4:20:2016

Springsteen

Dance

Lacrosse

Opinion

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Sports

Other well-known figures should follow Springsteen’s actions in North Carolina to fight for equality.

Fairfield University Dance Ensemble ends their year with their performance “Stole the Show.”

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Men’s lacrosse squeezes by UMass 8-6 on Senior Day.

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THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper

Week of April 20, 2016

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Vol. 41 Iss. 23

University to rethink policies if marijuana becomes legalized

By Catherine Veschi News Editor

More U.S. college students are smoking marijuana on a daily basis, roughly six percent, than they have since 1980, according to a study by the University of Michigan in 2015.

According to Assistant Director of the Department of Public Safety John Ritchie, the increasing trend of students smoking marijuana on college campuses is prevalent at Fairfield as well.

“I think marijuana use is an issue in society, so our campus is not exempt from that at all,” Ritchie said. “I think people are spending too much money, too much time, too much effort in getting high, instead of concentrating on their academic studies.”

Associate Dean of Students William Johnson agreed that marijuana use amongst the student body is an issue, saying “possession of marijuana is illegal, so therefore we have an obligation to address it on our campus.”

Despite the use of marijuana on campus, Johnson feels that the University does a good job in addressing these cases and finding appropriate disciplinary measures for these Photo Illustration by Alfredo Torres/The Mirror students.

According to Associate Dean of Students William Johnson, if marijuana becomes legalized in the state of Connecticut, the University will rethink its policies.

Johnson spoke of the various sanctions the Dean of Students office uses for these mat- use is when students cover the smoke detec- have decriminalized marijuana in the past However, Johnson acknowledged that if ters. “It could be a range of things from warn- tors in their dorm rooms to stop them from few years. While people can smoke marijuana marijuana becomes legalized in Connecticut ings, to education, to removal from housing, going off while they’re smoking, tampering in the state without punishment, as a private or further on a federal level, the University fines. It depends on if it’s your first offense or with fire safety and putting the lives of oth- institution, Fairfield does not have to stop would most likely reconsider its policies reyour second offense, depends on how much ers at risk. According to Johnson, he has seen reprimanding marijuana use on campus, and garding marijuana use on campus. you have,” Johnson said. students use a variety of mechanisms to do so, thus, the University has maintained its cur“I think if marijuana becomes legalized He added that what he finds to be the such as plastic bags and paper. rent policy in dealing with marijuana related we’d have to take a hard look at our policy, most concerning about students’ marijuana Connecticut is one of several states that cases.

READ MARIJUANA ON PAGE 2

Students walk to ‘Take Back the Night’

By Victoria Bresnahan Contributing Writer

Contributed by Aura Cristina Agudelo Rivera Students participated in this year’s Relay for Life in order to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Fairfield relays against cancer

By Juliana Sansonetti Assistant News Editor

People tend to assume that college students stay up late. However, on Friday, April 15, Fairfield students put their night-owl tendencies to good use for a good cause rather than to party or finish a lengthy assignment — Fairfield’s tenth annual Relay for Life.

Each year for Relay for Life, students form various teams to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The organization uses the donations for cancer research, patient support, prevention information, education, and detection and treatment, according to the American Cancer Society website.

Different teams come up with different fundraisers before Relay and at their various tables during the event. One group at the event, the Stags against Cancer team, made wish bracelets, which were on sale both before and during Relay. Students for Life welcomed

visitors to their table to make cards for pediatric cancer patients for $1 and the men’s soccer team had retired New York Yankees player, Mariano Rivera, autograph shirts for $15 and give personal photographs for $5.

The men’s soccer team ended up raising around $4,000, and about $48,000 was made in total at Relay for Life, in comparison to the goal of $55,000.

Along with fundraisers, there was also live entertainment at the event, both from students and visitors.

These entertainers included Your Mom Does Improv, acapella groups the Bensonians and Sweet Harmony, comedian Adam Grabowski and others. These performances, along with Zumba lessons, games of Twister and karaoke sessions gave the event a lighthearted feel.

However, despite the entertainment, much of the night was somber. Students gave accounts of their experiences with cancer. Additionally, the Luminaria READ

FAIRFIELD ON PAGE 2

“[We need to] realize that it’s not just a female problem, it’s a male problem too. You just heard the statistic; 1 in 33 men will be assaulted in their lifetime, and I’m one of them,” described a Fairfield junior, and survivor of sexual assault at Take Back the Night, a nationwide event that occurred on campus the night of April 13.

Eight sexual assault and intimate-partner violence survivors and volunteers shared personal stories and statistics of verbal and physical abuse, molestation and sexual assault at various locations around campus to spread awareness. Adorned with small electronic tea light candles and white ribbons of solitude, around 70 students and faculty members walked with the survivors to show support for their fellow classmates and friends.

According to Take Back the Night’s website, the foundation began in the late 1960s and their mission is to end all forms of sexual and domestic violence. Help from Fairfield University’s Student Association Senate members Bobby Bohny ‘16 and Katie Santo ‘19, and assistant director of Student Diversity and Multicultur-

al Affairs Carrie Robinson allowed Meghan Baer ‘16, the director of the event, and a sexual assault survivor to revamp Take Back the Night. This year, Baer incorporated school sponsorship to increase participation and spread awareness. In light of the recent alleged sexual assault that occurred on campus the weekend of April 9, the message of Take Back the Night is even more profound.

The walkers gathered at the Barone Campus Center information desk at 8:30 p.m. The group then walked to locations such as the lone blue emergency light located on the path to Dolan Hall and the basketball courts behind Lessing Field. Baer said that these are the traditional locations that are always used for the event. According to Baer, these are the most dangerous areas on campus due to their isolation.

Baer explained that some of the speakers were found when she expressed the event’s need for orators at Glee Club, a University club that she attends. One of the speakers, also a junior at the University, has attended Take Back the Night since her freshman year. Having only ever spoken READ

STUDENTS ON PAGE 4

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THE MIRROR | Week of April 20, 2016

News

St. Baldrick’s event raises $4,300 for cancer survivors

By Amanda Hajjar Contributing Writer

Sophomore Liam Cahill

Juliana Sansonetti/The Mirror

Freshman Matt Marshall

Juliana Sansonetti/The Mirror

Fairfield University’s Brave the Shave event this past Friday helped raise $4,300 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, doubling their $2,000 goal.

According to their website, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-powered charity committed to funding research to find cures for childhood cancers.

Students who participated in the event said that they enjoyed the atmosphere.

Junior Danny Joseph said, “It was an awesome time.

My friends and I all got our heads shaved. Everyone was so nice and upbeat. They had giveaways and food, the barbers were really nice and told stories of children who were going through chemotherapy and how much this means to them.”

According to Brendan Hunt ‘18, there were giveaways from Twin Tides, Uber, Vineyard Vines and Love your Melon.

Hunt also said that 28 people came out to shave their heads this year, which just over triples their nine registered shaves from last year.

Joseph said, “There was a lot more people this year, it was great. I saw a lot of my friends getting their heads shaved this year, which was awesome.”

Junior Tyler Ostrowski said, “We raised well over our fundraising goal. It was an amazing event for an amazing cause and I want to thank everyone for their support and donations.”

Hunt plans to continue the two-year tradition at Fairfield.

“We’re looking forward to hosting the event again next year and having it be even bigger than this year,” said Hunt. “We were really excited that we doubled our goal and were able to give such a substantial donation to the foundation.”

Sophomore George Halvatzis

Juliana Sansonetti/The Mirror

Sophomore Giuseppe Chiara

Juliana Sansonetti/The Mirror

Marijuana use on campus not a pressing issue for students CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 and what are the implications for a policy as we have instated versus what state and/or federal law might dictate about the possession and use of marijuana,” Johnson said.

Johnson pointed out that the University won’t be forced to take any specific actions if marijuana becomes legalized because “as a private University, we do have the ability to dictate our policies as we see fit, as long as it’s not in violation with anyone’s civil rights.”

He went on to explain that “if the state does legalize [marijuana], making it not illegal anymore, does that mean that we can’t say that marijuana is still illegal on our campus? No, we can still say that you can’t smoke marijuana on our campus.”

Johnson compared this to smoking tobacco or having a gun on campus, saying that just as these practices are legal, they still aren’t legal on campus, and are thus punishable actions. According to Johnson, the same would apply for marijuana if it was legalized.

DPS would also have to shift its policies if marijuana becomes legalized, Ritchie said.

“We’d have to revisit what the Clery Report requires us to report, and we’d have to look and see how that adjusts our reporting of marijuana, because we might actually remove it,” Ritchie said. “Federally we would have to report crimes and drug arrests, but I think we could operate off of state laws. You wouldn’t get arrested for marijuana if it’s legal, so I don’t think we’d have to report that.”

He added that if marijuana was

Have you witnessed marijuana use on campus?

No 15%

Yes 85%

to become legalized in the state, marijuana use on campus would become a policy violation “kind of like having a candle in your room.”

Sophomore Nicole Kwasnaza thinks it’s reasonable that the University update its policies once marijuana is legalized. “I believe that the student policies should be updated to accommodate for the legalization. However, they should be strict enough to prevent the use amongst students from getting out of control,” Kwasnaza said.

Many feel as though the University should wait until marijuana becomes legalized before changing these policies any further because while marijuana use is an issue on campus, it’s not necessarily the most significant one.

Ritchie feels that the University could do more to prevent students from smoking marijuana, but feels that this wouldn’t be realistic given that the University should be

focusing on more pressing issues, such as sexual assault.

Kwasnaza agreed, saying, “I do think the use of marijuana this campus is widespread, but I don’t believe it’s a major issue that requires immediate attention.”

Freshman Alec Lurie feels that the University shouldn’t worry about taking further measures to cut down on marijuana use on campus because he doesn’t believe it to be as dangerous as other drugs.

“I don’t think marijuana is such a big issue on campus,” Lurie said. “Even though it is an illegal substance I believe it is far less damaging than legal drugs like alcohol and prescription pills like Adderall.

I’ve never heard of anyone having their stomach pumped because they smoked one too many.”

“I’m not worried about marijuana use on campus nor in general,” Lurie added.

Juliana Sansonetti/The Mirror The Men’s Soccer Relay for Life team brought former Yankees player Mariano Rivera to Fairfield to sign autographs and take pictures with students to raise money.

Fairfield community comes together to fight cancer CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

segment of the night was beautiful and sad as it commemorated those who were lost to cancer.

“During the Luminaria Ceremony alone,” said Katie Higgins ‘18, sponsorship committee cochair for the Relay for Life at Fairfield and one of the team leaders of Stags against Cancer, “looking down at the Luminaria bags glowing in honor of a loved one, in support of a fighter or in celebration of a survivor and then looking up to see people with their arms around each other, supporting each other, is inspiring and I think it says a lot about Fairfield.”

“It shows the sense of community that is here,” Higgins continued.

Others agreed with Higgins about the sense of community at Fairfield.

Senior Nicolette Tiernan com-

mented, “I think it’s awesome; it’s a great sense of community. It really shows how we can all rally together around such a great cause to fight against such a horrible disease.”

Sophomore Julianne O’Connell, who attended the event, but was not on a team, agreed and said that everyone comes to support Relay, even those who are not on teams.

“This is one of the biggest events on campus,” said O’Connell.

“It brings everybody in the Fairfield community together because, one way or another, someone is affected by cancer and someone knows someone affected by cancer.”

Rivera also commented on the sense of community that he observed at Fairfield.

“This kind of event brings the community together,” said Rivera, “and it shows that the Fairfield community is good when it comes to these kind of events.”

THE MIRROR | Week of April 20, 2016

News

News: In the United States

By Catherine Veschi News Editor

Compiled by Juliana Sansonetti Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.

4/15 2:39 a.m. – A DUI was issued when a student entered the main entrance checkpoint showing signs of intoxication.

The student was identified and referred to student conduct.

8:11 p.m. – An incident of disorderly conduct occurred at Rafferty Stadium during a club lacrosse game where students were caught drinking alcohol and refused to cooperate with DPS. All students were referred to student conduct.

11:32 p.m. – A student in the Townhouse 5 block was caught with alcohol and refused to identify himself to DPS. The student was eventually identified and referred to student conduct.

11:34 p.m. – Another student was found in possession of alcohol and attempted to show two fake I.D.’s to DPS. The I.D.’s were confiscated and the student was referred to student conduct.

4/16 12:42 a.m. – High school students were caught drinking alcohol in the Townhouse area by DPS. The students were identified and their parents were notified in order to be picked up from DPS. 12:29 p.m. - A series of thefts occurred in the Jogues and Townhouse parking lots, where three catalytic converters were reportedly stolen from vehicles. The thefts are still under investigation.

11:08 p.m. – A criminal trespass incident occurred on 47 Mahan Road when an individual who was previously involved in an altercation with DPS a year ago, attempted to enter Fairfield. The individual was arrested.

11:19 p.m. – Two students were observed damaging a fence outside of the Townhouse 6 block. Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact DPS. 4/17 12:35 a.m. – A door was broken on the first floor of Loyola Hall. The student responsible was identified and referred to student conduct.

8:34 a.m. – A student in the Townhouse 3 block reported that the keys to her car had been stolen from her house the night before. Anyone with any information is encouraged to notify DPS. 7:44 p.m. – A series of burglaries occurred in Regis Hall, where five individuals entered a multitude of rooms and stole various items. Four non-students, along with one Fairfield student were identified. All five individuals were arrested for burglary. Anyone who may be missing anything is encouraged to contact DPS.

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

Jesse Erickson, Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa, Executive Editor Ariana Puzzo, Managing Editor Editors Catherine Veschi, News Juliana Sansonetti, Assistant News Kelsey Sullivan, Opinion Colleen O’Connor, Vine Brendan Zimmerman, Assistant Vine Alexis Dizienzo, Coffee Break Alfredo Torres, Sports Daniel Montgomery, Assistant Sports Allison White, Chief Copy Editor Gianna Saladino, Social Media Editor Online Bradley Nordstrom, Web Master Business Department Email: advertising@fairfieldmirror.com Stephanie Van Fleet, Director of Finance Madeleine Sandie, Director of Advertising Mike Hill, 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

4.

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1. 5.

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1. Fort Worth, Texas- 19-year-old Ethan Couch, the so-called “affluenza teen,” was sentenced to serve four consecutive 180-day terms in jail after he killed four people with his pickup truck while driving intoxicated in 2013.

5. Louisiana- Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards on Wednesday signed an anti-discrimination order that protects the rights of gay and transgender people. The order also protects state employees against discrimination based race, religion, disability and age.

2. Atlanta, Ga.- After a dispute at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, Hector Olivera of the Atlanta Braves was charged with assault and suspended from play. The incident is being investigated.

6. East Lansdowne, Penn.- 49-year-old Mohammed Jabbateh, a Liberian national, was charged with falsifying his application for asylum in the U.S. by lying about his role as the rebel commander “Jungle Jabbah.” Jabbateh was indicted on two counts of fraud in immigration documents and two counts of perjury.

3. San Luis Obispo, Calif.- Matthew Keys, a journalist at the California Tribune, was sentenced to two years in prison for helping members of the Anonymous hacking collective gain access to a former employer’s computers.

4. Chicago, Ill.- At a Black Lives Matter protest of 200 to 300 people over the shooting death of 16-year-old Pierre Loury by police officers, police arrested two people on the charges of property damage and aggravated battery of an officer.

7. Kenai Mountains, Alaska- A HH-60 Pave Hawk military helicopter landed on Tuesday, April 12 and rescued a pair of stranded hikers who took shelter in a snow cave on an ice field near the mountains. The pair was stranded on the ice field for four days.

8. Columbus, Ohio- Marina Alexeevna Lonina was charged with live-streaming the rape of a 17-yearold girl by Raymond Boyd Gates. Lonina used the social networking app Periscope to stream the assault. Gates was also charged for assaulting the teenager.

News: Around the World

By Zachary Durso Contributing Writer Ecuador – The death toll continues to rise after a powerful earthquake in Ecuador’s northwestern coast shook the nation on Saturday, April 16. 246 people have been pronounced dead and hundreds more are wounded; the country declared a state of emergency. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake was larger than the recent earthquake in Japan, flattening buildings and leveling entire towns. The nation’s president Rafael Correa has stated that the immediate priority is to rescue people in the rubble.

Kumamoto, Japan – Japan remains in a disastrous state following a 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck close to the city of Kumamoto on Thursday.

Thousands of buildings were damaged and hundreds more destroyed. 180,000 people are currently living in temporary shelters as more than 62,000 homes remain without electricity and over 300,000 without running water.

Ethiopia – Ethiopia’s Communications Minister Getachew Reda has stated that members of South Sudan’s Murle tribe have killed over 140 people and abducted at least 39 children near the Ethiopian and South Sudanese border. The community that the event took place in has had several conflicts since 2011 between neighboring tribes that live on the borders of the two countries.

Turan, Iran – During its “National Army Day,” Iran showcased many parts of a new air defense system.

The Russian-made equipment include S-300 missiles and advanced radar equipment. Iran insists that the system is necessary for its defense; however, Israel and the U.S. have criticized the sale.

The parading of such equipment is one of many displays of force since international sanctions on the nation were removed. The missile was paraded behind large signs with anti-Israel sentiment.

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THE MIRROR | Week of April 20, 2016

News

Students share stories of sexual assault CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

about her trauma with two other people, she made the decision this year to share her story with the crowd.

“I felt with my story it was the right time for me to share my piece. Not a lot of people talk about emotional or verbal abuse, so I felt like it was a good opportunity for me to speak out,” said the junior.

When asked if she believed Take Back the Night could empower other students to speak out about their traumatic experiences, she said yes. The junior explained that by expressing one’s trauma it could bring a sense of connection to other students who have remained silent in the past.

Officer James Cavallaro, a Department of Public Safety officer, walked at Take Back the Night on behalf of the office. John Ritchie, Assistant Director of Public Safety, stated that DPS

was involved with Take Back the Night since its beginning. According to Ritchie, in the past, students reported older incidents to DPS because of the comfort that Take Back the Night can create.

“We also learn from this type of event what works and doesn’t work. Law Enforcement response to crimes in general, consistently changes as society changes. Sexual assault more so,” stated Ritchie. He continued, stating that DPS has changed the ways they investigated sexual assaults in the past. Sensitivity, honesty, openness and transparency are now key components that DPS addresses, where they may not have done so in the past, explained Ritchie. “... it’s events like this that allow us to implement modern day best practices,” stated Ritchie.

Junior Riham Majeed, a first-time walker at Take Back the Night, came to the event because she thought it was important to support her fellow classmates. Majeed believed that the setup of

the event allowed each individual to share their experience and be understood by the group in a respectful manner as they walked to the next location.

“It’s very important to be present in times like these where people are brave enough to share their experiences,” said Majeed.

Baer, who is also a FUSA Senate member, has participated in Take Back the Night since her sophomore year; although this was her first year running the event herself and with the help of the University.

According to Robinson, the Office of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs broadcasted the event in Today at Fairfield, a list that is given to faculty and staff each morning to inform them of events taking place that day, and provided funding for materials needed. FUSA Senate was able to provide additional funding and marketing for the event.

“Hopefully by pairing it with FUSA and an outstanding office at Fairfield it [Take Back the Night] actually becomes something that keeps happening, instead of [just] being hosted by clubs,” said Bohny. “Individual clubs have hosted it before and it just didn’t get the momentum.”

Baer said that the help of FUSA and the office of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs increased the student participation immensely in comparison to previous years.

Since Baer and Bohny are both seniors, they’re hoping that individuals such as Santo and other clubs at the University will take control of the event once they graduate.

“The more momentum you can get, the [more] people you can get involved, then the more powerful the message is,” said Baer “... I would really love for this to be a part of the University’s culture and hopefully make a lasting impact on the kind of attitudes we have.”

Fairfield to compete in first ever obstacle course around campus

By Juliana Sansonetti Assistant News Editor

For the first time ever, there will be an obstacle course throughout the Fairfield campus. On April 23, the Wounded Warrior Project, in conjunction with the Fairfield University Student Association, Inter-Residential Housing Association and Fairfield @ Night, will host the first annual Fairfield Grit ‘N Wit. Grit ‘N Wit requires students to demonstrate both physical and mental stamina, which is supposed to symbolize a what soldiers must endure while they are serving, according to Kelley Oliveira ‘17, co-chair of sponsorships and donations in the Wounded Warrior Project.

“Grit ‘N Wit has never come to a campus like this and Fairfield has never had anything like this before, so that is really good for our club,” said Oliveira. “It’s a huge obstacle course that goes around 20 plus different modules throughout the campus, and you test both your intellect and your physical strength.”

According to the founder and president of the Fairfield chapter of Wounded Warrior Project, Stephen Dierks ‘18, WWP decided to have the event on campus because Grit ‘N Wit was interested in coming to the University and other campus partners wanted to have an obstacle course on campus.

“The event will be a 1.5 [mile] mental and physical obstacle

course for all ages and abilities,” said Dierks. “There will be 20 total obstacles. The course will begin and end by the stag statue and will go throughout campus. Teams can be from three to five people as this is a team event.”

Colleen Wilson ‘11, the program coordinator of FUSA and Fairfield @ Night, brought students together from different areas on campus to cover the costs and further the collaboration for the event.

Wilson was optimistic about what student responses will be.“This is a unique event that we haven’t had on campus before,” she said. “I hope that even those that don’t participate on a team will still come out to support those that are running.”

Oliveira is also optimistic about the event.“It is the ultimate obstacle course for both your mind and your body,” she said.

However, Dierks is concerned about attendance since Townhouse Time Travel is on the same day as Grit ‘N Wit. “[Townhouse Time Travel] will probably impact the attendance of juniors,” said Dierks. “However, overall, I still think that many people will be at the event, predominantly freshmen and sophomores who won’t be at Townhouse Time Travel.”

The event is unique in its combination of using both mental and physical prowess together.

“Grit ‘N Wit is New England’s first 1.5 mile obstacle course

Contributed by Brendan Hunt Members of the Wounded Warriors Project advertise to students.

where ‘brain meets brawn,’” said Keleigh Power ‘18, the treasurer of Wounded Warrior Project. “Other typical obstacle courses test you physically, but at Grit ‘N Wit that’s only half the challenge. Participants will not only run the 1.5 miles, but also take on 20 mental and physical obstacles along the way.”

The top three teams will be rewarded with apparel, gift cards and other various prizes.

This week on campus...

Sat, April 23

Fri, April 22

Wed, April 20

Thurs, April 21

t

Test for Success Workshop 12:30-1:30 p.m.

t STAGiving Day (all day)

t Jail N’ Bail 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

t Grit N Wit 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m.

t

Annual Holocaust Rememberance Service 4:30-5:30 p.m.

t Diabetes in the Movies 5-6 p.m.

t Holi (A Celebration of Spring) 1-5 p.m.

t Springfest 12:30-4:30 p.m.

t Fairfield University Jazz Ensemble Concert 7:308:30 p.m. t t Fairfield at Night #BingoSeries -Spring Fever 9-10:45 p.m.

t Fairfield Flicks: Star Wars- The Force Awakens 10-11:30 p.m.

t

t

Did Donatello Draw?

Designing Sculpture in the Renaissance 5-6:30 p.m.

Current Issues in the LGBT Community 7-8 p.m.

Sun, April 24 t 11 a.m. Sunday Mass t She’s the First #SweatForSTF Kickball Tournament 1-2 p.m. t 6 p.m. Mass with the Praise Project t 9 p.m. Mass with the Lords Chords

Mon, April 25 t International Studies Honor Society Induction 4-5 p.m. t Stags in the Kitchen 4:30-9 p.m.

t Lower Level BCC- Late Night at the Levee 6-8 p.m. t Remixx Spring Showcase and After-party 7:30 p.m.2 a.m.

Tues, April 26 t Leadership Recognition Ceremony 8-9:30 p.m. t Trivia Night @ The Levee 8-9 p.m.

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THE MIRROR | Week of April 20, 2016

Opinion

Opinion

Youtube.com/Creative Commons

Editor Kelsey Sullivan » opinion@fairfieldmirror.com

Pixabay.com/Creative Commons

Springsteen proves that rights are more important than rock shows

By Ariana Puzzo Managing Editor North Carolina’s House Bill 2 law has provided a sense of déjà vu that I had hoped we evolved from.

It seems like only yesterday that I was writing about Houston voters repealing Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance, known as Proposition 1, on Nov. 3, which protected the rights of several groups, most prominently the LGBTQ community.

Now, if we fast-forward several months, my sense of déjà vu will become clearer. North Carolina’s governor Pat McCrory signed HB2 into effect on March 23, which enables cities to prevent transgender individuals from using bathrooms that are assigned to the gender that they identify.

McCrory’s action sparked outrage from notable companies, such as PayPal, who pulled 400 jobs from North Carolina, according to CNN Money.

Most notably, however, was the statement released by renowned musician Bruce Springsteen, who this past Friday canceled his April 10 show in Greensboro, N.C. as an act of solidarity with the LGBTQ community. I believe that Springsteen’s decision to cancel his show indicates his strong moral principles and I would like to see more people in positions of power take a stand

Wikimedia/Creative Commons

against the discriminatory law.

Springsteen is no stranger to social justice and his recent actions prove that. An excerpt from his April 8 statement read, “Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them.”

He continues by stating, “It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.”

Springsteen’s statement comes at a time when our current political sphere is

dispensing rhetoric that says political correctness is preventing progress.

His words are powerful because they fight against that notion and remind his multi-generational fan base that discrimination is an issue that is bigger than all of us and we have the power to take action once we realize that it is not only still relevant, but it is also undeniably destructive.

However, Springsteen’s decision to cancel his North Carolina show was not met entirely with highly positive reactions.

He has also received negative backlash from those in support of the law. Accord-

ing to The Hollywood Reporter, United States congressman Mark Walker accused the “Born to Run” singer for using “a bully tactic.”

The Hollywood Reporter went on to say that the Republican freshman congressman also compared Springsteen to “a kid [who] gets upset and says he’s going to take his ball and go home.” I am appalled by Walker’s condescension on such a serious topic that calls into doubt the legitimacy of a person’s identity.

More so, his ignorance concerning the profound impact that the law has on the LGBTQ community is astounding to me and I am glad that a well-known artist like Springsteen is raising awareness on such an unsettling issue.

The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Walker claims the law is not attacking the LGBTQ community, but rather targeting those “imposters” who would be men trying to sneak into a woman’s bathroom to assault women.

The repeated correlation between transgender women and sexual predators is not only tiresome, but also extremely offensive and needs to be acknowledged more thoroughly by our communities.

Given Springsteen’s firm, but respectable action, I hope that more people follow his lead.

California law could act as a catalyst with contraceptives

By Deanna Carbone Contributing Writer According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, California passed a law allowing women access to birth control without a doctor’s prescription.

California has made strides by becoming the third state, after Washington and Oregon, to allow over-thecounter birth control.

The new law is a progressive change that I believe all states should adapt.

I believe that prescription-free birth control is a step in the right direction. California, Washington and Oregon should be held as examples for the effects that over-thecounter birth control will have on women.

However, I think that other states should hold off until there’s enough data to see what prescription-free birth control leads to.

The law covers pills, patches, injections and vaginal rings. However, the law isn’t a free-for-all — a pharmacist will take your blood pressure and give you a questionnaire to make sure that you are choosing the right birth control.

Editorial Board Front page issues Jesse Erickson Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor Ariana Puzzo Managing Editor

I think that the measures taken are a safe enough way to ensure that women are receiving the proper birth control.

According to a NewsWeek article, the surveys are designed to make sure that any preexisting health conditions a women may have are taken into account.

I think it’s great that all women could have access to the contraceptive measures.

Women will be able to obtain it easier compared to waiting for a gynecologist appointment and then a prescription. I also believe that easier access will lead to less unintentional pregnancies.

CBS News spoke with Dr. Mark DeFrancesco, the president of The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, regarding prescription-free birth control.

DeFrancesco said that easier access to birth control could reduce the number of abortions. Abortion continues to be a controversial topic that our nation faces.

Whether someone believes that abortion should be legal or illegal, reducing the number of abortions is something that everyone would likely agree is beneficial.

However, there are also cons that come with over-thecounter birth control. It could create a problem for some women if the price of birth control goes up and their in-

When surveying colleges as an incoming freshman, one tends to take into consideration factors such as athletic facilities, academic rigor and basic amenities such as food, housing and campus environment.

While those are all important factors, last weekend another factor was brought to The Mirror’s attention by a mother of an incoming freshman.

When her and her son approached our table at the activities fair, she picked up our latest issue of The Mirror.

It was a relatively lighthearted issue, with our front page stories including parking issues, a speaker that had visited the school and a successful Dogwoods 2.0.

As we expected her to ask us exactly what The Mirror does, as

most parents do, something different happened. She told us that our front page was rather innocent in comparison to her son’s other prospective schools and that if the newspaper of a school was deemed “obscene,” she would not consider that school for her son.

This thought brought an interesting point to our attention. An institution’s newspaper exposes things that are occurring in the school that the admissions department is not telling you.

Take the front cover of this week’s issue, which delves into the marijuana issue on campus and is complimented by a picture of an individual smoking.

Imagine that mother’s reaction if our current issue was on display at the activities fair; the University

surance doesn’t cover it due to price limitations.

It’s up to the pharmacy to decide whether they will charge for screening patients and distributing the medication.

Making birth control more expensive than it is with the additional charges could create a barrier between some women and the process of obtaining birth control.

Hopefully, the more states that allow over-the-counter birth control will help to make prices become regulated.

According to the ACOG website, oral contraceptives are safe enough to be available over-the-counter. ACOG agreed that the benefits outweigh the risks.

I agree that benefits such as reducing the number of abortions and unwanted pregnancies supercede any risk.

All states should consider implementing over-the-counter birth control.

Overall, the new law would let women have more control over the direction that they want to take when it comes to birth control and planning their future.

With the defunding of Planned Parenthood in December, it seemed like women were losing contraceptive options. Over-the-counter birth control gives women an opportunity that they thought they may never have again.

would probably lose that student, as well as possibly numerous individuals who weigh the college paper into their selection process.

Of course, we would hope that stories such as these would not sway a student from attending our University, it is not the responsibility of the journalist to only report on the good that is occurring.

We understand that sometimes, individuals will be upset with what we post, but as a journalistic institution, it’s our mission to provide an accurate portrayal of our campus, even if some of the stories dissuade prospective students.

For prospective students, Fairfield is definitely not the only university that is plagued by issues like drugs and alcohol and it’s something that new students will

Flickr/Creative Commons

be forced to adjust to in the college environment.

Even though kids are often told to look away if things offend them, sometimes we have to open our eyes to these issues and the best way of experiencing your surroundings is by sifting through a college newspaper.

By educating yourself through reading a university’s newspaper about issues that are occurring on campus, prospective students know what they will be dealing with when they go away to school; it won’t come as a surprise.

Rather than looking at the newspaper to find the worst things to come, open your mind to the reality of college campuses that runs against the rose-colored glasses that are typically associated with college.

THE MIRROR | Week of April 20, 2016

Opinion

Page 6

Increased representation of women could decrease the wage gap

By Kelsey Sullivan Opinion Editor “Equal Pay Day” was celebrated on April 12. The day was formed to remember that in the United States, women are still paid less than men for the same work.

The day also exists to remind us that men and women are still not equal in many regards and that we must continue to work toward equality.

In a CNN article, Mary Ellen Carter, a professor of accounting at Boston College, offered a solution to the problem.

Carter wrote, “Some companies have discovered a way to close the gap: putting more women on their boards of directors.” I think that Carter’s idea is a good solution to changing the pay gap while it still exists.

Personally, I think that it is ridiculous that in 2016 women are still fighting to be paid the same amount as our male coun-

terparts. I think that the solution Carter offered would be a great temporary fix.

I also think that it would be great to have more women on the boards of directors of companies and open up those positions of leadership to women.

Carter said, “Whatever the reason, the gap in gender-diverse firms is lower than at companies with all-male boards.”

There seems to be no exact reason as to why having more women on the board of directors changes the gap, but it is proven to help close it.

Increasing the presence of women in upper-level positions is a big step that we as a country, as well as companies individually, can take in the fight for equality.

Changing the leadership demographic will not only help close the gap between what women are being paid and what men are being paid, but it will also change the role of leadership in companies that are extremely male-centric and help them become more equal.

Flickr.com/Creative Commons

Pixabay.com/Creative Commons

Carter also wrote about females who are higher up in companies and how their positions help the company overall.

She said, “Other top-level female executives, like chief financial officers, are also paid better when the board includes more women.”

Not only could putting women on the boards of directors help close the pay gap in general, but it could also help women in the companies be paid better.

I think that companies should adopt these policies and hire more women because Carter’s suggestion is not only a means to close the pay gap, but also a step toward equality.

I think that it’s great to put more women in leadership roles and the fact that it also closes the pay gap kills two birds with one stone.

However, the solution offered does not come without being met with backlash and criticism.

As much as I think the change in who receives positions is a good temporary solution, I don’t think that it is enough.

I think a big criticism that the solution could be met with is that it would not do enough.

There is no guarantee that women will be hired in these positions; it is an idealistic solution that doesn’t completely solve the problem.

To me, that is unfair that we have these solutions to change a problem that affects over half the population and we still aren’t assured that it will actually be implemented or solve anything.

It also really upsets me that as a woman, I will not be paid the same amount for my work as a man that has the same job as me.

It is unfair and I can’t believe that we can’t have a more concrete solution to close the wage gap for good.

Being fired should not be a cause for celebration

By Michaela Conlon Contributing Writer It is uncommon for people to consider being fired from a job a positive thing. Unless, of course you hate the job and exclaim to your boss, “You can’t fire me … I quit!”

According to an article from The New York Times by Dan Lyons, some companies actually believe that firing an employee is a scenario to applaud.

A software company called HubSpot considers firing an employee their “graduation.”

Lyons, a former HubSpot employee, said that employees would receive emails from their boss saying, “Just letting you know that X has graduated and we’re all excited to see how she uses her superpowers in her next big adventure.”

Firing someone is not something to be referred to as a graduation.

A promotion is something that could be considered a graduation because that individual is moving on toward a better future. Graduation is meant to be conveyed as a positive milestone.

When you graduate college, you receive an academic degree because of the skills you have acquired.

Then, you hopefully use these gained skills to achieve something greater, such as getting a job.

When a company chooses to fire someone, they are also choosing to let that person go off on their own.

The company is not supporting the individual or helping them acquire another

other employees are not angered when their colleague is laid off. There is no sugarcoating firing an employee.

If they were no longer meaningful to the company, then firing them should not be praised as a graduation since they were not considered versatile.

If the employee was beneficial to the company, then you should not recognize firing a good employee as a graduation when they are not guaranteed the same success at another job.

Referring to someone leaving the company due to a promotion can be considered their graduation.

The employee has built up their skill level so much that they have graduated and moved on to something better.

Firing someone is not a graduation; it is throwing them out into the world and making them start over.

Hopefully that individual finds a better company; one that does not consider firing them to be their graduation. job.

Instead, the employee must start over by using the skills that they had originally garnered to get their previous job and find a new one.

The company should not make it seem like letting someone go is his or her graduation and that it is an opportunity to go and benefit from working somewhere else.

If the company was really proud of the employee’s skills, they would have never fired them in the first place. Other companies who the employee applies to do not con-

sider the individual to have “graduated.”

During the hiring process, companies would only acknowledge the fact that the individual was laid off for a reason.

I believe calling it a graduation is the company’s way of making their actions seem less harsh.

They want to make it seem as though firing an employee is a positive thing, as if there is no fault for their action of firing them.

The company probably refers to firing as a graduation to cover its reputation so that

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

The Vine

arts, entertainment, features Editor Colleen O'Connor vine@fairfieldmirror.com

Fairfield Dance Ensemble

grabs spotlight with 'Stole the Show'

Jesse Erickson/The Mirror Photo illustration by Colleen O'Connor/The Mirror

Page 8

THE MIRROR | Week of April 20, 2016

The Vine

Jesse Erickson/The Mirror

'Stole the Show' steals viewers' hearts

By Jesse Erickson Editor-in-Chief Not only were gym-goers displaced by the restructuring of the Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Recreation Complex, but so were the members of Fairfield University’s Dance Ensemble, who used the multi-purpose rooms two days a week for dance rehearsals. However, like they say in show biz, the show must go on and the ensemble managed to find available space for practice all over the University and even in town throughout the last two semesters. Their efforts and hard work were shown off as they stole the show and took the stage at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, April 15.

The dance ensemble, one of the University’s largest student-run organizations, is composed of 56 members with 55 females and one male member. Among those members is president of the organization, Kayla Kuzniewski ‘16, who is responsible for organizing weekly practices, choreographing some of her own dances and organizing the entire show with the help of her three board members.

For Kuzniewski, who is a triple major at Fairfield, becoming the president of the ensemble was something she had hoped for since before her freshman year. As a freshman, she came in as a member of the Division 1 swim team, but eventually decided that she had wanted to dedicate herself to Fairfield’s Dance Ensemble.

“After talking to the President of the Dance Ensemble then and not continuing the swim team after my freshman year, a big reason was because I wanted to run this club,” said Kuzniewski. “Dance Ensemble was the reason I chose to go to Fairfield and this is the reason I have loved my Fairfield experience the most.”

But when she found out in May that she would become the president for the 2015-2016 school year, she was thrown for a loop when the school announced that they would be updating the RecPlex. As stated in her letter in the show’s program, half of the classes lost practice space and Kuzniewski was forced to look elsewhere in order to have a place for the contemporary, lyrical, jazz and hip hop classes to practice.

The four classes were relocated constantly from the Oak Room to Faber Chapel and eventually settled down in the Fairfield Prep gym, where they were able to practice from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. The rooms were not perfect for the situation, but the group was able to make it work despite last-minute emails, lack of space and even the improper conditions for the dancers, which led to several injuries.

Eventually, as the show approached, the group desperately needed space to properly conduct rehearsal, which is when they rented a room in the Double Up Dance Studio located in town with the help of the Council of Student Organizations. For the first time, COSO was able to help fund some of the aspects of the ensemble, including the production of the DVDs

sold at the show, which in turn gave the group a budget for the studio room.

“Finding practice space was extremely frustrating and it was something we had to do on our own,” said Kuzniewski. “We had to find the right people to talk to and in the end, COSO were the ones who pointed us in the right direction, sent an extra email for us and got the notice of the school.”

Given the help of COSO and the commitment that the members showed to the club despite constant location and schedule changes, the show finally arrived.

The show consisted of 37 different performances with nine of them being senior solos.

Eleven were small group performances, meaning any group of dancers could volunteer to choreograph a dance in their desired genre.

The remainder were large group performances in the areas of ballet, tap, broadway jazz, Irish, contemporary, hip hop, lyrical and jazz. Each genre has two dances during the show, one of which they practice in the fall and then the other in the spring.

For the large groups, a teacher is elected by the members and is then responsible for choreographing a number for a group as large as 29 dancers starting as early as September, when auditions are held.

The three and a half hour performance featured dances choreographed by a number of different students, including Kate Donovan ‘16, who composed two different dances and performed a solo of her own.

“Dance ensemble being entirely student run allows us to have full creative ability to not only choreograph all of our dances, but also to manage our club,” said Donovan. “Being a choreographer myself, I love being able to see my own pieces performed by other members of ensemble.”

Despite the show’s length, it ran smoothly, defying the circumstances. There was a budget of about $2,000 for costumes, which meant that only some groups were able to order clothing in order for everyone to be wearing the same thing. The rest of the groups relied on each individual to purchase their own outfit. Overall, the performers looked simple, yet elegant for each different number.

The show brought delight to the crowd of nearly 500 people. Junior Emily Bushey attended the performance and was impressed with the dedication that the dancers showed to the organization.

“I really enjoyed the group dances,” stated Bushey. “I also had no idea how many people were actually involved in the dance clubs, so seeing so many different friends on stage was really exciting.”

Kuzniewski couldn’t have been happier with how the show went, adding that her mother, her biggest critic, even enjoyed it.

“The show was amazing,” said Kuzniewski. “As far as I know, no one fell, we didn’t have any costume malfunctions, of course there were little mess ups, everyone has them, but nothing significant.”

Cooking with Colleen: Banana bread

By Colleen O'Connor Vine Editor

Every week, my mom buys a surplus of bananas for my family to eat and every week, at least half of these bananas go uneaten. For a while, we would just throw them out and buy fresh ones; however, throwing them out soon turned into a vicious cycle where many bananas would just end up in the trash. After a few months, my grandma gave my mom a recipe for banana bread, which calls for old, mushy bananas. Gone were the days when bananas would go to waste. Now, my mom would bake 2-3 loaves of banana bread with all of the leftover bananas. If you ever find yourself in the same situation, here’s an easy recipe to avoid wasting produce.

Banana Bread Serves 6-8

3 bananas 1 egg well beaten 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons butter 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup walnuts

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Mash the bananas with a fork and add the egg.

3. Stir the mixture well and add sugar.

4. Melt the butter and add it to the mixture.

5. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder and walnuts together.

6. Mix the two bowls of ingredients together and smooth into a pan.

7. Cook the bread for one hour.

8. Let cool for ten minutes.

Shea's Study (Abroad) Guide Ch. 11: Three places to visit besides London

By Shea Spiller Abroad Columnist When there is a capital city as exciting and diverse as London, it’s easy to forget about exploring the rest of the country. The countryside of England is completely underrated with its endless fields of rolling green grass and breathtaking cliffs all along the coast. Here are three of my favorite English destinations that are not London, each of which give a different view into the beautiful country.

Brighton Where: Southeast England Size: Small city Eat: Fish n’ Chips from Palm Court on the pier Stay: Day trip Brighton is only a little over an hour from London via train and is a great place to visit for a day trip by the sea. This small city has a whole range of activities to offer from lounging on the beach to riding a roller coaster over the ocean. Eat fish and chips from Brighton’s famous Palm Court before strolling on the beach and getting an ice cream. Definitely wait for a nice day to visit Brighton in order to take full advantage of this beachy city.

Lewes Where: East Sussex (Northeast of Brighton) Size: Small town

Eat: Any quintessential, British pub Stay: Pelham House (but Lewes can also be a day trip) Lewes is another quick train ride from London, only a stop or two before Brighton. Unlike Brighton, Lewes is a sleepy, rural, English town rich in history. Its stone cottages and quiet, winding streets makes Lewes feel like it is straight out of a fairytale. Take time getting lost on walking trails throughout the town and be sure to climb up Lewes Castle. The view from the top of this 11th century castle is incredible, allowing you to see all of Lewes and beyond.

Dorset Where: Southwest England Size: County Eat: White Stone Café (also an art gallery and sculpture garden) Stay: Find a quaint AirBnB with an ocean view Dorset is a county on the coast of Southwest England known for its picturesque towns and beautiful beaches. The area is best accessed by car, allowing you to explore off the beaten path and really soak in Dorset’s natural beauty. Even though it takes a bit more effort to get to, the trip to Dorset is completely worth it with breathtaking views of cliffs leading down to the almost tropical-looking ocean. Explore Portland, a small town in Dorset with great walking trails along the cliffs and through the quarry, which mines the famous Portland Stone. Another can’t miss view is the one from Durdle Door, a massive arched rock structure that looks like something out of Taylor Swift’s “Style” music video; about 45 minutes from Portland. You should also visit the rest of the incredible beaches and cliffs across the Jurassic Coast.

Shea Spiller/The Mirror

THE MIRROR | Week of April 20, 2016

The Vine

Page 9

'The Art of Dining' satisfies audiences with a mix of comedy and drama

By Brendan Zimmerman Assistant Vine Editor “The Art of Dining,” the latest spring production for the Fairfield Theater Program, premiered on April 13 in the PepsiCo Theater. The production had a fantastic mixture of comedy and heartfelt relational drama, making the show captivating for audiences.

Before the show began, the cast and crew were found preparing for the production backstage. The actors, as they were getting into costume and getting their makeup done in chairs, were calm and ready to appear on stage. Despite the usual craziness that accompanies such preparation, there was a lighthearted atmosphere among the entire crew. As music played in the background, the cast and crew joked around with each other during the waiting time.

Cast members Nick Solimini ’16 and Jessie Lizotte ’18 spoke about their respective roles before the show began. The two played Paul and Hannah Galt, an eccentric couple that not so subtly displayed their libidinal sensibilities while they dined at the show’s restaurant.

“I love my role because it’s hilarious … it’s completely different than anything I’ve done before,” said Solimini.

“We like to think we have it together, but as the play progresses it becomes really apparent that we don’t,” said Lizotte.

When asked about their preparation for their roles, they offered some insight into the overall production.

“Our director did a lot of work with us before we even got started. A lot of the show was challenging and we couldn’t rehearse until we really knew all of our lines,” continued Solimini.

According to Lizotte, the entire cast

did a lot of character analysis at the beginning in order to get a better understanding of their roles and the different elements of the play.

As the final call was made for roles, the cast and crew dispersed to their respective areas, and the audience began to take their seats so that “The Art of Dining” could begin.

Directed by Jan Mason, the story followed the relationship between Ellen (Aubrey Sierer ‘16), a cooking prodigy, and Cal (Patrick Donegan ‘18), her supportive husband, as they try to run a successful restaurant, which is on the verge of becoming a gustatory phenomenon.

Their restaurant, named The Golden Carousel, was run out of their living room and set the scene for each act. The story also observed the patrons of The Golden Carousel on a stormy winter night, as the audience gets a brief, yet revealing look into the lives of its eccentric customers.

The set itself is simplistic, yet elegant with a carousel outline that wrapped around the lights and hung just over three dinner tables in the middle of the stage.

In the back of the set was a kitchen and shelves stocked with a variety of culinary items. The set did a great job of conveying a homegrown feeling to The Golden Carousel and allowed for the actors to bring it to life.

The actors were all fantastic in the production, as they each infused their characters with the proper amount of idiosyncrasies and eccentric behavior demanded by the comedic elements of the play. Even when the story descended into sudden dramatic elements, the actors were able to smoothly transition into the emotional beats.

“The Art of Dining” was a play built off of little details, with an emphasis on

the concept of foreground mixed with background storytelling. Foreground storytelling has the main narrative take center stage in front of the audience, while there are a multitude of details in the background that influence the events of the overall story.

The show utilized the concept of foreground storytelling in an intriguing way.

The lighting changed frequently throughout, indicating to the audience where the primary action was occurring with a well placed spotlight. However, when the focal point of the action switched to another character, the background actors shifted their movements into slow motion. The chosen effect made the world appear to slow down in the background so that the audience could pay full attention to the current sequence.

Viewers that happened to watch the actors’ slow motion gestures likely noticed the excellent level of detail that was put into the show.

Whenever the action shifted, the actors did a great job carrying on their performances in slow motion. A particularly hilarious use of slow motion happened during the second act, which saw three characters compete for each other’s dish in a well choreographed, matrix inspired food fight, which garnered laughs and applause from the audience.

One of the themes that permeated the production was the role that food plays in people’s lives. Through-

out the story, the characters each interact with their food in different ways, whether it be through the simple pleasure of tasting delicious meals or finding comfort through the fulfilling nature of eating.

Food was shown to bring people together and by the end of the production, all of the hungry, disparate characters united to enjoy dessert together as the lights faded.

“The Art of Dining,” with its delicious blend of comedy and drama, was a fantastic production that is sure to please audiences.

Contributed Photo Nicholas Anthony/The Mirror

Wine and Dine with The Vine: Brick + Wood

By Nicholas Anthony Food Columnist If you were wondering, Nonna’s Meatball Pizza is in fact grandma’s secret recipe and yes, for owners Clara and Paolo Cavalli, their mother’s secret is worth keeping.

Seared over a wood-burned fire in the scorching flames of a massive brick oven, the charcoal crusted soft dough margherita pizza is layered with tangy tomato sauce and thick slices of creamy mozzarella, perfected with the rich flavor of fluffy brown meatballs. Nonna’s Meatball Pizza has become a fan favorite of Jose, a Brick + Wood veteran waiter. “It is exactly what you would find on the streets of Napoli,” he raved. The hand-tossed dough is formed by Caputo pizza flour, a gluten-free, double zero organic wheat concentration imported directly from Italy.

And you would be missing out on another delicacy that Brick + Wood is famous for if you only order pizza; the Burrata, an Italian cheese made from cream and mozzarella.The prosciutto of the Truffle Burrata is so soft and chewy; it is as if they had cured it just for you earlier that day. It is topped with the peppery flavor of arugula and in the center comes the best of all: a homemade mozzarella ball filled with fresh cream and truffle oil. Brick + Wood offers eight different Burratas, so be sure to order one (or two) as an appetizer or you will be missing out on something special.

The Neapolitan style pizza hub is hidden within the Brick Walk Plaza, right off of Post Road. On your left as you pull in the sign may be a little difficult to find and the location may look small from outside.

However, upon arrival the first thing you will notice is a brightly colored warm atmosphere with happy pa-

trons sitting at a private bar off to the left enjoying a wide variety of specialty beverages, like the White Peach Sangria or a glass of domestic or imported wine. To the right, an inviting wait staff is ready to usher you to your table. Owner

Cara Cavalli could not stress the importance of providing great customer service. “Our customers come first to us and we want them to enjoy their food, while getting a little taste of Italian heritage,” Cavalli said. “Our tagline sums it up, love life and pizza, we live and breath food.”

Brick + Wood’s customer service speaks for itself.

The staff is devoted to catering to the customer and exudes hospitality. Jose, our waiter for the evening, added to the sentiment, stating, “First and foremost, let me tell you about the bosses. I have been in the restaurant industry for a long time and the most important aspect to running a well functioning operation is great management. And these bosses aren’t bosses, they are family. That is what the Brick + Wood staff is: a family.”

On Halloween night in 2014, the Cavalli’s opened their third Italian restaurant. Their first two, under the name Cavalli Pizza, opened eight years ago in Dallas, Texas. Brick + Wood, having only been in the restaurant business on Post Road for two years, has rightly earned the title of “Best New Restaurant in Fairfield” in 2015. They also had their kitchen certified by the Association Pizzioli Neapolitan, a governing body in Naples, Italy that came to approve their style of pizza.

The family is planning to open their third establishment in Dallas later this year.

Without a doubt, their pizza is by far the best pizza that I have had on Post Road, not to mention the best Burrata too. Brick + Wood deserves a 4.5 out of 5 star rating both for their excellent food and for their wonderful customer service. Do yourself a favor and get some real pizza at Brick + Wood.

Jesse Erickson/The Mirror

Page 10

THE MIRROR | Week of April 20, 2016

The Vine

ashionably

by Nicole Funaro

airfield Free fashion apps for all

Whether we are in between classes, getting a bite to eat at Barone or heading out on the weekend with friends, our phones come with us wherever we go. Besides checking the standard Snapchat and Instagram, you may also want to add a few more apps to your rotation if you’re interested in fashion.

Guaranteed to build your personal style and knowledge of fashion and makeup, these apps are sure to become a staple in your phone’s app wardrobe.

Polyvore (iPhone and Android; free to download) – Self-promoted as a “style-obsessed community of influencers and shoppers” in which users create completed outfits from pieces currently available in stores, Polyvore will surely become your favorite app for outfit inspiration. Given the ability to create outfits, users can share these looks with other members to provide styling tips and even shop for those pieces right in the app. Users can also browse the app for the latest trends and newest pieces added to their archive. Perhaps Polyvore’s best feature is its personalized curation feature; the app says that “the more you browse and like,” certain pieces and completed outfits, “the better the outfits and items we’ll show you. You’ll find more to stalk and buy.” This easy way to shop and discover new styles is sure to change the way you shop.

Beautylish (iPhone and Android; free to download) – Makeup lovers will delight in this easy-to-use app brought to us by Beautylish, Inc. Featuring dozens of makeup and hair tutorials, this app takes you step by step through the hottest trends in beauty with detailed videos and photos. Also, if you’re interested in any of the products used in the tutorials, Beautylish has a robust customer reviews section, which compiles feedback from consumers on a variety of products, from blush to lipstick to eyeshadow palettes. And the best part — if you find something that you’d like to try, you can shop for the product right in the app, putting beauty products at your fingertips.

Mr. Porter (iPhone and Android; free to download) – This men’s style app developed by the Net-A-Porter group, a luxury fashion retailer, allows users to scroll through seemingly endless pages of the best men’s fashion from a plethora of designers, ranging from “Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Lanvin, J. Crew, Church’s and Common Projects,” according to the app’s description. Products can be narrowed to clothing, accessories and shoes just like on a traditional web page, but with the ease of an app; users can even search the ‘What’s New” section for Mr. Porter’s latest stylish finds. Shipping to over 170 countries, Mr. Porter says that they offer same-day delivery in London and New York.

Pixabay/Creative Commons

Q&A with Fairfield's DJ Greg T

By Sean Tobin Contributing Writer

internship this summer, which is also first.”

I remember back when you were DJing parties at The Point. How does it feel to finally perform paid gigs like Clam Jam, Dogwoods 2.0, Townhouse Time Travel, etc.?

DJ Greg T: “Well, I’ve definitely come a long way since freshman year … from DJing beach parties to Dogwoods 2.0 and Clam Jam. Everything just happened gradually. My first time I ever DJed at college was at Pier 7.”

Good time.

DJ Greg T: “Yeah, he’s gonna love this … Jake Boudreau (Gamer ‘15) sent me a text and said, ‘Come and DJ the house tonight.’ So after that night, it was like … that’s when everything started.”

Do you miss it? Do you miss getting texts from Jake Boudreau and DJing house parties at the beach?

DJ Greg T: “*laughs* Yes, I do miss getting texts from Jake Boudreau … but now … so beginning of this year I joined FUSA and that opened a lot of doors for me. It helped me DJ at The Levee, which was paid … and getting paid to do this stuff, going from not getting paid and having fun to getting paid and having fun … it’s the best feeling.”

You’re legit now.

DJ Greg T: “Not yet, but …”

I feel like once you get paid, you’re legit.

DJ Greg T: “Yeah, you could say that I guess.”

Would you say your recent successes have influenced you to step up your DJing?

DJ Greg T: “I definitely want to progress in the whole DJing thing. I still use the same equipment. I’m making small amounts of money, but gradually, so everything’s kind of getting paid for on its own. But I’m not buying any new things yet. As of right now it’s just on the side, though.”

“On the side” meaning school comes first?

DJ Greg T: “Yeah. School comes first, and I have an

What are you doing for your internship?

DJ Greg T: “I’m working for United Entertainment Group.

It’s basically a company where they take a celebrity and a product, like Selena Gomez and Pantene, and they put them together and go on a concert tour or something like that.”

What’s your major?

DJ Greg T: “Marketing.”

Ah, so that’s right up your alley.

DJ Greg T: “Definitely.”

Awesome. So, do you go into a performance with a setlist?

Or do you feel the crowd and change it up as you go?

DJ Greg T: “I do have a playlist of which I go into hoping to play. The Luau at the beach is totally a different scene than Late Night at the Levee. But I usually go in with a playlist in mind and depending on who’s there and who’s reacting, I might change it up.”

it?

Do you usually look for that one person who’s really into

DJ Greg T: “Yeah, and song requests, too. I’ll try to help ‘em out. But usually if there’s that one person that everyone’s following …”

You’ll just feed to them?

DJ Greg T: “Exactly.”

What do you expect for upcoming events like Townhouse Time Travel and Clam Jam considering your past experiences with them?

DJ Greg T: “Last year nothing was really planned by the school. So last year I DJed Around the World off of 9 block’s balcony, but that was a free-for-all. I just set up my stuff. But this year is more of a planned event, so they’re setting me up with a small stage and a small area. Everything is getting more planned as we go year to year. I feel like the more the school takes over events like this the better they can get.”

Because there’s a cooperation?

DJ Greg T: “Exactly. Everything runs more smoothly, everything is legal, but this’ll definitely be a step up from last year.”

What are your aspirations for the years to come considering you’re only a sophomore?

DJ Greg T: “Well, I’m on FUSA. I’m Director of the Class of 2018. I also plan to be on [Resident Community Council] at the Townhouses and [Beach Residents Association Group] when I’m a senior, but I also want to be in charge of a large portion of my class’s events just because I have so many ideas of what we can do. Like, you know how juniors set up that slip-n-slide thing? We could turn that into an event with food, beer for over-21’s … just small things like that because that’s what brings classes together.”

Do you feel like that would take away from the spontaneity of everything though?

DJ Greg T: “It would in a way, but I would try my best to make it not too controlled. It would take a little spontaneity away, but it could also be done better.”

Pixel Perfection/Contributed photo DJ Greg T (above) was the DJ at Dogwoods 2.0 on April 1.

And you think you can make that happen?

DJ Greg T: “Yes I do.”

THE MIRROR | Week of April 20, 2016

The Vine

Page 11 Wikipedia/Creative Commons

Heard It Through The GrapeVINE

By Colleen O'Connor Vine Editor This week’s “Heard It Through The GrapeVINE” spotlight is Alyssa Hogan ‘19, a psychology major from Manhasset, New York. A second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Hogan is also a member of Fairfield’s Martial Arts Club, where she competes in Tang Soo Do, and is a member of the Boxing Club, where she practices Jiu Jitsu.

“Music helps me keep a positive mindset,” said Hogan.

“When I’m stressed out or need to calm down, I listen to music because it’s a fast solution to my problem. It only takes five seconds to plug in your headphones and turn on your favorite song and the effects are instantaneous.”

“Underdog” by Imagine Dragons – The song talks about how singer, Dan Reynolds likes being considered the underdog in any situation because it makes him work harder toward a successful path in life.

“Cousins” by Vampire Weekend – The singer, Ezra Koenig discusses his and other people’s long line of relatives, which I can relate to my cousins, their cousins and their cousins and how we are one huge, crazy family.

“Hide Away” by Daya – More songs like this one should be played to increase self-confidence in young girls and to encourage them to find a guy that will treat them right and not to settle for anything less.

“Fireproof” by One Direction – The song shows that true love is not always about being physically with someone, but instead is about the love and passion that two people share for one another.

“We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel – Billy Joel creatively lists allusions to worldwide events that have happened throughout the decades in such a catchy way that his song often gets stuck in my head for days.

“Ashes of Eden” by Breaking Benjamin – The song alludes to the Garden of Eden to show how one person can impact someone so much and inspire them to better themselves.

“Lose Yourself” by Eminem – Eminem displays so much emotion and strength throughout the song and the words that he uses make him seem like he is entering a fighting match. I listen to the song before any tournament so that I can get rid of any nerves and stay in a calm and confident mindset.

Contributed Photo Freshman Alyssa Hogan (above)

Check out Hogan’s playlist on The Mirror’s Spotify @thefairfieldmirror.

Do you want to be featured in this section? Please email a list of 5-7 songs that you currently enjoy and also a picture that we can use for the column to vine@fairfieldmirror.com.

Inkwell Spotlight 'Click'

By Marina Lindland Marketing Director at The Inkwell They shoot the skinny girl first. She dips her head back, letting her golden hair ripple down her shoulders. A hand reaches above her head, delicate fingers pointing to the sun.

Click. She brings her other hand to her collarbone, brushing the netting of the latest bikini from Victoria’s Secret. Click. Hold it. The light might be better now. She closed her eyes, feeling the waves wash gently over her feet. She wonders what the photographer would say if she turned and jumped in. What would he do if she went under, letting the salt dry out her hair and the foundation roll of her cheeks in milky drops. Click. The hand drops to her face, letting a teasing finger linger at the corner of her mouth. Click. Click. Click.

Pixabay/Creative Commons

'Les Miz' speeds through esteemed musical

By Colleen O'Connor Vine Editor “Do you hear the people sing?” beg the students of the ABC Café toward the end of the first act of the famed musical “Les Misérables,” which I saw with a few other lucky members of the Fairfield student body on April 13 through a trip sponsored by Fairfield University’s Student Association.

Going to see “Les Misérables” was my first trip to a real Broadway show, so I entered the Imperial Theater and made my way to my seat with high hopes for the show.

I did not leave disappointed.

The actors and actresses had me on the edge of my seat from the first song of Act I to the finale of Act II, using their voices to tell the timeless tale of Jean Valjean (John Owen-Jones), an escaped parolee taking care of a dear friend’s daughter (Alex Finke) while on the run from the antagonistic inspector Javert (Hayden Tee).

Many of the songs and characters were the ones that I fell in love with after watching both the 1998 and 2012 film adaptations of Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name — though I successfully resisted the urge to sing along and mar the musical with my horrific singing voice.

The actors and actresses did an amazing job utilizing the whole stage,

especially in the scenes involving the self-made barricade during the revolution. The production crew used many moving projections to make the stage seem much larger than it actually was and gave the impression that the characters were truly stumbling around in the sewers or wandering down the Rue Plumet during the attacks.

Chris McCarrell’s performance as Marius Pontmercy was a bit underwhelming, though I chalk that up to my love for Eddie Redmayne’s rendition in the 2012 film adaption. Although it is definitely hard to compare a live performance to a film, I felt that McCarrell could have added a little more gusto to his singing throughout the musical.

On the other hand, Gavin Lee’s performance as the despicable Monsieur Thénardier was impeccable. His delivery in numbers like “Master of the House” in Act I and “Dog Eat Dog” in Act II was better than I could ever have hoped for. Additionally, his comedic relief was a welcome reprise given the dark tone that prevailed throughout the musical.

A deterrent that I also encountered at the show was the pace. “Les Miz” clocked in at just under three hours, a miracle within itself considering the number of musical numbers needed to tell the story. Some of the numbers, especially “Drink With Me” and the penultimate “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,” felt rushed, as if the actors and actresses knew that the audience wanted to get out at a reasonable hour.

Although “Les Misérables” may be the only Broadway show that I have seen in my 19 years, it was definitely the best musical to start with. The singing was superb, the staging excellent and the casting nearly flawless. I may not be a Broadway aficionado yet, but mark my words, if you wait “One Day More” to see this show, you may miss it, as “Les Misérables" leaves Broadway on Sept. 4.

Coffee Break

THE MIRROR | Week of April 20, 2016

Page 12

COFFEE BREAK Editor: Alexis DiZenzo

... As Overheard in Barone Compiled by Alexis Dizenzo

Scan the QR code below with a smartphone to read more of this week’s overheard quotes!

“How does Barone not have chicken today?”

“When every girl you have ever liked is into your roommate...”

“All my socks now have holes in them.”

“People just don’t make sense anymore.”

“She was insane before she dyed her hair blonde.”

“How do I peer edit a paper without sounding like I’m verbally attacking them as a writer?”

Tweet us your #OverheardBarone comments @FairfieldMirror and be featured next week!

Stags Trivia 1. When did the first Clam Jam occur?

2. Who will be performing at Clam Jam this year?

3. Which organization(s) organized Clam Jam this year?

DM us on Twitter @FairfieldMirror with the correct answers to these questions to win an exclusive Mirror giveaway.

Play some...

Sudoku

How to play: Complete the puzzle by filling in numbers one through nine (with no repeats or missing numbers) in each column, row and 3 x 3 square.

Sports

SPORTS

Page 13

THE MIRROR | Week of April 20, 2016

THINGS YOU MISSED THIS WEEK IN STAG NATION

Sports Editor: Alfredo Torres » sports@fairfieldmirror.com

Wednesday, April 20 -Women's Lacrosse vs. Quinnipiac

1.

3 p.m.

Thursday, April 21 -Men's Tennis vs. Quinnipiac,

Saturday, April 23 -Rowing at Spring Metropolitan

won 6-1 at No.1 doubles, with Cecilia Parla ‘19 and Meghan Zimmer ‘18 winning 6-1 at the second spot. In singles, Fairfield won five of its six matches, with Aragones grabbing a 6-4, 6-1

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror

Friday, April 22 Championship, All-Day

positions the Stags earned victories. The pair of Nicole Aragones ‘18 and Sarah Stuhlmann ‘18

win at No.1 and Zimmer winning 6-2, 6-0 at the third slot.

3 p.m.

-Golf at MAAC

The women’s tennis team also bested St. Peter’s 6-1 on Sunday, April 17. At all three doubles

The men’s tennis team beat St. Peter’s 6-1 on Sunday, April 17. At No.1, doubles Brad Orban ‘18 and Ofir Solomon ‘16 won 6-3. The duos of Jeffrey Rodgers ‘19 and Anthony Caputo ‘19, as well as Dylan Appel ‘18 and Luke Lemieux ‘18 each took home 6-1 victories at the second and third doubles spots respectively. The Stags look to defend their home

2.

court on Thursday, April 21 at 3 p.m. against Quinnipiac.

Championships, All-Day

3.

-Softball at Quinnipiac, 12 p.m.

-Women's Lacrosse vs.

Niagara, 12 p.m.

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror

On Sunday, April 17 the softball team split a doubleheader against Niagara University. In the first game of the twin bill, the Stags dropped a close 2-1 decision. After being quieted in the first contest, Fairfield’s offense exploded in the second game to take home a 15-1 victory. Filicia went 4-4 with two RBIs. The Stags are back in action on Thursday, April 21 for a doubleheader against St. Peter’s.

Tuesday, April 26 -Softball at Rhode Island, 3 p.m.

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

-Softball at Rhode Island,

Contributed by Sports Information Desk

In this week's issue...

- NBA Preview: The real season begins now (Page 14)

- Kristine Miller selected to NCAA Leadership Forum (Page 15) - Stags hold off UMass on Senior Day (Page 16)

5 p.m.

Warriors set NBA record heading into the playoffs By: Samantha Quinones Contributing Writer

Wikipedia/Creative Commons Stephen Curry looks to lead the Warriors back to championship glory.

Lead by head coach Steve Kerr and assistant coach Luke Walton, the Golden State Warriors finished the 2015-2016 NBA season with an overall record of 73-9.

This record bested the mark that the Chicago Bulls set with a regular season record of 72-10 in the 1995-1996 season.

The Warriors capped off their historic year with a 125-104 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at Oracle Arena on April 13.

The Warriors knocked down 19 three-pointers in the game, 10 of which were made by star guard Stephen Curry. In total, Curry had 46 points, even though he rested the entire fourth quarter.

Curry is in the midst of having the greatest year of his career. He averaged 30 points per game while dishing out nearly seven assists per night in his seventh season. This year he shattered his own record of 286 made three-pointers in one season by hitting 402 threes.

Coming off an NBA title last season, the defending champions started off the year by winning their first 24 games.

At the mid-season mark, Golden State was 37-3 with a perfect record of 19-0 at home. They continued to dominate the competition after the All-Star break, finishing with a 36-6 record in the second half of the season.

Of the Warriors nine losses, only two were unexcusable as they came at the hands of the lowly Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Their most significant wins were against the star-studded San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers, two teams who they could possibly end up facing in their playoff run this year.

Even though Curry is the team’s main attraction, his supporting cast is what makes the team great.

Forward Draymond Green nearly averaged a triple-double with 14 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game.

Star swingman Klay Thompson averaged 22 points per contest, knocking down 42.5 percent of his three’s.

Not to be forgotten, reigning NBA Championship MVP Andre Iguodala averaged seven points per game while contributing four rebounds per game in his minutes off the bench.

For the duration of the playoffs, the number one seed Golden State Warriors will have home-court advantage. In the first round they are set to play the eighth seeded Houston Rockets, providing an interesting matchup against one of the game’s best scorers in James Harden.

Be out on the lookout for Curry and the rest of Warriors to be making noise throughout the playoff season.

Given the way that Golden State is playing right now, it looks as though their chance to repeat as NBA champions is quite realistic.

Sports

Page 14

THE MIRROR | Week of April 20, 2016

NBA Playoff Preview: The real season begins now

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor

Eastern Conference:

Western Conference: No. 1 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 8 Houston Rockets

Let’s be real — James Harden will have to average 65 points per game in the series if the Rockets have a chance to upset the best regular season team of all time. Although he will do his best to singlehandedly keep the Rockets in the series, it is not going to happen. The Warriors are too disciplined, too experienced and too talented. If Steph Curry or Klay Thompson have an off night, a host of players can pick up the slack ranging from Draymond Green to Harrison Barnes and even Andre Iguodala. The Warriors are on a roll right now and it looks like they will not be denied of their second straight championship.

Pick: Warriors in 4

No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Memphis Grizzlies

Without question, the Spurs and the Grizzlies are one of the best first-round matchups we have, as the brilliant mind of Gregg Popovich and his cast of veteran stars will be taking on the gritty misfits from Memphis. For the Spurs, Kawhi Leonard has cemented himself as a top-five player in the league, while LaMarcus Aldridge is coming into his own and taking the responsibilities of the team’s top big man. Unlike the Spurs, the Grizzlies have lost their two best players to injury. Point guard Mike Conley and center Marc Gasol are unavailable as the team turns to Zach Randolph to lead the charge. Despite their toughness, the Grizzlies do not have enough to match up with with Spurs and their nearly flawless record at home this year.

Pick: Spurs in 5

No. 3 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 6 Dallas Mavericks

This could be Dirk Nowitzki’s last chance at a playoff run, but in this case, there does not seem to be much potential for a run in store. The Thunder’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are skilled enough to win the series by themselves. They each dominate the game in a variety of ways in which the Mavericks have no players to match their abilities. The Mavericks are balanced, with a bunch of solid players, but none of world-class talent like Durant and Westbrook. Unless Nowitzki and J.J. Barea have an enormous series, the thought of the Mavericks moving on to the second round does not seem rational.

Pick: Thunder in 4

No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers are not supposed to be here. Other than Damian Lillard, they lost all their main guys at the end of last season, but CJ McCollum is arguably the most improved player in the league, giving the Blazers some much needed scoring when Lillard is out of the game.

These two guards will definitely give the Clippers fits on defense throughout the series. The man tasked with running the Clippers is always up to the challenge though, as Chris Paul is a coach on the floor who is one of the best leaders in the game. Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan can also dominate Portland’s undersized bigs and propel the Clippers to the next round.

Pick: Clippers in 6

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

Patrick Kiernan Editor-in-Chief Emeritus (Still Boss?)

Alfredo Torres Sports Editor

No. 2 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 7 Indiana Pacers The Raptors won 56 games in the regular season and clinched the number two seed in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The explosive guard tandem of Kyle Lowry and Demar DeRozan were unstoppable this year, proving to be the East’s best backcourt while both garnering all star nods. The Raptors will ride their guard play without hiccup into the second round unless the Pacers receive an incredible series from their star Paul George. George has struggled against the Raptors this season and he will certainly have to step up his scoring if the Pacers have a chance. We can not expect much help from his surrounding cast though, so if the Raptors shut down George, they will have little trouble with the Pacers.

Pick: Raptors in 5 No. 3 Miami Heat vs. No. 6 Charlotte Hornets The wily veterans from Miami facing off against Charlotte’s young guns will be quite an intriguing matchup. The Heat move on here if Dwyane Wade can bring his patented playoff magic to the mix. He’s had a tough go against the Hornets this season, scoring considerably below his season average, but big time players step up when it matters most. If Charlotte advances, it will be because of Kemba Walker’s domination of the point of attack. His penetration is unrivaled in the series, but he needs his supporting players to knock down their open shots. In the end, the Heat have too much firepower to overcome the young Charlotte squad even without Chris Bosh.

Pick: Heat in 6 No. 4 Atlanta Hawks vs. No. 5 Boston Celtics Atlanta has all the pieces: a solid lead guard in Jeff Teague and two fantastic underrated big men in Paul Millsap and Al Horford, who control the paint. They are a well-balanced team who play efficiently on the offensive end and do not give up easy buckets offensively. However, the talent and toughness of this Boston team gives the Celtics a great chance in the series. Plain and simple: Isaiah Thomas is a stud. The 5-foot-9-inch wizard excites the crowd and sets up his complimentary players perfectly. Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart are some of the toughest defenders in the league and do not back down from a challenge. Having said that, the Celtics receive a slight advantage, but it will be a tight series.

Pick: Celtics in 7

Your 2015-2016 4x5 Columnists:

Patrick Kiernan, Alfredo Torres, Angela Sammarone and Jesse Erickson

What were your thoughts on Kobe's final game?

What can you say about the start of the season for Bryce Harper?

Jamal Crawford wins the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award; what are your thoughts?

How has your team fared so far in the NHL Playoffs?

Will you be attending the Wounded Warrior Project's Grit 'N Wit on campus this Saturday?

It took the guy 50 shots to get 60 points. That's embarrassing and emblematic of his entire career.

He's on my fantasy team. No complaints here. See ya on the Yankees in 2018, Bryce.

For the third time in his career, he's the sixth best ... yay?

Rangers are roughin' it out against the Penguins right now, but we'll pull through. Rangers in 6 and then they'll meet the Islanders down the road and sweep 'em. Yes, that's a chirp.

I would, but the beach is beautiful and I live 20 steps away from it.

Sorry.

Wow, what a performance. It sucks that he had to take so many shots, but overall he left with a bang; 60 points c'mon now only Kobe can do that. The NBA will miss Kobe Bryant. #MambaOut

He's making baseball great again ... nah man, only the Yankees can do that.

Congrats to Jamal; he's been doing his thing as a sixth man for the longest. I guess that's why he's a three time Sixth Man of the Year winner.

Go New York hockey!

Of course! Our biggest event has finally come and we need all the support we can, so come through and see if you can beat our obstacle course.

My initial thoughts are that I wish

Had to Google him because I didn't even know what sport he played. But I'll copy the Washington Post's headline and say he knocked it out of the park.

... Google is my savior. He won it three times?! I can't even finish my capstone or shoot a basket ...

Are the Devils in the playoffs? No? Ah well, maybe next year Jersey.

Nah, I don't run like Meaghan, but I'll be cheering her on from the confines of my room, where I'll be laughing, especially if she gets caught in the rain. Sorry, Meg.

I didn't know who Bryce Harper was, so I googled him and found this wonderful picture of him from the ESPN body issue that Alfredo said was only appropriate for my wall ...

It must've sucked to get the Sixth Man of the Year especially after being runner up to me, First Man of the Year.

Well, the Bruins are really getting a jump start on their postseason play. I'm so happy they're starting that before everyone else.

Sorry, Fredo, but since you're ditching me on Friday ...

Angela Sammarone I understood the #mambaout reference. I'm really just not hip/ Managing Editor Emeritus don't pay attention to basketball.

But good for you, Kobe.

Jesse Erickson Editor-in-Chief (Italian EIC)

No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Detroit Pistons Lebron James has to be crossing his fingers coming into this series. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love have returned from last season’s playoff injuries on a mission to cement this Big 3’s place in NBA history. For the Pistons, Andre Drummond is an absolute monster on the inside and Reggie Jackson is a supremely talented guard who can put points on the board quickly. Therefore, the Pistons do not have James on their team and for that reason, the Cavaliers will take this series easily. Look for James to give us a glimpse of the beast mode mentality he will once again take with him through the playoffs.

Pick: Cavs in 4

Kobe would definitely describe my beer pong skills this past weekend.

Just kidding; good luck, but I'll be time traveling!

Sports

Page 15

THE MIRROR | Week of April 20, 2016

Miller selected to NCAA Leadership Forum

By Christopher LaZazzera Contributing Writer Fairfield’s women’s basketball player Kristine Miller ‘17 was recently invited to a National Collegiate Athletic Association Leadership Forum in Phoenix, Ariz. The forum was held from April 8 to 11, which included different student-athletes, ranging from Division I-III. The Leadership Forum was created in 1997, aiming to recognize student-athletes’ leadership abilities on and off the playing field. Student-athletes were selected to attend the event by their various conference offices.

The attendees did partake in different activities across the three days that they were together.

I recently sat down with the forward from Egg Harbor City, N.J. and asked her some questions about being invited and the event itself.

CL: How did you feel about being selected to attend this leadership forum?

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror

KM: “I felt honored because it was a really small percentage of people. There are like 400,000 Division I, II and III athletes and of those 400,000 only 325 were selected to attend this event. I felt pretty honored that people thought enough of me as a leader to nominate me.”

CL: What did you do while you were at the forum?

KM: “It was a lot of break down sessions and group discussions about leadership, different ways to lead and how we can lead in our athletic roles and on campus. We listened to a lot of really cool speakers that had a lot to say about being an influence on people and influencing our team and school. It was a lot of break down discussions, mostly, and a lot of team building activities to get to know each other and learn from each other.”

CL: Of the speakers that talked, which one did you enjoy the most and why?

KM: “I think it had to be a tie between LaChina Robinson and Justin Patton. [Robinson] was a former NCAA Division I basketball player and is now a broadcast journalist. She talked a lot about our social media footprint and how to deal with social media and people not saying good things about you. [Patton], who is a motivational speaker, really made us think about our vision and purpose in life. We did an activity with that and it was really cool and eye opening. It made a lot of us think about what we really want to do and not necessarily what other people want us to do.”

CL: What did you learn from attending the forum?

KM: “I learned that there is not one way to lead. Everyone can be leaders in their own way. Just because you’re the best player on the team doesn’t mean you’re necessarily a leader. A leader can come from anywhere and there are so many different characteristics that make a leader. Not everyone has all those characteristics and people lead in different ways, so it was kind of cool to see that there are so many different ways you can influence the people around you.”

CL: After attending the forum, how has it changed your mindset going into next year as a senior?

KM: “It has really changed my mindset. It really is eye opening, as I keep saying, and I really want to talk to my team about it and how different teams have different philosophies to help them succeed and be successful. I really want to share this with our team and our coaching staff, even my friends. It was really cool and I’m really excited to put a lot of what I’ve learned into action going into senior year and making it the best that I can.”

Stags score four in the eigth to finish off series sweep

By Samantha Quinones Contributing Writer The Stags hosted Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rival Niagara Purple Eagles for a weekend series at Alumni Diamond.

The first two games took place on Saturday, April 16 as part of a doubleheader. Fairfield won the first outing with a final score of 3-2 and followed up with a victory in the second game, 9-3.

Fairfield looked for the series sweep on Sunday, April 17 when they sent out Kyle Dube ‘17 to the mound.

After eight scoreless innings, the Stags finally broke through to score four to edge Niagara 4-2.

The victory means that the Stags have now won seven straight MAAC games, the longest streak since 1997.

Dube pitched seven solid innings for Fairfield, only allowing one earned run while striking out 10 Niagara batters along the way. “Dube was a bulldog today,” said head coach Bill Currier. “He really battled and if guys got on base, he pitched harder and kept them there. He did a great job, holding them right in that game.”

Niagara struck first in the fifth inning when Greg Cullen tripled to right center to bring home Niagara’s first run.

The Purple Eagles struggled to get a runner home for the rest of the game, as they scored only one more run coming into the ninth inning.

Scoreless through seven innings of play, Fairfield’s offense finally woke up to score four runs in the inning.

Sophomore Kevin Radziewicz got things started with a leadoff single. Then, Mac Crispino ‘17 followed up by laying down a bunt that fell in a perfect spot for the Stags as Crispino reached first base without a throw.

On the play, Radziewicz moved to second base giving Fairfield an opportunity to drive in their first run.

Freshman Jake Gethings laid down a bunt of his own and Niagara decided to get the lead runner out at third, but committed an error on the throw, which allowed Fairfield to come home easily to put them on the board.

Following another error by Niagara, the Stags were able to take the lead with a one-run advantage with two outs in the eighth inning.

“We took advantage, we were just bunting to move people up and they were good bunts, but they [Niagara] threw them around a little bit which cost them,” says Currier.

Having the lead in hand, Fair-

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror

Junior Michael Conti added insurance runs in the eighth to put the game out of reach for the Purple Eagles.

field looked to add on to their lead. With two runners on base and two outs, Michael Conti ‘17 came up to bat with an opportunity to give Fairfield the insurance runs it needed. ”That was a great win for the team; back-to-back weekends sweeping in the conference. We just want to keep this going and take that into next weekend,” said Conti.

Conti came through when

Fairfield needed him most as he hit a single right up the middle to push in two more runs for Fairfield and give them a 4-1 advantage. “It’s a tough field to play in on, to play in. When you have an infield in it's a great opportunity for the hitter, just hitting it in the holes is going to scoot right through and he hit it right up the middle,” said Currier.

For the second consecutive appearance, Aaron Howell

‘16 pitched the final two innings of the game, only allowing one run to seal the deal for the Stags and give them the 4-2 victory.

When asked what the team must do to continue their hot play, Currier said, “We just got to keep pitching well, pitching well keeps us in it.” Fairfield looks to keep the momentum in their next home game on Tuesday, April 26 when they take on instate rival, Sacred Heart.

@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports Week of April 20, 2016

fairfieldmirror.com

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

Stags hold off UMass on Senior Day

Alfedo Torres/The Mirror

Freshman Colin Burke (top) tallied his 44th point on Saturday. Sophomore Charlie Horning (left) had a goal as well as an assist while Tyler Behring '17 (right) led the way with 19 saves.

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor It was a beautiful sunny, 60 degree afternoon at Rafferty Stadium, a perfect day to honor six Stag seniors with a massive win that would vault Fairfield into first place in the Colonial Athletic Association standings.

Up 4-1 at the half, the Stags were able to hold off a feverish University of Massachusetts second half comeback, putting the final touches on an 8-6 victory.

Junior Tyler Behring was the star for the Stags on Saturday with 19 saves throughout the afternoon.

His 19 saves were his second highest total of the season, as he fended off 23 shots in an earlier contest against Bucknell.

From nifty kick saves to agile deflections off his body, each save continued to show why Behring is among the top goaltenders in the country.

“I was seeing the ball really well in practice all week,” said Bhering. “When it came to game time it really translated to the field today.”

Each save Behring made gave the Stags momentum as they went on the offensive attack.

After UMass scored the game’s first goal, Fairfield went on an incredible 4-0 run to close out the first half. Junior Jake Knostman made his mark during the half as he scored three straight goals.

Seniors Charlie Schneider and Charlie Horning also made their presence felt in the first 30 minutes as they each contributed two assists with Horning adding a goal.

In the second 30, Fairfield came out with the same intensity, scoring the first two goals of the half to stretch their lead to 6-1 in the third quarter.

After trading goals to make the score 7-2, UMass would go on a 3-0 spurt to close the gap to 7-5 with just under 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

Junior Nico Panepinto would score for the Stags a minute later to give the team a three goal lead.

With under two minutes left in the fourth, UMass would find the net once more, but it was too late for a comeback effort as the game would end at 8-6.

Horning, Schneider, Panepinto, Colin Burke ‘19 and TJ Neubauer ‘16 all finished with a goal apiece, while Knostman

ended with three tallies.

The win gave the Stags their third consecutive victory on the year. However, today was about more than just an important game versus a CAA rival, it was

guys,” head coach Andy Copelan said. “TJ will be all over the record books when it is done, Conor B. and Charlie have made a huge impact after transferring here and I commend Conor D., Joe, and Robert for all waiting their turns and stepping up.”

At the right time of year, the team is coming together to play its best ball of the season.

There are two regular season games left on the slate and the squad is looking like it is rounding into postseason form.

The Stags are in action next at Towson University on Saturday, April 23 before playing their final regular season game at the University of Delaware on Friday, April 29.

If the Stags beat Towson and second place Delaware loses their matchup against Drexel this coming Saturday, Fairfield clinches the top seed in the CAA Tournament.

Garnering the top seed means that they would host the tournament at Rafferty Stadium from Thursday, May 5 to Saturday, May 7.

We've got one of the best goalies in the country and he played like it today, so thank God for Tyler Behring.

-Head Coach Andy Copelan about celebrating and appreciating all the time and effort that the six seniors have devoted to the program in their stay at Fairfield.

The seniors honored were Conor Dalton, Joe Guidarelli, Robert Popdan and captains TJ Neubauer, Charlie Schneider and Conor Barr.

“I’m really proud of this group of