4:26:17

Chechnya Opinion

Recent events in Chechnya warrant the movement of the global community.

Tennis

Taming of the Shrew

Sports

Vine

Coach’s Corner: Featuring Head Coach Jeff Brickers.

Fairfield theater performed their gender-bent rendition of “Taming of the Shrew.”

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THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper

Week of April 26, 2017

Vol. 42 Iss. 24

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Nemec Announced as First Lay President

By Catherine Veschi Managing Editor Mark R. Nemec, PhD has been elected as Fairfield University’s ninth president, a position which he will assume on July 1. In addition, Dr. Nemec will serve as Fairfield’s first lay president. Fairfield has now joined 12 other Jesuit schools with lay presidents.

Dr. Nemec is currently the dean of the William B. and Catherine V. Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies at the University of Chicago, according to a press release sent to the student body.

In addition to serving as president of the University, Nemec will teach courses in the politics department in the College of Arts and Sciences.

In his statement following his appointment as president, Nemec said, “I am honored and delighted by the opportunity to lead and to serve Fairfield University at this critical moment in the evolution of higher education. Fairfield is a university with a reputation for excellence and one that is clearly rising in stature.”

Nemec is eager to begin his time at Fairfield, saying, “My family and I are very excited to be joining the Fairfield University community this summer, and look forward to being a part of campus life.”

Interim President Lynn Babington acknowledged that the University is pleased to announce Nemec’s position as Fairfield’s ninth president. “Dr. Nemec’s passion and commitment to Jesuit higher education along with his successful leadership experiences in business and higher education will serve the University well and we continue to strive for excellence,” Babington stated.

Nemec added that he’s excited to join a Jesuit university because he received a Jesuit education while growing up.

Photo Contributed by Susan Cipollaro Nemec graduated from Loyola High School in Los Angeles, Mark Nemec, former Dean of the Graham School of Continuing a Jesuit preparatory college. He continued his education at Yale Liberal and Professional Studies at the University of Chicago, has University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in English and

then at the University of Michigan where he received a PhD in political science and his master’s in education. Since then, he taught American politics as a visiting assistant professor at Davidson College and as an instructor at the University of Michigan. More recently, Nemec has served as the dean of the Graham School at the University of Chicago since 2014.

Nemec has also authored several books, including “Ivory Towers and Nationalist Minds: Universities, Leadership, and the Development of the American State” and contributed to the book “The Educational Legacy of Woodrow Wilson.”

In terms of involvement in the current political sphere, Nemec has spoken worldwide to numerous audiences ranging from the White House’s Forum on College Affordability to the British Council’s Going Global conference.

Rev. Mark Scalese, S.J. touched on the difficulty of finding a Jesuit president in today’s changing society, saying “With the decreasing number of Jesuits in the United States, and about half of the Jesuit schools having lay presidents already, it was only a matter of time before Fairfield had its first permanent lay president.”

Scalese admitted that despite this, he’s excited to welcome Nemec to campus, as it “marks a new chapter in Fairfield’s history.”

Freshman Jimmy Lipko also acknowledged the dwindling pool of Jesuits, and how this makes it more difficult to find a Jesuit to serve at a school like Fairfield. Despite this, Lipko believes that “as long as the president is committed to our Jesuit values, I think it’s completely fine. I think we’re willing to accept him and work with him to enhance our Jesuit nature.”

Many students, like Scott Daly ‘19, are pleased for the appointment of Nemec in July, despite him not being a Jesuit president at a Jesuit university.

“It’s always interesting to get an outside perspective, and I’m sure he’ll be able to pick up the Jesuit values and definitely become part of the community,” Daly said.

been appointed as the 9th president of Fairfield.

Fairfield Hosts CT’s First On-Campus Suicide Prevention Walk

By Juliana Sansonetti Co-News Editor For the first time ever on a college campus in Connecticut, students walked to raise awareness and money for suicide prevention, as reported by Area Director of the Southern Connecticut chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Sharon Pelkey. Fairfield partnered with AFSP to bring the “Out of the Darkness” Suicide Prevention Walk to campus on Sunday, April 23.

The event was organized by Bailey Carroll ‘20.

“I’ve lost a number of people to suicide and I have dealt with a lot of people who have suicidal thoughts, so it’s something I’m very passionate about,” Carroll said about bringing the event to Fairfield.

She emailed AFSP and told them that she was interested in having a walk on campus. The foundation agreed.

The walk began in the Quad and went all over campus, through The Village, up to the Townhouses and around the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola. Signs that had facts and statistics about AFSP, such as “ASFP is dedicated to preventing suicide through research, education, advocacy, and support” and “$500 trains a facilitator to run a support group for survivors of suicide loss,” were placed around campus and were picked up and carried by those participating in the walk as it progressed.

Individuals wore different color beads to represent why they were walking. White beads were worn in memory of a child, red in memory of a spouse or partner, orange in memo-

Juliana Sansonetti/The Mirror Freshman Bailey Carroll (left) organized the first “Out of the Darkness” Suicide Prevention Walk on campus on the morning of April 23.

ry of a sibling, gold in memory of a parent, purple in memory of a friend or relative, silver in memory of a first responder or member of the military, teal for a friend or family member who struggles or has attempted, green for a personal struggle and blue to support the cause.

“I have a friend who committed suicide back in high school and when I saw this event happening on campus today I automatically thought of them and I felt like they would really appreciate me being here today,” said Monet Monterroso ‘18.

Read Students on Page 

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THE MIRROR | Week of April 26, 2017

News

Students Travel Back in Time at the Townhouses

By Juliana Sansonetti Co-News Editor Juniors and seniors dressed in clothing associated with certain time periods and “traveled through time” on Saturday, April 22 for the annual Townhouse Time Travel event, previously known as Around the World.

The food trucks that were present at the event, which ran from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m., were Taco Loco, Christophe’s Crepes and Super Duper Grub. There was also music and yard games.

Area Coordinator of the Townhouses and John C. Dolan Hall, Alberto Jacome, who organized the event, said, “Townhouse Time Travel was very similar as the past years. I followed the guidelines the previous area coordinator left for me in order to host a successful event.”

According to Jacome, the only major change from last year to Townhouse Time Travel was that guests had to be 21 years and older in order to attend the event this year. In Juliana Sansonetti/The Mirror previous years, guests did not have to be 21 and older, but Juniors, seniors and guests enjoyed yard games and food trucks during the annual Townhouse Time Travel event. they were not allowed to consume alcohol or get food from the food trucks if they weren’t.

Around 450 people ended up going to the event, Jaworked with the Department of Public Safety to ensure that and what food truck options they would like as well and come reported. students would be safe during the event. then I will start making calls to reserve food trucks and the Sophomore Daniella Musacchio does not think the fact However, Jesse Farrell ‘18 also believed that security DJ and get the contracts from them.” that underclassmen are not allowed at the event is a prob- was too concentrated.

Jacome stated that it took about a month and a half to lem.

“Sometimes people get nervous around authoritative get everything set up.

“I think it’s fine to let upperclassmen have some of their figures and I definitely noticed some of that,” he said. “PerFarrell commented on the event. own events,” Musacchio said. “It doesn’t bother me because haps if the DPS officers and the RAs watched from a bit “I enjoyed the event a lot more than I thought I would I know I’ll have those events when I’m older.” more of a distance the students would have felt like they had have,” Farrell said. “I thought Residence life coupled with Jacome explained that the students in the Residence more freedom to have fun.”

RHA made sure that the event went smoothly.”

Hall Association of Dolan and the Townhouses worked with “I think in general the event went very smoothly, esThe event happened in the area in the middle of 2,3,4,5 Jacome to plan Townhouse Time Travel. pecially in comparison to past years,” said Sergeant Peter and 6 blocks in the Townhouses.

“By having the RHA and hosting the forum, we try to Baird. “The people who orchestrated, set up and monitored “It is the biggest Quad we have up in the Townhouses work with students to have as much input as possible from helped maintain the smoothness of the event and the stu- and it is also the one that DPS and the University has recthem,” commented Jacome. “We want to make sure students dents were well behaved.” ommended as being easier when it comes to crowd control are enjoying themselves as safely as possible.”

Jacome explained the other preparations that went into and fencing,” said Jacome.

“Student input is very important for us,” Jacome contin- planning the event.

Junior Alana Dubois enjoyed the event. ued. “This event is for the students. We want to make sure “I am given a budget by Residence Life, that comes pri“It was so much fun to be able to dress up as my favorite they are enjoying themselves.” marily from our office and the D-Town budget,” he said. “I decade. It was also really nice to be able to spend time with Along with working closely with RHA, Jacome also meet with students to see what kind of DJ they would like the junior class,” she said.

Grit N’ Wit Puts Students to the Test

By Deanna Carbone Co-News Editor Students’ brains and brawn were tested at the second annual Fairfield University Grit N’ Wit on Saturday, April 22. The event was hosted by the Wounded Warrior Project along with the Inter-Residential Housing Association, Fairfield@Night and the Fairfield University Student Association.

The majority of the event was organized by the WWP. “IRHA’s involvement with Grit N’ Wit was only to provide some financial assistance for the event,” said Area Coordinator of the Service for Justice Residential College Sonya Alexander.

According to Founder and President of the Fairfield chapter of WWP Stephen Dierks ‘18, the event was successful despite less attendance compared to last year.

“There were less people at the event than last year, which was primarily due to the rain.

Townhouse Time Travel affected the attendance of juniors,” said Dierks.

Despite the decrease in attendance, the event raised over $5,000, a $1,000 increase in fundraising from last year.

The event is designed to test participants both physically and mentally with obstacles including mental puzzles, wall jumps and a net wall.

Sophomore Sarah Maxwell felt the intensity of the event in both the physical and mental challenges.

“The long stretch through the woods behind Gonzaga and Canisius was definitely the hardest part although I thought some of the mind challenges were harder than last year’s event,” said Maxwell.

The winning team consisted of Gerry Brogan ‘18, Josh Amrine ’18, Grant Amrine ‘18, George Halvatzis Jr. ‘18 and Julian Falcioni ‘19. They were awarded $250 Vineyard Vines gift cards and a gift card to Centro Ristorante & Bar. The other prizes included a Fairfield University Bookstore gift basket, Soundrunner gift basket and various gift cards.

WWP member Heather DiLorenzo ‘18 discussed the success of the event compared to last year’s.

“We set a great foundation at last year’s event, which we actually won an award for at the leadership ceremony, and we had a lot of returners this year,” said DiLorenzo. “We had a lot more people talking about it, spreading the word, and encouraging their friends to sign up. Even though the weather wasn’t great we had an awesome turn out. It was another great success.”

Returning competitor Joyce Ramirez ‘19 described why she decided to support the event again.

“This is my second year doing Grit N’ Wit and I love it. Grit N’ Wit is a great way to build our community and give back to our soldiers, veterans and wounded warriors,” said Ramirez.

Maxwell agreed with Ramirez.

“I think it’s a great community event that allows us to challenge ourselves and others menAlfredo Torres/The Mirror tally and physically while also raising awareness and funds for such an important cause,” said MaxStudents engaged in both physical and mental activities during this year’s Grit N’ Wit. well.

THE MIRROR | Week of April 26, 2017

News

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

Saturday, 4/22 12:21 a.m.- Public Safety responded to an incident involving disorderly conduct between Townhouse 4 and 12 block.

The individual proceeded to run away and when caught, told officers that he was a non-student and visiting a friend.

The matter is still under investigation and the host student was referred to student conduct.

12:56 a.m.- Public Safety encountered a student urinating on the side of a house on Townhouse 11 block. The individual was identified, told to stop and was referred to student conduct.

2:06 a.m.- A Resident Assistant in Jogues Hall contacted Public Safety when they found a bag of suspected marijuana near a vending machine. The bag is in the DPS evidence locker and security footage is being reviewed. No students are currently suspected.

5:39 p.m.- An altercation broke out between a registered guest and a student on Townhouse 6 block. The guest allegedly struck the student and then the student poured alcohol on the individual’s head. The incident was broken up

by G-Force with Public Safety showing up afterwards. Both parties were offered medical services and declined, and also declined involvement with the Fairfield Police. The student was referred to student conduct while the guest was issued a criminal trespass warning.

Sunday, 4/23 12:49 a.m.- Public Safety encountered an individual at Townhouse 4 block carrying an open container of beer. The individual was with another group of students and when asked to dispose of the beer and hand over their StagCards, the students denied. The students were referred to student conduct.

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Allison White, Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa, Executive Editor Catherine Veschi, Managing Editor Editors Juliana Sansonetti, Co-News Deanna Carbone, Co-News Elizabeth O’Hara, Assistant News Lexi Thimble, Opinion Alicia Phaneuf, Vine Cara Lee, Assistant Vine Claire Monahan, Coffee Break Alfredo Torres, Sports Daniel Montgomery, Assistant Sports Sabina Dirienzo, Chief Copy Editor Online Bradley Nordstrom, Web Master Ariana Puzzo, Online Editor-in-Chief Nicole Funaro, Online News Editor Pamela Kask, Online Opinion Editor Shana Lynch, Online Vine Editor Kelley Eckert, Online Coffee Break Editor Business Department Email: advertising@fairfieldmirror.com Natalia Macchio, Director of Finance James Affenito, Circulation Adviser Dr. Tommy Xie Contact Information Fairfield University 1073 North Benson Road, BCC 104 Box AA, Fairfield, CT 06824 General email: info@fairfieldmirror.com

New Honors Floor Attempts to Build Community

By Deanna Carbone Co-News Editor Come fall 2017, there will be a stronger sense of community among first-year students in the Honors Program. For the fall 2017-spring 2018 academic year, the fourth floor of Jogues will be an Honors Living and Learning Community.

“Our Fall 2017 launch of the Honors LLC will be the first Living and Learning Community complementing the Academic Honors Program,” said Assistant Director of Residence Life Meredith Smith.

According to Professor Giovanni Ruffini, co-director of the Honors Program, when he and Dr. Laura Nash, the other co-director of the program, were asked to direct the Honors Program, they were asked to foster a sense of community among the honors students.

“We naturally thought that a Living and Learning option for students in the program would be a great way to do that,” said Ruffini.

The future Resident Assistant of the floor and Honors Program member Natasha Seifried ‘19 is excited to help build a community among students in the program.

“Working with first-year students primarily focuses on inclusion and connection building.

The Honors LLC is a great way to build a community and will allow the students to make connections with other students from different majors and also create a close knit and convenient support system,” said Seifried.

Ruffini added that the floor is only expected to remain in Jogues for the 2017-2018 school year and that it will transfer to the dorm currently being constructed behind Gonzaga.

Junior Izabella Guzzo expressed that the honors floor option is an easy way to bring incoming students together.

“The floor could help people become assimilated because it gives a community to those without one. Immediately everyone in the dorm would have something uniting them and bringing them together,” said Guzzo.

Sophomore Paulina Baclawska echoed Guzzo’s feelings toward the new community and wishes she had the option when she was an incoming first-year student.

“I would have loved to have a honors floor as a freshman because it would’ve helped me become close friends with people who I know I would have class with, also it would be easier to get homework help from people on my floor for my honors classes,” said Baclawska.

In addition to the new floor the directors are implementing a mentor/mentee program called the Big/Little program to further welcome new honors students.

“I was a part of the old mentor/mentee system my freshman year in the Honors Program, and it was a good way to make connections with someone who has been in your shoes before,” said Seifried. “I think shifting the program to a Big/Little relationship will eliminate any formalities and simply just create friendships.”

The Big/Little program will give first-year students the opportunity to foster a relationship with older members of the Honors Program.

“It will be good for freshman to have an older mentor to guide with classes and college life in general, the mentors will be another resource for the freshman to have,” said Baclawska.

Guzzo believes the Big/Little program will help first-year students transition and provide a sense of ease.

“I think the mentor/ mentee program is great because when you first start school that’s something you need — a person who has experienced what you’re going through and can offer you a sense of comfort in the process of adjusting to a new environment,” said Guzzo.

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THE MIRROR | Week of April 26, 2017

News

Juliana Sansonetti/The Mirror Students walked all around campus in support of suicide prevention, from the middle of the Quad, through the Townhouses, into The Village and by the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola.

Students Walk in Support of Mental Illness Continued from page 

Monterroso believes that, in a suburban state like Connecticut, suicide is a hidden topic.

“Having a walk that’s out in the open in the middle of the street for everyone to see is something powerful that Connecticut doesn’t see a lot,” she said.

While some, like Monterroso, walked for friends, others walked for relatives, loved ones or even for themselves.

“I know people who are not only struggling with depression, but I also struggle with that as well and suicidal thoughts,” said Sarah Gedeon ‘19. “I think this was really important for me to participate in this walk. It really means a lot to me.”

The event ended up raising just over $2,000 and around 50 people turned out for the event, according to Carroll.

Pelkey, who spoke at the event, read the testimony of a woman who has struggled with suicide and who is on the Board of Directors of the Southern Connecticut chapter of AFSP, but could not make it to the event.

“I think that there is a stigma that our organization is trying to break so that it’s OK to talk about depression and mental health issues,” said Pelkey. “I think that depression and mental health should be treated just like any other disease because it is treatable and suicide is preventable.”

Carroll echoed these sentiments.

“I think it’s definitely important on this campus because it’s not something that’s talked about often, not only here, but everywhere,” she said. “So I think bringing awareness about the situation is important.”

“I am ecstatic for my friend Bailey Carroll who helped organize this event, as a freshman too, I’m very happy for her and so impressed,” said Matthew Lerebours ‘20, who volunteered at the walk. “She did a great job and everyone is very supportive of the message. They’re carrying signs and everyone is happy to be here.”

Research Symposium Shows Off Student Work

By Patrick Orkins Contributing Writer Seniors and juniors from across all schools at Fairfield University, from psychology to engineering, showcased their semester long research at Fairfield’s 17th Annual Research and Creative Accomplishments Symposium. Held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Barone Campus Center, students set up displays of their research and findings for viewing by any passersby who took an interest.

The event is a collaboration between the Symposium, the Scientific Research Honor Society Sigma Xi and the Senior Nursing Program’s Capstone Presentations, showcasing research done independently by students as well as in collaboration with mentors within the Fairfield faculty.

The Symposium features the work and research of nearly 500 undergraduate and graduate students from almost every different department and major on campus, according to Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Mary Frances Malone.

According to Dr. John R. Miecznikowski, director of the Sigma Xi presentations and an associate professor of chemistry, Sigma Xi began scheduling it’s poster presentations on the same date as the Annual Research Symposium in April 2011 and has continued to do so. Dr. Miecznikowski reports that, “Students presented posters from the departments of biology, chemistry and biochemistry, mathematics, physics, and psychology and the School of Engineering,” adding that, “Overall, 121 students presented at Sigma Xi and Patrick Orkins/The Mirror there were at least 16 students who presented at least two posters.”

Students presented and explained their research to passersby during the Research Symposium.

Senior nursing students were tasked with identifying an issue or problem within the hospital department they work in as part of their clinical study. After finding a problem, they set about to help address and potentially solve the issue in question.

“It was a lot of work.”

For Stephanie Piccolo ‘17, that meant finding ways to raise awareness about and preNon-engineering students, such as Michael Smith ‘17, Victoria Jedson ‘17, and Ruben vent accidental falls for patients.

Neves ‘17, took the time to research Granny Smith and Red Delicious apples and studied “You’d find that a lot of patients would forget the physical state they were in or that they the different polymers and oligomers that make up the substance of the fruit. The biology didn’t want to have to call for help,” said Piccolo. “People could get tangled up in the wires students wanted to study and research the effects of these compounds on human health as or equipment they were attached to and end up seriously hurting themselves.” part of their Chemical Instrumentation Laboratory course.

Her solution comes in the form of table cards placed at the patient’s bedside, which According to Smith, the poster his group presented shows three semesters worth of read “Call Don’t Fall,” reminding patients to seek aid from a nurse or other hospital staff. work. While difficult for non-biology students to understand, the group gave a presentation Piccolo believes the Capstone Presentations are a great opportunity for nursing stu- at a symposium in California earlier in the month to fellow researchers and professional in dents to actively contribute and help patients experience higher quality care during their their field. stay at a hospital. She received resources and help brainstorming ideas during her project Other groups of students, such as psychology majors Margaret Elliot ‘17, Rachel Kink from her clinical instructor and Associate Professor of Nursing Dr. Cynthia Bautista.

‘18, Tori Reed ‘17, Kayla Roballey ‘17 and Samantha Silva ‘17 and graduate student JoanDr. Bautista finds the project excellent for nurses to engage in and improve the care na Frydrych, became interested in participating in and requested to be a part of a faculty they provide for their patients. member’s supervised research team. Working under Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. “It’s important for senior nursing students to identify and address issues they find in Margaret McClure, the group studied childhood trauma and its relation to domestic viotheir final clinical, something we hope they will continue to do even after graduating,” said lence in college students.

Bautista.

For Reed, who wishes to be a child psychologist, the chance to apply practical knowlOther students in Sigma Xi, like Andrew Tavcar ‘17, have been developing and re- edge and skills learned in the classroom in the field was good experience for the future. searching their projects and designs for two semesters. Tavcar and fellow engineering ma“In the symposium, I presented research regarding childhood trauma, trait anxiety and jors Kyle Dube ‘17, Kerin Nussbaum ‘17, and Michael Wright ‘17, designed and tested video adult attachment as predictors of intimate partner violence in college students. While this tracking of moving objects for applications in security, traffic control, medical imaging and is not something that I wish to pursue further in my career specifically, it does overlap a video communication. lot,” said Reed.

“We spent a lot of time developing ways to track the object and the end result was an algorithm that helped track the object and analyzes what is seen in the frames,” said Tavcar.

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THE MIRROR | Week of April 26, 2017

Opinion

Creative Commons/Wikimedia Commons

Editor Lexi Thimble » opinion@fairfieldmirror.com

Getting Opinionated with The Mirror

Chechnya's Actions Are the World's Responsibility I’m admittedly jaded when it comes to the concept of U.S. intervention into foreign affairs. As history has shown us, often times when the U.S. charges into foreign conflicts In the past year, there have been extreme compariin an effort to be the hero, the situation is worsened or we sons between our nationalist sentiments and the election had ulterior motives driving us there in the first place. I’ve of Trump to Nazi Germany and the rise of Hitler. This dire never supported the US getting involved in wars overseas mental image only becomes exacerbated with the number of that had nothing to do with us at the start, whether it be our terrorist attacks that have occurred all over the world, North invasion of Iraq over the pursuit of oil or our entrance into Korea’s recent showings of strength and the rising refugee Vietnam to supposedly “aid” the Vietnamese people. Howevcrisis in the Middle East. However, one of the most notorier, when it comes to human rights issues that are eerily remious aspects of the Holocaust was the concentration camps niscent of the concentration camps of the Holocaust, global where Jews and other minorities were intervention needs to happen. Full investiexterminated, which are, unfortunately, gations need to take place to assess the vabeing brought back into usage. This time lidity of the situation and the capability of around, they have a different target: gay Chechnya’s government. This shouldn’t just and bisexual men living in the Russian be a US response either — we need global republic of Chechnya. involvement to put down a disastrous event CNN reported that Nikki Haley, the that only seems to be getting worse.

US ambassador to the UN, has stated that There’s a poem that came out of the “this violation of human rights cannot be Holocaust by Martin Niemöller, famous for ignored — Chechen authorities must imits refrain of listing who “they” came for, mediately investigate these allegations, and how he did not speak out each time hold anyone involved accountable, and because he didn’t belong to the group betake steps to prevent future abuses.” ing victimized. He ends by saying, “Then In this same article, however, it was they came for me — and there was no one reported that “A Chechen government left to speak for me.” This poem has stuck spokesman called the allegations of a with me since I read it in the eighth grade, gay crackdown in Chechnya "an absolute and I remember it now for it’s unfortunate lie," and denied gay men exist in the rerelevance to the events of today. We can’t public.” If Chechnya isn’t going to take all just be looking out for ourselves; we responsibility for the abuse of an entire can’t claim to be a global community if we population of their country, even going don’t have each others’ backs, certainly not so far as to deny their existence, then if we haven’t learned from our mistakes. whose responsibility is it to ensure this This isn’t a gay issue; you don’t have to be situation ends? gay or even like gay or bisexual people to This is a human rights issue, period, care about what is happening in Chechnya. full stop. Besides the many statements These people that are part of our global given by victims to CNN of the abuse gocommunity deserve protection as much as ing on within Chechnya, the claim that anyone else, and it’s up to the rest of the Pictured are the symbols of the United Nations and the Human Rights Campaign gay and bisexual men don’t exist within world to make sure they have it.

By Lexi Thimble Opinion Editor

an entire geographical region is ridiculous, and the implication of this statement to me is chilling. There’s a subtext here of “There aren’t gay men that exist in the republic, and if there are, they won’t exist for much longer.” This kind of terrorization cannot be tolerated, or else we have learned nothing from the events of the Holocaust. We say that we’d never let anything like what happened then happen today, and yet we’re still allowing this corrupt government to be in charge of their own actions. In this circumstance, humanitarian intervention is absolutely necessary to at least fully investigate these accusations.

Supporting Planned Parenthood is Pro-Life

By Alec Lurie Contributing Writer It’s easy to say that you’re anti-abortion. How could someone not be in support of the most mysteriously essential thing to our very existence? How could anyone be against life? Well, it’s much more complicated than that. In fact, being pro-abortion rights is a way of supporting life. Pro-abortion ideals support the general welfare and quality of human life which anti-abortion advocates try to create. Being pro-abortion rights is being pro-life and while the results are harder to see, they’re there. That’s why I support Planned Parenthood.

In February, Fairfield University College Democrats hosted the annual “Let’s Talk Sex” event. It is safe to say that reactions were mixed. Many were excited at the prospects of bringing comprehensive sexual safety to Fairfield, while others were upset with how the club sought to advocate for those needs. There were free condoms, donations collected on behalf of Planned Parenthood and yes, there were penis cookies.

Specifically, to those who were offended by the cookies, I en-

Editorial Board "One Last Hurrah" Allison White Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor Catherine Veschi Managing Editor

courage you to consider why any naturally occurring part of the body would be taboo. If we are candid with ourselves, quite a few of us are very familiar with such shapes.

But, to those who were concerned with the presence of Planned Parenthood on campus, I ask you to consider the following:

Being pro-abortion rights is being pro-life, and while the results are harder to see, they're there.

As of 2014, abortions made up just three percent of Planned Parenthood’s activities, eclipsed by contraceptive services (31 percent), STI/STD testing (45 percent), and other forms of women’s health care (Planned Parenthood Annual Report 2014-2015).

As the academic year comes to an end, another year at The Mirror has come to an end. With this new end, we have seen the development of some amazing staff members that contributed to pushing our boundaries as journalists.

Our Editor-in-Chief Emeritus Jesse Erickson has done wonders for our beloved student newspaper. Not only has she increased our social media presence, but she’s started a race for the best front page.

She pushed the limits of the paper by encouraging each of us to be the best editors and writers that we could be while also starting a love affair with infographics. The standards that she set as a boss are hard to beat. We can’t even explain how much we learned from her.

Being stuck in an office for hours on end can create some cabin fever, but the spirits Jesse brought to the environment made it all worthwhile. She brought the office to life when we needed that extra push to

Three in 10 women will have an abortion by the time they are 45 (Planned Parenthood: Abortion).

In 2010, 68 percent of unplanned pregnancies were funded by the federal government, costing taxpayers $21,000,000,000, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

Forty percent of women who become pregnant while in abusive relationships say that their pregnancy is unintentional, according to the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, an organization devoted to communicating policy to constituents and educators for the purposes of preventing non-consensual sexual interactions.

Currently, in seven states, rapists have custody rights to the children produced by their indiscretion. Additionally, in 21 other states, a formal conviction is needed to end a rapist’s rights to custody. This is very conditional and in some states does not apply if the victim and the assailant lived together at the time of the rape, according to CNN. Unintended pregnancies often result in medical complications such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and prolonged cycles of poverty for women and men with limited funds, according to the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

get through the night. She was our source of tough love when we needed to be told to get our work done more efficiently. Through her work ethic and strive to be the best, we were inspired to model this.

In regards to another mentor, our Online News Editor and Fashion Columnist Nicole Funaro constantly cared for us and praised us for our hard work. She supported us to be a successful group of journalists in order to create a great issue every week.

She also brought new ideas to the table by providing the concepts of Crack in the Mirror and Fairfield in a Flash on a weekly basis. Through her presence, we were able to get a break from our grueling work with a friendly face. And of course, her fashion advice always proved to be on point.

While our editors are vital to the staff, so are the people behind-the-scenes. The newspaper couldn’t function without the work of our Director of Finance Emeritus Stephanie Van Fleet, who seems to always

be “on fleek.” Her passion behind maintaining our well-oiled machine showed that she poured herself into making us economically stable. Outside of her work, her humor was always genuine and though she may not have always had much to say, her actions were always very profound.

Lastly, we would love to acknowledge the freshest face of the bunch, our Online Vine Editor Shana Lynch. She helped us grow our presence online and gave us advice on the best Fairfield eats. Not only did she provide Jesse with emotional support as EIC, but she also let us crash her beach house. We appreciated her smiling face whenever we got the opportunity to have her in the office.

Although every year brings a new staff, this past one was something special. One of the best parts of college comes from building relationships and this staff proved to be the best family we could find at Fairfield.

Opinion

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THE MIRROR | Week of April 26, 2017

Southbury Training School is A Community Necessity With the fast-approaching advent of the resignation of Developmental Services commissioner Morna Murray, deinstitutionalization ideologues have seized on this moment to reignite the push to shut down the Southbury Training School, a residential facility for individuals with developmental disabilities. The future of STS is not only wrought with practical consequences for the families and residents of the school, many of whom ardently support the school’s continuation, but represents an impasse in the treatment of the developmentally disabled in Connecticut.

While I don’t for a moment doubt the good intentions of many advocates, some calling for Southbury’s closure appear more concerned with moral posturing over the dissolution of an institutional dungeon that exists only in their own conception than dealing with the issue of the waiting list for families with disabled children. There is an incessant need for some folks to “prove” that the developmentally disabled “don’t need institutions,” and the closure of an institution that serves the neediest among us with dignity and integration is seen as the apex of a sort of civil rights crusade.

The privatization lobby has applauded efforts that tie one hand behind Southbury’s back, with all sorts of budget cuts and the termination vendetta on admissions, and has expected it to perform as well as the unchained group home model. To Southbury’s credit, they’ve largely arisen to that challenge. But with the arbitrary freeze on admissions, Southbury is left without the ability to implement economies of scale, reduce per patient costs and streamline operations.

Forced to only retain the highest need clients through the natural self-sorting that has occurred with those leaving institutionalized settings, it is no surprise that Southbury has become a scapegoat for the unenviable problem of the Department of Developmental Services waiting list.

There is a manifest irony in the desire to shut the school down in that Southbury sits as an institution willing and able to open its doors to some on the waiting list who could benefit from the more stable care STS can provide. The campus is surprisingly well-maintained; even the buildings that have ceased to be used are scrupulously preserved for any potential future uses. If the privatization lobby’s ultimate concern is with individual choice, then they ought to support cutting the chains that bind Southbury from serving a real need.

Folks today have a predilection for wanting to take part in a great liberation movement irrespective of its actual merits; they want to revel in the change-making virtue that rightfully engulfed our civil rights forbearers. But it seems

that privatization activists are fighting a ghost of Southbury Kassel notes “that those in the academic community, who from the 1960s; STS has had a myriad of dark moments in have looked at this issue objectively and scientifically, have its history, but the Southbury of today is an entirely different not reached a consensus that the community is better for eventity from the institution that shared its admittedly sub- eryone. Instead, the scholarly literature on this topic appears stantial flaws with all other institutions of the day. South- to support the contention that “one size doesn’t fit all.” Kasbury has already taken tremendous steps to provide the sel cites voluminous amounts of literature on the topic, and while it may be true that community placements are superihighest degree of choice to their residents.

In the landmark deinstitutionalization ruling of Olm- or for many of the developmentally disabled, for those “with stead v. L.C., while the Supreme Court held that community severe and profound levels of disability,” and “those [who] placement ought to be available for all for whom it would be are older or have complicated medical conditions, institubeneficial, the majority offered the following qualifier: “[w] tions such as STS continue to play a vital role in their care.”

For the good of the children and adults on the placee emphasize that nothing in the [Americans with Disabilities Act] or its implementing regulations condones termina- ment waiting list, we ought to open Southbury and allow tion of institutional settings for persons unable to handle or those with disabilities and their families true choice in their benefit from community settings...[n]or is there any federal care. The Southbury Training School is woven into the fabrequirement that community-based treatment be imposed ric of the town of Southbury, adored as a breathing opus of history and a statement of our community’s desire to serve on patients who do not desire it.”

The privatization lobby has bullied Southbury into ir- the less fortunate. The arbitrary veil on Southbury admisrelevance by condemning the facility to closure. It seems that sions ought to end, and a new generation of the Southbury the privatization lobby for community placements wants to Training School will help resolve the moral blight of the show that because it is hard for Southbury to remain cost waiting list for group home placement. efficient with the highest need clients and the inability to create economies of scale, that the immediate liquidation of the institutional option is the only possible solution to the waiting list problem.

Amongst feigned calls of the supposed monopoly of the social science literature’s rejection of institutional settings for the developmentally disabled, David Kassel of the Home and School Association examined much of the work done in this area. What was eminently clear, he found, was that the hackneyed notion relayed by advocacy groups “that every single longitudinal study proves that institutional patients who move into the community fare better in the community,” fails Creative Commons/www.ct.gov to hold the universal water that activists would like to claim. Pictured is the exterior of the Southbury Training School in Southbury, Conn.

Planned Parenthood Is a Necessary Option Continued from page  Few, if any, have an enjoyable time when they visit Planned Parenthood. Why would they? The services they provide are sad necessities for so many. I support Planned Parenthood because it is a just effort to support the economically limited, the victims of sexual assault and those who simply are not ready to become parents. These are Americans, and they need you and me to support their lives. Being pro-abortion rights is an investment in American livelihood. Parenthood is a wonderful thing. Few, if any, will deny that. But if parenthood is unplanned, it can be dangerous. It can be dangerous to the child, to the parents and surprisingly, to taxpayers. Before we advocate for the rights of the unborn, we must first ensure the rights of the already-born. I will stand with Planned Parenthood as long as Planned Parenthood stands, because they exemplify the forceful belief in American equity, so professed by our school and our country. You should too.

Information compiled from plannedparenthood.org, endsexualviolence.org, and CNN

The Vine

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

Students Applaud Theater Fairfield's 'Taming of the Shrew'

CreativeCommons/cqsisu.com CreativeCommons/PublicDomainPictures Photo Contributed by Lynne Porter Photo Illustration by Alicia Phaneuf

THE MIRROR | Week of April 26, 2017

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A Chilling Depiction of 'Taming of the Shrew'

By Cara Lee Assistant Vine Editor

I have always found “The Taming of the Shrew” to be one of the most terrifying of Shakespeare’s works. It has no ghosts, no witches, no murders and no convoluted incestuous love affairs. Yet there are scenes that, when done right, send chills through the audience — and this production was done spectacularly right. The play is underlied with allusions of an abusive relationship as Petruchio (Emily Ramsey ‘20) tries to “tame” Katherina (Liam Cahill ‘18), the “shrew.” Katherina is forced to leave her home directly after their wedding, her screams ring from their off stage bedroom on her and Petruchio’s wedding night and she is left starving and begging for food in soiled clothing in the days after. Somehow, Ramsey and Cahill stole the show, portraying the tale in a way worthy of a Shakespearean work where his genius can change an audience’s mind on an entire topic with only a few cleverly played words. The gender-bent “Taming of the Shrew” director, Tom Schwans, took the twisted story and portrayed it as terrifying art.

Yet it was these two young actors who convinced their eagerly watching audience to approve of Petruchio and Katherina’s sick “happy ending” at the conclusion of the show, despite the unanimous disgust and confusion over the abusiveness of the relationship.

The entire cast did an amazing job and from the use of modern technology, costumes and music to the inclusion of a party with beer pong at intermission, the entire cast made a point to add something for everyone into the play.

“I thought the play was so good,” enthused Tasha Lynch ’20. “It was funny and I loved how they modernized parts of it while sticking with the original language. They had screens throughout the room which showed what appeared on the actors’ phones and that really added something to the performance.”

Also, knowing that many members of the audience were only in attendance for class requirements, the entire cast worked hard to draw everyone into the play by using audience participation. A move that resulted in the cast orchestrating an elaborate ploy each night which was initiated by an actor placed as a plant in the audience. Each performance, Jordan Mason ‘19 was seemingly randomly selected as one of the many audience members chosen to briefly participate in the play. After being “selected,” Mason was whisked from her seat in a convincing state of confusion before being thrust into the middle of

a scene. After 30 seconds of looking lost and desperately looking into the crowd for advice on what she should do, she suddenly stepped forward and the entire audience jumped as she began eloquently reciting each Shakespearean line perfectly, transforming seamlessly from a nervous bystander into an actress in her element. It was a wonderful addition to the performance.

The gender reversal was not quite what everyone expected.

While some knew that the opposite genders would be responding to the opposing pronouns for the night, some thought that the play was simply being changed; for example, that Petruchio would be Petruchia and would be a girl. Instead, it was fascinating to see this complete reversal and how easily the cast kept up with the gender-bending charade, continuing it in that whenever they addressed audience members, they would refer to those who appeared to be male as “ma’am” and those who appeared to be female as “sir.” Despite spinning around and addressing numerous people within seconds of each other, the actors never once slipped up, a difficult task as they would interlace these comments in between their lines of original Shakespearean language and in some cases, Italian.

“I thought it was cool,” Carlos Mesquita ‘17 commented on the gender-bent production, “how the cast kept up with the switched genders throughout the performance. Between that and the special effects with the phones, I really enjoyed it and it was my first experience with ‘Taming of the Shrew.’ I’m glad I came to see it.”

Freshman Nick Trewartha was one of the many students who went to see the play for class, but who greatly enjoyed the experience.

“We read this play in class and I was very impressed with the performance and the portrayals. It was very interesting and it also came off very differently than when we read it in class, even though it was the same language. It was a fantastic performance,” Trewartha said.

Trewartha saw a preview performance on Wednesday, April 19 and so was among the first to see “Taming of the Shrew.” He immediately recommended the play to his friends who, he commented, all also enjoyed the performance.

This gender-bent showing of “The Taming of the Shrew” was a must-see show, and anyone who missed it has missed out on a great and fascinating experience. The show gave me, and many others, a new respect for the original play that will not readily fade.

Deanna Carbone/The Mirror

Photo Contributed by Sophia Palmieri

Michael Gallager's Journal of Landscapes

By Alicia Phaneuf Vine Editor A diary can be described as the capsule of one’s adventures and passions, and a means of providing a safe haven for complete individual expression. Artist Michael Gallagher provides the Fairfield University Art Museum with his own colorful diary that holds numerous paintings from his journeys around the world. Including pieces depicting the beauty of North America to the alluring charm of Europe, Gallagher provides artwork ranging from the beaches of Maine to the hills of Italy. Opening his artistic diary for the Fairfield community provides viewers with a first class ticket to the most beautiful landscapes and sceneries around the world.

The exhibition entitled “A Plein Air Journal” can be translated to, “being outdoors” — an outdoor journal. According to Gallagher, he was slightly hesitant about putting his pieces on display.

“This was all Linda’s [Linda Wolk-Simon, director of the Bellarmine Museum, Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery and University curator] idea. I was a very reluctant dance partner, I told her these paintings are sort of private for me. I typically just do this for myself and it’s more like keeping a diary, which is how she came up with the idea of the title, the idea of a journal. She was very persuasive and I’m very glad she thought of me.”

Showcasing over 40 landscapes, the exhibition highlights Gallagher’s graceful watercolor skills and some oil pieces as well. Using mediums such as watercolor, wax crayons and candle wax, Gallagher is able to portray detailed hills and rushing water.

Sophomore Daniel Pisani enjoyed his experience at the exhibition. “I find it interesting that Gallagher can incorporate so many different styles of landscapes. In the Northern California collection one piece demonstrates really calm water and the piece next to it shows aggressive and rapid waters, so it’s just really interesting how he can capture the different

weather patterns through these different landscapes,” said Pisani.

In addition to travelling the world and painting beautiful landscapes, Gallagher is also the Sherman Fairchild Conservator in Charge of the Department of Painting Conservation at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He’s worked on conserving pieces from renowned artists including Botticelli, Michelangelo, Rubens and many others.

“I’ve always done work, but I’ve done a lot of things in the city and in Italy, and I began to consistently do landscape pieces starting in the early 2000s,” explained Gallagher. “A lot of it had to do with where I was. When I have the free time it’s normally when I travel to somewhere, and I gravitate towards some of the beauty of the landscapes. I still am really excited if I see ruins and buildings of the sort.”

Fairfield Art Museum intern Katie Duncan ‘18 talked about her experience with not only observing the exhibition but also having the opportunity to speak with the eloquent Gallagher.

“From an intern's perspective, we’ve worked on this for several months and it’s really cool to see how it all came together. Our last exhibition was also a landscape exhibition, so it’s kind of interesting to see another landscape exhibition because I personally really like landscapes,” said Duncan. “Also, it’s really cool that Michael Gallagher is here because I’ve had the opportunity to meet with the artist and he’s such a humble man.”

The work in the exhibition ranges between the years from when he was still a student (1981) until 2016. Although it may appear that there are some time gaps amongst the paintings, this is simply because Gallagher was painting buildings and other sorts of images rather than landscapes — which the exhibition is focused on. Support of the exhibition is provided by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and will be on display until Sept. 8.

Alicia Phaneuf/TheMirror

THE MIRROR | Week of April 26, 2017

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The Chainsmokers Pull 'Closer' to Success

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor

As thousands of eager fans lined up outside Webster Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. the hype surrounding The Chainsmokers’ upcoming performance was palpable. The electronic dance music duo had recently debuted their first album titled “Memories: Do Not Open,” and Bridgeport was just the fifth stop on their highly publicized Memories Do Not Open Tour. For those disappointed by the new album, the concert brought songs from the old Chainsmokers, and they gave everyone in attendance a night to remember.

After a turbulent performance from a DJ K?D and a surprise appearance from singer Kiiara, the arena went black before Drew Taggart’s voice echoed from wall to wall as he began to sing “The One.” In front of a sold out crowd, Taggart and Alex Pall appeared from the darkness before heading into the drop of the song and setting the tone for the show.

The Chainsmokers then proceeded to be predictable, yet uniquely inventive throughout the show. They would switch between a song from their new album such as “Honest” or “Young” and classic Chainsmokers jams like “Roses” and “New York City.” But the interesting ways in which they moved into their songs is what really stuck out to me.

For example, the group played “Teach Me

How to Dougie” as an introduction to “Don’t Let Me Down,” a staple of the Chainsmokers’ rise to fame. Additionally, they used “The Next Episode” Chris Murphy the group performed a show that words could barely describe.

“Absolutely breathtaking, gorgeous and exhilarating,” Murphy said. “Bravo, Chainsmokers!”

Furthermore, the light display put on during the show thoroughly impressed those in attendance.

“They sounded awesome,” Zach Rooney ‘19 said of The Chainsmokers. “They did a really great job of keeping the fans excited for what was going to happen next through great pyrotechnics and special effects.”

But, as expected, the climax of the night was when “Closer” began playing and everyone in the audience started recording the song. To be honest, seeing the song played live was not as awesome as I thought it would be. I think the song was overhyped and the idea that it would be just as fantastic in concert as it is on the radio was ill-fated.

The spectacle closed with “Paris” as the crowd got its last pictures and videos in after the hour and a half performance came to a close. Other than a few microphone mishaps, the show went flawlessly. Overall, it was one heck of a Thursday night as Webster Bank Arena was filled to the brim to see one of the hottest music groups on the planet.

Photos taken from the Chainsmokers' Instagram

Heard It Through The GrapeVINE

By Cara Lee Assistant Vine Editor Since its creation, music has inspired and influenced. Musicians hold benefit concerts where proceeds are donated to help various causes. Songwriters and organizations write songs to raise awareness of events or world issues. Now, during a time when conversations surrounding women, gender and sexuality have become commonplace, a number of songs have been written to support those included in these groups.

So, Fairfield University’s women, gender & sexuality studies department has worked together to compile a playlist of these songs.

From biology and business to ethics and English, these 12 professors have ensured that any student can participate in one of Fairfield’s newest interdisciplinary minors — women, gender & sexuality studies. Not only are courses contributing to the minor available in nearly every department, it is possible to earn the minor by taking only one course in addition to core classes. This accessibility to the minor is especially important because of the growing interest in the field due to the world’s and Fairfield’s current climate, where there are events on these topics held every month, from trips to participate in the Women’s March in January to the Anna Arnold Hedgeman talk in March.

Dr. Emily Orlando, the director of the WGSS department and English professor, recently announced that there are currently 69 participants and counting in the WGSS minor, a huge jump since the 25 participants in spring 2015.

From songs that promote self-esteem and world mentality, to songs that encourage activism and counteract traditional stereotypes, here are seven songs selected by members of the WGSS department.

Daya — "Sit Still, Look Pretty" “This is a theme for my course, Literature by Women. Women have historically been asked to sit in the corner, shut up, smile, and make themselves attrac-

tive to men, even when they may not be attracted to men.” -Dr. Orlando

pecially when she sings ‘I am a woman, I am an artist, and I know where my voice belongs.’” - Dr. Orlando

Ani Difranco — “Not a Pretty Girl” “Because gender stereotypes suck.” – Professor Maggie Labinski, Philosophy

Gloria Gaynor — “I Will Survive” “Because survival is the first step, and reflecting upon your own strength is how you get there.” - Professor Labinski

India.Arie — "I Am Not My Hair" “In this song, the artist empowers women — and especially black women — to love themselves based on who they are within. In a world where women are constantly critiqued based on how they look this is vitally important. For recent examples, consider comments about Rep. Maxine Waters' hair and the resulting #blackwomenatwork trend on Twitter.” -Dr. Rachelle Brunn-Bevel, Sociology and Anthropology Pat Benatar — "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" “This song advocates for an equal playing ground, which women still don't enjoy in the workplace. You can see this by looking at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.” - Dr. Orlando

Aretha Franklin — “Respect” “Aretha is confident and powerful as she literally spells it out for her audience, commanding attention and making everyone listen up. She encourages women to value themselves and expect others to give them R-e-s-p-e-c-t!”

Photo contributed by Tess Pieragostini -Dr. Johanna Garvey, English The above photo displays Dr. Maggie Labinski, Dr. Jocelyn Boryczka, "The anthem for HI 245 Feminism in and Dr. Emily Orlando the United States as performed by the Queen of Soul exemplifies an essential goal of the women's liberation movement and signals a revolution Do you want to be featured in the GrapeVINE? to which you can dance."-Dr. Elizabeth Hohl, History Please email a list of 5-7 of your favorite songs and a picture of yourself that we can use to alicia.phaneuf@ Dianne Reeves — "Endangered Species" student.fairfield.edu “This is a powerful ode to the woman artist, es-

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THE MIRROR | Week of April 26, 2017

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ashionably airfield

by Nicole Funaro

One More Thing...

I have a secret. I have a secret and I’ve been waiting until this column — my very last fashion column ever for The Mirror — to share it. Ready?

I hate fashion. There. I said it. Now let me explain.

There is a distinct difference between fashion and style, a fine line that often gets blurred and lost in a whirlwind of runway shows, flashy clothes and celebrity streetwear. But there is a marked difference between the two and I recognized that distinction many years ago when I read a book called “The Truth About Style” by former “What Not to Wear” host Stacy London.

In the first chapter of her book, she argued that fashion is the industry that promotes “one body ideal,” and not only that, it is “built on, and thrives on, our collective insecurity.” While it does promote creativity in design, London said that ultimately, fashion is about obsessing over our looks and trying to align ourselves with the industry’s standards.

But style, she wrote, is personal. Style is about who we are as individuals; it’s about constructing what best suits us or enhances us. It is, as London said, about being “the best version of yourself, not a poor version of someone else’s ideal.”

These are the words that have changed the way I think about fashion and style. And these are the words I wish to leave you with. In my two years as your fashion columnist, I have offered advice on trends, done research into fashion industry news and even profiled some of our most fashionable Stags. I’ve done a lot of writing about fashion, but what I want to write about now, in this final column, is style.

While the fashion industry is starting to change, offering more inclusivity and showcasing more diverse images of

beauty, the industry is not adapting quickly enough. So my hope, dear Stags, is that you never look at fashion — the industry — as a place from which to draw your self worth. I hope you never ogle at a runway show and wonder what you can do to look like the models that stalk down the catwalk. I hope you never measure yourself against narrow beauty standards, because those standards are not made to be met; they are made to be broken and challenged at every turn, because beauty is not one-size-fits-all.

Instead, my wish for you is that you build a style that is representative of who you are and all the wonderful things you are made of. I hope you realize that style can (and should) make you feel comfortable in your own skin — not make you feel that you need to change. Above all, I hope you recognize the power you hold in determining your own worth; you get to decide what makes you feel beautiful or handsome, confident or powerful.

Now my time to offer advice has come to an end. But before I go, I want you to know that it has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve as your fashion columnist for the past two years. I am grateful to have had this opportunity, to have written about a topic dear to my heart and to have worked with such an incredible staff to make this column possible. To the readers and to the staff, thank you.

Wait. Just one more thing: I have another secret.

The message of this column was as much for me as it was for you.

Fashionably yours, Nicole Nicole Funaro/The Mirror

Thirteen Reasons Why Not to Watch '13 Reasons Why'

By Sabina Dirienzo Chief Copy Editor

I watched Netflix’s new series, “13 Reasons Why,” so you don’t have to.

“13 Reasons Why,” based on the novel by Jay Asher, details the aftermath of high school student Hannah Baker’s suicide. Hannah leaves 13 tapes to 13 people, which tell these people how their actions caused her to kill herself. Her fellow classmate, Clay Jensen, is a subject of one of the tapes and takes it upon himself to investigate the suicide. The film is garnering lots of attention, especially through Facebook memes, but regardless, here’s why you shouldn’t bother watching it.

1. The timeline can get super confusing.

Large portions of the show take place in the past, when Hannah was dead, but sometimes the transition from past to present can be indistinguishable, especially at the times when Clay is imagining Hannah’s voice or face. Some viewers believe, as detailed by Seventeen, that Clay’s recurring head wounds are the show’s way of distinguishing timelines. This can still be confusing, as sometimes the viewer has more important pieces of action to watch than Clay’s forehead.

2. The teenage house parties don’t make sense. There are always a million people there, no one’s parents are ever even a vague concern and kids are OK with their house being trashed. Somehow Hannah threw a raging house party before she knew anyone besides two people in town, and of those two, we only know how she met Clay. Why is everyone coming to her party? Why is everyone’s house ridiculously large?

3. Hannah’s mental health is never actually discussed. The circumstances behind her suicide appear to the viewer to be mostly caused by outside people. That shouldn’t be entirely the case. While outside factors may contribute, Hannah’s depression would be an internal circumstance that the show should acknowledge if it wants to adequately address teen suicide.

4. Clay is insufferable. While he’s investigating the circumstances of Hannah’s death, he constantly makes her life and death about himself, acting as if he was the only person who could have

possibly saved her, even though 12 other people also have tapes. I really enjoyed when he got repeatedly punched, though.

5. Every single parent in the show is basically the same. The parents in the show don’t understand their children, and their efforts to do so are portrayed as annoying and misguided. Many teenagers may feel that their parents don’t understand them, but this isn’t the most helpful or original thing to demonstrate in a show aimed at teenagers.

6. Tony basically exists to be a plot device. Eventually we learn about his motivations, but that doesn’t explain why he’s somehow conveniently everywhere. He could be responsible for the tapes without somehow being the magic glue that holds the entire plot together and yet he is.

7. Hannah is a “manic pixie dream girl.” TV Tropes describes this character in an article of the same name, “She's inexplicably obsessed with our stuffed-shirt hero, on whom she will focus her kuh-razy antics until he learns to live freely and love madly.” This accurately describes Hannah’s post-mortem behavior and messages to Clay, and makes her death about him.

8. “13 Reasons Why” subscribes to the stereotype of ‘suicide as revenge.’ Hannah kills herself partially to get revenge on 13 other people and punishes them through the tapes. Her suicide is framed

based on their actions and is used to make them guilty.

9. The graphic scenes in the show are too long and really distressing. The details of the scenes themselves are extreme spoilers – if you do still want to watch the show – but they’re very long and uncomfortable to watch.

It would be one thing if they were short and uncomfortable to watch, but instead they’re so lengthy that I found myself leaving my laptop to take a break instead of watching.

10. The actors playing the teenagers are too old to actually look like teenagers. Dylan Minnette, the actor who plays Clay Jensen, is only 20, as is Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford). But this isn’t true for the other actors – Tony (Christian Navarro) is 25, Justin (Brandon Flynn) is 24 and Bryce (Justin Prentice) is 23. Alex, supposedly a high school underclassman, is played by 22-year-old Miles Heizer. When all of the actors in the show are obviously older than high school students, it removes the viewer from the experience of watching the show. I found myself thinking “these people are clearly too old to be high school students” more than once. Putting grown adults in varsity jackets doesn’t make them look any more like high school students; it makes them look weird.

11. All of the male actors in the show look similar. Most of the male characters are brown-haired white men – I couldn’t tell Justin, Josh or Bryce apart. This makes watching “Thirteen Reasons Why” difficult when you’re trying to keep complicated plot lines as straight as possible. One of these boys could definitely have a different hair color or wear something other than a varsity jacket.

12. The characters aren’t well developed. Even Clay doesn’t feel fully fleshed out and he is one of the main characters. We don’t know how Clay exists outside of his relationship with Hannah and her death, and rather than being a character on his own, he feels more like a tool through which the viewer can hear the mystery.

13. There are better shows about teenagers and mental health on Netflix. If you want to see a show that deals with similar issues as “13 Reasons Why,” try “Skins,” “The Get Down,” or even “Degrassi.”

They’re honestly a better use of your time.

THE MIRROR | Week of April 26, 2017

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Inkwell Spotlight

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Divine Sign Language

By Margaret Moore Contributing Writer at The Inkwell

Left for Dead: John Mayer Falters With Latest Record

By Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor

As a self-proclaimed DeadHead, I have learned slowly to love John Mayer as his recent stint with Dead & Company has revitalized decades-old music for fans looking for an entry point to one of America’s most prolific ensembles. While 2013’s “Paradise Valley” felt more like a precursor for the endeavor, “The Search For Everything” falls back into the stigma of melodic soft rock that has turned Mayer into a cliché of the “celebrity rockstar.”

Barring Mayer’s lackluster lyrical abilities, I must commend his guitar chops, which essentially landed him the role within the echelons of the Dead anthology. Look to “Helpless,” which reminisces within the aura of The Stones’ “Miss You,” carrying a funk tone that brings Mayer back to his roots. Collaborating with bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan (the three of which form the John Mayer Trio), this track exudes the most honest tone in Mayer’s repertoire, resonating why I fell for Mayer’s music in the first place.

“Moving On and Getting Over,” Mayer’s hallmark of his latest collection of songs, provides the sex appeal that fans had been craving for the past four years, bringing together a stylish rhythm and enigmatic lyrics; “Tell me I can keep the door cracked open, to let light through/For all my running, I can understand/I'm one text away from being back again.” “Still Feel Like Your Man,” the introduction to “The Search For Everything” immediately brings the listener back to 2006’s “Continuum,” where Mayer reigned over the music industry as a prince amongst paupers.

Outside of these aforementioned compositions, “The Search For Everything” slips as a forgettable album that is unable to rise to the occasion of competing with Mayer’s recent string of success in terms of proficiency with Dead & Company. Songs like “Emoji of a Wave” and “Love on the Weekend” attempt to keep Mayer relevant with modern themes of technology and romance, yet fall short of the spectacle that keeps Mayer on top.

By Ariana Puzzo Online Editor-in-Chief Literature, history and politics are at the forefront of British culture, yet cafés are also a significant cultural aspect that one has to take into account if he or she chooses to study abroad or live in London, England. Cafés are a place where friends can meet, people can discuss business and in general, you can relax after a long day at work or classes.

There are many different cafés throughout London, some small in size and others more commercial, but they all have something to offer and are great spots to spend downtime when you are not in class and do not want to go too far.

1. Bloomsbury Coffee House – My favorite café is located at 20 Tavistock Pl in the King’s Cross area, and is a hole-in-the-wall shop that one would miss if not purposefully looking for it. The front of the café has a sign hanging above the entryway with the café’s name, and then you go down a set of outdoor stairs to enter the shop. Once inside, there are seating options in the front room, as well as the back room, and plenty of options to choose from to eat: there are pastries, sandwiches, teas, juices and many other delicacies. Once you order, you are given a wooden spoon with a number on it, and you can wait at your table for your meal or the treat of your choice, while doing any work you may have on the free Wi-Fi. 2. Pret A Manger – Pret is a classic café chain that is impossible to miss if you spend any time in London.

Practically on every corner, Pret is the commercial, go-to option when you are on the run and do not have time to sit around with a cup of tea or coffee. Options range from juices, salads and fruit bowls to sandwiches, toasties (a toasted sandwich) and soups. Whether you choose to run back to your accommodation or to class with your meal, or sit at one of the window seats watching people race by, Pret is a fixture that is relatively inexpensive and is one

that I am not ready to lose easy access to when I return to the United States in a month’s time.

3. Will to Win Regents Park Tennis Centre – One of the many cafés in Regents Park, Will to Win is also a tennis center. The café is ideal on a cool spring day to sit indoors by the window or on a warm spring day, especially when people are outside playing tennis. Another café that has free Wi-Fi, it is easy to find yourself spending hours there, drinking a warm drink and admiring the blooming scenery.

4. The Hub – Another café in Regents Park, the best part of The Hub is the hill that it is on and the open field that it overlooks. The entire café is encased by glass, so it provides a beautiful view on a cool day, but when the weather is nice, you and your friends can move outside to either sit at the picnic tables provided, or on the grass. I spent a 70 degree and sunny Saturday on that hill and when we were not basking in the sunlight, my friend and I were watching the people playing soccer on the pitches (fields).

It was in the middle of the storm when I first said it And actually meant it.

It was pouring by then, And I found myself right in the middle of it, Getting soaked.

They tried to offer me an umbrella, To show me that it would pass, But I didn’t buy it.

“There is no safe place and no safe place to put my head…”

I didn’t think I would see the sun here again.

The warm feelings that I once had were gone.

There was no use in trying any retrieving.

“When you can feel the world shake from the words that are said…”

“I’m leaving,” I said.

“I’m going.

At the end of the year if I can’t go now.

There’s nothing that anybody can say to change my mind.”

My family begged me to stay, But said that I could move along if I still felt this way.

One more semester, I promised, Then that would be it.

There was still something, though, That made me reluctant to leave.

It just didn’t make sense— How could this be part of His plan?

Why would He want me to leave After I had followed Him here?

Why would He want me to leave a place that was focused on Him? Where was He in all of this?

I knew He was there somewhere, But where?

“I want a reason for the way things have to be.”

So, One night, I started praying.

Lord, I said, “I need a sign to let me know You’re here.”

You know You have my heart, God. I’ll stay if You want me to, But “I need to know that things are gonna look up” ‘Cause I can’t go on like this.

“I need a hand to help build up some kind of hope inside of me.”

So I’ll give it one more semester — Fifteen more weeks— And, If things don’t change, I’ll know that this is not in the plan’s range.

So I waited and listened and hoped and prayed Wondering when the response would be conveyed.

Little did I know, It was in the works.

While I heard nothing, He was putting everything into action, Sending down the rescue team, Saying “I’m calling all angels.

I’m calling all you angels.”

Go find her, Guide her, Show her back from where she went astray.

Tell her not to pack.

Tell her that she is meant to stay.

So they flew in at just the right minute, Cheering and guiding and lifting me up, Restoring peace, happiness, and love, And suddenly I had my answer.

“Okay, Lord, I get it. I’ll stay.

I know that You will be with me all the way.

I won’t give up if You don’t give up.”

Ariana Puzzo/TheMirror

CreativeCommons/Pinterest

THE MIRROR | Week of April 26, 2017

Coffee Break

Page 12

COFFEE BREAK Editor: Claire Monahan

For Fairfield’s 75th anniversary, The Mirror is bringing back one of it’s most iconic features: Boos and Cheers. Boos and Cheers is a section in the paper where you can anonymously submit tips about the things you’re happy about and the things you’re unhappy about. It’s a place where your inside jokes get published but only your group of friends understands what they mean. Better watch out next time you decide to cry and tell your Uber driver your entire life story … you never know if you’ll end up in Boos and Cheers!

Boooos

Cheers

To the last week of The Mirror … to my professor for starting our 50 minute class a half an hour late instead of just cancelling it … to my professor adding an extra class at 9:30 even though our class doesn’t meet Tuesdays and normally is at 12:30 … to having all 8 a.m. finals … to having final papers for all of my classes … to Clam Jam having 21 and up bracelets … to papers I haven’t started … to events that go too long … to giving up sleep for the next two weeks … to registration … to being blocked from classes I need to take … to waking up at noon … for my 8 a.m. … to professors who won’t write you in … to having 0 idea of what you’re grade is … to having two exams the week before finals … to not getting the classes I wanted … to the weather … to registering last … to tent food … to finals … to it raining every time i have to walk to DSB … to colony running out of pizza … to no more chocolate milkshakes in the stag … to puddles … to fake waterproof jackets … to the turkeys … to Juliana …

To the last week of The Mirror … to Clam Jam … to the best formal date … to England for having a bank holiday next Monday and it being a long weekend … to Mirror formal … to naps … to hitting a decade number of Phish shows summer … to being done with chem lab forever … to Bethany … to the last edition of The Mirror … to professors who understand the desperation … to last full week of classes … to being done at 1030 on friday’s next semester … to finishing pointless books … to getting even closer to summer … to the end of the longest semester of my life … to fiesta friday … to colony grill love of my life … to the finish line in sight … to this hellish day being over … to gender whatever at the Levi … to Juliana … to discovering bomb playlists … to me … to being the greatest friend ever … to going abroad … to people you can gossip with … to all those praying for my soul during these dark times … to the best co-news editor ever Deanna Carbone … to the second best co-news editor ever …

Sitting Down with Former Mirror Editor-in-Chief Loan Le ‘14 What was your major/ minor?

A: I majored in English, with concentrations in journalism and creative writing.

Where did you live all four years?

A: Freshman year to senior year: Campion, Loyola, McInnes, and Dolan.

What were all of your roles on The Mirror?

A: My career ran from September 2010 to March 2014. I was a contributing writer, assistant Vine editor, Vine editor, executive editor, and finally, editor-in-chief.

Contributed by Loan Le Loan Le (above) is currently an Editoral Assistant at Atria Books and is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts at Fairfield.

What was the most controversial story you published as Editor-inChief?

A: At Apollo Night in 2014, a group of students had stopped the show to allow one performer to deliver

a poem that the Office of ResLife had barred. ResLife said that the language in the poem could be deemed offensive to the audience, which had not just students, but also parents and their children. The story was controversial because it spurred subsequent op-eds and really made some students think of the power dynamic between students and staff and the boundaries of free expression on campus.

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

A: I loved working with a group of passionate and intelligent team members and I’m so proud of what we all accomplished. I really learned a lot, especially about accountability.

If you made a mistake, fix it. If you did well, do even better next time!

More positive things than negative

but I do remember the late nights were extremely difficult. As editorin-chief, I was responsible for sending out the pages to the printers . . . sometimes, I’d have to stay until 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, then go to class. Also, being editor-in-chief and a leader required me to break away from my natural introverted tendencies (like, hiding in a corner).

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

A: During my Mirror career, I definitely honed my editorial sensibilities, which transfer well to my current job in book publishing (Simon & Schuster). I still ask many of the same questions that we asked in the newsroom: will consumers read this book? Will it be relevant by the time it publishes? Interviewing people and working with a team definitely made me more aware of

how I should present myself and also how important it is to do your job well in order to help others successfully do theirs.

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

A: I was—and still am—that kid who hated social gatherings, so I didn’t go to many Clam Jams. I don’t have a favorite memory of Fairfield; I can’t pick just one. As for Mirrorrelated, it’s the same deal, but I still remember the first issue the new staff had sent out on a late Tuesday night. Luigi, the managing editor, is this big, tall guy and he lifted me and Danica (the executive editor) up in the air. There’s a picture floating around in the office somewhere.

Student Stabbed at the Point

By Kelly Sheehan

This story ran in the March 2006 edition of The Mirror, it recounts a student being stabbed off campus. Read the full story at fairfieldmirror.com

A Bridgeport man was arrested on charges of stabbing a Fairfield student in the chest early Sunday morning at a Lantern Point beach house.

As of March 28, 21-year-old Tom Foran ‘06 was reported in stable condition in Bridgeport Hospital. His lung had partially collapsed when he was stabbed.

Sean Wargo, 19, of 198 Prince St., was charged with first-degree assault and breach of peace in the 3:46 a.m. stabbing, Fairfield police said.

“There was a description given and police saw Wargo walking up Reef Road,” Captain Robert Comers said. “Tom identified him.”

Wargo was released on a $5,000 bond and will appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Monday for his arraignment, police said.

Police said the incident occurred on Fairfield Beach Road.

“There was a party going on and the student, Tom, was there,” Comers said. “The dispute was over a coat. Tom and Sean Wargo took the fight outside where the stabbing happened.”

Jen Bourque ‘06, resident of ‘The Undertow’ beach house where the stabbing took place, said she and her housemates did not know Wargo or how he got into their house.

Bourque said a Fairfield student was wearing Wargo’s coat, which angered Wargo.

“This girl tried to get the kid [Wargo] out of the house because no one knew him,” Bourque said. “He wouldn’t listen and that’s when Tom intervened.”

Bourque said she was in her room when Foran was stabbed.

“I heard people yelling about someone getting stabbed,” Bourque said. “I opened the door and a girl was on the phone with 911 and handed me the

phone.”

Brennan Clark ‘06 was also at the party when Foran was stabbed.

“Tom came in and told me that he thought he had been stabbed,” Clark said. “We looked down and saw blood stains on his shirt.”

“A few girls were really upset,” Clark added.

“I don’t think it really hit me at first what was going on. It seemed kind of surreal because you just don’t picture that kind of thing happening at Fairfield.”

Clark said students made Foran sit down and then took off his shirt.

Bourque said when she went downstairs, she saw Foran sitting in a char being helped by two girls.

“They were holding towels over the wound,” Bourque said. “He lost over a liter of blood before he got to the hospital.”

Sports

SPORTS

Sports Editor: Alfredo Torres » sports@fairfieldmirror.com

In Case You

Page 13

THE MIRROR | Week of April 26, 2017

This Week in Sports: Golf Takes On The MAAC

Missed It: Wednesday, April 19th -Quinnipiac defeats Men's Tennis, 6-1 -Women's Lacrosse defeats Iona, 13-9 Thursday, April 20th -Sacred Heart defeats Softball, 11-5 Saturday, April 22nd -Siena defeats Women's Tennis, 5-2 -Baseball defeats Siena, 7-1 -Canisius defeats Women's Lacrosse, 15-10 --Men's Lacrosse defeats Towson, 9-8 Sunday, April 23rd --Baseball defeats Siena, 19-0

Contributed By Sports Information Desk

This past weekend, the Stags men’s golf team traveled to Lake Buena Vista, Fla. to take part in the 2017 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships. Sophomore Kevin Duncan highlighted Fairfield University’s trip to the Sunshine State and the sweet swinging righty finished in 10th place on the final leaderboard. Duncan posted a total score of 228(+12) in his 54-round performance. Junior Eric Austin came in tied for 15th place with a total score of 231, while Alex Ferrante ‘17, Thomas Urcioli ‘19 and graduate student Alex Taylor all finished the third day of the tournament with their best round of the weekend. On another note, the Stags placed a conference best, five players on the MAAC All-Academic Team in Austin, Ferrante, Urcioli and brothers Matthew Walsh ‘19 and Kevin Walsh ‘19. Fairfield looks to continue its success on the links when

Upcoming This Week: Wednesday, April 26th -Women's Lacrosse vs. Manhattan, Contributed by Sports Information Desk

3 p.m.

-Baseball at Stony Brook, 3:30 p.m.

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

Friday, April 28nd -Men's Lacrosse vs. Delaware, 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 29th -Softball vs. Manhattan, 12 p.m.

-Baseball at Niagara, 12 p.m.

Tuesday, May 2nd -Baseball at New Jersey Institute of Technology, 5 p.m.

The women’s team on the other hand finished in eighth place in Florida led by Madison Banas ‘20 who carded an overall score of 254, good enough for 24th place. Senior Daniel Dalessandro also chipped in an impressive performance for the red and white shooting 255 on the weekend, slotting her in 25th place on the leaderboard. Senior Jackie Schofield, Taylor Rogers ‘20 and Arianna Palmeri ‘20 rounded out Fairfield’s group of five golfers who took the links in the Sunshine State. Schofield was also commended for her efforts in the classroom as the senior was tabbed to the MAAC All-Academic Team. She will graduate from the Charles F. Dolan School of Business with a degree in marketing in May. Fairfield returns to the links in the fall as they look to better their finish at the next year’s MAAC Championships.

In this week's issue...

- Stanley Cup Playoff Preview: Skating Into Round II (Page 14)

- Coach's Corner: Featuring Head Coach Jeff Brickers (Page 15)

- Men's Lacrosse Picks Up Victory Over No. 15 Towson (Page 15) - Stags Fall To Conference Foe Canisius 15-10 (Page 16)

Sports

Page 14

THE MIRROR | Week of April 26, 2017

Stanley Cup Playoff Preview : Skating Into Round II

NHL/Instagram After an exciting first round of play that was chock full of upsets, the NHL playoffs gear up for round two. The Washington Capitals appear to be the favorite in the Eastern Conference while the Anaheim Ducks are favorites in the West.

By Patrick Getz Contributing Writer The NHL playoffs are in full swing as contenders enter the second round of the postseason. The first round included two No. 1 ranked teams losing in their respective brackets, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Montreal Canadiens. However, other teams took care of business, with the defending champs the Pittsburgh Penguins winning in five games and the Capitals winning in six games after overcoming an early 2-1 series deficit.

The Nashville Predators and New York Rangers both showed up impressively. The Preds amazingly swept the Blackhawks in four games, considering the Nashville natives were a wild card team. The Rangers overcame a 2-1 deficit to the Flying Frenchmen by rattling three consecutive wins.

One big reason for the Hawks’ early exit was their lack of offense. During the regular season, Chicago hovered right around the league average when it comes to goals scored per game, shots per game and power play goals. However, Nashville shutout the Blackhawks in the first two games of the series. The B-Hawks only scored three goals all series, which is surprising since they averaged a little under three goals a game during the season. The Predators showcased a defensive barrage on the six-time Stanley Cup champions.

Having great performances by goalies are key to a deep run in the NHL playoffs and “The King” gave that to the Rangers. During those three-straight wins for the Blueshirts after being down 2-1, Henrik Lundqvist possessed an outstanding save percentage. He performed consistently to say the least and “King Henrik” saved 94 percent of the shots in those three winning efforts. The Rangers have been blessed by the consistency Lundqvist gives every game especially in the playoffs, not too bad from a former 205th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Draft.

The defending Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets without much worry. Much like New York, the Pens received a spectacular outing from their goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury. In three of the Pittsburgh’s four wins, Fleury saved

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

Allison White Editor-in-Chief

Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor

Your 2016-2017 4x5 Columnists:

Allison White, Alfredo Torres, Daniel Montgomery and Jesse Erickson

Adrian Peterson signs with the Saints. What are your thoughts on the move?

Excited for Clam Jam this weekend?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. announces his retirement from NASCAR. Thoughts?

How are you preparing for Finals Week?

It's Jesse's last 4x5! Any last words for our former boss lady?

This isn't hockey so I have no thoughts.

PUMPED! Last year was my first time thanks to my pal, Jesse, and I can't wait to have some fun in the sun again.

The fact that I actually know him makes it obvious that he's been around for a while so props to you, man.

Also, I totally used to use him as my driver when playing NASCAR on Playstation.

I will be having a Mirror-less week next week, woohoo!!!

Thanks for training me on being the next boss lady and also for screenshotting all of my creative snapchats! Hope I can make you proud by having fun front pages and avoiding the EIC 15!! (Please read Ed Board for once btw.)

But how 'bout them Rangers?!

Hopefully, it doesn't rain...

Alfredo Torres Sports Editor

over 96 percent of the shots, which were in Games 1, 2 and 5. The 32-year-old is showing his prowess in the postseason as he looks to keep it going against the Capitals.

Whenever the Capitals are mentioned, Alex Ovechkin is the first player that comes to mind and he is usually the difference maker when it matters most. Another offensive force emerged to the forefront for the Caps and his name is T.J. Oshie. He contributed seven points this postseason so far and in a pivotal Game 4, he scored two of the Capitals’ five goals en route to their win. The Red Army did not look back and they handled the Toronto Maple Leafs in order.

Looking ahead and coming up in the second round, the most interesting matchup is most certainly the Pens facing the Caps, where the two highest scoring offenses square off in a battle for hockey fans to enjoy. Pittsburgh averaged just under three and a half goals per game and the Capitals averaged just above three goals a game. This series could go either way, since the Capitals are favored to win right now by 51 percent. The play of the goalkeepers dictate this series.

Another series to watch is the New York Rangers duel with the Ottawa Senators. The Rangers also possess a potent offense, since they averaged the fourth highest scoring offense during the regular season. On the contrary, the Sens have a below average scoring offense, placing the 22nd highest scoring offense, as well as only averaging a little over two and a half goals per game.

Compared to the Caps-Pens series, this series is more favored to go toward the Blueshirts with a 59 percentage to win the series. The Rangers have to see this opportunity and make that push for the Stanley Cup. With a number of surprises already in the NHL playoffs, there is still much to see in the second round and beyond. The Predators certainly put themselves on notice for other postseason contenders as well as the Rangers making a surge against Montreal; both took down top-seeded teams. The field of teams is now down to eight and only time will tell which team can bring home the Stanley Cup.

So mostly I will be using this time to catch up on all the sleep I didn't get all semester because of Juliana.

SMH...He should have come to New York and joined Big Blue but no worries, he'll realize that once we make the Super Bowl.

I can't wait, I'm literally counting the hours till Saturday! It's going to be a great time, good weather and good vibes all day!

It's been real Dale, Take Care...

I'm trying not to think about finals because it's literally the worst thing in college. But I'll be watching the NBA Playoffs everyday baby!

Jesse, the end is finally here :( Thanks for everything you have done for me, you will truly be missed. Good luck after graduation, I know you're gonna do you and kill s****. Love You! Long Live Sports!

Just happy AP did not go to the Cowboys!

STOKED! Did not attend last year so we're going big this weekend.

Sad to see good ole Dale hang it up. Not a huge racing fan but I love the movie Talladega Nights.

By hoarding food from the stunky tent and watching the NBA Playoffs.

I'll never forget the effort you put into finding out my mother's name...

They're a bunch of saints!

I can't wait to have fun with my pal, Al. Last year, she fell asleep in the sand and then abandoned me with 7 men. I'm not really complaining, mostly just sayin.

I'm also announcing my retirement as a 4x5 superstar. Thoughts about that? I am starting a blog though. I will make the Mirror tweet out the link ASAP.

Jesse Erickson #dadjokes Editor-in-Chief Emeritus (Italian EIC)

I'm headed to Molto on Monday, Taco Loco on Tuesday, Flipside on Wednesday, Local for Thursday, Liffey's on Friday, Lantern Point Saturday and maybe then I'll think about how irrelevant finals are.

I'd like to thank the sports section for shaping me into the man's girl I am today. It would not have been possible without 4 x5 and I am happy to say after 3 and half years of being a part of the sports section, I still don't have a boyfriend. However, I do have a job and can outdrink most men and understand sports, so who wins here?

Sports

Page 15

THE MIRROR | Week of April 26, 2017

Coach's Corner: Featuring Head Coach Jeff Brickers of Tennis

By Alfredo Torres Sports Editor

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror

Last year you guys failed to make the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship for tennis. But fast forward to this year and you're back in it. What can you say about this year's turnaround and the success you guys have had on the court?

JB: It really started with just the leadership we have with the upperclassmen, they’ve done a really good job of bringing the freshmen in and embracing them and teaching them the right ways. The freshmen have really stepped up big for us in the lineup and just the whole team as a whole just really came together and you know, it’s been great.

Talk to me about the performances throughout the season from both Brad Orban and Sarah Stulhmann and what they provide for your team.

JB: You’ve got to have a good one player and both of them lead through example on the court. Brad’s had a really good year, had a really strong, I’d say, middle of the spring season where he was really dominant. Kind of had a bit of a little let down just in the beginning of March, but again, you’re playing one so you’re playing somebody that’s really good everyday and that’s a bit of a grind, and that’s why it takes a special person both Brad and Sarah. Sarah started playing well pretty much at the same time Brad did. Day in and day out, you’re going against someone’s best, there’s just no days off. To have someone like that, that you can rely on is huge and that’s part of the reason we’re doing well on both sides.

Both men's and women's teams got off to a fast start in conference play, how have you seen these teams progress as the season went on?

JB: Just confidence wise, you know when you can start to grab a couple of wins in conference it starts to build and everybody starts to feel better about themselves and what they can do on the court. I play a really tough non-conference schedule for both teams to get us ready for the MAAC’s and just so that they kind of understand that there’s always another level that we need to reach but I also do that so when we get into MAAC’s we’re sort of battle tested. We probably have a few more losses than we like out of conference but again they’re both young teams so that’s kind of by design. But once we got into MAAC’s and we started winning, then they start to believe in themselves and believe they can do it and that’s half the battle.

With MAAC Championship this weekend, how has the team been preparing for its first matchup against Quinnipiac?

JB: They’re loose, we’re the underdogs and that’s OK. The way I say is ‘that’s kind of a veteran team’ I think there’s three starters in their top six and then a fourth one playing doubles for Quinnipiac and we’ve got four freshmen, so we’ve got nothing to lose and they’re playing like it. Obviously our first goal was to get to the MAAC Tournament which we have achieved and the next one was to beat Quinnipiac. To be the best you’ve got to beat the best, so I’m perfectly fine with playing Quinnipiac first and I’m looking forward to the challenge and they’ve stepped up. It’s been nice for about 10 days to know who we are playing, so we’ve been working on individual gameplans. It’s been great and they’ve embraced it.

What must your team do to have a successful run in the MAAC Championship?

JB: They just need to execute, we’re good enough on both the men and the women, we’re good enough to win the tournament. Doesn’t mean we will but we need to go out and execute and trust our games, trust how we play and just be fearless. Be brave is really what we’ve been saying a lot, just don’t worry about losing if you go out and play with a ton of heart and a ton of aggressiveness then everything is going to work out. If we don’t win, at least when we go up and shake hands, we’ll know that we left everything out there and on that day the better team won. Both teams are in the right mindset, they’re ready to go.

What are your team's expectations for this weekend?

JB: To win. That’s the ultimate goal, that’s why we do it you know. Tennis is tough. We start early September. I mean it’s a grind to get all the way to here. We want to win, you know what I mean, that’s the ultimate goal. We want to play well, we want to represent the school at the highest level, and I think if we do that we’re winners no matter what.

Men's Lacrosse Picks Up Victory Over No. 15 Towson

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Desperate for a conference win, the Stags shocked the nationally ranked Tigers 9-8 on Saturday afternoon. The team gave Fairfield fans something to cheer about as the red and white ended a four game losing streak.

By Jillian Cahoon Contributing Writer In the midst of a season filled with disappointment, the Fairfield Stags beat the No. 15 ranked Towson Tigers 9-8 on Military Appreciation Day at Rafferty Stadium on Saturday, April 22.

Junior Joe Rodrigues, who lead the Stags to victory with three goals, highlighted the second game of the double header. Joining in on the excitement were Colin Burke ‘19 and Travis Ford ‘20, who each had two goals on the afternoon.

The win against the three-time Colonial Athletic Association champion Tigers was a boost of confidence for the Stags during a rough season, which hasn’t played out like they had hoped, said head coach Andy Copelan.

“They’ve been the class of the league for a long time and for us to get this win, when honestly there’s a finish line on

our season, showed what this team and what this program is all about,” said Copelan.

The Stags came out hot in the first period, scoring the first two goals of the game. Goaltender Tyler Behring ‘17 made some key saves for the Stags, ensuring the Stags lead.

Despite the fact that Fairfield never trailed in the game, Towson made them work for the win.

“When you go down 3-9, it’s tough to rally back so we just wanted to come in and give our best effort since things haven’t gone our way this year,” said Rodrigues.

Towson led in most categories, including faceoff wins, shots on goal, ground balls and extra man opportunities.

However, Fairfield led in the most important category: goals scored.

Heading into the half, Fairfield led 6-2. Both teams came out of the break with a renewed energy, with three goals scored in the first two minutes of the third period, including Rodrigues’ third goal of the day.

Fairfield previously lost to Towson in every match up since joining the CAA division two years ago. Coming out and moving fast around the field helped them find success against the lacrosse powerhouse.

“Getting our first win [against Towson] is unbelievable and a great feeling, and I couldn’t be happier for our seniors,” said Rodrigues.

The win marked the first Fairfield CAA victory all season after losing the previous three divisional games. They look to build on this win and end the season on a high note, with no chance of postseason play.

“I really want this team and this group of guys to go 2-0 down the stretch. I think that would be an awfully powerful statement,” said Copelan.

Be sure to catch Senior Night and the final game of the Stags season versus Delaware Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m. at Rafferty Stadium.

@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports Week of April 26, 2017

fairfieldmirror.com

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

Stags Fall To Conference Foe Canisius 15-10 on Senior Day

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Sophomore Taylor Mitchell examines the offensive zone as she looks for space to operate. Mitchell found the back of the net once on Saturday afternoon but the Fairfield offense struggled to score in the second half.

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor As the Canisius Golden Griffins descended upon Rafferty Stadium, a feeling was in the air that the Fairfield University faithful would be privy to an intense matchup between the two best teams in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. After what was a back-and-forth matchup for much of the contest, the Golden Griffins offense proved to be too much for the Stags as the visitors left Fairfield with a 15-10 triumph.

After the Griffs struck first, Alex Fehmel ‘17 got the Stags on the board to knot the game at one with over 26 minutes left in the first half. Consecutive goals by Brenna Connolly ‘18 and Kathleen Hulseman ‘19 served as the response to another Canisius goal to give the Stags a 3-2 advantage with under 17 minutes remaining.

Minutes after Scarlett Sulliman ‘17 put Fairfield back on top with a 4-3 lead, the Griffs would rattle off three-straight goals to put the visitors up 6-4 with just under seven minutes to play. But the Stags would respond with a mini run of their own, finding the net twice off the sticks of Riley Hellstein ‘17 and Fehmel to end the half at 6-6.

Coming out of the locker room, it felt as though we were poised to see a battle to the finish between these MAAC powers and that held true for the first 15 minutes of the second half. The two teams traded goals with neither team relinquishing momentum. Sulliman, Taylor Mitchell ‘19, Fehmel and Connolly all scored in the frame to give the Stags a 10-9 lead at one point.

But Connolly’s second tally of the day would prove to be Fairfield’s last goal of the afternoon as Canisius absolutely ripped the game away from the Stags to the tune of a 6-0 run to close out the game. After looking solid for the first 15 minutes, the red and white looked shocked to see the Golden Griffins scoring possession after possession.

With the game out of reach, the clock slowly winded down and the scoreboard read 15-10 by the time the game came to a conclusion.

Fehmel lead the Fairfield offense on the day as she finished with three goals. Sulliman and Connolly each chipped in two markers, while Hulseman, Mitchell and Hellstein all found the back of the net once.

Whenever a dramatic run to close out a game occurs like it did on Saturday, April 22, one can only ponder what went so wrong in the final frame. For head coach Laura Field, the unforced errors were the Stags’ undoing.

“I think the unforced errors were our achilles heel,” Field said. “We’d get the ball back in transition and we would turn it over. A lot of it was decision making and when you make those turnovers against a good team they are going to capitalize.”

Although the loss was certainly disappointing, Field did have some positive takeaways from the contest.

“I think we know that we will probably meet again sometime during championship weekend,” Field said. “We’re not afraid of Canisius, we know what is coming and I do not think that they are afraid of us. The loss does mean a little but we are more worried about two weeks from now and the position we’ll be in then.”

Fairfield looks to get back in the win column when they welcome the Manhattan Jaspers to Rafferty for a 3 p.m. start on Wednesday, April 26.

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Senior Scarlett Sulliman (#4) speaks to the team as the players regroup during a timeout. Sulliman looks to lead the Stags back to victory lane on Wednesday as they take on MAAC rival Manhattan in their final regular season game.