Fairfield Mirror 2/11/2015

Club Puck

#VaccinesWork New Duke Opinion

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Sports

In light of the recent measles outbreak, it is more prudent than ever to have children vaccinated all over the USA.

Fairfield professors bring Duke Ellington’s music to life for black history month.

Fairfield’s Mens Club Ice Hockey defeated Farmington College 4-2 on Sunday, February 8.

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THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper

Week of February 11, 2015

Fairfield Mirror @FairfieldMirror fairfieldmirror FairfieldMirror.com

Vol. 40, Iss. 15

Bush & Pelosi forum delayed by snow

By Catherine Veschi Assistant News Editor The Ninth Annual Students’ Forum, featuring guest speakers Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of President George W. Bush, and Alexandra Pelosi, daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, was scheduled to take place on Monday, Feb. 9.

Due to inclement weather on Monday, however, the forum has been rescheduled for March 25 in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

“Realizing how perilous the road conditions would be, we thought it was prudent to defer the event to a later date,” said Philip Eliasoph, professor of visual and performing arts and founding director and moderator for the forum. “The next availability when the ‘sun, the moon and the stars’ could all be in alignment — the

Realizing how perilous the road conditions would be, we thought it was prudent to defer the event to a later date.

-Philip Eliasoph

Professor of Visual and Performing Arts two invited speakers, our student participants, and the Quick Center was open — became March 25.”

The forum, titled “Growing up in the Political Eye: Private Lives in Public Spaces,” will be the first time members of both the Bush and Pelosi families will work together on a project, according to Sophomore Class President Jason Abate, a student panelist for the forum.

Abate and the other student panelists were chosen based on their leadership positions at Fairfield.

At the forum, Hager and Pelosi will discuss what it was like to grow up in two of the most influential political families of early 21st century America, as both Hager’s father and grandfather were presidents, and Pelosi’s mother was the first female Speaker of the House.

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NINTH ON PAGE 4

Contributed by Fairfield University Media Relations

Clarence Jones honored Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy during his keynote speech at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Feb. 4.

Jones remembers friend MLK Jr.

By Enxhi Myslymi Managing Editor

Political adviser, counsel and draft speechwriter for Martin Luther King, Jr., Clarence Jones honored King’s legacy during his keynote speech celebrating MLK Convocation week.

“If you were fortunate enough to be alive from 1956 until April 8, 1968, and you went outside at night during that period … and you saw a shooting star … more bright and incandescent than any other shooting star in the heavens, that shooting star was Martin Luther King Jr.,” Jones said. “It is unlikely that we will ever, ever, ever see that shooting star again.”

Alongside the MLK Committee, Wylie Smith Blake of Campus Ministry and Kris Sealey, associate professor of philosophy, organized “Dare to

Dream” to celebrate the life and influence of King.

Activities included “Poetry for Peace” and a memorial march around campus.

The Convocation on Feb. 4 at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, three members of the University community were presented with this year’s Vision Awards: Nicole Davidow ‘15, Jocelyn Boryczka, associate professor of politics and Will Johnson, associate dean of students.

“This is an honor both as we attempt to live up to King’s hopes and dreams in what we do and an honor to work with the hardest working committee at Fairfield U,” said Blake.

“Dr. King said, ‘intelligence plus character — that is the goal of education,’ … and so for this evening we concentrate on Dr. King’s legacy of equality and the question of, ‘Have we done enough?’”

‘Tell them about the dream’

Jones is the first diversity professor at the University of San Francisco and a scholar writer in residence at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University, according to a university press release.

While most famously known for assisting King in drafting the “I Have a Dream” speech delivered at the March on Washington, Jones refused to call himself a draft speechwriter.

“We collaborated on what [King] might say, and what I simply did was give him a written summary,” Jones said. “The only difference was this time I gave him an example of how he might actually say it.”

Recounting that fateful day on Aug. 28, 1963, READ

DARING ON PAGE 2

Cohen sparks controversy

By Alisia LoSardo Contributing Writer

Contributed by Fairfield University Media Relations

Once the audience quieted down, Stephen Cohen began: “Well, I suppose 90 percent of you are here to celebrate the Russian Program and the other 10 percent of you are here to heckle me.”

This past Thursday, Feb. 5, Fairfield celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies (RECAS) program by inviting Stephen F. Cohen, PhD. to present a keynote lecture on the Ukrainian crisis.

Known for his provocative beliefs, Cohen delivered a speech presenting his controversial viewpoint regarding the Ukrainian crisis, evenly distributing blame between the U.S. and Russia.

According to Cohen, Western media has wrongly portrayed Russia as being the sole cen-

ter of the crisis due to their deep historical ties in the country.

“America is going to war without any public discussion about it,” Cohen said. He added that the United States shares some of the blame for the conflict and that it is “far more serious” than news outlets are leading the public to believe.

The talk raised vocal controversy among audience members, including prompting members of Maidan United, a nonprofit foundation for Ukrainians, to attend the lecture and present counter arguments.

“We are an organization to defend the truth and protect Ukraine. Dr. Cohen presents an alternate reality – the naked truth is nothing like it,” said member Myron Melnyk.

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RECAS ON PAGE 2

News

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THE MIRROR | Week of February 11, 2015

Daring to dream in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. Continued from page 1 Jones remembered standing 50 feet behind King and not realizing “until the sixth or seventh paragraph that [King] was actually going to use that which I had suggested. The speech was his speech.”

King was interrupted during the speech by gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who said, “Tell them about the dream, Martin,” Jones remembered.

What the videos of the speech don’t usually show, he added, was that King turned his text over and began speaking spontaneously.

“I’ve never heard any human being speak the English language with such power,” Jones said.

Bringing Equality to Fairfield

In response to the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Tamir Rice in 2014, students organized protests on campus last fall semester to demonstrate against police brutality and social injustice.

The protests included a die-in in the DiMenna-Nyselius Library that attracted about 50 students, faculty and members of the Fairfield community, known as #RacialJusticeIsSocialJustice.

During the MLK convocation, President Jeffrey von Arx, S.J. referenced the protests in saying this has been a year where the “stubborn racial prejudice” has been brought to Fairfield’s campus.

“Even some racial instability in our campus has highlighted once again why it’s important we do this every year … to reaffirm our willingness in a free and just society,” von Arx added.

In light of recent protests in the U.S. against police brutality, the question becomes whether or not the dream King called for will ever be

attained.

“Yes it will,” Jones said. “I can’t give you a definite solution. I just know that there will be a solution.”

In remembering the words of King, Fr. George Collins S.J., said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Jones suggested to those protesting: “Keep it nonviolent, disciplined and stay away from provocateurs.

Reach out across sections of the community.”

“All lives matter in the face of police brutality,” Jones added. “It’s not just black lives.”

For students, the Convocation was a way to connect with memories from the civil rights movement, but to also remember that issues of social injustice are still pertinent.

“I was a little star struck that we had Dr. Clarence Jones come and talk to us,” said Jesuit Universities Humanitarian Action Network fellow Deirdre McElroy ’17. “It was amazing to talk to and have a chance to hear from someone who was so close to Dr. King and had a role in the civil rights movement.

For Tim Manning ’15, it was significant that Jones related his speech to today’s issues.

“Jones said the issues that King would care about today are: voting rights, income inequality and 24/7 gun violence, which is the greatest challenge to his legacy,” Manning said. “One thing he pointed out was that there is no single leader today like MLK was during the civil rights movement, which makes it difficult to organize when you don’t have someone to look up to.”

According to Jones: “Nothing is more powerful than the power of love. Nothing is more engaging than when we become infected and consumed with the virus of compassion.”

The Mirror In 2008, Clarence Jones published “What Would Martin Say?” chronicling his relationship with King.

RECAS celebrates 20th anniversary with Stephen Cohen Continued from page 1

Irene Komarynsky, mother of a former Fairfield student, said, “I was so angry to hear they were bringing him to celebrate the Russian studies program; at least they should have made this a debate representing both sides of the issue.”

According to Vox.com, the Ukrainian crisis began in November 2013 as a result of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to reject the European Union’s integration deal. This led to massive protests.

Russia supported Yanukovych while the U.S. and Europe sided with the protesters, resulting in internal conflict in Ukraine as its population continues struggling to decide whether it will identify with Russia or become a part of the European Union, explained Vox. Since then, protests have run Yanukovych out of office; Russia has invaded Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine and rebels are thought to have shot down Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 over the summer. These events have resulted in high tension between Russia and the West, according to BBC News.

Cohen said that the tension is far worse than most think and that the U.S. is heading towards a Cold War that is potentially more dangerous than the last. “Our lives - our futures are at

stake,” he said.

“All will end once Putin stops his aggression,” Cohen mocked. He argued that America uses Vladimir Putin, current president of Russia, as a way to escape taking some of the blame for the crisis.

Cohen explained that after 9/11, Putin was the first national leader to contact George Bush and offer help.

Bush took his offering, yet soon after, expanded the North Atlantic

Treaty Organization to Russia’s borders and put prohibitions on missiles. According to Cohen, Russians still mock Putin for his trust in the U.S. At the end of the speech, Cohen accepted questions from the audience.

Some members backed Cohen’s arguments, while many critiqued key statements.

An audience member near the front of the room was the first to stand up saying, “I find your presentation

completely biased and one-sided.”

The floor was then given to George Sajewych, an American-Ukrainian who spent a year in Kiev working for the special defense unit. “I challenge every point that Dr. Cohen has just articulated,” he said. “When I heard Dr. Cohen was coming, I knew I had to come to defend the Ukrainian side.”

Sajewych argued that there is no basis for a civil war in Ukraine and that Russia’s main goal was to take over

Jennifer Calhoun/The Mirror

The above map depicts Russian military involvement on the northwest border of Ukraine in February 2014.

the country. “Putin’s goal is to destroy Ukraine as a state,” he said.

Cohen responded to Sajewych’s backlash by simply saying: “Most of what George is saying has some basis. But he only represents one side of Ukraine.”

He went on to say, “We don’t know who George actually is; we don’t know where he came from.”

Despite the controversy Cohen’s lecture spurred, David W. McFadden, PhD., who presented Cohen at the event, felt that the event was successful overall, saying that “not only did [Cohen] provide a perspective on the Ukrainian crisis not often heard, but many representatives of the Ukrainian community turned out.”

Many students and audience members enjoyed the presentation and benefited from Cohen’s ideas.

“I was mostly excited to go to the talk because of how controversial a speaker he was,” said Justine Ferrara ’18. “It was very interesting to hear him speak on something that the general American media has been so biased about.”

Freshman Phil Amarante agreed, saying that he liked “how he explained how both sides made mistakes which led to Putin’s annexation of Crimea …

Overall I thought it was very informative.”

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THE MIRROR |Week of February 11, 2015

News

Residential colleges offer living & learning communities

By Catherine Veschi Assistant News Editor During the week of Monday, Feb. 9, the Office of Residence Life hosted open houses for the three sophomore residential colleges: Service for Justice (70 McCormick Road), Creative Life (Faber Hall) and Ignatian College (Loyola Hall).

The open houses, which took place on Monday at McCormick, Tuesday at Faber and Wednesday at Loyola, served as a way for rising sophomores to take a tour of the different residential colleges, as well as learn more about what each program entails.

Sophomore Patricia Masi, a current resident of the Ignatian College, hopes that through these open houses, rising sophomores will be able to

see how residential colleges differ from other living options in that they provide more of a “community aspect” to college life.

“It’s a really strong community in Loyola. I met a lot of new people, as well as some new best friends,” Masi said.

Junior Heather Mooney, a resident assistant in the Service for Justice residential college, also added that “people in Kostka and Claver just don’t have the community that you get in residential colleges.”

The community aspect that living in these residential colleges entails is something that the Office of Residence Life puts into consideration when selecting applicants.

According to Assistant Director of Residential Colleges Jodie FitzPatrick, the Office of Residence Life

“looks at students’ desire to participate in an intentional community setting. These desires include participation in the retreats, academic courses and Mentor Program.”

Many rising sophomores looking to apply for a spot in one of the three residential colleges are eager to

People in Kostka and Claver just don’t have the community that you get in residential colleges.

-Heather Mooney ‘16 explore the communal opportunities that the residential colleges offer.

“It’s very important to continue the community that you built in the place where you live right now, and I

want to be in that community in the future,” Aura Cristina Agudelo Rivera ‘18 said.

Freshman Dan Gatazka pointed out the fact that applying to live in a residential college saves rising sophomores from a lot of hassle in the long run, since “if you get into a residential college to start with, you’re in the door already, as opposed to having to wait until the big lottery where everyone’s trying to figure out where they want to live.”

However, not all freshmen are as intent on living in a residential college next year. According to Mooney, many students “are intimidated by [residential colleges]. I think that they think the two retreats and monthly mentor meetings are a big commitment, but they’re really not. They are really the best part of the program.”

Freshman Kaitlyn Godberson also added that a benefit of living in the Village over a residential college is that “the Village offers a more independent living opportunity, allowing college students to grow into adult lifestyles.”

Masi also mentioned the benefit of the retreats students take through the residential college programs, saying that they provide students with “a nice break” from their school work.

There is still time before the Feb. 23 deadline for freshmen to apply to live in a residential college next school year, and FitzPatrick encourages students to take advantage of this opportunity in order to gain “a better understanding of themselves and how they are called to live an inspired life as a student and beyond their collegiate years.”

THE NEWS: In Brief

By Robert Joyce News Editor

NBC’s Brian Williams suspended for ‘misremembering’ war stories NBC News anchor Brian Williams has been suspended without pay for six months after controversy surrounding claims he “misremembered” from his days reporting on the war in Iraq.

Part of the controversy has surrounded an account Williams recorded during a 2007 interview with Fairfield’s The HAM Channel before speaking at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, in which he claims he “looked down the tube of an RPG fired at us and it hit the chopper in front of ours.”

The seven-year-old video, which is still available on The HAM Channel YouTube account, has accumulated over 51,000 views as of Tuesday evening, over 10 times as many views as most other videos on the account, as a result of being linked to and talked about by many international online news websites including The Huffington Post, CNN and The Daily Mail.

Zipcar comes to Fairfield U. Fairfield’s Office of Conference and Event Management has made an agreement with Zipcar, a car rental agency, to have two rental cars on campus for any member of the campus community to rent out at both hourly and daily rates.

According to a press release from Zipcar, “gas, insurance, maintenance, and 180 miles/day are included in every reservation.” For students, there is a one-time fee of $25 to join the service, which comes with $35 worth of driving credit to use during the first month of service. For community members, the fee is $60. After that, a rate of $7.50 per hour or $69 per day applies.

Fairfield no longer uses Hertz rental cars, and the new Zipcar vehicles will be parked in the Jogues Parking Lot near the University vans, according to Daniel Buono ‘17, conference assistant in the Conference and Event Management office.

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THE MIRROR | Week of February 11, 2015

Crime Beat

News

Compiled by Robert Joyce Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.

Tuesday, February 3 9:40 p.m. - A male student was discovered to be in possession of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia in Claver Hall. He was issued a citation by Fairfield Police and referred to student conduct.

Wednesday, February 4 4:16 p.m. - A female student reported that she was being harassed by her ex-boyfriend, a non-student. DPS was able to make contact with the male non-student and issued a no-contact warning to the individual.

Saturday, February 7 1:35 a.m. - A male student in Jogues Hall was issued an infraction by the Fairfield Police for possession of suspected drug paraphernalia and referred to student conduct. A second male student was documented for intoxication and possession of a pocket knife suspected to be in violation with the university weapons policy.

The pocket knife was confiscated by DPS and the student was referred to student conduct.

11:32 a.m. - An unwanted and unknown male guest was reported to be found asleep on the couch of a female’s apartment in Dolan Hall.

The male, a non-student, had accidentally fallen asleep in the wrong apartment and left without further incident. As he was an unregistered guest, the male’s host was referred to student conduct for guest policy violations.

2:59 p.m. - A female student reported her vehicle was damaged while parked unoccupied near the Townhouses 9 block. A male student had accidentally thrown a metal lawn chair at her Lexus causing damage to the vehicle. The male student was referred to student conduct and is expected to pay restitution for the damage.

3:43 p.m. - A student reported a pumpkin was thrown at their Subaru parked on Riel Way, which is located by the Townhouses 4 block.

The front turn signal and front fender of the vehicle were damaged.

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Ninth annual student forum highly anticipated by Fairfield Continued from page 1 However, the forum will focus more on “what they accomplished as students and where they took their careers,” Joanna Durgin ’15, a Resident Assistant in Loyola Hall and vice president of the Economics Club, said. “We want to hear how those experiences shaped them, rather than just their parents.”

Hager is a special correspondent for NBC’s TODAY show and a contributor to the NBC Nightly News, as well as an author and editor-at-large for Southern Living magazine. Pelosi is a director, producer, cinematographer, writer and political activist.

“They are two very successful people independent of their last names,” Abate added. Going into the forum, Abate and the student panelists wanted to see “how they could give advice for succeeding in the media beyond getting that diploma.”

From Hager’s and Pelosi’s talks of the different career paths they took, Durgin hopes that her peers can realize how “you don’t necessarily have to go in the same directionv that your family leans towards, and that you can really make a name for yourself.”

Photo courtesy of Fairfield University

Jenna Bush Hager and Alexandra Pelosi are scheduled to visit on March 25.

Abate and Durgin hope the fact that Hager and Pelosi have never worked together before for an event will draw in a substantial crowd, aside from the fact that both speakers come from highly influential families.

“With such big names as these, I think a lot of students might recognize

the names, but it’s also going to draw in a lot of people from the community,” Durgin said. “So I think the tickets are definitely going to be in high demand.”

For Eliasoph, the postponement of the forum should lead to “an even larger student audience awaiting this much anticipated event next month.”

THE NEWS: In the United States

By Patrick Kiernan Sports Editor

By Catherine Veschi Assistant News Editor

Boston, Mass. - The city has faced up to six feet of snow in the last month and counting.

Helena, Montana- The death of hundreds of Yellowstone National Park bison spurs protests from Native American activists over federal-state management of the bison.

Chicago, Ill. - President Barack Obama will designate part of Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood, a site known for the history of urban planning and the civil rights movement, as a national monument.

Kansas - On Tuesday, February 10, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, a conservative Republican reelected in November, rescinded an executive order issued by a Democratic predecessor that offered protection for gay and bisexual state workers.

Yellowstone, Wyoming - Grizzly bears at Yellowstone National Park are emerging from winter hibernation weeks earlier than normal because of the early arrival of rain and springlike weather.

New York City, NY - NBC News is suspending managing editor and Nightly News anchor Brian Williams for six months without pay after a review of his comments concerning his experiences during the Iraq War. New York City, NY - On Tuesday, February 10, Jon Stewart announced that he will be leaving “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central, the channel’s second longest-running program.

New York City, NY - Police officer Peter Liang charged for fatally shooting an unarmed Akai Gurley and his girlfriend in a stairwell.

Wickliffe, Ohio - An 11-year-old girl has been charged with murder after she allegedly beat a two-month-old baby to death. She went before a juvenile court judge on Monday, and was ordered to undergo a mental competency exam before her next appearance.

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Opinion

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THE MIRROR | Week of February 11, 2015

Opinion

Editor Ariana Puzzo» ariana.puzzo@student.fairfield.edu

Contributed under Creative Commons

Science maintains that vaccines work

By Ariana Puzzo Opinion Editor

In light of the recent measles outbreak that originated in California from a visitor at Disneyland, it is now more prudent than ever to have children all over the country vaccinated.

The outbreak that has since impacted the lives of many people has opened our eyes to the very real fact that measles is still a dangerously relevant virus.

Considering that there are many students in all levels of education that remain unvaccinated, it is important to consider how the outbreak may impact not only small communities, but also university campuses.

Additionally, considering that the virus is no longer contained on the west coast and has, according to The Washington Post, now spread to eastern states such as New Jersey, there is no longer the illusion that the measles outbreak cannot impact any of us.

However, the topic of whether or not children should be vaccinated at an early age remains a persistent point of contention. Despite the debate, given the seriousness of the most recent outbreak of the virus, I believe that it is imperative for all people to be vaccinated.

Although some people continue to argue that it is the right of the child’s parents to choose whether or not their child should be vaccinated, more medical professionals and educators are demanding that children should only be permitted admission into schools after they have had their round of preventative shots.

Given the knowledge that we now have regarding measles, the seemingly sensible reason for more commonplace school vaccination requirements

Editorial Board End of an Era Shauna Mitchell Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Calhoun Executive Editor Enxhi Myslymi Managing Editor

is based on how contagious and virtually undetectable the virus can be in its early stages of being contracted.

Medical professional Dr. Richard Besser, chief medical correspondent for ABC News, recently discussed with ABC news anchor George Stephanopoulos the importance of receiving vaccinations at an early age.

In discussing the controversial topic, Besser addressed the aforementioned concern of how it is possible for people who are exposed to measles to not show any indication of sickness for up to three weeks following their exposure to the virus. His urging of people to get vaccinations comes from the position that even before the symptoms become apparent to the person infected, it is possible for him or her to already be spreading the virus to those around him or her. For that reason alone, it is evident that vaccinations should be a requirement for everyone under all circumstances, if solely for the health and safety of the public.

As the virus spreads throughout the country and people continue to grow increasingly aware of the consequences of not receiving preventative vaccines, some short-term actions have been taken.

A California school in an affected area has already declared that all students who are unvaccinated should remain home during the period that measles can remain undetected simply for everyone’s well-being.

Given the overwhelming medical knowledge of the contagious nature of measles, I find the decision to have unvaccinated students remain home to be a practical one. However, I do not believe that the decision is a long-term solution considering that it continues to allow unwilling parents to circumvent vaccinating their child.

We live in a world in which information can reach people in a variety of ways. It can come from updates on Twitter, through articles in the New York Times, or for many people, from Jon Stewart and Brian Williams.

On Feb. 11, Williams, anchor of NBC Nightly News, was being given a six-month unpaid leave from his position for being caught in a lie from 2003 about a plane he was in being shot down in Iraq.

Within the same 24 hours,

There remain too many people who still oppose exposing their child to the measles vaccine. These people maintain the school of thought that vaccines may be harmful and can have dangerous aftereffects, one of which has been the popularized myth that vaccines can cause of autism in children.

Kentucky Senator and Ophthalmologist Rand Paul’s recent controversial statement that he has “heard from parents whose children had suffered ‘profound mental disorders’ after being vaccinated” exemplifies how the myth has infiltrated the public’s consciousness as truth.

Rather than helping our commu-

nities make decisions based on facts, I believe Paul’s actions have instead expedited the likelihood of people merely believing medics who give their “expert opinion,” despite their opinion being based on myth, as well as outside the realm of their field of study.

Measles was eradicated in the United States by the year 2000. The increasing number of non-immunized children, coupled with increased international travel, is what has caused the disease to resurface.

Last week, President Barack Obama, in stark contrast to his statement at a campaign rally in 2008 where he stated, “We’ve seen just a skyrocketing autism rate. Some peo-

ple are suspicious that it’s connected to the vaccines” has now stated that the science behind vaccines is “pretty indisputable,” urging parents to immunize their children.

On Feb. 5, 2015, Autism Speaks, a well-known autism advocacy group also urged parents to vaccinate their children, citing extensive research that does not support a link between vaccines and autism.

But perhaps Hillary Rodham Clinton, a likely Democratic presidential candidate, put it best when she weighed in on the debate with a simple tweet: “The science is clear: The earth is round, the sky is blue, and #vaccineswork.”

Valentine's Day for sale

By Britta Gunneson Contributing Writer I am going to preface this with the following: I am not alone. I am in a long-term relationship going on five years. I will probably spend Valentine’s Day doing all the sappy coupley things that Hallmark writes about.

That being said, here is the truth: Valentine’s Day never meets our expectations. Think about it.

When is Valentine’s Day ever the “perfect day” that greeting cards and movies speak of? When have you ever been swept off your feet on a romantic escapade with your meant-to-be love? When has Valentine’s Day met its expectations? Never, that’s when.

Instead, we spend Valentine’s Day like any other day. There are errands to run, chores to do and goals to meet. Instead of spending the day

Stewart announced he would be retiring from the "Daily Show."

Both Stewart and Williams were the big names for how millennials were getting their news and political information.

There’s no denying that what Stewart did with the "Daily Show" was a television revolution.

It’s a really twisted way of getting political news, but for the past 16 years, it was Stewart and the "Daily Show" that many of us watched to find out what

celebrating the joy that is love, we spend it lost inside of ourselves and our lives.

We celebrate with a hurried dinner or a bouquet of flowers hastily sent. Many people consider Valentine’s Day a joke.

They move onto the next big thing. Let’s be serious, the only worthwhile part of Valentine’s Day is the day after because of the 80 percent off candy.

But what if we spent this Valentine’s Day a different way? What if instead of spending the day ignoring the holiday, or lamenting how different it is from the 2010 movie, we spend the day celebrating love?

Love is not just for your romantic partner.

You can show love for your family, your friends, for soccer or for food.

Love is what you care about. You love

was happening in the Republican National Convention, foreign diplomacy or in our federal government.

He oftentimes gave a voice to those who struggled to get their voices heard. Of course it led with humor, but that’s why it had the impact it did.

For a generation that is seen as passive when it comes to politics, Stewart understood the way to get us to stand up and pay attention. He may have been seen

the things that matter to you. Even the most insignificant thing can still be loved, as long as you care for it.

So this year, let’s celebrate the love that we have for each other and for the world.

Spend the day smiling. Spend the day doing the things that you love - spending time with your cat or binge-watching “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Spend some time by calling your best friend and saying, “I love you.”

Celebrate the day by making the world a little bit of a happier place, for yourself and for others.

This year, let’s spend Valentine’s Day being present, because that is what the day should be - a present.

And then go get that 80 percent off candy at CVS on Sunday.

Four dollars for 96 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups is a deal that doesn’t come every day.

as less prestigious than anchors like Williams, but all the same there is a sense of sadness that both Stewart and Williams are going to be off the air.

They were two of our most prominent windows into the world of politics and there is a sense of fear that perhaps we can slip into apathy in their absence.

But the reigns can be handed over to people like Lester Holt, John Oliver and Larry Wilmore.

We just have to be open to them.

Opinion

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THE MIRROR | Week of February 11, 2015

Winter is ending, Game of Thrones is returning

By Erin Joyce Contributing Writer If you are like me, April 12 is a day that you circled, highlighted and starred on your calendar. This day marks the return of dragons, kings, queens and murderers who will once again make an appearance on our televisions and into our nightmares.

For those of you who are unsure of what I am referring to, season five of HBO’s widely acclaimed show “Game of Thrones” is set to premiere in just two short months and after watching the recently released trailer, I do not think that I can wait that long.

Although many, including myself, were disappointed by the shortcomings of the previous season, I have high hopes that season five will be the season that recaptures both mine and other viewers’ interest in the mythical show.

Despite my high hopes for season five, many people do not share my optimism for the return of the show.

Although many of us had high hopes for season four, the general consensus among fans is that the previous season fell flat when telling the most crucial storylines of many important characters.

Additionally, following the finale of season four, many of us continue to ask the ever-present question, “Who will be vying next for the Iron Throne?”

This question has been repeated for the past four seasons and, for many, is growing rather redundant.

I find the question to be growing rather cumbersome because although it is clear that the seven kingdoms cannot be conquered in a day, some answers as to who will

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ultimately rule would be appreciated.

I also fear that if answers are not provided in a timely manner that the show will become stagnant and wane in its viewership.

It also does not help matters that the writer of the show’s book series, George R.R. Martin, is not set to publish any new work this year.

Martin’s fifth and most recent novel, “A Dance with Dragons,” was released back in 2011 following a six-year hiatus.

The excruciatingly long fouryear hiatus since Martin’s fifth novel has been a source of distress for fans that are impatiently awaiting the answer to the seemingly eternal question.

However, if another six-year intermission is what it takes for

Martin to lay the groundwork for his penultimate epic fantasy novel, then I am ready to begrudgingly await its release.

Most recently, the talk that has been surrounding season five has been regarding the trailer released online earlier in the month.

I personally found the trailer to be thrilling and captivating given the fact that it has been months since I have last seen my favorite characters.

The character whose fate I am most anticipating upon the return of the show is Arya Stark, who was last seen heading off to a far-away land.

Her story throughout season four has become more compelling and I have been eagerly awaiting her transformation into an assassin since last June when the season

ended.

Contrary to my excitement of the trailer, many fans believe that the soundtrack chosen to represent the show in said trailer was inappropriate and ill-fitting.

Although fans believe that the soundtrack is foreshadowing another disappointing season, I personally do not view it as a direct reflection of how the upcoming season will present itself.

Who can honestly say that the song choice for the trailer detracts from the excitement of what will happen next to characters like Arya, or characters like Tyrion Lannister whose fates are tremendously uncertain?

Rather than focus on a song that you may or may not like, it seems perfectly clear to me that characters such as the aforemen-

tioned simply outshine any type of trailer music.

After viewing the trailer for the upcoming season, I have the utmost confidence that season five will be a huge step up from season four due to the compelling storylines that will be further addressed.

When ending a season on such a high note, such as with the death of Tywin Lannister delivered by his own son Tyrion, and the sudden ascension of unsuspecting characters such as the previously viewed as weak Sansa Stark, it is only natural that season five will be a huge success.

For these reasons alone, I have no doubt in my mind that “Game of Thrones” will once again reclaim its glory as one of the highest rated shows currently on HBO.

Budweiser puppy outshines Super Bowl commercials

By Jane Holland Contributing Writer While many were hoping for the Seattle Seahawks to take home the title of back-to-back Super Bowl champions, the Budweiser puppy stole their thunder.

Last year, the Budweiser commercial “Puppy Love” won the Super Bowl ring of commercials and this year’s sequel, the “Lost Dog” featured the same puppy and won itself another ring.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Brian Perkins, Budweiser vice president told USA Today. This year’s 2015 Super Bowl averaged approximately 114.4 million

viewers per minute on NBC’s Sunday night broadcast, making it the most watched event in American TV history.

Some of the 114.4 million people watching were Patriots fans and others were Seahawks fans, but collectively, most were Budweiser fans.

Costing $4.5 million for a 30-second ad, there are always high expectations for the ad bowl. In the marketing world, the Super Bowl is not a football game, but rather a contest to see who can make the most “buzzworthy” commercial. All companies try to get their message across and sell their product in the most memorable and creative way

possible.

What better way to sell your product than with puppy love and the Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)” playing in the background? For me, that is about as good and memorable as it gets.

“It’s a storyline that people of all walks of life can relate to,” Perkins told People magazine.

The commercial tells the heartwarming story of the friendship between a Clydesdale, a man and a puppy. When the puppy gets lost, the man puts up signs around town and is upset that he cannot find his dog. While the puppy is

lost, there is a huge storm and the puppy is saved by the Budweiser Clydesdales from a wolf. The commercial ends with the hashtag #bestbuds, leaving the audience heartfelt and with each room filling with the sound of multiple “awwwws.”

In my opinion, Budweiser definitely won the ad bowl and was closely followed by Always’ “Like a Girl” commercial.

On the other hand, I was unimpressed by Nationwide’s “Make Safe Happen” ad. Although all companies try to make memorable commercials, an ad should not put a damper on the fun of the Super Bowl, and it most certainly should not create a negative buzz.

Yes, putting out a rather disturbing ad did create talk and gave the ad attention, but little to none of the attention that the ad is getting is positive.

The little boy who starred in the commercial was saying lines such as, “I’ll never learn to ride a bike or get cooties.” He also said, “I’ll never learn to fly or travel the world with my best friend.”

At the end of the commercial, the little boy said, “I couldn’t grow up because I died from an accident.” Instantly, when people see a cute little boy and hear that he has died from an accident, the mood and atmosphere is hindered.

Twitter feeds filled up with reactions from this commercial such as comedian writer Rob Fee’s tweet, “Hope you guys are having a great day. Did you know your kid is probably gonna die soon? Enjoy your nachos & funeral planning! – Nationwide.”

The message that the Nationwide commercial was trying to get express is a serious matter and one that cannot be avoided or portrayed lightly. However, I feel that the way the message was conveyed in this ad was far too disturbing and blunt.

All in all, the Super Bowl was a huge success and the vast majority of the ads were entertaining and up to par with Super Bowl standards. Only one year until we get to see what next year’s game has to offer so stay tuned.

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

The Vine

arts, entertainment, features Editor Charles DeFilippo vine@fairfieldmirror.com

NEW DUKE

Brings Ellington To Life

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THE MIRROR | Week of February 11, 2015

The Vine

NEW DUKE: Music, American culture and the stories that make it all come to life

By Charles DeFilippo Vine Editor

timate experience that sums up the importance of these critical issues. Tookes saw Bobby Short perform for the first time at the Carlyle Hotel (35 years into Short’s run). ew Duke is an eight-piece jazz ensemble that Short would hang out after each performance or in the reinterprets the sentiment of Duke Ellington’s kitchen hanging out with Cole Porter. That music with a fusion of rock, hip-hop and reggae night Bobby was so powerful sitting begrooves. The Ensemble performs mashups of other music hind the piano, said Tookes. It was 2 a.m. and giants such as; Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Stevie WonTookes saw a man hobbling on a cane in the der and The Doors. New Duke has proven themselves as a lobby. It was Short and his last words to melting pot of of music history, while displaying their pasTookes were “just enjoy sion of music and adding their own playing music!” stories into the mix.

“Within a year Short New Duke has close ties to Performing with New Duke is a blast! First died. Those words resonate Fairfield University. Music Proand foremost it is great music with excellent with me to this day and appear gram Director and Bandleader, on every syllabus I write,” said Brian Torff, is responsible for the arrangements. More importantly is the listening Tookes. contemporary arrangements of El- and rapport the group has with another. A very Moments like these are lington’s charts. Darryl Tookes (vo- creative endeavor! the ones that you will recals), John Fumasoli (trombone) member for a lifetime and and Dave Childs (piano) all teach - John Fumasoli they are the ones that we at the University. Rick Saldon (alto relive through musax, clarinet, flute) is a presenter sic. These are the with the National Endowment for the Humanities Teacher stories of New In honor of Black History Month, New Duke will perWorkshops on Duke Ellington held at Fairfield.

Duke and they Drummer, Don Mulvaney is challenged by every as- form a free concert in Gonzaga Auditorium on Thursday, are what bring pect of New Duke. Although the music is written out, each February 19 at 7:30 p.m. The opening band will be The E l l i n g t o n’s musician must be on their toes in order to make the music Lionfish, a rock band formed by a group of passionate Fairmusic back to sound and feel good, while maintaining a high-energy per- field Music students. life.

This special performance is all about bringing the past formance. These elements are critical and require each muHats off forward, musically and historically. Ellington once stated sician to listen and react to the spontaneity of New Duke. to Torff, Fair“I love the challenge of trying to play all these styles, that “Jazz is a provocative subject.” When we think of Black field Univergrooves the best I can while leaning towards a jazz ap- History Month jazz may not be the first thing that comes sity Music proach. Meaning - with improvisation and Experimenta- to mind, but voices like Ellington's are the ones who chalProgram, lenged our minds to see past the color of our skin. As a tion,” stated Mulvaney Dr. Laura Beyond their ties to Fairfield, members of New Duke bandleader, Ellington grew close to many of his musicians Nash and all come from rich musical backgrounds. Music was passed and would write specific charts based on their unique voicthe Black down from parents, siblings and relatives and inspired es and style.

Studies “Duke Ellington’s music is part of our American culeach of these accomplished musicians. Tookes recalled the Program life-changing influence that his mother, grandmother and ture and history. Americans should be aware of their own for makculture. I am glad to be part of a group that explores and aunt had during his youth. ing this “My mother was a great singer and pianist. She taught continues the Ellington tradition,” stated Seldon. perforEllington’s message provokes listeners like the messagme piano, the standards and how to be authentic. She mance would listen to the way I would practice and could tell what es of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Brown vs. Board of Edupossible. mood I was in, if I was happy or sad that day,” said Tookes. cation, The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on As a boy, Tookes matured singing in with his “har- Washington. All of which are impossible to sum up into monically dense” church choir and was inspired by his words.

When Fumasoli thinks about Black History Month he grandmother who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1931 for her performance in ‘The Green Pastures’. He still has a picture of recalls Dr. King’s Message of peace and equality. “We can her singing in a jazz club “and she is older than I am now,” all live by this on a daily basis. Take the time to understand other people, their feelings, their beliefs. Our diversaid Tookes. at Gonzaga Auditorium “I really don’t have a choice. It is written in our DNA! sity should be celebrated! Support the arts and live music!”

If this [music] is who you are, you will not regret it,” added stated Fumasoli.

Thursday, Feb. 19 @ 7:30 p.m.

Darryl Tookes was kind enough to share a very inTookes.

Free Admission!

N

Mulvaney, Fumasoli and Saldon all had similar experiences growing up listening to their siblings play in awe or playing with their school bands. Each musical encounter left a lasting impression on all of these, now fruitful, musicians. Collectively, the members of New Duke have performed with staples in the music industry including; Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Stephanie Grappelli, George Benson, Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand (to name a few).

NEW DUKE

Album Spoiler: 'The Horse Comanche' a well-executed masterpiece brimming with vivid imagery and heartfelt lyrics that express Stokes’ interest in lost love and political corrupIn less than 20 years, Chadwick Stokes tion. Each progression from “Prison Blue Eyes” (“Dispatch,” “State Radio”) has proven to be one to “Our Lives Our Time” feels fresh and original, of the most prolific songwriters of our genera- never attempting to be the next “Dispatch” or tion. His new album, “The Horse Comanche,” is “State Radio” record.

Long before the recording of the album, Stokes traversed both the U.S. and Europe, playing both new and old material in fans’ living rooms.

In these shows, Stokes tested out the new material to gauge the reactions from a more intimate audience.

This new material would later become “The Horse Comanche.”

The first single from the album, “Our Lives Our Time,” takes Stokes’ songwriting abilities into the politiContributed under Creative Commons cal sphere, which feels "The Horse Comanche," released Feb. 3, 2015, delves into Stokes' interorganic with a unique

By Andrew DaRosa Album Columnist

acoustic progression that carries the song’s strong political message. Any avid listener of “State Radio” will surely appreciate this piece, which questions the morals of big government and presents current ethical issues in a pleasantly melodic way.

Notable in this album is Stokes’ ability to create multilayered sounds, which allows for the album to flow freely between compositions.

“Mother Maple” takes Stokes’ traditional harmonic bliss, but places in a drum machine backing that gives the song a vitality that is quite unexpected from his music.

The lyrics are profound in this piece with Stokes showcasing his expressive love in the chorus: “And Mother Maple I drink from your syrup /And I am thankful for the blood that you bleed.”

Stokes seems to enjoy expressing this idea of lost love in “The Horse Comanche”; it seems to be interwoven into almost every piece. “Prison Blue Eyes” and “I Want You Like a Seatbelt” show Stokes’ desire to find a past love.

“Prison Blue Eyes” expresses Stokes’ desire to attain a mysterious blue-eyed woman, while “I Want You Like a Seatbelt” expresses Stokes’ desire to begin a family with this woman (and he throws some comedy in for good measure). Both songs demonstrate an attempt by Stokes to tell a complete love story.

The pinnacle of this lost love culminates into “New Haven,” which is easily the most emo-

tional piece of work that Stokes’ has ever written.

The lyrics were inspired by Stokes’ internal struggle with lost love in high school, which seems comical when analyzing the composition. However, Stokes masterfully creates one of his most personal pieces in his ever-expanding catalogue.

Stokes also enjoys taking breaks from his sappy romances to bring forward creative singalongs, which balances the album out perfectly.

“Dead Badger” has such a simple arrangement, but Stokes’ passion for lyrical perfection allows this song to achieve its potential, especially during the verses. “Walter (First Hello)” takes a more solemn approach to this sing-along concept, but ultimately delivers a powerful one-two punch of great lyrics and solid composition.

“The Horse Comanche” further solidifies Stokes as the songwriter of our generation and establishes him in a league of his own. Stokes is a man who is able to sell out stadiums around the globe (look no further than the three sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in 2007), and also complete projects like “The Horse Comanche” which make him appear like a small fish in a big pond.

This album is personable and self-reflective of the songwriter we have today and marks an achievement that most musicians seek to attain in their lifetime, let alone 20 years in the music industry.

The Vine

F

The Mirror | Week of February 11, 2015

Book Look: 'Irish Cosmopolitanism'

or any of you who have had the pleasure of taking one of Dr. Pearson’s classes, particularly Irish Literature, you will know what I mean when I say he has a true passion for his work.

This book reflects that passion for Irish literature as he navigates the choppy waters of the development of the modern Irish writer, as epitomized by James Joyce, Elizabeth Bowen and Samuel Beckett.

These three writers highlight in their works the struggle between embracing the world at large and retaining one’s national identity.

In fact, as Pearson argues, it is this very overlap that creates Irish modernism. There is a yearning within their characters as they constantly evolve, looking for the global future, yet are still tied to their native roots.

Pearson posits that you must travel away from your country of origin to truly grasp its identity.

He uses the example of Stephen Dedalus in James Joyce’s “A Portrait of the Artist of A Young Man” in that “his process of ascertaining an Irish consciousness….comes to co-exist with, to influence and be influenced by, his developing international consciousness and ideas about the human universe.”

What results from this intersection of national and international concerns is Irish modernism.

“Irish Cosmopolitanism” explores the changing term “cosmopolitan” in relation to Ireland’s history of decolonization as seen through the lens of quintessential Irish expatriate writers. It is a scholarly treatise, yet still lends itself to the average reader who wants to increase his or her knowledge of Irish literature.

Take a further step and consider taking EN 161 (Irish Literature) with Pearson next year. The course work spans from medieval poems to feminist writer Edna O’Brien to modernist Sebastian Barry.

You will glean a broad understanding of Ireland’s tumultuous past and the brilliant writers that

By Georgina White Book Critic

GW: Have you ever lived in Ireland or have you traveled there frequently? If so, which area is your favorite?

NP: I have traveled to Ireland several times and co-taught a course there last year.

My favorites are the west coast towns of Sligo (where W.B. Yeats was from) and Doolin.

GW: Are you planning to use this book in any course you teach?

NP: No. I think it is really too specialized or geared to graduate students and colleagues in the field. But I might certainly make smaller sections available for reserve/ optional reading and put it on reserve for certain research paper topics.

GW: What is your favorite aspect of teaching at Fairfield University?

NP: I appreciate the balanced climate of active researchers and devoted classroom teachers.

it spawned.

Come to the Fairfield University Bookstore on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 7:00 p.m. to meet Pearson and learn more about his new book.

Interview with Nels Pearson: GW: What sparked your passion for Irish literature and history?

NP: Reading James Joyce’s works as an undergraduate and then going to Ireland were the two inspiring factors that led me to my passion for Ireland.

I actually was studying abroad in Italy and went to Ireland for my spring break that semester and mostly traipsed about Dublin following the paths of Joyce’s characters.

GW: What topics are you currently researching that you will be writing about in the future?

NP: I am currently starting a new book project on the role of water (sea, crossings, coasts, maritime economics) in Irish 20th century literature.

GW: Who are your top three favorite authors?

NP: Tough call. Probably James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and W.B. Yeats.

GW: What books would you recommend to a person who is new to Irish literature?

NP: Great question. Wish we could crowd source my EN 161 students. I would say, for earlier 20th century works, Joyce’s “Dubliners” and the early poetry of Yeats. But for some great more recent stuff, anything by Roddy Doyle, Seamus Deane’s “Reading in the Dark,” Edna O’Brien’s “The Country Girls” and John McGahern’s “The Dark” and “Amongst Women.

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Her Campus Celebrates First Birthday

By Monet Monterroso Contributing Writer

On Feb. 4 in the Aloysius P. Kelley Center, Her Campus celebrated their first birthday by hosting a pink party with both Brittany Lewis (Director of Community Development & Strategic Programming) and Windsor Hanger Western (Cofounder, President & Publisher) as special guest speakers.

Her Campus is a digital media magazine that is produced by women for college-age women. The issue is put out online five days a week, and its purpose is to both inform and entertain. Her Campus Fairfield is led Amanda McKelvey ‘15 and Amanda Marrone ‘15. Both Campus Correspondents are truly responsible for Her Campus’ successful inaugural year. A year ago, they both felt that Fairfield was missing something in the digital media field and so they brought Her Campus to Fairfield with help from Stephanie Gallo, associate director of the Career Planning Center and acting staff advisor.

“I’m here to guide them, but really these two are independent and so strong just on their own,” said Gallo on the passion of the Her Campus team.

Her Campus immediately grew into something much bigger than Fairfield. Since the Internet is such a simple tool to reach out to many people, that is exactly what it did.

Read COLLEGE on Page 10

Nutrition 101: What you need to know

By Stephanie Piccolo Nutrition Columnist

A

long with a proper diet, the second most important component of living a healthy lifestyle is exercising. Exercising is often difficult to fit into your schedule, but it is truly essential to your health.

Exercising can improve your health by reducing the risk of health conditions and diseases, boosting your energy, improving sleep and even enhancing your mood.

Essentially, when you exercise, your body releases endorphins into your system which instantly make you feel happier and more relaxed. By exercising regularly, this will improve your physical and mental well-being.

The biggest problem people have when it comes to exercising is not knowing what exactly to do.

The gym can be intimidating, and by not using machines properly, there is a greater chance of injury.

The most beneficial type of exercise is strength training.

It's the most effective because not only are you burning calories in the moment that you are exercising, you are also burning

Photos Contributed under Creative Commons

about exercising

calories when you sleep. You may question how this is possible.

The idea behind strength training is that it involves building up your muscles, which in turn causes your body to burn more fat; this happens even when you are not exercising.

Strength training is the most effective way to burn fat and lose weight, but it also has other beneficial factors.

Strength training supports bone health, protects your joints, makes you stronger and fitter and ultimately burns more calories.

So when heading to the gym, think twice before you just hop on a machine.

The treadmill and elliptical are good machines to use, but doing cardio only burns calories in the moment. If you are trying to lose weight and stay healthier, your best bet is doing strength training exercises.

Strength training is not just lifting weights, but involves a variety of body movements. The most effective strength training exercises are ones that use weights in combination with cardio.

This includes squatting while holding free weights, jumping jacks with free weights and push-ups, to name a few.

One of the biggest

concerns with strength training for women is they are afraid of bulking up. It is physically impossible for women to bulk up from just lifting weights.

The reasoning behind this is that women do not contain enough of the hormone testosterone that men do to bulk up from heavy lifting. So, ladies, do not be afraid to try some strength training exercises. Ultimately, you will feel and look healthier by developing a strong, toned body.

A vital part of health and wellness is exercise.

However, exercise is only effective when coupled with proper nutrition, so remember to always be mindful of what you are eating.

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THE MIRROR | Week of February 11, 2015

The Vine

Let Dre Dress You

By Andrea Butler Fashion Columnist

Hey Stags!

The Grammys are more than just an occasion to honor the most talented in the music industry—it’s an occasion for the best and the boldest to show off their most daring looks. Sunday’s red carpet certainly did not disappoint, and while you may not be attending any awards shows in the future, you can still take style cues from the stars’ looks.

Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga both wore dresses that were sexy and simple. If you have a good silhouette that hugs your body well, it’s all in the details to take an outfit from hot to trend-setting. Like the aforementioned singers showed us on Sunday, glitter and strategic cutouts can instantly make a piece more interesting.

Anna Kendrick wore a menswear inspired pantsuit and looked so chic and classy. If you want to borrow a look from the boys but still look feminine, the key is to make sure your clothes fit your own individual shape. Unless you’re lucky, oftentimes the only way to do this is by getting your jackets and pants tailored.

It’s not always cheap, but if you can afford it, it’s a really good investment to make sure you always look puttogether.

Taylor Swift looked flawless (per usual) in her structured iridescent teal dress, and her purple heels were the perfect addition to her incredible outfit. Mixing colors works really well if they’re in the same palette, as Taylor’s cool-toned ensemble showed us.

Beyoncé looked regal and elegant, and just like every time she graces us mere mortals with her presence, she showed the world that she truly is Queen B. Take the most important fashion lesson of all from her—if you are confident and carry yourself with power and grace, you will always, always look good.

Stay beautiful!

Love,

Dre

Photos Contributed under Creative Commons

Fairfield blog gains international recognition Cont. from page  McKelvey felt that “Her Campus’ success couldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for our readers. We used to get 3,300 views and now we get over 75,000 views because now friends of friends are reading it from all over the world and we have to thank them for the success we’ve achieved in this one year.”

Before the celebration of their first birthday, both Hanger Western and Lewis spoke about their own personal experience with Her Campus and their strength as a woman. The talk given by the two speakers had a big impact on the Her Campus team, both professionally and emotionally.

“I really liked how they touched on the topics of resumes and cover letters. As a freshman we don’t know a lot about it. They mentioned great tips and advice for the future,” said Adelyn Galang ‘18.

In addition to professional advice, the speakers also increased the morale of the group, leaving many members feeling empowered after listening to Lewis and Hanger Western speak.

“It’s really important for college women in this industry to hear from women who came from the ground

Monet Monterroso/The Mirror

Her Campus contributors hosted a party celebrating its first birthday on Feb. 4. up. Being a freshman it’s so nice to hear from such influential women,” said Caroline Metcalf-Vera ‘18.

“I enjoyed how they both focused on women empowerment. We need to be inspired,” added Katherine Duncan ‘18.

Both speakers continually praised what the progress Her Campus has made at Fairfield in just one

year. Fairfield is among 13 schools internationally recognized as a Pink Chapter, which is the highest level attainable. This feat truly impressed the Her Campus representatives.

Additionally, Her Campus Fairfield has started a new program with Lord & Taylor, which allows hands-on experience in career paths that are of interest to the Her Campus team.

The Lord & Taylor program is a collaboration between Her Campus and Lord & Taylor. The goal of this program is to promote career opportunities at Lord & Taylor for the collegiettes on campus.

The reason why Lord & Taylor was chosen for this program is because this department store gives power to women, given that it is the

first department store to ever name a female president.

“I was apart of the Lord & Taylor new program that we have here and it’s a great hands on program starting with a really good start with getting involved. It’s also really nice to work with a committed and well rounded team,” said Rachel Anderson ‘18.

The Her Campus team ended their celebration with a “Happy Birthday and Thank you” toast, cupcakes, a group selfie and lots of mingling. With the celebration at the back of their heads, the Her Campus Correspondents are now left with the hard decision of who to pass the torch to after graduation to continue the chapter’s success.

“I need someone that will take care of it and I want to see it grow.

Her Campus is about having an outlet to give their passion to for the love of reading and writing it,” said McKelvey.

Senior Danielle Tullo agreed with McKelvey, and stressed the opportunity Her Campus gives to Fairfield women: “Through it all, [Her Campus’] goal of giving women on Fairfield’s campus the opportunity to write has been fulfilled with the success of allowing them to get into a program that is focused on the concept that ‘You make dreams happen for yourself.’

The Vine

The Mirror | Week of February 11, 2015

Adjunct professor on display at Walsh Gallery O

Page 11

Koala On Campus Post-Impressionism

By Juliana Sansonetti Contributing Writer

n display in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts since Dec. 2 are various paintings

by John Mendelsohn, adjunct professor in the studio art program at Fairfield.

The main exhibit in the Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery consists of 48 different paintings from Mendelsohn’s collection titled “Passing.” These works were painted from 2010-2011.

For the past 15 years, Mendelsohn has worked with the idea of movement in his paintings.

They are abstract works that show different kinds of movements and patterns in painting. The collection is made up of five series: ‘Turbulence,’ ‘Crosswalk,’ ‘Vanishing,’ ‘Flayed’ and ‘Paradise.’

“Each series has its own character,” wrote Mendelsohn in an essay describing his works, “but they are all involved with states of radical change. Instability and dissolution appear in many forms; absence and presence are in continual dialogue.”

Describing the physical look of the paintings, Mendelsohn wrote, “The paint itself is treated physically: combed, marbleized, wiped off and scraped away.”

The first series of the paintings on display in the Walsh Gallery, ‘Turbulence,’ use shades of orange, yellow and red that invoke the idea of a sunset.

Scan QR code to read MENDELSOHN online

returns with 'haunting' episode

By Matthew Lazicky Contributing Writer This Sunday was the midseason premiere of “The Walking Dead” and it was a great episode to start the season up again. From this first episode and the clips of what is to come, it seems that the rest of the fifth season will be Rick’s group fighting the growing feeling of hopelessness.

The survivors have been out for too long, as Michonne says to Rick and Glenn in the returning episode, and it seems that the group is beginning to lose hope as another possible home is found destroyed. The biggest example

of the group’s growing despair is in the death of Tyreese after the group had already lost Beth in the midseason finale This episode was one of the more hauntingly beautiful episodes that has come of the series so far. It opens with a confusing series of images from the past and some images that won’t make sense until the episode continues.

These images include past settings, like the prison and the town of Woodbury, and even a funeral of what we are led to believe is Beth’s, but by the end we know is actually Tyreese’s.

As the images end, we see Noah leading the group into a town that hopefully was going to be a new sanctuary

for them, but it was destroyed and left in ashes. While there, Rick agrees that they should head to Washington D.C., which I think will be the plot for the rest of the season.

Tyreese and Noah go to Noah’s house and find his mother and one of his twin brothers brutally murdered.

As he is staring at the photos of Noah’s younger twin brothers, a walker comes up from behind him and bites him in the arm.

The walker was not the quietest and Tyreese has gotten himself out of more dire situations, so the idea that he was bitten seems a bit unlike his survivalist self. Once bit, Tyrese sees the

ghosts of those that have died before him including the cannibal Martin, Beth, Bob, the two little girls and The Governor. They help him through what he believed were his mistakes, like allowing Martin to live, and then tell him that it would be all right to accept death.

After saving Judith and forgiving Carol, the ghosts tell him that “it’s better now.”

Tyreese accepts his fate soon after and dies as the group is trying to save him.

This was the first death where the audience was allowed to view it through the eyes of the character and see his thoughts throughout the death process. In the beginning, Tyreese says that his father would listen to the news

on the radio and Tyreese would listen to these gruesome stories and would not ask his father to turn it off. As Tyreese is dying, the radio goes on and tells the story of the group’s survival, but in terms that he would hear when his dad had it on. When Tyreese realizes he could not help the group anymore, he asks the ghost of Bob to turn it off.

This leaves the group in mourning over the death of yet another survivor. It was a bold move to kill another beloved character in the mid-season opener.

Hopefully, the rest of the season is just as interesting as the first episode leads us to believe and will satisfy what has been an interesting season so far.

THE MIRROR | Week of February 11, 2015

Coffee Break

Page 12

COFFEE BREAK Editor: Allison White

... As Overheard in Barone Compiled By Allison White Coffee Break Editor

“His face always smells like popcorn.”

“Thanks for dinner Mommy … I mean Sodexo.”

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

“Barone must pick the best cows.”

“There’s no such thing as a diet when you eat here.”

“Ice cream for breakfast or dinner today?”

“The unlimited meal plan is dangerously good.”

“Almost got snowed in at Barone.”

“The only reason I walk through the freezing cold: food.”

“Pretty sure I saw Olaf sledding down the library’s hill.” @lovinsweets08: “We’re like sister wives except with no husband.”

“Other than dinner, the best time of the week is Late Night at Barone.”

Overhear something funny in Barone? Tweet us @FairfieldMirror and be featured next week!

Do

n’t

Ask Meg

Need horrible advice?

Submit a question to info@fairfieldmirror.com

Dear Meg, Since we have been snowed in due to class cancellations, I have developed a problem. I finished “Gossip Girl” and “One Tree Hill” on Netflix. What am I supposed to do now? How can any other series compare?

I devoted my life to these shows and now they’re over. It was so cruel of these producers to not continue these shows forever. Now, I actually spend my time doing homework. Help!

Sincerely, Netflix Addict Dear Netflix Addict, I am very sorry to hear that you have finished both series. I, too, was a fan of “Gossip Girl” and “One Tree Hill.” Only time will heal the pain that you feel. Soon you will be enchanted by a new series. However, it will take time to get over your first loves.

Netflix is a cycle of ups and downs, much like life. Once you find a new series, you will binge watch it and forget about your homework in no time. Netflix is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get.

Always keeping it real, Meg

Play some...

Sudoku

How to play: Complete the puzzle by filling in numbers one through nine (with no repeats or missing numbers) in each column, row and 3x3 square.

Sports

Page 13

THE MIRROR | Week of February 11, 2015

Weekly 4x5

Because we have witty things to say ...

Patrick Kiernan Sports Editor

Jennifer Calhoun Executive Editor

Patrick Kiernan, Jennifer Calhoun, Matthew Schneider and Jesse Erickson

What NHL team are you picking as a Stanley Cup candidate right now?

Thoughts on club ice hockey being #1 in their league?

Who wins in a fight: Mario or Luigi?

What movie are you looking forward to this year?

Thoughts on the Grammy's?

Pshh, Rangers of course. And Brodeur's going to sign to back up Cam Talbot in the wake of King Henrik's injury. No, I wouldn't want for that to happen, but yeah, Rangers.

Go team that I found out was really good about a week ago. (let Bobby Shmurda lyrics ensue.)

Really though, hope they go on to win it all.

Luigi. In any Mario game I've played throughout my life, I've used Luigi to win. And Luigi always wins, especially over that chubby brother of his.

Disregard Jesse, she thinks she's all cool now 'cause she endorses herself on Instagram via 4x5. My answer is really Fast and Furious 7.

Ehh, I never watch that. But did you see Rihanna's Quinceanera dress??? Or the bird's nest Iggy Azalea created with her hair???

Impressive, if you ask me.

Am I allowed to pick Fairfield hockey?

See previous answer?

Um, Yoshi.

My capstone. LOL.

Where was One Direction?!

WHERE WERE THEY!

Awesome, at least maybe they will stop beating us up in intramural floor hockey now.

Mario, no way Luigi can take a punch; he's wirey AF.

"Star Wars: Episode VII", it's going to be epic.

How did Ariana Grande not win anything?!

Pat told me he couldn't wait for "Fifty Shades of Grey" this weekend.

I would just like to thank my fans for their support which never ceases to amaze me, my mom and dad for never giving up on me, and my dog, who you can see more of on my Instagram. (waddupjesse)

The New York Rangers baby. Rick Nash is too hot to handle right Matthew Schneider now.

Assistant Sports Editor

Bruins???

Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor

Your 2014-2015 4x5 Columnists:

Imagine if Fairfield was Division Princess Peach.

1? Ugh. How fun would this school be? P.S. the game was really fun anyway yesterday, more people should go, and congrats and win everything.

Stag Spotlight: Men's Tennis' Cameron Amyot '15 and Ofir Solomon '16 What is your best tennis moment in life?

What sport would you play if you couldn’t play tennis?

Amyot: I think the competition has been a lot tougher over the past couple years with Monmouth and Quinnipiac, but I think that we can rise up to the challenge and come out on top.

Amyot: Mine was winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship my freshman year. It had never been done on the team before, so it was a big, big moment.

Amyot: I would play hockey. I started growing up playing it, but I had to give it up because of tennis. So, I would have probably continued to play hockey.

Solomon: I think we have a very, very talented team from every freshman to every senior, from the number one player to the number six player and the bench. I think as long as the team stays together and stays focused, we’ll have a great season.

Solomon: In college when we made the semifinals of the MAAC Tournament. That’s my furthest journey personally, and last year was just the greatest year of tennis for me. I just played my best.

Solomon: I would definitely play soccer.

It’s one of my favorite sports and I just love watching it and playing it, and a lot of my friends are on the team so it would be a great time.

When did you first gain an interest in tennis?

If you could meet any person in history, who would it be?

What are your team expectations for this spring?

Senior player Cameron Amyot.

Have you ever met a professional tennis player?

Amyot: Yeah, I’ve met a couple of them. I think growing up, my favorite was Andy Roddick, so getting his signature was pretty cool.

Solomon: I’ve met a lot of pros. I go to the U.S. Open every year. It’s just 30 minutes from my house, so I get to walk around and see all of them.

Amyot: I was seven when I started and my dad got me into it.

Solomon: When I first started playing, I was four years old. I got a real interest when I started playing in tournaments and travelling when I was about 14 or 15.

Amyot: Ronald Reagan because he was my favorite president.

Solomon: I would meet the old Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon. He was one of the best in politics there, and is just a person to look up to.

See even more answers at the new FairfieldMirror.com!

Inside the Sports section this week: Junior player Ofir Solomon.

Photos contributed by Sports Information Desk

-Playoffs may be in sight for Islanders and Rangers (Page 14) -2014 losses won't stop softball (Page 14) -Baseball looks to top best season (Page 15) -Atlanta Hawks lead the NBA at the All-Star Break (Page 15) -Club ice hockey wins final regular season game (Page 16)

Sports

THE MIRROR | Week of February 11, 2015

Page 14

Playoffs may be in sight for Islanders and Rangers

By Matthew Schneider Assistant Sports Editor

This week in sports: Wednesday, February 11 Swimming and Diving at MAAC Championship, All Day Women's Basketball vs. Manhattan, 7 p.m.

Thursday, February 12 Swimming and Diving at MAAC Championship, All Day

Friday, February 13 Swimming and Diving at MAAC Championship, All Day Women's Basketball vs. Canisius, 5 p.m.

Men's Basketball vs. Quinnipiac, 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 14 Swimming and Diving at MAAC Championship, All Day Men's Lacrosse vs. Holy Cross, 12 p.m.

Women's Lacrosse vs. Sacred Heart, 3 p.m.

Sunday, February 15 Men's Basketball at Manhattan, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, February 17 Women's Lacrosse vs. Hofstra, 3 p.m.

Men's Lacrosse at Providence, 3 p.m.

Contributed under Creative Commons

The NHL playoff race is heating up, with teams jockeying for postseason positions as the March 3 trade deadline looms. Once the deadline hits, it will be up to each team’s GM to decide whether to be a buyer, a seller or to stand pat. This is serious business, as any moves made at the deadline can have serious ramifications for the team, not only this season, but for many down the road.

This season, there have been a surprising amount of teams that have defied expectations. Take, for example, the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings. A team with a strong, young core, the Kings were projected to make a deep playoff run this year in an attempt to repeat as champions. Instead, the team has dropped off recently, losing seven of their last 10 games and falling out of playoff position. The Kings would be a good example of a team that should stand pat at the deadline as, given the team’s recent struggles, it may be unwise to squander the future for a chance to win this season.

Another team that has had a surprising season is the New York Islanders. As a team that will be moving next season, the Islanders have done a pretty good job of sending their current arena, the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, out with a bang.

The surprising team from Long Island has found stability through trade-acquisition Jaroslav Halak, a goaltender that brings enough skill and talent to the table to keep the Islanders in games, which is key considering the struggles in net that the Islanders have had in recent years. They have also used salary-cap dumps Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy, both defensemen, to improve their perennially awful defensive game.

This increase in goaltending and defensive skill, along with another strong campaign by star center John Tavares, has put the Islanders in good position to challenge for the Stanley Cup (they are first in the Metropolitan Division and fourth in the Eastern

Conference as of Tuesday morning).

A recent injury to Tavares’ linemate Kyle Okposo will pose a challenge to the Islanders, but given their performance this season, they should have no trouble making the playoffs and perhaps making a run.

The Islanders should be buyers at the trade deadline, as this is the best the team has been in years, and may be the best opportunity for the team to become champions for the first time since the 80s.

In other local news, the New York Rangers are having another strong campaign, while the New Jersey Devils are faltering when it matters most.

The Rangers have been very hot lately, going 20-6 since Dec. 8 and defeating many of the NHL’s best teams.

However, a recent vascular injury to star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has put the Rangers in a tough position; he will be out for at least three weeks.

Their backup goaltender, Cam Talbot, is a good fill in for Lundqvist, as he has shown himself to be capable of holding down the fort during any of Lundqvist’s absences.

However, it remains to be seen if Talbot will be able to keep the Rangers in their playoff position (they are fourth in the Metropolitan Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference), as he just lost back-to-back games against Western Conference foes - the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars - and didn’t look that sharp.

The Rangers must be buyers at the trade deadline, as they require a bottom-six grinder that can win face-offs (their face-off percentage is awful), and may acquire a veteran goaltender in order to take the slack off of

Talbot until Lundqvist returns. With the right tweaks, the Rangers can return to the playoffs and possibly challenge for another championship.

As previously stated, the Devils have been struggling this year.

Though they have turned their game around lately, winning six of their last 10, the Devils still sit in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division and 11th in the Eastern Conference.

With the trade deadline rapidly approaching and the team too far out of the playoffs at this point, it is time for the Devils to be sellers. They have a number of pending free agents that they should ship out for draft picks, including the NHL’s current oldest player, Jaromir Jagr, who has played very well these past two seasons in New Jersey.

Despite decent play from goaltender Cory Schneider, the Devils just haven’t done enough to win this season, and must write it off as a loss and get what they can for their aging veterans.

Contributed under Creative Commons New York Ranger Rick Nash (above) is leading the team in goals, and will have to make the offense a priority after goaltender Henrik Lundqvist's injury.

2014 losses won't stop softball

By Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor After falling short of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship by just two games last season, the Fairfield softball team will look to win the championship once again this season.

However, like many other teams, the Stags have graduated some teammates who have contributed significantly to the team’s success in the past.

This upcoming spring season, the team will be forced to play without Rae Ball ‘14, who was named MAAC Pitcher of the Week on multiple occasions and at the end of her senior year, went on to be named the MAAC Pitcher of the Year.

During her last year with the team, she posted nine consecutive strikeouts against Quinnipiac and finished the season with a 2.96 earned run average. Her talent helped the team finish 8-2 overall in the MAAC. Recent graduates, Kristen Filicia ‘14 and Lauren Liseth’s ‘14 offensive contributions will be ones that the Stags will definitely need to find substitutes for this season.

Filicia led the team in hitting, posting a .375 average, placing

her third overall in the MAAC. She posted a seven-game hitting streak and finished out her season with nine doubles, four triples and two home runs. On the field, Filicia was just as talented and during her senior season, she recorded zero errors.

Like Ball and Filicia, Liseth will also be greatly missed. The athlete doubled as shortstop and catcher, and as a hitter, she ranked as one of the highest RBI contributors in program history.

Liseth drove in 122 of them, which tied her for second place in program history. She also had four home runs, which tied her for first in the program, and she is currently placed second in the program for her 14 triples.

Although overcoming the loss of some extremely talented seniors may be difficult, there are several key players on the team who have been on the team since their freshman year. Their experience and talent will be needed to get the team where they want to be this season.

Senior Sammy Ruffolo has become a vital outfielder for the team. She is the team’s primary centerfielder because of her extraordinary play on the field.

Last season, she played in 42 games and had two assists

against one error. Ruffolo is one of three seniors expected to lead her team to meet their goals this spring.

Following in her sister’s footsteps, Lauren Filicia ‘16 posted 42 hits in the 45 games in which she played. Her .361 batting average placed her fifth in the MAAC, and on the field, she had just two errors in 76 chances. Her talent as a batter and a fielder will be an extraordinary force for competitors to deal with in the spring.

Sophomore Gianna Kinhofer was one of the most successful freshman the program had seen and if she continues the momentum she set last year, she could become one of the most successful athletes in program history.

Last season, she played in almost every game, just missing one, and posted a .317 average. She had 19 RBIs and in the final five games of the season, she had three home runs.

With the depth that the Stags already have from past seasons, the upcoming season will be a competitive one, and hopefully, the team will be able to get back the MAAC Championship they fell short of last season.

The Stags are scheduled to take on Providence at Towson University for a tournament that begins on Feb. 27.

Sports

Page 15

THE MIRROR | Week of February 11, 2015

Baseball looks to top best season

By Patrick Kiernan Sports Editor

Contributed by Sports Information Desk Junior third baseman Jake Salpietro (above) will be a great bat in the lineup while starting pitcher E.J. Ashworth '15 (bottom) should be stellar on the mound.

The Fairfield baseball season begins in just nine days, and the Stags are looking to improve on a very good 2014 season in which the team went 32-24, the best record in program history. The team made it to the 2014 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship game against Siena, but fell at a close score of 4-3.

Going into the 2015 season, the Stags will be without a number of players integral to last year’s success, most notably, catcher, outfielder and captain Ryan Plourde ‘14. Plourde started in every game and led the team in runs and hits. He was named to the MAAC Baseball Championship All-Tournament Team as well as the All-MAAC First Team, and signed with the Chicago White Sox over the summer.

However, the Stags surely have a backup ready for him at the catcher position with Sebastian Salvo ‘15.

Salvo started in just 29 games last year and led the team with a .354 average and sported a .985 fielding percentage. Now, presumably taking over the everyday job behind the plate, there is no reason to believe that Salvo cannot produce in the 2015 season.

Fortunately, the Stags only lost two other starters to graduation last year: infielder Rob LoPinto ‘14 and Jack Giannini ‘13.

This season, however, will be very much about Fairfield’s pitching staff. The Stags will be welcoming back with open arms their three main starting pitchers: E.J. Ashworth ‘15, Mike Wallace ‘16 and Aaron Howell ‘16. Ashworth finished last season with a 6-2 record to go along with a 2.85 earned run average. He has been given high expectations for this season by being named to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team.

Aside from him, Wallace and Howell held 3.32 and 4.50 ERAs last season respectively, and will look to build on their pitching prowess this season. Mike Wallace’s brother, Gavin Wallace ‘18, will be pitching with the team as well this year, and could make an impact of his own on the mound.

Aside from the starters, Fairfield is also returning a number of bullpen aces to the team in 2015, including Andrew Gallagher ‘15, Tucker Panciera ‘15, Joe Randall ‘16 and Tim Duggan ‘16. Each of these relievers held an ERA below four and Gallagher led the whole team with a 1.64 ERA, allowing just four earned runs throughout the entire season.

Aside from them, the Stags will be greeting a large freshman pitching class this year, some of whom may become bullpen or even starter worthy.

The offense for Fairfield is going to be above average this season as well. The Stags are returning six of their usual starting lineup, and have some fine players off the bench to place in those roles.

The most necessary piece to this starting lineup is third baseman Jake Salpietro ‘16. Salpietro was named to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team and is the powerhouse of this team. Last year, he led the team in most offensive categories, including doubles (16), home runs (five) and runs batted in (44).

If he puts up similar, if not better, numbers this year, Fairfield’s offense should just soar throughout the season with him hitting in the cleanup spot. The one thing he will have to improve upon, though, is his fielding. Last season, Salpietro held a .862 fielding percentage and committed a team-high nine errors.

Aside from improving in the field, he will surely be the cog that keeps Fairfield’s lineup running smoothly.

Other notable players returning to the lineup include speedster outfielder Alex Witkus ‘15, who stole a team-high 29 bases last season, outfielder Billy Zolga ‘15 who did not commit a single error last season and infielder Brendan Tracy ‘16 who led the team with 306 putouts.

Overall, the Fairfield baseball team will benefit from having the core of their players back from the 2014 team that led the best season in program history.

In addition to that, those aforementioned players now have the experience of playing on a big stage, something that may very well happen again this season.

Atlanta Hawks lead the NBA at the All-Star Break

By Alfredo Torres Contributing Writer

With the All-Star Game right around the corner, the first half of the season is just about over. So far, this season has been full of excitement, surprises and of course, great games.

One of the biggest surprises has been the play of the Eastern Conferenceleading Atlanta Hawks, who hold the best record in the NBA. The Hawks went undefeated for the month of January as they went 17 to zero, a new NBA record for the most wins in a month. All five starters for the Hawks (Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague, Al Horford, Kyle Korver and DeMarre Carroll) were selected to be the Eastern Conference players of the month of January; this is an NBA first.

This group has been the perfect example of total team production, as the starting five averaged double figures scoring in the month of January, showing a balance of scoring throughout the team. At this point in the season, the Hawks look to continue their hot play and defend their position atop the Eastern Conference.

The debate for the best team in the Western Conference continues, but for

right now the Golden State Warriors seem to have the upper hand as they hold the best record among Western teams.

As usual, the West is stockpiled with great teams who are all chasing a spot in the playoffs. It will be tough to take down the Warriors, as both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, also known as “The Splash Brothers,” lead them.

Both guards are averaging over 20 points per game and shooting over 40 percent from the three-point line. The Warriors are doing great under new Head Coach Steve Kerr, as they have transitioned well into a new system that consists of pushing the ball and passing it more often.

As the season progresses, teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets will chase the Warriors and look to take control of the West.

With every season, comes unfortunate injuries, and this season is no different. Many have been sidelined due to on-court incidents, most notably the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, who has injured his shoulder and will be done for the remainder of the season.

Highly-coveted rookie Jabari Parker of the Milwaukee Bucks, the favorite to win Rookie of the Year coming into the

season, also went down early when he tore his ACL. The list goes on and on, but with every injury, an opportunity arises for players on their respective teams to step up.

Trade rumors always circulate throughout the league, but many of those speculations became reality this season. The Boston Celtics made a tough decision by letting go of their star point guard Rajon Rondo and sending him to the Dallas Mavericks, where he has fit in just right.

Another big trade was the acquisition of J.R. Smith by the Cleveland Cavaliers from the New York Knicks.

Austin Rivers may not be a big name, but with his trade to the Los Angeles Clippers, he became the first NBA player to play under his own father, Head Coach Doc Rivers. The trade deadline is on Thursday, Feb. 19, so don’t be shocked if you see more trades.

At this point of the season, the play of both James Harden and Curry has been incredible, as they lead the MVP race thus far in this season. Harden leads the league in scoring and has become the leader of his Houston Rockets after years of working toward

Contributed under Creative Commons The play of the entire Atlanta Hawks starting five has been phenomenal thus far in the season, including that of All-Star point guard Jeff Teague (above).

it. He has led his team to a top three seed in the West and looks to continue his great play for a playoff push. Just as Harden has been productive, the same can be said for Curry, as he continues to produce in many aspects on a daily basis.

If you thought all the attention New York gets is crazy, wait until All-Star

Weekend. This year’s All-Star Game will take place in the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.

The other All-Star events, like the slam dunk contest and Three-Point Contest, will be held in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. All-Star Weekend will begin on Friday, Feb. 13, so don’t miss the show.

@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports Week of February 11, 2015

fairfieldmirror.com

SPORTS 16 Sports Editor: Patrick Kiernan » sports@fairfieldmirror.com

Club ice hockey wins final regular season game

By Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor

Playing as the underdog of the game can always be a daunting task, but Fairfield University’s club ice hockey team didn’t let that get in their way as they took on Farmingdale College in their last regular game of the season before upcoming regional and national play.

The Stags, ranked fourth in the league, defeated the conference third-seed Farmingdale Rams 4-2 on Sunday, Feb. 8.

Headed into the first period of the game, Farmingdale immediately attempted to prove dominance over the Stags when they scored their first goal from the top of circle just about five minutes in. About four minutes later, the Rams scored yet again, putting them ahead 2-0 in the first period. However, the Stags didn’t let the goals get in their way.

With about six minutes left in the first period, Fairfield was finally able to get a shot on the board.

After an assist from Cormac Kennedy ‘17, Matt Peacock ‘17 was able to net the first goal for the Stags.

The team wasn’t going to let Farmingdale finish the first period out on top and with about a minute left, Kennedy was able to score another goal off of a power play, tying the score 2-2.

“When we move our feet, we are the fastest team in the league,” said Captain Brendan O’Malley ‘15.

“It was clear when we were going at 110 percent, Farmingdale couldn't handle us.”

Penalties proved to be a reoccurring problem for both teams, but the Stags were able to push past the penalties and use Farmingdale’s penalties to their advantage.

“We took a few more penalties than we would have liked yesterday,” said O’Malley. “Patrick Gill [‘15], Matt Engel [‘16] and Glenn LaFountain [‘16] really helped us kill those off and without their hard work, the game could have been a different story.”

Three minutes into the second period, the Stags posted their third goal of the game when Dan Giberna ‘18 scored off of an assist from J.P. O’Malley ‘17.

For the first time in the game, Fairfield was finally ahead and the Rams made every attempt to get the goal back.

However, the Stag’s defense was anchored heavily

by O’Malley, Thomas Balanda ‘15, Christopher Joyce ‘15, and Brendan Joyce ‘18. Goalie Ralph DiSpigna ‘16, according to Marc DeLuca ‘15, “had a huge game in the net and kept Fairfield solid throughout the game.”

By the third period, Farmingdale was relentless, but between Fairfield’s offensive attacks and defense, the Rams had no luck. Junior Christian Habberstad

was able to make the fourth and final goal for the Stags off an assist from LaFountain and Vin Rella ‘17.

In the last three minutes of the game, Farmingdale attacked the Stags offense, but they were shut down by the team’s defense. As the buzzer went off, the team celebrated as this victory ensures a higher seed in upcoming regional and national play.

“The top four teams in our conference play in late February to see who will become the Emperor’s Cup Champion,” said O’Malley. “We are very happy heading into that at #1 and going 8-0 in conference play this year.”

The Stags are already looking beyond the Emperor's Cup and are eager to be awarded the opportunity to compete in regional and national play.

According to O’Malley, the team’s number one goal this season was to get to nationals and if they are ranked second or higher in the region, the team will be guaranteed a spot to compete in nationals which take place in Alabama. If they are ranked any lower, the team will compete in regionals and then hopefully, advance to nationals.

“We committed to taking the program to a serious club organization that is competitive, dedicated and accountable for their actions,” said DeLuca, copresident of the team. “The team has made a name for themselves not only at Fairfield University, but in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Eastern Conference, and the Empire Collegiate Hockey League.”

As the team continues to have a larger presence in the Northeast, the team has set even bigger goals for itself.

I would love to see the recognition grow for the team and eventually see them get back to a National Collegiate Athletic Association program,” said O’Malley. “We have a great program here that really flies under the radar.”

Although getting back to the NCAA is a big task, the team will start with nationals and if they succeed, the national play will get the team even more recognition which they hope will help develop the program back at Fairfield. According to DeLuca, the team owes a lot of their success to the continued support of the Fairfield community.

After the last regular season win, the team is looking forward to the next couple of weeks in front of them.

“The team will have a few nights off to rest their bodies, but will be back on the ice by the end of the week to start preparing for regionals and nationals,” said DeLuca.

On Friday, Feb. 13, the team will find out where they will be seeded for upcoming tournaments.

Jesse Erickson/The Mirror Fairfield's club ice hockey team was propelled past Farmingdale thanks to the strong defense of players like defenseman Thomas Balanda '15 (top) and goalie Ralph DiSpigna '16 (bottom right).