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Survivor

Art Club

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Sports Senior Captain Alex Fehmel joins illustrations club.

Art Club mural coming to the BCC.

“Survivor” highlights the importance of respecting gender identity.

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THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper

Week of April 19, 2017

Vol. 42 Iss. 23

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MLB All-Star Preaches Dangers of Addiction

By Juliana Sansonetti Co-News Editor It is not everyday that college students get a chance to meet an eight-time all-star baseball player and a four-time World Series champion at their own school. On Tuesday April 18, students were able to do so when MLB legend Darryl Strawberry came to Fairfield to speak about his past drug and alcohol abuse and subsequent recovery.

Strawberry’s presence on campus was co-sponsored by the Recovery Houses for students struggling with substance abuse, which is part of the Collegiate Recovery Program headed by Counseling & Psychological Services.

Strawberry also dined with the residents of the Recovery Houses. During his speech, Strawberry said, “I had an amazing time sharing experiences, strength and hope with the guys [at the Recovery Houses] to show that, no matter how far down the scale you fall, your life matters. God cares about you, and I’m a testament to that.”

During an exclusive interview with The Mirror, Strawberry discussed the role his faith in God had in his recovery.

“My faith is the major part of my recovery because that is how I got clean and sober, through church, God and faith. It really healed me inside.”

Strawberry emphasized the importance of letting those who are struggling with substance abuse know that they are loved and being supportive of them.

“If no one told you they love you today, I’m going to tell you I love you,” Strawberry said to the packed crowd at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. “And that’s why I’m here.”

“They don’t even love themselves because they are rejected by everyone for being drug addicts,” Strawberry said of those who struggle with substance abuse.

“Strawberry has used his hardships to help others,” commented Joleen Roberti ‘19. “I was really moved at how he has chosen to live his life after overcoming his addictions in order to share his story and help as many people as he can. His strong faith and desire to show everyone that they are loved was uplifting and inspirational.”

To inspire those who are struggling with substance abuse, Strawberry spoke about his own life to encourage others not to make the same mistakes he did.

“I felt very at ease talking to him,” said Stephen Dierks ‘18 who attended the talk and was able to speak with Strawberry afterwards. “I felt inspired to be able to speak to someone who’s been through so much and is now having such a positive impact on those around him.”

While being a successful baseball player for the New York Mets, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Francisco Giants and the New York Yankees, Strawberry’s life was filled with drug and alcohol abuse and run-ins with the law. Strawberry spent a lot of time in and out of prison, until he turned his life around and got clean and sober.

“It doesn’t matter how successful I was as a person because I was broken inside and I had emptiness inside,” he said of his hard times.

Strawberry warned the young people in the audience against using “harmless” drugs like marijuana and prescription drugs.

“People say that marijuana doesn’t do anything and that it’s not dangerous, but marijuana is the gateway to everything else,” Strawberry said.

In regards to prescription drugs, Strawberry does not believe in doctors prescribing and parents allowing kids drugs.

“Take Ibuprofen, take Aleve or take something else, because if you take prescription drugs you’re going to need something else and it will get you hooked on other drugs.”

Strawberry commended the Recovery House program at Fairfield, which purposely houses students off-campus apart from the temptations typically associated with on-campus dorming.

“This program is remarkable,” Strawberry said. “I wish they had a program like this at Read Strawberry on Page 

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Eight time all-star and four-time World Series champion Darryl Strawberry spoke to an eager crowd regarding his past with substance abuse and the role his faith played in his recovery.

Jail N’ Bail Postponed Until Fall 2017

By Catherine Veschi Managing Editor This semester, Fairfield students won’t have the chance to put warrants out for their classmates’ arrests or spend their day locked in a makeshift jail cell in the traffic circle.

Due to the numerous construction projects taking place on campus this semester, the Department of Public Safety was forced to postpone this semester’s Jail N’ Bail event until the Fall 2017 semester, reported by Assistant Director of DPS John Ritchie. The event was initially supposed to take place on Friday, April 21.

“Due to conflicts with the construction projects on campus, we found it difficult to find a solid location to have the event,” Ritchie said. He added that DPS usually tries to hold the event in a public location that’s far enough away from the academic facilities so as not to become a distraction and that the traffic circle usually fulfills these requirements every year.

According to Ritchie, DPS would have had conflicts with the ongoing construction at the Barone Campus Center, as trucks will be delivering materials to the BCC throughout the day.

Knowing that the traffic circle would not be an option this year, DPS looked into alternative locations to hold Jail N’ Bail, but Ritchie

reported that DPS was having conflicts finding a new location because many public areas on campus are also in construction. Ritchie added that DPS considered using the area in front of Alumni Hall, but they couldn’t take handicap spots away from those who need them.

Despite this, Brianna Kron ‘17 questioned why DPS couldn’t have held Jail N’ Bail in the Lower Level of the Barone Campus Center instead of at an outdoor location on campus to avoid this conflict.

Further, Ritchie noted that DPS tried to find alternative dates during this semester to reschedule the event for, but said that “looking at the dates, there were too many conflicts at

this point. It’s late in the season for scheduling a large-scale event,” explaining that athletic events, admissions events and the upcoming Clam Jam make it difficult to hold Jail N’ Bail on any other date during the semester.

While some students may be annoyed with the late notice of the postponement of Jail N’ Bail, Ritchie reported that DPS “did not know about the influx of trucks coming in Thursday and Friday this week until Monday,” forcing DPS to announce the news on Monday, April 17. “If we had known this a month ago, we would have worked around it,” Ritchie Read seniors on Page 

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THE MIRROR | Week of April 19, 2017

News

Students Share Initial Experiences of Outdoor Dining

By Deanna Carbone Co-News Editor Spring has sprung and so has the Barone Campus Center Marquee on the BCC green. As mentioned in a previous article by The Mirror, the tent is being used as a temporary dining option due to advancements made on the construction of the Barone Dining Hall, which will be renamed the Tully Dining Commons upon completion in Summer 2017.As students took to the tent for the first time, the diners expressed a variety of reactions to their new dining conditions. According to Assistant Vice President of Administration and Student Affairs Jim Fitzpatrick ‘70, most students provided positive feedback for the substitute dining hall. Other students did not enjoy their dining experience.

Sophomore Daniel Kadragich understood why there had to be an alternate dining area, but felt that the tent did not meet usual standards.

“It is fair to say that students would be more unhappy if the new campus center was not completed upon their return to campus next fall,” said Kadragich. “While additional meal swipe hours at the Stag and food truck tickets help compensate students for the inconvenience, the selection of food was underwhelming and the quality of the food was relatively poorer than what is offered in Barone. There is also less seating available.”

Fitzpatrick explained that while the tent is the new option, it is still up for improvements if need be.

“This is a work in progress. In 47 years, I haven’t done anything like this and neither has Sodexo,” said Fitzpatrick.

In addition to the dining hall, Einstein’s Bagels and the BCC Mezzanine will also be blocked off due to construction until May 1. As the Mezz is a popular place for students to do homework in peace, it created a dilemma once it was removed.

“The Mezz was a place I studied and did homework a lot so now that it’s closed off, I went to the [Lower Level of the Barone Campus Center] but it’s much louder there and there’s way more traffic passing through it, which makes it much louder,” said Marissa O’Donnell ’18.

Other students are more sympathetic toward the new construction and feel that it is worth it to make sacrifices now in order to have improved eating conditions later on.

“I actually don’t mind to be honest. They feed me, I can’t complain otherwise. I’m willing to take a step back and let them build more for the sake of future classes,” said Brendan McCarthy ‘20.

As underclassmen can’t have their car on campus and are required to participate in a meal plan (the standard meal plan is 14 swipes a week plus 100 dining dollars), these students are concerned about the amount of money they will be spending on food and transportation.

“I’m not allowed to have a car on campus so this is really my only option for meals. Unfortunately, there are no food options at all and what they do have is really unappetizing. I will definitely be ordering in more, which is a waste of money considering I am already paying for a meal plan,” said Lauren Lovarco ‘19.

Kadragich echoed Lovarco’s statements and suggested that students who don’t plan on dining in the tent should be compensated for the meal plan. However, Kadragich noted that “On the contrary, one must recognize that there is no easy way to accommodate everybody, just as many people would complain that they had to order their own

food and not have it instantly.”

Fitzpatrick understands that the elimination of usual services including the wrap station, the omelette bar and stir-fry station may create an issue with students. While this may not be the ideal dining option, Fitzpatrick added that the administration is providing additional services. These services include a to-go box option which is usually only available during finals week, an additional meal swipe program at the Stag Snack Bar from 8:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, food trucks for Mondays through Thursdays and a meal swipe option for the Levee.

“We felt like those options would take a challenging situation and demonstrate to the students that were being creative and address their needs,” said Fitzpatrick.

Juliana SansonettiThe Mirror Students eat inside the two level Barone Campus Center Marquee during its first 24 hours of operation.

Seniors to Miss Out on Final Jail N’ Bail Continued from page 

added.

Despite the postponement, Ritchie doesn’t feel that the success of the event will be hindered in any way.

“In think Jail N’ Bail has been such a successful event since we started doing it years ago.

I don’t think having it in the spring or fall will really make a difference,” Ritchie said, adding that the event would have been affected more if DPS had held it on its original date, despite the construction.

Ritchie cited that other schools hold their Jail N’ Bail events in the fall successfully, so there’s no reason to think that holding Fairfield’s version in October instead will make the event any less lucrative than normal.

Many students were disappointed to have to remove Jail N’ Bail from their plans for the weekend. Junior Grant Williams noted that he could “definitely see how people would be a little disappointed about it, especially with finals coming up.”

Senior Te’on Smith said Jail N’ Bail’s postponement was “heartbreaking,” since he won’t have a chance to participate in another Jail n’ Bail during his time at Fairfield. He joked that

Contributed by Fairfield University Students are awaiting to make “bail” as they are being held in “jail” for the 2015 Jail N’ Bail.

THE MIRROR | Week of April 19, 2017

News

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The Mirror Reflects on this Week in Social Media Compiled by Juliana Sansonetti Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.

Sunday, 4/16 4:08 a.m.- A townhouse on 4 block was reported to have a window shattered. The matter is still under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to come forward to DPS. Monday, 4/17 6:07 p.m.- Items were damaged in a room in Loyola Hall and there was a roommate dispute. A student believed that his roommate damaged one of his items in the room and reported it. The incident was referred to student conduct.

CAU TTIO N O I N U CA A Message From DPS:

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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 Natalia Macchio, 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

Lopez and Farrell Named Teachers of the Year

By Allison White Editor-in-Chief Every year, the National Jesuit Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Nu, awards an undergraduate and graduate faculty member, chosen by students, as Alpha Sigma Nu Teachers of the Year.

For 2017, the Alpha Sigma Nu Teachers of the Year are Associate professor of psychology and special education at the Graduate School of Education Dr. Paula Gill Lopez and assistant professor of Spanish and Portuguese Dr. Michelle Leigh Farrell.

“I was very surprised that I won the award,” said Lopez. “I have ADHD, which results in executive functioning deficits.” She explained how she used to joke around about how a university professor is probably the worst job for someone with ADHD. However, she has been at the University for 23 years and has worked hard to overcome her constraints caused by her ADHD. “This award is a tremendous validation,” she said. When first applying for a job at the University, Lopez said she was offered a job at

the University of Connecticut as well.

“I chose Fairfield because of its Jesuit tradition,” Lopez said.

Since she is a woman of faith, she explained how she enjoys participating in spiritual exercises with Fr. Tom Fitzpatrick.

Not only does Lopez credit Fr. Fitzpatrick, but she recognized CAE director Dr. Emily Smith as a positive teaching mentor. “I learn from my colleagues every time I observe them, teach or present and when I co-present or coteach with them,” she said.

Both Lopez and Farrell spoke highly of their students.

“I love my students and they appreciate our emphasis on cura personalis and also my insistence that they focus on their own self-care in order to thrive professionally as well as personally in a stressful world,” Lopez said.

Farrell was touched by the students’ decision to nominate her for the award. “The fact that students nominated and voted for me

makes this award powerful,” she said. “My students are some of my most important colleagues and mentors.”

By being presented with this honor, Farrell believes “it was a way to say the work you do in the classroom matters and the students appreciate it.”

She recognizes previous winners, such as the School of Nursing’s Dr. Jenna LoGiudice and professor of chemistry Dr. Aaron Van Dyke, as inspirations due to their involvement in campus life, research, faculty service and compliments from students.

“I am proud to be a professor at Fairfield,” Farrell said. “I know that part of my work here is to convince others to take these opportunities: to take a language, to take one of the many literature and culture courses that we teach and to see life from a different perspective.”

These professors will be formally recognized next semester on Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

News

THE MIRROR | Week of April 19, 2017

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Faculty and Students Evaluate Appropriate Social Media Relationships

By Juliana Sansonetti Co-News Editor Is it appropriate for faculty members to interact with students on social media? This is a question that students and professors cannot seem to agree on.

An article that was posted on The Fairfield Mirror’s Facebook page on March 3 called “College Democrats Host ‘Let’s Talk Sex’” elicited a controversial response from alumni, faculty and students. Remarks between commenters tallied up to almost 100 comments and more than 50 reactions. This spurred conversation as to what social media interaction is appropriate and what is not for faculty members.

Senior Ben Bayers met with Fr. Michael P. Doody, S.J. to speak about the latter’s comments on the Facebook page.

“I chose to speak to Fr. Doody because I thought that the way he used his position of power within the University’s sphere, to attack and put down the opinions of others, was inappropriate and unprofessional,” said Bayers. “I believed that it created an unsafe space for students on campus, and that in general, it was immature as a professional on campus to personally respond to each comment.”

However, Bayers believes that most of the Fairfield faculty acts appropriately Facebook/The Mirror on social media.

Fr. Doody, along wirh other Facebook users, commented on a post made by The Mirror’s page.

“In general, the Fairfield University faculty and staff are quite responsible and professional with their social media usage,” he said. “There have been very few cases of unprofessional online interactions.”

Fr. Doody declined to comment on the subject.

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Assistant Professor of English Sonya Huber also feels that most professors use social media responsibly.

“I have not heard of or seen any inappropriate faculty use of social media,” said Huber. “I have seen a lot of great use of social media by faculty: people encouraging their students’ accomplishments and publications, sharing photos of class trips, and so on.”

Assistant Director of Core Writing and Professor of English Elizabeth Hilts agreed, saying, “Those with whom I am connected use social media wisely and appropriately. I love seeing posts

by Fairfield faculty members that celebrate student accomplishments because I think that good news should be shared far and wide.”

Huber typically avoids using social media to connect with current students.

“I try very hard to not accept friend requests until after students have graduContinued from page  ated from undergrad,” she commented.

“If I have made an error and accepted a current student, I review my list every school.”

After getting clean, Strawberry began Strawberry Ministries with his wife, a group that helps on Facebook periodically and remove those people.” those struggling with substance abuse through faith in God. Huber explained that she doesn’t Strawberry has also become a minister after finding a deeper faith in God. “You have to hit rock bottom when you struggle with substance abuse,” he said of the difficult connect with current students because times in his life. “Most people don’t think they ever will … but one day you’ll wake up and you’ll her persona on social media is honest and informal. Huber feels that if stuwonder ‘how did I get here?’ because it’ll happen so fast.”

According to Strawberry, religious faith needs to be brought back into the homes, schools and dents friend her on Facebook and see her joking around with friends, they will communities of young people for them to stay away from substance abuse dangers.

“It’s not about what I accomplish,” Strawberry said. “It’s about the legacy I leave … In the end, take her less seriously.

“I need to consider classroom auGod’s not going to ask how many home runs I got; he’s going to ask me how I helped the broken thority carefully as a female professor, people.”

When asked about it in the audience Q&A that followed the talk, Strawberry admitted that he is because many students already take me less seriously due to my gender,” she still proud of his accomplishments in baseball.

“I was pretty crazy back then. I knew how to play the game. I’m pretty proud of how crazy I was said.

Hilts, however, does not have a and what I did.” problem with friending undergraduate Strawberry offered some final words of hope for the audience. students as long as they no longer have “If a miracle happened for me, a miracle will happen for you. Don’t quit before it does.” her as a professor.

“I’m actually Facebook friends with

Strawberry Discusses Recovery

a number of former students, including some who are still undergrads at Fairfield and at other schools where I’ve taught,” said Hilts. “The interactions I have with former students are wonderful because social media allows us to maintain contact in an informal way. That is kind of the ideal, I think, to move beyond the teacher-student dynamic into a more equal footing.”

Professor of Visual & Performing Arts Jo Yarrington, unlike Huber and Hilts, friends current students who take her classes on social media. According to Yarrington, she contacts students on a general distribution list and does not individually interact with students. She uses this form of contact to “relay professional information about a school event.”

Yarrington also connects with past students.

She uses social media to “congratulate them on life events - new job, important promotion, marriage, the birth of a child.”

According to Yarrington, online conversations between faculty and students that are not about campus/professional events or career opportunities are not appropriate.

Junior Caroline McDermott said, “I think if you’re a student in a professor’s class you maybe should not connect on social media.”

However, Theresa Bravo ‘19, disagreed.

“I think that part of what’s great about Fairfield is that it’s so small that you can get that closeness with the professors,” Bravo said. “So I think it’s a cool thing that you are able to do and have that relationship with your professor.”

Administration takes a similar view and does not attempt to restrict faculty members in their social media use.

“Faculty members have deep expertise in their respective areas of study, and we encourage the use of social media to extend the reach of their thought leadership,” said Vice President of Marketing & Communications Jennifer Anderson ‘97.

According to Huber, many of her former students that she friends on social media are in their 30s with children.

Hilts does not believe that it is appropriate to friend current students who are in her classes on social media.

“I don’t think students want to know too much about what’s going on in my personal life, which is part of what I post about on social media,” she said. “Based on posts by the younger members of my family, and I have to admit I’m stunned they connect with me on social media, it’s probably best that I don’t see what my current students share on social media.”

“They read my writing, I read theirs, I am available for career advice, and I get a chance to be proud of their accomplishments,” said Huber of her matriculated past students. “Through social media I have sent information about employment opportunities and publication opportunities. I would describe each of these relationships in a different way. With some, we are friends who talk politics. Others come to me for advice about writing and publication.”

About the topic of professors friending students, Matt Eldridge ‘18 said, “I don’t see anything wrong with it.

I’ve connected with professors on LinkedIn. I think it could get inappropriate, but I think people tend to keep that relationship professional.”

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THE MIRROR | Week of April 19, 2017

Opinion

Creative Commons/Survivor Wiki

Editor Lexi Thimble » opinion@fairfieldmirror.com

Getting Opinionated with The Mirror

By Lexi Thimble Opinion Editor

The latest season of the CBS series “Survivor” has sparked controversy when contestant Jeff Varner outed fellow castmate Zeke Smith as transgender, as reported by Vanity Fair. Though it was heartening to see other “Survivor” contestants jump to Smith’s defense, Varner’s original imposition into a very personal part of Smith’s private life is unacceptable.

We live in a polarized world. Even in the most liberal, left-leaning places, there are pockets of prejudice that can make coming out an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous process. Assumptions of what a person is comfortable to share with a wide audience is dangerous ground to tread and is exactly what Varner ignored in choosing to oust Smith on a show viewed by millions of people across the country. You don’t get to insert yourself into someone else’s business and then decide that knowledge is allowed to be broadcasted on national TV. Even if you are out, your gender identity and how it’s presented to the rest of the world is your business and no one else’s. Varner claimed that, in the context of the game, Smith withholding this information “reveals the ability to deceive.” But at the end of the day, Smith’s gender identity isn’t a tactic to be used in a reality show as Varner seems to be insinuating. It is an extremely personal and private part of who he is that doesn’t deserve to be revealed by anyone besides himself and Varner taking it upon himself to infringe upon Smith’s right is inexcusable.

For someone who is LGBT, coming out is a never-ending process that inevitably happens with every new person they meet and is a necessary part of living

in the heteronormative society we live in. So when that choice is taken away from someone, when they can’t control who knows about their identity, you take away their overall physical, mental and emotional comfort. And on the flip side, you can’t be a good guy when you out someone. You can’t reveal that personal of a fact about someone to people who obviously don’t know and then also say what you were doing doesn’t constitute as outing someone. Varner made the assumption that everyone outside of the show knew about Smith, so revealing it to millions of people wasn’t a big deal. But he needs to consider that people’s very identities are contested and are even illegal in some parts of today’s world and though we’ve made a lot of progress, you still can’t assume the world is OK enough with LGBT people to out someone to the millions of people who watch “Survivor.”

Varner’s major misstep also highlights a lesser talked about issue, which is the concept that you can’t be discriminatory when you’re also a minority. Varner is an out gay man and yet he still was extremely ignorant of the circumstances surrounding a fellow member of the LGBT community. Intersectional prejudice is clearly alive and well and doesn’t leave you exempt from blame for your mistakes. Discussion of Smith’s gender identity has nothing to do with winning on “Survivor” and if things had gone Varner’s way and he’d gotten people to agree with him, it’s very likely he never would’ve issued an apology.

With the rising openness of people’s identities, it’s crucial to be sensitive toward people’s personal willingness with what they want to share. “Survivor” has opened the door to this conversation, unfortunately through expository means.

Gender identity is an extremely private and intimate facet of people’s lives and it is of the utmost importance that it is respected, regardless of whether those discussing it are themselves minorities.

Diversity in Marvel Reflects the Real World

By Ariana Puzzo Online Editor-in-Chief It seems impossible to go a day now without reading the word “diversity” in a headline and when we do, there is typically a negative perspective that succeeds it. The media frenzy and internet buzz surrounding Marvel Comic’s statement that suggested their declining sales is a result of increased diversity in their characters is no exception.

According to The New York Times, when asked about the readership of the company’s comic series, David Gabriel, the company’s vice president for sales, said, “What we heard was that people didn’t want any more diversity.” Despite Gabriel’s statement being interpreted as negative, I do not believe that his intention was to reject the recent addition of diverse superheroes and I do not believe that the inclusion of non-white heroes is problematic. We need more characters with different experiences and appearances to reflect our current global climate, and even if Gabriel’s statement is true, it reflects more poorly on our society than it does Marvel, unless they choose to adhere to public opinion.

Marvel’s superheroes have historically reflected the times during which they were created. We need only look as far as Steve Rogers, whose horror at Nazi Germany’s atrocities encouraged him to enlist in the army and, ultimately, become Captain America. In more contemporary times, we have heroes like Luke Cage, who came to Netflix in 2016. In addition to diversifying Marvel’s on-screen representation of heroes, Cage’s character has significant political significance in the United States’ social context of the Black Lives Matter era, according to Time. These types of representations of historical and current political environments are evidently not limited to one group of

Editorial Board A Balance to the Force

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

people. When there are claims made by sales executives that people are less inclined to buy a series with a minority superhero on the cover, we should ask ourselves why that could be the circumstance. “Luke Cage” received a 96 percent rating on Rotten Tomato, and the review aggregator website described the show as “an immersive, socially conscious narrative and a confident, charismatic lead performance make Marvel’s Luke Cage a stellar sampling of the new Marvel/Netflix universe.”

Therefore, is the potential pushback on new characters with new experiences because people are set in their ways and grew comfortable with the familiar, white faces that adorned display windows at the increas-

In recent years, film and media consumers have become increasingly peeved at the lack of female representation in movies, especially the lack of females serving as the lead characters in films. This is a problem that the producers of Star Wars have been attempting to correct in recent years, with characters like Rey in “The Force Awakens” and the upcoming film “The Last Jedi” and of course, Princess Leia.

Star Wars is taking their implementation of female characters a step further with their series of animated shorts called “Forces of Destiny,” which Disney and Lucasfilm announced at the Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, Fla. The series will premiere in July 2017. The shorts will center around popular female Star Wars characters such as Rey, Jyn Erso and Princess Leia, according to CNN. “Forces of Destiny” is a huge feminist move on the part of Star Wars, as the series is revolved around solely female characters, thus making them the pri-

ingly obsolete comic book store windows? I think that is highly likely.

It is like any other aspect of culture that changes that we have to adapt to, though. Much like I explain to people when I am asked how I plan to be a journalist in a time when media is constantly being redefined, I explain that newspapers can stubbornly put their fingers in their ears and refuse to adapt, or they can — like Marvel has attempted to do — get their acts together and provide for the masses.

There are plenty of global and national issues today that should be expressed appropriately through the arts. By adding a greater range of characters with different backgrounds, Marvel’s viewership should grow, but only if they sell it in the right way. As I am sure any individual with a background in marketing would affirm, there needs to be a critical analysis of who is already picking up the Marvel comic series’ and going to the films. Additionally, once that is determined, then there needs to be an effort made to create more characters that will broaden the viewership demographic, and only then will sales have a stronger chance of improving. Regardless of whether or not “traditional” fans are less than enthused by the racial, ethnic and gender changes in their favorite superheroes, it will only be through further diversification that Marvel can broaden its audience and ideally, increase its sales revenue. Therefore, I do not think that public unwillingness to open their eyes and see beyond a five-foot radius should dissuade Marvel from creating more of these characters.

Perhaps G. Willow Wilson, author of the series “Ms. Marvel: Super Famous,” put it best when she, as reported

by The New York Times, wrote online, “Let’s scrap the word diversity entirely and replace it with authenticity and realism. This is not a new world. This is the world.”

Creative Commons/Flickr

mary lead figures of the show. No longer will these characters be overshadowed by their male counterparts, such as male figures like Luke Skywalker, ObiWan Kenobi and Darth Vader who will be merely background characters in comparison.

The film universe is in dire need of a series such as this one, for more often than not, male characters dominate films and TV series, and their female counterparts find themselves serving as their sidekicks time and time again. There’s no logical reason for this, as females are just as capable of filling in the power roles in cinema as males.

Take Princess Leia for example. While she may have been the damsel in distress in “A New Hope,” we clearly see her become a bonafide badass that ends up leading the Rebel Alliance and eventually, The Resistance by the time of “The Force Awakens,” overshadowing the reclusive Han Solo and Luke Skywalker.

Fast forward to the characters of Rey and Sabine

Wren from “Star Wars: Rebels,” who have been marketed as strong female characters to children, specifically through the merchandising of different toys and advertising campaigns.

The commonality of males as lead characters is simply another example of the way in which longstanding gender stereotypes have plagued the entertainment world and Star Wars is taking a step in the right direction by crushing these ideologies and centering their new series around female characters instead.

For the little girls who go to the theater and often find themselves looking at male characters as the archetypical hero, Star Wars has redefined the image of what it means to be a feminine hero, even before the modern wave of feminism in the 1990s. So don’t be afraid to buy your daughter or little female relative a lightsaber or a blaster; the force is also strong with her.

THE MIRROR | Week of April 19, 2017

Opinion

Page 6

Art Lives On Outside of Museums

By Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor

“The strangeness will wear off and I think we will discover the deeper meanings in modern art.”

When Jackson Pollock, the mastermind behind the American expressionist movement of the early 20th century, uttered the previous statement regarding his form of abstract painting, little did he know he would ignite a wave of encrypted modern art that would eclipse a culture and make it question the role of art in our society. As aerosol graffiti art came into the scene in the 1970’s, America was subjected to a new form of strangeness that delved into the notion of whether this form of art could even be considered art in the first place.

Most recently, 23 graffiti artists, who have contributed to the famous Queens’ mural space 5Pointz, had their art whitewashed over by the building’s owner, according to the New York Times, as their art was only meant to be on a short-term display. In return, the group will bring the building’s owner to court over the protection of their artistic rights and defend themselves in the Federal District Court of Brooklyn over whether their contributions were deemed illegal or not in the eye of the court.

In terms of law, the Visual Arts Rights Act of 1990 protects these artists as it states that violation of a public art form, as long as it is not negligent to the building it is placed upon or portrays graphic images, is allowed to stand as public art of “recognized stature” on the property it is exhibited upon. Additionally, New York Penal Law 145.60 states

that a misdemeanor of marking one’s property with the intent of causing damage is punishable by one year of jail.

Again, the question of whether graffiti is art comes into the global and cultural spheres.

While art is difficult to classify in terms of stylistic essentialism, the primary understanding of art is that it is subjective to the artist’s personal beliefs and stylistic preferences. When looking at graffiti, one can understand a story of personal struggle and victory that is exuded in each burst of aerosol spray. I can distinctly remember trips walking through Brooklyn to different concerts and finding myself mesmerized by the complex stylings of the artwork that adorned the cobbled walls. Though it wasn't hanging in the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art or the Museum of Modern Art, it was just as beautiful.

Artistically, there should be no reason as to why graffiti should be argued against being a free-standing form of art that is just as powerful as anything hung in a museum. Though I do not consider myself an artist, I consider myself artistically inclined and believe that without a proper artsy eye, I believe the line between vandalism and art get blurred further.

The understanding in our society regarding the issue is solely a matter of artistic asceticism and the belief that those who have a grasp on the artistic world are better able to differentiate the argument brewing between art and graffiti.

While the argument between art and graffiti seems to grow closer to finding a boundary in essentialism, I believe we are seeing a period of modern art that seeks to develop a deeper meaning in our society, just as expressionism had for Jackson Pollock. So before you criticize the graffiti for its notorious past, I invite you to ponder at a graffiti mural and truly grasp the majesty of each blot and stroke of that sweet Made with picmonkey.com aerosol spray.

Privilege Does Not Trump Impoverished Suffering I often find myself in awe of the tremendous number of ingrates who inhabit our nation’s universities, and even more troubled when I can count myself among their ranks. There are large, looming auras of anger palpable on campuses nationwide, where it seems collegiate existence is predicated on activism against shadowy, Orwellian enemies like “unconscious bias” or “hate speech.”

Readers of this column, particularly those who find my musings preachy and paternalistic, would certainly implicate me in the same agitation, if only mirrored in focus. A panacea to defaulting to malcontention, at least as I’ve found, is to think about the

developing world more often, even as a dishearteningly fruitful spiritual exercise.

One Friday, when I was a freshman in high school, our football team had just lost to a rival school a couple of nights before.

It was an ugly performance, and after a week’s worth of watching films and reviewing game plans, the lethargic effort in the game was enough to set the coaches off. That Friday afternoon, we ran “Big Cats,” which were wind sprints up a steep hill on school grounds that lead to the practice field, which segued immediately into a hundred-yard dash across said field, capped by a final sprint up a steep hill at the field’s end. The sticky heat seemed to penetrate the skin, and the insufficient allotment of a “rest” period in between “Big Cats” exacerbated the misery of the exercise. What stuck with me more than anything from experiences like that in my athletic career was the tremendous physical thirst I felt after pushing myself far beyond where my body felt it could go, under the visage of an angry coach. After such conditioning, the piercing sensation of my lips meeting a cup from a jug of half melted ice and hose water was enough to make me never take for granted something as simple as my access to water.

Each day, thousands of children live in a heat that no one in the northern hemisphere could ever conceive of. The dry, arid warmth surrounds them at every turn; as they try to sleep at night, there is no fan or A/C unit by which the stifling heat might be mitigated. Each morning’s pasty warmth seems a mere extension of the previous day’s, as a thirst that transcends all understanding ties the tiny stomachs of these children in knots of agony. Their respite from this natural cruelty is a cup brought to the local water trough, as it were, where animals and diseased people alike bathe, and the pale brownness of the water suggests a partial cross-contamination with the town’s septic system. The sensual apogee of cool, crisp water parching the dried lips of fragile children is hardly actualized; the muddied water’s disgusting warmth and thick viscosity provides only the most elemental satiation to the pangs of their young chests. These same stomachs that retch with thirst simultaneously ache with diarrheal pain, and their throats throb from the bacterial infections caused by

the filthy water they drink. They then go back to sleep, and, God willing, will wake up the next day to do it all over again.

Do we really have a grasp of what it means to starve? Can we fathom the slow, painful blight of emaciation, or the hopelessness of a life void of comfort?

How amazing it is, then, that we have running water. That at a moment’s thirst, we can open the faucet to quench ourselves.

We live in a country where we are surrounded by food, where a six-pack of instant oatmeal runs you $3, and a loaf of bread costs a mere $1.25.

When I hear some middle-class kid with a smartphone, meal plan and a two-parent family at a university in the Midwest lecturing his classmates about their privilege, or the pious sermonizing of campus demigod Peggy McIntosh, I often turn my thoughts back to the fantastic irony of these exercises as children shrivel, wither and die in the developing world. Just how committed are we to eradicating injustice? Are we willing to drop out of school right now, divest our bank account and donate all of it to the developing world, where $5 can provide enough rice for a child for a month? We don’t really need our Starbucks coffee, right? And we don’t need our smartphones — a flip phone will serve the purpose just as well. What type of choice do we make when we buy that new pair of shoes when the fiduciary means we use could save five families from emaciation? If all of us are honest, we’re not going to do any of these things. There are economic arguments aplenty about the lack of a zero-sum world and the like, but fundamentally, many of us realize that we’re going to keep buying from Whole Foods and paying for Spotify while still reaping the benefits of feeling virtuous by criticizing the “privilege” of others. The bellowing cries of the developing world ought to remind us that we are all privileged beyond our wildest dreams, and remember our apathy to the developing world’s ruinous plight if we choose to criticize the good fortune of others.

The Mirror welcomes the opinions and contributions of its readers: Letters to the editor must be timely and submitted by email to info@fairfieldmirror.com or Box AA. All letters to the editor that are appropriate will be published either in print or online. The Mirror reserves the right to edit letters and articles for content, length and grammatical errors. Letters should be free of obscenities and personal attacks and should contain correct and factual information, not exceeding 500 words.

The Vine t e o P

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

s d A n M e S e s y sa r

By Alicia Phaneuf Vine Editor Is poetry enough to send a message, make a statement and cause change? Senior Meaghan Hamilton, Madeleine Tommins ‘18 and Madison Ortiz ‘20 believe so. As students enrolled in a Black Lives Matter course, they were asked to develop a group project. Since the project guidelines were open ended, the three women decided to create a Black Lives Matter poetry workshop. The workshop took place on Monday, April 10 in Canisius Hall and had a turnout of five students and two professors.

The group hoped that by promoting their event as a poetry workshop, they might reach more of the Fairfield community than solely Black Lives Matter supporters.

“I feel like if you were to say there’s a Black Lives Matter event happening, people might be in support but they might think that it’s only targeted towards that specific community,” explained Tommins. “So, we chose to have it be a poetry workshop that aims to talk about all

of these things but not market it as only a Black Lives Matter event.”

Surprised by the enthusiasm of professors, Hamilton commented on their participation. “Sometimes some professors are cool, chill and woke — or whatever the kids call it these days — but a lot of the times they aren’t as much,” said Hamilton. “Being in a situation where they don’t have the same power position, where they can just sit and listen to students, I feel like not enough of that can happen on campus.”

Due to the intimate circumstance, it gave the three leaders of the event a chance to talk to each attendee on a personal level and steer conversation towards the relationship between poetry and the Black Lives Matter movement.

“Poetry is short, it’s sweet and it’s written in a language that is acceptable to all. That’s the point of poetry.

Even if you aren’t well read on critical race theory, you can still hear a poem from someone and it could touch you,” said Hamilton.

ge

Below is a poem written by workshop attendee Monet Monterroso ‘18.

I stand You sit I sit You have to use the bathroom I don't know You must Continuing to go around in this circle of avoidance You have to stop I try to tell you You can't listen I stay, waiting You finally come We is now what remains

CreativeCommons/ namanbharat.com

THE MIRROR | Week of April 19, 2017

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'Taming of the Shrew' to Bend Gender Roles

By Cara Lee Assistant Vine Editor You don’t need to travel to the Globe Theater for this Shakespearean act. Beginning on Thursday, April 20 and running through April 25, a Fairfield University production of “The Taming of the Shrew” will be performed at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at 8 p.m., with its final performance occurring on April 25th at 2pm.

This production of “The Taming of the Shrew” will be a bit different than those who have read or seen the play before may remember. While the language itself will remain true to the Bard’s written words, this is Shakespeare with a twist. The first is that this will be a genderbent production, where actors such as Liam Cahill ’18 and Brendan McNamara ’17 will perform the roles of Katharina, “The Shrew,” and Bianca while actresses like Emily Ramsey ’20 will play Petruchio, Katharina’s husband and the lead role.

“I think audiences will love how we genderbent the show. To see a woman demanding a man to become her wife is something many people have probably never seen.”

Ramsey joked.

Throughout the performances, the characters will be utilizing social media, taking pictures and dressing in modern clothing in an effort to make the show more contemporary. This will include transforming characters like Grumio (Danielle Agate ’17) from a traditional Shakespearean fool into a gangster for the performance, with clothing and props ranging from gold chains to ostentatious sneakers to match.

“This show is a modern take on the Shakespearean classic. We are incorporating cell phones and social media, so it will be a lot of fun for our audiences,” Brendan McNamara ’17 responded when asked what inspired the gender-bending of the classic play. “We hope it will bring up some contemporary issues of gender-politics, as well as allow the audience to reflect on the role that gender plays in social media. The audience should be prepared to have fun — this is not your typical Shakespeare.”

The cast has been practicing virtually non-stop since their auditions in January and are anticipating the night to be a great success but, as Liam Cahill pointed out, the transformation of a Shakespearean play into modern times does not come without a challenge, especially when the majority of the performers are new to Shakespeare, if not to theater as a whole. “[Initially] it was very confusing and discouraging [to] read a line of this play and have no freaking idea what Shakespeare was even trying to mean,” Cahill reminisced. “However, our director has studied and performed Shakespeare for years, and he has been an incredible help and guide for us.”

“We made it our own and the audience will be surprised to see how [genderbent Taming of the Shrew] is played out,” Emily Ramsey concluded, revealing her hopes for the show to be a success. “The cast and crew have worked so hard on this play, and I believe the audience will see Shakespeare in a new light as a result.”

Tickets for all performances are available for purchase in the Quick Center for $5 for students and $15 for general admission.

Photo Contributed by Theater Fairfield

Art Club Takes Strides to Brighten Campus

By Alicia Phaneuf Vine Editor

doubt she can accomplish that and more,” said Vigorito.

Another unique quality about the art club is that all students are welcomed. From students who have minimal art exposure, to students who are art experts, the club as something to offer for all levels.

“It’s really funny because in the club, we’ll have people who are just going at it and are drawing things out of their own head, and then some people need help and we [the executive board] go around and help them draw,” said Kelly.

Vigorito is an English major and she explained her passion for the new club. “I find that I enjoy art club most because it allows me to set out specific times to work on pieces I would otherwise set aside in exchange for other activities. Also, the people who attend each week are friendly and creative, and being in the same room together has brought out the best in all of us,” said Vigorito.

Inclusivity is key for the art club, and because of this, the club anticipates more students joining at the start of next year. The club also has a variety of projects and plans for the future. For example, they have already been in touch with Matt Dinnan, the director of conference and event management at Fairfield and together they’ve planned to paint murals in the BCC conference rooms at the start of next semester.

“I just want students to know that literally anyone can come and join art club,” said Kelly.

“We have a lot of cool projects on the horizon and I hope that students keep an eye out for us.”

Hoping to bring an exciting aspect to Fairfield and brighten up campus is the new art club, founded by club President Bronwyn Kelly ‘19. Other board members include Vice President Liza Giangrande ‘17, treasurer Mike Spillane ‘19 and secretary John Laske ‘19.

The club’s first major project that will hopefully brighten up some of the construction in the Barone Campus Center is a large mural that will be hung on the white construction wall outside of the Oak Room. On Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the art club will host a mural making event outside of the Oak Room. Kelly explained that all students, regardless of major or art expertise, are welcome and encouraged to participate in the creation of this temporary mural that will be on display until the end of the school year.

The mural will consist of large, capitalized letters that spell out “Fairfield.” Within each letter, students can create images that represent a certain theme. For example, the theme for “I” is inclusive and the theme for “D” is diversity — words that represent the Fairfield community. Beneath these letters will be a graphic stag, a stag that’s different from what the Fairfield community has seen in the past, and unlike the one that can be viewed on the Fairfield geofilter on Snapchat.

Even though art club has only existed for about a month, it is already making a big impression on campus. According to Kelly, during the spring activities fair, approximately 90 students signed up to be a part of the art club. Kicking off their appearance on campus, the club held their first official meeting on Feb. 23 in the Barone Campus Center at 8:30 p.m. Having about 15 students attend weekly meetings, the art club has been deemed successful and only hopes to continue growing.

Kelly explained that the club has the freedom to complete projects and activities that members want to do.

“Even though I’m running art club, I wanted to ask students what they wanted to take away from art club so that they would want to come back,” said Kelly. “Each week we use a bunch of different mediums such as graphite pencils, colored pencils, acrylic paint and gouache. We also decided to create a theme so that at the end of the year we could put up an exhibit. This year we chose the theme of identity, but next year we’ll vote on something else.”

Members of art club appreciate Kelly’s decision to include their thoughts and opinions when deciding what to do during each meeting. Sophomore Alyssa Vigorito commented on the large amount of projects that Kelly has been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time.

“The mural is one of the biggest projects this semester, but further down the road I hope we could get the chance to hang up all of our artwork from this semester in a gallery in Loyola. Though, Bronwyn is very dedicated to the club, and is one of the most hardworking and Photo Contributed by Bronwyn Kelly determined people I know, so I don't

Phtotos Contributed by Bronwyn Kelly CreativeCommons/PublicDomainPhotos

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Kendrick's Roots Inspire New Album

By Allie Ross Contributing Writer

Good Friday was the release date of Kendrick Lamar’s newest album, DAMN. and if you know anything about Lamar, you’ll know it was no coincidence. The self-proclaimed greatest rapper alive is always weaving symbols, metaphors and allusions into his intricate rhymes and somehow manages on top of all of that to make it sound good too. Having been a fan of Kendrick since 2012 (can’t quite say since the beginning but I did hop on the bandwagon pretty early on) he has been constantly growing while staying true to his roots.

He begins with establishing his origins in Compton, Calif. and how the city shaped him, especially in “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” and then moves outward to define many issues, primarily racism, in 2015’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” and in his latest album, “DAMN.,” he addresses these culminating issues and comes full circle in many of the themes of TPAB, while still remaining true to his roots.

Keep in mind, when it comes to Kendrick, I could write pages and pages because there is so much to his work and since many people might not have time for that (or to listen to the whole album), I’ll give highlights of five songs in the album that are must-listens.

Also, the album really is presented in a story format, so if you do have the time, I would definitely recommend listening to the whole thing start to finish because these songs don’t capture the majesty of the whole narrative.

2. “LOYALTY.” : Kendrick’s collaboration with Rihanna is bound to hit the radio soon and it not only sounds super cool and laid back, but also shows where Kendrick’s priorities are. It essentially shows that Kendrick puts loyalty and actions above other’s words and intentions.

3. “HUMBLE.” : This single was released before the album and not just because it has a catchy beat – it is basically a snapshot of the entire album in one song. It has biblical references, which contrast his memories of vice and his dark past. It is a more high-key sound than his usual songs, showing his range in style and specifically, how he can still kill the game.

1. “ELEMENT.” : This is just one of those songs that reminds us that “Kung Fu Kenny” is the best in the game. This song captures his journey in a realistic point of view, highlighting the hardships that broke him and then rebuilt him to the point where he is now. The flow and style of his classic breezy, west coast vibe gives us the impression that he makes it look so easy.

4. “LOVE.” : I dare say, but this song kind of reminds me of Drake. Not in a bad way – I know everyone loves to put Drake down, but as far as style, lyrics and theme choice, this track is right up Drake’s alley.

5. “GOD.” : So if “LOVE.” was Kendrickgoes-Drake, this song definitely is in Kanye’s territory as far as the theme. Kanye often compares himself to a God, and references the Bible in his raps, but Kendrick takes a different take on this.

He definitely acknowledges his success and how he could be like God, but at the same time, he admits to pride and vice and in the end, is humbled before God. Lastly, if you like this album, check out these: ALBUM: “All-Amerikkkan Bada$$” by Joey Bada$$ ARTIST: J. Cole SONG: “Black Spiderman” by Logic

The Mirror Abroad: Brendan's Trip to Ireland

By Brendan Zimmerman Contributing Writer

I had just checked into my hostel after a long day of traveling when I decided to go explore the city. I was in Galway, a quaint little port city on the west side of Ireland. As I walked toward the famous Latin Quarter I suddenly heard the unmistakable boom of a bass guitar, so I naturally ran in that direction.

I arrived inside a random pub, where a very large crowd was enjoying a local band. In that moment, the magic of Ireland hit me like an unforgettable melody; observing the area I realized there were people young and old, from completely different backgrounds all just lost in the moment dancing and singing to the music. I later learned that there were also people The above photo displays a street in Galway, Ireland. from Spain, Portugal, Germany, favorite things about the country, as it reflects a people France, England, America, and even Brazil all crammed inside this random pub. So I ordered that truly wear their heritage proudly.

The second most striking thing about Ireland is its my pint and quickly lost myself too, one amongst this dipeople. They are unabashedly friendly and helpful to evverse mob of jubilant people singing through life.

I was in Ireland for the weekend by myself and I took eryone. Whenever I was lost or confused with directions that chance to explore my roots and see the different sides and the bus system, locals would offer their help without of the emerald isle. Before touching down in Dublin, I question, which was made even better by their charming made sure to have a long phone conversation with my Irish accents. And lastly, the simple beauty of the island grandfather, and I learned that the O’Leary’s had emigrat- is unmatched anywhere in Europe. Taking the train from ed from Cork County, a large section of southwest Ireland Dublin to Galway allowed for me to gaze at the never endand apparently have a castle. Even though I would be in ing Irish countryside, with endless lush green farmland Galway and Dublin for most of my time, I quickly realized and mountains always on the horizon. Standing on top of that history and heritage are readily accessible anywhere the Cliffs of Moher was perilous, but it gave me an unbelievable look at the Atlantic ocean, mixed in between in Ireland.

There are a few immediately striking things about farmlands that looked like several scenes in “Game of Ireland. One of the first things that I noticed was the ter- Thrones.” If Scotland gave me a taste of the medieval, then ror that is the Irish language. Seriously, they put letters Ireland was like waking up in a fantasy novel.

During my time in Galway, I discovered that music together and make sounds out of them that are crazy (for example, róisín dubh is pronounced row-sheen dove and defines Irish culture. Busking musicians could be found on translates to black rose). However, this became one of my every street, each offering either renditions of traditional

Celtic music or offering their own original material. As a full-blown music junkie it was amazing to realize the importance music has in this part of the world. Every street had music stores and pubs along each corner, and live music was never too far away. Locals both young and old would come together to form street bands, and the Irish music tradition would come alive with each chord. Galway also offered a simple, charming atmosphere unlike anywhere else I had experienced yet in Europe. The river Corrib divides the city between the residential area and the downtown shopping centers, and the city quickly changed its feel just by crossing the bridge.

Beaches could be found just beyond the river, with families and local students alike relaxing on the shores. Wherever I went, the locals ensured that I never felt out of place, whether it be through random conversations about heritage (apparently the O’Leary’s were some amazing ship builders back in the day), or even just getting to understand more about their underlying culture, the Irish were always inviting.

Unfortunately, my time in the country was limited and I had to take a flight back early Sunday. I wandered around Dublin for my last day, taking the time to explore the equally charming city. While Dublin was not as immediately accessible as Galway, there were still plenty of attractions like the Guinness Storehouse and the famous Temple Bar district. After taking my seat on my flight back to Florence, I was already trying to convince my family to come visit Ireland. Out of all the countries I have seen so far, Ireland has been my absolute favorite, and I cannot wait to come back and explore the rest of the counties.

Photos Contributed by Brendan Zimmerman

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CreativeCommons/PublicDomainPictures

ashionably airfield Sunny Side Up

By Nicole Funaro Online News Editor/Fashion Columnist

With sunny skies and 60-degree weather becoming standard, days spent out in the Quad or at Lantern Point basking in the mid-April weather are sure to be a regular occurrence. As you spend more of your days outside, you’ll want to protect your eyes from the sun’s bright rays. But not just any sunglasses will do; only the most stylish and budget-friendly frames will keep your eyes guarded and your outfit on point.

Although Ray-Bans are likely the most popular brand of sunglasses, there are many other brands available that provide comparable style and protection at a fraction of the cost. Price is just one factor, though if you are like me and constantly lose sunglasses, price is the most important factor. Before purchasing a pair of sunglasses, you should also consider your face shape and the silhouette of the glasses you are looking to purchase. In order to determine the shape of your face, glasses retailer Lenscrafters recommends taking a mirror selfie with your face completely relaxed and tracing the outline of your face in a photo-editor app so you can see the shape your face creates. Once you do that, you can find a host of guides online that help you determine the shape that most closely aligns with yours — oval, round, square or heart — as well as the styles of glasses that will look best on you. After you know exactly what styles you’re looking for, check out these stores to find your new favorite pair of sunnies:

MVMT While MVMT is primarily known as a watch retailer, this online destination also sells sunglasses all priced under $100. Offering more classic looks done in a retro brown and gold tortoise shell pattern to even lookalikes of Ray-Ban Wayfarers, what’s unique about MVMT’s stock is that almost all of their glasses are labelled as unisex, offering a very inclusive line of shades that truly has something for everyone.

Quay Australia Likely the trendiest option of the three is Quay Australia.

A sunglasses-only retailer, Quay boasts a diverse selection of styles that are all very modern and sleek. With rose-gold lenses, cat-eye silhouettes, oversized frames and even mirrored styles, Quay offers almost every style you could possibly want for under $60. The ‘Flint’ men’s glasses, for example, fuse the trendy halfrimmed style with traditional elements like tortoise shell for only $50, while the women’s ‘Lexi’ style poses a hybrid between an aviator and cat-eye silhouette with a hidden frame for $60.

With all kinds of sunglasses to choose from, the rest of your spring in Stag Country is looking sunny side up.

Nordstrom Rack Nordstrom Rack’s online destination is perhaps the perfect place to start looking for sunglasses. With over hundreds of items to choose from, there is an abundance of designer men’s, women’s and unisex styles that range from the classic pair of aviators to more trendy cat-eye and geometric looks. Perhaps the best part of Nordstrom Rack’s inventory is the pricing. For example, women can purchase a pair of Derek Lam sunglasses — originally priced at $150 — for only $29.97, while guys can try out a pair of Bvlgari retro sunglasses that previously retailed for $350 for $89. With steep discounts on tons of designer shades, Nordstrom Rack should be the first place you look to find your next go-to pair of sunglasses.

CreativeCommons/Flickr

Inkwell Spotlight Michigan

By Gracianne Eldrenkamp Contributing Writer at the Inkwell I’ve never been To Michigan But I think it would be nice There are demons here And unknown fear And there it’s snow and ice It’s the Great Lake State It’s a clear. blank slate In Michigan, there’s no vice Oh, how New England drains!

But Michigan holds reign It might just be paradise Or maybe Michigan is just Michigan A boring state to live or be in But…I think I’ll make that sacrifice

Photo taken from Quay Australia Instagram

CreativeCommons/Wikimedia

Cara's Cuisine: Chocolate Lovers' Edition

By Cara Lee Assistant Vine Editor

For those who celebrate Easter, this past weekend very likely presented you with more candy than you’ve seen since Halloween.

Now the question is, what are you going to do with it? You could just eat it. I for one am a really big fan of the Easter themed M&Ms and could eat them as they come all year long, but sometimes you need to change things up a bit. Or, with finals drawing a bit too near for comfort, you are just looking for a way to procrastinate. Here are four things you can do with that leftover candy: 1) Chocolate Bark: This easy recipe can be made entirely from the candy you already have — if you have a lot. Otherwise, what is it to buy an extra chocolate bar or two for a delicious treat?

Melt down the chocolate (milk, white, dark — your choice) in a double broiler (or see the recipe from the April 12 issue of The Mirror for a double broiler hack.)

Pour into a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Throw your extra candy (unwrapped) on top. The best bark can include M&Ms, Reese's, Cadbury eggs and Jelly beans, but if you have the candy and think it might make for an interesting taste, try it on a small section of the bark. You can always add more later! For example, if you want your bark to be extra salty, try adding

potato chips!

Refrigerate for an hour, cut into pieces and enjoy!

2) Trail mix: It’s the time of the year when girl and boy scouts are knocking on your door to sell you cookies (which you will eat immediately and entirely) and popcorn. Which is less exciting. If you have some of those Boy Scout popcorn kernels lying around, this is the perfect way to use them. Trail mix is an excellent snack for in between classes, during long turbos and for movie nights. It’s also incredibly easy!

Make popcorn.

Add unwrapped candy.

Throw in some pretzels.

If you want an extra treat, drizzle with some caramel!

3) Hidden Treasure Desserts: This involves a bit more baking expertise, but it makes the bottom of each cupcake just as delicious as the top!

Make cupcake batter. Mix it up and distribute it in your cupcake pans.

Before putting your cupcakes in the oven, throw a Cadbury Cream Egg, Hershey's or Reese's Mini Easter Candy into each batter cup.

Bake and when you bite into the cupcake bottom later, get an Easter surprise!

4) Sweeten up your chocolate milk: This is perfect if you have any hollow Easter bunnies or eggs and have a craving for some chocolate milk.

Cut a piece off of the top of your Easter treat.

Pour in milk (Slowly at first to make sure the bunny/egg does not have any holes.)

Mix, grab a straw and enjoy! Just keep in mind that if you, like me, love chocolate, you may want to add some more chocolate powder or syrup (or other melted Easter chocolate…) to the mix!

CreativeCommons/Flickr

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LINING UP FOR RECORD STORE DAY

By Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor

With record sales on a rampant increase — rising to a 26 percent increase as well as outstripping digital sales according to Consequence of Sound, an online music blog — audiophiles are rejoicing with the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Record Store Day on Saturday, April 22. Established as a day to celebrate everything records and small businesses of the music variety, RSD stands as a hallmark of purchasing exclusive, rare and unreleased material that otherwise would be unavailable to the general public.

This year, just as in previous year’s with Metallica, Iggy Pop and Chuck D, RSD has found its ambassador in St. Vincent, one of the most prolific indie rock veterans who has been known for her previous eccentric RSD releases.

“Being the ambassador of Record Store Day is meant to be fun and a little silly, and I think it's fantastic that we're celebrating this year with a woman who can be both those things while being a respected musician and record store regular as well," said Carrie Colliton, RSD co-founder, on St. Vincent.

As I’ve done with the previous few record store days, I will attempt to decodify the list of over 120 titles, picking the top five must own records on the list as well as some great honorable mentions, specifically ones I’ll be on the lookout for. If you find yourself looking for a place to go, I highly recommend heading to Johnny’s Records in Darien, but be wary, lines are expected to wrap around the block.

1) David Bowie — “Cracked Actors (Live Los Angeles ‘74)” (3x LP) Though I placed Bowie as my number one release from last year’s RSD, the Diamond Dog has earned a spot at number one for a second year in a row with this cut from his 1974 performance while touring behind his “Diamond Dogs” release. Packed to the brim with hits including “Suffragette City,” “Rebel Rebel” and “Space Oddity,” this previously unreleased live album showcases the sheer brilliance of Bowie’s live persona and the transformation of a man to a glorified cultural icon.

personally believe that Big Thief is one of the hottest rising folk musicians on the market, and what better way to celebrate this talent than an extremely limited (only 700 copies will be pressed worldwide) yellow piece of vinyl featuring two new songs. If you find yourself browsing and come across this record, I cannot stress that you take it and run the other way.

4) “Space Jam: Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture” (2x LP) Holy 90’s Batman, if this isn’t the coolest RSD release in recent memory, I really have no idea what is. Featuring songs from the 1996 classic featuring the Toon Squad and Air Jordan, these two records will have your turntable running nonstop with the amount of nostalgia packed into this highly necessary piece of vinyl.

5) Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band — “Hammersmith Odeon London ‘75” (4x LP) More than 40 years after his first international show, The Boss is opening his expansive archive and offering a box set for the ages, highlighting Springsteen at his finest — three months after the release of his monumental album “Born to Run.” Known for his off-the-top energetic performances, this set of wax only exemplifies how much of a boss The Boss is.

Honorable Mentions: Prince — “Sign O The Times,” “I Wish You Heaven,” “Partyman,” “Pop Life,” “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man,” “Batdance” (12” Vinyl) “Little Red Corvette”/ “1999” (7” Picture Disc) Dave Matthews Band — “Live at Red Rocks” (4x LP) Pink Floyd — “London 1966 - 1967” (12” Picture Disc), “Interstellar Overdrive (12” Vinyl) The War on Drugs — “Thinking of a Place” (12” Vinyl) The Cure — “Greatest Hits,” “Greatest Hits Acoustic” (2x LP Picture Disc)

2) The Notorious B.I.G — “Born Again” (2x LP) The world has not been the same since Biggie left in 1997, but he left behind a legacy of music and transformed the East Coast hip hop scene, including this reissue of the 1999 release that has been out of production since its initial run. Commemorating the twentieth anniversary of his death, this record stands as a monument to Biggie’s success and represents a legion of fans that still honor his mythos.

Peter Tosh — “Legalize It!” (LP) Moe. — “Live From San Francisco” (2x LP) The Smiths — “The Boy With The Thorn In His Side” (7” Vinyl) Iggy Pop — “Post Pop Depression: Live at Royal Albert Hall” (3x LP)

3) Big Thief — “Mythological Beauty” (7” Vinyl) I absolutely adore folk music and I

By James DellaRocca Contributing Writer

Sharon Jones with The E. L. Fields Gospel Wonders — “Heaven Bound” b/w “Key To The Kingdom” (7” Vinyl)

Heard It Through The GrapeVINE

Senior Ashley Flanagan is an accounting major and Residence Assistant of Loyola Hall. Aside from being an RA, Ashley is a coleader of Operation Hope and Prospect House, which are two service organizations run through campus ministry. She is a member of Beta Alpha Psi, an honorary organization for financial information students and professionals. Flanagan appreciates all types of music other than heavy rock and she claims to be open to other types of music. She added that she likes listening to music when she first gets gets up in the morning and periodically throughout the day as a pick me up.

“There’s a common thread in the genres that I like, songs that have deeper meanings to them. My love of music encompasses my passions and values. I contribute my range in musical tastes to finding those values in different types of songs,” said Flanagan.

“Rescue” by Yuna “This song has been a recent favorite of mine because of the lyrics. At first glance it may seem like a negative song, however the message is about finding oneself in the journey of life which is a fundamental piece of the journey of college.”

“Mercy” by Shawn Mendes “When I hear this song not only does it just get stuck in my head, but it makes me reflect on forgiveness whether forgiving others or being forgiven aligning with personal values to live a joyous life.”

“Pocketful of Sunshine” by Natasha Bedingfield “This song just makes me smile and I feel like it has a strong message of positivity.”

“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston “Although this song is not a new song, part of what is captivating to me is Whitney Houston’s vocal gift. When I was in elementary school I went to school with Bobbi Christina and I remember how captivating Whitney Houston’s voice was. This is my favorite song of hers which is sending a message of love.”

“Fight Song” by Rachel Platten “This song I always found to be catchy, but when I paid attention to the lyrics I discovered that there was a very meaningful message which I try to live by everyday, which is everyone can have a large impact even just as an individual and make the most of life even fighting through adversity.”

“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong “This song has always been one of my favorite songs. Looking back I remember singing this song in school concerts, but what always stands out to me is the Utopian message of beauty and happiness.”

“Verge” by Owl City “This song holds a message of excitement for the future of what you aspire for.”

Photo Contributed by Ashley Flannagan

Do you want to be featured in the GrapeVINE? Please email a list of 5-7 of your favorite songs and a picture of yourself that we can use to alicia.phaneuf@student.fairfield.edu

THE MIRROR | Week of April 19, 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

Cheers

To final papers … to relatives asking what you’re doing for the summer … to professors who assign final papers, tests and presentations...

ONE IS ENOUGH … to not being able to find a single internship … to my boss cutting the lifeguarding staff in half … to school almost being over … to registering for classes … to my rectangular hickey … to getting a blister from my flip flops … to the crowded tent … to tall ice cream cones that fall over … to being woken up by the dorm construction we can’t ever in live in … to third floor Bannow bathroom being hotter than the sun and humid … to useless dryers … to question #7 … to the tent food … to only getting one ticket for food trucks … to a ton of homework before finals …

To the break … to Easter candy … to watching Netflix all weekend … to school almost being over … to being with my family for the holiday … to the great darties to come in the next two weekends … to being 85 on Easter sunday … to getting an internship … to Mirror formal this weekend … to seeing all of my friends … to whoever figured out what makes a true genius … to Greta the egg … to meal swipes at the stag … to Colony trucks … to three weeks left of class … to getting the room I wanted … to late sunsets … to early sunrises … to Spring flowers blooming … to the trees on the Quad … to roommates who text to check you’re still alive … to the Chem fam … to friends who bring you Easter candy … to finally being done with math forever …

Sitting Down with Former Mirror Editor-in-Chief Peter Caty ‘11 What was your major / minor?

A: Major: Politics, Minor: Journalis Where did you live all four years?

A: Regis, Jogues, Townhouse 125 and the beach. I lived on the road behind The Grape.

What were all of your roles on The Mirror?

A: Staff Photographer, Photo Editor and Editor-in-Chief

What was the most controversial story you published as editor-inchief?

A: One of our editors spent the night on the street for a story he wrote about being homeless.

What was your favorite/least favorite parts of being editor in chief?

A: The staff. I was lucky that many of my good friends also worked

for The Mirror. The worst part was balancing school and being the Editor-in-Chief.

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

A: During my four years at The Mirror, I photographed everything.

I was really the only full-time staff photographer and that experience developed the base for the skills I use today as a professional

photographer and cinematographer.

What is your favorite memory of Fairfield? Favorite Clam Jam memory?

A: My favorite Fairfield memory was my entire year living at the beach. My best Clam Jam memory was being invited as a sophomore by some older Mirror staff members.

Life’s Still a Beach For Students Despite

n o i t c n Inju

By J. Gallagher

This story ran in April 2005, four years after last week’s throwback.The proposed injunction was granted by Bridgeport Superior Court.

It was supposed to be a temporary injunction, a short-term action by the courts to block gatherings at Lantern Point.

Four years later, it is still in place, despite improved behavior

by Fairfield University students living in the area. And year round residents hope to make the court order permanent.

A group of nine Fairfield beach residents, represented by Joel Z. Green, brought a case against the Lantern Point Association in the spring of 2001.

The injunction, handed down by Judge David W. Skolnick, blocked

students f r o m staging events that attract more than 250 students in the association’s common areas.

The order also forbade them from playing music in these common areas at levels that exceeded town ordinances and state law.

Green explained that a number of positives have occurred in response to the injunction.

“I was retained by various neighbors in response to a nuisance condition,” said Green. “[As a result of the injunction] the scheduled Clam Jam did not occur in 2001, and there’s no question the temporary order has improved the quality of life for both students and residents.”

Although the reasoning behind the injunction may be understandable, some students question its means of enforcement.

“I understand that the full-time residents wanted something done and an injunction was what they

deemed sufficient, but it is nearly impossible to accurately count 250 people,” said Brendan Rueter, vice president of the Student Beach Resident Association.

Noel Newman, an attorney who represented students who lived at the beach in 2001, said that he could not comment on whether or not the injunction was necessary, but on Skolnick’s action of handing down the order he said “the judge did what he had to do.”

Student life at the beach was abruptly changed in April 2001 when the temporary injunction was handed down due to conflict over large gatherings.

“The beach part of [town/gown relations in Fairfield] has improved,” said Fairfield University Dean of Students Mark Reed.

“There continue to be a few situations which are problematic, but overall, the situation is more positive than negative,” Reed added.

Over 100 students rent homes in the Lantern Point Association

Contributed by Peter Caty Peter Caty (above) is currently a professional photographer and cinematographer.

area of Fairfield Beach, and Fairfield students have been living in the general beach area since the late 1960s.

The outlook towards relations between Fairfield students living in the Lantern Point area of Fairfield Beach and the year-round residents has not always been as positive as it is today.

Prior to 2001, Fairfield University beach students held a large party each spring called Clam Jam. At the height of the beach party’s popularity in 1996, the event attracted approximately 5,000 partygoers who drank 270 kegs of beer, according to the Connecticut Post.

The Clam Jam event was traditionally held the last Saturday in April. This Saturday the on-campus Spam Jam event is scheduled to take place.

Read the full story at fairfieldmirror.com

Sports

Page 13

THE MIRROR | Week of April 19, 2017

SPORTS

Sports Editor: Alfredo Torres » sports@fairfieldmirror.com

In Case You

This Week in Sports: Stags Spring Into Form

Missed It: Wednesday, April 12th -Baseball defeats New York Tech, 8-2 --Softball defeats Army West Point, 5-2 Friday, April 14th -Baseball defeats St.Peter's, 7-1 --Softball defeats Monmouth, 1-0 Saturday, April 15th -UMASS defeats Men's Lacrosse, 12-8 -Women's Lacrosse defeats Marist, 10-9 -Baseball defeats St.Peter's, 6-4 Sunday, April 16th --Softball defeats Hartford, 5-3

Contributed By Sports Information Desk

On Monday, April 17 the women’s golf team took part in the Sacred Heart Spring One Day Tournament at Great River Golf Club in Milford. The team rode the performances of Taylor Rogers ‘20 and Jackie Schofield ‘17 to a fourth place finish at the tournament. Each player carded a 80(+8) on the afternoon as they both tied for sixth place on the leaderboard. Senior Danielle Dalessandro shot an 85 to finish the day in 19th place and Arianna Palmeri ‘20 rounded out the Fairfield contingent with a 92 on the afternoon. The Stags finished behind Siena, Sacred Heart and first place Wagner respectively with a total score of 337(+49). Fairfield hits the links once again this weekend when they travel to Lake Buena Vista, Fla. to take part in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course.

Upcoming This Week: Wednesday, April 19th -Women's Lacrosse vs. Iona, 3 p.m.

-Baseball vs. Sacred Heart, 3:30 p.m.

-Softball vs. Sacred Heart, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 22nd -Women's Lacrosse vs. Canisius, 12 p.m.

-Men's Lacrosse vs. Towson, 3 p.m.

-Baseball at Siena, 3 p.m.

-Men's Tennis vs. Siena, 3 p.m.

Sunday, April 23rd -Baseball at Siena, 12 p.m.

-Softball vs. Iona, 12 p.m.

Tuesday, April 25th -Baseball vs. Sacred Heart, 3:30 p.m.

Photos Contributed by Sports Information Desk

On Tuesday, April 18 the softball team knocked off Nutmeg State rival University of Hartford in a 5-3 win on the road. Freshman Danielle Tringali, Madison Roberts ‘19 and Kristen Ball ‘18 split the pitching duties in the victory. The trio combined to allow only two earned runs on six hits while compiling three strikeouts. On the offensive end, Angelina McGuire ‘18 posted two hits and scored two runs on the afternoon while Ball also contributed with the bat with two RBIs. Junior Rachel Sieber and Tori Reed ‘17 each racked up an RBI on the afternoon as well. Fairfield goes for their third consecutive win when they return to the diamond on Thursday, April 20 as they welcome cross-town rival Sacred Heart to Alumni Softball Field for a scheduled 3:30 p.m. first pitch.

In this week's issue...

-Stuhlmann at the Center of Tennis' Spring Resurgence (Page

14)

- Stag Spotlight: Hitting The Green With Kevin Duncan (Page 15) - Senior Captain Alex Fehmel Joins Illustrious Club (Page 15)

- Stags Defeat Fordham 6-3 For Sixth Consecutive Win (Page 16)

Sports

Page 14

THE MIRROR | Week of April 19, 2017

Stuhlmann at the Center of Tennis' Spring Resurgence

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Junior Sarah Stuhlmann has been a key cog in Fairfield's hot play this season. A versatile performer, the veteran has found success in singles and doubles this year with 11 total wins between the two spots.

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor Spring time has been good to Sarah Stuhlmann ‘18, the junior singles and doubles headliner of the Stags women’s tennis team. The powerful righty has been a leader on and off the court for the red and white this season as she has been instrumental to Fairfield’s 4-2 start to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play this spring season.

Before the start of her junior season, it was tough sailing for Stuhlmann and the Stags as the Saint Louis, Mo. native struggled in her first two seasons in Fairfield. Now that success has begun to come her way, she has been selfless in this year’s triumphs.

“Team chemistry this year has been amazing,” Stuhlmann said. “Everyone gets along and we all want the best for each other. Instead of playing for myself, it is a lot more about playing for the team so we can win and succeed this year.”

Although Stuhlmann is just 6-17 in singles, she is 3-2 in MAAC play when playing solo.

On the doubles side, Stuhlmann has rebounded with a record of 5-4 alongside Nicole Aragones ‘18. The pair is 2-2 in conference play having won their last match against the Marist

Weekly 4x5 Because we have witty things to say ...

NHL playoffs are here! How are your teams looking to start the playoffs?

The NFL draft is right around the corner. What move is your team making?

LET'S GO RANGERS!! So happy It's hockey playoffs, I can't think that my boys pulled off the win to- about other sports.

Allison White night to tie the series ... also happy Editor-in-Chief that my other boys asked a hockey question finally!!

Your 2016-2017 4x5 Columnists:

Allison White, Alfredo Torres, Daniel Montgomery and Jesse Erickson Yankees have won seven in a row.

How are the Bronx Bombers looking to start the season?

Did you hear about Isaiah Thomas' sister's tragic death? Would you have played Game 1 of the playoffs?

NBA Playoffs are off and running. What caught your attention in the first weekend of playoffs?

Woo hoo! Go Yanks! Proud to see the true New York team making waves.

So tragic. Such a strong guy to be able to do that.

Wow, they're still going huh?

Bye, Jesse, 3 against 1!!

Go Rangers Go!

Bring everybody to New York, but to the Giants not the Jets!

I mean didn't I tell you that this was the Yanks year? I mean how many times must I repeat myself?

Well here we one more time, it's the Yankees' time to take back the AL. Sorry Red Sox, you may have the money but we got the goods.

R.I.P to Chyna Thomas. Tough loss for Isaiah, wouldn't wish that on anybody. But if it was me, I'm going out there and killing the comp just for my sister. Keep fighting Isaiah, like 2pac said "Keep your head up."

Iso-Joe, back at it again with the game winner. Good win for Utah especially with no Gobert. But the real story is KYRIEEEE!!! You know he's winning another ring this year, cuz Steph Curry is light work.

Not a big hawkey guy but I just hope the Capitals lose early once again.

Christian McCaffery would be dynamite for Big Blue just saying...

Looking mighty good!! Always looks good seeing the Yanks above the Red Sox in the standings.

Horrible tragedy but the man put on an incredible performance for his sister out there, hopefully he gets some help for the rest of the series.

Do the John Wall! He has been a beast so far running the show for the Wiz, love watching him blossom.

The Bruins are giving me so much

Sexy moves.

Are the Bronx bombers what people call the Yankees? If so, I don't care, they suck. Go Sox. We are the best ever.

Alfredo Torres Sports Editor

Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor

Red Foxes.

Stuhlmann credits the team’s progress this year with their laser focus on improvement each and every day on the court.

“For the past two and a half years, we have been working toward this moment,” Stuhlmann said. “We have been working for a season like this one and it means a lot for all of us, even the freshmen. They’ll have lots of motivation heading into their last three years of college.”

But a stellar regular season only further increases expectations for the start of MAAC Championship play in West Windsor, N.J. beginning Saturday, April 29. With one more match remaining before the tournament commences, Stuhlmann echoes sentiments of encouragement like a natural born leader.

“To continue to come up big we need to have a lot of confidence and believe in each other which we do,” added Stuhlmann.

The Stags return to the court this Saturday, April 22 for their last regular season match when they welcome the Siena Saints to the Walsh Athletic Center Courts for a noon start.

Jesse Erickson anxiety. We are so close but so Editor-in-Chief far away.

Emeritus (Italian EIC)

Yes, my sisters would want me to.

I think it showed his resilience.

The NBA never catches my attention. Like I've said 8 million times, I hate basketball and I swear to god, it never ends...

Sports

Page 15

THE MIRROR | Week of April 19, 2017

Stag Spotlight : Hitting The Green With Kevin Duncan Contributed By Sports Information Desk

By Christopher Lazazzera Contributing Writer

What do you feel is the most important aspect of a golfer’s game, the mental or physical side?

KD: The mental side. I think you can have all the skills but [to] be weak mentally and [shoot] a couple bad holes can destroy you, or even a bad round can destroy you for the rest of the season. The ability to bounce back and forget about things is huge.

If you had to pick one club to play a full round with, what would it be and why?

KD: Probably my seven iron. It goes far enough that you can hit it off the tee and into greens, but you can also chip and putt with it pretty easily.

You shot 73-71 in the last tournament, how have you been able to start getting some good rounds together towards the end of this season?

You had three wins last year as a freshman, how did that help to prepare you for this year?

KD: It helped me to realize where you need to be going into tournaments and going into final rounds; how to prepare for them and how to stay calm. It also helped me realize how helpful playing well individually can benefit the team overall.

What is the best part of your golf game?

KD: I would probably say my short game. I don’t hit it that far, so you need to be able to make some putts and hit some good chips when you’re not hitting it as far as the other guys.

How do you try and stay focused when you hit a bad shot on a hole?

KD: I try and really regroup after each shot. We have a saying on our team, “swing free and then go find it.” So that’s what I try and do. Hit the shot and wherever it goes, you find it and reset. It is definitely a challenge because you can shoot 66 then 86 in back-to-back

KD: I’ve been trying to look at my game and see what I do the best and playing to those strengths. I’m not trying to play with guys that hit it farther. I’ve been sticking to my strengths and trying to get the most out of those.

With two top 10 finishes in the last two tournaments for the team as a whole, what has coach been preaching to the team as of late?

KD: We as a team have been preaching to each other to stay mentally prepared [for] each round. Then the physical results will come if we do that. We’ve also been trying to remind each other that we are trending in the right direction [of] going into the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament.

What do you think the team and you individually, can accomplish at the MAAC Championship coming up on Friday?

KD: Any of the five of us could win it individually. As a team, if we can put together three solid rounds, we have a very good chance to compete. At the end of the day, we have to just go play golf and hopefully the results will come.

Senior Captain Alex Fehmel Joins Illustrious Club

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Alex Fehmel looks for an open teammate as serves as the quarterback of the Fairfield offense. Fehmel has played a large part in the Stags offensive attack this season. She has 31 goals and six assists on the year.

By Patrick Getz Contributing Writer Fairfield women’s lacrosse team has been stellar this season, as they are currently at 9-4 and are putting themselves on the map in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Stags women’s lacrosse team is looking like their 2015 selves, when they capped off a great season by winning the MAAC Championship. Nothing seems like it can stop this Fairfield squad and one player at the forefront is captain Alex Fehmel ‘17.

Fehmel is the leader of the Stags and makes her presence known whenever she is on or off the field. She puts out an ardent effort so her team has the best chance of winning.

“I do not think that it is just me leading the team, it involves all of the seniors who are good at leading this team this year, regardless of who has played and who hasn’t. We’re just a family this year and it is up to everyone to lead the team, not just the captain,” said the captain herself.

The senior plays at a high level that allows her to be a catalyst for Fairfield. She makes an immediate impact whenever she plays and is surely the difference maker for the Stags.

“It was tough in the beginning because I was injured so I did not play in the fall. That most likely caused me to be nervous but now I’m finding my way,” said the Shoreham, N.Y. native.

Since Fehmel is the leader, she sees anything and everything possible as a source of inspiration so the Stags improve every single day. She never wants to stay stagnant.

“The comments during the preseason were definitely an inspiration. We are facing Canisius in a couple weeks and they are our biggest rival. Plus, we face them on Senior Day so we’re excited for it. We have nothing to lose that game so whatever happens, happens,” said the reigning MAAC Offensive Player of the Week.

With Senior Day approaching, the midfielder displayed her excitement for the big day.

“That day is certainly going to be crazy because it is Senior Day, Wounded Warrior Day

and the men’s team also plays so it will be filled with emotions for sure. But I think we have all been waiting for that game so we’re all super pumped for it,” said Fehmel.

The Stags midfielder is no stranger to offensive prowess and success. This week, she was named MAAC Offensive Player of the Week by scoring five goals including the gamewinning goal versus Marist.

“It’s an awesome feeling. We went into Marist, knowing it will be tough because we didn’t have Riley, one of our best players, so all of us just had to give it our all. It was hardfought and pretty tough. But I’m happy I was named with the honor,” said the MAAC AllAcademic member.

Additionally, she is flattered that she is receiving offensive recognition, despite her position as a midfielder.

“I like it because I do not often get noticed for offensive accomplishments since I am a midfielder and I focus on defense more. I do not really have an offensive mind at all so it’s nice to get that recognition,” said Fehmel.

The senior has been showcasing her success all year long and she keeps it simple when it comes to her reasons for success. Her determination and work ethic are her key components to such achievements.

“It just comes from working hard at practice. For the days we do not practice well, it shows up in games and we’ll play slow and stagnant. It just comes from having good practices and staying focused before the games,” said the MAAC All-First Team member.

Fehmel, along with the entire Stags squad, believes the team can attain the MAAC title once again. It is a sight they are locked on as they draw toward the end of the regular season.

“Yes we definitely feel like that as a team. It’s so close and we know we are going to face Canisius at some point which is a game we are really excited about. We just need to take it day by day,” said Fehmel.

As the Stags draw closer to the season’s end, the squad is in good hands with Fehmel at the helm. With the Shoreham native leading the charge, Fairfield women’s lacrosse have their sights set on another MAAC title.

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Fehmel takes on two UCONN defenders in recent action. The senior is recieving recognition from around the league as the dynamic creater was tabbed MAAC Offensive Player of the Week this past week.

@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports Week of April 19, 2017

fairfieldmirror.com

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

Stags Defeat Fordham 6-3 For Sixth Consecutive Win

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Junior Drew Blake helped pace the Stags offense on Tuesday, going 2-4 with a monster home run. Blake and the Stags offense are rolling as they captured their sixth consecutive win on the beautiful afteroon.

By Alfredo Torres Sports Editor You can add another one to the win column, as Fairfield University’s Baseball Team earned its sixth consecutive win against the Fordham Rams on Tuesday, April 18 in front of the fans in Alumni Diamond.

It was a team effort for the Stags as the bullpen lead the way pitching 6.1 innings while only allowing one lone run to the visiting team. Fairfield’s offense was led by Drew Blake ‘18, who went 2-4 with a homer to provide a much needed lift for the Stags, while Jack Gethings ‘19 finished the game batting 3-4.

The Stags got out to a hot start when they scored three early runs in the bottom half of the second inning. Captain Mac Crispino ‘17 got things started for the Stags as he worked a leadoff walk to start the inning. Sophomore Tim Zeng followed up with a single to left. The very next batter was Blake, who reached base on an error by the third baseman, allowing Crispino to score from second base, giving Fairfield the first run of the game.

Captain Michael Conti ‘17 came up to the plate and smacked a single to right field, pushing Zeng home to give the Stags another run. Sophomore Tyler Gambardella followed up with a single of his own, moving Conti to scoring position.

After a pitching change by Fordham, Gethings came to bat and capped Fairfield’s scoring run as he singled to left field, pushing yet another run for the Stags and giving them the early 3-0 lead. “We started out well, we made some contact. He had a little trouble getting his breaking ball over and we jumped on a few fastballs and got the runs across,” said head coach Bill Currier.

Fordham answered right back in the top half of the third inning against Fairfield’s hurler, Austin Pope ‘20. Pope surrendered three hits in the inning as the Rams scored

two runs to cut the deficit down to one. After giving up consecutive walks to Fordham, Currier decided to make a pitching change by bringing in Josh Arnold ‘20 with the bases loaded and no outs.

Arnold came into the game in a sticky situation as the Rams had an opportunity to tie and take the lead, but the freshman hurler had other plans as he struck out the lone batter he faced in the innings, putting an end to Fordham’s comeback effort. “He’s got a good breaking ball and a tough kid that doesn’t get fazed by those situations and that’s just what he did. He threw a couple of real good breaking balls and got out of it,” said the Stags skipper.

Fairfield added a much needed insurance run in the bottom of the fourth inning as Blake stepped up to the plate and launched a laser to right field. “I was just looking for good pitches to hit, he got the first one in on me pretty quick but I timed it up and the second pitch, I put a good swing on it and it felt good off the bat,” said Blake.

The Stags added another run in the fifth inning on an RBI double off the bat of Troy Scocca ‘17, giving them the 6-2 lead after five innings of play. Fordham would go on to score one more run on a home run but Fairfield’s bullpen would limit the Rams for the rest of the game.

Senior Mike Bonaiuto came in the seventh inning to close out the game for the Stags and that he did as he went three innings, allowing no runs, while fanning two Fordham batters closing out the 6-3 victory for the Stags, their sixth straight.

“We’ve just got to keep throwing strikes, playing defense and getting key hits and just keep it rolling,” said Blake on how to carry the momentum. The Stags will be back at Alumni Diamond in hopes of their season high seventh consecutive win on Wednesday, April 19 when they host cross-town rival, the Sacred Heart Pioneers, at 3:30 p.m.

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Freshman Josh Arnold and Mike Bonaiuto '17 manned the mound for the red and white with each hurler giving the Stags valuable innings on the bump. The duo has been a large part of Fairfield's pitching success.