Fairfield Mirror 10/22/2014

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THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper

Week of October 22, 2014

Vol. 40, Iss. 7

Fairfield Mirror @FairfieldMirror fairfieldmirror FairfieldMirror.com

Dialogue discusses free speech on campus By Robert Joyce News Editor

Love and Theft rock the BCC Green By Christina Mowry and Jessica Delahunt Assistant News Editors Students decked out in plaid shirts and cowboys boots crowded onto the Barone Campus Center green on Saturday to enjoy the Fairfield University Student Association Fall Concert featuring country artists Love and Theft. The concert featured two opening acts, DJ Rod Youree and Joel Crouse, and headliner Love and Theft, a country duo consisting of Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson. Students walked through security and onto the BCC lawn to a backdrop of country songs provided by DJ Youree who opened the show. At around 5:30 p.m., Massachusetts native Joel Crouse took the stage. Crouse has previously toured with well-known country artists such as Toby Keith, The Band Perry and Taylor Swift. Crouse played songs such as his 2013 hit, “If You Want Some,” and “Summer Love.” He also covered Adele’s chart-topping single, “Someone Like You,” which pleased concert attendees. After his set, Crouse stood next to Alumni Hall to meet fans, who eagerly approached him to take pictures and sign autographs. Following Crouse was Love and Theft, whose set began at around 6:45 p.m. and lasted for just over an hour. The duo began by playing “She Gets Me,” an upbeat song that eventually transi-

tioned into a brief cover of Eminem’s “Lose being tallied, she estimates that ticket sales were “somewhere in the 900s.” Yourself.” Hanley explained that concert orgaThe artists then switched back to their own music, playing their lead-off nizers tried to give the event a vibe like that single “Runaway” from their debut album of an outdoor festival, arranging for food “World Wide Open,” released in August trucks to dole out hotdogs and pizza slices to hungry concert-goers. 2009. Students were given a coupon for Love and Theft also played new songs from their next album such as “Can- one free food item when purchasing their dyland,” a song they defined as “an adult concert tickets, said Hanley. Students like Richard Haas III ‘15 version of the board game.” A second new song that was played, “Tanlines,” was met appreciated the more relaxed atmosphere of this year’s conpositively by the audicert. “Concerts ence as they caught on are meant to be a quickly to the lyrics. The country music showcase for the However, “Lose scene doesn’t really Yourself” wasn’t the call for people to trip music, not a way to hook up on only cover that Love on acid. and Theft performed. -John Ritchie the dance floor,” The duo also covered Asst. Director of Public Safety he stated. Senior VicUncle Kracker’s “Drift Away” and The Eagles’ “Take It Easy.” De- toria Mulé also enjoyed the atmosphere: spite performing covers of several popular “It was a lot of fun. Everyone just seemed songs, the audience reacted most enthusi- really happy,” she said. Thomas Cullen, a Stamford native astically to Love and Theft’s own songs. Students energetically belted out the who attended the concert with a friend, lyrics to the duo’s own “If You Ever Get particularly enjoyed the outdoor venue: “It Lonely,” “Night That You’ll Never Forget” was open enough, but still intimate.” “It was much cooler,” agreed Jack and “Runnin’ Out of Air.” According to FUSA Chair of Pro- Santoro ‘18, comparing the venue to that gramming Lindsey Hanley, selecting a of past concerts. The noticeable shift in concert atmocountry artist as this year’s headliner was somewhat of a risk: “With EDM you can sphere was also appreciated by Fairfield’s kind of sell people on the experience,” she Department of Public Safety. “It’s like night and day,” said Assissaid. “Whereas with country, if people tant Director of Public Safety John Ritchie, don’t like the music, it’s harder to sell.” However, Hanley believes the risk when asked to compare student behavior paid off: Although exact numbers are still at this year’s concert to that of prior years.

From a security standpoint, Ritchie said this year’s concert was “uneventful,” and claims that the genre of this year’s concert might be responsible for the change in student behavior. According to Ritchie, there were zero documented transports at the event, a significant decrease from past FUSA concerts such as Diplo, at which 5 individuals were transported. “The country music scene doesn’t really call for people to trip on acid,” he said. “When you bring in a DJ, people have the perception that you need to take certain drugs to experience the music,” Ritchie added. This year’s concert also presented a unique challenge for DPS and FUSA: as the concert was outside, all vantage points to the concert had to be sectioned off to prevent ticketless students from enjoying the concert free of charge. Hanley said that FUSA took the precaution of reserving all meeting rooms in the BCC with a view of the field, as well as the Stag Snack Bar patio and commuter lounge. “We had eyes everywhere,” added Ritchie. For their closing number, Love and Theft performed their hit song “Angel Eyes,” and were joined by their fans, who enthusiastically sang along. “It seemed like preacher’s kids were always the craziest,” said Liles and Gunderson when asked about the inspiration behind the hit song. “We both grew up in the church.”

Students gathered last Thursday evening in the lower level of the Barone Campus Center to participate in Responsible Rights: An Open Dialogue, an event aimed at examining student groups’ rights to responsible and considerate free speech. The open dialogue was largely in response to a controversial event held by the club, Students for Life, in which they hosted the organization Planned Parenthood Project, and distributed materials advocating against Planned Parenthood and their abortion services. Many students criticized the demonstration by Students for Life, calling the methods they used to distribute the materials aggressive. “It was very public, it was very unavoidable, it was very much not by choice … It was people approaching you; It wasn’t viewers approaching a table or a setup of some sort,” said Brigid Callahan ‘16. Callahan was one of the students who helped to orchestrate the Open Dialogue event with the goal of articulating how to allow free speech on campus, while still being conscientious of and respectful to the rest of the student body. “We were definitely responding to the Students for Life event that occurred, but we wanted to not make it about just this group of people. We wanted to respond in a way that held the whole campus accountable,” said Callahan. She illustrated that the main question of the night was, “What can we do as a campus, as this diverse group of organizations, to make sure that we don’t make the campus an unsafe space, to make sure that we don’t offend people on a large scale?” According to Callahan, the dialogue wasn’t necessarily directed at Students for Life, but rather inspired by them. However, despite the goal of READ

STUDENTS ON PAGE 3

Inside this Issue: News:

Students fall for Love and Theft (Page 2)

Opinion: Vine:

Midterms: to Netflix or not to Netflix (Page 6)

Jodi Picoult visits Sacred Heart (Page 8)

Sports:

Seniors score all the goals on Senior Day (Page 16)


News

THE MIRROR | Week of October 22, 2014

Students fall for Love and Theft

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THE MIRROR |Week of October 22, 2014

News

Students for Life event sparks Open Dialogue Continued from page 1 the Open Dialogue event, many came to air their feelings of hurt and contempt in reaction to the Students for Life event. Sophomore Riley Barret, who was particularly vocal in her stance against the event and its principles, thought that the Open Dialogue was “very cyclical” and that “not a lot of things are going to come out of it.” “It was a lot of just venting. We came up with a few good ideas, but it could have been more productive,” said Barrett. “I think the people who were venting were one-sided, but overall the theme was, ‘How can we avoid having such in-your-face or offensive events?’” she added. Callahan also agreed that the dialogue was more one-sided. “I was actually very saddened that the discussion was rather one-sided. We did invite the Students for Life and we reached out [to them]. Many of them couldn’t make it,” said Callahan. According to Callahan, the issue wasn’t with the opinions being propagated by the event, but the manner in which it was approached. “I think it could have happened in a better way, but I recognize that this group has the right to exist on campus, and they have the right to display this opinion,” said Callahan. “The [Students for Life] event did violate safe space ideals,” said Callahan of their methods of distributing information. In regards to the Open Dialogue, Dean of Students Karen Donoghue ‘03 said that she is “fully supportive of events which encourage gathering to discuss concerns that students have,” also adding that she would love to see discussions like this happen on a weekly basis. Director of Residence Life Ophelie Rowe-Allen attended the Open Dialogue, stating that: “I believe students have gained a better understanding of the concerns that were brought forward by expressing different perspectives through honest conversations in a loving and peaceful way.”

To view an interactive version of this infographic, scan this QR code with your smartphone or tablet.

New York Times columnists talk at Open Visions Forum By Meaghan Kirby Coffee Break Editor “You learn early on not to look back, but to look forward,” said New York Times columnist Frank Bruni at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Thursday night. The Open Visions Forum at the Quick Center hosted Bruni along with his coworker Alessandra Stanley in a discussion titled “Reflections on Media & Culture in America Today.” The discussion, moderated by Dr. Philip Eliasoph, Dr. David Gudelunas and Dr. Michael Serazio, revolved around the different influences on today’s media. With the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, people now have a greater opportunity to follow others who share their opinions and ignore those who disagree. Stanley, chief television critic for the New York Times, believes that while media can be divisive, television also has the power to bring people together. “Audiences have grown to include college professors and Nobel Laureates all watching the same thing,” she said. “The great thing about Netflix is you’re not just watching American TV, you’re watching TV from all over the world.”

Bruni pointed out that while television and media have unified people of all professions by allowing them to appreciate the same shows and social platforms, it has limited the worldviews of many. “When flying, you enter a new country with the same information cocoon as the country you left,” he said. Bruni elaborated saying that airplane flyers today don’t get to know the other passengers and instead focus on catching up on the latest episodes of “Game of Thrones.” The portrayals of men and women on television are often cause for debate, according to Stanley. As a critic, she believes that it is her role to spark these conversations. “On TV, women can be divorced and the man is always a widower. If a man is divorced, he’s a beast,” Stanley said. As television and media have become a centerpiece in American culture, the ways in which society views the media have changed. “People used to feel guilty about watching TV and now they feel guilty if they’re not watching enough,” Stanley said. Bruni believes that the age of social media has greatly influenced how people connect personally and politically. “We’re living in a very interesting age,” Bruni said. “America is becoming more partisan, living in eco-changes. Politics can carry

over to TV and curate their universe.” Society’s media obsession has also influenced Bruni’s work as a food critic. He noticed on many occasions that chefs would research his likes and dislikes on the web before he would review their restaurants. Bruni and Stanley captivated an audience of nearly 600, consisting of an even mix of students and Fairfield residents. ”Overall, I found both journalists to be entertaining and informative,” said Taylor Willerup ‘17. “They told us that we need to branch out of our echo chambers in order to be well-rounded citizens and we should gather information from everywhere instead of just from areas that match our interests.” “I thought Alessandra brought humor to it and kept things in simpler terms so everyone in the audience could understand,” added Devan DeLaus ‘17. “I also like how she would always come back to the same conclusion on the media’s effect on society.” While considered to be experts in their fields, Bruni and Stanley are no strangers to criticism. Stanley especially, was faced with substantial criticism when she wrote a recent article on “Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “How To Get Away With Murder” producer Shonda Rhimes. In the article, Stanley advised Rhimes to name her autobiography “How to

Get Away With Being an Angry Black Woman.” Since the article was written, Stanley has been a victim of the media. Critics called for an apology and many have questioned Stanley’s character. Additionally, Internet users around the country called for her dismissal and New York Times Public Editor Margaret Sullivan was forced to respond. Stanley has defended her actions and has avoided discussing the controversy that has surrounded her since September. Bruni and Stanley believe that the New York Times seeks to be an objective source of news that can be celebrated. “The Times can be the beacon that synthesizes it and hires people that are objective and aren’t corrupt,” Stanley said. “It has more value than ever before,” Bruni added. While the age of social media has changed many things about how people consume television and social networking, the fundamentals of television have stayed the same. Stanley believes that while there is more smart TV out there, there is also a lot more “dumb” TV on air. Bruni adds that popular culture offers the Rosetta Stone to people in today’s society and culture.


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THE MIRROR | Week of October 22, 2014

Crime Beat

News

Compiled by Austin Wesolowski Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.

Wednesday, 10/8

The News in brief

Jesuit named in sexual assault case

6:18 p.m. – Two sinks from the women’s side of the bathroom on Lessing Field were ripped off the wall. Thursday, 10/9 8:16 p.m. – A vase from a 5 block Townhouse valued at $25 was stolen. Anyone with information about the incident should contact DPS. 11:24 p.m. – A student in a 1 block Townhouse refused to leave, forcing the residents of the house to physically remove him from the house. Friday 10/10 12:46 a.m. – An iPhone 5 and a debit card were reported taken from an unknown townhouse by a resident who had forgotten what townhouse they were in the night before. 11:43 p.m. – A minor in Loyola Hall was found to be intoxicated. The student was referred to student conduct. Tuesday, 10/14 2:25 p.m. – A resident was found to have given his vehicle parking pass permit to an undergraduate student. Wednesday, 10/15 10:12 a.m. – The men’s side of the bathroom on Lessing Field was found vandalized. The sinks and the walls behind the urinal were demolished. Thursday, 10/16 11:17 p.m. – A group of minors near Meditz Hall were found to be in possession of alcohol. The students were referred to student conduct. Saturday, 10/18 1:37 a.m. – An exit sign was broken on the third floor of Claver Hall.

StagBus gets a schedule update Shuttle to run four hours earlier

As of Monday, the StagBus has started running on an expanded schedule, beginning at 7:30 a.m. as opposed to 11:15 a.m. on weekdays, according to Assistant Vice President Jim Fitzpatrick ‘70. The FUSA Senate brought the schedule to his attention as a point of improvement for student life on campus. “The student senate has been asking me to look into a number of student life issues and this was one of the easier ones to address and solve short-term; long-term, we’re still looking into improving transportation issues affecting students,” Fitzpatrick stated. Additionally, there is another campus shuttle running between the Barone Campus Center traffic circle and Dolan Hall every 45 minutes, starting at 8:05 a.m. on weekdays and 11:05 a.m. on weekends. Scan the QR code to the right to view the StagBus’ updated schedule on a smartphone or tablet.

According to a report by the Connecticut Post on Monday, former university chaplain Rev. Paul Carrier, S.J. and Douglas Perlitz ‘92 have been accused of sexually assaulting a teenager in Haiti when they were there working at the Project Pierre Toussaint School, an organization that educated and cared for boys living in poverty. In 2010, Perlitz was convicted of molesting at least 16 children at the Toussaint School, but this is the first time that Carrier was named in any of the cases. Carrier left his position as Fairfield’s chaplain in 2006 for undisclosed reasons, according to the Connecticut Post. For more information on the Perlitz trials, scan the QR code below.

Trustees welcome six new members The Office of Media Relations announced the election of six new members to the Fairfield University Board of Trustees on Tuesday. Four of the new trustees are Fairfield graduates:

THE MIRROR Incorporated 1977

Shauna Mitchell, Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Calhoun, Executive Editor Enxhi Myslymi, Managing Editor Editors Robert Joyce, News Christina Mowry, Assistant News Jessica Delahunt, Assistant News Meaghan Conlon, Opinion Charles DeFilippo, Vine Meaghan Kirby, Coffee Break Patrick Kiernan, Sports Matthew Schneider, Assistant Sports Jesse Erickson, Assistant Sports Angela Sammarone, Chief Copy Editor

Business Department Email: advertising@fairfieldmirror.com Jake Ruskan, CFO Adviser Dr. Tommy Xie Contact Information Fairfield University 1073 North Benson Road, BCC 104 Box AA, Fairfield, CT 06824 General email: info@fairfieldmirror.com

Mark J Beckwith ‘80

Christoper C Desmarais ‘93

Robert J Murphy ‘71

and

Katie Jacobs Robinson ‘89

while the other two are members of the Society of Jesus:

Rev. Dennis M. Baker, S.J.

Terrence P. Devino, S.J..

The additions bring the total number of trustees to 38, with 31 alumni and seven Jesuits. According to the press release, the Board of Trustees elected the new trustees on Oct. 3. Scan the QR code to the right to view a full list of trustees and their accolades on a smartphone or tablet.


THE MIRROR | Week of October 22, 2014

Opinion Editor

Opinion

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LGBT non-ruling leaves continued uncertainty By Ariana Puzzo Contributing Writer As the news spreads of the Supreme Court’s decision to decline hearings that appellate the ruling that same-sex marriage bans in five states are unconstitutional, I, among others, am left wondering if the high court’s ruling will prove to be a win for the LGBT community or yet another hurdle. To some, the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the appeals that seek to maintain the legality of samesex marriage bans may appear to be an indication of the Supreme Court’s acceptance of the rights of the LGBT community. However, I feel that the current conservative judiciaries may have alternative motives. In considering the poten-

tially challenging outcomes for the LGBT community, I am reminded of the Supreme Court’s decision several decades ago during the civil rights movement to give power to the states to choose if they should grant the right to vote to African Americans. Much like when the high court dismissed cases brought forward in the 1960s regarding the acquisition of civil rights for African Americans, it appears that the Supreme Court may be taking a back seat regarding this controversial issue, letting the chips fall where they may. Although the historical civil rights decision enabled the Supreme Court to avoid bias, which appears to remain the primary concern for many people today, and effectively place responsibility in the hands of individual states,

Letter to the Editor Editorial Board Midterms: not the real test Shauna Mitchell Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Calhoun Executive Editor Enxhi Myslymi Managing Editor

it also had extremely negative consequences because of the rampant prejudices, particularly in the South, towards African Americans. However, those who believe that the high court should refrain from becoming involved in samesex marriage issues may find comfort in the similar course of action. Therefore, I find it difficult to formulate a definitive opinion, since the motivation behind the Supreme Court decision is unknown. In light of the rising social changes in our country, whether or not we should alter same-sex marriage laws is a highly opinionated discussion. Carrie Severino, chief counsel of the Judicial Crisis Network, stated, “When the court on such an issue — where there are very strong opinions on both sides, and a huge issue of social change in our

The members of R.A.F.T., the Rational Association of Free Thinkers, welcome the conversation begun by students last week, responding to the Oct. 7 event staged by Students for Life. As Fairfield's new club for those who endorse the secular point of view, we feel that accurate information about sexuality and an evidence-based approach to decision-making should be encouraged. We are therefore heartened that students have questioned the characteriza-

With the changing of the leaves comes the grim inevitability of midterm season. Midterms are the sad equalizer among every major on campus: whether you study business or English, October is the harbinger of midsemester examinations. When the semester gets hectic and there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to study (much less make deadline), we end up pondering one big question: Why are we students? It might not seem like a big question; we’re students for all different reasons. Some of us want to be nurses or poets or politicians, so we go to school. But is that the only reason?

country — steps in and makes it into a constitutional issue, it makes the justices look significantly more political in the eyes of the American people.” Some conservative activists agree, believing that the Supreme Court, whose justices are selected for a lifetime position, should withdraw its involvement in decisions pertaining to this particular case. As an outsider looking in on the latest decision of the Court regarding this topic, I find myself in agreement with Severino’s earlier statement. I have found that inherent biases do tend to be drawn out when the topic of same-sex marriage is addressed. However, I wonder if by placing the power solely within the states to rule on same-sex marriage, in-state political biases will increase the number of hurdles

tion of Planned Parenthood imposed by Students for Life. Reproductive freedom has become a highly politicized topic. But for those of us with a secular orientation, accurate information about sex, sexuality, contraception and yes — abortion — is necessary for each of us to navigate this issue. We encourage students to seek accurate information from trained health care providers when making decisions about

Our question begs a larger answer. Are we students because we care about learning, because we have a passion to become scholars in our fields of study, or because we like being well-rounded? Or, are we students because that’s what you’re supposed to do: go to college, get a degree, get a job, etc. There’s a huge distinction there: Learning for the sake of learning can be a beautiful thing. You can try and fail (then try and succeed) at things you’ve never done before; you can open your mind to disciplines you never knew a thing about before. We at The Mirror like to think that this is the purpose of the Core at Fair-

already present for the LGBT community. Despite my skepticism, the short-term outcome for the LGBT community appears to be triumphant and well received by the general public. However, the longterm results may create unforeseen hurdles for the community as a whole. In deciding whether I believe that the Supreme Court’s decision will ultimately benefit the LGBT community, and if the Court should even be allowed to influence the community, I am left with staggering uncertainty. However, my hope for the LGBT community going forward is the continued pursuit for marriage equality and that the community achieves the same success as the civil rights activists of the 1960s who fought for racial equality.

sex and reproduction. In our view, a clear-eyed examination of the natural world — in all its complexity — is the best guide for making the world a safe and respectful place, for all of this earth's creatures. Secularly yours, Patricia Behre, Associate Professor of History Coordinator, R.A.F.T.

field; to become experts at what we do, but to also know a little bit about everything else. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always translate into academia. We take classes because we know they’ll be easy and boost our GPAs. We purposefully avoid subjects with which we are unfamiliar because we want to make the Dean’s List. If we don’t open our minds now, when will the opportunity come again? Fairfield boasts an extraordinary level of student involvement in extracurricular activities – The Mirror staff alone this year represents almost every type of major offered here, from business to music – so we know

that there’s a campus-wide hunger to learn and develop a skill. This hunger should be translated to the classroom. Students need to re-focus on what is important: trying to learn and understand as much as you can during your time here. When you get a bad grade, don’t freak out. Talk to your professor and keep learning. It takes a lot of courage for a nursing student to take a poetry class, but it has been done. Take advantage of the diverse core curriculum while you’re still a student here. Don’t worry about your midterm grades, just focus on being surprised by the world around you.


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THE MIRROR |

Opinion

Worry about Africa, not the U.S. By Robert Hedberg Contributing Writer If asked the question “Do the lives of Africans matter in fighting Ebola?” I am sure you would expect the answer to be yes, and that everything is being done to save as many sick people as possible. The sad part is that the situation in West Africa is far from this case. People are dying in front of hospitals and not being admitted due to a lack of space. Doctors are unable to treat patients and can only soothe their pain as the virus ravages their bodies. Mothers and fathers cry over their children dying in the street, with no way and no one to help them. The world can do so much more than what it is doing now. Ebola is an infectious disease that is generally fatal. It is marked by fever, headaches, sore throats, weakness, a lack of an appetite and severe internal bleeding. Symptoms don’t show for up to three weeks and victims are contagious during this time. It is spread through contact with infected body fluids and has already infected over 8,000 people, killing just under 4,000. However, Ebola isn’t done yet; it still remains to be unchecked and continues to spread into more countries. The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, called the outbreak “the largest, most complex and most severe we’ve ever seen” and also said that it “is racing ahead of control efforts.” Despite all this, the Center for Disease Con-

By Kayla Valente Contributing Writer It’s that time of year again. No, I am not talking about pumpkin spiced lattes and riding boots. I’m talking about midterms; a word that presents students with two choices: Netflix or Club DiMenna. Let’s be honest; it’s easy to brush midterms aside as if they’re no big deal. It feels like syllabus week just ended and professors really haven’t given many major exams yet. One could argue that you deserve one mess up and you can fix your mistakes by the time finals roll around. All of the amazing TV series are starting back up. There are apples to be picked and pumpkins to be carved. It seems unreasonable that we are expected to find time to study for midterms too. As far as priorities go, the majority of people just don’t want to be bothered with midterms. You survived half of the class, isn’t that an accomplishment in itself? It seems a little over the top that we have to take a test to prove it. People who select this approach often tend to pretend they’re studying. For example, they tweet about how much they hate midterms or Snapchat the textbook that they never quite mustered up the motivation to open.

trol continues to insist that Ebola poses no threat to America. Why? Perhaps it is because they believe that Ebola is unlikely to have any form of a successful outbreak in the U.S. Ebola is spread through bodily fluids, which can be very easily transmitted in less developed places like West Africa. However, in America, bodily fluid transmission is far less common.

was sent home with antibiotics. Nurses at the hospital who were assigned to care for Duncan claimed they did not receive the proper training or personal protective equipment. With this being said, three victims are far short of a pandemic. With slightly improved medical services, the Ebola virus can be easily stopped in the U.S. West Africa, however, already hosts a huge shortage of

Not only that, America has the resources to stomp out any potential outbreak before it has a chance to truly gain momentum. With little fears of the disease affecting the homeland, America is taking a containment approach rather than a treatment approach. In the United States, there has been three confirmed cases of the Ebola virus. The first was a Texas native, Thomas Duncan, who had recently visited West Africa. His death and the infection of two health workers who treated him was due in part to a lack of proper medical procedure. Despite having a high fever and revealing the fact he just visited West Africa, he

medical supplies, facilities and professionals to combat such a large pandemic. Hospitals are at maximum capacity and sick people must wait outside the hospital for hours — sometimes even days — just waiting for another patient to die so they can take their spot. Despite how bad Ebola seems in West Africa, it is fixable. A United Nations spokesperson stated: “They could stop the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in six to nine months, but only if a ‘massive’ global response is implemented.” Unfortunately for the people of West

The people who fall into this category also tend to try to trick themselves into thinking they studied. This is a classic recurrence for nursing majors who often try to claim that watching “Grey’s Anatomy” is equivalent to studying. In the same way, chemistry majors think that a season or two of “Breaking Bad” should be enough to get an A or at least a B on their midterms. If this sounds like your typical approach to midterms, you might want to consider the other option. For the second half of Fairfield’s student body, inspiration and proactivity can be found. These are the students who realize that acing their midterms will make the rest of their semester a lot more enjoyable. They do not give into FOMO (fear of missing out) on Saturday afternoons. They pack their backpacks, grab a Venti and camp out in an isolated cubicle for the day. Luckily for them, not all students take midterms this seriously so the library is not nearly as packed as it is for finals. These are the students who put hours in at the library now so that they won’t have to spend the rest of the semester there trying to catch up. Somehow they resist the urge to snuggle up in bed and watch Halloween movies. They

abandon their social networks and their social lives and make midterms their number one concern. For this period of time, these students eat, sleep and breathe midterms, which usually translates to a lack of eating and sleeping due to a shortage of time and an excess of studying. Typically, statistics show that these are the students who end up with the higher grades. If sleeping with your text

Africa, the massive global response is coming in the form of a U.S. military operation. Earlier this month, President Obama signed an executive order to combat Ebola. With the use of the U.S. Armed Forces, Obama doesn’t plan to treat people with the illness and help the sick, but simply quarantine them to stop the spread of disease. Anyone with “severe acute respiratory syndromes … capable of being transmitted from person to person … may be subjected to quarantine.” This unsympathetic approach to stopping Ebola may work, but it clearly shows that the U.S. simply doesn’t care about the people of West Africa, a sentiment shared by most West Africans. People like the Liberians who struggled with years of civil war have a strong distrust for governments. It is a commonly held belief to these West Africans that Ebola was in fact transmitted to the region intentionally by the U.S. to depopulate the region to gain access to national resources. True or not, many people believe it and are acting out about it. With riots and violence growing, U.S. military involvement may only escalate things. This just goes to show that wherever you are in life, you are in a better place than the forgotten walking dead in West Africa.

book under your bed and hoping for the best has resulted in great grades in the past, stick with it. If you need to make a 25 page study guide for each class and memorize every PowerPoint, then get to work. Midterms are all about figuring out what works for you and doing just that. Personally, I will drinking my fourth cup of coffee for the day and drowning in a sea of books and papers in the library. Maybe I’ll see you there!

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

Golem Rocks


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THE MIRROR | Week of October 22, 2014

The Vine

Golem remembers journalist Daniel Pearl

K

By Charles DeFilippo Vine Editor

lezmer rock band Golem will perform a free concert at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Monday, Oct. 27

Photo Pascal Perich Golem give Yiddish and Eastern European music a contemporary edge.

at 7:30 p.m. The concert is a part of the Daniel Pearl World Music Days Concert series in memoriam of the slain journalist Daniel Pearl, which aims to “use the power of music to reaffirm our commitment to tolerance and humanity,” according to the Daniel Pearl World Music Days’ official website. Founder and frontwoman Annette Ezekiel Kogan grew up playing piano and wanting to learn traditional Eastern European folk music. Her passion led to her discovery of the accordion because Kogan “wanted something to carry around.” Golem has been fusing Klezmer, a musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews, with a modern edge and contemporary sound for over 10 years. Their punk rock gypsy twists and early jazz influences on these traditional tunes make the “music feel alive to the young,” said Kogan. “Our philosophy is you don't need to know anything about it. Jewish traditional music is accessible to all,” said Kogan. The Washington Post stated that the band “pro-

duces the sort of music you'd expect if the shtetl were filled with punks instead of peasants.” This is apparent after their many years on the road, four studio albums and increase in popularity. Their newest album release, “Tanz” (2014), meaning dance in Yiddish, “has gained a massive following in Mexico,” said Kogan. On the title track, “Tanz”, upbeat drums and trombone melodies bring the lyrics to life as Kogan and vocalist Aaron Diskin, sing “Tanz, Tanz, Tanz, Dance.” The combination of English lyrics and Yiddish tradition are the perfect remedy to get you out of your seats. As if this fusion of cultures and the band’s history were not enough to convince you to attend the concert thus far, they were also featured on the FX series “Louie.” “It was in the episode ‘Into the Woods’ where there was a 5 hour flashback … when Louie remembers his childhood smoking pot,” said Kogan. This is the band’s first time with the Daniel Pearl World Music Day Concert series. They are excited to perform at the Quick Center and will be “remembering and keeping Pearl’s memory alive,” said Kogan. “We refuse to go away,” said Kogan “[Our music] is the one kicking, screaming and won’t back down”.

Jodi Picoult visits Sacred Heart for book reading By Christina Mowry Assistant News Editor

Sammy, going to college and leaving her “an empty nester.” tuary, Shirley took a day to meander from the truck carrying Around the same time, Picoult was at a doctor’s office and her into the barn where she would reside. read an article about elephants. “As soon as she saw Jenny, she began to bang at the stall ew York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult “I read the most amazing fact. In the wild, in an elephant doors. And Jenny was doing the same thing … So the caregiver began an international book tour on Oct. 13 and herd, a mother and a daughter elephant stay together their called the owner of the facility, who made the decision to open released her newest novel, “Leaving Time,” the whole lives until one of them dies. And I thought, ‘How come the gate between them. As soon as Jenny and Shirley could, following day. we don’t do that?’” said Picoult. they touched each other all over.” One of Picoult’s early tour stops was at Sacred Heart UniThe article prompted Picoult to delve deeper into the Picoult explained that eventually researchers discovered versity on Oct. 17 for the “Join the Conversation” lecture series, world of elephants and to further that Jenny and Shirley had been at the sponsored by their campus radio station, WSHU. examine their personality traits. same circus when Jenny was a calf. The event was held at SHU’s Edgerton Center for the She then continued to exThey had been separated for 22 years Performing Arts, where there were 338 bookworms anxiously plain the plot of her book, which I read the most amazing when they finally reunited at the sanctuawaiting Picoult’s discussion. features three main characters as fact, in the wild, in an ary. Each ticket included admission to the event, a hardcover narrators. Picoult’s elephant facts surprised the elephant herd, a mother copy of “Leaving Time” and the opportunity to meet Picoult The first is 13-year-old Jenna audience, and were met with gasps and and daughter elephant and get the book signed. Metcalf, whose mother Alice dismurmurs. At 7 p.m., Picoult took the stage amidst enthusiastic ap- appeared 10 years ago, the same stay together their whole One audience member said that Piplause. She began by introducing “Leaving Time,” did a brief night a caretaker was trampled by lives unitl one of them coult’s “Nineteen Minutes” changed her book reading, explained the research behind the book and then an elephant. dies. And I thought 'how life, and that she wrote her college narrafinished with a question and answer session. Alice was a researcher who tive about her emotional experience readcome we don't do that?' Picoult explained that she got the idea for “Leaving Time” studied elephant cognition and ing the novel. The same fan asked Picoult based on her experience with her youngest child, her daughter managed an elephant sanctuary. which of her books changed her life the The second narrator is Serenmost. - Jodi Picoult ity, a failed psychic who uses body Picoult responded by discussing two language and her observant behavior as a crutch. books in particular, “My Sister’s Keeper” and “Sing You Home.” Jenna and Serenity are also joined by a third narrator, Vir“I would say the ones that really affected me the most are gil, the detective who was originally working on Jenna’s moth- the ones that have grown out of some of the most dramatic er’s case and has since become an alcoholic. moments in my life. And there are two books in particular that Picoult explained that she did an extensive amount of re- have intersected very cleanly with things that were happening search on elephants while writing her latest novel, even travel- in my life,” said Picoult. ing to Tennessee and Botswana to further her research. Picoult explained that her son Jake was diagnosed at a She shared facts with the audience, starting off by sharing young age with cholesteatoma, which she described as a bethat no two elephants’ ears are alike, which she compared to nign tumor that would eventually grow from his ear into his human’s fingerprints. brain if untreated. Picoult’s facts continued to get increasingly lesser known, Instead of taking the safe route, which would leave Jake as she explained how emotional elephants are such as a time deaf in one ear, Picoult and her husband decided to take an when two elephants approached a deactivated electric fence; experimental route. After 13 surgeries, Jake was cancer free. one elephant touched the fence with his trunk outstretched, “Knowing that your other children had to suffer somehow, anticipating the shock, so the other elephant did the same to because even when they got sick, they weren’t sick enough. share the pain. That’s a horrible thing to think as a mother … That is what ‘My Picoult continued to describe similar events where el- Sister’s Keeper’ was for me. It was an extended therapy session ephants have demonstrated a level of compassion that is sur- that you all got to read.” prising for animals. She told stories of how elephants have Picoult also noted how “Sing You Home” was a book that routinely helped other species, such as rhinos, when they were personally resonated with her, which looks at what it means to caught in a well or mud. be gay in modern society. “Not only is this an evolutionary disadvantage, you know She explained how her oldest son, Kyle, came out of the because then that rhino is going to grow up and could kill the closet in his college essay, which occurred at the same time that elephant, but it is one of the only examples we have of cross- Picoult was writing the book. species empathy,” said Picoult. Picoult said that Kyle had “the best coming out story in Picoult also discovered that the slogan, “Elephants Never this country,” comparing Kyle’s experience to other young Forget,” is one that rings true. She told the story of Shirley and adults. Jenny, two elephants who ended up living at the same sanctu“They read this book and they said that this book made Contributed by Adam Bouska ary. them feel normal. And to this day, weekly, I get letters from Jodi Picoult gives inside look to her new novel "Leaving Jenny had been living at the sanctuary for several years kids who say that my book saved their life. I am waiting for the Time." prior to Shirley’s arrival. On the day of her arrival at the sanc- day that book is obsolete,” said Picoult.

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The Vine

The Mirror | Week of October 22, 2014

Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds

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Trick or Treat at Fairfield Theatre Company

Contributed by SisterSparrow.com

By Charles DeFilippo Vine Editor

I

t only makes sense that Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds perform back-toback nights at Fairfield Theatre Company on StageOne on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 because “one [night] isn't quite enough” said lead singer Arleigh Kincheloe. The eight piece collective is not just a soul band. It’s nitty gritty blues, dirty funk and driving rock that force you off of your feet. Melodic horn lines, soulful harmonica and a funky rhythm section back frontwoman, Kincheloe, and the results are mesmerizing. In front of the microphone, Kincheloe is playful and captivates listeners with her powerful vocals.

When you’re not bound by Kincheloe’s vocals or the fiery brass lines, it is uncertain if you can escape all that is Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds. You may be familiar with tunes like “The Long Way” off of Sister Sparrow’s EP “Fight,” produced by Randy Jackson or “Make It Rain” with its staccato horn melody, syncopated drums and guitar and dirty harmonica solos. “We are able to cover so much sonic ground (with Jackson on harp),” said Kincheloe. “Sometimes he’ll be playing with the horn lines, and others against the band.” If you love live music, then you should check out Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds. It

is the kind of music that leaves a little something left on the bone for everyone. It is for those, “That can get lost, for someone who has never seen a horn section live or never stood in front of a baritone sax,” said Kincheloe. “It’s a unique experience.” A true testimony to the band’s growth is reflective in their audience. It is inspiring to Kincheloe when she sees a 13-year-old girl standing near a 75-year-old man. “If you can span cultural gaps, you have something,” said Kincheloe. The band has had a rigorous tour schedule, with over 150 shows a year, and recently made their first venture overseas to the Cotai Blues and Jazz Festival in Macau, China. Luckily for you, the Birds have a few weeks off until hitting Fairfield Theater Company on Halloween night, leaving, as Kincheloe said, “Time to cook up something special for the show.” The birds have a few tricks up their sleeves,including a costume contest judged by the band, according to Kincheloe. This will be a show you don’t want to miss. Not to mention, their break will leave plenty of time for new material and to deal with the craziness of Halloween. More importantly, Kincheloe laughed, “[There’s] time to get our costumes together.” Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds will continue their New England run at Tellus 360 in Lancaster, Pa. on Nov. 6, The Spot Underground in Providence, R.I. on Nov. 7 and spend two nights at The Bowery Ballroom in New York City, N.Y. on Nov. 28 and 29.

Quick Look: Trevor Hall on StageOne Reggae / Folk / Roots / Rock Wednesday, Oct. 29 Doors @ 7:00 p.m. Show @ 7:45 p.m. Tickets: Non-members: $28 Members: save $3

Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds on StageOne Funk / Blues / Rock Friday, Oct. 31 & Saturday, Nov. 1 Doors @ 7:00 p.m. Show @ 7:45 p.m. Tickets: Non-members: $25 Members: save $3

Trevor Hall:

Finding bliss through music By Charles DeFilippo Vine Editor

L

ike meditation is a practice to clear the mind, music encloses us in time and when we open our eyes, we are overwhelmed by its spirit. From the towering trees to the green forests of Vermont and the northern woods of Maine, serenity is born. The forest speaks and Mother Nature accompanies us in solitude. It is true acoustic singer-songwriter Trevor Hall has become a product of his humble surroundings. After eight years of touring the country, Hall made this retreat with his wife in order to reconnect. Among the trees, they became one with their environment: “We buried our feet, hands, heads and hearts into our Mother Earth … Listening to and learning from Her Great Song,” said Hall via trevorhallmusic.com “I didn't know if or when I was coming back,” said Hall. While away, Hall began to transform this silence into music. The forest brought back vivid memories of other “quiet places” that Hall had visited, especially those of India and Nepal. His collection of poems, lyrics and memories blossomed into a tranquil bliss; thus, “The Chapter of the Forest” was born. “These songs are for my own healing purposes,” said Hall. You do not have to retreat to the forest, live in an ashram, or study in India under a classic Baul musician, like Hall had done, to find spirituality. It is the power and simplicity that

will spark your own inspirations in life. Through mediums of music, painting, drawing or from sitting in silence, we find bliss. “The main common denominator is the intention,” added Hall. So, in this cluttered world we can create our own intentions, using these powers for our own self-healing.

I'm not trying to teach anyone. As a were important to me ... as you grow, experiences shape and humble you. [Now] I hope I'm more humble. -Trevor Hall “I’m not trying to teach anyone,” said Hall. “As a kid, different things were important to me … as you grow, experiences shape and humble you. [Now] I hope I’m more humble.” Over Hall’s career, he has performed with artists such as Ziggy Marley, Steel Pulse, Matisyahu, Stevie Nicks, Ben Harper and Colbie Caillat. In addition, Hall’s “Other Ways” was featured on the “Shrek the Third: Motion Picture Soundtrack.” Upon his latest release, “Chapter of the Forest” was awarded the number two spot on iTunes’ singer-songwriter

charts and claimed 17th for overall albums. In its immediate success, the album remains only a small portion of the Small Is Beautiful Tour. Hall has teamed up with LoveYourBrain, an outreach campaign born from professional snowboarder Kevin Pearce's inspiring story and award-winning documentary, “The Crash Reel.” LoveYourBrain is a social movement geared toward improving people's lives through music, yoga and a mindful approach that focuses on brain injury prevention, rehabilitation and overall brain health. “I am thankful for everyone's support,” said Hall. “I share my inspiration in hopes to inspire others.” “The person I learned the most things from were the people who didn't tell me what to do,” said Hall. Throughout the tour, these intimate moments and experiences have bled into each and every performance. Hall explained how each venue has its own intimate atmosphere and Fairfield Theatre Company’s StageOne is no exception. “Being naked, musically, on stage” said Hall, really helps the purity and intimacy of each performance. From the journey that is “Chapter of the Forest,” we remember and try to live in the moment. Hall will be accompanied by upPhotos Contributed by trevorhallmusic.com right bass and percussion along with special guest Cas Haley. The trio will "Chapter Of The Forest" was released Jun. 17, 2014 after be ending the tour at StageOne on Hall's retreat to the forests of Maine and Vermont. Oct. 29 at 7:45 p.m.


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THE MIRROR | Week of October 22, 2014

The Vine

Told ByDre

By Andrea Butler Fashion Columnist

Hey Stags! Fall finally seems to be fully underway here in Fairfield. Between the beautiful foliage and pumpkin-flavored anything, it feels good to be immersed in the season. What better way to channel the true autumn spirit than with a cozy flannel? Here are some stores to hit up if you want to totally embrace the country/lumberjack/hipster look. Uniqlo has some great choices. At $29.90, they offer fairly affordable investment pieces that you’ll wear year after year. With a wide variety of colors and styles, you’re guaranteed to find one (or four) that fit your personal style.

For the Fairfield fashionistas who want to stay on budget and on trend, Forever 21 is always a good bet for the latest styles, flannels included. If a more boho look is what you’re after, you can’t beat a good thrift store for the most unique options. Since they’ve been worn and washed many times before, they’re guaranteed to be the comfiest flannels you can find (except for maybe if you stole a flannel from your boyfriend). Stay warm, lovelies, and enjoy your week! Love,

Dre

'Dancing at Lughnasa' premiere excites By Charles DeFilippo Vine Editor

Contributed by Lynne Porter

Sophomore Grace Schiller, who plays Chris, poses with Alec Bandzes ’15, who plays Gerry.

Award-winning “Dancing at Lughnasa” takes center stage at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts’ Wein Black Box Experimental Theatre, Oct. 29 – Nov. 2. Those of us with siblings get it and for others, it’s obvious to see. We love each other and hate each other; yet, we cannot live without this unique relationship that bond siblings to one another. So what happens when you have five Mundy sisters living amongst each other? It results in the award-winning play “Dancing at Lughnasa,” which portrays the relationship between five sisters living in a small Irish village, Balleybeg, during the summer of 1936. Presented by Theatre Fairfield, university students and staff will adopt the Mundy sisters’ personas and bring forth the unique relationship they share. Senior Maggie Greene, who plays Agnes Mundy, feels the play is “so much about the human experience” and “what do you do” when put in these types of situations. Greene explained how the play fuses elements of comedy and joy to counterbalance the drama, which is what she believes makes any work interesting. “The play explores the depth of relationships and family rela-

tionships,” said Greene. Through Michael’s (Franco Luzzi ’15) point of view, “the characters learn how to find joy out of the mystery of their lives.” Agnes is one of the quiet sisters who enjoys knitting, said Greene. When paired with her sister Rose, played by Jessica Lizotte ’18, who has special needs, there is a unique relationship within itself. Shortly after the return of their older brother and a visit from a friend of the past, the sisters’ everyday lives takes a turn for the worst. As things crumble, the sisters remain true to their family. The cast has been enduring a rigorous schedule to perfect each and every aspect of the performance. Greene explained how in addition to four-hour rehearsals six nights a week, each cast member is involved in the tech and production of the play. “We all wear multiple hats,” said Greene. Many of the actors also work props and lights on top of remembering their lines. However, when the sisters break out into an Irish step dance mid-scene, “words are no longer necessary,” said Greene. “We lose it, dance and break free.” For this portion of the play, the production is using a wireless radio for the first time with streaming music from Dublin. Also, the sisters have been

trained in Irish step dancing and refer to their on-staff researcher to make each aspect, from their mannerisms and clothing to their Irish accents, authentic. According to the “Dancing in Lughnasa” press release, Theatre Fairfield is in an active collaboration with the university’s Irish Studies Program and large Gaelic-American population in Fairfield County, said Dr. Martha S. LoMonaco, professor of theatre and co-producer and resident director of the program. “It is an especially wonderful choice for performers eager to challenge themselves by playing characters who speak in Irish dialect and also sing and step dance. The show will be a veritable feast for the eyes and ears,” added LoMonaco. New York City guest artists Tom Schwans (directing) and Jaclyn Meloni (scenic designer) will help bring the production to life. Students are invited to come in Halloween costumes for free admission; all student tickets are $5, $6 for staff and $12 general admission, available through the Quick Center Box Office or online at www.quickcenter.com. Look out for Theatre Fairfield’s “Director’s Cut,” an extravaganza of one-act plays directed and designed by advanced theatre students, opening at the PepsiCo Theatre on Dec. 4.


The Vine

The Mirror | Week of October 22, 2014

Album Spoiler Alert: Dads' 'I'll Be The Tornado'

Contributed Photo

Dads' newest album, "I'll Be The Tornado" was released Oct. 14, 2014.

By Sean Thomas Contributing Writer

During the final moments of Dads’ 2013 EP “Pretty Good,” drummer/ vocalist John Bradley wistfully sings “Steady nights of sleeping / Oh how I've

missed those.” This line perfectly describes the general feeling behind the music of the New Jersey alt-punk duo. Dads have always channeled the sense of chaotic restless-

ness that comes with their dedicated life as touring musicians – that theme is examined with a mature approach on “I’ll Be the Tornado.” It seems that both Bradley and guitarist/vocalist Scott Scharinger are constantly yearning for stability and direction in an unstable, directionless lifestyle. A creative life can be equally as destructive, marring relationships and causing intense personal strain. It’s obvious that Dads has reflected on this; this translates into songs with lyrical depth, effortlessly balancing hard-hitting moments and tender emotion. The album opens with the acoustic first half of “Grand Edge, MI,” where Bradley admits that he is distantly watching fleeting opportunities before the classic Dads distortion and massive drumming kick in. The true genius of Bradley’s lyrics shows itself on “Chewing Ghosts,” which finds Bradley contemplating his past decisions. He poignantly speaks of his sobriety and how it affects others - “Maybe you’d like me again

if I went back to the bottle / Maybe you’d like me again if I went back to being miserable.” Dads is a band that embraces their humanity and presents themselves with brutal honesty. Speaking to the shallow hypocrisy of the music scene in “You Hold Back,” Bradley sings that “You can’t go against the grain if there’s no natural wood.” He may be calling out others on their attitudes, but he acknowledges that he’s been immature as well, rather than asserting his moral superiority. Dads prove how much they’ve grown as musicians on their best written song to date, “But.” Their sense of pacing is impeccable as the song evolves from startand-stop drum grooves into a beautifully melodic climax. The song gradually builds until Bradley proclaims the album’s title, singing “But when I get there, it’ll be a storm / I’ll be the tornado that keeps you warm.” From an instrumental perspective, “I'll Be the Tornado” borrows from the

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sound of classic emo bands such as American Football or Sunny Day Real Estate. Dads’ focus on melody, coherent structure and lyrical depth is what makes their sound so thoroughly interesting. Even though it can be analyzed on a deeper level, Dads’ music will always lend itself to throngs of moshing, crowd-surfing fans who memorize the lyrics and shout them during the band’s endless touring. Dads may just be a duo, but they’re surrounded by a legion of incredibly passionate fans, actively listening as the group finds themselves. Dads is unafraid of being bold and upfront, maturing their sound as they make room for personal development and healing. With “I'll Be the Tornado,” they have put out their most honest record to date. Be sure to catch one of their powerful live shows – Dads are currently touring North America with Tiny Moving Parts and Nai Harvest.

Alliance spreads awareness with 'Pariah' By Monet Monterosso Contributing Writer Pariah: A person without status, a rejected member of society, an outcast - each of these three definitions were represented in the film, “Pariah,” which the Alliance Club featured a screening of in the DiMenna-Nyselius Multimedia Room on Friday, Oct. 17. The main character, Alike, is a 17-year-old AfricanAmerican woman who lives with her parents, Kim Wayans and Charles Parnell, and younger sister, Sahra Mellesse, in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood. She has a passion for poetry and is a good student at her local high school. As the story begins, Alike is on the verge of accepting her identity as a lesbian. With the sometimes boisterous support of her best friend, Laura, an outed lesbian (played by Pernell Walker), Alike is especially eager to find a girlfriend. At home, her parents’ marriage is strained and there is

further tension in the household whenever Alike’s development becomes a topic of discussion. Pressed by her mother to make the acquaintance of a colleague’s daughter, Bina, played by Aasha Davis, Alike finds Bina to be unexpectedly refreshing to socialize with. Wondering how much she can confide in her family, Alike strives to get through adolescence with both grace and humor. This film was a part of Alliance’s month-long Film Series to raise awareness for LGBT History Month where each week, movies are featured that focus on themes of love and acceptance. More well-known LGBT-themed films like “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Rent” are shown, but Alliance intended to also feature lesser-known films, like “Pariah.” “Pariah” first premiered in 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival. The contemporary drama “Pariah” is the featurelength expansion of writer/director Dee Rees’ award-winning 2007 short film of the same name. Spike Lee is among the feature’s executive producers. At Sundance, cinematog-

rapher Bradford Young was honored with the (U.S. Dramatic Competition) Excellence in Cinematography Award. Ultimately, “Pariah” made the cut to be shown during the movie series because of its intersectionality, something Meaghan Hamilton ‘17 particularly enjoyed: “I love[d] the movie. Usually with LGBTQ representation in the media, you only see the experiences of affluent white people. This intersection between race, class, gender and sexuality was really important and interesting to see.” Having a different viewpoint portrayed in the movie allowed viewers to be more open-minded as to what the LGBT community is all about. The battle for identity, the violence both physically and emotionally and the realistic bittersweet ending truly made this movie as powerful as any LGBT film could be. Alliance has thus far been successful with their selections in trying to represent the message they want to spread amongst the Fairfield community. The next film series takes place this Friday, Oct. 24, featuring the film “Christopher and His Kind."

Contributed Photo


THE MIRROR | Week of October 22, 2014

Coffee Break

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COFFEE BREAK Editor: Meaghan Kirby

Underclassman parking

Is the ban an unreasonable rule or a blessing in disguise? By Allison White Contributing Writer Some underclassmen may be angry that they cannot have their cars on campus, but in the long run I think this is a good idea. As freshman and sophomores get acquainted with school, the last thing they need is the responsibility of having a car. A car on campus can serve as a distraction. Not only do you have to maintain its care, but when you should be doing homework, a car makes it easier to escape from your dorm room into the town of Fairfield. I think that the extension of car privileges would cause too much chaos on campus. Parking lots would be overcrowded and the volume of cars on campus would cause more car accidents. New parking lots will have to be made which would take away from the beauty of our campus’ landscape. During the first few semesters of college, students are worried about finding a solid group of friends. By having a car, these students may be used by those who do not have a car. When other students don’t have a car, they may seek a friend who does have one. This is not a good way to build a friendship. No one wants to be made a friend just because of his or her possessions. I think that having a car on campus is unnecessary. The StagBus takes students everywhere they need to go such as the mall, the grocery store and into the town of Fairfield. Everything a student could need is

located in one of these places and the bus is more than convenient. Also, underclassmen have not been around Fairfield as much as upperclassmen so they are not as familiar with the town. This would cause them to get lost on their own. The privilege to having a car on campus should be restricted to upperclassmen only. Since they have been attending Fairfield longer, upperclassmen should have more privileges than underclassmen.

By Meaghan Kirby Coffee Break Editor Having a car on campus makes me wonder how I ever got by without it. I mean, sure, I took the StagBus any time I needed to get into town, but there is nothing better than being able to operate on my time with nothing holding me back. While I understand there’s seniority privilege for a reason, namely because of the lack of parking availability on campus, as someone who was once in that position, I understand how frustrating not having a car o n camp u s can be, especially if the final destination is not on the StagBus route. What happens if someone wants to get Dunkin’ Donuts? The many Starbucks locations in town are right off the shuttle stop in town but unfortunately,

Dunkin, a generally cheaper coffee stop, is inaccessible to those without a car. In addition, until recently, the StagBus schedule was very inconvenient, namely because the first bus left at 11:15 a.m., well into the day for the many students with internships that required them to be taken to the Metro-North train. I think that many upperclassmen with cars forget the struggle they faced as a freshman or sophomore. The first semesters of college can be really stressful and it can feel suffocating if you can’t get off campus easily. While I’m glad that the StagBus is running more frequently, it simply isn’t accommodating for everybody. Furthermore, as a sophomore, I found it incredibly frustrating whenever I would see open spots in the Regis or Jogues Hall parking lots. At the very least, I think there should definitely be circumstances in which underclassmen should be allowed a car. I wholeheartedly agree with nursing students being allowed cars for second semester sophomore year and would like to see more availability in the future. I’ll be launching a Kickstarter in the near future to pay for the additional parking. Does Prep really need a football team?

Photo Illustration by Robert Joyce / The Mirror

The price of an unregistered car on campus: tickets issued by Public Safety.

Editor’s note:

Point/Counterpoint wants to give students on campus a chance to voice their opinions on specific issues. The topics must be relevant to a majority of the student population and can be a current event or a long-standing issue. If you would like to be featured in the column, contact info@fairfieldmirror.com.

Ask

Sarah

Have a question for Sarah? Submit one to info@fairfieldmirror.com

Dear Sarah, I’m really frustrated with one of my closest friends on campus. She always makes me the joke of every conversation, whether we’re alone or in a group. I try and be a good sport by laughing along with everyone else, but I’m getting so tired of it. I’m too passive to tell her how I feel or stand up for myself, as I don’t like confrontation. What should I do? - Fed Up Dear Fed Up, I’m sorry you feel like you’re the butt of your friend’s jokes. You first need to determine whether or not her jokes are intentional or not. If she’s really a friend, chances are she doesn’t even realize that she’s offending you with her comments. You should never feel bad having to confront a friend, especially when it is something that is truly bothering you, which it sounds like it is. Talking is always the best method because if you let the problem build, it isn’t going to solve anything and chances are it will become a larger issue. So, tell your friend that her jokes upset you and she’ll most likely stop. Remember that you have numerous on-campus resources ranging from your RA to Counseling and Psychological Services and mediation clubs like Common Ground to help you. - Sarah

Sudoku Can you solve it?


Sports

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THE MIRROR | Week of October 22, 2014

Weekly 4x5

Because we have witty things to say ...

Patrick Kiernan Sports Editor

Patrick Kiernan, Jennifer Calhoun, Matthew Schneider and Jesse Erickson

Giants vs. Royals. What's your World Series prediction?

Predictions for the NHL season?

Did you go to the Love and Theft concert? How was it?

If you could say anything to Beyonce, what would it be?

What songs/artists would you suggest to the readers?

Can't knock the Royals right now. They're just playing baseball the right way and I can't help but root for them. And, I guarantee at least 3 Billy Butler stolen bases.

I don't care what happens this season as long as the Islanders flag gets returned to my townhouse. We will get it back. Mark my words.

LOL. No. And LOL Jesse.

Marry me.

Milkman. Any song by Milkman. The guy's music is straight fire.

I'm had a dream the other night that the Blackhawks won it all.

I napped through it. Our capstone class' paintball excursion really tuckered me out.

I bet I could beat you in a spelling bee! D-I-S-S-A-P-O-I-N-T-M-E-N-T

Check out Coasts, a small band from the UK. But don't expect to see a concert in the US AFTER THE Y CANCELED ON THEIR TOUR LAST MONTH. I have no resentment though ...

I'm going with the Giants because Eli Manning is going to bounce Jennifer Calhoun back from his loss to the CowExecutive Editor boys. I really make it sound like I don't know sports ...

I've gotta go with the Royals pulling off the upset. I can totally see Matthew Schneider them pulling off a suicide squeeze Assistant in the ninth inning to win a game.

Sports Editor

Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor

Your 2014-2015 4x5 Columnists:

I'm a rather biased sports fan, I only watch the teams I like ... but let's go with the Royals.

Suck it Beyonce! Not saying you're a dissapointment Bey.

I may be coming off as biased here, but I think it'll be the Rangers vs. the Blackhawks in the finals, with the Rangers winning it all.

Nope, I'm not a fan of songs about moonshine and square dancing.

Nice music.

You can never go wrong with some OneRepublic; their new album, "Native," is great. Also, if you're like my friend Jack, "Break Free" by Ariana Grande is a must.

Always the Bruins, but they need to step up their game.

I loved it!

Can you cure my tonsilitis?

Michael Buble's Christmas album.

Stag Spotlight: Golf's Katie Rockwell '15 and Olivia Brooks '16 How have you been able to manage playing golf and attending classes? Rockwell: Well, we’ve been dealing with it for a couple of years now, but our teachers are really helpful and understanding when it comes to missing school. So, just not procrastinating and keeping up with the school work helps.

Rockwell: I actually met Coach Roberto at a tournament the summer before my senior year of high school, so I came and visited and something just clicked. It just felt right here.

What has been your best golf experience at Fairfield? Rockwell: I never really expected to win a tournament in college, but it was special winning two tournaments. It’s something I won’t forget.

Brooks: It just ended up being the place where there was the best combination of athletics and academics, which is what I was looking for. I knew I wanted to play Division I golf, and that’s a huge accomplishment in anyone’s athletic career.

Brooks: We came in this year and won the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, the first tournament we won this season, and then came back the next weekend to win the Delaware State Tournament. Having not only two team wins, but two individual wins as well, is something I’ll never forget.

How has the golf team been getting along this season?

What are your expectations this year?

Rockwell: At a match, I think we’re the only team that watches every single girl tee off. All of us get around and cheer for whoever’s teeing off, and the people who finish first are always on the last green waiting for the rest of the team and cheering.

Rockwell: We’re so close on the course and off the course. These girls are my best friends here at school, and this season we have been more of a team than I can say for any other season because we’re just so in harmony.

Rockwell: We’re winning. This is definitely our year. We have the drive, we have the passion and it’s happening this year. Our performance has just been a reflection of the improvement we’ve had.

Brooks: Our tournaments are two days, so we leave the day before. The day before the first round is a practice round, so we’ll all go out and play a practice round just to see the greens and the course layout. We stay at a hotel and go back the next morning for the first round at very early tee times, and we do the same thing the next day.

Brooks: I think this year of all years so far the closeness playing and not playing golf is the highest it’s ever been for us and it’s working, so hopefully we’ll keep it rolling.

Brooks: Definitely just communicating a lot with professors. Also, figuring out office hours and times where you can make up tests or go over things with professors that you missed. Just staying in contact is one of the biggest things.

Senior golfer Katie Rockwell.

What led you to play golf at Fairfield?

Can you explain the team’s walkthrough at a match/tournament?

Brooks: We probably have upwards of five more tournaments and then the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship down in Florida. It definitely feels like our year. We’re going to go down there and hopefully win it.

See even more answers at fairfieldmirror.com.

Inside the Sports section this week:

Junior golfer Olivia Brooks. Photos contributed by Sports Information Desk

-NHL Preview: Looking at the Northeastern teams (Page 14) -LeBron James is ready to win in Cleveland (Page 14) -Senior Kathleen Early having a shutout season (Page 15) -Field hockey comes up short against Albany (Page 15) -Seniors score all the goals on Senior Day (Page 16)


Sports

Page 14

THE MIRROR | Week of October 22, 2014

NHL Preview: Looking at the Northeastern teams By Matthew Schneider Assistant Sports Editor

Contributed under Creative Commons John Tavares (above) looks to lead the New York Islanders to the top

It has been an interesting start to the NHL season to say the least. Perennially bad teams like the Calgary Flames, New York Islanders and Nashville Predators have done well for themselves, while teams that are usually considered Stanley Cup contenders like the Boston Bruins, the Colorado Avalanche and the St. Louis Blues have struggled out of the gate. Now I know that it is far too early in the season to start overreacting to these figures, but it is still fair to wonder if such bad starts will sink these teams’ championship hopes before the season gets under way. In terms of local teams, the aforementioned Islanders made some big trades during the offseason, bringing in former Bruins blueliner Johnny Boychuk and former Chicago Blackhawks rearguard Nick Leddy. Spurred on by these fine acquisitions, the Islanders won their first four games in a row before losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins last week. I am not sure if the Islanders can keep pace with the rest of the teams in their division, but if they keep getting stellar play from their star center John Tavares and their new goaltender Jaroslav Halák, look out. The New York Rangers have struggled somewhat to start the season, though they have done reasonably well despite injuries to top-of-the-line center Derek Stepan and defender Dan Boyle, a free agency acquisition. They are being led by a resurgent Rick Nash, whose conspicuous lack of scoring brought the wrath of Rangers’ fans down upon him during last year’s playoffs. Nash leads the league in scoring, with seven goals in six games (and the lone goal in a shootout last

week, though those don’t count on the score sheet). For the Rangers to get back into the swing of things, it will take a great combined effort from Nash, all-star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and newly appointed captain Ryan McDonagh, but I think they are capable of it. The New Jersey Devils got off to a hot start this season, winning their first three games on the road. Since that streak ended against the Washington Capitals last week, however, they Devils lost again and are at risk of losing three in a row. At this time that this is being written, the Devils have not yet squared off against the Rangers in a cross-state rivalry game of the utmost importance. But, with another loss, their once-promising start could be crashing down around their ears before they know it. They will need strong play from goaltender Cory Schneider and veteran winger Jaromír Jágr if they want to make the playoffs this year. Finally, the aforementioned Bruins got off to a slow start, losing three of their first four games and looking generally sluggish. Most distressing to Bruins fans everywhere is the slump that goaltender Tuukka Rask seems to be in, as he has posted a pedestrian .870 save percentage and a 2.90 goals-against-average, both of which are out of character for a goalie of his caliber. Things are looking up, however, as they walloped the Buffalo Sabres to the tune of 4-0 this past Saturday, and young defender Dougie Hamilton scored his first points of the year. The Bruins should have no trouble rediscovering themselves and returning to form as long as they continue to get excellent play from centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejčí and if Rask can find his groove again.

LeBron James is ready to win in Cleveland By Alfredo Torres Contributing Writer The NBA season is right around the corner as it tips off on Oct. 28 with a matchup between the defending champions, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Dallas Mavericks. The Spurs are coming off their fifth championship run where they defeated the Miami Heat in the 2013-14 NBA Finals by four games to one. It is a new season for the Spurs as they look to once again return to the NBA Finals for the third straight year to defend the crown. For the Spurs, the same core is returning for another long season: Tony Parker, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter. The Heat have been one of the best teams since the arrival of the big three that included LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. After reaching the NBA Finals for their fourth consecutive year, the Heat struggled against the Spurs, as they were only able to escape with one victory in the whole series. In the offseason, the Heat suffered a huge blow as they lost arguably their best player, James, to free agency. James chose to return back home to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Heat were able to make a few acquisitions starting with small forward Luol Deng. The biggest story of the offseason was the return of James to the Cavaliers. After four seasons with the Heat, James decided to

go back where it all started. James wasn’t the only star to go to Cleveland. After heavy negotiations, the Cavaliers were able to trade for Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves. And just like that, the Cavs became the favorites to win the Eastern Conference and play for the Finals. Of great players like James, Love and Kyrie Irving, the Cavs look to be going in the right direction. One of the teams looking to capture the East crown is the Chicago Bulls. For the Bulls, the return of Derrick Rose is one that all basketball fans have been waiting for. After missing the last couple of seasons due to injury, Rose is back on the court healthier than ever. The Bulls were able to add Pau Gasol through free agency. He joins Joakim Noah in the frontcourt and both pose a deadly defensive duo. With the addition of Gasol and the return of their core players, the Bulls look to be a great defensive team and compete for the Eastern Conference title. The Washington Wizards are another team to keep an eye on. After a successful last season, where they reached the playoffs for the first time since the Gilbert Arenas days, the Wizards look to continue their climb back to success. John Wall and Bradley Beal lead the Wizards; together, they combine to be a lethal backcourt. With the addition of veteran and former NBA champion Paul Pierce, they now have that leader that will push the young players of

Washington. The Toronto Raptors are another team looking to improve after a solid season where they reached the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. After great seasons from Terrence Ross, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, they look to continue the same trend toward success. The Oklahoma City Thunder will begin their season without reigning MVP Kevin Durant. Durant will miss the beginning of the season as he recovers from foot surgery. Russell Westbrook will begin the season healthy, and the Thunder will look to him during Durant’s recovery. For the Thunder, they come into the season with almost the same roster. Now without Durant, Westbrook is the go-to guy. The offense will run through him and his leadership will only increase. This young Thunder squad has had their share of playoff experience, so this continues to be a hungry team. The Golden State Warriors are a team that continues to make strides in the playoffs. With Steve Kerr as the new head coach, the Warriors look to compete for a championship after a great run in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Tournament where both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were productive and earned some gold. The “Splash Brothers” look to lead their great team through their shooting and better defense. Curry, who had a spectacular sea-

son last year, looks to continue to produce at a high level and reach more success as a team. After a long offseason filled with drama due to their controversial owner, the Los Angeles Clippers have moved along and have their focus set on the prize.

After a huge season for Blake Griffin, both he and Chris Paul look to lead the Clippers and their deep roster to a long playoff push. This NBA season appears to be a very competitive and entertaining one. May the best team win.

Contributed under Creative Commons


Sports

Page 15

THE MIRROR | Week of October 22, 2014

Senior Kathleen Early having a shutout season By Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor In the past four years, goalkeeper Kathleen Early ‘14 has transformed herself from a freshman who admired her older teammates to the goalkeeper who inspires goalies across the league. For her final season with the Stags, Early has carried the team leading them to a 7-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference record, one of their most impressive seasons yet. Freshman year, Early was introduced to a teammate who would change the way she portrayed herself as the goalkeeper of the women’s soccer team at Fairfield. Currently an assistant coach, Kelly Boudreau ‘12, the goalkeeper during Early’s freshman year, has helped Early become the successful athlete that she is today. “I got the chance to watch [Boudreau] play her senior year and she was, obviously, an amazing goalie here at Fairfield,” said Early. “She has taught me everything I know here today so I definitely look up to her as my role model.” Since then, Early has been one of the strongest members of the team. During her sophomore year, her first year of play with the team, she was named MAAC Player of the Week once and went on to stop 83 percent of the shots she had faced, ranking herself 64th in that

category in the nation. Sophomore year, Early had five shutouts, the start of the legacy she continues to leave on Fairfield. Junior year, Early had an impressive nine shutouts, stopping nearly 82 percent of the shots she faced. Logging almost 2,000 minutes in the net during the season, the goalie posted a total of 58 saves for the team. Heading into her senior year, Early is ranked fifth in the program for career shutouts and first in the program for goals against average. Currently, as the team approaches the end of MAAC play before Championships, Early has been named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week twice and then went on to be named the Corvias Eastern College Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week. She has racked in over 1,300 minutes in goal, making 50 saves for the team and winning 11 out of the 14 games she has played in. Currently, Early has six shutouts this season and is looking to improve in the upcoming weeks. During the last four years, Early has transformed from an observer to a leader on the field. “I’ve focused a lot on my fitness. I’ve just tried to work hard throughout the past four years and I think some of it has paid off,” said Early. Often referred to as the team mom because of the responsibil-

This week in sports: Wednesday, October 22 Men's and Women's Tennis at Rider, 2 p.m. Women's Soccer vs. Siena, 7 p.m.

Friday, October 24 Field Hockey vs. Vermont, 3 p.m. Men's Tennis at Conn. State Championships, All Day Cross Country at CCSU Mini Meet, 3:30 p.m.

ity she has to take on the field as the goalkeeper, the senior needs to make sure her team reacts well to challenging situations, which Early added, is one of her favorite parts. “I like to play under pressure and that’s definitely a very unique position,” said Early. “But I love being goalie because a lot of times you’re put under pressure and you have to come up big.” Coming up big has been a simple task for Early, especially during her senior season. The Stags, who are currently placed second in the MAAC, have always had the same goal: the MAAC Championship. As the talented leader that Early has portrayed herself to be, the team will excel defensively and hopefully win the title they have waited for.

Contributed by Sports Information Desk

Field hockey comes up short against Albany By Meaghan Kirby Coffee Break Editor

The Fairfield field hockey team lost their second consecutive game on Saturday after a valiant fight against the University at Albany, SUNY. The Great Danes were able to edge past the Stags 2-1. “I think we worked really hard [and] tried to keep focus on the positives,” said Head Coach Jackie Kane. “[We] didn’t give up. [We] played every minute of the game. I think our strengths outweighed our weaknesses.” After Anna Bottino scored for the Great Danes just about two minutes into the game, Fairfield regrouped to play a defensive first half with bursts of momentum. The Stags had just two shots on goal the entire first half. The second half started out strong for Fairfield, playing the majority of the first 15 minutes on the offensive. Just past 14 minutes into the half, Kaitlyn Taddeo ‘16 was able to rebound a shot from Ann Burgoyne ’17 and put Fairfield on the scoreboard. Sophomore Maclaine Matties, Valerie Buurma ’15 and Felicitas Heinen ’15 played strong defense for Fairfield as Albany gained momentum in the latter

part of the second half. Buurma recorded a defensive save for the Stags. Bottino was able to push a second goal past Fairfield’s goalkeeper Caitlin Bennett ‘17 in the last 10 minutes to secure the lead for the Great Danes. Despite a tough loss, Fairfield played relatively well against Albany, who is ranked eleventh nationally. Bennett recorded seven saves against the Great Danes and the team had a collective seven shots on goal. “I think our overall desire and commitment to each other to play as a team [worked well]. I think Emily McCauley ‘16 did a great job marking out their best player and we neutralized her, which was awesome,” Kane said. Paula Heuser, Albany’s top scorer with 19 goals so far this season, was limited to two shots on goal as McCauley continuously shut her out of the game. McCauley knew she had a tough job in defending Albany’s best, but stuck to the basics and kept composed to neutralize Heuser. “She’s a great player. She’s gotten a lot of accolades in our conference so it’s always intimidating going into that,” McCauley said. “You think about it, you’re playing against a top competitor. You just think about marking your man, which

you’ve always been taught.” The Stags knew going into the game that it would be a tough one. The last game played against Albany in 2013 resulted in a resounding 6-1 loss. So, on Saturday, Fairfield came into the game prepared to go down swinging. “We knew from the beginning that they were really good so we tried to put everything in it and I think it was just a team effort. We knew it was something we could only do as a team and I think we really came together and worked hard,” said Heinen. The possibility of playing Albany in the America East Conference Tournament brings hope that the Stags could finally outplay Albany and secure their first victory against the team. “I think we had chances that we could have put in and we gave them chances that we shouldn’t have so I think we were pretty equal and right there and next time, it’ll be a good game, if we meet again,” Heinen said. Before they can have their rematch, the Stags must play the final two games of their season. They’ll host Vermont for their final home game on Oct. 24 and travel to Lowell, Mass. on Oct. 31 to close out the season.

Swimming & Diving vs. Fordham, 5 p.m.

Saturday, October 25 Swimming & Diving at Alumni Meet, 12 p.m. Volleyball vs. Rider, 1 p.m. Men's Soccer vs. Niagara, 2 p.m. Women's Soccer at Niagara, 2 p.m.

Sunday, October 26 Rowing at Fall Metropolitan Regatta, All Day Men's Golf at NEIGA Championship, All Day Volleyball vs. Saint Peter's, 1 p.m.

Contributed under Creative Commons

Contributed by Sports Information Desk


SPORTS 16

@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports

Sports Editor: Patrick Kiernan » sports@fairfieldmirror.com

Week of October 22, 2014

Seniors score all the goals on Senior Day

Contributed by Sports Information Desk

By Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor The seniors of the Fairfield’s women’s soccer team couldn’t have been happier with the outcome of their game when they defeated Canisius 3-0 on Oct. 18. All three goals were scored by the seniors of the team, two by Ashley Small ‘15 and another by Torey Camporini ‘15. Camporini set the tone of the game, putting the first goal on the board for the Stags just about nine minutes into the game. “Torey had a very solid performance today,” said Head Coach Jim O’Brien. “She gave us quite a few minutes and during the second half, settled us down possession wise.” The team, anchored heavily by the nine seniors on the team, went on to take five more shots before Small was able to net the second goal for the team, putting them ahead 2-0. Canisius struggled to get past any of Fairfield’s defense led by Jessica Broadbent ‘15 and they were only able to take five shots against the Stags, while Fairfield was able to take 12. Senior Kathleen Early was able to make three saves for her team, two more than the Golden Griffins’ were able to save. Heading into the second half of the game, Canisius made an attempt to score against the Stags, but was unsuccessful; during the second half, Canisius had fouled

10 times. Junior Karolyn Collins was a driving force for the team, constantly bringing the ball up the field and giving her team the opportunity to take 16 shots against Canisius. Although the team struggled to get one of these shots in the net, Small was finally able to break through and put her second goal on the board for the Stags after beating Canisius’ defenders to the goal. On her senior day, Small couldn’t have been happier with the two goals she had finally scored. “It felt great to score the two goals and I felt incredibly blessed to finally be able to put some goals in especially after the dry spell I’ve been in,” said Small. “And what better day to do it than on senior day.” Now comfortably ahead 3-0, O’Brien decided to retire his seniors from the field with just about seven minutes left in the game. As the underclassmen headed onto the field, the seniors stood together with their coach as applause erupted from the stands. “Their record speaks for themselves,” said O’Brien. “I’ve won almost 40 percent of my wins as a collegiate team with the seniors and I think the type of people they are, the families they’re from, the kind of upbringing they have, their families should be very proud of them.” With the success that O’Brien

has seen from his seniors, he can only hope that his younger athletes will have transformed as a result of the play they have observed from the upperclassmen. “This is a very resilient team and the bottom line is that the reason why we are as successful as we are is because of the seniors,” said O’Brien. “They figure out ways to win,

whoever the player is, one day to the next, that senior laden team makes the difference.” Winning the game 3-0, the seniors of the team gathered around Lessing Field, one of the last times they’ll stand with their team. Small, who has made one of the biggest impacts on the program, added that being without the team next year will be extremely diffi-

cult. “This has truly been an amazing experience. Next year, I won’t be seeing these people every day and they’re my heart and soul right now,” said Small. “It’s going to be hard to not see them every day at practice and at games and it’s going to make a big difference in life.”

Contributed by Sports Information Desk


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