1/29/2009

Women's basketball upsets No. 20 Marist

Stags now riding four-game win streak after victories over Marist and Manhattan, Lowenthal named MAAC POW for the second week in a row. See p. 20 for story.

WEEK OF January

WWW.FAIRFIELDMIRROR.COM

29, 2009

The independent student newspaper of Fairfield University

Vol. 34, Iss. 16- 20 pages FREE - Take one

Inside:

Commentary

"Finding diversity all around us" p. 7

Campus Life

"Early Learning Center" p. 9

Entertainment

Just-Us

New sophomore intentional community to open next semester Annie Rooney

by

"Just-Us" for Justice.

The diversity themed living community for sophomores, presently located on the first floor of Kostka is being relocated and reinvented: A Cait Leist/ The Mirror new living opportunity will be From Jes-Res to Just-Us: The Jesuit Residence is being transformed into another living and learning introduced to Fairfield Uni- community in the same vein as Loyola. This community will focus on social justice and diversity. versity in September 2009.

"The building is nice, but I especially like that it's secluded," states Inside: The "Just-Us" community will have the Jarrod DePrado '12, who attended the recent Just-Us Open House.

Editorial advantage of living in the newly renovated buildAny sophomore student is eligible to live in the new residential p. 7 ing, presently known to Fairfield University as college. Upwards of 120 students in the class of 2012 will be accepted the St. Ignatius House. and moved in by next semester. These students will have access to The present Jesuit community now lives facilities no other dormitory on campus offer, not even the Ignatian comfortably in this residence. Located across from the Quick Center Residential College in Loyola Hall. entrance, a hidden dirt path connects this building to the rest of the Services include large and spacious common areas, kitchens and campus. Future construction plans aim to reorient the entrance so lounges on each floor and its own cafeteria providing a continental Just-Us residents are noticeably welcomed onto the campus community. Some students actually prefer the forest-like surrounding.

See "New" on p. 5

by

High tide

Lily Norton

Water pipe break in Dolan washes out C&NS

After a water pipe burst on Jan. 20, 2009 in Dolan Commons, Computer and Networking Services has been forced to move to

"Oscar 2009 nominations" p. 11

Sports

"Double trouble" p. 20

Water is wet: A burst pipe flooded the Dolan Commons last week.

Just click it! www.fairfieldmirror.com

other locations across campus.

The repairs that affect C&NS are expected to take approximately 2-3 weeks, according to an e-mail sent to the Fairfield community

by James Estrada, vice president for information services.

At the time of the flood, about 40 student computers were suspected of being held at the C&NS office.

Some student computers were damaged, but as compensation, some were told that they would be replaced.

"C&NS told me that they were pretty sure my hard drive was unaffected, but if it was, they would buy me a new computer," said Jack McNamara '10, a resident of Dolan Hall and also the Associate News Editor for The Mirror, who had brought his laptop there to be repaired a few days before the flood.

C&NS Director Don Adams was unavailable for comment at the time of publication. Other C&NS supervisors were not available or had no comment.

David Frassinelli, vice president and director of facilities management, will be Peter Caty/The Mirror

See "Change" on p. 2

Check out video highlights Read The Mirror online as Breaking news and of Fairfield Peace Festival an electronic paper. Click on exclusive online online. e-Mirror on the top bar. features.

2 January 29, 2009

PAGE 2

News

The

Mirror

... where we're praying for snow by the time this paper comes out.

Bull riding comes to Bridgeport

Jesuit R undup

News from the 27 other Jesuit colleges in the U.S. by

Courtney Kern

Boston College New football coach hired Sixty-one-year-old Frank 'Spaz' Spaziani was named the head coach of Boston College football on Tuesday, Jan. 20. At the Yawkey Athletic Center press conference on Tuesday, Spaziani was excited to finally be announced head coach after 12 years of being the assistant, "If you talk to every coach at every school, we all basically say the same things. I've been at a couple of schools, but here it is just different. I am fully committed to making this football program a source of pride for this University and everyone who cares about it."

He worked as the team's defensive coordinator for ten years and in those years his squad was ranked in the top ten of seven different categories in the 2008 season. Such honors include leading all teams with pass interceptions. Spaziani played defensive end for Joe Paterno at Penn State University. Spaziani is taking over for head coach Jeff Jagodzinski who was fired for interviewing with the Jets.

Source: The Boston College Chronicle

Loyola New Orleans Students form peer-to-peer market Three students at Loyola New Orleans created a peer-to-peer market that is now proving to be competition for its school's bookstore. This option, instead of buying expensive books at the bookstore, is comprised of ads for books, notes and study guides on the Web site called Loomagoo. These three students got the idea for the Web site after needing to spend their money formerly used for school books on evacuating during Hurricane Gustav. It started around Thanksgiving and now has more than 150 users.

One of the founders, junior Don Shaw mentioned, "Professors support the posting of books and notes as a better way for Loyola students to share information and connect with each other." The founders have seen a more than $120 savings in comparing the bookstore and Web site price. They are currently having a citywide book drive through Loomagoo to give back to area public schools.

Source: The Maroon

San Francisco Endowment falls 27.8 percent Loyola Marymount is being affected by the current recession. Its endowment, staff employment and budget are particularly affected. In May 2008, the University's endowment was estimated to be $396 million, but in October 2008 it dropped 27.8 percent, to $286 million.

Thomas Fleming, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer noted, "We are in this time where endowments have dropped substantially because of the market."

The University has hired less and less new staff members because of this financial crisis. In addition to cutting back the amount of new professors, LMU is considering more closely its major construction plans in order to save money..

Source: Los Angeles Loyolan

Jon Ollwerther/The Mirror

Ride 'em: Professional Bull Riding came to the Arena at Harbor Yard on Saturday and Sunday. For more, see p. 8, "No Bull: Cowboys mosey on in to Bridgeport" by Tom Cleary.

Change in locations for Dolan offices (currently a student computer lab).

managing the renovation project.

In the meantime, if students have computer and networking problems, they can call C&NS at ext. 4069 or offices are in these temporary locations:

•

•

The Help Desk is now located in the Library (Room 317, on the upper level).

Most staff in C&NS will move into some of the Group Study Rooms in the upper level of the Library. The technicians will move to the Library.

•

•

The Student Help Desk will move to DMH 149

The C&NS networking staff will move into BNW GR-4.

Warm up by

Alexandra Gross

Three-day forum calls for student-community dialogue on climate present and future

In the midst of the frigid temperatures and winter storms, Fairfield University will be home to heated discussion next week as part of its first Climate Week, a threeday forum on climate change dialogue and solutions.

The University event – Tuesday, Feb. 3 through Thursday, Feb. 5 – will include panel discussions with leading policy experts, state representatives, University faculty and student environmental leaders, who will discuss topics related to energy use and other climaterelated issues.

"This is not a formal planning meeting but a discussion as a community to understand and define our responsibilities toward combating climate change," said David Downie, University chair of the Program on the Environment and former director of the Global Roundtable on Climate Change.

The week's events fit in with National Teach-In, held across the U.S. and Canada on Feb. 5, 2009, that "supports an emerging, intergenerational movement of students and citizens demanding clean energy solutions to global warming." The event is meant to correlate with the crucial first 100 days of the new Obama administration, according to organization's Web site.

Students can view the film "Six Degrees Could Change the World," which explores the consequences of rising global temperatures, from 6-8 p.m. in the Library's Multimedia Room. After the Tuesday, Feb. 3 viewing, students can discuss the film and possibly policy options with Downie.

"Many university-aged students are really starting to internalize that climate change is a defining [issue], if not the defining issue of our generation," said Director of the Connecticut Clean Energy Campus Program Jacqueline Rowland, a panelist in the Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009 discussion "Confronting Climate Change What Should Fairfield University Do?" The Fairfield-based discussion, held from 6-8 p.m. in the Barone Campus Center Mezzanine, will address what Fairfield is currently doing to combat climate change and it's obligations under the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, a pledge to measure and reduce institutional greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to Downie, Rowland and other Fairfield administrators, members of the Student Environmental Association (SEA) and the Green Campus Initiative (GCI) will provide student perspectives as part of the panel at the Wednesday discussion.

SEA President Dana August '11 expressed that students are a definite part of the success of the Commitment, and encourages students to participate in these discussions and activities.

"Students should go [Climate Week] because faculty and staff have been working for years trying to get the University to care about climate change and our carbon footprint," said August. "We are finally being taken seriously, and if we want this trend to continue, we need to continue support.

"We are hoping for standing room only, to show the

See "Climate" on p. 3

News

www.fairfieldmirror.com

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MLK Celebration, Dogwoods moved off campus, Sodexho works toward enviromental sustainability

MLK Celebration:

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." - Martin Luther King Jr.

Let freedom ring: Scott Duncan '09, left, and Bradley Fay '12, right, prepare to sing at the LaFarge Convocation. The convocation featured performances from the Glee Club and speeches from FUSA President Jeffrey Seiser '10, Spencer Thibedeau '10 and Darryl Brackeen Jr. '10. The keynote speaker was Rosemary E. Kilkenny, Georgetown's first Vice President for Institutional Diversity.

Honors were presented to Kilkenny and former Fairfield President Rev. William McInnes, S.J. Martin Luther King Day was celebrated over three days including a multifaith celebration of diversity and a peace festive with student musical performances.

by

January 29, 2009

Peter Caty/The Mirror

FUSA Senate announces Dogwood location change

Christopher Haliskoe

Dogwoods moved on campus For years Alumni Hall has played host to venues such as concerts and basketball games. But this year it will see a new occupant: Dogwoods.

The spring semiformal, which in the past has been held at a nearby hotel, will be placed on campus to increase the turnout and convenience, similar to that of the fall semester Presidential Ball.

The fact that the event would be moved to campus was brought up by one FUSA Senator during the Sunday meeting and confirmed by another. Many senators were surprised by the change.

Senator Kelly Young '10 asked if Senate members could discuss the issue and possible argue the location change.

Senate Chair Dan Lamendola said he would look into the matter further but he did state that the Senate controls the budget of FUSA programming.

Last year, the dance cost students $30 and transportation was provided. FUSA budgeted for the attendance of 450 students but were only able to sell tickets to 200 students.

In a press release issued by the FUSA Senate, Lamendola said the reasoning behind the move dealt mainly with the travel, which is a 45-minute commute one way.

There will be beer and wine served at the event, but liquor is still up for debate.

Lamendola met with Elissa Carroll to discuss where hard liquor could be present and concluded that a hard liquor license could be obtain through Sodexo. FUSA Programmers are not looking to take that route, according to the press release.

Dogwoods, originally a campus event, was moved offcampus about seven or eight years ago. FUSA Programming wishes to move the event back to campus and structure it into Spring Weekend.

Sodexo sells students on recent actions of "sustainability"

Contributed Photo

Dancing the night away: Dogwoods is moving from an off-campus hotel to Alumni Hall this year in an effort to increase turnout.

In a presentation to the FUSA Senate, Sodexo Sales Executive Joseph Cuticelli told senators about Sodexo's goals to make its production part of the global effort for environmental sustainability.

"We talk about making everyday better not just for the students we serve but for the world," said Cuticelli.

According to Cuticelli, Sodexo has tried to lower its us-

age of water and shorten the miles in which food travels.

Sodexo is the 26th largest employer in the United States providing services at 36,600 locations. It provides service to other New England schools including Wesleyan, Bentley, and University of New Haven.

As the Senators listened to the talk many expressed the concerns for the way that Sodexo was handling certain items in regards to managing their dinning room.

"We build sustainability by investing in our people," said Cuticelli.

Associate Vice-President of Student Affairs Jim Fitzpatrick, the on-campus liaison for Sodexo said that the when the students created a takeover of Bellarmine for the rights of Prichard workers, the school used the Sodexo contract as an example. The contract has been used by many different organizations in the area as an example for a long time now.

FUSA to negotiate new constitution With a new FUSA constitution on the horizon, FUSA Senators were faced with tough questions that could determine the future of their organization.

Lamendola said, "There has been much discussion as to the number of Senators that we should have."

He presented three possibilities: 10, seven or five Senators per class. The senators debated the issue by weighing the prestige that less seats would bring, compared with the manpower that more seats would enable.

Lamendola also met with Student Court Chief Justice Alexandra Giorzi and FUSA President Jeff Seiser, to discuss the future of student court.

FUSA will discuss these possible changes to its constitution in forthcoming weeks.

Climate Week to bring in "head honchos" of climate politics Continued from p. 2

head honchos of Fairfield University, and, ultimately, the state of Connecticut, that we really care about and see the necessity of change and progress," she said.

One of these "head honchos" is Connecticut State Senator John McKinney, a leader in Connecticut climate policy. McKinney will lead the culminating panel discussion, "Critical Days: Setting Priorities for Connecticut and U.S. Climate Policy." The forum, held on Thursday, Feb. 5 in the Oak Room from 6-8 p.m, will discuss current and prospective local, state and national policy options.

Another Climate Week panelist Bob Wall, the director of energy market initiatives at the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, said that these events will allow the students and

community members to become knowledgeable on climate issues and their impact.

"The most important thing is that each of us can make a huge difference, no matter how much or little you choose to do, but we all must be well-informed," he said.

Besides awareness on the global environmental crises, Galen Vinter '09, senior leader of the GCI, hopes students will recognize the importance of these events on both an immediate and global scale.

"First, we must eradicate the idea that climate change is propaganda," he said.

"Second, we need to get campus-wide participation in a discussion since this issue affects us all. Finally, we must think strategically and creatively as to how to do our part in this world crisis."

All of the Climate Week events - Feb.3-Feb.5 - are free and open to the public.

4 January 29, 2009

News

Campus crime beat:

The

Mirror

The

All quiet on the Fairfield front

by

Daniel Leit達o

Monday, Jan. 26 4:37 p.m. A parking violation turned into a disorderly conduct citation. The student was referred to student conduct.

5:41 p.m. The area coordinator on duty reported graffiti in an elevator in Dolan. The situation was reported to the maintenance staff.

Friday, Jan. 23 2:51 a.m. Public Safety recovered a wallet that contained a fake ID. The student was referred to student conduct.

10:38 p.m. Public Safety assisted Residence Life with a narcotics violation in Kostka and Claver. The students were referred to student conduct.

Sunday, Jan. 25 1:37 a.m. A student received a disorderly conduct citation and was referred to student conduct.

Tuesday, Jan. 27 11:51 a.m. Public Safety observed a motor vehicle accident and identified the parties involved.

Neither party wished to pursue a complaint.

Alexandra Gross EDITOR IN CHIEF Tom Cleary MANAGING EDITOR Lily Norton ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR

The Print Edition News Department Phone Number (203) 256-6600 Editor in Chief Phone Number (203) 256-6529 EDITORS

NEWS ..........................................................Chris Simmons COMMENTARY....................................Veronica Florentino ENTERTAINMENT.............................................JP Porretta CAMPUS LIFE.............................................Meghan Schelzi SPORTS.........................................................Keith Connors PHOTOGRAPHY................................................Peter Caty MULTIMEDIA..............................................Jon Ollwerther ASSOCIATE NEWS....................................Jack McNamara.

ASSISTANT EDITORS

3

NEWS...........................................................Mikaela Tierney COMMENTARY.......................................Elizabeth Connors ENTERTAINMENT...................................Whitney Douglas SPORTS..........................................................Courtney Kern CAMPUS LIFE.................................................Traci Dantoni STAFF WRITER...................................Christopher Haliskoe CARTOONIST..................................................Timo Wilson

BCC 104 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Rory Bernier, Val Bertolami, Megan Smith, Drew Garland, Annie Rooney, Kristen McManus, Janelle Cecco, Sarah Frank, Andrew Chapin

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Go to www.fairfieldmirror.com to place your ad for as low as $10!

MIRROR BE A MIRROR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE. The Advertising Director of The Mirror is seeking undergraduate students to grow and service the Mirror's advertising clientele. Responsibilities include site visits and phone correspondence for ad sales. Work on your own schedule. Paid position, commission of sales. Freshmen and sophomores preferred. Contact Christopher Haliskoe at chaliskoe.gmail.com.

PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED. The Photography Editors are looking for students interested in taking pictures. Minimal experience required.

Contact one of the Photography Editors for more information at mirrorphotos@gmail.com WRITERS WANTED. Section editors are looking for students to write on a weekly basis. E-mail Assistant Managing Editor Lily Norton at lily.m.norton@gmail.com FOR RENT Newer Beach House 2008-2009 School Year 3 Bedroom Great Waterviews 203-464-1516

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Pls call Sarah at 203.256.9436

Michelle Morrison MANAGING EDITOR EDITORS

ONLINE PROJECTS MANAGER.........................Joe Cefoli BLOG EDITOR...............................................Annie Rooney PODCAST EDITOR.......................................Andoni Flores

Business Department Phone Number: (203) 256-6594 Fax Number: (203) 254-4162 Christopher Haliskoe MANAGING DIRECTOR OPERATIONS MANAGER.............Christopher Tsombanos ASSOCIATE MANAGERS...Christina Tobia, Keith Connors, Kristian Petric, Julie Whittaker ADVISER

Fran Silverman TO CONTACT US:

MAIL: 1073 North Benson Road, Box AA, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT 06824 OFFICE: Barone Campus Center Room 104 MEETINGS: Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Mirror Office E-MAIL: General: TheMirror.feedback@gmail.com Advertising: Mirrormanagement@gmail.com

The Mirror strives to report accurately in all its stories. If you encounter any errors, please contact Editor in Chief Alexandra Gross at (203) 256-6529.

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Letter from the blog editor, Olympia Dukakis speaks at Open Visions, Continued coverage of new community

Letter from the blog editor:

Olympia Dukakis tells life story, emphasizes the importance of the arts

The Mirror goes blogging by

January 29, 2009

Annie Rooney

What is a blog?

How many of you get all of your news from a newspaper rather than a television channel or the Internet?

How many of you write letters instead of e-mailing?

How many of you strictly use phone calls instead of shooting your friend a quick text message?

The world today is rapidly moving toward cyberspace.

Almost everything is done through the advances made in technology and there is no sight of reversing it. We can communicate without talking and writing and we can access any kind of information at the drop of a hat.

With that said, I'll propose my last question. How many of you write in a journal? This is the slowest changing phenomenon where now our personal diaries can be accessed and viewed on the World Wide Web. As scary as it is, it's a reality.

Blogger.com is a Web site that promotes and gives individual's the ability to create and maintain a blog. It has a tutorial resource where it explains to the user what a blog is and how to use it. "Since Blogger was launched in 1999, blogs have reshaped the web, impacted politics, shaken up journalism, and enabled millions of people to have a voice and connect with others. And we're pretty sure the whole thing is just getting started."

That statement from Blogger.com could not be more accurate. Our very own Mirror has its official blog; did you know that? Society is starting to realize how important and useful blogs are becoming.

From a news standpoint "the blog is the ideal format to deliver information in a breaking news situation," according to Robert Niles. His OJR blog post found at http://www.ojr. org/ojr/stories/070516niles/ goes into explicit detail over the efficiency and rapidness blogs encompass.

Whether it's a breaking news story or a personal entry, blogs are creating yet another way of proficient communication. Read the blog found at http://thefairfieldmirror.blogspot. com for Fairfield University news and commentary. There are blogs discussing Barone Eats, the Beach Life and Stag experiences while studying abroad. The information on this blog may impact you as a student enrolled here at Fairfield; therefore it goes without saying don't wait until Wednesday afternoon for the weekly newspaper.

Check out the The Mirror blog today!

Dukakis by

Christina Tobia

Although it was quiet Sunday afternoon for much of Fairfield's campus, the Quick Center was full of life as Academy-award winning actress Olympia Dukakis spoke to a full audience of University students, faculty, and members of the community.

As part of the Open VISIONS Forum, the actor, director, producer, teacher and activist discussed her own journey through life as well as the crucial role the arts play in many peoples' lives.

Program Director and Art History Professor Phillip Eliasoph commenced the event, followed by Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, the managing director of the Westport Country Playhouse, who introduced Dukakis.

Dukakis began by talking about her upbringing and how she became a student of the arts. The daughter of Greek immigrants involved in community theater, Dukakis was introduced to the arts at an early age. In one of her parents' productions, Dukakis depicted 'the spirit of young Greece,' and released caged doves into the audience.

"As I released them, they pooped all over my head. I guess I should have known then what show business was!" she said.

Throughout her speech and the ensuing discussion with Eliasoph and Martha LoMonaco, a professor

of Visual and Performing Arts and director of Theatre Fairfield, Dukakis used her distinctive candor and wry humor to recount more of her limitless experiences in work and in her personal life with her husband, Louis Zorich, and her three children.

Dukakis discussed grappling with multiple stereotypes throughout her life. While beginning her journey as an actress, Dukakis was subjected to constant rejection due to her strong Greek name. Then, when she decided to move to New Jersey to establish The Whole Theatre Company in Montclair, people raised doubts about a woman running the company. A proponent of community theater, Dukakis said she had always yearned to become a part of the community in which she lived. However, Dukakis was questioned by many who felt that by moving her career and life to New Jersey she was straying from an actor's traditional path to success, perceived to be through the more commercialized New York City Theater set.

Most recently, Dukakis has dealt with ageism and the effect it has had on the roles available to her and other American actresses as they age.

"All the roles are going to the Brits," Dukakis said candidly.

This topic incited reaction from the audience during the questionand-answer section and sparked conversations after the event.

As Laura Leigh Neville '11 said,

"It's an interesting topic I hadn't thought about until Miss Dukakis brought it up. All the great parts of older women in movies have gone to British women. Look at Judi Dench and Helen Mirren."

Despite the challenges and antagonism she has encountered, Dukakis sees being an actress as her true calling. Dukakis has gained much acclaim for her roles in the major motion pictures, including "Steel Magnolias," "In the Land of Women," and "Moonstruck," for which she won the BAFTA, Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Although she has received much commendation for her moving film roles, Dukakis feels that she has personally grown the most through her work in theater.

"I continue to look to theater for that sense of self in me," she said.

It is her own personal journey in theater and her life that has led Dukakis to become an advocate for several issues, including the importance of community nonprofit theaters, womens' rights and political issues.

During this Open Visions Forum, Dukakis candidly discussed the role her personal and career choices have had on her growth as an actor, mother, activist and human being.

Just as the movie and theater roles she has made her own throughout her extensive career enchant audiences, Dukakis's discussion for the Open Visions Forum was no exception, captivating the Fairfield University community.

New community to focus on social justice and diversity Continued from p. 5

breakfast and Sodexo dinner daily.

"The idea of falling out of bed and grabbing something to eat," is what the community wants to promote to further connect the residents, according to Joe DeFeo. DeFeo is the spokesman in charge of the community project. As the director of Living and Learning, he cannot stress enough how "fantastic" this opportunity is.

"Residential Colleges are becoming a main focus at Fairfield University. When people interested in similar things come together, but bring their own diversity, a meaningful community is created," he said.

Along with many living advantages, exclusive opportunities are created for the diversity residents. The students of the JustUs community are required to enroll in a diversity-focused core class. DeFeo also mentions that 24-hour-long retreats will be necessary, "designed to build a community and reflect on its pieces."

A monthly dinner series will be organized to merge diverse students and faculty.

The "round table" style dinners aim to engage

questions of vocation with a diversity focus. www.fairfield.edu/llc and any further ques- tuned to the Fairfield University Web site for Mentoring is also going to be available, so tions can be answered at ext. 4025. Stay an online tour of the new building. students can reflect on their lives inside and outside the classroom.

Passion Projects will be highly promoted. Here, residents can engage in multiple service opportunities. Some of the projects include helping an agency to become sustainable over time.

This new residential college, in keeping with others, will follow the motto: "Live in community, act in the world."

With the establishment of this intentional community, the exploration of social justice and diversity themes will become yet another proactive opportunity the University offers to shape the future.

Applications are being accepted now.

The official deadline for priority is Feb. 13, but late submissions will still be considered. The application consists of a personal information section as well as a 2-3 page essay. With the essay, administrators can "get to know you and you motivation for participating in the Just-Us Residential Caitlin Leist/The Mirror College," according to the application.

From S.J.s to Sophs: The old Jesuit Residence will be converted into quad style living arApplications can be accessed via rangements for sophomores interested in social justice.

6 January 29, 2009

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The

Mirror

Students across the country struggle to find a path after college

Life after college: Student reflects future struggles

T erry M c C oy (U-W ire /T he a job.

Daily Iowan) At long last, after enduring eight harrowing years of head scratching and barely suppressed curses, I've finally discovered something I have in common with George W. Bush.

We're both unemployed.

That's right, Georgie. You and me, we're like one big happy family now. Brothers in unemployment, comrades in destitution.

And don't worry, No. 43, I know what you're already wondering: "Do y'all still let unemployed folk own guns?"

The answer is yes. A most definite yes.

Without that clause, Alabama would've bristled with indignation and seceded many, many winters ago.

But even lacking the small-munition arsenal surely at W's disposal -- and despite the fact that the most valuable thing I own is probably my plasma -- I've managed to make unemployment manageable. Wait, scratch that. I've managed to make joblessness for myself everything I always thought and hoped it could be: totally cool. Think all those hipsters at the Mill, but cooler. (Editor's note: Nothing is cooler than the hipsters at the Mill. Nothing.)

So how can you be just like me? It's simple really.

Do. Absolutely.

Nothing.

Second, and I really can't stress this enough, you need to actively not look for

Actively not look for a job, you ask? Yes. Actively not look for a job; it's harder than you may think. Don't be duped; resist. Those people out there, they actually want to employ you. The fools!

Ready yourself. This shan't be easy.

You must endure fits of self-doubt, cash fallouts and I'm pretty sure, erectile dysfunction. (Commercials coming soon to meet the swelling ranks of the unemployed: A ruggedly handsome man gets out of red pickup truck, clutching football. "When I lost my job months ago, I never thought it would lead to E.D. Let me tell you about ExtenZe." Man throws football to buddy; it's a perfect spiral.)

For a brief moment a week or so ago, I buckled and broke my rule, or "fell off the wagon," as the workaholic somewhere deep down would call it. I went looking for a job, preferably employment at some downtown bar. This ended disastrously.

Obstacle numero uno: I am, the last time I checked, a male. Usually, it ain't a bad gig being a guy. For one, I can write my name in the snow and not give birth. But when looking for employment at a bar, being a guy is an inescapable handicap.

"No bro, no dudes are getting hired here," one neckless door guy informed me mournfully.

Obstacle numero dos: I have zero bar experience. It used to be that my newspaper acumen failed to impress just the women at the bars, now's it's failing to impress the actual bars.

Obstacle numero tres: Animal Planet just

picked up and is airing constantly "Planet Earth," that nature show that brazenly takes the viewer to the heart of Africa or some

trivialize the plight of these people.

Because, after all, I have it pretty easy.

My parents, God bless them -- and their wallets -- were kind enough to take care of most of my schooling bills, freeing me of much of that pesky student debt.

This is unusual. The average college student in the United States emerges from the annals of academia with more than $20,000 in tuition debt, according to the Washington-based U.S. Public Interest Research Group. For them, unemployment isn't so easy. For the middle-aged man with two kids and a mortgage, unemployment isn't so easy.

For all the reporters I know who've lost their jobs in the last year because of dwindling revenues at newspapers and the greed of people such as Chicago real-estate tycoon Sam Zell, the owner of the Tribune Co. and a man who had no idea how to run a news organization -- unemployment isn't so easy.

One year ago at this time, roughly 64,000 people in Iowa's nonfarm indusContributed Photo tries were without jobs, according to Recently unemployed: George Bush recently Iowa Workforce Development statistics joined the ranks of the unemployed. released late last month. Today, that figure has risen 12.5 percent and hovers other mythical made-up place. How are we around 72,000. Nationally, 7.2 percent of the possibly expected to venture out to look for country's populace were jobless in December, employment when TV history is being made reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. practically every hour?

For almost all these people, unemployStill, let's be serious. Joblessness is a very ment isn't so easy. serious problem facing not just the United But if there's any consolation in this States but all those other places as well on mess: Off now at his Texas ranch and quickly "Planet Earth." And this column, with its receding into the obscurity of U.S. history, rather serendipitous joking, isn't meant to George W. Bush is among the unemployed.

Commentary

Editorial

Editor: Veronica Florentino

January 29, 2009

7

www.fairfieldmirror.com

Noah's ark reaches Dolan

Editorial Board Alexandra Gross - Editor in Chief Tom Cleary - Managing Editor Lily Norton - Assistant Managing Editor Veronica Florentino - Commentary Editor Chris Simmons- News Editor

Just-Us

"Live in community, act in the world."

Contributing to the strategic plan of the University, the class of 2012 has the unique opportunity to be the first class ever to participate in the newest Living/Learning Community, the Just-Us Residential College, housed in the former Jesuit Residence.

The Just-Us residence, focused on social justice and diversity, provides sophomores with an alternative to the Ignatian Residential College. While the Ignatian program promotes Ignatian reflection, answering the question "Who am I," the Just-Us community will be promoting Jesuit service ideals, answering "How can I make a difference here, now?"

The projected program allows 140 sophomores, who are committed to community service and social justice, to go beyond the small community service groups at Campus Ministry and live with a group of individuals concerned with life outside of Fairfield County. The program is not inherently religious, but should attract students of all faiths, races and socioeconomic backgrounds who want to do something to help the Fairfield community and beyond.

'Just-Us' may be a play on the word 'justice,' but the projects could already find creating a feeling of exclusion in those who will not be involved in, and maybe rejected from, the program. And, although the program will be promoting the idea of a tight-knit community, members may find themselves to be isolated from other Fairfield University students and experiences because of the distance of the converted Jesuit Residence facility from other residence halls on campus.

Just-Us needs to clarify the ideals they are promoting.

Because diversity is one of the two main objections of the program, it should spend a great deal of time explaining that the program caters to concepts beyond race. In reality, we view diversity to go beyond standard definitions to include and promote diversity of culture, opinions, ideals, sexuality, religions, languages and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Cura personalis is a concept frequently alluded to by the University. The Ignatian program has succeeded in bringing a new level of "the whole person" to its participants. Living and Learning floors are a good idea, but the activity among the residents is not as engaging as the Ignatian program in Loyola Hall.

Following in Ignatian's footsteps, Just-Us gives more sophomores the opportunity to get involved in a Living and Learning community that appeals to their interests.

In reference to the flood in Dolan House (see p. 1, "High Tide: Water pipe break in Dolan washes out C& NS"), Noah and his ark try to save the computers from water damage at Computer and Networking Services. E-mail your thoughts to mirror.comment@gmail.com.

Finding diversity all around us

Christopher Haliskoe

As the financial climate worsens the schools begins a long fight to see it's financial diversity upheld. From "But I am a white straight male."

Fnancial Aid all the way to Student Affairs and CounselThat is the prepared statement I have kept in my ing Services all hands are on deck in the fight to kept back pocket ever since I arrived at Fairfield my fresh- those who are less privileged here at Fairfield. man year. I pulled it out whenever the conversation of When I realized that financial aid was involved, diversity came up.

I thought about where else these efforts had reached.

It wasn't until last week that I realized just how That is when the fact that this initiative had reached the important it is for white males to become a large part ends of campus came into my mind. of this effort.

The best way to see the school's true belief in diverThe University community proved this very well sity is in the academic courses and events offered over last week when it organized the annual Martin Luther the course of the year. World and U.S. Diversity courses King Convocation. As anticipated, the convocation was highlight the actually development of learning, but it is different this year in light of a new president. in the discussion classes that student and professor really Barack Obama's mesbegin to see just how sage of change has clearly people coming from landed on the shores of different environment the Long Island Sound, as can interact.

Fairfield is expressing its And Fairfield's own versions of change. efforts have paid off.

But the reason for Many students change has more to do don't realize how with a cultural maturity much the school has then anything else. Socichanged because ety has now become tired they are only here for of hatred. four years. If you go There is a newfound back just to the turn sense of community based of the millennium, not only the forced inteyou would hear stories gration of students placed about people saying into diversity groups but words like "homo" also because of the appreand "fag" directly at ciation of the true identiGLBT students. You ties of these students. I am Contributed Photo would see Muslims friends with students of Changing diversity even by the Sound: The influence being accused of bedifferent races and ethnic of the inauguration spread to campus. ing involved in the groups because they are 9/11 attacks.

The editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Mirror editorial board. my friends and their own individuals, not because they "Nobody did anything. Nobody seemed to care," What is your opinion? Write to us: mirror.comment@gmail.com fill a supposed diversity quota. said Jonas Stankovich '10, president of the GayDiversity is about far more than race and gender. Straight Alliance.

It is about world views and religion. It is about politiThe statement shows that the state of diversity has The Mirror welcomes the opinions cal beliefs and even past experiences. Diversity is the been improved greatly in recent days. But just because and contributions of its readers: difference between you and me. it is sustainable that doesn't mean the fight is over.

Letters to the editor must be timely and submitted by disk, If I went to an all white school, would that be diverse?

White males for the most part have felt excluded e-mailed to themirror.feedback@mail.com My answer would have to be yes. from the common belief that diversity is exclusive to or submitted through our Web site: www.fairfieldmirror.com.

Diversity is defined by the differences between those who fall into minority categories.

Once received, all letters become property of The Mirror. two people ‌ any two people. When we don't find that This question dawned on me during a diversity There are no guarantees of publication and all submissions must be signed. difference we fail to truly commit to diversity. workshop that I went through: The Mirror reserves the right to edit letters and articles for content, I was placed into a group of three other people at "Could I get involved in diversity?" length and grammatical error. Letters should be free of obscenities a conference recently and the facilitator said that the That was when I realized that I was already part of and personal attacks, and should contain correct and factual information. group was not as diverse as it should be. diversity. Through my willingness to understand and my Please keep letters to under 350 words.

Perhaps the most under talked type of diversity at interaction with those who disagree with me, as well as Include a daytime phone number at which the author can be reached.

Fairfield University is socio-economic diversity. This embrace the things that make me different - or who I am should be in the front of all conversation for one large as an individual - are factors that have all categorized The Mirror is in room 104 of Barone Campus Center reason: It is in trouble of disappearing. me as diverse.

THE FAIRFIELD MIRROR

by

8 January 29, 2009

by

Commentary

Party spring fever away

The

Mirror

Gabriella Tutino

Ah, theme parties. What better way to greet spring than with booze and costumes?

Some classic theme parties are good all year round-cowboys & Indians, '80s night, pimps & hoes, to name a few.

But with the arrival of decent weather on the horizon and holidays, it's more acceptable to go crazy. To totally get into the mood, pick a theme, find appropriate decorations, music and even drinking games. And so that you don't have to wrack your brain for ideas, I have compiled a list of theme parties, starting with the holidays: 1. St. Patrick's Day: St. Patty's Day is before the official start of spring and it's a great excuse to drink. Wearing green might get you in the mood, even if you're not Irish.

2. Easter: Invoke Jesus and try to turn water into wine, or be a sexy Easter bunny and deliver your "basket."

3. Cinco de Mayo: Mucho caliente! Don your sombreros, bring out the nachos and keep the tequila pouring!

4. International Nurse's Day (May 12): Did anyone know this day even existed? Hope you have a first aid kit handy and get ready to put on some scrubs! Syringes and drugs need not be present.

5. Three Sisters, the Play: Go in costume to the Chekhov play that Theatre Fairfield is putting on. Then, party afterwards.

6. Toga Party: Classic. More appropriate for frats or if you don't want to wear anything but sheets.

7. Shakespeare: Dress up as any character from The Bard's plays. Costumes from "A Midsummer's Night Dream" might be most appropriate with the weather.

8. Renaissance Party: Similar to Shakespeare because of the style of clothing.

9. Any other type of historical time period: Egyptian, Blast from the Past, Futuristic.

10. Flower Power: For all you hippiesat-heart who missed the '60s. Throw up those peace signs.

11 . H a r r y Potter/ Twilight: Because you know you've always wanted to be a wizard or a vampire.

12. Any movie/book/ Broadway play release party with a cult following.

13. Ninjas vs. Pirates Party: Could be an ultimate showdown.

14. Sports Season: Dress up as your favorite team player!

15. Rave: Black lights, crazy colors and hair and trance music are a must. Glowing alcohol is a bonus.

16. Glamour parties: For any Hollywood award event.

17. Anime theme party: It'll be like a convention in your townhouse; so many characters to choose from!

18. Apocalyptic: For all of you who want to end with a bang.

19. Bathing suit dance party: 'She wore an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polkadot bikini‌' 20. And last but not least‌a Disney party!: What better way to relive your childhood years? And you know you've always wanted to be Aladdin and Contributed Photos hook-up with Belle.

Riding dirty: Enterprise Pro Bull Riding brings the Wild Wild West to the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport.

by

No bull Tom Cleary

Bulls. Cowboy hats.

Bridgeport?

Those four words are rarely seen in the same place, but on Saturday night at the Arena at Harbor Yard, the home of the Stags basketball teams was transformed into a western rodeo as the Enterprise Pro Bull Riding Tour came to town.

Instead of the familiar smell of sweat and cooking hot dogs that fills the Arena during the basketball games, a strong scent of bulls filled the air.

About 25 riders from all over the world came with the tour, attempting to walk away with an $8,000 prize. Riders as old as 55 and as young as 19,

by

Jon Ollwerther/The Mirror

Cowboys mosey on in to Bridgeport

from hometowns ranging from California to Brazil to Prospect, Conn. put on a show that many in attendance, including myself, had never seen before.

It was more than just the two to eight seconds that the riders attempted to stay on the bulls. Although it was fun to watch the ultimate battle between man and beast the real show was the atmosphere, created by the announcers and the rodeo clown out in the ring.

Not much of the crowd could be seen at a normal Arena at Harbor Yard event and many came out wearing big belt buckles and cowboy hats. And of course, almost every adult in the building was wasted out of his boots, because there is no way you can go to a rodeo

without drinking first.

The basics of bull riding were probably not understood by half of the audience, but a quick bit of research before the event explained that each rider is judged on a scale of 100 and can only stay on the bull for a maximum of eight seconds.

The bull leaves the chute and the rider is thrown off in two blinks of an eye, but if it last more than one blink, it is probably a successful ride.

The rodeo clown in the ring was more of a sideshow than an actual rodeo clown. Those were dressed in padding and actually got in front of bucking bulls.

But the clown was there to distract fans while the riders prepared to go. Making jokes about butts, his annoying wife

and other generally unfunny puns, he did serve as a distraction. The announcer talked nonstop throughout the show while a mix of rap and country blared through the speakers.

The winner wasn't decided on Saturday night, although as we left the arena, the "California Kid" Chris McCallister sat in first place, on top of the "shark cage" in the middle of the ring, where lucky fans got to be right in front of the smelly, dangerous action.

It was an experience that few have had, but no one who has will ever forget.

So next time the rodeo rides into Bridgeport, grab a handle of your favorite cowboy whiskey and take the trip. You won't be disappointed.

Super Bowl half-time heretics

Brian Washburn (U-Wire/The ally relevant and could be identified by a bad as the last time the Pittsburgh Steelers

majority of the pre-teen audience. Not only were in the Super Bowl, but it would also are these bands not pertinent to the growing include a relevance factor because their number of youngsters watching grown men album "Chinese Democracy" was actually It's officially less than a week from beat the living daylight out of each other over released last year. Plus, it would be interthe most popular Sunday of the year. That a unique shaped ball made of pigskin while esting to see if Axl Rose actually showed Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday (sorry, they simultaneously make millions of dollars, up. And if he did, sports fans could debate Easter). The showdown offers answers but none of their songs are the quintessential who's more frightening: Axl or Olympic hero to all of those who pay attention to sev- "get jacked up to hit somebody" tunes usually Bruce Jenner? eral baffling questions blared through stadiums Hank Williams Jr.: He sings the and events concerning across the nation (except, Monday Night Football theme song, so why the game. But the real of course, for the Stones' shouldn't he be invited to sing at the Super question is not how the "Start Me Up," which is Bowl? During half-time, Hank Jr. could hell did the Arizona an atrocious song play the MNF theme, the "Hog Inside: Cardinals get into the to begin with).

Wild" song (as if Arkansas wasn't Super Bowl (that anTherefore, here Springsteen is made fun of enough), an original swer would be 74-yearare my top five "working on a tune, and down a bottle of Jack old Kurt Warner). No, performance sugDaniels. Oh wait, the Super Bowl dream" the baffling question is gestions for Super half-time is twice as long? Then p. 14 why the heck is Bruce Bowl 44. we're going to need to get two Springsteen playing the Survivor: bottles of Jack Daniels. half-time show?

Although Survivor might Europe: Because who doesn't want to He is still technicalbe better suited for a box- hear "The Final Countdown" four times over ly the boss, but this is the ing match, or at least stay during Super Bowl half-time? most watched television in their respected Rocky III Lil' Wayne: The man sold a million production of the year. era, they would be a well- copies of "Tha Carter III" in the first week Can we not at least try rounded choice to perform of its release. It was his year to reckon with. to get somebody who is at next year's extravaganza. Why shouldn't the American public lend him Contributed Photo Technically, no NFL teams a little modern and still their ears at one of the biggest events of the relevant to young and No one will ever forget this are the tigers. So when year? He's relevant, can make you dance, the halftime show: After the Jackold sports fans alike?

Survivor don their leather athletes love him and he has dominated every son/Timberlake incident, we The past five Super need an exciting halftime act. jackets and berets and blast other media outlet this year. Weezy should be Bowl half-time performinto "Eye of the Tiger," both given the opportunity to showcase his style ers list as such: Tom teams vying for a champi- in front of more than 90 million viewers.

Petty, Prince, The Rolling Stones, Paul Mc- onship can be pumped up (or at least have America made history by inaugurating Cartney and the infamous (and now not so the adrenaline to knock out Apollo Creed, its first black president Is this nation really shocking) Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake Hulk Hogan, Mr. T or a gigantic, steroid- ready for a rap half-time show? I think so. incident. Although all of these performers downing Russian).

But, if we aren't ready to nominate "The have cemented their places as music legends Guns N' Roses: Not only would "Wel- Dark Knight" for Best Picture at the Acadefor generations to come, only JT was actu- come to the Jungle" bring to life a game as my Awards either, so I really have no idea.

Traveler)

Editor: Meghan Schelzi

Campus Life January 29, 2009

9

www.fairfieldmirror.com

Early Learning Center

Campus center provides faculty, staff with daycare, preschool services by

Val Bertolami

Driving into the campus of Fairfield University, one may be surprised to see young children at play outside.

However, if you enter the campus by the Dolan School of Business, you may see just that.

Since its opening in September 2008, The Fairfield University Early Learning Center has provided members of the University faculty and staff with an on-campus childcare facility and preschool.

The Center, which is run by Carousal Educational Services in Norwalk, currently enrolls 23 children in its day care and preschool programs. These children, who range in age from six weeks to 5 years old, participating in the program are primarily the children of University

employees, but parents from outside the campus community enroll their children in The Center as well.

Children are divided up into preschool or childcare depending on their age, and assisted by the five teachers employed at the Early Learning Center.

Throughout the day, preschoolers have their choice of many areas set up to play in. These areas include a block area, finger paint area, play-dough area and sensory area where children can play with water as well as snow during the snowy winter months. They are also provided with a morning and afternoon snack, but parents must provide lunches for their children.

In addition to their "open-play," the preschoolers have many different opportunities to go on field trips.

This past fall, teachers took the children pumpkin picking at Sherwood Farms.

In the fall they also were visited by the Fairfield Fire Department, who allowed the children to see a real fire truck as well as spray the fire hose.

"That was phenomenal," said Tara Abate, the administrator of the program.

In the coming months the preschoolers will be visited by a dentist for Dental Month, a program of which which Abate expressed her excitement.

Although the Learning Center is right on the Fairfield campus, Fairfield University students are not allowed to work or volunteer there due to insurance reasons.

The Early Learning Center is off to a good start, enrollment continues to grow each month, and it is licensed for 36 children maximum, meaning that there is plenty of room for more children who can benefit from the program.

Daycare 411 How much does it cost?

Payments are weekly and depend on the age of the child. For Fairfield faculty and staff, the cost is $265/week for preschoolers and $295/week for infants and toddlers. For the community, enrollment costs $340/week. There is also an annual registration fee of $100.

How many children are enrolled?

Currently there are 23 children enrolled, but they are licensed to have up to 36 children.

What are the hours of The Early Learning Center?

7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

How many faculty members work there?

There are eight employees in total, including five teachers Caitlin Leist/The Mirror

How long has The Center been running?

Since September 2008

Faculty and staff work, their children play: The Early Learning Center, located on campus, has been providing faculty and staff with childcare services since September 2008. One of the options given to the children is to play in the designated outside play area, above.

Typical Activities for children: Preschoolers often go on field trips. For the babies, there are sensory areas set up as well as book areas.

There is also a morning and afternoon snack time.

For more information, be sure to check out http://www.fairfield.edu/hr_elc.html

For more go online: www.fairfieldmirror.com/campuslife • Tour of The Center

Peter Caty/The Mirror

Keeping busy: Children enrolled at the daycare center are kept busy with sensory areas, book areas, snack time and the occasional field trip.

10 January 29, 2009

Campus Life

The

Mirror

We may not have the intense spirit of UConn, but students still wear red and white proudly

Stag Pride

Fear the Deer: Left, and below, Fairfield students may not show the intensity of large state schools, but they still demonstrate pride in their own way at games and in their clubs, jobs and other activities on campus.

Left and below, Peter Caty/ The Mirror

File Photo

by

Rosie Mathis

School spirit at Fairfield has always been questioned.

Countless "Letters to the Editor" and Facebook messages have filled inboxes and conveyed a sense of desperation and doubt. While we are certainly not at a UConn, Syracuse, or Penn State, it does not mean that we do not have school spirit here.

I believe that it is different for us than those schools.

We do not pack the stands consistently. We do not host ESPN Gameday before our home games. We are not like that, in terms of school spirit. But still, there is pride on this campus in our athletics. The pride comes from those of you who can lift weights up in Walsh, to those of us stuck with the rusty RecPlex.

Friday night at Alumni Hall was the first, and last, home game of the season for the men's basketball team on campus.

The stands were packed and the gym floor was shaking from the thunderous chants and cheers from students. It was a great atmosphere for Stags basketball. Despite the loss, there we several glimmers of hope among Stags spirit.

It was great to see face paint again, and actually, even some full-body paint for the game. The pep band has never sounded so good, the dance team performed a great routine and the cheerleaders threw free shirts into the stands. Wow, who knew Alumni Hall was rated by Sports Illustrated as

one of the most difficult places to play for an opposing team …over 20 years ago.

But Friday was a look into the past, where terrible towels were waved by every student, and the basketball team could score more than 50 points. The men's and women's soccer teams both were called to center court to receive congratulations from fans and University President Father Jeffrey von Arx himself after their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship season at halftime. The players were all smiles as fans showed their appreciation.

The highlight of the night was when the girls basketball team arrived from their travel home from Poughkeepsie, where they "shocked the world" and beat Marist, the number twenty team in the nation with a 35-game win streak in the MAAC conference. The crowd erupted with cheers and a standing ovation. What a great moment of pride for the women's team, who continue to seek a fan base and support of the student body. They certainly had it on Friday night.

Fairfield students have caught the school spirit bug, or at least are starting to show the symptoms. But I don't think we get enough credit for it by student leaders or the administration. Just because we aren't showing up at every athletic event, or attending a random mid-day pep rally in the Barone Campus Center doesn't mean we don't care about our Division I athletes.

Our pride is in many things: club sports, intramurals, theater performances, student government, campus min-

istry groups, honor societies and jobs.

Think about it, when your friends ask about Fairfield and its nightlife, isn't it exciting talking about what townhouse you went to, or how you made it home alive after walking home from the beach all the way back to campus at 4 a.m.?

Beer Olympics in Regis, sketchy Fairfield Cab drivers...there is definitely pride there!

When your grandparents ask about your service trip that you are raising money for, you can feel the excitement and pride they have for you and for Fairfield.

As a tour guide explains to curious parents about the Department of Public Safety winning the Jeanne Clery Award, their eyes light up and they are quick to show their amazement.

The student government organizations on our campus have tons of members who have pride in representing the student body. Do you think Girl Talk would have happened if the Class Council of 2010 didn't want to honor the requests of the junior class?

There is pride here at Fairfield. There is school spirit.

So give us a break, administration. We are Stag Crazy.

Stag Crazy for IRHA. Stag Crazy for the Crew Team.

Stags spirit is alive and well. Show your excitement however you choose, and don't be afraid to body paint for your club. Imagine that, body paint for your SOBOG meeting.

Entertainment

Editor: JP Porretta

by

January 29, 2009

Oscar 2009 nominations

Courtney Kern

Feb. 22 will be the night that all self-indulged actors have been awaiting: The Oscars. This is the star-studded fete where they are either honored for their excellent performances or just "happy to have been nominated." This year's nominees range from well-established actors to those who are just beginning to make a name for themselves.

Films like "Slumdog Millionaire" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" are seeing countless nominations come their way.

Brad Pitt was nominated for the actor in a leading role category along with seasoned actor Mickey Rourke making his comeback in "The Wrestler."

The most interesting category seems to be actor in a supporting role, in which there is a posthumous nomination as well as one for a comedy, surprising many avid film buffs.

Heath Ledger, who died in January 2008, won a Golden Globe for his role in "The Dark Night" as the Joker and is now up for an Oscar for the same performance, while Robert Downey Jr. was nominated for his role "playing a dude disguised as a black dude" in the comedy "Tropic Thunder."

The political incorrectness of this role, as well as the not-so-A-list cast with Jack Black and Matthew McConaughey, makes it a surprising nominee, especially in comparison to Hollywood heavyweights Sean Penn and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Radiohead is set to perform at the upcoming Grammy Awards, set to take place on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009. The band is also up for five awards, including album of the year.

Source: Pitchforkmedia.com

album of cover songs.

Source: Andpop.com

For its next release, rumor has it that The Killers plan to put out an entire

Prom Queen, the first single off Lil Wayne's new rock album "The Rebirth" is now floating around the Internet.

Source: MTV.com Casey Affleck will be tracking the musical career of Joaquin Phoenix for an upcoming documentary. Phoenix decided to retire from acting last spring to pursue his musical career.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter George Clooney will return for one episode in the final season of ER. Source: E! Online

11

www.fairfieldmirror.com

A mixed bag as to who will take home the golden statue

Next to Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ledger, this category's winner should be interesting.

The category for actress in a leading role is also interesting with some wild cards in the mix. Anne Hathaway has already received numerous awards such as the Critics' Choice Award for her performance in "Rachel Getting Married"; on Feb. 22, an Oscar could be added to that list.

Meryl Streep delivered in the controversial film, "Doubt," as did Kate Winslet in "The Reader."

Angelina Jolie was shockingly nominated, for the first time ever, for her role as a distressed mother in "Changeling." Actresses in supporting roles features newcomers Amy Adams and Viola Davis dealing with matters of the Church, both for "Doubt," and Taraji P. Henson nominated for her role as Brad Pitt's mother in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Marisa Tomei was also nominated for her part as a stripper in "The Wrestler." This is the first time that two black women have been nominated since "The Color Purple," when both Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey were nominated.

Other nominations include best picture nods for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"; "The Reader," set post World War II with Kate Winslet; "Milk" with Sean Penn and Josh Brolin about San Francisco's first openly gay politician; "Frost/Nixon" directed by Ron Howard and the smash hit "Slumdog Millionaire," which was nominated for 10 other awards.

Looking at the rest of this awards season, wins for "Slumdog Millionaire," Doubt" or "The Reader" as well as for leading Actress Kate Winslet would not be surprising.

Tune into ABC to see The Oscars at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. photo illustration by Whitney Douglas

Coldplay have entered the studio to record new music with producer Brian Eno. Source: DotMusic.com Bruce Springsteen has announced the "Working on a Dream" tour, which will include shows from April 1-May 23, 2009.

Source: Rollingstone.com Amy Winehouse is launching her own record label. The music industry has officially gone down the tube.

Source: MTV U2's new single "Get On Your Boots" has just hit the airwaves. The band's new album, "No Line on the Horizon," hits stores in March.

New film starlet Zooey Deschanel has recently gotten engaged to Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard.

Source: In Touch Weekly Patrick Stump (singer/guitarist for Fall Out Boy) will begin writing CD reviews for Rolling Stone Magazine beginning next month.

Source: Punknews.org

Make [ responsibility ] count.

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Entertainment

January 29, 2009

A comical second season finally takes "Flight"

by

13

Lily Norton

After many fans waited impatiently to hear of a second season, the return of "Flight of the Conchords" on HBO's Sunday night gives hope to non-glamorous television shows everywhere.

The first season of "Flight" gave us insight to the characters, and, what awesome characters they are. The two main characters, Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, are playing themselves as part of a New Zealand folk rock band that has visibly no chance of making any money through their music. (Despite the fictitious "Flight of the Conchords" repeated failures at success, the band actually was a comedic musical duo before the show started, thus leading to the creation of the show.)

As characters, Bret and Jemaine are very unaware of how things in the music business, and the world, actually work, and because of this, are put into many strange predicaments. Instead of being about a band's rise to stardom, the show plays off random situations the band encounters, such as McKenzie quitting and rejoining the band again and again, being mugged and playing in Central Park in Newark, not in New York. In the show, they rarely even play performances in front of people, even with the help of their quirky manager, Murray.

What's truly magnificent with the show, if you have been living under a rock and haven't seen it yet, is that it somehow makes the mundane seem meaningful, but then it just has you laughing at the fact that something so minimal can make you laugh so hard. Also, the show is unlike any other because while it so down-to-earth in a way, it is completely ridiculous.

Per show, McKenzie and Clement will jump into singing original songs, Courant.com dealing with a situation, controversy or problem at hand, and most songs Comedic duo return to the silver screen: Critically acclaimed comedy series "Flight of the Conchords" prove to be insanely bizarre. returns for its second season on HBO this month.

The second season seems to be taking an interesting turn with the debut of its first episode, and perhaps McKenzie and Clement will see Mel continues to be one of the greatest characters ever on television (even though some success in the sophomore round (as long as McKenzie keeps his goodies in his she usually only makes brief appearances in each episode) when she leads a protest pants.) Hopefully, though, even in a dead-pan comedy show like this, the second sea- against the Crazy Dogggz outside of Murray's office. Interviews with the cast said that son will be able to take us into new exciting territories. In the interim of the seasons, Mel will be singing a song for the first time this season, which should prove to be no Murray's character has seen the most change, through a short-lived success by a band short of amazing. that appeared late in the first season. The first episode of the second season thus deals Despite a strange commencement with Murray singing an operatic ballad, the first with Murray's demise, as he discovers that his band "Crazy Dogggz" hit song "Doggy episode made will make you laugh-out loud, but in the style of the show, most jokes Bounce #1" was completely stolen from a 13-year-old Polish song. will make you chuckle to yourself politely.

The greatest moment of the episode, though, was when we found out McKenzie If you've never seen the show before, I would recommend watching the first season and Clement are illegally in America and have to run out of a gig in which they were first. Because the show may take you some getting used to, as it is very different than writing and performing a jingle for "Femident," a women's only toothpaste. The great anything else on TV, I would also suggest you give yourself sometime to appreciate exchange with the executives on green cards provides hope for great dialogue, while the nature of the humor in the show. Once you watch a few episodes, I guarantee you'll the quick action of the get-a-way to escape should be the first of many dramatic se- be charmed. quences in the second season. Perhaps this foray into actually getting a gig is a first of many, and although there is no sign of romance yet, perhaps McKenzie and Clement will find some ladies.

Anticipated fifth season gets "Lost" in excitement

scenes were well choreographed, the script just wasn't as sharp as it could've been. Side stories like that of Sayid and Hurley's escape from the hunters of an unknown organization were full of clichĂŠs.

The idea of running from the police, slipping into a small store to grab a change of clothes and having the cashier somewhat recognize the guilty character while a muted television in the background displays the news talking about the crimes of that character has been done in movies far too much.

Hurley has always been the comic relief of the series, but he received far too much screen time in the span of the two premiere episodes. He wasted several minutes of prime viewing time reiterating the events of the show to his mother, starting with season one.

Sure, his admittance of covering up the truth behind his experiences on the Island develops his character slightly, but the series was truncated with the Writers' Strike last year.

There is no time for useless details when there are dozens of mysteries that have yet to be explained.

"Lost" is near guaranteed to take its viewTvguide.com ers on a wild trip, surprising them with each Lost returns with ups and downs: The new season of "Lost" can be perceived with mixed feelings, and, perhaps concern by fans. episode. However, just because the show's Leave it to producers Carlton Cuse and Damon conclusion is looming two seasons around

by Niles Muzyk Lindelof to twist the plot of "Lost" in ways few could the corner is no excuse for the writing and fluidity of the predict. They not only forwarded the "present" time show to suffer. The presence of clichĂŠs found within a Those who dropped off the "Lost" bandwagon early line of the show three years forward, but those left on dull script is strong enough to detract from the wonderful, on acknowledge the show as one that is all questions and the island before it was moved have found themselves albeit bloody, story the premiere presented. Thankfully no answers. The beginning of season five was written to on an uncontrollable roller coaster ride through various it is only the birth of the season, and we will be wowed move away from asking a multitude of questions and moments in time. by the episodes to come. has presented the show's fans with a true adventure that One would've expected that they'd jump forward or merges fantasy and reality all while beginning to answer backwards in time, but this interesting take on the island's some of its most crucial mysteries. Unfortunately, such movement will serve as a clever plot device for telling the conclusions were delivered in a sub-par fashion, disap- obscure history behind the magical slab of land. pointing many of the show's dedicated fans.

While the story is as interesting as ever and the fight

14 January 29, 2009

Entertainment

The

"Revolutionary Road" is anything but a sinking ship

Mirror

New movie starring Winslet and DiCaprio brings back fond memories for viewers

Rottentomatoes.com

Winslet and DiCaprio strike gold again: The duo, most famous for their captivating performances in "Titanic," return for another Oscar-worthy film. by

Noah Levinson (U-Wire/The Pitt News)

Despite what skeptics might say, "Revolutionary Road" is not "Titanic 2." The pairing of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio isn't just Rose sharing the door with Jack, the ship actually making it to New York and the story of what happens next.

"Revolutionary Road" is a dramatic masterpiece that drives thoughts of icebergs and the Heart of the Ocean far from moviegoers' minds.

Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio star as depressed, bored, suburban wife and husband April and Frank Wheeler. After one glance from across the room at a party in New York City, April and Frank are shown many years later, already married with two kids and unhappy.

After this unhappiness is firmly established in the Wheeler household on Frank's 40th birthday, April proposes moving the entire family to Paris to start anew. Frank isn't entirely enthusiastic, but decides that this might be their last shot at living the lives of which they dreamed.

H o w e v e r, F r a n k s o o n f i n d s c o n t e n t -

ment in his life. He is offered a promotion that would require a bit more work but involves a substantial increase in pay. To get through long days of work, a young, cute secretary named Maureen Grube takes Frank out for drinks and extramarital affairs of that sort.

"Revolutionary Road" is an extremely thoughtprovoking film. Every character is presented in different terms of feminism and sexism. April is trying to be a modern woman in a time when all women had going for them was either a typewriter or children and chores.

April refuses that life. She wants to move to France and support the family through a government secretary job while Frank stays at home and finds out what he really wants to do with his life.

Even more obvious than the theme of gender is the comparison between liberal and conservative. The greatest example is when April declares that she is pregnant to Frank. Frank follows his inner conservative, and says that now the move to France must be canceled because the unborn child must be raised in the United States. April, however, chooses to have an abortion.

Along with April and Frank, Kathryn Hahn ("Step Brothers") and David Harbour ("Brokeback Mountain") are the Campbells, the next-door neighbors. Milly Campbell accepts her life in the suburbs as a genuine way of living, but her husband, Shep, tries to escape from suburban hell via a "romance" with April.

Kathy Bates plays Helen Givings, the realtor who sells the Wheelers their house on Revolutionary Road. It isn't Bates, however, who gives the best performance, but Michael Shannon, who plays her son, John Givings. John holds a doctorate in mathematics, and is coming from an insane asylum where "they shocked all the math out of him" with electroconvulsive therapy.

Shannon gives an unforgettable performance as the light of truth in "Revolutionary Road." He can point out the truth in any character, as he does with April and Frank on two occasions. He sees the lies that these people are living and how unhappy they really are.

Unfortunately, John is labeled an intellectual or a nut-job when the people he talks to can't handle the truth. What is most remarkable about Shannon's acting is the similarity to Heath Ledger's Joker in the summer blockbuster "The Dark Knight." With Shannon's verbal exaggerations and facial tics comparable to the Joker's lip smacks and eccentric arm waving, it is surprising to see Ledger's influence already affecting the acting world.

Director Sam Mendes takes a 1950s drama of epic proportions and maintains the emotional charge throughout the entire film. Even in sequences of minimal action, Mendes still creates the most intense scenes in the history of cinema.

After a climactic argument between April and Frank resulting in April smoking outside all night , and an upset Frank staring out the window at her, Frank wakes up to a loving breakfast courtesy of April.

While the conversation is normal small talk and the actions typical of a married couple's breakfast, I have never been more terrified in a movie theater. So much emotion and fury is bottled up inside April's character that the suspense of what will happen next is almost deadly.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. As a male audience member, she is absolutely frightening.

Springsteen is "working on a dream"

by

Tom Fitzpatrick

New Jersey icon releases new CD, prepares for spring tour

Bruce Springsteen, an American rock icon for the past several decades, is back at it again. After the relatively well-received studio album "Magic" was released in 2007, most Springsteen fans would not have expected another studio album with the E Street Band to be released for several years.

But with the continued aging of several key band members, along with the recent death of long-time E Street stalwart Danny Federici, Springsteen more likely than not felt that the window of opportunity was closing fast. The result is his 24th studio album, "Working on a Dream" – a mere 15 months after the release of "Magic" - was just released date on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Critics will argue that this was a forced release in order to coincide with Springsteen's upcoming performance at the Super Bowl. These are probably the same people who are looking for an album to recreate the musical masterpieces Springsteen put out in the early stages of his career, namely "Born to Run" and "Darkness on the Edge of Town," among others. One looking for that such thing will be disappointed; but do not mistake this as a negative review. "Working on a Dream" contains many significant songs of varying lights – songs that will make you sing, dance, think and maybe even cry. It is this versatility that has made Springsteen and the E Street Contributed photo Band stand the test of time for the last three decades plus.

The Boss is back: Just in time for his anticipated Super Bowl performance, Springsteen has returned The title track is somewhat of a tribute to Barack Obama and the fight that once again with his new studio album, "Working on a Dream."

America is going to face for years and decades to come. There are songs of personal struggle, of love and of mortality. The vibrant drums of Max Weinberg best album by any stretch of the imagination, but it may be one of the most significant are omnipresent in "My Lucky Day" and "What Love Can Do." Springsteen's voice seems he has ever put together. Here's to hoping this is not the band's last hurrah. very strong throughout, and the guitar play of Steve Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren is on point and memorable at times. Saxophonist Clarence Clemons makes several appearances to add his finishing touch to "This Life" and "My Lucky Day." All in all, it is a very solid and reflective album for fans of great music. Time will tell if this is the last we hear from Springsteen and his full legendary band, but one thing is certain – they are still very capable of making high quality music. This is not Springsteen's

15

Coffee Break

Editor: Elizabeth Connors

Josh Kenney

W

January 29, 2009

Tina Masciadrelli

Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em

omen. Love to hate them, hate to love them. What is it exactly that makes women an entirely different species than men? Perhaps the difference is just a matter of perspective.

So there you are, semi-wasted sitting on your buddy’s couch when this sultry looking damsel walks through the front door. Your immediate mental appraisal is undoubtedly, “Damn, I’d hit that.” As you throw back the last of your seventh beer, you decide that, for once, you’re going to actually make a move.

By the way she’s dressed, you deduce that she’s obviously a freshman or sophomore, which makes your chances of getting with her pretty damn good. Once you get her attention and realize that she’s already begun to slur her speech, you think to yourself “Jackpot.”

As you begin to converse, you realize she’s totally into you. After a few games of beer pong she’s tugging on your belt, commenting on how delicious your cologne smells. You don’t

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Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm located in the US.

HE said / SHE said

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even own a bottle of cologne, you sly dog.

The next memory you have is waking up in an unfamiliar bed, adjacent to this girl who’s already up, staring at you. The first thing out of her mouth: “You were amazing.” But your smile quickly turns south as the next three words pass her lips.

“I love you.”

Head pounding, you throw on your clothes and out the door you go.

As you stumble out of Regis Hall you think to yourself about the plethora of mistakes you may have just made.

Hopefully she doesn’t have your number and hopefully you...oh wait, it's still on.

Gentlemen, it seems that as though we have pinpointed the fundamental difference between men and women. Blame in on our biology, but we’re both hardwired to understand the concept of love in two entirely different ways. It seems as though the difference between women and men is just that: a matter of perspective.

A

s February approaches, we find ourselves either looking to continue hooking up with that special someone, or finding a way out of a dead end relationship. When it comes to ending these “gray area” hook-ups, does the way you are affected by this complicated, passionate and sometimes agonizing display of affection depend on whether you are a male or female? You better believe it.

The irrational behavior that has been occurring lately may have a lot to do with being a second semester senior.

Because guys mature much later in life than girls, it is obvious why some relationships that have been progressing all year are now coming to an abrupt end. What are you trying to pull boys? Do you think that only having four months left of being able to booze seven nights a week gives you the right to end relationships and then flirt with other girls at the bar in front of us? What are we, chopped liver? This is why girls sometimes wish they were guys. It's like guys have an emotional switch that

can be turned off in an instant, while girls become absolute train wrecks if one tiny thing in life goes wrong.

When girls finally do decide to get out of bed, put down the Smirnoff bottle and make it out to the bars, we do the only thing we know how to in times of devastation - drink uncontrollably until we have no feelings left. This usually results in terrifying dance moves and no one wanting anything to do with you. Even your friends become too embarrassed to be seen around you. Drinking this much only means that you are not a functioning human being and it’s time to spend the rest of the night sitting in the corner by yourself – the only person who will be approaching you in such a state will be the bouncer to tell you it's last call.

Maybe some girls wish they could switch off their emotions like guys do. But, I think friends, cocktails and embarrassing dance moves sound like a much better option.

Day one and the journey’s just begun Day one. It’s what you’ve been waiting for. When your career starts to take shape with award-winning training and support. When your skills are developed through experiences tailored to your needs.

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What’s next for your future?

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16 January 29, 2009

Coffee Break

The

Mirror

Sports

www.fairfieldmirror.com

Mirror Sports

3x5

January 29, 2009

Tom Cleary

Keith Connors

Managing Editor

Sports Editor

17

Chris Simmons News Editor

Super Bowl Edition

Hines Ward. Great football name. He's a tough guy and has a tough name.

Hines plays in Heinz field. If only we could get something named after Chien-Ming Wang.

Anquan. He sounds like he'd hang out with little De'Chris, who would definitely be a wideout.

2. How will the Cardinals handle By continuing to throw the ball to Larry Fitzgerald. Nothing wrong the Anquan Boldin blowup?

These sort of things happen all the time in sports, right Fairfield?

They'll have Kurt Warner's wife give him a talking to.

Pittsburgh. Who doesn't love the smell of factories?

Arizona? The real Cardinals play in St. Louis, and they play basebal.

Even people from Pittsburgh know there is nothing going on there.

4. Best Super Bowl commercial I agree with Simmons. Keith is going to get duffed by Tate when of all-time?

Simmons will say Terry Tate, but they'll never be able to top Mean Joe.

Keith doesn't know any better. He'd better watch his back now.

5. What are your Super Bowl Enjoying cold beverages and hoping the Steelers at least don't cover plans?

Counting the minutes until the first Manning-to-Tyree replay.

Trying to forget the RavensSteelers game.

1. Wide receiver first name tossup: Hines, Santonio or Anquan?

with that.

3. Better weekend destination: Arizona or Pittsburgh?

he isn't paying attention.

the spread.

Staff Super Bowl Predictions

Alexandra Gross (Editor-in-Chief) - Pittsburgh, 23-12 Tom Cleary (Managing Editor) - Arizona, 31-24 Chris Simmons (News Editor) - Pittsburgh, 20-17 Keith Connors (Sports Editor) - Arizona, 27-14 Chris Haliskoe (Managing Director) - Arizona, 35-24 Joe Cefoli (Online Project Manager) -Arizona, 17-10 J.P. Porretta (A&E Editor) -Pittsburgh, 28-17

3

Lily Norton (Managing Editor) - Pittsburgh, 31-27

Michelle Morrison (Online Editor) - Pittsburgh 21-14 Jon Ollwerther (Multimedia Editor) - Arizona, 21-10

Peter Caty (Photo Editor) - Arizona, 28-21

Meghan Schelzi (Campus Life Editor) - Pittsburgh, 27-19 Veronica Florentino (Commentary Editor) - Arizona, 35-21

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win

18 January 29, 2009

"We have a lot of inner demons we have to get rid of right now."

Fairfield junior forward Greg Nero following the Stags' 65-60 loss to Manhattan, the team's third consecutive loss to a MAAC opponent.

Game of the week

Fairfield vs. Loyola Sunday, Feb. 1, 2 p.m.

"When I see green, I get sick," Cooley said following the Stags' MAAC tournament loss last season in Albany. With Jimmy Patsos coming to town on Super Bowl Sunday, there may be plenty of heavy hitting.

MAAC standings

Siena Niagara Rider Fairfield

Manhattan Iona Loyola (Md.) Marist Canisius St. Peter's

Overall Conf.

16-5 10-0 15-6 6-3 11-8 6-3 12-9 5-5 11-9 5-5 10-11 5-5 10-12 5-5 7-15 3-7 7-13 2-8 5-15 2-8

Mirror

Men's Basketball

Heart of Han needed:

he said it...

Team

Sports

Senior point guard must prove his merit for the Stags to rebound this season

"When we're in this kind of funk, our Keith Connors Rider, the conference's top teams, were especially painful given strong fan turnouts veterans have to play well and they haven't Sports Editor and the games postseason implications. been," said Cooley of the team's recent ef-

Since Ed Cooley took over as Faifield's head coach in 2006, he's had to deal with more than his fair share of issues: brutal outof-conference schedules, an inherited roster of underclassmen, the rise of Siena as one of the nation's preeminent mid-major teams.

But when Cooley made a decision to bypass a stop at the team's locker room and walk right onto the bus following the Stags 65-60 loss to Manhattan, he probably realized he never saw this coming.

First, came the injuries. For the first time in his tenure, the Stags have suffered countless broken bones and battered bodies, the product of a grueling opening month and an improved conference finally taking its toll.

Sophomore forward Warren Edney, who led the team in scoring in three of Fairfield's first four games, suffered an Achilles' injury in early December. With the exception of 15 hobbled minutes against Siena 12 days ago, Edney has missed six of the team's last eight games.

In addition to Edney, Herbie Allen nearly fractured his wrist against Siena on Jan. 17. Fairfield lost the ensuing game against Rider. Forward Greg Nero has also battled countless back injuries throughout the course of the season. Even center Anthony "Peanut" Johnson has been bit by the injury bug.

"The whole situation is that injuries have really taken a toll on us," Cooley said.

Worse yet, the injuries have been magnified by the Stags' recent slump. Backto-back let down games against Siena and

Throw in a Manhattan loss and an alleged altercation between an assistant coach and a player, and suddenly you have a team in crisis.

"There is too much negativity," Nero said. "It's not us out there right now. We've got to find ourselves."

In times like this, a coach is supposed to turn to his senior, his captain, his team's leader.

After three years with the guy, you'd think that the two would be less like fearless leader and field general and more like confidant and friend.

Now, more than ever, Cooley needs Jon Han. Regardless of the recent off-the-court issues, which Cooley said were largely blown out of proportion, Han is the answer.

He is supposed to be the face of this team and this season. A preseason selection to the All-MAAC team, Han has garnered praise from competitors and peers alike for his passing ability and scoring touch.

Still, there is much to critique.

Han's body language of late has been disappointing, looking more like a prized freshman recruit who suddenly realized that his supporting cast is subpar rather than a senior leader ready to claim "his time" and rally a talented cast of teammates.

At certain instances in last Friday night's at Alumni Hall, a game that saw Han start the game on the bench for the first time all season, the senior point guard's face told the story. Han is by no means a selfish player on the court, but, at times, he seemed aloof and indifferent, cold and annoyed.

forts. "And we have as veteran group, but we're just not answering the bell at all. It's frustrating."

Following a 20-point effort against Siena, Han struggled on the court as well.

He scored five points in 34 minutes of play, then followed that effort by shooting 2-of-12, as well as 1-8 from three-point range, in the loss to Manhattan.

Cooley knows all too well the importance of a senior presence. Two years ago, Michael van Schaick went from riding the pine in Cooley's first game behind the bench to a Fairfield cult hero. Last season, senior bench players Mamadou Diakhate and Marty O'Sullivan provided unexpected sparks in the team's impromptu hot finish to the season.

"There is something about seniors," Cooley has stated at many a post-game press conference, many of them after wins.

Injuries are a part of the game, as are losing streaks. But a year later, the last thing Cooley expected this season, in "Our Time," was a lack of senior leadership.

"Leaders have to take control on the court, including myself," Nero said. "We really have to act like men."

The season is far from over – Fairfield still boasts a record on the right side of .500 and has an important conference series against Niagara waiting in the wings. This much is clear, though: Jon Han is needed more than ever.

"This can either kill us or make men out of us," Nero said of the team's slump.

For the Stags' sake, let's hope it is not the former.

Women's Basketball he said it...

"In my four years here, we have never beaten Marist, and today was a big win, too."

Women's basketball senior forward Lauren Groom on the team's two weekend victories, a road upset over Marist and an Alumni Hall win against Manhattan.

Game of the week

Fairfield vs. Siena

Thursday, Jan. 29, 7pm

The Stags put their four-game conference win streak on the line against the upstart Saints. One game separates these two teams in the MAAC standings.

MAAC standings Team

Marist Fairfield

Canisius Siena Iona Rider Loyola (Md.) Manhattan Saint Peter's Niagara

Overall Conf.

18-2 9-1 12-8 7-2 15-5 7-2 7-11 6-3 12-9 5-5 6-14 3-6 8-11 3-6 6-14 3-6 6-12 3-6 1-19 0-9

Stags upset No. 20 Marist Continued from p. 20 a huge win for us. "That's pretty close to as well as we are capable of playing."

After the win against Marist, Fairfield suffered a quick turnaround and only had one day to prepare for a game against Manhattan.

The Stags struggled from the start against the Jaspers. Fairfield fell behind initially, trailing 29-27 at halftime.

However, the Stags responded in the second half to win 70-51. Senior Shireyll Moore scored 11 points, Groom scored 10 points and Lowenthal scored 12 points in the second half alone.

"In my four years, we've never beat Marist and today was a big win too, coming off all the hype against Marist, it was really important to win," said Groom.

Groom finished with 16 points, including 2-for-3 from behind the arc.

"You can see she's effective," said Frager. "Our floor spacing is better. It's night and day when she's out there. Teams are able to clog the paint when we don't have an outside shot."

But the win was in doubt after the first half in which the Stags allowed the Jaspers to shoot 50 percent from the floor.

"I was really worried [about a letdown]," said head coach Joe Frager.

"I think their hearts were in the right place, but emotionally it was hard for them to match how excited they were for Marist.

Frager added, "You have to give credit to Manhattan, though. They run

good stuff and put their girls in positions to succeed. But we challenged the girls at the half and they responded."

In the second half, Frager played a bigger lineup, with both Groom and Moore on the floor at the same time in place of freshman Desiree Pina, who played the majority of the game in foul trouble.

"It was a combination of factors," said Frager. "Defensively, we thought that our size helps us. We did a little of that against Marist, as well."

The move worked to perfection, as the Stags were able to hold Manhattan to 31 percent shooting in the second half.

"The defensive intensity was not as good in the first half," said Groom. "We also had better offensive execution in the second half. We Mirror File Photo made some mistakes and had some Timely shooting: Senior forward Lauren Groom turnovers in the first half." hit a three-point shot with 17 seconds remaining to After the win, Lowenthal was spur Fairfield to a 73-65 win over No 20 Marist. named the MAAC Co-Player of the Week, the second week in a row she has Fairfield's 20 games this season. been honored.

With only one game separating the In addition, Lowenthal has recorded Stags from Marist in the conference a 20-point effort in each of her last four standings, the team's upcoming home contests, all Fairfield victories. stretch boasts a lot of importance, inIn the Stags most recent games, cluding postseason implications.

Lowenthal has shot 18-of-31, and added The Stags return to action on also hit half of her attempts from three- Thursday at Alumni Hall against Siena point range. at 7 p.m. Siena is in fourth place in the Amazingly, the senior captain has MAAC at 6-3 in the conference and scored at least 15 points in each of the 7-11 overall. team's last eight games, as well as 15 of

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Sports

Editor: Keith Connors

Out Foxed

Women's basketball upsets No. 20 Marist, stakes claim to MAAC's top spot by

January 29, 2009

20

www.fairfieldmirror.com

Double trouble

Chris Simmons

Entering last weekend, Fairfield women's basketball stood at 8-8 overall and 3-2 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). But after a rare Buffalo sweep of Canisius and Niagara, an upset of No. 20 Marist and a win over Manhattan, the Stags sit at 12-8 overall and 7-2 in the MAAC. The Red Foxes entered the game with a 37-game home MAAC win streak and a 14-game winning streak. Previously, their last loss was at the hands of No. 3 Oklahoma.

Senior Baendu Lowenthal scored the first nine points of the game, keeping the Stags close. She finished with her fourth double-double of the season scoring 21 points and pulling in 10 rebounds.

Neither team was able to pull away in the second half, and the game was sent into overtime with the score knotted at 65. In overtime, the Stags did not allow Marist to hit a field goal and senior Lauren Groom scored the last seven points of the game for the 73-65 win.

Groom missed the first three games with an injured finger and only recent rejoined the starting lineup. But since she has, she has scored in double-figures in the past five games.

"I'd never gotten injured before," said Groom.

"It was definitely frustrating and tough to get back into the flow."

She has started the past 10 games and is averaging 8.2 points per game.

"I'm starting now, but in the beginning I wasn't ready to get back in," said Groom. "I had to work back slowly. Coach was getting me more and more time."

Head coach Joe Frager was thrilled with the team's effort.

"There's no doubt this is the biggest win we've had at Fairfield since I've been here," Frager said. "This was

See "Stags" on p. 16

Contributed Photo

Stags stifling: Forward Baendu Lowenthal (right) and Stephanie Geehan smother a Marist player during the team's 73-65 win on Friday night in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Peter Caty/ The Mirror

Hard to watch: Sophomore forwards Warren Edney (left) and Yorel Hawkins watch as the Stags fall to Siena, the outset of a four-game losing streak that continued with the team's 65-60 loss to Manhattan this past Monday night.

Injuries, losses to Rider and Manhattan have men's basketball reeling by

Tom Cleary

With injuries piling up, dysfunction among the ranks and a slide not seen since his first year at Fairfield, head coach Ed Cooley needs to look deep inside to figure out how to get his team back upright.

"Our psyche is somewhat shaky," Cooley said Cooley in a phone interview the day after the Stags 65-60 loss to Manhattan. "We haven't played our best basketball. But I think our best basketball is ahead of us. We need to get back on the winning track."

Fairfield has now lost three straight games in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), which drops the Stags to a 5-5 record and into a fourth-place tie with three other teams.

After a crushing loss to Rider 66-49 loss in Alumni Hall in front of a soldout crowd that included a large student section. In that game the Stags shot just 29 percent from the field and were never able to get the game within nine points in the second half.

Following that game Fairfield expected to bounce back with a road victory over Manhattan, but the Jaspers had other thoughts. After going into the half with a 25-25 tie game, the Stags came out slow and fell behind by 11 points with under 10 minutes left in the game. Fairfield was within one point at 54-53 with 4:38 remaining. But the

Stags could never get back in front.

"I thought we showed some good emotion getting back into the game," Cooley said. "We had the ball with the chance to take the lead."

Cooley said that injuries have played a major role in the Stags' recent struggles during games.

Sophomore Warren Edney was out once again with an injured achilles and could be out for at least a month, junior Greg Nero did not play until 10 minutes were left in the second half and senior guard Herbie Allen played with an injured wrist.

Nero scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds during his first seven minutes in the game, despite an injured back that was causing him pain.

"I am very proud of not just Nero,

the first half," said Nero. "As a team, we are in a dark place right now. There's too much negativity right now. Even when we are positive we don't have the energy to win."

A season that started off with great promise and a theme of "Our Time" is now in jeopardy as the Stags head into a weekend of pivotal importance.

Marist comes to the Arena at Harbor Yard on Friday night reeling as well, but with the way the Stags have struggled, it will still be a tough test.

"They [the weekend games] are huge," Cooley said. "Hopefully a little bit of home cooking will straighten it out."

Nero agreed with his coach in the hope that the home games will turn around the season. " It is important because we are coming into the end of the season in the MAAC and we Sunday Showdown would like some momentum, but we don’t have confidence," Sunday said Nero.

Feb. 1, 2:00 p.m.

"Guys are feeling sorry for vs. Loyola (Md.) themselves. The sad part is we are a team capable of beating anyone Harbor Yard in the MAAC. We just have to grind out and play basketball.

The Greyhounds have ended the Stags' season Heck with all the extra stuff."

The Stags remain in conin two consecutive MAAC tournaments. tention for second place in the conference, despite the fact that they have fallen to 5-5. but Herbie Allen," said Cooley. "Greg "We have to play the way we did in went out there and showed some guts." the beginning of the year with the same Nero, who was asked by Cooley to mindset," said Nero. play during the second half as the Stags "It's going to be tough and we have were down by over 10, came in and to get guys on the same page. We have provided a great spark off the bench. to find a group of guys who aren't going "It hurt sitting on the bench during to be affected on the court mentally."

insideSPORTS: More Han Reactions and a MAAC Basketball update

p. 18; Staff Super Bowl Predictions p. 17; 3x5 p. 17