Fairfield Mirror 11/5/2014

Fairfield Mirror @FairfieldMirror fairfieldmirror

Independent student newspaper

Week of November 5, 2014

Vol. 40, Iss. 9

FairfieldMirror.com

Bishop Caggiano reflects on state of Catholic Church

By Jessica Delahunt Assistant News Editor The Bishop of Bridgeport, the most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, shared his dreams for the future of his diocese in a lecture at the Regina A. Quick Center on Tuesday evening.

In the lecture titled “On Calling a Diocesan Synod: Hopes and Dreams,” Caggiano invited attendees to participate in a tradition

that has dated back to the earliest years of the Catholic Church: the Synod.

Described by Caggiano as “a sacred journey of God’s people to discern his will,” Tuesday’s lecture was part of a four-year process that involves him and all pastors, clerical religious administrators and clergy within the diocese assembling to deal with matters facing the modern-day Church.

“What is it that you and I dream for the

Church that we love so deeply?” asked Caggiano of a room of mostly non-students.

At the top of this list for Caggiano is a restructuring of the Catholic education system, an issue that he described as being “very near to my heart.”

Caggiano called attention to the fact that in today’s economy, many parents struggle to meet the ever-rising tuition costs of private schools.

In the coming months, Caggiano revealed that he will be finalizing plans for a Bishop’s Scholarship, to be awarded to students who want, yet cannot afford a Catholic education.

Despite the work still ahead, Caggiano is optimistic that his plans will succeed. In the next few years he predicted, “not only will we be able to achieve full enrollment, but we may be able to reopen some schools.”

READ STORY ON PAGE 4

Police and Fire investigate arson at Seagrape Café

By Robert Joyce News Editor Fairfield Police and Fire are investigating a fire at the Seagrape Café as suspected arson after police obtained surveillance video of an accelerant being used to start the blaze.

The small fire, which occurred around 4:45 a.m. near the rear of the bar, was originally believed to be an accident, however, new video evidence has sparked what police and fire officials describe as a “serious investigation” into the incident, according to the Fairfield Daily Voice.

The fire occurred less than a week after a bomb threat for the bar and adjacent Inn at Fairfield Beach was reported to Fairfield’s Department of Public Safety. Police told The Daily Voice that they have yet to rule

out the incident as being connected to the bomb threat from the weekend prior.

Fairfield Police Lt. James Perez told the Daily Voice that they do not believe that the crime was committed by a Fairfield University student.

Police have also been able to rule out persons recently involved in police incidents at the Seagrape Café involving breach of peace or fighting.

Assistant Fire Chief Christopher Tracey told the Daily Voice that a water flow alarm was received from the Seagrape Café at 4:45 a.m. which prompted the Fairfield Fire Department to respond to the rear of the bar.

The fire department was able to extinguish most of the fire in about 20 minutes; Prior to their arrival, the blaze was well managed by the ‘Grape’s sprinkler system.

Inside this Issue: News: Dannel Malloy wins gubernatorial election (Page 2) Opinion: Which is the worst ‘F-bomb?’ (Page 5) Vine: Rick Shaefer’s ‘Rendering Nature’ brings art to life (Page 8) Sports: B-SECTION Basketball preview (Insert)

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THE MIRROR | Week of November 5, 2014

News

Club

Politics at

College Democrats

By Christina Mowry Assistant News Editor Fairfield’s College Democrats pride themselves on registering over 200 students to vote since January, according to co-presidents Meaghan Kirby ‘16 and Riley Barrett ‘17.

“We consider voting to be really important, no matter which way you decide to vote,” said Barrett, who stressed the importance of being both politically aware and active.

“I think it’s important to vote because every single day the government is doing something that’s affecting us from healthcare to taxes to building the roads that we drive on,” said Barrett.

In addition to registering students to vote, Kirby and Barrett work on inviting speakers to campus and attending local events.

“We have had several dinners where some politicians have come in and spoken. We had Governor Malloy come in and speak to us twice,” said Barrett.

Additionally, State Representative Kim Fawcett and State Representative candidate Cristin McCarthy Vahey came to speak.

According to Barrett, the College Democrats also attend off-campus events.

“We did get tickets to when Michelle Obama was in New Haven and when Obama was in Bridgeport … A member actually spoke to Michelle Obama last weekend,” said Barrett.

When asked whether they support a specific candidate, Barrett and Kirby both said they are “less candidate driven” and more “policy driven.”

“We really want to bring awareness to what being Democratic more stands for as far as stripping off the stereotypes of what we’re supposed to like and not like,” said Barrett.

When asked about the club’s core values, Barrett said that the group has “the same core values, but certain ones of us may be slightly more driven in some areas than others.”

Some of the same core values Barrett mentioned were progressive stances on issues such as gay marriage and pro choice.

Looking toward the future, Barrett said the club is interested in having a debate with College Republicans. Another idea Barrett enthusiastically mentioned was a “Let’s Talk Politics” day.

“We could go around to a variety of different clubs like College Republicans, Students for Life, LEAF, S4SJ and then have each club pick one issue.

Then [we’d] have tables set up and have people vote about what the most important issue is in today’s world,” said Barrett.

Barrett thinks this event would take away from political mudslinging and the popular technique of “bringing the opposition down.”

“Surprisingly we might find an issue that both parties agree with. And that’s a way to build common ground,” said Barrett.

“That’s something we’re big on doing: building common ground. Because how can you expect Congress to do it if we can’t do it?”

College Republicans

By Christina Mowry Assistant News Editor One of the ways College Republicans are most active on campus is in the form of supporting America’s troops.

“We really like to focus on the troops because they are there on the front lines defending everything we stand for in America,” said President Kyle Potenziani ‘15.

Part of the support comes from monthly pie sales to benefit Wounded Warriors. In addition, the College Republicans organize troop drives outside of Stop and Shop.

“We’ll give people a list ... of common items that the troops need, and then if they buy us some, we collect them all and send them over there,” said Potenziani.

In addition to supporting the troops, College Republicans have had a variety of potential candidates come to speak to the club, such as Republican candidate Peter Lumaj, who ran for Secretary of State last year.

When asked how speakers were planned, Potenziani said it’s a two-way street.

“If we really want someone to come speak then we’ll ask them.

Most of the time during campaign season, we’ll get campaigns to come and talk to us. It’s really both ways, we reach out to them and they reach out to us,” said Potenziani.

According to Potenziani, club members also attend political events in Connecticut.

“We went to an event on education with Jeb Bush. That was really cool because he’s a big figure. I know some club members went to see Chris Christie last year when he came,” said Potenziani.

He also mentioned that multiple club members were avid

supporters of the Second Amendment, which protects the right of individuals to keep and bear arms.

“We went to an actual second amendment rally at the capital last year as a club event, and we took kids who wanted to go… It was interesting. There were people from not only Connecticut but also the surrounding states,” said Potenziani.

Another event that some club members took part in was phone banking for the Romney campaign. According to Potenziani, the club typically focuses on supporting local candidates.

“The club doesn’t endorse any candidates because it would be just the executive board making that decision, and that wouldn’t be speaking for the whole club,” said Potenziani. “But personally, I am supporting Tom Foley for Governor.”

When asked why he believes being politically active is important, Potenziani mentioned that American elections are unique.

“Some countries in the world have elections but they’re not very free or they’re rigged or they’re fraud. We have legitimate elections. It allows our voice to be heard.”

He continued on to describe the powerful impact of voting in local elections.

“I know people say your vote doesn’t count, but I don’t think that’s true. I think local politics are going to affect you the most. That’s all by popular vote … You can dictate the political course of your home state by voting and getting others to vote,” said Potenziani.

Dannel Malloy wins Connecticut gubernatorial race Incumbent Democratic candidate Dannel Malloy secured victory over GOP candidate Tom Foley Tuesday night to maintain his position as governor of Connecticut.

Although Foley polled slightly ahead throughout the night, the race remained close, with Malloy leading Foley by 15,000 votes as of press time, according to Politico.

Malloy’s win remains congruent with the notion that no incumbent governor in Connecticut has lost since 1954, and comes in lieu of an appearance made by President Barack Obama in Bridgeport last week to campaign for the Democratic candidate.

Foley’s numbers received a significant boost after Independent candidate Joe Visconti dropped out of the race the day before the election, and decided to endorse Foley; however, the boost was not enough for him to claim Malloy’s seat.

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THE MIRROR |Week of November 5, 2014

News

Southside Cafe encourages dialogue over comfy chairs

By Catherine Veschi Contributing Writer Over the course of the past year, Fairfield @ Night has put on Southside Café on various Saturdays for students.

This is an opportunity for students to hang out with friends, listen to music and participate in the different activities offered, and has remained popular since its origin.

According to Colleen Wilson, program coordinator of student programs and leadership development, Southside Café was designed with the purpose of providing students with “a place they could just hang out with their friends and not feel pressured to participate in the alcohol culture.”

Wilson believes Southside Café is one of the more unique events held at Fairfield because of the paint nights, fire pits and s’mores and live musicians that are available to students at Southside.

In addition, Southside is one of the only places open late at night on weekends that serves food.

According to Wilson, Southside Café’s late night menu is one of the main features of the event that attracts students’ attention.

Freshman Britta Gunneson also agrees that the fact that Southside serves food is one of its strong points.

“Southside’s menu offers

students something that they would have trouble finding elsewhere on campus,” Gunneson said.

So far this year, attendance at Southside Café has remained consistent with attendance last year. According to Wilson, the first Southside of the 2014-15 school year, their fall opening, saw an attendance of 202 students. The two Southsides since then have averaged an attendance of around 100 students.

Wilson sees the high attendance early on in the school year as promising for the rest of the year.

Of the 202 students who attended the first Southside, 75 percent of them were new, and 25 percent were returning upperclassmen. Wilson believes that the upperclassmen returned because they were satisfied with the event, showing Southside’s success over the past year.

Fairfield @ Night reps said that they hope that the attractions offered at the upcoming Southsides will entice even more students to come. On this coming Saturday, the LionFish Band will be performing at Southside. Jeff LeBlanc, who made an appearance at Southside last year and has a good following of Fairfield students, will be performing on Nov. 15.

Wilson predicts that the attendance at Southside will increase with the appearances of these musicians because, “those

bands themselves have a following, and so they’ll bring them to the space.”

The last Southside event of the semester is Stuff a Stag, where students can choose between five different holiday animals to stuff.

Last year, Southside experienced their highest attendance all year at Stuff a Stag, so Wilson expects the same to happen this year.

Many first year students are pleased with what Southside has offered them so far. Gunneson believes that the environment, specifically the giant bean bag chairs, is perfect for a social gathering.

“I love the yogibo chairs. They add to the comfortable setting and make the overall experience much more enjoyable. I would highly recommend replacing regular chairs

with yogibo chairs in classrooms,” Gunneson said.

Wilson encourages students to email fairfieldatnight@gmail. com with acts they would like to see and activities they would like to do at Southside, as Fairfield @ Night coordinators said they are always open to suggestions to better their events.

WHAT’S MORE

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1-800-462-1944 | Hamden & North Haven, Connecticut

Page 4

THE MIRROR | Week of November 5, 2014

Crime Beat

News

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

Wednesday, 10/29 8:36 p.m. – The odor of Marijuana led DPS officers to a room in Campion Hall, where they discovered a small amount of marijuana along with drug paraphernalia. A ticket was issued, and the student was referred to student conduct.

Thursday, 10/30 4:13 p.m. – A student reported to DPS that another student was “spying on her.” The incident is under investigation by DPS. Friday, 10/31 9:25 p.m. – Four individuals outsides Jogues Hall were stopped by DPS with bulky backpacks. They did not cooperate with the officers and it was determined that three of the individuals were unregistered guests and were asked to leave campus.

11:34 p.m. – A yellow cab driver reported that a resident left his cab without paying. DPS tracked down the resident and had him pay the $15 that he had not paid to the cab driver. The student was also referred to student conduct.

Saturday, 11/1 11:26 a.m. – A flagpole outside of Meditz Hall was found to be vandalized. “We believe someone was trying to take the red banner that hangs on the post,” said Director of Public Safety John Ritchie. The incident is under investigation by DPS. 8:06 p.m. – The sink in second floor south bathroom of Jogues Hall was ripped off the wall. The student was identified by DPS; he told officers that the sink broke because he was standing on it. The student was referred to student conduct.

Monday, 11/2 12:09 a.m. – A male holding a female’s purse was found outside the Levee. The male was having trouble explaining whose purse he was holding. DPS found two females’ ID cards in the purse along with alcoholic drinks. All students were referred to student conduct.

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Bishop asks for change ‘through love’ Continued from page 1 “I dare to dream of the day when every Catholic child will have the opportunity to go to the Catholic school of his or her choice,” he said.

Although he and his fellow clergymen will be at the forefront of the Synod, Caggiano emphasized that every Catholic should play an active role in the evolving Church.

“Tomorrow morning when we drag ourselves out of bed and look at ourselves in the mirror, we must see the renewal of the Church looking back at us,” he said.

After he concluded his remarks, Caggiano opened the floor to questions from audience members, several of whom did not hesitate to ask him for his opinions regarding sensitive issues such as abortion and contraceptives.

Despite the Church’s official stance,

Caggiano said that those who might feel that they have sinned in the eyes of the Church should never be afraid to rejoin the community: “We need to make them understand that their sin is not loved but they are loved,” he said.

Caggiano compared the relationship between the Church and those who have engaged in behavior commonly considered to be “sinful,” to that of himself and his father during his childhood.

“My father was tougher than any nail I’ve ever met,” Caggiano said, explaining that while he did not always understand his father’s strict disciplinary measures when he was young, he understands now that his father acted out of a place of love.

“It is through love that we ask them to change,” he said.

The next question posed to Caggiano regarded the clergy’s infamous sex abuse scandals. After sharing that

her son-in-law had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a clergy member when he was young, a female audience member asked Caggiano his opinions on the matter.

“Terrible mistakes were made,” said Caggiano regarding the way in which Church leaders handled the issue, adding “I cannot speak to the intentions of those individuals.

“It’s a wound in the life of the Church,” he concluded.

Freshman Robert McDonough attended the lecture to get extra credit in his religion class. “It was a good talk,” he said.” I liked that he wasn’t afraid to talk about the tough issues.”

Senior Caitlin Delorey agreed. “It was definitely interesting,” she said.

“But some of the wording was confusing. I don’t understand what a Synod is.”

Task forces still working on Fairfield 2020 initiative

By Meaghan Kirby Coffee Break Editor Since President Jeffrey von Arx, S.J. antnounced a new initiative to update and change Fairfield’s strategic plan last fall, many task forces have been meeting and working to enact positive change for Fairfield.

This initiative, named Fairfield 2020, began at the start of 2014.

Since then, 11 task forces with a combined total of over 200 people, including various students, faculty and staff, administrators and alumni, have been working to alleviate various issues and identify Fairfield’s room for growth as a top university.

Dr. Lynn Babington, senior vice president for academic affairs, along with Kevin Lawlor, executive vice president and chief operating officer, have been tasked with overseeing the steering committee, designed to oversee the task forces and work towards implementing the strategic plan into the University’s day-to-day operations.

“The task forces are completing their work and will be making rec-

ommendations to the steering committee in December,” said Babington. “Over the spring semester, the steering committee will prioritize the various recommendations, complete the strategic plan and move forward on implementation.”

While the final presentations and recommendations won’t take place until December, many task forces, including the “Total Student Experience” task force are already making recommendations to the steering committee.

“We have already implemented one – starting Stag shuttle service earlier in the morning so that students can connect with the train for internships and jobs and implementing a shuttle service to Dolan Commons,” Babington said.

The variety of task forces represent various aspects of campus life ranging from “Varsity Athletics” and the “Business Model” to “Core Curriculum.”

“Almost all of the task forces address issues and opportunities that are important to students,” said Babington.

The Fairfield 2020 initiative

is designed to excite the Fairfield community through engaging with the open forums and attending the IDEAS Fairfield 2020 Lecture Series.

Guest speakers at the lecture series, including Dr. Andrew Delbanco of Columbia University, engage in conversations on various topics relevant to the mission of the task forces.

“The lecture series is designed to be provocative and promote dialogue in the entire University community about the Fairfield 2020 strategic planning process. The various speakers bring different viewpoints and expertise to the discussion,” Babington said.

Babington emphasized how important the Fairfield 2020 strategic plan is to the Fairfield community by encouraging all students and faculty to get involved one way or another.

“This is an exciting time for Fairfield as we plan our future together. Be part of the process and engage in the various discussions and presentations,” Babington said.

“Your input is critical.”

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THE MIRROR | Week of November 5, 2014

Opinion

Opinion

Editor

Which word is the worst 'F-bomb?'

Contributed under Creative Commons

By Ariana Puzzo Contributing Writer

In a society that often considers the word “feminism” as offensive as dropping the “F-bomb,” recording young girls dressed as princesses, spewing vulgarities without pause, seemed to be a creative,

Editorial Board Millenial voters: an extinct race?

Shauna Mitchell Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Calhoun Executive Editor Enxhi Myslymi Managing Editor

thought-provoking way to get people talking about the elephant in the room: gender inequality.

However, in the video that has gone viral, with over one million views of these “Potty-Mouthed Princesses,” the response has people focusing less on the message of gender inequality and more on the uncon-

Everywhere we look there are flashing signs urging us to vote, that our vote matters.

There is no denying that voting is important and part of our right as free citizens of the United States of America.

However, there has been a recent trend that says that the 18-24 year old age range hasn’t been voting in very high numbers.

On our Editorial Board, combined we have been eligible to vote in 14 elections.

Combined we have voted in seven. One of us has never voted.

Why? Maybe it’s because we care

ventional delivery of the message from its pint-sized messengers.

Who can blame them? Despite my belief that the discrimination inherent in our society is much more detrimental to women and young girls than cursing is, it has also made me question whether these young girls are being exploited by allowing them to participate in this video, spewing profanity an average of once every nine seconds, over the two and a half minute video.

I find the cursing in the video distracting, and the vulgarity ultimately detracts from the relevant and very urgent message that feminists are trying to share with the public: the discrimination and abuse that women and young girls face daily.

Feminist movements have been on the rise lately, perhaps the most notable being Emma Watson’s “HeForShe” campaign, and her acclaimed address regarding the movement, which she gave to the United Nations this past September. In the address, she identified herself as a feminist, despite “feminism” being an unpopular word in our society.

Although her well-crafted, intelligent speech initially sparked great discussion and debate, with positive support from both men and women, it appears to that this attempt to raise awareness about solving gender inequality has taken a back seat due to the salacious nature of the video.

Why does the notion of gender inequality continue to sink below the surface?

Despite more men and women identifying as feminists, it remains an unpopular title.

I believe the reason for the unpopularity is because when one identifies as a feminist, he or she is immediately labeled as a “man-hater.” Therefore, the message that one tries to spread is dismissed.

The desire to speak up for equal rights becomes less desirable, especially when the person speaking may not feel that gender inequality impacts his or her life directly.

However, in Emma Watson’s powerful speech, she explains that gender inequality should be everyone’s concern, and that it does in fact affect everyone. Presently, with the notoriety that “Potty-Mouthed Princesses” has acclaimed, the topic of gender inequality is somewhat lost in an arguably misguided attempt to raise awareness of a serious gender issue.

Through an in-class analysis of “Potty-

more about Instagramming about Pumpkin Spice Lattes than registering to vote.

Or we would rather binge watch “House of Cards” than hear about gridlock, government shut-downs and party polarization.

But maybe the problem is how disconnected we are with people in power.

For us, one of the problems with politics is what seems to be a generation gap between the people who are running for office and the people whose votes are so desperate to get.

Millennials are called the “me” generation and when it

Mouthed Princesses,” I asked myself: Am I supposed to laugh at this video?

While the message is a somber one, the natural reaction that my classmates and I shared was to laugh it off because we never expected to see such a ridiculous delivery, that bordered on satire. At first, it left me wondering why we are more offended by young girls cursing than we are about the discrimination and abuse that women and young girls face daily.

However, the longer I observed the video, the more I realized how damaging it can be to not only the girls being told to use vulgar language, but also to the feminist movement as a whole. The excessive nature of the cursing and the decision to have young girls deliver the expletives is unsettling. Does the end justify the means?

When is it okay to exploit children? The answer is, children should never be utilized in a way that clearly stretches the boundaries of acceptable social behavior.

The creators of the video clearly had an important message that they wanted to deliver, which was that gender inequality is pervasive and needs to be addressed.

Although using these young girls promoted the notion that bias and inequality among women is an issue that must be addressed, the video approached the issue in the wrong way.

The video has ultimately caused many to take their focus off of the important reality that women face multiple forms of gender inequality throughout their lives, and instead focus on how repugnant they believe the exploitive nature of the video to be.

The ensuing backlash has made it quite likely that the feminists behind the “PottyMouthed Princesses” video have soured more people to the idea that feminism is not an inherently bad position to stand by.

By fostering further resentment towards the community that is striving for equality and safety, for both men and women, there will only be more hurdles for feminist groups to overcome.

Although these hurdles may only be temporary, and perhaps other feminist groups will break out and create movements that positively impact the cause of gender inequality, it appears that the “Potty-Mouthed Princesses” has become detrimental to the community as a whole.

comes to politics, and maybe this is accurate. But we at The Mirror disagree.

Considering that in 2014 people are still fighting for democracy and their right to vote around the globe it’s unfortunate that in the U.S. we take this right for granted.

As 21 and 22-yearold women, we feel that the generational gap and disconnect between the voters and those who are running for office is severe.

Our government is either comprised of people who aren’t necessarily representing what we want, or members that only care

about their constituency when they’re in an election year.

As a generation larger in numbers than the Baby Boomers, we have the ability to change that. We can create a government that we want to take the time to vote for.

Maybe what the Millenials need is to see a little representation of “us” in politics in order to drum up more enthusiasm for younger voters to go out to the polls.

But it’s a two-way street: The only way to replace the broken government we have now is to vote a new one into office.

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THE MIRROR | Week of November 5, 2014

Opinion

What we can take from the attempted internet tax

By Meaghan Conlon Opinion Editor If American teenagers ever heard the phrase, “apply a tax on the internet,” I’m pretty sure there would be an upheaval of the government, and a rebellion for even suggesting such a ludicrous idea.

In our developed age, the internet is a staple in the lives of teachers, students and parents. A wealth of information is available at our fingertips on a vast array of topics.

Our ability to stay informed about current events and other happenings in the world keep us educated and aware of what’s occurring, not only around us, but on a large scale as well.

Last week, the Hungarian government drafted a bill that would levy the equivalent of a 62 cent tax on every gigabyte of data transferred.

Since the announcement on Oct. 27, the internet tax has been taken off the proposed bill due to mass riots and protests from the people of the country.

Many civilians speculated that the reason their internet usage was being taxed was to discourage other people from using it, and finding out information the Hungarian government would rather keep concealed (such as the deteriorating relationship with the United States).

Additionally, it would force people to rely on state-sponsored media and limit any unwanted third-party information.

Knowledge is power. If the government can keep its civilians from gleaning any information other than what they want the people to learn, then the government has the upper hand.

Technology allows us to evaluate our choices and make the best decisions for ourselves. By limiting information, the Hungarian government is violating basic human rights.

Taxing the internet was possibly the worst the decision the Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, could have made. The internet is extremely popular, especially among young adults who have discovered the power they have as a unified group.

Young adults have realized that to have the future they desire, the change starts now. Older generations often comment on younger people’s attachments to their electronic devices and their need to be constantly connected.

Why on earth would the Prime Minister believe that levying a tax on internet usage would be the way to solve the country’s tax problems?

It is quite commendable that Orban managed to unify essentially the entire country over a single act, as both his political support-

ers and adversaries rallied against him.

It is a feat that not many people can say they have achieved, though I would not think that this is actually a point in favor for Orban. However, the unity of the people as they rallied against Orban was one of the driving factors behind the repeal of the draft.

Could you imagine if the United States implemented a tax on internet usage? The response

and backlash that would follow, would call for the resignation of the president faster than someone can screenshot a bad snapchat.

If there is one thing that unifies young people across the United States, it is the usage of the internet.

This overturn of the internet tax is an example of the power that young people have once they put their mind to something. We have seen examples from all around the

By Matthew Schneider Assistant Sports Editor When the news broke that studentathletes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill had their grades inflated by the university, I was less than surprised.

Perhaps this shows how much of a cynical person I have become, in light of what some programs have been able to get away with when it comes to their prized students and their marks. Whatever the case may be, I was unfazed.

Rather, I expected that such a thing was happening, as it has become more and more clear that if an individual is a studentathlete, he or she will be given every sort of opportunity to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Such opportunities come via school-appointed tutors and other friendly people, eager to see their favorite teams succeed.

However, this is not to say that all student-athletes are good-for-nothing slackers (I happen to know quite a few that are very smart indeed). Nevertheless, there are certain student-athletes out there, whether it be at Fairfield or beyond, that are clearly in way over their heads when it comes to attending classes and doing well in their studies.

To be fair, I am not a student-athlete, so I am not able to give a firsthand account of how difficult it is to play a sport while also succeeding inside the classroom.

However, based on general fairness, it doesn’t seem just that a student-athlete is given higher grades than a student who worked their behind off on a paper, or just

spent hours in the library cramming for a big midterm, only because the studentathlete had a game two days before the paper was due or the test was scheduled.

While this may not be true in all circumstances, in most cases it is the choice of the student-athlete to play a sport at school, and nobody else’s. While it is true

world, including Egypt and Hong Kong. Why should the United States be any different?

It is our future, and the only way we can shape it is by voicing our concerns, and calling attention to what we want. If we take anything from the efforts against the Hungarian internet tax, it should be the importance of power of young people and unity. If we want to change the world, we should start now.

that the student-athlete has a lot on his or her plate, they are often participating in their specific sport because of their own choices, and can always leave the team if they feel overwhelmed by their work.

Now I understand that this may seem like an overreaction (which it is, to be fair), but the point that I am trying to get across is that the student-athletes are not being forced against their will to play a sport. They are well within their rights to back out if they just can’t handle it anymore, and don’t want to rely on grade inflation, or easy classes, to get their degree.

This brings up another contentious topic that we face here at Fairfield: athletes having the first registration time. While it is typically understood that athletes need the first registration slot in order to ensure that their classes and practices don’t overlap, some view it as an opportunity for athletes to sign up for all of the effortless classes, thereby guaranteeing themselves “easy A’s.”

While this may seem like a sensible course of action in the short-run, are you really benefitting yourself by taking that joke 101 class? Wouldn’t you rather take an interesting upper-level class that poses a challenge, instead of taking a boring, sham of an entry-level class?

This is just some food for thought, and I have something to say that you may want to hear: Having your grades boosted and taking easy classes may work out for now, but won't help you very much later on, so you may want to reconsider your choice.

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

Rick Shaefer:

REN DER ING

NATURE I took photographs and at the beginning I'm trying to recreate it, but after a while that photograph goes away and the art takes its course. It's like a musician or writer: After a while you have to let the art take over.

-Rick Shaefer

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THE MIRROR | Week of November 5, 2014

The Vine

Rick Shaefer's 'Rendering Nature' brings art to life

By Monet Monterosso Contributing Writer

By Charles DeFilippo Vine Editor

F

airfield artist, Rick Shaefer gave University students an inside look into his exhibit, “Rendering Nature” last Wednesday at the Bellarmine Museum of Art. Shaefer was inspired by a huge carcass left in the middle of the road after a storm in 2011. “It reminded me of a breached whale with its big eye,” said Shaefer about drawing the white oak.

“My first decision was to draw in charcoal [hoping that it would not smudge],” said Shaefer. In addition, precise linework techniques would allow Shaefer to capture immense details within these pieces.

Rhino, 2012, Charcoal on Vellum, Triptych (each panel 96" x 48"-- 96" x

148" overall)O For Shaefer’s piec entitled “Rhino,” Three 96” x 48” Panels (96" x 148" overall) were used so each viewer could appreciate the “over abundance of detail.”

Furthermore, Shaefer chose for the pieces to remain exposed and not covered with glass because “the glass gets in the way of enjoying the piece.”

Having the charcoal out in the open is a big risk for an artist to make and can result in catastrophic damage, but it was worth the reward.

This exposure brought an intimate feel to the life-size realistic feel Shaefer was aiming for [Jokingly stating his intent to make smaller pieces so that they can be sold easier.]

rickshaefer.com

Two of the four 36" x 30" Charcoal on Vellum Panels from Shaefer's "Elephant" 2012

I draw about 90 percent of it on the table top and then I throw it up on the wall to see where it needs more work -Rick Shaefer

rickshaefer.com

"Crows on Wire," charcoal on vellum spanning nine panels, 18" x 148" overall, 2013

O

rickshaefer.com

"Sugar Maple," (2012) on one 96" x 42" panel.

ther pieces within his exhibit were paintings of clouds. The clouds became one of Shaefer’s pieces while studying British painters.

“The paint was liberating and fun to move around from visceral. It was much different from line work, dealing with a much broader approach,” said Shaefer.

Crows became a part of his exhibit as a comic relief fro Shaefer. The background of crows in mythology brought the admiration of them for Shaefer.

“These creatures are so bad, so wonderful, so funny, so bright,” stated Shaefer about his admiration of crows.

The creating of the crows became very

cinematic. He admitted that while creating the birds on this barbed wire when he went from each panel he ended up using the same bird but in a different as if it was caught mid flight every second. Open for discussion, many wondered where Shaefer gets his inspiration.

“I took photographs and at the beginning I’m trying to recreate it but after awhile that photograph goes away and the art takes it course. It’s like a musician or writer after awhile you have to let the art take over,” Shaefer stated about his inspiration.

That question was then followed by one about his perspective on his piece and how he went about creating something so large. His work starts of on tabletop where he draws it from a model.

“I draw about 90% of it on the tabletop and then I throw it up on the wall to see where it needs more work,” said Shaefer Each piece took two to three months, which only allowed him to work on one piece at a time.

“Dealing with something this large you always think you’re done until you get through it and you see there is more needed,” Shaefer said.

Shaefer’s art exhibit is located at Bellermine Museum of Art in the Meditz Gallery and is open for viewing throughout the semester, ending Dec. 19.

View “Rendering Nature,” Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on select Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is always free.

rickshaefer.com

The Mirror | Week of November 5, 2014

The Vine

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Album Spoiler: 'Keep You' by Pianos Become The Teeth

By Sean Thomas Album Critic Pianos Become the Teeth - “An notorious trope of the music industry is the band that decides to radically alter their sound. These kinds of decisions often leave fans polarized, scratching their heads, and yearning for a return to form. Most sensible fans can acknowledge that a band's sound is multifaceted and they have the freedom to focus on certain elements over others.

Pianos Become the Teeth are known for their melodic, intensely angry, post-hardcore sound. Their songs are typically driven by an assault of heavy guitars, strained shouts for vocals and uncompromisingly powerful drumming.

Yet the group has always had the tendency to pull back, embracing moments of clean melody and post-rock in between their massively heavy passages. On their latest album, “Keep You,” Pianos Become the Teeth completely mellow out, sacrificing their classic post-hardcore tenden-

cies for a smoother, more thoughtful sound.

Do not be quick to label this record as “stripped down” because that would be ignoring the rich, full production done by the much soughtafter Will Yip. The band continues to make use of their entire musical arsenal, just from a different angle. Listeners can still find subtle moments of heaviness — like the chorus of “Lesions” for example, they're disguised behind Kyle Durfey's soaringly resonant voice.

His vocals seem to be the centerpiece of the record, adding another layer of melody on top of the clean guitars.

The song “Repine” is a favorite, standing out for its memorable opening riff before the song gradually rises, never repeating that opening statement. This track would be perfect as the cathartic closer of one of their live performances.

Similar to the other bands they're associated with — Touche Amore, La Dispute, Dads — Pianos Become the Teeth are highly receptive to the idea of maturing their sound as

they themselves mature. They recognize that they cannot scream forever and would rather explore fresh ideas.

Personally, I would have liked if they approached “Keep You” as more of a transitional record, approaching elements of their heavier sound with a greater emphasis on pacing, buildup and melody.

Songs such as “Old Jaw” and “Say Nothing” draw from distinct post-rock influences, yet do not hit hard enough at their respective climaxes.

I was left unsatisfied, feeling like the band could have gone slightly farther. Juxtaposing their beautifullycrafted, soft verses with moments of pure sonic intensity and heaviness would have made for a much more interesting listen.

Instead, Pianos Become the Teeth are following are precedent already set by a band like Moving Mountains on their self-titled release last year.

“Keep You” is appropriate for a tranquil, reflective walk on a crisp Autumn morning. Listeners may not be immediately hooked by the

Contributed Photo

Pianos Become The Teeth's most recent album released Oct. 28. tracks and will return mostly for their soothing quality.

I was tempted to write this album off as generic after the first listen but after subsequent listens, the band's blending of post-rock into

their sound helps the album stand out slightly.

Pianos Become the Teeth is on the verge of a North American tour with Circa Survive and Title Fight.

Nutrition 101: Stress and eating

By Stephanie Piccolo Nutrition Columnist

A

s college students, we are faced with everyday stressors including classes, homework, projects, work and even finding the time to do laundry. Overwhelmed by all these responsibilities, students often have difficulty trying to find time to eat a nutritious meal. Instead, they will opt to grab a quick snack.

For Fairfield University students, it is easy to just grab a muffin at Einstein’s or a bag of chips at the Stag Cafe quickly between classes. Though these options are more convenient, they are not healthy. These choices deprive your body of the nutrition it needs to keep running all day.

Another problem college students face is binge eating when stressed. We can all admit to snacking, from that bag of chips beside us while doing homework or eating out of a tub of ice cream after a long day. Though not necessarily healthy, this is a normal reaction of your body when it is under stress.

In response to stressful situations, your body reacts by a release of hormones from your adrenal glands. One of these hormones includes cortisol, which is responsible for blood sugar levels in your body.

E

xcess release of cortisol elevates the amount of sugar in your bloodstream and can ultimately lead to increased appetite. In these situations, the body often desires sugary and high-fat foods. These “comfort foods” can be very appealing to students under stress.

You may feel like you cannot suppress your body’s reaction to stress by eating, which may be true, but you can satisfy your hunger in a healthy way. If you are craving something sweet, go for a piece of fruit rather than candy.

If you want something salty, grab a handful of nuts rather than potato chips. Another healthy snack option: Spread some peanut butter on a whole grain rice cake and add a few dark chocolate chips.

Popcorn can be a healthy snack, just do not load on butter and salt! Low-sodium soups, such as chicken noodle, can be a nutritious satisfaction to your hunger.

T

here are many other helpful options to relieve stress instead of eating. Some of these strategies are meditation, exercise, and even just talking to a family member or friend.

Instead of reaching for that candy, sit down, close your eyes and take deep breaths for a few minutes. Go on a fifteen minute run or walk around campus; this will release endorphins in your body and make you feel a lot better.

Spend a little time giving your parents or a friend back home a call. Talking about your stresses to someone else might take some weight off your shoulders.

In reality, by being a college student, your stress will never subside. There are many positive ways to cope with stress besides eating.

Try one of these healthy practices rather than stuffing your face with food. I challenge you to try and substitute your unhealthy snacks for healthier options.

Your body and mind are interconnected, and ultimately, the health of your body is dependent on the health of your mind. If you have any other questions regarding this topic or are curious about additional healthy snack ideas, you can reach me at stephanie.piccolo@student.fairfield.edu.

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THE MIRROR | Week of November 5, 2014

The Vine

Let

Dre Dress You

By Andrea Butler Fashion Columnist

Hi Lovelies!

If you’re anything like me, your desire to be a fashionista is often trumped by your lack of funds and unwillingness to wear anything uncomfortable while sober. Luckily, a basic white -tshirt can be easily incorporated into a variety of outfits, and can be very inexpensive. Here are some ways to jazz up those Plain White T’s (remember that band?) and stay cute and comfortable.

Tuck a slouchy shirt into mid-rise pants and pair it with a fitted, structured jacket or blazer and some killer boots. You’ll look put together, but not too severe, either.

Take that slouchy shirt again and wear it with leggings, an oversized sweater, and your favorite infinity scarf. Super cozy, and being all covered up means you can wear your most comfy undergarments and not have to worry about anything showing through.

Contributed Under Creative Commons

Wear an oversize white shirt with a bandage skirt and heeled ankle boots for the perfect not-trying-too-hard weekend look.

Add a statement necklace to any white shirt to make it look dressier, and even work appropriate.

Fashion doesn’t have to be complicated! Sometimes the most basic pieces can look the best.

Enjoy your week, babes!

Love, Dre

Contributed Under Creative Commons

Weezer pulls through with new album:

'Everything Will Be Alright In The End'

By Andrew DaRosa Contributing Writer After a string of five less than satisfactory albums, Cuomo and company have put out an album that is worthy of standing tell next to the “Blue Album” and “Pinkerton.” “Everything Will Be Alright In the End” is perfectly titled in the sense that despite some major flops, Weezer has pulled through and delivered an album that gets back to their roots.

A sort of youthfulness is reverberated throughout every song in the album and it sounds as though Weezer miraculously maintained their iconic sound from 1994. The Point: Weezer is back and better than ever.

“Ain’t Got Nobody” starts the album off with an assault on the ears with a heavy power chord progression that hooks the listener right into the middle of the chorus.

The harmonies between the band members add great depth to the song as well. The first single off the album and also the most critical, “Back to the Shack,” chronicles the band throughout the process of recording this album and often references events from Weezer history such as Cuomo’s Lightning Bolt guitar strap, the formation of the band initially by Cuomo and (Pat) Wilson, and Cuomo’s recent relationship with his father.

The song also provides a critique of modern music and the necessity to bring back radio.

As the album progresses, each song becomes more and more saturated with heavy guitar licks and a sort of groove that makes us all wish that garage rock could make its way back to the mainstream culture of music.

“Eulogy For a Rock Band” is reminiscent of something off their album, “Make Believe,” in the

sense that it is anthemic and is sure to become a career staple such as “Beverly Hills” or “Perfect Situation.” Weezer then jumps to “Da Vinci” and “Lonely Girl” which sound like they could appear off the “Blue Album” and are playful in nature and often explain the geeky aspect of not understanding girls.

Lets not forget, what made Weezer, ripping guitar riffs accompanied by ragging drumbeats and carefully melodic piano interludes.

No worries, one can find these all packed into this new album especially through “Cleopatra,” which is a surprise of a song considering the soft intro. Cuomo does not disappoint and provides new guitar solos that will have fans playing air guitar to all new songs. The album ends with the Futurescope Trilogy that is split up into sounds that mirror how Weezer has sounded throughout the years, especially with the third part, “Return to Ithaka,” which references the bands return to their roots.

This is the Weezer album that we Weezer fans have been waiting for since the release of the “Green Album.” This album has everything and more and will keep Weezer fans busy until their next album hits stores.

Contributed Photo And if you aren’t a Weezer fan, listen Weezer's ninth studio album, "Everything Will Be Alright In The End" sounds back to the to this album and I promise you that you’ll band's roots, and was released Oct. 7, 2014 be a fan in a matter of time.

The Mirror | Week of November 5, 2014

The Vine

Page 11

Book Look: Signed, Sealed, Delivered:

Celebrating the Joys of Letter Writing by Nina Sankovitch

By Gina White Contributing Writer In the era of texting, Twitter and Facebook, getting a letter in the mail has become an unexpected, blissful experience — one that brings feelings of love and kinship to its receiver.

What has historically been the main form of communication is now viewed as passé due to the technological, instant communications of today.

Sankovitch’s book explores the endless world of letters from bygone days through correspondence between, for example, Jack the Ripper and the police, and between Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens.

While digging in her backyard, Sankovitch uncovered an old trunk containing a trove of letters, which became the inspiration to write this “biography” of letters. Although most of the letters were written in the early 1900s by a Princeton student, James Seligman, to his mother, the letters became

the launching pad for research into the history of letters and their treasured significance.

Author Sankovitch sets out to understand the spirit and potency of long-forgotten stories bound up in letters. There is a certain power in letters that is absent within the boundaries of text messages and email.

Holding a tangible object in your hand connects you to the sender through the aroma of the paper and ink and through their particular, quirky handwriting. Upon reading the book, perhaps you, too, will recognize the benefits of letter writing by taking up pen and paper to connect to someone on a whole new level.

Sankovitch reminds us “…there is more than enough happiness in the world, isn’t there? We just have to acknowledge it, and what better way than through a letter?”

Information on her books and reviews can be found on her blog www.ReadAllDay.org.

Interview with Nina Sankovitch: GW: 1) What initiated your interest in writing?

NS: I have always been interested in writing, but even more interested in reading! During my year of reading a book a day, I wrote every single day — I wrote a review of the book I'd read the day before.

I wanted to share what I had learned from the book or liked about or what I didn't like about it with readers of my blog, www.readallday.org.

GW: 2) Have you ever thought of writing a novel?

NS: My blog originally began as a way to encourage reading by adults for pleasure, and its motto was "Great good comes from reading great books." For me, that turned out to be true in so many ways.

I learned to live with my sorrow over the death of my sister, and how to carry her with me always, and live in joy, appreciating the small and big moments of life — and always enjoying moments spent reading!

I also wrote my first book about my year of reading and what I learned — “Tolstoy & the Purple Chair” — and was able to continue writing books, with my third one due to come out in 2016.

GW: 3) If you could choose one of the letters

you have found/read, which would be your favorite and why?

NS: My favorite letters are the ones written by my children and my husband.

Through the kids’ cards and letters, I can keep them young beside me — even as they grow up. And my husband's letters are both very funny and very loving — perfect for making me feel better when I read them over again.

But my favorite letter that I found? I have so many — but I do love the letters of James Seligman, because he started me down the path of looking at the entire history of letter writing.

He was so funny: "Your letter and your check couldn't have possibly been more welcome … If you send a check with every letter, write as often as you want, twice a day if necessary."

GW: 4) Could you talk a little about your next upcoming writing project?

NS: My next book is about the Lowells of Massachusetts, from the 1600s through the 1900s — they were a fascinating, dynamic family of Puritan origins, and then great patriots during the Revolution and then [became] a leading family of the Boston Brahmin.

Their story is the history of New England, both in terms of crises and successes, and offers a unique twist on the American dream.

Contributed Photo

GW: 5) Who are some of your favorite authors?

NS: My favorite authors are Nadine Gordimer, Wilkie Collins, Charles Dickens, Louise Penny, Haruki Murakami, Anne Cleves ... to mention just a few.

GW: 6) Finally, what advice would you give aspiring writers?

NS: The best advice I can give aspiring writers is to write every day, every single day. Don't wait for inspiration, set goals and meet them. Write everyday — you won't keep it all but it is all good practice. And read every day, if you want to write well — you learn so much just about writing by reading lots of different types of books.

National Theatre Live presents Frankenstein

By Juliana Sansonetti Contributing Writer On the night before Halloween, National Theatre Live gave Fairfield University all treats and no tricks when they screened the deliciously frightful rendition of “Frankenstein.”

The film is directed by Danny Boyle and starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller and in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts for the third year in a row.

“We thought it was the perfect timing to show it for Halloween,” explained Lori Jones, assistant director of programming and audience development at the Quick Center. “We air it the night

before to put people into the holiday spirit.”

The production, first performed in the Royal National Theatre in London in 2011, is wildly popular among the NT Live audiences. It has been brought back to cinemas around the world multiple times by popular demand.

There were two screenings at the Quick Center, a matinee at 2 p.m. and a night showing at 7.

At the 2 p.m. showing, the monster was portrayed by Jonny Lee Miller and Victor Frankenstein was portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch, while at the 7 p.m. showing it was the other way around, an ingenious way to play

up Victor and his creature as foils to each other.

The show opens from the creature’s perspective, building sympathy for him right off the bat.

He enters the world confused and alone and attempts to assimilate, but is greeted with nothing but hatred and scorn.

Victor is portrayed as cruel and unfeeling towards his creature, completely abandoning him.

This causes the creature to become darker and more despicable and Victor to become more of a tortured soul.

The production continues to build sympathy and disgust for both Victor and his creature, and is brilliant from start to finish.

Fairfield resident Phyllis Schneble commented positively on the production.

“It wasn’t what I expected; it was a little more gruesome and creepier, but I liked it.”

Schneble, an attendee of many of the past NT Live screenings, said she likes to see the Broadway productions for much less money.

“It’s more comfortable and easier to expose the kids to it.”

NT Live productions have been screened in the Quick Center since 2009. The audiences have responded in an overwhelmingly positive way to such screenings.

The packed Quick Center was filled with an enthusiastic crowd of about 100 people.

According to Jones, about one-tenth of the audience is typically Fairfield students.

“The screening is on the same day as a Theatre Fairfield performance and two water film screenings,” Jones said. “It’s an interesting challenge. Students have so much to select from. I prefer to look at it as a positive thing.”

Upcoming NT Live screenings to be held in the Quick Center include “Of Mice and Men” starring James Franco and Chris O’Dowd on Nov. 6.

Furthermore, “Skylight” starring Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy on Nov. 13. Tickets are $15 for Fairfield University students.

THE MIRROR | Week of November 5, 2014

Coffee Break

COFFEE BREAK

Page 12

Editor: Meaghan Kirby

Joshua Wong: the real MVP

The Umbrella Revolution bringing change to Hong Kong

By Elizabeth McDonagh Contributing Writer Tens of thousands of protesters have flooded the streets of Hong Kong. Protesters are calling for the resignation of Leung Chun-ying, the head of the Hong Kong government, as well as the right to both nominate and directly elect future Chief Executives.

Who mobilized this massive political movement?

Though not yet old enough to vote 17-year-old Joshua Wong, has been one of the most audacious and powerful influences of these large scale protests, known as the Umbrella Revolution.

While this skinny and bespectacled teen activist might not seem like a commanding figure, his pro-democracy campaign has taken Hong Kong by storm and echoes the student protests at Tiananmen Square 25 years ago.

Their fight for universal suffrage, or the right to vote and elect government officials regardless of race, sex, or gender, has only begun to escalate.

Despite efforts to identify itself as a civil disobedience movement, it is now widely known as the Umbrella Revolution. Umbrellas have become a symbol of the protest, because protesters have had to use them against police pepper spray.

British occupation in Hong Kong ended after 156 years in 1997 and sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of Contributed under Creative Commons China. This bit of history is important to understanding The Umbrella Revolution protesters are sending a pro-democracy message to the Chinese Government in Beijing. the motivation behind the current protesting.

After British occupation, Hong Kong became semi- Kong is on board with the Umbrella Revolution. Older He was released after 40 hours of being detained. autonomous, having common law, an independent generations are less optimistic that change is possible and While nobody is sure if the movement will end peacefully judiciary, and freedom of information and movement. fear the movement will bring economic instability and or violently, Joshua Wong has made it clear that the fight The Communist Party refuses to grant Hong Kong police brutality, similar to the Tiananmen uprising in for democracy has only begun. political enfranchisement (the right to vote) out of fear 1989. Their worries however are not farfetched.

He stated, “five years ago, it was inconceivable that that their democracy will become contagious in the rest On September, riot police used tear gas against Hong Kong students would care about politics at all. But of China. unarmed students at what started off as a peaceful sit- there was an awakening when the national education issue The citizens of Hong Kong are both well traveled and in in front of the government headquarters. Even more happened. We started to care about politics.” well educated, and they will stop at nothing to have their recently, Joshua Wong along with several other students The world anxiously awaits Joshua Wong and the Western-style freedoms back. were arrested after climbing the fence of government Umbrella Revolution as Hong Kong takes the global stage Despite its large following, not everyone in Hong headquarters. once again.

o

t ’ n

Dear Meg,

D

Ask Meg

Need horrible advice?

Submit a question to info@fairfieldmirror.com

I’m a Freshman at Fairfield and I don’t think my high school study habits are translating to college life.

I’m discovering that I’m spending so much time hanging out with friends that I’m always rushing to get my stuff done. I’m afraid my parents are going to be mad when they see my grades.

Any idea on how to improve my study habits?

Signed, Flunking Freshman

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

“I meant to email my grandma and sent it to my professor by accident. Class should be interesting tomorrow.”

“If I don’t do laundry today, I’ll be naked all week.”

“Now they have pumpkin ice cream ... how much more basic can they get?”

Dear Flunking,

“Didn’t you wear that shirt yesterday?”

“This is an all-purpose shirt.”

It’s too bad that you have terrible study skills. Unfortunately, the ability to study is an inherited trait, or at least I think it is.

“My dad told me to donate a lot of money so that the stag could be renamed Heather.”

Anyway, procrastination isn’t always a bad thing though. All-nighters are such an important part of college life. When you look back on college in 20 years, you aren’t going to remember turning in all those papers on time, you’ll remember all those nights you spent writing papers until 6AM. Furthermore, I am a huge advocate for coffee. It’s the All-nighters best friend. And life is usually better with a little Netflix in it. Gilmore Girls has only been streaming for a month, you can’t have gotten through all seven seasons. Good luck with everything!

Always keeping it real, Meg

“Barone got me like...where’s the nearest bathroom?”

“Thank God for chocolate cows.”

“Does this headband make me look fat?”

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

Sports

Page 13

THE MIRROR | Week of November 5, 2014

Weekly 4x5

Because we have witty things to say ...

Your 2014-2015 4x5 Columnists:

Patrick Kiernan, Jennifer Calhoun, Matthew Schneider and Jesse Erickson

Men's rugby won again to get into the championship game.

Thoughts?

Which fall sport is going to go farthest in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship?

Were you happy to see the San Francisco Giants win the World Series?

Thoughts on this week's "The Walking Dead"?

How was your Halloween?

They're probably gonna go in and kill it like they have all season long. I'd say a win by at least 50.

I'm also still not sure whether they're playing nine-year olds or not.

Women's soccer. Jim O'Brien's got something special with this team and they're gonna go far.

No. Who didn't want the Royals to win? To make it even worse, the Royals have now made Billy Butler a free agent. Talk about losing speed around the base path.

I don't like that Beth got her own episode because, well it's Beth. But, I feel like Carol's gonna blow that hospital up like the Joker in "The Dark Knight."

Considering that Halloween fell on the same weekend as my birthday, very well. My pimp/golfer weekend costume combination was pretty swell, in my opinion.

Really awesome news for the guys!

Everyone should go out and supJennifer Calhoun port them in the championship!

Men's soccer. They have an incredible shutout record and that's what wins championships.

I still just don't care.

I HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET PATRICK.

I was the most comfortable I have ever been as Boo from Monster's Inc. It did limit my vocabulary to about three words though.

Hopefully they can cap off a great season with a championship.

Matthew Schneider Fairfield wins it by 75.

Men's soccer, a few more shutouts and the championship is ours.

Not really, I wanted the Royals to pull off the upset.

The zombie genre is waaaay overplayed.

Pretty good, the monsters didn't get me so that's a plus.

Women's soccer for sure, GO CASSIDY.

Delighted.

That show is too scary for me.

We can refer back to the Mirror Group Chat for that response ...

Patrick Kiernan Sports Editor

Executive Editor

Assistant Sports Editor

Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor

Go for the gold! I don't think they'll have any trouble getting the gold, although Vassar is undefeated as well... scary.

Stag Spotlight: Rowing's Katherine Pitz '15 and Luke Pettenati '18 What got you interested in rowing?

Pitz: I was a swimmer in high school, and I always loved being part of a water sport.

When I heard about the rowing team, I didn’t really know much about it, I just wanted to try it out. I originally thought it was going to be something a little easier, but I fell in love with it once I started it.

Pettenati: It started junior year of high school. Before that, I was running and had a lot of growing pains. So, I decided to try a sport where I could use my height and relieve the stress on some of my joints and I fell in love with rowing.

Patrick Kiernan/The Mirror

Senior port Katherine Pitz.

How does everyone on the team get along?

How have you adapted to the practice schedules?

Pitz: For high school, I had a pretty similar practice schedule. I always had practice at 5 a.m., so it’s pretty much the same for me.

It’s just so different waking up three hours earlier than a normal person and practicing early in the morning. Your mind’s kind of in a different mindset, but you get into a routine that makes it doable.

Pettenati: It’s definitely tough getting up in the morning, but after a couple of weeks, you get used to it. You realize that it’s nice to get your workout done in the morning.

Do you have a favorite professional/sport team?

Pitz: Football. I like the Miami Dolphins and I don’t know if I have a favorite player. I like Tannehill, but he’s so unpredictable. It changes every week who on the team I like the best. My dad and my family have always been a huge football family, so I’ve watched football my whole life growing up and I loved the Dolphins, just because the animal. I didn’t even know what Pettenati: We’re all a big family and we they were doing and I was like “That’s my team.”

Pitz: We get along pretty well. We’re pretty close because we have a lot of practices together and we’re all pretty much best friends. We practice together probably two times a day and then on the weekends, we hang out. We try to really involve the freshmen. like to do everything together.

What is the best part about rowing?

Pitz: There’s a very individual aspect, but at the same time, it’s very much about the whole entire team. I like that part. You need so much concentration on yourself to have a good schedule, be on top of yourself, weight lifting and doing extra workouts. If you’re not doing that for yourself, you’re not doing anything for the team. When we get it all together and put a lot of work in, you say “Wow, look at all we did.”

Pettenati: Definitely the feeling of coming across the finish line with my teammates and knowing that we’ve completed a race, done well and really came together as a team.

What other Fairfield sport would you play if not rowing?

Pitz: Well, I swam in high school and I was pretty competitive, but when I was looking at colleges, I was looking at either swimming or rowing.

Pettenati: If I could play another sport, I’d probably use my height to play basketball and join the basketball team maybe.

Pettenati: I like basketball a lot. It’s either basketball or football. I’m from the New York area so I’m a big fan of the Giants. I used to like Eli Manning, but I don’t know now.

See even more answers at fairfieldmirror.com.

Inside the Sports section this week: Patrick Kiernan/The Mirror

Freshman port Luke Pettenati.

-MLB loses a promising prospect (Page 14) -Not so royal ending for Kansas City Royals (Page 14) -Fans pack Alumni Hall for Red Sea Madness (Page 15) -Red Ruggers rock RPI, advance to championship (Page 15)

Sports

Page 14

THE MIRROR | Week of November 5, 2014

Not so royal ending for Kansas City

By Matthew Schneider Assistant Sports Editor

The Kansas City Royals’ Cinderella season has finally come to an end, but not in the way that most had hoped.

The Royals fell 3-2 to the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the World Series last week, bringing an underdog story of epic proportions just one game short of achieving its dream.

The Royals, who came into the MLB postseason as a wild-card team, had to win a play-in game against the heavily favored Oakland Athletics to even qualify for the playoffs, making their run a most improbable one.

Once they beat the A’s, however, their destiny seemed set.

The Royals would end up setting an MLB record by winning eight straight playoff games en route to the

World Series, but once they reached the final series, the magic suddenly grinded to a halt.

Credit must be given to the Royals for even putting up a fight against the Giants, who, with this win being their third in five years, have certainly established themselves as a modern-day baseball dynasty.

Upon entering the final series of the playoffs, many still expected Kansas City to bow out early to the Giants, despite the Royals’ impressive run.

However, the Royals would end up surprising many by bringing the series all the way to a Game 7, with everything on the line.

In the deciding game, it would again be San Francisco’s 25-year-old phenom pitcher, Madison Bumgarner, who would end up dictating the fate of the Giants.

Bumgarner, who pitched an impressive fourhit, complete-game shutout against the Royals in Game 5, would come out of the bullpen in the fifth inning on short rest to vanquish his opponents.

He ended up retiring 14 straight batters before giving up only his second hit of the night in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Bumgarner would finish the game with four strikeouts and 0.43 ERA, most impressive considering the Royals are known as a team that likes to play smallball.

That is to say they try to get runners on base and advance them into scoring position instead of swinging for the fences on every at bat.

At the conclusion of the game, Bumgarner was named the World Series MVP, and deservedly so, as the Giants may not have

been able to pull off the victory if it weren’t for their ace in the hole.

The pitcher presumably has the majority of his career ahead of him, so expect to hear his name a lot in the coming years, as he gets even better.

Though this loss must be heartbreaking for Royals fans (it took place in Kansas City, no less), they can at least take comfort in the fact that their team, despite being underdogs for the entire postseason, almost pulled off a big upset against a heavily favored opponent.

Plus, they have the roster to be a playoff contender for years to come.

Though this loss may seem bittersweet in that regard, at least the Royals fans shouldn’t have to wait another 29 years to see their team in the postseason. Look for them to make some noise again next season.

Contributed under Creative Commons Madison Bumgarner (above) paced the San Francisco Giants to a World Series victory over the Kansas City Royals, earning the award of World Series MVP.

MLB loses a promising prospect

By Matthew Schneider Assistant Sports Editor

This week in sports: Wednesday, November 5 Men's Soccer vs. Quinnipiac, 7 p.m.

Friday, November 7 Women's Soccer at Niagara, 5 p.m.

Men's Basketball vs. Bridgeport (Exhibition), 7 p.m.

Saturday, November 8 Men's Soccer at MAAC Championship, TBA Volleyball at Iona, 1 p.m.

Men's Swimming and Diving at Marist, 1 p.m.

Women's Swimming and Diving at Marist, 1 p.m.

Sunday, November 2 Women's Soccer at MAAC Championship, TBA Volleyball at Manhattan, 1 p.m.

Men's Rugby vs. Vassar (Championship), 1 p.m.

Contributed under Creative Commons

Death is always hard to come to terms with, regardless of the situation. Whether it is a grandparent who moves on due to old age, or a child who is brought down by cancer before they truly begin to live his or her life, it is always a horrid situation.

One of the more tragic instances of death is that of a person in the prime of his or her life that is going on to do great things.

Such is the case of 25-yearold Oscar Taveras, a highly touted prospect of the St. Louis Cardinals who died last week.

Taveras, who drew comparisons to Baltimore Orioles star and fellow Dominican Vladimir Guerrero, seemed to be destined to make a large impact in the big leagues before losing control of his car on a rainy night.

While the details of the crash are still unknown (there is no indication yet if drugs or alcohol were involved), some have said that the roads were very wet that night, which may have been a factor in the crash.

Whatever the case may be, it is a tragedy that such a gifted young man was brought down in the prime of his life.

Aside from having an impact on the field, Taveras is being remembered for his contributions off the field as people mourn him.

He was an inspiration for young Dominican boys that dreamt of playing in the MLB some day, and was a friend to call

Contributed under Creative Commons Oscar Taveras (above), a highly touted prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, died in a car crash last week in his home of the Dominican Republic.

upon if any of his teammates needed help.

“I met Oscar my first year in pro ball,” Cardinals’ pitching prospect Rob Kaminsky said to Joe Schwarz of SB Nation.

“Every day we saw each other, talked, and I continued to learn more and more about the game from OT. You would have never been able to tell he was a top prospect in baseball. No ego, no arrogance, strictly just a good person.

He made sure me and the other rookies were comfortable, and that's something I'll take with me for my entire career.”

Kaminsky isn’t the only Cardinals’ prospect that had high praise for Taveras.

“Oscar was an amazing person,” said Alex Reyes, another pitching prospect for St. Louis, to

Schwarz. “He was a kid who had nothing but love and passion for the game. He was like a brother to me. He was the guy in the clubhouse that made me feel like a Cardinal from the first day I set foot in Jupiter, FL. Back home in the Dominican Republic, Oscar and [Dominican Carlos Martinez] are role models. Both of them coming up together throughout the system and experiencing 45,000+ people at Busch Stadium is something out of a book. It’s literally everyone’s dream.”

It is truly sad that such a gifted young athlete was killed before he was able to live a full life.

Rest in peace, Oscar Taveras, and may your example continue to inspire young boys to aim for their dreams, no matter the circumstances.

Sports

Page 15

THE MIRROR | Week of November 5, 2014

Fans pack Alumni Hall for Red Sea Madness

By Alfredo Torres Contributing Writer The doors of Alumni Hall opened widely to all. The students of Fairfield University greeted all who enter the gymnasium with great excitement and joy. One by one, students received thunder sticks by members of Stags in the Stands. Finally, arriving into the gymnasium, the place had gone wild.

It was a mist of red. The sounds of the crowd yelling, cheering and applauding resonated throughout the whole arena.

To start off the madness, a mob of Fairfield’s cheerleaders rushed to the middle of the court.

They had the attention of the crowd immediately, and with that, they hit the court with their moves.

The crowd continued to show their support with

chants for the Stags, and just as their performance was over, the whole arena turned to complete darkness.

It was then time to meet the members of the women’s basketball team. One by one, they came out to meet the applause of the crowd. Not soon after, it was time for the men’s basketball team. Just as the women did, the men received a loud ovation from the students at Fairfield, one by one basking in the atmosphere of Alumni Hall. The crowd was going crazy. “My experience was beyond fun, I enjoyed meeting the team and rooting for my Stags.” said Becca Quillard ’18.

To continue the festivities, members of both the men and women’s basketball team hit the court to bust a few moves with a dance-off. They showed

that they aren’t just practicing their layups, but practicing a few dance moves for the Fairfield faithful.

There were nothing but smiles on the faces of the members of the men and women’s basketball team.

However, there can only be one winner, and the winner was to be announced with a little of help from both the students in attendance and Lucas the Stag. The men were able to win over the women. As for any victory, one must celebrate, and that’s exactly what members of the team did.

Next, teams of three approached the court with balls in their hands, and it was apparent that shooting was the next event for the crowd. The three-point contest had commenced. As the race began, shots began to fall from left and right. With every shot that fell, it followed with a huge roar from

the crowd.

Following the close contest, the high flyers of the men’s basketball team took the floor, showing their leaping ability and finishing some amazing dunks. The crowd could not do anything but jump out of their seats in excitement.

Freshman Morgan Rosemann said, “It was great, the dunk contest was my favorite part of the night. The energy was excellent, the gym was a packed house.”

“It was wild, the team and the cheers got all the students in the stands pumped for the new season that is approaching,” said Thomas Mitsch ’18.

With great reviews from the Fairfield community, Red Sea Madness was a huge success and had given a revival of school spirit throughout campus.

Patrick Kiernan/The Mirror

Red Ruggers rock RPI, advance to championship

By Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor

The Red Ruggers dominated once again as they shut down Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 58-10 in the Division II Conference Semi-finals.

Last week, Fairfield men’s rugby team showed absolutely no mercy when they took down the Siena Saints 102-17 in the first round of the finals.

Heading into their game against Rensselaer, however, the Red Ruggers knew they would have to step up their game to get the win against the team that was seeded second in the North Division.

Stepping up their game was no problem for the team as they started the first half strong, leading 17-0 about 20 minutes into the first half of the game.

The field conditions could have proved to be a problem for both teams after the torrential downpours that occurred on Saturday. However, Fairfield used the puddles and slippery grass to their advantage.

With the endurance and strength training the team has acquired through daily mornings spent at the crossfit gym, the Red Ruggers had no problem outrunning and dodging their opponents which proved to work largely to their advantage.

“The boys stuck to the game plan, they really stuck to what they were sup-

posed to do and we train hard,” said Head Coach Marc Downes. “Their fitness is a key level, we do a lot of [Ben Kelley] athletics and any athlete should be doing that kind of conditioning because it works.”

By the end of the first half, RPI was only able to score five points for their team after making a series of offensive drives past Fairfield’s defense.

Fairfield, however, was relentless and with Alex Cucchi ‘15 anchoring the back and setting up multiple passing opportunities for the team, the first half ended in the Red Rugger’s favor, 34-5.

At the start of the second half, Richard Park ‘15 tackled through lines of offense from RPI, further proving Fairfield’s dominance in the game. With about 20 minutes left in the second half, Fairfield was ahead by more than 40 points, now leading 46-5.

The 40-point advantage wasn’t enough for Joe DiRico ‘15, however, who was able to impressively run the ball more than halfway down the field, outrunning three of RPI’s defensemen, and scoring yet another five points for the team.

For the remaining 10 minutes of the semi-final game, the RPI Red Hawks made several attempts to step up their offensive game and were only able to get another five points off Fairfield, which would happen to be their last points they would score of the season.

As the end of the second half came to an end, the tag team of Anif McDonald ‘16 and Aaron Bates ‘16 were able to score again for the team, making the final score of the game 58-10, sending yet another team home with defeat.

“The game today was fantastic, the boys played absolutely fantastic, and we can’t wait for Vassar,” Downes.

With the win against RPI, the Red Ruggers will prepare themselves for their next game against Vassar, the championship round of the tri-state conference league.

Heading into the championship round on Nov. 9, both teams are undefeated, however Fairfield heads into the conference with seven in-conference victories while Vassar only has five of these wins. While Fairfield defeated Sacred Heart, ranked number two in the South Division, 72-10 on Sept. 14, Vassar had barely taken down Sacred Heart in the semi-final round last weekend, defeating the team 48-34.

Although every game is different, if the Red Ruggers can continue on with the same heart and dedication for the game that they’ve showed all season, the championship game should be no difficult feat for the team that is looking to be the national champs.

“We believe we are on a national basis,” said Downes, “and we believe we want to go all the way to nationals and win nationals.”

Shauna Mitchell/ The Mirror championship round to take on Vassar on November 9th.

SPORTS 16

@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports

Sports Editor: Patrick Kiernan Âť sports@fairfieldmirror.com

Red Sea Madness READ STORY ON PAGE 15

Photos by Patrick Kiernan/ The Mirror