3/3/2010 by The Fairfield Mirror

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Stags Ready to Attack the MAAC in Albany No. 3 women ride seven straight wins into tournament, No. 2 men win 20 games for fifth time in school history By Tom Cleary Editor in Chief

and women’s basketball nside page teams. This Each year the MAAC tournament rolls year, however, More Basketball: around with an outside shot at a trip to March the possibilContinued coverage of the Madness on the horizon for the Fairfield men’s ity of seeing Stags tourney preparation. a Stags basketball team cutting down the nets is even more possible. The women’s team, led by senior Stephanie Geehan, overcame a shaky start to the season to win seven straight games and earn the third seed in the tournament. The Stags will play No. 6 Loyola on Friday at 11:30 a.m. Geehan is fourth in rebounds (11.6 per game) and fifth in blocked shots (3.4 per game) in the nation. She is also fifth in double-doubles with 18. Geehan averages 14.5 points per game and was named to the All-MAAC First Team earlier this week, putting her in contention for Player of the Year. “We had some moments [this season] were we didn’t play as well, but we came together as a team in the end.,” Geehan said. “We’ve been sticking to the game plan more, following what coach wants us to do and knowing what to do. We’ve run our offense better as well.” The Stags swept Loyola twice this seaPeter Caty/The Mirror son, beating them by five on the road and Stephanie Geehan ‘10 with a block during the three points at home, both in January. women’s basketball game against Iona.

Sophomore Desiree Pina (Third Team) and freshman Katelyn Linney (Rookie team) also earned honors in the MAAC awards. The team to beat in the MAAC is four-time defending MAAC champions Marist. But the Stags beat Marist earlier this season at home. The Red Foxes are led by three-time player of the year Rachele Fitz. On the men’s side, the Anthony Johnson-led Stags defeated Iona and Niagara to close out a 20-win season, the first 20-win season since 1995-96 and only the fifth in school history. Johnson, a senior, averaged 26 points and 17.5 rebounds over the weekend, his last at the Arena at Harbor Yard and earned a spot on the All-MAAC First Team. Leading scorer Derek Needham earned a spot on the All-MAAC Second Peter Caty/The Mirror Team and the Rookie Team. Freshman Colin Nickerson drives to the basket against Iona. The Stags will face the winner of No. 7 Canisius and No. 10 Marist on regular season is over. It’s win or go home. Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The Stags defeated I’m very excited to be coaching this group, both teams twice this season. they are a bunch of fun kids,” head coach “This is a new season for us, the Ed Cooley said.

Student Arrested for Sexual Assault Mirror Staff A University student was arrested Tuesday afternoon on one count of fourth-degree sexual assault charges. According to the Connecticut Post, Michael Ilardi ‘11 was charged with sexually assaulting a female student who was sleeping in her townhouse. The article states that the woman claimed she woke up on Feb. 13 to Ilardi rubbing her genital area. Allegedly, Ilardi confessed to police during question-

See Inside This Week

ing over the case, saying the female student is a friend of his and he used to wake up his girlfriend in the same fashion. Martha Milcarek, the University’s assistant vice president for public relations, told the Connecticut Post that the University is cooperating with police in the matter. The University had no further comment. Ilardi is scheduled to be arraigned on March 17 in Bridgeport Superior Court.

Meet the President By Lily Norton Executive Editor It was only a few months ago when Edwin Muniz ‘11 decided to run for FUSA President. “I came back from Kairos, and realized I could either stay where I was or run for FUSA President,” he said. Born and raised in Bridgeport, Conn., Muniz will be the first Hispanic FUSA President. Being Puerto Rican helps Muniz see Fairfield from a different perspective, but his race wasn’t a determining factor for his choice to run. “It wasn’t really relevant to my

campaign,” he said. “It’s all about how hard you work.” But Muniz has worked on the diversity committee in FUSA, and regards the diversity issue as “one of his babies.” He is happy that many students feel they will have their voices heard during his administration. “Eddie is a good representative of the student body because of his ability to listen to others, even if they have ideas and opinions different from his own,” said FUSA President Jeff Seiser ‘10. FUSA members’ support of Muniz

Index Opinion• Page 7 Features • Page 11 Arts & Entertainment • Page 15 Coffee Break • Page 17 Sports • Page 24

» Stags are ‘Freezin’ for a Reason’ | page 4

Peter Caty/The Mirror

no doubt had an effect on his successful campaign, beating Kyle Duggan 586 votes to 289 votes. As a student at Fairfield Prep, he admits to not being very involved in extra-curricular activities in high

Muniz| page 4

» Environmental Activists Fight Construction Plans | page 3

Inside This Week Grad Schools See Increase in Applicants

Do your Fellow Stags Shag?

Check out our Web site!

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The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

News

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In The News »Everything a Barstool Should Have

PAGE 2

| page 7

»Box Office Hits Not Always Oscar Winners

»MAAC

| page 15

|page 22

Basketball Tournament Previews

Just Keep Swimming! The Stag Sched this weekend on campus ... By Deanna Mitchell in four easy steps

Pretend: You can speak dutch Fluently Celebrate the ability to communicate with other human beings during Foreign Language week! Alpha Mu Gamma and the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures will host a number of activities throughout the week in the lower level BCC from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Zie u daar (see you there)!

See: How the Greek get married Peter Caty/The Mirror

Connecticut residents participated in the Penguin Plunge on Saturday afternoon as a part of the Special Olympics. See “Stags Are ‘Freezin’ For a Reason’” on page 4.

We all like to like to think that our families are the ones who carry the secret weapon of humiliation, but wait until you see Nia Vardalos try to squeeze her non-Greek fiance into her world! The Greek Club will be showing “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” March 3 at 8 p.m. in the lower level BCC.

Stag, Lucas

Campus crime beat By Dan Leitao Staff Writer Tuesday, Feb, 23 5:41 p.m. A criminal Trespass arrest was issued in the library circle. Wednesday, Feb. 24 10:36 p.m. There was a narcotics arrest in the Donnarumma Hall loading dock. The person was referred to Student Conduct. 12:44 p.m. There was criminal mischief and vandalism to private property on the town-

Strike: for the Perfect Score house’s four block.

townhouses.

Friday, Feb. 26 2:41 p.m. There were shagging individuals discovered in the Jesuit Community Center.

Saturday, Feb. 27 1:18 a.m. Public Safety responded to a student with disorderly conduct. The student was referred to Judicial.

3:14 p.m. Theft from an office in the Barone Campus Center was reported. 10:59 p.m. Public Safety provided assistance to Residence Life at Regis Hall. 11:46 p.m. Public Safety provided assistance to Residence Life at the

Better Know a Stag Who: Emily Filiano ‘12 Major: International studies/Spanish Hometown: Lebanon, N.H.

By Alexandra Foreman

What is your favorite Fairfield tradition? Rubbing the Stag as you pass it on the way to class. If it’s not a tradition yet, it should be. Preferably the Stag’s butt, but if one cannot reach the butt, any part of the Stag will do.

Everyone’s favorite FUSA event is back! Free Extreme Bowling takes place March 4. Buses depart from Alumni Hall at 9:30 p.m. but students may arrive at 9:00 p.m. to sign-up.

Act: Against Social Injustices Celebrate Fairfield’s “Year of Activism” with the entire campus March 5 as we come together, and consider how we can continue to act on the mission of social justice. The Dare to Act Steering Committee is now accepting proposals from students, faculty, staff and community partners to showcase actions for justice efforts. Proposals are due by Friday, March 5, 2010.

By the Numbers 1997

Year Joe Francis started Girls Gone Wild.

1279

Distance in miles from Fairfield,Conn. to Palm Beach, FL.

18 and 10

What is your favorite part about being a member of the Glee Club? The people, of course. Especially Kaela Tierney. They’re fantastic. And Carole Ann’s quotes, they brighten my day. They are nuggets of wisdom for a successful life.

Average number of drinks during spring break for a male and female (respectively) per day.

What is one thing you would like to see changed at Fairfield? I would like the Stag to be expanded. It needs to be like a pub. But not really. I want it to serve breakfast all day, so I could get breakfast whenever I wanted. Whatever you want, whenever you want it. I would also like a more comprehensive coffee shop. The mochas at Jazzman’s just aren’t doing it for me.

Days in spring break.

866-232-9090

U.S. Department of State 24 hour help line for higher education students abroad.

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

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Environmental Activists Fight Construction Plans By Lily Norton Executive Editor

habitat was compromised during construction. “They completely changed the ecosystem without consulting anybody,” said Dina Franceschi, an economics professor. The Committee learned in Oct. 2008 of the Village Complex plans when they were finalized, yet plans regarding the Quick Center parking lot were not included, according to Franceschi. “Given the numerous communications to the campus community, the coverage in various news outlets, and the public hearings about these projects, parking studies, and planning in general, I am confident that people were able to be informed about what was being planned and taking place,” said Reed.

within a permissible building area. The town’s planning and zoning commission and conservation commission approved the plans. “All of the recent development projects have removed or degraded campus natural areas,” said Biology professor Jen Klug, whose water research testing streams on campus will be impacted by the new lot. “If we do need more parking on that end of campus, it doesn’t need to be in that exact location.”

Environmentally-concerned faculty, students and staff are fighting back against University plans to start construction on the Quick Center parking lot. In plans for expanding parking lot O3 on the southeast side of campus, 20 percent of the existing hardwood forest behind the apartments will be cut down, affecting faculty and student research projects, as well as wildlife on campus. Faculty Research “Considering we do not have a lot of untouched forest left Biology professor Brian Walker, who is researching bird on campus, this will be a huge loss,” said sophomore Zachary activity on campus using 85 birdhouses around campus, will Gross, secretary and treasurer of the Student Environmental have to take down a birdhouse and start over in parts of his Association. The Environmental Steering Comresearch. mittee, comprised of faculty, staff and students, “I was told that I would have to remove my reis attempting to delay the project and get the search projects by March,” he said. administration to move the parking lot to another, Bird activity will completely be changed, said Biless destructive location. ology professor Tod Osier, who also uses the woods as “It’s a simple step that we can take to bring part of his ornithology class, explained that although an important campus issue to light,” said Gross. only 20 percent of the woods will be paved over, the The Campus Sustainability Committee, whole ecosystem will be affected because the forest which was originally formed after University will not be as deep, and activity is significantly differPresident Jeffrey von Arx signed on to the Presient on the edges of forests. dent’s Climate Initiative, was surprised when they “It’s the only block of continuous forest, besides learned of the plans on Feb. 1, one month before the area behind Bellarmine, that forest birds can the start construction date. Although not powerbreed,” said Osier. wielding, the committee had been assured by Faculty members have suggested that adminMark Reed, vice president of Student Affairs, that istration consider expanding the parking lot in St. they would be informed of any future construcIgnatius Hall, the former Jesuit residence. Although tion projects that would impact campus environforest would still be impacted, less trees would be ment to solidifying plans. taken down in the process. In response to hearing plans of the construc“I don’t think anyone wants to see or is not Peter Caty/The Mirror tion, faculty and students sent a letter to von Arx, In a continuation of the new housing and construction plans on campus, the Uni- sensitive to impacts to student and faculty research,” versity will tear down some of the forest area near the Quick Center parking lot to asking the University to reevaluate the plans for said Reed. “I do think, however, that things have to be parking on the south end of campus to find a solu- create more spots. This has caused an uproar among students and faculty. viewed in context, with a complete picture and not tion, which preserves the forest. through one particular lens or perspective.” At the faculty’s Academic Council meeting on March 1, a motion to postpone construction was passed unanimously. Paving Paradise All Over Campus Pedestrian-campus? Faculty insisted that the discussions between the ad hoc group Because of the economic crisis which brought campus Alex Roem ‘10, the director of Green Campus Initiative who signed the letter to von Arx on Feb. 17 and the administra- building to a halt last February, Franceschi said that they (GCI) is working to get the attention of students, who are untion should take place before any construction. weren’t thinking about anything concerning construction, aware of the situation. besides the new Jesuit residence and the Day Care center. For “It’s frustrating because the administration wasn’t forthcoming Past construction problems the Jesuit Residence, professors informed the administration of about this information and it directly affects students,” she said. Faculty said they had made it clear that it was the most areas that should be left untouched, yet they were taken down Franceschi was distressed over the lack of necessity for the valuable forest on campus. anyway, according to Franceschi. additional parking, saying: “In the meeting with Reed, he ad“We specifically communicated the importance of the “Why tell us if you are going to engage us in conversamitted time and time again that there is ample parking on this woodlot in question to Vice President Reed when we walked tions when you don’t? We can’t credibly tell students when campus it’s a matter of where that parking is, and I am almost the campus with him and Facilities Management staff memthey come here that we can engage in faculty student research sick to my stomach that people can’t walk a short distance.” bers in October 2007,” stated a letter written by concerned on this campus and/or will have any on-campus laboratory In fact, Mark Reed also told faculty that they are unsure if faculty and students to von Arx. experiences,” Franceschi said. students will or will not be using the parking lot. The committee believes that giving only one month notice Reed explained that the decision to expand the Quick “There has not been a final determination as to the parkis a complete disregard of the spoken pact with Reed to be inCenter parking lot is due to strained parking on the south ing category or group that will be assigned to the expanded formed of construction plans in advance. This was established end of campus. Much of the south end of campus, he said, is part of the lot. The current lot will remain for Quick Center after a sizable forest was cut down in order to build the Co-Gen designated as wetlands or “have been given or designated as patrons, plus special event or purpose parking,” said Reed. facility in 2007, located south of the Grauert Field. easements in the past,” while the Quick Center lot is located “It’s like Field of Dreams,” Osier said. “They say they have Although the Co-Gen facility was environmento build the parking lot, but they don’t know what it’s for.” » See fairfieldmirror.com for the full article. tally-friendly in terms of energy, the bird and wildlife

Grad Schools See Increase in Applicants By Melissa Mann Arts & Entertainment Editor What do you do when job prospects look bleak, and you don’t know what else to do come graduation? For an increasing number of students the answer is grad school. It’s no surprise that the recession has reduced the number of jobs available, and many students are concerned with how that will affect their future job searches upon graduation. The University’s own graduate school has seen a 38 percent increase in the number of graduate school applications from a 25 percent increase the year before. The program has received a total of 837 applications so far as opposed to 608 at this point last year. “People are deciding to sit out the recession,” said Marianne Gumpper, director of the Graduate and Continuing Studies Admission. “Many are losing jobs and looking to re-tool.” Gumpper says that Fairfield is happy with the increase in grad school applications, stating that the goal is to eventually reach 1,500 enrolled students. Currently it has almost 1,300, compared to the less than 1,100 the year before. One of the programs that has seen the biggest growth is the Counseling Education Program (CEP), which had to eliminate its April 15 deadline for applications because the program had reached capacity. The CEP, which includes programs in clinical mental health counseling and school counseling, seems like a good choice for those looking to find a job eventually, as there seems

to be an increasing demand for teachers. ting some real-world work experience, according to Borgman. “[The applicants] are doing their homework and they Beth-Anne Voight Jause ‘10 is planning on a grad program know where the jobs are,” said Gumpper. in Higher Education and Student Affairs, and while the move The question remains whether this is the best option for is necessary for what she wants to do for her future career, she undergraduate students. Should students opt to go right from acknowledges that the decision is in some way affected by the college and enroll in a graduate program simply because they recession. think that it’s better to wait out the economy instead of finding “If the economy was better I might take some more time a job? to really think about what it is I want to do with my life, but I Grant Miller ‘10 is a senior who plans on going to grad can’t really afford to take a year off,” she said. school because he genuinely wants to, but doesn’t see a probAnd by the huge increase in graduate school applications, lem with students applying just because. it’s clear that she’s not the only one who feels this way. “If you don’t have a job yet, why not? It’s a good way to build credentials. I don’t think there’s a problem with that,” he said. Cath Borgman, director of the Career Planning Center, disagrees. She doesn’t think students should go to grad school as a “knee-jerk reaction.” “I personally think it’s a bad idea,” she says. “It’s a lot of money and when you get out, you’ll still be just as confused but with a big bill over your head.” Still, she has seen a number of students wanting to talk about grad school and their options. “A lot of people are talking about it, more out of panic than anything else. When the economy is bad, people panic.” That’s not to say that grad school isn’t the right option for many students, but the point is that grad school Mirror File Photo becomes a richer experience if you have a specific career The University’s graduate schools have seen an increase in adgoal in mind, or you’re enrolled in grad school after getmissions over the past two years.

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3. 2010

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Stags Are ‘Freezin’ For a Reason’ By Annie Rooney Staff Writer

plunged alongside numerous groups of fellow was raised by the penguins into the bitter February waters. Hammonasset The wind was soft but the water was cold at plunge this year. A typical Saturday after a snowstorm might include build- Hammonasset State Park Beach. The plungers Although ing a snowman, or sledding down a local hill, but not for came prepared with bags of warm clothes and only two brave Fairfield’s Bianca De Angelo ‘12 and Courtney Onofrio ‘13. towels. The live music was loud and the hot Fairfield students At 12 p.m. sharp on Sat. Feb. 27, the sophomore and dogs were served fresh off the grill to get the took the plunge, freshman took a plunge into the 35-degree waters of the Long plungers’ blood pumping for their memorable a nice group of Island Sound as they participated in Madison’s 20th annual dunk into the water. students was Penguin Plunge at Hammonasset State Park. “They run into the water in intervals,” said there for support. The Penguin Plunge is a Special Olympics ConnecticutDe Angelo, who shivered in her bathing suit as Sophomores sponsored event where participants raise money for the speshe waited for the Group 3 plunge. “It’s really Chelsea Bielecki cific cause. Fairfield’s own Special Olympics Club, founded cold but it’s worth the cause.” and Vianette by De Angelo, had no problem ‘freezin’ for a reason,’ as they “When they call us we’re all just gonna Hernandez and jump, scream and run into freshmen Jenthe water,” she said. Peter Caty/The Mirror nifer Labbadia As quick and as they Courtney Onofrio ‘13 and Bianca De Angelo ‘12 are the and Kristocould, De Angelo and Onofrio two students who participated in the Penguin Plunge pher McIntosh on Saturday afternoon. jumped in and ran out of the remained warm water with frozen smiles of and dry on the excitement across their faces. “At least it’s Hammonasset sand. The club’s advisors, Director of Public not snowing anymore,” said De Angelo, Safety Todd Pelazza and Sgt. Rob Didato, were also there to who was now bundled up in her warm support the cause. towels. De Angelo’s parents and siblings were also there to cheer “This is the first plunge that the club their daughter and her club on. “I’m really glad she’s doing has done as a group,” she continued, “but this,” said her father, Michael De Angelo. we are hoping to continue this every year “We as a club are thankful for all who helped make the around this time.” event possible and contributed donations for this wonderful The Special Olympics Connecticut event,” De Angelo said. is partly funded by “Penguin Plunges” The club will be doing more booth sales to continue across the state where “penguins” accuraising money for the Special Olympics. An informational mulate donations and plunge into the cold scavenger hunt is planned to raise awareness across campus Peter Caty/The Mirror about the club and promote membership. They will also be The Special Olympics in Connecticut sponsored a Penguin Plunge this past Sat- Connecticut waters. This year Fairfield’s helping with Public Safety’s Jail n’ Bail event. urday afternoon, in which two Fairfield students joined numerous other people Special Olympics club raised $485 for the Hammonasset site plunge. Almost $60,000 in splashing through the Long Island Sound.

Fairfield PILOT Program Taking Off By Casey Donahue Staff Writer

Finch, who pointed out that Bridgeport is home to three colleges, and while they receive 77 percent of the taxes the colleges would pay, the rest of the cost is made up by the Tuition. Room and board. Books. Food. city residents, whose median income is $36,000. AccordFairfield students have a lot of expenses to worry ing to the article, mayors across the country share Finch’s about. But one expense they don’t have to worry about is sentiments. a tax from the town of Fairfield. Lucas feels that Fairfield is doing its part for the According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, community. “There’s always talk of ‘Is Fairfield paying some towns across the country are complaining that local their fair share?’” he said. “Well, it’s a two-way street. The colleges do not bring enough revenue into their commuamount of funds that Fairfield students and employees nities. One proposed solution to this problem is to begin bring into the town system is immense. It’s a complex taxing college students. economic model when you look at it because you have But William Lucas, vice president of Finance and the town benefiting from all these economic situations.” Administration, said that this dilemma will not affect FairMark Barnhart, the director of Community and field students, as ConEconomic Development for necticut has a Payment the town of Fairfield, said, in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) “The University is a major program. Under PILOT, employer in town, and Connecticut reimburses students, staff and facthe town 77 percent of ulty contribute to the local revenue that it would economy in many ways … receive from taxes. buying and renting homes, “I think a direct tax shopping in stores.” on students doesn’t make He said he is not aware a lot of sense,” said Lucas. of any current proposals to He cites the fact that if tax Fairfield students, but the University’s land added that the decision instead held houses with would not necessarily be residents, the costs for the up to the town. “Municitown would greatly rise. Mirror File Photo palities are subdivisions “You’re getting 77 percent William Lucas, the vice president of Finance and Adminisof the State, and as such, of what you would have tration, said that because of Connecticut’s PILOT program, their taxing powers are gotten, but it’s less costs. University students do not have to pay the state taxes. prescribed by the State If it was houses, you Statute,” he said. “In other would have families, and kids to educate, more streets to words, the State would have to give towns and cities the take care of, all of these things. It softens the argument in power to collect an additional tax.” reality.” Lucas said that, although Fairfield would probably Some towns choose to make other contributions to make more revenue without PILOT, “the cost would go up make up for the supposed shortfall. Yale University curdramatically.” rently makes annual voluntary payments of $7.5 million He said that PILOT was Connecticut’s way of acto New Haven. knowledging the role the universities and other nonprof“Yale and New Haven recognize that each has to be its make to their communities, while at the same time not successful in order to thrive,” said Tom Conroy, Yale’s placing the burden of payment on the towns. According deputy director of the Office of Public Affairs. “Yale’s good to Lucas, in other states, where there is no PILOT program citizenship includes a voluntary payment to help New Ha- in place, it might make sense to reach some sort of agreeven progress, which makes Yale an even more attractive ment, but that should not involve directly taxing students. place for its faculty, students and staff.” “It’s kind of a veiled threat,” he said. “It’s easier to The Chronicle article quotes Bridgeport mayor Bill make the comment than the case.”

Muniz Preps for Presidency Continued from page 1 school, which was something he knew he wanted to change when he started in college. Here, Muniz came out of his shell, although he still remains to be very calm and levelheaded in person. “Eddie is one of the most humble people I have met,” said Senate Chair-Elect Gregory Burke. Fairfield was not his first choice; actually, it was his fourth or fifth, but he was eventually attracted to the small school atmosphere and a nice financial aid package. He first was elected to FUSA Senator in spring of his freshman year, and joined the Academics committee because he was passionate about the issues on the table. His main work focused on the living and learning community initiatives that administration was pursuing. After losing the election for senator his junior year, he was surprised to be appointed to the Executive Cabinet, as the Secretary of Student Life. Seiser and Vice President Lauren Johnson felt the position matched his interests, as seen in his other activities, like peer mentoring and Project Excel. Similar to Seiser’s goals, Muniz says that FUSA needs to be more accessible, but he is still unsure how to market FUSA’s objectives and achievements to the greater student body. But he doesn’t see engaging the student body as an impossible feat. “Students get a bad rep for being apathetic, but I want to represent the students who care,” he said. Muniz hopes that he will be able to improve student life his senior year and graduate with no regrets. He does not see politics in his future; he has plans to take his management degree and work in the hotel business in Miama. “I don’t really consider myself a politician,” he said. “Eddie should be proud of everything he has done and will do. I couldn’t be more proud of him,” said FUSA Secretary of Academics Alison MacNeill ‘10.

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

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‘The Manor’ Puts Out Even if Others Won’t By Renee Borghesi Staff Writer

to its adviser Jim Fitzpatrick ‘70, assistant vice president of student affairs. “Students seem to be excited in sending in candids of their friends, clubs and organizations,” Fitzpatrick said. There are professional photographers for senior portraits and big campus events like Family Weekend, Siblings Weekend, Commencement and sports. But seniors send in most of their own photographs to appear in the yearbook. The Fairfield student body and community are traditional, said Fitzpatrick. Parents and students want to buy a yearbook and be in it. “I don’t discount that parental influence,” he said. Fitzger-

ald often gets calls from parents wanting to know when portraits are being taken and how they can get their child’s picture in it. Nicole Fersa ‘10 got her senior portrait taken and ordered a yearbook simply because, “My mom made me.” “The Manor” began publishing in 1951, and about 500 students each year submit their portrait in it. That number remains the same for this year, where there are almost 750 students in the class of 2010. While colleges try to compete with lacking student interest and social networking sites by offering DVD copies or interactive Web sites instead of traditional yearbooks, such an attempt to do so at Fairfield was unsuccessful. Fitzpatrick said the school tried to make it into a DVD about 10 years ago, but positive responses to that were low. “We thought the DVD would replace the hard copy here, but it’s been exactly the opposite,” Fitzpatrick said. Fairfield students and their families want their hard copy. Members of the senior class handed over the $80 for their portrait and yearbook earlier this year and continue to send in photographs. Now, there is little left to do but wait for November when the yearbook arrives. On that day, hundreds of new college graduates will sit down with their friends and family, flipping through the yearbook pages and reminiscing about their four years at Fairfield. From that moment on, there is tangible proof of the good and crazy times spent at college. “I think it’s important because 20 years from now people have a book that they can hold in their hands and flip through and remember,” Hurley said.

Tara Hurley ‘10 sits in a comfortable chair while she sorts through hundreds of uploaded pictures of Fairfield students. She clicks on another open page on the computer where she re-sizes one photograph of four girls with their arms slung around each others’ shoulders. To her left are a dozen boxes neatly stacked in the corner. Each box holds countless years of memories. Welcome to the office of one of Fairfield’s best-kept secrets, “The Manor” yearbook. Yet while Hurley, co-editor in chief of “The Manor” along with fellow senior Joe Cefoli, who is also The Mirror’s online project manager, are hard at work in designing the yearbook for the class of 2010, dozens of other colleges across the country are cleaning out their yearbook offices. Around the country college yearbooks are shutting down. Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace are making yearbooks look old-fashioned. Why pay for a yearbook when you can look at photographs of your college days online for free? According to an article on youngmoney.com, in 2008 only 80 colleges in the United States were still putting out yearbooks, down from more than a hundred the year before. Schools like DePaul, Purdue, Mississippi State and Virginia Wesleyan have been forced to end their yearbook publications due to lack of student interest, ABC News reported. At the University of Texas, fewer than 60 students out of a 50,000 population showed up to take a studio Photo Iluustration by Peter Caty Unlike some other colleges and portrait in 2008. universities throughout the country, Fairfield still puts together and publishes an annual Despite the trend, “The Manor” is in yearbook, entitled “The Manor.” no danger of being shut down, according

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

Opinion | 7

Online

How do you feel about the proposed Parking Lot plans? Send your thoughts to opinion@fairfieldmirror.com.

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

Editor Veronica Florentino »opinion@fairfieldmirror.com

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Stag Domination

Paving Paradise The Administration has really served faculty this time. After promising to communicate any plans to have construction on any natural areas on campus, the Campus Sustainability Committee was not informed until one month before plans to cut down 20 percent of the forest behind the apartments. And while parking can be argued as a major problem on this campus, there's one major piece of information missing: who will be able to park there? Sophomores are still angered by their revoked car privileges, and the parking lot in question, which is reserved for Quick Center patrons only, remains empty most of the time. The current parking lot north of Kostka is being used as a new dorm location, so naturally students in the Village Complex will need more parking. The South End of campus may be a difficult area for parking, but really only on the rare occasions when a Quick Center event and, say, a dinner of the Dolan School of Business are scheduled for the same night. Faculty are also angered because long-term academic research projects will be hurt in the process of cutting down trees. Not to mention, this campus is supposed to be going green, and it seems pretty contradictory to preach this to Fairfield applicants when we are cutting down trees for parking lots without even giving thought to alternatives. Perhaps the late notice was

an error in communication, and perhaps it was the responsibility of the professors to attend Fairfield planning and zoning committee meetings. Communication about construction has been a problem before, mainly with the Co-Gen plant in 2007, the area between the pond and Quick Center, where brush was removed, and again with the construction of the new Jesuit Residence. Although faculty members are disappointed with the situation, they are still willing to think about alternatives that are less harmful to the environment. Rather than spending a few thousand dollars cutting down trees, we could create better walkways from the St. Ignatius Hall parking lot leading to the Quick Center, or from the parking lot behind Alumni Hall. A sense of powerlessness has been resurrected in faculty, who push to promote green efforts on this campus, and feel they are promising students opportunities that are repeatedly thwarted by the administration. In their short time here, students trying to make a difference feel power taken away as well, yet the hopefulness of youth seems to shine through. As students were surveying the people of the Quick Center, Zachary Gross '12 turned to Alex Roem '10 and said, with a tone verging on defeat: “Do you think we are making a difference?” “Absolutely,” she said.

The Mirror welcomes the opinions and contributions of its readers: Letters to the editor must be timely and submitted in person at BCC 104, by

In reference to Basketball coverage on page 22. Have an opinion? Send it to opinion@fairfieldmirror.com.

New Construction, New Stupidity By James Ballanco Staff Writer

“Hey, so where are you living this year?” “I’m in Regis. How about you?” “I’m over in 70 McCormick Road.” Confused? Yeah, so was I. But thanks to the creative geniuses in Fairfield’s administration, this is an example of how things will be next year. As many students know, the University is planning major construction and building renovations that will begin this semester. These much needed plans will increase the amount of beds on campus by over 200. Despite this seemingly good plan, the administration has found a way to screw it up. I’m not referring to the fact that our "Quad” is now going to have six buildings, which always makes us seem stupid whenever I give a tour. No, I am referring to the names that these new buildings are receiving. Instead of following the beloved Fairfield tradition of naming buildings after notable Jesuits such as Edmund Campion and Stanisław Kostka, the decision has been made to not name the buildings at all. They will instead be referred to by their address on campus. That’s right. The new quad building will be 70 McCormick Road. The new apartment building will be 51 McInnes Road. The former Jesuit Residence will be 42 Bellarmine Road. Really Fairfield? When these plans were first presented to the IRHA General Assembly, everyone thought it was a joke. After raising our concerns, we got the typical administration answer: "The street numbers assigned are actually quite significant. 1942 is when the school was established. 1951 is when the first class graduated. 1970 is when Fairfield first admitted women. Plus, other prestigious schools like Holy Cross and Boston

Notable and Quotable

email at opinion@fairfieldmirror.com or through our Web site (www.fairfieldmirror.com). All letters to the editor that are appropriate will be published either in print or on www.fairfieldmirror.com The Mirror reserves the right to edit letters and articles for content, length and grammatical error. Letters should be free of obscenities and personal attacks, and should contain correct and factual information. Letters should not exceed 400 words.

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"Four short years ago, they said you couldn't. Anthony and his class have shown you can. When I'm talking about family, I mean the Fairfield community, the University, our basketball program. That family is our community ..." -Men's basketball head coach Ed Cooley News

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Keri Harrison, Editor Mikaela Tierney, Features & Asst. Editor

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College have treated matters similarly, so apparently that makes it okay. But we will keep your concerns in mind." (not an exact quote). Well, the real reason for this ridiculousness is, of course, money. Fairfield is simply using this stupid idea of naming buildings after their addresses until a donor comes along and donates money to have that building named after him or her. Now that sounds more like Fairfield! It’s always about money. And I guess I get that. I don’t agree with it, but Fairfield is a business, and it simply isn’t cost effective to name a building after a venerable Jesuit when they can make more money to name it after a rich person. Just like it’s not cost-effective to have a campus shuttle when it’s cheaper just to have the poor freshman walk in the rain and snow up to Dolan, but that’s another issue. What annoys me most is the fact that, once again, students are not given a voice. IRHA is supposed to be an organization that works with the administration and represent the thoughts and opinions of Fairfield’s residential community. But it is hard for us to do that when the administration simply presents these kinds of decisions to us already made. And because of that, this idea will backfire. Any reasonable person knows that no student is going to identify the place they live by a number. They will come up with nicknames for the buildings. And knowing Fairfield students, especially freshman, I’m guessing these nicknames will be less than flattering (thank God Fairfield didn’t decide to let women attend in 1969). Maybe one day the administration will learn that things are easier when you work with us, not without us. Until then, let the student naming process begin. Be creative! Editor's Note: James Ballanco is the Director of Student Affairs for IRHA.

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The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

Opinion

Page 8

A Word from Your President By Eddie Muniz FUSA President-Elect

I would like to start off by thanking you for electing me to be the 64th FUSA President. This past week has been amazing and I am excited to start preparing for my term beginning in May. If you would have asked me a year ago what my plans were in regards to FUSA, I never would have imagined becoming president. I am both honored and humbled to represent the student body. During the past three weeks I have been able to meet with many terrific individuals and talk with them about their concerns and hopes for their time at Fairfield University. There has been awesome dialogue going on, and I hope to continue this communication during my presidency. I believe that FUSA has made tremendous strides recently in areas of student advocacy, programming, team development and in marketing its programs. I do believe however that FUSA Officials can do better in communicating the advocacy work it is doing to the student body. FUSA Officials are serving on a variety of University Committees and are in position to make a difference, yet need to do a better job of letting students know this and in communicating with them when decisions are being made. This

being said, one of the central goals of my presidency will be to have FUSA communicate with students more regarding the advocacy work it is doing. As president I will also lead FUSA as it continues its work on initiatives regarding transportation through developing the ‘Connect by Hertz’ car sharing program and to ensure that the town shuttle route is most efficient and meets the needs of students. I will also work to see that the living and learning program continues to be developed, the peer advising program becomes more defined and is helpful to students and that course evaluation results continue to be made available to the student body. Lastly, I will do my best to ensure that an exciting programming calendar continues to be made available to students and that FUSA continues to develop its relationship with student clubs and organization. In closing, as I said before I believe that FUSA does provide quality advocacy and services to the student body. As president I hope to more apparent and clearly defined to students. With the help of everyone I know that we can make this happen and in turn make Fairfield a better place for everyone! Please feel free to contact me at any time via my student e-mail.

Photo illustration by Dan Leitao/The Mirror

Everything a Barstool Should Have By Dan Leitao Staff Writer

Every day the males of Fairfield point their browsers to various Web sites, but one that tops the list is BarstoolSports.com. Readers are greeted with the latest news, rumors, and the Smokeshow of the Day. New Yorkers and Bostonians can enjoy the latest sports news for their respective cities while also having events and other content directed at their cities. There is even a small rivalry played up between the two cities on everything from funny stories to who can find the hottest smokeshow of the day. However, Barstool does not draw readers only from these two cities. Those who live between the two cities find themselves perusing both sites. Fairfield has been featured in many different sections of Barstool, from students sending in photos of “snow sculptures”, to students being featured in the Smokeshow section,

and even the "He Said" controversy. On its page, Barstoolsports says it is, “the only newspaper in Boston written by the common man for the common man. Quite simply, Barstool Sports consists of a bunch of average Joes, who like most guys, love sports, gambling, golfing and chasing short skirts ... In other words, the staff of Barstool Sports consists of a bunch of slobs, who think and care about what the average guy thinks and cares about.” Barstool has an Alexa Traffic Rank, which ranks Web site traffic, of 1,910 in the USA. The audience demographic is broken down as ranking heavily in males 18-24 age area, with a college education, browsing from schools and work. Smokeshow This is a section that raises Facebook stalking to an all-time high. Every day users submit the name of a hot girl via email who then is asked by the blog if they would like to be featured on the Web site. The girl is featured as the 'Smokeshow

The Mirror 4 x 4 Keri Harrison

News Editor

Michelle Morrison Online Managing Editor

Lily Norton

Executive Editor

Veronica Florentino

Opinion Editor

Because the girls should also have a say ...

If you were any building on campus, which one would you be and why?

If I were Editor-In-Chief for a day, I would ...

Does God like Tom?

The library so I can be taken out.

Wake up in the morning feeling like Tom Cleary.

God? God God? Yes, yes He does. The "He Said" gods, not quite.

The BCC, because I like to be the center of the action.

Give the online staff a raise.

All I know is, the party don't start 'til he walks in.

She Said says, "It's all He Said's fault."

I'd be the RecPlex so you can work me out.

Be my own pimp.

What do you mean? I'm pretty sure Tom is God.

"Should I get 'Knocked Up?'" ... I was referring to purchasing the DVD.

Bellarmine Hall, for its international culture.

Favorite 'That's What She Said."

The Ladies ...

of the Day,' with their home state and college. There is also a competition among colleges to see if they can keep the whole week for their school or if they can be bested by another college. It May Be Crass But … Readers of Barstoolsports know that the site covers everything from stories about dogs saving owners to content deemed NSFW (Not Safe For Work). If the story itself is not questionable, the bloggers' commentary and the comments are usually enough to make the reader laugh on the inside and tell all his buddies about, but it is not something to send mom the link from. Barstool is one Web site that gives guys everything they would scour the web for reading multiple web pages. Everything from hot girls and news comedy to great YouTube videos, Barstool provides a service that few Web sites can, and that is why it has risen to a site that many guys at Fairfield frequent. Viva La Stool.

"Should I make it bigger?" "Yeah, I like it big." "I like it big too." -Photos are awesome bigger. "And then some guy takes you into his office and does what you could have done in five seconds." (About the registrar)

Play softball with the best team "We put out on hump-day (we realize we're trying to cram alot in there but we'll make it fit)."

God likes Tom. Whether God likes certain other Mirror staffers is still questionable.

March

FUSA presents coming events

Upcoming Events

Free Extreme Bowling! Thursday, March 4th Buses Leave Alumni Hall at 9pm. You've Gotta Be there!

Golden Stag Scholarship

The scholarship is open to all freshmen, sophomore, and junior students. The scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student in the Class of 2011, 2012, or 2013 who shows commitment to Fairfield University and its Jesuit ideals through academic integrity, civic engagement, and personal growth. Applications are available BCC 212 or outside of the FUSA office. All applications are due by Wednesday, March 31st at 3pm.

Upcoming Ticket Sales

Phantom of the Opera on Broadway

Thursday, March 18th Buses leave Alumni Hall @ 4:30PM Tickets go on sale on Wed., March 3rd at the BCC Information Desk

Campus Heroes

Executive Cabinet applications are now available in the FUSA office! The applications are due on March 15th by 4PM. Programming applications will be available later in the month!

FUSA: THE OFFICIAL STUDENT GOVERNMENT OF FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY BY THE STUDENTS, FOR THE STUDENTS

Campus Heroes Know a campus hero? Nominate them! Log on to www.fairfield.edu/fusa under the Miscellaneous tab to get a nomination form. Then return the completed form to BCC 212. Nominate NOW for the next group of Campus Heroes.

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TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR EVENTS: Visit the BCC Info Desk For more information: Visit the FUSA OFFICE at the lower level BCC OR LOG ONTO FAIRFIELD.EDU/FUSA

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

Features | 11

Online Check for updated blogs and new content.

fairfieldmirror.com

Editor Mikaela Tierney » features@fairfieldmirror.com

Jackstaposition:

Morphing into an Adult

and

Present:

Let’s Be Frank — Stag Spotlight By Frank Romano Staff Writer

Eric Lessard ‘10, the Senior Team Manager for the Men’s Basketball team, is the focus of the latest “Let’s Be Frank” episode. Frank Romano: What are your responsibilities as team manager? Jon Ollwerther/The Mirror Eric Lessard: My responsibilities are mostly operational. With the coaches, I help prepare scout information, prepare for practices, prepare film and other game-day operations. With the players, I assist with their practice, game-day needs. I rebound for them — and other various responsibilities that come up on a day-to-day basis.

mom highly recommended that I do it. I love basketball, and I love NCAA basketball, I love the Tournament, I love competition — games and everything — so I figured, why not? FR: What’s your least favorite part of the job? EL: The time. It’s tough to coordinate school, basketball and other life activities … But when games come around, and just being around the guys — that’s why I do this job — for the guys and the game. FR: Do you scrimmage with the players, and have you scored any points? EL: No, I’m just a fan of the game. I don’t scrimmage. I’m just the man behind the scenes.

FR: What’s the time commitment like? EL: It’s not a 9 to 5 job. It’s pretty much whenever things need to get done, they need to get done — whether it be in the middle of the day, preparing for practice, or late at night after a game, throwing in the laundry. FR: How did you become one of the team managers? EL: One of my good friends from high school, his brother managed at Boston College, and he knew Coach Cooley. And when Coach Cooley got the job, my friend’s

Jack McNamara Staff Writer

Graduating and becoming an adult isn’t all too different from making a hideous transformation into a werewolf. In both cases there’s a certain date on the calendar you come to dread, you fear what’s going to happen after you make the change and, suddenly, your nightlife becomes a lot less enjoyable. At present, my soon-to-be-lycanthropic brethren, i.e. the class of 2010, can try to deal with this in two different ways: They can either hide from that full moon using graduate school as a shield, or they can bite the silver bullet and somehow land a job before dusk falls. Make no mistake though, the transformation will happen to some degree regardless. Your T-shirt will slowly start to morph into an interview suit, your hair will transmogrify from the unkempt status it’s presently in to something more conservative, and your Facebook page will distort itself until it has become your LinkedIn account. It’s already happened to me, and you can find the damning proof online. What I just did there was an attempt at networking. Before we move on, I just want to point out before anyone else does that, professionally, it is oh so unscrupulous to use student-funded newspaper space to plug one’s self. This being said, it’s a good thing I am not, in fact, a professional (And I never will be unless you go to my LinkedIn account TODAY), and am, in fact, just some schmo who writes werewolf metaphors and managed to trick The Mirror into giving him some print space, those FOOLS! MUAHAHA!! I LAUGH AT YOU, EXECUTIVE EDITOR LILY NORTON! I LAUGH AT YOU! BAWOOOO! Sorry, I seem to howl a lot more than I used to. In truth, professional conduct will become more imperative than it ever had been in the past; we’re not going to be able to get away with as much out there as we can get away with in here. I fondly remember one review I had published as a freshman, wonderfully titled “Theater Fairfield Improv, Bitches,” and getting chewed out for giving it that headline. While I had help with actually getting it into print, it didn’t change the objections of the Mirror’s then-faculty advisor, Cindy Simoneau. “Jack, you can’t have your name associated with this,” she said. “You don’t want to be that kind of writer,” she said. “You’ll become one of those weirdos who writes bizarre humor columns with references to werewolves that only 10 percent of the readers will appreciate,” she said. Guess I showed her, huh? Bawoooo.

Breaking Out of the Spring Break Norms By Jennifer Fiorillo Staff Writer When you hear the words “spring break,” chances are the first thing that comes to mind is the image of a week-long party in Mexico, Puerto Rico, or another warm place. In the eyes of the average college student, spring break is undoubtedly associated with a trip to a remote location where students can “party it up” with their friends all week long. But is this idea reality or purely a stereotype? I believe that this mentality about the “typical” spring break is nothing but a stereotype that has settled into the minds of today’s generation, long before they ever set foot on a college campus. The media has proved to be the greatest source of influence over the teenage population. Countless movies and television shows depict spring break to fall right into this stereotype. Through the use of popular forms of entertainment, Hollywood has allowed false ideas about social norms in society to enter the minds of young people. As a result, young children and pre-teens will instantly assume that what they are watching is the same experience that they will have in college in the future. Reality check. Nothing in real life is ever the same as what appears in the movies. Spring break does not always have to be a wild party. If that’s not your thing, there are many alternative ways to have

an awesome spring break. 1) Go on a service trip. In our country alone, there are many people struggling to make ends meet who could use your help. An experience like this could be lifechanging and is the perfect way to give back or reach out to someone in need during your spring break. Campus Ministry is a great source of information for how to get involved with a service trip during any school vacation, not just spring break. 2) Visit a foreign country. If it is has always been your dream to travel the world, now could be your chance. A week off from school in March could be the perfect opportunity to visit Europe or another place of your choosing. If you are currently studying abroad this spring or Contributed Photos plan to at the same time next year, then you are already ahead of the game. 3) See family. If spring break is the first time you will be home since the winter break, why not plan to spend some

quality time with your family? A week of rest and relaxation at home with the people that care about you most may be just what you need to get you through the remainder of the semester. 4) Catch up with friends. Before spring break begins, get in touch with your friends from home and see when their vacations are. Chances are that you will not be only one of your high school friends who are off from school that week. This could also be your chance to plan a trip to visit a friend whose college break is a different week than yours. 5) Take some extra classes. Fairfield, like many other colleges, offers a Spring Intersession, which allows students to register for select classes on campus over spring break. For the ambitious student looking to pick up a few extra credits, this could be just the idea that you were looking for.

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

Features

Disclaimer: Some of the language on this page may be deemed offensive by some readers, but comes directly from surveys taken by 200 Fairfield students.

Favorites

Guys Want

Do Your Fello

200 Students Tell The Mirror 4

Average # of Male Hookups This School Year

16%

Thongs

Of Guys Feel They Are Easy

Doggy Ass

Girls Want Boxers Missionary Eyes & Face

Page 12

Things That Go B Marlene Dietrich said, “In America sex is an obsession, in other parts of the world it is a fact.” In college, it seems that sex permeates every aspect of a student’s life. This past week The Mirror conducted a nonscientific survey asking 200 students in the BCC a series of questions on everything from their favorite sex position, how many sexual partners they have had, and even if they believed sex was a sin. The answers fell across the spectrum. The Kinsey Institute, recognized for conducting studies on sex and gender, places the average age for males to have intercourse for the first time as 16.9 whereas The Mirror survey placed the age at 16.4. For females the Institute says 17.4 years old while our survey showed 16.9 as the average age. Some of the more interesting statistics can be seen when looking at students who believe that sex is a sin. While the Catholic Church outlines that premarital sex is a sin, only 19 of 200 students at Fairfield felt that sex was

19% OF Guys Carry Protection

The Average Firsts In The Sex Life Of Stag AGE

Stag

13.5 Make Out

Doe

16.3 14.9 15.8 Sexual Hand Oriented Oral Sex Intercourse Stimulation 15.8 16.9 16.1 14 Hand Oriented Oral Sex Sexual Make Out Stimulation Intercourse

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

Features

Page 13

ow Stags Shag?

r If They Make The Bed Rock 3

Average # of Female Hookups This School Year

By The Numbers: based on 200 student surveys

4% Of Girls Feel They Are Easy

341

Total sexual partners

Bang In The Night

87%

Define Hooking Up As Making Out

a sin. There was also little correlation between a person’s state as a virgin and their belief on sex as being a sin. Lastly, while the boxes around this article showcase the winning survey categories, there are some honorable mentions. In regards to sex position for both men and women, many found themselves listing cowgirl and reverse cowgirl, while shortstop and centerfield also made the list. Arms, backs and hands also topped the girls lists of favorite body parts, and not surprisingly for guys, breasts were the second most common answer. The “easiest” states, determined through a comparison between the lowest age of first time having sex as well as the number of sexual partners. States with fewer than 30 participants were not considered in the competition. However, there were students surveyed from 15 states, and 4 students who believed that state meant personal relationship state, not geographic location. -Dan Leitao

Virgins Out Of 200

Students Believe They Are Easy

30%

of those surveyed have been checked for an STD

Most Individual Male Sexual Partners

Most Individual Female Sexual Partners

15%

Students Have Done Something In Front of A Webcam

Students Surveyed believe sexual intercourse is a sin

18%

Of Girls Think Both Sexes Should Provide Protection

The Loosest states in the stag nation

#1 New York

#2 New Jersey

#3 Connecticut

#4 Massachusetts

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

Online Check our website for a review of the MSA comedy show, and more!

Arts & Entertainment | 15 fairfieldmirror.com

Editor Melissa Mann » entertainment@fairfieldmirror.com

Box Office Hits Not Always Oscar Winners By Renee Borghesi Staff Writer It was an exciting year for the film industry: “Avatar” topped “Titanic” as the highest grossing movie of all-time, Kathryn Bigelow was the first female director to win at the Director’s Guild of America awards (and may do the same at the Oscars), and Sandra Bullock and Mo’Nique surprised everyone with their serious acting chops in “The Blind Side” and “Precious.” So when the nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards were announced in early February, naturally people were excited. This is the first year the Best Picture category has been expanded to allow ten nominated films instead of five, adding a more diverse group of movies in the mix for the prestigious award. To some extent, that did happen. Beside the usual suspects of “Avatar” and “Inglourious Basterds,” this year the category includes “The Blind Side” (a sports movie), “Up! “ (Pixar) and “District 9” (a sci-fi). But “A Serious Man” and “An Education,” two films seen almost exclusively by movie critics and Coen brothers’ fans, were nominated while big hits like “Star Trek” were ignored and arguably the funniest movie of the year, “The Hangover” had no nominations at all. “To get critical success, a film has to be serious and morally challenging,” said film and English professor Elizabeth Haas. Movies that get nominated are dramas and performances that are awarded are serious. It was not always this way: “It Happened One Night” (1934) was a screwball comedy that swept the Oscars, winning all five major categories. But lately the disparity between box office hits and critically acclaimed films has grown. According to a 2007 Los Angeles Times article, of the top 20 hits in the last 30 years, only two films, ”Titanic” and “Forrest Gump,” won Best Picture. Many box office hits like “Jurassic Park,” “The Dark Knight,” “The Lion King,” and “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” weren’t even nominated for Best Picture. Some of the most admired and influential movies of all time like “Citizen Kane” or Star Wars have not won

Best Picture. but one that did not make the top 50 of the All“Hollywood, for all its artistic aspirations, is still a Time Box office hits — received little attention business,” Haas said. until awards season. In recent years there has been little overlap “The market that drives blockbusters is between box office hits and best picture winners. Only basically kids,” Scalese said. three of the 2009’s top 10 grossing films made it into The rise of the blockbusters came in Best Picture: “Avatar,” “The Blind Side,” and “Up.” the 1970s and 1980s. There used to be a Last year’s Best Picture featured zero Top 10 production code where movies were hits. On the 50 All-Time USA Box Office, only made that intended to be like“Avatar” and “Up!” made the list, ranking able for all audiences. Now, number one and thirty-five, respectively. there are niche markets. Big Blockbusters like hits are made for teenage “Transformers: Reboys. People who go to venge of the Fallen,” the movies are younger “Harry Potter and the with both time and Half-Blood Prince,” and money to spend. “The Twilight Saga: New Meanwhile, the Moon” were ranked in the critics are older. second, third, and fourth Adolescents may spots on the list of 2009 drive profits, but the domestic grosses, but people who nomias Film professor Mark nate films are adults. Scalese, S.J. said, “PopuAccording to the official larity doesn’t always Academy Awards Web site, mean quality.” Those voting on all achievements movies are made for the is restricted to active and life young adolescent marAcademy members through a ket, and there lies a secret ballot. problem. Critics are often invited On the other to early screenings and write hand, some of reviews before the film opens to the films that the public. Therefore, critical the industry is reviews are important in the Photo Illustration by Gabriella Tutino/ The Mirror early weeks before word of most proud of are met with indifference at the box office. This was especially mouth. The impacts of reviews diminish with each week as clear in 2008 when critically acclaimed films like “Rachel people who have seen the films convey their own opinions, Getting Married” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” were word of mouth dominates, and more people see the film. ignored by public moviegoers. Films like “The Wrestler” and “I don’t think people care what critics say in the end,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” — winner of last year’s Best Picture Haas said.

Does ‘Avatar’ Deserve Best Picture? By Caleigh Tansey Staff Writer As the 2010 Academy Awards grow closer, the question in the minds of all movie fans is clear: which movie will win Best Picture? Aside from the fact that “Avatar” has tied the lead with “The Hurt Locker” and “Inglourious Basterds” for nine nominations, the category for Best Picture has stepped up its nomination count and the predictions are even more in a muddle than one would think. The fact that there are now ten motion pictures in the category for Best Picture is enough of a controversy to make the 82nd showing of the Oscars one that most of us will not forget. “Avatar” swept through movie theatres around the globe, selling out almost every night, bringing in a total profit of over $600 million dollars. It is no surprise that it has been nominated for Best Picture, but, depending on who you ask, this movie may or may not be taking home the Oscar this year. Senior Nick Gliozzo said, “I liked ‘Avatar,’ but it definitely appeals to a mass audience with its special effects and music.” He said that the acting was also a little juvenile compared to “The Hurt Locker,” which he had recently seen. “The Hurt Locker was very believable, and had a better plot which held my interest, it is definitely more Oscar worthy,” said Gliozzo.

“The Hurt Locker” is about a bomb squad in Iraq that handles the intense and difficult job of disarming bombs within the vicinity of Baghdad. If you enjoy thrillers, this realistic and action packed movie is worth seeing.

Leaving the Oscars without one of the nine awards it has been nominated for is doubtful, although there is some stiff competition. Regardless, “Avatar” still holds a place for many as the best picture of the year. Sophomore Jules Bertini, who has not yet seen “Avatar” said, “It will probably win the title of best picture because it made the box office records, and more people saw it than any other movie.” Although ticket sales for “Avatar” are above any other movie, Jules also said. “‘Blind Side’ is definitely the best picture of the year. It has such good acting, and is based on a true story, and will probably win the hearts of a lot of people watching it for the story it is based on. It was Sandra Bullock’s best acting yet.” Sandra Bullock certainly made an impression on many, and has been nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her southern belle impression of the kind-hearted Leigh Anne Tuohy. The 2010 Oscar awards look Contributed Photo promising, and they are coming March 7 from the glamorous world “Avatar” is an amazing film filled of Hollywood. The category for Best with color and humble, loving creaPicture is filled with so many amazing tures that just want to embrace nature movies that the stakes are high for who and the sacredness of the world. The will take home that Oscar. fact that humans are shown as being The Oscars have come a long incredibly corrupt in this box office hit way since it began in 1927 and will is not too far off from the concrete and only draw in more fans with the new suburbia filled lives much of us live in technology and 3-D effects of movies today. like “Avatar.”

Mirror Staff Oscar Picks Best Picture Inglourious Basterds Best Actor in a Leading Role George Clooney Best Actress in a Leading Role Sandra Bullock Best Actor in a Supporting Role Matt Damon Best Actress in a Supporting Role Mo’Nique Animated Feature Film Up Directing Avatar Documentary Feature Food, Inc. Foreign Language Film The White Ribbon Visual Effects Avatar

Tune in on March 7 at 8 p.m. on ABC to see the winners!

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

Arts & Entertainment

Page 16

The Right Bite

a review of restaurants in and around Fairfield

The environment is low-key, the lighting dim and the decoration woodsy following the camping theme. The wait-staff is small, but overall the service is adequate. During the spring and summer they also have outside dining, which is hard to find in town. Upon sitting down, your water cups are filled and you are given a bread basket you will absolutely love (don’t be afraid to ask the busboy for one if he doesn’t bring it to you or you will regret it). It varies a bit every time since the bread is freshly baked every day. Last time I was there, my bread basket consisted of moist zucchini bread, delicious corn bread, and incredibly soft rolls. The bread itself left me wanting more. For starters, I would recommend the North Woods Sampler. It consists of shrimp, chicken, and beef skewPhotos by Mabel del Castillo/The Mirror ers marinated and grilled to perfection, served with honey mustard, horseradish sour cream, and cilantro lime aioli. Or try the Big Bears’ Awesome Appetizer, which combines its most popular appetizers: spinach dip and chips, potato skins and sour cream, fried calamari, fried mozzarella sticks, and chicken wings served with dipping sauces. The food will knock you right off your feet making this one of my favorite restaurants in town. My absolute favorBy mabel del castillo ite thing on the menu is the grilled shrimp wrap. It consists staff writer of grilled shrimp brushed with a garlicky butter sauce and rolled with bacon, lettuce, tomato, herb mayo, and avocado, The weekend is a perfect time to relax from a stressful served on a herb tortilla. week, disengage from Barone, and explore other options. If you are in the mood to try some very distinct sandBear and Grill, located at 2000 Black Rock Turnpike, is the ideal wiches or wraps, they have a lobster roll, a blackened tuna place to go and expect nothing but consistency in their food. club, a crab cake sandwich, a BBQ turkey wrap, and even a The restaurant is designed like a log cabin, so upon enpressed prime rib dip baguette. tering you feel you are in a whole new place. There is ample All their sandwiches are served with seasoned golden seating room on both ends of the hostess booth, which is country sliced fries. You have the option to swap your fries awkwardly located in the middle of the restaurant, as well as for homemade cole slaw or mixed grilled vegetables at no a bar. The menu offers a huge assortment of lunch and dincharge. I love their fries, but their grilled vegetables definer to satisfy everyone’s taste buds. nitely win my heart.

Bear and Grill at 2000 Black Rock Turnpike

The salads are wonderful and very satisfying. For steak lovers, I would recommend the fire grilled steak salad. It consists of sliced NY strip, grilled Portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, diced tomatoes and blue cheese, served over fresh mixed greens and garnished with frizzled onions. The Adirondack salad is also one of my favorites. It includes slices of fresh oranges, strawberries, and pears tossed with endive, arugula, radicchio, pecans & crumbled gorgonzola in balsamic vinaigrette. You also have the option of adding grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, NY strip steak, and/or grilled ahi tuna. Their dessert is delicious as well; one of my favorite ones resembles a s’mores, with a cookie base, ice cream, and roasted marshmallows on top. Whether you want a soup, salad, burger (which are excellent), pasta, sandwich, pizza, steak, fish, ribs, pork chops, or scallops- this is the place to go. I guarantee everyone will leave in hopes of returning as soon as possible.

The grilled shrimp wrap, served in a herb tortilla

Carbon Leaf Performs with Surprise Guest the Alternate Routes By Melissa Mann Arts & Entertainment Editor Contributed Photo

DiCaprio comes face to face with his past ... or does he?

‘Shutter Island’ a Surprise Thrill By Rosemary O’Connor staff writer When one sees a movie preview featuring a woman disintegrating into ash and gnarled old men hollering while leaping at Leonardo DiCaprio, one might believe that such a movie is a horror film. False. “Shutter Island,” based off the novel by Dennis Lehane by the same name, is in fact a psychological thriller. Had I known this fact in advance, I would not have to have been dragged kicking and screaming, to the theatre. Imagine my pleasant surprise to find myself viewing a psychological flick that had me on the edge of my seat and yelling at the screen during parts that outraged me instead. U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) is summoned in 1954 to Shutter Island, a mental hospital for criminally insane convicts, in order to investigate the disappearance of an inmate. Quite predictably, a severe storm traps him there, and he is unable to take the ferry back home to Boston. During his extended stay, Daniels begins to uncover more and more of what appears to be serious abuse of the patients, including imitations of Nazi-esque brain experiments. It also is revealed that the directors of the institution have lured him there because of his own dark past, with which he is still

struggling. If he is to avoid becoming their next guinea pig, he must both outsmart them and let go of the past that still haunts him. DiCaprio’s performance is outstanding. He expertly embodies a trained detective hot on the trail. Just as brilliant is the other side of Teddy: an ex-soldier scarred from witnessing the Holocaust. Still more superb is the wounded man grieving for the loss of his beloved wife and learning to accept her death. The perfect Boston accent works in his favor too. Some plot twists are admittedly and disappointingly predictable. However, the last heart-pounding five minutes and concluding line, delivered almost in a whisper by DiCapario, salvages any dissatisfaction. If a number one ranking and a more than $41 million dollar gross on opening night is not proof enough of a good movie, I don’t know what is. Director Martin Scorsese’s name most likely contributed greatly to the big numbers at the box office, yet he still deserves a pat on the back. He stayed true to the original novel and delivered to the audience an excellent film. He can now add another stellar film to his shelf.

Carbon Leaf finished its tour with Susanna Choffel on Monday night at the Fairfield Theater Company, and it was one of its best performances. I can say this because I’ve seen them a lot. (Borderline ridiculous). And while Carbon Leaf makes sure that each live show is different from their last, Monday night was its best version of every song they have, in a way I’ve never heard the band. Susanna Choffel, a singer/songwriter from Austin, opened for the band, and managed to hold her own. She had an amazing voice and a great guitar, but her songs all felt the same. It felt a little too mellow, and there was nothing in her songs that allowed me to distinguish one from the other. But her voice was distinctive and the talent was obviously there. Carbon Leaf managed to bring back the energy, opening with “Under the Wire” before taking advantage of the intimate setting at Fairfield Theater Company. The band played a few acoustic versions of their songs, which is a testament to how aware they are of their audience and who they’re playing for. They even performed an African spiritual, with no instruments, just the five band members singing in amazing harmony. It was completely unique and well-received. The rest of the show continued in the same fashion, with Carbon Leaf throwing surprises in everywhere they could. Not only did it change the harmonies and instrumental parts in almost every song, but it even led into one of its songs with an acoustic intro of “Over the Rainbow.” Finally, as if it couldn’t get any better, Carbon Leaf returned for an encore — but with the Alternate Routes. Two of the band members, lead singer Tim Warren and guitarist Eric Warren, were in the area/in the audience and joined Carbon Leaf for the final number, along with Susanna Choffel. It was a complete rock-band moment, with everyone jamming on stage at the same time, having a blast. It was entertaining, it was different, it was unexpected. Especially in a setting so small, Carbon Leaf took every advantage it could and made it a worthwhile show for everyone there.

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

Coffee Break | 17

Online Check online every week for answers to our games.

Dear Dee,

Editor Tom Cleary, Chris Simmons » mirrorcoffeebreak@gmail.com

fairfieldmirror.com

I’m a junior at Fairfield and it seems like I don’t meet new people when I go out anymore. I don’t have a boyfriend, which is okay, but I feel like I can’t meet anyone anyway, even if I wanted to. Any tips?

— In a Rut

Dear In a Rut, Finding the right person is never easy. Finding the right person in college is even harder. Most guys at our age don’t want to settle down, (let alone grow up), but this doesn’t mean that there aren’t those great boys who are different than the rest. A wise person once told me to go where I want to go, do what I find fun, and if I happen to meet someone while I’m out enjoying myself, that’s even better (I mean who wouldn’t love to meet a guy who actually wanted to go see Dear John). If you meet someone while you’re doing

Send YOUR questions to deardee@ fairfieldmirror. com

what you love to do, chances are that he loves doing those same things making it one of the many things you guys may have in common. At Fairfield we are pretty lucky because we have many different places to go out not only on campus, but off campus as well. Try mixing up your party scenes. If you usually go to the townhouses, try going to the beach. I guarantee that the more you put yourself out there, the sooner you’ll find that hunk at just the right time (and when you least expect it). Disclaimer: This column is for entertainment only. The author is a student, not a licensed therapist, and this column is not intended to take the place of professional advice. The views expressed are the author’s and are not necessarily shared by The Mirror or its staff.

Coffee Break

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

Page 18

Project Pierre Toussaint must reopen…now. Sadly, the Fairfield University community has been sending a disrespectful message to the people of Haiti: “If your children report that they are being sexually abused by one of us, we will abandon you.” The Jesuits taught me that the service of my faith must include the promotion of justice. Project Pierre Toussaint’s school and drop-in center served the basic needs of hungry, homeless, street kids. We must go to Haiti now to show that we are in communion with the pain and suffering of the victims. We must go to Haiti now to work in “konbit” with our Haitian brothers and sisters to reopen the school. In Haitian Creole, a konbit is a traditional Haitian method of working together to till your friends’ fields as well as your own - a cooperative effort.” Paul Kendrick, ‘72 Advertisement

Any dog lovers out there? Two American Kennel Club (AKC) registered English Bull Dogs are available for FREE!

Please find these puppies a home.... If interested please contact immediately at: d123.johnson@gmail.com or advertising@fairfieldmirror.com

Sports

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

Mirror Sports 3x5 MAAC Tournament Match Game Edition

Tom Cleary Editor-in-Chief

Chris Simmons

I'd suit up for the Stags myself, but after the Olympics, I injured my (blank).

I love Albany. I go there for its (blank)

Sleeper team? I'd call Fairfield a (blank).

Sure, Siena's great. But the Saints are due for a (blank).

Beautiful buildings. Although it is sometimes hard to see them. But at least it's not New Jersey!

Favorite. At least to reach the Finals in both. It's our last year. This time it really is our time.

Fall. The Saints are cocky, too cocky.

Neck. And I wasn't in a bobsled accident.

Threat. To Siena for the men, and to Marist for the ladies. To quote the great Sack, "Big tree fall hard."

Tumble. And it's going to be worse than that time the raccoon got stuck in the copier.

Unfortunate scuba incident. It is like ze story of ze hippo.

Strong Pharmceuticlal school, as evident in the Keith Connors top of its class: Phil Coke General Manager and Manny Delcarmen. Plus our hotel is pager friendly. We'll still have a sig.

Managing Editor

Page 19

Raucous nightlife. Ladies, don't be intimidated, Tom will be saying at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. And looking for a good time.

Flirt. Constantly teasing with potential. Let's see if both teams put out and put away the Tourney.

Loss. If the women make the finals, Keith is wearing his speedo. If the men make the finals, I'm wearing a speedo. That's all the incentive each team should need.

Cerebellum, due to an increase in SoCo intake. Otherwise, there's no way Jackie Moon airballs that shot.

Times-Union breakfasts are great, except Tom always puts butter on his (blank).

I can't tell you. But Simmons sure seems to enjoy it.

Satchel. And, no, it's not a man purse. Indiana Jones has one.

Twaffles. Although he prefers margarine. (And if you don't get Twaffles, think about it. I also hear it's Bob Simon's favorite.)

Can't be in Albany for the MAAC Tournament? Mirror Sports will be there. Follow all the action online at www.fairfieldmirror.com throughout the weekend of March 4-8.

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

Sports

Page 20

This Week in Sports The week that was in Fairfield Athletics

Introducing...

Tom Cleary

Sophomore Maleah Cousineau Softball

Baseball Stags Split Four Game Series with VCU It's not too often that the baseball team starts with early season victories, but this year that trend has changed. The Stags opened up the season with a 7-5 extra innings game on Feb. 26, then dropped a doubleheader on Feb. 27 and finished the series split with a victory on Feb. 28, 6-4. Fairfield rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the ninth inning to take a 5-3 lead, but VCU rallied to tie the game again. On Feb. 28, the Stags were led by a game-winning hit by Marco Garamella, driving in David Dudish and Jason Rago. The Stags return to action on March 7 as they make the trip down to Florida for a five-game stand.

Golf Season Tees-Off at Lonnie Barton Invitational on March 8-9

The Lonnie Barton Invitational at the Savannah Quarters Golf Course in Savannah, Ga. is the spring start of the golf season for both the men's and women's squads. The teams will play in five tournaments each, concluding with the MAAC Tournament in Orlando in April. The men are led by senior Kevin Fitzpatrick (31st in MAAC last season) and the women by Alicia Esposito (5th).

Winter Weather Forecasted Conditions Cause Postponements The women's lacrosse team's game against Quinnipiac in Hamden was moved to March 11 and the men's and women's tennis matches postponed their matches against St. Joseph's, a make-up date has not been announced. The men's lacrosse team also had its game moved to 4 p.m. from 1 p.m.

« The Bio: The Otto, N.C. native is in her second year as the catcher of the Stags softball squad. Her strong arm and powerful bat Cousineau made her an instant contributor, throwing out three base stealers last season. In high school she was a three sport athlete.

«Fast start: Cousineau hit .364 in four games as the Stags went

1-3. In 11 at-bats, the catcher had four hits with a run scored, a home run and a RBI. She was also hit by a pitch. At the UNC Tarheel Invitational, Cousineau had three hits over the two games as Fairfield, including a 5-4 victory over Pittsburgh in 11 innings. Cousineau hit a home run in the top of the seventh inning to give the Stags the lead. « The Outlook: The Stags and Cousineau are projected to be the top

team in the MAAC again this season, but will look to move past the first round of the MAAC Tournament. As a catcher, Cousineau will prove to be an important player for Fairfield throughout the season, both behind the plate and at the plate.

What to Watch for Women's Lax @ Yale

Wednesday, March 3 — Reese Stadium — 4 p.m. After their game against Quinnipiac was moved to March 11, the 1-0 Stags return to action with Kristen Coleman '11 looking to add to her career goals lead.

Sports

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

Page 21

Stags' 'Selective Amnesia' Helps Men's Lax to Win Tough defense leads to 5-3 win over Bryant heading into first roadtrip By Keith Connors General Manager Ask any player on the men’s lacrosse team why the team defeated Bryant this weekend, and you’ll likely hear the standard response: defense, timely goaltending, execution. But as far as the Stags are concerned, the team earned a 5-3 win long before the Bulldogs make the trip from Rhode Island to Alumni Field last Saturday. “I think we had the best week of practice we’ve had Bannon since the fall,” junior defenseman Sean Bannon said. “We played so hard during practice, we competed with everything. If you have a week of practice like that, it is going to show in the game. The cliché is that you play like you practice, and I think that showed this week.” That showing was markedly different from the previous week, especially defensively. In the team’s season-opener against Lafayette, the Stags permitted 15 goals, including sixth fourth quarter goals. A week later, spurred by a strong showing from senior goalkeeper Joe Marra, Fairfield allowed only three goals in the entire contest. “I just thought we really fought and clawed our way to get this win,” head coach Andy Copelan said. “I don’t think it was the prettiest victory, but it was really important to our guys, and you could just see it in the way they prepared this week and the way they practiced.” Specifically, Copelan lauded assistant

coach Kevin Conry, the team’s defensive coordinator, and goalkeeper Joe Marra, this week’s Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Co-Defensive Player of the Week, as one among many of the fundamental differences for the team’s improvement. “I’m really proud for what we did with the defense and how they responded to a not-a-great performance in Week One,” Copelan said. Week Three, however, will bring an even greater challenge for the Stags. Following a game against Villanova this Saturday, the Stags will travel to Houston to play Notre Dame, which currently sits Peter Caty/The Mirror Junior midfielder Ryan Mulford and the Stags earned a 5-3 win over Bryant on Saturday afternoon. at third in the USILA national rakings and is among the country’s best in goals per amnesia,” Bannon said. “You enjoy the ed because “we were better this week than game (11.5). win, and then (this week) we start thinkwe were against Lafayette. The Irish also boast five pre-season ing about Villanova. They say the games “I know it sounds cliché, and we say All-Americans, including senior goalmatter on Saturday, but the whole week, it all the time, but we just have to try to keeper Scott Rodgers, who led the nation whether you win or lose, it starts on that be better against Villanova than we were in goals-against average (6.14) and save Monday because it shows how you practoday against Bryant,” Copelan said. “Aspercentage (.663). tice.” suming that trend can continue, I think we The Stags, however, know that the Wild“If we practice hard that whole week, I have a chance to be pretty special when we cats come first, and before that the same can almost guarantee that we’re going to enter conference play starts when it matweek of preparation that yielded winning play our butts off,” he added. ters the most.” results against Bryant a few days ago. Copelan echoed a similar theme, add“You kind of have to have selective ing that a weekend ago the Stags succeed-

Geehan Leading Stags Continued from page 22 lowing the season. "It's pretty cool. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy, but it's more important to win the Tournament. To win the tournament, Fairfield will have to deal with the same problems they have faced all season. The Stags have been hampered by injuries all season and have been Geehan playing with a six or seven man rotation. "We're not a deep team and it's not going to be easy," said Frager. "It's definitely something we'll have to cope with. If we beat Loyola, we play at 9:30 the next day, not even 24 hours later. Loyola is a talented team and that game could go either way. We just have to take it one game at a time, drink a lot of gatorade, powerade, get something to eat. It'll be a mental and physical grind." But Fairfield has dealt with injuries all season, yet have reeled off seven straight wins. "We're just as banged up, but it's funny, it doesn't hurt as much when you win and you're getting some rewards for your work," said Frager. "Our girls have done a great, great job. Now we just have to take it one game at a time." Geehan, one of three players averag-

ing over 35 minutes a game, didn't use that as an excuse, saying, "Everyone has bumps and bruises this time of year." In Fairfield's two games against Loyola, its first round opponent, this season, the Stags won by three and then by five points. "Loyola's a good team," said Geehan. "I'm expecting a tough game." Frager thought that Loyola could cause matchup problems with its agile post players, but that Fairfield could do the same. "First, I think we need to contest the three and second, they have players like McKenzie who are very good at getting to the rim," said Frager. "We're going to need to be good at help defense." Frager also thinks his team's style of play is well-suited for the MAAC Tournament. His teams are known for tough defense and running multiple sets on offense. "We like to run a lot of plays, our style is tournament style," said Frager. "If you notice in March Madness or the NBA playoffs, play starts to get uglier. And that's our style. We play an ugly style. With the volume of plays we run, it's hard to learn everything we do, but we will put some new wrinkles in." For Geehan, this will be her last chance to win. In her four years, the Stags have never made it to the finals. "It hits you more when you realize it's your last one, but you come into every Tournament wanting to win," she said.

Sports

The Mirror | Week of Mar. 3, 2010

Page 22

Women's Basketball

She said it...

"... I don't know if it was bus lag or whatever, but we played as if we flew to Australia." -Head coach Joe Frager on his team falling behind 17-2 to Niagara before rallying for a 55-41 win in Buffalo.

Game of the week

@ MAAC Championships March 4-7, Times Union Center

Riding a seven-game winning streak into the MAAC Tournament, Fairfield will face Loyola in the semifinals on Friday at 11:30 a.m.

MAAC standings Team

Overall Conf.

Marist 23-7 15-3 Iona 17-12 13-5 Fairfield 17-12 11-7 Manhattan 15-14 10-8 Loyola 14-15 9-9 Niagara 12-17 9-9 Siena 10-17 8-10 Saint Peter’s 11-18 7-11 Canisius 11-18 6-12 Rider 4-25 2-16

Rolling Stags Enter MAAC Tourney as No. 3 Seed By Chris Simmons Managing Editor Three weeks ago, the women's basketball team was in danger of finishing in the bottom of the MAAC and having to win four straight games to win the conference tournament. But seven-straight wins, all against MAAC opponents, have vaulted the Stags into the third seed for the tournament. The No. 3 Stags will face No. 6 Loyola in the semifinals on Friday morning. "Irregardless of what happens in the MAAC Tournament, three-and-a-half weeks ago we were in ninth place, now we're third in the league," said head coach Joe Frager. "I have to give a lot of credit to the girls. The league is such that Marist is the clear-cut favorite and Iona is as talented as everyone, but several teams have a chance to win." This past weekend, Fairfield drove to Buffalo for the Western N.Y. portion of its schedule. After falling behind 17-2 to Niagara, the Stags rebounded to win 55-41 and followed that performance up with a 59-55 win against Canisius to finish the season 17-12 overall and 11-7 in the MAAC. "I would categorize those wins as gutsy wins," said head coach Joe Frager. "They were not artistic in any way, shape, or form. We started slow against Niagara, I don't know if it was bus lag or whatever, but we played as if we flew to Australia. But to come back down by 15 and win by how much we did; that to me was a great, great comeback."

Peter Caty/The Mirror

The Stags celebrate an upset of No. 1 seed Marist, who they will likely have to go through again to win the tourney. Fairfield often failed to close out games during an up-and-down first half of the season, but lately, the team has rebounded from tough stretches to put games away in the final minutes. "It's not that we don't have our moments, but we've grown up a little bit," said Frager. "We've gotten punched in the mouth and we've proven to be resilient. There's no great sports psychology here, we just got tired of having our lunch money taken." Senior Stephanie Geehan agreed that the team came together to win this past weekend.

"We won so that was good," she said. "We had some moments were we didn't play as well, but we came together as a team in the end. We've been sticking to the game plan more, following what coach wants us to do and knowing what to do. We've run our offense better as well." During the weekend Geehan set the MAAC All-time record for blocked shot with her 269th rejection against Canisius. She also became the first woman in MAAC history to block 100 shots in a season. She was also named First Team All-MAAC fol-

Geehan | page 21

Men's Basketball

he said it...

"Everyone says [they are]‘Just ok.’ Well

Cooley and Stags Refuse to Say 'Can't'

you know what, they’re our just okays and if they are just going to be okay, they are our guys." -Fairfield head coach Ed Cooley on Fairfield's role players Colin Nickerson, Sean Crawford and Jama Turner who have stepped up.

Game of the Week

@ MAAC Championships

March 5-8, Times Union Center With just the fifth 20-win season in school history, the men have a good shot at taking home the title and start the tournament with a game against Canisius or Marist.

MAAC standings Team

Siena Fairfield Iona Saint Peter’s Niagara Rider Canisius Loyola Manhattan Marist

Overall Conf.

24-6 17-1 20-9 13-5 21-9 12-6 16-13 11-7 17-14 9-9 16-15 9-9 14-16 8-10 13-16 6-12 10-19 4-14 1-28 1-17

By Keith Connors General Manager In six days, there will be basketball. There will be a capacity crowd at the Times-Union Center, there will be a ticket to March Madness on the line and, just like death and taxes, you can guarantee this: the Siena Saints will be playing. The rest of the script, like most basketball in the month of March, is anyone’s guess. And that really is the beauty of March Madness, an opportune time of the year to embrace clichés, which makes it even more appropriate that the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament, which starts this Thursday night in Albany, opted for a lame, whimsical quote for the tournament – “Where Magic Happens”. Magic may be a bit of a stretch, but it seems as perfect a season as ever to dream of the possibilities, the prospects, the potential. In the years past, the dreams were far different and far implausible. One win in the tournament was realistic. A trip to the semifinals was possible. Anything beyond that was anyone’s guess. And no one knows that more than Fairfield. “Four short years ago they said you couldn’t,” head coach Ed Cooley said. “Anthony and this class have shown you can.” Four years ago, they said you couldn’t even win a game. Four years later, it seems a virtual certainty that the Stags will win at least one. Four years ago, they said the top of the standings seemed as distant as Cooley’s days in uniform at Stonehill. Four years later, the Stags are the second seed and seem poised for their best chance to reach the championship game since the dawn of the Siena dynasty.

Peter Caty/The Mirror

Four years ago, they said the Stags were too reliant on a singular senior. Four years later, the Stags rely yet again on a senior, only he’s far from the only offensive threat, and if last week’s display of dominance – “absolute, absolute dominance,” said Cooley – is any indication, Anthony Johnson isn’t quite finished writing his legacy just yet. “Right now I feel like I am living a dream,” Johnson said. Four years ago, they said the Stags were too green, too young. Four years later, the Stags love that their green, that their young, and that the best is yet to come for Derek Needham, Colin Nickerson, Ryan Olander and the majority of the team. Four years ago, they said the team was too many individuals and not enough collectiveness. Four years later, the head coach uses the word “family” and “community” in

his post-game press conferences as much as he uses “wins” and “losses”. “A bunch of fun kids,” Cooley quipped. “I love being around them, and if you write anything, this is more a family win and that family is our entire community.” Four years ago, they said they were an injury away from disaster. Three years ago, and a season ago, they said the injuries were insurmountable. Four years later, they choose their words more wisely. Four years ago, they said they couldn’t. Four years later, and possibly six days from now in the lion’s den against the defending champions, they might. Go ahead, though. Doubt them, pick Siena, label them as the ultimate underdogs. But if the last four years has proved anything, it’s this: be careful with ‘can’t’.

Sports | 24

Online Coverage of the MAAC Tournament live from Albany, N.Y. Week of Mar. 3, 2010

fairfieldmirror.com

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

Flying High Senior Anthony Johnson and second place Stags win 20th game, prepare for MAAC Tournament See p. 22 for story.

Peter Caty/The Mirror

InsideSPORTS:

Women's Basketball p. 22, Men's Lacrosse, p. 21, This Week in Sports p. 20, Mirror Sports 3x5 p. 19