Fairfield Mirror 11/19/2014

Fairfield Mirror @FairfieldMirror fairfieldmirror

Independent student newspaper

Week of November 19, 2014

FairfieldMirror.com

Vol. 40, Iss. 11

FUSA hosts ‘Student Life’ Forum

By Catherine Veschi Assistant News Editor

Robert Joyce / The Mirror

Beach Residents Advocacy Group presented Mothers Against Drunk Driving with a check last Thursday with money they raised by selling tacos.

Beach residents raise $1,100 for MADD.

By Enxhi Myslymi Managing Editor

By Christina Mowry Assistant News Editor

On Nov. 13, Fairfield seniors, as part of the Beach Residents Advocacy Group, raised more than $1,100 for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The group sponsored a Taco Loco food truck fundraiser near the Seagrape Café, where they charged $2 per taco; every dollar raised went to MADD, according to President of BRAG Storm Miller ‘15.

“We did this fundraiser in an effort to improve relations at the beach and do some community outreach work,” Miller said.

When asked why BRAG chose to support MADD, Miller explained that Lt. Thomas Mrozek of the Fairfield Police Department originally asked BRAG to attend a MADD walk that occurred during Alumni Weekend.

“We figured that our turnout would be real low since everyone was doing Alumni Weekend things, but we wanted to find a creative way to still help them out,” said Miller. “We thought MADD was a great organization considering a lot of our Friday and Saturday nights involve drinking.”

Founded in 1980, MADD aims to “stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking,” according to its website.

As part of their victim services, MADD

dence Life Pejay Lucky.

Miller said that besides raising funds for MADD, BRAG also hopes to “improve relations at the beach” with local Fairfield residents.

The group, which includes Kevin Gavin ‘15 and Ellie Goepel ‘15, has organized beach cleanups from August to We thought MADD was October and a breakfast for all beach residents. a great organization According to Lucky, town resiconsidering a lot of our dents have been “appreciative of stuff Friday and Saturday we’ve done like the beach cleanup.” nights involve However, some residents “are steeped in drinking. the history” of Fairfield students living -Storm Miller ‘15 on the beach, and there is a minority that “still doesn’t ever want anything to packed … People were all over the do with students.” place,” said Assistant Director of ResiREAD BRAG ON PAGE 2 provides 24 hour support to victims affected by drunk driving.

The taco truck fundraiser was deemed a success due to the number of participants and funds raised.

“This fundraiser in general was

In an attempt to create an open dialogue about student culture, the Fairfield University Student Association organized its first presidential forum of the school year.

According to Jason Abate ‘17, sophomore class president, the discussion was held in the interest of determining any “areas where people feel they’re not part of the community,” and finding ways to improve upon them.

Titled “Student Life on Campus: What it is, What it should be, and How that relates to you,” the forum that took place on Tuesday, Nov. 18 was led by the four class presidents: Joe DiRico ’15, Matthew Lazicky ’16, Abate and Zavon Billups ’18.

DiRico hoped to see students, particularly underclassmen, come out and share “any improvements in terms of the dining experience and events we’ve had so far this year, as well as anything they want to see improved.”

According to Abate, the number of students who transfer from Fairfield for reasons that aren’t financial is too high, and so he, along with the other class presidents, wanted to find out why through the open forum.

He hoped that a good discussion of students’ concerns would help FUSA find out why students are transferring and soluREAD

FEW ON PAGE 2

Business Plan Competition hosts Elevator Pitch Contest

By Catherine Veschi Assistant News Editor Looking to enter the restaurant business, David Horwich ’16 is taking part in the student Business Plan Competition for the second year in a row.

Horwich created an elevator pitch, which could last up to 90 seconds, for his concept Dash Spice Bar and Grill.

With Dash Spice, “you can select from 45 loose herbs and spices and 15 pre-made rubs to create your own rub and apply it to a locally sourced cut of meat, which is grilled right in front of you.”

The Elevator Pitch Contest took place in the Dolan School of Business on Saturday, Nov. 15, and gave Horwich and many other students

the opportunity to learn how to effectively and concisely discuss their business ideas.

According to Dr. Chris Huntley, associate professor of information systems and operations management, the first part of the Business Plan Competition that took place in September was “a networking opportunity to meet with a lot of alums who do this kind of a thing for a living.” These alums served as mentors for students in helping them develop their pitches.

The second part of the competition was Startup Day, which took place on Oct. 19, and taught students how to come up with a business model that features “the overall layout, the bones for their business,” Huntley said.

The Elevator Pitch Contest followed up the Startup Day by showing students “how to take that business model and tell it to somebody in

90 seconds or less, with no props,” Huntley added.

According to Patricia Pivarnik of the DSB, Marketing Professor Dr. Mousumi Bose Godbole first taught the students how to write an elevator pitch. The students were then given time to practice writing their own 30 second pitches on basic items, such as highlighters.

Next, the students chose teams, each including members from at least two schools, and wrote their official 90 second-pitches. At the end, the teams each presented their pitches to a panel of judges, with $2,500 in prize money on the line.

Huntley hopes that students who participated in the event gained enthusiasm for their own business endeavors, knowledge for what it means to be an entrepreneur and an opportuni-

Inside this Issue: News: non-student arrested for criminal mischief (Page 4) Opinion: Weighing in on childhood obesity (Page 5) Vine: Book Look: The Merritt Parkway (Page 7) Sports: Volleyball reigns supreme on Senior Day (Page 16)

ty to network.

Entrepreneur of peerVantage, a company that started at Fairfield, Chris Snyder feels that “lifetime employment in great big companies is coming to an end, so small companies are coming back.” The Business Plan Competition is an opportunity for students to learn how to start a small company of their own.

According to David Murray, mentor coordinator of NCM Media Networks, the Business Plan Competition is a great way for students to foster any “entrepreneurial aspirations” they may have.

Fairfield alumnus Paul Lukas ’89 agrees that those with an entrepreneurial mentality will be more successful in the business world READ

STUDENTS ON PAGE 3

Page 2

THE MIRROR | Week of November 19, 2014

News

Contributed by Novy Thaib

CLUB PROFILE: Asian Student Association As an incoming freshman, Novy Thaib ‘16 was looking to break away from her traditional Asian upbringing.

But instead of leaving her culture behind, Thaib was convinced by a friend to join the Asian Students Association.

Now a junior, Thaib is the president of ASA, a “cultural club designed to promote diversity on campus.”

“Maybe … losing my cultural identity isn’t the smartest thing to do,” said Thaib. “People should take more pride in their culture, rather than assimilate to

whatever the norm is.”

The club’s signature event is their annual Flavors of Asia, which is going to be held Friday, Nov. 21 from 7-11 p.m. in the Oak Room in the Barone Campus Center.

For the past seven years, ASA has collaborated with Fairfield’s South Asian Student Association to host this event.

“It’s an event that promotes diversity in Asian cultures … Usually we get around 200-250 people,” said Thaib.

“Hopefully this year we get at least 150 people.”

Flavors of Asia has entertainment such as dance performances, martial arts

BRAG goes MADD for tacos Continued from page 1 Similar to the Inter-Residential Housing Association on campus, Lucky explained that BRAG’s two focuses are building community and advocacy. The group aims to have “one big advocacy project” per semester, with the MADD fundraiser as the fall event.

In addition to a spring advocacy project, BRAG hopes to host a forum for students who will live off campus next year. “[We would] discuss with them safety, and trash and to prepare them for living off campus, Miller said. “That would be March or April of next year.”

Miller also explained that as a student advocacy group, BRAG aims to “represent concerns and needs for the students living down at the beach.”

Part of what BRAG does, according to Miller, is to speak up for students in situations where “a student thinks they’re treated unfairly by a police officer or a neighbor.”

For Gavin, “making a good reputation for ourselves and the school community” is a significant goal BRAG hopes to achieve.

“We don’t want everyone to think that we’re here to drink,” Gavin said. “At the end of the day, we are people and we do have heart.”

demonstrations and henna tattoos.

“It’s a fun time for everybody,” said Thaib. “With this event, we get all sorts of people. It’s not just our families or the Asian population on campus.”

Thaib added that a wide variety of students and local Fairfield residents also attend the event.

“It’s one of the biggest events for cultural clubs in general,” she said.

Flavors of Asia is not the only event held by ASA. Smaller events that have been held in the past are movie nights, where the club has shown films such as “Spirited Away,” “Ponyo” and “Mulan.”

“Even though they’re animated

movies and they may seem childish, they really are a reflection of the culture itself and the artwork,” said Thaib.

She also explained that ASA hopes to organize another larger event in the spring, which would be held in the lower level of the BCC. The proposed event would have origami, calligraphy, games and finger foods.

When asked why she enjoys being a part of ASA, Thaib explained that it has helped her learn to embrace her culture.

“I guess I have become more Americanized, but with this club and with other kids in the same boat as me, we want to hold on to our culture … To blend it into

The Jesuit Universities Humanitarian Action Network (JUHAN) is sponsoring a 5K Relay Race

JUHAN Presents:

By Christina Mowry Assistant News Editor

to be held this Saturday, Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. on the track surrounding Lessing Field. All money raised will be donated to Save the Children, a charity for children in need, and put towards their programming. Specifically, funds will be put towards health care programs for schools in need in the U.S. Participants are encouraged to take advantage of the season and dress in their best “Turkey Trot” apparel. A prize will be awarded to the participant or team with the best costume. Teams of any size are invited to sign up online at www.savethechildren.com/runforkids/ fairfielduniversity. The suggested donation per team is $30.

For more information, please contact Nicole Davidow at nicole.davidow@student.fairfield.

our identity in a sense,” she explained.

Thaib also mentioned that another of her favorite aspects of ASA is the club’s close bond.

“ASA has become more of a family for me than a club,” said Thaib.

Tickets for Flavors of Asia are available Wednesday, Nov. 19 for $5 at the Information Desk and at the event for $7.

Freshman will also be able to swipe for FYE Inspire credit.

For those that want to become members, ASA meets every Friday at 6 p.m. in BCC 200.

Few attend FUSA forum Continued from page 1 tions to this problem, as well as any ways to improve the student culture at Fairfield.

However, only about 10 students attended the forum — far less than FUSA expected, Abate said.

He attributes the lack of attendance to the Residential College Fair, which also took place Tuesday night. This probably took away from some of the underclassmen presence at the forum, he said.

However, Olivia Marola ’16 believes that one of the major reasons that so few students came to the forum was due to insufficient advertising. Marola only heard of the event the day of through her class’ Facebook page.

Freshman Kaitlyn Giangregorio agreed that their main issue was lack of advertising. She said that if she had known about the forum, she would have attended it.

The few students who did show up expressed their concerns about issues with the dining experience at Fairfield, as well as residence life.

Despite the lack of attendance, Abate feels that the questions asked at the forum had more of a variety to them than those asked at the larger forums they’ve had in the past. At previous forums, everyone asked roughly the same question repeatedly, while at this forum, the concerns ranged from glucose-free meal options to the bus to Dolan Hall.

FUSA plans on organizing a similar forum next semester for students as another opportunity to voice concerns, especially for those who were unable to attend on

Page 3

THE MIRROR |Week of November 19, 2014

News

Students practice presenting at business pitch contest

Contributed by Britta Gunneson

Continued from page 1 today and that the Business Plan Competition is “a great way to nurture that mindset.”

According to Horwich, this event should be a prerequisite for all business students.

“It teaches you so many skills that you can’t pick up in class. It teaches you to build a business from scratch and multitask in every single type of industry,” Horwich said. “I’ve learned everything from finance to management to sourcing. The list is endless.”

However, Huntley pointed out that busi-

ness students aren’t the only ones who participate in the Business Plan Competition. In fact, at the Startup Day, over half of the students were engineering majors. Business students are in the minority.

Huntley also noted that age isn’t a factor when it comes to performing well at the competition.

“We’ve had two freshman winners over the years. This year, for the first time, we’re allowing graduate students to enter,” Huntley said. “So we don’t care how old you are. We just care that you’re a student.”

As a mentor, Murray values the opportunity to “be around young people and their ideas and energy, as well as thinking you can help them.”

According to Huntley, this isn’t the end of the Business Plan Competition. On Jan. 27, there will be a Spring Welcome and Kickoff, as well as a Practice Pitch Session on Feb. 24, where they will develop longer six-minute pitches instead.

The Semifinal round will be held on Feb. 28, and the Final Round and Gala, featuring the top six student teams, will be held on Mar. 31.

The setup of the Final Round can be com-

Contribute to The Mirror.

pared to the show “Shark Tank.” The DSB Dining Room will be filled with about 200 people and six or seven venture capitalists, similar to the ones on “Shark Tank,” who will judge the six finalist teams’ products, awarding $20,000 to the winning team, Huntley said.

Horwich believes that the Business Plan Competition is something that all students should get involved with and feels that “it is the most valuable experience that [he’s] had at Fairfield U by far.”

Add a line to your résumé.

Apply your writing skills.

Take Photos.

Get published.

Party like a journalist.

Learn.

Mondays at 7 p.m.

Brainstorm, pitch stories and talk to editors.

Thursdays at 7 p.m.

Critiques from the EIC and Mirror adviser Dr. Xie.

Page 4

THE MIRROR | Week of November 19, 2014

Crime Beat

News

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

Friday, 11/14 3:17 p.m. – An odor of marijuana noticed during fire alarm maintenance at the Townhouses 10 block led DPS to discover marijuana paraphernalia and a small amount of suspected marijuana. Three students were issued citations from the Fairfield Police and all were referred to student conduct.

10:35 p.m. – Outside the Townhouses 8 block, a male student hesitated when he was confronted by DPS officers. It was found he had alcohol mixed with Gatorade in a container. The student was referred to student conduct.

Sunday, 11/16 12:18 a.m. – Four individuals were identified outside the Townhouses 12 block involved in a fight. One individual decided to run from DPS, which made an officer engage in a foot pursuit of the student. All students involved were referred to student conduct.

1:22 a.m. – An intoxicated minor in 70 McCormick Road was found and deemed by DPS that the sophomore did not need further medical attention.

Non-student arrested for criminal mischief

By Robert Joyce News Editor A non-student was arrested on campus early Saturday morning after allegedly vandalizing a residence of the Townhouses 8 block.

Eighteen year old Dante Ellis of Tarrytown, New York was arrested at 12:57 a.m. and charged with criminal mischief in the second degree after being involved in a verbal argument and punching a hole in a closet door, according to Lt. James Perez of Fairfield Police.

Residents of the Townhouse reportedly met resistance when they asked two non-students to leave their house. This upset Ellis, one of the non-students, who proceeded to punch the hole in the closet door, according to John Ritchie, assistant director of the Department of Public Safety.

According to Perez, Ellis was attending a get together at the Townhouse when the incident occurred, and the damage to the closet door was valued at $250.

Ellis was released on a promise to appear in Bridgeport Geographical Area 2 court on November 28. Both Ellis and the other non-student were issued criminal trespass warnings by DPS.

Contributed by the Department of Public Safety

hole in a closet door at the Townhouses.

2:07 a.m. – Five students at the Barlow Road entrance were documented for suspicious activity after entering the gate after hours.

2:22 a.m. – An intoxicated minor in Gonzaga Hall was found and deemed by DPS that the sophomore did not need further medical attention.

Monday, 11/17 1:29 a.m. – A female received sexual harassment texts from an unknown person claiming to be friend of hers. The matter is under investigation by DPS and Fairfield Police.

Tuesday, 11/18 1:15 a.m. – A vehicle was driven across the grassy lawn near Dolan Hall, adjacent to Porter Road. The matter is under investigation by DPS.

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

Shauna Mitchell, Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Calhoun, Executive Editor Enxhi Myslymi, Managing Editor Editors Robert Joyce, News Catherine Veschi, Assistant 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

The local news: in Brief Fairfield man arrested for masturbating to newspaper delivery woman A Fairfield man was arrested on Monday morning for allegedly masturbating on his front porch according to the Fairfield Citizen.

The complaint was called in by a newspaper delivery woman who claims that Richard Walzak, 36, was wearing a red robe that left his genitals exposed, and began to masturbate as she passed his house to deliver a newspaper to one of Walzak’s neighbors.

Walzak has been charged with public indecency and second-degree breach of peace, according to the Citizen.

Fairfield Public Schools ranked 24th best in state Fairfield Public Schools has been ranked as the 24th best school system in Connecticut, according to annual rankings released by Niche.

Fairfield Public Schools received grades of A in the sector of academics, teachers, extracurriculars and activities, an A- for sports and fitness, a B+ for health and safety and for resources and facilities and a C+ for student culture and diversity, according to the report.

By Jessica Delahunt Assistant News Editor

Woman charged with assault after throwing flower pot at boyfriend Fairfield citizen Nanci Jenkins, 43, is facing assault charges after throwing a flower pot at her boyfriend during an argument about finances, according to the Fairfield Citizen.

Jenkins’ boyfriend suffered a bloody nose due to the incident, and Jenkins was later charged with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct.

Man dies after catching fire on top of Metro-North train Twenty-one year old actor Brian McClellan died Sunday after catching fire while riding atop a Metro-North train in Greenwich, according to the Fairfield Daily Voice.

McClellan accessed the roof by climbing a ladder on the train traditionally used by employees to access the train’s overhead power lines, Metro-North told the Daily Voice.

MTA and Metro-North propose 50 cent fair increase The MTA and Metro-North are proposing a fare hike of 50 cents per ride according to the Fairfield Daily Voice.

These hikes would only affect riders boarding at stops on the New Haven Line in New York, as well as the Harlem and Hudson Lines.

20% off haircut and light blowdry with this coupon only

Page 5

THE MIRROR | Week of November 19, 2014

Opinion

Opinion

Editor

Weighing in on childhood obesity

By Meaghan Conlon Opinion Editor America: land of the free and the home of the obese. This is how other countries view the United States.

Granted, the United States does have an extremely high obesity rate, but obesity is a problem in other countries as well.

As this condition is becoming more prevalent in children all over the world, doctors have been searching for a way to combat this condition.

Denmark has apparently cracked the code to childhood obesity, and while I congratulate the Danish for their success, I am doubtful that their methods will translate as successfully in the United States.

The Danish pediatrician who is heading this project, has focused the cure for obesity on strong and supportive relationships with children’s families.

The idea behind this project is that all of the family members change their diets, therefore, there is no separation of the child from the family.

This family-centered way of targeting obesity makes it much easier on the child trying to lose weight.

There is no temptation to eat unhealthy foods, such as cake or other sweets, if no one else in the family is eating them.

Additionally, this method shows support towards the child. A child needs to know that they are not alone in their condition and it is not something they will be shunned for.

Family involvement diminishes these thoughts and illustrates the love and encouragement the child needs.

While I applaud the Danes for their breakthrough, I doubt the fix will be so easy in the United States.

Obesity in the United States often strikes in poorer families and/or broken homes, where there is not always a strong and supportive home life for children. Without this system of encouragement, it becomes harder for children to deal with obesity alone, and they lose the incentive to make healthy eating choices.

For children who suffer from

Editorial Board Gobble gobble Shauna Mitchell Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Calhoun Executive Editor Enxhi Myslymi Managing Editor

obesity and are from families that are not financially well-off, healthy eating habits prove very difficult to maintain.

Unless you have never done any grocery shopping, or gone to a fast food restaurant, it should not come as a shock that the cheaper items are the less healthy ones.

At McDonalds, one can get a burger, fries and a drink, all for under $5. If you want to choose the healthier route at a fast food place, salads cost around $6 alone.

When money is tight, people want to stretch their dollar as far as they can and the unhealthy meals are the more economically friendly options.

The same is true in grocery stores, where you can buy chips, cookies and other unhealthy foods for the same price as a few vegetables or fruits. Prices are stacked against choosing the healthier option.

So what can Americans do to lower the growing childhood rate of obesity?

This problem has become the project of many, including First Lady Michelle Obama. With many famous people encouraging children to change their lifestyles and eating habits, national awareness about this topic is rising. However, raising awareness is only part of the battle.

Exercising is important in the fight against obesity as well, but that concept is still only one-half of the solution.

Getting active is a message that has been sent to children for the past few years; but, while physical activity is vital to achieving a healthy weight, it will not solve the problem.

Children need to eat right in order to reach and maintain a healthy weight.

However, unless the United States does something that changes the prices of healthier food options, making them more available to people with low incomes, then childhood obesity will remain a problem.

We cannot replicate the Danes’ solution, but if we make the necessary changes that will work within our society, we can come up with a different solution for the same problem.

Thanksgiving seems to be the one holiday that is forgotten about in the later months of the year.

With commercials and other media, it goes right from Halloween to Christmas and no one seems to pay any attention to good old Thanksgiving.

While the Thanksgiving tradition started and has been perpetuated under gruesome circumstances, it still carries with it an opportunity to reflect and appreciate the good in our lives.

Everyone has their share of

All images contributed under Creative Commons

Demotion due to differences

By Ariana Puzzo Contributing Writer Since his election as both Bishop of Rome and the absolute sovereign of the Vatican City State nearly a year ago, Western media has frequently focused on Pope Francis’ leadership role in the Roman Catholic Church.

Francis, despite maintaining many of the traditional values held by the Roman Catholic Church, is criticized for his liberal views on matters such as divorce and homosexuality.

Although I, among many, find his views on these topics to be a breath of fresh air, given the highly conservative nature of the clergy, many are fearful and hesitant of the direction he

struggles and trying times, but we are all lucky to be students at Fairfield, getting a first-rate education and taking advantage of opportunities that almost no one else in the world will have.

This Thanksgiving, shift the focus away from your troubles; try to enjoy your time spent with family and old friends over break, and think of ways you can use your privileges to help others.

It’s the holiday seasons that can help to remind us that it is not just about giving thanks, but about giving back.

is leading the Roman Catholic papacy.

Although the Burke’s Church. disrespect of Francis’ leadership Most recently, the cause of discussion regarding Francis has appalls me, he is not alone in his been fueled by his decision to beliefs.

Many other members demote Cardinal Raymond Burke of the clergy share Burke’s from his position as the leader of concern regarding the church’s the Vatican’s highest court.

Burke, who is one of current direction under Francis’ Francis’ many skeptics, is both administration.

I am not surprised by the conservative and outspoken in his negative response that Francis distaste for Francis’ leadership. has gotten from some members Therefore, I find Francis’ of the clergy during his reign thus decision to demote the far as bishop of Rome. conservative bishop to be wholly In a traditionally justified. conservative setting, he has of Burke from His removal the court to a significantly less presented ideas that, for those important role was necessary raised with a conservative given Burke’s insubordination mindset, may be perceived as aimed at the pontiff since the beginning of the latter’s read cardinaL on page 6

Food banks are consistently asking for donations.

Homeless shelters can always use an old set of gloves you might have laying around your house.

Toy donation centers are in need of gently used games that might be able to make the holidays a joyous time for children all over the world.

Prospect House is an oncampus opportunity to cook and serve food to people who are getting back on their feet.

All it takes is a visit to Campus Ministry.

We can give thanks for what we have, because for many of us, it is a lot.

It might not seem like it, but waking up in twin beds, in our sometimes too warm and sometimes too cold rooms is still an amazing blessing.

It's so easy to give back to those less fortunate than us that it should be second nature.

It’s part of the Jesuit Tradition to be men and women for others, and this upcoming holiday is the perfect time to exercise this value.

Page 6

THE MIRROR | Week of November 19, 2014

Opinion

Not accepting people is a cardinal sin

continued from page

5

heretical and going against the fundamental principles maintained for almost 2,000 years by the Roman Catholic Church.

Francis’ key priority is promoting the necessity of a greater acceptance of all people.

In an interview with the New York Times, Bishop Blase J. Cupich discussed Francis’ main priority, explaining, “He’s [Francis] not saying, this is the law and you follow it and you get to heaven.

He’s saying we have to do something about our world today that’s suffering; people are being excluded, neglected.

We have a responsibility, and he’s calling people to task.”

As a practicing Roman Catholic, Francis’ belief that the Church and those of the

Catholic faith ought to be more inclusive is a belief that I fully support.

Although many members of the church have criticized the pontiff ’s desire to have open discussions regarding topics such as communion for the divorced and remarried and samesex relationships, I maintain my position that these discussions will not radically alter the Roman Catholic Church’s fundamental values.

However, I am aware that many people do not share my lack of concern about the position of the church, and that some may view the perceived acceptance of the LGBT community and those who are divorced and remarried as a complete departure from the values that the church holds closest to its heart.

I urge concerned, conservative Catholics to look at the bigger picture: Al-

though Francis is promoting the idea that the church should refrain from turning away people based on their lifestyle choices, he is by no means advocating or approving samesex marriage or divorce.

He is simply saying that the marginalization of faithful Catholics ought to be considered before they are cast out and ostracized.

Therefore, conservatives who are fearful that the pope will order such a profound change to the church’s fundamental structure should not be alarmed.

It seems clear that the intention of Francis is to continue to become pastorally close to all of the faithful, recognizing the need to acknowledge the changing tides, while holding onto the fundamental core values of Catholicism.

Contributed under Creative Commons

Last call for the Stags bandwagon

By Kayla Valente Contributing Writer There has always been a concept in sports that has confused me: the hatred of intense fans toward bandwagon fans. Now, I understand that the people who follow teams all season know how the game works and know who plays which position definitely deserve a higher level of respect; but, there is no need to be exclusive when it comes to cheering on classmates.

At Fairfield, the fall sports’ seasons are starting to wind down, but it’s not too late to get to a game. While you go out and cheer on your classmates, here are a few tips on how to blend in so that people don’t even realize that it’s the first game you’ve attended this season.

First, know what to wear. Regardless of the sport, your outfit should be all about Stag pride. It isn’t a beauty pageant, but there are plenty of ways to look cute while wearing red. Also, dress appropriately for the setting. If you show up to cheer on the lacrosse team in a Fairfield tank top and shorts on a cold fall day, people are going to know that its your first rodeo.

My final thought on apparel is that more is usually better. Put on face paint so that people don’t have to wonder which team you’re cheering for, they’ll know. A sign is probably the best way to tell that cute boy in your math class that he might be number three on the field, but he’s number one in your heart.

Next, know the lingo. If you aren’t familiar with it, don’t pretend you are.

You cannot stand up at a soccer game and yell “Touchdown!” when someone scores a goal. This will blow your cover and probably aggravate people around you.

Avoiding the technical terms at all costs is your best bet.

Lucky for you, if you don’t know the jargon for each sport, I have a few tricks

that work every time. Picture this: You are at a basketball game and the referee blows the whistle. You have no idea what just happened and everyone around you is going crazy, but you don’t know what to say. Yell out, “Seriously?” and you are in the clear. Whether the referee’s call was the best one of the night or his worst one all season, your comment fits perfectly.

Other phrases like “Did you see that?”

“Can you believe that?” and “How does

that even happen?” leave the interpretation up to the people around you. These comments can make it seem like you’re really into the game, even if you have no idea what’s going on. Everyone around you will be impressed by your passion and totally oblivious to your trickery.

Finally, get a big group together.

Everything is more fun with friends. You might not know a single thing about rugby, but if you go with a big group of friends

you can all figure it out together. Sporting events often double as social events.

To the extreme fans, you guys are amazing for supporting your classmates all the time, but embrace the newbies. To the bandwagon fans, don’t be intimidated.

Go out there, support our school and have a blast cheering on your classmates while showing your Stag pride.

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

THE MERRITT PARKWAY: The Road That Shaped A Region

W

e all remember griffins from Harry Potter, but did you know you can see them when you’re driving on the Merritt Parkway? Those and other esoteric designs, such as Nike Wings (not the sneaker), to the more everyday butterflies and spider webs, grace the bridges and overpasses along the 37.5 mile roadway.

Adding to the beauty of your drive are the aesthetically pleasing landscapes of the median strip.

The parkway, which runs through Fairfield County, was largely responsible for the county’s prosperity and population growth in the 20th century.

In fact, “…it was the opening of the parkway that helped precipitate the hegira to Fairfield County.” Built to relieve highway congestion in New York and Connecticut, it became an alternate route to Post Road and accommodated recreational driving, known as the “Sunday drive.” The cars only, no trucks policy, adds to the bucolic aura.

Heiss and Smyth divide the book, published on Oct. 21, into decades, spanning from the 1920s to the 2010s.

They add a touch of flare by subtitling each chapter with the most popular car of the decade and a song that would have played on the car radio at the time.

For the 2000s, it’s the Toyota Prius Hybrid and “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. Today, most young people see it as just a highway, but it was extremely important to the generations of the past because of “a needed job, a delightful escape, fall colors and spring blossoms, a Sunday family tradition, access to home ownership further from a job location, the joy of the golden age of the automobile [and] a new love affair with the road.”

READ

MERRITT ON PAGE 8

THE MIRROR | Week of November 19, 2014

The Vine

Page 8

Book Look: The Merritt Parkway rewrites our history

By Gina White Book Critic

did not have a high enough image quality. Therefore, there were technological challenges as well.

It seemed backwards to us that the photographs were due before the text in editorial; it would have been easier to fit the pictures in afterwards.

Regarding research and ability to obtain sources, we were actually able to acquire a lot of primary sources from Buzz Merritt, whose great uncle was the namesake of the Merritt Parkway. He provided folders of papers and letters from the advisory meetings of the ‘80s.

The opening of the Merritt Parkway, therefore, had a major impact on the lives of Fairfield County residents who grew to appreciate its convenience.

Over the years, they have sought to protect its integrity and preserve its special qualities for future generations.

The famous bridges of the parkway (all 72) were designed by artist and architect George Dunkelberger. He took into account the natural surroundings before individualizing the architectural designs of each bridge per road.

The designs range from art deco to rustic stone-face to late Gothic revival and more. The Merritt comprises “a precious collection of diversely styled bridges with a touch of whimsy.”

Next time you find yourself in a traffic slow down on the parkway, take a longer look at one of these famed architectural masterpieces remembering the timeless significance of “the road that shaped a region.”

Interview with Laurie Heiss and Jill Smyth: GW: Understanding your involvement in the Merritt Parkway Conservancy, what inspired you both to compile a book about the history behind the Merritt Parkway?

LH/JS: We were actually pursued by the History Press, the publisher for “The Merritt Parkway.”

I (Jill) was approached and realized I didn’t want to take on the project on my own, so I went to Laurie with the idea.

The other Parkway books on the market are mostly out of print or outdated and predominantly books of photographs.

We also felt publishing this now was a result of good timing since the Merritt’s 75th anniversary is next year.

GW: What is your favorite

GW: Your book is divided by decade. Which do you think was most influential in the growth and survival of the parkway?

Gina White / The Mirror

aspect of the parkway?

LH: There are certain bridges that I adore and I also enjoy the intimacy of the roadside, more specifically the framing of the road and the landscaping.

JS: I would say the most important and interesting aspect of the parkway is its influence on Fairfield County. When the Merritt first opened, it was a form of entertainment for drivers and it’s wonderful that we’re still able to experience the parkway in much of the same way.

GW: Is this your first writing project? Do either of you have anything planned for the future?

LH/JS: This is our first book both individually and jointly, however, I (Laurie) wrote segments of different business books and worked on an internal book

I would say the most important aspect of the parkway is its

- Jill Smyth for GE. I enjoy writing, whereas Jill prefers the research portion of preparing a book.

However, this book was written and researched equally by both of us because we believe it is crucial to write from your own research. We don’t have anything planned yet in terms of another book.

GW: What was the hardest thing about writing this and obtaining such wonderful photographs to accompany the book?

LH/JS: The outline was probably the hardest part of the process along with the anxiety about overlooking anything in our research.

Sometimes we would know a bit of information in the book was wrong that the editor had missed, but since they were on a tight schedule it would still go to print.

We discovered the book distribution process to be very slow as well. Our main difficulties included everything from fact checking information to verifying sources to working with editors on a schedule to merging and sorting photographs into their correct placements including their captions.

Obtaining high-resolution photographs was problematic because many of the pictures were so old or because taking a picture of something with our phones

LH/JS: The 1930s was the decade in which the Merritt was built, however, the activism of the 1970s was also highly influential.

Additionally, the 1920s was the decade in which people fought for a vision, an image in their minds, to create something beautiful out of the New York and Connecticut countryside.

At this point in time, the project had not even been financed yet. There were immense hurdles throughout the ‘20s.

The actual construction of the parkway happened relatively fast, but the plan and design of it all took 10 years. So, they had to keep the pressure on for about 10 years from the mid ‘20s to about 1934.

GW: What advice would you give researchers and writers?

LH/JS: Every time you read something for later use, write it down.

Put all your information in the same place and fully document your sources.

If you take a picture with your phone of crucial information, write a log of your sources.

The key is organization and documentation.

WVOF: The mystery of 'TYR' radio WVOF November DJ of the Month: Zoe Ferranti ‘17 Show: “TYR” Time: Monday at 10 a.m.

“TYR” is a refreshing mix of talk radio and alternative rock/indie pop hosted by Zoe Ferranti ‘17.

She has quirky, exciting stories about her day-to-day endeavors, weekend recaps, fun facts about bands, artists and albums and narrations of who she sees out of the studio’s glass wall.

A great number of people call-in to answer her on-air questions like, “What candy would you put with Pork and Beans?” (inspired by the Weezer

song, “Pork and Beans,” of course).

Ferranti has a specific flow of the type of music she plays and when she plays them. She kicks off every show with songs from the top 10 alternative rock chart that week, followed by a mix of songs from the previous year and finally more from the top chart, while talking in between.

At the end of every show, she closes with a particular folk artist that stays constant throughout the semester. This semester's artist is Passenger.

For her second-to-last song, she does a segment called “Remember Me? Monday” where she plays songs by rock bands from the past, like Depeche Mode and Jane’s Addiction.

Finally, to close the set list, there will always be a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and signs off with her catch phrase, “Stay Classy, Stags!”

How did Ferranti become part

of WVOF? She blames her curiosity.

Ferranti is a part of the Fairfield University Student Association and one night after finishing up some work in the FUSA office, she saw the light on in the WVOF office.

So what happened next? Well, Ferranti walked right over and knocked on the glass wall of the office and waved. After she was allowed past the studio’s high security lock (the stag swipe), she fell in love.

By second semester freshman year, she moved up to the FM studio.

Currently as a sophomore, she rocks the air waves with her show “TYR” on Monday at 10 a.m.

Ferranti still hasn't said what TYR stands for yet, but it is said that on her last show of her senior year the secret will be revealed.

Listen: wvof.org/FMSTUDIO

Zoe Ferranti / WVOF

Page 9

THE MIRROR | Week of November 19, 2014

The Vine

PSA: Watch your mouth and what you put in it

By Jenelle Abbattista Contributing Writer

The soda industry does not focus its time or efforts on the harmful ingredients in their products. As a consumer, you should know that the Food and Drug Administration recommends consuming between 25 to 38 grams of sugar per day, yet one can of soda contains 33 grams of sugar. Be conscious of what you are drinking and your daily sugar intake.

We also believe that the soda industry is unfairly targeting minority groups through direct socialmarketing channels. Minority groups making under $30,000 annually are

found to have a higher percentage of soda consumption. The soda industry uses this information to market their products to this portion of the population in America. Furthermore, leadership in these minority groups are lacking when approached with the ethical decisions of accepting donations from companies such as CocaCola and Pepsi.

Let me know what you think about this and if there are any changes that can be made. Also, I know this week is really busy for me, but one of the kids in my group, Matt, would be willing to meet up with you and discuss this further. Matt McCarty: McCartyM3@gmail.com

Contributed Photo

By Katy O'Hara Contributing Writer Picture this: You’re home for Thanksgiving break, eat your weight in turkey and stuffing and take a break from any physical activity more strenuous than changing the channel on the television.

However, by the time vacation’s over, you feel gross and bloated. You may start to think back to those late night television commercials touting one weight-loss pill or another.

Though weight-loss pills or supplements may claim to be “clinically tested,” this does not equate to them being FDA approved. Without the FDA approval, you have no way of knowing if they are effective or safe.

For example, take a look at Hydroxycut’s history. In 2009, the FDA stepped in and decided to remove Hydroxycut from the market after 23 reports of liver damage and at least one report of death. Hydroxycut has since changed their active ingredient twice, now settling on caffeine as the active ingredient.

Moreover, Hydroxycut continues to make the exact same claims about the effectiveness of the product using the same language, regardless of the

change in active ingredients. Can you really trust a company like that with your health?

It’s not just Hydroxycut who does this. Most weight-loss supplements are not approved by the FDA. The FDA approved two weight-loss drugs in 2012 after not approving any for 13 years, and have only very recently approved one more. That means that in the past 15 years, only three new weight-loss pills have been approved.

Without the FDA’s approval, you have no way of knowing whether or not what the company says is true.

Weight-loss supplements are not only sketchy health-wise, they’re also expensive. For a one-month supply, brands like Hydroxycut and Phytodren will cost anywhere from $60$100. That means you could be paying up to $300 for just three months

without any guarantees of safety and effectiveness.

Though slightly helpful in the short term, most users gain back the weight they lost and then some after stopping taking the pills.

As much as we don’t want to admit it, the only sure-fire way to lose weight and keep it off is the old-fashioned way: proper diet and exercise.

If you’ve got the cash to spend, meet with a nutritionist or set up a date with a personal trainer.

A knowledgeable professional is going to know a lot more than the attractive “doctor” who appears in a diet supplement television commercial.

Contributed Under Creative Commons

Nutrition 101: What should I be drinking?

By Stephanie Piccolo Nutrition Columnist

T

he simple answer to this question, which you probably already know, is water. Water is the healthiest drink of choice and is vital to your body. About 60 percent of your body is made up of water; therefore, it is important to maintain that fluid balance.

Drinking water benefits your body in many ways. Some of these ways include keeping your body hydrated, flushing out the toxins in your body, helping with weight loss, maintaining digestion and boosting your immune system.

One of the main causes of headaches are dehydration. Water can solve this problem naturally, rather than using over-the-counter drugs. Water also aids in filling your appetite, which ultimately promotes weight loss. When you are feeling hungry, opt for a large glass of water rather than an unhealthy snack.

With the stresses of school and our busy schedules, college students often rely on caffeine to keep them awake throughout the day. Coffee is usually selected to provide students with the caffeine they feel they need.

D

rinking coffee does have some benefits. Coffee is a natural stimulant to the nervous system, which increases the levels of epinephrine (adrenaline) in your body, giving you more energy.

Coffee is not necessarily an unhealthy drink, but it can be made unhealthy. Adding flavorings, sugar and cream to your coffee can pack on the calories. By doing this, you can unknowingly drink up to 400 calories in one cup of coffee. With that, if you are going to choose coffee, try stick to drinking it black or with very little skim milk and sugar, rather than a high-caloric latte, macchiato or Frappuccino.

Contributed Photo If you find you are craving caffeine, a better option is tea. Though tea has less caffeine than coffee, the antioxidants found in tea have better benefits. Particularly, green tea boosts your immune system, increases your metabolism and is a great fat burner. If you are feeling stressed or anxious, opt for chamomile tea.

Chamomile tea is a nighttime tea that relaxes you and is great for treating symptoms of insomnia.

C

ollege students tend to lean towards unhealthy drinks that ultimately have no benefits for their bodies. These drinks include soda and alcohol.

Drinking soda is basically equivalent to drinking a bunch of chemicals. There is absolutely no nutritional value to soda. Soda contains various artificial flavorings and sugar that can lead to obesity, kidney damage and harmful effects on your teeth.

For students that are of age, increased alcohol intake can be very detrimental to your liver and can cause your body to dehydrate greatly. Alcohol inhibits the neurotransmitters in your brain affecting your normal brain function, specifically targeting the cerebellum, the part of your brain that is responsible for primary motor functions, such as maintaining balance.

What you eat is not the only component to nutrition. What you are drinking also contributes greatly to your health and diet.

When choosing a drink, the best choice is water, due to the body’s need for it and its many beneficial effects.

Try to limit your intake of caffeine, or if you are going to drink caffeinated drinks such as coffee, pay attention to the extra, unneeded calories that can be easily added. Choose tea over coffee if your body is craving caffeine. Lastly, try to steer clear of excessive intake of soft drinks and alcohol, which do not have beneficial effects to your body.

Contributed Photo

Page 10

THE MIRROR | Week of November 19, 2014

The Vine

Let Dre Dress You

By Andrea Butler Fashion Columnist

Hi Stags!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Whether you’re excited to go home and bar hop with your high school friends, or dreading grandma’s 400 questions about why you’re still single, it’s sure to be a well-deserved break for all of us.

And now that winter has suddenly come around in full force, it’s time to retire the maxi skirts and denim jackets, and transition into your cold-weather wear.

Luckily, Thanksgiving dinner is the perfect time to show your cousins how fashion forward you are. Here are some outfit ideas so you can look fabulous, even after too many mashed potatoes and too much red wine: An oversized pullover sweater is always a good idea, because you can stay warm and cozy and still hide your inevitable food baby. Pair it with your comfiest leggings and some cute heeled booties.

A denim shirt dress is also perfect to keep cute and comfortable. Add your favorite pair of patterned tights and tall boots.

When all else fails, wear your favorite V-neck shirt, skinny jeans and fitted blazer to show the family how ready you are for office life. Add an infinity scarf if you’re worried about cleavage, and some killer (but not too high!) heels to give you a little extra boost of confidence.

Enjoy the holiday, friends, and remember that spending time with people you love is way more important than how you look. (But there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look good, either!)

Stay wonderful!

Love,

Dre Contributed Under Creative Commons

'Interstellar' creates wonderment and fear of space

By Jennifer Calhoun Executive Editor

Contributed Under Creative Commons

If you’ve been online in the last few days or even keeping an ear out as people pass you by on campus, you have probably heard about Christopher Nolan’s latest film “Interstellar.”

This film tells the story of Cooper, played by Matthew McConaughey, and his journey to outer space to save Earth from ruin, caused by dust that has destroyed the world’s food supply and has begun suffocating the people of Earth.

To anyone who has not seen this film, to tell you literally any more about it would be doing you a huge injustice. Many of the memorable moments come from the element of surprise, and the surprises come in several different forms.

Nolan is a genius. I think after the “Dark Knight” trilogy, “Inception” and “Memento,” we all know how ridiculously talented this man is.

“Interstellar” is no exception.

There have been a wide range of reviews from people who have seen this movie. Some think that

it’s Nolan’s best film, some think it’s one of the best movies in recent memory and some think that it’s not even Nolan’s best.

For me, I would personally rather watch the “Dark Knight” trilogy again before “Interstellar,” but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy it. I just happen to really love his “Dark Knight” films.

“Interstellar” is a beautiful film. The version of outer space that they created is simply breathtaking.

It’s so easy to get lost in the beauty that he presents us. “Gravity” seems to have been similar in this regard, but “Interstellar” has a plot that makes this a film that’s more than just pretty visuals.

Nolan makes you care about these characters.

I found myself in tears more than once in this film. It’s incredibly emotional because Nolan takes advantage of the idea that everyone has had at one time or another thought about what it would be like to go to space.

He makes Cooper a relatable character so you can feel as if you are experiencing the journey alongside him, and oftentimes it’s devastating and emotionally taxing.

One complaint that people have about this film is how confusing the plot can get. It can be pretty convoluted at

times and for some, that can keep them from getting into the movie. If you can stay along with Cooper and Nolan for the ride, though, you won’t regret it.

Of course, there can be several plot points that might seem unresolved.

As a friend of mine recently said, “Is it a plot point, or is a point of discussion?”

We know that Nolan is a master of ambiguity and lingering questions.

For example, was Cobb in a dream throughout the entirety of “Inception?”

People still debate that and the movie came out four years ago.

Nothing Nolan does is an accident. He is a brilliant man who creates masterpieces every time he makes a movie. There is no reason not to see this movie; in fact, there is every reason to see this movie.

You have to experience the plot twists before they are spoiled for you. You should do Nolan’s visuals justice and see them on the big screen.

And, you will certainly be doing yourself a favor by watching this film, even if you don’t end up liking it.

It’s going to be a movie that is remembered for a long time, and having an opinion either way on this film will be better than having never seen it.

THE MIRROR | Week of November 19, 2014

The Vine

Page 11

Bob Dylan:'The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Raw'

By Andrew DaRosa WVOF Music Team

As part of his Bootleg series, Bob Dylan will be releasing a reissue of The Band’s famous “Basement Tapes,” spanning over two hours of material, including rarities from Bob Dylan and The Band.

“The Basement Tapes,” was crafted after Dylan’s motorcycle accident in ’66 and featured Dylan’s current touring band at the time, which included the great Levon Helm.

The sessions took place in the basement of Dylan’s home and more than 100 songs were recorded by the group between ’67 and 68’ with the first commercial release of “The Basement Tapes” in ’75, which amassed critical success.

The reissue spans 38 songs from these sessions and contains some of the best material ever recorded in Dylan’s vast catalogue.

In a way, the album exudes a sort of mysticism through Dylan’s hardened vocals and intense lyrics that describe the pains of life and experiences of a tour-hardened man.

The Band fleshes out each song soulfully and one can hear the maturity in Dylan’s vocals throughout every piece in the reissue in comparison to his “Times They Are A-Changin” era, circa-1964.

While Dylan’s vocals do sound strained at times, such as with the take on his early hit, “Blowin’ In The Wind,” he

manages to establish himself as a masterful songwriter filled with an unparalleled amount of passion.

What is impressive about the album is the band’s ability to completely reinvent covers (Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and Bob Roberts’ “Johnny Todd”) and make them their own through the use of spedup progressions and unique instrumentals.

While the album mostly contains retreads of Dylan’s earlier works, the original works crafted by Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson and Bob Dylan are what shine through the album.

In the melodic and passionate“Tears of Rage,” Dylan provides engrossing vocals with a tear-worthy falsetto provided by Manuel.

“This Wheel’s On Fire” has an apocalyptic feel to it with the piano work provided by Hudson and a careful drumbeat from Helm, which makes the song burst with vigor and emotion.

The album’s absolute strength is found in its storytelling such as with “Lo And Behold!” , which masterfully tells the story of a rough Bob Dylan and his persistence to get hold of a female named Molly while maintaining his bad-boy edge.

Dylan sings, “Well, she came out the very next day/To

Contributed Photo

see where they had flown/I’m goin’ down to Tennessee/Get me a truck ‘r somethin’/Gonna save my money and rip it up!”

As the album progresses, a sort of bluesy-ness is expressed in the instrumentation of the music, and especially

through the vocals of the aging Dylan.

While this album marks the end of the classic Dylan Era, it marks a point of lyrical maturity and bravado that is still attempted but never matched by artists in this era of

music, let alone a 26-year old Bob Dylan.

This is in itself the pinnacle of work from Dylan and The Band and a gateway for fans to explore the masterfulness and mysticism that is Bob Dylan.

'Nostalgia For The Present' engages cultural difference

By Juliana Sansonetti Contributing Writer

Contributed Photo

Dr. David Crawford, professor of sociology, anthropology and international studies at Fairfield, gave a talk on Wednesday evening at the Fairfield University Downtown Bookstore discussing his newest book, “Nostalgia for the Present: Ethnography and Photography in a Moroccan Berber Village.”

“This is my third book” said Crawford, “Each book of mine has been very different, but all of them are about Morocco.”

Crawford’s first two books, “Moroccan Households in the World Economy: Labor and Inequality in a Berber Village” and “Encountering Morocco: Fieldwork and Cultural Understanding” were published in 2008 and 2013, respectively.

All of Crawford’s work has received much praise, including a Julian Steward Award given to his first book.

Crawford has a deep love for Morocco that traces back to his youth. Right after finishing college, Crawford visited Morocco for the first time, falling in love with both the village and the people.

“I had such an amazing time that I desperately wanted to go back. I was given that chance when I went for my Ph.D. I had to go somewhere for research, so I went back to Morocco.”

“That’s why I think it is important to travel to unusual places when you’re young,” said Crawford.

Crawford opened by giving some background on himself and his work. He then discussed the profession of anthropology, and how, as an anthropologist, it is his job to understand different people.

“My point is thwat we need to engage cultural differences,” said Crawford.

Crawford then discussed his latest work in the field of anthropology, “Nostalgia for the Present.”

“Nostalgia for the Present” is a book of photographs and text, discussing the small Moroccan village Tagharghist.

It is a relatively unknown land lost in time.

It is a place where young girls carry straw on their backs and goats and sheep roam freely, where houses are still primarily made of mud; it is a place that

most modern people would call the past. However, to these villagers, it is their present.

As citizens of a modern world, we look at the past and many times characterize it as a “simpler time,” which is where the title of the book comes from.

“Nostalgia for the present is a sense of loss for something that is still there in front of us,” he continued. “It complicates the way we understand these people.”

“Yes, this is a book about Berbers and Muslims and Moroccans. But it is a book about all of us,” he said Crawford.

Crawford concluded by reading the epilogue of the book and then that accepted questions from the audience.

Senior Kyle Wegner found himself much more educated on Moroccan culture after the presentation.

“It gave me a much richer sense of Moroccan lifestyle in poor villages,” Wegner commented.

“Nostalgia for the Present” can be found in the library or at the local bookstore.

THE MIRROR | Week of November 19, 2014

Coffee Break

Page 12

COFFEE BREAK Editor: Meaghan Kirby

... As Overheard in Barone Compiled By Allison White Contributing Writer

“All of a sudden I woke up and was outside.”

“Is anyone else scared of the turkeys?”

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

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

Do

n’t

Ask Meg

Dear Meg,

Need horrible advice?

Submit a question to info@fairfieldmirror.com

I feel like I’m having a hard time transitioning into college and it’s not because I’m not making friends or doing well in school. To be honest, it’s because I don’t own enough Vineyard Vines.

I only own enough Vineyard Vines clothing to last me a few days and I don’t even own a belt. At this rate, I’m going to have to wear the same things every week which apparently isn’t socially acceptable.

What do I do?

Sincerely, Feeling whale-y out of place Dear whale-y, Transfer. This school is known for two things: Clam Jam and Vineyard Vines. You need Vineyard Vines clothing to really have the Fairfield Experience.

I recommend taking out a student loan to pay for the clothing because you NEED it. I recommend owning 20 shirts, 15 pairs of colorful pants, a nice vest, the whale belt and a couple ties to top off the wardrobe.

It may be pricy but it’ll be well worth it.

Always keeping it real, Meg

Play some...

Sudoku

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

Sports

Page 13

THE MIRROR | Week of November 19, 2014

Weekly 4x5

Because we have witty things to say ...

Patrick Kiernan Sports Editor

Men's soccer lost in the MAAC Championship in OT. Thoughts?

Are you going to see the new Hunger Games movie this weekend?

It's a real shame that both the Of course I am. I will most probmen's and women's teams made ably be the screaming fan that such good runs, but just fell short. everyone looks at weirdly.

They had the best chance of any fall sport to secure a championship.

Your 2014-2015 4x5 Columnists:

Patrick Kiernan, Jennifer Calhoun, Matthew Schneider and Jesse Erickson Men's basketball lost by 50 to Duke. Thoughts?

Excited for Thanksgiving?

How bad will the Knicks and Lakers be this season?

Well, at least it was close at halftime. Regardless, Fairfield held their own against the team with the top prospect in the nation in Jahlil Okafor.

Of course. If eating were a sport, I'd probably be in the major leagues.

As a Knicks fan, I'm telling you that the triangle offense will not help and we will be right there with the 76ers and Magic. As far as the Lakers go, Kobe needs to stop shooting his age every game.

Heartbreaking way to go out. In my four years they've been consisJennifer Calhoun tently one of the most entertaining Executive Editor teams to watch. Keep on keepin' on lads.

The weekend? Try the midnight showing ...

As Coach K himself says, "Every season is a journey." That was just the beginning of the journey. It can only get better.

Thanksgiving is the best holiday that does not involve gifts. Prove me wrong.

Judging by how this question was worded, I'm going to say ... ... ... very?

The team had a fantastic year; congrats to everyone and good luck to Matthew Schneider the seniors!

I've never really gotten into it so nah; I'll probably be taking my talents to the beach instead.

Well, at least it made a good drinking game.

I love Thanksgiving! I can't wait to be in a food coma, watching the Eagles play the Cowboys with the division on the line.

The Knicks will make a comeback.

The Lakers? Not so much. Perhaps it's time to enter a rebuild.

I didn't even know that was happening.

This is a rather negative 4x5 ...

Yes, but I work every Thanksgiving so the whole "people shouldn't work on Thanksgiving thing" really just bothers me. Suck it up, eat turkey later.

I'm so bad at following national sports, very sorry, don't care too much.

Assistant Sports Editor

Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor

Upsetting, but they had an amazing season.

Women's soccer falls in penalty kicks

By Patrick Kiernan Sports Editor

Last Sunday, the Fairfield women’s soccer team lost in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship to the fourth-seeded Rider University Broncs in a heartbreaking penalty kick result.

The Broncs connected on all five of their chances to secure their first-ever MAAC Championship, sending Fairfield packing home.

To start this game off, both teams were even-keeled on offense, though Fairfield had a slight advantage. The Stags tallied more shots, but Rider was able to fend them all off.

Midway through the second half, Hollie Kelsh put the Broncs on the board to make the score 1-0 Rider.

Though Karolyn Collins ‘16 hit the game-tying shot in the 82nd minute to make it a 1-1 contest, no more goals were scored throughout regulation or in overtime.

A number of injuries suffered by Stags throughout this contest limited them on offense. Both Torey Camporini ‘15 and Emma Pichl ‘15 were forced to sit for periods of time with nagging injuries, depleting their offensive firepower.

The 2014 season was the eleventh appearance in the MAAC Finals in program history and the second straight season for Fairfield. Collins, Michelle Kowalski ‘15 and Anna Borea ‘17 were named to the All-

Tournament team.

The team put together 14 victories, and tied for third best in a single season. In addition, Head Coach Jim O’Brien became the all-time leader in wins in program history and would finish the season with 105 career wins at Fairfield.

The program also saw their 250th victory and enjoyed a very successful 2014 campaign, despite their loss in the MAAC Championship.

Contributed by Sports Information Desk Throughout this season, Anna Borea '17 (left) was named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team, Head Coach Jim O'Brien (middle) became the winningest coach in program history, and Kathleen Early '15

Inside the Sports section this week: -Swimming and diving teams sink Pace (Page 14) -Kershaw wins NL Cy Young and MVP awards (Page 14) -Rowan scores 31 unanswered against Red Ruggers (Page 15) -Stags fall short in MAAC Championship final (Page 15) -Volleyball reigns supreme on Senior Day (Page 16)

Check out Stag Spotlight with Alyssa Acompora '15 and Meghan Weiser '15

Sports

THE MIRROR | Week of November 19, 2014

Page 14

Swimming and diving teams sink Pace

By Alan Colombie Contributing Writer

The Fairfield men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams both handily defeated Pace University Saturday afternoon as they approach midseason form.

In a very busy day for Fairfield sports - men’s basketball taking on Duke University, the rugby team playing in the Division II playoffs and the volleyball team playing Niagara University - the swim team still managed to gather a fair-sized crowd of passionate fans for their out-of-conference meet with Pace.

At a time in the season when every point is crucial for qualifying for placement in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships, the men’s and women’s team dominated Pace with the men’s team winning 156.5 to 54.5 and the women's team winning 149 to 89.

Both the men’s and women’s team combined to win an impressive 20 of 26 events between the swimming and diving teams.

It was clear from the beginning that Pace’s efforts would fall far short of Fairfield because they were short on swimmers and didn’t have nearly the depth nor strength that Fairfield had in its roster.

In fact, knowing they would outmatch Pace's roster going into the meet, a handful of Fairfield swimmers swam events outside of their specialities.

Diver Ashlee Steinberger ‘15 started things off for Fairfield by winning nine points in the women’s one-meter dive for Fairfield by a large margin.

The men's dive team garnered another 30 points in the oneand three-meter dive to add on to the 32 points that the women had picked up already.

Senior Evan Barr and Daniel Pires ‘17 led the charge for the

men’s diving team by winning the one- and three-meter dives, respectively.

The most impressive feat of the day, however, was by none other than swimmer Connor Daly ‘16, who set a new school record in the 100-meter backstroke. Daly, who already holds school records in the 100-meter and 200-yard butterfly among others, was able to add another record in an event that he does not train for, typically.

This was the first time Daly was even able to swim the 100-meter backstroke in a meet at Fairfield.

“I didn't have very high expectations for myself in the race. But I knew I was racing the fastest kid on Pace’s men’s team, so I knew I had a tough race in front of me,” said Daly. “I basically just took it out as fast as I could and tried not to die too badly on that last 25.

It was cool setting the record by breaking a minute and also giving our team an event win.”

One of the swim team’s best leaders is Jay Cook ‘15, who had a great race by winning the 50- and 100-meter freestyles with times of 25.23 and 55.74 seconds.

He credits a lot of the team’s success to Head Coach Janelle Atkinson-Wignall saying, “As a team, we are in the best shape we have ever been in thanks to our new head coach. We wouldn't be where we are without her intense coaching and hard work.”

Junior Kelly Mulligan also helped carry the Stags to victory by winning the women’s 200-meter freestyle by nearly three seconds ahead of Pace, and winning the 400-meter freestyle relay.

Mulligan was pleased with their performance and said afterwards, “I think the Stags’ performance against Pace put us in a good position going into the Terrier Invitational next weekend.

Boston will be a competitive meet, and having a win right behind us will hopefully keep everyone motivated to do even better in their next races/events.”

Contributed by Sports Information Desk Junior Connor Daly (above) set a new school record in the

Kershaw wins NL Cy Young and MVP awards This week in sports: Thursday, November 20 Swimming and Diving at Terrier Invitational, TBA Volleyball at Rider, 2 p.m.

Friday, November 21 Men's Basketball vs. Wofford, 7 p.m.

Saturday, November 22 Men's Cross Country at IC4A Championships, All Day Women's Cross Country at ECAC Championships, All Day Women's Basketball vs. Butler, 1 p.m.

Men's Basketball vs. Sam Houston State, 7 p.m.

Sunday, November 23 Men's Basketball vs. South Dakota, 2 p.m.

Monday, November 24 Women's Basketball vs. Cornell, 7 p.m.

Saturday, November 29 Women's Basketball at West Virginia, TBA Men's Basketball at Northeastern, 3 p.m.

Monday, December 1 Men's Basketball vs. Bucknell, 7 p.m.

Contributed under Creative Commons

By Matthew Schneider Assistant Sports Editor With the San Francisco Giants winning the World Series a couple of weeks ago, the MLB season has come to an end and with that, the annual bestowal of awards for outstanding players, showing us who has played the best over the past year.

The Giants’ impressive young ace Madison Bumgarner won the World Series MVP, but it is worth mentioning again simply because of how dominant his performance was.

The Manager of the Year awards were won by Matt Williams of the Washington Nationals for the National League and Buck Showalter of the Baltimore Orioles for the American League. The funny thing about this is both managers had identical 96-66 records for the year to pair with winning the same award.

Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians won the Cy Young award (given to the best pitcher) for the AL, while Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers won it for the NL. These were no surprise given how dominant the two were in their respective leagues. Kluber was 18-9 with a 2.44 earned run average and 269 strikeouts, while Kershaw unbelievably performed 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA and 239 strikeouts.

Kershaw also won the NL MVP award this season, which is not surprising considering his record and stats.

On the AL side, budding superstar Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won the MVP award with his 36 home runs, 111 RBIs, on-basepercentage of .377 and .287 batting average.

With stats like that, it’s no wonder Trout won the award.

Trout also won the Hank Aaron Award (given to the best hitter) for the AL. Considering how well he is playing and the multiple awards he won at just 23 years old, Trout should be a star for

years to come. Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins won the NL’s Hank Aaron Award, with a batting average of .288, 37 home runs, 105 RBIs and an on-base-percentage of .395. At age 25, he is another young star who should be winning awards for years to come.

Finally, the Rookie of the Year awards were bestowed to the best first-year players from each league. For the AL, Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox took home the award. The talented young first baseman had a batting average of .317, 36 home runs, 107 RBIs and a .383 on-base-percentage.

For the NL, impressive youngster Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets took home the award. The right-handed pitcher went 9-6 with a 2.69 ERA and 144 strikeouts. What made deGrom stand out from the crowd was his ability to get consistent strikeouts.

He tied an MLB record by striking out the first eight batters he faced in a game against the Marlins, making him a very notable player and one to keep an eye on in the future.

With impressive young players like Abreu, deGrom and Trout rising through the ranks of the MLB, the league is ensured of worthy young stars for years to come.

Contributed under Creative Commons

Sports

THE MIRROR | Week of November 19, 2014

Page 15

Rowan scores 31 unanswered points against Red Ruggers

By Patrick Kiernan Sports Editor It was a tale of two halves on Saturday as the Fairfield Red Ruggers fell to Rowan University 43-38.

Fairfield started off strong in this game, leading 38-12 at the end of the first half.

However, Rowan scored 31 points in the second half of the game, while Fairfield could not get a point on the board.

This close loss brings Fairfield’s season to an end, though it was overall incredibly successful. The Red Ruggers were previously 10-0 on their way to the TriState Conference Championship, and outscored their opponents 465-69 in the regular season.

Though they lost in the Wildcard Round of the USA Rugby Men’s Division II Championship against Rowan, Head Coach Marc Downes sees no reason for his team not to hold their heads high.

“You can’t take this away from the guys. It’s a fantastic achievement,” said Downes. “From what I can gather, it’s the best they’ve done in a number of years, and this team is just developing now.”

The Red Ruggers got off to a strong start in Saturday’s contest, scoring the first 31 points of the game.

Though the first few minutes of the half were stagnant, the Fairfield offensive came alive in a quick way that saw them score 31 unanswered points.

Then, Rowan was able to put another 12 points on the board with a few tries that saw them trim into the lead. Fairfield scored once more before the half ended, making the score 38-12 Fairfield at the half.

However, just as the half ended, an injury occurred on the field, sending Justin Paton ‘17 off in an ambulance on a stretcher.

This may have been an indication for how the second half would go for Fairfield, meaning it did not go well.

Though the first few minutes of play in the second half was back and forth, Rowan eventually put the first points on the board on a try to make the score 38-19 Fairfield.

Rowan started piling it on, scoring three more times to tie the game 38-38 in the closing minutes of the game.

With just a few minutes left, Rowan converted on a try, putting the score in their favor at 43-38.

Then, the Red Ruggers got on their best drive of the half, though they turned the ball over when they were close to scoring.

Just a few minutes later, the clock ran out and Rowan was named champion of this contest.

“We just got pushed around in the scrum,” said Downes. “They were bigger and stronger than us up in front and they dominate in that area. On the first three tries they scored, they were all pushover tries by [Rowan].”

Regardless of whether the team won or lost, this would have been the last home game for the Red Ruggers and their 12 seniors.

Now, after the loss, these seniors have seen their last playing time with the rugby team and will not have the opportunity to make it to a national tournament setting.

“I’m disappointed for them because I’d have loved for them to have that memory in life, but there will be plenty more,” said Downes. “[Ben Kelley] and I are in this for the next five years, so this is just a developing team.”

Alfredo Torres/ The Mirror Above Below

Stags fall short in MAAC Championship final

By Travis Day Contributing Writer The number six seeded Stags found themselves on the wrong end of yet another double-overtime matchup, bowing out of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship final to the number four seeded Monmouth Hawks 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.

Fairfield jumped ahead 1-0 with just under 19 minutes to play, but allowed a late regulation equalizer before conceding the gamewinning goal in the 104th minute.

A late red card, an inability to

Photos contributed by Sports Information Desk Top Bottom

stifle Monmouth’s attack, and one unlucky bounce proved to be the difference makers in the loss. When all was said and done, the Hawks’ offense managed 18 shots to Fairfield's eight. Monmouth also held an impressive 8-0 advantage on corners.

Fairfield's Matt Turner ‘16 chalked up an eight-save performance, but one parry that fell directly to the feet of Monmouth forward Dave Nigro was enough to send the Stags home empty-handed.

The first half saw both offenses come out firing, neither showing any fear of pressing their midfield high and playing long balls. Possession was evenly matched, and the quick back-and-forth play created opportunities for both sides.

The Hawks held a narrow 6-4 edge in the first-half shots, but stout defense on both ends and a pair of saves each from Turner and Monmouth's Eric Klenofsky kept it scoreless through the first 45 minutes.

Although Monmouth's offense began to find its stride – holding a 9-3 advantage in shots in the second half – it was Jordan Ayris ‘15 who found the back of the net first for the Stags in the 71st minute.

Two days after scoring the winning penalty kick in a shootout against top-seeded Quinnipiac University, Ayris unleashed a 25yard shot from the center of the field into the top right corner, sending the Fairfield bench and more than 60 traveling students into a frenzy.

However, Monmouth dialed up the pressure in the following minutes, forcing an incredible diving save from Turner on a header on its way to the top left corner.

The turning point came in the 81st minute, as Stags defender Angus Hastings ‘18 was called for a foul in the Fairfield box, giving Monmouth a late penalty and earning himself a sending-off in the process.

Hawks defender and eventual MAAC Tournament MVP Emmanuel Senyah Agyemang stepped up and sent his spot kick past Turner into the lower right corner, knotting the game at one goal apiece with less than 10 minutes to play.

Fairfield’s momentum was sapped, and Monmouth would force two more saves from Turner before the referee whistled for the end of regulation. Down to 10 men, the Stags had no choice but to prioritize defense in overtime.

In the first 10-minute half of extra time, Fairfield's defense hung tough in, turning away two corners and two shots.

In the fourth minute of doubleovertime, a cross in front of the Stags' net was well punched away

by Turner, but settled right to the feet of Nigro, who settled the ball just inside the 18-yard box and sent the ball right back into the bottom right corner, winning the title for Monmouth.

The Hawks end their regular season with an 11-3-6 record and placed four players, including the tournament MVP, on the All-Tournament Team.

Monmouth will play Xavier University (13-5-2) on Nov. 20 in the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship.

Fairfield ends the year with an 8-5-7 record. Ayris and Ben Wignall ‘18 were named to the MAAC All-Tournament team along with Turner.

SPORTS 16

@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports

Sports Editor: Patrick Kiernan » sports@fairfieldmirror.com

Week of November 19, 2014

Contributed by Sports Information Desk

Volleyball reigns supreme on Senior Day

By Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor

It was a picture-perfect ending for the seniors of the Fairfield women’s volleyball team as they defeated Canisius College 3-1 on Sunday.

The six seniors of the team were presented with pictures, posters and hugs from family and teammates as they were honored for being one of the most successful senior classes in program history.

The 3-1 win against Canisius was just another one of the accomplishments the seniors have achieved with their four years on the team as they prepare for upcoming Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament play.

“We’re just all in volleyball mode,” said graduate captain Carsen Mata ‘14. “We all have our classes and tests and homework, but we’re just trying to focus on the positive and important things which happen every time the tournament rolls around.”

All six seniors were able to start on the court for the Stags as they quickly gained a lead over Canisius.

Fairfield dominated the Golden Griffins, totaling 18 kills in the first match against Canisius’ seven kills.

Junior Maddie Fitzpatrick, who will be playing her last season with the Stags, and Marilyn Peizer ‘15, made the first set victory look effortless, posting eight of the 18 kills.

Mata, who is in her last year of eligibility for the team, added to the win assisting 12 of the 25 points. At the end of the first set, Fairfield led 1-0 after a 25-16 win

over the Golden Griffins. The Golden Griffins upped their game in the second set, as they went point by point against Fairfield.

Although Megan Theiller ‘18 made a huge contribution to the court as she stepped up to a new spot for the game, ultimately, Canisius was able to get points off of errors and the 18 kills they made throughout the second set.

The loss in the second set was just what Fairfield needed to get back into the game. After one error from Canisius at the start of the game, Hadley Orr ‘16 made an impressive two kills, putting her team ahead 3-1.

Senior Camille Coffey, who is having her best defensive season yet after stepping up as libero, posted six digs for the team, getting the win for her team 25-19, putting the overall score at 3-1.

“I learned a new position this year, I’ve never played left back before,” said Coffey. “So I learned pretty quickly, we just went for it, and I had the support of everyone.”

The libero continued to anchor her team as they headed to the fourth, and luckily, the final set of their Senior Day matchup. Theiller and Carsen dominated the Golden Griffins with assists and digs.

Senior Caitlin Stapleton racked in a total of three kills during the fourth set, but led the team with 18 kills during the entire game.

The senior class brought in a total of 49 of the 60 kills made during the match, proving how much of a driving force they have been to the team.

The Stags ended the game defeating Canisius 3-1, posting a final score of 25-23 in the final set.

“It wasn’t the prettiest game of volleyball I have ever played, but

it took a lot of heart and it meant a lot to us, as seniors, that everyone put in the effort to defend this house one last time for us,” said Peizer.

As a result of their last and final win in Alumni Hall, the seniors and the rest of the team have secured a fourth seed spot in the upcoming MAAC tournament as they take on Rider University.

“We just want to win, we just want to fight and grit it out. It’s going to be a roller coaster out there,

but we are used to that,” said Mata.

“We’ve been in this position before, so we’re just really excited for some tough matches, but some fun matches.”

Mata emotionally thanked her team for everything they’ve done for her during her time with the University. The humble captain stands fifth in all-time program history for digs per set.

“This team makes me look good. They make this so easy.

They just listen and respect ev-

eryone on the team,” said Mata.

“It’s easy because I have bunch of teammates that just love the sport and volleyball and each other.”

The love and respect that the team has for one another is one of the top reasons the team has seen such success.

As the team takes on Rider, the senior class will look to get their third MAAC championship before they finally say goodbye to their family.

Contributed by Sports Information Desk