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Fairfield University Dance Ensemble entertains a sold out audience.

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Gavin Wallace leads the Stag’s baseball team on the mound.

YouTube censors and silences the LGBT community with new restrictions.

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THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper

Week of March 29, 2017

Vol. 42 Iss. 20

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Students and Faculty Face-off in First Lip Sync Battle

By Juliana Sansonetti Co-News Editor

There was a $1 nominating fee for the Lip-Sync Battle.

Additionally, attendees paid $5 to attend the event.

Crasto explained that all of the proceeds went to the Male students dancing in bras, a professor of finance mouthing lyrics to the Backstreet Boys in a tight-fitting tank Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, which was started by actor Paul top and shirtless men dancing to “Your Body Is A Wonder- Newman for terminally ill children.

Crasto and Pisano are co-chairing the Week of Service, land” were a few highlights of Fairfield University’s first anwhich started with the Lip-Sync Battle. nual Lip-Sync Battle.

Pope reported that the event was a great way for faculThe Lip-Sync Battle, which was held for the first time ever on March 28 at 9 p.m. in Alumni Hall, was part of the ty and students to interact, since most events on campus are second-annual Charles F. Dolan School of Business Week of geared only toward students.

The event drew in a crowd of approximately 80 students, Service, which lasts from March 27 to 31.

It was organized by Anthony Crasto ‘18, Joseph Pisano staff and faculty members.

Dean of the Dolan School of Business Donald Gibson ‘18, Anthony Pope ‘18 and Brie Tancredi ‘17.

According to Pisano, they wanted to organize a lip-sync was the host for the event and was decked out in a pair of battle in response to an idea brought to assistant dean of the shades and a cap.

Two student pairs, two individual students and four Dolan School of Business Dawn DeBiase by an undergradufaculty and staff members were nominated as contestants by ate student. the Fairfield University community. Contestants included Dean DeBiase, who lip-synced “California Girls,” Assistant Professor of Finance Michael Puleo who lip-synced “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” and Robert Gonfiantini ‘20 who danced and lip-synced with friends to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” In the final round, Tim Johnston ‘18 and Matthew Ragone ‘18 went head-to-head with Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions Corey Novak ‘13.

Both opponents lipsynced “Single Ladies.”

The contestants’ performances were judged by a panel comprised of four faculty members who served as judgAndrew DaRosa/The Mirror es.

One additional vote came Corey Novak ’13 wins the first annual Lip Sync battle with her performance of the song

Andrew DaRosa/The Mirror Matt Ragone’18 and Tim Johnston’18 were runners up with a lip syncing rendition of “You Belong with Me” by Taylor Swift.

from the audience, as audience members were able to vote through a website called VoxVote.

Junior Nick DeBiase, commented, “[My stepmom, DeBiase] did a great job and had a lot of fun with it. It was definitely funny to watch.”

Audience members often laughed and even gasped at the contest’s hilarity.

“Fairfield has a lot of traditions and we like to start new traditions so with this, we wanted to create a stable event that would hopefully become a new Fairfield tradition that new students for generations to come would enjoy,” Pope said.

“Single Ladies.” Above she is pictured dancing to “Uptown Funk.”

New Construction Projects are Underway

By Juliana Sansonetti Co-News Editor

Andrew DaRosa/The Mirror The new parking lot at the Aloysius P. Kelley Center broke ground this semester.

After half a semester of construction on campus, students have become accustomed to the sounds of trucks backing up, the sights of metal beams being hoisted into the air and the smells of cement being poured into ditches. While the campus may seem to be in an endless cycle of construction, the payoff to taking detours to class will conclude shortly for the most part.

After spring break, there were three new additions to the construction. Work began on the Aloysius P. Kelley Center parking garage, the new residence hall behind Gonzaga Hall and the juice bar that will soon be in the Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Recreation Complex.

“I think it’s coincidental that all this growth and this tremendous positive construction wave is happening when we’re celebrating our 75th anniversary,” said As-

sistant Vice President of Student Affairs Jim Fitzpatrick ‘70.

Some, like Nick Ragonesi ‘17, believe that having so much construction at once is impractical.

“I think in the long run, it will be a positive thing for the University, but I think there’s too much going on at once, especially with the [Marion Peckham Egan] School of Nursing [and Health Studies], the new dining hall, the parking garage and the new dorm,” said Ragonesi.

The Kelley Center parking garage has an estimated completion date of spring 2018, according to Dean of Students Karen Donoghue ‘03. Fitzpatrick said that the new residence hall is estimated to have a fall 2018 completion, while the RecPlex juice bar is supposed to be operational by mid-April of 2017, as reported by Director of Recreation John Paladino.

Paladino spoke of the benefits of having a juice bar at the RecPlex.

“I think it will help students with their planning Read Dining on Page 

THE MIRROR | Week of March 29, 2017

News

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Scanlon Sheds Light on Lesser Known Civil Right’s Figure

By Elizabeth O’Hara Assistant News Editor

the Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies department and co-director of the event addressed the song “Formation” by Beyoncé to connect with Hedgeman’s stoic activism.

“Following Beyoncé’s directive in her memorable song ‘Formation,’ from which ScanThe name Anna Arnold Hedgeman is not usually a name that is commonly referred lon’s talk takes its title, we would like to think that folks might, from the talk, ‘get informato in the history of civil rights. Through advances in education, public health, politics and workplace justice, Hedgeman led and was a part of some of the 20th century’s most import- tion,’ and also ‘get in formation,’ as in, to organize politically, and to bring about positive change,” said Orlando. ant developments.

Over 50 students and faculty were in attendance at the event, which was made possible With those noble strides came adverse opposition for, according to Professor of History and Black Studies Elizabeth Hohl, Hedgeman is an often overlooked proponent of social by a generous donation from the Humanities Institute.

A student enrolled in Hohl’s “Feminism in the United States” justice in the history of the United States. class, Matthew Marshall ‘19, thought Scanlon’s lecture helped to In light of the current political climate and specifically in highlight the numerous setbacks African American women face. honor of both Black History Month and Women’s History Month, “I thought Dr. Scanlon’s speech was a paradigm shift for me in the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program in collabwhat I had only simply known as Martin Luther King Jr’s ‘I Have a oration with the Black Studies Program invited Dr. Jennifer R. Dream’ speech,” said Marshall.

Scanlon to give a talk about Hedgeman in the Aloysius P. Kelley “She was able to illuminate the life and contributions of Anna Center.

Arnold Hedgeman, not only through her work on the march, but the “Hedgeman was a dedicated freedom fighter known for her civil rights movement as a whole,” he continued. fight for faith-based activism, civil rights and feminism,” said The talk was also co-sponsored by the peace and justice studies Hohl, co-director of the event. program, Assistant Dean of Students Allison Berger, public lectures Guest speaker Dr. Scanlon is the William R. Kenan, Jr. proand events and the departments of history, politics, sociology and fessor of the humanities in gender, sexuality and women’s studies cultural anthropology. at Bowdoin College; she is a historian as well as the interim dean Junior Casey Fuller, another student in Hohl’s feminism class, of academic affairs at Bowdoin. thought Scanlon’s lecture and Hedgeman’s activism were both very Her talk, “Getting in Formation: Anna Arnold Hedgeman enlightening. and Historical Narratives of Black Women’s Activism,” is based “I find it remarkable that so many, including myself, are just on her new book entitled “Until There is Justice: The Life of Anna learning about Hedgeman’s work,” said Fuller.

Arnold Hedgeman.”

“Hedgeman is one of the giants upon whose shoulders current According to Scanlon, Hedgeman helped to organize the activists stand. Many of those activists are perhaps still unaware of 1963 March on Washington for Civil Rights and co-founded the her fight for justice,” Fuller added.

National Organization for Women.

According to Scanlon, sometimes standing in formation is a “Scanlon’s treatment restores Hedgeman’s place as a force for lonely stance; it was for Hedgeman. change during her long career,” said Hohl.

Regardless of those differences, Hedgeman’s legacy invites us to One of the central points that Scanlon stressed throughout demand equality, even when faced with opposition. her lecture was how Hedgeman’s critical work on behalf of social “Her work was central in the fight for solidarity and the deand racial justice garnered limited recognition. mand for justice in the future,” said Scanlon.

“Hedgeman’s work is woven into the fabric of the civil rights “She was a black person among whites, a lay person among clermovement. Her contribution may not have been recognized pubgy and most certainly a woman among men,” she continued. lically, but it was real and it was profound,” said Scanlon.

Hedgeman’s critical work was at first forgotten; the cause was In the conclusion of her lecture, Scanlon put a twist on exnot. plaining Hedgeman’s formative efforts and cited the pop song Elizabeth O’Hara/The Mirror “Formation” by Beyoncé.

Scanlon offers insight on Hedgemen’s actcomDr. Emily Orlando, associate professor of English, director of plishments as a civil rights activist

Fairfield Gathers to Support Worker’s Rights

By Deanna Carbone Co-News Editor

Unity among faculty, staff and students was emphasized at the Fairfield University Workers United’s (FUWU) “Freedom and Solidarity at Work” event on Wednesday, March 22 in the Lower Level Barone Campus Center. Dr. Jocelyn Boryczka, associate professor of politics, introduced the overarching theme of the event by speaking on the significance of knowing your own rights and exercising them for both students and staff.

“We are gathering to hear about the strength that we can each individually have when we come together collectively,” Boryczka said.

President of the Faculty Welfare Committee/ American Association of University Professors, Professor Irene Mulvey, stressed the importance of freedom of speech and teachers’ working conditions. Both Mulvey and Boryczka sported shirts stating, “Teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions.”

Among multiple student, faculty and staff speakers, the highlight of the event was the presentation of the first annual Campus Worker Solidarity and Community Award, given in the memory of Professor of Communication Gisela Gil-Egui.

The flier advertising the nominations for this award stated that Gil-Egui, “embodied the commitment to standing with her fellow workers to advance social justice, fairness and equity in the workplace.”

Both part-time and full-time workers were nominated because their peers believed they represented community values and solidarity. The winner of the award was Carrie Robinson, assistant director of the Office of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.

Robinson was nominated by Megan Webster, assistant director of Leadership and Professional Development for her “tireless advocacy for issues of social justice for the Fairfield community.”

Robinson spoke on her work in promoting social justice and cross difference dialogue on campus. Along with the Office of Diversity, Robinson hosts dialogues for both teachers and students to allow for different opinions on campus and nationwide issues to come out.

“We can have different opinions, but at the end of the of the day we all have to move forward and work together. It’s important that everyone feels like they have a place on campus,” Robinson said.

Todd Levin from the University’s power plant reflected Robinson’s statement and discussed how each worker deserves respect on this campus. He described employees of the University both in the FWC/ AAUP and outside of it as a family that sticks together.

Senior Matt Parenti, chief justice of Fairfield University Student Association court spoke about the importance that worker unity has had on his own life.

He discussed how both his grandfather and father joined unions in order to improve their own conditions. He explained that he owes where he is at Fairfield University to the efforts the unions made to help his grandfather and father get to where he is today.

“Solidarity [among workers] is simple, it’s love,” Parenti said.

Parenti also emphasized how the actions teachers take affect the current generation and those to come.

Dr. Robert Epstein, associate professor of English, discussed how united the faculty is at Fairfield.

“We have a union spirit even though we don’t have a union,” said Epstein.

Although the workers are united at Fairfield, some are left vulnerable.

Fellow English professor, Sonya Huber, spoke about her husband. He was a part-time professor at Fairfield and asked his students to advocate for parttime teachers’ full-time positions. He was asked to leave when students complained.

“We will not rest until everyone is safe,” said Huber about the FWC/AAUP. Senior Meghan Hamilton, vice president of Fairfield Alliance, offered an opinion from a unique place.

She echoed the importance of working for the rights of those who could be pushed to the side.

“Working for justice in some capacity helps others work for justice in some capacity,” said Hamilton.

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THE MIRROR | Week of March 29, 2017

News

The Mirror Reflects on this Week in Social Media Compiled by Elizabeth O’Hara Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.

Tuesday, 3/21 4:02 p.m.- Public Safety investigated an attempted burglary reported in Loyola Hall in the studio art area. An individual reported that their locker was broken into. The matter is under investigation and anyone with any information is asked to come forward.

10:56 p.m.- Public Safety investigated the smell of marijuana in Jogues Hall. Four individual students were located and one student was issued an infraction for drugs.

Thursday, 3/23 12:41 p.m.- Public Safety is currently investigating a theft at Bannow Science Center. Individuals reported that $1,300 worth of lab equipment had been discovered missing. Seven rotary motion sensors, valued at $170 each and one triple beam balance were taken. The situation is under investigation and if anyone has any information as to the whereabouts of these items, they are encouraged to contact Public Safety.

Saturday, 3/25 1:13 a.m. - Resident Assistants requested assistance with a noise complaint at Townhouse 11 block. Public Safety discovered covered smoke detectors and a mason jar filled with marijuana sitting on a dresser in a bedroom. One student was arrested for drug possession as well as alcohol violations. The students have been referred to student conduct for the alcohol and drug violations, as well as for the higher charge of tampering with the fire alarm equipment.

11:55 p.m.- Public Safety investigated a young man who inappropriately touched a young woman. The young man has been identified and is currently in the adjudication process. Student conduct was immediately included in the investigation and has taken actions to maintain the safety of the student body.

Monday, 3/27 2:51 p.m.- Public Safety investigated a theft reported reported in Meditz Hall. A student reported that an Apple pencil, valued at $100 and a black wallet were stolen. The situation is under investigation.

CAU TTIO N O I N U CA THE MIRROR Incorporated 1977

Allison White, Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa, Executive Editor Catherine Veschi, Managing Editor Editors Juliana Sansonetti, Co-News Deanna Carbone, Co-News Elizabeth O’Hara, Assistant News Lexi Thimble, Opinion Alicia Phaneuf, Vine Cara Lee, Assistant Vine Claire Monahan, Coffee Break Alfredo Torres, Sports Daniel Montgomery, Assistant Sports Sabina Dirienzo, Chief Copy 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 James Affenito, 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

Panel Discusses Substance Abuse

By Patrick Orkins Contributing Writer Fairfield University’s Counseling & Psychological Services and the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies came together in an effort to raise awareness on the epidemic of opioid addiction plaguing America.

The two groups held a screening of the documentary “Generation Found” on March 28 and afterwards held a panel discussing topics like substance abuse and available treatments on campus.

School of Nursing alumna Theresa Conroy, MSN ‘03, a former Connecticut state representative and advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), brought the film to the attention of Counseling & Psychological Services and the nursing department in the fall of 2016.

A long-time advocate for the treatment and care of recovering addicts, Conroy believed the film could shed light on the unspoken epidemic of substance abuse in America, particularly opioids.

In Connecticut alone, Conroy stated that, “last year in 2016, there were over 1,000 overdoses on heroin and opioids. This is unacceptable. Something has to be done.”

The documentary “Generation Found” pays special attention to children and teenagers, citing that nine out of 10 addicts become addicted during their early teenage years.

The film follows students and faculty at Archway Academy, a “recovery school” where teens recovering from addiction are

surrounded only by peers also trying to stay sober while also receiving a high school level education. The film states that young addicts who return to non-recovery schools or enroll in rehabilitation programs designed for adults often start using drugs again.

However, as clinical coordinator of the Collegiate Recovery Program and psychotherapist Lisa Arnold said, the overall message of the documentary is that recovery is in fact possible.

“Fairfield University is unique in that we are the only university in Connecticut that has two different homes for students recovering from drug or alcohol abuse to live in while still staying enrolled in classes,” said Arnold.

She said that Fairfield doesn’t deviate much from national statistics on drug and alcohol abuse.

However, the stigma of being an addict still remains.

“Students feel like this isn’t something they should be open about or that they will be judged for it. We want students to be able to feel comfortable seeking and getting the help they need,” said Arnold.

In addition to Arnold and Conroy, Dr. Virginia Kelly, a professor of counselor education, John Hamilton, CEO of Recovery Network of Programs, and two students, Chase and Drew, were also on the panel. Because they are involved in Alcoholics Anonymous and Fairfield’s recovery program, the students were not at liberty to disclose their last names but wanted to share their experiences with students.

Read Students on Page 

THE MIRROR | Week of March 29, 2017

News

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Dining Hall, Juice Bar Highlight Campus Construction Continued from page 

of their workouts,” he said. He went on to explain that students can grab something quick to eat after exercising if they have to run to class or to a meeting right after. He described it as a “convenient way to get a nutritional message across.”

The juice bar’s menu will include smoothies, energy drinks, water, cereal, yogurt and coffee and other healthy options for snacking. In addition to the juice bar, a sound system will be added to the lobby area and the main level strength and conditioning area.

“We’ve been very fortunate this winter because I don’t think the weather has impacted the progress in the plans,” added Fitzpatrick. According to Fitzpatrick, this completion of the school of nursing is on track for fall 2017.

“When you think of what’s happening with our nursing program, it’s one of the stars of our academic crown so to speak, and to be able to provide such a tremendous facility to a program that already is one of the best in the country I think speaks volumes as to what we’re trying to do to continue to elevate the academic offerings that are here at Fairfield,” said Fitzpatrick.

He also emphasized his excitement to see the new dining hall, specifically the new pizza oven station. The dining hall is supposed to be completed by August 15.

All these advancements also come with some challenges.

One of the difficult aspects explained by Fitzpatrick was the closure of the dining hall on April 13 and the opening of the tent on April 17 located on the Barone Campus Center green due to construction. The tent will be open until the end of the semester and through the summer.

“That was a very difficult decision to make, but it was one that we felt that we had to make and all the input I received and all the people we checked with felt that it would be bet-

ter to go with the tent in the spring ... to guarantee that the Barone dining project and the Tully Commons would be completed in September rather than to roll the dice and take a chance and having to put up the tent in August, September and possibly October,” said Fitzpatrick.

Donoghue reported that Fitzpatrick is trying to improve the experience of eating in a tent by having a different food truck in addition to the regular serving station every night of the week.

Another issue Fitzpatrick touched upon is the fact that over 100 parking spots were lost due to all the construction. He spoke about measures taken to soften the effect of this unfortunate consequence, such as the on-campus shuttle and the parking lot across from Campion Hall. However, he still described the spots which were lost as “prime real estate.” Freshman Hannah Ferreira commented on the difficulties resulting from construction.

“I think that the end result will be awesome, but it’s definitely getting in the way of getting to class and you have to go around and it’s kind of an obstacle,” said Ferreira. “I’m a little concerned about the tent that we are going to have to eat under because of the weather.” Freshman Christina Bogacz reflected on both the positive and the negative aspects of construction.

“At first [construction] didn’t bother me that much and then as the whole BCC and Barone has built up more it’s become a little bit more of an annoyance. I’m a little worried about the whole tent situation and how eating is going to go,” Bogacz said. “But it’s something that just has to happen. It’ll be good for next year.”

Juliana Sansonetti/The Mirror The tent (above) will serve as a dining hall while the Barone dining hall is closed. The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies (right) will be open for the upcoming fall semester.

Students Speak On Recovery Program Continued from page 

Drew, a former heroin addict, introduced himself before sharing with the audience how addiction impacted his life as recently as the night prior to the panel.

“My girlfriend got a call that she lost a friend to heroin. He overdosed,” said Drew. He elaborated that, if it hadn’t been for the recovery program and getting clean, “it could have been me.”

Chase explained that before seeking help for his alcohol abuse, he was known as a heavy drinker who would stay up until 7 a.m.

“I used to wake up, and everything was dark and I’d just be miserable,” he explained.

A senior now, Chase stated that after sobering up and straightening himself out, “I felt like a freshman again. Like I’m seeing everything in color for the first time and just

being happy.”

Chase and Drew also explained the dangerous new trend among heroin users in America, of mixing the opioid with another potent drug, such as prescription drugs like Xanax and Fentanyl.

The method is to mix the two narcotics in order to achieve a more intense and powerful high.

But there’s a catch.

“They’re similar drugs, but mixing them isn’t just 2 + 2 = 4, it’s 5,” said Drew. “They both release this extra chemical in your brain that your body can’t and really isn’t meant to be able to handle.”

This combination, if not done right, can prove to be fatal. As explained by Arnold, a slight mismeasurement can cause a fatal overdose in the user. According to Hamilton, medical examiners and coroners in Connecticut’s

Patrick Orkins/The Mirror A panel of students and staff gather at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts to discuss alcohol and subtance abuse.

1,000 plus cases of overdoses in 2016 reported that 40 percent of all deaths involved heroin cut with drugs like Xanax and Fentanyl.

Part of the reason people are so willing to try heroin, let alone mix it with prescription drugs, is because many opioid addicts like Drew and Chase started out on pills with similar effects.

Chase explained, “You start taking downers and eventually your dealer convinces you it’s OK to make the jump to heroin.”

However, they also stressed it’s never too late to seek help, even on a college campus.

“Sometimes it’s hard to go to the bar, or the beach, or wherever there is drinking involved, but there are always people there to help you stay sober and stable,” said Chase.

The panel spoke about how Connecticut is nationally and internationally renown as a leader in recovery coaching for addicts, though the state could still do more, says Kelly.

Kelly said, “due to the budgeting difficulties in Connecticut, it’s hard to bring in any funding or policies that provide funding to helping recovering addicts, who are classified as having a mental health problem.”

She added that alternate ways to fund treatment centers must be found, since insurance companies won’t pay for it.

“Really, they aren’t as motivated to help recovering addicts, because if they aren’t around anymore, they don’t have to pay to insure them.”

The event attracted well over 100 people, which included students, faculty, different recovery programs and former addicts.

One man addressed the panel and the two students in recovery and said, “what you’re doing right now, raising awareness for this issue, is doing so much good for every current and future addict in America.”

Another young man who identified himself as Julio took the opportunity to ask the panel where the nearest recovery school in the New York area was.

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THE MIRROR | Week of March 29, 2017

Opinion

Creative Commons/Wikimedia Commons

Editor Lexi Thimble » opinion@fairfieldmirror.com

Getting Opinionated with The Mirror

YouTube Restrictions Silence LGBT Voices

By Lexi Thimble Opinion Editor

have been able to carve out a place that differs from those values.

Which is why this move from YouTube honestly comes as a shock to me; ever since there Directors of operations at YouTube have recently made updates to their methods of video started to be more vloggers on the site, I’ve viewed it as an incredibly useful and open platform. filtering. On Monday, March 20, The Advocate reported that the company had updated the cat- Anyone can go on there and post a video about whatever issue is near and dear to their hearts, egories of videos that would be blocked in Restricted Mode, mainly targeting LGBT content and and until now, there wasn’t a limit to that. This was something that made YouTube such an exusers. These restrictions came as a shock to the YouTube community, a place of openness for the citing place of expression, where a diversity of content and perspectives could be shared from content that is allowed to be posted, and for its users, who take comfort and entertainment from anywhere to anywhere. While this is still mostly true, these new stipulations silence a notable the now banned videos. population currently producing content for the site.

To a certain degree, YouTube’s attempt at cenThese restrictions not only hurt YouTubers sorship is understandable. Censorship has a place producing LGBT content or who are LGBT themin society, and its role and utilization is valid, esselves, but they also hurt viewers looking for that pecially when it comes to content children are becontent. The internet, as cheesy as it can be to say, ing exposed to. However, censorship is a very inhas a way of connecting people to those similar to dividual thing; one overarching power can’t decide themselves in ways that they wouldn’t have found what’s appropriate and what isn’t for everyone. In in their everyday lives. This is especially true for this case, YouTube can’t make the executive and younger people, who haven’t had the chance to conservative decision that the majority of LGBT leave home and meet people different from those content should be censored for viewers under 18. If they’re surrounded by in their communities close parents are concerned about what their children are to home. By having a diverse population of LGBT watching, they need to set those parameters themcreators to look to, who are confident in their selves and monitor their children more closely until identities and have found success on the platform, they feel they can trust them to be on the internet LGBT youth find comfort and support where there by themselves. might otherwise be none. The restrictions come as By withholding certain videos from being a further shock to me due to the fact that some of viewed by kids, YouTube is being extremely hypothe best known names of YouTube are openly and critical. They’re perfectly okay with widely plasterproudly LGBT; Tyler Oakley, Connor Franta, Troye ing ads for “Fifty Shades Darker” for multiple weeks Sivan, and Hannah Hart are but a few of the popuall over their site where anyone can see them, but lar users whose content will all but disappear with they want to censor content where the YouTuber the new limits. themselves is LGBT? Why is a sexually abusive hetMoving forward, YouTube needs to acknowlerosexual relationship allowed to be openly conedge the major community they house and pay sumed and pushed down the throats of millions of them the respect they deserve. LGBT stories and viewers, but a same-sex couple talking about their people don’t deserve the erasure of their identities wedding isn’t appropriate? Society has always been in a space where they should be allowed to be themheteronormative and the effects of that are clear in selves without shame. In the words of Tyler Oakley, how heterosexual couples and their relationships “Oops! You did this wrong. How to fix this: admit Creative Commons/flickr.com are held up as the goal for others to aspire to. But you messed up, apologize without excuses, immewith this freeness of YouTube, users and viewers alike Pictured are top LGBT YouTube personalities Hannah Hart and Tyler Oakley diately stop enforcing the ineffective policy.”

Representation of Disabilities is Crucial to Children

By Ariana Puzzo Online Editor-in-Chief As our society attempts to make strides in becoming more inclusive of those with differences of abilities, we can only hope that the inclusion will not only take place in our day-to-day experiences, but also appear in mainstream media. According to a recent article by The Huffington Post, the iconic children’s program, “Sesame Street,” is adding a new character to the mix: Julia, a muppet who has autism. I believe that the inclusion of Julia will be highly beneficial to young viewing audiences who may encounter children with special needs in their dayto-day school experiences. By seeing the character of Julia on their screens, it could encourage them to include their peer who may learn or behave differently, and better understand that these differences do not need to be treated as scary or with trepidation.

From an early age, we consume media and interpret the messages that it presents. Therefore, when we see accurate representations of people who are different than ourselves, we gain a better understanding of their experiences and learn that their differences are not inherently negative. According to Catherine Happer and Greg Philo’s article, “The Role of the Media

Editorial Board "Do the Math"

Allison White Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor Catherine Veschi Managing Editor

in the Construction of Public Belief and Social Change” in the Journal of Social and Political Psychology, “… in our work on disability, we showed the relationship between negative media coverage of people on disability benefit and a hardening of attitudes towards them.” Happer and Philo go on to discuss that they learned how media is capable of limiting the information given to audiences to help them understand these issues. Additionally, they mentioned that “alternative solutions to political problems are effectively removed from public debate.”

Although the study relates specifically to how disabilities are portrayed in the United Kingdom’s mainstream media at the macro level, it is crucial to understand that the representation of disabilities is a global concern and that we must look for representation at its earliest stage and understand how it can influence early childhood development.

More so, in addition to providing children with greater exposure to children with special needs, it will give children who have special needs and may experience feelings of being ostracized a chance to see themselves portrayed. According to The Huffington Post article, “Julia’s designers were eager to use the new muppet to express issues kids with autism often deal with, without turning her into some kind of standard model

As college students, we’ve all endured years of countless mathematics courses that professors convinced us are practical and have been told numerous times that the knowledge gained from these classes will help us in our future. And if you’re anything like us, you’ve rolled your eyes each time you’re told once more about the practicality of these classes, as you only see how monotonous these calculus courses tend to be.

While we’ve all been required to take mathematics courses every year since we were in kindergarten and can all probably recall the pythagorean theorem, many of us have yet to take a class instructing us on the terms and processes relevant to maintaining our finances. While the mathematics formulas that we’ve learned over the years have helped us pass our classes and get into an esteemed college, many of these formulas will have no use to us in our time after college, when we will inevitably be in charge of maintaining our own finances.

for everyone with the disorder.” In addition to broadening the scope of people who are portrayed on television, I think that it is encouraging that the people responsible for Julia’s creation are not trying to make her the “poster representation” for children with autism. Rather, her character is a stepping-stone that may lead to future representations that while not applicable in every circumstance, can improve how all of us view those on the autism spectrum. The additional reality that Julia’s puppeteer, Stacey Gordon, has a son with autism may also lend itself to an accurate portrayal of how some children “do things a little differently,” as the article said.

I am confident that the inclusion of Julia, if treated respectfully and in the way that the designers suggested in The Huffington Post article, will only serve to benefit future generations of children. Representation at an early age is crucial to the development of children and teaches them how to engage with others. If they are only exposed to the same representations on their screens, it does not teach them that in the real world, there is diversity and that differences in learning, actions or behaviors are not abnormal, but rather something that should be embraced and celebrated; a way to gain a fresh perspective on life.

This is where a mandatory personal finance class comes in. Due to a core curriculum established by certain colleges and universities, students are required to take certain statistics and calculus courses, which is perfectly acceptable. However, what may be even more useful than these mandatory courses is a course all students are required to take which would present them with all the knowledge they need in order to maintain their own finances after their college careers have concluded.

There are already many high schools around the country that offer personal finance classes to their students, an idea that colleges like Fairfield University should take into consideration. Seeing as college is typically an individual’s final step before entering the “real world,” it seems logical that students should be required to take a class in personal finance in order to be better educated when dealing with concepts such as mortgages and loans.

The idea of a mandatory finance class may sound daunting to some, especially those who don’t consider themselves to be particularly adept at dealing with numbers. It may be comforting to know that these personal finance classes already in place at many high schools are taught at an introductory level, assuming that students enrolled in the class know very little about their finances.

Such a class wouldn’t be taught at the level of an accounting or finance class in the Dolan School of Business, but rather as a means of introducing students to financial concepts that may be foreign to them.

So while those calculus and statistics classes may be vital in instilling basic mathematical concepts in the minds of students, the implementation of a personal finance course of some sort at Fairfield is just as, if more, important, as it will allow students to be fully prepared to handle the financial hardships of life after college.

THE MIRROR | Week of March 29, 2017

Opinion

Anti-Abortion Politics Don’t Contradict Small Government The modern conservative movement was crafted out of a ruinous and tattered nothingness. For much of American history, conservatism was an anti-intellectual, fraught coalition of conspiracy theorists, foreign isolationists and anti-immigration hawks. William F. Buckley Jr., the erudite Yale firebrand, ignited a new coalition of anti-communists, libertarians and social conservatives of the so-called silent majority to form an intellectually impressive and cohesive resistance party to the ever-expanding Washington bureaucracy. The movement had its first ideologically representative candidate in Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, whose 1964 Republican nomination was a triumph of the party’s conservative faction. After Goldwater’s shellacking in the general election, Buckley pressed forward with his TV debate program, “Firing Line,” where he continued the mission of the movement. He invited leading progressive ideologues onto the program, where stalwarts like Norman Mailer, Saul Alinsky and Noam Chomsky were given room to exchange their governing philosophies with Buckley, whose prose and articulate vision gave conservatism an air of national legitimacy. Buckley’s alliance of Cold War hawks, cultural conservatives and economic libertarians forged forward and finally saw its ideals embodied in the candidacy of Ronald

Reagan, who rode no-nonsense anti-communism, cohesive market liberalism and staunch social moralism to a sweeping victory in the Electoral College and a definitive popular vote win.

Conservative speaker Tomi Lahren, standing on the shoulders of a movement crafted by the intellectual likes of Edmund Burke, Milton Friedman and Bill Buckley, spat down on the philosophy these men devoted their lives to when she said last week that the principles of small government are incongruent with calls for the protection of unborn children. Nary has a conservative worth his intellectual weight envisioned anarchy to the point of an abdicated rule of law, or a denial of the state’s role in protecting basic, God-given freedoms. The religious right, which represents the third prong of the Republican coalition, is attracted to the conservative movement in large measure because of its commitment to encouraging a virtuous populace that acknowledges basic truths about the value of life.

Whatever you think of abortion, there is a large plurality of the American population that genuinely believe the act is tantamount to murder. Pew Research on the topic indicates that 44 percent of the American population believe having an abortion is “morally wrong”, with 37 percent believing the act should be illegal in all or most cases.

Page 6 Many view the issue with the supreme importance most rational folks would if they themselves believed the procedure was a killing rather than a simple removal of a clump of cells. Lahren, a face of conservatism for many millennials, cackles the typically cryptic charge of “hypocrisy” at the moral foundations of a movement whose proponents make up much of her base of support. Meanwhile, “The View,” the program devoted to aiding middle-aged women in their quest to feel bad about themselves, gobbled up Lahren’s admission to throw red meat to their audience of trained seals to hoot and holler in support of a woman’s supposed right to kill her unborn child. The entire optic was terribly ugly, and it gives the clear impression that conservatives have no principles. While such might be the case for Lahren, conservatives ought to know better than to tarnish the moral doctrines underlying the quest for individual liberty for all. While the simplest rebuttal to Lahren’s claim is to debunk it on it’s face- there's nothing inherent in a principal commitment to small government that abdicates said government from protecting the life of innocents- the larger concern is her complete blindness of basic conservative thought.

The conservative movement has a fundamentally distinguishing approach to learned knowledge and tradition. Tradition is viewed with a degree of reverence- after all, the hackneyed notion begins, things are the way they are for a typically legitimate purpose. This foundational point of view is the guidepost of conservatism, and is its main demarcating feature in a principle sense from progressivism. Lahren’s willingness to ominously disavow the conservative consensus of over fifty years of scholastic effort says more about her own politics and less about a macro level Republican hypocrisy. Right is right and wrong is wrong; no legitimate credulity ought to be given to the pie charts of American surveyors or the merciless faux outrage of a panel of once popular actresses. Whatever one’s abortion stance, the truth remains that Lahren's stuttering charge of hypocrisy does not diminish the sincere beliefs of her fellow American citizens.

Corruption Abounds from Trump's Russian Ties

By Nicole Funaro Online News Editor On Aug. 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon announced his immediate resignation from the office of the presidency following an almost two-year investigation into the Watergate break-in, which was wrought with wiretapping schemes aimed at thwarting the Democratic National Committee. Over 40 years later, we are met yet again with allusions to wiretapping and charges of collusion to hinder the chances of an opponent. But there is something different about this scandal.

Following FBI Director James Comey’s March 20 hearings that confirmed an investigation into Russian ties to President Donald Trump and his campaign committee, CNN reported days later that the FBI has “information that indicates associates of President Donald Trump communicated with suspected Russian operatives to possibly coordinate the release of information damaging to Hillary Clinton's campaign.”

Contributing to this report are not only human intelligence and personal accounts, but also “travel, business and phone records” that are giving U.S. intelligence officials reason to believe that Trump and his team may have coordinated with Russia to obstruct Clinton’s chances at winning the White House. Those phone records, CNN reports, were not a product of former President Obama engaging in wiretapping, but instead the result of call monitoring waged on foreign targets — proceedings that were protected by FISA warrants, which allow the United States to conduct such acts for foreign intelligence reasons.

Trump, however, continues to cry “fake news” on these allegations, attempting to divert attention away from this most unfavorable press. But his attempts to clear the smoke from these simmering claims and chalk it up to dishonest media cannot last long. As they say, where there’s smoke, there’s fire — and the mounting evidence only fans the flames.

Consider two of Trump’s former colleagues: ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn and former campaign manager Paul Manafort. Not even a month into Trump’s presidency, Flynn resigned from his position after information indicated he “misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top White House officials about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States,” according to The New York Times. Those conversations Flynn had took place before he was officially installed as national security advisor; the Times says he spoke with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak in late December about American sanctions against the country, though he denied that those conversations were “substantive.”

Over a month after Flynn’s resignation comes a report from the Associated Press that Manafort had been paid $12 million dollars by a pro-Russian political party.

According to NPR, Manafort’s name surfaced on a secret pay ledger in Ukraine this past summer, indicating that he was paid for work done for the party. At the time, Manafort said the ledger was false (and Trump later

fired him from his campaign), but NPR says a member of Ukraine’s Parliament unveiled documents proving that Manafort tried to keep the payment under wraps. By the time the AP’s report was published last week, they found that he “secretly worked for a Russian oligarch who wanted him to promote Russian interests” in former Soviet territories and to work to benefit President Vladimir Putin’s regime.

These are far from the Trump administration’s only connections to Russia. In fact, Politico has published a series of seven charts that outline Trump’s connections to Putin by way of his administration, his campaign advisors and even his business ties. Beyond Flynn, Politico cites both attorney general Jeff Sessions and secretary of state and former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as having ties to Russia: the former via a pair of meetings with ambassador Kislyak, and the latter through his business connections with Russian-owned oil and energy companies Rosneft and Gazprom. Trump’s own business ties present five more Russian connections, while two campaign advisors, excluding Manafort, hold contacts of their own — including one that circuitously links him to WikiLeaks editor-in-Chief Julian Assange, which may explain the “October surprise” of Clinton’s emails suddenly making their way to the forefront of public discourse once again.

Though the amount of connections made thus far may be startling, these are just the ones that had already been reported. For all we know, there may be more that have yet to be uncovered.

What is important to remember in this case is why there is such interest in this investigation. It is, only in part, a function of media hype; turn on any cable news station and they will likely be speculating away. The crux of the matter is that we have never had a president enter office with so many covert ties to a nation with which the United States has had such a tumultuous relationship.

Beyond his own business ties, Trump has chosen to surround himself with Cabinet members and advisors that — whether directly or indirectly — have had contact with Russian officials in some form. While the news media has dedicated countless hours of research and reporting to uncovering and understanding these connections, journalists should not be the only ones who are given pause. For the American people, this is not normal. This is not something we have seen before.

This is not something we expected. It is, however, something we should focus on.

Surely there will be more information leaked, more breaking news reported on this matter in the coming days, weeks and even months, just as there was in the Watergate scandal. Eventually, Watergate concluded with several staffers officially pleading guilty to wiretapping charges and eventual imprisonment.

In the current scandal, we have already seen Flynn resign and Sessions recuse himself of any investigation related to the recent election as a result of his contacts with ambassador Kislyak, reports The Washington Post. At the rate new information has been surfacing, more revelations may come to light and help illuminate the scope of the Trump administration’s connections with Russia.

Perhaps former CBS News anchor Dan Rather said it best when he wrote to his followers on Facebook last week, “The plot thickens. The drum beats increase. The pressure mounts. And a question I never thought I would ever hear asked again with such urgency and stakes looms large: ‘What did the President know and when did he know it?’”

Creative Commons/Wikimedia Commons

The Vine

Photo Contributed by Heather DiLorenzo

arts, entertainment, features Editor Alicia Phaneuf alicia.phaneuf@student.fairfield.edu

Fills Quick Center

By Jesse Erickson Editor-in-Chief Emeritus As a member of The Mirror for the last four years, I’ve covered more events than I ever wanted to. However, there has been one exception to this, that being the annual Fairfield University Dance Ensemble performance. The show, which is entirely student produced, has brought me back every year and has never failed to impress. But this year, the group went above and beyond expectations due to their skilled dance moves and enthusiasm throughout the performance. As a well-seasoned attendee of the event, this year’s show deemed “Just Dance” was by far my favorite.

With 200 more tickets sold this year than last year, “Just Dance” had a sold out performance as 16 seniors and 48 other members took the stage for a night filled with laughs, smiles and even some sentimental tears.

“I feel so proud of the sold-out show … Although we didn’t expect to sell out, I think we can give credit to our increased amount of advertising and devotion that went into the planning of the show,” said FUDE President Me-

gan LaFleche ‘17.

LaFleche deserves the utmost respect for putting together this show. This would be the only position I wouldn’t take over being editor-in-chief. She, along with three other board members, Vice President Brianna Meyer ‘17, Secretary Grace Schiller ‘17 and Treasurer Nicole Lambi ‘17, began working on this production at the very beginning of the school year. Since it is student-run, members of FUDE take the initiative to lead, create and instruct the different dances for the evening. Eight seniors directed a variety of dances this year including contemporary, lyrical, Irish step, jazz, broadway jazz, hip hop and tap.

Senior Erin Fleming choreographed and co-choreographed more than five dances on Friday night.

“For me, the first thing I need to do is create a vision of what I want … I need to find the perfect song and make sure it reflects what I want the dance to look like,” said Fleming. “After that, I begin choreographing, which usually consists of listening to the song and then creating movement to match the lyrics.”

After the vision is created, the Dance Ensemble spends the entire school year perfecting the dances all for the one night on the stage. It’s more than just the dances that go into it, however, as there is costume coordinating, hair and makeup, fundraising efforts and their first-ever photoshoot this year. For those involved in the group, they can expect to practice at least once a week and for those who willingly choose to participate in more than two genres of dance, they can spend up to five nights down in the Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Recreation Complex practicing.

This year’s performance was even tougher to put together due to timing issues.

“Our show was a whole month earlier this year than last year,” said Meyer. “We also had spring break the week before the show so an entire week of practice was lost.”

Although the time spent is a huge commitment, it showed on the stage during their March 24 performance.

Some of the fan favorites included the hip hop numbers, READ DANCE ON PAGE 8

THE MIRROR | Week of March 29, 2017

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Dance Ensemble's Performance was on Pointe CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

specifically the last one called “We Woke Up Like This.” The dance was choreographed by Heather DiLorenzo ‘18 and Julia Parsloe ‘18 and included some of Beyoncé’s top hits. The members were able to engage the crowd with their sass and boss attitudes. My favorite and the most surprising part of this piece was when the only male member of the ensemble, Damien Rosales ‘17, finished out the piece with a split. I didn’t know if I should feel pain or get up there and hug him, but it was definitely something to remember.

In the spirit of the season, there were several Irish step pieces that made me wish that I had grown up in an Irish family. Schiller and Kerin Nessbaum ‘17 took a modern day twist on the dance when they stepped to “Starships” by Nicki Minaj. The girls kept the dance fun and full of energy as they challenged each other to a competition in the midst of the dance.

In addition to upbeat styles such as hip hop and Irish step, emotional contemporary and lyrical numbers were also interesting to watch. Specifically, a lyrical routine entitled “After the Storm” choreographed by Morgan Carrozzella ‘19, which provided audience members with an aesthetically pleasing series of turns, jumps and unique movements by the dancers.

“I have gone to the dance ensemble show every year at Fairfield and I really thought this one was the best one yet. Each dance was beautifully choreographed and performed,” said Liz Solar ‘17. “I thought the dancers performed from the heart and I did not want the show to end.”

On top of the group performances, each of the seniors performed a solo where they were able to showcase their final dance before they graduate. Each solo dance, through the music and movement choices, encompassed the personality and the passion that the members had for the art.

At the conclusion of the show, the senior members,

plus the MCs Matt DelRosso ‘17 and Cam Collins ‘17, came together for one Spice Girls themed dance.

Throughout this lighthearted song, the dancers showed some of their freestyle moves while laughing along together to end the night on a high note. The seniors were then presented with roses by fellow dance members to congratulate them on their time spent on FUDE.

Photo Contibuted by Riley McCarthy

Photos Contibuted by Heather DiLorenzo

Theater for One Provides Unique Performances to Fairfield Students

By Alicia Phaneuf Vine Editor

If you were asked to enter a small black box with a complete stranger, I'm sure you would decline. However, from March 22 – 24 between 12 and 6 p.m., Fairfield staff and students did exactly this.

Theater for One is an intimate theater experience in which someone can enter a 9-by-4 foot red-velvet theater and enjoy a five to six minute performance.

Artistic Director Christine Jones and LOT-EK Architects put their minds together to create Theater for One, which has become largely popular in New York City. Jones explained her passion for the intimate theater experience to the New York Times . “What people said to me is that, aside from the song or poetry, it’s just the experience of sitting across from someone in a private space,” said Jones. “We don’t slow down very often and take the time to look into someone’s eyes. That’s the gift of this.”

Fairfield brought Theater for One to campus so that students could experience the art of theater in a new setting. Theater for One offers six different performances in which some actors sing, dance, do magic tricks, etc. Business Development Manager at the Quick Center Jennifer Pratt explained that Theater for One does not target solely Visual and Performing Arts majors, but students of all majors and passions.

“We are really interested in bringing unique theater experiences to Fairfield, and also in bringing experiences that are outside of the walls of the Quick Center that can be really accessible to the student body and kind of change the way that we think about a space,” said Pratt. “Hopefully anybody that walks through here and has this experience will walk through the [Barone Campus Center] again and be like ‘Oh that’s right, the Quick Center did that cool thing here.'”

Upon entering the small theater, the audience member is seated in a chair and faces a blank, redvelvet wall, acting as a stage curtain. The wall then opens up to reveal an actor, only a few feet away from the audience member, which emphasizes the intimacy of the performance. Eye contact with the performer is inevitable and is something that doesn't typically happen during a large theater performance. With stage lights and hundreds of audience members, it's almost impossible for typical theater performers to make direct eye-contact with the audience; however, Theater for One breaks this norm.

Senior Bethany Russo described her experience in the box as something that she’s never had the opportunity to do before. Russo was able to connect with the performer on an emotional as the actress performed a monologue about returning home after visiting a friend. “ My performance was a monologue by a woman that was very intense and very emotional. It honestly made me cry,” said Russo. “I would never guess that a 5-7 minute monologue would make me cry, but I think the intimacy of the box heightened the emotions of both the performance and the audience.”

Also taking the audience on an emotional rollercoaster was a performance in which the actor suggested he was applying for a job. The performer acted as if the audience member was the interviewer and he than began to explain his resume. There was a large eight year gap on his resume due to the fact that following an office party the actor was followed back to his apartment by a serial killer and was shot four times. This horrific incident caused the actor to take an eight year hiatus from working.

For people who didn’t want to experience such emotional performances, there was also entertaining acts with music, magic and dancing. One in which included an older male performer who discussed

Photo Contibuted by The Quick Center

the difference between his generation and the 21st-century generation through performing both softshoe dancing and tap dancing. The overall message of this performance was about time, how quickly time passes and the inevitability of running out of time.

Another quality about Theater for One that may have been an awkward experience for audience members is the dialogue that occurs within the theater. When the actor speaks and asks rhetorical questions, it's almost confusing as to whether or not you're suppose to respond. Are you solely watching a show, or are you engaging personally with the actor? The answer is entirely up to the audience member.

Each experience is different for each observer and one can manipulate their experience in the theater to best fit their own comfort level.

Fairfield University Student Association President Zoe Ferranti '17 was the first student in line for the event on Wednesday afternoon and enjoyed her experience. “I was actually pretty nervous and anxious about getting inside a little black box and not knowing what to expect,” said Ferranti. “But, I think after going in and watching the little show I realized it was a very intimate and cool type of thing.” Even though Ferranti explained that she’s never experienced a one-on-one type of show, she found herself wanting to join in and answer the actor's rhetorical questions or get up and dance.

As explained by Ferranti, being nervous prior to entering the box is a normal trend. It's a mysterious type of interaction with the theater where not knowing what to expect can be intimidating.

However, according to attendee Dan Gallagher ‘19 students should conquer their fear of the unknown and take the step out of their comfort zone to experience Theater for One. “Make like Nike and just do it,” said Gallagher.

THE MIRROR | Week of March 29, 2017

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"The Sasquatch of Soul" Revitilizes The Motet

By Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor When one traces the roots of American funk music, they find themselves on a one-way train to Afro-Cuban traditions of gospel and jazz music in 1960’s New Orleans.

However, as the movement spread in the late 60’s and early 70’s, other hubs of music attempted to slice their own piece of the funk-filled pie, which leads us to today.

However, no one would ever expect Portland, Maine native Lyle Divinsky, “The Sasquatch of Soul” as many refer to him, to be fronting one of the most progressive funk bands on the market, The Motet.

“I’m a pretty fuzzy dude,” said Divinsky. “People didn't know whether to congratulate me for not giving a f– or to call animal control.”

Hailing from Denver, Colo., The Motet has hosted a colorful, rotating cast of characters centered around bandleader and drummer Dave Watts, who started the band back in 1998.

After six albums, The Motet found themselves in need of a new lead singer and tenor saxophonist, which presented Divinsky, as well as current tenor saxophonist Drew Sayers, an opportunity to contribute to the madness. After a successful take on The Motet’s single, “The Truth,” off their latest record “Totem,” Divinsky was enlisted as the permanent lead vocalist for the band.

“To be able to come into a fully functioning, well-oiled machine that is this band was really incredible; to understand the band dynamic and to be able to understand what it means to compromise, and what it means to be on the same team, working on

this endeavor,” said Divinsky.

Since joining the band, Divinsky has relocated to Denver, where he has lived for the past three months, leaving his home of rustic Portland.

“It [Portland] has such a huge encouragement and support system for the arts, whether it’s music, theater, visual arts, or whatever it might be,” said Divinsky. “It’s everything you could want from a big city in a small town atmosphere.”

“You’re so able to make an impact and I think that’s incredibly important,” added Divinsky.

However, Divinsky’s musical roots trace back to busking in the New York City

ocean” in NYC to a headlining performance at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Divinsky has paved a new path for himself that has simultaneously opened new doors of opportunity for The Motet.

With “Totem,” The Motet explores new stylistic and linguistic elements that bring new blood in the funky arteries of the sonically complex septet. With highlights such as “So High” and “Know It Too Well,” The Motet balances the classical swagger of funk music with the soulful stylings of Divinsky’s vocals, which creates a landscape of new sounds and forms of musical experimentation.

“I want to bring genuine joy and truth to the band … [write] songs that [are] not only funky, danceable kind of tunes that go along with The Motet style, but Photo contirbuted by Monterey International also ones that if you listen to the lyrics and you pay attention to subway system, where the motto of “if you what’s going on, it brings you into a story,” can make it here, you can make it anywhere” said Divinsky.

“I still feel the pressure to write the took a new meaning and launched him into dopest song ever and have the bones fina successful solo career.

“There is an underlying hustle that ev- ished, and then bring it up to the guys and eryone’s involved in. Everyone’s got their say ‘there you go, song’s done.’”

“It’s really cool to have their trust,” addhustle, they got their side hustle and they got their mistress hustle,” said Divinsky. “Every- ed Divinsky emphatically.

While the change in leadership has one is working their a-- off to survive” The notion of communities, consider- shifted to a new northerly direction, the ing Portland, NYC and Denver, takes on a roots of The Motet stay strong as Divinsky new meaning for Divinsky, who holds these has steered the band into a new galaxy of musical communities to a high standard, infinite funkadelic possibilities.

The Motet will play at the Warehouse “realizing the potency and potential that the in downtown Fairfield on Wednesday, April scene has.”

Going from being “a little drop in the 12.

Motion Captured: Abstract Rivers Transformed

By Anna Kamradt Contributing Writer

Jackson Pollock. Mark Rothgo. Marcel Duchamp.

Pierre Bonnard. Those are just four of the creative minds from the avant-garde movement, defined by new and unusual ideas, shaping the inspirations for modern artist H.A. Sigg.

Seen throughout the exhibition entitled “H.A. Sigg: Abstract Rivers,” Sigg offers the viewer a snippet into his moving, abstract mind.

Born into a farming family in Switzerland in 1924, Sigg studied the arts in Zurich and later continued his studies in Paris. Coming out of the hardship of World War II, Sigg’s work encompasses the American abstract expressionist movement as it entered Europe. Sigg was invited in 1968 by Swissair to be the “artist of residence in the sky.”

His work found influence through his time aboard airplanes drawing, painting and sketching the images of flight from the cockpit.

Lauren Cesiro, an adjunct professor of art history at Fairfield University, doctoral candidate at the State University of New York at Binghamton and an avid modern art enthusiast, shared a gallery talk on March 23 about Sigg’s life, his influences and his creations. Cesiro hopes that when the viewer stands in front of Sigg’s work, they “imagine themselves in motion.”

Sigg’s work carries three major themes: the river motif, drawing inspiration from moving water and distilled colors, abstract expressionism, an emotional expression captured through spontaneous movement and Swissair artist in residence in the sky, spending time within the cockpit of an airplane experiencing flight.

Rivers hold the most influence and inspiration over Sigg. A river’s gentle, meandering motion carries a mysterious spirit through the spaces it enters. Taking influence for line quality from Zen Buddhism and an Asian aesthetic, Cesiro explains that every “clear, thick, hairy brush stroke” is intentional and prominent.

The massive scale of Sigg’s work juxtaposes the minimalistic forms present on the canvas. Breaking out of the frames surrounding it, Sigg’s work expresses the inner emotions and mindset of the artist. Standing in front of a Sigg painting is never a passive experience. The viewer begins to understand the incongruous atmosphere captured by paint.

“Much of Sigg’s work operates like movies in some ways,” Cesiro explains, “So I think if you can stand there and watch the shimmering colors, and you think about him performing gestures on the canvas in the cockpit of an airplane as the Swissair artist residence in the sky, you will get so much more out of his work.”

Cesiro’s language regarding how Sigg understands color resonated with the students present at the discussion.

After his professor of Irish art suggested to Chris Francabandera ’18 that he attend events in the art history realm, Francabandera and his friends joined the crowd at the

exhibition. Francabandera remarked on Cesiro’s mention of Sigg’s understanding of color. “[Sigg] doesn’t use black,” Francabandera recalls, “because for him it encapsulates all the colors, and he likes to show all of them separately.”

Francabandera’s remembrance about Sigg’s perception of color is unmistakable throughout the entire exhibition; Sigg layers his colors to mimic the shimmering motion of rivers. The colors he creates oscillate for the eyes, capturing interest and motion. A hierarchy of color develops within the works with intangible colors, as Cesiro describes during the exhibition, “seeming to fall through your fingers.”

The exhibition will be on display at the Walsh Gallery in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts until June 10.

Photos Contibuted by Anna Kamradt

Artwork by H.A. Sigg

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ashionably airfield The Vanity of it All

By Nicole Funaro Online News Editor/Fashion Columnist Fashion as an industry can be pretty vain. It’s all about appearance: dressing a certain way, styling your hair in a particular fashion, even being a specific size, all matter in the world of fashion. Recently, there is a trend that makes clothing itself just as vain as the industry.

Called “vanity sizing,” this trend applies smaller size labels to garments with larger measurements, all in an attempt to make shoppers feel good when they slip into a smaller size. As a result, not only is the standard sizing system rendered useless, according to TIME, it is also making it much harder for both men and women to find clothing that fits. For example, TIME shared that a women’s size six pair of jeans can “vary in the waistband by as much as 6 inches,” thus making the hunt to find your “true” size a futile endeavor.

The problem did not start recently. In fact, vanity sizing has been an emerging issue ever since the current sizing system was put into place in 1958 — a system that Who What Wear says came about after the U.S. government failed in trying to create a women’s sizing method based on measurements, which ultimately left us with the current strategy that uses arbitrary (and meaningless) numbers. Although the Washington Post says this sizing method was updated in 1970, the sizing wasn’t representative to begin with, not taking into account women of color.

By 1983, the Post reports, “the government ditched the standard completely. Manufacturers were left to define sizes as they saw fit.”

This resulted in drastic changes in sizing and absolutely zero consistency across designers, brands or stores.

Consider waist measurements and their corresponding sizes. The Post found that in 1958, a size eight meant a 24-inch waist measurement. By 2001, that waist measurement increased by three inches — and still constituted a size eight garment. That same size eight grew to a nearly 30-inch waist measurement by 2011. Women’s sizes like

0 and 00 didn’t even exist until 2011, showing the need to invent new sizes upon which to place these shifting measurements.

And the problem is not unique to women’s clothing either. As Forbes points out, just because men’s clothing (such as pants) typically are labeled by waist and length measurements, that doesn’t mean that they are accurate.

Citing research in Esquire, men’s pants measurements were “often two to three inches larger than the indicated size,” according to Forbes, with Old Navy jeans specifically measuring in at five inches larger than the size label indicated.

So what can be done about vanity sizing? Not much, unfortunately. However, there are steps you can take as a shopper to ensure that you not only find a proper fit, but also maintain your self confidence no matter how often your size fluctuates.

First, whenever you go shopping — whether in a brick and mortar store or online — do your research ahead of time. This means find out your own measurements, reading product reviews and studying brandspecific size charts. This will help give you an idea of what size to try on or order and hopefully reduce the chances of purchasing an ill-fitting product.

Second, remember that sizing is arbitrary. You can be one size in your favorite store and then go to another and wear two sizes smaller or two sizes larger. What you need to remember is to pay more attention to the fit of the clothing and pay less attention to the number on the label.

Most importantly, do not take clothing sizes personally. You are not defined by the numeric size of the jeans you wear, nor are you made more or less of a person by the size dress you wear. Yes, looking good in what you’re wearing matters, but what matters most is feeling comfortable and confident in your own skin, regardless of what size you happen to wear.

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Inkwell Spotlight 'Leeway'

By Vincenzo Frosolone Contributing Writer at The Inkwell

You never think of it--

Having anchored eager temptations

The paraplegic balloon,

To the slim smoke flattener

Bee caught in ransom, above the

Bell counting the sea waves and

Square ceilings, paramount toy men,

You say hello--

All the jettisoned who

She tells me how she fared,

Wait on heliocentric memory

Toasting up her coffee

Creative Commons/ Flickr

A Tale as Old as Time

By Cara Lee Assistant Vine Editor

The story of “Beauty and the Beast” is known for truly being a “tale as old as time.” The animated version made in 1991 remains one of the most popular Disney films, legendary for featuring both the first Disney Renaissance-era princess as well as some of the most popular Disney songs created. So, as the March 17 debut loomed closer and Disney announced that changes to this beloved film’s storyline and music were occurring, people became increasingly nervous.

One of the greatest concerns was the casting of Emma Watson as Belle. While known for being an impassioned feminist, an amazing actress and a brilliant role model, Watson is not known for her singing. Until Disney addressed the rumor, many people believed that Belle’s songs would be dubbed. Instead, Watson took singing lessons and while her voice is at times dwarfed in comparison to several of her castmates, she is by no means a bad singer. Further, any perceived flaws in her voice are more than made up for with her flawless acting and the passion for her role that is evident in every scene.

The music for the film was composed by Alan Menken, who built off of the original music to create several new scores including the powerful “Evermore.” The song is sung by the Beast (Dan Stevens) as Belle flees from his palace to rescue her ailing father and it shows how drastically Belle has changed the Beast in a way that was not made so apparent in the 1991 film. Another new song is “Days in the Sun,” during which greater depth is given to many of the original film’s most beloved characters as well as to the newest character, Cadenza the piano (Stanley Tucci). Cadenza is married to Belle’s wardrobe, Madam Garderobe (Audra McDonald), and as they are both too large to maneuver the stairs, they are unable to see each other while transformed.

While Cadenza’s role does add an additional plot point to the film, his role seems to only detract from the roles of Lumiere (Ewan McGregor), and Madam Garderobe’s original partner, Cogsworth (Ian McKellen).

Despite this diminishing of Cogsworth and Lumiere’s roles, other beloved characters were much more deeply developed in this adaption. The storyline drew heavily from the 1991 film, but was also inspired by sources such as Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve’s original 1740 tale. One change taken from these old tales was the Beast’s reason for entrapping Maurice (Kevin Kline). Instead of throwing Maurice into a prison for taking refuge from the wolves, the Beast imprisons him for stealing the rose, the Beast’s reasoning being that he had been “forever damned” just for refusing a rose. Another work the film clearly drew upon for inspiration was Serena Valentino’s Disney book “Beast,” which was published in 2014.

This new storyline better showcases Belle’s strength and character development through increased historical accuracy. In the 1991 film, Belle was looked upon as strange for choosing to read instead of concentrating on trying to find a husband. This film reveals that, in 18th century France when the story takes place, men in “small provincial towns” of France were largely illiterate and a woman reading was viewed not just as unusual, but as repulsive and unnatural. Rather than having all of the characters fitted into costumes that fit the Western idea of what fairytale characters should wear, the costume and makeup departments chose to clad the Beast and the gentlemen of his court in powdered white wigs, pointed period French shoes and covered their faces in elaborate, heavy makeup.

Changes were made, ground was broken, and no viewer will agree with every decision made, but the film was excellent and is highly recommended. The music is beautiful and the newly developed songs rival those from the original in their power, the costuming is exquisite and historically accurate and the amount of detail and additions interwoven into the storyline put many of the complaints and questions viewers of the 1991 film had at a rest. The film includes something for every audience member, no matter their age or if they are veterans or newcomers to the tale of the “Beauty and the Beast.”

THE MIRROR | Week of March 29, 2017

The Vine

Page 11

Live I Saw Dopapod, Was I Evil?

By Andrew Darosa Executive Editor

No lemons, no melon.

Dopapod.

If you read the previous two statements, you’re probably scratching your head. First, what in the world is a “Dopapod” and second, how exactly are the two related?

To answer the masses: the statements are palindromes, meaning the letters mirror each other from start to finish, beginning to end. The masters of palindromes are Dopapod, a Boston-raised jam band that has been defying the genre by producing some of the most unique sounds through their album titles, which are all palindromic, including “Never Odd or Even” and “I Saw Live Dopapod, Evil Was I.” Celebrating their 10 year anniversary in 2017, Dopapod has made sure to continue their decade long party where they began, with genre-bending sounds that mix the progressive whims of electronica with the intricate stylings of a jam band.

“We always try and switch up the show, especially if it’s within a four to five hour drive radius,” said Eli Winderman, keyboardist and vocalist for Dopapod. “At this point, we have enough songs that we can do four nights in a row of completely unique setlists.”

Winderman noted that this notoriety over the years has grown from a welcoming fanbase, one which contains fans that are willing to travel eight or more hours in order to catch a run of three to four shows. He has attributed Dopapod’s recent climb to the barrier between

including Peach Fest and Camp Bisco, Winderman noted a change in the jam band sphere as a whole. Winderman explained that it is now a scene relies on pop-infused tunes to catch the audience’s attention and in addition, a changing landscape of music festivals, specifically the Gathering of the Vibes Festival in Bridgeport, Conn, which was discontinued in 2016, which ran annually for over two decades. The keyboardist also commented on the irony that without the Grateful Dead, much of the electronic music and festivals, such as Electric Daisy Carnival, would not exist.

“Especially now with EDM and the other electronic side of it, it is interesting to see how it has evolved from the Grateful Dead to Phish, and then Phish was doing all their festivals, then they stopped and that started Bonnaroo, and Bonnaroo started all these other festivals,” said Winderman.

Just as EDM primarily relies on the instrumental experimentation with frequencies, so did Dopapod initially, only experimenting with vocals during the past few years due to their inclination to perform live covers. “It’s a whole other instrument and a whole other level of deeper meaning that you can add to music, which I believe can be really powerful,” said Winderman. “You have to evolving for yourself, not for the audience.”

Outside of the performance sphere, Dopapod has been hard at work producing a new record, which is due out in the fall, as well as a new live record, “II Saw Live Dopapod, Evil Was II,” which is set to drop on March 31.

Dopapod will play at the Warehouse in downtown Fairfield, Conn.

Photo contributed by Red Light Management on Sunday, April 9.

fans and the band being broken by social media, specifically through Facebook.

“They [fans] are really accepting of pretty much whatever you want to do,” said Winderman. “It’s not like in other scenes where there is a sort of pretentious attitude towards the band.”

“It’s almost like a high wire act, it’s okay if you fall because you’re taking chances and that’s what people like,” added Winderman.

While their fans keep selling out performances and catching the band at highly-respected music festivals

THE MIRROR | Week of March 29, 2017

Coffee Break

Page 12

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 To the weather … to the tent … to having no motivation … to eating healthy … to not being able to eat ice cream … to the snow that’s still on the ground … to waking up on a rainy Monday with an email from your boss already … to completely demolishing your ankle … to walking to the RecPlex in the pouring rain in my shorts … to Juliana … to chem lab … to registration … to the co news editor (you know who you are) … to the drunk guy who threw up all over my bathroom at 5:30 a.m. … to Mother Nature for literally making today feel like Noah’s Ark part two … to all day accounting tests … to that one kid in class who asks the most irrelevant questions. Go to office hours, better yet, don’t even speak at all … to professors who spend the whole lecture on one topic, just to quiz you on something completely different … to anyone on tinder who expects you to talk to them 24/7, you are not cute enough, and I am too busy … to the tent they are constructing outside barone. Because if it didn’t feel like feeding time of the cattle already, now it does …

Cheers To mozzarella sticks at the Levee … to avocado week at Barone … to passing all of my midterms … to movie night at Gonzaga … to pottery night at Faber … to Vampire Diaries on Netflix … to going to the gym … to the existence of Country Cow … to Dunkin Donuts … to Tuesday night Chipotle runs … to Cheese cheapies! … to the beach! … to the Naut! … to Teresa for saving my life … to flasks and tasteful amounts of blacking out … to friends who buy you food when they know you’ve had a rough day … to that one friend who tells you all the confidential gossip they’ve learned … to those friends who know they are absurd and can take jokes … to those college nights which you know you’ll remember forever, well at least the parts people told you about the next morning … to those friends who surprise you with how good they are at helping you out … to the friends who you can be yourself around … to my liver for holding up this weekend … to whoever decided there should be a “Snake of the Day” I have waiting my whole for being mad at people to be a competition …

Sitting Down with Former Mirror Editor-in-Chief Melissa Campanelli ‘88 What was your major/ minor?

A: I was an English major with a minor in art history Where did you live all four years?

A: I lived in Campion (fourth floor) freshman and sophomore year, and “on the beach” junior and senior year.

What were all of your roles on The Mirror?

Contributed by Melissa Campanelli A: I started out my freshman year Melissa Campanelli (above) is currently as a features writer, mostly focusing Editor-in-Chief/ content director of Total on the arts. Whenever a musical or Retail, and co-founder of Women in Retail comedy act would come to Fairfield, Leadership Circle.

I would review it. I also reviewed student performances, plays,

etc. During sophomore and junior years I was still writing but also involved in production (I honestly don’t remember my title), where every Wednesday evening we would go to our printer in Milford and create the paper.

I would literally use an X-ACTO knife to cut articles that had been printed out so they would literally fit on the pages.

By senior year I was the Editor-in-Chief, where I was responsible for all content, production and advertising.

What was your favorite/least favorite parts of being Editor-in-Chief?

A: Favorite: Camaraderie, great friends and relationships; great learning

experience, feeling like I had the “inside scoop” on much of the goings on at the school, being located next to the student-run deli at Gonzaga so I could always run and get a “cheese cheapie” when working late. Least favorite: I really loved everything about it. I did lose a lot of sleep those years, but who needs to sleep when you’re in college?

How did your time at The Mirror prepare you for your future career?

Well, I am still working in journalism, so it prepared me quite a bit! But I also learned valuable life skills including: how to run a successful meeting; public speaking skills; writing and editing

skills (which are so important in every profession, not just “writing”); how to be a team player; the importance of and respect for deadlines; etc. etc.!

What is your favorite memory of Fairfield?

A: Oh gosh there are so many! Just thinking about it now giving me goosebumps! It has to be hanging out at the beach with friends. But a close second has to be Dr. Eliasoph’s art history classes. He taught me how to appreciate art and it has stuck with me to this day!

Dual Throwback: We Didn’t Start the Fire Students Arrested for False Fire Alarm

By Melissa Campanelli Editor-in-Chief Two Fairfield University Freshman were arrested on Sunday, Jan. 31 for pulling a false fire alarm in the Campion Dormitory.

The two students involved, whose names Fr. O’Neil, Dean of Students, has requested withholding, were seen running from Campion at 3:44 a.m. After being apprehended by two RA’s, they in turn were brought to Security. Upon arrival there, police from the Fairfield Police Department handcuffed them, and they were both arrested. They will face court hearing shortly.

One student, who had an identifiable substance on his hand, admitted to pulling the fire alarm, and is suspended from the university indefinitely. His

accomplice is on probation from the university.

Fr. O’Neil reiterated, “I am appalled at the inconsiderateness of students to other students, especially in a school that boasts of good spirits and camaraderie.” He added, “False fire alarms put the lives of other students into jeopardy, because, due to the false alarms in the past, the Fire Department comes after a 10 minute delay. During this lapse of time, lives could be lost.”

In the fall semester, 188 false fire alarms were reported to Security. This is above the average account, and the number is increasing rapidly.

“If students don’t do something I will,” O’Neil stated. “Anyone found guilty of activating a fire alarm will be automatically suspended, and may face eventual expulsion.”

Both of these stories ran in the February 1988 edition of The Mirror, while Melissa Campanelli (left) was editor-in-chief. Both articles address an increase in false fire alarm activations.

Editorial: Cease Fire Alarms This week, the Mirror has highlighted a story of two Fairfield students who have been arrested for committing a crime. Yes, a crime.

They pulled a fire alarm on a Saturday night as a college prank.

It seems harmless enough; you’re not really hurting anyone when you pull down that activator, and it’s almost impossible to get caught.

After all, who’s up at that hour anyway? And, you still get that great feeling of accomplishment when your actions actually affect the entire dorm! That must be a great feeling. But that feeling must lose something when it handcuffs you,

and kicks you out of school, and sends you to court.

We at the Mirror have warned against these antics several times.

We have even jokes about them in Boos and Cheers column to raise a little awareness about this little problem. But it is no longer a little problem. Last semester, for example, there were 88 false fire alarms. That is disgraceful, especially coming from a school such as ours. We strive on our togetherness and dormitory camaraderie, that’s what on-campus living is all about.

Why, then, the childish pranks?

The Mirror is not able to give an

answer to such a question; everyone has their own reasons for doing things. However, we can explain the university’s position on the topic of false fire alarms. Stated in the ‘87’88 student handbook: “Tampering with fire-fighting equipment… or setting off false fire alarms may endanger life and is a serious violation of Civil Law as well as University regulations. Individuals found responsible for reporting a false fire alarm will be suspended or dismissed from the University.”

Unfortunately, two students had to find these facts out the hard way.

You, however, don’t.

Sports

SPORTS

Sports Editor: Alfredo Torres » sports@fairfieldmirror.com

In Case You

Page 13

THE MIRROR | Week of March 29, 2017

This Week in Sports: Stags Tennis Take Over

Missed It: Wednesday, March 22nd -Women's Lacrosse defeats Sacred Heart, 13-4 Friday, March 24th -Rider defeats Baseball, 6-5 Saturday, March 25th -Baseball defeats Rider, 1-0 -Villanova defeats Men's Lacrosse, 18-9 Sunday, March 26th -Women's Tennis defeats Saint Peter's, 7-0

In their second match of the season against a conference opponent, the Stags men’s tennis team picked up a victory to start Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play with a 2-0 record. The 7-0 win against conference foe Saint Peter’s showcased Fairfield’s potential to be a team to be reckoned with in the league. Junior Brad Orban, Anthony Caputo ‘19, Jeffrey Rodgers ‘20 and Ethan Ammon ‘18 all scored wins at first, second, third and fourth singles, respectively. On the doubles side, Orban/Caputo, Rodgers/Shibles and Ammon along with Dylan Appel ‘18 all picked up victories on the afternoon to complete the clean sweep. The Stags look to continue their strong play on the court this Friday, March 31 when they welcome conference rival Monmouth to the Walsh Athletic Center Tennis Courts for a 2 p.m. start.

Upcoming This Week: Wednesday, March 29th -Women's Lacrosse at CCSU, 2 p.m.

-Baseball vs. UConn, 3 p.m.

Thursday, March 30th -Softball at Sacred Heart, 3:30 p.m.

Friday, March 31st -Baseball vs. Hartford, 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 1st -Softball vs. Canisius, 12 p.m.

-Women's Lacrosse at Niagara, 12 p.m.

-Men's Lacrosse vs. Hofstra, 7 p.m.

Monday, April 3rd -Women's Tennis vs. Monmouth, 3:30 p.m.

Following a men’s win the day before, the women’s tennis squad knocked off Saint Peter’s 7-0 on Sunday, March 26. Juniors Sarah Stuhlmann and Nicole Aragones each picked up wins at first and second singles respectively. Freshmen Diana Prinos and Jessica Pil also scored victories at the third and fourth singles slots. In doubles, Aragones/Stuhlmann, the duo of Emily Lombardi ‘20 and Karen McKeough ‘17 as well as the team of Shelby Vertula ‘20 and Meghan Zimmer ‘18 all won against the Peacocks. The Stags have three matches on the slate in the span of the next five days beginning with a match on Wednesday, March 29 against Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y. followed by a match against Seton Hall University on Saturday, April 1 and MAAC foe Monmouth on Monday, April 3.

Photos Contributed by Sports Information Desk

In this week's issue...

- NFL Free Agency: Familiar Faces in New Places (Page 14)

- Stag Spotlight: Catching Up With Senior Riley Hellstein (Page 15) - Gavin Wallace Leading the Stags on the Mound (Page 15) - Villanova Pushes Past Fairfield 18-9 (Page 16)

Sports

Page 14

THE MIRROR | Week of March 29, 2017

NFL Free Agency : Familiar Faces in New Places

By Conor O'Brien Contributing Writer On March 9, the NFL’s new league year commenced. With free agent players now able to sign with any team that they please, NFL clubs began their annual bidding war in an attempt to pry talent away from rival teams. While some teams played it conservative, there were many big spenders who stood out from the crowd.

The first team that stands out is the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars spent big last offseason, signing a number of high priced free agents. The result was a 3-13 season and head coach Gus Bradley losing his job. However, Jacksonville decided to double down on their aggressive free agency approach and decided to spend big once again. The Jaguars signed safety Barry Church away from the Dallas Cowboys and cornerback AJ Bouye away from their division rivals, the Houston Texans.

Church has been a solid starter for many years and will provide valuable leadership to a young Jacksonville team. Bouye emerged as a very good player for Houston last year and will be Jacksonville’s other starting corner alongside Jalen Ramsey. However, the biggest signing for Jacksonville was the acquisition of defensive lineman Calais Campbell, previously on the Arizona Cardinals.

Campbell is a two time pro bowler, who should make an instant impact on the Jacksonville defense. Teaming Campbell up with an already promising defensive line of Malik Jackson, Dante Fowler and Ngakoue Yannick should set up the Jaguars to terrorize any quarterback that they face.

The Cleveland Browns are another team that was able to improve greatly through free agency. After experiencing a 1-15 season, the worst in franchise history, last year the Browns sought to improve on the offensive side of the ball. Cleveland signed center JC Tretter away from the Green Bay Packers and signed guard Kevin Zeitler away from their cross state rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals.

Wikimedia/Creative Commons Running Back Adrian Peterson missed the majority of last season due to a serious meniscus injury.

Weekly 4x5

Because we have witty things to say ...

Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor

Allison White, Alfredo Torres, Daniel Montgomery and Jesse Erickson The Final Four is set, who do you predict will advance to the NCAA Championship game?

James Harden or Russell Westbrook for MVP?

What do you think of the construction of the parking garage in the Kelley Center?

Better luck next time??

In the beginning, I was gonna be a bandwagon fan and go with Villanova, but that didn't go too well...

Honestly, I get MVP for dealing with Juliana on a daily basis and for not having a heart attack.

Although I do think I have high blood pressure at this point in my life.

What an eyesore, man. Also, it totally adds 3-4 solid minutes of my morning commute to class since I cannot cut through the parking lot. Sigh.

Nothing better than Yankees baseball and trust me this year everybody is going to remember how dangerous the Yankees are.

It's aight, I ain't worried I know Kyrie is still going to kill every point guard in the league most especially Steph Curry. But when you have a LeBron James on your team, it's kinda hard to stop the Cavs in the playoffs.

Zaga vs. UNC and I got Roy Williams dancing with his team all the way to the championship gane and you already know UConn is winning it for the women because literally nobody can beat them I mean unless they play Fairfield ...

James Harden Baby! Fear the Beard! But respect to my guy Russ as he's still carrying OKC to the playoffs and that's what an MVP is all about. Did you see his gamewinner against Dallas? Anyways, may the best man win.

Exactlywhat

Expecting big things from the Bombers this year baby!!

Cavs will be ay okay come playoff time when the team really rounds into form. In real news, the Brooklyn Nets are playing incredible basketball right now.

UNC without a question. Can't wait to sport the baby blue next Tuesday.

Westbrook. Brodie took over Monday night against the Mavs hitting the game winner to top it off.

It's going to look magnificent but campus is looking like a Call of Duy map right now with all this stuff going on.

Alfredo, honestly you say you're in love with me yet you still ask basketball questions. I'm done.

Going for a final interview with my dream company tomorrow, I'm advancing to the Final Four.

What kind of sport is this??? The one in Hogwarts where they fly through the circle?? Harry Potter!!

That's why I'm leaving! See you later people. You were all good to me but that's an eyesore.

My team, the Boston Red Sox, are Jesse Erickson gonna kill it this season. Games Editor-in-Chief are more fun when you can drink beer!!!

Emeritus

(Italian EIC)

Your 2016-2017 4x5 Columnists:

Cleveland Cavaliers fall to the 2nd seed in the East for the first time since 2015. Reactions?

The MLB Season starts Sunday, are you excited for the season?

How's your team looking?

Let's go Yankees!! Refer to Fredo's comment for more in depth Allison White analysis. Us New Yorkers gotta Editor-in-Chief stick together.

Alfredo Torres Sports Editor

The signing of Zeitler allows the Browns to move 2015 first round pick Cameron Erving to tackle. Erving had previously been forced to play guard due to depth issues, even though tackle is his natural position. The Browns then signed wide receiver Kenny Britt away from the LA Rams. Britt was able to top 1,000 receiving yards last year despite awful play from the Rams quarterbacks.

Lastly, the Browns shocked the football world in a blockbuster trade for Texans QB Brock Osweiler. Last offseason, Osweiler signed a massive contract with the Texans, only to disappoint by being one of the worst QBs in the NFL last year. The Texans asked almost nothing in return for Osweiler and a second round pick, essentially paying the Browns a second round pick to take Osweiler’s overbearing contract off the books for them.

The Browns had more than $100M in cap space entering free agency and could afford to overpay Osweiler for one year. It remains to be seen whether or not the Browns intend to make Osweiler their starting QB or attempt to trade/cut him.

The other team that clearly improved since the start of the league year is the New England Patriots. The Patriots have shocked the football world by aggressively attacking the offseason instead of resting on a roster that just went 14-2 and won the Super Bowl. While New England did lose a fair share of players in free agency such as tight end Martellus Bennett and cornerback Logan Ryan, they were almost all replaced by better players.

Bennett was replaced by TE Dwayne Allen who was acquired in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts. While Ryan was replaced by Stephon Gilmore who the Patriots signed away from the Buffalo Bills to a massive 5 year, $65M contract. Gilmore is a pro bowler and when paired with Malcolm Butler should form one of the best CB tandems in the NFL. Other key moves include the resigning of star linebacker Dont'a Hightower and safety Duron Harmon. As well as the acquisition of defensive end Kony Ealy in a trade with the Carolina Panthers and the signing of defensive line Lawrence Guy from the Baltimore Ravens to add depth to the Patriots DL. The biggest acquisition for the Patriots was their trade with the New Orleans Saints, which sent wide receiver Brandin Cooks to NE in exchange for the Patriots first round pick. Cooks is one of the fastest players in the entire NFL and his presence should once again ensure that the Patriots have one of the top offenses in the league.

Some of the other intriguing offseason stories are the moves that haven’t been made yet. After a decade with the Minnesota Vikings, running back Adrian Peterson is free to sign wherever he likes. Peterson led the NFL in rushing back in 2015. However, this past season, he only played in just three games for Minnesota and averaged less than two yards a carry. With a contract well beyond his current worth, the Vikings decided to release Peterson and signed running back Latavius Murray from the Oakland Raiders. Peterson has not indicated where he would like to play next year, but teams that would benefit the most from him include the New York Giants, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Denver Broncos or the Baltimore Ravens.

In the National Football Conference East, the Dallas Cowboys are expected to move on from QB Tony Romo. After losing the starting job to Dak Prescott last season, it was widely assumed Romo would be playing elsewhere next year. Romo confirmed this when he posted a message on Instagram on March 9, bidding farewell to Cowboys fans.

While many expected the Cowboys to release Romo and let him pick who he plays for, he remains under contract with Dallas. Many expect that the Houston Texans will trade for Romo now that Brock Osweiler is gone, while some expect John Elway and the Denver Broncos will make a move for him. Romo moving to either of these teams would dramatically affect the NFL landscape. Romo would likely make either of these teams capable of challenging the Patriots in the American Football Conference.

Dansaid...

Sports

Page 15

THE MIRROR | Week of March 29, 2017

Stag Spotlight : Catching Up With Senior Riley Hellstein Alfredo Torres/The Mirror

By Alfredo Torres Sports Editor

You scored your 100th career goal a few weeks ago. What did that mean to you personally after battling through some injuries the past couple years?

RH: A lot of our goals have been assisted. Having everyone give good passes and running through the plays that we are supposed to has definitely made a huge difference for our entire offense, as well as myself as a player. It is a team effort and not just one person ever.

RH: I had no idea that game I was even close to 100 goals. So I was super surprised and so excited.

But I didn’t expect it because coming off an ACL (injury), I didn’t know how I was going to do after that. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates though and I was really happy.

As a team you’ve won four out of the last five You have 27 goals through only games. What has changed offensively after starting eight games so far and are on pace to top last year’s season total of 39 off 0-3? goals. Did you work on anything RH: Offensively we re- specifically to improve as a scorer alized a lot more players during the offseason? can score. It’s been more of a team effort rather than individual based games. Other people getting involved and getting their confidence up has made a huge difference.

Being named player of the week for the second time this year, how have other players helped you thrive offensively this year?

RH: I shot it a ton, because I kept getting injured, so that’s all I could do. I think that our plays this year are running a lot better and we are more organized as an offense. My goal total so far is coming from everyone doing

What is one key concept the whole team must excel at down the stretch in order for the Stags to make a run at a MAAC title?

RH: Staying confident and playing together. When we play as a team, we are winning games. When it’s an individual effort, you can see that we lose them. As long as we stay together and play as a team, we can have a lot of success in the MAAC tournament.

This being your last year, how do you hope to be remembered by Fairfield lax fans once your career is over?

RH: Hopefully [I’m remembered] just as a team player and someone that everyone could go to for support. If people remember me like that I’ll be happy.

Gavin Wallace: Leading the Stags on the Mound

By Patrick Getz Contributing Writer Junior Gavin Wallace is a name that Fairfield University and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference should get to know more. He has been stellar so far for the Stags and does not show any signs of slowing down. Wallace currently has a 4-1 record on the year and has only allowed more than two runs once throughout his five starts. He is the foundation and ace that every great team needs as Fairfield will look to become a potent force with Wallace leading the charge.

The Madison, N.J. native discussed how the team started off the season reasonably well, adding that he thinks that the team is gaining momentum at the right time as they enter conference play.

“So far we’ve been playing alright, but recently we’ve been playing much better. We are playing at the level we know we are capable of doing. I believe we’re getting hot at the right time, going right into conference play,” said the starting pitcher.

Wallace presents himself as a very humble player and it certainly shows when he includes his teammates regarding whether he is the ace of the staff.

“I believe we got three quality starting pitchers on this staff that you can give the ball to on any given day and they will give you the best chance to win,” said the current MAAC Pitcher of the Week.

Wallace is no stranger when it comes to being named MAAC Pitcher of the Week, considering he has won it on three separate occasions thus far in the season. However, the quality starter is not satisfied with just personal achievements.

“I mean it is a cool accolade but at the end of the day, I am just focused on team wins and how the team is playing as a whole. I am just doing my part by throwing strikes,” said Wallace.

Throughout the year so far, the New Jersey native has had much success especially in his past two starts, posting backto-back complete game shutouts against Stetson University and conference foe Rider.

“It’s definitely all about including the defense since I haven’t had too many strikeouts. I just let the opponent put the ball in play and have the fielders make the plays they need to, so it all works out in the end,” said Wallace.

Contributed By Sports Information Desk

In the game of baseball, being consistent is very important mainly as a starting pitcher and Wallace has been the quintessence of consistency, in which every start so far, he has completed seven innings or more. Being consistent and going deep into games are two fantastic qualities that a starting pitcher should have.

“It’s more of a mentality thing for me. I try to focus more on strikes. I’d rather give up four hits than any walks so I just try to focus on them putting the ball in play so my defense can make the plays behind me,” said the 6-foot-5-inch hurler.

Fairfield wants to repeat as MAAC champions so the Stags want to make sure they have enough momentum going forward to lead the charge for playing conference opponents.

“The first in-conference game was a tough loss for us but we bounced back to sweep the doubleheader and that really helped us. That’ll help carry the momentum going forward and throughout the rest of the season,” said Wallace.

The outlook for Wallace and for the Stags is pretty simple: to always get better no matter what. They want to get better every day and they never want to be satisfied with mediocre results.

“We’re going to keep getting better and better every day.

Even though we have a lot of guys returning from last year, we have a couple role players and it’s new to them. So it’s mainly an experience thing and we’re just trying to improve and also hit our stride,” said the 2016 member of the MAAC All-Academic team.

Fairfield looks to make noise and repeat as MAAC champions for the second-straight year. The Stags, as well as Wallace, are ready for the challenges that are ahead of them for the remainder of the season as they head into conference play.

Wallace looks to stay sharp and dominant in order to lead the Stags back to the mountaintop of the MAAC.

@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports Week of March 29, 2017

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SPORTS 16 Sports Editor: Alfredo Torres » sports@fairfieldmirror.com

Villanova Pushes Past Fairfield 18-9 Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Junior Drew Murray tied for the team-high in goals against the Wildcats as the attackman found the back of the net three times on the afternoon. Murray now has six points in seven games played this season.

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor An overcast day at Rafferty Stadium set the scene for a downright beatdown in front of the Fairfield faithful as the Villanova Wildcats marched right into Stag Country and dominated the red and white to the tune of an 18-9 victory. Superb goalie play combined with an outstanding offensive attack lifted the Wildcats to a easy win on Saturday, March 25.

Villanova took control of the game from the outset as the visitors would tally five markers in the game’s first six minutes to take a commanding 5-0 lead with just under 10 minutes to play in the first period. But the Stags would respond with a trio of goals themselves, led by back to back goals from Travis Ford ‘20 and another marker by Drew Murray ‘18. At 5-3, it seemed as though Fairfield was ready to settle in and make this a competitive contest, but the Wildcats thought otherwise.

After heading into the second quarter holding a 7-3 advantage, Villanova would cap off their second five-goal run of the game to take a 10-3 lead with 11 minutes to play in the quarter. Murray would score the Stags’ lone goal of the second period as Fairfield went into the locker room facing an insurmountable 12-4 deficit.

A pair of goals from standout Colin Burke ‘19 and another tally from Dylan Beckwith ‘20 garnered six goals for the Stags at 13-7 with six minutes to play in the third quarter, but that would be the closest Fairfield would come for the rest of the game.

Villanova would again go on a five goal tear to stretch their lead to 18-7 with a few minutes remaining in the fourth quarter until Murray and Burke would find the back of the net in the remaining minutes to bring the game’s final score to 18-9.

“We just did not play well enough to beat a really quality team,” head coach Andy Copelan said. “We were a little unfortunate with hitting a few pipes and then their goalie made some great saves. Sometimes you go down the way you did and things can spiral sideways a little bit and you saw some of that today.”

Despite the tough loss to a bitter rival, Copelan’s bunch looks to improve upon their now 3-6 record when they welcome Hofstra to Rafferty Stadium next Saturday, April 1 for a 7 p.m. game to begin conference play. If there's one thing Copelan wants to instill in his players for next weekend, it is confidence.

“Right now they are not a confident group of guys,” Copelan said about his team. “I do not know if it is the schedule we have played or what not but it is a pretty demoralized group of guys right now, so we have to focus on us and work through some of the stickiness right now.”

As for the significance of the team's upcoming spring stretch, Copelan did not mince words.

“We are staring at a mini five game season right now with everything on the line.”

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Freshman Dylan Beckwith (top) tallied a goal on Saturday for his eighth marker of the season. Beckwith and the rest of the Stags look to bounce back this Saturday night when they welcome nationally ranked Hofstra to Rafferty.

Information Compiled by Sports Information Desk