THE MIRROR Student-run newspaper
Week of September 17, 2014
Vol. 40, Iss. 3
Fairfield Mirror @FairfieldMirror fairfieldmirror FairfieldMirror.com
FUSA’s Fall Concert to be held outside on BCC green
Kara Sheehan / The Mirror
By Christina Mowry Assistant News Editor By Jessica Delahunt Assistant News Editor The Fairfield University Student Association has announced that the fall concert featuring headliner Love and Theft is going to be held outside on the Barone Campus Center green on Oct. 18. There are going to be two opening acts: Joel Crouse and DJ Du. Although the artists have been booked for some time, the location of the concert was just finalized on Sept. 16. “We were throwing it around before the spring concert was decided last year, but at that point in time we weren’t completely sure about the logistics,” said FUSA Chair of Programming Lindsey Hanley ‘15. Speaking on behalf of FUSA, Hanley added that an outdoor concert was “something we really wanted to try,” since FUSA hasn’t held a concert outdoors since the 1990s. The extra funds needed to hold the concert outdoors were made available by booking a less expensive artist. Budgetary considerations for the outdoor concert include the fact that two concert locations must be reserved: along with the BCC green, Alumni Hall was reserved as a rain
location, says Hanley. According to Hanley, planning any concert is no quick decision. “We first have to see which dates [at] Alumni Hall are available, so we have to check with athletics. Then from that, we have to see who is in our budget and what we’re going for, and from there if the artist is even available that day,” said Hanley. “It’s like a puzzle.” After it was decided that the concert would take place outside, the next hurdle for FUSA programmers was selecting a location that would safely accommodate an audience of around 2000 people; according to Hanley, the BCC green, the BCC parking lot, the DiMenna- Nyselius lawn and the BCC Oak Room patio were all potential candidates. The BCC green was eventually selected due to its ability to be sectioned off. “We needed to be able to secure the perimeter, says Hanley. “It’s not in our budget to have a free concert. We needed to be able to charge students.” To keep trespassers at bay, FUSA will be hiring an expansive security detail comprised of Fairfield Police, Department of Public Safety and student volunteers, says Hanley. All vantage points, such as the patio outside of the Stag, will be closed off. Many details of the concert have yet to be finalized, such as the
exact locations of the security fence, security, the entrance and tables. Also still to be decided is the concert’s age limit; while FUSA concerts have typically been 18 and over, Hanley says that this concert may be different. “Since this genre doesn’t have the same reputation that our past concerts have had, we might be able to open it up to other ages.” Feeding hungry concert-goers is a priority, according to Hanley, who says that the possibility of food trucks is “still being worked out.” As for the possibility of a spring concert, FUSA cannot make a firm decision until the fall concert has occurred. Profits from ticket sales as well as the FUSA budget after first semester dictate the ability to host another concert in the spring. With about a month until the concert, planning is still underway. Despite still having decisions to make, Hanley says that FUSA is excited. “We understand that students want this, [but] we really want this. This is what we spend all of our time doing,” said Hanley. “We all are invested in this so much. We’re absolutely ecstatic that this is happening.” Tickets are going to cost $25 for students and $40 for guests. They can be purchased at the BCC info desk.
Jennifer Calhoun / The Mirror
Inside Our Issue: News: Non-student arrested (Page 4) Opinion: ISIS is winning through social media (Page 5) Vine: Farifield begins water initative (Page 8) Sports: O’Brien breaks record (Page 16)
News
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THE MIRROR | Week of September 17, 2014
Growing Gardens on Campus
Alexandra Cowan / The Mirror
Fairfield’s campus community garden hosted an open house on Monday, Sept. 15. The 3,000 square foot garden, located by the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, is used as an outdoor classroom and laboratory for the biology department, environmental studies and is part of a university-wide effort to support sustainability, according to a university press release. Alexandra Cowan / The Mirror
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THE MIRROR |Week of September 17, 2014
News
Tour Ambassadors make or break aspiring students’ choice By Catherine Veschi Contributing Writer In the spring of 2013, Emily Gaudet ‘18 knew Fairfield was the right choice for her instead maybe Fairfield after touring it with her family. “I went on two tours at Fairfield University, and both my tour guides seemed so happy to be here and excited to share their experiences with my group and me, which made me even more excited to go here,” said Gaudet. “The tour made me decide to apply here early decision.” Gaudet isn’t the only one who felt this way after touring Fairfield. According to Admission Counselor Jeff Holmberg, a good Tour Ambassador is able to captivate the interests of aspiring students with their enthusiasm and passion. Tour Ambassadors can be the first impression a prospective student has and in many cases, the tour can be the deciding factor when it comes to choosing which college a student will attend. As part of the tour, Fairfield Tour Ambassadors strive to educate their tour of the Jesuit values and principles that define Fairfield. “I talk a little bit about the whole Jesuit idea of cura personalis - care for the whole being - and how Fairfield really allows that to come out in people,” Tour Ambassador Manager Mike Facciolo ’15 said. However, not all of the information Tour Ambassadors must provide their tour with is straight forward, especially when it comes to the residence halls. Rather than showing students a freshman dorm, such as Campion Hall or Gonzaga Hall that would give a better idea of where students would be living during their first year, the Tour Ambassadors bring the students to 70 McCormick Road instead. Tour Ambassador Katie Gillette ‘15 believes that because McCormick “is one of our newer buildings on campus,” it is seen as being “a little bit more appealing to students, even though our freshman dorms are relatively the same in size.”
Alexandra Cowan / The Mirror
According to Facciolo, welcoming tours into a freshman’s dorm can be another stressor for the freshmen students, as they are still adjusting to life at Fairfield. “Freshmen are just coming into this school,” Facciolo said. “They’re still getting adjusted to their housing assignment and their roommate, so we think it would be almost unfair to bring all these new faces into their room and into their personal space. “That’s typically why we show a sophomore residence hall, because the students living there are more comfortable,” he added. For Gillette, McCormick isn’t all that different from a freshman dorm, so it still gives aspiring students a good idea of how much space they’ll have as a first year student. When asked what questions are most frequented by parents and incoming students, Facciolo refers to the quality of food and
dining options. “It’s not mom or dad’s home cooking, but the quality has gotten better over the years, which is awesome to see. I also let them know that we do tailor to everyone’s needs, in terms of food allergies,” said Gillette. Facciolo puts more emphasis on the variety of food on campus. “I always stress the fact that we have a lot of options for dining here. I also encourage students to take the StagBus into town, because there are a lot of great places to eat there,” he said. Occasionally on tours, someone will ask about Fairfield’s religious affiliation. Tour Ambassadors make sure they ensure students that their religious preference won’t change how they’re viewed by their professors and peers at Fairfield. “There’s no restriction that if you’re not Catholic, you’re not going to get into Fairfield,” Gil-
lette said. “All of us are of different religions, we’re definitely not all Catholic, and so we definitely point that out on tours.” She also makes sure to explain that campus ministry provides transportation to off-campus services for students of different religions. There are, however, struggles Tour Ambassadors face in trying to differentiate themselves from ambassador programs at other universities. “I’d say the biggest challenge is finding ways in which we can ‘change the game,’” said Facciolo. “In other words, how can we show off Fairfield’s beauty in a way that is separate, special and distinct from tour guides at other institutions.” According to Admission Counselor Corey Novak, Tour Ambassadors can impact a student or family’s perception of the university. “Our Tour Ambassadors are
our guerilla fighters - doing our jobs on the smaller and more local level,” Novak said. Holmberg explained that tours are “not only the first impression, but also the first and only impression. For the Tour Ambassadors, it’s all about setting the tone for the school.” For most Tour Ambassadors, the most gratifying aspect of the job is having a direct impact on a student’s reaction to Fairfield. “There’s no greater feeling than walking around campus a year later and seeing somebody and they recognize you and they say ‘you’re my Tour Ambassador; you’re the reason that I came here.’ That’s the most rewarding thing in it for me,” Facciolo said. Holmberg and Novak encourage any students with an interest in becoming a Tour Ambassador to apply in the spring, as they will be losing a lot of seniors, and will be looking for replacements.
School of Nursing receives $605,000 federal grant By Symone Mazzotta Contributing Writer Fairfield’s School of Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner Program has received a $605,000 grant from the United States Health Resources and Services Administration towards the immediate need for nurse practitioners as primary care providers. Graduate students will benefit from this grant, as it will supply financial assistance and scholarships to full-time students each year, and assist part-time students during their final year. This grant is offered to nurse practitioners at the master’s and doctorate level who are learning by working in the community and, specifically, medically underserved areas where
nurses and primary care providers are scarce. Supplying most of the cost of tuition, this grant will bring students at ease and will attract more students to the program. Dean of the School of Nursing Dr. Meredith Kazer said that the federal government has put a lot of money towards nurse practitioner education due to the need for primary care providers; they are happily awarding schools like Fairfield more money for financial assistance. “Nurse practitioners can serve in the role of primary care providers. With the Affordable Care Act being fully implemented this past January 2014, many, many more people now have insurance and are seeking health care providers and not enough physicians
are available. Nurse practitioners are stepping into that role and are highly regarded as primary care providers. All of the data has been collected and measures that nurse
These resources allow us to develop our expertise in these areas that will make our students great providers. - Meredith Kazer, Dean of the School of Nursing practitioners versus physician as primary care providers has shown nurse practitioners have equal
outcomes with physicians,” said Kazer. In being awarded such a substantial amount of money, Dr. Sheila Grossman, professor and coordinator of the family nurse practitioner track, stated that Fairfield plans with their students to find jobs while in school. “If a student is going to take the grant money, the student has to end up working in primary care. While in school, they will be working in community health centers, like in Bridgeport or Norwalk. The reason why we got such a good amount for the grant is because we try hard to set up the students’ rotations so that they will be asked to stay after and get a job there. We advise them on what areas may need a nurse practitioner
after they graduate.” Fairfield is setting up students with stable jobs that fill the imminent void for more nurse practitioners since the passing of the Affordable Care Act. Undergraduate students are more prone to come back to Fairfield due to the grants the graduate school has been awarded. “Fairfield University School of Nursing is such a leader among other schools of nursing throughout the nation. We have such an expert faculty here that are nationally recognized for multiple areas from neonatal to pediatric care to the care of older adults. These resources allow us to develop our expertise in these areas that will make our students great providers,” said Kazer.
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THE MIRROR | Week of September 17, 2014
Crime Beat
News
Compiled by Austin Wesolowski Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.
Wednesday, 9/10 1:48 p.m. – A hunting knife was found by DPS in a vehicle parked in a university lot. The student was referred to student conduct. 7:55 p.m. – A rock was thrown through a window on the third floor of Jogues Hall. Cameras are being reviewed by DPS for possible suspects. Thursday, 9/11 11:57 p.m. – A Regis Hall fire alarm was triggered due to smoke resulting from the burning of Easy Mac. Friday, 9/12 12:59 a.m. – A men’s bathroom stall in Bannow Science Center was found to be vandalized. A stall was ripped off of the wall by its hinges. Maintenance was notified. Sunday, 9/14 11:32 a.m. – A red university minivan was found smelling like burnt marijuana and cigarettes, with marijuana residue left in the interior. The situation is under investigation by DPS. 3:16 p.m. – The window of a student vehicle was shattered while parked outside of Faber Hall. Anyone with information about the incident should contact DPS. 7:45 p.m. – A student’s bike was stolen from 70 McCormick Road. The bike was found across campus with damage to the handlebars and back tires. 8:39 p.m. – A stop sign was stolen from the corner of Lynch and Leeber Streets. Monday, 9/15 7:44 a.m. – An ABM employee was reported trapped in the elevator of a residence hall, but was able to free herself. The elevator was shut down and the repair company was contacted.
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Freshman class of 2018 is the largest in Fairfield’s history at 1,068 students By Meaghan Hamilton Contributing Writer If you think the Quad is teeming with freshman, you are not just getting old and sentimental — the class of 2018 is a record high freshman class boasting 1,068 new students on campus. This increase seems to be indicative of a trend of increasing class sizes with the junior class coming in second with 990 students and the sophomore class following behind with just over 960 students. According to the Office of Admissions statistics, Fairfield received a four percent increase in applications, receiving almost 10,000 applications at the Aloysius P. Kelley Center last year. Numbers this large on a campus this small can raise a few concerns, largely focusing on where to place the more than 1,000 on-campus students. The most probable and feared answer comes from the forced triple, and it seems as if every freshman knows at least one person in this type of living arrangement. However, Associate Director of Residence Life Charles Sousa assured that any room with three people in it is a “true triple,” or a room specifically designated and spaced for three people, rather than
a traditional dorm room that somehow has been forced to house three people. Sousa has suggested that the only real impact the increase has on freshman is the lack of flexibility when it comes to roommate mediation. When asked how to fit an expanding Fairfield on a stagnant campus, Sousa explained that “every year we reevaluate and make new models” when it comes to designating who goes where. This year’s strategy included a second release of seniors to live off campus and the reuse of rooms in Claver Hall that have previously been used as lounges. A wing in Loyola Hall is also being used as just sophomore living, rather than as part of the Ignatian Residential College. According to Sousa, larger classes used to be much more difficult to manage before the addition of newer residential buildings like 70 McCormick Road and 51 McInnes Road. For the time being, the expanding incoming classes will all have a space on campus. However, concerns also arise regarding the allocation of merit and financial aid if class sizes keep increasing, a suspicion refuted by Karen Pellegrino, dean of enrollment. The reason the class of 2018 is particularly large is because there were
“stronger students yielded at a higher rate,” Pellegrino said. Despite Fairfield’s acceptance rate rising from 70 percent to 71 percent, she added that the mean SAT scores increased, making this year’s freshman class stronger than previous years. As it relates to financial aid, the more people on campus the better, since if more tuition is being paid, then more funds are available to the university and the students as a whole, Pellegrino said. She assured that the new large class would not cause a “pull back” of already given aid. For Fairfield students, the increase in class sizes doesn’t seem to cause constraints. After speaking with Samiha Julakha ‘18 and Alexandra Kosmidis ‘18, both reported having intro level courses and First Year Experience groups that are within the university’s average class size of “around 12-20” students. For Eman Jebara ‘17, the increase in class size is both “a good and bad thing.” “I like that the school is growing and expanding, which is important, but at the same time, I chose Fairfield because of its smaller class sizes,” said Jebara.
Non-student arrested for assault and trespassing By Christina Mowry Assistant News Editor James M. Macdonnell, a 19-year-old non-student from New York, was arrested on campus for criminal trespassing and assault early Sunday morning after causing a disturbance at a townhouse. According to the CT Post, Macdonnell told the townhouse resident who answered the door that he knew one of his roommates. The student left to confirm this before finding out that Macdonnell made a false claim. When the student returned, he found Macdonnell already inside the house and poking holes in the kitchen wall with a knife, the CT Post reported. However, Associate Director of Public Safety Frank Ficko refuted this claim, saying that there was no knife on the scene when DPS arrived and no signs of damage or vandalism. The CT Post also reported that upon being asked to leave by the townhouse residents, Macdonnell refused. He allegedly threatened to return and kill the students. Eventually, the residents got Macdonnell out of the house and called a resident assistant, who then called DPS once Macdonnell tried to urinate on the townhouse porch, stated CT Post. Ficko referred to Macdonnell as being “unruly” and “uncooperative,” adding that Macdonnell was cursing and spat at a DPS officer. Per the CT Post, the police report also states that Macdonnell threatened to kill a Fairfield police officer. When asked why Macdonnell was on campus, Ficko said he was visiting a student. “These kind of incidents don’t happen often, but usually happen with non-students,” Ficko said.
CORRECTION BOX On page 1 of our last issue, our photo caption misspelled the word “inconvenience.” On page 16 of our last issue, our photo credit misspelled the name of Patrick Kiernan.
Opinion
Opinion
THE MIRROR | Week of September 17, 2014
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Editor
We've become too 'ab-used' to the situation By Jane Holland Contributing Writer As the season is now underway for the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens have a lot more on their minds than winning their first few games. On Monday, Sept. 8, Ravens running back Ray Rice was cut from the team and suspended indefinitely from the NFL for attacking his fiancée (now wife), knocking her unconscious. The issue, however, goes much deeper than the Ravens simply losing a teammate. Domestic violence is the main issue at hand and it needs to stop. While the three-time Pro Bowler was the face of the Ravens at the 2012 Super Bowl, his actions have now made him the current face of domestic violence in the NFL. In February of this year, a short video of Rice abusing his then-fiancée in an Atlantic City elevator was leaked. In July, the NFL suspended Rice for two games, receiving some backlash for the leniency of his punishment. After the negative criticisms, Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner, re-evaluated punishments
Editorial Board A need for transparency Shauna Mitchell Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Calhoun Executive Editor Enxhi Myslymi Managing Editor
for domestic violence and changes were made. He then changed the penalty to a six-game suspension for the first offense and possible banishment for the second offense. The public was more pleased with this course of action and Goodell then apologized saying that he simply “didn’t get it right” in Rice’s case. Shockingly, a second part of the video was leaked by TMZ on Monday and the NFL initially told the public that they had never seen the video before. “That video was not made available to us and no one in our office has seen it until today,” NFL senior vice president of communications Greg Aiello said. News has now come out from a law enforcement official, who told Associate Press that the video was sent to the NFL months ago and that people in the NFL confirmed that it was “terrible.” Now, there is going to be an independent investigation by Former Director of the FBI Robert Mueller as to what actually happened with this video. In my opinion, there is no way that the NFL had never seen this tape. At the end of the day the NFL
is a business, just like any other. All businesses’ number one goal is to make money, which hinges on a decent reputation. Whether it is true that the NFL had not seen the video until Monday or not, they are sticking to that story in order to preserve their image. Also, the Ravens’ number one goal is to make it to the Super Bowl and Rice was a key player to make that dream of theirs become a reality. The Ravens would do anything to keep one of their top players, even if it means turning a blind eye when videos such as this one surface. Domestic violence is a bigger issue in America than people think. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence found that 30 percent of women in the U.S. have been slapped, pushed or shoved by an intimate partner and 19 percent of intimate partner violence involves a weapon. Every day, three women die because of domestic violence and in many cases, they are blamed for it. A tweet from the Ravens’ official account from May stated, “Janay Rice deeply regrets the role that she played the night of the incident.” Many people are ques-
tioning why Janay is staying by Rice’s side after this incident. Some claim that Janay provoked the situation and others believe that she is a gold digger who is out for fame. Yet, the truth is, it is not uncommon for a victim of domestic abuse to not leave their abusers. Many victims of domestic abuse stay with their abusers due to chemical, societal or psychological factors. The Los Angeles Police Department issued a list of reasons why battered victims stay with
They control 90,000 square miles, with soldiers on the ground from the Mediterranean coast of Syria to a few miles south of Baghdad. They implement strict Sharia law in the territory that they control. They have soldiers, about 20,000 to 30,000, many of whom are foreign fighters from places like Russia, Germany, France, United Kingdom and the United States. They are currently the main opposition against Assad-
A lot of people see our campus as a bubble. Safe and shielded from the outside world, we interact minimally with the town of Fairfield, venturing off campus only for groceries and beach parties. Lately, that bubble has burst. With several crimes having taken place on our campus since school has started, we at The Mirror are starting to wonder how safe Fairfield really is. Last Monday, there were seven Fairfield Police cruisers and at least three Department of Public Safety cars parked on Loyola Drive for an incident that DPS later described vaguely as “a medical/
personal issue” in an email sent out to students. The only other source that provides more information is a Fairfield Citizen story, which states that a hoax call was placed to the Stamford Police Department about a woman threatening to come to our campus and kill her children. Even though that story hasn’t been confirmed by FPD or DPS, we as students are clinging to it because it is more detailed. If it was a hoax call, why weren’t we notified about it? Why has FPD refused to give The Mirror information about the incident, despite half a dozen calls? The Freedom of Information
Act gives us the right to the information and the police reports, but FPD continues to ignore our contact attempts. Last weekend, there was a break-in at the Townhouses. Students were never notified about it, instead having to read about it in the Connecticut Post, which managed to get the police report and push out a story. Again, FPD refused to respond to The Mirror’s several attempts for information. We, as students, should not have to hear about crimes happening on our campus from outside sources. Public Safety and Fairfield Police need to stop sweeping
the batterers. Some of those reasons include fear, economic dependence, helplessness or that the victim may rationalize the beatings. Some victims fear the abuser so much that they treat them as if they are “godlike.” I believe that Rice deserves to be suspended indefinitely from the NFL. If the NFL lets this incident slide with Rice, then it will show that domestic violence is tolerated in this society and the issue will become even worse than it currently is.
Why ISIS is a powerful foe By Robert Hedberg Contributing Writer
eastern Syria and after completely demolishing the Iraqi army in northern Iraq, threaten to move into Shiite lands. Their goal: to unite all Sunni Muslims in the Middle East and to create a Caliphate, or Islamic State. There are three things that the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) has that makes them the most dangerous and powerful terrorist organization: strong leadership, good use of social media and an incredible ability to gain revenue. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Continued on Page 6
incidents under the rug, claiming that everything is “under control." At times, such as in this summer's incident involving an alleged stabbing on campus, the lack of an organized response from the university led to even more, potentially dangerous, rumors spreading around campus. The real world is not a perfectly safe place; we should not expect Fairfield to be otherwise. Our campus administrators should strive to inform students about an event as soon as the event happen, not when it's convenient. We expect, and believe we deserve, to have transparency between students and those in charge of our campus' safety.
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THE MIRROR | Week of September 17, 2014
Opinion
ISIS is winning the battle through social media Continued from page 5 leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), is believed to be a tactical genius, organizing large scale military operations internationally. Little is known about al-Baghdadi except that he was captured as a civilian in 2004 and held prisoner by American forces for either one or five years (depending on the source). While captive, it is believed he met Al-Qaeda leaders. In 2010, after his release, he became leader of Al-Qaeda’s Iraq faction, the ISI, and began large scale terrorist attacks throughout the country. In 2013, al-Baghdadi moved many of his soldiers out of Iraq and into Syria. Quickly, ISI began having confrontations with al-Nusra, a terrorist organization allied with Afghanistan’s Al-Qaeda. After negotiations failed, ISIS separated all ties to Al-
Qaeda and absorbed over 80 percent of al-Nusra’s fighters, eliminating the rest. ISIS is waging a war, not only in the field, but on the Internet. The terrorist organization has a commanding presence in social media, which is a leading reason many foreign fighters are willing to fight for them. ISIS is constantly making exciting propaganda videos of their activities, being broadcasted in many different languages. With thousands of tweets and hundreds of videos, they are winning the hearts and minds of individuals from all over the world. An estimated 10,000 soldiers who fight for ISIS are foreigners, most of whom are recruited from their social media campaign. In their videos, they portray themselves as Sunni freedom fighters and make execution videos of infidels. In the same way that Apple revolutionized the music industry,
Loved more dead than alive By Ariana Puzzo Contributing Writer “Can we talk?” That was the famous catchphrase of legendary comedian Joan Rivers, who passed away on Sept. 4 following complications from a minor medical procedure. The raspy-voiced New Yorker was best known early in her career for her often self-deprecating humor, and later humor that evolved into abrasive celebrity bashing; ridiculing the famous with a vicious wit that showed little mercy. I was mildly familiar with Rivers. I recall hearing her joke about her late husband’s suicide, not understanding what could be even remotely funny about such a tragic event. Her brand of humor, which seemed cruel to me, did not make me a fan. What was it about this octogenarian “mean girl” who in death seemed to captivate the nation and beyond? Why, in these politically correct times, were all these accolades being thrust upon the woman who once said when referring to the 2013 inauguration of President Barack Obama, “If I want to see millions of smiling black people, I’ll set up a camera in the hallway outside Kim Kardashian’s bedroom!” I wondered why this comedienne, at 81 years old, was now trending on Twitter. I did a bit of research to see what others may have recognized in this woman that I failed to see. Why were adjectives such as “legendary” and “iconic” being used to describe a woman who built a career on mocking and ridiculing celebrities and their vulnerabilities? Some of her most controversial comments include: “I was just reading about the new Lindsay Lohan diet, which is all liquid. 80 proof,” (referring to Adele) “What’s her song, ‘Rolling in the Deep’? She should add fried chicken,” and (referring to the daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West),
ISIS has revolutionized the terrorist industry, in more ways than just videos. Unlike other Sunni terrorist organizations which rely on funding from wealthy individuals from countries like Saudi Arabia, ISIS is able to generate enough revenue to be completely self-sufficient. Through kidnappings, extortion, looting and the selling of oil, ISIS has collected a huge amount of wealth estimated to be as high as $2 billion. They earn an estimated $1-2 million a day and once stole over $400 dollars’ worth of gold from an Iraqi bank. With such exuberant amounts of money, ISIS has the capacity to wage a long enduring war. In June 2014, ISIS invaded northern Iraq. Over 50,000 Iraqi soldiers fled their posts; those captured were executed. ISIS soldiers took over most of northern Iraq, captur-
“That baby is ugly … I’ve never seen a six-month-old so desperately in need of a waxing.” The Barnard graduate grew up as the daughter of Russian-Jewish immigrants. An initial dream of becoming a serious actress detoured when she realized her unremarkable appearance and ability to make people laugh might make her better suited for comedy. With contemporaries like Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen and Bill Cosby, she was a pioneer in the world of female caustic comics, paving the way for the likes of Kathy Griffin, Sarah Silverman and Chelsea Handler. Her big break came in 1965 when she caught the eye of former “Tonight Show” host Johnny Carson. She would go on to become the only regular replacement host for Carson in the 1980s. An offer to host her own latenight talk show caused Carson to shun her. She often cited the failure of her talk show, canceled after less than one year, and her rift with Carson as contributing factors to the depression that led to her husband’s 1987 suicide. Following a career slump, Rivers reinvented herself, most notably on the red carpet dishing and dissing fashion with her daughter Melissa, and most recently as a host of the E! show “Fashion Police.” Despite her caustic and often cruel observations, Rivers was a beloved figure. While many, including myself and Jennifer Lawrence, who stated that Rivers’ “Fashion Police” teaches young people “that it’s OK to point at people and call them ugly and call them fat” may have been offended by her brand of humor, one can only imagine that Rivers response would be her other famous catch phrase, “Oh, grow up!” 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.
ing weapons and freeing prisoners. Other Sunni militias that were fighting the Iraqi government both before and after the invasion swore allegiance to al-Baghdadi. ISIS continues to grow stronger every day and has the superiority on the ground. Their biggest threat comes from the air in the form of U.S. drone strikes. In August, the U.S. began an air campaign to protect personnel in the country. On Sept. 10, the president declared that he will expand his air campaign into Syrian territory and coordinate them with Iraqi and Kurdish ground attacks. In my opinion, ISIS is the embodiment of all the evil and hate that extends from fanatical extremism. If gone unchecked, I believe that they will eradicate the millions of nonSunni minorities and we will see one of the biggest genocides in decades. That being said, all that is happening
is either a direct or indirect result of American involvement in that country. Therefore, America has a responsibility to aid these minority groups and help them to be safe in their own lands. We cannot leave these groups to be annihilated like we allowed so many Hmong people in Vietnam and the Kurds in the first Gulf War. I believe the president is making the right decision for a focused air strikes across ISIS territory. It worked extremely well in Libya against Gaddafi, toppling an anti-U.S. nation without the use of ground troops. America should also continue to support an independent Kurdistan, or what appears to be happening now, a Kurdish-led Iraqi government. The Kurds, which are an ethnic group in Iraq, have the only military prowess that can stand up to ISIS. It is unclear what the future holds for ISIS and Iraq, but one thing is clear: Don’t underestimate ISIS.
iSee a growing trend By Colleen Sweeney Contributing Writer Cell phones are becoming bigger and bigger these days, moving away from the previous, compact trend. When cell phones first began to gain popularity, they were so big that they needed to be carried around in boxes. But as technology grew, phones shrunk. They were first condensed into handheld phones, and then came the era of the flip phone. The trend was clear: phones were becoming smaller, slimmer, faster and more advanced. So why are phones getting bigger now? First, the Nexus 5, released last year, emerged on the market at five inches. The recently unveiled iPhone 6 Plus has a five and a half inch screen. Are these big phones, or just small tablets? It seems that they are both. A new player on the phone market is the “phablet” - a phone with a screen between five and six inches. This new player on the market had acquired only 2 percent of the mobile market in 2013, but has increased in 2014 to 10 percent of the market, according to Business Insider. It seems that “phablets” are taking the mobile technology market by storm, and with good reason. The iPhone 6 Plus operates as a phone when holding it in portrait mode, but when switched to landscape mode, it operates like a smaller version of the iPad, giving you two columns for apps such as mail, notes and messages, as well as multiple other apps. When it comes to the camera, it seems that bigger really is better. Though the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have the same camera, the iPhone 6 Plus has optical image stabilization, or OIS, which means that the camera is isolated from the phone. This results in better pictures, perfect for those of us with shaky hands, or for fans of low-light photography. Finally, to continue the trend of the iPhone’s betterment, the battery life for both models have improved from the iPhone 5s. To compare, the iPhone 6 has 14 hours of talk, 10 days standby, 10 to 11 hours of web browsing and video playback and 50 hours of audio, whereas the iPhone 6 Plus has up to 24 hours of talk, 16 days of standby, 12 hours of web browsing, 14 hours of video playback and 80 hours of audio. So you may not be able to slide it as easily into your pocket, but you could easily put it in a bag, or carry it around with you. So consumers, it’s up to you: Is bigger really better? For me, I’ll stick with the regular iPhone. I already have a tablet and even though it’s small, it would be a hassle to try and carry it around with me everywhere I go. I like to be able to put my phone in my pocket, which wouldn’t be big enough for the new iPhone 6 Plus. Not only would its size be inconvenient for me, but I would think the bigger size would leave the phone more susceptible to damage. I’m a pretty clumsy person and the bigger size means more area to get scratched or cracked, if and when I drop it. I could get a bulky case to protect it, but that would just make it even bigger and bulkier. So for me, bigger isn’t better, but it all comes back to personal preference.
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arts, entertainment, features Editor Charles DeFilippo: info@fairfieldmirror.com
THE MIRROR | Week of September 17, 2014
The Vine
By Katie Acompora Assistant Vine Editor
the topic of water and how it shapes every facet of human life. Water is such an integral force in
international studies and even art courses. Convocation this year was also focused on water as keynote speaker Dr. Yohuru Williams expressed, “even a
The water initiative this year is being incorporated into chemistry, English, studio art,
change of the seas.” Professors and students are taking the water theme to the next level by conducting research
nomic standpoint. Senior Jake Shemtob was themed honors class last fall in which he explored water from a comprehensive perspective.
the other is to further explore why water is important from social perspectives as well,” said
tuary on the border of Bridgeport Old Mill Pond in town. Shemtob was engaged in literature and culture. As part of
tion. “As an economics major, I was called to study the how and the why of bottled water in the
Quinn Dombrowski/Creative Commons
percent of households consume water.
terns of consumption of water with how much Guatemalans are willing to pay for clean, healthy water,” said Shemtob. Despite the water focus signs throughout the Barone Campus Center, many students remain unaware of the new theme. Ironically, “about 75 percent of the human body is made up of water;” yet “75 percent of the student body doesn’t know about the water theme,” said Ricky
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The water initiative is really encouraging students to sider a topic that is often taken for granted.
sential to life and it is important for people to value its impact on the world and how it shapes our To learn more about this year’s theme in water, there are ous educational and mainstream water initiative will be shown on campus including “Watermark,” “Florence: Days of Destruction,” “Aguirre: The Wrath of God,” “Still Life,” “Terraferma,” “Life of ing Nemo.” Students should also take
er it was because of convenience or whether or not consumers believe their water is unclean,” said Shemtob.
theme in a very active way.
consumption in Guatemala with
site, Eric Sowell ‘15 is a member
research project focuses on how people in developing countries, such as Guatemala, value water from an economic and monetary
Club. “As a lifelong sailor, water has played an enormous role in my life making me the person I am today. I am hoping I can return the favor by helping clean
vide “lots of opportunities for students to apply what they are learning on a conscious level.” According their research data,
sions on campus including “Just Water: Theology, Ethics, and the Global Water Crisis,” or attend the “The Pirate Plays,” playing at the Wein Black Box Theatre at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The plays runs from Sept. Lastly, there will be an art series entitled Connecticut (un) that features eight artists at
It's Time to 'Make ART Not WAR' By Monet Monterosso Contributing Writer City Lights Gallery gave artists the chance to, “Make Art Not War” in Bridgeport, on Sept. 11th at 6 p.m. The evening consisted lectures directly from the artists featured in the exhibit. Their artwork was a part of an open discussion with the guests that came; answering questions and giving feedback on their work. The exhibit displayed all types of art, including: digital collages, paintings, abstracts, pop ups, sculptures
of the occasion. 9/11 I was challenged with the question, 'would that be edy occurred: because we don’t have enough dialogue.
lence, racism or battle, but of the war within oneself. On a wood canvas, we see a man with a bullet hole through his head surrounded with birds. “There is a bullet hole because when I was younger, at a corner store, I ended up having a gun pointed at my head,” said Torres. “This is how I let it out.” Many comments were made about the emotion in his piece, but when asked more about the issue of not making war he said, “War can be external and internal. Instead of going on that road I decided when I get angry to have my escape through art.” "My art is my journal," he added. As the night continued, the audience followed around the room and each artist stood to explain his or her piece, have an open discussion and answer questions. One discussion escalated quickly into an argument on gun violence after looking at Ro art. The piece consisted of a digital collage of pictures of naked Contributed by City Lights Gallery
featured in the gallery. It was a pop up that had an
pings that involved gun violence.
continued to explain its creation, bringing up certain elements that were important to her like the toy gun, elaborating on how a dangerous weapon is being given to a child in toy form and that's where it all begins. “When I look at art I think of two things, design
[naked woman holding guns] is sitting on the results [massacres involving guns].” The argument then grew from the fact that, today, it is acceptable for people to pose with guns, which led to audience agreement and disagreement. The right to bare arms was also brought up when one member questioned, “If a person has a gun what makes him or her think that he or she could take on the entire U.S. army by having a gun?" More artists stood introducing their pieces and a
could be and then how it was executed.” To follow up, Margaret Roleke got up to present sional piece that was called “Cowboys and Indians”. It involved many toy soldiers and toy fences and any toy one can think of. ing with bright colors and something to admire, but when an onlooker looks deeper you begin to see the elements that I’ve hidden to relate to the message I’m trying to convey,” said Roleke.
there to raise their hands giving a peace sign and recite the Peace Pledge. The audience raised peace signs and repeated after
about why she decided to have these artists speak. stand expression through the arts to get words with it.
ate the work more and also helps artist with getting dingo who introduced his work by reciting a poem he wrote called “9/11” with a powerful message about how The last artist to present was Mia Lipstick who introduced her three pieces involving a huge peace sign and daisys. She ended her discussion asking everyone
If you have not been exposed to the exhibit, “Make ART Not WAR” gallery will be open through Sept. 24th. Visit City Gallery at 37 Marcle Ct, Bridgeport, Conn. 06604 or visit citylightsgallery.org.
The Mirror | Week of September 17, 2014
Page 9
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THE MIRROR | Week of September 17, 2014
The Vine
Told ByDre
When it comes to style & fashion, Dre tells all. Courtney Rhodes/Creative Commons
By Andrea Butler Fashion Columnist Hope you’re having a wonderful week, Stags! Fall trends aren’t just limited to clothing. A change of season is a perfect opportunity to liven up your makeup bag, too. Whether you prefer to leave your skin bare, or love to use your face as a canvas, makeup can be a great way to further showcase your own unique style. Here are just a few looks you can try for your next night out at the Townhouses or the ‘Grape! Metallic Eye Shadow is a fresh way to mix up your classic smoky eye. Urban Decay offers a variety highly pigmented shadows, perfect for cosmetic novices and experts alike. Doll-like eyelashes can give you a vintage and coquettish look. You could try dozens of mascaras promising to make you look like Barbie, or you could use this beauty trick: Simply cover your lashes in a light layer of baby powder using a Q-tip in between coats of mascara. Brightly-colored liquid eyeliner is perfect for those who have already mastered the standard cat eye and want to mix things up. Boutique makeup brand Lime Crime offers some amazing colors. Red lipstick is always in style. Even if you don’t feel like you can pull it off, I promise you that you can with the right color and a little bit of confidence. MAC Cosmetics is known for their huge collection of lip products, and you’re sure to find a shade and finish that’s right for you. You don’t need makeup to look pretty, but it is definitely a fun way to play up your features, express yourself and have an extra boost of confidence. Enjoy your week lovelies, and stay gorgeous! Love,
Dre
Sarah Laval/Creative Commons
Carmen Rodriguez/Creative Commons
Engage with a company that hires leaders, not followers. Engage with us at your campus career fair and our on-campus events. You’ll learn how we’re taking 80 years of experience and leadership as part of GE and applying that heritage to our new company. You’ll find out how we’re the country’s largest provider of private label credit cards based on purchase volume and receivables. You’ll also get more information about our Business Leadership Program and Internship Program, which train the best students to be the best in the industry.
Fall 2014 Career & Internship Fair • September 25, 2014 • 11:00 am - 2:00 pm • Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Recreation Complex
Visit your career center for Synchrony Financial job opportunities and on-campus interview dates.
Engage with us. To apply go to SynchronyFinancial.com/University
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The Mirror | Week of September 17, 2014
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Fall TV Preview: Mirror Staff Picks
“They’re screwing with the wrong people,” said “Walking Dead” protagonist Rick Grimes as he and most of the main cast were forced into an unfriendly trailer in the “safe haven” known as Terminus. Yet, there is reason to believe that Terminus is not as safe as they all once assumed. Grimes sees various signs revealing that this town in the midst of a zombie world is just as dangerous as its surroundings and could be using its own residents as food. Now, the possibilities for the upcoming season are limitless. How will the crew get out of this distressful place? Will they uncover the secrets behind Terminus? Will Tyreese, Carol and Beth, the only members not in the trailer, prove to be integral to the survival of the rest of the cast? Tune in to AMC at 9 p.m. on Oct. 12 to find out the answers. If you thought Thursday was best known for its thirstiness, you are in for a change of heart when Shonda Thursday comes to ABC this fall. “Scandal,” which is, in my opinion, one of the best shows on television is the highlight of the night. “Scandal” will be nestled between the classic “Grey’s Anatomy” at 8 p.m. and Shonda Rhimes’ newest show “How to Get Away With Murder,” which airs at 10 p.m.
“Scandal,” the show with the best plot twists, outfits and emotional highs and lows is going to come back with a vengeance. To put this into perspective, I watched all three seasons of this show within two days because I couldn’t stop. So for those of you who haven’t watched “Scandal” yet, you still have time! “Before Batman, there was Gotham.” Fox is premiering the dark and gritty story of Gotham City as it was when the future Commissioner Gordon arrives. The corruption ingrained in the deepest hearts of the city stars Ben McKenzie (“The O.C.,” “Southland”) as Jim Gordon, a cop who is just discovering that there is nothing redeeming about Gotham City. While this show is about the beginning of Bruce Wayne, it is not centralized around Batman. Instead, the show explores the origins and the paths that the villains and heroes took that lead them to their places in the comics that we know today. I think that this take on a well-known story is a great way to explore more of the infamous city, which is just as vital to the origin of Batman as the cape and cowl. Catch the beginnings of The Riddler, The Penguin, and Catwoman on Sept. 22 on Fox—and see if you can spot the Joker! “Revenge” recently released the dramatic trailer for the fourth season. After the exciting season three finale, this season should be more intense than ever before. Now that Emily - or should I say Amanda Clarke - has finally gotten revenge, what is going to happen this season? Well apparently David Clarke is back, and alive, which should prove for some interesting interactions. Also, is Conrad really dead? How long will Victoria last in the psychiatric hospital? All I know is that I’m still mourning the loss of the mind-blowingly sexy Aiden Mathis. I’m going to miss his perfect British accent and boyish charm. Now I’ll have to focus all my love on Jack Porter. Will he and Amanda ever get together? Can they kill Daniel together? Will Charlotte remain an innocent bystander or somehow become dragged into the Grayson-Clarke drama? Find out what happens Sept. 28 at 10 p.m. on ABC.
WVOF
This Week's Top 30 Charts By Jana Novak Music Director
Coffee Break
THE MIRROR | Week of September 17, 2014
Page 12
COFFEE BREAK Editor: Meaghan Kirby
Point/Counterpoint: 8 a.m. Classes Are you waking up on time?
By Patricia Dalton Contributing Writer
By Allison White Contributing Writer
Picture this: It’s Monday morning, 7:30 a.m. early. How can anyone pay attention to school The dreaded 8 a.m. class is one that most students and realizing a large portion of the day is already gone, and your alarm goes off. Within a half hour, work at 8 a.m.? try to avoid during scheduling. Why? Once you con- you have time to take advantage of everything Fairfield Sitting in class while half asleep doesn’t help you’re already sitting down for your first class. quer the stigma of waking up early in college, you’ll has to offer. The last thing students want is to have an 8 a.m. our attention span, keep us focused or help Without the motivation of an 8 a.m. class, I personfind that having a class at 8 a.m. can benefit you as a improve our grades. All you can think about class. ally find myself struggling to make time to study, join student. So, why do schools even offer 8 a.m. classes? is snuggling up into bed, which is what most It sounds strange, I’ll agree. I’m not a morning per- clubs, get to know my floormates and bond with new After a long week and short weekend, sleep is students do after an early class. Since you’re not son until I’ve had my cup of coffee from Einstein’s and friends. Next semester when you’re working on schedessential. Homework has taken up a majority of fully awake during class, the lessons are not beuling, think twice before you skip that 8 a.m. class; you even then, it’s a stretch to say I’m happy to be awake. the weekend and now you are forced to wake up ing retained, which directly affects academic I always assumed that my lack of energy in the might enjoy the extra time more than you think. performance. morning would make me a worse student. StudAs a student who has an 8 a.m. class, ies argue, however, that waking up early for class I do not think they should be necessary. can actually improve your grades. In a Forbes It doesn’t leave enough time to wake up, article titled “Top 10 Advantages of Waking Up eat and get ready for the day. Early,” it is explained that students who are selfNo one wants to wake up a full hour described “morning people” tend to have higher earlier in order to do all this, which GPAs. Waking up earlier gives you the advantage leaves us hungry, tired and looking like of having more time during the day when you are we just rolled out of bed (which is true). awake and focused to complete homework and In order to learn in class, our minds study. Freshman Sarah Donnelly confirms, “Wakneed to be awake and alert. ing up early sucks, but after it I feel like I have so Is anyone ever really alert on a Monmuch more time to get stuff done.” day morning? I don’t think so. It is Most students awake at 8 a.m. would agree with harder for me to pay attention so early the assessment that being up that early isn’t fun, in the morning, which makes it a strugbut the benefits of extra time outweighs the temgle to learn information and perform porary feeling of exhaustion. The Jesuit value cura well on tests. personalis states it is our duty to expand ourselves After a full day of classes, most stuoutside our studies. They are inarguably impordents have to stay up late to do hometant to college students, but socializing is also inwork. Also, if you are a member of strumental to having the full college experience. a club or sports team, you may have The extra time you have in your day from being to stay up even later to get your work forced to wake up early will give you more time at done. night to spend with friends, without the stress or School encourages us to get indistraction of looming assignments. volved not only academically, but You could also utilize the extra time by going to Contributed under Creative Commons with extra curricular activities as the gym, joining a sports team or participating well. All of these activities demand in a club. There are many opportunities to get Editor’s note: us to get a full night’s sleep, which involved on campus that you could be missing Point/Counterpoint wants to give students on campus a chance to voice their opinions on specific issues. The topics must be relevant to a majority of the student population and can be a current event or a long-standing issue. If you would like to be makes waking up for 8 a.m. classes out on because you don’t have enough time to featured in the column, contact info@fairfieldmirror.com. nearly impossible. dedicate to them. Instead of waking up at noon
ISIS: What’s Going on in the Middle East? By Elizabeth McDonagh Contributing Writer
ISIS is a terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria that goes by several names, including the Islamic State, ISIL and ISIS. ISIS has declared a caliphate, or an Islamic state ruled by one leader. ISIS is being led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the “Caliph Ibrahim.” The Caliph Ibrahim is thought to be the successors of the Prophet Muhammad. ISIS holds radical beliefs that deviate from traditional and majority Islamic beliefs. ISIS has control over areas in Western Iraq and Northern Syria. Some of the areas included in the caliphate are Mosul, Falluja and Talafar. In an effort to promote their messages, the Jihadists use social media. ISIS has accumulated an army of more than 10,000 fighters. These militants have gained a reputation for their gruesome tactics. ISIS has targeted the United States by beheading two American journalists in response to U.S. airstrikes in Iraq. They have also targeted Britain as one of U.S.’s allies and beheaded a British aid worker. For more information and updates about ISIS, check out BBC World News.
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THE MIRROR | Week of September 17, 2014
Weekly 4x5
Because they like to talk ...
Your 2014-2015 4x5 Columnists:
Patrick Kiernan, Jennifer Calhoun, Matthew Schneider and Jesse Erickson
Women's soccer's Jim O'Brien now holds the record for most head coaching wins. Thoughts?
What was the best highlight from the NFL this weekend?
Thoughts on the USA winning the FIBA World Basketball Cup?
Are you getting an iPhone 6? Why or why not?
Thoughts on the Ray Rice/Adrian Peterson situations?
Couldn't be happier for the guy. His teams at Fairfield have always been committed to excellence while having fun, too. That's everything you can ask for in a coach.
Definitely NOT the Giants. Every misstep my G-Men made nearly left me in tears. Not literally, of course...okay, maybe. But that Eagles comeback on Monday night was crazy.
It's kind of sad that we won the basketball equivalent of soccer's World Cup and nearly anyone bats an eyelash. Like, it's just expected of the USA to win.
Absolutely. I've had a 4S for 3 years now and have purposely been waiting for this phone to come out so I can upgrade.
I don't want to go off on a rant here, so I'm going to keep it simple. I'm glad I didn't draft either of them in a fantasy league.
Coach O'Brien is a really great guy. I'm so happy for him and I Jennifer Calhoun can't wait to see how many more Executive Editor he can get under his belt!
The Manning/Demaryius Thomasconnection, mostly because it was the only good thing to happen to my fantasy team.
Yey!
I'm holding out for the iPhone 12. Heard it's gonna be amazing.
In terms of Rice, Hannah Storm said it best: 45% of fans of the NFL are women and it's time they start acting like it.
Good for him, I hope the U.S. Women's national team doesn't Matthew Schneider come calling anytime soon.
It's gotta be Antonio Gates' one handed catch. Talk about #throwbacksunday!
I was expecting strong bench points from A.I. and the White Mamba, but they seemed strangely invisible during the whole tournament.
$800 for a phone? No thanks, I'm still rocking a Sidekick.
I don't want to open a whole can of worms with my answers so no comment...
Because my friends wouldn't answer my question while watching the game, I threw a magnet at the TV. The TV didn't break, so there's the highlight.
Just thought that said FIFA- FIBA or FIFA, both have never mattered to me.
Of course! My contract is up, my iPhone 5 went through a lot my past freshman year, and now I can take burst selfies. What's better than that?
I had to google what that was. I'm probably in the wrong area of journalism.
Patrick Kiernan Sports Editor
Assistant Sports Editor
Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor
Personally, I don't think there's another coach at Fairfield who is as commited as he is to always bettering his team. He deserves it.
Stag Spotlight: Women's Soccer's Ashley Small '15 and Michelle Kowalski '15 How do you think the team will fare this season? Small: There is no doubt in my mind that we will have an outstanding season. We have gotten off to a great start so far and I believe that if we continue to work hard, we will be unstoppable.
Senior forward Ashley Small.
What are your thoughts on Coach O’Brien breaking the program record for number of wins as a coach? Small: There is no one more deserving than Coach O’Brien. His love for the team is evident every day. He inspires each of us to be the best players that we can possibly be every time that we step onto the field. If it weren’t for Jim, we wouldn’t be able to fulfill our childhood goal of playing soccer at the collegiate level here at Fairfield. This helps us to appreciate him, along with every moment that we have together as a team. I am just extremely grateful to have witnessed him make history in the Fairfield women’s soccer program and to have taken part in his success. Kowalski: I’m very excited for Coach O’Brien to take over the head coaching wins record. I think he is extremely deserving of such an honor. He puts in so much effort into the success of our team and works really hard every day to make sure that we get better as a team and that clearly shows through his overall record.
Kowalski: We’ve had a great start to the season. We always try to capitalize and be successful in our out-of-conference games in order to start the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference on the right track. Everyone has been working hard and the depth of our team really helps with our success, so hopefully we continue on the path that we are on so far.
What will you miss most after your senior season? Small: I will miss not being part of a team the most. I look at my teammates and the coaching staff as my second family. I spend the majority of my time with these people and look up to every single one of them. The thought of not practicing with them every day brings a weird feeling. Kowalski: My teammates and coaches. We have become a big family and it is going to be so different not spending time with each of them every day.
When did you first start playing/gain an interest in soccer? Small: I first started playing soccer when I was 3. It is a sport that my parents have a big interest in. So, it was important to them that each of their children played. Their love for the game was infectious and I ultimately grew to love it as well. Kowalski: I first started playing soccer when I was 5 years old. My dad used to play soccer and I wanted to be just like him when I grew up.
If you couldn't play soccer at Fairfield, what sport would you play and why? Small: Basketball. It was always one of my favorite sports. There came a time in high school when I could no longer play both basketball and soccer because of conflicting schedules and the level of commitment required for both sports. So, I had to choose which one I wanted to continue playing.
Do you have a favorite professional soccer player/team? Why? Small: I have always looked up to Mia Hamm. Although she is retired now, her accomplishments during her career were admirable.
Kowalski: My favorite team is Chelsea F.C. I’ve always been a fan ever since I was little. My brothers are Arsenal fans and my dad is a Manchester United fan, so we have a Kowalski: Probably tennis. I used to play bit of a rivalry at home when the Premier when I was younger and I still follow and en- League is on. joy watching the sport. Photos contributed by
Inside the Sports Section this week: -Men's soccer tops Yale in home opener -Ray Rice stirring national controversy -Team USA wins FIBA gold -Jim O'Brien defines his legacy with coaching record -Women's soccer wins 17th straight home game
Sports Information Desk
Sports
THE MIRROR | Week of September 17, 2014
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Men's soccer tops Yale in home opener By Travis Day Contributing Writer
A lone goal from forward Ben Wignall ‘18 was enough to see the Stags through to victory in their first home match of the season. It was a slow opening to the first half for both sides, with neither able to gather much offensive momentum. Both sides were cautious in the first stages, and played tight, strong defense at midfield throughout the match. The Stags picked up the pace after nearly 15 minutes played, and would have possession for the majority of the half. Despite a clear Fairfield advantage – outshooting Yale 7-3 – both sides would enter halftime scoreless. Yale would come out firing in the second half, sending two clear chances just off target in the
Ray Rice stirring national controversy By Daniel Steimel Contributing Writer In a strange turn of events, a select few wore Ray Rice’s jersey at the Baltimore Ravens Thursday night football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fox Sports interviewed several of the fans wearing Rice jerseys, all of whom expressed their support for the man, despite recent events. Rice, a New Rochelle, N.Y. native, rushed for a total of 1,192 yards and scored 31 touchdowns in his senior year
opening minutes. However, the Stags would find the back of the net against the run of play in the 52nd minute. A deflection off of a shot from Jordan Ayris ‘15 fell to Wignall in the center of the penalty area, who coolly slotted it into the bottom left corner with 38:46 left
to play. “It was just about persistence,” Wignall said. “At halftime we kept saying, 'Keep going, we know it's going to come,' and luckily the chance came for me.” Most of the second half saw much of the same stagnation at
Adriana Cirianni/ The Mirror
of high school. He went on to rush for 4,926 yards and score 49 touchdowns in his career at Rutgers University. In 2008, the Baltimore Ravens selected Rice in the NFL Draft. After an average rookie campaign, Rice took over the starting running back position in 2009. Since that 2009 season, he has been a staple in the Baltimore backfield, recording more than 1,000 yards a season for four straight years. Rice won a high school championship, was the MVP in the International Bowl, a 3-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl Champion. On Sept. 8, 2014, Rice’s $35 million contract was terminated and he was released from the Ravens. Now, Rice and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell are in the midst of the biggest controversy the NFL has ever seen. Headlines that once surrounded Johnny Football’s daily activities and Michael Sam’s battle to make an NFL roster have been replaced with disputes on whether or not the NFL received tapes of Rice hitting his then-fiancée Janay Palmer. Goodell tried to rid himself of the issue after giving Rice a two-game suspension, however the immediate backlash
This week in sports: Friday, September 19 Men's Golf at Rutgers Invitational, All Day Field Hockey vs. Sacred Heart, 3 p.m. Men's Soccer at Massachusetts, 3 p.m.
Saturday, September 20 Men's Cross Country at Monmouth Invitational, 10 a.m. Women's Cross Country at Monmouth Invitational, 10:45 a.m. Volleyball vs. Iona, 1 p.m. Field Hockey vs. Siena, 2 p.m.
Sunday, September 21 Softball at Sacred Heart, 10:30 a.m. Volleyball vs. Manhattan, 1 p.m. Softball at St. John's, 2 p.m. Women's Soccer at Central Connecticut, 3:30 p.m.
Monday, September 22 Men's Golf at Hartford Invitational, All Day
Tuesday, September 23 Men's Soccer at UMass-Lowell, 7 p.m.
the suspension received showed this case wasn’t even close to over, especially with Cleveland Browns’ Josh Gordon being dealt a full season suspension for failing a drug test. Goodell, who is facing serious pressure to resign as NFL commissioner, has apologized for the way he’s handled the situation. Since the initial Rice two-game suspension, Goodell has tried to save face by increasing the domestic violence punishment to a six-game suspension for first offenders and a lifetime ban for second offenders. Since TMZ released the infamous elevator video, Rice has been suspended from the NFL indefinitely Despite Goodell’s efforts, the Associated Press reported that the NFL received a copy of Rice and Palmer during the incident three months ago - the same copy uploaded by TMZ. Goodell and the NFL have denied the accusations that they knew about the video. However, a voicemail recording shows that the NFL had knowledge of the video and blatantly ignored the situation. The worst part of this situation is that it doesn’t stop with him. In a report by CNN, 85 of the 713 NFL player arrests
midfield, with neither side able to hold possession for more than a few moments. The neutral period proved to be a stonewall for both teams, with neither offense able to find holes and craft any real advantage. The Stags were content to slow their pace and tighten their midfield as the second half neared the 10 minute mark Yale nearly tied the game with a strong breakaway in the 59th minute, sending a solid header toward the center of the goal, which had to be tipped away brilliantly by goalkeeper Matt Turner ‘16. The Bulldogs would throw everything they had at the Stags' defensive third in the final five minutes, but failed to truly threaten Turner's goal who picked up his third clean sheet in four matches of the season in front of a packed Lessing Field. “The crowd was brilliant,” said
Wignall. “They just kept us going and kept us on top. They were our 12th man tonight.” Fairfield's stingy defense proved to be the tipping point yet again, as they were outshot 10-9 and surrendered seven corner kicks, and managed to keep Yale off the scoreboard. “We've been very good defensively all year,” said Head Coach Carl Rees. “It's typical at this time of the year for teams to be very solid defensively. Combination and attacking play takes a bit more time. As long as we're winning games, I'll win 20 games 1-0. It's standard fare at this point. We'll go forward and get the results we need.” The Stags – now 2-1-1 – are in action next on Friday, Sept. 19 as they head north to take on UMass Amherst (0-5-0). Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
since 2000 have been because of domestic violence. None of which have received nearly as much attention as Rice, which is entirely understandable because these other cases didn’t have video evidence of the incident. Greg Hardy of the Carolina Panthers is in the process of appealing allegations from this summer of beating and threatening his ex-girlfriend. Even more recently, Ray McDonald of the San Francisco 49ers was arrested after he was allegedly involved in a domestic dispute
with his 10-week pregnant fiancée, who was seen at the scene with bruises on her arms and neck. By definition, Palmer is the victim in the situation. However, she has been very vocal in defending her husband going as far as saying that football being taken away from him is horrific, according to her Instagram account. Regardless, details of the situation are continuing to unfold and will reveal the future of certain players, commissioners and even the league itself.
Contributed under Creative Commons
Team USA wins FIBA gold
By Alfredo Torres Contributing Writer
Team USA can now check gold off their wish list as they defeated Serbia Sunday afternoon 129-92. Team USA went through the FIBA World Cup undefeated, which is a tough thing to do with the variety of talents each country has to offer. Nonetheless, the U.S. was victorious and in doing so, can shut down all the critics who did not think this team could bring home the gold. Coming into the tournament, Team USA heard it all from being too young to having no star leader. Team USA gladly proved those critics wrong. The Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson said in an interview with NBA analyst Sekou Smith, “We wanted to prove a lot of people wrong. They said we were undermanned and that we lacked the so-called stars. But this isn’t a game of stars. This is a game about team. It’s FIBA, so it’s different from what we’re used to. You really have to play well as a team and that’s what we did. I’m proud of
every one of these guys because you have to sacrifice so much. We had a young team, probably the youngest team in the tournament. But it’s all about sacrificing and sacrificing for a common goal. And that was to get this gold medal.” Although Serbia vs. USA wasn’t the matchup everyone expected, it was still one with much excitement. Milos Teodosic, Serbia’s star point guard, was the man to watch. On the other side, all eyes were on Cleveland Cavaliers’ point guard Kyrie Irving to see how he would do going against such a hot and productive player. He exceeded expectations. After one quarter of play, Irving had made all three of his shots from the field and it was apparent that he was going to have a great game. Irving finished the game with 26 points and went 10-13 shooting, including 6-6 from beyond the three-point arc. Irving’s productive play won him the FIBA World Cup MVP. Team USA’s Captain James Harden also had a productive game, as he did throughout the tournament. Harden finished with 23 points,
second only to Irving. Contributions came from everywhere, as center DeMarcus Cousins had a huge effect on the game with his defense and energy. A total of seven players finished the game in double figures in points. If this FIBA World Cup tournament showed us anything, it opened our eyes to the many young stars on Team USA. It was a group of young stars, most under the age of 25. These young stars came into camp not knowing what to expect and came out of it with an experience of a lifetime. As Irving stated in a post-game interview, “It’s the greatest feeling in the world right now, [winning] with a group of guys that are my brothers.” We seem to forget how this journey to the gold began. Paul George, who suffered a horrific leg injury during an exhibition game, remained in the minds of the players of Team USA. Team USA Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski celebrated by calling Paul George. “PG, this is for you,” forward Rudy Gay said while holding the trophy. Team USA’s journey is now complete, and the FIBA World Cup belongs to the United States.
Sports
THE MIRROR | Week of September 17, 2014
Page 15
SPORTS 16
@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports Week of September 17, 2014
Sports Editor: Patrick Kiernan » sports@fairfieldmirror.com
Jim O'Brien soaks in success Contributed by Sports Information Desk
By Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor As if coaching for 10 seasons and leading his team to a 0.603 winning percentage was not enough, women’s soccer Head Coach Jim O’Brien has just broken the program record for most number of wins as a coach. Ninety-seven wins later, he has now become one of the most illustrious coaches in the history of Fairfield women’s soccer. The program record is just one of the many things O’Brien has accomplished while coaching the Stags. In the past 10 years, O’Brien has led his team to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship, two berths in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament and has had multiple athletes receive numerous MAAC honors. Experience with the game of soccer is one of the biggest reasons O’Brien has been successful as a coach. He
played soccer throughout high school and then went on to attend Southern Connecticut State University, where he started successfully as a goalkeeper for the Owls, posting 17 shutouts during his two-year career with the team. Not only was he an athlete at SCSU, but he also went on to develop the women’s soccer program with the school. As the first coach of the Division 2 program, O’Brien led the Owls to two NCAA tournament berths and the team went on to qualify for two different entrances into the Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament. Coaching at Fairfield since 2005, O’Brien has constantly been improving the team. In 2008, he had an impeccable season with the Stags, leading them to victory at the MAAC Championship. He’s coached 43 different athletes who have received MAAC honors, including Ahna Johnson ‘08, one of the most accomplished athletes in the women’s soc-
cer program. After coaching his 300th collegiate game in 2011, O’Brien has certainly continued to improve his team. Despite all of his accomplishments that he has achieved with the team, he still remains humble. “Good coaching staff, good support from the administration and good players have led me to this success,” said O’Brien. This season under O’Brien, the Stags have already been extremely successful. The team is now headed into MAAC play posting zero losses in nonconference play. According to fairfieldstags.com, the team is off to their best start since 2008, the year that the team captured a MAAC Championship. Currently, the team holds a win streak of 17 games at home at Lessing Field and headed into MAAC play, O’Brien holds the same goals for the team that he set when he began as a coach 10 seasons ago.
“We want to win lots of MAAC Championships and go to the NCAA Tournament and be successful in that tournament,” said O’Brien. Although O’Brien may be modest, the women’s soccer team couldn’t be happier with the honor that he has received for the record number of wins. “He’s been so successful because of his attitude when he comes out to the field,” said Captain Michelle Kowalski ‘15. “He always engages each player so when we come out to practice, we come out wanting to compete and earn our spot on the team. When you have competition, it leads to success on the field.” On and off the field, O’Brien has made sure that his team is not only working hard, but also enjoying their time on the team. Just last spring, O’Brien took his team to London on a 10-day trip, where they took part in sightseeing and of course, lots of soccer - even against professional teams from London. Through
experiences like these, the team has grown extremely close, which leads to even more success on the field. “He’s brought us all together here and if it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t be a team,” said Kowalski. “He honestly spoils us and he cares about each and every one of us.” With the season just coming to a start, O’Brien’s 97 wins will just be a small number compared to what he is hoping to win in the future. Co-captain Ashley Small ‘15, who has received numerous MAAC honors while under the tutelage of O’Brien, added that “he definitely deserves every single win that he gets.” After breaking the program record on Sunday, Sept. 14, against the Stony Brook Seawolves, O’Brien added that he is thrilled, yet, at the same time, relieved and ready to accomplish more with the team. “Now we can move ahead and get more wins,” said O’Brien.
With just five minutes left in the first half, the Seawolves found an open spot in the net, putting them ahead 2-1. “We were in the driver seat early on and I think we started to get a little comfortable,” said Coach O’Brien. “We gave up a soft goal on a corner kick and the second was even softer.” For a Fairfield team that is rarely behind by the end of the first half, tensions between the Stags and the Seawolves were high. Not only would the win give Coach O’Brien the honor of having broken the program record for the most wins as a coach, but the win would continue the undefeated streak of 17 wins on Lessing Field. “Myself and assistant coach Sean Driscoll, exuded confidence during halftime. Instead of giving a little bit of tough love, we gave them some love,” added Coach O’Brien. “So they bounced back.” Dominating the start of the second half, Fairfield was finally able to tie up the game with their third shot of the game, coming from Emily Wieczorek ‘16, who took a powerful shot to the top of the net. With the defense anchored by Faith Daley ‘18 and Pettersen and Michelle Kowalski ‘15 constantly moving the ball up the
field, the Stags looked to be the next ones to get a goal on the board. However, with about 20 minutes left in the game, Stony Brook was awarded a penalty shot after a player was fouled in the box. Early dove to the left of the net, stopping the shot from going in for a goal. However, quickly after that shot, it was decided that Stony Brook would be given another shot because Early stepped off her line. However, no matter how many shots the Seawolves were given, Early stopped them all. Despite being frustrated with the call to give Stony Brook another shot, she stayed focused and kept her team ahead. “I think I responded well to the shots. I read where she was going,” said Early. “It was a good feeling to stop the shots, but I think today’s win was a group effort.” The two penalty kicks awarded to the Seawolves only intensified the effort being given by the Stags. After Kowalski was tripped by a Seawolves’ defender, Fairfield was given their own chance at a penalty shot. Sophomore Anna Borea stepped up for the team and was able to get the shot right past Stony Brook’s goalkeeper,
finally putting Fairfield ahead 3-2. “It was amazing to get the last goal and see the faces of my teammates, coaches, everything,” said Borea. “It just felt great. It always feels great to get the winning goal.” Stony Brook made two more attempts to tie up the game, but had no success. As the buzzer ended the game, the Stags had forced Stony Brook to
make eight total saves, while Early only needed to make four. Outshooting the Seawolves 22-15, the entire team couldn’t have been happier with the outcome of the game. “I think today’s game was an amazing effort all around. Everyone gave 100 percent,” said Pettersen. “We really came out strong, we came back and all in all, we got the victory.”
Women's soccer wins 17th straight home game By Jesse Erickson Assistant Sports Editor
For a coach who began the game with 96 wins with the Stags, one would think Jim O’Brien has seen it all. But, as the Fairfield women’s soccer team took on the Stony Brook Seawolves on Sunday, Sept. 14, O’Brien called the close win “one of the wildest games he’s ever been a part of.” Not even back-to-back penalty kicks could stop goalkeeper Kathleen Early ‘15 from keeping her team ahead as they defeated the Seawolves 3-2. The Stags started off the first half of the game strong with a shot by Erin Pettersen ‘15 just 20 seconds into the game. Continuing with the momentum that Pettersen started the game with, the team took another four shots before Megan O’Brien ‘15 was able to head the ball into the net after a corner kick from Jessica Broadbent ‘15. After the six shots Fairfield had taken just minutes into the game, Stony Brook fired back, taking four shots before they were able to post their first goal, tying the game 1-1. Sophomore Cassidy Boegel made several attempts to get her team ahead, but could not find a way to get past Stony Brook’s goalkeeper.
Katelyn Dempster/ The Mirror