Dating in College
Tyler Behring
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Highlights of the 59th Grammys, including showstopping performances by top artists.
Weighing the pros and cons of college relationships and dating.
Catch up with senior goalkeeper Tyler Behring. Page 15
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THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper
Week of February 15, 2017
Vol. 42 Iss. 16
@FairfieldMirror
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Attendance Spike Highlights Siblings Weekend By Deanna Carbone Assistant News Editor
Information compiled from ‘The Maneater,’ Emory University and the Center for Disease Control
Counseling and Psychological Services Stresses Impact of Suicide in College By Juliana Sansonetti News Editor
chological Services to utilize,” said Birge. “I think it’s important for students to understand that those feelings of despair do pass.” When most people think of college, suicide is not typically the first Birge went on to explain that impulsivity is what is so dangerous to thought that comes to mind; instead, they relate college to a party atmo- those feeling hopeless and helpless. She cited a 1978 study conducted by the sphere. University of California at Berkeley of 515 people who were stopped from However, suicide is the second leading cause of death among college committing suicide on the Golden Gate Bridge between 1937 and 1971. The students according to a 2015 article in ‘The Maneater,’ the student newspa- study found that 94 percent of those who attempted suicide never again atper of the University of Missouri, coming only after car accidents. Suicide tempted to take their lives afterwards. is a higher cause of death among college students than even alcohol-related Birge commented on the supportiveness of the Fairfield community deaths, excluding driving under the influence. when it comes to suicide. The topic is an extremely important one at colleges and universities. “I think the students in our community take good care of one another,” Since September 2016, a comparatively high number of seven students com- commented Birge. “It’s not uncommon for a student to call counseling with mitted suicide at Columbia University in New York, according to The New concern for one of their friends.” York Post. Birge also cited the professional resources for suicidal members of the In order to raise awareness for suicide, Counseling & Psychological Ser- Fairfield community. vices, working alongside Campus Ministry and Fairfield University Student “We have a counselor on call 24/7, so if you have a concern about a Association, has organized an initiative that will take place on Feb. 22 called friend or even if you yourself are feeling suicidal, you can call Public Safe“You’re Irreplaceable.” The initiative is a suicide ty and Public Safety activates us right awareness and prevention campaign. away,” Birge added. “We want to heighten awareness not only Assistant Director of the Deof the issue but also of the resources,” said Dipartment of Public Safety John Ritchie rector of Counseling & Psychological Services spoke on DPS’s role in helping those Susan Birge. “We want students to know that who are entertaining suicidal thoughts. they can turn not only to counseling but also to “We are all required to be EmerCampus Ministry when they’re in dark places.” gency Medical Technicians and that Senior John Versaci feels like the Uniprogram has a component of dealing versity does a good job addressing the issue of with people in crisis,” said Ritchie. Director of Counseling & Psychological “Many of our staff members are also suicide. “RAs do counseling programs, the First Services Crisis Intervention Trained officers, Year Experience course teaches us about reattending a week-long intensive prosources on campus and they always have stress-reliever events to help stu- gram to help us recognize and defuse people in crisis. Our goal is to have all dents who have certain needs,” said Versaci. officers attend CIT.” Birge explained that, as part of the initiative, there will be boards all over Junior Jade Joannou believes that the University’s resources for dealing campus in places like the Barone Campus Center, the DiMenna-Nyselius Li- with suicide are well advertized. brary and the Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Recreation Complex where members of the “I always see those counseling signs and definitely for freshmen with community can write reasons they have for living on sticky notes that they FYE they always recommended the counseling services,” said Joannou. “I can then attach to the boards. This display is called “Reasons to Live.” think it’s pretty supported.” Additionally, there will be a 12:10 p.m. mass dedicated to those who However, Maggie Xie ‘20 believes that more can still be done. struggle with depression and despair as well as those who have died from “There’s a lot more about sexual assault than about anything else,” said suicide. Xie. “I’ve seen so many emails about that, but I don’t think I’ve seen enough There will also be a push for students, faculty and staff to wear stickers emails about suicide prevention, so I think it’s nice that they’re having somethat say “Save a Life” on them to raise awareness. These stickers also include thing like this.” the phrase “suicidal thoughts or depression can happen to anyone” and adBirge touched upon why this initiative is so important and what it all vertise for Counseling & Psychological Services. comes down to. “I think college can be a time of significant stress that may lead to feel“This is all about the value of a life,” Birge said. “There is nothing more ing overwhelmed, but there are many resources including Counseling & Psy- important than the preciousness of life.”
I think college can be a time of significant stress that may lead to feeling overwhelmed, but there are many resources, including Counseling & Psychological Services to utilize.
Siblings Weekend allowed Fairfield University students to share their home away from home with those closest to them. From Feb. 10 to 12, students and siblings were able to participate in a variety of events organized by the Fairfield University Student Association. Some of the activities included two movie nights in the Gonzaga Auditorium showing “Moana” and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” stuffing emoji slippers in the South Side Café in Faber and tie dyeing t-shirts in the Gonzaga Auditorium. According to Molly Strang ’18, director of programming at FUSA, 109 siblings registered for the weekend. A majority of those registered were siblings from the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2017. The attendance of the event has grown compared to previous years. Last year 96 siblings were registered. In past years, the average registration was only 40 to 50 siblings. Colleen Wilson, assistant director of student programs at the Office of Student Engagement, agreed with Strang’s statistics by saying that this Siblings Weekend was the best attended. “Siblings weekend has always been popular, but its popularity is definitely growing due to FUSA spending more time on the marketing and promotion of the weekend,” said Wilson. According to Wilson, one of the more popular events at Siblings Weekend throughout the years is the “make your own” fish tank event. Students and siblings are able to pick out their own fish, design their own tank and bring the fish back home with them. Another crowd-pleasing event was the trip to the Rockin’ Jump Trampoline Park. “I was surprised a lot of upperclassmen and
Read Siblings on Page
-Susan Birge
Photo Contributed by FUSA
Fairfield students and their siblings participated in the “make your own” fish tank event.
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THE MIRROR | Week of February 15, 2017
News
StagMates Share Their Stories for Valentine’s Day By Deanna Carbone Assistant News Editor
discussed being single at college while living through “the hookup culture.” “Unless someone is serious about you, I could see why it’s hard to keep a relationship in college. I feel as if more people want to hook up rather than date. I definitely feel like there’s less pressure to find a StagMate now because of the hookup culture,” said Goldstein. Coordinator of Marketing and Public Relations Samantha Buck ’15 met her fiancé, David Vigliotta ‘15,
Even though Valentine’s Day has passed, love is still in the air. It’s not uncommon for people to find the one they’re going to marry at college, especially at Fairfield University. Many students are familiar with the term “StagMates,” which means Fairfield soulmates, due to the staRead Stags on Page tistic that predicts Stags’ eventual marriage. According to Director of Alumni Engagement Jessica Colligan ’03, just over 10 percent of Fairfield alumni marry a fellow Stag. With 4,300 StagMates, Fairfield students are hopeful to find their significant other at college. Three individual Fairfield couples were able to walk us through the stages of a relationship: dating, engagement and marriage. Junior Lindsay DeMunno met her boyfriend, Drew Blake ‘18, at orientation in their First Year Experience group. “We were playing one of those ice breaker games where you stand across from one another and then run to the middle to touch a body part. We had to touch noses and he told me I had a nice forehead, and the rest is history,” said DeMunno. Similar to DeMunno, Ryan Neubauer ’07, met his wife Sarah Nelson ’07, at first-year orientation in the summer of 2003. “She had just gotten into a water balloon fight with my cousin, Kevin Neubauer ‘05, who also happened to be her orientation leader. He saw me sitting on the steps on Jazzman’s Cafe [Einstein Bros.], jamming out to Tim Warren ‘04 from the Alternate Routes, who was playing a live show at the time and he introduced me to Sarah,” said Neubauer. Photo Contributed by Lindsay DeMunno Many people aren’t as fortunate to meet their Lindsay DeMunno ‘18 and Drew Blake ‘18 attended Presiperson in FYE. dent’s Ball together in October 2014. DeMunno and Blake Some even feel as if it’s difficult to meet someone met each other at their first-year orientation. in general at school. Sophomore Hannah Goldstein
Photo Contributed by Dr. Rajasree Rajamma
Mariellen O’Hara, vice president of The Estée Lauder Group of Companies, mock interviewed a Fairfield student.
Mock Interviews Pave the Way for Reality By Patrick Orkins Contributing Writer Impressing a potential employer is a crucial skill when looking for a job and Fairfield University’s Mock Interview Week aims to give students the experience they need to nail a big interview. Marketing Department Chair Dr. Rajasree Rajamma and Professor John Neal of the Dolan School of Business, along with Sarah Bollinger, director of internships and professional development, have collaborated with the Marketing Club to create Fairfield University’s first full week of mock interviews. The interviews are being held in the Dolan School of Business from Feb. 13 to 19. Representatives from over 14 multinational corporations such as ESPN, Viacom and Pepperidge Farm conduct the interviews with students. In the past, mock interviews would be held for only a day or two at a time. This limited the number of students and companies that could participate in the interviews. Rajamma believes that students need to practice being interviewed and that the mock interviews this week are great opportunities for feedback. Read DSB on Page
THE MIRROR | Week of February 15, 2017
News
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The Mirror Reflects on this Week in Social Media Compiled by Catherine Veschi Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.
Friday, 2/10 5:20 p.m.- A young lady reported the theft of a necklace from an envelope in the mailroom. The necklace is valued at $35. Saturday, 2/11 12:36 a.m.- A young man was found walking around near the Townhouse 12 block with a bottle of vodka. He was referred to student conduct. 12:42 a.m.- A young lady was found by Townhouse 3 block in possession of beer. She was referred to student conduct. 3:10 a.m.- DPS responded to a report of two suspicious males on Mahan Road who were found to be unregistered guests of a student. The guests fought with officers and refused to cooperate and identify themselves. DPS determined that they had gone through at least one apartment and took items that didn’t belong to them. The matter is under investigation by the Detective Bureau. The student involved is being referred to student conduct. The two non-students are still under investigation. 9:16 p.m.- DPS went into a student’s room in Jogues Hall and found two bottles of vodka and several cans of beer. The students were referred to student conduct. Sunday, 2/12 12:46 a.m.- Three individuals were found in possession of Bud Light. Of the three students, one was a student and two were non-students. The student is being referred to student conduct for violations. 8:05 p.m.- DPS found fire exits signs that were vandalized in Jogues Hall. The officers were able to identify a young man responsible for the damage. He was referred to student conduct for the damage. Tuesday, 2/14 12:58 a.m.- DPS officers discovered the strong odor of marijuana in a car that was entering campus. The driver was a non-student, whose brother is a student. DPS found a safe ride for the non-student to get home and he is banned from campus. The student has been referred to student conduct.
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Jesse Erickson, Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa, Executive Editor Catherine Veschi, Managing Editor Editors Juliana Sansonetti, News Deanna Carbone, Assistant News Lexi Thimble, Opinion Alicia Phaneuf, Vine Cara Lee, Assistant Vine Claire Monahan, Coffee Break Alfredo Torres, Sports Daniel Montgomery, Assistant Sports Allison White, Chief Copy Editor Gianna Saladino, Social Media Editor Online Bradley Nordstrom, Web Master Ariana Puzzo, Online Editor-in-Chief Nicole Funaro, Online News Editor Pamela Kask, Online Opinion Editor Shana Lynch, Online Vine Editor Kelley Eckert, Online Coffee Break Editor Business Department Email: advertising@fairfieldmirror.com Stephanie Van Fleet, Director of Finance Marcus DeSouto, Circulation Adviser Dr. Tommy Xie Contact Information Fairfield University 1073 North Benson Road, BCC 104 Box AA, Fairfield, CT 06824 General email: info@fairfieldmirror.com
DSB Brings in ESPN, Viacom for Mock Interview Week Continued from page
According to Rajamma, “A mock interview allows a student to become more career ready and marketable to an employer and it lets them practice selling themselves as professionals in a competitive job market.” Students are evaluated on everything from appearance to attitude and receive both written and verbal feedback from their interviewer. Sophomore Eddie Falcigno learned a lot from his previous mock interview with a representative from Frontier Communications. “He commented on things like my posture, not talking too fast and other stuff, like what questions will always be asked in an interview,” he said. “It’s less about what is on your ré-
sumé and more on how you can present that and yourself to a company you want a job offer from.” Falcigno found the mock interview to be “really informative and definitely gave me some things to think about for when I go in for an actual interview.” He added that he would consider doing a second interview and suggested other students should sign up as well. However, these mock interviews aren’t just an opportunity for students to improve on how they handle an interview, according to Rajamma. She believes the entire week is a chance for companies to interact with students from Fairfield, encouraging employers to hire students from Fairfield who show promise in the future and build on the University’s reputation. Rajamma believes it is both an op-
portunity for “students to make themselves ready to sell themselves to an interviewer as well as attracting other businesses and companies to Fairfield, to give more opportunities and recognition to students from the University.” Senior Damien Quinn believes the mock interviews are nearly identical to a real interview. “They asked me questions that were used in real interviews I had and they gave me tips on ways I could make myself appear more professional,” Quinn said. The mock interviews are one of the few places students can ask questions and receive answers on the dos and don’ts of an interview, something Quinn says is imperative for nailing any interview.
News
THE MIRROR | Week of February 15, 2017
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By Elizabeth O’Hara Contributing Writer
Co-President of the RRTAG Abigayel Phillips ‘17 wants students to understand that this donation drive is a great way to support local communities. “Our club encourages students, faculty and staff to donate to this drive to help lift the taboo around periods and to learn about how these hygiene products can be essential to the health, well-being and dignity of menstruating humans,” continued Phillips. According to Phillips, the two nonprofit organizations that will be receiving the products are Janus House in Bridgeport, a center for homeless youth in crisis and Project Return, a Westport based home for girls. Secretary of the RRTAG Erin Monahan ‘18 feels that women should have full and untaxed access to feminine hygiene products. “There’s this idea that pads and tampons are luxuries and here in the state of Connecticut, they are taxed as such. This drive is so important because females in poverty or females that are homeless not only can’t afford to pay for these products, but they are also put at a significant health risk when they don’t have access,” said Monahan. Students are encouraged to drop off products such as unopened boxes of menstrual pads, tampons and baby diapers to the Barone Campus Center Information Desk until Feb. 21, McAuliffe Hall and the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies office at Donnarumma 115 (open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). “The lack of access to feminine hygiene products is a social justice issue and hopefully our pads, tampons and baby diaper drive will give social justice to these people,” continued Monahan.
RRTAG Donation Drive Prioritizes Women’s Hygiene
Photo Contributed by FUSA
Fairfield students and their siblings stuffed emoji slippers and listened to performer Jeff LeBlanc at Southside Café for Siblings Weekend.
Siblings Experience a Slice of the Collegiate Life Continued from page
their siblings were at the park,” said Strang. For some of the older brothers and sisters, it was a chance for them to see the school for themselves. “Siblings were able to learn more about the Fairfield community through our campus scavenger hunt, our trip to Rockin’ Jump and by having the chance to eat meals in the dining hall and the Stag,” said Wilson. Other students take it as an opportunity for their siblings to experience college life and bring them out on the town. Strang believed that most of the visitors came to the FUSA sponsored activities. “A lot of the registered siblings actually attended the events, rather than
just visit. Even some parents came and asked for extra food vouchers,” said Strang. Unfortunately, some students weren’t aware of the event and were unable to attend. “Last year, all of my siblings came and we really enjoyed the activities FUSA held, but I didn’t know when Siblings Weekend was this year. Once I found out, it was too late to register,” said Abigail Kirchner ‘19. Regardless of whether or not other students were able to make it, those who attended enjoyed a weekend with their family. “I actually brought my cousin to Siblings Weekend,” said Monica Wile ‘20, “We were always so close growing up, so it’s nice to spend time with her. It was just a little weird to see her in a college environment.”
For years on end, there have been stereotypes and labels surrounding the incredibly natural human process which is the menstrual cycle. The fight to put the stigmas to rest is an ongoing effort led by many. The Fairfield Reproductive Rights Talk and Action Group (RRTAG) and the Connecticut Young Women Rising campaign encourage students, faculty and staff to help raise awareness and gather supplies for women currently living in shelters and safe houses who lack the necessary resources to obtain these items. According to the leaders of the Connecticut branch of Young Women Rising, homeless women live in constant fear of receiving their menstrual cycles because they cannot afford to buy feminine hygiene products. However, due to many stereotypes surrounding periods, many members of our society are often indifferent toward the human process. Sophomore Allison Coffey discussed how the drive can help remind us to not take these necessities for granted. “I think it’s a really important cause that we often neglect because many of us can afford it. If I was in that same situation as any of those women I would be so incredibly grateful for the donation,” said Coffey. “Every female, at some point of their lives will get their period. It is high time the feminine care products are made affordable and available for all those who need them,” said supporter Maggie Willerup ‘17. The RRTAG has been running the drive since Feb. 1 and it will run until March 1.
I think it’s a really important cause that we often neglect because many of us can afford it. If I was in that same situation as any of those women I would be so incredibly grateful for the donation.
-Allison Coffey ‘19
Stags Find Their Mates Among the Herd Continued from page
despite the hookup culture. They met through a mutual friend in their dorm, Loyola Hall. Buck believes that Fairfield University itself offered something unique to their relationship. “Finding a relationship based on faith at a Jesuit institution is something I’m grateful for. To find someone who shared those common beliefs was definitely great,” said Buck. “There are a lot of different pressures in college, but at the end of the day, finding someone that makes you smile makes everything a lot easier.” Buck, DeMunno and Neubauer agreed that having a significant other, especially in the same friend group, adds to the college experience. “It definitely is fun going to school with him because we have the same friend group and I get to see him everyday and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said DeMunno. Neubauer added that having a shared connection to both friends and the University allowed their relationship to move forward. Although only three couples were interviewed, they left us with sentiments that let us believe it’s not impossible to find love in college. “I think if you’re both in the same mindset and have common interests and respect one another, then it’s absolutely likely [to find your StagMate at Fairfield],” said Buck. DeMunno echoed Buck’s point by emphasizing what’s meant to be will be. “I do believe it is possible you can find your person at college. I didn’t go into college thinking I was going to find a boyfriend or meet my person, but it happened. I believe everything happens for a reason, and if you do find that someone, then it is meant to be,” added DeMunno.
Photo Contributed by Ryan Neubauer
Ryan Neubauer ‘07 and Sarah Nelson ‘07 on their wedding day.
THE MIRROR | Week of February 15, 2017
Opinion Editor Lexi Thimble » opinion@fairfieldmirror.com
Page 5 Creative Commons/Pixabay
Getting Opinionated with The Mirror
College Relationships Are Well-Worth the Pitfalls By Sabrina Musto Contributing Writer If you ask a group of college students about having a relationship in college, there are bound to be mixed reviews. There are many different kinds of college relationships, such as bringing a high school relationship into college, meeting someone that goes to your school and dating, or maybe, like me, you meet someone while already in college that does not go to your school. Personally, I think that having a relationship in college can be a great thing as long as it is with someone willing to deal with the not-so-great parts of it. A lot of college students argue that having a relationship in college is somehow causing you to miss out, but I never see it that way. There is also the classic “why be tied down” argument or feeling like playing the field is the best way to see what is out there. For some people, that definitely works and many people are happy to not be in a relationship and not have to worry about what their significant other is doing. In addition, some relationships cannot survive the distance because people find it hard to have a relationship that exists through a phone for weeks at a time. College is a time of growing and changing and because of this, people simply can outgrow a relationship that they feel no longer suits them. A sophomore who chooses to remain anonymous is an example of someone who entered college with a high school relationship. She revealed the information regarding their split to me and how when they got to college there was just a lack of effort on the side of her ex-boyfriend, and she felt a significant change. “I definitely feel a lot more positive about college and my life in general. During my relationship I felt as if I was always waiting for the next time I would see him or what he was doing,” she said. However, she agreed that
she would be open to a relationship if she felt that the same mistakes would not be made. In my own life, I am in a relationship with a guy who goes to college three hours away. We definitely get sick of being far apart for weeks at a time, but it’s always worth it when we’re back together. I do not know what it is like to have a boyfriend that goes to my school, but I can share some positives and negatives about having a boyfriend who does not. On the negative side, it is a lot of FaceTime calls and time apart. Aside from holidays at home and occasional visits to each other’s schools, the majority of the time is spent apart. Another negative can be the jealousy that sometimes occurs when you see your significant other out. It can drive you crazy but you have to stick it out because all of the negatives are outweighed by the positives. Seeing one another after time apart seems to make you forget that you just spent weeks missing one another. Catching up on what has happened in person instead of over the phone is incomparable. There is also the bonus of having two schools to hang out at, so you get to meet new people that become just as much your friends as their friends. There are many benefits, but in my opinion the most satisfying one is probably when the school year does end; you know how solid your relationship is because you have successfully dealt with the stress of dating in college. While people will always differ in opinion about dating in college, it is a definite yes from me. Once a couple can adapt to dealing with the difficulties of having a college relationship, that relationship has the potential to bring incomparable happiness.
Britain Projects Defiance in the Face of Trump By Lexi Thimble Opinion Editor Members of the British Parliament have decided that when President Trump comes to visit the House of Commons in a state visit to England later this year, he shouldn't be allowed to address Parliament in Westminster Hall. This, according to Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, is in defiance of Trump’s "sexism and racism." With Trump’s past history of disrespect towards those who openly disagree with him, Parliament’s refusal to hear a Trump address is not only warranted, but sets a good example in defiance of his bad behavior. It’s not even a question of whether or not refusing Trump is a good idea. Rather, the question is whether it’s something appropriate for another nation to do. American leaders wouldn’t let a tyrant from another country, regardless if they were our ally or not, come in and just assume they could speak and spread their hateful propaganda in one of the most sacred places of speech in our country’s government. In fact, this is how you lose allies — by assuming that what’s theirs is yours no matter how badly you treat them. My only concern is that if Britain takes this course of action and our other allies follow suit, the intended result may backfire. Trump isn’t known for learning from his mistakes or even admitting that he’s made them in the first place, so what he may do is continue full speed down the path toward extreme nationalism and isolationism, saying “to hell with our allies, Amer-
Editorial Board "Reflecting on the Future" Jesse Erickson Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor Catherine Veschi Managing Editor
ica can be great on it’s own.” This leaves America in a highly undesirable situation, where our nation has to deal with Trump on our own and becomes vulnerable to nations that aren’t our allies, like North Korea or Russia. This isolationist move also works to push away allies who were once willing to help, discouraging outside cooperation with those nations. If Trump is going to be our president for the foreseeable future, then we need to police his behavior, and as much as protests can make a difference in allowing people’s voices to be heard, world leaders need to step up as well. If this move from Britain sends a message that his behavior isn’t appropriate, then others should continue to say things like it and publicly. Trump shouldn’t get to trample people because he feels like it; like Bercow said in The Chicago Tribune, “an address to Parliament by a foreign leader [is] ‘not an automatic right, it is an earned honor,’” and Britain is one hundred percent well within their rights to turn away a leader they don’t feel has earned that honor. Trump has to learn that checks and balances are an integral part of not just national politics, but global politics as well. This decision from Britain proves it’s not just his own country that has to demonstrate this to him. Checks of power exist outside one’s own nation, and if Trump has to learn respect for other places and people in this way, then so be it.
Believe it or not, when the staff changes over come next month, we will be celebrating our 40th year of publication as the Fairfield Mirror. In light of this, we’d like to take a step back and reflect, no pun intended, on the incredible experiences The Mirror has offered us so far, as well as what the future may hold in store for your award-winning independent student newspaper. Perhaps the most rewarding experience anyone will have in their time writing for The Mirror is the notable interviews they have the opportunity to conduct when celebrities and well-renowned speakers come to deliver speeches and open forums at the University. In the past couple of years, our writers have interviewed retired Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, revered jam rock band The Black
Creative Commons/biggsytravels.com
Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow enters Westminster Hall. He is one of the first global leaders to publicly criticize President Donald Trump.
Crowes and Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. Aside from interviews, we have been able to break unprecedented stories that have not only captured the attention of students on campus, but the nation as a whole. Whether it be breaking the "ghetto party" in 2016 or chronicling the controversial departure of Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, we have remained steadfast in delivering only the most accurate news stories and campus trends as they unfold. This sort of evolution has allowed us to progress at such a level that allows us to transcend the notion of being a standard college newspaper. As we look ahead to our 40th anniversary, we aim to bring the same level of drive for a new generation of staff members and establish
ourselves as a multifaceted online and print behemoth. That being said, in the future, you can expect to see even more of The Mirror online, as we are hoping to increase our online presence, as is the trend that many more well-known newspapers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal are following. In turn, you should also anticipate The Mirror to be even more active on our social media accounts, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. Give us a follow on these different platforms to see the fun ways we’ll be utilizing them in the upcoming years. So as we look further into the past, it becomes apparent that the future is prosperous for the Fairfield Mirror and with 40 years already under our belt, we can only hope that the next
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THE MIRROR | Week of February 15, 2017
Opinion
Scientists Take Climate Change Into Their Own Hands By Grace Bowman Contributing Writer After Donald Trump was elected president, there was talk from the elite American scientists in our country regarding the concern that science was being pushed aside. Recently, Trump made the statement that he did not believe in climate change and that provoked an uproar from scientists and many other concerned individuals. After this, scientists, like Michael Eisen, an evolutionary biologist, started taking to Twitter and other social media sites, as stated in an article in the New York Times, to voice their concerns and try and take matters into their own hands in order to let the public know how real climate change is. Some may think that scientists are being too dramatic and taking this issue too far, but I believe it has come to the point where scientists have to be dramatic. Climate change is just one example of an environmental problem that is affecting our planet, and it is not a new thing. Scientists, politicians and the public have been speaking out about climate change for many years now, but nothing concrete has ever been put into action to help prevent it. Now
with a new president in office, who is saying he does not believe in climate change, it seems as if the progress scientists made alerting the public has taken two steps back. In the last 20 years, we have seen sea levels rise seventeen centimeters, warmer oceans by 0.302 degrees Fahrenheit and ice sheets shrinking up to 250 cubic kilometers, according to NASA. But as this evidence has increased, our focus on climate change has declined. We have been pushing the fear of climate change to the side and that is why Trump needs to stand up and make this a focal point before we let it get out of our hands. Trump and other politicians do not realize the danger of climate change because it seems impossible that something terrible could stem from it during our lifetime. It is very possible that if we do not do something about climate change, it could affect us directly during our lifetime. At this point in our social and political climate, scientists have the right to take a stance on what we as a country need to focus on in order to protect our planet. As a young col-
lege student, I am surrounded by many students who speak out about their concerns on climate change and many other environmental problems, but the people in power are blind to seriousness of the issues. If politicians are not going to do what’s necessary to protect our environment, scientists should stand up and let our country know what we need to do in order to save our planet. Although Twitter and other social media accounts may seem like an insignificant way to voice their concerns, it is an easy way to reach a variety of age groups. Some may say that scientists are being too dramatic or acting like they have too much power, but they are the ones who know what is right and what is wrong. Trump does not have enough scientific knowledge to make a statement that climate change is not real, especially while the top scientists in the world are telling him that it is actually a big threat. The threat of climate change is a big issue in this country and scientists have every right to speak out about what our country really needs to focus on in order to keep our planet alive.
A Letter to the Editor
The Other Side
Editor, I am a Jesuit on campus doing retreat work out of the Center for Ignatian Spirituality. Before I came to Fairfield University, I spent 20 years working in the Middle East, half the time in Amman, Jordan and the other half in Jerusalem. I was there for several of the desert wars. I felt very angry about the initiative of the USA in these wars and felt helpless. In my need to do something, I began a practice of writing a daily email to Washington D.C., specifically, to Colin Powell, Secretary of State at the time, to voice my opinion. Each email was very brief and gracious. I do not think that my one little voice made much difference in the overall unfolding of events. But it meant a lot to me: I was expressing myself, I was standing up for my position. In the present political situation, I am feeling similarly helpless and have begun again to send a daily email to Washington, this time to President Trump. Everyday I send a one line email stating very graciously some point I want to make to him in the present political reality. I do not know what my opinion will mean or who, if anyone, will read it, but I am putting out there what I think. I am defining myself in the political confusion. The email address of the president is: president@whitehouse.gov I stress that in doing this graciousness is important. We do not want to add to the political reality any more bitterness than there is there already. Peace, Fr. Thomas Fitzpatrick, S.J.
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Contributed by John Hirschauer
By John Hirschauer Columnist
Liberal Outrage Over Trump is Unfounded
Why would anyone treat Adolf Hitler with civility? This rhetorical moral aphorism is now a tangible question that progressives wrestle with under the current administration. The Democrats have turned Donald Trump from what he is — a boorish, imprecise narcissist with an authoritarian streak — into an amorphous ink blot of Nazism. Armchair social justice revolutionaries revile few things more than citizens who stay silent in the face of evil. If Donald Trump, then, is a burgeoning Führer, plotting gulags and scheming to intern a racial group like Democratic demigod FDR did to the Japanese, the moral imperative is to riot in the streets. Judicial originalists like Neil Gorsuch are the new SS, and clumsy schoolchoice advocates like Betsy Devos are the new Adolf Eichmann. The modern progressive outrage faction, inculcated on campuses across the country, is hardwired to unbridled indignation. If you think Donald Trump is Hitler, you have a moral obligation to be an insufferable ingrate who politicizes everything. Progressives, to their credit, have largely been successful in this charge. Every channel of freedom, such as the press, entertainment and mobilized protesters have, by ethical deduction, an obligation to speak truth to the fascistic power. ESPN personalities like Dan LeBatard have of late remade their once sports-focused shows into platforms for the espousal of their political persuasions. LeBatard and others have justified their ceaseless delve into the political fore by rebuking those who dare suggest a sports network ought to offer sports as a respite from the political news cycle by appropriating Trump’s presidency as an apocalyptic cataclysm, yanking with it the veneer of normalcy expected from the sports world.
Many conservatives believe that progressive outrage would be similarly intemperate if Mitt Romney, John McCain or Marco Rubio were president. I’m sympathetic to this argument, mostly because of how the progressive ideology has transformed as it has remade itself in the image of the identity-centric wing of the party. Much of the campus sensitivity gestapo in America is comprised of tolerant hammers in search of intolerant nails; collegiate progressives are wound up to unleash fits of vocal outrage at the moment’s definition of intolerance, which can manifest in expressions ranging from benign pro-life beliefs up to and including defending the First Amendment. As such, the moral calculator surrounding the degradation of “human rights” would be equally set ablaze by someone seeking to restrict a mother’s “right” to kill her unborn child as by an overly construed immigration halt. The Women’s March against an ethereal patriarchy would still be filled with bra-burners pronouncing their ever-confusing allegiance to Sharia supremacy, marching in the name of single payer medicine, government coercion in private business and other leftist tropes wrapped in the blanket of “women’s” issues, whether the 45th president were Evan McMullin, Mitt Romney or Ben Carson. Far be it from me, who didn’t vote for Donald Trump, to vigorously defend the man. But the hysterical hand-wringing of mainstream progressive media is absolutely exhausting. The outrage that a panoply of ESPN personalities feel when asked to “stick to sports” rather than spout talking points from the DNC is only morally justified if President Trump is indeed Hitler. Otherwise, the talking heads who peddle chaos are further feeding the divides in the American culture.
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 errors. Letters should be free of obscenities and personal attacks and should contain correct and factual information, not exceeding 500 words.
The Vine T Gra
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arts, entertainment, features Editor Ali Phaneuf vine@fairfieldmirror.com
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Photos contributed by E! News Instagram Photo illustration by Ali Phaneuf
THE MIRROR | Week of February 15, 2017
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Bensonians Crowdfund to Launch New Album By Ali Phaneuf Vine Editor What once began as a barber shop quartet in 1946, the Fairfield University Bensonians are now comprised of 14 talented male vocalists. The Bensonians are known across campus for their appearances in every Glee concert as well as their own individual concerts each semester; however, this general knowledge of these singers only scratches the surface of their true aptitude. As the talent of the Bensonians grows and becomes stronger, each year brings about a new goal for the group. This year, the Bensonians are attempting to record and mix an upcoming album “Brother II Brother,” which will be the second album by the group. In the record, students can expect to hear an assortment of songs ranging from the “Ignition Remix” to “Breakeven;” the Bensonians offer songs for music lovers of all genres. In order for the Bensonians to create a high quality album for people to enjoy, fundraising is necessary. Starting their fundraising in late January, the Bensonians hope to continue fundraising through mid-March, right before they begin the recording process. Located on the Bensonians’ Facebook page is an Indiegogo Campaign titled, “The Fairfield University Bensonians” which students are encouraged to donate to. The Bensonians have also resorted to different methods of raising money for their album, such as selling grilled cheese sandwiches at the Townhouses during weekends. According to Ben Bayers ‘17, Bensonian Di-
rector, “Those who donate online can actually claim amazing perks in thanks for [the] donations. These include free albums, stickers, thank yous and even free song downloads.” Bayers continued to explain that the group’s decision to create this new album stemmed from much deliberation regarding a timeline and careful planning that will help them grow. The Bensonians hope to create a product that will stand in line with other a cappella groups across the country. With recording beginning in April, the album will be released on iTunes and in the school bookstore during the Fall 2017 semester, a perfect way to introduce themselves to the incoming first-years. The Bensonians have earned their place in the spotlight not only on campus, but throughout the East Coast. The group has ventured off campus on multiple occasions, performing at private parties, competitions and invitationals. Trained to sing tunes from doo-wop to rap and pop, the talent of this group is remarkable. Additionally, due to the Bensonians’ vast repertoire of music, the auditioning process is no easy feat, explained Bayers. “When it comes to auditions, it's a relatively lengthy process” said Bayers. “We have the prospective member sing a solo a cappella, do tonal memory exercises, as well as blending work to test their musicality and cohesiveness with our group. We also have callbacks if needed.” From their first audition to their final performance, members of the Bensonians devote their time and energy into this club and only hope to see it thrive. Offering an album for students and non-students to purchase and enjoy will heighten the expertise of the Bensonians that much more. “We just hope that the Fairfield University community will help us in our efforts,” said Bayers. “Whether it’s through personal donations or even just sharing our campaign to reach more people who want to help support the arts.” Photos contributed by Ben Bayers
Heard It Through The GrapeVINE By Cara Lee Assistant Vine Editor Senior Michael Roche is a Spanish major with a minor in music and what can only be described as a talent for instruments. After all, he can play 10 different instruments, with representatives from each instrumental category — the strings, winds, and percussion, among others — and is currently teaching himself how to play two more. Roche began his instrumental career in middle school when he played the saxophone for several years before branching out to learn different instruments. By high school, he was playing the bass in the pit band for performances of “Phantom of the Opera” and “Oklahoma,” and decided to learn how to play the flute. Within a year of beginning to learn, he was playing the flute in his high school’s band and playing with as much, if not more, talent than those who had been playing for years. Roche continued to train and played the flute and piccolo in Fairfield’s Orchestra during his freshman, sophomore and junior years while also starting a band, “The Jimmy’s,” with his friends, where he plays the guitar, bass, drums and keyboard while also doing some vocal work. Roche can also play the mandolin, flute, piccolo, saxophone, piano, harmonica and tin whistle, and is currently learning both the Er hu — also known as a Chinese two string fiddle — and the hammered dulcimer. His favorite instrument to play is the drums. Post-graduation, he intends to continue playing with “The Jimmy’s.” “Not as a career, just for fun or as a way to earn some extra money,” Roche clarified. He also plans to write and record some of his own music for the same purpose. Just like the array of instruments he can play, Roche’s musical taste is diverse. At the moment, his favorite music is from the 90s alternative/grunge era, but at other times he has preferred classic rock, punk, classical and even folk music.
With this diverse taste in music, Roche has been to many interesting concerts. His favorite was when he saw “The Who” perform at Barclays, “They played my favorite of their albums straight through and then played just about all of their other favorite songs,” Roche said. “They’re one of my favorite bands and even though they’re getting pretty old, they’ve really still got it. They sounded awesome and put on a really energetic four-hour show.” “Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle” — Nirvana “Nirvana's probably my favorite band and this is my favorite song by them. I love the guitar riff during the bridge.” “All My Life” — Foo Fighters “This song has lots of different dynamics, switching between quiet palm-muted guitar with whispered vocals and loud screaming sections.” “2nd Piano Trio” — Shostakovich “This is my favorite classical piece. It's really dark and intense, I think it was originally based on a Jewish folk song.” “The Rover” — Led Zeppelin “This is just an overall really solid song. The guitar riffs are really driving.” “Apres Moi” — Regina Spector “I love the piano for the whole song, but once the drums come in it's like a really intense jazzy cabaret.”
Photo Contributed by Michael Roche
Do you want to be featured in the GrapeVINE? Please email a list of 5-7 of your favorite songs and also a picture of yourself that we can use to vine@fairfieldmirror.com. Creative Commons/Flickr
THE MIRROR | Week of February 15, 2017
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Highlights of the 2017 Grammys
The Vine
By Ali Phaneuf Vine Editor A battle between two adored artists, heartwarming tributes to musical icons and numerous showstopping performances took over the stage at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 12. Whether you like to listen to pop, country, rap or anything in between, the 2017 Grammys, held in Los Angeles, Calif., provided viewers with an entertaining night of performances by famous artists such as Adele, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and Carrie Underwood. Audience members had their eyes on Beyoncé throughout the night, as she was the top nominee of the night with a total of nine nominations. She went home with a total of only two wins, Best Urban Contemporary Album for “Lemonade” and Best Music Video for “Formation.” Even though Beyoncé didn’t win as many Grammys as anticipated, she still won the hearts of audience members for her performance of “Love Drought” and “Sandcastles.” Beyoncé took the stage with a glittering, sheer gown accompanied by a matching headdress. Not embarrassed by her twin baby bump, Beyoncé held her stomach throughout the performance with confidence. Dedicated to motherhood, Beyoncé’s artistically crafted performance received a standing ovation. The battle between Beyoncé and Adele for numerous nominations, including album, record and song of the year, took precedent throughout the 2017 Grammys. After beating out Beyoncé for Best Pop Solo Performance, Adele looked as if she would sweep the competition, and she did. Adele clinched a win for Best Song of the Year with “Hello,” Best Record of the Year for “Hello” and Best Album of the Year for “25.” Adele gave a tear jerking speech after receiving the award for Best Album of the Year as she honored Beyoncé for her album “Lemonade” by describing it as
Photo taken from E! News Instagram
monumental; she then proceeded to break her Grammy in half for Beyoncé to share — “Mean Girls” style. With Beyoncé taking the backseat at this year’s celebration, megastar Adele basked in the spotlight. Adele paid a beautiful tribute to George Michael, an English singer/ songwriter best known for his singles “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “Faith.” Even though Adele stopped singing part way through the song after messing up, she finished strong and honored George Michael excellently. Bruno Mars’s performance was also one to remember; he dedicated it to music industry icon Prince. Mars sang Prince’s song, “Let’s Go Crazy” in a flawless tribute to the artist. Adding a special flare to the performance, Mars dressed up exactly as Prince would. Mars sported a purple, sparkly suit — a bold move that proved successful as it showed the personal admiration he has for Prince. Another attraction of the night included Katy Perry’s performance of “Chained to the Rhythm,” where she sent a strong political message. Perry wore a white pantsuit and an armband that read “persist” which, according to the New York Times, was a reference to Senator Elizabeth Warren. The strength of her performance came at the end where she stood in front of a projection of the American Constitution. Chance the Rapper, who, according to E! News is the first black rapper since 1999 to win Best New Artist, also shined at the Grammys. In addition to winning Best New Artist, Chance also took home Best Rap Album for “Coloring Book” and Best Rap Performance for “No Problem.” Giving a beautiful performance at the Grammys, Chance had audience members enthralled from start to finish with his songs “How Great” and “All We Got.” His performance started off with a slam poetry vibe and later erupted into a confident rap star performance. Despite the successes of many artists and the beautiful performances and tributes made throughout the night, a couple familiar faces were absent from the 2017 Grammys. According to US Weekly, Justin Bieber — who was nominated for three Grammys — skipped out on the 2017 celebration because he, “doesn’t think the Grammys are relevant or representative, especially when it comes to young singers.” Bieber wasn’t the only one to ditch this year’s celebration; Kanye West was also missing. West vowed not to attend the Grammys if Frank Ocean’s album “Blonde” was not nominated, according to US Weekly. However, Kris Jenner is also quoted stating that West was absent due to his hectic schedule coming up for New York Fashion Week.
Inkwell Spotlight 'Out of the Woodwork'
By Margaret Moore Contributing Writer at the Inkwell
Regardless of the reason for West’s absence, he was nominated for eight Grammys and his absence showed disrespect. A melting pot of artists gather together each year to celebrate one thing — the art of music. This year was no exception to this phenomenon and actually posed as a celebration to remember. When country artists choose to sing pop songs for the evening and when prestigious artists shake hands with newbies, a sense of mutual love radiates through the TV. From renown celebrities to budding singers, the 2017 Grammys showed nothing but honest respect during its 59th celebration.
Sometimes you don’t see them. Sometimes you do, But you don’t know what they are thinking of you. They watch you With love, Kindness, And concern, But you don’t know it. They see you struggling, Fighting with that thing That was once considered a motorized wheelchair, Willing it to work. They see the cracks, The obscene amount of duct tape, The support that it so greatly lacks. They see the faces that you make As you try to reposition yourself Out of the horrible position. They listen to the struggles of the ridiculous insurance battle Of the oh-so medically unnecessary new wheelchair, And,
Photo taken from Pentatonix Instagram Photo Taken from Pentatonix Instagram
Photo taken from E! News Instagram Photo Contibuted by AP, photo taken by Matt Sayles
Just as the cruddy old chair completely loses all remaining support, Causing more pain than one can bare, They appear. Out of the woodwork, They come running. They rally, Collaborate, And focus on doing something great. Their attitudes, Efforts, And actions Are unbelievable, Absolutely stunning. Out of the woodwork, They set out to achieve your goal, As you sit down together To watch the Super Bowl. Out of the woodwork, They come from near and far, finding a way to help wherever they are. Out of the woodwork, They blow you away And you hope that they know how much it all means to you when you simply say Thank you
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THE MIRROR | Week of February 15, 2017
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Creative Commons/Flickr
ashionably airfield
by Nicole Funaro
Coasting into Spring Coats Punxsutawney Phil may have predicted another six weeks of winter this past Groundhog Day, but it’s never too early to start dreaming about dressing for spring weather. While it can be hard to transition your wardrobe as one season gives way to another, you can make the switch a little easier by stocking up on some new jackets and coats that you can wear as the snow flurries turn into sunny skies. Bomber Jackets A streetwear piece that has been in style for a few years, bomber jackets are lightweight and easy to wear, pairing with just about any outfit imaginable. Their short collars provide some wind protection, though not as much as a funnel or stand-up collar. However, this makes them a perfect layering piece: this jacket can be worn underneath your winter coats not only as an extra layer of protection from harsh winds, but also as a completer piece for your outfit that puts the finishing touch on your look. Once the weather warms up, you can then throw on your your bomber jacket as a light option to keep you covered on your way to that 8 a.m. class. If bomber jackets sound like a piece worth investing in, check out the selection offered by ASOS; their men’s and women’s offerings are both reasonably priced (most start at around $40) and right on trend. Coach Jackets This classic piece and emergent trend for spring 2017 will be the perfect jacket to carry you into the spring weather. Coach jackets have a simple silhouette, with a traditional flat collar and either a zipper or single set of buttons running down the center of the jacket. What gives them a modern update are their novelty, graphics, prints, and even their material, which can range from denim and canvas to nylon and even wool. Also serving as a layering piece during the winter months, the coach jacket will add another layer of warmth under your coat while also adding to your look; but as soon as spring makes its arrival, feel free to wear the jacket on its own. To find a stylish coach jacket to add to your wardrobe, check out Urban Outfitters, which offers a vast selection for both men and women in energizing colors and prints that you’re sure to be wearing all spring long. Trench Coats While trench coats are a wardrobe must-have, they also happen to be a major trend for spring 2017, which means they are getting a facelift in the process. Done in vibrant colors and modern silhouettes with exaggerated lapels and oversized belts, the trench coat is no longer a boring, brown waterproof coat, but instead another vehicle through which to show your personality. Adding this coat to your wardrobe in the late winter months will be especially helpful when snowstorms turn into downpours. The best part is that some have a removable lining, which will keep you warm through colder temperatures and can then be taken out once those springs showers start. For a refreshing trench coat style, head over to Need Supply Co., which boasts a stock of trendy trench coat styles for guys and girls; though some items are a bit costly, they have a wide variety of styles that are sure to please even the pickiest of shoppers.
Creative Commons/Flickr
Winter may be here to stay for a few more weeks, but you can start planting the seeds of your spring style now so that, by the time sunny days arrive, your style will be in full bloom!
The Mirror Abroad: Ariana's London Experience By Ariana Puzzo Online Editor in Chief
Now that I have spent over a month acclimating to life in London, I’ve come to a seemingly obvious conclusion: everyone studies abroad for different reasons. Whether you went abroad or are planning to do so because you want to immerse yourself in a new culture, take classes that will not harm your GPA or be legal to drink a few months to a year early, everyone has their reasons. However, here are some of the reasons why I think studying abroad is an incredible opportunity. 1. Traveling – Although you do not want to spend more time traveling than you spend in the actual place that you are studying, being abroad is a great opportunity to see places that you otherwise would not have easy access to. For me, my program CIEE has study tours designed to bring us to different countries free of charge, excluding most meals. Throughout my semester here, we are able to visit Cardiff, Dublin and Edinburgh, and it would be ridiculous not to take advantage of the opportunity. I have already visited Cardiff and it was such a beautiful city with an incredibly rich history. Additionally, it is generally easy to get places, especially if you are in Europe, where most times you can hop on a train or a bus and avoid outrageous airfare. 2. Food – Most of us are aware that the English are not known for their food, but they certainly make up for it with their cafés. There is easily a Pret a Manger on every corner that I turn when I am walking from my accommodation to classes each day, so it is inevitable that I am going to stop in for a hot chocolate or a toastie — a toasted sandwich — if I am hungrier. What makes both even more enjoyable is if it is a particularly nice day because it is only a short walk
from one Pret to Russell Square, which is directly outside of where my classes are held and they have benches where people quite often sit and eat lunch. 3. Accessibility to transportation – It is incredibly easy to navigate in Europe, especially if you are in a city like London. Even luckier for me, my accommodation is right by King’s Cross Station – which was ideal this past weekend when I visited my cousin in Cambridge, an hour away – as well as the underground. Over the past month, I have become more familiar with the different lines – Circle is the best, do not let anyone tell you any different – and despite my initial apprehension, it could not be more straightforward for local travelers. 4. Tourist attractions – People will tell you that you should not do the “touristy” trips while you are abroad, but chances are that these are the places that attracted you to the city that you want to live in for a semester in the first place. So far, I have visited typical spots like Big Ben, 221B Baker Street, Tower of London, Piccadilly Circus and various other locations around the city. These are easily some of the greatest and most picturesque places that I have seen so far and I would be remiss to avoid them because they are considered tourist hotspots. You never know what hidden gems you may find in each place as well, such as the delicious buffetstyle restaurant that my friend and I discovered while wandering the side roads of the City of Westminster.
Photos contributed by Ariana Puzzo
THE MIRROR | Week of February 15, 2017
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Broadway Musical Rocks Students' Socks Off By James DellaRocca Contributing Writer
The show says, “Rock got no reason, rock got no rhyme,” but there is rhyme and reason to love “School of Rock.” This past Tuesday, Feb. 7, the Fairfield University Student Association provided students with the opportunity to see the Broadway production of “School of Rock” at the Winter Garden Theatre. “School of Rock” has music composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, who wrote music for shows such as “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Cats.” With this repertoire, “School of Rock” was bound to be a great performance. The play was based off of the 2003 movie of the same name. Dewey Finn (Eric Petersen), a wannabe rock star, is down on his luck after being kicked out of his band and threatened with eviction by his roommate and friend, Ned Schneebly (Steven Booth), and his controlling girlfriend, Patty Di Marco (Becky Gulsvig). To help pay for the rent, Dewey poses as Ned to get a job as a substitute teacher at the strict and prestigious Horace Green School, only to discover that his students have musical talent. He has them form a band to compete in the Battle of the Bands under the guise of a school project where they would compete against other schools. In reality, he is using this to help alleviate his financial problems and to earn some form of rock stardom. The music was incredible in its delivery and the content of what was performed. “I thought the kids played really well, especially with playing their own instruments. It added to the authenticity of the performance,” said Alyson DeRosa ‘19. The show included almost entirely original music. The only songs that weren’t original to the Broadway show
were the song that student Zack Mooneyham — portrayed by musician Brandon Niederauer — wrote, titled “School of Rock,” and the song “Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks, which is played in the background of one of the scenes. The music was incredible and the songs “You’re in the Band,” “Stick it to the Man” and “Where did the Rock Go?” each display the range, both in the acting ability and musical talent of the cast members. The main stars of the show, however, were the kids. Some were given more fleshed out backstories than they had in the movie, where they were just kids with stuck-up parents who wouldn’t let them play rock music, but in the show, some of the children’s backgrounds are a bit more elaborate. Zack and Tomika (Amadi Chapata) are given the most development of all the children. The conflict of ideals between Zack and his father are a bit more drawn out than “you just don’t understand, dad.” Instead, it deals with the father trying to control his son’s life and not listening to any input Zack tries to bring. Tomika’s story has also drastically changed from screen to stage. In the movie, she was just a shy girl with no confidence in herself. In the play, she is the adoptive daughter of two gay men with her shyness developing because she’s the new kid at Horace Green. The show was extremely well received with the audience giving the players a standing ovation. “School of Rock” is a great addition to the Broadway lineup and will be remembered for time to come. Photo Contributed by Sydney Savoie
Creative Commons/Flickr
Cara's Cuisine: Tips for Barone By Cara Lee Assisstant Vine Editor It’s second semester. Barone is repeating meals, desserts and ‘specials,’ and you just want something different to get you through the cold and rainy months. While these aren’t completely different meals, these five little tips could make your day — and your dining experience — just a little bit more enjoyable. Enjoy! 1. Cookies: Warm up your cookie in the toaster by putting it on the lowest setting. During the winter months, a room temperature cookie will still taste amazing, but having a warm cookie that tastes like it’s just out of the oven can be heavenly. 2. Waffles: Grab some chocolate chips, blueberries or other toppings/add-ons from the other Barone stations. Then toss them into the batter or put them onto your waffle directly after removing it from the iron so they melt. 3. Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich: Make yourself an ice-cream cookie sandwich any day of the week. Just grab two cookies and head on over to the ice cream station. 4. Sundae fun-day: Want a sundae? There’s whipped cream by the waffle station to top it all off. 5. Late Night: Are you at Barone late at night when there are only a few stations still open, but there is not a lot of food left? You can request food. A personalized pizza from the pizza station, a burger or chicken nuggets from the grill. The workers are really accommodating and are just trying to prevent food from being wasted at the end of the day.
'The Edge of Seventeen' Artfully Introduces Social Issues By Ali Phaneuf Vine Editor
The movie “The Edge of Seventeen” is centered around a loud, difficult and angsty teenage girl. However, if your best friend hooked up with your older brother, you would probably be angsty too; for 17-year-old Nadine Franklin (Hailee Steinfeld), this signifies the end of the world. In “The Edge of Seventeen,” directed and written by Kelly Fremon Craig, Nadine is portrayed as a socially awkward character who has always had difficulty making friends. The one best friend Nadine has, Krista (Haley Lu Richardson), breaks Nadine’s heart when she wakes up to find her in her brother’s bed. Nadine’s brother, Darian (Blake Jenner), has been placed on a pedestal his entire life. Not only is Darian portrayed as smart and athletic, but also good looking — all qualities that Nadine apparently lacks. Nadine’s loathing attitude toward her brother radiates whenever the two have a conversation and is the reason why she feels betrayed when Krista and Darian hook up and eventually begin dating. After asking Krista to choose between her and Darian, Nadine decides to cut her best friend out of her life. Nadine suffers from what can be considered depression and social anxiety after the death of her father — the only person who she claims could understand her. Because of these factors, Nadine faces a difficult time when she tries to find new friends. During this troubling time in Nadine’s life, her history teacher, Mr. Bruner, acts as a safe zone for Nadine to express her emotions. “I’m going to kill myself ” is not only the first line of the movie, but it is also a scene in which Nadine is talking to Mr. Bruner. Nadine had accidentally sent a message to her crush, Nick, and is having anxiety about the situation. It wouldn’t have been too bad, if only Nadine excluded the part of the message where she said that she wants to do sexually explicit things with him. After awkwardly reading the message aloud, Mr. Bruner tells Nadine to take the period off and go have some frozen yogurt to clear her head. Much to her surprise, Nadine receives a response from Nick asking if she wants to hang out later that night. In a rush of excite-
ment, Nadine runs home to find something to wear. After leaving the bathroom flooded with makeup, her room trashed with clothes and a hair-straightener still turned on, Nadine is picked up by Nick. The evening could not have gone worse. Nick drove his car to an abandoned lot and quickly begins to kiss Nadine. He lowers the passenger seat so that Nadine is flat on her back and attempts to have sex with her. Nadine yells at him to get off and after a few moments of awkward silence, Nick tries to make another move on her. Nadine storms out of his car, frustrated, embarrassed and heartbroken. While this is going on, Darian had been out on a date with Krista. He receives a call from their mother stating that Nadine was missing. Despite what Nadine believes, Darian showed true concern for his sister and he and Krista drove around the city looking for her. After getting a call from Mr. Bruner that Nadine took refuge at his house, Darian went to pick her up. The two siblings reconciled that evening, settled their differences and developed a healthier relationship. In addition to reconciling with Darian and Krista, Nadine’s story also highlights another budding relationship in her life — Erwin Kim. Erwin showed consistent signs of having a crush on Nadine throughout the movie. After asking Nadine about her weekend in a stuttering voice and randomly complimenting her basic maroon sweatshirt, Erwin proved himself to be nervous and uncomfortable when speaking to her. Nadine later discovers that Erwin is rich after going to his house to swim in his humongous, heated pool that comes with a built in waterfall.
Erwin’s bedroom is covered in amazing doodles and comic-book like images and Nadine learns that he is participating in their school’s film festival. After attending the festival, Nadine sees that his film is about her and the comedic history of their relationship. After beginning the film with a depressing and tense tone, “The Edge of Seventeen” ends on a romantic and uplifting note where Nadine finally seems happy. Not only does this movie touch upon social anxiety and depression, but it also brings up the topic of sexual assault and the dangers of social media interaction. It’s 2017, technology is becoming more advanced and is taking the foreground in everyday life. Communicating via social media may be useful at times, but it can also be dangerous and may lead one to threatening situations. Take Nadine for example: she constantly flips through pictures on Nick’s social media page and then sends him a message that she is too scared to say to his face. Without knowing Nick on a personal level, Nadine agrees to “hang out” with him and lands herself in an unsafe and uncomfortable situation. Some of Nadine’s actions are triggered by the social anxiety and depression she undergoes on a daily basis. “The Edge of Seventeen” exemplifies how sensitive people with anxiety-related disorders are. Undergoing hardships in life is no easy feat to get over and it’s important for people to have empathy when talking to someone with anxiety or depression — just as Mr. Bruner does with Nadine. As a movie embedded with deep messages and a comedic flare, “The Edge of Seventeen” will have you laughing, crying, frustrated and relieved all throughout a one hour and 45-minute time slot. Although it premiered on Nov. 18, 2016, the movie came out on Amazon and iTunes on Jan. 31 and was released on DVD on Tuesday, Feb. 14.
THE MIRROR | Week of February 15, 2017
Coffee Break
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Coffee Break Editor: Claire Monahan
For Fairfield’s 75th anniversary, The Mirror is bringing back one of it’s most iconic features: Boos and Cheers. Boos and Cheers is a section in the paper where you can anonymously submit tips about the things you’re happy about and the things you’re unhappy about. It’s a place where your inside jokes get published but only your group of friends understands what they mean. Better watch out next time you decide to cry and tell your Uber driver your entire life story … you never know if you’ll end up in Boos and Cheers!
Boooos
Cheers
To the new my.fairfield … to stepping in gum … to classes not being cancelled … to being alone on Valentine’s Day … to falling on your ass before class … to the Quad turning into a wind tunnel … to the fish killer, we know what you did … to being blackout on a Monday night … to not getting free chocolate on Valentine’s Day … to the car that almost hit me in the ShopRite parking lot … to my mom for not sending a Valentine’s Day care package … to professors who try to teach after class ends … to the plague that’s attacking every Fairfield student … to the gym being crowded 25/8... to getting fired on Valentine’s Day… to boyfriends who make you pay for Chipotle on Valentine’s Day … to all the hot guys going abroad ...
To the long weekend … to passing my math test … to the snow day … to being single on Valentine’s Day … to emoji slippers … to Moana … to the Prince catalogue finally making it onto Spotify … to half off Valentine’s Day candy on Wednesday … to Local, shots on Mike and the Weeknd … to Katy Perry’s new song DANCE DANCE DANCE … to being alone on Valentine’s Day and kissing all the frogs … to Galway … to Mary for holding together the Banana Hammock … to JUHAN’s Chipotle fundraiser … to people who actually pull their weight in group projects … to warm chocolate chip cookies … to Laz for passing out on the couch… to friends who support you through everything ...
Sitting Down with Former ‘The Voice’ Editor-in-Chief David Pettinicchi ‘75 Q: What was your major/ minor? A: Major in American History, Minor in English Q: Where did you live all four years? A: First year in Northwest Hall (now Jogues); two years in Regis; one year in Southeast Hall (Villages) Q: What were all of your roles on The Voice? A: Editor-in-Chief 1974-75; News Editor 1973-74; Staff Writer 197273 Q: What was the most controversial story you published as Editorin-Chief? A: The Student Government and Legislature were relatively new
concepts at Fairfield U, so most of the controversy stemmed from growing pains, but nothing really major in terms of “hot” stories. There was a recount of the Student Government Presidential election and an impeachment attempt after his election. The Student Government President and I were roommates for all four years. Father Fitzgerald, the then president of Fairfield U, called our dorm room “the most powerful room on campus.” Unlike many of the other college campuses through the U.S., Fairfield had very little in terms of demonstrations, etc. Q: What was your favorite/least favorite parts of being Editor-inChief? A: My favorite part of the job was
trying to stay on top of the pulse of the University and writing about it, though I delegated lots of the writing to others in order to even out the playing field. I also enjoyed doing the planning and layout. There was a great deal of camaraderie back then. But publishing a weekly newspaper was somewhat of a time-consuming chore back in the 1970s, to the detriment of my GPA. Material had to be edited by Monday morning, then sent to the printer for “typesetting,” then we drove to Stratford on Tuesday to cut out the typeset articles and headlines, run them through a wax machine and then actually lay out the paper by hand, using special rulers to make sure articles were straight. We had to hand-calculate type sizes for headlines, etc. Photos
were cropped in separately, then off to press by Tuesday evening, with publication on Thursday morning. Since news stories sometimes became stale by the time of publication, I focused a lot on feature articles to make it more of a “magazine” style read. Q: How would you compare The Voice to The Mirror? A: From what I’ve seen, The Mirror is a real class act. It’s professional, timely and well-written. We had some excellent writing back in our day but given time constraints, we couldn’t be very edgy with news or sports. We did have competition though — the Fairfield Free Press, which was the so-called “radical” newspaper on campus.
Contributed by David Pettinicchi David Pettinicchi (above) was Editor-in-Chief of The Voice which merged with The Fairfield Free Press to become The MIrror.
Valentine’s Day Throwback He said... By Nick Tuffarelli
With the recent passing of Valentine’s Day, both sexes were concerned with being romantic. Now, not everyone is good at being romantic, but they try anyways. Also, not everyone is truly “romantic”. One’s motivation for being romantic greatly differs from person to person. Despite the amount of motivation one has, being romantic is still a very talent. It’s an instinct, a killer one that can seal the deal for just about any guy who appreciates and understands the benefits of being romantic. The debate really is not who is more romantic or who is better at being romantic, men or women, because guys have to be more romantic. The difference is that women, including
He said/ She said Who’s More Romantic? some sissy guys, want to be romantic, but real men need to be romantic. Many women enjoy having a surprise dinner ready for their man when they get home from work or enjoy bringing their loved one breakfast in bed on a snowy Sunday morning. Most see these actions as a sign and a reflection of their love for their significant other. However, for men it represents something beyond this. If I, or any other man, has candles lit around the house when my girl gets home from work or rose petals scattered around the bedroom leading into a bubble bath, it’s for one reason: to keep the supply lines open. No one ever wants to be shut down or cut off by one’s girl...
These columns appeared in the 2001 Valentine’s Day Edition of The Mirror. They were part of an old column called He said/ She said, where male and female students debate controversial issues. Read the full story online at fairfieldmirror.com
When I think of romance I think flowers, candlelit dinners for two, a last minute weekend getaway, and Hallmark cards. Who wouldn’t love all these demonstrations of love? Actually I’m sure there’s people that find those gestures nauseating. What I find so interesting about romance is that it’s a very individual thing — there’s bound to be someone that finds a foot massage romantic while myself — I’d pass. This also holds true in the never ending battle of the sexes. What’s romantic to women might just be different from what’s romantic to men. It seems to me that in general men get a bad wrap when it comes to romance- kind of like women and bad driving.
She said... By Jennifer Amenta
There is this perception that men just aren’t romantic — simply because they might have different ways of expressing it, or might have difficulties expressing it. It’s considered natural for women to be expressive — in relationships, in the movie theatre, in the mall, in all areas of life. It’s a different story for men. I can cry when things start to get ugly on Temptation Island- but my boyfriend, no way! And Dear God forbid a man’s friends see him actually leaving a rose on his Sweetie’s windshield wiper (hint, hint). I think the difference likes in the communication and reception of romantic gestures...
THE MIRROR | Week of February 15, 2017
Sports
SPORTS
This Week in Sports:
Sports Editor: Alfredo Torres » sports@fairfieldmirror.com
In Case You
Page 13
Stag Weekly Notables
Missed It:
Thursday, February 9th -Men's Basketball defeats Marist, 73-53
Saturday, February 11th -Holy Cross defeats Women's Lacrosse, 11-8 -Richmond defeats Men's Lacrosse, 15-3 Sunday, February 12th -Women's Basketball defeats Manhattan, 64-43 Monday, February 13th -Men's Basketball defeats Rider, 69-67
On Feb. 8, swingman Samantha Cooper ‘18 was tabbed to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic AllDistrict I First Team. The Ontario native has earned a 3.70 GPA in her time here at Fairfield and has been a vital part of the Stags’ success on the court during her years. Cooper is a biology major and has been named to the Dean’s List every semester while at Fairfield. Furthermore, the 6-2 slasher has thrice been selected to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic Team and plans on attending optometry school after she graduates from Fairfield. On the court this season, Cooper is the team’s third leading scorer at 11.8 points per game and leads the conference in rebounding at 8.4 carroms per contest. Cooper looks to lead the Stags to a deep run in the MAAC Tournament and a postseason berth in March.
Upcoming This Week: Wednesday, February 15th -Women's Lacrosse vs. UConn, 3 p.m. Thursday, February 16th -Women's Basketball vs. Marist, 7 p.m. Saturday, February 18th
On the same day, versatile Anthony Caputo ‘19 was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tennis Player of the Week for his performance in the Stags’ win over Lafayette. The New Jersey native did it all for Fairfield on the court as the powerful righty earned wins in both a doubles and singles match. In his first match of the afternoon, Caputo teamed up with fellow sophomore Jeffrey Rodgers in No. 2 doubles to take down the Leopard’s pair 6-4. The pair is 4-5 when they play together this season. Hours later Caputo took the court again, by his lonesome this time, and rode the momentum from his previous victory to a 6-1, 6-1 triumph in the No. 2 singles slot for a straight set victory. Caputo is 5-7 to this point in the season when playing singles matches. He hopes to continue his hot play this weekend when the Stags travel to Philadelphia to take on Saint Joseph’s and Drexel in non-conference matches.
-Men's Lacrosse at Bucknell, 11:30 p.m. Sunday, February 19th -Women's Tennis at Drexel, 11:30 a.m. -Men's Tennis at Drexel, 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 21st -Men's Basketball vs. Monmouth, 7 p.m.
Photos Contributed by Sports Information Desk
In this week's issue... - Senior Tori Reed Looks to Lead Stags to Success (Page 14) - Swimming & Diving Finish Season at MAAC (Page 14)
- Catching Up With Senior Goalkeeper Tyler Behrig (Page 15) - Stags Edge Rider 69-67 in Alumni Hall (Page 16)
Sports
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THE MIRROR | Week of February 15, 2017
Swimming & Diving Finish Season at MAAC Championship
Senior Tori Reed Looks to Lead Stags to Successful Season By Patrick Getz Contributing Writer As the Stags softball team prepares for their season, one player who is certainly more than ready to lead her team is Tori Reed ‘17. The season starts on Friday, Feb. 24 for the Stags and Reed has that date circled on her calendar. She could not contain her excitement when she talked about getting back on the field with her teammates. “I am very excited for the upcoming season and I think we all are. With the upcoming season being a little over a week away, we are definitely ready to get outside and play on the dirt. We want to actually play the game like it’s supposed to be played,” said Reed. For the starting backstop, Reed likes to keep it simple when it comes to her approach at the plate. For two years in a row, she posted a batting average over .300 so being a consistent force is a vital part to her success as a Stag. “It’s all mental. Batting is so mental and anyone will tell you that. It’s all about keeping a positive mentality and I think that attitude correlates to any aspect of life. Knowing you can do it is one of the keys to a .300 plus batting average,” said the Dover, Md. native when talking about a possible thirdstraight year batting over .300. Defense is another facet that Reed cares about deeply and she unquestionably knows the importance of a good defensive backstop. Last season, she did not commit a single error which is impressive given the fact she played in 50 games. “I pride myself in my catching ability. It’s something I have always worked very hard at and since the catcher is pretty much the controller of the defense, I try to be as strong as I can be at all times. I know that my team is always relying on me, not to miss a wild pitch to let a runner advance,” said the senior. Considering Reed was so consistent last year, she is not afraid to make adjustments throughout the season. She echoed the point of how softball is full of adjustments and scouting reports. “Every team we face has a scouting report on us so they know what our weaknesses are, always. Also, the scouting reports are going around and constantly being updated every game. The main thing is being able to adjust to not only the pitcher but also what your weaknesses are. The more you focus on your weaknesses at practice, the better you’ll get at it. It is 100 percent a game of adjustments,” said Reed. As successful of a player Reed is, she does not lose sight of being a team player. She wants the best for her teammates and for everyone to play as a unit. “I want us to stay together as a team. Whatever we are thrown during the season, I want the entire team to get better as a result. I just want our team to have a positive outlook throughout the season with it being a long, long season with over 50 games. If we keep that positive mindset, I think that is the best thing for us. When someone falls down, I want someone to be there to pick her up to get her back on track,” said Reed. Since she is a stout defender and potent offensive force, Fairfield is in good hands when it comes to having a senior leader on the squad. Reed will be ready to get the season started off right when Fairfield heads down to Charlotte to face Robert Morris in the Green & White Tournament on Feb. 24.
Weekly 4x5 Because we have witty things to say ...
Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor
By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor One weekend each year, all hell breaks loose in the waters of Erie Community College in Buffalo, N.Y. for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships. After four days of competition, the women’s team finished in 6th place with 319 points while the men’s team came in 9th place with 172.5 points on the weekend. As has been the case throughout the season, the women’s squad put forth a balanced effort in each event in Buffalo. Freshman Colleen Young and Emily Vlass ‘19 garnered the best finishes in the pool on the weekend as they placed 4th and 5th respectively in the 200m breastroke A-Final. Both swimmers posted personal best times in their races. Sophomore Kelly Cordes had herself a quality weekend as the swimmer posted an 8th place finish in the 100m freestyle with a personal best time in the A-Final. Freshman Katelyn Hahn showcased her skills in her MAAC Championship debut with a 15th place finish in the 1650m freestyle. Finally, Grace Goddard ‘19 and Betsy Powers ‘20 represented the Stags well in the B-Final of the 200m butterfly. Goddard claimed a 9th place marker and Powers rode a personal best time to a 14th place finish. On the men’s side, four Fairfield swimmers set the pace in the 1650m freestyle, all finishing the race with a personal best time. Junior Jameson Duncan came in 13th place while the freshman trio of Phillip Zyskowski, Michael Sparks and Austin Kenyon claimed 14th, 17th and 18th place respectively. Freshman Griffin Burke was the headliner for the red and white in Buffalo as the freshman from California set a school record in the 200m backstroke. Burke shattered a record that had been held since 2012 by Paul Bimmler ‘13. The only Stag relay to place on the weekend was the group of Andrew Tavcar ‘17, Jordan Rahurahu ‘20, Zyskowski ‘20 and Justin Touve ‘19. The squad clocked in at 8th place in the 400m freestyle relay. In the weekend’s diving finals, the women’s team had a strong showing with two divers placing in their individual meets. Junior Kylie More captured 8th place in the 1m A-Final competition while Leah Pawelczyk ‘17 grabbed 12th place in the 1m B-Final. While neither team returned to Stag Country satisfied with their collective performances in Buffalo, numerous Fairfield swimmers had banner weekends up north. With so many young swimmers on both the women’s and men’s side returning next year, look for the Stags to be better than ever at the MAAC Championships come next winter.
Your 2016-2017 4x5 Columnists:
Jesse Erickson, Alfredo Torres, Daniel Montgomery and Catherine Veschi
How was your Valentine's Day?
What was your reaction to the Giants releasing Victor Cruz?
Casey Smith & Kelsey Carey join the 1,000 point club on Sunday. What are your thoughts?
UConn Women's Basketball won their 100th consecuive win on Monday. Think they'll ever lose?
Not only am I single, I got fired.
I can't believe I got fired ...
I'm happy some people have things going for them because I sure as hell don't.
The last time I was this sad was Do you think they're hiring in when I got my rejection letter from Oklahoma city? UConn on my birthday. Lmk, Kevin. Ya girl needs you now I also got dumped on Christmas more than ever. once. Holidays aren't my thing..
Valentine's Day came and left, nothing special for me but I did have just one class so I can't complain but definitely could have used a nice dinner date.
Heartbroken! I understand the move but it's a tough one for me to handle. Cruz, we'll miss those end zone salsa dances. New York will always remember you!
Congrats to the homies Smitty and Kels, an unbelievable accomplishment. It's been an honor to see them play, but we've got to win the MAAC Championship before we can start celebrating.
I honestly don't know what team can beat UConn right now, I mean winning 100 games in a row is not easy. Shotout to Coach Geno and all the great players that have come along the way.
Just what I expected, no love for KD after what he did. Not only did the fans have something to say but even Russ and Roberson had a few things to tell KD which only made the game better unfortunately KD got the win smh #Koward
Had myself a phat bowl of chocolate ice cream at night so the day certainly ended well.
The salsa dance would have never been added to my repertoire if it was not for Victor Cruz. I'll miss that big play threat.
Awesome to hear. Both of them deserve to go out on a high note.
Unbelievable. Fairfield women's team has won a few in a row so watch out UConn.
That was crazy. I love seeing regular season games that feel like the playoffs. Plus, my boy Russ showed out as usual so it was good to see.
Pretty great because I spent it with
I'm going to have to side with Fredo here .... as a big New York sports fan I'm pretty devastated.
That's amazing! Way to end their college basketball career with a bang.
NEVER. I grew up as a huge UConn basketball fan (as did everyone from my high school) so I will forever and always route for the huskies.
I didn't even know he played for Oklahoma City to begin with, but to be honest, it doesn't seem like there's a lot to do there so I guess I feel bad for him.
Jesse Erickson Editor-in-Chief My boss doesn't even love me (Italian EIC) anymore.
Alfredo Torres Sports Editor
Contributed by Sports Information Desk
Catherine Veschi the best valentines I've ever had Managing Editor @themirror (sorry I'm cheesy).
What did you think of Kevin Durant's return to Oklahoma City?
Sports
THE MIRROR | Week of February 15, 2017
Page 15
Catching Up With Senior Goalkeeper Tyler Behring By Christopher Lazazzera Contributing Writer Playing goalie in lacrosse is one of the hardest positions to play in any sport. Wearing minimal padding and having offensive players firing a ball at you upwards of 80 mph doesn’t make it any easier. For Fairfield University Men’s Lacrosse goalie Tyler Behring ‘17, this has become a cake walk. Behring’s .572 save percentage and 11.71 saves per game from last season were ranked top 10 in the country. His 9.19 goals against average and 199 total saves in a single season both ranked seventh all-time in program history. I sat down with the goalie from Little Silver, N.J. to discuss a wide range of topics.
Q Do you have any pre-game superstitions? :
A
: I usually listen to the song “Shipping Off to Boston” right before I play to get me in the zone and get me excited.
What were your thoughts on being named to the Preseason All-New QEngland Team? I was definitely happy about it, but I try not to think about it going into A the season because I feel like it puts pressure on you to do well. I try and just let it go and just play my game. :
:
You had nine saves in a tough loss on Saturday against Richmond, what Qadjustments does the team need to make moving forward? I think we just need to work harder in practice and pay attention to the A small details in order to get things back on track. I think this week we have really done a good job of starting to do that. Hopefully we can continue :
:
that.
Q When did you first want to play goal and why? :
Contributed by Sports Information Desk
and stuck with it through high school.
Q What are your goals for this season? First and foremost, getting the team back on track and getA ting our first win of the season under our belt. That way we can build confidence and hopefully that will lead us to making the :
:
tournament and winning the CAA [Colonial Athletic Association].
Q What would you like to do after Fairfield? If I were to get drafted (in the Major League Lacrosse Draft) A that would be great; I would probably give it a shot. I would not be discouraged if I didn’t get drafted or didn’t get to play in the :
:
It actually started in 7th grade. Our goalie quit for our team and I played defense. AEveryone looked at me and I was like, alright I’ll try it. I ended up really liking it :
MLL. I think I’ve definitely had a good four years here so we’ll see.
Fairfield Stags Lacrosse Update By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor
No. 20 Richmond Defeats Men's Women's Lax Falls to Holy Lax in Season Opener 15-3 Cross 11-8 in Season Opener Looking to cement their place as one of the premier programs in the nation early in the season, Fairfield rolled into Richmond, Va. on Saturday, Feb. 11 ready to prove that being ranked No. 17 in the country was no fluke. Unfortunately, the Stags were dominated by the 15th ranked Richmond Spiders to the tune of a 15-3 drubbing in what was previewed as a marquee matchup before the game’s opening faceoff. In the first quarter, things looked promising for the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament runners-up last year. Freshman midfielder Travis Ford notched his first career goal to the give the Stags a 1-0 lead early in the first quarter. After three-straight Spider goals, Preseason AllAmerican Colin Burke ‘19 tallied his first goal of the season to make the score 3-2 with minutes left in the first period. Richmond would go on to score one more goal in the frame to end the first 15 minutes with a 4-2 advantage. The second quarter was when Richmond really began to separate from the Stags. The home team would rattle off five-straight goals to end the half at 8-3. While Richmond was generating quality offense and producing good looks on goal, Fairfield was being stifled by a stingy Spider defense that would prove to be relentless all afternoon. Coming out of the locker room with 30 minutes left to regain the lead, Fairfield’s hopes would immediately be dashed as Richmond came out firing in the third period. The Southerners notched four goals in the frame to take a 12-3 lead headed into the fourth quarter. After 45 minutes, the Stags just wanted to pack up and take the long ride back up I-95 home to Fairfield. To add insult to injury, Richmond would tack on three more goals in the fourth quarter to end the game with a score of 15-3. Senior Nico Panepinto tallied the lone Fairfield goal in the second period amidst the scoring barrage from the Spiders. Senior goalie Tyler Behring added nine saves while Brad Nordstrom ‘18 chipped in five saves on the afternoon. Fairfield looks to bounce back from a rough opening outing on Feb.18 when they head to Pennsylvania to take on Bucknell in a rematch of last year’s meeting at Rafferty Stadium, one which ended in a 13-8 loss for the Stags.
Trekking up to familiar territory this past Saturday, Feb. 11 Fairfield faced off against Jesuit foe Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. in their season opener. Despite outshooting the Crusaders 23-20 for the contest, the Stags fell 11-8 to the perennial Patriot League contenders. After Holy Cross scored the game’s opening goal, Lily Crager ‘19 got the Stags on the board five minutes into the first half. Three minutes later Olivia Russell ‘18 found the back of the net to give Fairfield a 2-1 lead, the last lead the red and white would hold in the game. The Crusaders would go on to score five unanswered goals to make the game 7-2 with just over six minutes to play in the first frame. Senior Scarlett Sulliman would tally a goal for the Stags seconds before the half to send Fairfield into the break trailing 6-3. Fairfield looked as though they were inspired coming out of the locker room as the Stags scored to tie the game at six with just under 20 minutes to play. Junior Brenna Connolly, Kathleen Hulseman ‘19 and Crager each scored in Fairfield’s offensive resurgence. As was the case for the entire afternoon, right when the Stags threatened to take over the game the Crusaders grabbed command of the game once again. Holy Cross scored three-straight goals in the span of three and a half minutes to take a 9-6 lead with 16 minutes on the clock. Fairfield and Holy Cross would trade goals in the final half of the period as the game would end at 11-8. Seniors Sulliman and Riley Hellstein would tally goals for the Stags in the final minutes of play. The Stags return to action this afternoon as they welcome in-state rival University of Connecticut to Rafferty Stadium for a 3 p.m. faceoff.
@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports Week of February 15, 2017
Stags Edge Rider 69-67 in Alumni Hall
fairfieldmirror.com
SPORTS 16 Sports Editor: Alfredo Torres » sports@fairfieldmirror.com
Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Junior Tyler Nelson chipped in a game-high 16 points to lead the Stags to a victory over conference foe Rider. Nelson added eight assists and five rebounds to showcase his ever-improving all-around game.
By Alfredo Torres Sports Editor The men’s basketball team grinded out a tough 69-67 win over conference rival Rider University on Monday, Feb 13. Instead of the usual home venue of Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, the game was held on campus at George Bicassa Court in Alumni Hall. The smaller venue provided the stags with a more energized and louder crowd that made all the difference in such a close game. After winning the tip off, the Stags were able to capitalize on their first possession, as Jerry Johnson ‘19 hit a three-point shot less than 30 seconds into the game. Johnson had a very productive night, going 5-9 with all of his shots coming from three-point range. The first 10 minutes of the game were intense, with no team gaining more than a
one possession lead. Rider then awoke with their most dominant stretch of the game, going on a 10-0 run to gain a 24-18 lead in less than three minutes before forcing a Fairfield timeout with 6:56 remaining in the half. From there, Rider was almost able to match Fairfield point-for-point for the rest of the way taking a 41-37 lead into halftime. The Stags did not put forth their best defensive performance in the first half as Rider was able to shoot 48 percent as a team including a whooping 63 percent from threepoint range. “[the team] embraced the fact that we were going to have to play team defense in order to get some stops,” said head coach Sydney Johnson on the Stags halftime adjustment. “I was literally screaming ‘Defense! Defense! Defense’ and they responded pretty well,” Johnson remarked. And respond the Stags did, as they came
out and played an inspired second half of defense. The Stags started the second half as they did the first, with a Johnson threepoint shot, but after that, it was the inspired play of graduate student Amadou Sidibe that rallied the team. Sidibe would go on to score eight-straight points and the Stags took a 48-47 lead with 14:52 left in the game. Sidibe would go on to finish the game with a double-double as he registered 12 points, while grabbing 10 rebounds, good for his eighth double-double of the year. The two teams continued to fight, with neither side able to gain a lead of more than two points. Then with little more than four minutes left, Rider was able to score six points rapidly, with two three-point shots sandwiching a Fairfield turnover to give Rider a 67-61 lead. From here, Fairfield was able to make quite the rally. Two three-point shots along
with some inspired defense got the game tied at 67. Then with little over a minute to play, Tyler Nelson ‘18 stepped back and drained what was inevitably the game-winning jump shot. “We put the play in at practice just the other day,” said Nelson on his go ahead basket. “I got a good look and it went in.” From there, the Stags needed a handful of defensive stops and they got them. Junior Jerome Segura got a steal with 54 seconds remaining and Sidibe blocked a shot at the buzzer to secure the win. With the win, the Stags improve to 13-11 on the year and 8-7 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Stags will work hard in an attempt to secure a high seed for the MAAC tournament as Stags look to carry the momentum from Alumni Hall when they travel to take on Quinnipiac University on Feb. 17.
Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Sophomore Matija Milin (left) scored 11 points in just 23 minutes of play on Monday night. Graduate student Amadou Sidibe (right) recorded another double-double as he tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds.