Fairfield Mirror 10/7/2020

THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper

Week of October 7, 2020

Vol. 46 Iss. 4

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Online Learning

Opinion Fairfield students struggle with online learning.

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Quarantine Housing Remains On and Off Campus

By Jackie Campbell Contributing Writer

As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the United States, Fairfield University has adjusted to meet the housing needs of students diagnosed with the virus, or students who have interacted with those infected.

The former Dolan School of Business, now the Conference Center, and the Holiday Inn in Bridgeport are being used to house students in isolation due to contact tracing.

Students who received a positive COVID-19 test will stay in the Conference Center, while those who are considered close contacts but received a negative test result will isolate at the Holiday Inn. Those quarantined at the Holiday Inn are not able to leave their room, according to vice president of student life, Karen Donoghue. Meals are ordered from the hotel restaurant, which are then delivered directly to the rooms.

While students are isolating off-campus, there is currently plenty of space available in the Conference Center should there be a surge in positive cases. Fairfield currently remains

at COVID-19 Status Level Yellow, indicating a low to moderate risk of spread. Based on the COVID Tracking Dashboard, which was last updated by the University on Oct. 2, there are 14 people isolating on campus at this time, which is less than halfway to the isolation capacity of 64. 18 students are currently under surveillance by the school.

Donoghue also shared that students isolating at either location receive daily check-ins from counseling to ensure the mental health of students in quarantine remains healthy.

The global pandemic can cause significant changes in mental health, especially for those in isolation, so the availability of counseling is important. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recognized the virus’s possible effects on mental health, and have also released outlets for those experiencing depression or anxiety during this time.

Besides housing being provided by the school, students are able to quarantine from home, should they be close enough to do so, or if their situation best allows.

“Isolation in the Conference Center or being under surveillance (i.e. quarantine) can be a lonely place for a student, particularly

if you are not feeling well. Students who live within 300 miles of campus are expected to go home,” dean of students, William Johnson said.

The University has also had to adjust the policies within residence halls throughout campus in order to prevent spread of the virus, including repetitive decontamination of high-touch surfaces. Though cleaning efforts have been heightened in the attempt to maintain hygiene within campus residence halls, there is also a large amount of trust in students to create a safe environment. Hand washing and mask wearing are enforced by resident assistants, and have been made an important part of daily life.

Students living in an off-campus residence are expected to participate in COVID-19 prevention policies similar to those on-campus, including the daily LiveSafe check-in.

“I remain confident that the student body will, generally speaking, do what is right to keep our community healthy,” Johnson said regarding his confidence in the University’s ability to remain open until Thanksgiving break.

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‘Office in a Small City’

Vine Art can remind us to take a break in times of unrest.

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Cross Country

Claver Hall Begins 14-Day Quarantine

By Danielle Sondgeroth News Editor As of 5:43 pm on Oct. 6, Claver Hall is in quarantine for a 14-day period due to a disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases spiking in the residence hall.

Claver residents have been heavily monitored and contact-traced over the past few weeks, leading to Fairfield forcing the building to go completely remote for all classes. All interactions between students outside of one’s suite are prohibited due to the new “Stay-in-your-Suite Directive.” Students will only be permitted to leave their suite for weekly mandatory COVID testing and to pick up grab-and-go lunch and dinner from the Conference Center during limited hours.

Students in Claver also have the option of quarantining at home for the 14-day period but must provide a negative test result upon their return to campus on Oct. 29 or 30. The building will be under 24/7 security monitoring for non-compliance, which will be “addressed by the student conduct processes,” according to an email sent to Claver residents on Oct. 6. Students will be required to swipe in and out of the building when leaving and returning for meals.

Stags Laundry services will also be coordinated over the 14-day quarantine period to further prevent infection and exposure to the virus.

Any Claver resident that has tested positive and has been cleared of COVID-19 within the past 90 days will be exempt from these rules.

Madison Gallo ‘23 is frustrated with Claver for the new quarantine rule, especially after quarantining herself.

“I actually just got out of quarantine a few days ago so to go back into something similar is kind of awful,” she said. “It‘s especially frustrating because I was following the rules as were my roommates. About 20% of my building has tested positive, so it’s scary that we only just found that number out. Before I left for quarantine my floor felt like a ghost town because almost everyone was gone it felt like.”

Dean Will Johnson is confident that this strategy will work for Fairfield. “This mitigation strategy has proven to be effective in similar situations at other colleges and universities, and is the recommended course of action by the Town of Fairfield Health Department,” he said.

Niquita Dietrich, the assistant director of Residence Life, refused to comment.

Since Oct. 1, Fairfield has conducted 3,369 total COVID-19 nasal swab tests, yielding 113 positive cases, both on and off campus. Despite the seemingly large number, there were only 12 new cases this week.

Currently, there are 44 total active positive cases and only 14 of these

are on campus, quarantining in the Conference Center. 70 students have been cleared after their two-week quarantine and have tested negative, and are now allowed to return to campus.18 students remain under surveillance, as either their roommates or close contacts have contracted the virus.

Fairfield remains in Code Yellow as of this week out of public health concerns, although the infection rates among students are remaining relatively stable. In an email on Oct. 6 from Karen Donoghue, vice president of student life, she stated that Claver Hall has seen a “disproportionate number of positive cases” and will be placed under new restrictions in order to mitigate this positive testing rate.

This week also yielded two positive tests among faculty and staff, both of which are currently active.

Sports The Mirror sits down with cross country runner.

Data compiled by Danielle Sondgeroth.

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News

THE MIRROR | Week of October 7, 2020

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Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Niall Brennan

By Samuel Raffalli Contributing Writer

In our increasingly polarized society, it is easy for one to lose hope in the goodness of humanity. Niall Brennan, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication, serves as a living example of what it means to be good and be good to others.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Brennan moved to Fort Collins, Colo. with his family at the age of six. He attended the University of California at Santa Cruz, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in art history, and ended up staying in California for four years.

Photo Courtesy of fairfield.edu After working in retail, software and publishing, Brennan earned his master’s degree in media studies from the New School in New York City.

Following his graduation from the New School in 2000, Brennan remained in New York to continue careers in advertising and social media.

Eventually, he traveled to London, England to receive his Ph. D. in media and communication at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He notes that the United Kingdom attracted him due to its strong tradition of cultural studies.

Brennan continued his service for others in London by simultaneously educating students in the media and communication fields at LSE and Birkbeck College.

Brennan also taught English in Rio de Janeiro,

Brazil, the experience from which his fluency in Portuguese stems.

After returning to New York from Rio, Brennan served as adjunct faculty in Fairfield University’s department of communication from 2013 until 2015. He would go on to achieve the title of assistant professor in 2018, which he still holds to the present day.

Upon asking Brennan if there was any noticeable change after becoming a full time faculty member at Fairfield, he remarked, “I assumed a new title, a new role, which I welcomed into the classroom. I made a long-term commitment to my students, Fairfield University and to myself.”

It is clear from this that Brennan is deeply committed to the well-being and success of his students, and to the social mission of Fairfield University.

This semester, Brennan is teaching “Mass Media and Society,” “Reality Media and Society,” and “Capstone: Research Methods.” He expresses that the benefit of taking a course in the communication discipline is that it provides students with the opportunity to see the various intersections between courses.

Brennan is also the chair of the Admissions and Scholarship Committee, just winning reelection this past week. He is also on the committees for Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and Liberal Professional Studies.

Brennan’s scholarship includes, “RuPaul’s Drag Race and the Shifting Visibility of Drag Culture: The Boundaries of Reality TV.” He briefly summarized his co-edited book as a “multinational, cross perspective view on the television show, ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’” and how this show has reshaped drag culture in the United States and abroad. Brennan is currently working on a new book on drag in the digital era.

For students during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brennan offers some of his advice. “Communication is key”

“I am a representative for inclusivity and diversity. I am a contact for all students who feel outside the main framework of campus culture and a faculty representative of the LGBTQ+ community.”

Photo Courtesy of amazon.com

between student and instructor. He specifically expresses the importance of remaining connected as a community during these uncertain times. Brennan closed our conversation with a direct message to the student body.

“I am a representative for inclusivity and diversity.

I am a contact for all students who feel outside the main framework of campus culture and a faculty representative of the LGBTQ+ community.”

The next time you see Dr. Brennan around campus, I encourage you to approach him. Brennan is a tremendously understanding and thoughtful individual that truly cares about students. It is people like him that make Fairfield a home.

News

THE MIRROR | Week of October 7, 2020

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Students Cope with COVID

By Andrew Murphy Staff Writer

Compiled by Colleen Vann Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.

10/1 10:42 p.m.

Vandalism resulting in flooding was reported in Loyola Hall.

The two students responsible were identified and referred to student conduct.

10/2 12:14 a.m.

A narcotics arrest occurred in Loyola Hall. In the course of investigating another case, possession of narcotics, including paraphernalia was discovered. The students involved were issued misdemeanor summons and referred to student conduct.

11:03 p.m.

Five students were referred to student conduct due to alcohol violations in the form of possession by minors.

10/3 1:28 a.m.

A non-student was observed entering campus via the Fairfield Prep gate. The individual had previously been denied entrance at the main gate, so they were issued a Criminal Trespass Warning.

Andrew Murphy/The Mirror

A mask rests on a corn hole board.

2:19 a.m.

Three students were observed jumping out of a window of Meditz Hall. DPS went to the room to investigate and found several bottles of alcohol and one resident present. The students who jumped out of the window were identified and referred to student conduct.

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Lawn chairs remain empty on the lawn across from the DiMenna-Nyselius Library.

Grabbing lunch with a friend while traveling between classes, exchanging genial banter during walks across campus and socializing in the gym after a long day of classes, these everyday occurrences have helped define life at Fairfield University for Eli Garcia ‘21.

His effervescent, extroverted nature thrives in these settings. However, the modern age of masks and social-distancing guidelines has created a very different experience for him.

“I’ve only been on campus so much,” remarked Garcia, who remains confined in his Barnyard Manor Townhouse more often than not, “but it’s definitely a lot emptier.

I guess before, you could say it was friendlier, because there were kids talking and smiling, but now, you still can have that, but you don’t see kids smiling anymore. The mask is all you really see. Now, it’s just, like . . . dead.”

On this lifeless campus, Eli starts most of his days by rolling out of bed and popping open his laptop.

“Since classes are online, you wake up and you just go to class, it’s not like you have to prepare for the day. Sometimes I take a shower, sometimes I don’t. It’s not like I’m going to see anyone,” the Barnyard resident confessed.

“I usually go to the dining room table downstairs, but the problem with that is, I have seven other kids in the house,” he commented, as his eyes glanced up away from our Zoom call towards whatever distraction his roommates were causing at that moment.

“You got kids cooking breakfast, taking the pans out.

That’s noise, distractions,” he said, exasperated. “I already have a short attention span, so, you know, there’s just so many things going on, I try to pay attention.” He looked away at another roommate who obviously was trying to get his attention. “It’s easy to lose focus,” he added.

His second class of the day presents the same kind of dilemma. Normally, Garcia would walk into class, say hi to one of his friends, and make plans to run by The Stag afterwards. Now, as he sits in his townhouse, his thoughts drift further away from the Zoom class in front of him and focus instead on whether to order from UberEats or DoorDash.

Not having his classmates around him decreases his motivation to remain locked-in.

Garcia finds ways to pass the time. Playing his Xbox is a common fallback for him and his roommates. The resumption of live sports has helped provide structure and entertainment. “If there were no sports . . . that’d be tough,” said Garcia, talking about how he and his roommates planned on watching the Thursday night football game.

Sharing a home classroom with seven roommates certainly has its irritants, but Garcia tries to make the most out of the situation. One way he and his roommates try to enjoy themselves is by playing corn-hole. However, even though this spread-out activity takes place in their backyard, the realities of COVID-19 do not make any exception.

“We didn’t have masks on, it was just our roommates, and it was right outside our house, but someone called DPS, and they told us to wear our masks,” Garcia said. “Going outside, you always have to wear a mask, even standing outside your house. Don’t have a mask, and you get in trouble.”

Garcia is not always trapped inside the house. He spends some of his days working 11 or 12 hour nursing clinicals. These normally lengthy shifts have intensified even more since the pandemic struck.

Garcia also makes frequent trips to Edge Fitness, an off-campus gym where he and his roommates hold memberships. He discusses the importance of these routine gym visits with great conviction, stressing their value on his mental health.

“You can only be in the house so long, at some point you just gotta get out, or else, you go crazy,” he remarked.

“It definitely takes a toll. Sometimes you just don’t want to do anything,” he continued. “It’s . . . it’s a lot.”

The vivacious Fairfield, swarming with chattering crowds and peppy passerbys, has lost some of its aura. Garcia recalls times when academic buildings would explode with students at the times when standard classes start and end. He remembers a time when the quad would hold hoards of students enjoying the fresh air and each others’ company, when most of his classmates had a reason to come to campus, or at least did not have to find a convincing one to do so.

The accommodations that he feels best encapture campus life at the moment, are the changes outside the DiMenna-Nyselius Library. This building, typically chockfull of students still gazes out onto a picturesque front lawn, one of the most incredible landscapes on a campus known for its dazzling appearance. However, where crowds used to mingle and students used to bask in the grass, there merely reside sequestered pieces of furniture.

“You see kids there,” said Garcia, referring to the tables and adirondack chairs spread out across the library’s front lawn, “but it’s definitely quieter.”

The quietness of campus, one of the themes of our conversation, was backdropped by an eight person townhouse serving as one shared classroom for the semester.

News

THE MIRROR | Week of October 7, 2020

Peggy Noonan Dazzles at Open Visions Forum

By Molly Lamendola Vine Editor

On Oct. 2, the first Open VISIONS Forum of the Regina A. Quick Center opened with Margaret “Peggy” Ellen Noonan, the writer best known for her 20 years spent at the Wall Street Journal, or her year spent writing speeches for President Ronald Reagan.

The entire event was done via video conferencing, with Noonan phoning in from her desk, wearing a snow-white blazer, stacked pearl necklace and glittering jewels in either ear, with all other panelists either home or on campus.

Philip Eliasoph, Ph. D, professor of art history and visual culture, and director of the Open VISIONS Forum program, introduced Noonan.

Bank of America partnered with the Quick Center to invite Noonan to speak as part of the Open Vision’s Women and Leadership series - perfectly timed to celebrate the momentous occasion that is 50 years since the first graduating class of Fairfield University to include women.

So, before passing it off to Noonan, Bill Tommins, the marketing president for Bank of America of Connecticut thanked Noonan for joining as well, and talked the audience through what his company has done for women.

When the screen finally flashed back to Noonan, she began by speaking quite generally about the last few years, this past year in particular, and was full of jokes and lightness as she trapezed around the conversation of American politics.

She paused after one poorly timed joke about mean comments and her arthritis, and stated, “I’m imagining all of you laughing at home.”

She provided an honesty that many people lack today. She pointed out flaws in today’s Republican party, just as much as she pointed out flaws amongst Democrats.

One topic of discussion that felt incredibly

relevant throughout the evening was President Donald Trump’s recent hospitalization for COVID-19.

Noonan said that during these past months, we had been warned of a “second wave” of the coronavirus. “[COVID-19] appears very showily as a big illustration of itself,” she said. “The second wave has arrived and has affected our political climate.”

Exactly how it will affect our politics, or the election cycle, Noonan stated that she does not know, nor does anyone else.

Noonan ended her speech by leaving the audience with a bit of an open-ended question about what will happen if Joe Biden can campaign while Trump remains ill, or quarantined.

Noonan believes Biden to be ahead of Trump in nearly every area. She said that he is ahead in the polls, has quite a bit of money left to spend and now has the ability to travel around the country while Trump’s stuck in place for two weeks.

“We are living big history,” Noonan said,

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“take notes.”

Her speech ended, kicking off the question and answer session with Eliasoph. He was joined by Emily Dreas, a market executive at Bank of America Private Bank and visiting professor Phil Klay, who holds a master’s in creative writing, and is a U.S. Marine as well as a National Book Award winner.

The three took turns throwing questions Noonan’s way, and though we gained insight into her ideas on political issues of the modern times and what she thought was right and wrong with each of the National Conventions, it was clear that what she’s most proud and passionate about is her writing.

When asked by an audience member what her favorite thing that she has written was, she paused before listing nearly everything she’s ever written: her columns post Sept. 11, 2000, her speeches for Reagan, her articles during the 2008 and 2012 election cycles and her books, before exclaiming with a laugh, “I’m proud of everything!”

After the event, Eliasoph provided The Mirror with his thoughts on the event via email.

“Considering we are standing on a precipice, looking into a possible political abyss, for a free and legitimate Presidential election on Nov. 3, Peggy Noonan’s Open VISIONS Forum presentation reassured us that the American people won’t allow an impending apocalypse. With her signature sense of candor, clarity and confidence, Noonan connected the inherent goodness of America’s voters to ‘do the right thing’.”

Eliasoph continued by stating that Noonan, “as a veteran ‘insider’ of the Republican establishment, who literally put some of the greatest phrases into the mouth of President Reagan,” gave a “‘reality check’” when “she explained how her GOP party will need to totally ‘reboot and rebuild itself from the ground up’ after the Jan. 20 Inauguration of President Biden.”

Peter Van Heerden, the executive director of the Quick Center, tended to agree with Eliasoph, saying the event was “a great success.”

“We learned from a true expert and journalist that there needs to be humility and acceptance, and that politics do not define an individual,” Van Heerden said. “We have the capacity to be larger than our ideologies.”

He restates how proud the Quick Center was to work with Bank of America and to provide a stage for the “powerful women in the world today.”

Photo courtesy of the Quick Center

Fairfield Celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month

By Catherine Howley Contributing Writer

In the United States, one in eight women, and 2,000 men, suffer from breast cancer.

That’s thirteen percent of all women and one percent of all men in the U.S. This month, we honor and recognize the many people who have survived, and are still battling breast cancer. Not only does the month of October help in honoring those strong people who suffer, and have suffered from breast cancer, but it also aids in increasing attention and support.

According to Hartford HealthCare, Connecticut has the second highest rate of breast cancer in the country. Here in Fairfield County, there have been so many reported breast cancer diagnoses. The average number of new breast cancer diagnoses in Connecticut is 3,062 annually.

One of the major factors that contributes to the high number of breast cancer diagnoses in Connecticut is the relatively high socioeconomic status (SES) of women living in the state. It has been proven that a higher SES has a strong association with breast cancer incidences and diagnosis. As an article from the National Center for Biotechnology Information reports, women of higher SES generally have lower parity, greater use of exogenous hormones as well as greater alcohol consumption. These are all established risk factors for breast cancer.

Fairfield University’s Relay for Life Club will be fundraising for cancer research throughout the whole month of October. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Cancer Society has faced a 50 percent reduction in cancer research. The University’s Relay for Life Club is doing all it can to help bring back some of the severe drop that occurred in cancer research. Everyone is eligible to donate and raise money to the American Cancer Society. The Relay for Life Club will award those who sign up and raise $250 online between now and Oct. 30 with a gray Relay for Life hooded t-shirt.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is an organization that puts together walks to celebrate, honor and unite breast cancer survivors and caregivers. The organization also makes efforts to educate the public on how to prevent breast cancer, as well as how to detect it. These are amazing efforts that the organization puts forth, as they can help in lowering the risk of breast cancer. In addition to putting together and hosting events, the organization also raises money to help end breast cancer.

Making Strides of Fairfield County will be hosting a safe, contactless drive-through parade at Sherwood Island State Park on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 25. Teams who choose to participate in the parade will come in shifts between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Making Strides of Fairfield County has also encouraged people to go on a walk in their neighborhood or local park throughout the month of October and share photos of them

walking on social media using #MakingStrides203. While the organization knows everyone may not be walking together, they have shared that everyone will be together in spirit.

This year, the Breast Cancer Foundation has taken more action in terms of how people can donate and help the foundation and their cause. The Breast Cancer Foundation now allows people to choose exactly where their donation goes. The categories you can choose from are: screening, education, support and general fund. Now, of all times, is a very urgent time to help the Cancer Foundation, as they have taken a great hit from the pandemic. Anyone, and everyone, is eligible and encouraged to donate any amount they can afford to the foundation.

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Opinion

Opinion

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THE MIRROR | Week of October 7, 2020

Editor Maria DiGregorio» maria.digregorio@student.fairfield.edu

Online Classes Are Just As Hard For the Parents As For the Students By: Elizabeth Decrisanti Contributing Writer

The pandemic that took us all by storm has had a lasting impact on our children's education today. From being rushed out of the classroom in March and transitioning to online learning to beginning a new hybrid or all-online format, COVID-19 is significantly affecting the way children have to learn. While many older students could easily transition and take care of themselves while online learning, many younger students need aid from their parents simply to log onto Zoom.

As students from kindergarten through 12th grade began doing their work online, many parents have had to act as their 'teachers.' Parents have had to overcome obstacles like ensuring their child focuses and pays attention to their online classes.

Other obstacles include sacrificing their own work time, finding an appropriate space for their child to attend school and helping them to understand new, difficult concepts. Further, many younger students learn 'new' ways of solving math problems that parents do not even know how to solve. Students no longer have easy access to a teacher, so parents must step in, but many parents have not done that type of schoolwork in several years and the 'new' ways of solving problems prevent them from being able to help their child. For example, the several different methods to solving math problems that students are learning. These are methods that have been created in recent years, involving tools such as ten-frames, number bonds, box multiplication and many more.

This pandemic has greatly affected the education of students, along with the amount of work that must be completed by teachers and parents.

Parents have been struggling with the online portion of learning due to lack of resources. They must ensure that their child keeps up adequately in Zoom classes and with homework. Also, parents often have to try and help their children with homework. Many families do not have access to a device for each household member to use all day, every day. These families have typically been able to receive one from their school, but the problem does not end with obtaining a way to be online. Several families have had internet connection issues, depending on their location or if they can afford to pay for a wireless connection plan. Not only does online learning take up a large portion of the day, but it also uses a large amount of Wi-Fi. Some schools are combating this issue by handing out devices that are outfitted with cellular hotspots so that students can join the online classroom and not risk missing out on their education. This solution is adequate, as the schools are providing a way for students to receive their education while staying safe. I also feel that schools providing students with these devices shows that they care for the students, trying to make sure they do not fall behind due to a situation they can not control. The issue of devices and internet con-

nectivity became very real to several families during this pandemic, but many sources are working together to combat online learning difficulties.

With all of the difficulties that come with online learning and education, I believe that schools are still taking the best route to ensure their students' safety by utilizing online resources for hybrid or complete online learning. Schools, teachers, parents and students are all working together to make the best of a dark situation, without sacrificing the younger generations' education. As the pandemic continues to transpire, people discover new ways to make the situation more manageable. We have come so far from our initial online learning in March, from not knowing where to begin to having well thought out plans for maintaining education. With the pandemic's continuation, we must continue to have hope and work through any difficulties, aiming to come out as unscathed as possible.

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Fairfield's Creative and Tasty Dining Options are a Win By: Brooke Lathe Contributing Writer

As a first-year, I don’t have much personal experience with the dining choices pre-COVID-19. I remember that when I toured the Tully before I became a student, I was amazed by the meals offered and the delicious smells coming from the kitchen. Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic, that type of service has been altered a bit, and with reason too. However, I can confidently say that Fairfield University is doing a wonderful job providing us with plenty of options. Between the food trucks, Micro Markets, The Stag, Dunkin’ and the dining halls, it’s hard not to find at least a couple things you enjoy eating everyday.

The Tully - I will admit that at the beginning of the semester, the Tully wasn’t my favorite choice, but they have been getting better each day. Recently, some of my favorite meals have included the shredded BBQ chicken, General Tso's chicken and rice, ribs, shrimp scampi and sushi!

Pro tip: Always make sure to check the ‘Simple Servings’ section on the right. Most of my picks come from there. Before moving to Level Yellow status, I loved eating in such a beautiful building like the Tully because it made the whole experience that much better. Hopefully we can eat there again soon when it is safe to do so. The only thing I wish was provided to students is a menu of what is served each day at the dining hall.

This way we are able to see whether or not we like what is being served. Too often I find myself wasting a meal swipe without finding any food that appeals

to me.

Food Trucks - The food trucks have been a great addition to the dining services on campus. Every day and night there are long lines of hungry students, ready to get some tasty meals. From 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., three different food trucks are parked outside Alumni Hall. These meals include mexican food (Taco Loco), acai bowls (The Plate), cheesy burgers (Ted’s Steam Machine) and more! I think it’s safe to say that these options connect with every flavor palette there is.

While payment methods consist of cash, credit, debit or Stag Bucks, once a day students can use a meal swipe at one of these ‘restaurants on wheels.’

Micro Markets - These stations were a choice I utilized pretty often when I first started school here. It’s a quick way to use a meal swipe and have a wide array of choices. Each swipe guarantees you a meal, a snack, a drink and a dessert. There

are two Micro Markets located in the John A. Barone Campus Center, one by the Dunkin’ and one in the lower level.

Dunkin - It’s pretty clear that Fairfield U runs on Dunkin! Every single morning I witness what seems like a mile long line by the Dunkin’ in the BCC. However, the one time I waited in line, it went by in only 10 minutes. I was very impressed. Another Dunkin’ we have on campus is located in the library, however you cannot purchase food at this location because eating is not allowed in the library at this time. The third Dunkin’ location is located in the new Dolan School of Business, but it is self-serve meaning you make your own coffee.

You can purchase Dunkin’ products with cash, credit, debit, Stag Bucks or Dining Dollars. A Dunkin’ run is definitely a good way to start off any morning.

The Stag - I’ve only used this source of dining a handful of times since the payment method doesn’t include a meal swipe. You can pay with cash, credit, debit, Stag Bucks or Dining Dollars.

The Stag has freshly made pizzas, sushi, mozzarella sticks and so much more.

So far it might be my favorite spot on campus to get food. But I do have to warn you, the prices add up quickly. This hidden gem is located in the BCC behind the Dunkin’.

Overall, I’m thankful for all the choices we have and how well Fairfield U has responded to COVID-19 dining guidelines. I’ll be crossing my fingers that the ‘freshman 15’ doesn’t find its way to me!

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Opinion

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THE MIRROR | Week of October 7, 2020

Choose Your Health and Say No to Fad Diets

By Kaitlyn Drake Staff Writer

According to a CDC report compiled in 2018, 49.1 percent of Americans tried to lose weight during some time in the past 12 months, and 56.4 percent of those Americans were women. That is about one half of all Americans, and more than one half of which were women. As toxic diet culture begins to grow stronger and stronger each year, the media has begun to emphasize the wonders of fad diets, including Whole30, the Atkins Diet, Paleo, and perhaps most infamously, Keto. These diets, regardless of how much celebrities endorse them, are actually very hard on the body and ironically promote unhealthy eating habits.

There is a major difference between improving your diet through an increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, protein and choosing healthier food options and fad diets. According to the Cleveland Clinic, fad diets can be identified by a number of qualities including but not limited to “elimination of one or more of the five food groups,” “lists of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ foods,” and anything that people can capitalize on when promoting the diet.

Good diet changes involve none of these things and can actually help create a healthy balance with food, but fad diets make food into the villain, not the hero.

The complications that many experience while on certain diets should be enough to turn people off of it. For example, even though researchers have known for a very long time that carbohydrates are an essential part of a balanced diet, those who are following the Keto diet refuse to consume them, or at least restrict themselves so that they eat carbohydrates in very small quantities. This means that people on Keto are not only cutting bread and pasta out of their diets, but fruits and whole grains as well. The ultimate goal is to send the body into ketosis, a process in which fat is burned to produce energy, which generally only

happens naturally when a person is starving themselves. Similarly, the Atkins diet and the Whole30 diet both deprive the body of carbohydrates in similar ways, and the Atkins diet specifically does not focus on portion control nor exercise to lose weight.

Because of the intense amounts of restriction involved in these diets, it has been proven that dieting and eating disorders are directly related, Eating Disorder Hope reports.

Especially when considering the prevalence of diet culture in American society (according to Eating Disorder Hope, each year, “more than 50 billion dollars” are contributed to new diet products), it is not shocking that multitudes of Americans struggle with eating. National Eating Disorders reports that young people who diet, according to a study done in 2016, are “5 times more likely to develop an eating disorder” than their peers who did not.

The biggest contributor to the prevalence of diet fads is, quite simply, the media. Every few weeks, a new body type becomes a trend, thus putting pressure on people (primarily women) to change their bodies in accordance with the new standard that day. Our bodies, however, are not a trend- we cannot control the way in which our body stores fat in the same way that we cannot control our eye color or height. As celebrities endorse fad diets, we are being told that natural processes that our bodies go through is something to be ashamed of. As BCC News says, instead of providing a good example, celebrities are contributing to the mass amounts of shame that come with eating in America.

It’s time to break the cycle of food shame and start using food to bring us together.

Using facts and research is the only way to know if we’re eating healthy, not the words of celebrities who claim that they know your body better than you do. Our bodies are not trends, nor should they be abused by unrealistic diets to fit the mold.

"The biggest contributor to the prevalence of diet fads is, quite simply, the media."

Creative Commons/Flickr

Editorial Board "Technology + Sports = Fun" Sheila McCombs Managing Editor

A couple of months back, the very concept of live sports returning, even with no live audience, seemed like a pipe dream.

Now, we have all of the major sports back and playing, and we even had the first day ever where all four of the top sports in the United States played (football, baseball, basketball and hockey). Back when the world of sports was just beginning to come back from their abrupt stop in March, I read an incredible article in the New York Times called, “Sports Have Been on Pause. It’s Time for a Reboot.”

The article details ways that the rules and other aspects of sports should change in order to be more up with the times. Now that sports have returned, I looked back on the article to see what I think should actually be implemented.

The article focuses on sports as a whole, and individually, looking at how to change the games in general. One of the suggestions is to expand the field size in multiple sports. This would allow for more creativity and action. Many of the suggestions made by

the article focus on giving the players more options for creativity. The level of athleticism in professional sports continues to climb, and the rules need to change with that. Things like instigating a four-pointer in basketball or giving only one serve in tennis would make the game more interesting for not only the fans, but the players too.

One of the most interesting concepts in the article is ways to make sports more exciting to the fans, both on the television and in-person. Now that there is such a lack of energy in stadiums empty of fans, I think it’s the perfect time to implement some of these changes. A lot of these proposals were focused on the sport of baseball. I couldn’t agree more that baseball needs a reboot because it lacks a certain flair that one finds in football and basketball, especially at the professional level.

Things like making the bases slightly bigger to make the game move faster or encouraging bat flips after home runs would make a big difference in viewer enjoyment of the game.

This is even more important now that people

can’t be in the exciting atmosphere of the stadium.

The article also presents ideas for how to use new technology to update how games are watched on television. One suggestion was to attach microphones to players, allowing fans to listen to live commentary during games. This would give the viewer a more interactive experience and showcase even more of the on-field action. There would have to be things like a rating on games in case of cursing, but it would make it even more fun to watch. These changes to the way the game is watched would help to build the new atmosphere that sports most adopt due to the lack of fans at actual games.

The world of sports has gone through a massive change, but is nothing if not adaptable. It has always changed to keep up with the times, and now is no different. The future of sports looks bright still because people look to sports for joy and comfort, and that will never change.

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A Moment with a Masterpiece: 'Office in a Small City' Photo Contributed by The Metropolitan Museum of Art

By Tyler Heffern Art Barn Columnist

"Office in a Small City" by Edward Hopper (1953) It has been a raucous week, though more aptly, a raucous year. The coronavirus pandemic has ravaged the world, resulting in over one million deaths worldwide, and 200,000 within the United States alone.

An economic downturn has put millions out of work and left them with bills and rent that they cannot pay. A contentious presidential election has sowed division, confusion and doubt, capped with a debate that can only be termed chaotic.

Contrast this with Edward Hopper’s “Office in a Small City,” from 1953, now hanging in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Not as famous as his “Nighthawks,” which portrays latenight diner-goers on a deserted urban street, this work depicts a man, sitting alone gazing out of his office window at a clear horizon and a modest skyline.

Edward Hopper is commonly considered the pinnacle artist of American Realism. Having suffered from deep depression earlier in his career, his naturalistic, yet mundane subjects are often said to be influenced by that time in his life. This even includes those painted decades into his happy marriage with painter, and fellow recluse, Josephine Nivison.

It is widely accepted that the man in this piece sits physically and emotionally detached from life around him, perhaps in reflection. But, while most believe this to be an image of loneliness, it may also be a scene of temporary escape. An escape from his surroundings, from his work and from his world. Such escapism can be felt by the audience too.

This picture is a perfect still-life. Though no sound can ever be heard from a canvas, this work seems extraordinarily silent. The bright colors, straight lines and tranquil mood of the painting actually lend to it an air of idyllism.

You must note, however, that life was not so simple when Hopper was painting this work. The Korean War had just come to a close, the Red Scare was peaking in its intensity and the fear of nuclear annihilation was ever prevalent in American society.

This is a faux-reality; something he created.

Those viewing his works in the era they were made knew this too. But it offered an escape, a portal into a world of serenity, yet not dullness.

This is a chief reason why his art is so relevant today. We are always seeking an escape into an alternative reality. Through books, movies and our daydreams, we go to another place. Hopper helps you on your journey there.

He provides a still space for you to step into and just relax. So indulge. Sit down for a few minutes and gaze into his world, leaving our current world with all the stress, anxiety and chaos that comes with it, behind.

Studio art 's Spirit Remains even at a distance

By Olivia Burke Contributing Writer

willing to speak to students, who in the past would usually have to drive to the school to speak to students about their art.

There are some drawbacks to the new mostly-online learning environment as well. Some classes are much more difficult to teach online, such as printmaking, which is “the only thing [Yarrington] would probably not do online.” She thinks it “might be too much to ask of beginner students” to learn all the different techniques at home and purchase all the different materials such as inks and rollers needed for the course.

I myself was a student in Yarrington’s printmaking class last semester when everything abruptly switched to online instruction. It was a huge adjustment from being able to go to a printmaking studio to use a printing press to then being required to come up with my own homemade printmaking methods.

The coronavirus pandemic has created a situation we have never experienced before, where educators and students have had to come together to adjust to teaching and learning in completely new ways.

This can be especially difficult in a field like studio art, where you have to learn how to create physical things as opposed to other fields where everything you do can be contained to your computer. However, through these difficulties, benefits have been witnessed while increasing the amount of schooling that is done online, which will likely impact the way schooling is done in the future, even after the pandemic is over.

The studio art program, like other parts of the Fairfield community and the world at large, has seen many changes since the beginning of the pandemic. Jo Yarrington, professor of studio art in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts and co-director of the Fredrickson Family Innovation Lab, was happy to talk with The Mirror and give some more insight into how her classes and the studio art program as a whole have adjusted due to the coronavirus.

According to Yarrington, the studio art department is “following the recommended guidelines set up by the University and also the state of Connecticut” in order to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. These guidelines include things such as making sure that work stations are at least six feet away from one another and having sanitizer for students to use as well as cleaning supplies available to clean the workstations and tools.

Many professors have structured their classes into a hybrid model. Yarrington herself is teaching two classes, both of which are hybrid, with two to three completely remote learners in each. Most of these remote learners had chosen to be remote from the beginning, but “there was also someone who had to go remote because of contact tracing,” Yarrington says.

Her hybrid classes are mostly remote, only meeting in-person three times throughout the semester. When meeting in person, her class sizes are small enough to allow all the students to be in the same room. This is unlike most professors, who have to split up the class into two rooms or have different sections of the class take turns coming to class in-person.

In-person classes can require some problem solving to make sure the remote learners are included. During one class, Yarrington recalls asking two students to Facetime the two remote learners, which was “not ideal” as she said, but was “the only way [she] could think of how to relay information in real-time to [remote] students.”

Yarrington stated that there has been “a complete change in how [she] might have taught in the past.” Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, her classes were much less digital, with people displaying their work in the classroom or hallway and reviews of completed art pieces taking place in-person.

Now, many reviews are done on platforms such as Quip, with discussion threads about assignments. Here, students “are posting JPGs of their assignments and responding to other people in the class.” Google Docs is also used in her classes, where students upload JPGs of their work with summaries of their pieces. Yarrington also has private grade sheets that only her and her students can see. She mostly utilizes Blackboard to post assignments, and “each week has a course module,” which include assignments, handouts and criteria for projects.

Although the new teaching methods have taken some getting used to, there have been some benefits. For example, Yarrington believes that expanding her use of Blackboard “provides more clarity” for students, which is evidenced by students coming to her with fewer questions about assignments since she has begun “using Blackboard a lot more than [she] would have in the past.”

Posting their work online also allows students to automatically create a portfolio of their artwork, “which is especially nice for majors and minors” she says. She also thinks online discussion threads can increase peer-to-peer interaction because prior to having students post in online discussions, she would be the one doing most of the commenting on her students’ work, but now her students can give each other more feedback on their work.

Zoom can also make it easier to “demonstrate delicate handiwork,” because she Photo Courtesy of @jyarrington Instagram doesn’t have everyone huddling around a table to watch her demonstrate a technique Jo Yarrington poses for a photo in front of a vote sign. that can be difficult to see from far away. Zoom also makes it easier to connect with artists

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'Last of of us Part II' Leaves a Lasting Impact

By Tyler Zikias Film Columnist

This year has been rough for entertainment. It has been a brutal and tragic year for the whole world battling the COVID-19 pandemic, but what makes the struggle even greater is that there is a minimal supply of new media being released, whether it be movies, T.V. shows or video games.

For the most part, the new movies and shows being released on Netflix, Disney+ and other streaming platforms haven’t been the best in terms of quality; they are largely lackluster originals or movies that were deemed by the studios as not worth releasing in theaters.

So, what if I told you that the best and most important piece of media of the year thus far was a video game? A sequel seven years in the making to a beloved masterpiece. A game that gained critical acclaim from hundreds of publications, but was trashed by players all over the world before it was even released. Of course, the game I am talking about, which I believe is not only one of the best pieces of storytelling all year, but one of the best games of all time, is “The Last of Us Part II.” It’s been almost four months since the release of “The Last of Us Part II,” and there hasn’t been a day that has gone by that I haven’t thought about its characters, storytelling complexity and brutal gameplay. The world of the game is extremely dense, detailed and depressing. It seems strange that a game like this would feel so powerful when it feels like we’re experiencing the game’s grim world in our own reality. It’s only a coincidence that we are battling COVID-19 when the sequel to a game about finding a cure for a zombiecreating virus is finally released.

The characters and story of “The Last of Us Part II” is where the game really shines. Ellie (Ashley Johnson), the brash and sweet companion to the protagonist, Joel (Troy Baker) in the first game, steps into the spotlight as the main character. She’s grown up a lot since the ending of the original game, so when tragedy befalls her and Joel’s settlement in this post-apocalyptic future, she embarks on a quest of revenge to put to rest the thoughts of the incident.

The game, in the simplest of explanations, is about revenge. Ellie begins her quest filled with rage and determination, only to become more reckless when approaching situations that put her companion and girlfriend, Dina (Shannon Woodward), in danger.

Ellie, a character who won me over with her endearing charm and immature remarks, starts to become the villain of the story given the brutal choices she makes to bring justice. This is illustrated excellently through the way the combat sequences of the game play out. There are several instances where the game will give you a prompt to press a button to beat or kill a member of the enemy faction, but at this point in the story, the player is so fed up with Ellie’s ruthless rampage that they don’t want to press the button. The game makes players feel guilty for the violence that they create, which I think is incredible for a game that has a surface level narrative dealing with the issue of revenge.

However, the game is not all about revenge. In fact, it’s about the complete opposite as well - forgiveness. Throughout the main linear story, there are flashbacks to the settlement that reveal more about the relationship between Ellie and Joel throughout the time after the first game. These scenes are brimming with tension, as Joel wants to become more of a father figure towards Ellie, while Ellie is simultaneously maturing into a young woman. These scenes set the player up for a wipeout final scene that is one of the most marvelously written, performed and well-placed scenes I have ever seen in any visual medium. It contextualizes

the entire game to a point that it makes you want to press play all over again and experience the journey one more time.

So, why is “The Last of Us Part II” the most important piece of storytelling in 2020 thus far? On the surface, it may be tough to tell. This game is brutal, depressing, heartbreaking and at times, sickening.

It’s definitely a tough play during the current climate of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially because most people are probably looking for a more light-hearted and cheerful escape from the grim world outside their homes.

“The Last of Us Part II” is not that type of escape. For me, the game made me completely forget about the world outside. For the duration of its approximately 25 hour story, I was locked into the world and conflict between its central characters. It’s not a pleasant escape, but I also haven’t been this immersed in a video game in a long time.

The game isn’t without its sunshine though. As I’ve mentioned, the game is a brutal story of revenge with the characters players love taking action that they don’t agree with. That being said, the game leaves some hope for the player at the very end.

No spoilers of course, but the trail of blood that Ellie leaves throughout the game comes to a shocking end, but one that holds a glimmer of light at the end of the dark, bleak tunnel that is “The Last of Us Part II.” The ending allows the player to empathize with Ellie and how she is feeling. Both Ellie and the player are in the same place emotionally at the end of this game - exhausted and ready to move on.

For me, it couldn’t be more similar to how I feel about the world right now, with the looming threat of a second wave. It’ll be a tough journey, but ultimately, there is a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel.

The Met Still Marvels 150 Years Later The Metropolitan Museum of Art is as American of an institution as the White House, the Senate or Faneuil Hall. This year is a special one in particular for the Met, as 150 years ago today they opened their doors on 5th Avenue in New York City.

An annual trip to the Met has been a personal tradition of mine that started back in high school when my art teacher organized a coach bus to take us into the city, about a two hour drive from Farmington, CT. It was a treat to take a day off from school and study, getting to instead read a book on the bus ride and see some world-famous art.

The Secrets of the Pharaohs…

If you’re like me, a plan is necessary for a productive day of cultural immersion.

I had kept my Met map from the last trip and penciled in a route from the grand staircase and foyer, as I refer to it, through the European Arts, into the Medieval Arts and American and European Interior Exhibitions, finally ending in the American Arts part of the museum.

It became clear upon entering the museum that it would be a difficult route to stick to. I was about to climb the stairs to the upper level, like the celebrities at the Met Gala, when out of the corner of my eye, the Egyptian section caught my attention.

“But it’s not on the itinerary,” I told myself. That must’ve been an amusing scene for passerbyers - a teenager standing in the middle of the hall, looking back and forth between the staircase and the entrance to the Egyptian Exhibition for a few solid minutes. I decided to live on the wild side of life and venture away from my plan… just this once.

I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least. I had never considered myself a pharaoh enthusiast, but I must admit that the things I saw and learned from the side venture made me a little more curious about this side of history. There was an original, rebuilt ancient Egyptian tomb of a pharaoh, whose name I can hardly pronounce, with hieroglyphics on the walls that reminded me of the kind you only see in movies.

There were images of ancient Egyptians carrying a bull to sacrifice and of others harvesting wheat, carved right into the limestone. Looking at this, you are forced to think about what human hands made thousands of years ago. These hieroglyphics illustrate the lineage of human history and culture. I had the chance to be close to artifacts and ways of life that this ancient group of people held dear. The gilded sarcophagi found in the next room made me think about what the ancient people thought of the afterlife, and how it compares to us today.

Back to the plan…

With my thirst for ancient Egypt quenched, I was able to refocus on the main part of the trip - euro-

pean decorative arts and painting. It was hard not to yearn to be a French aristocrat in the 18th century when I walked by the various pieces of furniture and personal items they had at their disposal.

The items we gaze at behind bulletproof, highly-secured glass at a museum in the 21st century was nothing out of the ordinary for a gentleman or lady back in 1780. I’m talking about snuff boxes made of pure gold, embedded with diamonds, as if the gold itself wasn't enough. There was a one of a kind Tiffany & Co. necklace with a violet sapphire right in the middle, that must have shone in the candlelit ballrooms.

Earrings, bracelets, and other forms of jewelry that Queen Elizabeth II might envy, along with everyone else were on display.

With a few more steps, I found myself in the middle of King Louis the XIV’s Palace of Versailles, while still on Fifth Avenue in New York. There were huge rooms that replicated those of the palace. Silk covered every inch of the wall, the ceiling reached up to the heavens and was adorned with Rococo style baby angels at all four corners. The bed frame was an elaborate tapestry that rivaled those seen at church. It felt like an assault on my senses, with the creaking floorboards, the smell of ancient wood, the threads of the tapestry and the smoothness of the silk. I, like Mr. Peabody and Sherman, have traveled back to a simpler time, of ornate exuberance and decorative abundance. A time, which for better or worse, is long gone in our society’s rearview mirror.

Further down the corridor, I found myself walking by a colonial American dining room, with its serious wallpaper and elaborate table setting. Portraits of prominent Americans hung on all four walls. That room naturally opened into a sitting room, with a game of poker all set up on a middle table.

I could only imagine the people that would have sat there 200 years ago, with cigars in their mouths and glasses of brandy on ice.

The galleries of the Met are a statement to themselves. The paintings are well spaced and well lit, offering an immersive experience in which to truly appreciate the artist’s intentions. Yet, the painting that stands out of all is, “Washington Crossing the Delaware.”

First of all, it’s a monumental painting. It’s huge. It takes up the entire wall by itself, and the feeling you get when you turn the corner to find yourself facing that famous painting is second to none. We can talk about the historical inaccuracies of the work some other time, but the essence of it, and its symbol for American patriotism and vitality remains true. Other personal favorites are Thomas Cole’s “The Oxbow” and Albert Bierstadt’s “The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak.”

Admiration for the art is part of the experience, you don’t have to be an art critic or understand the meaning behind every brush movement or the angles in a painting. My favorite part is to go in not knowing much, and then study and learn more about the time periods in which the piece was created. Seeing and immersing yourself in past examples of human creativity reveals to us the vast potential for human thought and expression.

Ben Franklin got it right when he said, “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” By the time I come back to the Met again, I’ll have certainly brushed up on my Pharoah knowledge.

Canva

By Matt Adamski Contributing Writer

Art

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Libraries to love in fairfield

By Molly Lamendola Vine Editor This might sound ridiculous, but there’s something magical about a public library. I grew up with this magic.

See, I read quite quickly. At the peak of my book consumption, I could blow through 10 books, or some number equally ridiculous, in a week. Due to this rate of reading, there was no way my parents were letting me anywhere near a bookstore. But, they were more than happy to get me all signed up for a little library card, hand me one of our old duffle bags and push me out the door and on the 15 minute walk to our closest branch. I’d pop in at least once a week, say hello to the ladies behind the desk who found the young thing with a suitcase of books a bit odd, and then leave with a collection that would keep me busy for days.

Thus, when I bagged that same duffle bag with Fairfield University sweatshirts and left home to head to Connecticut, I was worried about losing my connection to the library. It’s probably not a shock to anyone, but one of the first things I did on campus was hop on the Stag Bus over to the bookstore, and walk to the Fairfield Public Library. Here, all you need to do is tell them you’re a Fairfield University student, show them your Stag Card as proof, along with a driver’s license, and bam… library card obtained!

Now, this library card can get you into… ready for it?… ANY LIBRARY IN CONNECTICUT. Yeah, it’s not a really big deal. Except that it’s a ridiculously big deal because you now have access to thousands and thousands of books, for free. But, I’m going to give you a bit of a trick here, there are some libraries in our area that are better than others. Some with more of a selection or a nicer place sit and do work, so let me break it down.

Fairfield Public Library: This is quite simply a nice library...not phenomenal, but nice in its own way.

One positive is that it’s quite close. When I was a first-year student, I could take the bus and be there in 15 minutes. But, I wouldn’t do much else other than pick up some books and then walk back to the bookstore and grab a coffee. There’s just not a lot of private space to do work or hang out. All of the seats feel quite on top of each other. If I really need to get some work done, there’s always the option to reserve a room here. Which, if you snag one of the rooms with the big colonial wooden windows that overlook Post Road, is quite lovely. They are private, so you don’t feel as if you’re elbow to elbow with the rest of the public.

There’s an issue here with the book selection. This library has a very odd selection of specific series that some other libraries do not, but they never seem to have enough copies of the more modern collections. To get those… I usually head to the Pequot Library.

The Pequot Library: This was one of my first finds in Fairfield County. I’ve spent two summers here now, and there’s little else I’d rather do than grab an iced coffee and head over to the Pequot on a Sunday morning.

The building is just stunning. You’ll be driving up to it, following your GPS and all of a sudden you’ll pass some white flowers and the soft grey stone with a bright red roof will emerge from the landscape.

The inside is just as stunning. If you enter through the back door, through the children’s section, you won’t expect much. It’s a square, with a bit of brightly colored activities on the floor and a very handsome rabbit. The rabbit honestly makes the space here in the children’s section, everything else is like a normal library… nothing too special.

But, if you’re brave enough to walk in a bit more, you start to see the beauty within all the rooms. And I do mean the rooms. Side rooms

around each corner are furnished with worn leather couches, exposed wood, big ornate stained glass windows and chandeliers with lamps that look like they once held oil. This is only the sitting area, where you’d curl up to do some work or pump out a paper.

Where the books are held is a whole different story. The books stand up in little straight lines on wooden shelves with elaborately designed black metal grates on each end. The shelves nearly overwhelm you, as they travel up two whole flights of stairs, being separated halfway with a sheet of thick frosted glass.

This sheet is the floor of the second story. A daunting first couple of steps, but once you get over the fear of falling through the glass onto the floor, it’s exhilarating. Pequot has all the books that the Fairfield Public library does not. They also have a much older collection, as they house many antique texts in the basement of the building, which are perfectly maintained by the collections staff.

The books are generally in much better condition than those at Fairfield’s library. Looking at the catalog card, it’s not a complete shock if I’m the only stamp listed in the last five years.

Pequot is also the proud holder of one of the biggest summer book sales in New England.

100,000 books, CDs and DVDs are on sale for some ridiculous prices. Then, since this is Pequot, they have a huge collection of rare, vintage finds that antique dealers pay a premium profit for… those are always nice to look at!

The Westport Library: I started working at the Westport Museum of Contemporary Art during my sophomore year, and thus was out and about in the downtown Westport area quite often on weekends or random weekdays. Westport isn’t within walking distance; it is about a 20 minute drive from Fairfield. I wanted someplace where I could sit and do some work or grab a book if I was in the area.

Starbucks was always a possibility, but then I stumbled upon the Westport Library, right on the water. It was just recently redone, so while it may lack some of that old charm that Pequot exudes, it’s still somewhere I wouldn’t mind spending a couple of hours.

If you’re there and looking for a space to sit, I always either head up to the top floor, where the young adult section is; it has some nice booths that overlook the water. Down by the basement there are also some ergonomic curvy chairs decorating the floor of the adult section. Both provide comfort and are areas out of the main fray of the activity. Westport seems to have a wider selection of books than the Fairfield Public Library, but less than Pequot. The library is also significantly bigger than the Fairfield Public Library, with more space to spread out and do homework if need be.

In general, having a reason to pop over to Westport is lovely. I’d run over to do some homework on a Saturday afternoon, then have a couple of hours to look around at things I don;t need from Anthropologie or Madewell. Completely lovely!

DiMenna-Nyselius Library If you’re a first-year or sophomore student who has read through the entirety of this piece so far, you may be thinking that you’re missing out on some of the great libraries in our little area… but, don’t feel bad. Honestly, other than Pequot, I think the Fairfield University library beats out both Fairfield Public and Westport.

It not only beats them out in terms of places to sit, as the basement in a little back corner or one of those tables on the top floor overlooking the hill are personal favorites of mine, but also in book selection. I know not many people utilize the library for its books, but I do! And anything they don’t have, out of the thousands of books they do have, can be easily ordered through the Interlibrary Loan portal and dropped off to the library shortly thereafter.

I really do hope that this little list gets you to head out to support your local public library during Banned Books Week. Though maybe you might not utilize the library, it’s one of the last places that allows you to walk in and sit without any expectation of spending money. It’s where many children were inspired to read, and where I probably spent more hours than I did in my actual house. It’s where millions of letters are all strung together in millions of perfected sentences. There’s a whole lifetime of knowledge stacked across the shelves of these libraries. If that’s not magic in this world we’re living in… I don’t know what is.

Photo Courtesy of @ pequotlibrary Instagram

The Pequot Library from the outside in Southport.

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'Possessor' set to become a cult classic

By John Bizub Contributing Writer As the month of October begins, many are excited about the wonderful holiday that is Halloween.

People prepare by dressing up, eating tons of candy or my personal favorite, watching horror movies with friends. There is nothing more exciting and exhilarating than sitting down in your home, or a theater, and being terrified by the unknown. It is always a joy to me.

This year, instead of witnessing the horrors that are Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees, director Brandon Cronenberg takes the audience through the terrors that are the human subconscious with his latest film, “Possessor.”

Brandon Cronenberg is the son of crazed body horror enthusiast, David Cronenberg, who is known for his bizarre and stomach-churning practical special effects. This is his second feature after his 2012 debut, “Antiviral.” The film, starring Christopher Abbott, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Andrea Riseborough, is about an assassin who uses new technology to take the shape and mind of somebody else.

While this plot does seem reminiscent of Cronenberg’s father’s work, “Videodrome,” this is a wild ride that had me invested from the start. It feels like Brandon is taking notes from his father’s work, but not copying or replicating it; he is trying to make something of his own while also carrying out his father’s legacy.

This film, on its surface, sounds like an action movie; but, as the film goes on, it becomes a psychedelic horror film. The practical effects in this film are nothing short of jaw-dropping and every image got under my skin. I will never forget the constant horrors Brandon delivers to the audience.

The cinematography is great, but some shots feel a bit repetitive. The music was impressive at times, but also felt a bit forgettable at other points. The performances are great, especially by Christopher Abbott, who consistently knocks it out of the park. This film has the feeling that Cronenberg is behind it, and I am glad it does. The direction within the screenplay and the directing are both fantastic, and I had no idea what to expect. It left me cold until after the credits rolled.

“Possessor” is a film that nobody had on their radars, but should. It is a complex and terrifying film that displays Brandon Cronenberg as one of the new and fresh faces of body horror cinema. In an age where horror is constantly filled with jumpscares and loud sounds, it is nice to see someone taking the mantle and going back to his father’s roots.

This will become a cult classic, I can taste it!

9/10 Canva

Banned Books Shouldn't Hide History

By Brittany Misiora Contributing Writer Being a child and having your mom and dad read you a book is a memory that kids hold dear in their hearts forever. Ask any college student, or any adult, and they will absolutely have a story about their favorite book that their parents read to them, or even a favorite chapter book they read in high school.

Being shy and extremely quiet growing up, reading was a huge part of my life, and I have vivid memories of Barnes and Noble trips with my parents, getting home and devouring the book in one night.

Some popular favorites of kids that grew up in the early 2000’s include “Click-ClackMoo,” “Bear Snores On,” “The Doll People,” “Chrysanthemum,” “Because of Winn Dixie” and “Good Night Moon.” The memory of the little animal characters and adorable storylines still linger in my head and make me feel like I am in elementary school again.

My best friend Lily and I were reminiscing about childhood books and memories, and one memory that she insisted on talking about for an hour was her childhood love of “Oh The Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Suess.

Lily’s dad bought it for her in preschool and read it to her every night. Then, her dad bought the same book for her when she graduated high school. These are the kinds of memories that follow people throughout their lives, being passed down from generation to generation.

My other friend Jenny remembered a book called “My Very Own Name Book,” and each page was a different aspect of her life, such as her town, favorite color, favorite food and her family. Jenny remembers thinking about how famous she was that someone had thought to write a book specifically about her!

Each year during Banned Book Week, thousands of books are taken off the shelves and every year more and more classics are being removed due to censorship efforts raised by parents, institutions and community members who are highlighting the books’ controversial aspects, such as offensive behavior, explicit language and drug use.

Some classics that are on the list this year are “Gone with the Wind,” “Catcher in the Rye,” “Of Mice and Men,” “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Great Gatsby.” This past summer, the removal of “Gone with the Wind” from television was also a hot topic because of the racist aspects and the glorification of the culture of pre-

civil war in the South.

Personally, I found this sad because I grew up watching the movie as a little girl and found a deep love for the story and its characters. In high school, I read the book and found it equally intriguing, as I was thrown into the world of Atlanta in the 1800s, and thought, “What little girl does not want to be Scarlett O’Hara living at Tara in Atlanta?”

Her large, southern-styled gowns, self-confidence and love for Rhett Butler will live on for ages. Despite the good parts, there are many aspects that can be considered offensive, one being the depiction of slavery and the mistreatment of Mammy, the slave, which can be seen as insulting because the main characters, who are all white and wealthy, are held in high regard. A Harris poll in 2014 found that “Gone With the Wind” was America's second favorite book, with only the Bible beating it. So, why is this book being banned now? As the years have gone on, a cultural revolution has been occurring and society has become more and more understanding and empathetic towards racism and all things considered “offensive.”

People are now recognizing that even though some of us may not find certain things offensive, other communities do, and therefore, as a society, we need to comply. The problem is that many issues have become polarized and political. No matter the topic, everyone seems to run to their sides and cling to what they believe instead of trying to understand what others are thinking.

The other books on the list, such as “Catcher in the Rye,” “Of Mice and Men” and “To Kill a Mockingbird,” all normalize racism, use offensive language in regard to certain groups of people, including those with disabilities and do not take into account how far we have come as a society.

It’s 2020 and people enjoy coming together to voice their opinions through social media and protesting for social and racial justice.

Personally, I have read almost all the books on the banned books list in my high school English classes. What I have found is that controversial topics always led to good discussions in class.

Being able to recognize that times have changed and see the difference in society was eye-opening and a testament to how far our great country has come.

CreativeCommons/NeedPix

THE MIRROR | Week of October 7, 2020

Coffee Break

Page 12

COFFEE BREAK Editor: Tristan Cruz tristan.cruz@student.fairfield.edu

Sodoku Puzzles

Free Printable Sudoku Puzzles / Puzzles.ca

Free Printable Sudoku Puzzles / Puzzles.ca

Solutions w ill be poste d to the Mirror’s social me dia pages on Fri day, Oct. 9!

University Removes All Doors From Campus To Prevent Spread of Coronavirus

By Nathan Schmidt

In light of rising cases of COVID-19 among students, Fairfield University officials have promoted safety by removing all doors from all buildings on campus. Since the virus spreads more easily in confined indoor spaces, it is thought that the new ventilation from the removed doors will make students safer, no matter where they are.

There is no exception to the buildings, or the doors within the buildings, that have been affected by this policy. From the supply closets in Canisius Hall to the dorm rooms in Gonzaga, every enclosed indoor space has had its doors removed from their frames overnight.

“If this doesn’t work, we’re prying out all the windows too,” said campus spokesperson Jillian Lautrey, speaking to Stagnation writers through the open doorway of an allgender restroom in Donnarumma Hall. “But I’m pretty confident it will, because I haven’t seen anyone else indoors all day.”

Students have already expressed surprise and dismay at the lack of doors anywhere on campus. However, questions about holding out the elements, maintaining privacy, securing restricted areas, stopping the spread of the coronavirus and regulating the flow of traffic have all been flatly rejected by the administration.

“They even took out the stall doors,” Jillian added, glancing over her shoulder into the grungy restroom. “They don’t miss a detail around here.”

As temperatures drop with the coming of fall, it is expected that the heating bill for Fairfield University will be about 10 times higher as a result of the missing doors. Campus officials have been quick to assure students that the deficit will be paid for with all the doors that they’re selling to the Gilbane construction company.

“It’s the right thing to do,” concluded Jillian, before walking out the open doorway and pushing through a throng of students on their way out of class.

Stagnation is a satirical newspaper on campus that contributes stories to Coffee Break, so be sure to check them out!

SPORTS Sports

Page 13

THE MIRROR | Week of October 7, 2020

This week, in Mirror history...

Sports Editor: Julia Lanzillotta julia.lanzillotta@student.fairfield.edu

These excerpts were taken from The Mirror's archives to reflect upon our student-run newspaper's rich history. This story was published in the news section of Volume 43, Issue 5 on October 4, 2017. The piece was written by the then Assistant News Editor, Connor O'Rourke. The News Editor at the time was Julia Sansonetti and the Editor-in-Chief was Allison White.

By Connor O'Rourke Assistant News Editor Emeritus Former National Security Advisor and Ambassador to the United Nations under the Obama administration, Dr. Susan E. Rice, came to visit Fairfield on Thursday, Sept. 28, in order to give a talk at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts about the state of the American political landscape and the issues most prevalent in our highly globalized world.

One of the students who attended the event, Sean McDonagh ‘20, expressed that, “she is an inspirational speaker who inspired me to become a more informed citizen.”

This event was a part of the Open Visions Forum being held at the University, which was initially supposed to host Mark Ruffalo, famous for his role as The Hulk in “The Avengers,” but he had cancelled a few weeks prior to the event, which left the vacancy for Dr. Rice to speak to the Fairfield community.

While being interviewed, Dr. Rice had given insight into what it was like to work under high pressure situations in both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama’s respective administrations over the years. During Clinton’s presidency, she served at the National Security Council from 1993 to 1997, as the director for international organizations and peacekeeping from 1993 to 1995 and she was also involved in watching over African affairs and improving U.S. relations with the continent as a whole.

During her time in the Obama administration from 2008 through 2017, she was the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during Obama’s first term in office, where she was noted as being the first African American woman to represent the U.S. at the U.N. Some of the notable events of her diplomatic career consisted of the “Arab Spring,” where she made clear that the U.S. encouraged the former Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, to step down from office or face severe consequences, as well as the attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012. She was most recently the National Security Advisor during Obama’s second term in office, where she facilitated a deal regarding Iran’s nuclear program and helped respond to the international ebola crisis in 2015.

When speaking about her most valuable experiences while working in government, Dr. Rice said, “I’ve spent 25 years from age 28 to 52 working in the U.S. government; I’ve gotten to do it from all levels from a more junior staffer at the National Security Council to the U.N. and National Security Advisor and I have been really privileged to work for what I consider to be generally extraordinary presidents.” She noted that both presidents she worked with were highly intelligent people and it was an honor and a privilege to work with both the Clinton and Obama administrations.

Furthermore, she emphasized that, “I’ve gotten to negotiate some of the most difficult resolutions at the United Nations, toe-to-toe with some of our toughest adversaries like the Russians and the Chinese.”

In regards to her role as the White House’s National Security Advisor, she noted, “I’m very proud of many of the things we were able to get done during my 10 years as National Security Advisor such as the deal to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, the Paris climate agreement … [and] the investment we have made in terms of resources to the AsiaPacific region.” She also went on to highlight the significance of the progress made in forging the trans-pacific partnership trade agreement during the Obama administration.

Prior to her extensive political career, when she first developed an interest in being involved with the government, Rice expressed, “When I was as young as 9 or 10, I knew I was interested in government. I was born and raised in Washington D.C., I went to school with kids whose parents were in congress or in the executive branch or ambassadors, so from a very early age I have been exposed to government. My father served for different incarnations in government, [and] my mom worked on issues related to government.” Rice went on further and spoke about how she wanted to be an elected official when she was younger, but the only problem with that was that Washington D.C. has no representation in Congress.

Dr. Rice emphasized that she had always maintained a keen interest in public service, but noted that when she was finishing up her graduate work, she was still interested in policy issues, but could not decide between going into domestic or foreign policy. In regards to this dilemma, Rice pointed out that, “when President Clinton was first elected in 1992, I had a choice between joining the National Economic Council, which had just been established, or the National Security Council and I chose the security council, which led me down a path that has continued.”

Dr. Rice also spoke to us about how her time in the U.S. government has seen her have to make numerous tough decisions over the years. She expressed that, “I had to make a lot of decisions, often under time pressure, often without every piece of information I might have wanted and it was challenging, but that was also a part of the thrill.”

She was able to deal with the pressures of working within these high level government

In this week's is-

positions by gaining experience over a long period of time in her career and she stated that, “I was fortunate to have very good preparation over the years … I was also fortunate to have a relationship of confidence and trust with the president that enabled me to know that he was the ultimate decider on the hardest issues. My job was to make sure that [President Obama] had all the options and all the perspectives of his senior advisors fairly represented and then to give him my own best judgment as to what he should do.”

When asked about what she had hoped for Fairfield students and the community to get out of her talk on Thursday, she said that, “I hope they get a better perspective of the central role that American leadership plays in the world and what happens when we don’t fulfill that function as well as we should and that it has real implications for our security.” Dr. Rice also stressed the importance of public and government service in regards to how rewarding the experience can be.

Lastly, Dr. Rice responded to what her plans are for the future, where she stated that, “I don’t know what I want to do as my next big thing … for right now, my priority is to be with my kids and my husband and my friends, as well as family members that have been so supportive of me for the last eight, actually 10 years if you count the work I did on the campaign.”

Photo Taken From The Mirror Archives

Coach Baxter Embraces Change To Battle Through Off-Season (Page 14) Senior Spotlight With Anna Valentine (Page 15) Lundqvist's Era Ends in New York (Page 15) Keeping Up with Coach Kress (Page 16)

Sports

Page 14

THE MIRROR | Week of October 7, 2020

Coach Baxter Embraces Change to Battle Through Off-Season

By Thomas Coppola Staff Writer

Sports have slowly been slipping back into fruition, with studentathletes all over the nation attempting to get back into shape after a grueling quarantine phase. This is especially true for the men’s lacrosse team at Fairfield University, who have been seeking to bring back last year’s successes.

This upcoming spring, the lacrosse team will take to Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium to test out their offseason preparations and to make a push for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship.

Head coach Andrew Baxter has “had some really great mentors” throughout his time on the coaching staff at other universities including Yale, Ohio State, Drexel and Colgate. With all of this experience and passion for the sport of lacrosse, Baxter was given the role of head coach for the Stags last season. He was able to gain lots of insight into the program in his first year of coaching at Fairfield, even with the abrupt end to the season, about which he was obviously disappointed. He stated that “the team was just beginning to grow into their roles” and discover their collective strengths and weaknesses when the season came to a halt..

“Lightbulbs were beginning to turn on in terms of our gameplay,” Coach Baxter said. With his first full season coming up, he has high hopes that the Stags will be able to go deep into the playoffs and develop a strong team for the future. Coach Baxter and his team were able to rally and overcome some challenges that COVID-19 presented to them. For example, every Tuesday night, the team gets together for a team Zoom meeting to stay in touch and study the playbook.

Coach Baxter also outlined his ‘October Challenge’ which consists of different activities for his players to complete each day. Each day has three different objectives: connect with a teammate through competition, use a meditation app to relax and revisit a mental performance course that the team took in August.

With the first pillar, he hopes that his players try something new to compete in, like playing chess online. With the second and third objectives, he wants his players to be in a good mental position so that they can be the best lacrosse players that they can be. Another very interesting approach Coach Baxter is taking this season is having his players read a book and discuss it in small groups. He believes that keeping his team stimulated in this way is extremely important to developing the team’s dynamic.

The physical aspect of the game is obviously important as well, espe-

Weekly 4x5 Because we have witty things to say ...

What is one word you would What did you think of the use to describe the Presidential Stanley Cup Final?

Debate?

Your 2020-2021 4x5 Columnists:

Julia Lanzillotta, Catherine Santangelo, Sheila McCombs and Molly Lamendola How do you suggest professors should better accommodate students in a remote setting?

Do you consider Fairfield to be ahead of other universities in curbing the spread of COVID?

Is ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ more of a Christmas or Halloween movie?

Since former Rangers make up Definitely set up official Zoom half of the Tampa Bay roster, I office hours. Some of my guess I’m not too disappointed. professors are making them appointment only, and that can be intimidating!

Not at all - Yale tests all students twice a week… with a $374.9 million endowment, Fairfield can and should test ALL students on a weekly basis.

The only right answer is that it’s a Halloween movie.

Ugh.

I’m just bummed…but ready for next season! LET’S GO BRUINSSSSS!

My professors are overall very understanding of how COVID is impacting everyone’s time and workload, so if more professors could be like that, that would be awesome!

They need to be testing everyone every week. Until we do that, we are behind. Although I will say we are doing much better than some other colleges.

Halloween because the main character is literally a skeleton!

I would still watch it around Christmas time though.

Scary.

I have to agree with Lanz here, I’d take at least one player on the team being once removed from the Rangers anyday.

I think understanding that the level of stress that students are under is much higher than a normal semester, goes a really long way.

I think that all students should be tested, but honestly, compared to some of the other stuff I have heard, we are doing alright.

Halloween for sure.

White-Men

Not watching sports without a connect credit.

Get really good at email when it’s the only way to communicate because having professors who take weeks to respond is quite poor.

I mean my sister’s entire dorm room at Sacred Heart was shut down for a week... so Fairfield is doing better than that.

Halloween… ridiculous that it’d ever be considered as Christmas.

Sheila McCombs Managing Editor

Molly Lamendola Vine Editor

cially in lacrosse. The contact of the sport is similar to that of ice hockey or American football, with large hits and swinging sticks.

“Conditioning isn’t as much of a priority as connections are to our team,” Coach Baxter said. However, it is still crucial to be in shape and understand the game; this is the true embodiment of cura personalis, or the “mind, body and spirit” philosophy that Fairfield carries as a core value.

To keep his athletes involved and in shape, Coach Baxter has been holding team workouts which involve lifting, conditioning and stickwork to benefit the team’s high-tempo play.

This year, Coach Baxter and his coaching staff will tweak the playbook so that the team can be the most efficient they can be in terms of goal scoring and defensive strategy. Oftentimes he has his players read through the playbook and study the terms, concepts and strategies that will be utilized.

The ultimate goal of this is to eliminate errors in all facets of the game, whether it be on defense, offense or by the goalies.

There is a lot to be excited for; Coach Baxter said that one facet of the season he is extremely excited for is making connections and relationships with his players so that he can relate to them not only on a lacrosse level, but on a personal level as well.

“The future looks like a lot of fun,” Coach Baxter said. “The expectation of hard work is present, but we always make time for fun.” Students and players alike are abuzz with the excitement of sports returning, and many cannot wait to see the lacrosse team take the field and show off what the Stags are made of.

YIKES. Julia Lanzillotta Sports Editor

Catherine Santangelo Editor-in-Chief

Photo Contributed by the Sports Information Desk

Baxter has been head coach of the Fairfield University men's lacrosse team since June of 2019.

Sports

THE MIRROR | Week of October 7, 2020

Page 15

Senior Spotlight With Anna Valentine

By Molly Lamendola Vine Editor

Though Valentine might be graduating here on campus or at home with her diploma sent through the mail, like last year’s seniors, her time at Fairfield is coming to a close.

When I asked her why she likes running, she bit her lip and hummed, as if it was a difficult question to answer.

“Um,” she started, before laughing a bit, and pulling her leg up to her chest. “I think what I love about it is that you can have so many different skill sets, like everyone can be a runner if they want to be a runner.”

Valentine might be leaving Fairfield, but she won’t stop running.

Unlike those team sports with all the equipment, running is as easy as it gets. You really just need a pair of sneakers, some motivation and a hard working, supportive team to run with.

If there’s one memory Anna Valentine ‘21 can pick out of her four years of running cross country at Fairfield University, it’d be last year’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship. You’d assume, by her love of this memory, the memory of her team’s shared excitement as they jumped for joy while parents cheered, that they had won. Or, maybe they hadn’t won, but it’d be like one of those late ‘90’s sports movies where, despite an ankle break and a tough season, the team was able to snag a place on the podium, third place at least.

But the team didn’t notch third, or even fourth place. The Fairfield University women’s cross country team secured an eighth place finish that year.

I learned this after asking Valentine what her favorite team memory is, pushing her to maybe share a time when the team won a really big meet.

She laughed, and shook her head saying, “We don’t win any meets.”

That didn’t matter last year though, as the excitement over their eighth place finish was warranted. It was the first time they snuck out of a ninth place finish since 2013.

“We worked really, really hard,” she said, “and put everything we had into the race, and into our season.”

She mentioned that at the awards ceremony they stood out among the more quiet, humble teams that placed above them. Those that received top podium spots simply clapped quietly as if at a golf match.

But, when it was announced that they had officially gotten eighth place, everyone exploded. This led the poor award ceremony announcer to think he had made a mistake. “[He] was like wait, what team? Fairfield? You guys are the Stags?,” Valentine recalled.

Their team danced and sang along with the soundtrack of “Big Bootie Mixes”

by Two Friends.

“It was so clear how much we loved each other,” Valentine said of that cherished memory.

Even with their season canceled, that love still exists, but it was hard for a while with COVID-19 restrictions in place.

For three weeks at the beginning of the semester, Valentine and her teammates had to practice individually. Now they’re in phase two, where for three weeks they do smaller team practices by splitting in half, to limit the number of people they’re practicing alongside. But, in just another week, the cross country team will be back together again, as one.

Valentine says she’s excited for that because when she graduates the thing she’s going to miss most is her team.

“They just really make running fun,” she said, smiling, “which is sometimes hard to do, but even on bad days when people will come to practice with a bad attitude or they just had a tough exam or something personal is going on, after ten minutes into the run everyone’s laughing and you just forget about everything bad that’s happened… it’s just so nice.”

It’s unfortunate that Valentine’s senior season is non-existent, but she said it’s now turned this fall into a building year for the cross country team. She and the other captain, Jane Frawley ‘22, want to leave the team in the best possible situation for next year. Valentine said that this hasn’t been time-off. They still practice every day and the rules still apply where all teammates are expected to be at practice. “Everyone’s been taking it really seriously,” she says.

Her teammates agree. Rachel Martin ‘22 was more than willing to share her opinion of what it is like having Valentine as a captain, and what she means to the team. “[The captains] have done a fantastic job keeping our team motivated and unified during this ‘down time’ where we are not racing,” Martin said. “I think the most important Photo Contributed by Stockton Photo thing right now is staying positive and staying focused on our goals, and the captains have Anna Valentine is one of two senior runners on the Fairfield University women's cross country team. really done a great job keeping everyone excited and training for next fall.”

Lundqvist's Era Ends in New York

By Julia Lanzillotta Sports Editor, Executive Editor

Photo Courtesy of @nyrangers on Instagram

After fifteen seasons with the New York Rangers, goalie Henrik Lundqvist has been bought out.

New York Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist has officially ended his reign in the big apple as of Wednesday, Sept. 30 when the blueshirts bought him out of his contract. The contract, which was agreed upon in 2013, was for a whopping $59.5 million, according to the National Hockey League’s official website.

There is no doubt that Lundqvist is one of the greatest athletes to ever grace the ice of Madison Square Garden, and his contribution to the Ranger’s franchise is immeasurable. He leads the organization in over fifty categories, some of which include being the goaltender with the most shutouts, time on ice, starts, saves, games, and points by a goalie.

The Swedish goalie’s overall record is 459-310-96 in 887 games played. With a goals against average of 2.43 goals over his 15 seasons in New York, Lundqvist won the Vezina trophy for being the best goaltender in the league during the 2011-12 season. Although he has only hoisted the Vezina once before, he was a finalist for the trophy in four other seasons.

The five-time NHL All-Star has not announced retirement, to the dismay of Rangers fans everyone who hoped that he’d be a career-long member of the team. Lundqvist, who is now 38, may sign with another team when free-agency opens on Oct. 9. He certainly won’t be a cheap addition to any roster, but his skill is well worth the pretty penny necessary to lock down this man in net. He tops the league’s leaderboards, as the athlete with the eighth most NHL appearances, the number six spot on the NHL’s all-time win’s list and in sixteenth place on the league’s list of all time shutouts.

Hockey faithfuls will truly miss seeing ‘The King’ in red, white and blue, but his legacy will live on forever in the hallowed halls of the Garden. There is no doubt that this legend will have his number hung in the rafters of MSG following the conclusion of his professional career, so until then his adoring fans will surely cheer him on wherever he may choose to continue his career.

SPORTS 16 Keeping Up With Coach Kress @Fairfield Mirror

Week of October 7, 2020

fairfieldmirror.com

Sports Editor: Julia Lanzillotta » julia.lanzillotta@student.fairfield.edu

By Kevin Stush Contributing Writer

Todd Kress is the head coach of the Fairfield University women’s volleyball team, and this fall is his seventh consecutive season with the Stags. However, those seven seasons were not his first with Fairfield. He first coached for Fairfield from 1995-98, before a stretch of seasons at a few other schools. Kress has an impressive overall record of 459-297 (.607) in 24 seasons as a Division I head coach.

Q: How have your coaching tactics changed this semester compared to previous semesters?

A: I mean there really are not a whole lot of changes right now from a tactical standpoint. We talked a lot about doing the right thing in regards to wearing masks, socially distancing and trying to keep our bubble as tight as possible. In regards to our student-athletes, who do they allow into their rooms, trying to keep it just to their roommate or people that they know they've been in contact with already. If someone comes in from another floor or another dorm, we make sure that their mask is on when those people are in their room. It's definitely hard to manage the COVID-19 part of it. From a tactical standpoint, it's the fact that we're not going as intensely in practice as we normally would. We're trying to ease into it. The first couple of weeks we were going for only four hours a week and now we're going eight hours per week, in regards to on-court training and that type of thing. We're doing a lot more playing, as opposed to training. [I am] just allowing them to kind of get back into a groove and find their footing so to speak because it had been an extended period of time off. They had six months off. That's a lot for an athlete and so normally you know the most amount of time off from being in the gym is maybe a month or two, and they had six. That's a lot of time for them to kind of find their footing again and get their feet under them and be able to compete at a high level.

Q: What challenges have you faced coaching throughout this pandemic?

A: There are a ton of challenges. There are challenges in recruiting, challenges in our day-to-day lives and challenges in players’ headspaces, trying to keep them positive. There are challenges for every single person going through this in regards to how you manage it from a physical standpoint and how you manage it from a psychological standpoint. I think from a recruiting side, some of the challenges have led to opportunities. We do a lot more Zooms and we've definitely had the opportunity to get to know student-athletes through the recruiting process. I think that Zooms are probably something that are here to stay on the recruiting side; that's been a benefit. I think some of the challenges from the physical side are, again, just making sure that we take a step-by-step process. [We are] being inclusive in what we're doing in the weight room and training on the court, and making sure that our student-athletes are taken care of and that we're not overdoing it, so to speak, to where we are dealing with injuries. We had a couple of injuries from last year that I would say probably have gotten a little worse because they have not been managed properly during COVID-19, which is really difficult when you don't have training facilities available to you and that type of thing. There have been everyday challenges that we're dealing with.

Q: How do you feel the team has coped with all of the changes made? Do you think the incoming first-years were welcomed in the same way they would have been in years past?

A: This team has been incredible in dealing with it. They are a resilient group and they just accepted the new normal, and that's something I think everyone has to do in order to be productive and stay positive during this process. They just accepted it and moved on without skipping a beat. I mean they are definitely more resilient than I am, I can tell you that because they're in the gym like, ‘okay it is what it is, let’s just keep moving forward and getting better.’ All the first-years have come in and not skipped a beat either. They are an incredible group not only as athletes, but as people. I mean they're a great group of people and we're happy to have them here.

So I think overall as a team they've done a really nice job of just accepting the new normal and moving on. We have had challenges. Knock on wood we've had no positive cases within our program thus far, but we've had a couple in quarantine just through the contact tracing with regards to roommates and who they have been in contact with, but right now we feel pretty fortunate. Where I would say I can speak for the student-athletes is that they are fatigued a little more easily during the practices simply because the lack of conditioning and what COVID-19 has not allowed them to do, but we also talk about embracing that because you know we're very fortunate that we are still practicing. Not a lot of teams are right now.

Q: Do you feel that your season should have proceeded as planned with restrictions or do you agree with the postponement?

A: I think it was 100 percent the right decision. I think that it gives us the opportunity to figure out how we're going to manage the new normal, testing, travel and the combination of testing and travel at the same time. What protocols would need to be in place for us to be able to take the court and have both sides of the net healthy and putting no one at risk whether it's coaching staff, an official or a student-athlete? I think it was necessary in all regards to adjust for the health and safety of everyone involved...I'm also confident that come spring, when we start again in January and February, we will have protocol in place that will allow us to do this at a pretty high-level and hopefully without too much concern in regards to health reasons.

We will have this under control a little more.

Q: Any news on if you will have a season? What are you expecting?

A: We expect 100 percent that we're going to have our championship segment in the spring based on what's going on right now. Volleyball is being played. I mean there are programs in the south playing the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big 12...I just watched a match last night between West Virginia [University] and Kansas State [University] that went five sets, and everyone on the bench was wearing masks and socially distanced, but the match took place. So I 100 percent expect us to have a season. Right now the plan from the National Collegiate Athletic Association, that has been approved by the Board of Governors, is that we will be starting somewhere at the end of January or the beginning of February. Again, that's open to each university making the decision as to what their start date will be. You can start practice anytime before Jan. 22 (the first competition date) to get your student-athletes in shape and ready for the season. The end date has to be by April 3, with a NCAA selection date of April 4 and then the championship will be held April 23-25. Those few weeks in between will be first, second, third and fourth rounds, with the final four from April 23-25 with a 48-team field as opposed to 64. I fully expect the season to take place. I think that sports are finding a way to happen on all fronts, both professionally and collegiately, and like I said, I'm just glad that we were a conference adopted out of the fall that waited to play until the spring because I would not have liked to have dealt with the challenges that some of these other programs are facing that are playing in the fall. I'm glad that we took to the safe decision by waiting and navigating through it come spring.

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Todd Kress, coach of the Fairfield University women's volleball team, holds Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference records, as a six-time MAAC Champion and a seven-time MAAC Coach of the Year.