped up a notch when the two venture out on their first date. The once solely physical relationship blossoms into a romantic love story where the two are able to talk to each other for hours.

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It hits the walls and echoes Reverberating in my mind Mingling the tears and the laughter Of a soul confined And when I look out of my window To find the walls are raised I draw the blinds and find myself afraid But the birds I’ll find them chirping When the night rolls away And I look out to see the dawn approaching The streets are full of people I know each and every face From the old to the young And those not yet living They walk with quiet dignity With every footstep a bit of grace But in each of their hearts They cry for an embrace I find myself no different And I find I am afraid To break down the walls and admit my soul is yearning But the birds I’ll find them chirping When the night rolls away And I look out to see the walls weak and breaking

According to Entertainment Weekly, Sheeran wanted to show two different sides to his musical abilities and passion. His emotional song, “Castle on the Hill” contrasts to the upbeat story of “Shape of You” due to the more powerful and relatable message it holds. In “Castle on the Hill,” Sheeran reminisces on his personal experience in Suffolk, England — the place where he grew up.

Sheeran begins the song by painting a picture of his childhood, where he’s running down a hill in an attempt to outrun his brother.

He explains that he began to face larger problems as he grew up and

wishes he could return to the carefree times of his childhood — don’t we all?

“Found my heart and broke it here Made friends and lost them through the years And I’ve not seen the roaring fields in so long, I know I’ve grown But I can’t wait to go home.”

Suffolk still holds a special place in Sheeran’s heart despite the loss of early friendships. As a town where Sheeran both found love and had his heart broken, Suffolk is a place that holds many memories and meaningful emotions for the singer. He later talks about missing

the moments where he and his love would watch the sunset fall “over the castle on the hill” — a significant time in Sheeran’s life. Sheeran’s lyrics allow us to think about our own first love story and how perfect it once felt, compared to the messiness and chaos of our present-day relationships.

Later, the song talks about the rush to grow up — another relatable topic. At the age of 15, Sheeran began smoking and drinking because of his desire to grow up. He then continues to sing about his first kiss and how he doesn't think he “did it right.” Like Sheeran, the desire to act older than one actually is is common within society. This phenomenon increases pressure to perform mature actions, such as kissing someone, even if one doesn’t necessarily feel ready to do so.

Sheeran ends his song by describing the current living situations of friends and family. Some of the people he describes are doing well, some are struggling with drugs, but all are significant to him because they helped shape the person who he is today. He says, “but these people raised me,” a line that shows Sheeran’s true appreciation for these relationships.

“Castle on the Hill” is an uplifting song that causes the audience to reminisce on their past. Even though Sheeran’s story is different from our own, it mimics the same emotions and attachments people have toward their hometown and old friends.

According to Entertainment Weekly, both singles soared to the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 list with “Castle on the Hill” at No. 6 and “Shape of You” taking No. 1. Sheeran made history by being the first artist to hold two songs in the top 10 simultaneously.

Also according to Entertainment Weekly, the two songs broke records for Spotify’s First Day Streams and Spotify’s Best First Week for a Track. The two numbers totalled 88 million combined streams throughout the first week. With a combination of a Caribbean/ tropical vibe and a house party beat, "Shape of You" veers away from Sheeran’s typical compositions — showing that he has been dabbling with new music styles during his time off.

"Castle on the Hill" however, carries a fast-paced, folk-like tune that accompanies a powerful message that Sheeran fans are accustomed to hearing from his previous singles. The contrast between these two releases leaves fans wondering what vibe “"will have. Is Sheeran moving toward a more pop style? Or will the album continue to follow Sheeran’s typical unique chords and messages? Either way, fans are excited for his return to the spotlight and are waiting to see what else he has in store.

THE MIRROR | Week of January 25, 2017

Coffee Break

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Coffee Break Editor: Andrew DaRosa and Catherine Veschi

t e e

M

e h t

f f a t S

Jesse Erickson ‘17 - Editor-inChief

Andrew DaRosa ‘18 - Executive Editor What’s your favorite song lyric? “Whatever you do take care of your shoes” (“Cavern”) or “I can feel good (I feel good) about Hood.” (“Harry Hood”) Both Phish songs and both great compositions.

Who’s your favorite athlete: Brady, who else would it be? He’s a god to us massholes and if he wins this year’s Super Bowl, he will be the winningest quarterback in NFL history. Can you say G.O.A.T.?

Juliana Sansonetti ‘18 - News Editor If you could marry any celebrity, who would it be: Buster Keaton ... duh! He is the sexiest silent film star out there, after all. Though I do feel a little bad about stealing him from Eleanor.

But then again they’re both dead, so she probs won’t mind.

What’s your longest snapchat streak of all time: Who’s counting? I prefer stalking the Buzzfeed snapchat and then going back on Tumblr or Fanfiction anyway.

Allison White ‘18 - Chief Copy Editor

Favorite mixed drink: Mixing my drinks won’t help me deal with the stress of being EIC of this paper. But if you’re buying, I’ll take a double shot of tequila.

Worst college class taken: Well, I started as a communications major, then I was journalism, then marketing, then management and now as a senior, I am back to marketing. So you can assume that they were all the worst.

Catherine Veschi ‘18 - Managing Editor Favorite upcoming tennis star with no grand slam victories: My man JACK SOCK. Not only is he American but he has the coolest name ever and he has already run for president (losing only by a slight margin to Trump). There’s no reason not to love him.

What’s your favorite city: Firenze has my heart … along with many items that I forgot to pack, sigh.

What’s your favorite section to copy edit: That’s like asking a parent to pick who their favorite kid is!! Jk, it’s totally news … don’t let that go to your head, Juliana.

Best prank someone has pulled on you: A couple of cooks at the restaurant I work at called in an order for four large chocolate milkshakes and I made them without realizing they were for my co-workers. They gave me a decent sized tip so we’re on good terms now.

Alicia Phaneuf ‘19 - Vine Editor Favorite kitchen seasoning that isn’t salt or pepper: Crushed red pepper, like the spicy kind you put on pizza.

Kelley Ekert ‘17 - Online Coffee Break Editor

X-Men or Avengers: Avengers, for sure.

Favorite kind of salad dressing: Ranch, hands down.

Cara Lee ‘19 - Assistant Vine Editor Deanna Carbone ‘19 - Assistant News Editor

Favorite place on Fairfield’s campus: I don’t want to sound basic and say Einstein’s because of their iced coffee, but Einstein’s because of their iced coffee.

Favorite kind of pasta: Definitely fettuccini with alfredo (no relation to the sports editor).

Favorite sport that requires a racket: Badminton, obviously. I was a badminton tournament champion in my 11th grade gym class. Due to scheduling conflicts, I was unable to participate in the Rio Olympics.

How do you like your eggs: As scrambled as my brain get looking at a math problem and as cheesy as my puns.

Favorite Cards Against Humanity Card: “Kidnapping a barely legal human to time travel with him.”

Alfredo Torres ‘18 - Sports Editor

Lexi Thimble ‘20 - Co-Opinion Editor Favorite Shrek character: Donkey or Puss in Boots. He’s pretty rad.

If you could go pro in any sport, which one would it be: If I could go pro, I would definitely choose basketball. First off basketball is my favorite sport, but in my opinion Favorite Concert: Paul McCartney it’s also the best. It’s not like football where your team plays only once a week, in basketball you usually have 3 to 4 games a week. Anything can happen in basketball, you may be down by 15 in the fourth quarter but you can easily come back to win the game and make history. Being able to play ball alongside the best in the game against the best of Daniel Montgomery ‘19 - Assistant Sports Editor the best would be the best job in the world, did I mention that basketball is the best?!

Who’s your favorite member of the Mirror staff: I would be What’s your favorite hairstyle for yourself: Now that’s a good question especially lying if I did not say Juliana. She just gets me. since I have so many options for hairstyles. But I would have to say braids is always the way to go for me. Sometimes having all this hair gets bothersome, so braiding always What’s your favorite band: Scrantonicity makes the struggle better and fashionable.

Ariana Puzzo ‘18 - Online Editor-inChief Favorite “How I Met Your Mother” character: Barney - wait for it! - Stinson.

Biggest pet peeve: Currently my biggest pet peeve is being referred to by the leader of our country and many of his supporters as that ‘damn liberal media.’

Shana Lynch ‘17 - Online Vine Editor

Nicole Funaro ‘17 - Online News Editor

What is your favorite dessert: Tiramsu.

Who on the Mirror staff is ‘Fashionably Fairfield’: Jesse Erickson. Not only is she our fearless leader, she is also one stylish EIC. Her style is effortless and fun and reflective of who she is as a person.

What is your favorite Fairfield memory: I loved study abroad because I got to visit so many places and do so many things that I’ll never have the opportunity to experience again. Plus, I met my boyfriend Jack in London. He’s from the U.K. so he brought me to all the fun places in London I wouldn’t have been able to find on my own.

Biggest music guilty pleasure: I really love soul music! I love classic soul and R&B singers like Mary J. Blige, but I also love newcomers who deliver a fresh take on standard sounds, like Emeli Sandé, Gallant, Leon Bridges and the Suffers.

THE MIRROR | Week of January 25, 2017

Sports

SPORTS

Sports Editor: Alfredo Torres Âť sports@fairfieldmirror.com

In Case You

This Week in Sports: The Mirror Remembers

Page 13

Yordano Ventura

Missed It:

Monday, January 16th -Quinnipiac defeats Women's

R.I.P 1991-2017

Basketball, 60-55 Tuesday, January 17th -Saint Peter's defeats Men's Basketball, 69-55 Friday, January 20th

On Sunday, Jan. 22, Yordano Ventura died in the Dominican Republic.

The 25-year-old pitcher formerly of the Kansas City Royals organization died in a car crash while driving on a foggy highway in Rancho Arriba. A rising star in the MLB, Ventura won a World Series with the Royals in 2015. The righty was known for his outstanding fastball which topped out at 102 miles per hour. In his four seasons in the majors, Ventura compiled 38 wins in his 93 games started.

Ventura is survived by his wife Maria del Pilar Sangiovanni who he married before the start of the 2016 season.

-Iona defeats Men's Basketball, 96-89 -Women's Basketball defeats Niagara, 65-55 Sunday, January 22nd -Monmouth defeats Men's Basketball, 91-49 -Canisius defeats Women's Basketball, 63-49 Contributed by Creative Commons/Wikimedia

Andy Marte Upcoming This Week: Thursday, January 26th -Women's Basketball vs. Monmouth, 7 p.m.

Friday, January 27th

R.I.P 1983-2017 On the same day, former infielder Andy Marte died at 33 years old. The seven-year Major League veteran also died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic. Marte crashed into a house between the towns of San Francisco de MacorĂ­s and Pimentel.

He played one year with the Atlanta Braves followed by five seasons with the Cleveland Indians, with his last campaign coming with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Villa Tapia native hit 21 home runs in his career to go along with 99 runs batted in. Marte spent his last two professional seasons playing in the Korean Baseball Organization League.

-Women's Tennis at St. John's, 2 p.m.

Saturday, January 28th -Men's Basketball vs. Marist, 1 p.m.

Sunday, January 29th -Women's Basketball vs. Niagara, 2 p.m.

-Men's Tennis at Davidson, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, January 31st -Men's Basketball vs. Manhattan, 7 p.m.

Contributed by Creative Commons/Wikimedia

In this week's issue...

- Super Bowl LI: Brady faces off against Ryan (Page 15)

- Fairfield's Trio Looks to Lead Stags to Success (Page 15) - Burke Looks to Improve After Rookie Campaign (Page 16)

- Catching up With Riley Hellstein as Season Approaches (Page 16)

Sports

Page 14

THE MIRROR | Week of January 25, 2017

Fairfield's Finest Leading the

19.0 Points Per Game

10.4 Rebounds Per Game

Weekly 4x5 Because we have witty things to say ...

Photos by Alfredo Torres/The Mirror

Jesse Erickson, Alfredo Torres, Daniel Montgomery and Special Guest Athlete, Jake Knostman '17

What are your Super Bowl predictions?

What are your thoughts on the new Star Wars film?

How do you feel about all the construction on campus?

What are your reactions to Trump's inaugaration?

Satisfied with this year's all star starters for the NBA?

I'm a huge Pats fan - JK, I'm just

Hey Dan, I haven't seen the new

Things I'd rather discuss than my political opinions: the way Sharpies smell, how Alfredo feels about braiding his hair, how long my sushi at the Stag was in the fridge befire I ate it, why FU is better than SHU...

I swear to goodness, basketball season never ends. This means my frustration with this sport also never ends.

Super Bowl. Beer provided, just don't tell Alfredo. He gets jealous.

Since I live on da beach, today was the first time I experienced the construction. It doesn't bother me, however, it will bother me next year when I'm all graduated and stuff. #vomit

I honestly don't care who wins, I just want a good game to watch alongside my wings. Ryan has had an MVP season, but Tom is Brady so we shall see soon ...

Haven't seen the newest one yet because it's not on Netflix yet but I'm excited about the new one they just announced, Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Hate It! All of my shortcuts to class have been closed off unfortunately which makes my walking longer, and trust me the walk from the townhouses is not quick.

All I'm saying is that there's no inaugaration like an Obama inaugaration. Take care Obama, it's been real.

As long as my boy Kyrie is starting, we're all fine but hold the phone!

Russ not starting?! Really? Ya got Steph starting over Russ?! Damn, someone needs to get fired.

Matty ice takes down Brady and Belicheck cries in the post-game press conference.

Never seen any Star Wars movies, gotta get on that.

Eh it's alright, at least they are just trying to make things nicer.

Barron Trump is more fascinating than the Donald.

The Russ snub is despicable. Also thank goodness Zaza did not get the nod.

Well I'm a Seahwaks fan so I

Honestly I haven't seen it, which I'm a little bitter about because I'm a big Star Wars guy.

I love it! It's just a product of the school growing quickly. They built the stadium within the year, the new RecPlex is unbelievable. I think it's just awesome, the whole school's growing fast and beautiful.

I mean it's interesting to see the country kind of divided but hopefully it will all be pulled together better. You need to see protests such as that but also our country needs to unite.

I felt a little bad for Russ just because he's averaging a tripledouble, he should probably start the All Star Game.

Jesse Erickson trying to be a man's girl. I will use movie yet either. Does that mean Editor-in-Chief the game to drink beers with you, you're trying to take me on a date?

(Italian EIC) though.

If so, I am also free the day of the

Alfredo Torres Sports Editor

Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor

Your 2016-2017 4x5 Columnists:

Jake Knostman kind of have to root against the Men's Lacrosse Patriots. So I'm going to give it to

the Falcons but it'll be close, it'll be high scoring.

THE MIRROR | Week of January 25, 2017

Sports

Page 15

Creative Commons/Wikimedia No stranger to the big stage, four-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and his dominant New England Patriots look to fend off red-hot Matt Ryan and his soaring Atlanta Falcons on Feb. 3 at Houston.

Super Bowl LI: Brady faces off against Ryan

By Conor O'Brien Contributing Writer The matchup for Super Bowl LI has been set: the Atlanta Falcons vs. the New England Patriots. Both of these teams secured decisive victories in their conference championship games, with the Falcons defeating the Green Bay Packers 44-21 and the Patriots defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-17.

For the Falcons, this is unfamiliar territory. This is only their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history; their first appearance was a 34-19 defeat at the hands of John Elway and the Denver Broncos in 1999. For the Patriots, this is their seventh Super Bowl appearance since 2001 and their ninth overall, which is the most of any franchise all time.

The Patriots are once again led by head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, who have led the team to a total of four Super Bowl victories together. The Falcons rise has been more unexpected. This past season was Atlanta’s first time with a winning record since 2012.

Their rise can be attributed to the hiring of head coach Dan Quinn after the 2014 season, who has quickly improved their struggling defense with young players such as defensive end Vic Beasley and safety Keanu Neal. The real star of this Falcons team is QB Matt Ryan.

Ryan has been the face of the Falcons franchise since being drafted third overall in the 2008 draft. Ryan has had up and down seasons, but has always remained a solid starting QB. This year, under the guidance of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, Ryan has had a career year, finishing as a top three QB in completion percentage, touchdown passes and passing yards.

Ryan is the favorite to win league MVP at the NFL honors on Feb. 4. When it comes to the teams facing each other on the field, there are several key match ups that will decide the fate of the game.

1: Falcons receiving corp vs. the Patriots secondary. These are two of the deepest units in the entire league at their positions. The Falcons set the NFL record this season for most players to catch a TD pass with 13. The Falcons receivers are led by All-Pro Julio Jones. Since being drafted in 2010, Jones has been a force in the NFL, earning Pro Bowl trips four out of the past five seasons and First Team All-Pro nods the past two. Across from him will be the Patriots Pro Bowl corner Malcolm Butler. Butler has quickly emerged as a star defensive player in the NFL

since his late-game heroics in Super Bowl XLIX. Last week, Butler held Steelers All-Pro receiver Antonio brown to two catches for 24 yards when covering him. Supporting Butler is fellow Pro Bowler Devin McCourty along with excellent role players such as Logan Ryan, Patrick Chung and Duron Harmon. Jones is also backed by a strong supporting cast including Mohamed Sanu, Taylor Gabriel and TE Austin Hooper. The Patriots will need to contain these receivers in order to slow down the Falcons passing game.

2. Marcus Cannon vs. Vic Beasley. This matchup features two young players who have finally come into their own this season. After only recording four sacks his rookie year, Beasley has improved significantly this year, leading the NFL with 15.5 sacks. Before this year, Cannon had always been a role player on the Patriots offensive line. After Sebastian Vollmer went down with an injury in the preseason, it opened the door for Cannon to start at right tackle. Cannon responded with a phenomenal year, only surrendering a sack in one game and earning Second Team All Pro Honors. Watching these two compete will be great to watch. The Falcons will need Beasley to get to Brady if they are to win. The secret to beating the Patriots has always been to apply a great pass rush. If Canon is able to shut down Beasley, then the Falcons are in trouble.

3. Chris Hogan and Julian Edelman vs. Robert Alford and Jalen Collins.

Hogan and Edelman both turned in monster performances in the AFC Championship game. The two combined had 17 catches for 298 yards and three touchdowns. On the other side, Alford and Collins have both played well in recent weeks, containing talented receiving corps for the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers. Collins in particular has improved, filling the void left by injured starter Desmond Trufant. Hogan and Edelman present a unique challenge; both possess excellent short burst quickness, making them very hard to cover on slant and out routes. Combined with Tom Brady’s excellent quick release, the Patriots offense is a fast-paced and efficient best. Atlanta once again needs their young defenders to come up big if they are to have a chance.

This Super Bowl features two of the most prolific offenses in the game. However there still remains a huge discrepancy between the defenses with the Patriots clearly possessing the better of the two. The Patriots will be able to slow down Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense enough to come out on top with a fifth super bowl win. Patriots win 31-24.

Fairfield's Trio Looks to Lead Stags to Success

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor Of everything we know about basketball, unpredictability is the one term that defines the sport best.

On any given night, David can upset Goliath and shock the basketball world. Although the Stags are neither David nor Goliath in the rugged Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, they are for sure unpredictable.

Fairfield currently stands at 9-10 overall and 6-4 in conference play. In their 19 games played so far, they have experienced a three-game win streak, followed by a three-game losing streak, then later in the season a four-game losing streak that then gave way to a four-game win streak. It would be an understatement to say that the Stags have experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in a matter of two months.

With all the talk of streaks and erratic play aside, head coach Joe Frager has had numerous consistent performers in his 10th year on the sidelines in Fairfield. Led by the senior duo of Kelsey Carey and Casey Smith, the Stags have one of the best one-two punches in the MAAC. Carey, a dynamic forward who can score from all three levels, leads the red and white in scoring at 15.8 points per game. No slouch on the boards either, Carey is third on the squad in rebounds at 6.1 caroms per contest.

As for center Smith, the dominant post presence has produced yet another extremely consistent season to this point. Armed with a beautiful jump shot that is complimented by an array of savvy post moves, Smith is second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.9 points a night to go along with 6.6 rebounds per game.

The third musketeer that makes the Stags offense run is forward Samantha Cooper ‘18, who averages 12.1 points and a team-leading 8.4 boards each contest. Like Carey and Smith, Cooper is a well-rounded player that gives Fairfield a trio of top notch weapons.

But when the offense has struggled this year, the defense has often not gotten the stops it has needed to stay close in tight matchups. Through their last game against Canisius, a 63-49 loss on the road, the Stags have been outscored by their opponents by an average of 61.3 to 59.3. Once Fairfield becomes a consistently solid defensive team, the Stags should be able to beat anyone in the conference.

Without a doubt, the Stags have not played their best basketball yet, which leaves much room for improvement. With 10 more MAAC games to play before March rolls around, the red and white should Alfredo Torres/The Mirror soon be rounding into form as they look to peak for tournament time. Fairfield is back on the court on Senior Casey Smith (top), Samantha Cooper '18 (left) and Kelsey Carey '17 (right) look Thursday, Jan. 26 as they welcome Monmouth at 7 p.m. tip-off at George Bisacca Court in Alumni Hall. to have the Stags playing their best ball with the MAAC Tourament looming near.

SPORTS 16

@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports Week of January 25, 2017

Sports Editor: Alfredo Torres » sports@fairfieldmirror.com

fairfieldmirror.com

Contributed By Sports Information Desk After a remarkable freshman campaign that saw Burke score 46 goals and tally 63 points, the super sophomore attackman is poised to lead the Stags back to another CAA Championship game in May.

Burke '19 Looks to Improve After Successful Rookie Campaign

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor Colonial Athletic Association Co-Player of the Year. CAA Rookie of the Year. No. 2 freshman in the nation as ranked by Inside Lacrosse. These honors are just a few of the accolades attackman Colin Burke ‘19 garnered in his first campaign in the red and white just a season ago.

“It was all pretty unexpected to be honest,” Burke said. “I did not really know what to think going into my freshman year but it all turned out great for me.”

But that was 2016, and with 46 goals and 63 total points now in the books, Burke is ready to reach new heights this spring as the clear cut leader of the Stags.

“I want to keep doing what I did last year,” Burke said. “I was a little bit more of a goal scorer last year so this year I am hoping to get my assists numbers up and take the role of quarterback on offense so they will run things through me from behind the net.”

It is obvious that the Long Island native knows that much is expected of him this year.

In a matter of months in 2016, Burke vaulted himself from an unheralded freshman to one of the most talked about players in the country. With the hype comes the immense pressure to follow up his freshman season with an even better second year, but Burke is steadfast on sticking to his game and who he is as a player despite the attention.

“I am going to play the way I like to play out there,” Burke said. “I am going to be confident and hopefully I’ll continue playing well throughout my sophomore year.”

If Burke performs like Fairfield and the rest of the lacrosse world expects him to this year,

the Stags’ opponents are in grave trouble. He has recently been tabbed preseason 2017 CAA Player of the Year and Preseason Third Team All-America.

On the team front, Inside Lacrosse has slated Fairfield at No. 17 in their preseason rankings, in large part due to the emergence of Burke as a bonafide star. Burke and the Stags have swagger coming into the 2017 campaign with their leader setting the tone.

“The word is confidence,” Burke said. “If you have confidence you are going to be a good player in college lacrosse.”

Look for Burke and the Stags to start the season on the right foot on Feb. 11 as they travel to Virginia to take on the Richmond Spiders in their first game of the season.

Catching Up With Riley Hellstein as the Season Approaches

By Patrick Getz Contributing Writer

Contributed by Sports Information Desk

The Stags Women’s Lacrosse Team is looking to improve on their mediocre, 9-9 season from last year and Riley Hellstein ‘17 is ready to lead the way. She returns as Fairfield’s leading scorer with 39 goals a season ago as well as placing second on the team with 50 points.

“I’m so excited about this year, even though I am a little melancholy,” said Hellstein regarding her final season. “But still, my main goal is to end the season with a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship.”

The MAAC All-Academic is a big believer in developing the future stars of the lacrosse team. She knows how important it is to help teach the underclassmen and possibly accelerate their maturation as players. Also, she wants to display her friendliness to her teammates so she presents herself as an approachable team leader. Making a lasting impact on young players is what Hellstein wants to emphasize.

“I want to serve as a leader to this team and lead by example to the younger players because it will benefit them the most,” Hellstein said.

“Also I try to learn from the younger players and to keep an open mind so I learn new things as well.”

The Feeding Hills, Mass. native does not shy away from humbling experiences in the past. Coming off of last year’s 9-9 season, she desires to achieve great things as the Stags enter this campaign. She exuded confidence about the team, not forgetting the disappointment they endured.

“I think last year helped a lot since we came off of a MAAC Championship season from two years ago and it gave us a humbling experience,” Hellstein said. “It is not going to be like that every year. We have seen adversity and now we have experience dealing with that. We hope to rise up instead of crumbling under pressure.”

The All-MAAC Second Team recipient loves to be a team player and exhibit selflessness. She cares about her personal stats but she cares more about how the team performs as a whole. Her main wish is to see the team play well and win every game. She puts the team first and herself second.

“No matter who leads our team in goals, I really want to see this team win rather than be caught up in my personal success. I just want this team to succeed. As long as the team gets to where we need to be, I will be very happy,” said Hellstein.

As this Stags Women’s Lacrosse Team heads into the season with Hellstein leading the charge, the Stags should be excited to start the season in hopes to achieve greatness. The midfielder possesses the authority to lead a team in the right direction. Since she wants to achieve nothing less than a MAAC Championship, Stags lacrosse fans have something to cheer about and look forward to come February. Every single player is itching to start their season on the right note especially Hellstein, so she can add to her impressive resume in her final season in the red and white.