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The Reflection of Fairfield

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Nicholas DiFazio/The Mirror

The women’s Soccer team showed off their moves during the Student- Athlete Talent Show and placed second to the women’s Volleyball team.

By Laura O’Reilly Managing Editor Fairfield University studentathletes traded the field for the stage during the Third Annual Student-Athlete Talent Show held last Saturday at Alumni Hall. The event, run by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), raised money for a one-yearold boy diagnosed with a very rare genetic disorder.

Finnegan Straub was born on Sept. 6, 2011, and within several months he was diagnosed with MicCap Syndrome. Signs and symptoms

of Mic-Cap Syndrome include uncontrolled seizures, small head and brain size, blindness, deafness and impaired neurological capacity. He is only the tenth case in the world that has been identified with this disorder.

Many of Fairfield University’s athletic teams came together to perform 15 different acts, all vying to walk away with this year’s trophy and the title of the team with the most talent.

Senior Michael O’Keefe and Will Hollingsworth ‘14 co-hosted the event.

A donation of $3 at the door went to helping Finnegan find treatment for

his seizures and his other medical expenses.

Students and student-athletes cheered on the performers of the night, whose acts included many types of entertainment, such as lipsynching, dancing and comedic skits – all showing that they are not just athletic, but creative as well.

The men’s Baseball team were up first, performing the “Get Your Head in the Game� scene from Disney’s “High School Musical.� They wore Fairfield Basketball jerseys and showed off some Globetrotters moves.

The Softball team had no time for bronchitis with their rendition of YouTube sensation Sweet Brown’s viral video of her response to a fire in her home.

Women’s Soccer also performed their own take on the Macklemore and Ryan Lewis song “Thrift Shop.�

The second half of their act took audience members back to the Summer Olympics with a synchronized swimming skit to the tune of an Italian opera.

The Volleyball team awed the crowd with their unique puppeteer dance routine. The Volleyball players

were the puppets themselves, dancing to such famous tracks as “Kung Fu Fighting,� “Soldier Boy� and “Teach Me How to Dougie.�

Junior Katelyn Parisi said that the Volleyball team’s act was her favorite. “It was nice to see that they cared enough about the event to put that kind of energy into it,� she said. “It seemed like they took a lot of time and effort to put that together and I think that’s what the audience appreciated the most.�

Irish step dancing was featured in numerous acts in this year’s tal-

VOLLEYBALL| PAGE 2

Inside this Issue: Page 3:

New kiosks make printing more accessible Nicholas DiFazio/The Mirror

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Barone’s cafeteria now stays open until 8 p.m. and weekend continental breakfast begins at 8 a.m.

People (with guns) kill people

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Poetry for Peace

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Concussions: A worrying epidemic in athletes

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THE MIRROR Staff Report After multiple operating schedule changes last year, the Stag, Einstein’s Bagels, and even the Main Dining Room have finally attained new hours at the students’ discretion.

Starting this semester, the Barone Main Dining Room will be open until 8 p.m., with a continental breakfast starting at 8 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

The hours of the Stag Snack Bar and Einstein’s have also changed. Einstein’s will now be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., while the

Stag hours run between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. every day, except on Thursday when it will remain open until midnight.

As a result of the new hours, students will be able to eat a substantial breakfast on the weekends, grab a coffee before their 8:00 a.m. class at Einstein’s, and have a hot dinner until 8:00 p.m. in Barone.

Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs James Fitzpatrick was instrumental in bringing about the extended hours. He made the changes in response to many complaints about the hours of the dining facilities, saying that

“the request didn’t seem impractical.�

Junior Samuel Maxfield is the FUSA Chair of Senate who helped direct the organization’s accumulation of student input. Although the new dining hours became official over the Winter Recess, the push for extended hours in Barone had been a wish of the student body for years. However, as Maxfield explained, it takes consistency to put changes in motion with the administration: “With Mr. Fitzpatrick you have to be consistent ... another thing that he likes to say is ‘prove it.’�

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ent show. Both the women’s Soccer and women’s Cross Country teams surprised the audience when they concluded their numbers with a short Irish jig.

In addition to the performances, an auction was held for a day off from practice and for the opportunity to give another team a strength and conditioning workout with Mark Spellman. This resulted in a bidding war between teams, with Women’s Soccer buying the day off for $300 and Men’s Tennis buying the workout for $500.

Men’s Soccer proved to once again be the most provocative of the night with their women’s bathing suits and their suggestive dance moves. They got the audience laughing with their rendition of Katy Perry’s “California Girls” video.

The two-time talent Show champions men’s Cross Country team concluded the night with some T.Swift nerds dancing to “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Their performance was interrupted by an angry “Kanye West” who argued that Beyonce was the best of all time. However, their “Single Ladies” dance was not enough to defend the title.

With a MAAC Championship win this past fall, the Volleyball team received the most votes from the judges, casting them talent show champions as well. The women’s Soccer team and men’s Cross Country took second and third place, respectively.

Senior Volleyball athlete and talent show champion Kara Reis commented on how all teams are naturally competitive, but “the best thing to remember, no matter how competitive it gets, the reason we all

come together is for the cause, and this year we came together for Finn.”

Finnegan and his family were the real winners of the night with the event raising more than double its goal. With over $4,000 raised, this year’s talent show is the most successful yet, doubling what was raised last year.

Finnegan was not in attendance, but Rich Straub ’14, who is related to Finn, went out on the court and took a video of the crowd that was sent directly to Finn’s mother. His father was able to come and take videos as well.

Senior Mary Alice Limperopulos, copresident of SAAC, said that he “was extremely thankful for all that we had done.”

This year showed how the talent show has grown since its creation in 2011. Men’s Cross Country athlete John Lobo ’14 commented on the success of this year’s show. “My freshman year, the first year of the talent show, we performed for one section of predominantly athletes at Alumni Hall. But this year we walked out in our tucked-in plaid shirts and looked up to see the entire wooden bleacher section packed full of students.”

While he may not have walked away with the title this year, he said, “The real gold medal and more than $4,000 went to Finnegan, the little guy who was the purpose behind this special night.”

Talent show champion Reis said this to future talent show competitors: “Be true to the meaning of the event. This event should bring teams together and make them realize that there are more important things in life, like raising money for this adorable child who needs our help …

Come together, raise money, and have fun!”

Nicholas DiFazio/The Mirror

MAAC volleyball champions win 2013 Student-Athelete Talent Show.

Nicholas DiFazio/The Mirror

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The Mirror | Week of January 30, 2013

News

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By Kaitlin McEwan Contributing Writer

Nicholas DiFazio/The Mirror

New WEPA printing station can be found all over campus.

You are rushing to class and realize you forgot to print your essay that’s due in five minutes.

The library is too far and you will never make it on time. What will you do?

Thanks to the new WEPA (Wireless Everywhere Print Anywhere) printing system at Fairfield University, students can print from multiple locations on campus.

Representatives from the Computing and Network Services, (CNS) the DiMenna-Nyselius Library and the StagCard Office examined many different ideas to replace the current printing system at the University. According to Paige Francis, Chief Information Officer at Fairfield University, WEPA provided the most options.

In the past, many students at Fairfield printed in the library if they did not have another printing alternative.

According to Francis, WEPA kiosks have been placed in the following locations throughout the University: r #BOOPX 4DJFODF $FO ter: on the second floor bridge to the School of Nursing, next to the vending machines (1 kiosk). r #BSPOF $BNQVT $FOUFS outside the Stag Spirit Shop (2 kiosks). r %JNNFOB /ZTFMJVT

Library: lower lever near the periodicals (1 kiosk), main level information commons (2 kiosks), main level 24/7 lab (1 kiosk), upper level near the card catalog computers (1 kiosk). r %PMBO 4DIPPM PG #VTJ ness: in the classroom wing, outside of room 110 A&B (1 kiosk). r 8BMTI "UIMFUJD $FOUFS computer lab (1 kiosk).

Although the University removed the original library printers, they placed the most kiosks there because of the large printing demand. Now, printing usage can be monitored.

Additional kiosks were spread out to try and “make printing as convenient as possible for the widest range of students,� Francis said.

Francis explained that the administrators are able to track usage and if needed, the kiosks can be moved to the “new high traffic areas.� There is a possibility that one or two kiosks will be moved by the fall semester.

After ending one system and implementing another, Francis explained that the new system is budget-neutral. A cost savings may even be seen because of the fact that “supplies and hardware are kept secure in the kiosks,� stated Francis. “WEPA is a turnkey solution,� she explained. “It is able to man-

age everything from service calls to providing reams of paper and toner.�

According to Francis, students will benefit from this in a number of ways: r )JHI EFĂŞOJUJPO QSJOU ing, which previously was not available r 8JSFMFTT QSJOUJOH GSPN mobile devices, USB jump drives the cloud and PCs r )JHI RVBMJUZ QSJOUFST and laser paper Many student reactions to the new printing solution have been positive. “It is so convenient to only have to walk to the BCC now to print,â€? stated Hope Agresta ’16. “This is a great alternative to printing on campus!â€?

However, some students find the switch less convenient. Nate Abraham ’13 refers to the login process, saying, “It just takes a lot more time, where before you just had to write in your ID number.�

Francis reported, “The largest cost for campus printing comes from printers’ service, maintenance and supplies.� WEPA is able to take all of these costs and get rid of them. Moving to WEPA will now remove Fairfield University from the printer maintenance business.

She commented, “At the end of the day, a student still has to print from time to time and when a student needs to print, we’d like the print to be high-quality from the device of their choosing.�

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There was not a formal strategy to garner support for the schedule change. Instead, Maxfield said he just wanted the senators to reach out to students before class or at parties. “I always tell the senate to get a grip on complaints,� he said.

While freshmen and sophomores who are required to have meal plans are excited to have the hours extended, upperclassmen regret that these changes were not made long ago. “It’s great they finally extended the hours, but I could

have used that two years ago,� says Abby Romano ’14.

In a Mirror article from Spring 2012, Fitzpatrick was quoted saying, “the only people that have complained in the past are the cross country and baseball teams.� The hours weren’t changed because there was never a great enough demand for them to be extended.

In the same article, 30 students were asked questions about their thoughts on dining hours.

Eighty percent of the students surveyed said that they were not satisfied with the dining

options at Fairfield University.

Ninety-three percent of students said they would take advantage of the dining hall if it

“It’s great they finally extended the hours, but I could have used that two years ago.�

-Abby Romano ‘14 were open later than 7:30 p.m.

Fifty-nine percent said that they would take advantage of using the dining hall before the normal opening time of 10:00 a.m. on weekends.

Through this survey, Fairfield University students voiced their need for extended dining hours. With the recent changes, their needs will be met.

While Fitzpatrick believes it’s too early to tell if the extended hours will be successful interms of student usage, students are already supporting the new changes. “I couldn’t be happier because most days I have to work

all day and I would have to spend all my money at the Stag, but now I’ll have time to go to Barone,� says Brian Gilligan ’14.

FUSA President Robert Vogel ‘13 called the dining schedule change a great success after “years of conversations�- the fruits of which could be shortlived. If the extended hours do not see popular patronage, the hours will very likely be changed back.

Vogel said: “It’s literally a dollars and cents game which is entirely understandable and, if the demand isn’t there, we’ll know within a couple weeks ...�

The Mirror | Week of January 30, 2013

News

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Thursday, 1/24

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Wednesday, Jan. 30

11:43 p.m. – A non-student who was vomiting heavily was found to have overdosed on alcohol 3:17 p.m. – It was reported that in late October a after consuming vodka at a townhouse. The perplastic skull was stolen from the biology labora- son was transported to St. Vincent’s for medical tory in Bannow 240. A box has been placed in a treatment.

2nd floor hallway for the skull’s return without penalty.

Saturday, 1/26

Head to The Levee for the 2013 Relay for Life Kickoff party. The event will be held from 7 p.m. 10 p.m.

Friday, 1/25

Friday, Feb. 1

12:06 a.m. – A male non-student was found intoxicated in a Regis Hall women’s bathroom. No 12:56 a.m. – One student in Regis Hall was ar- medical attention was needed. The non-sturested for possession of alcohol, drug parapher- dent’s host was referred to Student Conduct. nalia and suspected marijuana. DPS noticed the odor of burning marijuana while on patrol.

12:35 a.m. – The smell of marijuana led to a narcotics arrest in a Gonzaga Hall residence where 1:33 a.m. – An intoxicated minor punched out drug paraphernalia and a covered smoke detecthe window of his residence in Claver Hall and tor were found. was transported to St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport.

1:54 a.m. – DPS was called when a resident of Townhouse 10 block discovered two youths tam10:11 a.m. – Two female residents of Campion pering with the resident’s bicycle. The two were Hall awoke to the odor of feces in their room. referred to Student Conduct for attempted theft.

They discovered what appeared to be human excrement in one of their dressers. No suspects Sunday, 1/27 have been identified. DPS reminds students to lock their doors when they sleep.

12:12 a.m. – RAs reported an intoxicated minor dry heaving at a townhouse. DPS was called and 11:15 p.m. – RAs and DPS dispersed a social no further medical treatment was required. gathering of around 100 people at Townhouse 4 block.

1:54 a.m. to 4:05 a.m. – Two burglaries and two thefts were reported to have happened through11:15 p.m. – Loud music led DPS to a Claver Hall out the morning at a number of townhouses. An residence where beer, rum and a “Beirut� table iPhone and a wallet were stolen during various were found. Students were referred to Student social gatherings, and two laptops were burglarConduct. ized from different townhouses. *If you have information about any of these incidents, please contact the Department of Public Safety.*

Gonzaga Auditorium will be showing the award ZLQQLQJ ÂżOP $UJR IURP 10 p.m. - midnight.

Friday, Feb. 1

It’s late night at Barone!

The dining hall will be open from 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. serving chicken nuggets and breakfast sandwiches.

Sunday, Feb. 3 Support our Lady Stags!

Alumni Hall will be hosting the women’s basketball game against Iona. The event starts at 12 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 3 Spend your Super Bowl Sunday at the Levee! Free wings and pizza starting at 6 p.m.

Out with StagWeb, in with my.Fairfield

Photo Illustration by Nick DiFazio/The Mirror

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By Danielle Anctil Contributing Writer Course registration. Financial aid. Work orders.

For as long as any current Fairfield student has been at the University, the school’s online StagWeb portal has served as the means of access to these services.

But on Jan. 21, Fairfield University officially switched from the StagWeb portal to the newly launched my.Fairfield portal. The new portal had been in development for several years. “A replacement for StagWeb was first discussed about four years ago when the University recognized that StagWeb had not undergone a review in a number of years,� said Fairfield’s Chief Information Officer Paige Francis.

The University formed a

committee that spoke with focus groups made up of students, faculty and staff in order to gauge the amount of interest in a new site, said Francis. It also referred to the University’s Educational Technologies Committee for input.

After developing multiple possible solutions for the need for a platform upgrade, the University settled on “a commercial product based on an open source platform‌MyCampus,â€? said Francis. Development and design of the new, more centralized portal began in the summer of 2011, led by a portal implementation committee.

My.Fairfield may visually remind students of the former StagWeb portal, such as the weekly calendar feature. Francis explained that this is because StagWeb and my.Fairfield are different means

to the same platform. The platform, Banner Web (Self-Service), which is utilized by many universities, has remained the same. It was only the portal to the platform – StagWeb – that changed. “My.Fairfield is simply providing a path, a ‘window’ of sorts, to get to the Banner Web platform,� Francis said.

A new mobile phone app has also been launched, allowing users to access the my.Fairfield portal from their phones and handheld devices. A complaint that has surfaced along with this, however, is that student Gmail accounts are still not accessible on mobile phones even with the app.

Francis said that they are “exploring options� for ways to offer such access to Gmail, and that both the app and the portal itself will develop more and gain more

functionality over the upcoming months.

So far, student reception of my.Fairfield has been mixed. Justin Nowicki ’13 said, “People are naturally resistant to change. Personally I don’t like it, as it is hard to find some features. [But] over time, it will be more accepted.�

Others have questioned the timeliness of the launch. Jen Lowe ‘13 said that she is impressed with the improvements Fairfield has been making to online student services but thinks the timing of the switch was inconvenient. “Personally I believe that launching the new site over the summer with the new academic year would have been a better choice,� she said.

F r a n cis said that m y . Fa i r f i e l d was introduced to the staff over the summer and then to the rest of the University in the fall while StagWeb was still functioning so that University members could get used to using the new system before StagWeb was entirely decom-

missioned. The transition also coincided with that of Fairfield’s incoming class of 2017.

Francis, who is new to Fairfield and began her position just recently on Jan. 7, said that she looks forward to the possibilities and functionality that my.Fairfield holds.

She encouraged students to reach out with feedback and concerns. “Our role in the technology department is one of service and support,� she said. “Student need is a priority and our goal is, from this point forward, to exceed all expectations.�

The Mirror | Week of January 30, 2013

Opinion

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OPINION | 5 Editor: (OL]DEHWK .RXEHN RSLQLRQ@fairfieldmirror.com

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EDITORIAL Martin O'Sullivan |Editor-in-Chief Loan Le |Executive Editor Laura O'Reilly |Managing Editor

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Have an opinion about something else?

Send us your thoughts to opinion@fairfieldmirror.com

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NOTABLE AND QUOTABLE: r 4ZMMBCVT XFFL JT PWFS r 8PNFOhT CBTLFUCBMM HBNF XJOOJOH TUSFBL XBT TUPQQFE CZ 3JEFS r The flu season is in session and running XJME r 8JOUSZ XFBUIFS NBLFT XBMLJOH UP DMBTT B EBOgerous adventure.

“I no longer cared about the money. I made the money. None of that matters at the end of the day if you don't have pride in it."

- Dominic Giresi, owner of Italian Kitchen See "Little Italy outpost hits Fairfield ... and they deliver" on pg. 9

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.

Opinion

Lisa Tkach/The Mirror

I think I can, I think I can

The Mirror | Week of January 30, 2013

Kaitlin McEwan $ǪNJǯǭǤÇ?ǰǯǤNJǢ 8Ç­Ç¤ÇŻÇ Ç­

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All I want is to know my GPA

Page 6

Andrea Butler $ǪNJǯǭǤÇ?ǰǯǤNJǢ 8Ç­Ç¤ÇŻÇ Ç­

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Obama's gun control prop won't cure Leigh Tauss $ǪNJǯǭǤÇ?ǰǯǤNJǢ Ç˛Ç­Ç¤ÇŻÇ Ç­

ǔFSF JT B CSJEHF * SFNFNCFS WJTJUJOH $PSOFMM 6OJWFSTJUZ JO and strolling across it, pausing to UBLF JO UIF FQJD FYQBOTF PG ESBNBUJD DMJŀT BOE QFBDFGVM SJWFS GBS CFMPX *O UIBU NPNFOU PG WBTU BQQSFDJBUJPO * DPVME IBWF OFWFS HVFTTFE UIF CSJEHF T HSVFTPNF SFQVUBUJPO Cornell University garnered OBUJPOBM BUUFOUJPO JO BGUFS UISFF TUVEFOUT UPPL GBUBM MFBQT Pŀ UIF DBNQVT NBOZ CSJEHFT XJUIJO UIF TQBO PG B NPOUI %FTQFSBUF UP TIBLF Pŀ UIF OJDLOBNF iTVJDJEF TDIPPMu UIF 6OJWFSTJUZ UPPL TXJGU action to prevent future jumpers, FSFDUJOH B TFSJFT PG DIBJO MJOLFE CBSCFE XJSF GFODFT PO TFWFO CSJEHes in the area.

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The Vine

{The vine}

Poetry for Peace Child writers reason peace through poems

By Loan Le Executive Editor

T

he winners of the Poetry for Peace contest waited in line for their solos on the Regina A. Quick Center stage. Some took hesitant steps to the microphone stand when their names were called, dragging their gleaming red Mary Janes and black dress shoes across the wooden stage.

Others approached the spotlight with some pep in their step, smiling and making faces to their family members out in the audience.

Though different in their heights and confidence, these children gathered in the Quick Center on Friday, Jan. 25, for one purpose: to share through poetry their ideas of peace.

Started in 2008, the Poetry for Peace contest allows students in grades kindergarten through eight from the Bridgeport and Fairfield

Public Schools the chance to define peace through creative writing. The reading event used to be held in the Kelley Center, but because of growing popularity, the event had to be relocated to the Quick Center.

According to co-director of Poetry for Peace Dr. Jerelyn M. Johnson, associate professor of modern languages and literature, the judging panel received over 1,000 entries. They then split entries by grades, organizing them into four grade flights. From there on, a panel of Fairfield faculty and undergraduate and graduate students chose the winners, honorable mentions and the judges’ favorites.

The winning poems were published in a booklet, which was also distributed to the audience consisting of the Fairfield University community, parents and children.

Applause punctuated each

pause before another poet went to the stage to read. Mothers juggled their children on their laps.

Kids smiled to the camera as their parents beckoned from below in their seats. Confidence seemed to grow as the height of the poets increased.

The older children naturally took in the world events which disrupt peace, while most of the younger children compared peace to their own everyday activities.

Certain students shared a humorous perception of peace. In his poem “What peace is to me,” Christopher Cirelli, a Fairfield Woods Middle School sixth grader, wrote: “Peace is not getting haircuts.”

There were also poems that gave surprising insight into how aware children are of the present world.

Fifth grader Alec Nardone from

POETS | PAGE 8

The Mirror | Week of January 30, 2013

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Page 8

Young poets take the Quick Center stage

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

grader at Osborn Hill Elementary School, wrote a poem entitled Burr Elementary School wrote “Peace� and won an honorable that in a world without peace, hu- mention in the grade K-2 flight. manity is on the brink of self-deHer opening line states that struction: “We’re all on fire - and “peace sounds like the dolphins we don’t even know it / Soon our jumping in the waves.� humanity will be gone, / Burnt.�

Encouraged by her teacher to Grace Hilton, a third grader think about things she liked when from Timothy Dwight Elementary describing peace, Anwar said, “I School in Fairfield, brought up thought about the beach and that’s origami cranes, how I came up with the symbol of the dolphins. And I peace sprung Your poetry has like mangoes,� she up after the 9/11 changed all of us for added, which reattacks, in her ferred to her line, the better tonight. poem. She saw “Peace tastes like a peace in the ol- And for that: thank mango from a tree.� ive branch that She said recityou.

Noah had spoting her poem to ted when he an audience was arrived on land -Dr. Peter Bayers, “easy� because “I in the Book of wasn’t looking at Poetry for Peace co-director the people.�

Genesis in the Bible. Nardone In his closing and Hilton’s remarks, Poetry for poems showed that, like many of Peace co-director and associate the writings in the booklet, what English professor Dr. Peter Bayers children know should not be tak- said, “We would like to thank all en for granted. of you, the poets who are here, for Not only did the poems serve sharing your voices with us. I think to entertain and to enlighten, but we would all agree that we have they also brought into perspective learned from your insights, your the contrast between the poems beauty and your wisdom. Your poand reality’s fragile events that etry attests to the power and posthreaten current peace. sibilities of language.

Johnson recounted the time “Your poetry has changed all when she and the judges met to of us for the better tonight. And for consider the final entries. Three that: thank you.� days later, the Sandy Hook shootBrenda Perry and Wendy Acing spree occurred, during which comando, teachers at Osborn Hill 26 people at Sandy Hook Elemen- Elementary School, have been tary School were killed, most of involved with Poetry for Peace them children. from the start and always encourJohnson said to the poets in age their students to submit to the the audience: “I know I speak for contest. many of us when I say that during Perry, a fourth grade teacher, that seriously sad and dark mo- described this event as “wonderment, your words, and knowing ful,� while second grade teacher that you and your poems existed, Accomando said Friday night’s gave us hope. Such is the power of poetry reading was “inspiring.� poetry.� “It’s inspiring for us,� said AcMariam Anwar, a second comando. “Poetry is a great medi-

“

�

Meghan Cox/The Mirror

Top: The young poets patiently wait their turn to recite their poem to the Quick Center audience. Bottom: )LUVW JUDGHU 1LNROLV 1LHYHV OHIW ÀDVKHV D VPLOH DQG WKLUG JUDGHU *UDFH +LOWRQ ULJKW VKDUHV KHU ZRUN um; [the students] can use words, they don’t have to worry about grammar ‌ they are creative and they’re open to writing things.�

Associate professor of philosophy Dr. Kris Sealey, who coordinated the judging process, would agree with Accomando, believing that poetry is sometimes overlooked in education. â€œâ€ŚA lot of time, modes of expression are squashed and lost in formal education,â€? she said. “We struggle as

professors to bring it back - hold on to it and make it grow!"

Sealey also sees the benefits participants would gain from the writing process. She said, “In order for these children to be productive in life, they have to develop their own voice.�

Carol Ann Davis, published poet and assistant professor of English, is working on an “expansion� of Poetry for Peace. The program, called “Poet in the classroom,� seeks to combine

the poetry teaching efforts of poets and interested school teachers.

This year, the Poetry for Peace Contest was sponsored by Fairfield University’s Office of Academic Engagement, the Department of English and the Program in Peace and Justice. Poetry for Peace was also a part of the MLK Holiday Observance Week.

Reporting on this event was contributed by Crystal Rodriguez.

Bellarmine museum and Walsh Gallery exhibits get real

By Olivia Snoddy The Vine Assistant Editor

T

hrough the lens of realism, connection, emotion and relativity are captured.

Capturing scenes of subway rides, parades and ceremonies, among other daily encounters, Colleen Browning’s art instantaneously pulls viewers into its deepest crevices by means of vivid color schemes, intense expression and spatial relativity. Viewers are delivered into an entirely new medium: a real, yet not so ordinary spectrum. “I am always a realist, an illusionist if you prefer," Browning has said of herself. “As I became more intimate with Ms. Browning – it sometimes felt as if I was chasing a ghost who had intentionally left me strong clues, distinctive fingerprints and an artistic DNA thread – it was apparent that she was trying to convey her knowledge about the illusionistic nature of representation,� says Dr. Philip Eliasoph, professor of art history.

Nicholas DiFazio/The Mirror

3KRWRJUDSK RI 0LQGVFDSH D SDLQWLQJ E\ &ROOHHQ %URZQLQJ RQ GLVSOD\ LQ WKH :DOVK *DOOHU\ XQWLO 0DUFK As seen in Browning’s "Clairvoyant II" and "Ave Maria," dramatic light is illustrated against a dark, black backdrop, similar to Caravaggio’s work of heavily employed

tenebrism, dramatic illumination of figures where a focused light is depicted against dark shadows.

Browning’s characters' expressions, movements and intentions

stand out when put against such a focused light.

A Realist painter who emerged in the American art scene in the late 1940s, Browning has “an un-

canny ability to, chameleon-like, imitate any artistic style or mannerism with fluidity,� according to Eliasoph’s film "Colleen Browning: ‘Through a Glass, Darkly’ – A Revisionist Light."

Browning indeed exhibits insurmountable fluidity within her works. Each one appears seamlessly crafted, as if viewers have entered into the place, time and characters' world.

"Question Mark" leaves one staring into the figure's eyes, entering into his or her world, experiencing a shared feeling of question and doubt. With "Ceremonies," observers find themselves looking into the same bright candles and holding their hands in a prayerlike way, similar to the figures illustrated.

Gary Alan Wood, director of the Quick Center for the Arts, writes of Browning’s work: “Perhaps it is the fact that she found inspiration in her work from everyday life that provides a sense of

GALLERY | PAGE 9

The Vine

The Mirror | Week of January 30, 2013

Page 9

Weekend day trip: Indian Ledge Park

By Dylan Dembin Contributing Writer

I

f you get tired of walking around town or going to the Fairfield Beach, you might want something new to do with your weekends. Those who like hiking, biking, walking and jogging or who just like to enjoy nature might want to take a short trip to Indian Ledge Park.

Indian Ledge Park in Trumbull is a short 25-minute car ride from campus and can be a great way to take a day and spend it outside.

The park has something to offer for everyone. It is state-owned and is open to anyone who wants to use its land and natural space.

Only Trumbull residents can park in the main parking lot, but anyone can park at a second lot that is right on the main trail.

The park is widely known for its very challenging and winding mountain biking trails, and also its main double track rails-to-trails path that is common among runners and walkers.

Indian Ledge has many other features as well. It is home to a BMX track, dog walking park, playground with water features, soccer fields and an outdoor amphitheater. This amphitheater has been graced with annual performances from famous bands such as Hall and Oats, The Beach Boys, Train and Chicago.

This park is very different from many others in the area. In addition to the many features and attractions offered, there is a nature experience that is hard to find anywhere else in the state. The single

CT PARK | PAGE 10

Nicholas DiFazio/The Mirror

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Little Italy outpost hits Fairfield

By Luigi DiMeglio Chief Copy Editor

“How you doin’?”

Dominick Giresi Sr. is behind the front counter to greet costumers in Italian Kitchen. Hand-prepared or imported meats hang over his head; fresh homemade pizzas are tossed in the oven behind him.

Giresi’s son (also named Dominick) just opened this gourmet delicatessen, pizzeria and market in the fall, and their new menu reflects a big interest in Fairfield students: filling varieties at competitive deli prices - delivered.

And this is not just food.

“When you make a sandwich for Oprah and she says, ‘Oh my God,’ you know you’ve got something,” Italian Kitchen’s owner

... and they deliver Dominick Giresi Jr. told The Mirror. (He previously owned a private café at an airport where he served Oprah Winfrey, David Letterman and other celebrities regularly.)

Passion is what he says sets his kitchen apart from his many neighboring Post Road restaurants.

The Giresi family boasts a wide array of Italian dishes and no frozen food in this new Italian culture hub. Lunches and dinners are made fresh daily or upon request.

The bread is brought in fresh from New York City every morning.

“I offer a quality pizza for New Yorkers who are away from home,” said Giresi.

An extensive barrier of fresh pastries and cheeses runs parallel to the freezers of homemade pasta.

The floor is a spacious flow of white

tile with neat mounds of Italian imports – all for sale. There are tables for immediate eating, too.

As the owner, Giresi decided to bring this robustly authentic cooking away from his family’s other eateries in New York City after an adolescence working in a family deli and a very successful crash course in corporate America.

By his early twenties, Giresi owned a marketing company and numerous properties across the nation. His friends told him he had made it, but then, “I no longer cared about the money,” he said, “I made the money … none of that matters at the end of the day if you don’t have pride in it.”

Giresi is now 25. He has returned to the family business of passionate cooking. “We don’t

make sandwiches, we build sandwiches,” he said. “We’re architects here.”

When Giresi looked at the town of Fairfield, he found a booming restaurant scene. “Obviously this is a food town,” he said. He also noticed the train station’s proximity and was interested in delivery options.

Giresi’s father originally was against a lot of his son’s plan. After knocking on doors downtown, however, feedback became persuasive. “They said they’d love it – they need it.”

It was the town support that sealed the deal for Giresi to open, despite his father’s skepticism.

“I talked to everybody; they were

ITALIAN KITCHEN | PAGE 10

Browning captures essence of realism in paintings CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

immediacy, curiosity, connection and even affection for what she has created. It serves to stir our deepest curiosities as art lovers, and causes us to appreciate the powerful capacity of her work to turn our heads – and our imaginations – as we rediscover the world around us.”

Founding director and Chief Curator of the Bellarmine Museum of Art Dr. Jill Deupi calls attention to Browning’s talents as a painter, saying, “Browning’s clear technical prowess, coupled with her extraordinary capacity to continually reinvent herself within the bounds of the representational tradition, mark her as a painter worthy of our attention.”

Deupi also highlights Browning’s success in the “testosteronefueled world of contemporary art,” and because of it, she is viewed with extra admiration and recognition.

Eliasoph continues Deupi’s thought, saying, “Although Ms. Browning isn’t counted within a very small pantheon of modern masters, she merits a solid place within the largest story of American art in the second half of the 20th century.

“Ms. Browning’s virtue is in appreciating how she kept pace with the more famous personalities and worked equally hard – always believing in the value of her art.”

Along with Browning’s everyday scenes such as "Fire Escape II," "East Harlem Street Scene," and "Storefront," typical observations of a Manhattan resident, she also captured religious events, such as in "Garden of Eden," "Ave Maria," and ideas of astrology, as seen in "The Astrologer of Chantinelle." Upon viewing her captivating scenes, one can only begin to see how dynamic Browning is in her ideas and portrayals. Viewers are taken

from their still ground and delivered directly into her paintings; she has the ability to gravitate observers into a whole new dimension: one of thought, reflection and association.

“She is expressing what she is experiencing. She is trying to express reality, which I think is really poignant,” says Rosemary, a resident of Black Rock, who enjoyed Browning’s exhibit and felt uplifted, yet challenged upon exiting. “It is a combination of real artwork with stuff you might see at the Metropolitan with items you might see at MoMA.” “She worked hard at her craft and deserves the title of ‘Artist’ with a capital ‘A,’” remarks Eliasoph.

The exhibit "The Early Works of Colleen Browning" is located in the Bellarmine Museum of Art, and her "A Brush with Magic" exhibit in the Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery can be viewed now through March 24.

Nicholas DiFazio/The Mirror

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The Mirror | Week of January 30, 2013

The Vine

Page 10

CT park provides escape into nature

An Italian Kitchen comes to Fairfield

who tries mountain biking at this park should wear a helmet because there is a great deal of challenging and dangerous terrain.

To get to this park from Fairfield University, take exit 27A off I-95 for CT-25 North towards Trumbull. Follow CT-25N for just over six miles; then turn left on Main St. (CT 111). After 0.8 miles, take a left onto Whitney Ave. and stay on this road until driving down a curvy hill. A crosswalk and rock wall on both sides of the road mark where the main rails-to-trails path crosses the road. Take a right into the parking lot.

This is where the double track starts. To get to the woodland single track trails for hiking and mountain biking, go down the main trail for a short distance until reaching a rocky path down a hill on the left. Take this to the bottom, where there will be the river. Then take the bridge across to find some of the best single track Connecticut has to offer.

nice! That was the icing on the cake,� he said.

Some of Giresi’s next steps focus on Fairfield students exclusively. He is in talks with Fairfield University to become a StagCardpayable merchant with discounts.

Junior Allessandro Iannuzzi calls Manhattan home in between his semesters at Fairfield. He has already gone to Italian Kitchen twice, but has not had it delivered. “Anybody that came up to visit me at school, I would bring them there,� he said. “That’s good quality even in New York, like, that’s the kind of place you’d find in Little Italy.�

Italian Kitchen is open every day. Lunch options include lasagnas, spaghetti and meatballs, and ravioli at $7.99 per pound.

Plain pizzas are less than $12, and buying two of them with a menu coupon comes with 12 free garlic knots.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 track trails in the wooded section are absorbing and very scenic. They put the rider or hiker in a totally different world of wilderness. The trees are close and the trails are tight, with a small river running through the middle of it for the whole length of the park. The boulders and cliffs also add a whole different dimension and are fun to navigate.

The difficulty of the trails varies. There is everything from mild, hilly cross country trails that go along the river, to very steep, rocky and advanced mountain biking trails that are spread through the elevated east side of the park.

Any trail in this park, ridden or hiked, will be a great experience. However, it is important to keep a good idea of where you are or to go with someone who knows the park; the trails wind around a great deal and can look similar in many places. Also, any person

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

Nicholas DiFazio/The Mirror

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Fairfield  University  Career  Planning  Center’s  weekly  update.

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Be sure to visit Experience frequently for the latest position announcements.

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The Mirror | Week of January 30, 2013

The Vine

"Swim"

by Jack's Mannequin

iPick, YouListen

By Jennifer Calhoun Sports Editor

Page 11

"Enchanted"

by Taylor Swift

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Swimâ&#x20AC;? is without a doubt my favorite song.

My description canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do justice to the deep meaning of the lyrics, which was written after lead singer Andrew McMahonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bout with leukemia. There are some beautiful lyrics in the song, such as my personal favorites: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gotta swim. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let yourself sink. Just find the horizon, I promise you itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not as far as you think,â&#x20AC;? and, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just keep your head above.â&#x20AC;? This song is perfect for anyone going through a hard time, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also just a beautiful song with a beautiful melody that should be heard.

Oh, this song. I hadn't heard this gem from Tay Swiz until last year, and then it became one of my most played songs on iTunes. I even have it as a Pandora station! This is one of those songs that is half my life and half what I wish from my life. When she sings, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be in love with someone else. Please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have somebody waiting on you,â&#x20AC;? I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something that people think at least once in their life. And after hearing her describe that perfect night she had, I am just waiting for it to happen at one of these townhouse parties someday. Come on, Tay Swiz, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let me down.

"Give Me Love"

"Room @ the End of the World"

by Ed Sheeran

by Matt Nathanson

This is one of the most haunting songs Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve heard in a while. The melody is poignant and moving, perfect for the lyrics Sheeran sings.

Sheeran crafts his lyrics so eloquently that he can make anything sound sweet. For example, he sings, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maybe tonight Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll call ya, after my blood turns into alcohol,â&#x20AC;? instead of something like, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tonight Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll drunk dial you.â&#x20AC;? Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a moment in the song where he is almost screaming, â&#x20AC;&#x153;LOVE ME!â&#x20AC;? It is so raw and emotional that you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but feel for him. Sheeran is a refreshing change from some of the lyrical fails on the radio these days, and the music video sticks with you for a while.

Nathanson is by far my favorite solo artist.

This song might not be my favorite of his, but it has one of my favorite song lyrics of all time. When the apocalypse was approaching, this was my gear-up-for-theend-of-the-world song. As for my favorite lyric, when Nathanson sings, â&#x20AC;&#x153;They sleep with hornets, and they wonder why they wake up stung,â&#x20AC;? I just think this is a hilariously true statement. You almost have to stop and ask if he really said that. But the more I listen to it, the more I love and appreciate the lyrics and the song as a whole.

Photo by Nicholas DiFazio/The Mirror

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Online

The Mirror | Week of January 30, 2013

COFFEE BREAK | 12

Send your thoughts to info@fairfieldmirror.com.

IDLUÀHOGPLUURU FRP

Ask Miss Anne Dear Miss Anne, The other night my friends wouldn’t stop talking about this thing called Timber? Tinder? I don’t know ... By the way I am 21 ... So in a drunken haze my friends informed me that it’s this weird dating thing where you can like people. But isn’t that kind of like the original Facebook? What is this Tinder thing really about?

Sincerely, Torn on Tinder Photo by: Nicholas DiFazio

Dear TOT, From my understanding, Tinder is a free app on the iPhone. I uploaded it and have been confused and entertained ever since. Miss Anne has taken it upon herself to investigate this further and will dissect it to the best of her abilities.

It seems that this app is connected to your Facebook, so whatever your preferences are concerning sexuality will reflect what is currently in your profile. If you are experimenting with different orientations, you will have to manually change it.

Be forewarned, this app purely based on attraction. This decision to press the red ‘X’ or the green heart is made in less than a second. Harsh?

No, it’s reality.

What does this mean for you?

Make sure you look darn good in your prof pic bb! Disregard the haters. You are given one chance and one chance only to make an impression. Make it count because you are going against a bunch of ‘slooty bbz!’

The new age dating app isn’t without it’s flaws. You are swiping through blah blah blah ... then suddenly you stop for more than a second and really take a look at this person.

Editor /RDQ /H ª LQIR#IDLUÀHOGPLUURU FRP

Because we could all use a little advice now and then...

Joe, 22, tall dark and handsome with a lil scruff and looks like he smells good ... Wait, who’s that, the other guy in the picture? They are both in focus and fill equal space within the frame. The dilemma. Which one is Joe? His friend isn’t nearly as attractive as him so you need to make the crucial decision which could result in you accidentally liking the ugly dude.

An hour later my eyes are burning and my thumb hurts from swiping across my iPhone screen. What I learned from this ... Well, I talked to no one and met no one.

My dear reader, if a fulfilling relationship is what you want, this isn’t for you. But anonymous sex or a hot hookup? Yes.

Send your questions to askmissanne@gmail.com Disclaimer: This is column is for entertainment purposes only. The author is a student, not a therapist, and the column is not intended to take the place of professional advice. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mirror and its staff members.

Anna Wolk ‘13 Columnist Loan Le ‘14 Editor

Can you spot the differences?

It’s getting tougher. Try to find five differences between the first photo and the second photo.

Tweet the answers to @MirrorFairfield and get a possible RT!

Original Photo

Retouched Photo

We’ve tried Sudoku. Chess puzzles. Now a picture hunt. But do you have a better idea of how to use this space? Email us at info@fairfieldmirror.com or tweet us @MirrorFairfield with your ideas.

If we like what you’ve suggested, we’ll give you credit ... perhaps even your own headshot.

Sports

The Mirror | Week of January 30, 2013

Page 13

This Week in Sports Watch out for Fairfield Athletics

Ever wonder what it would be like to be a part of 3x5?

What To Watch For Wednesday - No games.

Thursday - No games.

Friday - Men's Tennis vs. Colgate, 8 p.m.

Here's your chance:

Saturday - Swimming and Diving vs. NJIT, 1 p.m.

In two weeks, we are going to put a question

Monday - Men's Basketball at Siena, 7 p.m.

Sunday - Women's Basketball vs. Iona, 2 p.m.

RIGHT HERE And if you want to take the third spot in 3x5 next year, answer the question to be in the running.

More details will run next week, but look here in TWO WEEKS and you could see yourself below

Tuesday - No games.

By The Numbers 100 17 4,075

Women's basketball's Katelyn Linney '13, scored 17 points in the 69-57 loss to Rider on Sunday

Men's basketball coach Sydney Johnson got his 100th career coaching win against Saint Peter's on Sunday.

Fairfield's athletes raised $4,075 in the Student Athlete Talent Show on Saturday night.

Quote of the Week

next year!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It felt like my brain was set free, slamming back and forth against the inside of my head. Pressure kept building up until my head felt like it was going to explode."

It's that easy!

~Danielle Hill about what it felt like to get a concussion.

Sports 3x5 Because they like to talk ... sports.

Jennifer Calhoun Sports Editor

Michael O'Keeffe The Mate

Thomas Shea Assistant Sports Editor

Your 2012-2013 3x5 Columnists: Jennifer Calhoun, Thomas Shea and Michael O'Keeffe.

After being back on campus for about a week now, any highlights from your vacation?

The Student Athlete Talent Show was this past Saturday. What would be your talent?

With the Ravens playing the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII this Sunday, who you got to take home the Lombardi?

Turns out Manti Te'o's girlfriend isn't dead ... or real. Think you could ever be the victim of a hoax like Te'o?

You are now aware of your tongue ... it doesn't fit in your mouth ... what is your response to this?

I entered into a pretty serious relationship over break - with my queen sized bed. It's just cruel to make me come back to a twin XL ... I MISS MY BED :(

I'm not joking when I say I have no discernable talents. The only thing I do is write, and if you ask our copy editor, Luigi, he'll probably tell you I'm not even very good at that.

I wish there was a consolation game for the Super Bowl. I'd much rather watch Matt Ryan versus Tom Brady than Ray Lewis crying over the national anthem any day.

I think this would only happen if I created a fake boyfriend for myself so Nev and Max from Catfish would show up and then I would marry them. Tell me it won't happen - I dare you.

This legitimately freaks me out. I don't understand how it ever fit in my mouth. Ugh, this is going to keep me up at night now.

Wow. The things that campus gets up to while everyone is away! Long romantic walks through the BCC by myself was easily the highlight of my holiday.

I have zero talent so crossdressing or taking my clothes off seems like the only logical option. I'd do it anyday if we raise that much money for a worthy cause though!

Hang on ... What's the Lombardi and who are the Ravens and the 49ers? I thought the SuperBowl is all about an afternoon of watching commercials?

I think everyone can admit they've all had a partner that wasn't "actually" theirs sometime in their life. The last time it happened to me was just after my 3rd birthday. I was heartbroken.

It's so uncomfortable ... I can feel it touching my teeth ...

... Does watching every bowl game even though you couldn't care less about either of the teams count as a highlight?

Then I guess not.

I don't know about my fellow 3x5 members, but I got talent coming out the wazoo. I probably would do something along the lines of singing Beyonce while fighting a bull.

Just reminds me how unsuccessful my brother and I are compared to the Harbaugh brothers. The only thing my brother and I will compete over on Sunday is the chili-cheese dip.

No, I have half a brain, and realize that a girl I have never met and who has avoided any potential meetings, probably isn't real.

I am going to choke on my tongue tonight in my sleep, thank you.

The Mirror | Week of January 30, 2013

Sports

Page 14

Men's basketball back on track

The winter break for Fairfield menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball was a bit of a roller coaster ride. While the break spanned from Dec. 21 to Jan. 21, the Stags came back with a record of 3-5.

The beginning of the break was good to the Stags as they had three consecutive victories at Saint Joseph's. 60-57, Old Dominion, 55-54, and Canisius College. 66-45.

The three victories were followed by five consecutive MAAC losses at Niagara University, 7167, Loyola University, 63-58 OT, Niagara University, 67-64, Iona College, 84-73, and Loyola University, 65-60.

However, once classes resumed and everyone was back on campus, the Stags found their rhythm again and are on a two game winning streak at the expense of Marist College, 71-37, and Saint Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University, 6154.

There are nine games left in the season for the Stags, and every game is going to matter for them in their MAAC standings.

They currently are sitting in sixth place in the league, boasting a 4-6 MAAC record and a 12-10 overall record.

While the record for the

team over break might not have been the desired result, they did see some big performances from some unexpected sources.

In their 71-37 win over Marist on January 24th, Josip Mikulic â&#x20AC;&#x2122;16 contributed a career-high tying 16 points for the Stags. He went 4-7 from behind the arc.

In the same game, Steve Johnston â&#x20AC;&#x2122;15, added an impressive nine points to the total, including three three-point shots.

It was also his highest number of minutes played for the Stags, with 23 minutes.

Freshman Amadou Sidibe has won MAAC Rookie of the Week Honors this week , and is the third freshman to win the honor for the Stags this season.

He is joined by Marcus Gilbert â&#x20AC;&#x2122;16 (who won the award twice in December) and Mikulic, who won in November.

Sidibe was honored after scoring 10 points and nine rebounds against Saint Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

The same game was also significant, as it was Coach Sydney Johnsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 100th career win. Johnson won 66 games at Princeton University and 34 at Fairfield.

Senior Derek Needham has been putting up impressive numbers. He led all Fairfield scorers with 19 against Saint Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and also hit an impressive mark in the Marist game on the 24th.

In the victory, Needham accumulated four assists, which put his career total at 500 assists. He is now the fifth Stag to reach 500, and with 30 more will be in the top three Stags of all-time for assists.

As of their last two games, the Stags are back on track in the MAAC and playing some of the best basketball they have been playing all year.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be essential for them to continue to produce offensively while playing strong defensively, which was precisely what they did against Marist.

Turnovers need to be minimized in the forthcoming games, to give the Stags more scoring opportunities.

The most important games of the season are ahead for the Stags as they try to build on the last few games. Their seeding in the MAAC Tournament will depend on their MAAC play in the last few games of the season.

While we've seen before that seeding does not necessarily determine how a team does in the tournament, the Stags would like to avoid defending champions, Loyola, for as long as possible.

If they continue to play as they have in their last two games, the Stags can look to try to get redemption against Loyola in March.

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Thomas Shea/The Mirror

Junior Maurice Barrow drives to the basket against Niagara.

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Sports

Concussions: A worrying epidemic in athletes The Mirror | Week of January 30, 2013

Page 15

Images courtesy of Marvin Bergsneider, MD, University of California Medical Center, Los Angeles.

The pictures show the affect that concussions have on the brain. The brigter colors represent a higher level of brain function and activity, showing concussions negatively affect the brain.

By Kaitlin McEwan Contributing Writer Her cleats punctured the ground when she first stepped onto the field. This was her safe place, a place where she could be completely free of school and worries, for now.

A sophomore rugby player at Fairfield University, Danielle Hill, eyed the opposing team up and down. They scowled back with vicious faces. The whistle blew and Danielle was off. The

Contributed Photo

Sophomore Danielle Hill ball flew right into her hands as she charged her opposition.

Everything was going great.

Hill sprinted down the field, dodging players left and right.

The end zone was in view, until suddenly, she was side-checked and thrown into the air. The ball flew past her eyes and then everything went black.

“The world was spinning.

It felt like my brain was set free, slamming back and forth against the inside of my head. Pressure kept building up until my head felt like it was going to explode.”

Like millions of athletes around the world, Hill’s hard hit to the ground caused a concussion. The issue is so common that the NCAA has even provided a video on the problem.

Million-plus Headaches Annually Concussions are on the rise across the country for studentathletes like Hill. According to Julia Duffy, Director of Student Health at Fairfield, the number of concussions among student athletes at Fairfield has greatly increased over the past several

years.

Hill is not the only student athlete at Fairfield to suffer from a concussion this fall. Although Duffy is not able to quantify the exact number of concussions that student-athletes at Fairfield have suffered, she estimates that about 25 students have already seen her this semester and she recognizes the growing problem.

Duffy defines a concussion as a traumatic brain injury that may occur after an individual’s head hits an object or surface. In the United States alone, over 1.3 million sports-related concussions occur annually, according to the NCAA. Doctors have gone away from the terms mild, moderate and severe concussions and now determine the severity based on how student-athletes clinically perform in the weeks following the injury., “We have come to understand that it is impossible to grade a concussion and rather study how students do over time,” said Duffy.

Most students at Fairfield fall into the middle category of concussions, where they do have signs and symptoms of a concussion, but they are relatively mild, their neurological test is normal, and there is no bleeding to the head.

Don’t want to let the Team Down Athletes at Fairfield University, including varsity, club and intramural, are extremely competitive and vigorous. For some, concussions do not stop them from trying to continue to play the sport they love.

Student athletes are more concerned with getting back onto the field as soon as possible. Hill explained, “I missed being on the field. I knew that I was hurt, but I felt like all of my symptoms were gone. I didn’t think I really needed full recovery time.”

And it’s not limited to varsity athletes. An intramural soccer player at Fairfield University, Carli Markus '15, was injured her first semester of freshman year. She took too many hits to the head by a soccer ball, which eventually led to a minor concussion.

Markus said that she didn’t want to let her team down although she knew she was injured. “At the same time, I wanted to play because I felt fine I never really paid any kind of attention to the repercussions of a concussion.”

And it affects multiple sports. With two minutes left in his rugby match, Spencer Everts ’16 charged the opposing team on the goal line and was kicked in the side of his head. He walked to the sideline dazed and confused and minutes later was diagnosed with a concussion.

For Division I soccer player Chris Murphy ‘16, his concussion was treated somewhat differently from the other club and intramural athletes. Chris was playing in his game in the beginning of the season when he sat off to the side to take his boot off.

Seconds later, the opposing team took a shot on goal and hit him straight in the head.

Murphy continued to play the rest of his game, but about an hour later his vision became blurred and he was taken to the ER. He got a CT scan and was told to sit out of practice for a few days.

One of the athletic trainers at the Varsity Athletic Center took care of him. Murphy was tested everyday. Murphy explained that “all of the athletes are required to take a baseline concussion test prior to their season, so if they do get a concussion they can compare scores in order to see if you have one or not.”

Division I athletes at the University can take full advantage of the Walsh Athletic Center in order to recover from concussions

Contributed Photo

Freshman Chris Murphy

while other club and intramural athletes need to seek help from the health center on campus.

Murphy has suffered from multiple concussions and claims not to have any kind of effect from any of them. He waited until he passed his baseline test again and then finished out his season.

The student health center on campus provides neurocognitive testing to determine how long an athlete must wait to play. Duffy believes that it is very “individualized,” meaning it depends on how their symptoms are and how they are feeling.

Coaches on Concussions Coaches, trainers, and others who care for injured athletes do not always agree with NCAA guidance about the amount of time required for an athlete to recover before they are able to play again.

Many athletes go back and play before there is any resolution of cognitive deficiency because, until recently, there were no valid tests to evaluate cognitive function during an athlete’s recovery period.

Hill’s concussion took place the first half of her game. After sitting out for a few moments, Danielle realized that there was no way she could enter back into the game. Danielle’s decision to sit out the balance of the game comports with NCAA guidelines.

The NCAA states that, “first, they should be removed from play as soon as a concussion is suspected and evaluated by an appropriate health-care professional, such as a certified athletic trainer, team physician or a health care professional experienced in concussion evaluation and management.”

Schools nationwide are making efforts to reduce the number of concussions among collegiate athletes.

The nurses at the student health center suggest that students do very little mentally and physically after suffering from a concussion, which according to Duffy “does not go over well at all in a college environment.”

Nurses to the Rescue Students who decide to rest for about two to three days tend to do better than students who try and power through their work by studying for a test and sitting on the computer, explained Duffy.

Duffy recognized that professors at the University are becoming more aware of the increasing concerns of concussions, and they are willing to work with the health center to accommodate the student’s needs. Certain rules such as not going to class or not taking a test are sometimes required by the nurses if the concussion is too severe.

The health center recommends that the best way to prevent a concussion is knowledge.

“The most important thing is to educate the players so they know to tell their coaches when they get hurt so they know not to play through it,” stated Duffy.

A New Beginning Hill walked back onto the field weeks later, fearless. Her hard hit to the ground did not change her view on rugby, but did change her approach to safety in the sport.

“I am not afraid anymore. I am healed and I am ready to play again to my full potential.”

Like the many athletes who have suffered from concussions at Fairfield, especially on the rugby team, Hill was directed to take precaution and also to order a protective helmet to prevent future concussions and risk her safety if another injury were to happen.

Hill ‘cleated up,’ this time with new headgear, and jogged onto the field knowing that she had a support team behind her.

“It’s good to know how many people care about you when you are injured at school, I know that I can count on Fairfield."

Our coverage of concussions in sports continues next week with coaches' view

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Stags' surprising season hits speed bump in loss to Rider

Thomas Shea/ The Mirror

Junior Katie Cizynski goes up for a basket against Rider on January 27th. The Stags fell short in the contest on 69-57. Cizynski had 11 points in the game.

By Thomas Shea Assistant Sports Editor As the Fairfield women’s basketball team enters the final third of their season, it’s fair to say that it has been a season that has had more pleasant surprises than problematic issues.

After being predicted in the MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll to finish fifth in the 10 team league, Fairfield started the season by taking on a nationally ranked Florida team and lost by a large margin, 71-49. Since that loss, the Stags own a record of 12-6, and have gotten off to an impressive 6-2 start in conference play.

Fairfield lost its last contest on Sunday, dropping a 69-57 decision against Rider at home at Alumni Hall, just their second home loss all year. The Stags struggled all game long with the full-court press that Rider employed, causing many turnovers and short offensive possessions.

Fairfield’s bench was outscored 23-4, and the Broncs were able to net 20 points off of 17 Fairfield turnovers.

Despite the loss, Head Coach Joe Frager said that he has been happy with how the season and the team have progressed so far this year.

“The most surprising thing is that … we’re not the most athletic team in the league. In fact, in terms of athleticism, we’re probably a little lower down,” said

Frager after the loss, “But we’ve been able to compete with and beat teams that I think are superior athletically. That has been one of the things that makes me really proud of these kids … they’ve overcome that hurdle.”

It shouldn’t come as a total shock that Frager’s bunch are off to such a hot start in conference play — it has become a trademark of Frager’s teams recently. Two years ago, the team started 7-3 in their first 10 games, and last year the team didn’t pick up their second loss in-conference until February 10, en route to a 15-3 mark in the MAAC. Here is a chronicle of the ups and downs of the season thus far for the Stags.

The Good Before the season started, Frager would not commit to a set starting five players, instead he said that he was hoping and waiting for a few players to really stand out.

“I need to see two or three players emerge and become a little bit more aggressive and little bit more assertive than they ever have been. We need two or three kids to step up more for us.”

Frager’s hopes have been answered in Brittany Obi-Tabot ‘14 and Katie Cizynski ‘14, who have been playing stellar basketball for most of the season.

Perhaps the biggest surprise

of the season so far has been the play of Obi-Tabot. The 6’1" center was previously viewed as the fourth or fifth scoring option when she was on the floor as a sophomore and freshman, but her game has changed as a junior. She averages 11.5 points per game paired with 5.5 rebounds per game, and had a streak of six straight games in which she scored in double figures before Sunday’s loss to Rider, where she was held to six points.

Cizynski came into the season averaging just 4.8 points per game for her career, but has exploded offensively this season, leading the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game so far, which is good for being ninth in the MAAC overall. She has also stepped it up on the boards, grabbing over eight rebounds per game, which leads the team and is fifth in the conference.

There have been other bright spots on the Stags’ starting lineup as well. Junior Alexys Vazquez is the best in the MAAC and 11th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage,connecting on 44 percent of her attempts.

Senior Katelyn Linney is second behind Vazques in threepointers made per game in the MAAC, averaging two threepointers per contest.

Despite not doing as much on the scoring end as some of her fellow starters, Felicia DaCruz ’15 has been consistently finding open teammates and is one of the

leaders in the MAAC in assists, getting 3.5 per game, third best in the conference. She has made Fairfield one of the best teams in the conference in assists, at one point leading the conference in assists per game, and now second with 14.2 per game.

The Not so Good If there is one point that is a glaring weak spot for the Stags this season, it comes at the charity stripe. Fairfield hits under 66 percent of their free throws, which is second worst in the conference.

However this is nothing new for Fairfield teams, as they have not had a season in which they hit more than 70 percent of their free throws since before Joe Frager became the head coach at Fairfield.

Another problem that has come along is turnovers. The Stags have turned the ball over nearly 300 times so far this season, and are averaging two more turnovers per game than their opponents, which is the second worst margin in the conference.

If Fairfield hopes to make a run at the top of the conference, and wants to have a shot at toppling powerhouse Marist, those are two issues that must be addressed.

“One of the things we try to preach to our players is that it doesn’t matter who our opponent is, or how talented they are, our goal is to be … the better cohesive

team together,” said Frager. “And for that group to be successful we have to play together as a team, we have to take better care of the basketball, and we have to do the little things.”

Outlook on the Rest of the Season Back in October, Frager said there was a good chance this team would not be able to equal the 24 wins of last year’s team. He may be right in that prediction, as the team would have to win all their remaining regular season games, as well as two in the MAAC Tournament to get to 24 wins on the season.

But Frager went on to say that he wanted the team to peak in the final third of the season, which they are about to enter. “The record is not going to be as glossy,” said Frager in October, “I think that this can be a really good basketball team, and a real pain in the neck to face in the postseason.”

Although the team does have the ability to go undefeated for the rest of the year, it is more likely that this team will win seven of its final 10 games, finishing the season with 13 wins in conference play, most likely finishing second to Marist.

But that should be fine for these over-performing Stags, and set them up for another potential rematch with Marist in the MAAC Tournament finals.