The
Week of April 25, 2012 • Vol. 37, Iss 25 •
Mirror
The Reflection of Fairfield
• Independent Student Newspaper of Fairfield University
T L O I L T O S P P Y: Stephen Fiorentine B Y R STO
Puff. Puff. Passed. Connecticut State Lawmakers passed a law that reduces the penalty for possession of a halfounce or less of marijuana. It went into effect on July 1, 2011. First time offenders now receive a $150 ticket rather than get arrested and put through the court system. Despite the reduced penalty, Fairfield University administrators and students say that, in general, they have not changed their stance towards the drug. Fairfield’s policy towards cannabis-like substances remains the same as it did before the reduced penalty – as do student attitudes. Associate Director of Public Safety Frank Ficko said that Public Safety’s main concern is to keep students from getting behind the wheel of a car while impaired by marijuana. He said that the effects of mari-
juana are similar to other hallucinogens and the goal is to keep students and the rest of the community safe. “Anything we can do to make campus safer,” said Ficko in reference to Fairfield’s unchanged policy. Interviews with Fairfield students found that most felt the reduced penalty will neither increase nor decrease the current number of marijuana users. Statistics show that drug related incidents on campus have been on the rise in recent years, but many students feel that the reduced penalties will not significantly affect these trends. “The number of users will stay the same,” said Matthew Wantanabe
‘12. “It’s not like you are drawing in a new audience. Despite the normal fluctuations in users, it will more or less stay the same.” “Usage will stay the same because it did in Massachusetts,” said Doug Penta ‘12, referring to the similar marijuana laws in Massachusetts. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure Policy report requires schools to annually disclose information about crime on campus in the past year. The 2010-2011 report for Fairfield University showed a large jump in drug-related incidents on campus from 2009 to 2010, the most recent years recorded. The Clery report showed that the
number of drug related disciplinary referrals in 2010 was 92, as opposed to 54 in 2009. The number of drug related arrests in 2010 was 45, as opposed to 28 in 2009. This significant increase in drug related incidents might continue thanks to the new reduced penalties for marijuana possession. Despite the majority opinion amongst Fairfield students that the reduced penalties will not change the number of marijuana users, some students believe that it will encourage new users and change the ways that it is used. “People will be more likely to use marijuana because it’s only a slap on the wrist,” said student Nate Goldin ‘12. “Kids will take the same risks but will not be as careful when transporting and using the drug,” said student David Reyneke ‘12. Despite the students’ response, Ficko hopes that marijuana usage by students will go down and he is “always optimistic that students will wise up.” In January, students received an email from the Dean of Students notifying them of changes to Connecticut law regarding possession of a cannabis-like substance. Despite the changes to the state’s policy, the school’s policy remained the same. When students are caught on campus with marijuana, the Fairfield Police are notified and students are subject to arrest and prosecution depending on the amount. The involved students are then referred to the Dean of Student’s
R PU L A
office for a Code of Conduct hearing. Once referred to the Dean of Students, students are subject to much harsher penalties. The 20112012 edition stated that “Simple offenses, which include possession of drug paraphernalia and possession or use of small quantities of drugs, will result in a $300 fine, disciplinary probation, drug education class, referral for evaluation or counseling, and community service.” “Major offenses, including the possession or use of large quantities of drugs, possession or use of certain categories of drugs other than marijuana and as defined herein (e.g., cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, etc.), and/or the intent or potential to sell or distribute, will result in dismissal or expulsion from the University,” the handbook states. Todd Pelazza, director of Public Safety, said that he agrees with students that usage will not really change and
that the response to the state’s reduced penalties has been about what he expected. He said the purpose of the law was to avoid clogging up the court system. According to the Connecticut Post, other local colleges and universities have not softened their policies on marijuana use, according to spokesmen for Sacred Heart, Quinnipiac and Western Connecti-
cut State universities. Ficko said that this is most likely because, like Fairfield, the health and safety of the students are the schools’ main concerns. According to The College Voice, Connecticut College’s student-run newspaper, Associate Dean of Student Life Sarah Cardwell said the reason for Connecticut College’s unchanged policy is because “the legislation targets fines and logistics.” Sanctions at the school are seen as educational rather than monetary and therefore remain unchanged. The University of Connecticut has taken a different stance, however. The university has reduced penalties for students caught with marijuana. Administrators now have the option of issuing a warning or referring the student to an educational program rather than suspending them, the Post reported. Nationally, the number of drugrelated arrests on college campuses increased from 14,631 in 2007 to 16,335 in 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The number of disciplinary actions on college campuses for drug-related
incidents increased from 29,314 in 2007 to 36,970 in 2009. “Marijuana use will stay the same,” said student Colleen Markee ‘12. “They are going to smoke weed whether it’s a big ticket or a little ticket.”
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY: Martin O’Sullivan, Nick DiFazio, and Loan Le
Fairfield Commencement speakers announced By Loan Le Executive Editor
Contributed Photo
Suzanne and Bob Wright founded “Autism Speaks” in 2005.
A prominent prosecutor who found his start at Fairfield University and the founders of the advocacy organization Autism Speaks have been tapped to speak at this year’s 62nd Commencement ceremony. On May 20, Joseph P. Russoniello ’63 and Bob and Suzanne Wright will speak to the graduating class of 2012.
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Russoniello has made a name for himself in law. He has prosecuted criminal and civil cases involving espionage, money laundering and public corruption and is responsible for tightening laws on national security, gun ownership and child pornography. Senior Richard Wolf says that he anticipates hearing the commencement speech from Russoniello. “My career goal is to become a prosecutor . . . and I’m interested to
see how [Russoniello] transformed his Jesuit education into a life as an attorney,” he said. The second commencement speakers, Bob and Suzanne Wright, stand as integral members of the local Fairfield community, reaching to make gains for the research of autism by fund raising through Autism Speaks. Founded by the couple in 2005,
Commencement | page 6
Fairfield Mirror
News
The Mirror | Week of April 25, 2012
S T A G C O U N T R Y
1942: •Originally Hearthstone Hall built in the 1920s • Purchased by the Jesuits as a residence • Currently Bellarmine Hall
1959: • All-male enrollment: 1,700 students • Two residence halls: Loyola and Gonzaga • Three academic buildings: Berchman’s and Xavier (now Fairfield Prep) and Canisius
Through The Years
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1964: •Gonzaga Hall contained a movie theater •Two 35mm film projectors were donated by the president of MGM
1966: •Originally a walkway from Xavier to Canisus •Currently contains the traffic circle, the Kelley Center and the Levee
By Danica Ceballos News Editor Photos Contributed by James Fitzpatrick ‘70
News
The Mirror | Week of April 25, 2012
Stags hunger for longer hours
By Molly Leidig Contributing Writer
Juli Bassett, a Fairfield University sophomore and member of the cross country team, wakes up on a Saturday morning at 8:00 for a meet. Her stomach is grumbling and she needs sufficient fuel before her race, but there is nowhere on campus for her to get food. Her best luck is a stale bagel she finds floating around her room. Cross country runners, who run up to 50 miles a week, require good nutrition to fuel their workouts, and with the dining hours available on campus, this is a very difficult task. It’s not a problem for athletes alone. If it’s a weekend morning before 10:00 a.m. or any day after 7:30 p.m., the dining hall is closed. Jazzman’s, The Levee and The Stag also have very limited hours. Students are forced to go off campus to get food and use their own money outside of their meal plan. Sophomore Carolyn Kosewski, a non-athlete, shows that regular students would like to see expanded dining hall hours as well. Kosewski said, “On Saturday mornings I would love to go to Barone, eat, study and then workout. It’s hard to focus on studying when my stomach is grumbling.” Even the process of getting off campus to get food is tricky. Fairfield University students are not allowed to have a car on campus until junior year. So, if you’re a freshman or soph-
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ings.
Nick DiFazio/The Mirror
A Fairfield poll shows that a majority of students would be in favor of an extension of Barone hours. omore, you’re forced to pay for a cab or take advantage of the shuttle. The shuttle does not start running until 11:15 a.m. so on a Saturday morning, it does not offer much help for early morning eaters. James Fitzpatrick, vice president of student affairs and the man who decides the hours of the dining hall, explained that finances are a major issue when deciding the hours. He says that for the amount of people that would take advantage of the dining hall earlier in the morning on weekends and later in the day are too few when compared to the amount of money it would cost to expand the hours.
An informal survey of 30 students found a majority of Fairfield students, 59 percent, said they would take advantage of using the dining hall before the normal opening time of 10:00 a.m. on weekends and take advantage of a coffee shop available for service on weekend mornings. Dissatisfaction was seen in other areas too. 93.1 percent of students said they would take advantage of the dining hall if it were open later than 7:30 p.m. 80 percent of the students surveyed said they are not satisfied with the dining options at Fairfield University. Although the survey results reveal otherwise, Fitzpatrick explained
that the demand to expand dining hall hours has never been that great, saying, “the only people that have complained in the past are the cross country and baseball teams.” However, Sacred Heart University provides a place for students to get food at hours as late as 3:00 a.m. on Thursday to Saturday nights. The university also has a dining hall open until 11:30 p.m. 7 days a week. A food court is available for students at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday mornings and 8:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. A Starbucks is also open in the library at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday mornings and another coffee shop is open at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday morn-
If Bassett, our hungry cross country runner, traded her Fairfield uniform for a Sacred Heart one, she would be able to have an early Saturday morning breakfast before her competition. Breakfast is commonly known as the most important meal of the day. Research has proven that people who eat breakfast within an hour of waking up have higher metabolisms and lower body weights. Nutritionists recommend fueling our bodies multiple times per day, suggesting mini meals or snacks every 3-4 hours. If students are staying up to the early morning hours studying, their bodies require another healthy mini-meal or snack to keep their mind and body fueled. Nutrition expert Joy Bauer says, “A morning meal can refuel your body after a night of rest, satisfy your appetite so you’re less likely to graze later, and prime you to make healthy food choices throughout the rest of your day.” Unfortunately, for Fairfield students, they are out of luck for a substantial, protein-rich breakfast on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Instead, they’ll probably reach for a carbohydrate, fat and sugar-laden PopTart that they get from the vending machine. And later on when they’re up late studying and need a snack, it will most likely be a call to Dominos for some greasy pizza. Freshman 15 anyone?
Clam Jam: Tradition or Town Trouble?
Luigi DiMeglio/The Mirror
Despite a law prohibiting more than 250 people, hundreds gather.
By Cate Martel Contributing Writer In 2010, there were 26 arrests at Clam Jam. Last year, 36 people got arrested. Up to 1,500 Fairfield students, alumni and friends are expected to gather on the crowded beach near Lantern Point this weekend for the annual end-of-school ritual and party. Each year restrictions seem to grow stronger and the orange fences extend longer, but students still plan to attend the spring party despite the risks of winding up arrested and getting a criminal record.
“I will definitely go to Clam Jam regardless. It’s a Fairfield tradition, but I will just be more cautious,” said Meghan Murphy ‘13. Murphy is one of many students who is not concerned about the number of arrests. “Clam Jam is fun because it’s a Fairfield tradition, but it’s not worth a criminal record,” said Jen Yoo ’13. Lantern Point is a private beach, which has a court order that forbids more than 250 people from gathering on the deck. Students who do not live on the Point but gather on the deck are trespassing on private property, according to the Fairfield Police Department. “This is a tradition for seniors.
There is no problem if they just keep it for the seniors at the beach,” said Fairfield Deputy Police Chief Chris Lyddy. Lyddy explained how the problems occur when visitors and underclassmen attend Clam Jam. “I would hope that Fairfield Police would warn us if we are doing something illegal. We’re not looking to cause trouble,” said Ling Chen ‘13. Lyddy confirmed that students can be on the beach, but that Lantern Point is private property, which makes nonresidents trespassing. Arrests peaked between 2005 and 2007, he said, and in recent years, students have generally been well-behaved. But he said it is the job of Fairfield Police to enforce the court order. While Lyddy hopes there will be no arrests, he said that the actions of some students are what lead to these arrests. These arrests mostly involved disorderly conduct, public indecency and public urination. Fairfield University was ranked number one in the country for the worst town-gown relations in 2003. It has worked hard to improve this relationship, but it is still ranked by The Princeton Review as having the seventh worse relations with the local town of any school in the country. “This number still doesn’t accurately portray the relationship. We have seen a significant improvement and The Princeton Review doesn’t accurately represent this,” said Rama Sudhakar, vice president of Marketing and Communications at Fairfield University. “I think over the past five years
there has been an improved relationship between students and year-round residents, ” said Paige Herman, president of the Fairfield Beach Residents Association and a long-time critic of the university. She believes that this improvement can be attributed to a more “mature and civil student population.” Angry residents responded to past Clam Jams with a court order in 2001. This injunction was a temporary action to tame Clam Jam. It prohibited more than 250 gathering between the metal gates of Lantern
Point and prevented the gatherings, such as the 5,000 students and 270 kegs at the peak of the Clam Jam tradition. The court order was made permanent in 2006 and Fairfield University tried alternative schoolsponsored events like Spam Jam. This was unsuccessful though, as students still find ways to make Clam Jam happen. “As long as we don’t damage or interfere with their property, then there should not be a problem,” said Shannon Cooney ‘13.
Luigi DiMeglio/The Mirror
Students dance at Lantern Point as DJs play music at Clam Jam 2011.
The Mirror | Week of April 25, 2012
News
Page 4
Mirror Picks of the Week!
Campus Crime Beat
Thursday, April 19 3:08 p.m. A window of a visiting sports team’s Dattco bus was shattered when a member of the grounds crew accidentally launched a rock with his weed-whacker outside of the Walsh Athletic Center.
6:00 a.m. A university banner was stolen from a light pole and the 2012 Jail N’ Bail cell was vandalized. Approximately seven students were identified and referred to Student Conduct in connection with these incidents. The banner was returned.
Saturday, April 21 12:30 a.m. DPS led the disbursement of a large party at Townhouse 9 Block.
12:41 p.m. An iPhone was stolen from a lounge in Jogues Hall. No suspects have been identified. Note to students: If officers from the Department of Public Safety, or even other police departments, arrest you on campus today, it is unlikely that you will be mentioned in next week’s Campus Crime Beat.
1:00 a.m. A student was identified and referred to Student Conduct for urinating in an elevator in Jogues Hall. 6:00 p.m. A lit cigarette was determined to have ignited mulch outside of 47 Mahan Road. The small fire that followed was extinguished without incident.
For the fifth year in a row, police will swarm campus and lock students in an oversized cell at the traffic circle for the benefit of the Special Olympics CT.
Sunday, April 22
The fund raiser, known as Jail N’ Bail, captured an estimated $20,000 last year. This year, students 3:30 a.m. once again have purchased warrants for the philanAll of the Campus Tour maps in a mailbox outside thropic arrest of others. Look up from this Mirror. of the Kelley Center were scattered on the wet park- They may be coming for you now! ing lot. No suspects have been identified.
*If you information about any of these incidents, please contact the Department of Public Safety.*
Classifieds 3 BEDROOM FURNISHED BEACH HOUSE FOR RENT 2012-2013 School Year Great House with Fantastic Parking
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Editors
Danica Ceballos, News Elizabeth Koubek, Opinion Jennifer Calhoun, Sports Thomas Shea, Assistant Sports Nicholas DiFazio, Photography Margaret Andrew, Assistant News Luigi DiMeglio, Chief Copy Editor
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Contact Information Mail Fairfield University 1073 North Benson Road, Box AA, Fairfield, CT 06824
Friday, April 27 Relay for Life will take place from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the traffic circle to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
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Friday, April 27 The Fairfield University Orchestra Concert will perform in the Gonzaga Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. for a “Classical Meets Pop” performance.
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Duplex 4 Bedrooms per side Can rent 1 or both sides 703 Fairfield Beach Road 2012-2013 School Year Great Parking Interested? Call 203-254-8419 Reasonable Rent
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Thursday, April 26 The premier and discussion of “The ‘D’ Word,” a 20minute student-faculty video about diversity, will be held in BCC 200.
Mirror Meeting- 7:00 p.m.
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Wednesday, April 25 – Sunday, April 29 Theatre Fairfield presents The Glass Menagerie in the Blackbox Theater at the Quick Center, at 8 p.m. April 25 – 28 and at 2 p.m. on April 28 and 29. Student tickets are $5.
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News
The Mirror | Week of April 25, 2012
Green ways to get around campus
By Martin O’Sullivan Editor-in-Chief
You’ve just woken up with five minutes until class, and walking takes 15. You would drive, but you’re up to four parking tickets. For those students with bikes, skateboards or scooters at Fairfield University, this isn’t a problem. “I find skating to class makes the commute that much more enjoyable,” said Alex Gonzalez ‘12. “A lot of people, they walk to class and they’re dreading it. At least it’s a fun little journey before you get to your destination. Similar sentiment can be found around campus. “If it’s nice out and I have to leave the Village, I’m skating wherever I have to go,” said Claver Hall resident Sal Trifilio ‘14. Even though they require more effort, some feel it is more practical to use these ways of getting around rather than driving a car. “Obviously, there are practi-
cal reasons to not drive,” explained Dana August ‘11, head of the University’s new recycling program. She went on to list “limited parking spaces on campus, high gas prices, [and] a general concern for increased levels of methane and CO2 in the atmosphere.” Associate Director of Public Safety Frank Ficko said, “There’s no sixty dollar registration fee when you have a bike on campus.” However, driving and walking seem to be the preferred ways of getting around for students at Fairfield University. A survey of the bike racks around campus revealed just less than one hundred being stored, compared to the total undergraduate population of 3,385. “I think the general population at Fairfield is used to being entitled,” commented August in regard to those who drive to class. In an effort to promote environmental yet quick ways of getting to class, the University started
a bike rental program three years ago, according to McCormick Area Coordinator Ange Concepcion. “The bike program was first started in Dolan Hall … when the shuttle was discontinued to Dolan Hall,” she explained. Currently, there are 12 bikes available in the program. As to the success of these programs, Concepcion said, “Last semester, the bikes were used very frequently that we had to change our bike rental policy. There were many times in which bikes were unavailable and students were looking to check them out.” Gonzalez painted a different picture: “It’s a shame … no one uses it.” Currently, any student can check out a bike for a 24-hour period between Monday and Friday during Residence Life office hours, according to Conception. In addition to an initial $5 deposit, late fees are $5 a day. Ficko assured that the Department of Public Safety also
Martin O’Sullivan/The Mirror
Most rental bikes, available to students for 24 hours at a time, are stored in the McInnes Hall bike room.
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Martin O’Sullivan/The Mirror
Junior DJ Cejovic prefers to skate around campus to his classes.
promotes the use of human-powered transportation. “We encourage it because of the parking crunch on campus,” he explained. “It [campus] is bicycle friendly … as long as there isn’t snow on the ground or ice conditions.” However, Ficko still stressed the importance of safety. “We encourage all students to wear helmets,” he said. “We have had accidents on campus, pedestrianvehicle accidents with injuries, and a helmet would be a very wise safety precaution.” However, there are no official rules in the student handbook that allow Public Safety to enforce this advice. “The officer might stick his head out the window and say, ‘Hey man, you should be wearing a helmet,’” Ficko explained. “But insofar as stopping them and giving them a ticket … or confiscating their skateboard? I don’t think that would go over too well.” Despite a lack of regulations,
some students have still had runins with the campus police. According to Gonzalez, “I was holding onto the back of my friend’s car going up from Jogues because it was all uphill. Public Safety caught me on radar ... I think I was going 35.” He continued: “I didn’t get any ticket because there’s no rule I broke, but my friend got reckless driving.” Gonzalez concluded that he respected their decision to put a stop to his behavior. Others shared stories that did not involve DPS, yet stressed the importance of being careful. Trifilio was one of the few to get injured, saying, “I did break my collarbone last semester.” Junior Jon Wallace shared a less intense but similar story: “It was 9:30, and I was extremely tired. I was going really fast … and boom. Backpack, everything, in front of a bunch of people.” “[I] showed up in class with a bloody elbow and everything,” he continued. “But hey, it’s worth it.”
Single-stream system simplifies recycling
By Mabel Polanco Contributing Writer
Flyers, beer cans and red solo cups. These are all used in large sums at Fairfield University, but what happens when the event has passed, and the party is over? “A lot of things are dictated by the town and the state,” said James Fitzpatrick ’70, assistant vice president of student affairs. “For several months this school year, we have been using the process of single stream recycling,” he adds. Single-stream recycling is a process that is simple to use for the consumer and requires that everything recyclable be placed in the same bin. Recyclable items consist of: paper, plastic containers, glass products, flattened cardboard, empty cardboard food containers, empty cartons, metal and aluminum. Trash and other items that cannot be placed in these bins for recycling include containers con-
taminated by food, Styrofoam, batteries, electronics, light bulbs and plastic bags. According to Zachary Gross ‘12, director of recycling for the Leaders of Environmental Action at Fairfield (LEAF): “Once the paper goes off campus, it is taken to the Fairfield transfer station. Then the recyclables are collected and compacted together. They are brought to a recycling center in Stamford, CT, which then goes to a larger recycling center in Danbury, CT and then it’s shipped overseas to China.” For the past 10 years, Fairfield University has strengthened its efforts in being “environmentally conscious and green.” Before single-stream recycling, segregated recycling was used, which required the consumer to separate all recyclable items into their own bins. This meant all aluminum cans in one, plastic bottles in the other and paper in another. According to Fitzpatrick, this change to single stream recycling was due to the combination of
costs, efficiency and “in short terms … because it’s simpler.” Fitzpatrick explained, “There are some question marks about how it initiates the student body into good recycling habits.” He adds that single-stream recycling does save time, but he doesn’t think it forces students to really consider the concept of recycling. “Not all of Fairfield has made the proper changes to [singlestream] recycling receptacles,” said LEAF member Alexandra Fylypovych ‘14. “Segregated recycling bins are still around campus and this confuses people,” she adds. But both Gross and Fylypovych agree that this change is for the better. “Everything, all recyclables, can go together,” said Gross. “We can also recycle more now in the single-stream, and we can take all kinds of plastic.” Dana August ’11, co-director of LEAF and leader in this effort, reported to The Stag Spotlight that single-stream recycling will result in a 30 to 35 percent increase in
Nick DiFazio/The Mirror
A Fairfield water bottle on the first step of its journey to China.
the total tonnage of recyclables that are taken off campus. This year, though the number
is still being adjusted, the method of figuring out the rate of recycled material has changed.
The Mirror | Week of April 25, 2012
News
Page 6
Committing the ultimate sacrifice
By Danica Ceballos News Editor
Contributed Photo
Joseph P. Russoniello ’63
Commencement Continued from page 1
Autism Speaks is the world’s largest advocacy organization for autism, which aims to spread awareness about the disorder that affects one in 88 American children. The ceremony will also feature those bestowed with honorary degrees: Jane E. Ferreira, president and chief executive officer of Mercy Learning Center in Bridgeport, Conn., an institution that uplifts women in society; prolific author Fr. Richard J. Clifford, S.J., who is also an honored scholar of the Old Testament and founding dean of the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry; Fairfield alumnus Dr. Joseph Timpone ’80, B.S., M.D., a medical researcher at Georgetown University Medical Center; and Sister Claire Fitzgerald, Ph.D., founding director of Fairfield’s American Studies Program and teacher of 64 years. Last year, Honorable Maryanne Trump Barry delivered the commencement speech to the undergraduates.
A rocket-propelled grenade hit the hood of the white Toyota pickup truck. The four passengers were then attacked with automatic assault rifles. Maureen Courtney had planned on attending a four-day church conference in Nicaragua when she climbed into the truck on the first day of 1990. However, that was the day that the former Stag committed the ultimate sacrifice by giving her life for the sake of principle. She then became Fairfield’s own official martyr and one of its most noteworthy alumni. In a letter written March 28, 1983 to Sr. Mary Ann Czaja, Courtney explained the dangers she was facing in Nicaragua. She wrote: “Well life around here gets a bit more tense daily. You get used to living ‘the present moment’ because it’s the only one you’re really sure of. Just between us, I guess you could say that one day we may have to give our lives that others may live. I guess that’s really what our commitment is all about. I think the only thing that worries me is that I won’t be willing to give it generously. But that’s a grace I ask for.” Courtney’s act of Magis, “seeking the more,” parallels the Jesuit values that are continually emphasized at Fairfield. Conor O’Kane, associate director of
Campus Ministry, explained, “Maureen Courtney is special and unique because she is part of our story and our connection to a much larger movement.” Courtney received her Master’s Degree from Fairfield University in June 1978. Before working in Nicaragua, Courtney helped families in Harlem. Despite the many warnings from people telling her that she should continue her work in the United States, Courtney went to Nicaragua to establish schools and work with women’s cooperatives. Sister Leanne Sitter, secretary of the congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes, was quoted in a New York Times article describing Courtney as “very bubbly, effervescent. The people of Nicaragua loved her.” The article, published on January 3, 1990, described the attack that killed 45-year-old Courtney and Nicaraguan nun Teresa Rosales and left two others injured. While driving to Puerto Cabezas for a church gathering, Courtney and three others were attacked in a pickup truck by American-backed revolutionary forces, according to government and church officials. They were near the town of Ojo de Agua, 160 miles northeast of Managua. The travelers were warned of a supposed group of contras stationed along the highway they would be traveling. The Times quoted Bishop
FUSA Highlights Tuesday, April 25 - FUSA Awards
Stag student leader scholarship winners: Delicia Alarcon and Laura Stakey New club of the year: Young Business Leaders of Fairfield Club of the year: Marketing club Senator of the year: Kalee Brunelle COSO member of the year: Morgan Lang Programming board member of the year: Ashli Kravarik Executive council member of the year: Courtney Onofrio Program of the year:“Behind the Swoosh” Unsung hero: Chris Gaspar FUSA member of the year: Olga Sidiropoulos
Monday, April 30 - State of the University Address FUSA President Robert Vogel ‘13 will address varying student concerns as to the current state of the University and its many programs. Topics from past “What’s The Fuss?” forums will be addressed in greater detail, in addition to any other subjects that students wish to learn more about. Any questions that will require in-depth answers should be directed to Vogel prior to the address for the sake of preparation. Questions can be emailed to Vogel at robert.vogel@student.fairfield.edu.
Wednesday, May 2- Deadline for FUSA Scholarship Applications The FUSA Scholarship was set up through an endowment in 1985 and matured to the point where FUSA is now able to offer multiple awards to assist with the increasing cost of attendance. As stated in the guidelines for this awards as set by FUSA, “This year any undergraduate student in the class of 2013, 2014 or 2015 who shows involvement in Fairfield University activities and also has financial need may apply. The scholarship is intended to assist individuals who make meaningful contributions to the Fairfield community by helping to fulfill unmet financial need.” Applications are available in BCC 200 and the FUSA office, and are due on May 2.
Danica Ceballos/The Mirror
A portrait of Maureen Courtney is located in Campus Ministry.
Schmitz, one of the travelers, as he was interviewed in the evacuation plane. “We couldn’t see anything before we were hit,” said Bishop Schmitz. “Everything just exploded.” According to O’Kane, “students have a tremendous opportunity while they are here, both inside and outside of the classroom, to use their gifts and talents, not only for our well-being but others’ too, especially those who live on the margins.” On November 20, 2011, Campus Ministry dedicated a mass to martyrdom where students recited a dramatic reading and offered
up their own reflections. By relating Courtney’s martyrdom to student participation in service trips, the mass demonstrated the ways in which students are continuing in her footsteps. Dr. Martin Lang, a retired Fairfield University professor of Religious Studies, informed the University of her death and suggested she be recognized. Lang knew Courtney personally while she attended Fairfield. When he discovered her story, he referred to her as Fairfield’s “hidden gem.” Last spring, a portrait of her was commissioned and is now located in Campus Ministry.
The Mirror | Week of April 25, 2012
Opinion
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editorial
Martin O'Sullivan |Editor-in-Chief Loan Le |Executive Editor
Looking to the Future
This past week, one of our editors noticed three older men, assumedly faculty members, having a lively conversation in Jazzman's Cafe over the latest issue of The Mirror. According to this editor, they were discussing the idea that they hadn't heard many facts reported in our coverage of the University's projected budget prior to reading the story. Another event that happened this past week was the bi-annual advisory board for The Mirror, in which a panel of faculty and professionals of various backgrounds gathered to offer direction for the future of this newspaper. Topics discussed were mainly geared toward how to make it easier for students to both voice their opinions and connect with those presented in the paper. So what do these two events have in common? They both illustrate the pressing need for this publication to embody its name to the fullest degree - to become a clear reflection of everyone at Fairfield University. What do we aim to do? Well, we honestly went into our positions blind and immediately found ourselves adjusting to our leadership roles over not one section of the newspaper, but all sections of the newspaper. We’ve floundered. We’ve whined. We’ve aired our grievances behind the doors of the Mirror office. It’s been over a month since the switch, and we’ve settled with our responsibilities. Here's our laundry list: •
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We felt like The Mirror needed a facelift. So far, changes were made to the front page and a couple of inside pages. Like what you see? Please let us know, because sometimes, we feel like we’re dealing with crickets out there. We appreciate that you read the paper (and this editorial!), but we would like it even more if we can hear from you. Also, in this day and age, newspapers must have sustainable online and print versions. We at The Mirror recognize that the website needs a lot of updating. The editors are imagining a universal place where videos and photos can be shared by anyone, anytime. Think Facebook, but without the whiny status updates. We also want to read more from you, so we are planning on inserting online web discussions where students can state well-supported opinions. We cannot act as the eyes and ears of the campus - we try to, but it’s you that we want.
We cherish the fact that we have the support of Dr. Tommy Xie, a very supportive adviser, and a group of dedicated editors who want to make The Mirror into one of the best collegiate publications out there. While we are getting down to the last issue - next week's issue - we are all already planning for the next one. How exciting!
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down • Last full week of classes! • Internships are finishing up this week.
• Men's Lacrosse beat #10 nationally ranked Denver Pioneers.
• Cinco de Mayo is on a reading day.
• Clam Jam this weekend!
• Fairfield Police are supposedly becoming more strict for Clam Jam this year. • The weather is getting colder, just in time for Clam Jam. • Only one more issue of The Mirror left. • Softball lost against Sacred Heart 3-2. • Tuition is increasing again next year.
Tebben Lopez/The Mirror
Are you excited for Clam Jam this weekend, but nervous about the cops? Let us know! Have an opinion about something else ? Send us your thoughts to opinion@fairfieldmirror.com
Secret Service gone wild: White House edition By Samanatha Santana Contributing Writer It’s something you would normally see in movies or a TV show: a group of government officials involved in a sex scandal abroad while carrying out official government business. Sadly this wasn’t just a scene from a movie. This was reality for the Obama administration when just this past week it was smacked with one of the largest scandals ever to hit the Secret Service. The alleged incident took place in Colombia where President Barack Obama was scheduled to visit on a diplomatic trip. According to numerous news sources, on Friday night an anonymous person called The Associated Press claiming to have knowledge of alleged misconduct of involving prostitutes. Almost every major news source has been reporting on the scandal since news first broke. In preparation for President Obama’s diplomatic trip to Cartagena, Colombia for the Summit of the Americas, a number of Secret Service agents were sent ahead in order to do advance work in providing security for the President. The alleged incident is said to have taken place before President Obama was set
to arrive for the meetings with 33 other regional leaders, according to Time. This event is said to have taken place in the hotel where the president was set to stay. Since news of the scandal broke, a total of 12 agents and an additional 10 U.S. military personnel have been revealed to have engaged with as many as 20 prostitutes. According to reports, the incident became public when one of the prostitutes involved complained to the local police after one of the agents refused to pay her an amount she deemed acceptable. This incident is being called one of the worst scandals in Secret Service history right next to the assassination of President Kennedy when agents failed to protect the president. Logically, the question that everyone is asking is: what is being done to punish these agents? As of Friday April 20, two secret service agents had been formally fired and an additional three have “chose to resign," according to CNN. It is also reported that five agents have been placed on administrative leave with their security clearances temporarily revoked. Another agent has been cleared of the allegations and is facing administrative action.
To recap, only a total of five agents involved in the scandal have left the Secret Service, leaving the remaining officials involved “under investigation.” Is this enough or should more be done? After all, the agents said to have been involved are reported not to be a part of the selected unit that protects the president. Also, technically what the agents were doing was not against the law since prostitution is legal in Colombia. Regardless of which agents were implicated or the fact that prostitution is legal in Colombia the fact of the matter is that the men that were entrusted to protect the life of the president were off gallivanting with prostitutes. These agents are being paid to protect the president, not to act like they're on spring break in Cancun. The Secret Service, in my opinion, should take this matter more seriously. The misconduct of these agents could have placed the life of the president in jeopardy. Granted this is one of the first major scandals of this kind (or so the government says). So what do you think? Do you think the situation is being handled accordingly or should more be done? Sound off and let us know!
Notable and Quotable: "Marijuana use will stay the same. They're going to smoke weed whether it's a big ticket or a little ticket." - Colleen Markee '12, "Pot is Popular" pg. 1 The Mirror welcomes the opinions and contributions of its readers: Letters to the editor must be timely and submitted by email to info@fairfieldmirror.com or Box AA. All letters to the editor that are appropriate will be published either in print or online. The Mirror reserves the right to edit letters and articles for content, length and grammatical error. Letters should be free of obscenities and personal attacks and should contain correct and factual information not exceeding 500 words.
Opinion
The Mirror | Week of April 25, 2012
Who's got Stag spirit? You should!
By Allison Walsh Lauren Tzaneteas Kevin Cawley Contributing Writers
Go! Fight! Win! The traditional fight song that resounds through the stadiums, courts and gyms remains in the ears of students, fans and spectators long after leaving the game. So, why does this cheer seem to be so faint in the majority of sports at Fairfield University? Fairfield University is a small liberal arts college composed of approximately 3,500 undergraduates, and when compared to the likes of mountainous student bodies like the Penn States of the country, the contrast in numbers certainly contributes to this depletion of attendance. With major successful Division I sports such as basketball, soccer, baseball and lacrosse, why do only a handful of students attend these games? When it comes to Men’s Basketball, there has been a resurgence of fans attending games. Students have rallied around the basketball team’s success particularly due to the support of the “Stags In the Stands.” The founders are students who have instilled a significant amount of hype for every game through Youtube videos, Facebook events and promotions. The Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard can fit over 9,000
people in its stands, so there is plenty of room for supporters, but even if every student attended the game, only a little over a third of the stadium would be filled. This calls into question, who is expected to be filling those seats? Furthermore, how do we get them there? O n e Fairfield University student, Jay Fischer '13, says, “Going to the games is a great time, but getting there and back can be a hassle.” The Stags in the Stands are always very accommodating; there is always a bus or two that takes students to the games in Bridgeport. Although Webster Bank Arena is only a ten-minute ride down I-95, it would be even more convenient for students to attend and show their school spirit if all games were played on campus. Claire Tully, a recent graduate of Fairfield University and employee of the Fairfield University Athletics Marketing Department, said: “I think that knowledge of a team brings people out to games. Yes, free give-aways also attract people, but
I think when people know about the team, the players, and their season they are more inclined to go to a game. I think we have a great system that helps get the word out there about our teams, and I am really confident that in seasons to come, it will continue to get better.” Trying to rally stu-
dents to attend big games is something every school attempts to do. At Fairfield it seems like a struggle to get students out of their dorms or townhouses, but things seem to be turning around. With such incentive programs like raffles, free T-shirts, and free bus rides to the stadium and back, Fairfield is doing all they can to gain support. With Men’s Basketball generating the most attention and overall revenue for Fairfield, most students and faculty forget there are games outside of hoops. Fairfield sponsors nineteen other varsity sports including baseball, men’s and women’s crew, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s tennis and women’s volleyball. Due to the connotation of the majority of these sports as generally less popular, it makes attendance at those events rather poor. Fa i r f i e l d’s
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increased support in sports like basketball should be used as an example of how, through the help of one or two students’ initiative, the momentum of a school’s spirit can shift for any sport. Fairfield students should recognize the potential excitement of the 19 other sports as a distinct possibility for school spirit and should translate and disperse through more support and attendance. Fairfield should target the staff members, community and alumni by offering free or discounted tickets to promote more attendance and communal support of the teams and school. By generating more involvement from a wider range of ages, Fairfield County would be encouraged to have a team to endorse - especially since Connecticut is not home to any professional sports teams. Furthermore, our suggestions would generate more interest from teens to Fairfield University and with their parents' involvement and participation. Their witness of Fairfield’s pristine reputation would make Fairfield a clear factor in their college decision. Therefore, with the added attendance of staff members, the community, alumni, and the further support of the students of Fairfield University, the Stag spirit would significantly be increased! Tebben Lopez/The Mirror
Zynga, a game revolution
How Draw Something and Words with Friends are taking over our smart phones By Caleigh Tansey Contributing Writer The technology revolution has been well under way, but the extent of its success has skyrocketed due to Apple’s increased stocks and the devices of college students alike. The adaptation of apps for technological gadgets has become a new craze amongst the tech-savvy world and many are benefitting from its achievements. Zynga, a now-familiar name to smartphone users around the world, has invested more than a few million dollars through its new collaboration with Omgpop, and their game "Draw Something. " Zynga, the game company that went public in the fall of 2011, has joined forces with Omgpop and taken their game selection to a whole new level. “Draw Something,” which probably rings a bell to most has become a rising star for both Zynga and Omgpop. “I have 4 Zynga games on my iPhone," said Jules Bertini ’12. “I play 'Words with Friends' and 'Draw Something' most often.” The two companies col-
laborated with the $180 million purchase that Zynga bought Omgpop for. The 40 Omgpop employees are now proud employees of Zynga. As quoted in an article in the New York Times about the new arrangement, “the game topped the Apple App Store charts, guaranteeing that many more people would hear of it and try it.” “I play 'Scrabble with Friends' and 'Hanging with Friends,'" said Maurice Barrow ’14. “I play with 2 to 3 people.” Within 10 days, downloads of "Draw Something" increased from 30,000 to more than a million. The download frenzy certainly got the best of Fairfield. The catch is, you don’t even have to be good at drawing to do well in the game. The pictures players are assigned to draw are not out of the ordinary. With words ranging from Snooki and Eminem to circus and fruit bowl, there is a lot to laugh at, as well as to get stumped by. “I think it is really fun to play some of these games with the girls in my house,” said Molly Yergalonis ’12. “In the airport, on the way to Punta Cana, I played 'Draw Something' on my friends
iPhone forever.” Combining pop culture and everyday occurrences and necessities, this 'Pictionary'-like game has made everything come alive through our personal artistic skills. Whether someone is artistic or not, the game limits no one, and timers are not included. “I like that you can interact with your friends and not just a computer,” said Bertini. “It makes it more fun and sociable.” Where Facebook and Twitter can bring a slew of players to the table for any Zynga game, sometimes the amount of games and invites can become overwhelming. “I do play 'Draw Something,' but not as often as
Te
when it came out, because it gets too annoying,” said Barrow. “You end up playing so many people at once.” Similar to Barrow’s comment, Kevon Johnson ’15 said: “I do play Draw Something, and I like it a lot. They really got the charades down, but I don’t like how it’s kind of never ending.” Zynga is a name that will soon become as well known as Apple itself. For all age groups, these games consume a lot of our time, and are seen being played in class, on the train or anywhere in between. Media and technology have taken over and if its not talked about the evidence is seen posted through pictures all over news feeds on Twitter and Facebook. Zynga and Omgpop worked together to create a new game craze and they are played by millions, no matter what mir irro nor glitches may he M T / z pe n Lo appear. bbe
The Vine
{The Vine} Student art on display in SoloCollective By Caleigh Tansey Contributing Writer
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rt is expressive in so many ways, incorporating both the emotions of the artist and their surroundings or imagination. One way that Fairfield University acknowledges its students' artistic talents is through art courses and eventually projects or shows. In particular, the SoloCollective art exhibit at the Quick Center is one incredible representation of what some of Fairfield’s students and their talents really have to offer. The SoloCollective exhibition opened on April 12 and will run through Saturday, May 19. Suzanne Chamlin, professor of Visual & Performing Arts, teaches the junior and senior seminar courses throughout the semester and helps enrich the students to develop their projects for the Solo-
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Photo Credit: Tebben Gill Lopez
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Collective show. “They all work on projects that they’ve individually decided on,” said Chamlin. “Students are asked in advance about their subject matter and the materials they want to work with.” The nine students involved in the seminar course, which includes six seniors and three juniors, have very different approaches to their idea of what art is. They have chosen to work with several different materials, which include fabric, photography, canvas paper, acrylic and watercolor. Emily Lange ’12, who is a double major in Psychology and Studio Art, has created a masterpiece on canvas, almost reaching the ceiling at over 100 inches tall. Using acrylic and spray paint, she explores the nature on earth in perspective of her imagination. “Art is a method of depicting one’s own mind, as every painter paints who they are,” commented Lange in her artist statement provided at the exhibition. “The artist uses what they see in life as material for their artwork then integrates this with their own inner reality.” Lange’s artwork is one of the first seen upon entering the exhibition. The range in textures and media used are inspiring. The angle each artist took on their own work says something for all the hard work they put into it. “They had to find a language of expression, something to get excited about, and to work with materials they are passionate about,” said Chamlin. There is one area of the exhibition dedicated to two students with a love of fashion. They are Annie Reardon ’13 and Antquanette Chisolm ‘12. They quintessentially combine art and fashion in a way that only seems natural. Chisolm has painted her idea of fashion with vibrant colors and large-scale figures. Reardon has sewn her own articles of clothing and has adorned the blank walls behind her pieces with fabric swatches, photos and quotes, as well as her own drawings of fashion pieces. “Fashion as a form of art is often overlooked as it has become over commercialized and generic,”
Tebben Gill Lopez/The Mirror
Above and below: Juniors and seniors in Chamlin's seminar have been working hard to create an exhibit of their artwork from the past semester. said Reardon. “Bringing art back into fashion is both a priority and necessity as an artist.” Reardon’s work is on display across from Chisolm’s whimsical fashion murals. “My work is symbolic to my life because I do not have a particular medium I like to work with and this shows the stage that my life is in now,” said Chisolm. “I am attempting to make large pieces using paint and other found objects like canvas to explore the woman’s body and fashion.” Other students such as Kelsey Holland ’12 and Caroline Molloy ’13 work with geometric shapes and splashes of color to express the “language of abstraction,” as Chamlin put it. Both students chose to work with wood as their material. The movement in their work helps to tell their story. Kelsey uses darker colors where Molloy uses bright colors to show her art of distorted perception.
Paige Jackson ’12 utilizes the art of photography in such a way that brings mystery and emotions into her work. She has taken several black and white photos
“Art is a method of depicting one's own mind, as every painter paints who they are. The artist uses what they see in life as material for their artwork and then intigrates this with their own inner reality.” -Suzanne Chamlin throughout the semester as her focus for the SoloCollective project. “I am a portrait photogra-
pher who sees my artistic world in black and white,” commented Paige in her artist statement. “Viewing photography is a way of looking into my world as an artist and person.” Chamlin notes that the students all worked magnificently together and are continuing to work hard on their final project for the seminar course. Also in the SoloCollective exhibition is the work of Alexa Moreno ’12, Bailey Cardinal ’12 and Juliana Lavoie ’13. Cardinal’s elegance through watercolor painting is depicted beautifully with her landscape paintings and drawings of small animals. Moreno’s mask series is a mixture of all different media and textures on paper and canvas, accompanied by a sculpted mask. She exemplifies her artistic talent in the exhibition through numerous masks. Lavoie’s colorful works on
canvas are eye catching and playful to take in. The colors and glitter she uses make her work engaging and a prominent part of the exhibit when audiences first walk in the door. All nine of these young women have made a name for not only Fairfield University, but also the future of art for women. They certainly faced challenges along the way, as the semester was a busy one, constructing their pieces and preparing an exhibition. Chamlin is proud of her nine students, who helped develop the SoloCollective exhibition from start to finish. SoloCollective is on display in The Walsh Gallery in the Quick Center for the Arts until May 19 with regular hours: Tuesday–Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday from 12 – 4 p.m. and closed on Mondays. SoloCollevtive is free admission for all, and it is certainly worth seeing.
The Mirror | Week of April 25, 2012
The Vine
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Performing for Change tackles big issues By Kelsey Guerin The Vine Editor
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ivorce. Alcoholism. Cheating. Death. Assault. Sexuality. Fairfield University’s student group Performing for Change (PFC) has never been one to shy away from the big issues. Instead, they choose to attack these issues headon through their inspiring and often heart-wrenching performances, creating an on-campus dialogue about problems most are afraid to bring up. This past weekend, PFC once again tackled important issues in their original production “Painting the Blackout.” Before the performance began, PCF played a previously prepared video discussing the history of the club and its core mission. When Jasmine Fernandez ‘12
“You make the university proud.” -Advisor Meredith Marquez on Performing for Change's moving production
first arrived at Fairfield in 2009, she wanted to get the campus talking about hot topics that are mostly ignored. She worked to create a production called “Colored Girls,” which talked about controversial issues such as rape and assault. Following the success of the show, Fernandez decided to turn the temporary group into a permanent club. She joined with Cicily Collazo ’12, and their name became Performing for Change, an extremely unique group at Fairfield that has continued to put on successful, meaningful performances since its formation. The group proudly claims to be the voice for those who are unable to speak for themselves. In their words, they create “art for a purpose.” PFC has also created something other than performances, though. The members have created strong bonds with each other, calling themselves more of a family than a club. Their dedication to each other and to their art definitely shines through in each of their performances, and particularly in their most recent show, “Painting the Blackout.” “Painting the Blackout” followed the story of three different families. The action took place over the course of a few days. Each family had their own individual struggles, dynamics and plots, which
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A family struggles with hot topics in this emotionally-charged scene from "Painting the Blackout." were sometimes solved but more commonly (and realistically) left unresolved at the end of the performance. The first family struggled mainly with issues of loss, grief and sibling rivalry. A single mother, with the help of her sister, struggles to provide for her family following the death of her husband. Her polar-opposite daughters are unable to get along, each believing their respective talents in ballet and basketball to be more important. The sisters argue with increas-
ing intensity, until their clashing comes to a head in the penultimate act. The sisters realize that their arguing is only hurting each other and tearing apart their family. They come to understand that their rift results from their grief over the loss of their father, and each of the sisters promise to try and see the other’s point of view more often. The second family also deals with sibling rivalry, but also focuses on alcoholism and arguing parents. Phillip works hard for his family, but money is tight and stress from
his job causes him to turn to alcohol. His addiction eventually gets him fired from his job and also significantly disrupts his home life. The end of the performance sees this family splitting up. Phillip leaves the stage in anger, refusing to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings with his niece Alice, who also struggles with alcoholism. One of Phillip’s daughters runs away from home to work as a bartender,
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The Mirror | Week of April 25, 2012
A different kind of princess
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By Loan Le Executive Editor
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he world of Disney is unveiling a princess who might just be able to kick other princesses' royal behinds. Disney Pixar released yet another extended theatrical trailer for "Brave" yesterday. The movie will join the likes of "Toy Story," "Up" and "Wall-E." Princess Merida, the protagonist of the feature film, lives in the rustic Highlands of Scotland, which is shadowed in mystery and run by tradition. Her father, King Fergus, rules the land. Princess Merida has unruly red hair that could rival the bushiness of book version Hermione Granger's hair, a rough Scottish brogue and triplet brothers who are more than willing to participate in her fun and games. Based on the trailer, there's a tradition that says the princess
must marry a Scottish lord. Yet Princess Merida is strong and independent and would rather "stay single and let [her] hair flow in the wind as [she rides] through the land, flying arrows into the sunset," according to her father. Ultimately, her staunch resistance to the court's norms causes disappointment with her parents and talk from the kingdom's people. Princess Merida wants her fate to change and seeks a witch who can do that for her. But this is where her plans go wrong, and she must prove her courage in righting them. Brave diverges from the typical Disney kingdom-set feature films because of the protagonist's free-spirited, fiery and independent and the presence of a motherly figure in the film. Often in Disney movies with a royal theme, the (step)mother of the princess is either horribly cruel or neglectfully absent.
Look at the examples: Snow White's mother tries to kill her with a poisoned apple. Cinderella's stepmother treats her like a slave and prizes her dumb and dumber daughters. Sleeping Beauty's Aurora grows up in a cottage, away from her mother for her own protection. As evident from the trailer, Merida's mother, Queen Elinor (voiced by Emma Thompson), tries to secure the best future for her headstrong daughter. Well, Princess Merida makes it hard for the Queen to plan her future. The suitors that Princess Merida must choose from are painfully unappealing. One scene has them displaying their 'skills' in archery. The next scene shows Princess Merida beating all three and the incredulous reaction of the crowd. That's right, Katniss. You might have a rival in Princess Merida. Most of the Disney princess need to be saved - from their bro-
Procrastination By MaryKate Callahan Contributing Writer
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inals week is coming up and you know what you need to do: find a cozy nook in the library, keep your travel mug perpetually full of caffeinated liquid and figure out a way to absorb just enough knowledge to pass the final exams that you’re fairly certain are going to rock your world. But we all need distractions. This sometimes means rewarding yourself for an hour of hard-core studying by watching a YouTube video of babies making sour-faces after sucking lemons (http://tinyurl.com/88u8xnd). Whatever gets you through! Here are some particularly humorous channels that I turn to on a regular basis whenever I need distractions. My Drunk Kitchen (MyHarto) This is by far my favorite channel to turn to when I need a break. It is a web series created by a girl named Hannah Hart who videotapes herself cooking delicious
food in her kitchen, often with guest hosts and always with witty commentary. It should also be noted that she is quite inebriated off red wine before, during and after she is cooking. Dangerous? Probably. Hilarious? You know it. Jenna Marbles (JennaMarbles) Odds are you have already heard of Miss Marbles. She is a spunky blonde with tons of attitude and who is known for being obsessed with her dogs, wearing a Ninja Turtles backpack and telling it like it is. Although a lot of her videos are catered to a female audience, her views on gender-neutral topics are universally hilarious.If you need a heavy dose of sarcasm and someone to throw things back into perspective, she’s your girl. See: “How to Avoid Talking to People You Don’t Want to Talk To” (http:// tinyurl.com/4qrmel2) Theatre of Life (nick) It is essentially a video series of two guys named Nick and Beck who sit in beach chairs and
do some intense people watching. The camera follows random people walking up and down the boardwalk while Nick and Beck add their own commentary, voiceovers and speculations. Their insight is hilarious, and every video has a way of making you feel like you’re sitting in a chair next to them, laughing along with some of your best friends. Jimmy Tatro (LifeAccordingtoJimmy and/or thejimmytatrochannel) All of the videos that Jimmy makes are funny - mostly because they deal with things that everybody can relate to on some level (see “Awkward Physical Contact”). Many of the videos that he and his friends make focus on some of the commonalities of college life such as Facebook stalking after a party or what it’s like to be part of a frat. My favorite videos are his “How To” videos because they are dripping with sarcasm and quotable one-liners. See: “How to Start a Bro Fight” (http://tinyurl. com/7jsu3j6)
ken homes, other nasty suitors and assassination attempts from vain and vicious queens. If it weren't for Prince Charming, Cinderella would still be slaving for her stepmother. Without Aladdin, Princess Jasmine would have had to marry the lecherous Jafar. If Sleeping Beauty didn't get that kiss, she'd still be in La-La land. To make up for the 'trials and tribulations' that these princesses have to go through and also to appease the audience, moviemakers often allow the princesses to have happy endings: uncharacteristically good looking, and sensitive husbands who claim they will protect their princesses for life. Well, this is the day and age where the U.S. Census in 2007 says the number of divorced or widowed people in America is 36 million. Men who attempt to charm women with such lies would probably earn a scoff rather than a swoon.
I'm not trying to say that romance is not a good thing, but if a kid watches one of these Disney movies religiously, he or she might have some highly unrealistic expectations for his or her own future romances. Princess Merida shows that marriage is not the first thing on her list - and that's perfectly fine. The adventure in the feature film also sets it apart. Arrows, horseriding, swordfighting are all expected to be part of the plot. In one scene of the trailer, Princess Merida jumps into the air, trying to escape the grasp of some terrifying creature with claws that seriously need to be clipped. But then the screen fades away, holding the audience in suspense. "Brave" won't be released until June 22, but for the time being, the parents will be glad to know that there's a new female role model for their daughters at the end of the wait.
There's a new "B----" in town By Annemarie Veira Staff Writer
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BC has really been on a roll this year by putting out not only new strong dramas, but a few strong sitcoms as well. "Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23" is no different. We’ve all been there right? We’re here living at college and have to deal with roommate issues like dirty laundry everywhere, having random people over and being too loud. For June in "The B-in Apartment 23," it's a bit more of a rollercoaster. The show centers around June and Chloe, who are roommates not by choice but by circumstance. In June’s case, though, it's simply desperation. June (Dreama Walker) has just moved out to New York from Indiana with a job lined up at a corporate enterprise that has paid for her moving expenses as well as her posh New York penthouse. However, because the CEO of the
company committed fraud, the company’s assets become frozen and business falls through. Coming into her first day at the office, June walks into chaos as workers are looting, burning files and running out of the office. She heads back to her apartment and is stopped by police, who have closed the building off. Just as this is unfolding, June’s furniture arrives. Jobless and now homeless, June heads to a coffee shop where she sits on the sidewalk with a small coffee and all of her belongings. She sees Mark (Eric André), who also worked at the corporate job and is now a manager of the coffee shop. Helping her out, he gets her a job at the coffee shop, and June goes apartment hunting. After many, many crazy close calls, June meets Chloe (Krysten Ritter), a beautiful and glamorous woman with an amazing apartment. Upon hitting it off, Chloe
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agrees that she can move in. However, Chloe doesn’t make it an easy situation, acting like a total "b—." She even extorts June out of money when asking for her half of the rent and using it to buy an Alexander McQueen purse instead. But when June’s fiancé and psychological researcher Steve comes to visit with one of his test subjects, a young boy named Jeremy, Chloe senses that something is wrong. While out with her good friend James Van Der Beek, Chloe voices her concerns, and James voices his about Chloe extorting June for all of her money. They both return to find all of Chloe's things gone, which June sold so she would have her money back. Impressed, Chloe and James explain to June that they accept her into their family and tell the truth. Chloe later opens up about her concerns for June with her fiancé Steve, saying to June that he’s cheating, but June doesn’t agree. Desperate to save her friend any form of heartache, Chloe
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With friends like these, who needs enemies? Ritter plays a scheming roommate in ABC's new sitcom. pumps Jeremy for information by getting him drunk to find out that Steve is sleeping around. Later that evening, which happens to be June’s birthday, Chloe
comes home to Steve alone in the apartment and seduces him. While having sex on June’s birthday cake, June walks in with Jeremy and one of the nurses. June
Artist Spotlight: Duzzo
By Luigi DiMeglio Chief Copy Editor
“N
ot At All, Volleyball” features an opening track by the name of “Dreamteam.” This fresh dose of young feel-good rap is only what I can describe as the strongest flow from Duzzo Dave since he carried his voice into the college scene. A native of Norwalk, Conn. and a sophomore Stag who has been rapping for about seven years, David "Duzzo" Valasquez builds his latest album in collaboration with his best friend Eduardo "Elz The Don Lorduy. Elz's old role of adviser to Duzzo has now matured into a new team dynamic that adds strength to the
glorious groove of the lead song. After the light introduction to the album, Duzzo Dave digs in a bit deeper with a heavier fashion on the second track. Called “40s,” this is the song that most brings the listener back to the thuggish side of rap lyrics that was bumping hard in the mid 2000s with lines like, “For those who disagree, I got a right to disagree back. But I don't give a f*** about your feedback.” It is nice to see the influence of the true rap we used to see, in Duzzo's style. The only regret I have is that the third track, “Innerlude,” doesn't last longer. This dreamy two-minute break in the middle of the album is not without some looks into Duzzo's self-made school of thought. About a quarter of the way into
Contributed Photo
Duzzo's album "Not At All, Volleyball" is available for download on his Tumblr website: notatallvolleyball.tumblr.com.
the song, the rapper even confronts the track's jazz-influenced background, saying, “Damn, I'm winning. Getting' on beats that your grandpa listened to.” It's a style that the early greats of hip-hop like "A Tribe Called Quest" relied on, and Duzzo's musical influence Kanye West kept alive. While Duzzo says that the style of the album's first two songs were designed for Elz The Don “to really do his thing,” the fourth track, “Shnodat,” is a song where the package that both artists put together is flawlessly blended. Duzzo's increased comfort with the microphone is also a development that is spoken with his hints of singing amidst the rapping toward the end of the song. Duzzo says that during his search for beats on YouTube last summer, he had stumble upon the one he used for the album's final track, “Thursday(s),” that forced him to start writing right away. It is a background that was originally used by J Dilla under the title “Sometimes.” The mood of the song could be likened to a satisfying nightcap at the end of a summer chill session that is the album's origins. The mood of the album is clearly derived from the care-free summer recording sessions made possible by Elz's vacation trip up to Norwalk from his home in Florida. It seems to have been released at a very appropriate time considering that only a couple of weeks are left before Summer Break 2012. “Not At All, Volleyball” is some of Duzzo's fun foreplay in the face of some complex mix-tape projects that he's working on. Those worksin-progress are due for release next semester.
is further shocked when the nurse speaks, saying that she knew Steve was cheating on June with her, but she didn’t know that he would cheat on her with Chloe.
The following day, James heads to the coffee shop in an effort to make peace, saying to June, “She [Chloe] may have the morals of a pirate, but she would do anything for her friends.” Eventually fences are mended, but the drama has only just begun for these two roommates. In respects to concept, the show doesn’t seem to be much on the surface, but after watching the first two episodes I’m pleasantly surprised. The show was created by Nahnatchka Khan, who also has written and produced for shows like "American Dad!," "Malcolm in the Middle" and "Unfabulous." He takes some risks with plots and dialogues that make for a very funny show. Although the pilot was available before the premiere, the ratings for "The B— in Apartment 23" were solid with 7.0 million overall, 2.9 million in the 18-49 demographic. Hopefully the show will catch on because it has some amazing potential to be a runaway hit. "Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23" airs on ABC, Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m.
#FollowFairfield
The Mirror | Week of April 25, 2012
The Vine
Page 15
"Girls" follows footsteps of "Sex and the City" By Annemarie Veira Staff Writer
Lena Dunham knows that without "Sex and the City," this new hit show would not have been h, HBO what would we possible. do without you? You pro"Girls" is a show running vided young woman of in a similar vein to its predecesthe 90s and early 2000s with the sor, while encompassing a holishumor of "Sex and the City." Aftic view of what it is like for four ter six amazing seasons women young women, who are good all over the world felt that Carrie, friends in their early twenties, to Miranda, Charlotte and Samandeal with their lives. They aren’t tha were like family. completely focused on sex, love Those women evolved from or buying designer clothing and accessories. Dunham has acknowledged in reference to her characters, "These are girls who were raised on 'Sex and the City.' It's a part of why they're all moving to New York." As a graduating college student about to start a career, it strikes a chord, for I could be working in the city in some capacity. I think what sets "Girls" apart from its predecessor is the targeting Contributed Photo age group of young "Girls" is poised to fill the void left by "Sex and the City" with a smart and sassy women who are gofemale-driven comedy. ing to be fresh out
O
being women of the 90s just gossiping about their sex or lack of sex-filled lives, into something deeper. Sure, the show was filled with comedy, but for many audience members, these characters touched upon the cultural ideals that women were facing during its run, like consumerism and love, as well as social taboos such as sex. The creator, writer and star of HBO’s newest comedy "Girls"
"Blackout" production brings pride to Fairfield
Continued from page 11
and his other daughter refuses to speak to him, choosing instead to side with her mother in her hatred of Phillip. The third family encompasses the issues of infidelity, isolation and sexuality. When it is revealed that the family patriarch James is cheating on his wife, a whole slew of family secrets come to light. Adopted son Riley feels isolated from the rest of his family because of his skin color, even pushing away Grace, his friend of many years, as a result. It turns out that the "perfect daughter" Amelia also has her own private struggles. She comes out as a lesbian to her parents, who refuse to accept her sexuality and her girlfriend. By the end of this family’s story, the parents have filed for divorce, Riley has reconciled with Grace, and neither Riley nor Amelia is speaking to their parents. The three families’ stories were beautifully interwoven, with one scene being performed from each storyline in an alternating pattern. Tensions within the families rose in unison until reaching the climactic fourth act, when issues were either resolved or left the family permanently damaged. By the end of the performance, the audience was emotionally exhausted after fighting in the highly-charged battles along with the individuals of each family. Performing for Change's goal was to throw controversial topics in the audience's face in order to force these issues into the limelight; they certainly succeeded. "Painting the Blackout" was a completely original production written in collaboration with all of the actors.
"We all worked together to create the scenes," said Astrid Quinones '14, who played the role of Amelia. "Each family scene group created their storyline while focusing on their particular theme …We all worked together to give each group feedback and were able to challenge each other's characters." This collaboration shown throughout the production, especially through the inclusion of various other performance styles. The cast incorporated both poetry and dance into several of their scenes, adding creativity and depth to an already meaningful production. And proving that they are a group dedicated to helping all good causes, Performing for Change announced that some of the proceeds from “Painting the Blackout” are being donated to the upcoming event Relay for Life, which helps raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society. As group advisor Meredith Marquez said of Performing for Change at the end of the production, “This is what we [Fairfield] are proud of, this is what we brag about …You make the university proud.” The Actors: Family 1: Jasmine Fernandez '12, Cicily Collazo '12, Jessica Mendes '14, Emily Sawyer '14 Family 2: Danielle Martin '12, Nathan Abraham '13, Jhomalys Moran '14, Gabriella Tozzi '13, Adavia Thornton '14 Family 3: Mark Elibert '13, Paige Thompson '15, Tebben Lopez '14, Astrid Quinones '14, Lizbel Escamilla '14, Chris Gutmann '15
of college. By writing this article right now and fully realizing this very soon will be a reality, it is a bit scary. Surprisingly, I’ve found a bit of comfort in watching "Girls" because I know I’m not alone. Dunham, who stars as the lead Hannah, is a writer. Specifically we know that she has graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and has been stuck for the past year interning at a small publishing firm. In the opening, we see her with both of her parents who have flown into New York to visit. They have a funny but very serious conversation over a posh dinner. Basically we watch uncomfortably as Hannah’s parents Dan (Peter Scolari) and Laraine (Becky Ann Baker) tell her that she is being financially cut off by them. Laranie argues that she should find a job. Hannah proves a point that she is almost finished with her book, which is both a memoir and a series of essays which her boss at her internship is willing to look at. However, her mother isn’t forgiving. Her father, on the other hand, is much more understanding, and - although both are college professors - her father is much more submissive than his wife. Understanding where her mother is coming from, the following day Hannah takes some initia-
tive while at work and speaks to her boss about possibly getting a full time position at the company. However, it backfires and Hannah ends up firing herself. After having some time with her boyfriend, Hannah heads home where her roommate Marnie is waiting along with her best friend Jessa, who works as a runway model and has just returned from abroad. They help Hannah cope in an unconventional way, with a tea made of opium pods. It seems like a bad idea just from the sound of it, yet turns out it is a funny consequence. Hannah goes to her parent’s hotel room to confront them about cutting her off, but instead of a heated argument, Hannah collapses under the influence and starts rambling in a hazzy voice as her parent try to figure out what went wrong. I think that the show has amazing potential to define the women of the late 2000s and what the social and cultural ideologies we’ll have to face upon crossing over into adulthood. As the show continues, my hope is the comparisons between it and "Sex and the City" will gradually become less, allowing the show to stand on its own two feet. "Girls" airs on HBO Sunday nights at 10:30 p.m.
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The Mirror | Week of April 25, 2012
Coffee Break | 16
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SUDOKU •easy•
All the Rage (Comics) - Finals
The first World Sudoku
Contributed by memebase.com
Last week’s answers:
Championship was held in Lucca in 2006. This year the competition will be in Croatia
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Sports
The Mirror | Week of April 25, 2012
Page 17
This Week in Sports Watch out for Fairfield Athletics
What To Watch For
Stag Spotlight
Wednesday- Cross Country at Penn Relays.
With Women's Lacrosse's Katie Keenan
Thursday- Softball at UMass, 5 p.m.
Q. Who is your favorite athlete?
A. Oh man, I don’t know. Right now, I’d have to go with [Henrik] Lundqvist.
Friday- Women's Lacrosse vs Siena (in Buffalo), 5 p.m.
Q. Favorite or most played song on your iPod?
Saturday- Men's Lacrosse vs. Ohio State, 1 p.m.
A."Some Nights" by Fun.
Q. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Sunday- Golf at MAAC Championships.
A.Hopefully very happy, with a job, maybe starting a family. Somewhere in the realm of being successful.
Monday- No games.
Q. If you could go on a date with any celebrity, who would it be?
Tuesday- Baseball vs CCSU, 1 p.m.
A. Ryan Reynolds.
Q. Favorite show growing up? A. I was a big fan of "Friends."
By The Numbers
Q. Do you have any special or hidden talents?
A. I don’t think so. I can barely stay on my own two feet.
7 Women's Tennis
Q. If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?
A. I’d love to be invisible. You could get around everyone, get all sorts of insight.
Q. One word to describe your coach?
A. Determined. He’s determined to never let us down and to lead us to be the best team we can possibly be.
New Sports Blog
Men's Tennis went 7-0 in the will go into the MAAC on their MAAC tournaroad to becom- ment as the secing conference ond seed after champions. defeating Loyola on Monday.
Former Sports Editor
Ivey Speight Contributing Writer
John Tessitore Former Assistant Sports Editor
Men's Lacrosse defeated #10 Denver Saturday afternoon, with a goal by Sam Snow 32 seconds into overtime.
"It didn't come easy there in the second half ... we really had to dig deep there and find a way to battle back there at the end.”
~Said Coach Copelan after Men's Lacrosse defeated #10 Denver.
Sports 3x5 Eric Bernsen
32
Quote of the Week
Make sure to check out our new sports blog with online-only coverage at sports.fairfieldmirror.com, as well as featured sports videos.
Because they like to talk ... Sports.
2
Your 2011-2012 3x5 Columnists: Eric Bernsen, Ivey Speight and John Tessitore.
Long-awaited Spring Weekend is this weekend ... how do you think it's gonna go?
NFL draft is coming up on Thursday. Who do you want your team to take?
Men's Lacrosse won a thriller against Denver how far do you see them going in the posteason?
Yankees swept the Red Sox on the 100th anniversary of Fenway. Feelings?
This week marks your last week of classes, ever. Starting to sink in?
Last go around for the surped 3X5 seniors is gonna be legendary. Hope the elder Bernsen keg makes an appearance huhuhu.
Barked Patriots need defense. Hopefully they draft a niiiiiicked out cornerback. But who knows what they'll do huhuhu.
They have the talent to go very far for sure. Fairfield is making their lacrosse presence known across the country. Let's see what happens vs. Ohio State.
WAAAAAAAAAAAH. I want barked Terry Francona back .Bobby Valentine probably just has his mind on his surped steakhouse in Stamford. HUHU feed the keg.
I'd say so, especially because I just happen to be sssssssskipping most of them. I'm going to kill the barked finals and ssssurp my way to a degree. YAAAAAAAY.
We are going all the way to the national championship against John Hopkins and we beat them 45-2.
The most overrated rivalry in sports. It feels like Hulk Hogan playing against the 1 2 3 kid. Go Mets.
Don't ever say that again. Just like in Toy Story, you'll never grow up. Go Mets.
Ivey is ready for Clam Jam. The only question is: Is Clam Jam ready for Ivey? To get lite or to not get lite?
I can only imagine what Ivey will be like Saturday, Speighting into darkness. DF Crew invading, expect outfits that make Mock Wedding outfits look normal.
I want the Cardinals to take Andrew Luck but I don't think they have enough Luck for him to drop that low. So I guess we're stuck with Joe Schmoe. JETS SNIPE ROBERT GRIFFIN THE SURPPPP. Or I'll take my man Marvin Ingram - his swag is as vicious as Bernsen's backwards hat at Avicii.
Laxing it up on Clam Jam is tough, but Stags will prevail, and beat undefeated and top-ranked Loyola in the ECAC final! Stags will make the Final 4 before losing to Cornell 25-24 in Triple OT.
LOL. The Red Sox look worse than the Mets! Too bad they don't get Bobby Valentine leading them to the NLCS ... Oh wait ...
Honestly, it's unreal. After finishing my capstone this week, there is going to be one final mad rush to the finish. Hopefully Ivey doesn't trip and scream EHHHHHH!
Sports
The Mirror | Week of April 25, 2012
Page 18
Women's Lacrosse wins fifth straight Championship Chmil and Keenan vital to Stags' success this season
Contributed by Sports Information Department Freshman Courtney Chmil has been impressive in her rookie season. She has been MAAC rookie of the week five times in her first season with the Stags.
By Thomas Shea Assistant Sports Editor
For a team that has not lost a conference game since many of us were still in high school, the Fairfield Women’s lacrosse team still feels like it has a lot to accomplish. Last Wednesday, the Stags clinched their fifth straight MAAC regular season championship with a win over Marist. On Sunday, the team defeated Siena to finish with a perfect inconference record for the fifth consecutive year as well. Yet, for a team that has won 30 consecutive conference games, the MAAC Championship remains to be a daunting challenge for the Stags. In the past five years, the Stags have just one championship title to their name, despite dominating every year during the regular season. This year’s team is poised to be different. The team ranks second in the MAAC in goals per game and is the best shooting team in the conference, scoring on over 48 percent of their shots. They are also the best team at controlling the ball, as they average the fewest turnovers per game in the MAAC. Perhaps one area that the team is most dominant in is defense, and at the backbone of the defense is one of the best goalies in the country: Katie
Keenan. She ranked 19th in the nation last year in goals against, allowing 9.14 goals per game, and has improved that number thus far this season, allowing just 8.28 goals per game - the best in the MAAC. Keenan also leads the league in save percentage, at 51 percent on the year. But Keenan, the five-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Week this year, looks past the stats, remaining focused on that elusive MAAC Championship, and uses the past two years of experience as motivation. “Losing the last two championships was a real downer on our past two seasons,” said Keenan. "I just want everyone to reflect on how good they can be.” Keenan pointed to avoiding getting mentally and physically defeated as keys to this MAAC Championship, and took it on herself to try and keep the spirits up even in the event of the team being down. “[I] … want to keep our team positive no matter what is going on, and just win," she said. Other players on the team have noticed the leadership that players like Keenan have shown throughout the year. Freshman Courtney Chmil credited the older players on the team for helping her adjust and grow throughout her first year here at Fairfield. “They push me to my limits. I tend to get down on my-
self sometimes and they’re just there to pick me right back up,” said Chmil. “Their experience has said it all. Keenan has been such a big influence on our team for the past three years and just hearing her advice helps me out a lot.” Of course, Chmill has racked up some pretty impressive stats of her own. The fivetime MAAC Rookie of the Week is fifth in the MAAC in caused turnovers, and is third on the team in goals with 23, two of which were game winning goals. The accomplishments of Chmil, as well as other over performing underclassmen like
Melanie Raso and Addie Reilly, have not gone unnoticed by the other players. “They’ve been a major asset of our team,” said Keenan. “Whenever you get a freshman that can make an impact that strong, it’s always just a blessing, and Courtney … did a really good job stepping up to the occasion.” Chmil, who finished her high school career with 287 points, was amazed at the skill and competition level that comes with playing in Division I. “I came from a small high school and our team wasn’t really that great and its such a dif-
ference coming here and playing tough games,” she said. However, Chmil credits her teammates for allowing her to transition to the college game so smoothly: “My teammates are great, they’re all so supportive … they’ve been such a positive aspect to our team.” We will have to see if the Stags can get over that Championship hump, and see if their veterans can continue their leadership while the young guns continue to play at a level beyond their years. Fairfield kicks off the MAAC Championship in Buffalo on Friday at 5 p.m. as they take on Siena.
Contributed by Sports Information Department Keeper Katie Keenan has been great this season, rising to second in the nation in save percentage.
Sports
The Mirror | Week of April 25, 2012
Page 19
This Week In Stag Country: Road game success for Stags Peter’s, the number four seed. By Jeannine Nocera Contributing Writer This spring season has been nothing less than impressive for the Fairfield Stags. This past week was not one to be forgotten. Each team gave a remarkable performance to help bring the MAAC season to a close for some, and stay on track for others.
WOMEN’S TENNIS The Women’s Tennis team won the MAAC regular season title, finishing with a perfect season of 7-0. With the two co-captains Monica Yajima '14 and Sharissa Ryan '14 leading the team to victory, each with amazing records in their respective matches. Yajima currently holds a five match-winning streak, the longest winning streak within the team. Her counterpart Ryan is now 7-0 in the conference in doubles match. In addition to the two sophomore co-captains, Nikki Jackson '13 and her doubles partner Victoria Pirello '14 ended the regular seasons with the Stags undefeated in the conference. The team is traveling to the MAAC Championship tournament Saturday in West Windsor, N.J, as the number one seed competing first against Saint
MEN’S TENNIS The Men’s Tennis team won the second seed in the MAAC conference with their victory over Loyola Maryland. The doubles team of Cameron Amyot '15 and Mike Lessing '12 defeated their competitors with a match score of 8-1. Also, the doubles team of Dan Sauter '12 and Dennis Zlobinsky '14 as well as the team of Erik Kremheller '13 and Joe Michalisin '12 defeated their opponents, finishing the season with a perfect 18-0 record in doubles. With clinching the 2nd seed in the MAAC Championship tournament, they will travel this weekend to New Jersey to play against Niagara University first in the semifinals. BASEBALL Fairfield Stags Baseball team traveled this weekend to Niagara University where they swept the double-header. In extra innings of the opener game, Sal Ciccone '15 helped the team win the first of the two games with the game winning run. In the second game of the day, senior pitcher Brett Shulick led the team to victory. The team left Niagara with a record of 6-6 in the MAAC and 17-20 overall. In their Tuesday game
against Sacred Heart, the Stags came out with a 10-5 victory. Jack Giannini '13, Larry Cornelia '12 and Ryan Plourde '14 all had three hits on the evening. Baseball will next play Stony Brook, Wednesday at 3:30. SOFTBALL Softball traveled to Jersey City to compete against Saint Peter’s College, winning a double header. In the first of the two games,
the team won 6-0, with three homeruns during the game. In the second game, the Stags won with an impressive double digit win, 14-1. On Tuesday, the Stags fell 3-2 to Sacred Heart. Eight members of the team had a hit, but unfortunately the Stags could only muster up two runs. The Stags will next travel to UMass to play on Thursday night. With MAAC regular season titles still up for grabs, and
MAAC tournaments beginning, the upcoming week will prove vital for Stags of all sports. While we look back on an impressive week in sports, there is the hope the the current form will continue and some hardware will make its way back to Fairfield for the trophy cases. For the time being, all that is needed is focus and consistency, and the rest could fall into place for the Stags. It will be an interesting week ahead to say the least.
Contributed by the Sports Information Department Women's Tennis star and co-captain Monica Yajima '14 in action during a match this season.
Online New and improved sports blog. Online only coverage. Week of April 25, 2012
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Sports | 20 Sports Editor: Jen Calhoun » sports@fairfieldmirror.com
STUNNER
Men's Lacrosse defeats #10 Denver in overtime thriller
Contributed by Sports Information Department Fairfield and Denver's Lacrosse teams react to Sam Snow's winning goal, 32 seconds into the first overtime period. Denver was ranked #10 in the nation going into the game. By Ivey Speight Contributing Writer
The Fairfield Stags finally have a reason to believe. Fairfield tied a program record for wins in a season and defeated a nationally ranked team for the first time all year when they beat the #10 Denver Pioneers 9-8 in overtime last Saturday. “It's a gutsy performance,” Fairfield head coach Andy Copelan said. “It didn't come easy there in the second half ... we really had to dig deep there and find a way to battle back there at the end.” Fairfield (11-2, 4-1 ECAC) was led by attack Sam Snow '13, who tied a career high with five goals in the game including the game tying goal with 19 seconds left in regulation. Snow also struck for the game winning goal 1:32 into the first overtime period; this is the
second time this season he has ended a game. “Sam is an absolutely remarkable young man,” Copelan said. “He shows up everyday to practice, he's kind of what I expect and what I want this pr gram to be about.” Denver (7-5, 3-3 ECAC) held the lead for most of the game, but could not stretch their advantage to more than three, with their largest 8-5 with 9:47 remaining in the game. “We played a hell of a game,” Denver attack Mark Matthews said. “We played a great team in Fairfield this week ... we can't lose that three-goal lead like we do. A couple of bounces go our way that's our game.” Fairfield came from behind on three separate occasions. The Pioneers held Fairfield scoreless for nearly 20 minutes until Sam Snow inched the Stags closer seconds after Coach Copelan
called a time out with 9:47 remaining in the game. “Give them credit,” Denver head coach Bill Tierney said. “They call a timeout, they run the pick play and then Snow nails one.”
“We're without a doubt a program on the rise ... people have to watch out for Fairfield.” -Sam Snow '13
That goal shifted the momentum as the nearly 1,000 fans in attendance regained their energy. “I think you felt the whole place, the momentum kind of
shifted there a little bit,” coach Copelan said. “That first one was a nice weight off your chest there.” Even with the momentum, the Pioneers still controlled their own destiny. They were leading by one in a man-up situation with less than a minute to play, but then Fairfield goal-keeper Charlie Cipriano '12 caused a turnover to regain possession and Denver fouled Cipriano to be forced into a man-down situation. “I just knew we needed the ball back,” Cipriano said. “There's been too many times this year where we've lost big game like that ... I just went out there and got the ball back.” The reigning ECAC goalkeeper of the year stopped a game high 12 shots. The big difference of this game could have been the experience. Even though the Pio-
neers defeated Fairfield last year in the ECAC championship, in 2012 the Stags are arguably more battle tested. They are now 4-0 in overtime games, while Denver has now lost three games in extra time. “As I told the team, last year we're winning all those games,” coach Tierney said. “When it got close we just had the confidence to step on people ... it hasn't happened this year.” All these close games could help the Stags as they continue to rise in the standings. They have already clinched a spot in the ECAC tournament for the second straight year and say that the win against Denver could be a signature win. “It's absolutely monumental,” Snow said. “We're without a doubt a program on the rise, we've got something to be proud of now, people have to watch out for Fairfield.”
Jeannine Nocera/ The Mirror Fairfield keeper Charlie Cipriano '12 sends the ball away from his net as players from both teams watch on. Cipriano was very important to the Stags in the victory over Denver.