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THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper

Week of October 5, 2016

Page 15

Vol. 42 Iss. 5

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Sold Out Prez Ball Does Not Disappoint

Contributed by Gianna Llewellyn

Students danced and enjoyed the night at the 13th annual Presidential Ball, held at the Bellarmine Mansion. The event sold out with 2,300 tickets available to students.

By Samantha Moore Contributing Writer Last weekend, students kept the 13th annual Presidential Ball tradition alive by dancing the night away on Bellarmine Lawn.

Since 2003, Prez Ball has brought students and Fairfield’s president and event founder, Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J together. This year, tickets officially sold out on Sept. 29, according to an email sent out by the Fairfield University Student Association.

Freshman Katie Mullen snagged one of the 2,300 tickets in anticipation of her first Prez Ball.

“When I first came here, I heard that it was a tradition, so I thought it would be a great way to spend time with friends,” Mullen said.

Over the past 13 years, the event has seen various themes such as Great Gatsby and Hollywood Walk of Fame, but according to Molly Strang ‘18, FUSA director of programming, tradition plays a role in event planning.

“It is a tradition, so there are certain things that we like to keep the same. It’s the small little things that are tradition,” Strang said.

These returning traditions such as the finger foods and pictures with Father von Arx were accompanied by a new theme this year: a ‘50s theme, picked by FUSA Programming Coordinators for Traditional Events. After posing with the president, students could spot event decorations, such as celebrity cutouts and a record backdrop.

For Ariana Fernandez ‘18, this year’s Prez Ball was her first.

As a commuter, Fernandez experienced trouble coordinating a ride home in years past, but this year she made it work.

“I was really excited to be with my friends that I’ve known since freshman year, but then again, be with new freshmen,” Fernandez said.

Others, like Coleman Machuch ‘17, weren’t sold on this year’s Prez Ball.

“I’ve just been the last three

years and I didn’t really want to go anymore,” Machuch said.

After receiving the email notification that tickets were officially sold out due to maximum capacity, some students looked to obtain tickets on social media.

Additionally, FUSA offered an online waitlist for those searching for tickets and an opportunity to refund tickets for those no longer planning to attend.

According to Assistant Director of Student Programs, Colleen Wilson ‘11, of the 2,300 tickets sold, the freshmen class accounted for 35 percent of ticket sales, the sophomore class 21.43 percent, the junior class 14.22 percent and the senior class 18.10 percent. Student guests accounted for the remaining 11.25 percent.

Junior Jackie Hagis planned on going, but was unable to obtain a ticket.

“I felt sad,” Hagis said about not attending. “My roommate and I were looking forward to going, but I realized most of my friends

Prez Ball 2016 Ticket Sales Breakdown

Provided by Assistant Director of Student Programs Colleen Wilson ‘11.

Read Von on Page 

Fewer Liquor Violations Highlight Clery Report

By Juliana Sansonetti Assistant News Editor Sexual assault, drug abuse and domestic violence were some of the highlights of the 2016 Clery Report.

The Clery Act was signed in 1990 to require that all college campuses in the U.S. report any crimes that were committed on their campuses and that they share information regarding attempts to improve public safety.

Fairfield’s 2016 Clery Report, reporting the crimes of 2015, was released this past Saturday.

Along with including advice from the

Department of Public Safety about how to be vigilant and safe, the report also includes statistics from 2015 of how many of crimes were reported in correlation with the 2014, 2013 and 2012 data of the same incidents.

“This year’s Clery Report was what we expected, statistically speaking,” commented Assistant Director of DPS John Ritchie. “Everything seems to be running under normal conditions. There’s really not too many drastic things that we didn’t anticipate.”

Last year, the number of reported sexual offenses was four, which was down from the nine reported sexual offenses in 2014.

“The fact that the number of sexual of-

fenses went down surprises me because you hear so much about Brock Turner and other cases like his,” said Catherine Pezzella ‘17. “I heard at least three other stories like his.”

Additionally, the amount of drug abuse violations decreased.

Last year there were 22, while in 2014 there were 33.

Junior Anthony Szymonik was surprised by these statistics.

“It seems like at Fairfield, they do a good job at getting on top of that, but I still thought there would have been so many more [drug abuse violations],” said Szymonik. “It seems like the media always plays a role in

how prominent we think it is, but I guess it’s wrong.”

Ritchie spoke on the relatively new topics of stalking, dating violence and domestic violence. “[They] are now required to be in our Clery Report,” he said. “Although we started them last year, I think this is the first year they were required to be reported on.”

Ritchie was caught off guard by the number of domestic violence incidents on campus.

Ritchie explained that domestic vioRead DPS on Page 

THE MIRROR | Week of October 5, 2016

News

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DPS Not Surprised by Clery Report Results

Continued from page 

lence relationships refer “to boyfriends and girlfriends who are in a long-term relationship rather than a temporary or short-term relationship. We actually had three of those incidents on campus, which was a little surprising.”

Another change in the reporting from previous years that Ritchie commented on was the inclusion of where the crimes occurred.

The different locations included on-campus student residences, off-campus facilities and public property.

However, the biggest change in statistics

new tracking system,” explained Ritchie. “We are now able to narrow down the number of persons involved more specifically rather than generically. So now when an incident might involve numerous people, we can figure out how many people involved in a particular incident were actually involved in underage possession … The number of incidents aren’t necessarily down. We’re just able to focus in better on the number of students involved.”

However, Ritchie was disappointed by the fact that there was a hate crime on campus.

“It was a vandalism case.

Somebody wrote something offensive on a board. We would really like to see no hate crimes take place on Fairfield U. We’re number two in the northeast, right? That’s got to have some kind of meaning.”

Ritchie added that the most problematic crimes on campus were the burglaries and larcenies.

“We had 11 burglaries this year. Last year we had 10 … Larceny is at 41, which is a pretty good drop,” Richie said.

“I think one of the reasons we see a drop is because of cameras in the [Residence Halls.] It helps solve some of our problems.”

Ritchie concluded by reInformation provided by the Department of Public Safety minding students to always remain vigilant to avoid burglaries was the liquor law violations for disciplinary and larcenies from happening to them. referrals.

“Lock your door, even if you’re just going “There has been a significant decrease to the shower or using the restroom down the of liquor law violations,” explained Ritchie. hall,” he said. “At the library, don’t leave your In 2014 there were 642, while last year there laptop unattended. Don’t leave your bag or a were only 313, according to the report. wallet or a thumb drive unattended.”

“That has a direct correlation to the

Despite Controversy, Wounded Warrior Project Flourishes

By Christian Kabbas Contributing Writer Recent headlines featuring the Wounded Warrior Project were rife with talk of allegations and investigations regarding lavish spending and money misuse. However, the organization at Fairfield is thriving with one simple purpose in mind: to honor and serve veterans.

Focused on aiding injured servicemen and women in the United States, the WWP seeks to rehabilitate veterans socially, mentally, physically and financially. However, the national organization came under intense scrutiny for donating only 60 percent of their overall budget to veteran aid, according to Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator.

In January, CBS investigated the alleged misuse of the funds by the nation’s most recognized veterans’ charity. According to CBS, the WWP allocated $26 million in 2014 to luxurious travel accommodations and conferences for national board executives.

When the story surfaced, many members of the WWP’s Fairfield chapter said that the allegations were upsetting to hear.

“It has surfaced that these [allegations] have some truth to them and it’s hard to see,” said Robert Fredette ‘18, marketing co-chair. “But the WWP is taking the correct steps to get the organization back in the right direction.”

Junior Stephen Dierks, founder and president of Fairfield’s chapter, said that his communication with the national organization was strong from the beginning of the investigations.

“I have spoken to the Wounded Warrior Project multiple times to learn more about the situation and to ensure that every dollar we raise directly helps wounded veterans,” he stated.

The club raised $5,000 last year, according to Dierks. This year, they’ve added $200 to their total funds raised in the first month of the semester. Of this $5,200, 93.9 percent — or $4,885 — was donated directly to the WWP for veteran aid. The other 6.1 percent was used for the purchase of t-shirts, which were

Contributed by Aura Cristina Agudelo Rivera Last semester, students participated in Grit N’ Wit, an obstacle course hosted by the Wounded Warrior Project.

sold to members of the community. Fredette said that all other expenses for the Fairfield club are covered by a $1,000 budget allotted to them by the University’s Council of Student Organizations.

As news reports emerged, the national organization fired its top two executives and conducted a review of its financial statements from the 2013-2014 fiscal year. In a statement, the WWP said that it would implement “enhanced measures” to ensure improper money allocation and staff policies were rectified.

However, the charity contested that some of the points raised in media reports were inaccurate, namely the amount spent on programs for veterans. In their release, the WWP stated that 80.6 percent — not 60 percent — of their budget was devoted to donations.

Despite the news, the Fairfield contingent forged ahead in its efforts to make a difference.

Read Students on Page 

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THE MIRROR | Week of October 5, 2016

News

News: In the United States

By Catherine Veschi News Editor Compiled by Juliana Sansonetti Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.

Wednesday 9/28 8:57 a.m. - A prep student failed to cooperate with officers during a traffic detail. He is being referred to student conduct at Fairfield Prep.

Thursday 9/29 2:57 p.m. - A student reported the theft of a backpack from the campus shuttle bus. Anyone with any information is encouraged to talk to DPS. 9:21 p.m. - A sexual assault was reported. All parties involved have been identified and there is no ongoing threat to the campus community.

8.

2.

5.1. 3.

7.

6.

4.

Friday 9/30 1:56 p.m. - A narcotics arrest was made at Kostka Hall.

Residence Life notified DPS of the odor of possible marijuana emanating from a room. DPS investigated and as a result, one arrest was made.

Saturday 10/1 12:44 a.m. - A motor vehicle entered the checkpoint at the front gates. A DPS officer located alcohol and the officer concluded that the individual was more than likely under the influence.

12:54 a.m. - An individual lit off a fireworks display in the Quad, resulting in numerous neighbors calling 911 to report potential gunshots on campus. After the individual lit the fireworks, they ran toward the space between Campion and Loyola. Anybody with information on the individual who set off the fireworks is encouraged to come forward to DPS. 7:56 p.m. - A student in attendance at a soccer game was disrespectful toward the visiting team. The student was referred to student conduct.

Sunday 10/2 12:58 a.m. - Near Townhouses 6 block, a student became argumentative and threatened an area coordinator. The student was referred to student conduct.

2:05 a.m. - A non-student was removed from campus and asked to leave after being caught walking in the treeline behind the townhouses. The student was issued a criminal trespassing warning and his student host was referred to student conduct.

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

Jesse Erickson, Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa, Executive Editor Ariana Puzzo, Managing Editor Editors Catherine Veschi, News Juliana Sansonetti, Assistant News Kelsey Sullivan, Opinion Colleen O’Connor, Vine Brendan Zimmerman, Assistant Vine Gabriella Minos, Coffee Break Alfredo Torres, Sports Daniel Montgomery, Assistant Sports Allison White, Chief Copy Editor Gianna Saladino, Social Media Editor Online Bradley Nordstrom, Web Master Business Department Email: advertising@fairfieldmirror.com Stephanie Van Fleet, Director of Finance Madeleine Sandie, Director of Advertising 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

1. Hoboken, N.J.- A woman was killed and 100 people were injured when a commuter train plowed into the Hoboken terminal during rush hour on Sept. 29, bringing down part of the roof and scattering debris over the concourse.

5. Philadelphia, Penn.- After an unidentified man stabbed two children, including his son, and assaulted his teenage daughter and two other women on Sept. 28, the man was shot and killed by police, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said.

2. Sacramento, Calif.- A bill signed by Democratic Governor Jerry Brown on Sept. 29 will allow single-stall public restrooms in California to be open to anyone regardless of gender.

6. El Cajon, Calif.- After the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black man said to be mentally ill, mostly peaceful protests climaxed on Sept. 28 as people shouted “murder” and demanded a federal investigation of the shooting, which happened on Sept. 27.

3. New Haven, Conn.- Jeffrey Pearlman, 49, a former district sales manager at Insys Therapeutics Inc., was arrested on Sept. 29 for participating in a scheme to pay kickbacks to doctors to prescribe a drug containing the opioid fentanyl, according to U.S. prosecutors.

4. Charleston, S.C.- First grader Jacob Hall is “fighting for his life” after being shot and wounded by a 14-year-old boy accused of killing his father before he opened fire outside Townville Elementary School on Sept. 28, according to a fire chief.

7. Kansas City, Mo.- The Delta Upsilon fraternity at the University of Missouri was suspended on Sept. 27 after being accused of making racial slurs toward a group of black students, according to a statement from the university.

8. Chicago, Ill.- The Chicago Teachers Union, which represents nearly 27,000 teachers and educational support workers, set an Oct. 11 date for a possible strike. The teachers are protesting cuts that were put in place due to Chicago’s financial woes, according to Yahoo News.

News: Around the World

By Juliana Sansonetti Assistant News Editor Naples, Italy- According to NBC News, two paintings by Vincent Van Gogh that were stolen from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam in 2002 were found on Sept. 30 in Italy during a crackdown against the Naples-based Camorra crime clan. The stolen paintings that were recovered are “Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen” and “View of the Sea at Scheveningen,” which were both early works of Van Gogh, painted in the 1800s Seychelles, Africa- Two American sisters Annie Korkki, 37, and Robin Korkki, 42, were found dead on Sept. 29 in their hotel room where they were vacationing. There were no signs of injury on the women, according to NBC News.

Islamabad, Pakistan- Pakistan rejected the claim that India sent troops across the border to target suspected Pakistani militants. India claimed on Sept. 30 that troops were sent across the border to fight militants that numbered in the “double digits,” according to NBC. However, Pakistan claimed that the Indian troops were “unprovoked” when they attacked.

Tel Aviv, Israel- World leaders attended the funeral of Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Israeli President Shimon Peres on Sept. 30. Peres was 93 years old when he died on Sept. 27 after having a stroke. President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and 90 other delegates from 70 different countries attended the service

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THE MIRROR | Week of October 5, 2016

News

Von Arx’s Last Prez Ball is One to Remember Continued from page 

didn’t go. We made the best of the night and had a blast.”

Sophomore Katelyn Leahy learned of the news before she was able to purchase a ticket.

“I was kind of disappointed; I was looking forward to having a really fun night of dancing with my friends and not being able to go made me feel like I was missing out,” Leahy said.

Strang suggested that the 13 years of tradition, in addition to it being Father von Arx’s final Prez Ball, caused the high

demand in tickets. These two factors considered, Prez Ball 2016 peaked the interest of more students than the venue could support.

However, for those who managed to secure a ticket, it was their last opportunity to take the traditional Prez Ball photo with Father von Arx. At the end of this calendar year, Father von Arx will be leaving to pursue his new position as the Superior of the LaFarge House Jesuit Community in Cambridge, Mass.

In regards to behavior at the event, according to John Ritchie, Assistant

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

Director of the Department of Public Safety, five students were transported, a lower amount than previous years. Additionally, Ritchie noted a high volume of students arriving and pushing in line prior to the doors closing at 9:30 p.m.

“We are extremely disappointed with the students who arrived late for the event and the pushing that went on at the ticket collection area,” Ritchie said.

Although no injuries were reported, Ritchie said more uniformed officers may be required to control the crowd in future years.

INSTAGRAM OF THE WEEK

Andrew DaRosa/The Mirror

Students line up to take photos with President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. for the last time at the 13th annual Presidential Ball.

Students Support Veterans in Wounded Warrior Project Continued from page  Inspired by the charity’s mission, Dierks founded the Fairfield chapter in the spring of 2015. As it turns out, many others shared his inspiration.

In its inaugural year, Fairfield’s chapter amassed 211 members, making it one of the largest clubs on campus. Since the activities fair at the beginning of September, the group has added 83 new students, bringing its membership up to 294. These numbers haven’t surprised Jeremy Kaler, Associate Director of the Office of Student Engagement, who said clubs like the WWP are reflective of the University’s Jesuit identity.

“Service organizations [like the Wounded Warrior Project] serve as the backbone of our campus community,” said Kaler. “The creation of the Wounded Warrior Project chapter is just another example of what makes Fairfield, Fairfield.”

Many students who joined the Fairfield group said that they have a personal connection to the organization’s mission, making their work all the more significant.

“I have grandparents that were veterans, so that means a lot to me,” said Amanda Daniel ‘18, marketing co-chair of the club. “Being a part of something that helps them is very rewarding.”

“Everyone has a personal tie to the

military,” said Fredette. “My father was a veteran … he loved his country and he loved doing what he did. There are a lot of people who have similar stories to this that drive this cause.”

Club officials said that student engagement was the key to their success.

In its first year, the club sponsored several programs that produced sizeable turnouts from the campus community, including events ranging from “Dunk a DPS Officer” to a Veterans’ Day lecture series.

The creation of Wounded Warrior Project chapter is just another example of what makes Fairfield, Fairfield.

-Jeremy Kaler

Associate Director of the Office of Student Engagement “The student involvement in the club and at events has been through the roof and I think it’s because our mission is so important,” said Fredette.

However, some students thought that the chapter could be doing more to gain exposure on campus.

“I think that if more students knew about the goals and mission of the club, it could have a bigger member turnout and impact on campus, and for veterans,” said Emily Thomas ‘19.

“I think they’ve done a terrible job

at advertising,” said Robert McGrew ‘18.

“I don’t think enough people are going to the events to raise money. I feel like they’re not getting back the money that they put into it.”

Other students said they did not know much about the organization at all.

“Honestly, I haven’t heard much about the club,” said Jack Crowley ‘18. “I know it’s a good cause, but I just haven’t heard or seen much.”

Freshman Mike Kabai echoed these same sentiments. “I don’t know a single thing about [WWP]. I don’t even know what it is,” he said.

Fredette said that the group is going to work “harder than last year” to promote the cause. “Last year, it was about getting our name out to the public. Now it’s about solidifying a positive reputation in the Fairfield community.”

The club hosted its biggest fundraiser to date, “Grit ‘n Wit,” last semester. Dierks said that the event raised $2,500 for the charity. In addition, the club received a Fairfield University Student Association award for their efforts.

The race, which was open to the University and town community, “was a great way to show how the WWP’s mission is all-encompassing,” according to Fredette. “We all have the same goal of helping out our veterans.”

Contributed by Fairfield University Dance Team

THE MIRROR | Week of October 5, 2016

Opinion

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Editor Kelsey Sullivan » opinion@fairfieldmirror.com

Getting Opinionated with The Mirror Gender Shouldn't Get the Last Word in Debates

By Alexandra Thimble Contributing Writer

The First Presidential Debate on Sept. 26 was the first chance for candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump to bring their best to the table and show the American people what their strengths would be as president.

Unfortunately, before the debate even began there was clamoring from the media about the expectations of what Monday night would bring and Clinton got to bear the weight of these expectations because of her gender, political experience and America’s blind devotion to bipartisanship.

Hillary Clinton is the first woman to enter a debate as a candidate for presi-

dent and rather than celebrating this fact, it was instead turned into another reason for the media to try and shape her into something that she is not.

It doesn’t matter which news station you turned on before the debate; all had unnecessarily high expectations for Clinton and her upcoming performance against Trump. All these media outlets were intent on giving Clinton advice on her behavior that she never once asked for.

Their “dos and don’ts” list required her to “show levity,” “provide substance with entertainment,” “show some lightheartedness,” come across as “personable” and “authentic,” and placed special emphasis on her smiling and ability to

show warmth. At the same time, if these reporters were anything to go by, the sky would fall should she “cough” — in reference to her cover-up of campaigning with pneumonia —, “laugh with her distinctive Hillary laugh,” “shout,” “condescend” and “show contempt.”

If she had let go of any of her composure and responded to Trump in an “aggressive” manner, she would have been done for. Luckily, Clinton has had a career for many years that has involved keeping her cool around men who like to believe that she isn’t qualified enough.

Alternatively, articles with headlines like the Huffington Post’s “Debate Bar So Low For Donald Trump That If He Doesn’t Vomit, He’s Exceeded Ex-

Addiction Halts Smoke-Free Campus

By Jesse Sachs Contributing Writer Fairfield seeks to empower its students by transitioning into a tobacco-free campus. To reap the benefits, our school must prepare for the inevitable challenges. Before arriving at Fairfield, I attended University of Massachusetts Amherst and Southern Connecticut State University — two smoke free campuses — and had the privilege to witness their successes and failures.

I feel that our University going tobacco-free is praiseworthy, though only possible if the administration seeks to understand conflicting views and challenges.

On one hand, many students at UMass voluntarily obey the no-smoking policy. Alternatively, few SCSU students could bother to respect the rules. The key differentiator, here, is respect.

While UMass said, “You guys are great; we trust that you will follow our new rules,” SCSU contrasted by emphasizing, “You guys are bad; we’re going to force you to be good.” Of course, the latter adversely affected school spirit.

The first dilemma is when the policy disrespects students’ autonomy in their decision-making. While smoking is unhealthy, a smoker’s personal choice still ought to be respected.

Fairfield’s decision to ban smoking is comparable to proposals to tax soft drink purchases: both are wellintentioned, yet intrusive by forcing a choice on others’ lifestyles.

Unfortunately, smoking is a psychological need equivocal to needing to stretch after waking up.

While the psychology of smoking remains outside the scope of this article, one should definitely understand that nicotine with- drawal is an acute and excruciating process. The New York Times article title describing the psy- chology behind

Editorial Board Clowns Are No Laughing Matter Jesse Erickson Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor Ariana Puzzo Managing Editor

smoking says it all: “Nicotine – Harder to Kick …

Than Heroin.” Our University should consider how the stress of quitting disturbs the mental health and/ or academic progress of a smoker in order to courteously accommodate them.

Policy-makers also should consider the Department of Public Safety’s reputation. Currently, DPS has a positive relationship with students and are known for their professional, speedy handling of issues. Enforcing a zero-tobacco policy is a timeconsuming responsibility for DPS. Those in charge must make sure that the quality of service that DPS provides for Fairfield remains unchanged, which involves considering the other, more pressing security matters.

The issue concerns more members of our community than we may realize. All are equal in the eyes of nicotine: students, professors, dining hall staff, maintenance workers, university leaders and anyone else are equally susceptible to addiction. Some inevitably will choose not to quit.

When these smokers need their fix, they will find the nearest off-campus spot for their smoke break: in front of one of our school gates, possibly on North Benson Road or Round Hill. At SCSU and UMass Amherst, students and faculty alike frequent nearby, yet off-campus spots like these. This reality would convey a less-than-stellar image to the community.

The bottom line is that if a student forks upwards of $60,000 each year — a generous sum, indeed — in tuition and living expenses, how can the University turn around and bite the hands that feed them? To make the transition successful, it must be considerate to each smoker’s needs. The movers and shakers ought to respond strategically, handling concerns like these to reach the milestone successfully. Let us begin with the end in mind: a respectful, happy and healthy campus.

The month of October is a time for the celebration of the occult and devotion to all things pumpkin spice.

Most notably, October marks the return of Halloween, a time when we disregard the childhood warning, “Don’t talk to strangers” for the gratification of receiving candy.

However, in August, people in Greenville, S.C. seemingly kicked the festivities off early by dressing up in clown costumes and luring children into forests. More recently, Sacred Heart University students reported on Monday morning that around 12 a.m., a clown was spotted in Bridgeport.

Additionally, Fairfield’s Department of Public Safety received calls from students Monday evening that there were clowns on campus, reported the Division of Student Affairs in

an email sent to students, faculty, staff and parents. These supposed sightings are not only disturbing in nature, but are also a reminder that we cannot be too careful when we are traveling anywhere late at night.

In the same statement, the Division of Student Affairs confirmed that these incidents were pranks and that the perpetrator was identified. The email stated, “As a reminder, anyone dressed as a clown (mask or full costume) will be subject to disciplinary sanctions through the Dean of Students and may be held in violation of state law if they do so for the purpose of causing alarm or intimidation, which includes pranking friends.”

Given the dangerous context now attributed with these incidents, the three of us find comfort in knowing that DPS and Fairfield’s administra-

Creative Commons/Wikipedia.com

pectations” go to show how little criticism Trump has had to face. He just had to show up and not throw a fit on stage and he’d be fine or at least that was how the pundits saw it pre-debate.

If the genders of these two candidates were reversed, this election season would be completely different. If Clinton was a man, then her competency would be largely undisputed and she would be lauded as experienced and well-composed and wouldn’t have the media placing her every move under a microscope.

If Trump was a woman, there’s no way he’d ever have made it this far; the press would have shut him down after the first debate and he would have been the first to drop out of the race. Women can’t get away with anything because of the close scrutiny of the news media, especially in a political atmosphere, so to say Clinton was at a disadvantage from the offset would be an understatement.

In the true words of Samantha Bee, a late night comedy host who never spares tough critiques, “Hillary may not have reached out to female voters by name, but I think the experience of listening to a man who just discovered a topic on the internet three weeks ago belligerently correct a woman who has been studying said topic her entire adult life, felt very ‘Monday’ to most women.”

It has to do with political experience as well. People are expecting so little from Trump because he lacks so much in the sphere of political experience. However, Clinton has served our country on a national level for about 15 years, not to mention her charitable work while serving as first lady of Arkansas and her policy initiatives for health care and women’s rights during her two terms as first lady of the United States. Her background in politics is significantly superior to Trump’s. He has no experience in politics and has failed abysmally in many aspects of business,

tion are taking proper precautions.

More so, we hope that the community will appreciate these efforts given the potential danger of any clown sighting.

While clown sightings originated in Brookline, Mass. decades ago in 1981, the recent influx of sightings have rightfully unsettled people.

According to Inquisitr, an aggregate news and media website, it is believed that the sightings can be attributed to the upcoming re-adaptation of Stephen King’s “It.” However, if it is in fact a potential promotional tactic, it is a misguided one considering the context could be misinterpreted and sadistically reimagined.

When approached about the hoax, New Line Cinema, the producer of the newest iteration of the King classic, stated that “New Line is absolutely not involved in the rash

which is supposed to be his main selling point.

It isn’t even really about the candidates anymore to voters; they’ve thrown their lot in with the “team” of their choice and there’s such an emphasis on party bias that the candidates are almost irrelevant. It doesn’t matter that Trump is as racist, sexist and xenophobic as he is; if you’re a conservative Republican, he’s who is currently leading your party.

Bipartisanship has become stronger than any other factors when it comes to elections and in this current campaign season, it’s scary to consider how people are so tied to their parties that many are content to blindly follow an ignorant man in his pursuit of the White House Now that the first debate is over, Clinton did come out on top. She seemed to enjoy herself through many parts of the debate, especially when talking about policy, and while addressing Trump’s digs at her temperament, a true moment of irony coming from a man who launches frequent smear campaigns on Twitter against those who judge him. Her joyful laugh at his insinuation that she was unfit to lead because of her attitude was one of my absolute favorite parts of the night.

Say what you want about Clinton, but Trump does not intimidate or scare her in any way; she sees him as he is and what he is is a blustering fool who can’t help but lie more than he tells the truth.

He amuses and at most annoys her and watching her treat him with a detached professionalism that at some points crossed the border into accusatory was something great to note throughout the debate. She proved that despite the ridiculously sexist corrections to her demeanor and character that the media has tried to unload on her this week and the entire time she’s campaigned, she can take control of the narrative and more than adequately show who the more informed candidate is.

of clown sightings.” Although similar promotional stunts were conducted by films such as “Aqua Teen Hunger Force,” which caused a false terrorist situation in Boston, these acts inspire fear within the general public rather than genuine intrigue. Additionally, the stunts have scared many people who were on the receiving end of the hoax.

Regardless of whether any of the perpetrators acted with malicious intent or if they were simply looking for a cheap thrill, we should not find the acts comical. The attacks, which range from stalking to stabbing, according to Fox News, were serious enough to warrant nationwide shutdowns of schools, public parks and offices.

While the season is supposed to celebrate the inner spookiness of society, there is no justification for the way people are currently behaving.

Opinion

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THE MIRROR | Week of October 5, 2016

Phone Companies Aren't Utilizing Their Power

By Michaela Conlon Contributing Writer Cell phone companies have the technology to shut down texting while users are driving, so why aren't they implementing it?

So many accidents and deaths would be prevented if our ability to text while behind the wheel was shut down. I see no harm in companies shutting off texting while a person is driving, especially when the real harm is coming from keeping the texting feature available at all times.

Yes, many people understand that texting and driving can have serious consequences.

However, many of us continue to do it. We are constantly connected to our phones, but that split second that you look down to check the notification of a text could cost someone the rest of their life. Unfortunately for some, a warning isn’t enough to keep their hands off their phone and on the wheel, until it happens to them.

An article from the New York Times explained how a 21-year-old woman was checking her messages while driving and crashed into a vehicle, killing the driver and passenger and leaving a child paralyzed.

The driver, Ashley Kubiak now keeps her phone in the back seat. The problem is that it took the loss of two lives and the permanent damage of another for her to change. Some people do not have it in them to keep their phones out of reach, which is why phone companies need to eliminate the chances. It is al-

ready too late, too many times.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, cell phones are involved in 1.6 million auto crashes each year that cause a half million injuries and claim over 6,000 lives.

Think about how many lives would be saved if texting did not work when an individual was driving. Technology is responsible for the mess of consequences associated with texting while driving and it can get us out. Not everyone has the willpower to throw their phone

in the back seat while they drive, but there is no choice when technology shuts it down.

Many might argue that they need it in case of emergency. If there is such an emergency, then you dial 911. There is no need to have texting available while the car is moving.

Many phone companies, such as AT&T and Verizon, offer a “driving mode” setting that prevents messages while driving, but that is up to the individual to turn on. In fact, many people do not even know this setting exists and if they do, then how often are they really taking

advantage of it?

The amount of deaths and injuries due to texting and driving is significant evidence to prove that unmandated settings are not enough.

People aren’t changing their ways and it’s time for car companies and phone companies to work together and shut down texting while someone is driving. People can roll their eyes at the inconvenience, but I’m sure that those who are victims of texting and driving are wondering why the technology we have to prevent these accidents wasn’t used earlier.

Creative Commons/Wikipediacom Information provided by Edgarsnyder.com

Cruz’s Endorsement is a Grand Old Delusion

By John Hirschauer Contributing Writer Creative Commons/Ew.com

South Park Succeeds in Political Satire

By Robert Hedberg Contributing Writer “South Park” has certainly had its share of controversial episodes and jokes.

However, that is to be expected when one pushes the envelope so hard and often as they do. “South Park” is a satirical, adult cartoon centered around four young boys in a small town in Colorado, infamous for its crude language and dark, surreal humor that satirizes a wide range of topics. However, the past two seasons have drastically changed the traditional formula by implementing episode-toepisode continuity.

At the beginning of their 20th season, “South Park” focused on the presidential election. They brought back one of their old concepts used for the George W. Bush and John Kerry 2004 Presidential Election and refaced it for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The plot centers around the concept that every four years, we keep having to vote in an election between a Giant Douche and a Turd Sandwich.

The comparison is the perfect representation of our election and the choices that we have and if you truly believe that your candidate is wrongfully portrayed by this, then please read carefully.

No matter what your opinions are of Trump and his policies, at the end of the day, he is a F***ing Douche. This is shown by him interrupting Clinton at any opportunity he was given during the debate to making ridiculous claims, only to deny ever making those claims. A stable Trump presidency is a longshot at best, undeniably in terms of foreign policy.

However, his domestic policies are what draw his appeal. During my semester abroad last spring, any opportunity that a European had to ask me about Trump, they took it. People do not understand how his campaign is even possible.

Surely, all supporters of Trump can at least admit that their candidate is ignorant. If you won’t concede an ignorance of race relations, at least admit that he is ignorant of other people’s emotions such as with his “humorous” depiction of a disabled news reporter, who challenged one of Trump’s claims.

Meanwhile, if any metaphor captures the essence of Clinton, it is a Turd Sandwich. If you take a step back and look at Clinton from a broad perspective, all you see is bread. She is one of the most successful female politicians who has made a difference in all aspects of her political career.

As a first lady, senator and secretary of state, her list of accomplishments seem endless. From this angle, she almost appears appetizing. However, once you look at her from a different angle, you will find that she is full of crap.

READ MORE AT FAIRFIELDMIRROR.COM/OPINION/SOUTH-PARK-SUCCEEDS-IN-POLITICAL-SATIRE

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas recently ended his conscientious hold out surrounding his potential endorsement of Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Cruz, seen by many Republicans as a principled conservative figurehead, has left more liberal Republicans like John Kasich and Jeb Bush as the only remaining candidates from the Republican primaries not to formally endorse Trump.

It’s worth noting that Cruz’s endorsement was rather tepid and measured: “After many months of careful consideration,” Cruz detailed in a Facebook post sent out on Sept. 23, “and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump.”

Cruz’s primary reasons for the endorsement, as described in his post, were threefold: keeping the pledge he signed to back the Republican nominee, Trump’s seeming dedication to nominating a principled, originalist Supreme Court Justice and the certainty with which a Hillary Clinton-elected progressive justice would hollow out the First and Second Amendments.

Conservative radio host Glenn Beck was enraged with the move declaring, in reference to the pressure to fall in line and support Trump, that, as far as tolerance for dissenting viewpoints, “there’s no difference between the two teams anymore.”

There is a relevant distinction to draw between liberals, whose refusal to vote for Clinton stems from a notion that she is not “progressive enough,” and those on the right who feel Trump is unacceptable morally and not, foundationally, an ideological conservative.

The former is embroiled with a sort of naiveté that others in our country hold differing political persuasions, as articulated by Ross Douthat, while the latter is

a tethering idea that principle matters.

Barring all laudations or criticisms one might hold for Clinton, she does have principles, in so far as she holds a defined set of beliefs.

Those principles, while held by this author to be wrong-headed, divisive and unconstitutional, are in fact narrowly defined and ideologically consistent.

Alternatively, Trump is an amorphous figure of big government populism and nationalism and in perhaps his only consistent ideological position, openly rejects foundational conservative beliefs on trade, fiscal responsibility and the role of government.

Throughout his campaign, he has tarnished an already damaged Republican image with minority communities and acts as the embodiment of an agitprop caricature that mainstream Democrats have pilloried conservatives with for years. Trump is seen by some conservatives as a unique candidate who has necessitated a unique response of principled objection.

Meanwhile, the population of conservatives who object to Trump, but are unwilling to switch squads and pull the lever for Clinton — a la George

H. W. Bush — continues to dwindle.

Beck described this position as one that mainstream Trump-Republicans see as worthy of being “bathed in [the] blood” of a Trump loss in November.

Cruz, an ideological godfather for some on the Tea Party right, now appears to those who vehemently supported him as another domino to fall in a grand delusion of the acceptability of Trump as a candidate.

At the current moment, as a conservative with a commitment to my conscience, I cannot stomach voting for Trump, as damaging as I think a Clinton presidency would be to so many of the basic freedoms engendered in the Constitution.

Neither, of course, could I vote for Clinton, though to a fair point many conservatives say that not voting for either is a vote for Clinton. However, as the late president Ronald Reagan prophetically stated, “[F]reedom is never more than one generation from extinction.” If conservatism perverts itself enough to make Trump an acceptable candidate, we may lose the ideals that can prevent this generation from becoming the one to succumb to Reagan’s apocalyptic vision.

Creative Commons/Flickr.com

The Vine

New England

arts, entertainment, features Editor Colleen O'Connor vine@fairfieldmirror.com

Chowdafest

2016

Jesse Erickson/The Mirror Photocompilation by Colleen O'Connor/The Mirror

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THE MIRROR | Week of October 5, 2016

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Wine and Dine with The Vine: Chowdafest

By Colleen O'Connor Vine Editor Muffin tins, composting and … chowder? It’s hard to find a connection between the three if you’re not familiar with how they all fit together. As the ninth annual New England Chowdafest returned to Sherwood Island State Park in Westport on Oct. 2, the marriage of all three items occurred. Many participants carried around muffin tins to allow themselves the ability to hold multiple samples at a time. Moreover, everything within the festival was recyclable, thus providing a helping hand to the environment throughout Chowdafest.

The event was a fundraiser to help put an end to hunger, according to the Chowdafest website, and is considered to be one of the top food festivals in Connecticut every year.

Out of the 40 chowders, bisques and stews available to taste-test at the event, four were awarded best in show by the attendees for Classic New England Clam Chowder, Creative Chowder, Traditional Clam Chowder and Soup/Bisque.

Dishes ranged from a refreshing spiced chocolate bisque to a questionable turkey corn and rattlesnake chowder, as well as a wide range of dishes to fit every desire. Many were also gluten free and clearly marked as so, a plus for those like me who cannot have gluten.

Many local restaurants, like Chef ’s Table, Old Post Tavern, Crave 52 and Geronimo, brought soups to the table for the competition and did not leave empty-handed.

Chef ’s Table’s Rhode Island Clam Chowder took home third place in the Traditional Clam Chowder category after not placing on the podium last year.

Old Post Tavern also won second place in the Soup/Bisque category for their Truffled Mushroom Bisque. Their bisque was an acquired taste that only satisfied those who

enjoyed truffles, a food that I don’t particularly care for.

Shell and Bones’ New England Clam Chowder was amongst the best garnished sampling of all the various soups, but the garnish only hid the average taste of the chowder. Looking back, if the sample hadn’t had the garnish, I probably wouldn’t have thought it remarkable in the slightest. The same applies for Gaffney’s Southwest Shrimp and Corn Chowder; the garnish added more to the taste and flair of the dish than the chowder itself.

However, Harlem Yacht Club’s Manhattan Clam Chowder took the cake in my book.

The perfect ratio of broth to sustenance combined with the subtle addition of seasoning meshed better than any other soup in contention and I was amazed to find it off the leaderboard, not even mentioned in any way, shape or form.

One of the most creative, tasty chowders came from a restaurant hailing from the small town of Winooski, Vt. The Fried Seafood and Sweet Potato Chowder from Our House Bistro, though not the absolute best, was definitely in the upper echelon of chowders and its repeat first place in the Creative Chowder category was well-deserved.

Pike Place Chowder, a chain restaurant travelling all the way from Seattle, Wash., was another big winner of the festival, winning Best New England Clam Chowder for the second year in a row. Although the chowder itself was just short of perfection, the deterrent for me was its status as a chain restaurant. I felt like I was cheating the other local restaurants at the festival by even considering this chowder as one of the best in show.

A few of these soups, like Capt. Scott’s Rhode Island Clam Chowder, Geronimo’s Hatch Green Chili Stew and Sam’s American Bistro’s Spiced Chocolate Bisque were remarkably average, falling well below my

Information compiled from Food Network and Chowdafest

expectations upon first taste. They offered a refreshing change from the heavier chowders, but ultimately just didn’t have the taste appeal of other dishes.

Overall, many of my winning predictions did not hold true, but Chowdafest itself was a hidden gem once discovered and left me feeling full, yet wanting more.

Tom Wohlmacher to Bring Acoustic Renditions to Fairfield

By Alicia Phaneuf Contributing Writer What do you get when you combine James Taylor, John Mayer and an acoustic guitar? A unique assortment of music played and sung by Fairfield student, Tom Wohlmacher ‘17. Students will have the opportunity to see Wohlmacher perform live on Oct. 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Starbucks Cafe, located in the Fairfield University downtown bookstore.

In addition to being a member of the Glee Club on campus, Wohlmacher plays his guitar for the chapel choir, The Lord’s Chords, every Sunday at the 9 p.m. Mass.

He explained that his love for music began around the age of eight.

“I have specific memories of watching my dad play his acoustic and electric guitars, and I knew that was what I wanted to get into and I think his passion for it was instilled in me. He really gave me a great background and exposure to a lot of different types of music and it really just eased my transition into taking lessons; he acted as inspiration and a teacher for me,” said Wohlmacher.

The musical tastes of Wohlmacher’s father echo through his own work regarding stylistic decisions. Growing up listening to a lot of soft rock steered Wohlmacher to be attracted to artists such as James Taylor, John Mayer, Pink Floyd, Incubus and other pop and rock musicians.

While translating these pop songs to his acoustic guitar, Wohlmacher ensured that he does so in a unique fashion so as to avoid the same kind of “folksy” strumming.

“I try to incorporate different finger picking styles or different percussive strumming so that I can keep it interesting,” said Wohlmacher. “[Just] because it’s an acoustic guitar, I realize that I have to jazz it up.”

In addition to translating songs by professional artists, Wohlmacher also produces his own original music that students will be able to hear at his live performance.

Wohlmacher enjoys producing music recreationally with Ableton Live recording software and focusrite USB Audio Interface. All of his original songs that have been officially recorded can be accessed through his soundcloud account, tomWmusic95.

Even though Wohlmacher plays and records his music on his own, he primarily enjoys performing his music for an audience. Due to Wohlmacher’s passion for

performing, he hopes to have at least one live performance per month in Fairfield’s downtown bookstore.

“I like performing mainly for the potential joy and impact that it has on people,” said Wohlmacher. “It gives me a better feeling as opposed to just playing in my room by myself because I’m able to share my musical ability with people who care enough to listen.”

Contributed Photo Senior Tom Wolmacher

THE MIRROR | Week of October 5, 2016

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Album Spoiler: 'Remember Us To Life' by Regina Spektor

By Brendan Zimmerman Assistant Vine Editor Regina Spektor, a singer that continues to test the boundaries of conventional music returned to the music scene this past Friday.

The eccentric songwriter released her seventh album, “Remember Us to Life” on Sept. 30.

Four years have passed since the Russian born singer released her last album, the hit or miss “What We Saw from the Cheap Seats.” Fresh off from that break, Spektor decided to reuse some familiar tropes from her previous efforts while adding in some eclectic elements of classical music to add a new twist to her sound.

Born in the Soviet Union during the 80s, Spektor received classical piano training from her parents until they made the urgent decision to emigrate to the United States. This type of musical training, which values a considerable amount of structure and precision, has bled into the majority of her work over the years.

Spektor consistently relies solely on a piano and her voice to create ambient music and she uses the medium primarily to tell stories that analyze the ups and downs of life. Now married and with children, Spektor used her latest album to explore the new realities that come with aging as she analyzed the cruel tradeoff of youth for wisdom and experience. While these are typical themes that appear in plenty of songs,

Spektor differentiated herself from others by hiding the world-weary cynicism behind pretty pop progressions and hopeful vocals.

The first track — and the lead single — “Bleeding Heart” married the aforementioned theme of aging with orchestra, miming synths and electronic beats that

blend into an interesting mix of sounds. Her next song, “Older and Taller,” drew inspiration from The Beatles’ “Revolver,” with a beautiful mix of violins and piano that work in tandem with her soaring voice. “Grand Hotel,” with lush, symphonic production, took an outsider’s perspective on the strange lives of a collection

of employees at a hotel. However, just when each track began to sound vaguely similar, Spektor unleashed “Small Bill$,” an amalgamation of hip-hop and classical music that would not sound out of place on Lorde’s “Pure Heroine.”

The random inclusion of a totally different sounding track in the middle of her album is what Spektor is famous for: setting thematic expectations and then subverting them through a collection of random and unique songs. Her unpredictability has served her well over the years and allows for her to explore different genres and styles with ease.

After the sudden tonal shift, she eased back into a soft-spoken approach for the album’s final songs. The album closed out with a meditative, piano driven track entitled, “The Visit.”

The song allowed the emotional theme of the album to come full circle, as Spektor appeared to accept the newfound challenges and opportunities that come with getting older, all as her piano slowly faded into the sweeping sounds of a lonely violin.

Fans of Spektor will continue to appreciate her storytelling abilities — along with her trademark unpredictability — while newcomers may be intrigued by the impressive and gorgeous production that flows through “Remember Us to Life.” Following a confident return to songwriting, Spektor proved that she still has a lot to say about life and a variety of experiences.

Creative Commons/Wikipedia

Heard It Through The GrapeVINE

By Cara Lee Contributing Writer This week’s “Heard it through the GrapeVINE” spotlight is Emily Michelini ’20. Michelini’s musical career began with her elementary school’s musical productions of “Annie” and “Willy Wonka.” Falling in love with music and growing interested in its composition, she learned to read music while playing the guitar before adventuring into the world of woodwinds, finding her home behind a clarinet. “Playing music is very challenging — and very fun,” said Michelini.

Progressing far past her elementary school’s inspirational rendition of “Hot Cross Buns,” Michelini currently plays her clarinet as a member of Fairfield University’s Symphonic Orchestra. In her spare time, she enjoys serenading people from the shower, belting out lyrics in her dorm room and studying as a nursing major.

“I love music and I listen to a really random compilation of it — you should see the rest of my playlists,” said Michelini. “I love how a certain song can make a bad day better, calm you down if you’re stressed out or bring you back in time with just a few notes.”

“Just Give Me A Reason” – P!nk “I love all of [P!nk’s] music. They’re all about empowerment and never giving up and I think that’s a message everyone should take to heart. This is my favorite of hers because it got me through a rough patch in my life and reminded me that no matter what happens, it would all be OK in the end.”

“Castaway” – Zac Brown Band “I never thought I would like country, but I really love this band and this song is just about having a good time and enjoying life.”

“Closer” – The Chainsmokers (feat. Halsey) “I feel like this is everyone’s favorite song right now — and for good reason. Whenever it plays, I can’t help but belt it out, be it in the shower, car or my dorm room.”

“Dangerous” – Big Data “This is my pump-up song. Need to go to the gym? Listen to this for motivation. Something about the beat makes me feel energetic and like I can do anything.”

Contributed Photo Freshman Emily Michelini

“Clarity” – Zedd “I couldn’t tell you why I love it — but I danced and listened to it for two hours straight while getting ready for prom freshman year.”

“Man, I Feel Like a Woman” – Shania Twain “This is my guilty pleasure song — I remember listening to it and knowing all of the words when I was four and sitting in my dad’s car.”

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Creative Commons/Wikipedia

ashionably

by Nicole Funaro

airfield

Fall Trends What’s old can always be made new again and nothing is more true than when the notion is applied to fashion. Last year saw the revival of 70s trends with flare jeans and peasant tops finding their way back to the store shelves. This year, fashion is taking a trip back to the 90s, bringing back the trends that marked the youth of Fairfield students and students across the country alike. Take a trip down memory lane and rediscover some of your favorite fashion staples from the era of the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC and “Friends.”

Women’s Trends: Chokers: Nothing says the 90s like a black tattoo choker, but the traditional style is also seeing some major upgrades in the 21st century. To wear the trend in a way that still works with your modern style, try a simple black leather or velvet choker or even a wrap choker; this will make sure that your look stays current while also staying on trend. If you want to go full Spice Girls, definitely opt for the tattoo-style choker, which will bring any outfit you choose into full 90s glory.

Floral Prints: While floral prints never truly go out of style, this season is seeing the revival of small, more muted floral prints that harken back to the style of the early 90s. One of the easiest trends to wear, you can work the trend into your wardrobe through subtle accessories — like shoes or clutch purses — or in more obvious ways, like a skater-style dress or a floral top.

Men’s Trends: Plaid: Wearing a plaid button-down is so totally 90s; Joey Tribbiani from “Friends” may just call you up and ask for his look back. However, as with all trends, they can be brought into the present by incorporating some modern pieces, like a cool leather sneaker. Even looking for smaller plaids instead of large, open plaids can breathe new life into the 90s staple.

Leather Jackets: A good leather jacket always has a place in a guy’s wardrobe, but the 90s brown leather jacket is making a comeback. To bring this standard into modernity, look for deep, rich browns and a fitted silhouette; this means looking for a slim, close fit throughout the body, which will ensure that the jacket doesn’t look boxy or oversized on your frame. If you want to incorporate an extra nod to the 90s with your leather jacket look, look for a bomber-style jacket that traditionally features a collar around the neck — with no exaggerated lapels like those on a motorcycle jacket — and pockets with zipper detailing.

Both: Dr. Martens Boots If the 90s are calling your name, you’ll want to invest in a pair of Dr. Martens boots — more commonly called, “Doc Martens.” The epitome of 90s grunge fashion, these thick-soled combat-style boots come in a variety of finishes — including floral, patent and traditional leather — and will surely up your 90s style game.

Now that all of these great 90s style options are awaiting your discovery, you have no excuse not to send your style back in time by jumping on board with any of these trends.

Cooking with Colleen: Staying Healthy with Stress Creative Commons/Flickr

By Colleen O'Connor Vine Editor Every year, around the mid-term, the “crazed” look enters many students’ eyes. Work hits an all-time high as test after test gets piled onto the agenda. No matter what your major is, the work seems insurmountable and never-ending, making you question when you’ll have a few days off. Here are some tips with how to deal with the stress of school in a healthy way.

1. Make use of the RecPlex One of the best ways to reduce or cope with stress is through physical activity. The Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Recreation Complex is a great asset to the community, especially as the weather cools and running outside becomes a less desirable. In addition to all of the new equipment available for use, there are a multitude of different classes offered, ranging from core strengthening to yoga to spin. These classes all involve different levels of activity, making it nearly impossible to not find a class that fits your needs. My favorite exercise options are the spin classes offered every day and the pool for doing laps.

2. Work green vegetables into every meal The healthier you eat, the better you’ll feel. Vegetables, green vegetables in particular, provide many nutrients necessary for a healthy lifestyle.

According to Vegetarian Nutrition, a website that details various nutritional facts for foods and herbs, green vegetables, leafy ones like spinach in particular, are low in calories, have a low glycemic index and have extremely high levels of Vitamin K. Other green vegetables like broccoli could also be linked to a lower likelihood of developing eye problems such as cataracts. If these green vegetables don’t always work for you, try making a salad for dinner a few nights a week.

3. Take time for yourself Given all the stress in the air, it is necessary for you to take time for yourself, even if that means taking a breather from an all-night cram session. Relaxation can be found with a nice cup of tea and Netflix, reading a book for fun or anything else that isn’t school or work related. Adequate sleep is also a priority, as lack of sleep can be more detrimental to retaining facts and figures for your next test than not studying at all.

4. Drink more water As midterms hit and late nights become the norm, it seems like the only thing that keeps you awake and active for your morning classes is coffee. However, coffee is dehydrating, which makes drinking enough water even more important. According to MayoClinic, the recommended amount of water intake is about 13 cups for men and nine cups for women.

THE MIRROR | Week of October 5, 2016

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Creative Commons/Pixabay

Inkwell Spotlight 'Smiling Eyes'

By Maeve Nowak Contributing Writer at The Inkwell

Good 'Timing' in Faculty Performance

By James Della Rocca Contributing Writer

When your math, philosophy, religion and english professors are all in one place, students may read it as a bad sign that they could be talking about how you are performing in your courses. However, that was not the case with the Academy Players. At the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, the Academy Players put on a performance of “All in the Timing: Five Short Comedies by David Ives.” The Academy Players are a group of faculty, staff and administrators that come together to put on shows at the Quick Center.

Members of the Academy Players include: associate professor of mathematics Shawn Rafalski and his wife Andrea MacAdam, associate professor of modern languages & literature Jerelyn Johnson, professor of religious studies Paul Lakeland, dean and professor of management at the Dolan School of Business Don Gibson, professor of mathematics Stephen Sawin and his wife Lisa Sawin, and professor of philosophy Dennis Keenan. The five comedies that comprised the night were “Time Flies,” “Sure Thing,” “Foreplay, or The Art of the Fugue,” “The Goodness of Your Heart” and “Degas, C’est Moi.” The most enjoyable of the five comedies were “Time Flies” and “Sure Thing.” The premise of “Time Flies” is that two mayflies (Rafalski and Johnson) return to one of their lily pads after meeting at a party. After speaking for a while, they turn on the television and find a nature documentary on mayflies narrated by David Attenborough (Lakeland). The comedy ensues when they discover that mayflies only live for about 24 hours and that they only have a few hours left to eat, mate and breed before they die. The funniest part of the comedy was when Rafalski’s mayfly was complaining about not having enough time and a clock bongs off stage several times to signify the passing of several hours.

The comedy “Sure Thing” is about a man (Gibson) that tries to pick up a woman (MacAdam) in a coffee shop. The catch in this comedy is that whenever he messes up something that he says or turns her off, a bell rings off stage and the scene resets to the last point where their conversation was going well. The best sequence of the particular performance was when Gibson said that he had a “sort of girlfriend” and when questioned about it, he responded with “my mother,” reflecting the nervousness many people feel when trying to flirt.

The least enjoyable was “Degas, C’est Moi.” A man (Keenan) wakes up one morning and decides that he is going to be Edgar Degas, the famous French impressionist painter, for the day. He goes about his day like he would if he were Degas and is shocked when he isn’t treated like he’s the famous artist who died nearly a century ago. It was boring watching this man walk around town in shock that he is never recognized.

The players did an excellent job considering the source material they were working with, since the only enjoyable comedies were “Time Flies” and “Sure Thing.” “Foreplay, or The Art of the Fugue” and “The Goodness of Your Heart” somewhat fell flat and “Degas, C’est Moi” was not enjoyable at all. This is by no mean a slight against the players, but the scripts they were working with.

The show was enjoyable, mainly in seeing professors outside of the classroom environment. It is commendable that they were able to pull this off with the added stresses of the classes they’re teaching this semester. Their hard work paid off and the show went off without a hitch.

In rows we sit before the teachings of our professor waiting in anticipation for the freedom to dance in the sun upon the ringing bells At once we jump on the chance to depart a classroom of stuffy air and darkened light which we gladly exchange To play in the symposium of nature Where the glistenings of an affectionate sun adorn the water with it’s graces we eagerly learn The lessons of courage, joy, and adventure where we study and are tested by the challenges bestowed upon one another To dusk we run through the world from the icy tips of Everest to the luscious prairie green so that we may shriek beneath the humored heavens We laugh in the faces of adversity we howl in amusement so that free of mind we may splash amongst the immortal waves and snack on Eden’s fruits Until time has come to call for an end and lead the cause home to bed so that opportunity might bless our youthful souls to begin once again Creative Commons/Wikipedia

Creative Commons/Wikipedia

'Sully' Soars with Brilliant Acting and Directing

By Connor O'Rourke Contributing Writer “Everything is unprecedented until it happens for the first time.”

– Sully (Tom Hanks) Having lived in New York City my whole life, it's kind of expected to see the unexpected. On any given day, I could have run into the likes of Robert DeNiro — whom I’ve encountered twice — see a guy dressed as Spider-Man on a unicycle or simply see a raging Times Square Elmo yell at a naïve tourist.

When I was 11 years old, I don't think anything could have prepared me for seeing a passenger plane glide down into the Hudson River. I remember looking out of the window in my mom’s office near Columbus Circle and seeing a plane gliding down onto the river, which was inherently weird, even for New York standards. I'll never forget the somber look on everyone’s faces.

There was no way the plane could have landed safely, yet surely enough, it did. Even then, I knew that a miracle like this one had to be made into a film in some form. The event itself had Hollywood written all over it.

I watched “Sully” with high expectations and wasn't disappointed in the slightest. Tom Hanks’ characterization of Captain Sullenberger was outstanding and genuinely captured the sheer extent of his moral dilemma both during and following the water landing.

It really showed me that Sully was an unmistakably humble guy who, as a result of this act of heroism, had to quickly adapt to the spotlight, similarly to how he adapted to flying a plane after being struck by Canadian Geese. If Hanks doesn't win an Oscar for his performance, I will personally make sure that strongly worded letters go out to everyone named Oscar. Forget the Academy, we need to go to the source, lads.

In addition to Hanks’ performance, Aaron Eckhart’s portrayal of co-pilot Jeff Skiles was brilliant to say the least. If it wasn’t for Eckhart’s performance of the reassuring, grounded character that supported the perpetual moral instability Sully faces throughout the course of the film, the retelling of Flight 1549’s incredible story would not be as successful.

Of course, another key character in “Sully” was Sully’s wife, portrayed by Laura Linney. I got the sense that his wife acted into the

humble side of Sully through how she reacted to the media attention in the wake of the incident. Linney played her character in a way that acknowledged that Sully was a broken man in the aftermath of his ill-fated flight, which only helped bolster the overall narrative.

Additionally, having Clint Eastwood as the director is a bonus. I love his directing in “Jersey Boys” because he really knew how to tell the story of The Four Seasons without becoming too uprooted from reality. “Sully” maintained the same sense of reality through its inclusion of Sully’s family life, flashbacks to his days flying fighter jets and prop planes, and showing his attempts at exuding normalcy after the landing. Eastwood deconstructed the crash, its buildup and the aftermath, all in an expertly-crafted nonlinear narrative that ultimately stood out to me because of its emphatic repetition of the nature of the Hudson landing.

I'm not one to delve into camera work, but Eastwood was particularly effective in conveying the tension both during and following the river landing. I'll even admit, I was shaking because of how well the camera was angled for the landing scene. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the film and thought it was a first class act.

THE MIRROR | Week of October 5, 2016

Coffee Break

Page 12

Coffee Break Editor: Gabriella Minos

Horoscope: Which Spongebob Character Are You? Feature: Jasmine Raghunandan South Asian Student Association

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

(March 21 – April 19)

(April 20 – May 20)

(May 21 – June 20)

Gary the Snail – “Meow”

Mr. Krabs – “I loved that dollar.

I loved it like a brother. Me and that dollar went everywhere together.”

Plankton – “Come on, SpongeBob, join me and we’ll be rich and powerful until I eventually betray you!”

CANCER

(June 21 – July 22) Squidward Tentacles – “What are those neanderthals up to?

Don’t they know I’m busy spoiling myself.”

LEO

(July 23 – Aug. 22) Larry – “You know, SpongeBob, the babes and the big chair are great, but the best part is knowing that you’re the only thing standing between these good people and a watery grave. That’s what it’s all about. Their lives are in your hands now ‘cause I have a date with the tanning booth.“

LIBRA

SCORPIO

(Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)

(Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)

Patrick Starfish – “You know, I WUMBO, you wumbo, he she me, WUMBO … wumbology, the study of wumbo! It’s first grade, Spongebob!”

Karen – “Don’t get so worked up again, Plankton. I just mopped the floors.”

VIRGO

(Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)

Contributed by Jasmine Raghunandan

Pearl – “Oh, he’s next door. Boys don’t appreciate the sophistication of tea parties. Right, Mr. Stuffy?”

Major: English (Concentration in Creative Writing) and Asian Studies Minor: Visual Arts Fun Fact: I am actually quite a clumsy person despite how composed I may look Where are you from?: The Bronx, N.Y.; Raised in Bridgeport, Conn.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)

SpongeBob SquarePants – “Well, it’s no secret that the best thing about a secret is secretly telling someone your secret, thereby, secretly adding another secret to their secret collection of secrets ... secretly.”

Favorite place to get sushi: No place is better than Japan Best hangout spot in Fairfield: Southside Cafe at Faber Hall Einstein’s order: Everything bagel, sliced and toasted with butter and a hot cup of coffee

Favorite quote: “A person who talks to themselves is actually a genius.” – Anonymous

Favorite book: “Sweetbitter” by Stephanie Danler Best place to study: The library, computer lab

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)

(January 20 – February 18)

(February 19 – March 20)

Mrs. Puff – “Fighting? I won’t take any of that! That’s it!

Spongebob, I sentence you and your friend ... to detention!”

Sandy Cheeks – “SpongeBob, don’t you worry about me. I can take care of myself. After all, who’s the strongest critter in Bikini Bottom?”

Fred – “MY LEG!”

Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world?

Well, I’ve already lived in Japan so India is next.

Pet peeves: When people walk onto the rug in my room with shoes on and when people constantly message me for homework advice.

What is your favorite event South Asian Student Association puts on?

Flavors of Asia

Creative Commons/Google

Weekly Pick-Me-Ups

Fairfield students helping to make the best of Hump Day

Weirdest SASA experience

How I learned Henna. I actually started because I joined SASA. Former president Damini Patel saw that I knew how to draw, so she threw Henna at me and said, “Learn!”

What is the funniest memory that you have or story that you have heard at Fairfield?

I had a “Staged Intervention.” My friends Josh Singleton ‘18 and Chris Gutierrez ‘19 saw me with my second cup of coffee for the day, at 8 p.m. mind you, and I was planning on studying for another four hours into the night.

Chris took my coffee and walked away so I went after him, but Josh held me back.

I broke free and begged him for my coffee, but he would not give it back. I cussed him out and went right back upstairs and made myself another cup of coffee and proceeded to study — failed intervention, folks.

If you could be anyone, who would you be?

Myself five years ago; we grow up too fast and high school was the simplest time of my life. Also, why would I want to be anyone else aside from myself?

What Fairfield tradition will you miss the most when you graduate?

President’s Ball — I say this on my tours, but President’s Ball is the excuse I have to dress up like it’s prom night once again and dance with my friends without any care of what else is going on in life. I can just let loose with my friends. It matters most because this will be the last time before we all have to buckle down and reality hits — we are seniors.

Sophomore Bronwyn Kelly

Senior Marc Lee

Contributed Photo

Gabriella Minos/The Mirror

How many countries have you visited or would you like to visit?

I have visited Italy, Canada and Japan, as well as several Caribbean islands. I would love to continue to travel to India, England, South Korea and more. I just love traveling in general.

How about favorite disney character?

Stitch

THE MIRROR | Week of October 5, 2016

Sports

SPORTS

Sports Editor: Alfredo Torres » sports@fairfieldmirror.com

In Case You

This Week in Sports: October Stag Stars

Page 13

Missed It:

Wednesday, September 28th -Siena defeats Men's Soccer, 2-1 -Quinnipiac defeats Women's Soccer, 2-1 -Volleyball defeats Marist, 3-1

Friday, September 30th -Hofstra defeats Field Hockey, 6-5

Saturday, October 1st

-Women's Soccer defeats Iona, 1-0 -Volleyball defeats Niagara, 3-0

Sunday, October 2nd -Providence defeats Field Hockey, 3-2 -Volleyball defeats Canisius 3-0

Photo Contributed by the Sports Information Desk

Sophomore Caitlin Gilligan was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 4 after making 10 saves in her collegiate debut against the Providence Friars in a 3-2 loss on Sunday. Gilligan is the first Stag to win the award since goalkeeper Caitlin Bennett ‘17 took home the honor on Sept.

29, 2015. Gilligan looks to continue her strong play in net when Fairfield begins MAAC play this Friday when they welcome the Rider Broncos to University Field for a 4 p.m. start. Currently, the Stags stand at 1-10 on the season, but conference play should give them the chance to consistently reach the win column once again.

Men's Soccer: Angus Hastings '18 Junior Angus Hastings headed home the game-winning goal in overtime on Oct. 1 to push the Stags past Iona 1-0. After a beautiful curving cross in from Diego Casielles ‘19, Hastings darted through the box and redirected the ball into the back of the net past the Gaels goalkeeper for the win. This was Hastings first goal in a Fairfield uniform since joining the program in the fall of 2014. A star defender for the Stags, Hastings was named to the College Soccer News AllFreshman Team in his rookie year before being tabbed as a Second Team All-MAAC selection in his sophomore campaign. Hastings and the Stags look for their second consecutive victory when they take on St. Peter’s today at 3 p.m. in Jersey City, N.J.

Upcoming This Week: Wednesday, October 5th -Women's Soccer vs. St. Peter's, 11 a.m.

-Men's Soccer at St. Peter's, 3 p.m.

-Women's Tennis at Providence, 4 p.m.

-Volleyball at Siena, 7 p.m.

Friday, October 7th -Field Hockey vs. Rider, 4 p.m.

Saturday, October 8th -Men's Cross Country at NEICAAA Championship, All Day -Women's Cross Country at NEICAAA Championship, All Day -Rowing at Head of the Housatonic, All Day -Volleyball at Quinnipiac, 1 p.m.

-Men's Soccer vs. Marist, 7 p.m.

-Women's Soccer at Marist, 7 p.m.

Sunday, October 9th -Field Hockey vs. Villanova, 12 p.m.

Photo Contributed by the Sports Information Desk

Volleyball Wins Eighth Straight

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall served as the setting for yet another dominating performance from the Stags volleyball team as they cruised to a 3-0 victory over conference rival Canisius on Oct. 2 to give them their eighth straight win. Fairfield started hot and jumped on the Golden Eagles early, never looking back in a resounding 25-12, 25-13, 25-19 triumph.

It was an impressive allaround performance from the Stags on the afternoon as they continuously attacked the vulnerable Golden Eagle defense, finishing with an astounding 45 kills on 31.7 percent hitting. Junior Megan Theiller led the offensive effort, ham-

mering home 18 kills with the help of her talented teammates.

“I would not be able to do what I did without them,” Theiller said. “We came out strong on defense, our libero was awesome and they just helped me do it all today.”

Defense was certainly a strong suit for the Stags on Sunday as they had six team blocks to go along with a remarkable 50 digs on the back end. Theiller and Mallory Bechtold ‘19 combined for 30 digs with 11 and 19 respectively. Canisius only managed 20 kills while compiling 20 errors as Fairfield’s tall front line either blocked or altered many intended Golden Eagle spikes.

The Stags did most of their damage in the first two sets with Theiller posting 15 kills,

Skyler Day ‘19 tallying eight kills and Megan Sullivan ‘17 chipping in five kills. Fairfield also had all four of their service aces in the first two frames. Having a comfortable lead already under their belt, the third set enabled head coach Todd Kress to rest some of his starters and give the younger players some valuable experience.

Kress was happy with the result, but knows that the team must do better if they are going to extend their win streak further.

“We played solid volleyball today,” Kress said. “We distributed the ball well and I thought Theiller had a really good day. With that said, we played too many loose points and our intensity was not where it needed to be.”

In this week's issue...

The Stags begin a threegame road trip today when they head to Albany to take on the Siena Saints before they match up with fellow Nutmeg state rival and co-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference leader Quinnipiac on Saturday in a battle of conference unbeatens. After a bout with Sacred Heart on the following Wednesday, they return to Alumni Hall on Oct. 15 when Siena comes to Fairfield.

When reflecting upon the game Kress added, “This team has a lot to give. If we give everything on every point, we are pretty tough to beat.”

We will find out in the coming weeks if the Stags can continue their hot play and really hit their stride as they enter the dog days of MAAC play.

- Baseball to Ring in Season with Improvements (Page 14) - Q&A: A Lap with XC Seniors (Page 15)

- Stags Drop Another Heartbreaker to Providence (Page 16)

THE MIRROR | Week of October 5, 2016

Sports

Page 14

Baseball to Ring in Season with New Improvements

By Amy McDonough Contributing Writer

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Fairfield baseball is looking foward to beginning their 2017 campaign in their lavish new digs. The Stags are cruising into the new season with more accomodating bleachers and a completely refurbished locker room.

By Patrick Getz Contributing Writer Immediately after the conclusion of the baseball season last summer, Fairfield began the process of renovating the bleachers and clubhouses for the Alumni Diamond baseball field.

Even though they did not renovate the field itself, it is an upgrade from what fans and players previously experienced. Fairfield planned the renovation for three years and all of the funding for the overhaul came at the right time as the Stags are coming off a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship.

Fans are excited about the bleacher restoration since they will now feel as though they are at a professional baseball game.

“Just the facility and the stadium is probably the best facility in the MAAC,” said head coach Bill Currier.

He believed that the new facilities can help prospective players decide on playing at Fairfield as opposed to other schools. “With this type of

education, we want to complete that circle of a great place for a kid to come to school and play baseball, not just a place to go to school,” said Currier.

“The locker rooms are even more personable because the players are there before practice, after practice and that’s where the team bonding grows. You need to have that,” Currier added.

When the University proceeded to renovate the baseball field, the general consensus was that the improvement was much needed. These improvements to the bleachers will please fans as the athletic director aimed to make the stadium more fanfriendly and enjoyable.

“The minute the stands were taken down, there was a 100 percent improvement on the facility,” said athletic director Eugene Doris, who is now entering his 23rd year at the helm.

“I think the program is headed in the right direction and I think when a kid comes in, sees the facilities and sees what kind of education you’re going to get, you have the triple-header

to get it done,” Doris added.

Members of the Fairfield baseball team also agreed that more fans will come out and support Fairfield with the updated fan section. “These new bleachers will get people to come back out and support the team, which will be very nice,” said relief pitcher Mike Bonaiuto ‘18.

Even students were aware that the bleachers needed to be replaced so that it is a beneficial project for everyone to enjoy. “Those bleachers needed to be changed,” said Sean Ahern ‘19. Sophomore Michael Koenitzer commented on last year’s bleachers saying that “sitting at games just was not enjoyable.”

Given all of the improvements for Fairfield’s baseball team, everyone including alumni and students have something to be excited about this upcoming spring. The Stags revealed their new digs this morning when they hosted Scout Day, but will officially start the season on March 21 as St. John’s comes into town for Fairfield’s first home game.

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

Mike Bonaiuto '17 Baseball

Jesse Erickson, Alfredo Torres, Daniel Montgomery and Guest Athlete of the Week, Mike Bonaiuto '17

Any plans for Columbus Day weekend?

Do you enjoy clowns?

Yanks out, Mets in. Are you excited for the MLB playoffs?

Kim K was robbed this weekend, can Kanye protect her in the future?

On the field and suddenly he sees

Oh my god! Creed (Dan) will be able to eat with his mom again!

I wish everyone on campus would stop calling DPS on me. This is just how I look after a Wednesday night and I hadn't rode the Stag in a while.

I have needed to cry for an entire week, so I'm hoping the Sox win and I break down into hysterics and you think it's because I'm happy, but it's really just because LIFE, MAN.

So much for being a God ...

the unicorn gave him magical concussion fixing medicine and I'm way too tired right now.

Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor

Your 2016-2017 4x5 Columnists:

Tom Brady is back this weekend, what are your expectations for his return?

Jesse Erickson a unicorn. He becomes distracted Editor-in-Chief and runs into the unicorn and (Italian EIC) then he has a bad concussion, but

Alfredo Torres Sports Editor

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Brand new lockers, multiple flat screen televisions and several comfortable couches provide the Stags with some of the best facilities in the MAAC.

As for my mom, she'll be in Jamaica but jokes on her ... it's hurricane season, baby.

As long as he doesn't play any teams from New York I'm good, but welcome back to the GOAT.

Hoping to catch up on sleep

Don't like clowns, but not scared of them either, so if I see one near me, you best believe he's going down.

Man, just a real heartbreaker that the Yankees didn't make it, but no worries. Next year will be our time with the Baby Bombers.

Kim K's butt is so big that Kanye has too much to save.

He breaks his leg on the first play from scrimmage.

Enjoying some nice home cooked meals.

Yes, very much so.

I'm looking forward to seeing the Cubs make the World Series then lose.

Kanye can do anything he puts his mind to.

100 touchdowns!

Nah, nothing good for that one.

I am terrified of the clowns! I hope nobody is allowed to dress up as a clown.

I'm incredibly excited for the Red Sox.

I think so. I think Kanye can pay somebody incredibly strong or well-trained to protect her.

THE MIRROR | Week of October 5, 2016

Sports

Page 15

Stag Spotlight: Women's Soccer's Melanie Hingher '20

By Amy McDonough Contributing Writer For high school athletes aspiring to play their sport at the collegiate level, most can only dream of being recruited out of a sea of talented competitors. That dream became a reality for Melanie Hingher ‘20 when Fairfield recruited her for not only one, but two Division I sports.

If you’re lucky enough to get recruited, then your next big decision is which college to play for, if you’re good enough to get multiple offers. However, Hingher had a different decision to make — basketball or soccer? Although it was a toss up, ultimately soccer won. “I played soccer all my life, so I couldn’t really see myself not playing it anymore,” Hingher said.

The former New York State Tournament MVP helped lead her team to new heights at Massapequa High School, where the team snagged three consecutive state titles. Coming off of this impressive track record, the transition from high school sports to college sports was “not too crazy,” Hingher said. “It’s a lot faster, and the girls are stronger and faster,” she added. Even so, Hingher seems to be adjusting accordingly as she has started every game this season.

When it came to deciding on a college, Hingher’s mother, Sue urged her to look at Siena College, where Sue once played for the soccer team. “I looked there and it was nice, but it wasn’t my fit and I didn’t want to go there if my mom

Photo Contributed by the Sports Information Desk

went there and my sister went there,” said Hingher. Wanting to pave her own path, Hingher chose Fairfield. “I was looking at schools in the MAAC and this campus is just like no other, so that helped my decision a lot,” she explained.

Despite their constant hard work, the Fairfield women’s

soccer team has somewhat struggled to start out the season.

However, the 6-foot-1-inch defender is definitely no stranger to success, so she knows that the team will be able to turn it around. “We play really well and hard in practice against each other, and we like to challenge ourselves, so I think that if we keep working at our hardest eventually it will turn around and it’ll start going our way,” Hingher said.

The Stags have only had four home games thus far, which could have an impact on their level of play. “[At Fairfield] we have fans that support us and that gives us momentum, so being on the road more has been different because every field’s different — like playing from grass to turf is kind of hard, but we’re getting used to it,” Hingher said.

Back in high school, Hingher led her team to the state tournament where she scored two goals in 75 seconds during the Class AA Southeast Regional in 2016, bringing the final score to 3-0 against West Islip.

Additionally, Hingher recently reached a milestone in her collegiate career when she scored her first goal in a game against Quinnipiac University, where the Stags fell short to the Bobcats, 2-1 on Sept. 28.

Although the team lost, Hingher asserted that “it was a good feeling.” She added, “It made the loss less bad because [the goal] was an exciting thing, but obviously it stinks that we lost, but it was a good feeling. Hopefully more to come.”

Given Hingher’s track record, scoring more goals won’t be a question of if, but when and just how many.

Q&A: A Lap With XC Seniors

Contributed by Sports Information Desk Seniors Sam Daly and Stef Vickers look to finish their cross country careers strong in the red and white. Both Daly and Vickers will lead their teams down to Florida for the MAAC Championships in late October.

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor Q: Both of you are in the middle of your senior cross country seasons; how has Fairfield helped you grow as a person academically and athletically over the past three years?

SD: I know academically I have definitely grown since freshman year with all the resources they provide here at the Walsh Athletic Center. The study hall and the tutoring really goes a long way toward helping you to be the best student you can be. Being a student-athlete, you put student first, so the athletic department tries really hard to make sure you succeed in school, as well as athletics.

SV: I agree with Sam with all that he just said. I think personally each year as a student-athlete I have improved academically, which has been really good. I think the structure of the team and having a set routine and schedule everyday with practice and everything helped with that.

Q: Each of you have had some great highlights to this point during your running careers, what is one moment in particular that sticks out to you?

SD: For me it was coming in freshman year and running in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference conference championship race. It was not necessarily one of my best performances, but it was the most satisfying performance I’ve ever had. Coming into that year, we had such a great team and I look back on all the seniors that guided me and set the bar in terms of where they wanted to take this program and their vision became my vision.

So being able to race alongside them and finish in third place

was huge. It was special to run with the seniors and come in and contribute as a freshman.

SV: I would say freshman year for me too was a very memorable year for me. We had a great group of seniors that were really good leaders and we had a strong season. Sophomore and junior years were a little bit of a struggle for me with the stress fractures and injuries and iron deficiencies, so hopefully this year I will end on a good note again like I did in freshman year.

Q: Coach Rickert has been with you through most of your college career on the course, what kind of effect has he made on your journey at Fairfield?

SD: Coach Rickert has a good background in running, so when he took over after my freshman year he smoothed out my rough edges and I really developed well as a runner under him. I think I have a personal record every season and I have been able to run faster and faster every year, so his philosophy on coaching and his training methods have helped me and the guys as well as the girls team progress every year.

SV: Coach Rickert has been a really good coach for us. He definitely is very involved with the team and everything he teaches us makes us stronger runners and teammates out there.

Q: You both have had siblings play sports here at Fairfield; Sam, your brother now as a sophomore on the XC team and Stef with your sister who was on the lacrosse team for three years and is now a senior. How does having a sibling playing a Division I sport here at Fairfield help you to be at your best?

SD: It is definitely competitive between me and my brother.

When we go home and I don't beat him in a race, I will defi-

nitely hear about it from my parents and my family, so I try to stay in front of him as much as possible. It is always nice having someone to train with during the summer and in off times, so we help push each other when we are having tough days. It's really healthy competition.

SV: It was certainly a bonding experience for us to be on sports teams here. We would both go to each other's games and show support for one another at each game, so it was really nice to have her here.

Q: MAAC Championships are approaching; what are your team expectations for the race?

SD: For the guys, it is almost a lock that Iona will win, so we are just going to try to place ourselves like we did as freshmen when we got third place. It has always been a goal for us seniors to get back to that placing. Individually, I just want to place as high as I can to help my team score as low as possible.

SV: On the girl’s side, the teams within reach of ours would probably be Canisius, Siena and Manhattan, so as a team our goal is to finish in front of those three teams.

Q: Including track and field in the spring, do you have any specific goals you have set out to accomplish before you hang up the spikes?

SD: I just want to soak up every moment and enjoy the journey and if I PR or not or if I run fast or not comes secondary to setting an example for the younger kids who are coming up.

SV: I want to give it my all in every race and focus on the strategy of each race because we are never going to have this opportunity again to race at a Division I level.

@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports Week of October 5, 2016

fairfieldmirror.com

SPORTS 16 Sports Editor: Alfredo Torres » sports@fairfieldmirror.com

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Senior Julie De Pauew (top) chases down a Friar attacker. Graduate student Hannah Pike (left) finished the game with a goal; her third of the season. Senior Maclaine Matties (right) waits for a pass to come her way.

Stags Drop Another Heartbreaker to Providence

By Alfredo Torres Sports Editor

F

airfield’s field hockey team dropped another nail biter on Oct. 2 when the Providence College Friars edged the Stags 3-2.

The Stags have now dropped their seventh consecutive game and second consecutive one point loss pushing their record to a lowly 1-10.

When asked about the game, head coach Jackie Kane said, “The game could have gone either way; we made some adjustments hoping that would be what we needed to get our win, but we just made some crucial mistakes at times.”

The Stags started the game on the right foot as they scored the game’s first goal 13 minutes into the start of the game.

Sophomore Kaley McMullen scored her third goal of the season off a penalty corner. McMullen threw the ball into play, find-

ing Jaclyn Gallagher ‘18 who sent a shot that connected with the stick of McMullen for an early 1-0 lead.

Eight minutes after Fairfield scored, the Friars would answer with a goal of their own, tying the game at one. Both teams would remain tied at one as the first half came to an end.

The Friars would jump out on top to start the second half with their second goal of the game to take a 2-1 lead when Megan Hamilton found teammate Sylvia Miller in the center of the circle.

Just as the Stags have done all season, they battled back and responded with a goal of their own just four minutes after Providence took the lead.

Senior Julie de Paeuw passed the ball from the left corner to the center of the box where graduate student Hannah Pike found the ball and shot it past Providence’s goalkeeper to tie the game 2-2.

"Hannah had set a goal for herself to shoot from the top of the circle and she scored and that

was great," said Kane.

Only Pike and McMullen knocked down goals for Fairfield in the contest against the Friars.

When asked about her teams goals, Kane said, "They were doing their jobs, that's their jobs.

And if they are on the forward line they are supposed to score and they did their job."

The rest of the half would see both teams battling to knock down the potential game-winning goal. Having less than 10 minutes remaining in the game, the Friars would do just that as they knocked the game’s final goal to seal a 3-2 win for Providence.

For the Stags, Caitlin Gilligan ‘19 made her first career start and finished the game with a career high 10 saves. Kane, who had some words to share about Gilligan’s performance, said, “That was her first career start; it’s difficult to step in, but she rocked it.”

Kane added, “Her multi saves is what impressed me the most. She had the opportunity to save more

than one shot and she did really well; I’m really proud of her.”

The Stags will be back in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play for the first time this season when they host Rider on Oct. 7.

When asked about what needs to be done for the Stags to bounce back, Kane said, “We have to find the belief and attitude that we

can win this game because we can. We’ve had a really difficult non-conference schedule; I certainly did not expect to be 1-10.

I think the girls are feeling a little defeated, but they need to pull each other out and get ready for Rider. I’m glad we’re at home for our first MAAC game.”

"I certainly did not expect to be 1-10. I think the girls are feeling a little defeated, but they need to pull each other out and get ready for Rider.

I’m glad we’re at home for our first MAAC game.”

-Head Coach Jackie Kane