11/10/2010

Basketball FREE | Take one Week of Nov. 10, 2010 | Vol. 36, Iss 10

The

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The Independent Student Newspaper of Fairfield University The Reflection of Fairfield

Health Center Finds Cutting Hours A Success

By Jamie Gallerani Contributing Writer

A

Peter Caty/The Mirror

Students gathered outside of Egan Chapel on Wednesday for the a Candlelight Vigil in honor of the LGBTQ Community.

Candlelight Vigil: Proving “Princeton Review” Wrong?

By Laura O’Reilly Contributing Writer

G

athered in front of the Egan Chapel, shivering from the wind, clutching a thin white candle, a voice from the crowd suddenly breaks the cold November silence. “May we not just pray for it, but let us act as well.”

The call to action came Wednesday night at the Candlelight Vigil for Acceptance at Fairfield University -- only months after the “Princeton Review” ranked the University #19 on the national list of most unfriendly Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) campuses.

Did the month-long series of LGBTQ events that took place throughout October create a more hospitable climate for Fairfield University’s gay community?

Meredith Marquez, the Associate Director of Student Diversity Programs, believes that the events did have an impact on campus. “Overall, the events were well attended – especially the lecture by Hugo Benavides and the Gilbert Baker event,” the administrator said. “The film series had about 25-40 people at each movie which I was pleased with.”

Walking around campus there are many signs that suggest Fairfield is more open to LGBTQ issues than it is thought to be.

For example, anyone who enters the Barone Campus Center will see a large rainbow flag hanging from the second level.

Also, if a student happened to glance down at his feet

last Wednesday afternoon while walking to class he may have noticed an announcement of the candlelight vigil in bright and multi-colored chalk on the sidewalk.

Many doors in the residence halls have a Safe Space sticker on them, indicating that owner is part of the Ally Network, a campus-wide resource available to students who are in need of support about the their sexuality.

Students say they feel that there is no legitimate problem on campus. After attending the vigil last Wednesday, Kristen Rydberg ’12 and Brittany Jenney ’13 said that they have never personally seen violence or unfriendliness towards the LGBTQ community at Fairfield. Instead of outright violence, they have sensed “an unwillingness” towards the LGBTQ community because it is a topic “not in everyone’s comfort level or not ever talked about.”

Other students grappled with the issue, including Alaina Andreozzi’13, one of the many students recently involved in Safe Space training on campus.

“For the two years I have been at Fairfield I haven’t personally witnessed unfriendliness towards the LGBTQ community on campus,” Andreozzi said, “so my first inclination is to say that it’s merely a stereotype, through Safe Space training I realized that the reality is that up until recently, this stereotype was true.”

“That being said, Fairfield University is making great strides as a community. Change doesn’t happen overnight but we are going in the right direction,” Andreozzi said.

s Brittany Corliss ‘13, a nursing student at Fairfield University, tried to study for her anatomy exam, she had trouble concentrating.

As she attempted to memorize the parts of the body, she was unable to focus due to a stinging pain in her right ear.

She wasn’t sure how worried she should be by the pain and slight hearing loss that she was experiencing. Corliss wanted a professional’s opinion, someone to tell her that her eardrum wasn’t about to burst.

However, unwilling to go to the Emergency Room, and with no other resource to turn to on campus, Corliss had to finish studying and go to bed, worried.

“My ear was hurting, and there was clearly something wrong with it, but not so severe that I needed to go to the Emergency Room,” she said.

All that she needed was a professional opinion but she knew that, “I couldn’t make a 4-hour trip to the ER, because obviously I’m not going to get seen right away,” said Corliss. ­­­­­ Other students at Fairfield have experienced a similar dilemma, since the campus Health Center closed its infirmary doors last year on March 14.

According to Judith Weindling, Director of the Health Center, the two aspects that were at the forefront when the University made the decision to cut hours were the safety of the students, and the ability to allocate resources where the most students could take advantage of them.

Students who find themselves plagued with common ailments in the night have not been the only ones impacted by the shorter hours.

According to one sophomore student, who was transported to the Emergency Room, but requested to remain unidentified, his own trip to the hospital was unnecessary. “[I] could have easily gone to the Health Center, but since the Health Center wasn’t open, they felt like it was necessary to bring [me] to the hospital. It could have easily been solved for

Rating | page 2

Controversy | page 3

Lucas’ Memory Lives on Through Campus Center Elk and More

By Alexandria Hein News Editor

T

Contributed Photo

he Fairfield University community mourns the loss of an alumnus and former prominent member of the administration.

William Lucas ’69, known to the community as “Bill,” passed away suddenly on Thursday, Nov. 4 at the age of 63. Lucas had retired last year from his post of Vice President of Finance and Administration after serving Fairfield for 41 years; his contributions to the University over the years are endless.

“There have been several individuals in Fairfield’s history who already do and will forever rank among the ‘giants.’ “I think most historians of Fairfield will agree that Bill is one of these individuals,” Mark Reed, Vice President of Administration and Student Af-

fairs said in a statement.

“He understood higher education administration broadly. He did more to advance student life and the academic mission of Fairfield than people will ever know,” continued Reed.

Among his list of accolades, he was an officer of the Center for Financial Studies, a member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation, a member of the Advisory Board of the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority.

He is the former Vice President of the Connecticut Hemophilia Foundation and served on the Lay Advisory Board of Mt. Sinai Medical Center. The Fairfield University Alumni Association honored him with Fairfield University’s Distinguished Admin-

istrator Award.

“He was such a good man – one of those ‘behind the scenes’ people to most students but who came to work everyday thinking and working to make the University better for students and all involved,” Reed told The Mirror.

Students will forever be reminded of Lucas’ legacy by the presence of our Fairfield Mascot, Lucas the Stag. Whether it be the one hanging in the BCC, the statue on campus or the one running around his beloved basketball games, Lucas the Stag and Lucas the administrator will always be a part of Fairfield.

The Women’s Field Hockey Team even has a “Stag of the Game,” for the player that receives the most votes. The reward is a toy Stag nicknamed, “Lukey.”

The Mirror | Week of Nov. 10, 2010

News

Father Doody takes part in Fairfield University’s campus Vigil.

How Did Fairfield End Up With This Rating?

Continued from page 1

When asked about the accuracy of the “Princeton Review’s” ranking, Marquez said: “I don’t think that the ranking is fair because I’m not sure what it was based on and so it comes across as very arbitrary. I feel many college campuses still have work to do in creating inclusive, accepting environments but I feel that Fairfield has taken steps to do just that.”

An article on the “Princeton Review’s” website entitled “How to Tell if a College is LGBTQ-Friendly” outlines the standards of a LGBTQ- friendly community. The “red flags” are no LGBTQ center, support groups or anti-harassment policy.

Marquez evaluated Fairfield University using these standards, and said, “While we do not have an LGBTQ center, the issues of LGBTQ students are explicitly stated as the responsibility of the Office of Student Diversity Programs.

We do have support groups including Alliance and the Coming Out, Being Out group, run out of the Counseling Center.

Sexual orientation and gender identity are mentioned in both our anti-discrimination and harassment policy in the

Peter Caty/The Mirror

Res. Life’s Greg Vigliotta stands with Ange Vigliotta

Page 2

Peter Caty/The Mirror

student handbook. It would seem that a school that had only religion, and is very diverse, breaking the stereotype that “1 red flag” as the Princeton Review defines them should not LGBTQ unfriendly schools are both of these things. be listed on the least LGBTQ friendly list.”

Yet, a horrible act of invasion of privacy and homophoAlong with the low ranking for friendliness, “Princeton bic bullying was found on the same campus. Unfriendliness Review” also voted Fairfield University #2 on the list of least and violence can happen anywhere at any time. diverse schools. Providence College #4 and Boston College James Fitzpatrick, Assistant Vice President of Student ranked #9. Both Boston College and Providence also made Affairs, said that while he has noticed a “genuine effort” on the LGBTQ unfriendly list, with Boston College being ranked campus, we still have room for improvement. “As an alum#10 and Providence ranked #18. nus, I’m pleased in the direction the University is going,” he These three schools and a majority of the 20 colleges said. ranked LGBTQ unfriendly are religiously affiliated. UnaffiliAt the Candlelight Vigil last Wednesday night, the ated schools like New York University and Emerson College names of those who have taken their lives due to howere ranked most accepting of the gay community. mophobic bullying were read one by one. As each name Marist College is an independent Liberal Arts Colwas announced, Gabby Pelle ’13 couldn’t help but imaglege located in New York with no religious affiliation. While ine the name of her close friend being added to the list, ranked one of the Best Northeastern Colleges by the “Princjust because of his sexual orientation. eton Review,” it doesn’t appear on either the least diverse or As the tune of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” played LGBTQ unfriendly lists. in the background, Pelle joined 50 other participants at the However, an openly gay sophomore currently attending vigil – students, faculty, and administrators – in trying to Marist College said that while “no one is mean to me, that commit themselves and the school to moving beyond the sense of belonging just doesn’t exist.” This individual, who low ranking and to be a more accepting and open commuasked not to be identified, feels that change will only occur nity. “when you interact with gay people, when you know someone first hand.”

The events at Fairfield University followed in the wake of many tragedies striking the LGBTQ community over the past two months. Nationwide there have been many suicides as a result of anti-gay attacks on individuals. Most recently an 18-year-old Rutgers University student jumped off the George Washington Bridge after a video of him engaging with another man was posted on the Internet.

However, on the Rutgers University website, the school boasts: “Rutgers is listed as one of the nation’s top 100 campuses for the LGBT community in the Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students.”

Peter Caty/The Mirror Rutgers University is a state Michael Moore in attendance at the Candlelight Vigil school, not affiliated with any

The Mirror | Week of Nov. 10, 2010

News

Page 3

Horror in Pakistan at the Hands of Mother Nature

Rubina Shafi speaks to students about devastation in Pakistan.

By Amber Nowak Associate News Editor

W

hen Pakistan was hit this past July by a flood that submerged 1/5 of the country’s land area in water it was all over the news. Pictures of immense destruction to homes, crops, roads, entire villages and cities were featured on television and in newspapers.

And then they disappeared.

Rubina Shafi, an independent journalist who witnessed the devastating effects of the flood came to speak at Fairfield last Thursday about a real-life horror story that has not gone away, even if its media coverage has.

“I think the flood was covered in the first two or three days when it was very serious and then I just stopped seeing news about it,” Shafi said. As a Pakistani-American from the MidWest, Shafi was familiar with the culture and the language. She explained that because Pakistan is such a major name in American politics today, she felt it was important to “bring humanizing images of Pakistan” to the United States.

In her ten days of vacation from Peter Caty/The Mirror work, Shafi ventured to Pakistan independently in order to document the crisis by taking photographs and speaking with the Pakistani people. “I just wanted to go and see it for myself and not have to filter through the news and sort of guess what was going on,” she said.

In 2005, Shafi went to Pakistan for five months to do disaster relief after a major earthquake had hit. Reflecting on this past experience, Shafi commented, “Because Pakistan had just gone through a disaster five years ago, I was really stuck by still how abandoned the place that I went to felt. I

Health Center Controversy

everybody if they could have just brought [me] to the Health Center, because they would have realized that [I] really wasn’t as bad as they thought,” he said.

ER Care as Safety Precaution Although some students may feel that a trip to the hospital is an unnecessary inconvenience. Dr. Mark Reed, Vice President of Student Affairs, does not make the jump from inconvenience to negative consequence.

Although Reed does realize that there are some cases where students go to the hospital and they are not in danger anymore, he also recognizes the chance that they may really be in trouble.

“All it takes is one case,” said Reed, “and I’ll take the inconvenience to prevent the one.” “I sleep better at night knowing that somebody who has had too much to drink is not sitting in our Health Center, but if necessary, sitting in a hospital, in an Emergency Room,” he said.

Sophia Anteneh ‘13, a Resident Assistant echoed that sentiment saying, “You never know what’s gonna happen, because half of the time kids go to the hospital and they send them right back, and half the time they go to the hospital and they spend the night.”

Administrative vs. Student Reaction Although many students may disagree with the decision to shorten the Health Center hours, many faculty and administrators on campus feel that the change has been positive for the students and community as a whole. Not only has the change been positive, but faculty members also say that the change has not been too dramatic.

According to Weindling, the University was averaging 5-6 hospital transports on the weekends when the Health Center was open 24/7, and they’re really not averaging that many more now.

She added that although the Health Center has lost the ability to have students stay overnight, it is a bit of a misconception that students could ever come in and get antibiotics or a prescription in the nighttime to begin with.

Some Fairfield students look at the Health Center’s decreased hours from a moral perspective. “Knowing that the health center was so close, but was unable to help my friend, and knowing that my friend was in a really serious condition, and had to drive all the way to St. Vincent’s Hospital,” said Nargis Alizada’12, “Knowing that that could cause their death I think the situation really seems obscure.”

For some, the fact that the Health Center is now closed at night also raises the concern that students may be unwilling to call for needed help in emergency situations.

According to Anteneh, students might be more likely to get others the help they need if the Health Center was still open 24/7. “It’s a bigger deal to send someone to the hospital. They have to pay for an ambulance ride, their parents get

felt that the government had failed them,” she said.

The largest natural disaster in the history of the United Nations, the Pakistan flood of 2010 directly affected an estimated 20 million people. This is more than the number affected by the South-East Asian tsunami of 2004 and the recent earthquakes in Kashmir and Haiti combined.

In this case, the devastation of the flood is not nearly as great as its aftermath. Food shortages, loss of electricity, inflation, malnutrition, cholera and starvation are just a few of the problems flood victims will face. This, Shafi says, is one of the main reasons why the issue has lost media coverage. “Of course with the news and the 24-hour cycle we need something that’s dramatic and looks good and is flashy. And it’s not right now.”

One of the key points Shafi hoped to relay to the audience through her presentation was the difference between the way Pakistanis lived before the flood hit and now in its wake. Her conclusion: that the people affected by the flood are truly suffering a great loss.

“When you look at pictures of disaster and fallen houses in a third world country that is already poverty ridden it’s hard to figure out from the picture what was it before how did these people live before,” she said. Those who had very little but could still meet their basic needs now have nothing.

The Pakistani people are still in need of attention.

Shafi’s goal is to provide assistance to the millions in distress by bringing attention back to this crisis. Of her contribution to the relief efforts, Shafi said, “There is a certain type of activism that is important, that goes into just documenting and bearing witness to what’s happening.”

Continued from page 1

a call. Nobody wants to deal with that, people are afraid of that,” she said.

While some students may try to avoid repercussions, fear of getting in trouble has not been an important factor for all students.” This year, since the changes have been implemented, residents [have] come to tell me that their friends were sick, and then transported, because they realized that their friend’s medical well-being is more important than whether or not they get in trouble,” said Kelsey Greelish ‘12, a Resident Assistant.

Financial Speculation Not only have the hour cuts brought into question what student response might be in emergency situations, but they have also raised some student speculation that the change was the University’s attempt to save money. However, administrators say that the hour cuts had nothing to do with financial reasons.

According to Weindling, most students actually benefit more since the hours have been cut. When the Health Center was open 24/7, very few students actually took advantage of its resources every night. That wasn’t fair due to the fact that everybody paid the same tuition, but not everybody benefitted from the late health care hours that they were paying for.

Although administrators say the hour cuts had nothing to do with finances, some students are still skeptical. “It always has to do with money,” said Jenna Goldbach‘11. “It’s kind of like an allocation of resources,” she said. “I don’t really know if health is one of those things that you should compromise.”

Although some students may still question the university’s decision to cut the hours, the administration remains optimistic. “I think that every change takes time to get used to,” Weindling said.

Weindling believes that as students become more adjusted to the situation and it becomes, “our routine, and it’s not going to be quite as big of an issue for students.”

How Do We Compare to Other Schools?

There has been much controversy and disagreement about the shortened Health Center hours here at Fairfield, which changed last March from 24/7 service to hours from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. during the week, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on the weekend. However, other Jesuit University websites show that they have similar Health Center hours. Some are not even as long or as flexible as Fairfield University’s.

For example, Loyola University Maryland’s health center is only open Monday-Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Marquette University’s health center is only open Monday -Thursday, from 8:30-5:00, and Fridays until 4:00 p.m.

However, while Fairfield may provide better health services on campus in terms of the days and hours the Health

Peter Caty/The Mirror

Center is open, this does not take into account how the prices of these other Jesuit Universities stack up to the price to attend Fairfield.

The Price We Pay...

In comparison to Fairfield University’s $38,450 tuition, students at Loyola University Maryland only pay $18,975, and at Marquette, only $15,020.

So yes, unlike many other Jesuit universities in the country, Fairfield’s Health Center is open on the weekends for a certain amount of time, and may be open for about three hours longer, comparatively, each day during the week.

However, when compared to some of the other Jesuit universities, Fairfield students are also often paying over $20,000 more in tuition alone to attend this university.

Therefore, many students feel that it is unacceptable that we don’t have around the clock access to health care on campus.

Despite this fact, university officials say that the decision to shorten the hours really had nothing to do with financial reasons. Reed pointed out that the university has been through some difficult financial challenges in the past few years, citing cuts in both staffing and programming.

“If it was a financial decision and we were looking for a reason to make the decision based on finances ... we could have done that a long time ago,” he said.

Although the cut in hours may have no financial impact on the university, they definitely have an impact on students who get ambulatory transportation to the Emergency Room.

Unlike care from the Health Center, which Weindling confirms is given at no actual charge to the students who come in to be seen, ambulatory transport and ER care can get pricey.

According to Veronica Figueroa, a financial counselor in the Admitting Department of Bridgeport Hospital, ambulances charge patients by the mile, and patients have come in with bills of over $700 for the ambulance ride alone.

Not only that, but patients get an itemized bill for every different service while in the hospital, which could include toxicology screenings, blood tests and room charges.

News

The Mirror | Week of Nov. 10, 2010

Campus Crime Beat

Monday, November 1st 11:06 p.m. Smell of marijuana reported

by RA at Campion Hall.

Wednesday, November 3rd 10:30 a.m. Student reported missing key and ID in Bannow.

Thursday, November 4th 3:36 p.m. A laptop on loan from Media Center reported missing from from Oak Room. No suspects so far.

6:64 p.m. Odor of marijuana reported by ACJogues. Dorm searched, no evidence found.

ed by RA. Alcohol found and disposed of.

Students referred to Student Conduct.

1:12 a.m. Residential Life Requested assistance in breaking up a party at the Townhouses. 81 students were found and documented.

5:40 a.m. Male-female dispute in Claver Hall. Female assaulted: male arrested by FPD. Female was given medical attention.

Sunday November 7th 1:56 a.m. Intoxicated underage male in Regis reported

by RA. Referred to Student Conduct.

2:29 a.m. Smell of marijuana reported by RA in Jogues. Student Friday, November 5th referred to Student Conduct. Mari12:33 a.m. Party at Townjuana confiscated. houses reported. Alcoholic viola11:06 a.m. Male student in Campion tions distributed residents were reported items missing from room. Room referred to Student Conduct. was unlocked during incident. *DPS would 2:20 a.m. Male found urinating on Town- like to remind students to lock their doors house. Person identified and documented whenever they are away from their rooms*

by DPS 12:40 p.m. RA in Loyola found glass on 11:08 p.m. Female student argument floor from from broken picture frame. No with male student at Gonzaga reported. suspects found.

Male was found to possess alcohol. Verbal 10:43 p.m. Smell of marijuana in Kostka warning given.

Hall. Source located and two students reported to Student Conduct.

Saturday, November 6th 12:42 a.m. Party in Campion Hall report-

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Corrections Box

November 3, 2010 Issue: P.4

In Crime Beat, “Sunday October 31th” should be spelled “Sunday October 31st.”

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The Mirror | Week of Nov. 10, 2010

Page 5

Wait, What Does That Building Do? A Look Into The Building That Generates Fairfield’s Heat

By Robert Belfiore Contributing Writer

W

here does all the heat on campus come from? The answer lies in a not so well known building on campus. It is located between the Fairfield Prep and Grauert Field and it is called the Central Utility Facility (CUF).

In this building, there are around 15 engineers, mechanics and plumbers that, according to the University website, “Are responsible for all heating, cooling, electrical, plumbing, and water distribution systems, controls, and related services on campus.” Although you may have never even noticed this building, it is the heart of campus. It is the force that allows the campus to be inhabited.

However, the facility is not any regular power plant.

It is a state-of-the-art system that provides nearly all the campus’ electricity and utilizes the waste heat that is generated through this process in order to supply heating or cooling to all of the campus buildings connected to the main campus loop.

The electric plant itself generates an average of 4200 kW of energy. This is comparable to running over 120,000 fluorescent lights. This amount of energy is able to keep all campus functions powered. In a normal facility, the waste heat generated by the production of electricity would be lost in the air.

But in the Central Utility Facility, the waste heat is captured and is pushed through heat pumps and coils until it is fully recycled and ready to be transported through underground ducts throughout campus. The waste heat also heats the hot water used on campus. The facility is best utilized in the cold winter months because this is when 100% of the waste heat is put through the recycling process.

Although the Central Utility Facility was originally completed in 1970, the co-generation system was not commissioned until 2007. The concept arose in 2005 as a result of deregulation and high-energy costs. In addition, the particular unit that the University designed would have an enormous carbon reduction effect. Originally designed by United Technologies, the project itself cost the University about $10 million.

United Illumination (UI), which provides electricity for around 324,000 residents in the greater New Haven and Fairfield areas, provided the University with a $2.3 million grant to aid in the funding of the project. Since then, the project has already paid for itself. According to William Romatzick, the manager of Energy Controls and Plant Systems, the University saves around $130,000 each month when utilizing this superior technology. So what does this mean for the students? Romatzick said, “This system allows the University to keep tuition rates lower. Without it, tuition would be significantly higher.”

The facility isn’t a flawless system, though. Power outages have occurred in the past. According to Romatzick, this is “usually due to a mechanical switch failure as a result of

importing more energy than the system’s capacity.” Other than that minor setback, the facility is also prepared to handle emergency situations.

In fact, the plant is equipped to handle large groups of people in the event of a natural disaster. For this event, the plant could power cafeterias or whatever else was needed.

In addition to this, the facility is also ready for a backup plan in the event that the building itself fails. UI would be able to effectively power the campus in this unlikely event. Under these terms, the University is required to constantly import and purchase at least 100 kW from UI. Another interesting feature of the facility is its ecological footprint. In addition to saving energy on heating, the plant is noted and praised

Cuf | page 6

Peter Caty/The Mirror

The CUF building can be found between the Fairfield Prep Building and Grauert Field on campus.

Come in and see why they're so Special!

2074 Black Rock Turnpike Fairfield CT 06825 (P) 203-870-8444 (F) 203-870-8441

Open Daily Monday-Saturday 8am-8:30 pm Sunday 9am-6pm

The Mirror | Week of Nov. 10, 2010

News

Page 7

Tragic Death of Football Player Reminds Students of Dangers of Skin Cancer

Photo Contributed By Mississippi State Football Team Roster

By Maggie Andrew Contributing Writer

M

ississippi State’s football team lost a budding star tragically last Tuesday, after 20-year-old Nick Bell lost his short battle with a rare form of skin cancer.

The condition of the Bessemer, Alabama native quickly deteriorated after first complaining of headaches in late September. Surgery on Oct. 1 removed a mass on his brain, but by Nov. 1, it was discovered that Synovial sarcoma, a rare form of skin cancer that is, according to the National Cancer Institute most often found in young males, had spread to his lungs, according to The Clarion-Ledger.

Another mass was found on his brain last Sunday, and as doctors were able to remove it, Bell never regained consciousness following the surgery. Bell had redshirted last season, and was only able to play in four games this season,

tallying seven tackles.

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen addressed this devastating loss by remembering Bell’s passion for football.

Mullen spoke with reporters Tuesday night, saying “I know he’s looking down on us right now and I’m sure he’s already been picked for a team up in heaven to play football again the game that he loved.”

Bell’s death calls to attention the startling number of young adults diagnosed with skin cancer. Approximately 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime.

Bell’s is one of the nearly 2-million non-melanoma skin cancer cases reported annually, and while the numbers are staggering, non-melanoma cases are usually treatable if detected early.

Melanoma is much deadlier, claiming 75% of all skin cancer related deaths. The fact that there are rapid increases in the cases of melanoma in young, Caucasian women (3% per year since 1992 according to the American Academy of Dermatology).

Now, with summer tans a distant memory, many teens are looking elsewhere to regain the color they lost. With seven tanning salons within a four-mile radius of Fairfield University, students don’t have to look far.

Not everyone wants to achieve the dramatic faux-glow popularized by the Jersey Shore - some would prefer a healthy, more natural look. The long-term effects of a few minutes in a tanning bed, however, should cause many to reconsider.

Some students justify their brief visits to the tanning salon by comparing it to a few minutes on the beach. When the cold weather keeps us from the Fairfield beaches, why not stop into Beach Bum to save ourselves from the inevitable paleness that winter brings?

But the ultraviolet radiation used in tanning salons is greatly intensified. Even short intervals are the equivalent to hours in the sun.

This stronger version of ultraviolet light, similar to the sun’s rays, can cause serious health risks. Melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, is directly linked to tanning

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beds. It is estimated that one American dies of melanoma nearly every hour.

Less severe than death, eye and skin damage, including cataracts, premature aging, and wrinkles, can result from the use of tanning beds. Ultraviolet radiation can also weaken the immune system, preventing the body from properly fighting off colds and other illnesses.

While tanning booths or excessive sun exposure causes not all cases of skin cancer, the popular trend is highlighting this terrible disease. The recent death of Bell shows just how unpredictable this deadly form of cancer can be.

CUF

Continued from page 5

for its low carbon footprint. Romatzick claims that Fairfield has reduced carbon emissions by ten metric tons. The plant was the first co-generation system of its type built in the east coast. Currently, there are only five other similar systems operating in the northeast region.

Dr. Clement Anekwe, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, praises the Central Utility Facility. “The use of a cogeneration plant is important for an establishment like Fairfield University because the unit cost of energy is much lower than the unit cost from the utility companies.” He added, “This is because in a co-generation power plant, energy that would have been lost in a conventional power plant is recovered and then used for other purposes such as domestic water heating.”

So then, why aren’t schools, hospitals, and businesses lining up to get their own co-generation plant? Anekwe believes that “Lack of information and affordable initial capital to construct the plant might be the problem.”

“Utility companies and the government should do a better job in presenting data and other information to schools and large businesses with regard to the long-term economic and environmental benefits of institutional cogeneration power plants. In addition the government can assist these institutions in obtaining loans at low interest rates for cogeneration power plants.” In our specific case, the university was able to use the prime conditions to their advantage.

News

The Mirror | Week of Nov. 10, 2010

Page 8

The Mirror | Week of Nov. 3, 2010

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24 Hour Lights at the Library: A Bright Idea?

Peter Caty/The Mirror

The DiMenna Nyselius library keeps the majority of its lights on 24 hours a day.

By Peter Caty Editor-In-Chief Whether one is a student, professor or visitor at Fairfield University, there is one building that never ceases to stand out: the DiMenna-Nyselius Library.

Fairfield’s only library was constructed from 1967-68, and after the new addition was added in 2000, it became the secondlargest building on campus, which is topped only by the Bannow Science Center. At 113,184 square feet, the library naturally stands as a beacon on campus, but the reasoning for this is less about the building’s size and more related to its lights.

The library is forever illuminated, day and night, summer, fall, winter and spring; it unofficially serves as the university nightlight, and many Fairfield students have taken notice.

“The university continues to spend

money on expensive procedures, such as the geothermal heating and cooling system in the Jes Res, yet they can’t do something simple like turning off lights,” said Ryan Lee ’11.

As Fairfield University continues to implement its sustainability programs by implementing a co-generation plant, building a closed-loop geothermal heating and cooling system, purchasing local foods, composting waste, and using a hybrid bus for students, it seems they are forgetting that the library is a major energy consumption source.

Saving energy costs in the library is actually more complicated than simply turning off the lights, and surprisingly turning off the lights costs the university more money and energy.

Fairfield University Head Electrician and Supervisor John Tedesco explains how leaving the lights on an average of fifteen hours a day actually lengthens the life of the

bulbs.

“The 3,200 fluorescent light bulbs that illuminate the library have an average life of 5,400 hours, which means we only have to change them every five years,” said Tedesco.

Essentially, if the lights were constantly turned on and off every night the bulbs wouldn’t last as long.

Some Fairfield students were quick to see the catch.

Patrick Shields ’11 said, “wouldn’t saving energy by turning off the lights outweigh the costs of buying new light bulbs?”

Unfortunately for those students like Shields who feel strongly about saving energy through what many would say is common sense; there are other factors involved that overshadow the energy issue.

One of these factors is safety.

“Since the library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said David Frassinelli, the Assistant Vice President & Director

of Facilities Management at the university, “the lights must be kept on in order to provide those students who stay past business hours with a safe and secure environment.”

Frassinelli continued by saying that since most other campus buildings, including Xavier Hall, the Bannow Science Center and the Rec Plex, all have their lights shut down at the end of each day.

One method that the university is pursuing to lessen power usage in the library is through reducing the amount of janitor night shifts.

"While there are plans in the future to take the night janitor shifts down from three to two shifts per night," said Frassinelli, "this change would not significantly decrease the library’s power usage."

Tedesco said that changing all 3,200 fluorescent bulbs in the library to the more efficient LED bulbs is too expensive for the university to pursue now, and even if the LED bulbs were feasible, every fixture would need to be changed to fit the LED bulbs.

However, now that a decade has passed since the LED bulb was still a concept, Fairfield has installed and has plans installed LED bulbs in street lamps in the new Jesuit Residence, the Quick Center parking lot and the Gonzaga, Regis and Loyola Halls.

While the constantly illuminated library may stick out like a sore thumb in a university working on becoming more sustainable, there are small changes being made in the library.

These include using double-sided printing, having easily accessible recycling and moving academic journals from paper to electronic.

Also, the slow phase-in of LED bulbs shows the university can change with the times.

The library may seem like a weak link in an otherwise green university, but the safety issues and the reality of a 24-hour library must be seriously taken into account.

Two Stags Ready To Bring The Red Sea Together

By Dan Leitao Managing Editor

Preparatory High School, were used to cheering and having school spirit.

They hoped that they could bring “The Over 20 years ago, Alumni Hall Bomb Squad” (Fairfield Prep’s cheering was ranked in Sports Illustrated as section) to athletic events at Fairfield one of the toughest places to play University. in the Northeast, noting that the McMahon recounted his first nearly 3,000 fans packed into the Fairfield sporting experience at a soccer Hall were some of the most vocal game, “I saw a large number of students and loyal fans. Now, over 20 years sitting there looking depressed and later two sophomores are trying to we wanted to do something to change bring that dream back to Fairfield, Contributed Photo that. We are used to being in a crowd of on the eve of the largest basketball the loudest and most supportive fans Frank Aquino '13 waves sign in the stands season in Fairfield history. of all Connecticut high school sports, while Frank Aquino ‘13 and Andrew at Prep.” Sometimes while around campus McMahon ‘13, the co-presidents of Stags in the Stands, Fairon a Friday night Fairfield Students can hear the Prep “Bomb field University’s booster club for all sports, have high hopes Squad” as they cheer on their team. for this year. They have now taken the club to new heights After the depressing start to Fairfield, fandom the duo after their successful event earlier this year called Red Sea decided they would begin their own club in the fashion of Madness. It garnered the attendance of over 1,000 students “The Bomb Squad.” They went to meet with athletics with the on a Friday night. Aquino and McMahon are looking to have idea of calling the group “The Herd.” They had never heard of the crowd play an important role both in Alumni Hall and at “Stags in the Stands,” a club that was started in 2007 by FUSA Harbor Yard throughout the season, just like it did many years president Hutch Williams ’08, yet had become defunct after ago. he graduated.

However, it has not been nor will be an easy road for the “We were hesitant at first because we wanted to create two sophomores to get cheering and school spirit back at our own name and were afraid of being attached to somegames. thing that had died out,” Aquino explained. He said that after “There were games last year where we would be the only the meeting they decided to join “Stags in the Stands” and beones standing up and cheering,” McMahon said. “One game came the only two members. A year later the club has reached in particular I can recall, I was standing up trying to rally the 230 members and is continuing to grow. crowd and one girl told me to shut up. I was shocked. I’ve “Last year it was tough going to the games and not having never seen a fan get mad at a fellow fan for cheering before.” the support. Especially as a freshman trying to tell upperclassAquino and McMahon, both graduates of Fairfield men that they should be cheering and going to games. Most

upperclassmen spirit died out after there was no leadership after their freshman year,” Aquino lamented.

But Aquino and McMahon have big plans for this year and began meeting with athletics.

“This summer we started working on plans to get more fans excited and more members,” said Aquino. “Two ideas that came out of this were the stags reward system and Red Sea Madness.” They looked at emulating bigger schools programs such as midnight madness, “yet put a Fairfield twist on it.”

“We were really happy with the turn out and think with another year of planning it can only get better,” Aquino told The Mirror of the Red Sea Madness event. “We think it was a great way to start the season and bring some excitement around the teams.”

McMahon interjected, “We never expected those numbers for our first attempt at this event.”

Their expectations seem reasonable for the most part. “While we understand we are not going to get 1,000 kids at every game, if every student makes the attempt to head over to a game we could come very near that number, especially for big games,” Aquino said, then mentioned a lofty goal.

Said Aquino, “After speaking with Coach Cooley, we want to sell out the last game Mirror File Photo Andrew McMahon '13 of the year against our rival Siena, which most likely will be cheers during a game on ESPN.”

Features

The Mirror | Week of Nov. 3, 2010

Brew Master: Top Tier "30" Beer

Page 10

Coors Original Wins Blind Taste Test

By Jorge Espino Features Columnist

Thirty packs of beer carry a certain negative connotation. The cashier might scoff as you plop the heavy arsenal of cheap beer on the counter. It suggests a night of debauchery and shenanigans. However, there are several alternatives that satisfy your good taste, fill your refrigerator, and conserve your account balance.

Contributed Photo My housemates and I devised a not so intricate blind taste test that compared Coors Original, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Genesee Cream Ale. Although the decision was split, we agreed that Coors Original and Pabst ranked higher than Cream Ale. The criteria responsible for this decision were body, taste, and aroma. We all agreed that Coors had the most pleasant aroma and body, however, one of the tasters insisted that Pabst had the best taste. I was surprised to find that, when poured into a pint glass, Pabst displayed the best head. Although I chose Genesee Cream Ale as my “last resort,” I do applaud it for its price and taste.

The only “light” thing about these beers is the price. At $16.00 to $23.00 per thirty pack, you can certainly afford to drink good American beer. I am aware, however, that

college ladies who drink beer usually prefer light beer. Therefore, when it comes to bingeability, these beers don’t fit into the “party friendly” category.

I rate Coors Original above the others. Pabst is a close second, and Genesee is also close, but definitely third. If you can get over the Hipster stigma that is inextricably associated with Pabst, try it out for price and taste. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, go for Coors Original. Colorado is one of the best brewing states and it certainly shows in each sip.

You can get Coors Original and Pabst at Fairfield Wine and Spirits. Genesee Cream Ale is more difficult to find around these parts, but it’s worth the search. The only place I’ve found that carries it around here is Harry’s on Post Road. So, if you can afford the extra calories but not the higher price, these thirties are great choices and a good change of pace.

Coors Original: Best Aroma, Best Body Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR): Best Taste, Best Head Genesee Cream Ale: Great Price, Great Taste

Melt Worries Away With Meditation

"Boys Don't Cry" The Award-Winning Producer Speaks Out

By Elizabeth Koubek Contributing Writer Notable filmmaker of the award-winning motion picture “Boy’s Don’t Cry,” as well as the 2008 film “Stop-Loss,” Kimberly Peirce is a successful and brilliant woman. As a graduate of Columbia University, she is excellent not only in the film industry but in academia as well.

This past Monday during her visit to Fairfield University, she took a few minutes out of her busy day to talk to The Mirror about her life and accomplishments in a little more detail.

The Mirror: Out of all of your filmography titles, which is your favorite and why?

Kimberly Pierce: Boys Don’t Cry, because it’s about a character that I absolutely love and I was charmed and challenged by. I felt that we were pretty successful at bringing him to life and honoring his memory and helping people understand him more.

TM: Was directing the L word a different experience than directing a film?

KP: Well sure, those characters already exist and the whole production is set up and it’s already cast, I just get to come in, which is actually very very fun. I work with these characters and this world that exist and try to bring a kind of specificity and my style to it, it was really a lot of fun.

TM: Besides your brother, is there anyone else in your family that has sparked your passion for producing pieces related to war?

KP: My mother, being a mother of a soldier, was very influential. My step father was influential because he had a son at war, and also what my sister

went through. I don’t think there are anymore war stories coming out of my family, but definitely my family is going to inspire stories.

TM: If you could describe working with Hilary Swank in one sentence, what would that sentence be?

KP: Having Hilary and Brandon was absolutely a dream come true. Um, I don’t really speak in one sentences [chuckles]. Hilary took the role so seriously and deeply into her heart and because she had the ability to reveal him physically and emotionally. I can keep going but I’ll call that one sentence.

TM: Out of the three main actors in Stop-Loss, who would you say you connected with the most?

KP: I can’t answer that as is because I don’t put them against each other. I am connected to each of them in very strong and deep ways. They each represented a different part of me and pulled different aspects of the story I wanted to represent.

TM: What has been your biggest challenge in the film industry?

KP: Working as frequently as I would like. I would like to be working more.

TM: Really? Isn’t it very time consuming already?

KP: Oh, I’d like to be making move movies, [laughs] not more hours.

TM: You told the New York Times that you gave everything to Boys Don’t Cry and were exhausted. Any advice on how to keep spirits up when fighting for something you believe in?

KP: Continue to believe in it. It is the most important thing that you continue to believe in it

By Loan Le Contributing Writer

Contributed Photo

and that you set yourself up to succeed, so that more than you just believe in it, you find people who know what they are doing, you collaborate with those you collaborate well with and you form productive relationships so that you can keep believing it and building it as the times get challenging.

TM: Do you regret not producing Silent Star?

KP: Well I regret it, but it was not up to me. I regret that it was not made so we’re trying to have it made now.

TM: So you have a plan for it in the future?

KP: We do, yeah. The script is really good we just need someone whose going to want to make it.

TM: Do you have any words of advice for someone else looking into the film industry?

KP: Only get into it if you absolutely can’t do anything else. It will take everything from you, in the best sense. Find the stories that you love and need to tell, find the characters that you love and need to create and learn your craft. Not only do you need to find great stories and great characters, but in order to breathe life into them you need to be at the top of your game and know your craft. That’s a fantastic and fun journey that I feel like I’m on every day.

The program focuses on the Examen of Consciousness, a spiritual exercise promoted by St. Ignatius.

While Scherbarth asks the questions, the attendees have their eyes closed or chin against their chests, retreating into a state of comfort. They can choose to have a conversation with God, but Christianity is never forced upon anyone. Silence in this part of the program is treasured.

On every other Wednesday, students can walk into the 3rd floor lounge of Campion Hall and immediately assume they had just interrupted a cult gathering. All the signs would be there: the dimmed lighting of the lounge; the lit candles centered in the room; and the tranquil and relaxed faces of ten or so people facing one “leader.” They might mutter a quick goodbye and run away.

Despite the looks of it, what actually goes on is the Guided Meditation, which is usually attended by a small group of Campion residents. It is a time of self-reflection when students can get Loan Le/The Mirror Candles are lit at a guided meditation session in away from homework and worries about tomor- Campion Hall. row.

“I think it’s a very close group Students are free to discuss what and [provides] a safe environment to is on their minds, be it a worry or share thoughts,” Jennifer Estanislau, personal opinion. They talk about the who was a newcomer to the Meditahurried lifestyle that they have adtion on Wednesday, remarks about opted since the beginning of college. the close knit setting.

Some express their concern Mass is offered for all Resithat they will miss important things dence Halls, but only Campion has because they are preoccupied with it every other week. little, trivial worries. Others discuss “I needed a program for stuGod and His guidance in their lives. dents that could run on that week The session ends with a mowe don’t have Mass,” said Caroline ment of silence until everyone stands Scherbarth, Pedro Arrupe Minand stretches. The lights go back on ister. “I think Mass speaks to the and like a switch, students become Catholic students in the dorms, but animated, and the room is filled with I wanted something besides Mass laughter, chatter, and the tantalizing to speak to a broader population of aroma of delicious pizza. all faiths—or no faiths at all.”

The relaxation of the students Scherbarth opens the program is tangible and contagious, and this with songs that invoke positive goes on for long time until the numfeelings and encourages students. ber of participants slowly dwindles.

At the Nov. 3 session, she played Scherbarth is left to rearrange the “Little Miss” by Sugarland on her furniture while having a chat with Mac laptop. Students, quiet and the remaining students who, after the somber, listened to the lifting lyrsession, always procrastinate in doing ics of “it's alright, it's alright, it's homework and sleeping. alright/Yeah, sometimes ya gotta “I love how we have a pretty good lose 'til ya win”. size group,” Scherbarth said. “We are After, students are asked to more comfortable with each other…I reflect on the good (“At what time hope in the spring semester meditation did you feel most alive?”) and bad will become a weekly event.” (“When did you feel the life draining out of you?”) parts of their day.

The Mirror | Week of Nov. 10, 2010

Online Check our website for more Arts & Entertainment news.

Arts & Entertainment| 11 fairfieldmirror.com

Editor Andoni Flores » entertainment@fairfieldmirror.com

How Taylor Swift Stole Our Hearts and Wallets

By Lindsay Maida Contributing Writer

On the morning of October 25, Facebook statuses around the nation referred to Taylor Swift as a “lyrical wordsmith” and “country music revolutionist.” People of all ages, guys and girls alike, bombarded stores, eager to get their hands on Taylor Swift’s new, highly anticipated album, “Speak Now.” Selling over a million copies in the United States during the first week, “Speak Now” became the fastest selling album in the past five years. To put this in perspective, Swift’s previous hit album “Fearless,” released in 2008, sold close to 600,000 copies in the first week. It goes without saying that she is becoming more and more popular as time progresses.

So what exactly is it about Taylor Swift that makes her loved by people around the world? Is it her impossible-to-mimic wavy hairstyle or her “small town girl” image?

The clear answer is that she speaks through meaningful lyrics in her music.

Unlike Lady GaGa, Taylor Swift writes about more than just wanting to “take a ride on a disco stick.” She discusses a wide range of feelings and thoughts that ordinary people have, which include: guy problems, girl problems, stories of love, stories of revenge,

shy teenagers going unnoticed, popular teenagers having it all, happiness, sadness and everything in between. Because of the many approaches that Swift takes in writing her lyrics, she is able to cover just about every emotion that typical teenagers can relate to. Everyone seems to find a certain memory or person that reminds them of each individual song.

Taylor Swift transformed the world of country music by adding flares of pop into her songs. Country lovers favor lyrics that tell a story that builds throughout the song.

Pop lovers favor a catchy chorus and a beat that people can dance to. So why not combine these two genres? Well, that’s exactly what Taylor Swift has done.

“Speak Now,” one of the most anticipated albums in 2010, is definitely living up to its expectations. Exactly why were people so anxious for the release of this new album?

Released in 2006, her self-titled album caught on well among fans. “Fearless” was and even bigger hit when released. However, she did not have nearly the number of fans in 2008 that she has today.

Since Swift was a relatively new artist at the time, thousands of fans ran to the store in the first week to purchase her album.

Throughout the following few years, more fans caught on to her music and fell in love with “Taylor Swift” and “Fearless.”

Top Picks

Contributed Photo

Therefore, when word spread that “Speak Now” was being released in October, there was an even greater amount of buzz in anticipation.

It has also been noted that many of the songs on “Speak Now” are about Swift’s past love interests. For instance, many lyrics in “Dear John” have suggested that the song was written about her relationship with John Mayer. It’s no wonder people were anxious to listen to her album! People want to hear about Swift’s true feelings about her love life,

especially if they pertain to other celebrities.

The singles that were released off “Speak Now” beforehand attracted fans very effectively. All of her singles, especially “Mine,” gave a good taste for what the album was to become. By releasing singles in an orderly manner, the audience remained involved in her music and became even more excited for the album to be heard in its entirety. So, when October 25 rolled around, instead of thousands of fans running to the store, millions of fans did.

Fairfield U Gets High Off Jim Breuer Fumes

By Loan Le Contributing Writer

Stags flow is an up and coming music site that brings you today’s hottest new music and introduces you to new artists you have never heard of. It provides music to not only Fairfield University students, but to college students across the country .

By Sean Bannon Stagsflow.com 1. Chiddy Bang – Dancing With The DJ Chiddy Bang is back on the list after creating another remix that you can’t stop listening to. This time, Xaphoon Jones samples The Knocks’ beat “Dancing With The DJ.” Xaphoon adds his signature style to the beat and Chiddy provides two head bumping verses.

2. Jalil Lopez Feat. Rick Ross & DJ Khaled - America’s Most Wanted Jalil Lopez is a newcomer to the R&B scene. His newest single is “America’s Most Wanted,” and it features Rick Ross & DJ Khaled. Great combination of Rap and R&B. Rick Ross provides solid verses and Jalil unleashes great vocals that are going to put him on the same level as Jay Sean and Jason Derulo.

3. Quincy Jones Feat. T.I., B.o.B., Prince Charlez & Mohombi - Sanford & Son (Prod. By RedOne) The past is joining the present. This track comes off Quincy Jones’ upcoming album, “Q: Soul Bossa Nostra,” which refers to Jones’ 1962 release “Soul Bossa Nova.”

This album celebrated Quincy Jones’ legacy. This track is unreal, as it adds the contemporary sounds of T.I., B.o.B, Prince Charlez, and Mohombi.

When a comedian whose professional credits include a long running stint on Saturday Night Live, a starring role in stoner comedy film “Half-Baked,” and a published book titled “I’m Not High,” comes to Fairfield University for a show, you just have to go.

Using his former (maybe?) marijuana usage experiences and role as a dad of three young girls as the butt of his jokes, Jim Breuer has a natural presence on stage and never fails to induce laughter from the audience. Even from a distance, Breuer looked like a likable guy. Sweater, jeans and sneakers, you could tell he was comfortable and in his zone.

Nearly all of Breuer’s act is based on storytelling, and it’s a style that suits him well. Breuer was charismatic in his performances, and all of his stories were accompanied by noises and physical comedy.

The jokes he told were R-rated at the least.

He talked about the time he decided to smoke a joint and hosted 50,000 people in his trailer on the “Half-Baked” set, and how he proceeded to film an additional scene for the movie while completely out of his mind.

He gave the Fairfield University students advice about their sex lives and wisely told them, “If you do it right, [sex] should sound like whales…it’s never meant to sound like a construction site.”

The comedian wasn’t afraid to use his microphone stand as a prop for his story-telling either.

Breuer vacuumed the stage, sword-slashed and stabbed, and even helped give birth to his child with the stand.

Breuer didn’t rely only on practiced jokes; he improvised too—especially when it came to connecting with the audience. When heckled by an audience member because of his own unique laugh, which never failed to follow each of his jokes, Breuer wasn’t afraid to fire back with another witty joke.

“His contagious laugh kept my interest throughout the show,” said Eric Lynch ’14.

One of the most prominent jokes was his own appearance. “Most people say I look high, and hon-

estly, I don’t deny it,” said Breuer, to which the audience clapped heartily in response. He went on to say that, unfortunately, his 7-year-old daughter seemed to have inherited his looks.

The best quality of his performance had to do with the honesty and clichés that the audience just knew were true. When comedians tell jokes, they use imaginary characters or common stereotypes. But unlike most comedians, Breuer seemed to be able to tell the truth with his jokes.

He does have three daughters. He made jokes about his 86-year-old father crapping in his pants, and it turns out that he does have an 86-year-old father, who once joined him on tour.

And, as he kept on telling the audience, and from the looks of his headshot, Breuer really does look high.

The Mirror | Week of Nov. 10, 2010

Arts & Entertainment

Top Picks Continued from page 11

Page 12

Fans of Weezer offer them $10 million to break up

4. Tayyib Ali Tayyib Ali is an 18-year-old artist from Philadelphia, P.A. With well over 150,000 YouTube views on his first 3 singles off his most recent tape, the young artist has been creating quite a buzz in the hip-hop world. “Kid Again” is my favorite track off the new college artist’s mixtape. This song illustrated Tayyib’s talents as a lyricist over a catchy beat. You will definitely have this song on repeat.

5. Jacob Latimore - Like Em All feat. Diggy Simmons Jacob Latimore is a triple threat. He can sing, dance and act. This song features two of the new younger artists on the scene. The 13-yearold provides unreal vocals and produces an extremely upbeat track. The song also features a slick verse from rapper Diggy Simmons, who you know from “Run’s House.”

6. Matt & Kim – Good For Great The duo that brought you “Daylights” is back with their new single “Good For Great,” an alternative track of their new album “Sidewalks.”

“Sidewalks” is the ultimate feel-good music.

“Good For Great” illustrates Matt & Kim’s happy and infectious pop material. Don’t be surprised if mash-up DJs across the country incorporate this song in their tracks soon.

7. Jessica Mauboy – Dance It Off (feat. Akon) Jessica Mauboy continues to deliver radio worthy pop hits. This time she teams up with Akon on a track produced by David Guetta.

This track didn’t make her sophomore album “Get ‘Em Girls,” but is cool upbeat dance song.

Every girl will want to have this song in her iTunes.

8. Enrique Iglesias - Tonight (Feat. Ludacris) Enrique has revitalized his music career. “I Like It” has been a monster radio hit. I expect nothing less from “Tonight.” Produced by DJ Frank E and expected to be the on the US rerelease of his new album “Euphoria,” this track will appeal to boys and girls alike and is a sure club hit. This is a track you will definitely be bumping to at parties.

9. Hyper Crush - Kick Us Out (Prod. By The Cataracs) Hyper Crush is a band from Los Angeles, California. It consists of Donny Fontaine, a rapper, Holly Valentine, a vocalist and Preston Moronie, a DJ/keytarist. On their newest single “Kick Us Out,” the electro-hop trio now acquires production from the sky high Cataracs (most known for producing and featuring on Far East Movement’s #1 single “Like a G6”).

It’s another cool dance track that will get you off your feet.

10. Mansions on the Moon - Satellite (MotM x Deadmau5) “Satellite,” Mansion On The Moon’s own pulsing interpretation of Deadmau5’s “Strobe,” is straight off their mix tape “Paradise Falls,” Mansions on the Moon is an electronic dance music duo. They just made a new mix tape hosted by Diplo, with features from Deadmau5, DJ Benzi, Big Gigantic and more. This is something you are going to want to have.

11. J McCoy feat. B.o.B - Can’t Let U Get Away J McCoy and B.o.B complement each other by creating a dynamic song in “Can’t Let U Get Away.” J McCoy is another rising artist in the game. He is certainly going to jump-start his career by teaming up with B.o.B, who is considered a jack-of-all-trades. B.o.B is a musician, rapper, singer-songwriter, producer and guitarist. This song is going to be an absolute hit on the radio.

winniecooper.net

By Thomas Shea Contributing Writer Fans of Weezer, consider your message received. The alternative rock group was offered $10 million, which he planned to raise, by a Seattle man to break up and never make another album again. That would not be so bad if the notion wasn‘t so widely supported by their own fans. Let me repeat that last part: their own fans want them to stop making music. Wow. To my knowledge, fans of other bands in history have never been so desperate. But, after almost fifteen years of mediocrity and so-so albums, who can blame them? Yes, Weezer was huge in the nineties, as their first two albums, “The Blue Album” and “Pinkerton,” are generally regarded as must-haves for nineties rock fans.

However, since then their albums have not sold as well, and none have received higher than mixed reviews on any music critic site.

The fact that they have completely changed from alternative rock to more of a pop-rock group hasn’t helped.

The group has said that they will remain together despite the offer. Drummer Patrick Wilson responded jokingly that if “they can make it 20 [million] we’ll do the ‘deluxe break up’.” Lead singer Rivers Cuomo did not take it as lightly, reassuring fans that “no amount of money will stop us from being together,” and they still plan on releasing more albums. As for the money, 1% has been collected, equating to $100,000. The man who started the movement, James Burns, stated that the money will be donated to a good cause.

To give Weezer a break, perhaps this theory could be applied to some other bands that just need to be told to stop. We all know the type: Once beloved in our eyes, we may now be better off taking the Old Yeller approach and putting these bands out of their misery. The longer they’re around, the longer we suffer. In no particular order, here are some of the more dire cases:

than that. Yikes.

Smash Mouth:

Steve Harwell and company jumped onto the scene in 1997 with their hit single “Walkin’ on the Sun,” and followed that success in 1999 with everybody’s favorite feel good, fun song “Allstar.” But since then, all they have been able to do of note is their cover of The Monkees’ “I’m a Believer” that was featured in the movie “Shrek.” The band is still together and recording albums, but listeners are no longer believers in this washed-up band.

Backstreet Boys:

The Jonas Brothers of the nineties, they were the heartthrobs of every pre-teen and teenage girl, and every girl had her favorite one. You couldn’t turn on MTV without seeing “I Want it That Way” or “Larger Than Life,” and A.J. constantly wearing a hat. Since the release of “Black & Blue” in 2000, the group hasn’t matched that success, and the ADD-like attention span of teenage girls has well moved on over the years. Though one member has moved on, the rest are committed to making music, holding out hope for a time when they can all come together again. With any luck, Backstreet Boys won’t be back, and I would be alright with that.

“They can make it 20, we’ll do the ‘deluxe breakup”

-Drummer Patrick Wilson

Good Charlotte:

The style of music just doesn’t match the people singing it. This goes for you too, Simple Plan.

You both talk and “sing” (more like complaining with some harmony and guitars) so much about teenage angst and getting laid, but there’s one thing you’re forgetting: you’re old. Let’s look at the ages of the lead singers for each group: Joel Madden of Good Charlotte is 31, as is Simple Plan’s Pierre Bouvier, and Jeff Stinco, the lead guitarist for Simple Plan, is 32. That means his intended audience is half his age, and most are probably younger

The Rolling Stones:

Listen up, Mick Jagger. We don’t know why Ke$ha says she would kick other guys to the curb unless they look like you. You’re too old to be out there running around on stage. Granted, you still can rock pretty hard, but it’s fair to say that most people go to your concerts on the off chance that it could be last time the entire group can get on the actual stage without needing help. At the very least, stop labeling every tour the “Farewell Tour,” because you’ve been saying farewell since the Nixon administration. The combined age of the group members will be 268 years when they launch their “final” farewell tour next year, which also marks their fiftieth year together. Other aging bands should take note as well: The Who, Beach Boys, and of course, Cher.

Britney Spears:

Yes, the last album was rather popular, and yes, she still has loyal fans. But most of America stopped caring when she got married, then divorced hours later, then married to Kevin Federline, which shockingly ended in divorce a few years later. It’s hard to say that the quality of her work has dropped off drastically, and she is certainly not too old to perform. But after the fiasco surrounding the care, or lack thereof, for her children came about, her reputation took a major hit. And once somebody shaves her head in order to beat a drug test, as Britney did, it’s basically over.

Arts & Entertainment

The Mirror | Week of Nov. 10, 2010

Page 13

The Mirror | Week of Nov. 10, 2010

Arts & Entertainment

Page 14

Disney Star Quits Tour and Enters Rehab

By Danica Ceballos Contributing Writer

As college students, we can agree that everyone becomes stressed and overwhelmed at times. This is not unusual and is generally accepted. One must question, however, at what point can one claim that he or she is experiencing “emotional and physical issues” and what leads to these problems?

According to CBS News, it was confirmed on Monday, November 1 that Disney Channel singer/actress Demi Lovato did just that.

Lovato’s representative claimed that after dinner with her family and tour members, the Disney star and some of her friends went out for the evening. The next day, Lovato’s stepfather questioned her actions from the night before.

Lovato quickly accused one of the dancers on tour with her of giving her stepfather information. It was said that this led to a minor physical altercation.

After realizing that her actions were not inappropriate, Lovato decided that she needed to seek treatment. She claimed that her past experiences with bullying, eating disorders and self-mutilation are negatively impacting her life, and that she needed to take personal responsibility for it.

According to her representative, Lovato will not be continuing her tour with the Jonas Brothers, “but is looking forward to getting back to work in the near future.”

This all began about two years ago when Lovato was accused of self-mutilation; however, her publicist quickly denied such a claim and stated that the marks on her wrist were simply the result of bracelets.

Recently, Lovato wrote a letter to bullied victims and explained, “I was bullied in middle school. It got so bad that I chose to leave and be home-schooled. Many people think of bullying as getting beat up in school, but it is so much more than that. For me it was all of the verbal harassment I had to deal with. People say sticks and stones may break your bones but names can never hurt you, but that’s not true. Words can hurt. They hurt me. Things were said to me that I still haven’t forgotten.”

Left: Lovato at a Padres Contra El Cancer (Fathers Against Cancer) event in September 2010. Above: Lovato in her first TV appearance as a member of the cast of the seventh season of “Barney.” Right: Her head shot as “Angela” on “Barney.” Below: Lovato with the Jonas Brothers in “Camp Rock.”

Despite the idolization that celebrities receive, Lovato’s statement asserts that celebrities experience the same problems as everyone else.

Days after the news of Lovato’s admittance into rehab became public, Lovato’s parents commented in People Magazine, “Our entire family appreciates the outpouring of support we have received from Demi’s fans. We are touched by their kindness.”

Lovato is in a rehab center for adolescent women with emotional problems. Her release date has not yet been decided and will depend on her progress.

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The Mirror | Week of Nov. 10, 2010

Opinion

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editorial

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Opinion | 15 Editor Elizabeth Connors » opinion@fairfieldmirror.com

Stags are a Sure Bet

Peter Caty | Editor-in-Chief Annie Rooney | Executive Editor Dan Leitao | Managing Editor Elizabeth Connors | Opinion Editor

Where Is The Variety?

Registration is almost like the Christmas time of the school year. Although not available anymore, the yellow course booklets distributed were the registrar’s own version of the Toys 'R' Us Big Toy Book.

Students went to town on those books circling, highlighting and ranking their favorite classes that they just “had to have.” Except instead of sharing the long Christmas list of wants and needs with our parents we share this college list with our advisors who provide a little more criticism after running a degree evaluation.

Every student here knows that in order to graduate you need to pass 38 classes and obtain 120 credits. Even without completing the math core requirement you can calculate that the requirements are met by taking five 3-credit classes each semester.

But apart of those requirements include two natural science classes, two history classes, two religion, two The men's basketball season kicks off with a game against cross-town rival the Sacred Heart Pioneers at Mohegan Sun casino this philosophy…the list goes on.

Saturday. For more coverage check the insert in this week's Mirror. Have an opinion? Send it to opinion@fairfieldmirror.com.

Science is a drag and forget about those challenging history courses that pull your GPA down LETTER TO THE EDITOR no matter how hard you search ratemyprofessor. com for that easy class. The intellectual snapshot of college where students enjoy studying challenging subjects, come to lecture halls early for class and read novels beneath the largest trees on campus, is packed away in our high school photo album as we To the Editor: Mexico, working to build a school for children who were sit through our boring and required calculus class. eager to learn, and distributing food to people who were We understand that it’s not always possible to Inspired by last week’s editorial, I decided to voice my literally starving. Many students have gone on similarly take a course you’re interested in. It’s not fair that thoughts about something that has irked me for a while amazing immersion and service trips before, so this does we skip or fall asleep during the classes that cost us now. Over the years, hearing multiple students’ complaints not make me special. almost $50,000 a year, but the core is what makes about the parking situation on campus has really underBut I want to point out how easy it is to get too Fairfield University unique and each student has the scored to me the value of putting things into perspective. comfortable within our own lives and to adopt a ‘woe is chance to make the best out of each requirement.

Yes, it is unfortunate that students are given tickets for me’ attitude whenever we are slightly inconvenienced by What Fairfield COULD do to encourage the trying to park close to where they live and have class. Yes, it something. We would enjoy our lives infinitely more if we English majors to enjoy science subjects and vice is unpleasant to have to walk to class in cold weather, espe- understood that we do not have it so bad after all. versa would be to introduce a variety of core classes. cially if you live in the townhouses. Yes, it is inconvenient The State of the Village Report, which examines the It would be nice to see an interesting science classes for those Village residents, who leave early in the morning world as if it were a village consisting of 100 people, preslike “Brewing 101” or “Chemistry of Perfume.” for internships, to have to walk to the Regis or Jogues parkents us with the following facts that are worth keeping in The University of California at Irvine offers a ing lot in order to reach their cars. mind: “If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your course called ‘The Science of Superheroes,’ and a As someone who protested the expansion of the Quick back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are more University of South Carolina professor is planning Center parking lot last year, I despise the fact that trees had comfortable than 75% of the people in this world. If you on teaching a course called ‘Lady Gaga and the to be removed, especially to make way for a space that rehave money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change Sociology of Fame.’ Georgetown University, a fellow mains vacant most of the time. I believe there are smarter in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the Jesuit school, has ‘Philosophy and Star Trek’ Spok ways to allocate parking on campus, and it is certainly world’s wealthy. If you can read this, you are more blessed vs Descarte doesn’t sound as boring as simply Desvaluable to continue to have discussions among administhan the over two billion people in the world who cannot carte. Maybe if Fairfield spiced up the core a little trators, staff, and students about how best to improve the read at all.” bit, not only would their students look forward to current model.

Not being able to park somewhere on campus may meeting the requirements but the professors might However, I am not writing to offer any solutions to the seem like the end of the world, but do not let it prevent you enjoy creating a new syllabus. parking situation, or to tell you that you are wrong for voicfrom realizing what truly matters in life.

After all, college is about learning and enriching ing your concerns. I simply want to remind you to choose our lives. Fairfield’s goal is Cura Personalis educatyour battles wisely.

Sincerely, ing the whole person. That is much easier to accomWe often forget how fortunate we are to attend an Zachary Gross ’12 plish when core classes are exciting and something institution like Fairfield. This was made abundantly clear we want to learn about then something we are sufto me last summer when I spent seven weeks in southern fering through just to get a B.

Stop Talking the Talk; Walk

Basketball

Registration

Fairfield basketball season is officially starting, so get your red shirt and face paint out and be ready to cheer!

Show support for your Stags and make the trip to Harbor Yard. There's even two games being played at Alumni Hall this year and we expect the red sea to be out in full force.

Registering for classes is never fun and we don't expect this year to be any different.

Whether getting a late time slot or being blocked out of all your backups, it's sure to be a frustrating experience. Stags Down also acknowledges seniors who are registering for the last time. It's just another reminder we don't need that our time at Fairfield is quickly coming to an end.

The Mirror welcomes the opinions and contributions of its readers: Letters to the editor must be timely and submitted in person at BCC 104, or by email at opinion@fairfieldmirror.com All letters to the editor that are appropriate will be published either in print or on www.fairfieldmirror.com

Notable and Quotable "Only get into it if you absolutely can’t do anything else. It will take everything from you, but in the best sense. "

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Letters should not exceed 500 words.

- Filmmaker Kimberly Peirce's advice to students looking to break into the film industry See P. 10 for the full interview

The Mirror | Week of Nov. 10, 2010

Opinion

Page 16

------Sophomoric------

Chunky Monkey Comfort Celeste Tallarico Contributing Writer Photos by Elizabeth Connors/The Mirror

The amount of restricted parking zones may be part of the reason why Fairfield issues such a high number of parking tickets.

Breakups are hard on everyone.

In personal experiences, with recent and past boyfriends and hookups— whatever you want to call them— getting dumped or dumping someone is never easy. Breakups often derail us from our given course. That house with the white picket fence and red door you already picked out slowly starts to become just a blurry vision of what could and should have been. Once that vision starts to blur, we find ourselves shrinking, and the light at the end of the tunnel seems a whole lot further than we thought it was.

The campus and our hometowns become a maze filled with trap doors.

Restaurants, t-shirts, songs, and movies—things that we once called our favorites—now cause us to cringe at the sight of them. Our entire lives become a land mine, where at any moment we could step on a ticking time bomb, releasing a deadly explosion and causing us to break down.

How is it that girls tend to fall apart at the seams after being dumped, while guys can move on within four days?

Why is there always that one girl who completely ruins a perfectly good guy for the next girl?

After a breakup, filling the void of not having something is hard and often times we look in all the wrong places.

Our bank accounts and our dignities are the ones that often take a serious hit post-breakup.

Filling the void of a former flame will neither come in the form of a new necklace, nor come from the warmth in your bed from some random guy you met at a party. But veering off our moral course every now and then can be a good thing. Our moral consciences seem to take a back seat after a breakup, and nursing our wounds with cheap vodka and a new shirt may seem like the greatest idea we’ve ever had. Just remember that picture of you dancing on a table at the ski house will end up on Facebook.

What if this time instead of reaching for our bank cards or the nearest lacrosse player, we reach for the carton of Chunky Monkey in the back of our freezers and a friend to cry to? After all, our friends are the ones who are there to pick up the pieces after your latest flame crashes and burns.

Instead of trying to fill a void that essentially will never be filled until we allow ourselves to move on, what if, just once, you allow yourself time with a new girl from your month abroad in Spain or the first boy to make you laugh since you’ve been dumped?

Are we in constant search of someone or something to fill the void?

Or have we completely forgotten how to wallow and accept that at the end of the day we need to keep moving on?

Ticked Off By Parking Tickets

By Christopher Tecchio Contributing Writer

9,354. That was how many tickets the Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued during the 2009-2010 school year. The number is up by 16 percent from the previous academic year’s 7,851 tickets. In an eight month period at 30-days per month, DPS issued an average of 39 tickets per day, a shocking statistic to most of you, I would assume. I alone found it shocking, based upon an experience this past summer I had as an intern auditing small municipalities in New Jersey. I audited a few police departments and don’t recall any of them issuing more than 5,000 traffic tickets. I’m guessing there must be a lot of reckless vehicular behavior going on at our University.

What is the purpose of issuing so many tickets to faculty, staff, and students?

Well, the obvious reason is this: Fairfield University is a pedestrian-friendly University, so it has strict driving and parking rules to ensure pedestrians are safe and not inconvenienced by drivers. Unfortunately, the only way people learn their lesson is when they are hit where it hurts the most: in their wallets.

So, the school isn’t concerned about the money, right? I mean, the school has DPS

issue tickets for the benefit of its pedestrian community, but, as sweet as it is to earn a little revenue doing it, the collection of the traffic/parking fines has no subsequent goal behind it. The money goes into a University general fund, from which DPS receives none of it directly.

Yet, the dollar value of the tickets billed or collected for the academic school year of 2009-2010 was $132,889. Doesn’t this seem excessive? So, I got to thinking about what the money should go toward. A lot can be done with $100,000 and more. I believe the money should be reinvested in the same area it was taken from. Earn it from transportation, spend it on transportation.

I know what the students want: a new student parking lot or a parking garage.

There is not much open land left on campus to meet this demand. The school would have to build up toward the sky. Realistically, we are not going to see an increase in student parking any time soon. After all, Fairfield is proud of the ranking it receives from the Princeton Review year after year for having one of the greenest campuses. If the sophomores get their parking privileges back, it invites another 500 cars on campus, which would be taking a step backwards in Fairfield’s environmental strategy.

Here is what I think should be done with

the $132,899 earned from traffic/parking violations last school year. Give us back our campus shuttle. Fairfield owns two hybrid shuttles, so one can be used as the town shuttle and the other for campus. I estimate there will be no more than $50,000 in employee/labor expenses and under $10,000 in gas and maintenance expenses for two semesters.

Fairfield should also expand the town shuttle’s destinations, or, better yet, have two town shuttles—one that runs on Post Road from the Stop & Shop to Robeks, and another that runs on Blackrock Turnpike and the Trumbull Mall. Buy another hybrid shuttle.

Use the money collected last year (minus the costs mentions above to reactivate the campus shuttle), and just wait until next year to begin the new shuttle routes when you can use the $100,000 collected from this year’s tickets to pay for the driver’s salary.

If the university is going to ask almost 2,000 freshmen and sophomores to live on campus without personal transportation, then they need to accommodate those students with adequate alternatives to get off campus. Why not fund the alternative solutions with the money collected from those students who can park on campus?

Four Loko: Responsible Drinkers Only

By Tommy Polise Contributing Writer

Four Lokos have received an exceptional amount of attention lately as more and more stories surface about the incredibly powerful drink. The drink is properly nicknamed ‘blackout in a can.’ With the alcohol equivalent of five beers, a couple of Red Bulls and a small dose of gasoline packed into one 24 oz. can, the drink can produce some serious results for better or worse. It is priced at only three dollars, which has made it my drink of choice as a poor college student.

The drink is perfect for so many situations. If you happen to get a late start on the night, chugging a Four Loko is the best way to catch up. Maybe you’re tired on a Tuesday night, and since you only have so many Tuesday nights left where it is totally acceptable to get inappropriately drunk, Four Loko can give you the extra energy boost you need to make it out. After a long afternoon of drinking on Lantern Point and listening to house music the hangover begins to set in. Four Loko is the drink that can save Saturday night.

Some young drinkers have even gone as far as to

make ‘drinking challenges’ that incorporate consuming more than one of these drinks. In one particular instance, a group of students drank two Four Lokos in

increased the effect.

This being said, I’ve seen many experienced drinkers fall hard while drinking Four Lokos, myself included. While Four

Photo Illustration by Kevin Coppolecchia

under an hour.

Brian Flynn ‘11 has a firsthand account of the experience claiming that he “felt like a werewolf,” or at least what he thought a werewolf would feel like. I believe he is referring to the innate animalistic nature of humans. The alcohol allowed him to lose all sense of social boundaries, while an unhealthy amount of caffeine drastically

Lokos can be the key ingredient in a college senior’s night, it can mean a ride in an ambulance for an overambitious freshman.

Rob Belfiore ‘11 explains, “Four Loko is awesome, but if I had been introduced to it as a freshman, I’m not sure if I’d still be here.”

The drink packs a powerful punch, and it is not for the faint of heart. Inexperienced drinkers

should stay away.

A major defense mechanism of the drink is the awful taste. It can keep many drinkers away, which is probably for the best. If you can’t handle the taste of the Four Loko, you can’t handle the effects either. Brendan Flaherty ‘11 compares the taste of a Four Loko to that of rat poison.

Jennifer Haskell ’11, an aspiring nutritionist, is a harsh critic of the drink. “I’ve heard news reports about how Four Lokos are dangerous to consume. I really don’t like when I see my friends drinking them. It is a terrible thing to be putting in your body,” she said.

This is certainly a good point, but nowadays everything gives you cancer anyway.

If you still haven’t tried a Four Loko and think you can handle it, act quickly because Four Lokos could easily be banned very soon, especially in the state of Connecticut where they don’t sell alcohol past dinnertime. It has recently been banned in Michigan due to safety concerns. I have a feeling that the FDA is going to produce groundbreaking results revealing a surprisingly high amount of cocaine present in the drink so get it while you can.

The Mirror | Week of Nov. 10, 2010

Online

Coffee Break | 17

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His iPhone / Her BlackBerry Dan Leitao

We’re not trying to confuse you, we’re trying to entertain you.

His iPhone/Her BlackBerry is a column of two different voices. We believe the personality of the iPhone user differs from the personality of the BlackBerry user and a column between the two is just plain fun. Enjoy

Why to Ball with the Stags this Season

Basketball is not my sport. I foul out of pick up games and double dribble and don’t realize I did so. I never liked basketball until I was under the hoop taking photos of a game for The Mirror, right next to the action.

Last year on spring break, I ventured to Albany to watch Fairfield lose in overtime to Siena in the MAAC finals.

A small block of Fairfield faithful students cheered whilst surrounded by a sea of Green. This year the MAAC finals will be in Bridgeport at Harbor Yard and it will be our turn to surround Siena fans in a sea of red. Why wouldn’t you want to be part of that?

This weekend is the first game of the season. That is if you couldn’t tell by the multiple Facebook messages, The Mirror’s Basketball Preview Section, and FUSA events this week. The game is being played at Mohegan Sun against our cross town rival Sacred Heart.

School Spirit, we all know, is not the biggest thing at Fairfield. Many students who are so focused on going out come Friday and Saturday night, think if we can’t get back from a game before it’s time to pre-game, we don’t bother going to the game.

Luckily this game is at 4 p.m. so there should be no problem getting back in time to get our party on after Fairfield beats Sacred Heart. As BlackBerry girl points out, it will be the talk of parties that night so you might as well be in the know.

Basketball is our football. For all of

those who complain that we don’t have football in the fall this is our time to shine, to be proud that we are Stags. It is our excuse to get rowdy before games, especially this year since we are ranked to finish first in the MAAC, which means if all things go according to plan, Fairfield will be on our NCAA bracket and all our friends from home will be talking about Fairfield U this March.

Get rowdy before the game, there is nothing wrong with having a pre-game party, this bus ride is going to be a long one so lets make it count and show up in force and be ready to be on our feet chanting, “Sacred Heart was our Safety School Do Da, Do Da.” Now as far as BlackBerry girl’s claim that I am a soccer fan, guilty as charged.

If you didn’t see Fernando Torres goals this weekend you were missing out on some pretty amazing Top 10 footage.

Then again, guys, all of you who are planning on taking BlackBerry girl out on a date if it is on a Sunday night better be ready to talk American Football the entire time. Oh and know your stuff ‘cause otherwise you will just look like a fool as she sounds more knowledgeable then you. She is clearly any powder puff coach’s worse nightmare since she will clearly think she knows more about the game than the coach.

P.S. GO STAGS! Sent from My iPhone

Ah, basketball, my least favorite sport to watch. It’s a sport that I actually enjoy, but one that don’t require the men to wear tight pants while playing.

We’ve got David Wright/Derek Jeter/ Chase Utley to stare at in baseball. Rookie Matt Dodge/Tom Brady/Mark Sanchez to drool over in football. And when it comes to basketball, sure there are plenty to choose from but the uniforms just don’t do them any justice! I know they are in those weight rooms doing squats for something, now let me see!

However, in the spirit of Fairfield’s team and our entire issue that is essentially dedicated to basketball, I will suck it up and write about the perks of being a part of our very own basketball crowd.

First up, the free transportation.

If you are on campus and you have mastered the art of the quiet pre-game drinking games in the dorm, you’ll never get anything better… until senior year when they provide transportation from the beach to Mug Night.

Second, our cheerleaders are actually very good and you’ll catch yourself yelling that you’ve “got the spirit.”

Third, did you know we had a dance team? It’s a great place to see some moves you might want to shadow at the after party.

Fourth, our band is loud and fun and sometimes they play pop, who doesn’t love a pep band playing pop?

Fifth, we don’t have football; you have to be dying to cheer for something at this point and I know you weren’t at

Alexandria Hein

the soccer games.

My last point, and perhaps the most important: it’s an indoor arena.

That means it’s another opportunity to give that handsome stud you’re eyeing a preview of the killer outfit you’ve picked out for the night. Oh, right, we are supposed to be wearing red, or white, or whatever. I’m the wrong person to consult for this; I say wear your spirit with your voice, so wear what you want, you got there didn’t you?

The weekend games, (and the men only have three scheduled this season, so get there) will be the talk of the party that night. It sucks to not know what your team did, or who hit the free throw at the buzzer, that much I will admit. It does feel great when The Stags throw down a rival, something to chant and drink about. And fine, I guess the uniforms are sleeveless, that’s a nice little sneak peek right there.

Let the iPhone Boy rock his soccer jersey, that’s not really an American sport anyway, and as he babbles on about the most recent Celtic FC & Liverpool scores just know that there are plenty of other guys who will gladly chat about that blown call in the fourth quarter. Get some school spirit and go with the mentality “win or lose we booze,” emphasis on the win, maybe the school will sponsor transportation to the MAAC.

Sent from My Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

BEST OF THE MIRROR 2005 You know you're from Fairfield when...

by Dan Otfinoski

. . . you don't need drugs to get high.

Coffee Break

The Mirror | Week of Nov. 10, 2010

Dear Dee,

My boyfriend and I have been dating since second semester Freshman year. This is the best relationship I have ever been in. The only problem is that next semester I will be studying abroad in Galway, Ireland. My boyfriend and I have become inseparable but I have been planning on studying abroad way before I got to college. He fully supports my idea of going abroad but wants us to stay together. I want the full experience of going abroad but I don’t want to lose him. Is there anyway I can have my Guinness and drink it too?

Sincerely,

Dear ILA,

Page 18

Send YOUR questions to deardee @fairfieldmirror. com

International Love Affair

It sounds like you have a great relationship based on trust and honest support for each other. That is something that does not come along all the time and you are right for wanting to keep that relationship going strong. What you have to remember though is that separation does not have to mean an end to the relationship unless one of you does not want to work at it while you are away.

When you are saying you want “the full experience of going abroad” I am assuming that you mean you want to go there, meet new friends, and learn about Ireland. If you want the freedom to be able to date other people while in Ireland, then you should be honest with your boyfriend and tell him how you feel. You may decide to go on a mutual “break” while you are away and let fate play through. If however, you want to stay faithful to your boyfriend, I can give you some ideas of how to keep the love alive.

Going to Galway will be an amazing experience and one that if you forego for any reason would cause you regret. You would resent your boyfriend for “making you” stay

in the US and that would be a catalyst that could easily destroy your relationship. Going to Ireland could actually strengthen your relationship.

While it is difficult to not see the person you love, if you are both committed to each other and trust each other, you can talk via email, skype, and occasionally phone to stay in touch. Your boyfriend can also plan to come see you over spring break and build experiences together. Long distance relationships are difficult, but not impossible. This is especially true when it is only for a limited number of months AND if you both want to make it work. If this relationship is as wonderful as you say, then enjoy your time in Galway, work to make your relationship stronger, drink your Guinness, and when you return to the US you will see that your boyfriend is still your cup o’ tea.

-Dee

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.

WHAT DO YOU WANT IN COFFEE BREAK? Want To See Different Games? Email The Mirror info@fairfieldmirror.com Want To Write Advice Columns? Email The Mirror info@fairfieldmirror.com Want To Draw A Cartoon? Email The Mirror info@fairfieldmirror.com

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Online only coverage.

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Senior day celebrants, Alex Lopez (photographed above), Hannah Segebart and Lauren Hughes triumphed over the Loyola Greyhounds at their final match before the MAAC championship tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.

Mirror File Photo

Volleyball Ends Season Strong

Clean Sweep of the Greyhounds as the Stags Look to Postseason Play

By Ivey Speight Staff Writer After their most lopsided loss of the year, the Fairfield women’s volleyball team snapped its three match losing streak as they swept the Loyola Greyhounds on Sunday’s senior day.

The three players honored during the pregame ceremony have been a part of several special teams during the last four years. They have helped the Stags to a 58-11 conference record, a MAAC Regular season crown in every season that they have played at Alumni Hall and have cruised into the MAAC tournament.

However, their final year might be their most challenging one. The Stags came into the season with high expectations. They were picked to finish second in the MAAC, only one point less than the defending conference Champions Niagara.

With only one player graduating from last year, Fairfield looked to improve from their semifinal upset. However, that one player was one of the best to ever wear a Fairfield uniform.

Katie Mann '10 graduated in the top 10 in 10 different categories and left her ‘handprint’ on the program. She led by example and became a true team captain. However, this team still believed that this season could be magical.

They were returning the MAAC Rookie of the Year, welcoming back an injured player who once finished second on the team in kills, adding two new freshmen who have been contributing from the start, and an energetic buzz that filled the crowd at the games.

Who would have thought that this team would have tied the record for the most conference losses in the program’s history?

After their fourth three match losing streak of the season, the win against Loyola might have improved this squad.

“I think there’s still some things we can work on, but it was good to see us turn it up a little bit,” third year head coach Alija Pittenger said.

The team dropped the first back-to-back matches at home since the 1992 season and followed with a struggling thrashing at Manhattan. “Our team lost a lot of confidence yesterday and the past few games so I’m glad that we showed ourselves that we can come back and we can win,” red-shirted junior Alex Lopez said.

The Colorado native returned from missing the entire previous season and was molded into a new role. She became a libero in the early part of the season but now has regained her familiar position as outside hitter.

“I got moved around a lot but I’ve always been a defensive specialist so it wasn’t that new but hard hitting is definitely my favorite thing to do so I’m glad I’m hitting again,” she said.

The squad has been struggling to find their new identity and have tried to use different combinations to find one that works. “It’s good to see us come back and fight again,” senior Hannah Segebart said. The transfer has become a role player to add depth to the roster besides her normal job as a setter.

The team has turned towards their familiar faces to try and guide them to a MAAC Championship. Senior Lauren Hughes is the only player of the three that has played for all four years and will no longer run on the hardwood at

Alumni.

The California native surpassed the 800 kill plateau this season and is currently third on the team in kills. It was the last time that she will celebrate a win with the Fairfield fight song playing in the background and the crowd clapping along, and she didn’t know how to feel.

“Katie Mann had texted me the night before and she said enjoy it and that was kinda in my head because I had remembered that I’m never going to be here again,” she said.

With the ever important MAAC tournament approaching, everything that the Stags have been working for is coming near. Pittenger said, “I think we just need to be more consistent something we’ve been struggling with all year."

She says that if the team can make their passing and defense more consistent than it will “make the tournament go a lot smoother.”

When the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex opens its doors for the 2010 MAAC Tournament all the stats will be forgotten. “The tournament you never know what’s going to happen every team comes out fighting for their lives it’s going to be a tough couple of days and we’ve got to be ready to go just like everybody else,” Pittenger said.

Everything they have been striving for in these past few months will come down to a mere couple of days. This team with only contributing players is trying to accomplish something that no superstar athlete has been able to do in almost nine years: win a MAAC Championship.

Alex Lopez knows how important the weekend will be, “I expect to fight the entire time. It’s going to be rough. So just fight.”